{"id":72550,"date":"2026-10-03T04:38:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T08:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/spacex-achieves-historic-triple-launch-china-grid-connects-co2-storage\/72550\/"},"modified":"2026-10-03T04:38:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T08:38:20","slug":"spacex-achieves-historic-triple-launch-china-grid-connects-co2-storage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/spacex-achieves-historic-triple-launch-china-grid-connects-co2-storage\/72550\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX Achieves Historic Triple Launch; China Grid-Connects CO2 Storage"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/spacex-achieves-historic-triple-launch-china-grid-connects-co2-storage\/72550\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/spacex-achieves-historic-triple-launch-china-grid-connects-co2-storage\/72550\/#SpaceX_Dominates_Launch_Schedule_with_Tripleheader\" >SpaceX Dominates Launch Schedule with Tripleheader<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/spacex-achieves-historic-triple-launch-china-grid-connects-co2-storage\/72550\/#China_Advances_Zero-Carbon_Storage_with_CO2_Project\" >China Advances Zero-Carbon Storage with CO2 Project<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/spacex-achieves-historic-triple-launch-china-grid-connects-co2-storage\/72550\/#Data_Privacy_Concerns_Shadow_NIOs_European_Expansion\" >Data Privacy Concerns Shadow NIO\u2019s European Expansion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/spacex-achieves-historic-triple-launch-china-grid-connects-co2-storage\/72550\/#Conflict_Escalates_in_Northern_Ethiopia\" >Conflict Escalates in Northern Ethiopia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/spacex-achieves-historic-triple-launch-china-grid-connects-co2-storage\/72550\/#US_Navy_Investigates_MQ-4C_Triton_Runway_Overrun\" >U.S. Navy Investigates MQ-4C Triton Runway Overrun<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>SpaceX<\/strong> (<a href=\"\/stock\/SPACE\">SPACE<\/a>) completed a record-breaking triple launch sequence in under <strong>13 hours<\/strong>, including the <strong>Crew-13<\/strong> mission and the first-ever <strong>Falcon Heavy<\/strong> flight for the National Reconnaissance Office (<strong>NRO<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<li><strong>China Huadian<\/strong> successfully connected the world\u2019s first <strong>100-megawatt-class<\/strong> compressed carbon dioxide energy storage facility to the grid in Xinjiang, capable of storing <strong>290 million kWh<\/strong> annually.<\/li>\n<li>A Norwegian research project, <strong>Project Lion Cage<\/strong>, revealed that a <strong>NIO<\/strong> (<a href=\"\/stock\/NIO\">NIO<\/a>) electric SUV transmitted approximately <strong>90% of its data traffic<\/strong> to servers in China, even when researchers attempted to sever its connections.<\/li>\n<li>Ethiopian federal forces and allied militias have advanced within <strong>30 kilometers<\/strong> of Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, following a major counter-offensive against the <strong>TPLF<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"SpaceX_Dominates_Launch_Schedule_with_Tripleheader\"><\/span>SpaceX Dominates Launch Schedule with Tripleheader<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>SpaceX (<a href=\"\/stock\/SPACE\">SPACE<\/a>) demonstrated unprecedented operational depth on Thursday, October 1, 2026, by launching three separate missions from two different coasts in less than <strong>13 hours<\/strong>. The sequence began with the <strong>Crew-13<\/strong> mission, which sent four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a Falcon 9. This was followed by the <strong>Transporter-18<\/strong> rideshare mission, which deployed <strong>130 payloads<\/strong> into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base.<\/p>\n<p>The tripleheader concluded with the midnight launch of <strong>NROL-97<\/strong>, a classified mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. This marked the first time an NRO payload has flown on a <strong>Falcon Heavy<\/strong> rocket. Notably, SpaceX set a new recovery record by landing <strong>four boosters<\/strong> in a single day, including the two side boosters from the Falcon Heavy and the first stage of the Crew-13 Falcon 9.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"China_Advances_Zero-Carbon_Storage_with_CO2_Project\"><\/span>China Advances Zero-Carbon Storage with CO2 Project<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In a significant leap for long-duration energy storage, China has connected its first <strong>100-megawatt-class<\/strong> compressed carbon dioxide (CCES) facility to the grid in <strong>Mulei, Xinjiang<\/strong>. Developed by <strong>China Huadian<\/strong>, the project utilizes CO2 as a closed-loop working medium, allowing for high-density energy storage that is independent of specific geological conditions like salt caverns.