Saturday, April 25, 2026

Russian Progress 95 Cargo Spacecraft Launch | International Space Station

Russian Progress 95 Cargo Spacecraft Launch | International Space Station


The Roscosmos Progress 95 cargo spacecraft launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to resupply the Expedition 74 crew aboard the International Space Station. The unpiloted Roscosmos Progress 95 spacecraft is safely in orbit and headed to the International Space Station following its launch at 6:21 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (3:21 a.m. Baikonur time Sunday, April 26, 2026) on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The spacecraft is scheduled to dock autonomously at about 8:01 p.m. EDT Monday, April 27, to the aft port of the space station’s Zvezda module.

Progress 95 is delivering about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies to the orbiting laboratory.


Expedition 74 Crew
Station Commander: Sergey-Kud Sverchkov (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Andrey Fedyaev, Sergei Mikaev
European Space Agency Flight Engineer: Sophie Adenot
NASA Flight Engineers: Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Chris Williams

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.


Video Credit: Roscosmos
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: April 25, 2026 (EDT)

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #Progress95 #Прогресс #SoyuzRocket #Союз #CargoSpacecraft #ISS #Astronauts #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #Expedition74 #JSC #UnitedStates #ESA #Europe #BaikonurCosmodrome #Kazakhstan #STEM #Education #HD #Video
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China-Europe SMILE Solar Science Mission: Protecting Earth from Space Weather

China-Europe SMILE Solar Science Mission: Protecting Earth from Space Weather

A space mission jointly developed by China and Europe is set to offer a new way of looking at how the Sun interacts with our planet.

For the first time, the SMILE mission will capture images of the Earth’s magnetic boundary in action.

This is expected to help scientists better understand so-called “space weather” and its impact on modern life.

CGTN correspondent Li Jianhua spoke to the principal investigator of the soft X-ray imager—one of the four instruments mounted on the spacecraft to find out more.

The European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) are joining hands to uncover how Earth defends itself against dangerous particles and radiation from the Sun.

It is the first time we will have images and videos of what happens when the solar wind crashes into Earth's magnetic field. SMILE will witness this interaction in action using four onboard instruments.

Life can only exist, as we know it, when nestled safe inside this giant magnetic bubble surrounding our planet. By imaging the bubble as a whole for the first time, SMILE will help us build up our fundamental understandingof space weather forecasting.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is responsible for providing SMILE’s payload module (carrying three of the four science instruments), one of the spacecraft’s four science instruments (the soft X-ray imager, SXI), the launcher, and the Assembly Integration and Testing facilities and services. ESA contributes to a second science instrument (the ultraviolet imager, UVI) and the mission operations once SMILE is in orbit.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences provides the other three science instruments and the spacecraft platform, and is responsible for operating the spacecraft in orbit.

SMILE is part of ESA's Cosmic Vision program, principally contributing to answering the question ‘How does the Solar System work?’

SMILE is now scheduled to launch via a Vega-C rocket on May 19, 2026.


Video Credit: CGTN
Duration: 6 minutes, 33 seconds
Release Date: April 24, 2026

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Stars #Sun #Earth #SpaceWeather #SolarRadiation #MagneticField #Magnetosphere #Europe #China #中国 #CAS #中国科学院 #SMILEMission #Heliophysics #Physics #VegaCRocket #Arianespace #GuianaSpaceCentre #FrenchGuiana #STEM #Education #HD #Video
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SpaceX Falcon Heavy in Hangar Pre-launch: ViaSat-3 F3 Communications Satellite

SpaceX Falcon Heavy in Hangar Pre-launch: ViaSat-3 F3 Communications Satellite

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket can be seen in the hangar at Launch Complex 39A in Cape Canaveral, Florida ahead of the upcoming Viasat-3 F3 Mission. Launching on a Falcon Heavy rocket reduces time to orbit by delivering the satellite to a more favorable transfer orbit where this satellite’s electric propulsion will take over to place ViaSat-3 F3 into a geostationary orbit. Following launch, the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite will spend several months traveling to geostationary orbit before arriving at its reserved orbital slot. It will go through rigorous in-orbit testing of both the bus and payload before entering service, expected to occur by late summer 2026. ViaSat-3 satellites are each designed to provide regional coverage with ViaSat-3 F3 expected to cover the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

