A drifting Falcon 9 upper stage will impact the Moon near Einstein Crater at 6:34 am UTC Wednesday, creating a visible debris plume and highlighting growing space debris risks for future lunar bases.
Italian ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano will be the first European to join NASA's Artemis III mission, set to launch in 2027, aiming to return humans to the Moon. He highlights the mission's complexity and the strong EU-US partnership in space exploration.
The US and China are in a new space race, with both nations aiming to be the first to return humans to the Moon. NASA head Jared Isaacman highlighted China's rapid advancements and the strategic importance of lunar resources and future Mars missions.
The US and China are in a new space race, with both aiming to be the first to return humans to the Moon. NASA head Jared Isaacman highlighted China's rapid advancements and the strategic importance of lunar resources and future Mars missions.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated the US is in a 'space race' with China to land humans on the Moon and establish permanent bases. Both nations aim for landings around 2028-2029, with the US planning a lunar base by 2027.
NASA Director Jared Isaacman stated that China is likely to land astronauts on the Moon before the United States. He emphasized the current "space race" and China's rapid progress, while expressing confidence in the US's eventual return and establishment of a lunar base.
German Space Minister Dorothee Bar stated that Europe provides critical technologies for US space missions, emphasizing mutual dependence. She warned against Russia and China winning the space race and highlighted Europe's push for 'tech sovereignty' amid US tech tensions.
Swiss professor Nicholas Thomas emphasizes cooperation for smaller nations in the space race, citing Switzerland's success in space tech and research through collaboration. He also praised South Korea's potential in space exploration, highlighting the importance of a culture that allows failure and stable government support.
Spain's new space agency is preparing for a lunar future, investing in positioning services for the Moon and supporting domestic rocket development. Europe's role in NASA's Artemis program and the need for increased investment are key topics.
A race is on to develop advanced gym equipment for astronauts, with British invention HIFIm and Danish E4D among contenders for future space missions. Current exercise regimes are time-consuming, and new tech aims to improve astronaut fitness and free up time for science.
A new space race is underway, distinct from the Cold War's Sputnik era. China is a leading actor, alongside US tech giant SpaceX, which is preparing for a major IPO and planning orbital data centers. This competition focuses on practical utilization of space, impacting global supply chains for metals, chips, and rockets.
A British invention, HIFIm, is among new space-gym equipment being developed globally to keep astronauts fit on missions. Tested in simulated weightlessness, it aims to reduce daily exercise time from two hours to 30 minutes.
The US leads in space capabilities, with China rapidly catching up. Both nations invest heavily in satellites for military and economic advantage. Russia's space program is declining, but it employs anti-satellite tactics. Dual-use technologies complicate international regulations.
This week's TV picks include a noir Spider-Man series starring Nicolas Cage, a Vinnie Jones documentary, the return of Abbott Elementary, a comedy drama about grief, a subversive comedy about Muslim American brothers, and a Russian perspective on the space race.
US lawmakers at a congressional hearing identified China as the 'most consequential threat and competitor in space,' warning that Beijing leverages its space capabilities 'as a tool of diplomacy and influence.' The two superpowers are in a tight race to the moon, with China targeting a 2030 crewed lunar landing and the US aiming to return astronauts by 2028 via the Artemis programme. A CSIS expert testified that the nation setting space standards will 'set the terms by which information flows, networks interoperate, and how the world is seen.'
