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Space Exploration

NASA Astronaut Chris Williams Returns to Earth After 241 Days on ISS

NASA Astronaut Chris Williams Returns to Earth After 241 Days on ISS

NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two Russian cosmonauts have safely landed in Kazakhstan after completing a 241-day science mission aboard the International Space Station.

Science ·27 Jul 2026, 11:02 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
Adelaide University students reach global top five with space menstrual system

Adelaide University students reach global top five with space menstrual system

Adelaide engineering students have gained international recognition for a space-adapted menstrual system, highlighting a shift toward inclusive aerospace design.

Science ·20 Jul 2026, 01:05 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
Skyroot Aerospace launches India's first private orbital rocket

Skyroot Aerospace launches India's first private orbital rocket

Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched the Vikram-1 rocket, marking the first time a private Indian enterprise has deployed payloads into low-Earth orbit. The mission represents a major milestone in the country's expanding commercial space economy.

World ·18 Jul 2026, 20:37 ·Samir Haddad 3 min read
Barnard’s Star planets found to be uninhabitable and mineral-rich

Barnard’s Star planets found to be uninhabitable and mineral-rich

Scientific analysis has ruled out habitability for the four exoplanets orbiting Barnard's Star due to extreme heat, volatile geology, and atmosphere loss.

Science ·16 Jul 2026, 11:03 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
SpaceX crew completes first successful diagnostic X-rays in orbit

SpaceX crew completes first successful diagnostic X-rays in orbit

A commercial crew aboard the Fram2 mission has successfully captured the first diagnostic-quality X-rays in orbit using an ultraportable wireless system. This milestone demonstrates the potential for portable radiography to support both human health and equipment testing in microgravity.

Science ·15 Jul 2026, 09:32 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
Astronauts successfully conduct first diagnostic X-ray imaging in orbit

Astronauts successfully conduct first diagnostic X-ray imaging in orbit

A civilian crew successfully captured diagnostic-quality X-rays in microgravity during the SpaceXray project. This milestone demonstrates new capabilities for monitoring bone health and inspecting equipment during spaceflight.

Science ·15 Jul 2026, 07:31 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
US and China face potential land grab competition over lunar south pole resources

US and China face potential land grab competition over lunar south pole resources

The race for the lunar south pole involves U.S. and Chinese efforts to secure critical resources, potentially shaping the governance of cislunar space.

Science ·15 Jul 2026, 04:02 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
Fram2 astronauts complete first medical X-rays during orbital spaceflight

Fram2 astronauts complete first medical X-rays during orbital spaceflight

The Fram2 mission successfully tested an ultraportable, wireless digital X-ray generator in microgravity, demonstrating that non-specialists can conduct medical imaging in space.

Technology ·14 Jul 2026, 17:03 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
Auctions: Buzz Aldrin's Watches Are Coming To Auction

Auctions: Buzz Aldrin's Watches Are Coming To Auction

A significant collection of timepieces belonging to Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin will be sold at Sotheby's 2026 Space Exploration auction.

Technology ·14 Jul 2026, 07:33 ·Niko Vale 4 min read
The 25 Best James Webb Space Telescope Photos - PetaPixel

The 25 Best James Webb Space Telescope Photos - PetaPixel

Marking four years of operations, the James Webb Space Telescope has used its infrared capabilities to transform our understanding of the universe.

Science ·12 Jul 2026, 23:35 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
Enceladus ocean contains life-sparking energy and essential molecules

Enceladus ocean contains life-sparking energy and essential molecules

New research indicates Enceladus possesses a high-energy chemical environment and hydrothermal activity, suggesting its ocean could support biological life.

Science ·11 Jul 2026, 17:05 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
NASA seeks volunteers for yearlong Moon and Mars mission simulation

NASA seeks volunteers for yearlong Moon and Mars mission simulation

NASA has launched a search for volunteers to inhabit simulated deep-space environments at the Johnson Space Center. This initiative aims to validate essential hardware and health protocols for future lunar and Martian expeditions.

Science ·10 Jul 2026, 02:34 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
Artemis II astronauts reunite with their spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center

Artemis II astronauts reunite with their spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center

NASA and CSA astronauts returned to the Kennedy Space Center to inspect the Integrity capsule following their historic 252,756-mile lunar mission.

Science ·8 Jul 2026, 22:31 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
JAXA Hayabusa2 probe captures image of snowman-shaped asteroid Torifune

JAXA Hayabusa2 probe captures image of snowman-shaped asteroid Torifune

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft successfully completed a high-speed flyby of asteroid Torifune, proving Japan's capability to precisely target near-Earth objects.

Science ·7 Jul 2026, 05:04 ·Niko Vale 4 min read
Hayabusa2 completes close flyby of asteroid Torifune in defense test

Hayabusa2 completes close flyby of asteroid Torifune in defense test

JAXA successfully piloted the Hayabusa2 probe through a close-range encounter with asteroid Torifune to refine the precision needed for planetary defense.

Science ·5 Jul 2026, 18:05 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
Rescue mission launches to save NASA telescope that’s falling back to Earth

Rescue mission launches to save NASA telescope that’s falling back to Earth

Katalyst Space Technologies has deployed its Link spacecraft to perform a robotic rescue of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. The mission seeks to prevent the telescope from burning up in Earth's atmosphere by boosting it to a higher, stable orbit.

Science ·3 Jul 2026, 21:31 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
Vera C. Rubin Observatory begins decade-long cosmic survey of the sky

Vera C. Rubin Observatory begins decade-long cosmic survey of the sky

Equipped with the world's largest digital camera, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile has begun a decade-long project to create a time-lapse of the sky. The survey aims to capture vast amounts of data to help researchers study dark energy, dark matter, and other celestial phenomena.

Science ·2 Jul 2026, 22:35 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
NASA TESS mission identifies first exoplanet using gravitational microlensing

NASA TESS mission identifies first exoplanet using gravitational microlensing

NASA's TESS satellite has successfully utilized gravitational microlensing to discover a super-Jupiter 40,000 light-years away, marking an evolution in its capabilities.

Science ·1 Jul 2026, 15:35 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
China to build space-ground monitoring network for asteroid defense

China to build space-ground monitoring network for asteroid defense

The China National Space Administration is building a comprehensive network of optical telescopes and space-based sensors to detect hazardous asteroids. This system aims to eliminate surveillance blind spots and protect Earth from potential space-borne threats.

Science ·1 Jul 2026, 14:36 ·Niko Vale 3 min read
New Horizons data confirms solar wind slows in the outer heliosphere

New Horizons data confirms solar wind slows in the outer heliosphere

New Horizons data reveals a measurable deceleration of the solar wind as it interacts with interstellar gas. This research helps clarify the heliosphere's protective boundary and its role in shielding the solar system.

Science ·30 Jun 2026, 10:03 ·Niko Vale 3 min read