SpaceX successfully launches crew to ISS; Google restricts new Gemini AI model over safety concerns

SpaceX successfully launched its Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on October 1, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The crew, comprising NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins (commander) and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, embarked on a six-month science expedition. Notably, Jessica Watkins became the first Black woman to command a crew to orbit, and the mission set a new record for the fastest trip by an American spacecraft to the ISS, reaching the orbiting laboratory in just under eight hours.

In other news, Google has introduced its advanced artificial intelligence model, Gemini 4 Argon, but has restricted its public release due to safety concerns. The company is currently providing access only to a select group of vetted cybersecurity experts and the U.S. government to mitigate potential misuse by hackers.

Google stated that this phased approach is necessary for safely deploying such frontier AI capabilities, as the model excels at complex tasks in areas like software engineering and cyber defense. There are concerns that this powerful technology could be exploited for malicious purposes, including cyberattacks or the development of dangerous weapons, leading to Google's cautious rollout and commitment to gathering feedback before a broader release.