Friends of NASA

Saturday, August 09, 2025

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Exit Dragon Spacecraft Off the California Coast

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Exit Dragon Spacecraft Off the California Coast

Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov of Russia, left, NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi are seen inside the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery Shannon shortly after having landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. McClain, Ayers, Onishi, and Peskov are returning after seven-months in space as part of Expedition 73 aboard the International Space Station.

NASA astronaut Anne McClain is helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship Shannon

NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship Shannon

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi is helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship Shannon

Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov of Russia is helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship Shannon

At 11:33 a.m. EDT, on Saturday, August 9, 2025, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov of Russia splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California. This completes a stay in space of 148 days for the four-person crew. After egressing the spacecraft, the crew received medical checks before being flown via helicopter to meet up with a NASA aircraft bound for Houston.

Follow Expedition 73:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 73 Crew

Station Commander: Sergey Ryzhikov (Roscosmos)

JAXA Flight Engineer (Japan): Kimiya Yui

Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Alexey Zubritskiy, Oleg Platonov

NASA Flight Engineers: Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke

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.

Image Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber

Date: Aug. 9, 2025

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Planet #Earth #SpaceX #CrewDragonSpacecraft #Crew10 #Astronauts #AnneMcClain #NicholeAyers #UnitedStates #TakuyaOnishi #Japan #JAXA #Cosmonauts #KirillPeskov #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceLaboratory #InternationalCooperation #Expedition73 #STEM #Education

Red & Green Auroras | International Space Station

Red & Green Auroras | International Space Station

Former Expedition 71/72 flight engineer and NASA astronaut Don Pettit: "Sit back and enjoy this smooth ISS pass between green and red auroras, and the stars of deep space."

"This video was taken by my crewmate Butch Wilmore on Expedition 72. His extended stay gave us lots of time to collaborate on photography!"

On August 6, 2025, it was announced that after 25 years at NASA, flying in four types of spacecraft, accumulating 464 days in space, astronaut, and test pilot Butch Wilmore has retired from NASA.

Learn more: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-astronaut-barry-butch-wilmore-retires/

NASA astronaut Don Pettit returned to Earth on April 19, 2025, concluding a seven-month science mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Pettit spent 220 days in space, earning him a total of 590 days in space over the course of his four spaceflights. He orbited the Earth 3,520 times, traveling 93.3 million miles in low-Earth orbit.

Follow Expedition 73:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 73 Crew

Station Commander: Sergey Ryzhikov (Roscosmos)

JAXA Flight Engineer (Japan): Kimiya Yui

Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Alexey Zubritskiy, Oleg Platonov

NASA Flight Engineers: Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke

Learn more about the important research being operated on Station:
https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science

For more information about STEM on Station:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM)

Video Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center/D. Pettit/B. Wilmore
Duration: 30 seconds
Release Date: Aug. 8, 2025

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Earth #Aurora #Astronauts #DonPettit #ButchWilmore #AstronautPhotography #UnitedStates #Japan #JAXA #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceLaboratory #InternationalCooperation #Expedition71 #Expedition72 #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Dragon: Parachutes Deploy | International Space Station

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Dragon: Parachutes Deploy | International Space Station

Watch this close-up view showing the deployment of the Crew-10 Dragon spacecraft's four main parachutes prior to a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean . . .

Update: At 11:33 a.m. EDT, on Saturday, August 9, 2025, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov of Russia splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California. This completes a stay in space of 148 days for the four-person crew. After egressing the spacecraft, the crew will receive medical checks before being flown via helicopter to meet up with a NASA aircraft bound for Houston.

