Check out the night sky this month, May 2025. Here are videos and links to websites highlighting the top sights to observe.
** What’s Up: May 2025 Skywatching Tips from NASA – NASA JPL
What are some skywatching highlights in May 2025?
Find a pair of planets in the sky both in the evenings and mornings, have a look for the Eta Aquarid meteors, and join the watch for the brief and brilliant appearance of a “new star” – an anticipated nova explosion in the Corona Borealis constellation.
0:00 Intro 0:12 May planet viewing 1:03 Eta Aquarid meteor shower 1:48 Waiting for a nova 3:49 May Moon phases
Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/.
“Sky chart showing constellation Corona Borealis with the location where nova “T CrB” is predicted to appear. The view depicts the constellation with the nova occurring, indicated by an arrow.” Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Venus as a morning star, Mars meets the Beehive Cluster, Regulus is visible in the daytime… There’s plenty to see in the sky throughout May 2025, including the Eta Aquariid meteor shower, the Plough, clair-obscur effects on the Moon and deep-sky objects. Astronomers Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal some of the best things you can see this month.
This month we’ll look for tiny bits of Halley’s Comet; track down four planets; take stock of bright stars in the late-spring sky; and use the constellation Leo to learn what astronomers call all the stars that don’t have names. So grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour episode.
** Space to Ground: One in a Million: April 18,2025 | NASA Johnson
NASA’s Space to Ground is your weekly update on what’s happening aboard the International Space Station.
** NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Soyuz MS-26 Undocking [Apr.19.2025] | NASA
Watch as NASA astronaut Don Pettit, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, undock from the International Space Station and begin their voyage back to Earth.
The Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft is set to undock from the space station at 5:57 p.m. EDT (2157 UTC), heading for a parachute-assisted landing at 9:20 p.m. EDT (0120 UTC or 6:20 a.m. Kazakhstan time, Sunday, April 20) on the steppes of Kazakhstan, southeast of the town of Dzhezkazgan. Landing will occur on Pettit’s 70th birthday.
** Watch Soyuz approach and dock to the ISS [Apr.8.2025]:
** NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Turns the Camera on Science | NASA
NASA astronaut Don Pettit is scheduled to return home in mid-April 2025 after a seven-month mission aboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 72. Throughout his stay, Pettit contributed to research that benefits humanity and future space missions, and delighted photography enthusiasts around the world with his unique point of view.
Pettit also shared what he calls his “science of opportunity” to demonstrate how experimenting with our surroundings can help gain a better understanding of how things work. This understanding is enhanced when art, science, and microgravity come together.
** Between a Rocket & A Hard Space: Episode 2 with NASA Astronaut Jonny Kim | ISS National Lab
The ISS National Lab’s official podcast, Between a Rocket and a Hard Space, is back with an out-of-this-world second episode. Hear from NASA astronaut Jonny Kim in his first one-on-one downlink conversation since arriving onboard the ISS last week.
** How Do Astronauts Practice Self-Care in Space? | NASA Johnson
Everyone needs a little self-care. But what’s that look like for astronauts orbiting 250 miles above Earth? See how crew members may turn to music, movies, and more to unwind and recharge.
Learn more about the ongoing research exploring human health in space at NASA’s Human Research Program: www.nasa.gov/hrp
As more humans venture into orbit and beyond, even happy hour will need a space suit. In this episode, we explore the science, risks, and social dynamics of drinking alcohol in zero gravity—from altered metabolism to waste management and evolving spaceflight etiquette. What does responsible consumption look like off-Earth, and how might it shape the culture of future space habitats?
** Japanese astronaut takes command of space station in on-orbit ceremony | VideoFromSpace
JAXA (Japan Aerospace Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi was handed the key to the International Space Station by Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin in a change of command ceremony on April 18, 2025.
** SpaceX CRS-32 Dragon cargo spacecraft approaches ISS in time-lapse | VideoFromSpace
The SpaceX CRS-32 Dragon cargo capsule docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on April 22, 2025. See it approach the orbital outpost in this time-lapse.