SpaceX is targeting Monday, April 27, 2026, for a Falcon Heavy launch of the ViaSat-3 F3 mission to geosynchronous transfer orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The 85-minute launch window opens at 10:21 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). If needed, a backup opportunity is available Tuesday, April 28 during an 85-minute window that opens at 10:17 a.m. ET.

One of the side boosters on this mission previously supported SDA-0A, SARah-2, Transporter-11, and 18 Starlink missions, and the second previously supported launch of the GOES-U mission. Following stage separation, Falcon Heavy’s two side boosters will land on SpaceX’s Landing Zones 2 and 40 (LZ-2 and LZ-40) at Cape Canaveral in Florida.


Video Credit: SpaceX
Duration: 14 seconds
Release Dates: April 24, 2026

#NASA #Space #CommercialSpace #SpaceX #SpaceXFalconHeavy #HeavyLiftRockets #ReusableRockets #Satellites #CommunicationSatellites #ViaSat #ViaSat3F3Mission #NASAKennedy #KSC #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video
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SpaceX Falcon Heavy in Hangar Pre-launch: ViaSat-3 F3 Communications Satellite

SpaceX Falcon Heavy in Hangar Pre-launch: ViaSat-3 F3 Communications Satellite

SpaceX Falcon Heavy in the hangar at Launch Complex 39A in Florida
SpaceX Falcon Heavy in the hangar at Launch Complex 39A in Florida
Illustration: ViaSat-3 F3 is expected to cover the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket can be seen in the hangar at Launch Complex 39A in Cape Canaveral, Florida ahead of the upcoming Viasat-3 F3 Mission. Launching on a Falcon Heavy rocket reduces time to orbit by delivering the satellite to a more favorable transfer orbit where this satellite’s electric propulsion will take over to place ViaSat-3 F3 into a geostationary orbit. Following launch, the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite will spend several months traveling to geostationary orbit before arriving at its reserved orbital slot. It will go through rigorous in-orbit testing of both the bus and payload before entering service, expected to occur by late summer 2026. ViaSat-3 satellites are each designed to provide regional coverage with ViaSat-3 F3 expected to cover the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

SpaceX is targeting Monday, April 27, 2026, for a Falcon Heavy launch of the ViaSat-3 F3 mission to geosynchronous transfer orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The 85-minute launch window opens at 10:21 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). If needed, a backup opportunity is available Tuesday, April 28 during an 85-minute window that opens at 10:17 a.m. ET.

One of the side boosters on this mission previously supported SDA-0A, SARah-2, Transporter-11, and 18 Starlink missions, and the second previously supported launch of the GOES-U mission. Following stage separation, Falcon Heavy’s two side boosters will land on SpaceX’s Landing Zones 2 and 40 (LZ-2 and LZ-40) at Cape Canaveral in Florida.


Image Credits: SpaceX, ViaSat Inc.
Release Dates: April 20-24, 2026

#NASA #Space #CommercialSpace #SpaceX #SpaceXFalconHeavy #HeavyLiftRockets #ReusableRockets #Satellites #CommunicationSatellites #ViaSat #ViaSat3F3Mission #NASAKennedy #KSC #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education
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Astronaut Christina Koch’s Memorable International Space Station Moments: Part 1

Astronaut Christina Koch’s Memorable International Space Station Moments: Part 1

Six years before her Artemis II Moon Mission, NASA astronaut, scientist, mission specialist, flight engineer, and spacewalker Christina Koch spent almost a year in space on International Space Station Expeditions 59-61, before coming home. 

When Koch returned to Earth after her long-duration human spaceflight mission, she had lived in space for 328 days, setting the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. During this time, Koch spent many of her hours on science activities aboard the International Space Station and wore many hats—farmer, biologist, physicist, engineer, test subject and many more. 

