CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla: A last-minute technical problem has delayed NASA’s unprecedented flight to the sun.
Saturday’s launch countdown was halted with just one-minute, 55 seconds remaining, keeping the Delta IV (four) rocket at Cape Canaveral, Florida, with the Parker Solar Probe. This followed earlier trouble in the countdown.
NASA says it will try again Sunday.
Once on its way, the Parker probe will venture closer to our star than any other spacecraft. The $1.5 million mission is already a week late because of rocket issues.
Thousands of spectators gathered in the middle of the night to witness the launch, including the University of Chicago astrophysicist for whom the spacecraft is named. Eugene Parker predicted the existence of solar wind 60 years ago. He’s now 91 and eager to see the solar probe soar.
Last-minute technical problem delays NASA’s flight to sun
Last-minute technical problem delays NASA’s flight to sun
- The $1.5 million mission is already a week late because of rocket issues
- Thousands of spectators gathered in the middle of the night to witness the launch
Mahmoud Sabbagh’s dark comedy scores new digital release deal
DUBAI: Saudi director Mahmoud Sabbagh has secured an agreement with digital film distributor and aggregator Under the Milky Way for the international digital release of his feature “Last Party in R. Desert,” according to Deadline.
The dark comedy marks the Saudi film pioneer’s third feature, following his breakthrough 2016 comedy-romance “Barakah Meets Barakah.” The film debuted on Netflix last July.
Under the new deal, “Last Party in R. Desert” will be released across multiple international territories on Apple TV, Google Play and Prime Video. The rollout will begin in the UK, Ireland and other English-speaking markets on Feb. 2, followed by a launch in the US and Canada on Feb. 3.
The film centers on Najm, a cash-driven local impresario and son of a renowned wedding singer, who is struggling to keep his music troupe afloat amid professional tensions and a shifting night scene in contemporary Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah Al-Barrak stars as Najm opposite acting and singing star Marwa Salem, who plays Cola, the troupe’s new lead female singer. The cast also includes the late actor Sami Hanafi as Silver, the professional sound engineer, and renowned local musician Radwan Jifri as oud player Tarefi.
The film is expected to expand to subscription and ad-supported platforms later this year.
Sabbagh wrote and directed the feature and serves as producer under his Jeddah-based El-Housh Productions, in co-production with Cairo- and Dubai-based boutique production company Nine Project.