** The ‘riskiest period’ of the ISS’ existence | SpaceNews
A NASA-supported commercial space station, Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef, recently completed a human-in-the-loop testing milestone as the agency works toward developing commercial space stations in low Earth orbit.
The human-in-the-loop test scenarios utilized individual participants or small groups to perform day-in-the-life walkthroughs in life-sized mockups of major station components. Participants provided feedback while simulating microgravity operations, including cargo transfer, trash transfer, stowage, and worksite assessments.
— On Earth Day 2025, Blue highlights the benefits of space for the home planet:
Space exploration confirms it: Earth is the best planet.
Our planet’s resources are finite, but space offers endless possibilities. We can guarantee a sustainable future by sourcing what we need from space and moving polluting industries off Earth. Join the mission to protect… pic.twitter.com/tf196S8ZyB
— Sierra offers expertise in growing plants in space:
For over 20 years, we have been at the forefront of researching how to grow plants in space.
Our Astro Garden system is a large-scale vegetable production system that uses hydroponics to grow plants without soil and offers a sustainable means of producing fresh food fresh food… pic.twitter.com/cZ8kNVrwjW
— Space Symposium attendees could tour the full-scale Haven-1 mockup:
Last week, members of the Vast team attended the 40th Annual Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, CO. We unveiled the Haven-1 Experience, announced new partners @JAMSS_official, @InterstellarLA, and @exobiosphere, and signed an agreement with the @ISS_CASIS.
Vast, the pioneering space habitation technology company, announced today Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation (JAMSS), Interstellar Lab, and Exobiosphere as the latest payload partners for its Haven-1 Lab, the world’s first commercial crewed microgravity research and manufacturing facility in space—unlocking a new era of orbital innovation through a fully commercial platform. Launching inside Haven-1, the world’s first commercial space station, the lab is on track for deployment in May 2026 and is already nearing full capacity.
The three companies—leaders in space systems, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical research—join existing Haven-1 Lab partners Redwire and Yuri, reinforcing Vast’s mission to enable international collaboration in low-Earth orbit (LEO) and accelerate scientific breakthroughs that benefit humanity and support long-term space habitation. The new partners will leverage the microgravity environment of the Haven-1 Lab by installing payloads focused in the areas of advanced materials development, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical development.
Vast, a pioneering company in space habitation technology, has signed a strategic agreement with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space® (CASIS) to support scientific research through the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory. This milestone partnership reinforces Vast’s commitment to advancing space-based research and strengthens its position as a key player in NASA’s private astronaut missions (PAM) to the ISS.
CASIS, manager of the ISS National Lab, awarded the partnership based on Vast’s innovative spacecraft designs and its forward-thinking technical and commercial approach—elements that are poised to enhance in-orbit service technologies, expand access to the ISS for new user groups, and benefit life for humanity through space-based research.
Under the agreement, CASIS will collaborate on initiatives proposed by Vast designed to accelerate advancements in scientific discovery, commercial applications, and space station technology. The agreement also supports Vast’s plans to conduct research proposed by astronauts and agencies collaborating on future NASA private astronaut missions.
We’re making steady progress toward the launch of Haven-1, documenting key hardware milestones and development updates along the way. Explore our most recent accomplishments as we track toward our targeted launch in May 2026 of the world’s first commercial space station.
=== Chinese space habitats
** Shenzhou-19 crew’s space mission countdown: Astronauts conduct experiments and prepare for return | CNSA Watcher – Archives
【#TiangongTV# | “Space business trip” enters countdown!】Shenzhou-19 crew’s “space business trip” enters countdown! Last week, three astronauts conducted various space science experiments while progressing with preparations for the return as planned. Let’s see what projects are on their “to-do list”! (Source: China Manned Space Engineering Office) Space dream’s Weibo video
** Shenzhou 19 Crew on Tiangong Space Station for Over 150 Days, Returning Soon | CNSA Watcher – Archives
The Shenzhou 19 crew has been on the Chinese space station for over 150 days. Astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, Wang Haoze are in good physical and mental condition, making progress in space science experiments and test tasks. According to the plan, they will return to Earth around May 1st.
