Category: Pacific Ocean

Cargo Ship Carrying Electric Vehicles Burns Off Alaska

The U.S. Coast Guard said it would allow the fire to burn because the cars’ lithium-ion batteries could explode. The ship’s crew escaped on a lifeboat.
SpaceX Astronauts Splash Down Off California Coast for the First Time

After years of NASA and private crews returning to Earth near Florida, the company shifted its landing zone to the West Coast for the private Fram2 mission.
Conservative Justices Appear to Side With San Francisco in Water Quality Dispute

The justices heard arguments on Wednesday in a long-simmering dispute between San Francisco and the E.P.A. over regulation of water pollution.
Pacific Seabed Mining Delayed as International Agency Finalizes Rules

Efforts to extract the metals used in car batteries have been pushed off amid pressure from environmentalists and nations that oppose them.
Sailboat Crew Rescued After Hitting Whale in Pacific Ocean

The New York Times – Travel:
After the collision in the Pacific Ocean this month, Rick Rodriguez and three other sailors were rescued by a fellow boater, with an assist from a satellite internet signal.
NASA Launched and Landed LOFTID, an Inflatable Flying Saucer Heat Shield

The New York Times – Business:
The LOFTID mission tested a novel approach to guiding spacecraft through the extreme heat of returning from orbit, which could be used to put people on Mars.
China Lucks Out Again as Out-of-Control Rocket Booster Falls in the Pacific

The New York Times – Travel:
For the fourth time, the country’s space program used a 23-ton launcher that made an uncontrolled re-entry back to Earth, prompting nervous sky-watching and airspace closures in Europe.
Battle Over Deep-Sea Mining Takes on New Urgency as Trial Run Winds Down

The New York Times – Business:
A Canadian company is testing mining equipment in the Pacific Ocean in its quest for metals needed for electric vehicles. Environmentalists oppose the mining, which could begin in 2024.