Short Takes – 11-7-25

FAA to restrict commercial launches during government shutdown. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: “In an order issued Nov. 6, the FAA said it will restrict commercial launches to between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time. That curfew will take effect at 6 a.m. Eastern Nov. 10.”

Deal to reopen government falters over Democrats’ distrust of Trump. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: ““It’s made it easier for people to stick together that Trump has treated the whole process with such disrespect — leaving the country, putting out videos of the Democratic leaders with sombreros on, refusing to meet, refusing to engage,” Kaine said. “Trump seems to think in his mind I can bludgeon you by threatening you. That doesn’t really work.””

The first new subsea habitat in 40 years is about to launch. TechnologyReview.com article. Pull quote: “Although Deep hopes Vanguard itself will enable decades of useful science, its prime function for the company is to prove out technologies for its planned successor, an advanced modular habitat called Sentinel. Sentinel modules will be six meters wide, twice the diameter of Vanguard, complete with sweeping staircases and single-occupant cabins. A small deployment might have a crew of eight, about the same as the International Space Station. A big Sentinel system could house 50, up to 225 meters deep. Deep claims that Sentinel will be launched at some point in 2027.”

Trump administration is planning new mission in Mexico against cartels, current and former U.S. officials say. NBCNews.com article. Pull quote: “The early stages of training for the potential mission, which would include ground operations inside Mexico, has already begun, the two current U.S. officials said. But a deployment to Mexico is not imminent, the two U.S. officials and one of the former U.S. officials said. Discussions about the scope of the mission are ongoing, and a final decision has not been made, the two current U.S. officials said.”

Climate Change Made Hurricane Melissa 4 Times More Likely, Study Suggests. Wired.com article. Pull quote: “The findings echo similar reports released earlier this week on how global warming contributed to the likelihood and severity of Hurricane Melissa. Each of the analyses add to a growing body of research showing how ocean warming from climate change is fueling the conditions necessary for stronger tropical storms.”

Backlog List

• Trump’s rare earth problem,

• Shutdown Stalemate: How EPA’s Pause Could Reshape Chemical Regulatory Timelines,

• This startup is about to conduct the biggest real-world test of aluminum as a zero-carbon fuel,

• America's Private Sector Is Hacking for Godot, and

• Elon Musk Discovers What Hierarchy Actually Means.