Blue Origin will return to flight with uncrewed mission on Dec. 18 

 Blue Origin plans to end its 15-month spaceflight hiatus with an uncrewed mission of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle on Dec. 18. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nEciQqKXW28Xc9zSAR4sNA.jpg

https://www.space.com/blue-origin-return-to-flight-mission-december-2023 

  Cats and dogs in space! Pets crash onto an alien planet in 'Man's Best' miniseries (exclusive) 

 What happens when emotional support pets have to rescue their owners? Find out in Boom! Studios' "Man's Best" comic book miniseries arriving in 2024. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WqeannSDwRcJ2a8AyRE2dE.jpg

https://www.space.com/cats-dogs-space-mans-best-comic-first-look 

  How 'Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora' expands the exotic alien world of the movies 

 The video game "Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora" presents a stunning recreation of Pandora as seen in the movies. But how does it expand on what we already know? 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9CL5RjWkqMfoRVu2LLJghg.jpg

https://www.space.com/five-ways-in-which-avatar-frontiers-of-pandora-expands-the-world-of-the-movies 

  'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 5 snippet shows Burnham battling giant, invisible bugs 

 By the looks of the new cast photograph, everyone in "Star Trek: Discovery" has returned for this, the fifth and final season.  

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/syfmKySuxTxt2fxdYAxTz3.jpg

https://www.space.com/star-trek-discovery-season-5-clip-release 

  Intergalactic 'stream of stars' 10 times longer than the Milky Way is the 1st of its kind ever spotted 

 While hunting for dark matter, astronomers accidentally discovered the first known stellar stream stretching between galaxies. The trail of stars is also the longest ever seen. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/efskDwWx6txtrR5eDhE589.jpg

https://www.space.com/intergalactic-stream-of-stars-10-times-longer-than-milky-way 

  SETI is searching for alien life at previously unexplored frequencies 

 Despite the seemingly boundless expanse of the universe, which implies there’s potential for abundant life, the vast distances between stars render the search akin to locating a needle in a cosmic haystack. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YezFHPU5D4mKtEoqxWZ8oL.jpg

https://www.space.com/seti-searching-alien-life-unexplored-frequencies 

  What 8,000 hours flying military jets taught 2 Canadian astronauts 

 With 8,000 hours of flying experience between them, Cols. Jeremy Hansen and Joshua Kutryk credit the Royal Canadian Air Force for getting them ready for Canadian Space Agency missions. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kcCEtm4sEHgqJRbrEJYReE.jpg

https://www.space.com/canadian-space-agency-military-astronauts-pilot-experience 

  Watch SpaceX's Starship go boom twice in this epic test-flight highlight video 

 The second-ever test flight of SpaceX's giant Starship vehicle was action-packed, as a new video shows. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4pjY8gpeKtaxiX98UwApzf.jpg

https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-second-flight-two-explosions-video 

  SpaceX scrubs Falcon Heavy's X-37B space plane launch due to ground issue 

 SpaceX scrubbed Monday's (Dec. 11) planned Falcon Heavy launch of the US military's X-37B space plane, citing a 'ground side issue.' 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PBtcrK3tiAsthZTE5UPQ9c.jpg

https://www.space.com/spacex-falcon-heavy-x-37b-space-force-launch-scrub 

  Experts are certain 2023 will be 'the warmest year in recorded history' 

 After the warmest autumn ever, researchers are confident 2023 will be the hottest year on record before it has even finished.  

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wpRjjRrofZ7CJR5f8e8feD.jpg

https://www.space.com/2023-warmest-year-in-history 

  James Webb Space Telescope's 'Cosmic Christmas Bauble' earns spot in White House Advent Calendar (photo, video) 

 The James Webb Space Telescope has imaged a "Cosmic Christmas Bauble" that is actually the aftermath of a supernova. The stunning picture of Cassiopeia A was revealed by Jill Biden as part of the first-ever White House Advent Calendar. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vempKigKZKvSiwUVqjuTkE.jpg

https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-jill-biden-cassiopeia-a 

  NASA's new 'Greenhouse Gas Center' tracks humanity's contribution to climate change 

 NASA is at the forefront of a new greenhouse gas hub that will provide more important information to aid in efforts to combat climate change.  