Christina also participated in the first all-female spacewalk with fellow NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, currently serving aboard the International Space Station on Expedition 74.

Christina Koch Biographies:
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/christina-h-koch
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/christina-hammock-koch/biography

Artemis II mission specialist and NASA astronaut Christina Koch joined NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a nearly 10-day lunar flyby mission, surpassing the Apollo 13 record for farthest crewed spaceflight and observing the lunar surface like never before, capturing iconic views.

Learn more about NASA's Artemis II Mission:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/


Video Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center
Duration: 2 minutes
Release Date: Jan. 9, 2020

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #ISS #Expedition59 #Expedition60 #Expedition61 #Moon #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisII #Astronauts #ChristinaKoch #Scientists #ElectricalEngineers #EVAs #Spacewalks #WomenInSTEM #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #NASAJohnson #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video
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China Space Day Highlights: Space Station Tour plus New Mars & Moon Missions

China Space Day Highlights: Space Station Tour plus New Mars & Moon Missions

China just celebrated its 11th Space Day in Chengdu. Visitors stepped into a life-size replica of the Tianhe, the foundational core module of China’s Tiangong Space Station. They got to experience the exact layout used by astronauts in orbit, from the straps to move through cabins to the specialized space kitchen.

Meanwhile, scientists are revealing a new lunar mineral found in soil returned by the Chang’e-5 mission. Named Changesite-(Y), these column-shaped crystals are very tiny, about one-third to one-thirtieth the thickness of a human hair. This discovery, the fourth lunar mineral identified by China, gives experts a new “fingerprint” to understand how the Moon evolved.

China’s space agency also laid out its plan for the next five years, including flight tests for reusable launchers. Five collaborative projects for the Tianwen-3 Mars mission were selected, featuring payloads like spectrometers and laser arrays developed with partners from Italy, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR to search for life and map Martian resources.

China’s lunar program has officially gone global, with the upcoming Chang’e-8 mission set to carry payloads from 11 countries across four continents, while the Chang’e-5 lunar samples have been granted to researchers from six nations for international scientific study.

Chengdu is the capital city of the Chinese southwestern province of Sichuan.


Video Credit: SMG
Duration: 2 minutes, 23 seconds
Release Date: April 24, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Astronomy #Earth #China #中国 #Chengdu #成都市 #SpaceDay2026 #SpaceDay #Shenzhou21 #神舟二十一号 #Taikonauts #Astronauts #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #CMSA #HumanSpaceflight #CNSA #Mars #Tianwen3MarsMission #Moon #Change8Mission #STEM #Education #HD #Video
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NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 Assignments | International Space Station

NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 Assignments | International Space Station

From left to right, NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov of Russia

NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 Emblem
Expedition 75 Emblem

As part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission, four crew members from three space agencies will launch no earlier than mid-September 2026 to the International Space Station for a long-duration science expedition.

NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively. They will be joined by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov of Russia that will serve as mission specialists. After arriving at the orbiting laboratory, Crew-13 will become members of the space station’s Expedition 75.

This flight is the 13th crew rotation with SpaceX to the space station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP). NASA is advancing the launch date of Crew-13 from November to help increase the frequency of U.S. crew rotation missions to the space station. The crew will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to help prepare humans for future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars, and benefit people on Earth.

This will be the second flight to the space station for Watkins. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2017. Watkins grew up in Lafayette, Colorado, and earned an undergraduate degree in geological and environmental sciences from Stanford University, as well as a doctorate in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles. As a geologist, she studied the Martian surface and was a member of the Curiosity rover science team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Watkins first launched to the space station as a crew member aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission, spending a total of 170 days in space across Expeditions 67/68 in 2022. She will be the first NASA astronaut to launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft twice.

Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021, Delaney earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of North Florida and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School. The Florida native is a distinguished naval aviator. As a test pilot, Delaney evaluated developmental aircraft systems and served as a test pilot instructor. He also worked as a research pilot at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, where he supported airborne science missions. This is the first spaceflight for Delaney.

The Crew-13 mission also is the first spaceflight for Kutryk. Prior to his selection as a CSA astronaut in 2017, he served as a CF-18 pilot. A native of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Kutryk also worked as an experimental and operational test pilot at the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment in Cold Lake, Alberta. Kutryk received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, and he is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Test Pilot school in Edwards, California. He has master’s degrees in space studies, flight test engineering, and defense studies.

Crew-13 will be Teteryatnikov’s first trip to the orbiting laboratory. He graduated from the Naval Academy, St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2011 as an engineer specializing in ship power plant operations. Before his selection as a test cosmonaut, Teteryatnikov served in various naval engineering roles, including undersea vessels and specialized engine room operations. He was selected for the Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center Cosmonaut Corps in 2021 and has served as a test cosmonaut since 2023.

For more than 25 years, people have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and making research breakthroughs that are not possible on Earth. The space station helps NASA understand and overcome the challenges of human spaceflight, expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit, and build on the foundation for long-duration missions to the Moon, as part of the Artemis program, and to Mars.

Learn more about International Space Station research and operations at:
https://www.nasa.gov/station

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.


Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center
Release Date: April 23, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #ISS #SpaceXCrew13 #Astronauts #JessicaWatkins #LukeDelaney #JoshuaKutryk #CanadianSpaceAgency #CSA #Canada #SergeyTeteryatnikov #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #Expedition75 #STEM #Education
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Friday, April 24, 2026

Hubble’s Highlights from its 36th Year in Orbit | Goddard Space Flight Center

Hubble’s Highlights from its 36th Year in Orbit | Goddard Space Flight Center

The Hubble Space Telescope celebrated its 36th year in orbit by premiering a stunning new Hubble image of the Trifid Nebula. Even after all these years, Hubble continues to uncover the mysteries of the universe. These are a few science achievements from Hubble’s latest year in orbit.

The Hubble Space Telescope has taken over 1.7 million observations to date. Almost 29,000 astronomers have published peer-reviewed science papers using Hubble data collected over the telescope’s 36-year lifetime, resulting in more than 23,000 publications, with almost 1100 in 2025 alone. Since 2022, researchers have regularly combined Hubble’s observations with those from the James Webb Space Telescope to push opportunities for discovery further.

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA.


Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center 
Paul Morris: Lead Producer
Duration: 6 minutes
Release Date: April 24, 2026


#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Science #Space #Hubble #Hubble36thAnniversary #Nebulae #Stars #Planets #Galaxies #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video
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Shenzhou-21 Astronauts Send Orbital Blessings to All for 'Space Day' in China

Shenzhou-21 Astronauts Send Orbital Blessings to All for 'Space Day' in China


As China celebrated its 11th Space Day on Friday, April 24, 2026, the Shenzhou-21 crew aboard the country's space station sent their blessings, wishing for a promising future for the nation's space endeavors.

The Shenzhou-21 crew members, comprised of mission commander Zhang Lu and astronauts Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, were sent to space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on October 31, 2025 for a six-month mission.

"Upon the 11th Space Day, I wish for continued prosperity and success to our motherland's space program, and I hope that everyone who harbors a dream of space exploration will bravely set out toward the stars and the vast ocean of space. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of China's space program. From the moment the melody of 'The East Is Red' echoed across the universe to the present day when the Chinese space station soars through the heavens, we astronauts are not only witnesses to history but also participants of history. The Tianhe core module has been in orbit operation for five years. Living in a space home built by the Chinese people, we feel a deep sense of security. We are immensely happy to be able to contribute to the significant development of China's space program," said astronaut Zhang Lu.

