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First private SpaceX polar mission splashes down near California
A SpaceX capsule carrying four private astronauts who orbited the north and south poles landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California on Friday.
It was the first human spaceflight to circle the globe above the poles and the first Pacific splashdown for a space crew in 50 years, SpaceX said.
The “Fram2” mission, which was charted for an undisclosed price by Bitcoin investor Chun Wang, began Monday night when the quartet blasted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Monday night in a SpaceX Dragon capsule. The crew returned to Earth at around 9 a.m. local time on Friday.
“All four @framonauts [Fram2 astronauts] have safely exited Dragon unassisted,” SpaceX posted on X.
The SpaceX Fram2 crew after splashing down on Friday. (SpaceX via X)
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Their capsule was outfitted with a domed window that provided stunning 360-degree views of the poles from 270 miles up.
“It is so epic, because it is another kind of desert, so it just goes on and on and on all the way,” Rogge said in a video posted by Wang on X while gazing down from orbit.
Wang invited along a Norwegian filmmaker, a German robotics researcher and an Australian polar guide.
During their multi-day mission, Dragon and the crew conducted 22 research studies designed to help advance humanity’s capabilities for long-duration space exploration and the understanding of human health in space.
A Dragon capsule carrying four space tourists prepares to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on Friday, April 4, 2025. (SpaceX via AP)
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The crew took the first X-ray in space, performed exercise studies to maintain muscle and skeletal mass and grew mushrooms in microgravity, the company said.
After the crew exits the Dragon spacecraft, they will not be given additional medical and operational assistance to help researchers characterize the ability of astronauts to perform unassisted functional tasks after short and long durations in space. The Fram2 astronauts spent over eight months training, which included numerous simulations and emergency preparedness, among other activities, according to Fram2.
It was the first human spaceflight for Wang, as well as vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen, vehicle pilot Rabea Rogge, and mission specialist and medical officer Eric Philips.
They named their trip Fram2 after the Norwegian sailing ship that carried explorers to the poles more than a century ago. A bit of the original ship’s wooden deck accompanied the crew to space.
The last people to return from space to the Pacific were the three NASA astronauts assigned to the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission.
This photo provided by SpaceX shows the domed window of the Dragon capsule with a polar region of the Earth in the background on April 1, 2025. (SpaceX via AP)
SpaceX, which is owned by billionaire Elon Musk, said the decision to splashdown off California was based on safety and practicality factors, the company said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Changing conditions at the site of a coal mine fire in Colorado have prompted state officials to begin an emergency project to mitigate wildfire risk in the area.
The Black Diamond Mine in Rio Blanco County has been burning since the 1930s. The coal seam fire, located approximately one mile northwest of Meeker, has been managed over the years to address hot spots and concerns.
The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety says that recent assessments have shown conditions that heighten the risk of wildfires at the site.
According to the 2024 Mine Fire Inventory, a new area of activity has developed, with multiple high-flow-rate vents along the top edge of a 40-foot-tall cliff. Some of those vents reportedly extend away from the cliff face into vegetated areas where dead and dying trees were spotted.
According to the CDRMS, there is evidence of increased surface temperatures. With the formation of ground fractures and the dry vegetation due to persistent drought, the division saw a need to take proactive measures.
“Ongoing drought conditions have reduced soil cohesion, allowing more oxygen to circulate through fractured ground, which can contribute to underground combustion processes. These combined factors increase the potential for ignition if vegetation remains in place,” said the CDRMS.
On Monday, crews began a project to remove 1.5 acres of trees and grasses in the area. This will reduce the amount of fuel available to burn and will create a space that is easier to defend against potential wildfires.
They also plan to construct a 1.3-mile access route, giving first responders faster, easier access to the site in case of an emergency.
“DRMS underscores that this work represents an important first step in a longer-term strategy,” the division said. “By taking preventative action now, the agency aims to reduce future risk, maintain safe access, and support ongoing monitoring and future mitigation of the underground coal mine fire.”
The 2026 Hawaii high school baseball playoffs begin on May 6th with the opening round in the Division I bracket, with the Division II bracket starting May 7th.
High School On SI has brackets for every classification and division in the Hawaii high school baseball playoffs.
The 2026 HHSAA state championship games will be on May 9th.
2026 Hawaii High School Baseball Division I Playoff Bracket, Schedule, Scores (HHSAA) – May 4, 2026
Matchups are as follows:
Pearl City vs. Moanalua
Pac-Five vs. Kaiser
King Kekaulike vs. Hilo
Kamehameha Hawai’i vs. Kailua
2026 Hawaii High School Baseball Division II Playoff Bracket, Schedule, Scores (HHSAA) – May 4, 2026
Matchups are as follows:
Waipahu vs. Hawaii Prep
Seabury Hall vs. Damien
Honoka’a vs. Castle
Kauai vs. Kapolei
More Coverage from High School On SI
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(TNS) — Sick of peeling that pesky tag off of your license plate every year?