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KQheaQBDSvwUdKtXjRYYv8.jpg

https://www.space.com/humanity-greenhouse-gas-center-nasa-climate-change-global-warming 

  New 'Halo' Season 2 trailer doubles down on more explosive Covenant combat 

 Paramount+ reveals a first peek at 'Halo' Season 2 with a fresh trailer and official release date. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UssspX8uWcPoZxXHKFHk9C.jpg

https://www.space.com/halo-season-2-trailer-release-date 

  NASA astronaut spins the dreidel for Hanukkah aboard International Space Station (video) 

 NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli celebrated the first night of Hanukkah aboard the International Space Station with a felt menorah and video of a spinning dreidel in microgravity. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iPakC7xWrq5TdENPdaX5WB.jpg

https://www.space.com/astronaut-jasmin-moghbeli-iss-dreidel-hanukkah-video 

  SpaceX private Polaris Dawn space mission delayed to April 2024 

 Polaris Dawn, which will feature the first commercial spacewalk, will launch with SpaceX no earlier than April 2024 due to several development challenges. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6qrMe89EJGgif6Xtd8bYeX.jpg

https://www.space.com/spacex-polaris-dawn-mission-delay-april-2024 

  ULA Vulcan Centaur rocket's 1st launch delayed to January 2024 

 A glitch with a dress rehearsal will push off Vulcan Centaur's 1st launch to the beginning of 2024, United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno said. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ECgeFs9FNW93ePjwzx5oc5.jpg

https://www.space.com/ula-vulcan-centaur-1st-launch-delay-january-2024 

  The moon has been altered by human activity. Are we in a 'Lunar Anthropocene?' 

 Mirroring the Earth's Anthropocene, which describes the age in which humans altered our planet, scientists argue moon advancements place us in a Lunar Anthropocene. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/S8SDfgitk85Ed8nCsduyNS.jpg

https://www.space.com/lunar-anthropocene-epoch-human-activity-on-moon 

  Strange yellow glass found in Libyan desert may have formed from lost meteor impact 

 A strange type of glass that was discovered in 1933 in the Libyan desert may come from a meteorite, an analysis shows, but impact crater is still missing. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpYHZVNvZoFeVnZFy9VG4M.jpg

https://www.space.com/strange-yellow-glass-libya-meteor-impact 

  Performing evasive maneuvers increases satellites' collision risk down the road 

 Trying to avoid satellite collisions in orbit increases the risk of future collisions in the aftermath of each avoidance maneuver, researchers have round. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PndALfWLpjh3TySZw7wBcK.jpg

https://www.space.com/satellites-collision-avoidance-maneuvers-increase-collision-risk 

  The Geminid meteor shower peaks this week. Don't miss the best 'shooting stars' of 2023 

 The Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak on Dec. 13 and 14. Conditions look favorable for a spectacular display this year under the dark skies of a new moon. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xv54R9BHvvSgZQFqwnwom9.jpg

https://www.space.com/geminid-meteor-shower-peak-2023 

  After Hubble: This Canadian telescope could fill coming 'ultraviolet gap' 

 The Canadian CASTOR telescope team wants to launch in 2029 to bring fresh ultraviolet eyes to the sky, like Hubble. But it needs funding from Canada's Parliament. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/btBYA5yCW786X7EM5wJokC.jpg

https://www.space.com/hubble-space-telescope-ultraviolet-gap-canada-castor-telescope 

  Life might have been possible just seconds after the Big Bang 

 Some physicists have hypothesized that in the earliest moments of the Big Bang, the forces of nature were so extreme and so exotic that they could have supported the growth of complex structures. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9an8BsExoeQSSBNpYk9CwD.jpg

https://www.space.com/life-possible-seconds-after-big-bang 

  Watch ISS astronaut speak with Nobel Prize winners on Dec. 11 

 International Space Station commander Andreas Mogensen will speak with two Nobel laureates on Dec. 11. You can watch the event live, for free. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2VtDSkH7dBxcxBSTsBRTX3.jpg

https://www.space.com/international-space-station-astronaut-nobel-prize-winners-2023-webcast 

  This Week In Space podcast: Episode 90 — The Wizard of Griffith Observatory 

 On Episode 90 of This Week In Space, Tariq and Rod discuss archaeoastronomy with the amazing Dr. Ed Krupp. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EinSCSgCP35UruUAvhS2zY.jpg

https://www.space.com/this-week-in-space-episode-90-wizard-of-griffth-observatory 

  Japan may delay its Mars moon sampling mission MMX due to rocket problems 

 Japan’s ambitious mission to explore the two mini moons of Mars could be facing a lengthy delay as JAXA's new H3 rocket, which will launch MMX, failed on its debut flight in March. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RMH4iPBHsybrCo3WhDSfhF.jpg

https://www.space.com/japan-may-delay-mars-moon-sampling-mission-mmx 

  How can we restore public trust in science? (op-ed) 