<\/p>\n<p>The facility features a storage capacity of <strong>1,000 MWh<\/strong> and is designed to discharge <strong>180 million kWh<\/strong> of green electricity during peak demand periods. Officials estimate the project will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately <strong>170,000 tonnes<\/strong> per year while saving <strong>50,000 tonnes<\/strong> of standard coal. This &quot;giant power bank&quot; represents a critical component of China&#39;s strategy to stabilize its grid as it integrates more intermittent renewable energy.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Data_Privacy_Concerns_Shadow_NIOs_European_Expansion\"><\/span>Data Privacy Concerns Shadow NIO\u2019s European Expansion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A multi-year Norwegian study titled <strong>Project Lion Cage<\/strong> has raised fresh alarms regarding the data security of Chinese electric vehicles. Researchers drove a <strong>NIO<\/strong> (<a href=\"\/stock\/NIO\">NIO<\/a>) ES8 into an underground mine to isolate it from external networks, only to find the vehicle persistently attempted to reach servers in China. The study found that roughly <strong>90% of the vehicle&#39;s data traffic<\/strong> was directed back to Chinese infrastructure, contradicting manufacturer assurances regarding local data processing in Europe.<\/p>\n<p>These findings come at a sensitive time for <strong>NIO<\/strong> (<a href=\"\/stock\/NIO\">NIO<\/a>), which has been using Norway as a primary benchmark for its international growth. While the study does not explicitly prove a breach of data protection laws, it highlights the technical difficulty of &quot;geofencing&quot; data in modern, software-defined vehicles. The news may intensify regulatory scrutiny as European authorities weigh stricter cybersecurity requirements for imported smart vehicles.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conflict_Escalates_in_Northern_Ethiopia\"><\/span>Conflict Escalates in Northern Ethiopia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The security situation in Ethiopia has deteriorated sharply as federal forces and the pro-government <strong>Tigray Peace Force<\/strong> militia close in on <strong>Mekelle<\/strong>. Following a <strong>TPLF<\/strong>-led offensive that began in late September, government forces have reportedly captured the town of <strong>Milazat<\/strong>, positioned just <strong>20 kilometers<\/strong> southeast of the Tigrayan capital.<\/p>\n<p>The escalation has triggered a diplomatic crisis, with Ethiopia and <strong>Eritrea<\/strong> severing ties and both nations expelling high-level diplomats. Residents in Mekelle report that businesses and banks have shuttered in anticipation of urban combat. The African Union has called for &quot;maximum restraint,&quot; warning that the fighting threatens to draw in neighboring states and destabilize the broader Horn of Africa.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"US_Navy_Investigates_MQ-4C_Triton_Runway_Overrun\"><\/span>U.S. Navy Investigates MQ-4C Triton Runway Overrun<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The U.S. Navy is investigating a &quot;Class A mishap&quot; involving an <strong>MQ-4C Triton<\/strong> surveillance drone at <strong>Naval Station Mayport<\/strong>, Florida. The high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) aircraft, manufactured by Northrop Grumman (<a href=\"\/stock\/NOC\">NOC<\/a>), reportedly overran the runway and ended up on a riverbank. This incident follows a separate loss of a Triton drone in the Persian Gulf earlier this year, highlighting the operational risks associated with the Navy&#39;s limited fleet of just <strong>20 units<\/strong>. The Triton is a critical $238 million asset used for persistent maritime intelligence and surveillance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways SpaceX (SPACE) completed a record-breaking triple launch sequence in under 13 hours, including the Crew-13 mission and the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":50383,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"rank_math_schema_Article":[],"rank_math_focus_keyword":[],"rank_math_description":[],"financial_data_references":[],"stock_symbols_mentioned":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[5012],"tags":[22905,3092,4824,4833,5349,7293,17738,21059,22903,22904],"class_list":["post-72550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news","tag-hale","tag-iss","tag-geopolitics","tag-spacex","tag-aerospace","tag-energy-storage","tag-northrop-grumman-noc-stock-noc","tag-nio-nio-stock-nio","tag-china-huadian","tag-cces"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72550"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72550\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}