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5 things you need to know this weekend

SpaceX one step closer to Mars if Sunday satellite launch successful

An upgraded SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket will vault a commercial communications satellite into space from Cape Canaveral, Florida, early Sunday. It will then flip around to perform an automated return landing on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean, moving SpaceX another step closer to its ultimate goal of transporting the people and equipment necessary to build a self-sustaining civilization on Mars. If successful, the rocket will put the 15,600-pound satellite into orbit where it will help expand high-speed broadband. CEO Elon Musk says the Block 5 will be the last major version of the rocket before the arrival of the Big Falcon Rocket – a massive moon and Mars-bound vehicle currently under development.

Happy Birthday, Prince George! 

Prince George of Cambridge, a future king currently living as a carefree tot in a royal palace, turns 5 on Sunday, giving British royal fans a chance to remember with fondness the day this much-wanted heir came into the world. Baby brother Prince Louis of Cambridge, born April 23, has been getting most of the attention lately, what with his christening on July 9 and the celebrations surrounding that. But George is the star of the royal show this week.

Promising Alzheimer's drug brings optimism to research conference 

No effective treatment for Alzheimer's is yet in sight, but better diagnostics, deeper scientific understanding and an encouraging drug trial are all leading to a positive mood, as the largest Alzheimer's research conference of the year begins Sunday in Chicago. Much of the recent optimism surrounds a drug trial that will report out more details at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference. In that small trial, a drug seems to have removed a protein called amyloid, which is the hallmark of Alzheimer

Tiger needs a big day in British Open round 3

Tiger Woods enters the weekend at the British Open having posted consecutive rounds of par or better to open a major for the first time since 2013. But he probably should be even higher on the scoreboard. The inconsistency that has plagued Woods in this most recent comeback stretch has him in a tie for 29th and six shots back of co-leaders Zach Johnson and Kevin Kisner. The third-round kicks off at 4:15 a.m. ET, with Woods set to tee off at 8:15 a.m. He'll need to be on his best game to win his first major since 2008, and first tournament of any type since 2013.

30 years: Shark Week isn't 'fin'ished yet

As Shark Week returns for its 30th-anniversary edition Sunday, the summertime TV staple will be more "jaw-some" than ever. This week on Discovery Channel, viewers can expect jam-packed programming for the popular aquatic series, including:

  • Adventure-TV guide Bear Grylls acts as human bait by diving into a shark feeding frenzy.
  • Shaquille O'Neal learns to overcome his fear of sharks by training for a dive in the Bahamas.
  • Guy Fieri samples Caribbean cuisine with his son to see why it appeals to both humans and sharks.
  • And "Shark Tank" meets Shark Week as the fast-talking tycoons trade their business attire for wet suits to spend time with a shark-conservation nonprofit.

Want to "sea" some more? Check out the complete TV schedule here.

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