 In an age of diminishing trust in science, scientists need to change how they work with the public and within the broader scientific community. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DcHYrT4uLbusDJ3wtaDGNf.jpg

https://www.space.com/how-can-we-restore-public-trust-in-science 

  'Foundation' fuels up for a thrilling 3rd season on Apple TV Plus 

 Apple TV Plus continues exploring the universe of the sci-fi show 'Foundation' with a third season approval . 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bdkhbhw4YFUrkEKBhysTtM.jpg

https://www.space.com/foundation-third-season-apple-tv-plus-preview 

  SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket set to launch secretive X-37B space plane  on Dec. 10 

 The U.S. Space Force's mysterious X-37B space plane is poised to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on Sunday (Dec. 10), and you can likely watch it live. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QHszSTUgqf8p4b9m8NXdKo.jpg

https://www.space.com/spacex-space-force-x-37b-ot7-launch-webcast 

  An asteroid will eclipse the puzzling red star Betelgeuse on Dec. 11 

 Betelgeuse, one of the most recognizable stars in the night sky, will disappear for several seconds in a rare asteroid occultation on the evening of Dec. 11. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DTv5L4pE6oRAFeN8VbPuL7.jpg

https://www.space.com/asteroid-eclipse-betelgeuse-december-2023 

  India's Aditya-L1 solar observatory captures 1st gorgeous views of the sun (images) 

 An instrument onboard India's Aditya-L1 spacecraft captured beautiful images of the sun earlier this week. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cuFrEhbE68sdpSFeyqEoRk.jpg

https://www.space.com/india-aditya-l1-observatory-images-of-sun 

  How to watch 'Doctor Who' anniversary specials: Stream 'The Giggle' from anywhere  

 How to watch the 'Doctor Who' anniversary special 'The Giggle' online on Disney Plus and BBC iPlayer. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PCDG5MtFb4zE4kqtMCavp.jpg

https://www.space.com/doctor-who-anniversary-special-the-giggle-viewing-guide 

  NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter gearing up for longest flight ever this weekend 

 NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter will fly farther than it ever has before on Saturday (Dec. 9), covering more than half a mile of Red Planet ground. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/heyPSzvVpwhCEcnxCb7vQo.jpg

https://www.space.com/mars-helicopter-ingenuity-longest-flight-december-2023 

  'Dark force' theory could solve 2 open cosmic mysteries 

 A new theory suggests the universe's most mysterious and dominant form of matter could exert a "dark force." 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UhJ8eV7NEj4fQeeWkM747k.jpg

https://www.space.com/ai-models-dark-force-dark-matter-universe-theory 

  Wild new NASA plasma tech reduces drag during hypersonic flight 

 NASA is licensing a radical new form of propulsion that uses electromagnets to control the flow of plasma over aircraft and spacecraft flying at hypersonic speeds. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fJUvqN7tUokCr4wdcbzbpd.jpg

https://www.space.com/nasa-hypersonic-magnetohydrodynamic-control 

  Halley's Comet begins its 38-year journey back toward Earth tonight 

 On Friday, Dec. 8, Halley's Comet reaches its farthest point from the sun and begins its journey back through the solar system. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u53oPnvc7ayRNpFZyqSLcU.jpg

https://www.space.com/halleys-comet-return 

  Colliding space junk makes 'noise' that could be heard from Earth 

 Weird effects of space junk collisions could help researchers detect dangerous, hard-to-see orbital clutter. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/naQtry7CedNEFLbjen6Rqe.jpg

https://www.space.com/colliding-space-junk-emits-detectable-signal 

  'For All Mankind' season 4 episode 5 review: A new asteroid heading for Mars puts a rocket under the season 

 A new body in the Solar System starts a multi-trillion-dollar gold rush, while the shockwaves from a certain someone's departure continue to resonate on Mars. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iWSeQgbvbsLfDBPjULLXXX.jpg

https://www.space.com/for-all-mankind-season-4-episode-5-review 

  Ex-NASA scientist dishes on space food in new memoir 'Space Bites' 

 Of all of the food items she helped send into space, Vickie Kloeris' favorite was the cherry-blueberry cobbler. A NASA food scientist for 34 years, Kloeris has published her memoir 'Space Bites.' 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xHvLAvpLSqU2eVC8WPcuee.jpg

https://www.space.com/space-bites-nasa-food-scientist-vickie-kloeris 

  Everything we know about 'Rebel Moon — Part One:  A Child of Fire' 

