New RS-25 Engine Tested for NASA SLS Moon Rocket | Stennis Space Center

New RS-25 Engine Tested for NASA SLS Moon Rocket | Stennis Space Center

NASA tested RS-25 engine No. 20001 on June 20, 2025, at the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Test teams fired the engine for almost eight-and-a-half minutes (500 seconds), the same amount of time RS-25 engines fire during a launch of an Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon. The Artemis campaign will explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars—for the benefit of all.

Four RS-25 engines, built by contractor L3Harris Technologies (formerly Aerojet Rocketdyne), help power each SLS launch, producing up to 2 million pounds of combined thrust. During the test, operators also fired engine No. 20001 up to the 111% power level, the same amount of thrust needed to launch an SLS rocket, carrying the Orion spacecraft, to orbit. The full-duration “hot fire” was the first test since NASA completed certification testing for new production RS-25 engines in 2024.

All RS-25 engines are tested and proven flightworthy at NASA Stennis. The test was conducted by a team of operators from NASA, L3Harris, and Syncom Space Services, prime contractor for site facilities and operations.

RS-25 engines are evolved space shuttle main engines, upgraded with new components to produce the additional power needed to help launch NASA’s SLS rocket. The first four Artemis missions are using modified space shuttle main engines also tested at NASA Stennis. For each Artemis mission, four RS-25 engines, along with a pair of solid rocket boosters, power the SLS rocket, producing more than 8.8 million pounds of total combined thrust at liftoff.

Credit: NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)
Release Date: June 23, 2025

#NASA #Space #Artemis #ArtemisProgram #Moon #Rocket #SpaceLaunchSystem #SLS #RS25Engines #RS25 #AerojetRocketdyne #MoonToMars #DeepSpace #SpacePropulsion #SpaceEngineering #SpaceTechnology #NASAStennis #Mississippi #MSFC #UnitedStates #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #STEM #Education

China’s Reusable Zhuque-3 Commercial Rocket to Take Orbital Flight This Year

China’s Reusable Zhuque-3 Commercial Rocket to Take Orbital Flight This Year

China's independently developed Zhuque-3 reusable commercial rocket has completed ground tests on its systems and will take its maiden flight in the fourth quarter of the year, aiming to become the country's first vertically recoverable liquid-fueled rocket, according to the rocket's developer LandSpace.

With a diameter of 4.5 meters and a total length of around 66 meters, the Zhuque-3 rocket can carry up to 18 satellites per launch.

Equipped with landing legs and grid fins for controlled descent, the rocket is designed to vertically recover its most expensive component–the first stage. This accounts for 70 percent of the total rocket cost.

As its first stage is designed to be reused at least 20 times, the rocket has the potential to reduce launch costs by 80 to 90 percent compared with single-use rockets.

Powered by a parallel cluster of nine liquid oxygen-methane engines, the first-stage can achieve meter-level landing precision, as five of the engines are capable of gimballing.

In addition, these engines a combined thrust of more than 7,500 kilonewtons, setting a new record for Chinese commercial liquid-fueled rockets.

Last Friday, June 20, 2025, LandSpace conducted a crucial ground ignition test of the first-stage propulsion system at the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

The 45-second test utilized a first-stage structure that is consistent with the technical status of the Zhuque-3's maiden flight mission and validated the compatibility among all major subsystems, according to LandSpace.

Beijing-based LandSpace is a leading Chinese private space company. With its Zhuque-2 rocket, LandSpace became the world's first company to launch a methane-liquid oxygen rocket to Earth orbit in July 2023, ahead of U.S. rivals, including Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.

The successful Zhuque-3 development marks a significant stride in the pursuit of low-cost, high-frequency, and large-capacity space launches for China's private space industry.

Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: June 26, 2025

#NASA #Space #Satellites #Earth #LEO #China #中国 #LandSpace #蓝箭 #Zhuque3Rocket #Zhuque3 #ReusableRockets #LaunchVehicles #MethaneLiquidOxygen #Methalox #JiuquanSatelliteLaunchCenter #JSLC #InnerMongolia #CommercialSpace #CommercialSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

The Seagull Nebula

The Seagull Nebula

An interstellar expanse of glowing gas and obscuring dust presents a bird-like visage to astronomers from planet Earth, suggesting its popular moniker, the Seagull Nebula. This broadband portrait of the cosmic bird covers a 3.5-degree wide swath across the plane of the Milky Way, in the direction of Sirius, alpha star of the constellation of the Big Dog (Canis Major). The bright head of the Seagull Nebula is cataloged as IC 2177, a compact, dusty emission and reflection nebula with embedded massive star HD 53367. The larger emission region, encompassing objects with other catalog designations, is likely part of an extensive shell structure swept up by successive supernova explosions. The notable bluish arc below and right of center is a bow shock from runaway star FN Canis Majoris. Dominated by the reddish glow of atomic hydrogen, this complex of interstellar gas and dust clouds with other stars of the Canis Majoris OB1 association spans over 200 light-years at the Seagull Nebula's estimated 3,800 light-year distance.

Image Credit & Copyright: Timothy Martin

Timothy's website: 

https://app.astrobin.com/u/AccidentalAstronomers#gallery
Release Date: June 26, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #Nebula #SeagullNebula #IC2177 #Sharpless2296 #Sh2296 #RCW2 #Gum1 #StarHD53367 #Monoceros #CanisMajoris #Constellations #MilkyWayGalaxy #Universe #CitizenScience #Astrophotographer #TimothyMartin #GSFC #STEM #Education #APoD

NASA Artemis II Moon Mission Launch Simulation Completed | NASA Kennedy

NASA Artemis II Moon Mission Launch Simulation Completed | NASA Kennedy

“No constraints and go for launch.” What every launch team strives for. The Artemis II astronauts recently joined the Artemis launch team at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to practice a variety of launch-day scenarios on May 8, 2025.

This was the launch team’s 17th terminal count simulation. The terminal count simulation begins when the crew enters the Orion spacecraft and continues all the way to terminal count—the last ten minutes of the launch countdown. The launch team has also performed 17 cryogenic loading simulations. This involves loading the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with liquid propellants and ends when the rocket is fully loaded.

Credit: NASA/Cory Huston
Duration: 1 minute, 21 seconds
Release Date: June 27, 2025

#NASA #ESA #Space #Science #Moon #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisII #NASASLS #SpaceLaunchSystem #Astronauts #CrewedMission #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #SpaceEngineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #NASAKennedy #KSC #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Shenzhou-20 Astronauts Complete Second Spacewalk | China Space Station

Shenzhou-20 Astronauts Complete Second Spacewalk | China Space Station

The Shenzhou-20 crew on board China's orbiting space station completed their mission's second series of extravehicular activities on Thursday, June 26, 2025, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). 

The astronaut trio—Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie—worked for about 6.5 hours and completed the task at 21:29 (Beijing Time), assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a team on Earth.

Chen Dong and Chen Zhongrui were tasked with conducting spacewalk operations this time.

At 15:04, Chen Zhongrui opened the hatch and became the first crew member to exit the cabin during this mission.

After Chen Zhongrui climbed to the tip of the robotic arm, his crewmate Chen Dong, who was positioned at the hatch, passed the airlock protective device to him. Then, Chen Zhongrui began the installation procedure.

About two hours later, Chen Dong also exited the cabin. Working in coordination, the two astronauts installed automated foot restraint adapters and interface adapters on the extravehicular platform.

With the new set of equipment, subsequent spacewalks are expected to be shortened by approximately 40 minutes, the CMSA said.

"This equipment is an innovative design developed by our space station team specifically to improve extravehicular activity efficiency. In the previous spacewalks, astronauts had to install foot limiter and operation platform on the robotic arm's end effector before and after exiting the module, and then rely on the arm to transport them to the work site. With the new automated foot limiter being installed, the robotic arm can now pre-position itself at the work site with all necessary equipment before the astronauts exit. This eliminates manual installation, significantly improving operational efficiency for our astronauts," said Li Xuedong, lead designer of the space station system at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

After the robotic arm captured the automatic foot limiter adapter, Chen Dong conducted mobility verification tests between designated work sites.