Follow Expedition 73:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 73 Crew

Station Commander: Sergey Ryzhikov (Roscosmos)

JAXA Flight Engineer (Japan): Kimiya Yui

Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Alexey Zubritskiy, Oleg Platonov

NASA Flight Engineers: Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke

Video Credit: SpaceX

Duration: 30 seconds

Date: Aug. 9, 2025

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Dragon Splashdown | International Space Station

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Dragon Splashdown | International Space Station

Follow Expedition 73:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 73 Crew
Station Commander: Sergey Ryzhikov (Roscosmos)
JAXA Flight Engineer (Japan): Kimiya Yui
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Alexey Zubritskiy, Oleg Platonov
NASA Flight Engineers: Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke

Video Credit: SpaceX
Duration: 50 seconds
Date: Aug. 9, 2025

New Expedition 73 Crew Photos | International Space Station

New Expedition 73 Crew Photos | International Space Station

Eleven International Space Station crew members gather inside the International Space Station's Unity module for a portrait. In the front row, from left are, Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Zena Cardman of NASA, Oleg Platonov of Roscosmos (Russia), and Mike Fincke of NASA. In the second row are, Nichole Ayers of NASA, Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos (Russia), and Anne McClain of NASA. In the back are, Takuya Onishi of JAXA, Kirill Peskov of Roscosmos (Russia), Jonny Kim of NASA, and Alexey Zubritsky of Roscosmos (Russia).

Change of Command ceremony aboard the International Space Station. JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi

handed control over to Russian cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov on Aug. 5, 2025.

From left, NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 members Kirill Peskov of Roscosmos (Russia), NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi pose for a group portrait inside the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory module.

Six of seven Expedition 73 crew members pose for a portrait during dinnertime at the galley inside the International Space Station's Unity module. Clockwise from bottom are, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi, NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, plus Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov, Kirill Peskov, and Alexey Zubritsky—all of Russia.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Anne McClain poses for a portrait inside the cupola, the International Space Station's "window to the world," as the orbital outpost soared 259 miles above the Atlantic Ocean west of the African island nation of Cabo Verde.

Update: NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov of Russia, are preparing to splash down off the coast of California, aboard their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft Saturday, August 9, 2025.

Splashdown remains on schedule for approximately 11:33 a.m. Weather conditions remain within the splashdown weather criteria and are “go” at the primary targeted site off the coast of San Diego, California. The Crew-10 mission will be the first crewed flight to splashdown off the coast of California as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

Follow Expedition 73:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 73 Crew

Station Commander: Sergey Ryzhikov (Roscosmos)

JAXA Flight Engineers (Japan): Takuya Onishi, Kimiya Yui

Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Kirill Peskov, Alexey Zubritskiy, Oleg Platonov

NASA Flight Engineers: Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke

Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center

Dates: July 19-Aug. 5, 2025

Crew-10 Commander Anne McClain: "Farewell to the International Space Station"

Crew-10 Commander Anne McClain: "Farewell to the International Space Station"

Expedition 73 flight engineer, NASA astronaut and Crew-10 Commander Anne McClain: "This is truly a special place, special mission, and special team that makes it happen. It is a bittersweet departure today—I have a keen awareness that I may never be back here, and even if I was, it would be at a different time with a different crew. This chapter is over. Spaceflight has always been a life goal, and it has turned into a life-fulfilling endeavor—but not for the reasons I thought growing up. When I was young, I pictured the launch, the incredible ball of fire and the acceleration, the spacewalks (how could you not wonder what it’s like to be in that suit?), and I was fascinated by the shuttles, capsules, and stations. But as I complete this second mission living and working in space, what draws me to this job is the people. Experiences like this are amazing, but the relationships we build that make it possible are the 'why.'"

"Every day, this mission depends on people from all over the world, of different nationalities, races, religions, and cultures. It depends on government and commercial entities, it depends on all political parties, and it depends on commitment to an unchanged goal over many years and decades. It depends on people dedicated to being part of something bigger than themselves, whose names may never be known but who wake up every day to make the world a better place and to be part of something they will be proud to tell their grandkids about. History will look kindly upon them."

"Humans have always had a propensity to explore … across lands and oceans, up mountains, and into the sky. We as a species will never stop wondering what else is out there, and what it would be like to go. But then, in the words of TS Elliot": “…at the end of all our exploring, will be to arrive where we started, and know the place for the first time.”

"Crew-10 is on its way home."

Follow Expedition 73:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 73 Crew

Station Commander: Sergey Ryzhikov (Roscosmos)

JAXA Flight Engineers (Japan): Takuya Onishi, Kimiya Yui

Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Kirill Peskov, Alexey Zubritskiy, Oleg Platonov

NASA Flight Engineers: Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center/A. McClain

Duration: 1 minute
Date: Aug. 8, 2025

Friday, August 08, 2025

NASA Remembers Apollo Astronaut Jim Lovell

NASA Remembers Apollo Astronaut Jim Lovell

"We are saddened by the passing of Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell at the age of 97."