 What to expect from Zack Snyder's "Rebel Moon," the sprawling new sci-fi saga premiering on Netflix on Dec. 22, 2023. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Fa9qbCjHA6VRk53zRjSLQ9.jpg

https://www.space.com/everything-we-know-about-rebel-moon-part-one 

  US Space Force plans space radar to 'identify emerging threats' in distant Earth orbit 

 The United States, United Kingdom and Australia signed an agreement to develop a deep space radar capability to keep an eye on what's happening in geosynchronous orbit. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LmU7Vzrr3v8mrVzgbkscJV.jpg

https://www.space.com/space-force-deep-space-radar-capability-emerging-threats 

  Strange underground polygons on Mars hint at Red Planet's wet past 

 Buried dozens of meters under the equator of Mars is a large honeycomb pattern similar to, but much larger than, those found only near Earth's frigid poles. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jxfvYGygPFydCNFqusCxc5.jpg

https://www.space.com/mars-underground-polygons-evidence-ancient-water-red-planet 

  Why is there so much military interest in the moon? 

 The United States' use of military agencies such as DARPA to develop emerging technologies for the moon could be sending a wrong message. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C6WZuHnH34TUhLC3TKfkbM.jpg

https://www.space.com/military-moves-on-the-moon 

  SpaceX to launch 22 Starlink satellites from California early Dec. 8 

 SpaceX is set to launch 22 more Starlink internet satellites to orbit from California early on Friday morning (Dec. 8). 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mpjyHfTzos8LRMc2CzDSFn.jpg

https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-launch-group-7-8 

  Crossed wires caused parachute problem during OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample delivery, NASA says 

 Crossed wires likely prevented OSIRIS-REx's return capsule from deploying its drogue parachute during its descent through Earth's atmosphere on Sept. 24, NASA officials say. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GWRCjSQQfmZNZgHEwy6b9d.jpg

https://www.space.com/crossed-wires-osiris-rex-asteroid-mission-parachute-problem 

  SpaceX, US Space Force set to launch secretive X-37B space plane on Dec. 10 

 Final preparations are underway for a Dec. 10 launch opportunity, which will mark the first time the X-37B has lifted off atop SpaceX's powerful Falcon Heavy rocket. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m34Ynzik6umjCNFvwA6uUK.jpg

https://www.space.com/spacex-x-37b-falcon-heavy-launch-final-preparations 

  Ethereal halo of light around full moon spotted during recent SpaceX rocket launch 

 An eerily-perfect ring of light was spotted around the full moon in Florida during the recent launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, creating a stunning new photo. 

https://www.space.com/spacex-rocket-hole-clouds-full-moon-halo 

  NOAA's older Earth-watching satellites get new 'extended life' 

 NOAA has plans to add extra years to the lifespan of their fleet of older polar orbiting satellites by controlling them through using an Internet cloud-based system. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sx2PsebqPzCPCMnau3K5Bh.jpg

https://www.space.com/old-noaa-earth-satellites-find-new-life 

  Signs of life shooting from Saturn's moon Enceladus would be detectable by spacecraft, scientists say 

 Scientists believe possible amino acids in Enceladus' subsurface ocean can indeed be detected by spacecraft. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AZK9kRTnnqCHWrBMpitNbg.jpg

https://www.space.com/signs-life-saturn-moon-enceladus-ice-geysers-spacecraft 

  India sets sights on a moon base by 2047 

 India is setting long-term goals that could see the country establish its own moon base before 2050. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Hny7Jk8DaFwHC4WxFSAQVU.jpg

https://www.space.com/india-moon-base-2047 

  NASA astronaut will celebrate Hanukkah in space with felt menorah   

 NASA International Space Station astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli will pin candles on a felt menorah to honor Hanukkah, the Jewish festival that begins Dec. 7. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6oQmX4f8c567CkFyHBYCi5.jpg

https://www.space.com/nasa-astronaut-hanukkah-felt-menorah-international-space-station 

  The ISS just turned 25, and NASA is getting ready for the end (video) 

 The ISS turned 25 years old on Dec. 6, and a new generation of space station is coming into view. By 2030, NASA wants commercial stations and a vehicle ready to deorbit the ISS. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FrjEaaGDNne7wWaSVGswKk.jpg

https://www.space.com/international-space-station-25th-anniversary-nasa-planning-end 