This should be one of the devices that Chang’e 8 will take to the lunar surface. How to make bricks on the moon? How to build houses? Reporters recently visited the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory in Hefei, Anhui Province, and visited the principle prototype of the “Lunar Soil Brick Machine” independently developed by Chinese researchers – the lunar soil in-situ 3D printing system. The “Lunar Soil Brick Machine” is mainly composed of an optical focusing module and a forming manufacturing module. Its working principle is through… full text.
** Space Symposium 2025 | Inside Lockheed Martin’s Expandable Moon Habitat with Uy Doung | SpaceWatch.Global TV
On the final day of the 40th Space Symposium, Yvette Gonzalez had the pleasure of stepping inside Lockheed Martin’s expandable lunar habitat module and speaking with Uy Doung, Chief Engineer for Commercial Civil Space at Lockheed Martin.
What’s inside this next-gen module? Rather than traditional metallic structures, this design features multi-layered soft goods, offering: • 4x the safety factor of metallic modules (compared to the 2x standard) • Up to 50% mass savings • Ability to compress to 1/5 of its expanded volume to fit within standard launch fairings
Uy’s team is building on NASA’s early TransHab concepts and evolving them into a decoupled architecture, delivering more predictable performance and greater strength in extreme conditions.
Why it matters: As we move toward permanent lunar infrastructure, lightweight, compact, and robust structures like this one will be game-changers for the mass, cost, and versatility of missions.
“This technology could truly transform the lunar landscape,” We said. After seeing it in person, I agree — it’s practical, visionary, and real.
This was Yvette’s first Space Symposium and she is leaving inspired by the innovation, energy, and dedication to building the future of off-world living.
Laura Montgomery, Atty, was back with us to stress the importance of establishing space property rights for the commercial industry and future plans for space development. She went over laws, regulations, policies and treaties and made a very strong case for property rights. In addition, she suggested how to accomplish with space development and was U.S. laws would be to use as models, precedent and planning.
In a nutshell, this article proposes that America’s human spaceflight (HSF) policy be directed to go both to the Moon and Mars simultaneously for exploration and the development of permanent bases. This is based upon accepting the likelihood of the emergence of multiple heavy-lift commercial transportation systems that will be far more cost-effective than NASA’s current plans. The idea that we cannot go to Mars without establishing a base on the Moon is not obviously true and something that SpaceX certainly does not believe.
** Children of the Sky: Raising Kids In Space | SpaceRip
The coming generation of larger, much less expensive rockets (from SpaceX, Blue Origin and others) is propelling dreams of permanent settlements beyond Earth. But can a space community truly be said to exist before the first child is born there? Can Mars ever really be a good place to raise kids? What are the risks around pregnancy and childbirth off-planet? Who should get to decide if space is safe enough for children? Would you edit your child’s genome to permanently adapt them to a different world? Can a child raised in space ever return to Earth? Might the children of the Solar System someday strike out for the stars? Six renown experts help us explore these and other challenging questions, as we witness kids in amazing situations far beyond the world of our species’ birth. A “Children of the Sky” documentary.
=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:
The Sun’s glint beams off a partly cloudy Atlantic Ocean just after sunrise as the International Space Station orbited 263 miles above on March 5, 2025. The space station serves as a unique platform for observing Earth with both hands-on and automated equipment. Station crew members have produced hundreds of thousands of images, recording phenomena such as storms in real time, observing natural events such as volcanic eruptions as they happen, and providing input to ground personnel for programming automated Earth-sensing systems.
“The sun’s glint beams off a partly cloudy Atlantic Ocean just after sunrise as the International Space Station orbited 263 miles above on March 5, 2025.” Image Credit: NASA
** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) | NASA
Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.