"Jim Lovell was a veteran of the Gemini VII and Gemini XII missions before becoming command module pilot and navigator for Apollo 8, the first crewed spacecraft to be lifted into near-Earth orbit by the Saturn V launch vehicle. He became the first man to orbit the Moon on two separate missions when he served as the commander of Apollo 13."

"Unfortunately, the mission to explore the Fra Mauro region of the Moon did not go as planned. What many viewed as a 'routine' mission soon had millions around the globe glued to television sets watching and hoping for a positive outcome to one of the most intense episodes in the history of space exploration."

Credit: NASA
Duration: 3 minutes
Release Date: Aug. 8, 2025

#NASA #Space #Science #Astronomy #Earth #GeminiProgram #Moon #ApolloProgram #Astronauts #JimLovell #InMemorium #InRemembrance #Tribute #Heroes #GeminiVII #GeminiXII #Apollo8 #Apollo13 #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #STEM #Education #History #HD #Video

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Dragon Spacecraft Undocking | International Space Station

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Dragon Spacecraft Undocking | International Space Station

At 6:15 p.m. EDT on Friday, August 8, 2025, NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov of Russia undocked from the forward-facing port of International Space Station’s Harmony module aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

Follow Expedition 73:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 73 Crew

Station Commander: Sergey Ryzhikov (Roscosmos)

JAXA Flight Engineers (Japan): Takuya Onishi, Kimiya Yui

Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Kirill Peskov, Alexey Zubritskiy, Oleg Platonov

NASA Flight Engineers: Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke

Learn more about the important research being operated on Station:
https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science

For more information about STEM on Station:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM)

Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center

Duration: 2 minutes, 23 seconds
Date: Aug. 8, 2025

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Planet #Earth #SpaceX #CrewDragonSpacecraft #Crew10 #Astronauts #NicholeAyers #AnneMcClain #UnitedStates #TakuyaOnishi #Japan #JAXA #Cosmonauts #KirillPeskov #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceLaboratory #InternationalCooperation #Expedition73 #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Earth Views from Cupola | ESA Ignis Mission | International Space Station

Earth Views from Cupola | ESA Ignis Mission | International Space Station

This beautiful view of Earth was captured by the European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski during the Ignis Mission at the International Space Station.

The Cupola is a panoramic control tower for the International Space Station, a dome-shaped module with windows through which operations on the outside of the station can be observed and guided. It is a pressurized observation and work area that accommodates command and control workstations and other hardware. Through the robotics workstation, astronauts control the station’s robotic arm. This helps with the attachment and assembly of station elements much like the operator of a building crane perched in a control cabin. Crew members in the Cupola can communicate with other crew members in another part of the station or outside during spacewalk activities. Spacewalks can be observed from the Cupola along with visiting spacecraft and external areas of the station with the Cupola offering a viewing spectrum of 360 degrees.

Sławosz was launched to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of Axiom Mission 4 on June 25, 2025. The 20-day mission, known as Ignis, saw him conduct 13 experiments proposed by Polish companies and institutions in collaboration with ESA, along with three additional ESA-led experiments. These covered a broad range of fields including human research, materials science, biology, biotechnology and technology demonstrations.

Axiom Mission 4 marks the second commercial human spaceflight involving an ESA project astronaut. Ignis was sponsored by the Polish government and supported by ESA, the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology (MRiT), and the Polish Space Agency (POLSA).