  India returns Chandrayaan-3 moon mission's propulsion module to Earth orbit 

 The spacecraft that ferried India's Chandrayaan-3 lander-rover duo to the moon has returned home to Earth orbit. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pBXZzhwQ9vCV54uDEv9MAK.jpg

https://www.space.com/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-module-returns-earth-orbit 

  NASA marks 25th anniversary of ISS with call to crew on space station 

 Twenty-five years ago, Bob Cabana was at space shuttle Endeavour's controls when he fired thrusters to dock a U.S.-built node with a Russian module, giving birth to the International Space Station. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cCeCFnWaTmJPYkhBbY4Zbd.jpg

https://www.space.com/international-space-station-25-years-cabana-expedition-70 

  Satellites watch as Japan's new volcanic island continues to grow (image) 

 The ESA satellite Copernicus Sentinel-2 caught an image of the new volcanic island "Niijima" on Nov. 27, showing the island off the coast of Japan forged in fire in Oct. is still rising from the sea. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mRD58PrGSVmWzVZ6Cy5BoC.jpg

https://www.space.com/satellites-japan-new-island-still-growing 

  SpaceX's next Starship launch could feature key refueling test 

 The third flight of SpaceX's giant Starship vehicle could involve a propellant-transfer demonstration, according to NASA officials. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pRpgnaNoEAjCKkgGfrorLN.jpg

https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-refueling-test-flight 

  Our universe's most extreme stars sometimes 'glitch' — we may now know why 

 A unified approach of quantum physics and astrophysics may have brought scientists closer to understanding the "glitches" experienced by ultradense dead stars called neutron stars. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PsjLNk7jz6hSyVANJahzMV.jpg

https://www.space.com/neutron-star-glitches-quantum-simulations-matter-lab 

  ISS astronauts find tomato that was lost in space for 8 months (video) 

 During NASA astronaut Frank Rubio's year in space, a dwarf tomato he harvested floated away from him. International Space Station astronauts retrieved the tomato's remains 8 months later. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bwSNaUC9otpx7vFnb945NV.jpg

https://www.space.com/international-space-station-lost-tomato-frank-rubio-found 

  SpaceX set to launch its 90th orbital mission of the year tonight 

 SpaceX aims to launch 23 Starlink internet satellites tonight (Dec. 6) on the company's 90th orbital mission of 2023. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ciLrfLdWi3pf4pPxP4n463.jpg

https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-launch-group-6-33 

  Australia votes to name its 1st moon rover 'Roo-ver' 

 The Australian Space Agency has named its first lunar rover Roo-ver, which will launch to the moon as early as 2026 in partnership with NASA's Artemis program. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RXzen7q9cVwvMMHMXN64ff.jpg

https://www.space.com/australia-names-first-lunar-rover-roo-ver 

  James Webb Space Telescope bites cosmic burger to create 1st ice map of planet-forming disk 

 The James Webb Space Telescope has taken a bite out of a cosmic burger to create a 2D inventory of different forms of ice surrounding a planet-birthing disk. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y649gfwnSk8Bb8u7H92LSH.jpg

https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-planet-forming-disk-ice-map-burger 

  Iran launches 'bio-space capsule' protoype, aims to fly astronauts by 2030 

 Iran test launched what it describes as a "bio-capsule" as part of its plan to put its own astronauts into space by the end of the decade. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/scXLAePgdTCLpJLEX3MCiE.jpg

https://www.space.com/iran-bio-capsule-rocket-launch 

  Over 100 galaxies seen spewing powerful winds that can halt star formation 

 The winds extend tens of thousands of light years above and below galaxies. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CYfqKvbUvX2jL3YnVsMcW4.jpg

https://www.space.com/galactic-winds-normal-galaxies-star-formation-radiation 

  Solid rocket boosters for shuttle Endeavour exhibit capped with nose cones 

 The work to stand up two rockets for the launchpad-like exhibit of NASA's retired space shuttle Endeavour has been capped, literally and figuratively, with the addition of two nose cones. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HQ8DqiagbM27JYssKgqT6E.jpg

https://www.space.com/space-shuttle-endeavour-exhibit-srbs-stacked 

  Could a 'supervoid' solve an unrelenting debate over the universe's expansion rate? 

