The Texas-based company Intuitive Machines is launching its second robotic lunar mission, Athena, this week. The spacecraft will study the moon’s surface, focusing on the chemical makeup of rocks and soil and searching for subsurface water, which is crucial for future lunar bases. Athena will land in the moon’s south polar region on Mons Mouton, where water ice is thought to be abundant. The mission … Continue reading A new lunar lander is set to launch to the moon’s south pole this week

Space engineers are preparing to launch the Lunar Trailblazer mission, a two-year project to map water on the moon’s surface. The probe, scheduled for launch on Thursday from Florida on a SpaceX Falcon rocket, will use advanced instruments to locate and analyze lunar water. While the moon was once thought to be dry, recent discoveries suggest water, mainly in ice form, exists in permanently shadowed … Continue reading Space mission aims to map water on surface of the moon

The U.S. Space Force released the first-ever public photo of its secretive X-37B space plane in orbit on February 20, 2024. Taken during its seventh mission, the image shows the space plane’s solar panel and open payload bay, with Earth in the background. Launched on December 28, 2023, atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, the X-37B is operating in a higher orbit than before, testing … Continue reading US Space Force reveals 1st look at secretive X-37B space plane in orbit

Elon Musk has called for the International Space Station (ISS) to be deorbited by 2027, arguing that it has outlived its usefulness. He suggested preparations begin within two years, ahead of the original 2030 deorbit plan. Musk’s statement comes amid NASA’s budget concerns and uncertainty, while international partners like the European Space Agency and Russia expect the ISS to remain operational until at least 2028. … Continue reading Elon Musk calls for International Space Station to be deorbited by 2027

Chinese astronauts have successfully tested a new maintenance robot on the Tiangong space station during the Shenzhou-19 mission. The robot, designed to maintain complex pipework, passed through various pipe shapes and sizes with ease, thanks to its flexible hydraulic tube feet inspired by marine animals. Equipped with sensors and the ability to adapt autonomously, the robot can safely navigate the station’s complex environment. The test, … Continue reading China tests starfish-inspired robot on Tiangong Space Station for critical repair works

The likelihood of asteroid 2024 YR4 striking Earth has decreased to 1.5%, down from 2.6%, but NASA and other space agencies are still planning for the possibility. The asteroid, estimated to be 130-300 feet wide, poses a risk to Earth in December 2032, potentially threatening 110 million people. While the chance of impact remains low, NASA and the European Space Agency are closely monitoring its … Continue reading NASA looking for ways to destroy asteroid that could strike Earth, kill city

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost 1 lander entered orbit around the Moon on February 13, following a 4-minute thruster burn. The lander is preparing for a March 2 landing near Mare Crisium, carrying 10 NASA payloads as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. Meanwhile, the Resilience lander from ispace performed a lunar flyby on February 14 and is set for a return to lunar … Continue reading Blue Ghost 1 enters lunar orbit as Resilience flies by the moon

Scientists have discovered evidence that liquid water once flowed in ancient, shallow lakes on Mars, challenging previous models that suggested Mars’ water was always covered by ice. Using images from NASA’s Curiosity rover, researchers found wave ripples in Gale Crater lakebeds, indicating the water was exposed to the atmosphere and acted upon by wind. These ripples suggest the lakes were shallow and less than 2 … Continue reading NASA rover discovers liquid water ‘ripples’ carved into Mars rock

NASA has increased the likelihood of Earth being hit by asteroid 2024 YR4, now estimating a 2.6% chance of a collision in 2032. This is up from the previous 2.3% and 1% earlier in January, due to more detailed observations refining its trajectory. While the asteroid’s impact remains unlikely, it could potentially affect over 100 million people, The Independent has reported. The asteroid, measuring around … Continue reading Nasa upgrades chances of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth

SpaceX has set a new rocket-reuse record with the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket on February 15, 2025, carrying 21 Starlink satellites to orbit. This marked the 26th liftoff for the rocket’s first stage, breaking a record set just last month. After launching from Cape Canaveral, the rocket’s booster successfully landed on a platform in the Atlantic Ocean. The Falcon 9’s upper stage deployed … Continue reading SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 21 Starlink satellites on record-setting 26th flight

A new video from NASA’s Curiosity rover showcases delicate red-and-green-tinted clouds on Mars, drifting in patterns similar to Earth clouds. These “noctilucent” clouds, made of carbon dioxide ice, are illuminated by sunlight even at night on Mars. Captured in January 2025, the video speeds up 16 minutes of footage taken by Curiosity’s cameras. These clouds typically form about 37-50 miles above Mars’ surface and are … Continue reading ‘Iridescent’ clouds on Mars captured in Martian twilight in stunning NASA rover images

Blue Origin is laying off about 1,000 employees, or roughly 10% of its workforce, according to an internal email from CEO Dave Limp. The cuts will affect roles in engineering, research and development, project management, and management layers. The company cited the need for better alignment with its priorities following rapid growth. Founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000, Blue Origin is developing several space ventures, … Continue reading Blue Origin laying off 1,000 employees: reports

