Trump issued an executive order radically accelerating the Artemis program, setting strict deadlines for US dominance beyond Earth. The document provides for the return of humans to the Moon by 2028 and laying the groundwork for a flight to Mars.
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to Earth on December 19, at a distance of 274 million kilometers. NASA has released unique images of this object, which originates from another star system.
One of SpaceX's Starlink satellites experienced an anomaly in space, creating a small amount of debris and losing communication at an altitude of 418 km. The satellite is practically intact, rotating and will re-enter Earth's atmosphere, where it will completely disintegrate within a few weeks.
Rocket Lab launched an Electron rocket with four DiskSat satellites for the US Space Force from Wallops Island. These satellites are a new type of spacecraft developed by Aerospace Corporation, measuring 102 by 2.5 centimeters.
The US Senate has confirmed Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator. He will lead the 14,000-employee agency, which is investing billions of dollars in returning humans to the Moon and sending astronauts to Mars.
The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) is tracking the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which will approach Earth within 270 million kilometers on December 19. This observation is part of a campaign to improve the measurement of comet and asteroid trajectories.
Turkey is experiencing an increase in large sinkholes caused by drought and uncontrolled groundwater extraction. In Konya province alone, 648 serious sinkholes have been identified, threatening agriculture and infrastructure.
A new study by scientists has shown that the destruction of a key system of Atlantic Ocean currents will lead to extreme droughts in Europe that will last up to 1000 years. This is the first study to compare the impact of the collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) on summer precipitation under different climate scenarios.
NASA has recorded extensive "light pollution" in images from orbital observatories. Up to 96% of images from some space telescopes can be distorted by light from satellites in low Earth orbit.
The Russian cosmonaut was removed from the Crew-12 mission crew due to a violation of SpaceX rules. He photographed company documents, including engines and other internal materials, and stored them on his phone. His place will be taken by his colleague Andrey Fedyaev.
The black fungus found in Chornobyl survives on radiation, which could revolutionize the space industry. It could protect spacecraft crews and extraterrestrial colonies from cosmic rays.
NASA's Perseverance rover detected electrical discharges, so-called "mini-lightning," in the Martian atmosphere using audio and electromagnetic recordings. This indicates the planet's ability to produce lightning and has implications for atmospheric chemistry, climate, and future research.
ESA plans to increase its budget to €22. 1 billion for the next three years. Germany will significantly increase its contribution, and ESA hopes for the participation of European astronauts in NASA's Artemis lunar mission.
A spacecraft launched today from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, which later docked with the ISS, carrying Russian and American astronauts.
South Korea conducted the first private launch of the Nuri rocket from the Naro Space Center. This is a key milestone in Seoul's ambitions to strengthen its position in the global space race, aiming to increase its share of the global space economy to 10% by 2045.
NASA has announced a change in the format of the next launch of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft to an uncrewed cargo mission, scheduled no earlier than April 2026. This decision was made after lengthy technical reviews and a contract renegotiation with Boeing due to the spacecraft's chronic problems.
NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has detected gamma rays in the Milky Way that match the shape of a dark matter halo. This could be the first direct detection of the universe's most mysterious substance.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has requested 22 billion euros for the next three years and will present a proposal for 1. 35 billion euros for a new program to strengthen defense capabilities in space. This is the first time that the civilian organization ESA, founded in 1975, is moving into the military sector.
Researchers have found that Maya eclipse tables were built upon earlier tables of lunar months, rather than being developed solely for predicting eclipses. The Maya ensured the table's long-term accuracy through continuous adjustments based on empirical observations.
The Webb Telescope has captured the triple star system Apep, which contains two rare Wolf-Rayet stars. New data revealed a complex structure of dust spirals around the system, where the stars orbit with an extremely long 190-year orbital period.
Chinese astronauts are stranded on the Tiangong space station after their Shenzhou-21 spacecraft urgently returned the previous crew to Earth. The capsule from the previous Shenzhou-20 mission was damaged by suspected space debris, leaving the current crew without a vehicle for return.
Jeff Bezos has invested $6. 2 million in Project Prometheus, a new artificial intelligence startup. The company focuses on technologies that assist in engineering and manufacturing, including computers, aerospace, and automobiles.
The 500 kV Veshkayma substation in Russia's Ulyanovsk region, a key element of the Russian energy system, was attacked again. This is confirmed by data from NASA Firms satellites and a statement by Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council.
A powerful X5. 1-class solar flare on November 12 forced NASA to move Russian ISS astronauts to a protected module. Solar particles reached Earth, causing a solar storm.
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket for the first time, carrying two NASA satellites to Mars and landing the first stage on a sea platform. The Escapade mission, costing less than $100 million, will study Mars' atmosphere.
Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin plans the second launch of its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket on November 9 from Cape Canaveral. The rocket will carry two NASA ESCAPADE spacecraft to Mars and a Viasat technology demonstrator.
The American space agency NASA refuted Kim Kardashian's claims about the falsification of the 1969 moon landing mission. Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy confirmed six successful moon landings.
NASA's experimental supersonic X-59 aircraft completed its first test flight over the Southern California desert, reaching subsonic speeds. This is a key step in developing technology for future quiet supersonic passenger travel.
The international space exploration community is preparing a new phase of lunar research to precisely determine the presence of water ice in the polar regions. This will be key to future colonization, with discussions to take place at a conference on November 12-14 in Hawaii.
Astronomers have discovered asteroid 2025 SC79, which is the second fastest in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun in 128 days. It is about 700 meters long and hides in the Sun's glare, making it difficult to detect.
