ORLANDO, Fla. – While you were sleeping, an historic launch lifted off from the Space Coast.
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United Launch Alliance sent up its new Vulcan Centaur rocket for the first time.
“Just absolutely amazing, I didn’t expect it to be the way it was. My heart is still pounding. It was excellent. I’m just so proud of all the work that the time did to get where we are today,” said Amanda Bacchetti, United Launch Alliance vehicle upgrades director.
ULA’s new Vulcan Centaur is going all the way to the moon in the next month with the first American spacecraft that would touch the lunar surface in more than 50 years.
ULA's new #Vulcan rocket makes its inaugural flight early this morning carrying the @astrobotic’s lunar lander and a special payload from #Celeste. A picture perfect launch & insertion and a shout out to @blueorigin & those long awaited BE-4 engines that performed flawlessly.… pic.twitter.com/604bX46aHo
— Greg Scott (@GregScott_photo) January 8, 2024
The lander, from Pittsburgh company Astrobotic, would become the first commercial spacecraft on the moon.
“We’ve got 20 payloads on our first mission,” Astrobotic CEO John Thornton told News 6.
Astrobotic’s lunar lander is expected to reach the lunar surface on Feb. 23.
Florida Republicans vote on removing party chairman accused of rape
The Republican Party of Florida is set to formally oust its current chair today.
Last month, other party leaders stripped Weigler of his power and cut his pay to just a dollar a year. Now, he’s set to be removed entirely.
Zeigler has denied the allegations against him and at this point no charges have been filed.
Ziegler and his wife, Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, have admitted to police that they previously had a consensual sexual relationship with Christian Ziegler’s accuser.
Tornado rips through Fort Lauderdale Beach
A funnel cloud was spotted in Fort Lauderdale as the National Weather Service issued several tornado warnings for South Florida.
According to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, the tornado formed over land and touched down just west of Las Olas and the Intracoastal Waterway just before 6 p.m. Saturday evening.
A funnel cloud touched down in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday evening, shortly after the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for the area. Officials said no injuries were reported from the storm. pic.twitter.com/aAdrAIyTHM
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 8, 2024
Authorities said the tornado made contact with some structures, power lines and marine vessels in that immediate area, before appearing to move quickly to the east until it reached the ocean — no longer impacting land or the Intracoastal.
On social media, multiple observers posted cellphone video of a tornado moving over the water on Fort Lauderdale Beach, taken from various angles.
So far, no injuries have been reported due to the storm and rescue crews reported seeing minor damage including some downed power lines.
Random Florida Fact
The Underwater Museum of Art was the first permanent underwater sculpture exhibit in North America.
It opened in 2018 in the gulf waters off Santa Rosa Beach.
The artificial reef sculptures lie about 60 feet underwater and have since attracted a variety of animal and plant species in an area once devoid of life.
Each year, a selection of sculptural works drawn from artists throughout the world, is selected by a jury and installed in the underwater garden.
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