SpaceX’s Starship rocket successfully took off from a launchpad in Texas.Abraham Pineda-Jacome/EPA, via Shutterstock
The most powerful rocket ever built exploded soon after liftoff. But the launch taught SpaceX important lessons as it looks to the future.
The Starship rocket had no people aboard. Four minutes after launching, it exploded in a fireball. The blast was a setback for the private spaceflight company and its founder, Elon Musk, but offered reams of data.
Looking ahead, NASA is relying on SpaceX to build a version of Starship to carry two astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface of the moon, optimistically set for late 2025. A former NASA official called the launch a “learning experience.”
THE LATEST NEWS Around the World
Salvatore Cavalli/Associated Press
Italy’s Senate passed an immigration package, put forward by the hard-right government, that would limit integration and create more detention facilities.A 32-year-old British man died in 2021 after he got AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine, a rare case of a fatal reaction, a report revealed this week.The U.S. military repatriated to Algeriaa prisoner who had been held at Guantánamo Bay without charge for more than two decades.President Biden may formally announce a 2024 run for re-election as early as Tuesday.
Other Big Stories
Gay Ugandans have fled the country, fearing a law that would harshly punish same-sex relations.Tens of thousands of people flocked to a tiny town in Australia to view a total solar eclipse yesterday.BuzzFeed is shutting down its Pulitzer Prize-winning news division.Twitter began removing check mark icons from profiles that did not pay to keep them.
The Week in Culture
Angela Weiss/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Prosecutors will drop involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin in connection to the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the film “Rust.”Gucci’s offices in Italy were raided by E.U. antitrust officials in an unannounced inspection.Frank Ocean pulled out of Coachella, citing a leg injury. His first performance there drew criticism.Subversive titles are on the shortlist for the International Booker Prize for fiction translated into English.A fake hit that used A.I. to copy the voices of Drake and The Weeknd shook the music world.
A Morning Read
Emilio Parra Doiztua for The New York Times
Museums across Europe and the U.S. are honoring the 50th anniversary of Pablo Picasso’s death. His hometown — Málaga, a port city in Spain — is one of the best places to learn about the artist before he became a household name.
SPORTS NEWS FROM THE ATHLETIC
The ‘other club’ at the heart of English soccer’s greatest tragedy: A new era of solidarity with Liverpool could now be underway for Nottingham Forest.
U.S. and Mexico bidding to host 2027 Women’s World Cup: The United States and Mexico will jointly bid for the 2027 event. Here’s what you need to know.
England captain is injured as World Cup nears: Leah Williamson limped off in Arsenal Women’s Super League loss to Manchester United. The Women’s World Cup starts in three months.
From The Times: A muscle injury might prevent Rafael Nadal from competing for a 15th French Open singles title.
For insight (and advice), Lynsey Chutel, who contributes to this newsletter from Johannesburg, spoke with Lerato Mogoatlhe, a South African traveler and author of the memoir “Vagabond: Wandering Through Africa on Faith.”
What’s it like traveling in Africa as an African?
In moments when it all works well, I’m instantly connected to places and people, and it makes every place feel like a homecoming. I articulate it as “Africaaaah” to express bliss and satisfaction. I am obsessed with my home continent, our music, culture, destinations, heritage, art, fashion, our diversity and landscapes.
Then there’s “Africaaarg,” for my frustrations. Public transport that rarely leaves on time, and there are cultural differences about gender. One man thought I was a spy and could not believe that I was paying for myself and really just traveling.
Getting visas for many countries is also a problem. Visas force Africans to pay to experience the continent, while people with Western passports just breeze through immigration. A Nigerian coming to South Africa, for example, has a completely different experience to a German traveler.
What are some of the African destinations that most surprised you?
Ilha de Mozambique, along Africa’s southeast coast, is not as well known as Zanzibar or Lamu. Here the quintessential characteristics of the Swahili coast meet Mozambique’s food and vibrant social life.
Siwa Oasis, Egypt, feels like a connection to an ancient time, with added adventure — like floating in the salt lakes and visiting the Mountain of the Dead.
São Tomé & Príncipe. It’s the most beautiful place I have visited. It’s also the safest. It’s small, and if you spend seven days here, you’ll experience all its highlights.
Any other advice?
My top tip for traveling in Africa: Slow down and immerse yourself. Don’t rush through experiences, ticking off a bucket list or replicating influencer content. Talk to people you meet, and ask cabdrivers and hotel staff for their recommended experiences.