SpaceX successfully launched 23 Starlink satellites from California on Feb. 10 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The booster, completing its 23rd flight, landed on a drone ship in the Pacific, while the upper stage deployed the satellites into orbit. This marks SpaceX’s 18th Falcon 9 mission of 2025, with 12 dedicated to Starlink, Space.com has reported. The constellation now has over 6,900 operational satellites. Written … Continue reading SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites to orbit from California

NASA is using the Webb telescope to monitor asteroid 2024 YR4, which has a 2.1% chance of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. Discovered in December 2024, its impact probability has fluctuated, and more observations are needed. Measuring 130-300 feet wide, it could release energy comparable to the 1908 Tunguska blast. Webb will refine estimates before the asteroid becomes too faint to track from Earth … Continue reading NASA Calls in Webb Telescope to Track Recently Identified Hazardous Asteroid

The Euclid space telescope has discovered a rare Einstein Ring surrounding the galaxy NGC 6505, located 590 million light-years away, the European Space Agency announced. This ring, caused by gravitational lensing, was previously obscured by the galaxy’s brightness but became visible due to Euclid’s high resolution. The ring is formed by the light of a more distant, unnamed galaxy 4.42 billion light-years away bending around … Continue reading Space telescope finds rare ‘Einstein Ring’ of light in nearby galaxy

Astronaut Sunita Williams has responded to President Trump’s recent claim that she and crewmate Barry “Butch” Wilmore were “virtually abandoned” in space, stating they are well-supported and not stranded. During an interview, Williams reassured that they have food, clothes, and a ride home if needed, while continuing to conduct important science aboard the International Space Station. NASA plans to bring Williams and Wilmore back to … Continue reading NASA astronaut Sunita Williams says “we don’t feel abandoned” or “stuck” as space mission stretches on

NASA’s upcoming PUNCH mission, launching on February 27, aims to solve key solar mysteries, particularly how the sun’s corona connects to the solar wind and forms the heliosphere—a vast region that encases our entire solar system. The mission, consisting of four small satellites, will create 3D observations of the inner heliosphere. PUNCH will provide insights into how the corona transitions into the solar wind and … Continue reading NASA’s launching a new sun mission this month

A quasar, J1601+3102, powered by a relatively small supermassive black hole (450 million solar masses), has been found emitting a massive twin-lobed jet stretching at least 200,000 light-years, double the width of the Milky Way. This discovery challenges previous assumptions, showing that powerful jets in the early universe don’t require extremely massive black holes. The jets were detected by the LOFAR telescope and studied with … Continue reading Scientists discover largest black hole jet ever seen in the early universe

SpaceX successfully launched 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell capability, from Cape Canaveral on February 4. The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage landed on the drone ship “Just Read the Instructions” after an 8-minute flight, marking its 21st launch and landing. The satellites were deployed into low Earth orbit about 65 minutes after liftoff, Space.com has reported. This launch marks SpaceX’s 15th Falcon 9 … Continue reading SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites from Florida on 15th launch of 2025

NASA is seeking U.S. companies to partner in delivering the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) to the moon, after canceling the mission last year due to rising costs and delays. Under the new plan, NASA will provide the rover, while the selected company will be responsible for launching, landing, and operating VIPER. The mission, which aims to prospect for water ice at the lunar … Continue reading NASA requests industry proposals for VIPER lunar rover partnership

On February 4, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, deploying two Earth observation satellites for Maxar Intelligence, completing its WorldView Legion constellation. The mission enhances Maxar’s geospatial capabilities with six high-resolution satellites in dual orbits, enabling up to 15 daily passes over specific locations. The satellites capture 30-centimeter resolution images, capable of identifying objects the size of a car hood, … Continue reading SpaceX launches Maxar 3 satellite mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites from Florida’s Space Coast early on Feb. 4. A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 5:14 a.m. EDT, carrying 13 satellites with direct-to-cell capability. The rocket’s first stage landed on the drone ship “Just Read the Instructions” in the Atlantic Ocean eight minutes after launch. This marked the 21st launch and landing for this booster, with 16 … Continue reading SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites from Florida on 14th launch of 2025

NASA has paused several science committee activities due to recent Trump administration executive orders. Memos sent on Jan. 31 directed astrophysics and planetary science groups to halt meetings while ensuring compliance with the orders. The executive orders primarily target diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and revoke climate change-related policies. The Mercury Exploration Assessment Group (MExAG) was the first affected, canceling its Feb. 4-6 meeting, … Continue reading NASA pauses work of science groups, citing Trump executive orders

A mysterious “square structure” found on Mars has sparked new conspiracy theories online, with many speculating it could be evidence of an ancient alien civilization. The image, captured by NASA’s Mars Orbiter Camera in 2001, has resurfaced on social media, drawing attention from figures like Joe Rogan. While some are quick to label it as proof of extraterrestrial life, others argue that straight lines can … Continue reading Mysterious square structure spotted on Mars branded ‘wild’ has space fanatics completely baffled