Then, the foot restraint adapter assembly was installed to the airlock's hatch toolbox via robotic arm, while astronaut Wang Jie coordinated the operation from inside the Tianhe core module.

The Shenzhou-20 crew also completed the installation of a debris protection device and the inspection and maintenance of external equipment.

Finally, Chen Zhongrui and Chen Dong returned to the Tianhe core module safely, successfully completing the mission's second round of extravehicular activities.

"The universe is vast and silent, but not lonely. Countless stars light up the night sky, just like countless space workers who have been standing with us and supporting our progress. I salute all space workers," said Chen Zhongrui from the space station.

"Thank you, Shenzhou-20 crew. You are the brightest stars in the sky. We will always be with you," said the ground team.

The crew is currently making steady progress on a range of space science experiments. In the next phase, they will focus on conducting research and technology tests in key areas, such as space life sciences, microgravity fundamental physics, space materials science, space medicine, and advanced aerospace technologies.

China launched the Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft on April 24, 2025, sending three astronauts to its orbiting space station for a six-month mission.

Shenzhou-20 Crew

Chen Dong (陈冬) - Commander - Third spaceflight

Chen Zhong Rui (陈中瑞) - Operator - First spaceflight

Wang Jie (王杰) - Flight Engineer - First spaceflight

Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 3 minutes
Release Date: June 27, 2025

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Shenzhou20Mission #神舟二十号 #Shenzhou20Crew #Taikonauts #ChenDong #ChenZhongrui #WangJie #Astronauts #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #EVA #Spacewalk #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #LongDurationMissions #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA’s Curiosity Rover Explores “Spiderwebs” on Mars: 360 Degree View

NASA’s Curiosity Rover Explores “Spiderwebs” on Mars: 360 Degree View

Drag your mouse or move your phone to explore this 360-degree panorama provided by NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover. This view shows examples of the rover’s first looks at a region that has only been viewed from space until now, and where the surface is crisscrossed with spiderweblike patterns.

00:00 Title

00:08 Intro

00:26 Labeled Image

00:50 Groundwater Rock Vein

01:43 Unlabeled Image

First seen in the years before Curiosity landed in 2012, these patterns are boxwork formations—a kind of low ridge, several just a few inches tall, created by groundwater as it soaks into subsurface rock cracks. That groundwater left behind minerals that accumulated in those cracks, hardening and becoming cementlike. Eons of sandblasting by Martian wind wore away the rock but not the minerals, revealing networks of resistant ridges within.

This video will show you rover tracks left by Curiosity, a selection of the boxwork ridges and an example of a white mineral vein found running through a rock crack—another sign of how groundwater shaped this area.

This panorama is stitched together from 291 individual images captured by the rover’s Mast Camera, or Mastcam, between May 15 and May 18, 2025 (the 4,451st Martian day, or sol, of the mission and the 4,454th sol). The color in these images has been adjusted to match the lighting conditions as the human eye would see them on Earth.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Duration: 2 minutes, 15 seconds
Release Date: June 23, 2025

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #RedPlanet #Planet #Geology #Ridges #Groundwater #GroundwaterRockVeins #CuriosityRover #MSL #MountSharp #GaleCrater #Robotics #SpaceTechnology #SpaceEngineering #MSSS #JPL #Caltech #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #360DegreePanorama #HD #Video

A New Commercial Approach to Mars Sample Return | Lockheed Martin Space

A New Commercial Approach to Mars Sample Return | Lockheed Martin Space

Lockheed Martin Space: "As the nation looks to commercial industry to drive innovation in space exploration, we are leading the charge. Our latest offering to NASA is a game-changing solution for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, delivering a firm-fixed price solution for under $3 billion, a significant reduction from current estimates of $7 billion."

"By leveraging our extensive experience in deep space exploration and utilizing existing designs, we're streamlining operations and reducing risk to achieve a lower total mission cost. Our commercial industry-led design features a simplified and centralized architecture, enabling a drastic reduction in mass."

"Learn more about our innovative approach to MSR, featuring a smaller lander based on our flight-proven InSight spacecraft, a smaller Mars ascent vehicle and a smaller Earth entry system—all tailored to the needs of returning Mars samples. Join us as we push the boundaries of space exploration and show how science and deep space exploration can be done differently."

