Eric Berger

Eric Berger is a senior space editor at Ars Technica, where he covers everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy. He holds an astronomy degree from the University of Texas and a master's in journalism from the University of Missouri. Prior to joining Ars Technica, Eric worked at the Houston Chronicle for 17 years and was part of a team that was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2009 for coverage of Hurricane Ike. He is also certified as a meteorologist and founded Space City Weather and The Eyewall. Eric lives in Houston.

Biography:  https://arstechnica.com/author/ericberger/

91%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermines the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
Analysis.OverallConflictOfInterestScore * 0.3F + Analysis.OverallBiasScore * 0.3F + Analysis.DeceptivenessScore * 0.3F + Analysis.ReadabilityScore * 0.1F

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

The Daily's Verdict

This author is known for its high journalistic standards. The author strives to maintain neutrality and transparency in its reporting, and avoids conflicts of interest. The author has a reputation for accuracy and rarely gets contradicted on major discrepancies in its reporting.

Bias

100%

Examples:

No current examples available.

Conflicts of Interest

100%

Examples:

No current examples available.

Contradictions

86%

Examples:

  • Maezawa had signed the contract with SpaceX in 2018 assuming the launch would be possible by the end of 2023.
  • NASA announced reduction of Hubble’s operations to preserve the telescope
  • The assumption when Maezawa agreed to the mission in 2018 was that it would launch by the end of 2023, but developmental delays have made this uncertain.
  • Three out of six gyroscopes have failed, another one, ‘gyro 3’, has returned faulty data

Deceptions

76%

Examples:

  • Rocket Lab said it is returning a previously flown Electron rocket first stage tank to the production line for the first time in preparation for reflying the stage
  • The author states ‘such scrubs are rare’, but this statement implies that the author thinks this change is positive when in fact they do not provide any evidence or context for their opinion.
  • The phrase ‘interesting to think how very much the launch industry has changed since then’ is a lie by omission because it implies that the author thinks this change is positive when in fact they do not provide any evidence or context for their opinion.
  • The sentence ‘Rocket Lab said it is returning a previously flown Electron rocket first stage tank to the production line for the first time in preparation for reflying the stage’ presents information about a previous launch as if it were current when in fact that mission occurred on January 31, 2019.
  • The sentence ‘Yours for a low, low price ... The IP library includes all manner of goodies, including an FAA-approved flight termination system’ presents information about the cost of accessing the IP as if it were current when in fact no pricing information is provided.

Recent Articles

NASA Faces First Legal Claim for Space Debris Damages: Family Seeks Compensation after Home is Hit by Intact ISS Cargo Pallet

NASA Faces First Legal Claim for Space Debris Damages: Family Seeks Compensation after Home is Hit by Intact ISS Cargo Pallet

Broke On: Friday, 08 March 2024 In March 2024, the Otero family of Naples, Florida filed the first legal claim against NASA for damages caused by space debris that fell through their roof. The incident involved a section of a cargo pallet carrying used batteries from the International Space Station that remained intact upon reentry and caused significant property damage. No injuries were reported, but the family seeks compensation for emotional distress, property damages, business interruptions, and assistance from third parties. NASA has six months to respond under the Federal Torts Claim Act; failure to do so could set a precedent for future space debris incidents.
Hubble Space Telescope Transitions into One-Gyro Mode: New Challenges and Anticipated Discoveries

Hubble Space Telescope Transitions into One-Gyro Mode: New Challenges and Anticipated Discoveries

Broke On: Tuesday, 04 June 2024 NASA announces Hubble Space Telescope's transition into one-gyro mode, allowing it to continue making scientific observations with some limitations despite the failure of multiple gyroscopes. Expected to resume science operations in mid-June and make new discoveries alongside other observatories for years.
Japanese Billionaire Cancels Moon Flight Due to SpaceX's Starship Development Delays

Japanese Billionaire Cancels Moon Flight Due to SpaceX's Starship Development Delays

Broke On: Saturday, 01 June 2024 Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa cancels his planned moon flight on SpaceX's Starship due to development uncertainties, leaving eight passengers including Elon Musk disappointed. The project aimed for the first private circumlunar mission but faced multiple setbacks and explosive test flights.
SpaceX Targets June 5 for Starship Test Flight: Demonstrating Reusability and Addressing Filter Blockages

