• We Have Moved from Exoplanet to Exomoon

    The search for new exoplanets in our galaxy continues, but now it may include the first exomoon. This was something that was expected to occur at some point as the detection methods became better over time. The exomoon in question is believed to be a volcanic moon orbiting a giant planet about 635 light-years away. Detected…

  • Space Stories: Starliner Not on the Schedule, More Questions About Artemis, and the Origin of Most Meteorites

    Here are some recent stories of interest. —Space News: “NASA Further Delays First Operational Starliner Flight“ NASA will use SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for its two crew rotation missions to the International Space Station in 2025 as it continues to evaluate if it will require Boeing to perform another test flight of its Starliner spacecraft. In an…

  • NASA 2025 Calendar and More

    If you are looking for a colorful calendar or simply some amazing images and art, you cannot go wrong downloading NASA’s 2025 calendar. For example, the graphics shown above and below are just two examples of the pages you can find in this 32-page calendar. It shows the number of NASA-led or supported space missions…

  • Pic of the Week: Jupiter’s Changing Spot

    This week’s image is from the NASA/European Space Agency (ESA) Hubble Space Telescope. It captures one of the most identifiable objects in our solar system – Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. Here is a little more from the ESA Hubble site: Using Hubble Space Telescope data spanning approximately 90 days (between December 2023 and March 2024)…

  • Space Quote: Axiom Space and Prada Reveal Artemis III Space Suit

    “At the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy, Axiom Space and Prada revealed for the first time today the flight design of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit that will be used for NASA’s Artemis III mission…The AxEMU suit is nearing the final development stage. It completed a successful pressurized simulation with Artemis III…

  • Return of the SpaceX Crew-8 Delayed

    Yes, another delay due to weather. This time it’s the International Space Station crew returning to Earth. The SpaceX Crew-8 was supposed to return yesterday (after being delayed from October 7 because of Hurricane Milton), but it has been delayed until Friday due to ongoing weather issues in Florida. The returning crew consists of NASA…

  • The Europa Clipper Mission Has Begun

    Earlier today, the Europa Clipper spacecraft was launched from Kennedy Space Center for its 2030 rendezvous with the Jovian moon Europa. It can then begin to analyze the moon’s salt water ocean and look for any signs of life. The mission is expected to last for three years, maybe longer should the spacecraft prove to…

  • The Fifth Test of Starship Goes Well

    Earlier today, SpaceX conducted its fifth Starship test earlier today. It appears it was an overall success, with a new twist. This time the rocket’s Super Heavy booster returned to the launch pad to be captured midair by two metal arms. It seemed like an unnecessary risk to the landing site, but the stunt was…

  • NASA Looks to Rocketlab on Mars Sample Return

    NASA is moving forward with planned studies to address the Mars Sample Return. Earlier in the week, NASA awarded a contract to Rocketlab for this very purpose. Rocketlab announced the following: …the Company has been selected by NASA to complete a study for retrieving rock samples from the Martian surface and bringing them to Earth…

  • Good News: Hurricane Milton Had Little Impact on NASA Facilities

    NASA has reported that it has so far detected little damage from Hurricane Milton at the Kennedy Space Center. Here is what NASA shared today via Twitter/X: Kennedy is now OPEN! The Damage Assessment and Recovery Team has completed their assessment of the center and its facilities, and determined that employees can safely return on-site…