Learn more about MSR:
https://lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/features/2025/bringing-commercial-industry-efficiency-to-exploration-lockheed-martins-plan-for-mars-sample-return.html

Video Credit: Lockheed Martin Space
Duration: 1 minute, 14 seconds
Release Date: June 26, 2025

#NASA #ESA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #RedPlanet #Planet #Astrobiology #Geology #Mars2020 #PerseveranceRover #JezeroCrater #MarsSampleReturn #MSR #Robotics #SpaceTechnology #SpaceEngineering #JPL #Caltech #LockheedMartin #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Axiom Space Ax-4 Crew Arrival | International Space Station

Axiom Space Ax-4 Crew Arrival | International Space Station

Expedition 73 Crew welcomes members of the Axiom Space Ax-4 Mission to the International Space Station

Front row (from left to right): Ax-4 Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary, Ax-4 Commander Peggy Whitson of the United States, Ax-4 Mission Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Ax-4 Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of the European Space Agency (ESA)/Poland, NASA Flight Engineer Anne McClain of the United States, Station Commander and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Flight Engineer Takuya Onishi

Back Row (from left to right): Flight Engineer Alexey Zubritsky of Roscosmos (Russia), Flight Engineer Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos (Russia), Flight Engineer Kirill Peskov of Roscosmos (Russia),  NASA Flight Engineer Jonny Kim of the United States,  NASA Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers of the United States

Ax-4 crew Dragon Spacecraft approaches the International Space Station

Ax-4 crew Dragon Spacecraft approaches the International Space Station

NASA Flight Engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers of the United States monitoring the Ax-4 crew Dragon spacecraft during its automated approach and rendezvous maneuvers.

At 8:14 a.m. EDT on Thursday, June 26, 2025, the hatch opened between the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and the International Space Station following the arrival of Axiom Mission 4. Afterwards, a short welcoming ceremony for the Ax-4 crew was held. The Ax-4 crew spacecraft docked at 6:31 a.m. to the space-facing port of the space station’s Harmony module.

Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, and astronaut Tibor Kapu of Hungary are now aboard the International Space Station after launching at 2:31 a.m. on June 25, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4.

The private astronauts plan to spend about two weeks aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission of science, outreach, and commercial activities.

The Ax-4 Mission “realizes the return” to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While Ax-4 marks these countries' second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space Station.

The Ax-4 research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe.

Ax-4 Crew

Peggy Whitson (United States)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/peggy-whitson

Shubhanshu Shukla (India)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/shubhanshu-shukla

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/slawosz-uznanski

Tibor Kapu (Hungary)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/tibor-kapu

Learn more about Ax-4: 
https://www.axiomspace.com/missions/ax4

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. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

Image Credits: NASA/JSC/N. Ayers

Capture Date: June 26, 2025

#NASA #Space #ISS #AxiomSpace #Ax4Mission #Ax4 #SpaceX #CrewDragonSpacecraft #PeggyWhitson #UnitedStates #ShubhanshuShukla #India #BhāratGaṇarājya #SławoszUznańskiWiśniewski #Poland #Polska #TiborKapu #Hungary #Magyarország #CommercialSpace #Astronauts #Europe #STEM #Education

Planet Mars Images: June 20-24, 2025 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

Planet Mars Images: June 20-24, 2025 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

Mars 2020 - sol 1542

MSL - sol 4575

MSL - sol 4575

Mars 2020 - sol 1539

Mars 2020 - sol 1544

Mars 2020 - sol 1544

MSL - sol 4575

MSL - sol 4577

Support FriendsofNASA.org

Celebrating 12+ Years on Mars (2012-2024)

Mission Name: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Rover Name: Curiosity

Main Job: To determine if Mars was ever habitable to microbial life. 

Launch: Nov. 6, 2011

Landing Date: Aug. 5, 2012, Gale Crater, Mars

Celebrating 4+ Years on Mars

Mission Name: Mars 2020

Rover Name: Perseverance

Main Job: Seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and soil) for return to Earth.