Ignis Mission:
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/ignis

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

Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)
Duration: 1 minute, 33 seconds
Release Date: July 29, 2025

#NASA #Space #Planet #Earth #ISS #Cupola #AxiomSpace #Ax4Mission #Ax4 #SpaceX #CrewDragonSpacecraft #Astronauts #CommercialAstronauts #ESA #SławoszUznańskiWiśniewski #ProjectAstronauts #MRiT #POLSA #Poland #Polska #Expedition73 #CommercialSpace #InternationalCooperation #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Planet Mars Images: Aug. 7-8, 2025 | NASA's Curiosity Rover

Planet Mars Images: Aug. 7-8, 2025 | NASA's Curiosity Rover

MSL - sol 4622

MSL - sol 4623

MSL - sol 4622

MSL - sol 4621

Support FriendsofNASA.org

Celebrating 13+ 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

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: Aug. 7-8, 2025

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

China's Lanyue Moon Lander Completes Comprehensive Landing/Takeoff Tests

China's Lanyue Moon Lander Completes Comprehensive Landing/Takeoff Tests

China’s Lanyue lunar lander has successfully completed a comprehensive landing and takeoff verification test at its landing test site in Huailai County, north China's Hebei province. This marks a significant breakthrough in the country's crewed lunar exploration program.

The lunar lander is a newly developed crewed descent and ascent vehicle designed for China's first manned lunar exploration mission with plans to conduct a crewed lunar landing before 2030. It is primarily used for transporting astronauts between lunar orbit and the lunar surface, capable of carrying two astronauts back and forth. It can also carry a lunar rover and scientific payloads, supporting astronauts’ stay and activities on the Moon.

During the test, the engine was ignited, simulating the landing of the lunar lander on the Moon and its subsequent takeoff. The test validated the lander's landing and takeoff system, control plan, lunar contact shutdown procedures, and the compatibility of interfaces between subsystems, including Guidance, Navigation, Control (GNC) and propulsion.

The test marks China's first landing and takeoff experiment for a crewed spacecraft. It is a milestone in the initial sample development of the lunar lander and a key point in the country's crewed lunar exploration program.

With complex test conditions, a long duration, and high technical difficulty, the test covers the performance verification of the lunar lander under a range of scenarios throughout the landing and takeoff process.

"For instance, during the launch phase, we need to verify its launch payload. So we conducted large-scale mechanical tests to ensure a smooth transition in the extremely complex environment during the launch. The lander will also orbit the Moon for a long period, so we performed many thermal tests to ensure that it can withstand the thermal environment of the cislunar space," said Huang Zhen from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 1 minute, 38 seconds
Release Date: Aug. 8, 2025

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #China #中国 #Moon #HumanSpaceflight #LunarMissions #LunarLanders #Lanyue #揽月 #CrewModules #Mengzhou #LandingSpacecraft #MoonLanders #MoonRovers #LongMarch10Rockets #Taikonauts #Astronauts #EVASpacesuits #CMSA #SpaceTechnology #Robotics #SpaceEngineering #SpaceExploration #STEM #Education #HD #Video

The Blue Horsehead Nebula in Scorpius

The Blue Horsehead Nebula in Scorpius

The Blue Horsehead Nebula (IC 4592) is a reflection nebula in the Scorpius constellation that is lit by the neighboring Nu Scorpii star system. It is located about 400 light years away within the Milky Way galaxy.

IC 4592 is a rarely photographed. The blue light comes from fine dust reflecting the light of nearby stars. In this case, much of the reflected light comes from the star at the eye of the horse called "Nu Scorpii". A second reflection nebula surrounding two stars is also visible to the right of the image, called IC 4601.

Image Credit: James Shimoji

Release Date: Feb. 12, 2018

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #BlueHorseheadNebula #IC4592 #ReflectionNebula #NuScorpii #Scorpius #Constellations #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Astrophotographer #JamesShimoji #Astrophotography #STEM #Education

Thursday, August 07, 2025

Rocket Lab Tests Archimedes Engine for Neutron Rocket: Full Duration Hot Fire

Rocket Lab Tests Archimedes Engine for Neutron Rocket: Full Duration Hot Fire

🔥Enjoy! Rocket Lab recently performed hot-fire tests of its Archimedes engine through its rocket test stand at NASA’s historic Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Rocket Lab’s new Neutron medium-lift reusable launch vehicle will use Archimedes engines to provide government and commercial customers with an alternative launch service capable of deploying 13,000 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO). Significant progress continues to be made at the rocket’s launch pad on Wallops Island, Virginia. Production, infrastructure scaling, and Archimedes engine and full-scale components testing is continuing across Rocket Lab’s production and test facilities in the United States. Neutron’s debut remains on track for first launch in the second half of 2025.

