Mars Mission on a Budget: NASA Turns to Private Sector for $11B Solution

NASA's Mars Sample Return mission faces uncertainty and escalating costs. Initially budgeted at $5 billion, the mission's expenses have soared past $11 billion.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson called the mission too pricey and slow. He asked private companies for quicker and cheaper proposals.

The goal is to return rock samples from Mars to Earth by 2040, which has scientists eager to examine them for signs of past life.

Previous missions by the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers found evidence of water and life-building chemicals.

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Inflation Cooling, but are Rates Coming DOwn?

The core Consumer Price Index (CPI), which excludes food and energy, rose by only 0.2% from April. This is the smallest increase since October, with a year-over-year rise of 3.4%.

Grocery costs remained unchanged, and gas prices fell by 3.6% from April. However, prices for rent and healthcare remain high.

Federal Reserve officials reduced their expectations for interest-rate cuts in 2024. They now expect only one rate cut instead of the three previously planned.

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The Bitcoing Miner Poison Pill Defense

Riot Platforms aims to take over Bitfarms. It offered $950 million, but Bitfarms said no. Bitfarms used a "poison pill" to block the takeover.

This plan makes the company less attractive to buyers by issuing more shares if someone buys more than 15% of its stock.

Riot now owns 13.1% of Bitfarms' shares. And wants Bitfarms to remove its chairman and CEO. It also wants two new independent directors.

Since the bitcoin halving event, Riot’s stock is down 35%, and Bitfarms' stock is down 19%.

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Passport Renewals Now Online

The State Department launched a beta test for online passport renewals. Americans can now apply without visiting an office or mailing paperwork.

Eligible citizens can start their application at 1 p.m. daily. The department will increase capacity gradually. However, they will limit the number of applications to monitor performance.

To qualify, applicants must meet specific criteria. They must be over 25, have a passport issued between 2009 and 2015, and not change any demographic information.

They also shouldn’t travel internationally within 8 weeks of applying.

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