Launch: July 30, 2020    

Landing: Feb. 18, 2021, Jezero Crater, Mars

For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit: mars.nasa.gov

Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

Processing: Kevin M. Gill

Image Release Dates: June 20-24, 2025

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #RedPlanet #Planet #Astrobiology #Geology #CuriosityRover #MSL #MountSharp #GaleCrater #PerseveranceRover #Mars2020 #JezeroCrater #Robotics #SpaceTechnology #SpaceEngineering #MSSS #JPL #Caltech #UnitedStates #CitizenScience #KevinGill #STEM #Education

Shenzhou-20 Crew Prepares for Second Spacewalk | China Space Station

Shenzhou-20 Crew Prepares for Second Spacewalk | China Space Station

Shenzhou-20 crew members aboard China's Tiangong Space Station are ready for their second extravehicular activity or spacewalk. The space station is running smoothly and the astronauts have been working in orbit for over two months since their arrival on April 25, 2025. They are in good physical and psychological condition—fully prepared for the upcoming EVA.

Shenzhou-20 Crew

Chen Dong (陈冬) - Commander - Third spaceflight

Chen Zhong Rui (陈中瑞) - Operator - First spaceflight

Wang Jie (王杰) - Flight Engineer - First spaceflight

Video Credit: CMSA/CNSA-W
Duration: 2 minutes
Release Date: June 26, 2025

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Shenzhou20Mission #神舟二十号 #Shenzhou20Crew #Taikonauts #ChenDong #ChenZhongrui #WangJie #Astronauts #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #EVA #Spacewalk #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #LongDurationMissions #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #Video

Axiom Space Ax-4 Crew Welcoming Ceremony | International Space Station

Axiom Space Ax-4 Crew Welcoming Ceremony | International Space Station

At 8:14 a.m. EDT on Thursday, June 26, 2025, the hatch opened between the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and the International Space Station following the arrival of Axiom Mission 4. Afterwards, a short welcoming ceremony for the Ax-4 crew was held. The Ax-4 crew spacecraft docked at 6:31 a.m. to the space-facing port of the space station’s Harmony module.

Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary are now aboard the International Space Station after launching at 2:31 a.m. on June 25, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4.

The private astronauts plan to spend about two weeks aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission of science, outreach, and commercial activities.

The Ax-4 Mission “realizes the return” to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While Ax-4 marks these countries' second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space Station.

The Ax-4 research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe.

Ax-4 Crew

Peggy Whitson (United States)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/peggy-whitson

Shubhanshu Shukla (India)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/shubhanshu-shukla

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/slawosz-uznanski

Tibor Kapu (Hungary)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/tibor-kapu

Learn more about Ax-4: 
https://www.axiomspace.com/missions/ax4

Video Credits: NASA/JSC/Axiom Space

Duration: 2 minute

Capture Date: June 26, 2025

#NASA #Space #ISS #AxiomSpace #Ax4Mission #Ax4 #SpaceX #CrewDragonSpacecraft #PeggyWhitson #UnitedStates #ShubhanshuShukla #India #BhāratGaṇarājya #SławoszUznańskiWiśniewski #Poland #Polska #TiborKapu #Hungary #Magyarország #CommercialSpace #Astronauts #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Atlas V Launch: Amazon Project Kuiper Satellites | United Launch Alliance

Atlas V Launch: Amazon Project Kuiper Satellites | United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket was launched at 6:54 a.m. EDT (1054 UTC), June 23, 2025, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with the second grouping of satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper broadband constellation. The Kuiper payloads are the heaviest ever carried by Atlas V at 34,000 pounds (15,400 kg). The satellites rode to space attached to a special dispensing tower and were release at predetermined intervals. This launch featured the most separation events ever performed in a single Atlas launch.