"Hello everyone, I'm astronaut Wu Fei. In October 2003, the return capsule of the Shenzhou-5 spacecraft landed on the grasslands of Siziwang Banner in Inner Mongolia. Back then, as a child, I wrote five words on a piece of paper: 'I will go to space'. Now, the boy who once gazed admiringly at the stars has realized his dream. Working and living at the Chinese space station, I understand even more clearly that the curiosity in children's eyes is the most precious fuel for the space industry. The baton of China's space program will eventually be passed into your hands. I hope you will keep the crave for exploring the unknown. Dreams are never distant starlight; they are the result of perseverance, one step at a time. Let us chase our dreams in our youth, living up to the expectations of our era and our motherland," said astronaut Wu Fei.

"Taking care of plants as they thrive, helping mice complete their wondrous journey in space, and combining scientific ideals with the dream of flying to the heavens, I find every day in space deeply meaningful. As space explorers of the new era, we are fulfilling our aspirations through our joint endeavors to build the glory of China's space program. The future holds great promise, and let us together put the footprints of the Chinese people into the farther reaches of the cosmos," said astronaut Zhang Hongzhang.

In 2016, April 24 was chosen as the Space Day of China to mark the launch of the country's first satellite "Dongfanghong-1" into space on April 24, 1970.

Shenzhou-21 Crew
Zhang Lu (张陆) - Commander & Pilot - 2nd spaceflight
Wu Fei (武飞)  Flight Engineer - 1st spaceflight
Zhang Hong Zhang (张洪章) - Payload Specialist - 1st spaceflight


Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 2 minutes
Release Date: April 24, 2026


#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #SpaceDay2026 #SpaceDay #Shenzhou21Mission #神舟二十一号 #Shenzhou21 #Taikonauts #Astronauts #ZhangLu #WuFei #ZhangHongzhang #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #MicrogravityExperiments #SpaceLaboratory #CNSA #国家航天局 #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video
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Crew Thanks Public Supporters Worldwide | NASA Artemis II Moon Mission

Crew Thanks Public Supporters Worldwide | NASA Artemis II Moon Mission

"A thank you, in their own words . . ." 🫶

The Artemis II crew wanted to share their thanks to everyone that followed along during their journey, and to remind us that there is more human exploration coming.

The first crewed test flight of NASA’s Artemis program lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1, 2026, carrying the first astronauts to travel to the Moon in more than half a century. 

During their nearly 10-day mission, the crew completed a record-setting lunar flyby, taking them 252,756 miles at their farthest distance from Earth and 4,067 miles above the lunar surface at their closest approach. 

Artemis II splashed down at 8:07 p.m. April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Following splashdown and recovery, the four crew members underwent post-mission medical evaluations before returning to shore and boarding an aircraft bound for Houston. Upon arrival, the crew was welcomed by and reunited with their families, friends, and agency workforce. The crew now will begin their postflight reconditioning, medical and human performance evaluations, and lunar science debriefs.

Under Artemis, NASA will send astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build on our foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.

Learn more about NASA's Artemis II Mission:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/


Credit: NASA/JSC
Duration: 1 minute
Date: April 24, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #Moon #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisII #OrionSpacecraft #Astronauts #ReidWiseman #VictorGlover #ChristinaKoch #JeremyHansen #CSA #Canada #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #NASAJohnson #JSC #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video
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Journey to The Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo | Victor Blanco Telescope

Journey to The Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo | Victor Blanco Telescope


Messier 104, nicknamed the Sombrero galaxy, is a popular target for amateur observing and astronomical research. Its recognizable extended halo and dust-filled disk are captured in this image from the Department of Energy-fabricated Dark Energy Camera (DECam) mounted on the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in Chile, a Program of NSF NOIRLab.

The Sombrero Galaxy (also known as Messier Object 104, M104 or NGC 4594) is a peculiar galaxy of unclear classification in the constellation borders of Virgo and Corvus, being about 9.55 megaparsecs (31.1 million light-years) from the Milky Way galaxy. It is a member of the Virgo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster. It has an isophotal diameter of 94,900 to 105,000 light-years, making it slightly larger than the Milky Way.

