Nigeria has announced plans to send its first citizen into space in partnership with Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA), which collaborates with Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. This ambitious initiative aims to diversify space exploration and inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers in Nigeria.
A section of a Chinese Long March 2-C rocket carrying a joint China-France satellite, SVOM, crashed near a residential area shortly after launch on June 22. Despite the incident, the satellite successfully reached orbit and is expected to contribute significantly to astronomical research.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured breathtaking images of the Crab Nebula, revealing intricate details about its formation and composition. The telescope’s advanced instruments have provided unprecedented insights into the supernova remnant’s explosive origins and the subsequent interactions between the ejected material and the surrounding interstellar medium.
Astroscale, a company specializing in orbital debris removal, has successfully captured detailed images of a large piece of space junk, a spent rocket upper stage, from a distance of just 50 meters. This unprecedented feat was achieved by the Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) satellite, part of Japan’s Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2) initiative. The images provide crucial insights into the condition and movement of the space junk, paving the way for future removal missions.
NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick will conduct a spacewalk on Thursday, June 13, with the primary objective of collecting samples from the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS) to determine the presence and resilience of microorganisms. The spacewalk, designated as U.S. spacewalk 90, will be the fourth for Dyson and the first for Dominick. Viewers can follow the live stream of the spacewalk on NASA’s website, YouTube channel, and other official platforms starting at 6:30 a.m. ET, with the spacewalk itself scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. ET. The spacewalk is expected to last approximately six and a half hours.
A report from the US Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense cautions NASA and governments worldwide against extraterrestrial contagion, citing potential threats to global health. The report urges prompt action to address biological risks emerging at the intersection of space exploration and infectious disease. NASA is advised to prevent introducing organisms from Earth into space environments and to ensure that any returning microbes do not pose a threat to Earth’s health or ecosystem.
SpaceX’s Starship has soared to new heights with its most successful test flight to date. Launched from Starbase in Texas, the world’s most powerful rocket thundered into space, generating a colossal 17 million pounds of thrust. SpaceX showcased the awe-inspiring spectacle through remarkable slow-motion footage, capturing the Super Heavy booster and Starship spacecraft ascending towards orbit. This mission marks a significant leap forward compared to previous Starship test flights, which faced setbacks with explosions. However, this latest endeavor surpassed expectations, reaching most of the objectives set by the SpaceX team.
SpaceX’s Starship, the colossal rocket designed for lunar and deep-space missions, completed its fourth test flight on June 6, 2024. The uncrewed test launched from Texas, traveled across several oceans, and re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, successfully splashing down in the Indian Ocean. Despite debris shedding from a flap during descent, causing some damage, the test achieved its primary objective of gathering data. The Starship performed a flip maneuver and completed a landing burn, showcasing significant progress from previous attempts. The test also featured the successful splashdown of the Super Heavy booster, paving the way for future reusability.
NASA’s ongoing exploration and research ventures continue to unveil the captivating tapestry of the universe. Through the lens of its advanced telescopes, including the renowned James Webb telescope, NASA has captured a series of breathtaking images that shed light on fascinating cosmic phenomena.
China’s Chang’e 5 probe has successfully landed on the far side of the moon, marking a significant milestone in its lunar exploration program. The mission aims to collect soil and rock samples that could shed light on the differences between the lesser-known far side and the more familiar near side of the moon. The lander touched down in the vast South Pole-Aitken Basin, a region that has never been explored before.
