DRIVERS LICENSE CHANGES In response to newly enacted legislation, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles began issuing new driver’s license numbers on July 31st. While the format remains the same, four digits of license numbers will now be randomized, rather than scripted. Most people do not realize that multiple people may currently have the same number EXCEPT for the last digit. This final digit signifies how many others have the same number.
SUNRAIL COMMUTER RAIL The original vision of SunRail, the commuter rail serving Central Florida, showed the system stretching from DeLand in Volusia County to Poinciana in Osceola County. The DeLand leg was delayed due to fiscal constraints. However, SunRail celebrated the opening of this final leg on August 9th with a crowd of over 250 attendees.
SNAKEBIT BOEING STARLINER After the successful launch of the Starliner spacecraft on June 5th, major problems related to helium leaks were discovered following its docking with the international space station. The original eight-day mission for the two astronauts on board has been extended until February 2025 when a SpaceX vehicle can bring the stranded crew back to Earth. Meanwhile, the Starliner capsule will return unmanned.
SPACEX SUPER HEAVY Both Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance, SpaceX rivals, have filed official notices with NASA concerning SpaceX’s plan to annually launch 44 missions of the world’s largest rocket. The companies expressed possible environmental concerns, including the risk of an on-pad explosion of the 5,200 metric tons of liquid fuel and the potential six-mile debris field size of a post launch explosion.
SPACEX FALCON 9 GROUNDED The Federal Aviation Administration grounded SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket Wednesday after an early morning launch ended with the fiery demise of its first-stage booster as it attempted to land.