 Measurements of how fast the universe is expanding differ depending on how you measure the rate. Could a huge under-density of galaxies, including the Milky Way, be to blame? 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MuXfUgFFX4hrqh8ZnziDWT.jpg

https://www.space.com/hubble-tension-universe-expansion-supervoid 

  Nuclear power on the moon: Rolls-Royce unveils reactor mockup 

 Tech giant Rolls-Royce unveiled a mockup lunar nuclear reactor at the U.K. Space Conference in Belfast last month. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ie6nMENRdzr5FgtCxJ9MjB.jpg

https://www.space.com/moon-rolls-royce-nuclear-reactor-concept-unveiled 

  How exotic alien life could thrive in the giant molecular clouds of deep space 

 An astronomer has outlined a way for methane-producing life to thrive in the molecular clouds of deep space, opening up a new pathway to understanding the potential origins and diversity of life. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2EkHCJewLt9H6t5Rs9MyJY.jpg

https://www.space.com/alien-life-could-thrive-in-deep-space-molecular-clouds 

  Watch live as astronauts on the ISS celebrate the station's 25th anniversary today (video) 

 International Space Station astronauts will celebrate 25 years of their research facility on Dec. 6. You can watch the event from space, for free. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZmAZWvDeUBSRsjxfSymhZE.jpg

https://www.space.com/international-space-station-25th-anniversary-astronauts-webcast 

  Gravitational waves rippling from black hole merger could help test general relativity 

 Gravitational waves have been uncovered from a massive black hole merger that shows the resultant black hole settling into a spherical shape for the first time, helping test Einstein’s theory of general relativity. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zbfRN6hT47MPCQBNTsNt8o.jpg

https://www.space.com/black-hole-ligo-merger-general-relativity-gravitational-waves 

  Watch the explosive new trailer for astronaut action film 'ISS' (video) 

 A preview and new trailer for the new action thriller "I.S.S." that imagines what happens aboard the International Space Station when war breaks out on Earth below. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/V6bugRyocb49rJqd6MoCDj.jpg

https://www.space.com/iss-film-trailer-international-space-station 

  NASA's Psyche spacecraft finds its 'first light' while zooming to a metal asteroid (image) 

 Having launched on Oct. 13, the Psyche spacecraft has been journeying to a metal asteroid reminiscent of Earth's core. It just snapped its first image. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rh5EmQQHqN7LVqvVZLFyAn.jpg

https://www.space.com/nasa-psyche-first-light-metal-asteroid-image-mosaic 

  China launches remote-sensing satellite for Egypt (video) 

 China launched a remote-sensing satellite for Egypt late on Sunday (Dec. 3) as space cooperation between the two countries deepens. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xLBzrH4qU6En5RrH7TPXhR.jpg

https://www.space.com/china-launches-remote-sensing-satellite-for-egypt-video 

  China could use a foldable helicopter to collect samples on Mars 

 A new journal article outlines the design for a quadcopter that could assist China's mission to collect samples from Mars. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VovrbZTgbusHQUba2SvZp5.jpg

https://www.space.com/china-mars-helicopter-sample-collection 

  Canadian astronaut assignments reflect growth of Canada's 'Space Force'  

 Two Canadian Space Agency astronauts from the military will fly to the moon and the ISS by 2025. The commander of 3 Canadian Space Division says their assignments symbolize fast-growing activity in Canada's military space domain.  

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jcZWM46jyaFxLLeih4iRaA.jpg

https://www.space.com/canada-space-force-military-astronauts-defense-activities 

  James Webb Space Telescope pierces through dust to find an ancient ghostly galaxy 

 A ghostlike dusty galaxy from the early universe might represent a whole population of hidden galaxies. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KsMojAjipmqoDpsGx2yc4R.jpg

https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-ghostly-galaxy-early-universe 

  'Space Rescue Service' needed for coming space tourism era, report argues 

 People are launching to space in ever-greater numbers, with few backups in case of trouble. A 'Space Rescue Service' might fill in the gap, a new report argues. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5Nc5u4RozrxLL45WteJkjP.jpg

https://www.space.com/rand-space-rescue-service-astronaut-tourist-help 

  Do we live in a giant void? It could solve the puzzle of the universe's expansion 

 One of the biggest mysteries in cosmology is the rate at which the universe is expanding. One possible explanation: That we live in a giant void in space (an area with below average density). 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgFgYw6hMMweZWaGrAJ2j5.jpg

https://www.space.com/do-we-live-in-a-void-could-solve-universe-expansion 

  NASA's Mars robots back in action after 'solar conjunction' 

 NASA's Mars robots are back up to full speed on and around the Red Planet, after a two-week pause in commanding. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cULLGpQEZ8z6UksJE5dHd9.gif

https://www.space.com/nasa-mars-robots-solar-conjunction-over-2023 

  Satellite map of North America's largest glacier shows 'hidden lagoon' and other secrets 