Project Kuiper is Amazon's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband network. Its mission is to provide fast, reliable Internet access to customers around the world, including those in unserved and underserved communities, using a constellation of more than 3,200 LEO satellites.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) update:
https://newsroom.ulalaunch.com/releases/united-launch-alliance-and-amazon-launch-the-future-of-global-connectivity

Amazon's Project Kuiper:
https://www.aboutamazon.com/what-we-do/devices-services/project-kuiper

Video Credit: United Launch Alliance (ULA)
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: June 25, 2025

#NASA #Space #Earth #Satellites #LEO #Amazon #ProjectKuiper #Kuiper2Mission #SatelliteConstellations #CommunicationsSatellites #BroadbandInternetServices #AtlasVRocket #ULA #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #CommercialSpace #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Axiom Space Ax-4 Crew Arrival: Hatch Opening | International Space Station

Axiom Space Ax-4 Crew Arrival: Hatch Opening | International Space Station

At 8:14 a.m. EDT on Thursday, June 26, 2025, the hatch opened between the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and the International Space Station following the arrival of Axiom Mission 4. The spacecraft docked at 6:31 a.m. to the space-facing port of the space station’s Harmony module.

Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary are now aboard the International Space Station after launching at 2:31 a.m. on June 25, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4.

The private astronauts plan to spend about two weeks aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission of science, outreach, and commercial activities.

The Ax-4 Mission “realizes the return” to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While Ax-4 marks these countries' second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space Station.

The Ax-4 research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe.

Ax-4 Crew

Peggy Whitson (United States)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/peggy-whitson

Shubhanshu Shukla (India)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/shubhanshu-shukla

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/slawosz-uznanski

Tibor Kapu (Hungary)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/tibor-kapu

Learn more about Ax-4: 
https://www.axiomspace.com/missions/ax4

Video Credits: NASA/JSC/Axiom Space

Duration: 1 minute, 34 seconds

Capture Date: June 26, 2025

#NASA #Space #ISS #AxiomSpace #Ax4Mission #Ax4 #SpaceX #CrewDragonSpacecraft #PeggyWhitson #UnitedStates #ShubhanshuShukla #India #BhāratGaṇarājya #SławoszUznańskiWiśniewski #Poland #Polska #TiborKapu #Hungary #Magyarország #CommercialSpace #Astronauts #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

New View of Neighboring Galaxy | ALERT: NASA's Chandra Mission Canceled

New View of Neighboring Galaxy | ALERT: NASA's Chandra Mission Canceled

    

Along with 18 other active NASA science missions, the Chandra X-ray Observatory is no longer funded in NASA's Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request. In fact, NASA's entire science budget has been cut nearly 50%. This includes ending planned missions deemed crucial by the National Academy of Sciences, as well as those involving partnerships with international space agencies.

Contact your representatives in the United States Congress, House and Senate, to express your concerns about severe budget cuts at NASA:

https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials/

NASA's Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request (PDF) Document Download: https://www.nasa.gov/fy-2026-budget-request/ (See Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request Summary)

The Andromeda galaxy, also known as Messier 31 (M31), is the closest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way at a distance of about two and a half million light-years. Astronomers use Andromeda to understand the structure and evolution of our own spiral, which is much harder to do since Earth is embedded inside the Milky Way.

M31 has played an important role in many aspects of astrophysics, but particularly in the discovery of dark matter. In the 1960s, Vera Rubin and her colleagues studied M31 and determined that there was some unseen matter in the galaxy that was affecting how the galaxy and its spiral arms rotated. This unknown material was named “dark matter” and its nature remains one of the biggest open questions in astrophysics today.

Each type of light reveals new information about this close galactic relative to the Milky Way. For example, Chandra’s X-rays reveal the high-energy radiation around the supermassive black hole at the center of M31 as well as many other smaller compact and dense objects strewn across the galaxy.

These multi-wavelength datasets are also being released as a sonification. This includes the same wavelengths of data in the new composite. In the sonification, the layer from each telescope has been separated out and rotated so that they stack on top of each other horizontally beginning with X-rays at the top and then moving through ultraviolet, optical, infrared, and radio at the bottom. As the scan moves from left to right in the sonification, each type of light is mapped to a different range of notes ranging from lower-energy radio waves up through the high-energy of X-rays. Meanwhile, the brightness of each source controls volume and the vertical location dictates the pitch.