SpaceX Targets June 5 for Starship Test Flight: Demonstrating Reusability and Addressing Filter Blockages

Broke On: Saturday, 25 May 2024 SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, aims to test-launch Starship megarocket on June 5 from Texas. The primary objectives are executing a landing burn and soft splashdown with the Super Heavy booster, and achieving controlled entry of Starship. Following filter blockages in the third flight, SpaceX implements hardware changes and improves propellant filtration for future missions to orbit, Moon, Mars, and beyond.
China's Chang'e-6 Mission: Exploring the Far Side of the Moon for Scientific Discovery

China's Chang'e-6 Mission: Exploring the Far Side of the Moon for Scientific Discovery

Broke On: Friday, 03 May 2024 China's Chang'e-6 mission, launched on May 3, 2024, marks China's third successful lunar exploration in six years and the first to collect samples from the far side of the moon. The mission aims to bring back approximately 2 kg of rocks from this unexplored region with a thicker crust and more craters. China's largest rocket yet consists of an orbiter, lander, ascend vehicle, and return spacecraft named Chang'e-6. This scientific discovery highlights NASA's absence from lunar missions in recent decades and sets an example for international cooperation in space exploration.
SpaceX's Historic Ninth Reusable Falcon 9 Launch and Landing: A Milestone in Spaceflight with 23 Starlink Satellites

SpaceX's Historic Ninth Reusable Falcon 9 Launch and Landing: A Milestone in Spaceflight with 23 Starlink Satellites

Broke On: Tuesday, 23 April 2024 SpaceX made history on April 23, 2024, with the ninth launch and landing of a reused Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This marked the 300th Falcon first stage touchdown. The launch was one of 41 this year for SpaceX and the 28th dedicated to building out its Starlink megaconstellation, currently consisting of nearly 5,800 operational satellites in low Earth orbit. Rocket Lab Electron also launched two satellites from New Zealand that day.
Delta IV Heavy Completes Final Mission for National Reconnaissance Office

Delta IV Heavy Completes Final Mission for National Reconnaissance Office

Broke On: Saturday, 13 April 2024 The Delta IV Heavy rocket, developed by McDonnell Douglas and now owned by Boeing, completed its final mission for the National Reconnaissance Office on April 9th from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The NROL-70 satellite was successfully deployed into orbit after a liftoff of three common core boosters strapped together, with an initial phase completed under seven minutes and the outer boosters separating about four minutes after launch. ULA is planning to transition away from legacy vehicles like Delta IV Heavy to its next-generation Vulcan Centaur rocket powered by Blue Origin's BE-4 engines.
Russian Soyuz Rocket Aborts Launch Due to Loss of Pressure at Power Source, Rescheduled for Saturday

Russian Soyuz Rocket Aborts Launch Due to Loss of Pressure at Power Source, Rescheduled for Saturday

Broke On: Thursday, 21 March 2024 A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying three crew members was scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on March 21. However, an automatic abort occurred just seconds before liftoff due to a loss of pressure at a power source. The mission, part of Expedition 71 to the International Space Station (ISS), will be rescheduled for Saturday at 3:36 p.m., Moscow time.
Former Blue Origin Executives Launch Startup to Mine Helium-3 on the Moon for Quantum Computing and Medical Imaging Applications

Former Blue Origin Executives Launch Startup to Mine Helium-3 on the Moon for Quantum Computing and Medical Imaging Applications

Broke On: Sunday, 17 March 2024 Former Blue Origin executives Rob Meyerson and Gary Lai have founded Interlune, a company aiming to mine natural resources on the moon. The startup will initially focus on helium-3, abundant on the moon but rare and limited in supply on Earth. Helium-3 could be used for quantum computing, medical imaging and fusion reactors. Interlune plans to excavate lunar soil (regolith), process it, extract helium-3 gas before shipping it back to Earth.
Private Spacecraft Set to Make History on the Moon: Intuitive Machines' Odysseus Mission Lands for First Time in More Than 50 Years

Private Spacecraft Set to Make History on the Moon: Intuitive Machines' Odysseus Mission Lands for First Time in More Than 50 Years

Broke On: Wednesday, 21 February 2024 A private spacecraft, Intuitive Machines' Odysseus mission, will land on the moon for the first time in over half a century on Thursday. The mission is part of NASA's lunar cargo program and its Artemis initiative to establish a crewed base near the south pole by 2030.