 NASA has revealed a new false-color image of Alaska's Malaspina Glacier that highlights several recent findings about the massive ice mass. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KyyJMTCAEN2kwRpf2tt43i.jpg

https://www.space.com/largest-glacier-hidden-lagoon-nasa-discoveries 

  Interstellar astronauts would face years-long communication delays due to time dilation 

 Due to the mind-blowing distances and speeds required, interstellar travel remains a major spaceflight challenge. But new research highlights yet another hurdle: Communication blackouts. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Vxy6RS4LV4FkLqxpmQAnJm.jpg

https://www.space.com/time-dilation-interstellar-communication-delays 

  Astronaut Mike Massimino shares advice from NASA career in new book 'Moonshot'  

 Former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino shares lessons learned during his career and how they can be applied in his new book, "Moonshot: A NASA Astronaut's Guide to Achieving the Impossible" out Dec. 5. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oAmDXvcu6Ym2566LBjtXRh.jpg

https://www.space.com/astronaut-mike-massimino-moonshot-book-interview 

  'The Star Wars Holiday Special' was a disaster. This new film examines why 

 "The Star Wars Holiday Special" scores a new tell-all book and making-of documentary about what is widely regarded as the worst "Star Wars" spinoff in history. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/W3aEBddPWULvG4stQrdvBm.jpg

https://www.space.com/star-wars-holiday-special-documentary-book 

  Pluto's 'almost twin' dwarf planet Eris is surprisingly squishy 

 Pluto's 'almost twin' dwarf planet Eris has a rocky core blanketed by an icy shell, which appears to be flexing slowly. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5wA9HMEuB49dhKPdfv3Vd9.jpg

https://www.space.com/pluto-twin-dwarf-planet-eris-squishy 

  How Perseverance rover captured its youngest samples from Mars' Dream Lake (video) 

 A new NASA video explains how the Perseverance Rover may have collected its youngest rock sample yet from the Red Planet's Jezero Crater. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cULLGpQEZ8z6UksJE5dHd9.gif

https://www.space.com/perseverance-mars-rover-youngest-material-yet-video 

  Stratolaunch's huge Roc plane flies with fueled-up hypersonic vehicle for 1st time (photos) 

 Stratolaunch's giant Roc airplane conducted its first-ever captive-carry flight with a fueled Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle on Sunday (Dec. 3). 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Y7CBxGdqG3t7p6n24towmY.jpg

https://www.space.com/stratolaunch-roc-fueled-hypersonic-vehicle-test-flight 

  X-ray telescope catches 'spider pulsars' devouring stars like cosmic black widows (image) 

 NASA's Chandra X-ray Space Telescope has spotted a "clutter" of rapidly spinning neutron stars called spider pulsars that are devouring surrounding stars. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ty92AwwXQckmLUULX8f5Fj.jpg

https://www.space.com/nasa-telescope-spider-pulsars-devouring-stars-black-widows 

  SpaceX buys parachute manufacturer Pioneer Aerospace 

 SpaceX has acquired Pioneer Aerospace, a company that provided components for Dragon spacecraft parachutes before filing for bankruptcy. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Fe3AKt5zip77ucubRc43eh.jpg

https://www.space.com/spacex-buys-parachute-manufacturer-pioneer-aerospace 

  James Webb Space Telescope gazes into 'The Brick,' a dark nebula near the Milky Way's heart 

 A dark nebula, also known as "The Brick," was imaged by the James Webb Space Telescope. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5MjpbQfoARDbbpyByAkoNX.png

https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-investigates-the-brick-dark-nebula 

  Mighty morphin' Centaur rings — a distant icy object's rings are transforming 

 What is causing the structure of the dust to evolve, and where exactly the dust comes from, is still a mystery. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7qtNqufWZnsoffEN2EtiPd.jpg

https://www.space.com/comet-chiron-centaur-icy-rings-structure-transformation 

  The elusive origins of long gamma-ray bursts may finally be revealed 

 New research helps resolve the mystery surrounding strange long gamma-ray bursts, suggesting these blasts of high-energy radiation emerge from collisions of neutron stars that birth black holes. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QSY4UPqjWVUWwRb9TqvPZU.jpg

https://www.space.com/black-holes-cosmic-collisions-neutron-star-mergers-long-gamma-rays 

  NASA to train Indian astronauts for a week-long trip to ISS in 2024 

 NASA will train two Indian astronauts, one of whom will fly to the ISS late next year, a space agency official announced this week. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cRRqZguM2iX38GsQppG3q6.jpg

https://www.space.com/indian-astronauts-nasa-week-long-trip-iss 

  Strange 'blob' circling Milky Way's central black hole is shooting powerful radiation at Earth every 76 minutes 