The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8
Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov
** Space to Ground: Preboarding for Spaceflight: April 04, 2025 | NASA Johnson
** Space to Ground: Transitional Period: March 28, 2025 | NASA Johnson
** NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Talks with Neil deGrasse Tyson’s “Star Talk” – Thursday, April 3, 2025 | NASA Video
Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 72 flight Don Pettit of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview April 3 with Neil deGrasse Tyson’s “Star Talk” Program. Pettit is in the midst of a long-duration mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration flights as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.
** NASA’s Northrop Grumman Cargo Resupply Services-21 Departure – Friday, March 28, 2025 | NASA Video
The unpiloted Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo spacecraft for the company’s 22nd commercial resupply services mission for NASA was released from the nadir port of the Unity Module of the International Space Station March 28 by flight controllers on the ground in Houston, Texas. Cygnus launched on Aug. 4 from the Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Following a deorbit engine firing on March 30, Cygnus will begin a destructive re-entry in which the spacecraft, filled with trash, will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
** NASA’s Suni Williams hands over command of ISS to Russian crewmate in ceremony | VideoFromSpace
NASA astronaut Suni Williams gave the key to the International Space Station to Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin during a change of command ceremony on March 7, 2025.
** Microbes and the Microbial “Situation on Station.” | ISS National Lab
In this bonus clip from the 1st episode of “Between A Rocket & A Hard Space,” a podcast from the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, host Patrick O’Neill and Dr. Michael Roberts, Chief Scientific Officer of the ISS National Lab, discuss Dr. Mike’s passion: microbes in a closed environment.
*About the Podcast*: Join your host, Patrick O’Neill, Public Affairs lead at the International Space Station National Laboratory, for “Between A Rocket and A Hard Space,” a podcast that explores space-based research with visionaries from academia, government, and private businesses who have launched their R&D to the ISS. People just like you are addressing those pesky hard spaces created by research limitations here on the ground and putting their research on a rocket to test what’s possible in space.
Between a Rocket and a Hard Space is brought to you by the International Space Station National Laboratory, managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space.
This is what the ISS observation dome looks like from the outside and inside
This is a module of the International Space Station (ISS), which is a panoramic observation dome consisting of seven transparent windows. It is designed to observe the surface of the Earth, outer space,… pic.twitter.com/bmsemWAco5
In this video, members of the TMRO crew explain why we shouldn’t retire the ISS early in 2027, what benefits it serves, and a reminder that SpaceX might not exist without it.
— Free floating station configuration now possible as early as 2028:
We have coordinated with NASA to update the Axiom Station assembly sequence. The first module to launch will be the PPTM, which includes power and thermal systems. Instead of docking to Node 2, the PPTM is able to berth to one of the ports currently used by cargo spacecraft. The… pic.twitter.com/KdmNhYDg6Z
During the #Ax4 mission, crew will be performing a wide range of experiments and demonstrations that leverage microgravity to enhance scientific research #ForEarth. With 60 research and science-related activities, this mission sets a record for Axiom Space missions. Find out more… pic.twitter.com/u790ZMiKCB
Vast and NASA have signed an agreement to allow Vast to perform the final environmental test campaign of the Haven-1 flight-ready station at NASA’s Glenn Research Center at Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. Haven-1 testing will occur at the Neil Armstrong Test Facility’s Space Environments Complex, home to some of the world’s largest and most capable space simulation test facilities. Scheduled to begin in early 2026, Haven-1 will undergo rigorous testing to verify its performance and reliability when exposed to environments it will experience during launch and on-orbit operations, including acoustics, vibration, electromagnetic interference, and thermal vacuum.
Vast has signed an agreement with @NASAGlenn to perform final environmental testing of Haven-1 at the Neil Armstrong Test Facility in early 2026.
This test campaign will validate the station’s performance in space-like conditions, including acoustics, vibration, electromagnetic… pic.twitter.com/YqXiQi6Y1m
We’re machining Haven-1’s flight panels in-house, leveraging vertical integration for speed and efficiency.
