SpaceX acquired xAI in a deal valued at $1.25 trillion, according to Fortune. The acquisition, announced Monday, combines Elon Musk's rocket company with his artificial intelligence firm, xAI, to create a vertically integrated company with ambitions in AI, space-based internet, and more.
Musk, who serves as CEO of both SpaceX and xAI, described the combination as forming "the most ambitious, vertically integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth, with AI, rockets, space-based internet, direct-to-mobile-device communications, and the world's foremost real-time information and free speech platform," according to a blog post on SpaceX's website.
The deal precedes a planned IPO for the combined company later this year, Fortune reported. SpaceX stated the acquisition aims to scale the mission of understanding the Universe and extending consciousness to the stars.
In other news, NASA delayed the launch of the Artemis II mission to March, according to Ars Technica. The delay resulted from hydrogen leaks detected during a fueling test at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Engineers encountered several challenges during the mock countdown, known as a Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR), but also met many planned objectives, NASA said in a statement. The additional time will allow teams to review data and conduct a second WDR.
Meanwhile, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the Eagle Mine, the only active nickel mine in the US, is testing a new process to extract more nickel from lower-quality ore, according to MIT Technology Review. The mine's owner is working with the startup Allonnia, which developed a fermentation-derived broth to capture and remove impurities from the ore. This process could help extend the mine's operational life as nickel concentrations decline. Kent Sorenson, Allonnia's chief technology officer, stated this approach could help companies continue operating sites that have burned through higher-quality ore.
Finally, the U.S. and Iran are scheduled to meet in Turkey this week to discuss Iran's nuclear program, according to NPR. These negotiations follow a period when President Trump considered military action against Iran.
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