Learn about the Víctor M. Blanco Telescope:
https://noirlab.edu/science/programs/ctio/telescopes/victor-blanco-4m-telescope


Credit: CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA
Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), D. de Martin & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: April 24, 2026


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Galaxy #SombreroGalaxy #Messier104 #M104 #NGC4594 #VirgoConstellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #VictorBlancoTelescope #DECam #CTIO #CerroTololo #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

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Wide-field View: The Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo | Victor Blanco Telescope

Wide-field View: The Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo | Victor Blanco Telescope


Messier 104, nicknamed the Sombrero galaxy, is a popular target for amateur observing and astronomical research. Its recognizable extended halo and dust-filled disk are captured in this image from the Department of Energy-fabricated Dark Energy Camera (DECam) mounted on the U.S. National Science Foundation Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in Chile, a Program of NSF NOIRLab.

The Sombrero Galaxy (also known as Messier Object 104, M104 or NGC 4594) is a peculiar galaxy of unclear classification in the constellation borders of Virgo and Corvus, being about 9.55 megaparsecs (31.1 million light-years) from the Milky Way galaxy. It is a member of the Virgo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster. It has an isophotal diameter of 94,900 to 105,000 light-years, making it slightly larger than the Milky Way.

Learn about the Víctor M. Blanco Telescope:
https://noirlab.edu/science/programs/ctio/telescopes/victor-blanco-4m-telescope


Credit: CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA
Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), D. de Martin & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)
Release Date: April 24, 2026


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Galaxy #SombreroGalaxy #Messier104 #M104 #NGC4594 #VirgoConstellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #VictorBlancoTelescope #DECam #CTIO #CerroTololo #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

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A Tour of The Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo | Victor Blanco Telescope

A Tour of The Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo | Victor Blanco Telescope


Messier 104, nicknamed the Sombrero galaxy, is a popular target for amateur observing and astronomical research. Its recognizable extended halo and dust-filled disk are captured in this image from the Department of Energy-fabricated Dark Energy Camera (DECam) mounted on the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in Chile, a Program of NSF NOIRLab.

The Sombrero Galaxy (also known as Messier Object 104, M104 or NGC 4594) is a peculiar galaxy of unclear classification in the constellation borders of Virgo and Corvus, being about 9.55 megaparsecs (31.1 million light-years) from the Milky Way galaxy. It is a member of the Virgo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster. It has an isophotal diameter of 94,900 to 105,000 light-years, making it slightly larger than the Milky Way.

Learn about the Víctor M. Blanco Telescope:
https://noirlab.edu/science/programs/ctio/telescopes/victor-blanco-4m-telescope


Credit: CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA
Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), D. de Martin & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)
Duration: 30 seconds
Release Date: April 24, 2026


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Galaxy #SombreroGalaxy #Messier104 #M104 #NGC4594 #VirgoConstellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #VictorBlancoTelescope #DECam #CTIO #CerroTololo #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

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Close-up: The Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo | Victor Blanco Telescope

Close-up: The Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo | Victor Blanco Telescope


Messier 104, nicknamed the Sombrero galaxy, is a popular target for amateur observing and astronomical research. Its recognizable extended halo and dust-filled disk are captured in this image from the Department of Energy-fabricated Dark Energy Camera (DECam) mounted on the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in Chile, a Program of NSF NOIRLab.

The Sombrero Galaxy (also known as Messier Object 104, M104 or NGC 4594) is a peculiar galaxy of unclear classification in the constellation borders of Virgo and Corvus, being about 9.55 megaparsecs (31.1 million light-years) from the Milky Way galaxy. It is a member of the Virgo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster. It has an isophotal diameter of 94,900 to 105,000 light-years, making it slightly larger than the Milky Way.