Full control enables rapid iterations and optimized manufacturing, accelerating our mission to make space accessible to all. pic.twitter.com/PwQ2mw5OIz
We tested and deployed the solar array of Haven Demo in a flight-like configuration to ensure there were no motion restrictions or configuration issues during deployment. The test allowed us to identify and adopt additional minor adjustments to optimize our configuration and… pic.twitter.com/YhgQSDn8Px
** China’s Shenzhou-19 Crew Completes Multiple Tasks in Third Spacewalk – CCTV Video News Agency
Members of the Shenzhou-19 crew aboard China’s orbiting space station Tiangong completed their mission’s third series of extravehicular activities (EVAs) at 20:50 (Beijing Time) on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Video footages shot recently through a window of China’s Tiangong space station in orbit offered breathtaking views of the Earth spinning in space like a shimmering blue gem.
** An in-space snapshot of the Chinese space station:
New from orbit!
We captured this image of the Chinese Space Station using a @BlackSky_Inc satellite. This NEI mission was captured from a distance of 83 km, with a resolution of 0.17 m/px.
Can you identify the various modules of the space station?
John returned to The Space Show to discuss his having used four AI programs to look at the Musk-SpaceX plans for launching supply and humans to Mars between 2030-2050. John wanted to know how many launch sites would be required for the plans Musk has announced to date. During this program, John went through his questions for AI, his assumptions and he he evolved his model. We also disected each of the AI responses. With listener emails and phone calls, this was a thorough discussion but specific to the question John asked the AI with the assumptions he made. All of this was made very transparent on this program.
** Relying on technology to sustain our lives in space is nothing unusual – Dr. Phil Metzger, director of the Stephen W. Hawking Center for Microgravity Research & Education at Univ. of Central Florida:
A major criticism of settling space (e.g., Mars) is that we will depend on technology for air and other basic needs and thus aways be in danger if the tech fails. People on Earth don’t need technology for air so we are safer here (supposedly).
** Space Habitats Living in Space CTEEs Meeting… | Space Renaissance
Participants: Jerry Stone, Thomas Matula, Werner Grandl, Marie-Luise Heuser, Mary Kuiper, Adriano V. Autino
** US Military Wants to Grow Biological Structures in Space |Sabine Hossenfelder
Last month, DARPA published a call for proposals on how to “grow” massive biological structures in space. It’s not as crazy as it sounds: The space race is heating up outside of the weird space biology sector. Some startups are building self-assembling space habitats, others are working on spaceports, and the ISS’s successor is in development. Let’s take a look.
— Open Space 68: Dangers and Rewards of Moon Mining with Dr. Phil Metzger | Fraser Cain
Today I’m joined by Dr. Phil Metzger, a planetary physicist with the Planetary Science faculty at the University of Central Florida. Phil specializes in economic planetary science, helping humanity learn to prosper in space.
Mars-direct advocates argue that modern technology has made lunar steppingstones unnecessary and potentially counterproductive. Why spend precious years and billions of dollars developing lunar infrastructure when we could invest those resources in reaching Mars sooner? The Red Planet, they contend, offers humanity’s best chance for a self-sustaining civilization beyond Earth.
Moon-first proponents counter that skipping lunar development would be dangerously premature. They argue that establishing lunar operations would accelerate, not delay, humanity’s path to Mars. Beyond the Mars debate, they contend that the Moon presents compelling opportunities in its own right. Commercial interests see potential for profitable ventures from tourism to resource extraction. National security experts view lunar presence as essential for preventing strategic competitors from dominating space. The choice between these approaches will determine not just where humans next land, but how quickly and safely we can establish a permanent presence beyond Earth.
As humanity prepares for long-term habitation on Mars and the Moon, the need for sustainable and lightweight building materials has never been greater. Traditional construction methods rely on heavy payloads from Earth, but what if we could grow our habitats instead? In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking work of Dr. Lynne Rothschild and NASA’s research into fungal mycelium-based architecture. Discover how synthetic biology and mycotecture could revolutionize space habitation, offering self-growing, durable, and adaptive structures for off-world colonies. Could Martian mushrooms be the key to our interplanetary future?
** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) – NASA
Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.
The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8
Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov
What are some skywatching highlights in April 2025?
Following a planet-free morning sky in March, April brings planets back to your mornings, as well as the evening sky. Also look for Lyrid meteors, and hunt for the “faint fuzzy” wonder that is the distant and ancient city of stars known as globular cluster M3.
0:00 Intro 0:12 April planet viewing 1:13 Lyrid meteor shower 2:19 Globular cluster M3 4:26 April Moon phases
Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/.
The phases of the Moon for April 2025. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
The planets, the Moon and the Pleiades, plus this month’s best deep-sky objects. Astronomers Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal the best things to see in the night sky, April 2025.
Our monthly Sky Tour #astronomy #podcast provides an informative and entertaining 10-minute guided tour of the nighttime sky. In April’s episode, we’ll watch bright planets come and go, track down some celestial carnivores, and enjoy a splash of mid-spring meteors. So grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour.
What’s in the Night Sky: March 2025 Lunar occultation of the Pleiades Sea of Tranquility Lyrids meteor shower ✨ Constellation of the Month: Lyra
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, looking at the night sky with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope, check out our tour of the night sky to find out what you can see this month. #WINS #Astronomy #WhatsInTheNightSky
In this episode of What’s in the Sky this Month, Teagan reviews some of the beautiful celestial objects you can see in April!
Read the full April 2025 Newsletter: https://www.highpointscientific.com/a…
Looking to expand your astronomy knowledge even further? The Astronomy Hub is the place to learn everything from what’s in the sky this month, to what gear can help you capture the best celestial images. Learn more here ➡️ https://www.highpointscientific.com/a…
Follow us on Instagram / highpointscientific Follow us on Facebook / highpointscientific Sign up for our email newsletter https://www.highpointscientific.com/c…
#highpointscientific #astronomy #april
Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 00:33 – The Whirlpool Galaxy 01:41 – Nearest Neighbors 02:49 – Lyrid Meteor Shower 03:38 – Mizar & Alcor 04:21 – The Leo Triplet 05:04 – Cor Caroli 05:31 – Conclusion
** Space to Ground: On the Station, On the Moon: March 07, 2025 – NASA Johnson
NASA’s Space to Ground is your weekly update on what’s happening aboard the International Space Station.
** Space to Ground: The Power of 10: Feb. 28, 2025 – NASA Johnson
** Space to Ground: Hailing Frequencies: Feb. 07, 2025 – NASA Johnson
** NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Pre-Departure News Conference – Tuesday, March 4, 2025 – NASA Video
Aboard the International Space Station NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore gave remarks about their mission during a news conference March 4. The Crew-9 astronauts will return to Earth via a parachute assisted splashdown later this month. The four crew members have been living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration flights as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.
The Progress MS-30 spacecraft autonomously docked to the aft port of the Zvezda service module, on the International Space Station, on 1 March 2025, at 23:02 UTC (18:02 EST). Progress MS-30 (ISS Progress 91 mission) delivers approximately three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the crew aboard the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Roscosmos Music: “Waltz of the Flowers by Tchaikovsky” courtesy of YouTube Audio Library
** What if the ISS was retired early? – Laura Forczyk
Elon Musk is calling for the International Space Station to be deorbited earlier than the currently planned 2030, even as early as 2027. How would that work with SpaceX’s US Deorbit Vehicle and NASA’s international partners? What would happen with the ongoing microgravity research?
None of the commercial space stations will be ready in time for long-term habitation, and alternatives ideas such as using Starship as a space station aren’t guaranteed to happen in time, either. How much would China benefit from having the Tiangong, the only low-Earth orbit destination? Congress is going to push back on any proposal by the Trump Administration to “abandon LEO” in favor of sending astronauts to Mars, but how this plays out is to be seen.