 Regular high-energy pulses of gamma-ray radiation emerging from around the Milky Way's central black hole may be coming from a blob of matter whipping around at 30% the speed of light. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hmzWccvWi5SLj7TjQ9Pgo.jpeg

https://www.space.com/strange-blob-circling-milky-way-center-shooting-radiation-every-76-minutes 

  Near-Earth asteroids: Hunting and tracking upcoming encounters 

 Here we explore whether there are any upcoming asteroid encounters and how NASA and other space agencies actively monitor near-Earth asteroids that have the potential to hit our planet. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LYaCBz6UWwB4om83KHvtT7.gif

https://www.space.com/near-earth-asteroids-approaching-encounters-tracking 

  Cosmonauts dock Russian Progress cargo ship to ISS on remote control after autopilot glitch 

 Russian cosmonauts on the International Space Station took manual control of an incoming Progress 86 cargo ship on Sunday, Dec. 3, due to an autopilot issue. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VUB5eF5DtrCFtsMsD87QF6.png

https://www.space.com/russian-cosmonauts-dock-progress-86-cargo-ship-at-space-station. 

  From Earth orbit to the moon: Europe's I-Hab continues Spacelab 40-year legacy 

 A legacy of European-built and operated space modules, which began in Earth orbit and is now heading for the moon, got its start with Spacelab 40 years ago. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jwu2rJHom7NBitYBVa6py4.jpg

https://www.space.com/esa-spacelab-40th-anniversary-gateway-ihab 

  1st launch of Europe's Ariane 6 rocket finally has June 2024 launch target 

 After a 4-year delay, the new heavy-lift rocket for Europe is almost ready for space. Ariane 6 should launch for the European Space Agency no earlier than June 15. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/omuLtwu6he7TdLrvi7iVXC.jpg

https://www.space.com/1st-ariane-6-rocket-launch-june-2024-target 

  This Week In Space podcast: Episode 89 — Who’s in Charge in Space? 

 On Episode 89 of This Week In Space, Tariq and Rod discuss the challenges of regulating spaceflight. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f5kznUpUDm63RWo6m9DbYm.jpg

https://www.space.com/this-week-in-space-episode-89-whos-in-charge-of-space 

  Unwrapping Uranus and its icy secrets: What NASA would learn from a mission to a wild world 

 Unvisited by spacecraft for more than 35 years, Uranus inhabits one of the least explored regions of our solar system. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fniNDsYDMWq9dg4EiXM2UQ.jpg

https://www.space.com/unwrapping-uranus-what-could-nasa-learn 

  The Peregrine Lunar Lander is set to launch on Dec 24. Here's what it'll bring to the moon 

 There will be 20 total payloads being brought to the moon, five of which are NASA's. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nTt5pCQHTRuTazNmFCXJEC.jpg

https://www.space.com/nasa-peregrine-lunar-lander-mission-christmas-eve 

  Lockheed Martin's 'Tantrum' tech could help get satellites up and running without the wait 

 Lockheed Martin and Firefly Aerospace are combining to launch a demonstrator that aims to slash the time it takes spacecraft payloads to become operational. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hNRNDkW5VQsXrhoVYF9CcV.jpg

https://www.space.com/lockheed-marin-esa-satellite-demonstrator-calibration 

  'Star Wars' has changed the English language. Here's how 

 A new study explores the powerful influence of "Star Wars" in the modern vocabulary of the English language. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8y4vA5ey7yPaQgdqyKtHVZ.jpg

https://www.space.com/star-wars-changed-english-language 

  How to watch 'Doctor Who' anniversary specials: Stream 'Wild Blue Yonder' from anywhere 

 How to watch "Doctor Who" anniversary special Wild Blue Yonder online on Disney Plus and BBC iPlayer with a VPN. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nuuTyiQotQwyiH8pmhtAzg.jpg

https://www.space.com/doctor-who-anniversary-special-wild-blue-yonder-how-to-watch 

  NASA's Artemis 3 astronaut moon landing unlikely before 2027, GAO report finds 

 NASA's endeavor to return humans to the moon during the Artemis 3 mission will likely be delayed because it is jeopardized by "multiple challenges" and an ambitious schedule. 

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TyACrKUN6v7RgNfcKysgSQ.jpg

https://www.space.com/artemis-3-2027-nasa-gao-report