The advanced design of the Neutron rocket includes carbon composite for all of the rocket’s major structures and an upper stage that enables high-performance for complex satellite deployments, including the deployment of satellite mega-constellations.

The Archimedes engine is an oxidizer rich staged combustion cycle engine that will power the reusable first stage of Neutron and the new rocket’s second stage that is designed to carry up to 13,000 kilograms of payload to space. Capable of producing up to 165,000 (733 kilonewtons) pounds of thrust per engine, Archimedes operates at lower stress levels than other rocket engines to enable rapid and reliable reusability. The combined thrust of nine Archimedes engines for Neutron’s first stage is designed to reach 1,450,000 lbf total. Archimedes uses a cryogenic propellant mix of liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to enable higher reusability and performance. Furthermore, many of its critical components are 3D printed including Archimedes’ turbo pump housings, pre-burner and main chamber components, valve housings, and engine structural components. Production of the Archimedes engines takes place at Rocket Lab’s Engine Development Complex at its headquarters in Long Beach, California.

Rocket Lab's new Neutron rocket will feature the new Archimedes Engine.

First Stage

9 Archimedes Engines

Lox/Methane Oxidizer Rich Closed Cycle

Total Lift-off Thrust: 1,485,000 lbf

Second Stage

Single Vacuum Archimedes Engine

Lox/Methane Oxidizer Rich Closed Cycle

Vacuum Thrust: 890 kN (200,000 lbf)

Learn more:

https://rocketlabcorp.com/launch/neutron/

Image Credit: Rocket Lab

Duration: 2 minutes, 38 seconds

Release Date: July 7, 2025

#NASA #Space #Aerospace #Earth #LEO #Satellites #SatelliteConstellations #Spacecraft #RocketLab #NeutronRocket #MediumLiftRockets #ArchimedesEngines #EngineTesting #CommercialSpace #PeterBeck #NASAStennis #StennisSpaceCenter #Mississippi #UnitedStates #SpaceExploration #STEM #Education #HD #Video

SpaceX Crew-11 Dragon Spacecraft in "Moonshadow" | International Space Station

SpaceX Crew-11 Dragon Spacecraft in "Moonshadow" | International Space Station

Expedition 73 flight engineer and NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers: "With Crew-11 docked to the zenith port, we have a great view of our Dragon. Here’s a night pass with a view of Endurance from Endeavor. Also, look at the shadow from the Moon!"

"Moonshadow" is a song written and performed by Cat Stevens (known since 1978 as Yusuf Islam). It appears on Stevens' 1971 album Teaser and the Firecat.

Follow Expedition 73:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 73 Crew

Station Commander: Sergey Ryzhikov (Roscosmos)

JAXA Flight Engineers (Japan): Takuya Onishi, Kimiya Yui

Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Kirill Peskov, Alexey Zubritskiy, Oleg Platonov

NASA Flight Engineers: Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke

Learn more about the important research being operated on Station:
https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science

For more information about STEM on Station:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM)

Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center

Duration: 40 seconds
Date: Aug. 5, 2025

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Planet #Earth #Moon #SpaceX #CrewDragonSpacecraft #Crew11 #UnitedStates #Astronauts #NicholeAyers #Japan #日本 #JAXA #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceLaboratory #InternationalCooperation #Expedition73 #STEM #Education #HD #Video

China Completes Successful Tests of Lanyue Crewed Moon Lander | CMSA

China Completes Successful Tests of Lanyue Crewed Moon Lander | CMSA

🌕🚀China is another important step closer to achieving its first in a series of crewed lunar missions planned to begin by 2030. Advanced ascent and descent verification tests for its newly-developed Lanyue landers were completed at the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) landing test site in northern Hebei province on August 6, 2025.

The Lanyue landers are spacecraft under development by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). The landers are each designed to carry two astronauts to the lunar surface, returning them safely to lunar orbit after a set period of time.

Image Credit: CMSA
Date: Aug. 6, 2025

China Conducts Successful Tests of Lanyue Crewed Moon Lander | CNSA

China Conducts Successful Tests of Lanyue Crewed Moon Lander | CMSA

Video Credit: CNSA
Duration: 1 minute, 30 seconds
Release Date: Aug. 7, 2025

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Saturday, August 09, 2025

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