** ISS crewmember Matthew Dominick, with the assistance of Don Pettit, demonstrates the basics of propellant transfer in micro-gravity and have fun doing it:
Don (@astro_Pettit) and I decided to demo how spaceships could transfer rocket fuel (AKA propellant) in space using water bottles, water, and Alka-Seltzer . . . what could go wrong? pic.twitter.com/BJdmKPtIRr
** NASA Astronaut Suni Williams Talks with the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association- February 25, 2025 – NASA Video
Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 72 commander Suni Williams of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview Feb. 25 with the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association. Williams, a graduate of the academy, is in the midst of a long-duration mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration flights as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.
Red Hat, Inc., the world’s leading provider of open source solutions and Axiom Space, leading provider of in-space infrastructure, will collaborate on Axiom Space’s Data Center Unit-1 (AxDCU-1), targeted to launch in spring 2025 to the International Space Station. Powered by Red Hat Device Edge, the data processing prototype will conduct tests on the space station and demonstrate initial Orbital Data Center (ODC) capabilities.
The prototype will test applications in cloud computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), data fusion and space cybersecurity. AxDCU-1 is part of Axiom Space’s ongoing work to develop era-defining space infrastructure.
Red Hat Device Edge combines an enterprise-ready and supported distribution of the Red Hat-led open source community project MicroShift, a lightweight Kubernetes distribution derived from the edge capabilities of Red Hat OpenShift, along with Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform. Red Hat Device Edge will enable Axiom Space to host hybrid cloud applications and cloud-native workloads on-orbit.
Axiom Space’s ODCs are designed to bring tangible benefits to humanity on Earth and reduce delays traditionally associated with orbital data processing and analysis. By utilizing Earth-independent cloud storage and edge processing infrastructure, Axiom Space ODCs will enable data to be processed closer to its source, spacecraft or satellites, bypassing the need for terrestrial-based data centers. This architecture alleviates reliance on costly, slow, intermittent or contested network connections, creating more secure and quicker decision-making in space.
The goal is to allow Axiom Space and its partners to have access to real-time processing capabilities, laying the foundation for increased reliability and improved space cybersecurity with extensive applications. Use cases for ODCs include but are not limited to supporting Earth observation satellites with in-space and lower latency data storage and processing, AI/ML training on-orbit, multi-factor authentication and cyber intrusion detection and response, supervised autonomy, in-situ space weather analytics and off-planet backup & disaster recovery for critical infrastructure on Earth.
— Preliminary design review completed for the first module of the Gravitics station module:
PDR Success! Gravitics completed the design review (PDR) for our first commercial module. This is an important milestone that validates our spacecraft design. Concurrent with the PDR, Gravitics showcased substantial build progress, including a flight-like dome prototype and… pic.twitter.com/XQQn5p0Ngm
Among the research initiatives being undertaken in collaboration with Merck is the investigation of experimental formulations of monoclonal antibody therapies for cancer. This research aims to leverage the effects of microgravity to develop high-concentration amorphous suspensions, paving the way for improved therapeutic drug delivery methods. For instance, new formulations could allow for injections administered subcutaneously rather than through intravenous transfusion. Additional potential benefits include the creation of therapies with greater stability, potentially enabling storage without the need for refrigeration.
All of this will be made possible in the Merck Formulation Research Platform that will ride aboard Dream Chaser. The Merck Formulation Research Platform was developed in collaboration with the Merck 3D Printing Department and Sierra Space.
This is the first announcement of a commercial contact partner for Sierra Space’s upcoming Dream Chaser mission, highlighting payload “rideshare” capabilities of the spaceplane. Cargo will also include NASA supplies for astronauts currently aboard the space station.
Join NOVA Education for a tour of a new generation of inflatable space habitats that are being designed to allow humans to live and work in space and eventually on Mars.
Featured in NOVA’s “Building Stuff” series, Sierra Space is an aerospace company working with NASA to create an inflatable space habitat called LIFE, Large Integrated Flexible Environment. In this virtual field trip, Sierra Space engineer and program manager Beth Licavoli will walk us through the production of the inflatable habitat, explain how they test the structure of the habitat, and give us a tour inside a fully inflated habitat.
