• Pic of the Week: ISS Expedition 68 Resupply

    This week’s image comes from NASA showing a Dragon cargo ship approaching the International Space Station (ISS) earlier this month with supplies for the Expedition 68 crew. In this photo, the Dragon is above the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. It is an amazing image each and every time. What a workplace and what a view.…

  • Good Article: The Sad State of Russia’s Space Program

    Wired magazine’s latest article, “Russia’s Space Program Is in Big Trouble,” summarizes a sad trend since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. With all of the nation’s attention on an unnecessary war, the space program, like many things nowadays in Russia, has taken a back seat. Problems can be seen with the spacecraft – two Russian capsules…

  • Space Stories: An Exoplanet’s Atmosphere, A Cosmic Explosion, and Stars Halfway to the Andromeda Galaxy

    Here are some recent stories of interest. —WebbTelescope.org: “Weather Report: Expect Scattered, Patchy Clouds Made Up of Silicates on Planet VHS 1256 b“ Ever had hot sand whip across your face? That’s a soothing experience compared to the volatile conditions discovered high in the atmosphere of planet VHS 1256 b. Researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space…

  • A Day in Astronomy: The Death of Yuri Gagarin

    On this day in 1968, Russian pilot and cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who was the first human in space, died in a MIG-15 crash northwest of Moscow. The crash killed a second pilot, Vladimir Seryogin. Following the accident, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the following statement: YURI GAGARIN’S courageous and pioneering flight into space opened new…

  • Another Delay, But Boeing Aims for Crewed Launch to ISS

    So what is the status of Boeing’s Starliner? Last May, an uncrewed Starliner capsule safely arrived at the International Space Station (ISS). So when will we see a crewed mission? The latest plan was for an April launch after some technical issues back in February. However, in a tweet on Thursday, Kathy Lueders, who serves…

  • Study Findings: Acceleration of 1I/‘Oumuamua from Radiolytically Produced H2 in H2O Ice

    Nature abstract: In 2017, 1I/‘Oumuamua was identified as the first known interstellar object in the Solar System. Although typical cometary activity tracers were not detected, ‘Oumuamua showed a notable non-gravitational acceleration. So far, there has been no explanation that can reconcile these constraints. Owing to energetic considerations, outgassing of hyper-volatile molecules is favoured over heavier…

  • The Test of a 3D Rocket in Florida

    We have heard about the possibility of 3D printing on the Moon and even Mars someday to build habitats, but what about 3D rockets to get us there as well? That is also a possibility, but not just yet. This past Wednesday, the US private company Relativity Space tested its 3D-printed rocket. However, the Terran-1…

  • Pic of the Week: Martian Sample Depot

    This week’s image shows the Perseverance Mars rover looking back on its work – the depositing of 10 titanium sample tubes on the surface of the Red Planet should they be needed as backups (see image below marking the sample locations). The rover is carrying the official samples, but this depot was set up just…

  • A Day in Astronomy: The Birth of Kim Stanley Robinson

    On this day in 1952, science fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson born in Waukegan, Illinois. As a writer, he has won numerous awards, including the Hugo Award for Best Novel, the Nebula Award for Best Novel and the World Fantasy Award.  Some of his works include: You can learn a lot more about the man and his work at…

  • A UFO Over California?

    UFOs came up again last week pertaining to lights over Sacramento, California. As fireballs streaked across the night sky, a few citizens thought they might be watching fireworks or even the arrival of distant visitors to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The explanation for the lights was interesting, but not because it was a UFO. It…