Month: June 2021

[embedded content] Bethesda Game Studios announced the release date Sunday (June 13) for its epic new space-based adventure game “Starfield.” In a Microsoft and Bethesda E3 Showcase today , the Maryland-based firm confirmed recent leaks with a Nov. 11, 2022 release for “Starfield” — along with a first-look trailer. The game will debut exclusively on PC and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X | S console. “Starfield” is the first major new universe from Bethesda in 25 years, from a studio best known for the “Elder Scrolls” and “Fallout” franchises. But it…

French soccer sensation, Kylian Mbappé could hardly contain his excitement as he became the first soccer player to chat with someone in outer space when called French astronaut Thomas Pesquet on the International Space Station this month. Pesquet and Mbappé spoke for 20 minutes as the space station orbited over Europe. On this Earth-to-space call, the two chatted about the difficulties of being in space and incredible science that’s done on the orbiting lab among other topics. Related: Space station robotic arm hit by orbital debris in ‘lucky strike’ (video)…

With a high bid of $28 million, an unnamed individual has won the chance to join the richest person on Earth on a flight into space. Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ commercial spaceflight company, concluded its two-week-long competition for the first seat on board its New Shepard launch vehicle with a live auction on Saturday (June 12). The bidding, which the company streamed live online, soared from the opening $4.8 million to the hammer of $28 million in just under seven minutes. “How exciting was that! $28 million!” exclaimed Ariane Cornell,…

 On this week’s wrap-up of the Space.com forums, we chat about UFOs. We also get excited about some interesting facts concerning the moon and wonder about parallel universes. But first, we test our knowledge of the sun with a fun quiz to celebrate this week’s “ring of fire” solar eclipse!  Test your solar knowledge!  Join the conversation Let us know what you think of the sun, UFOs, science fiction and more in our Space.com Forums here!  Ah, yes, the sun. Despite all of the intriguing factoids we’ve come to know,…

[embedded content] You can watch live this Saturday (June 12) as people all over the world bid for the chance to go to space with Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos. Blue Origin, which Bezos founded, will broadcast its live auction for the first seat on the New Shepard spacecraft’s debut crewed flight at Blue Origin.com, starting at 12:45 p.m. EDT (1645 GMT). (Blue Origin has done several uncrewed test flights of the spacecraft in recent months.) Nearly 6,000 people from 143 countries have sent in bids for the rare…

China’s Mars rover Zhurong poses for a self portrait with its lander in this photo from Utopia Planitia released on June 11, 2021. (Image credit: CNSA) STUFF HERE Related: China’s Tianwen-1 Mars mission in photos STUFF HERE This photo from China’s Mars rover Zhurong  shows a side view of its Tianwen 1 lander at its touchdown site in Utopia Planitia. The rover’s tracks are visible at right.This image was released on June 11, 2021. (Image credit: CNSA) STUFF HERE This panorama from China’s Mars rover Zhurong shows the vast flat…