SpaceX pulled off a mind-blowing feat of aerospace engineering in the fifth uncrewed test launch of its megarocket Starship on Sunday, catching a Super Heavy booster — as tall as a 20-story building — in a giant pair of metal "chopsticks" on its return to the launchpad.
The latest: The spacecraft launched successfully, reentered Earth's atmosphere and splashed down as planned in the Indian Ocean around an hour after liftoff.
The Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index ticked down in October (within the margin of error) after two months of gains. Sentiment is 8% stronger than a year ago, and almost 40% above the trough reached in June 2022.
Why it matters: "While inflation expectations have eased substantially, ... consumers continue to express frustration over high prices," survey director Joanne Hsu said.
The Federal Aviation Administration gave SpaceX a green light on Saturday for its fifth Starship test launch.
Why it matters: The approval means Elon Musk's SpaceX can launch its megarocket on Sunday, much earlier than initially seemed possible due to regulatory hurdles.
Houses have historically been a key driver of middle-class wealth creation — but when some or all of your house gets destroyed in a flood, it feels less like an asset and more like a liability. That's a scenario of concern to millions of Americans this hurricane season.
Why it matters: Only a tiny proportion of Americans have flood insurance — and yet their insurance bills are already soaring.
If you bought a diamond this year, there's a roughly 50% chance it was manufactured in a laboratory.
Why it matters: Lab-grown diamonds have radically transformed the jewelry market. But despite the cheaper alternative, the amount being paid for diamonds is actually rising — and the stones are larger than ever.
