• Pic of the Week: The Last SpaceX Dragon Approaching the ISS?

    This week’s image shows the latest, but hopefully not last, docking of the SpaceX Dragon with the International Space Station (ISS) back in April. Future flights of the Dragon to the ISS are now in question due to an ongoing feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, presumably over a bloated House budget bill. However,…

  • Space Stories: Dozens of Space Missions Cancelled, NASA Climate Cuts Impact Industry, and Budget Cuts Hurt Huntsville

    Here are some recent stories about the planned budget cuts at NASA. —USA Today: “Dozens of NASA space missions could be axed under Trump’s budget: Here’s a look at 6“ A total of 41 science projects would get the ax under the proposal, which would be NASA’s biggest single-year cut in the agency’s history, according to…

  • Study Findings: No Certainty of a Milky Way–Andromeda Collision

    Nature Astronomy abstract of the study findings: It is commonly believed that our own Milky Way is on a collision course with the neighbouring Andromeda galaxy. As a result of their merger, predicted in around 5 billion years, the two large spiral galaxies that define the present Local Group would form a new elliptical galaxy. Here we…

  • Television: Season Three of Foundation is Coming Soon

    While our own local empires struggle, we need to turn our eyes to the galactic empire in Foundation, soon to return for a third season on Apple TV+. Mark your calendar for the appearance of the season premiere on July 11. The trailer for season three indicates there will be no shortage of death-defying adventures.…

  • The Atlantic Council Likes Space Robots

    If you have not heard of the Atlantic Council you are not alone. The Atlantic Council defines itself defines itself as a nonpartisan organization that is “…an essential forum for navigating the dramatic economic and political changes defining the twenty-first century by informing and galvanizing its uniquely influential network of global leaders.” So what does…

  • NASA Administrator Nominee To Be Replaced

    The White House has changed its mind on Jared Isaacman, the nominee for NASA administrator who was ready to be confirmed by the US Senate. A friend of Elon Musk, Mr. Isaacman made the mistake of giving donations to a few Democratic candidates in the past. This is forbidden unless you are Donald Trump, who…

  • Space Quote: US Astronomy Students Are Looking Overseas

    “Historically we’ve been a department that has really tried to make a culture where people minoritized in the field feel like they have a home…The current administration is really driving against that, which has really caused a lot of damage to how people are feeling about their place in astronomy, and whether they feel they…

  • Pic of the Week: Galaxy Cluster Abell S1063

    This week’s image comes from the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb). The colorful image shows galaxy cluster Abell S1063 at its center. You can get dizzy if you stare at it too long. You are looking far back in time, which would make anyone dizzy. Here is a description of what you are seeing: This…

  • Space Stories: Strange Flashing Object, New Dwarf Planet in Our Solar System, and a Short-Lived Galaxy

    Here are some recent space-related stories of interest. —Australian Broadcasting Corporation: “Strange Flashing Object Discovered in Deep Space Puzzles Astronomers“ Astronomers have detected a mystery stellar object that emitted pulses of light for two minutes every 44 minutes. A handful of objects like this have been found before, but this is the first to emit both…

  • The Ninth Starship Test Launch Had a Few Problems

    Elon Musk may be in a rush to get to Mars, if only to escape all of the chaos he is causing here on Earth, but he is going nowhere fast with his Starship. Today’s ninth test launch of the rocket ended with the explosion of its first-stage booster as well as the rocket itself…