Learn about the Víctor M. Blanco Telescope:
https://noirlab.edu/science/programs/ctio/telescopes/victor-blanco-4m-telescope


Credit: CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA
Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), D. de Martin & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)
Release Date: April 24, 2026


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Galaxy #SombreroGalaxy #Messier104 #M104 #NGC4594 #VirgoConstellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #VictorBlancoTelescope #DECam #CTIO #CerroTololo #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

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Rocket Lab Electron Launch of Japanese Satellite Technology Demonstrations

Rocket Lab Electron Launch of Japanese Satellite Technology Demonstrations








Rocket Lab successfully launched its second dedicated mission for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The “Kakushin Rising” Mission lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, at 3:09 p.m. New Zealand Time on April 23, 2026, to deploy eight spacecraft for JAXA’s Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program that included educational small sats, an ocean-monitoring satellite, a demonstration satellite for ultra-small multispectral cameras, and a deployable antenna packed tightly using origami folding techniques that can unfurl up to 25 times its size.

Rocket Lab’s first dedicated launch for JAXA took place in December 2025. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket deployed the RAISE-4 spacecraft that demonstrated new aerospace technologies developed by several companies, universities, and research institutions in Japan. 

“Kakushin Rising” was Rocket Lab’s 8th launch of the year and 87th launch overall. Upcoming launches in 2026 include missions for commercial Earth observation, plus new space technology demonstrations on orbit.

Rocket Lab:
https://www.rocketlabusa.com


Image Credit: Rocket Lab
Date: April 23, 2025

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China to Make New Breakthroughs in Space Exploration in 2026: Aerospace Scientists

China to Make New Breakthroughs in Space Exploration in 2026: Aerospace Scientists

China is set to make new breakthroughs in space exploration in the near future, said leading researchers at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

Among the most critical space missions scheduled this year and next, China will launch its latest lunar probe and its Hubble-class Xuntian Space Telescope, as well as hundreds of satellites to support its Guowang broadband constellation.

"This year, we will send the Chang'e-7 probe to the Moon. There will be another space station mission next year, which might be the most valuable space station project in the history of science, and it will be launched by the Long March-5B rocket," said rocket designer Feng Shaowei from China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology of the CASC.

Chang'e-7 will explore the Moon's south pole, focusing on locating water ice and other resources in anticipation of a crewed lunar landing in the future.

Meanwhile, China's Tiangong space station will continue to carry out its wide-ranging experimental research, both inside the station's laboratories and outside its walls, with the use of robotic arms. These arms are often used for research in exposing materials to space, but increasingly, they are also used to carry out complex logistical tasks, from collecting cargo spacecraft to rearranging the station's solar arrays.

"In the future, our space station may see the addition of more modules to expand our application capabilities. At the same time, we will enhance the capabilities of our robotic arms, enabling them to perform even more complex tasks," said Hou Yongqing, a space station systems expert from China Academy of Space Technology of the CASC.

According to these aerospace scientists, the coming years could even see China become the second country ever to put astronauts on the moon.

"One thing we look forward to is seeing the new generation of crewed spacecraft flying into space, building a brand-new round-trip transportation platform between Earth and space for astronauts. Our crewed lunar exploration project has also been making steady progress in recent years. In the near future, we will witness the footprints of the Chinese people left on the lunar surface," said Shao Limin, an expert in crewed spacecraft systems of China Academy of Space Technology.

Beyond advancing our understanding of the solar system, China's space programs are also highly consequential for life on Earth. The country's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, for instance, is increasingly used in the development of emerging industries.

"The goals for the next generation of BeiDou Navigation Satellite System are very clear. First, we will further improve the accuracy of positioning services to meet the demands of artificial intelligence, autonomous driving and other future technologies. Second, we aim to lower the barrier for users accessing the system, making it more cost-effective and efficient," said Xie Jun, a satellite navigation system expert from the academy.


Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 1 minute, 22 seconds
Release Date: April 24, 2026

#NASA #CASC #Space #Astronomy #Science #China #中国 #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #XuntianSpaceTelescope #巡天空间望远镜 #Moon #SouthPole #WaterIce #CLEP #Change7 #嫦娥七号 #SpaceRobotics #SpaceTechnology #SpaceExploration #DeepSpace #SolarSystem #STEM #Education #Russia #InternationalCooperation #HD #Video
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