This new image of M31 is released in tribute to the groundbreaking legacy of Dr. Vera Rubin. Her observations transformed our understanding of the Universe. Rubin’s meticulous measurements of Andromeda’s rotation curve provided some of the earliest and most convincing evidence that galaxies are embedded in massive halos of invisible material—what we now call dark matter. Her work challenged long-held assumptions and catalyzed a new era of research into the composition and dynamics of the cosmos. In recognition of her profound scientific contributions, the United States Mint has recently released a commemorative quarter in 2025 featuring Rubin as part of its American Women Quarters Program—making her the first astronomer honored in the series.

Video Credit: NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory
Duration: 3 minutes, 26 seconds
Release Date: June 25, 2025

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Galaxies #AndromedaGalaxy #M31 #NGC224 #Andromeda #Constellation #VeraRubin #Cosmos #Universe #NASAChandra #ChandraObservatory #XrayAstronomy #SpaceTelescopes #MSFC #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #History #Sonification #HD #Video

Shenzhou-20 Crew Continues Work on Experiments | China Space Station

Shenzhou-20 Crew Continues Work on Experiments | China Space Station

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Shenzhou-20 crew has been carrying out a series of scientific experiments in orbit two months after docking with China's Tiangong Space Station on April 25, 2025.

In one notable experiment, astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie conducted China's first in-orbit flatworm regeneration study. Using a small-scale universal biological module in the life ecology experiment cabinet, the crew explored how space microgravity and radiation affect flatworm regeneration at both morphological and physiological levels. The study is expected to deepen understanding of regenerative mechanisms at the organismal level. 

On May 22 at 16:49 Beijing time, the astronauts completed their first series of extravehicular activities (EVAs). This marked the 20th EVA since the construction of China's space station in 2021. Assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a ground team in Beijing, Chen Dong and Chen Zhongrui, in close collaboration with Wang Jie, exited the space station complex through the node cabin of the Tianhe core module. The three astronauts worked around eight hours to complete multiple tasks, including the installation of space debris protection devices that had earlier been deployed through the cargo airlock cabin and transferred to an intermediate position by the robotic arm, and the inspection of extravehicular equipment and facilities.

Recently, the crew has also conducted tests on several cognitive and coordination-related projects, including studies on trust and collaboration mechanisms, visuomotor gravitational representation, metacognitive monitoring, and spatial relationship cognition under microgravity. Using diagnostic ultrasound, they examined vascular conditions, and carried out precision grip and memory-based tasks using motion measurement devices. They also explored how microgravity affects microorganisms, particularly streptomyces, examining growth, differentiation, population succession, and bioactive compound synthesis using the station's biotechnology experiment cabinet.

All three astronauts remain in good health, and mission-related experiments and operations are progressing steadily.

Shenzhou-20 Crew

Chen Dong (陈冬) - Commander - Third spaceflight

Chen Zhong Rui (陈中瑞) - Operator - First spaceflight

Wang Jie (王杰) - Flight Engineer - First spaceflight

Video Credit: CCTV

Duration: 1 minute, 18 seconds
Release Date: June 25, 2025

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Shenzhou20Mission #神舟二十号 #Shenzhou20Crew #Taikonauts #ChenDong #ChenZhongrui #WangJie #Astronauts #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #MicrogravityExperiments #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #LongDurationMissions #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski Begins Ignis Mission | European Space Agency

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski Begins Ignis Mission | European Space Agency

These are launch highlights of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station with European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland. The mission is called Ignis.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from launch pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, on June 25, 2025.

Sławosz is mission specialist on the Dragon spacecraft. The other crew members are Shubhanshu Shukla from India and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. They fly under the command of Peggy Whitson from the United States.

Sponsored by the Polish government and supported by ESA, the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology (MRiT), and the Polish Space Agency (POLSA), the mission will include an ambitious technological and scientific program with several experiments led by ESA and proposed by the Polish space industry.

Video Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)
Duration: 3 minutes
Release Date: June 25, 2025

#NASA #Space #ISS #AxiomSpace #Ax4Mission #Ax4 #SpaceX #Falcon9Rocket #CrewDragonSpacecraft #SławoszUznańskiWiśniewski #POLSA #Poland #Polska #CommercialSpace #Astronauts #Europe #NASAKennedy #Florida #STEM #Education #HD #Video