Astronomy
Sharp-eyed US-Indian satellite set to launch July 30 to monitor Earth's surface, warn of natural disasters
Ignis Mission: Return to Earth
On 15 July 2025, with the splashdown of the Dragon capsule off the coast of California, the Ignis mission ended after a 20-day space journey. ESA project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, during nearly 230 orbits around Earth, completed about 120 hours of telework on the International Space Station and contributed to more than 20 experiments from his orbital office.
Following medical checks on the recovery vessel, Sławosz flew to shore by helicopter and then travelled from the United States to Germany in order to undergo a week of recovery at the European Astronaut Centre. Dozens of people gathered to give him a warm welcome at the Cologne Bonn airport.
Access the realted broadcast quality footage: Launch / ISS / Return to Earth
Watch: MetOp-SG-A1 and Sentinel-5 media briefing
With launch slated for August, the first MetOp Second Generation satellite, MetOp-SG-A1, which also carries the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission, is currently undergoing final preparations for liftoff aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
How Star Clusters Age: The Pleiades, the Hyades, and the Orion Nebula Cluster
Astronomers found evolutionary links that connect three well-known star clusters. The Orion Nebular Cluster, the Pleiades, and the Hyades are located roughly in the same region in space, but have different ages. New research shows that they're connected and have similar origins.
Lunar Regolith is a Surprisingly Good Resource for Supporting a Lunar Station
Lunar regolith is the crushed up volcanic rock that buries the surface of the Moon. Remote observations and sample analysis have shown there are trace amounts of water ice mixed in with the regolith, which can be extracted. By mixing this water with CO2 exhaled by astronauts, scientists have demonstrated this can be turned into hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide. This can then be turned into fuels and oxygen to support the astronauts. Everything we need is there on the Moon. We just need to learn how to use it.
Deepening stirling engine analysis: optimized model offers more accurate performance predictions
A Chinese team presents a new model for accurately predicting the performance of Sterling engines, which are being investigated as a possible means of powering
Ancient ‘terror birds’ may have been no match for hungry giant caimans
Ancient ‘terror birds’ may have been no match for hungry giant caimans
SpaceX launches 2 powerful internet satellites, lands rocket on ship at sea (video)
Ozzy Osbourne, Who Suffered with Rare Form of Parkinson’s, Dies at 76
Ozzy Osbourne, lead singer of Black Sabbath, has died at age 76. He had been previously diagnosed with a rare form of Parkinson’s disease called Parkin—named after the gene PRKN