Category: Space Stations

Space stations in orbit or planned

SpaceX’s 31st Dragon cargo capsule departs ISS to head home to Earth

NeRD

SpaceX’s 31st robotic cargo mission is headed back to Earth. SpaceX’s Dragon cargo capsule undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on schedule today (Dec. 16) at 11:05 a.m. EST (1605 GMT) today (Dec. 16). The spacecraft will begin a series of deorbit burns to complete the company’s 31st commercial resupply services mission (CRS-31) for NASA, splashing down of the coast of Florida tomorrow (Dec. 17). The agency won’t webcast the splashdown but will provide updates via its ISS blog. CRS-31 is returning to Earth with thousands of pounds of…

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1st monster black hole ever pictured erupts with surprise gamma-ray explosion

NeRD

In 2018, it was revealed that a pioneering telescope the size of Earth had taken, for the first time, an image of a black hole. That same instrument, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), has now witnessed the same black hole erupt with a powerful and unexpected explosion. Scientists hope that by studying this emission, they can better model the structure surrounding supermassive black holes. The flare, which lasted for about three days in April and May 2018, erupted from the supermassive black hole designated M87*, which liesat the heart of…

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See the best Geminid meteor shower 2024 photos from around the world

NeRD

The Geminid meteor shower put on a dazzling show this week, delighting skywatchers worldwide. The Geminids are one of the most prolific showers of the year, known for bright, colorful meteors and impressive hourly rates. This year, despite the almost full moon, they lived up to their reputation. We’ve rounded up some of the most jaw-dropping Geminid photos from around the world, showcasing the true beauty of this famous shower. So sit back, relax, and immerse yourself in the wonder of the Geminid meteor shower 2024. Night sky live (Image…

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Where does ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ fit in the Star Wars timeline?

NeRD

It’s easy to forget that the “Star Wars” we’ve seen unfolding since director George Lucas’s first entry erupted onto the big screen back in 1977 actually happened ages ago — as in “a long time ago,” — and not in some far future period, despite the futuristic spaceships and lightsabers. That might seem perfectly obvious to most fans, but it’s worth mentioning as we delve into the timeline of Disney+’s “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” to hone in on the calendar to determine where Wim, Fern, Neel, KB and Jod Na…

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‘Dune: Prophecy:’ What are Face Dancers and who are the Bene Tleilax?

NeRD

Watching someone transform their appearance into the likeness of a long-deceased loved one before your very eyes would be unsettling for anyone to see, but apparently, this is a thing in the “Dune” universe and we’re here to explain everything you need to know about these shape-shifting individuals. If you’ve seen the end of the “Dune: Prophecy,” episode “Twice Born,” after Valya Harkonnen stood by to see poor Uncle Evgeny Harkonnen fall out of his floating suspensor chair and die gasping and floundering for air after she denied him his…

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‘Dune: Prophecy’ stars talk weird haircuts and hairy coats (exclusive)

NeRD

HBO’s “Dune: Prophecy” is lurching towards its season finale on Dec. 22, but before we’re further embroiled in the heated court politics of House Corrino and Valya Harkonnen’s vengeful thirst for power and Sisterhood control comes to a head, fans were treated to some intimate time with the two brooding patriarchs, Evgeny Harkonnen (Mark Addy) and the younger Baron Harrow Harkonnen (Edward Davis) in this past Sunday night’s fourth episode, “Twice Born.” In the cheerless confines of their stone and steel abode on Salusa Secundus, the grizzled, wheezing Uncle Evgeny…

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This Week In Space podcast: Episode 140 —University Rocketeers

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University Rocketeers – USC’s Rocket Lab Smash the Amateur Altitude Record – YouTube Watch On On Episode 140 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik talk with Dr. Dan Erwin and student Ryan Kraemer about amateur rocketry. Many of us flew model rockets as young people, but USC Rocket Propulsion Lab takes amateur rocketry to a whole new level–in this case, 470,000 feet!  Meet Erwin and Kraemer, who, along with a very talented team of other undergrads, built and flew Aftershock II, a 14-foot, 330-pound “amateur” rocket…

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86 years after infamous ‘War of the Worlds’ broadcast, visitors in the sky have New Jersey panicking again

NeRD

The panic in New Jersey and across the nation is very real as there is still no explanation for the multiple drone sightings over the state. Reports of these drones have poured in nightly after the first sighting on Nov. 18, 2024, and the source of the drones is still a mystery. The drones have been seen over reservoirs, the U.S. military’s Picatinny Arsenal facility, President-elect Trump’s Bedminster golf course, and were even reported following a U.S. Coast Guard vessel. Almost 100 years ago on Oct. 30, 1938, many of…

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SpaceX launching 22 Starlink internet satellites from California today

NeRD

SpaceX plans to launch yet another batch of its Starlink broadband satellites today (Dec. 13). A Falcon 9 rocket topped with 22 Starlink spacecraft is scheduled to lift off from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base today during a 3.5-hour window that opens at 2:28 p.m. EDT (1928 GMT; 11:28 a.m. local time in California). SpaceX will webcast the action via X, beginning about five minutes before launch. If all goes to plan, the Falcon 9’s first stage will come back to Earth for a vertical touchdown on the drone ship…

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How to watch the Geminid meteor shower 2024 live online tonight (Dec. 13)

NeRD

2024 Geminid Meteor shower: online observation – 13 Dec. 2024 – YouTube Watch On The Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight (Dec. 13) but if you’re unable to catch the prolific shower in person, you can still enjoy this spectacular event from the comfort of your home. Astronomer Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project is offering a free livestream of the Geminid meteor shower on Dec. 13, starting at 6:00 p.m. EST (2300 GMT), weather permitting. You can watch all the action unfold here on Space.com courtesy of the Virtual…

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