A new Idaho law that goes into effect this summer ends the legal requirements for vehicle registration tags on motor vehicles.
However, you still need to update your tags — or risk getting a ticket.
Here’s what drivers to know:
DO I STILL NEED A VEHICLE REGISTRATION STICKER?
House Bill 533 eliminates the color-coded vehicle registration stickers Idaho drivers attach to their license plates, saving the Idaho Transportation Department an estimated $300,000 in production costs.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed HB 533 into law in early March.
Starting July 1, Idaho drivers will no longer be required to replace their sticker tags when renewing vehicle registrations.
The change comes as law enforcement agencies are relying more on automated technology.
Automated license plate readers “automatically capture images or videos” of a passing vehicle, then detect the license plate number and access all recorded information related to that vehicle, according to the Library of Congress.
That includes the vehicle’s registration, make, model and color as well as whether it’s on a so-called “hot list” identifying vehicles of interest to law enforcement, the Library of Congress said on its website.
HOW CAN I TELL IF MY VEHICLE REGISTRATION IS EXPIRING?
Vehicle registration provides proof that your car, pickup truck, SUV or motorcycle is “allowed to drive on Idaho roads,” according to the Idaho Department of Transportation .
That’s still the case even if you’re no longer to sport a sticker on your license plate.
“Nothing is changing for customers when it comes to renewing registration,” Britt Rosenthal, public information officer for the Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles, told the Idaho Statesman in an email. “The only update is that Idaho will stop mailing out physical registration stickers after July 1, 2026.”
The Idaho DMV notifies drivers by mail, text or email when their registration is about to expire, according to Rosenthal.
“Residents can also log into their portal at anytime to check vehicle renewal status,” Rosenthal said.
“You should renew your vehicle registration before it expires,” the DMV said. “If you renew your registration early, your new expiration date will not change. You cannot renew a registration that is suspended or revoked or is conditional for title.”
HOW MUCH CAN I BE FINED FOR EXPIRED TAGS?
If your vehicle is unregistered — or that registration has expired — an Idaho police officer can pull you over and give you a warning or a ticket, the Statesman reported previously.
The fines for unregistered vehicles and expired tags haven’t changed.
Having expired tags in Idaho is a traffic infraction punishable a $101 fine, according to the Idaho Supreme Court.
If you’re caught driving with fake registration or borrowing or stealing tags, you could pay a $115 fine, the Statesman previously reported. The true owner of the registration is at risk of being fined the same amount.
If you provide false information when you’re registering your vehicle, you could face a $156.50 fine. That includes giving a name that is not legally recognized by the state of Idaho.
HOW DO I REGISTER A VEHICLE IN IDAHO FOR THE FIRST TIME?
To register a vehicle for the first time, you must visit an Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles office in person.
In Boise, you can visit the state Division of Motor Vehicles office at 8655 West Franklin Road for new vehicle registration or registration renewal.
The DMV has office locations across the state that can assist with registration requests.
To register and title a vehicle in Idaho, you’ll need to provide the following:
- Your full legal name
- An Idaho driver’s license number, Idaho-issued ID card, Social Security number or employer identification number
- A verifiable physical address
- A verifiable mailing address
HOW DO I RENEW MY VEHICLE REGISTRATION IN IDAHO?
The Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles offers multiple options for drivers seeking to renew their registration, including an online portal that can be used with or without creating a personal account
You can also visit the DMV’s virtual Ada County office.
In addition, you can renew your vehicle registration by calling 208-584-4343, mailing a check money order to the DMV office that sent your renewal notice or visiting a DMV office in person.
Save time by scheduling an appointment in advance.
HOW MUCH DOES CAR REGISTRATION COST IN IDAHO?
Registration costs depend on the vehicle type, weight, age and inspection requirements, as well as the county where you live, according to the DMV.
Registration and renewal costs for noncommercial vehicles — those weighing 8,000 pounds or less — can range from $24 to $140 for a standard Idaho license plate.
Personalized and specialty license plates require an additional annual fee.
It can cost $73 to $337 to register a commercial vehicle weighing more than 8,000 pounds, with costs affected by weight.
You can use the Idaho DMV’s online calendar to calculate your registration fees.
©2026 The Idaho Statesman, Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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As Automated Tech Rises, Idaho Eliminates Registration Tags
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