For over 20 years, we have led the way in researching how to grow plants in space. Our team in Madison, Wisconsin, operates a specialized lab where we develop cutting-edge technologies to support life in space. Our principal scientist, Dr. Bob Morrow, has been pioneering space… pic.twitter.com/QKomiFPuXK
Establish a System Integration Lab to serve as the central hub for avionics, computing, sensors and software testing. Procure long lead materials for critical subsystems. Develop a high-fidelity mock-up to support astronaut training and systems testing, with full assembly at NASA’s Johnson Space Center this summer. Advance key life support technologies, including an Advanced Urine Processor. Continue progress on the Optical Link Demo Mission, enhancing future deep-space communication capabilities. Begin construction of Engineering Design Units and Protoflight hardware.
Full development of Starlab is a GO! We recently cleared a major milestone in developing our commercial space station, successfully completing the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in collaboration with NASA, an important step toward full-scale production.
Starlab Space LLC was awarded $15 million, the highest amount awarded to a commercial space company to date, by the Texas Space Commission as part of their Space Exploration and Aeronautics Research Fund grant program. The intent of the SEARF program is to strengthen the space industry in Texas. The grant to Starlab not only supports a Houston-based business but will also help grow Starlab’s ecosystem of suppliers and customers across the state.
“Starlab is setting the stage for life beyond the ISS and a low-Earth orbit environment where a crew with a continuous presence can thrive and accelerate innovative research and development,” said Starlab CEO Tim Kopra. “To ensure the success of our future space missions, we are starting with state-of-the-art testing facilities that will include the closest approximation to the flight environment as possible and allow us to verify requirements and validate the design of the Starlab space station.”
The Systems Integration Lab will include two labs, the main SIL and a Software Verification Facility. The SIL will house flight-like hardware for testing. In this environment, engineers and astronauts can check systems designed for the Starlab space station, catching any potential issues in advance and ensuring efficient and effective operations in space. The SVF will contain a simulated station environment with flight computers and serve as the primary software integration and requirements verification facility.
This award is in addition to the $217.5 million Starlab received from NASA through the Commercial LEO Destinations Phase 1 program to transition activity from the International Space Station to commercial destinations.
— Construction underway for flight version of the Haven-1 single-module space station:
Our first Haven-1 flight primary structure welds occurred last week, marking a major milestone as we prepare for launch next year. The first barrel of Haven-1 has been rolled and welded, bringing the station another step closer to flight. pic.twitter.com/dGgZTvNTGl
Vast is one step closer to launching its first private commercial space station. The company recently completed testing of its Haven-1 qualification article in Mojave, California, and reported that it successfully passed its tests. The company’s current goal is to launch the flight article aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than May 2026.
During a tour of Vast’s facilities in Long Beach, California, with NSF’s John Galloway and D Wise, Vast gave insights into their plans to eventually win a NASA contract to allow their larger space station, Haven-2, to act as a replacement following the deorbiting of the International Space Station (ISS), which is currently scheduled for 2030.
“None of us are actual space station companies,” Vast CEO Max Haot said. “I don’t have a space station in orbit. I cannot have a crew go to it and come back. Neither have any of our competitors… so if we want to create this amazing future, we need to exist. To exist, we need to be profitable. So, to be profitable, we believe we need NASA as an anchor customer.”
The International Space Station has inspired generations, but its time is running out. So who’s building the next space station? We take you inside VAST’s Long Beach factory to see the cutting-edge technology behind their upcoming Haven-1 space station!
Join us for an exclusive tour with VAST CEO Max Haot, and their bold mission to become America’s next space station provider.
Discover: ✔️ VAST’s plan for an artificial gravity space station ✔️ Haven-1: The first commercial space station launching on Falcon 9 ✔️ Exclusive look at space station hardware & technology ️ ✔️ The Race to replace the ISS | VAST’s Commercial Space Station
NSF would like to thank VAST and Max Haot for the incredible all access pass to their facilities.
— Update on the testing of qualification version of the Haven-1 habitat module:
Haven-1’s primary structure qualification article has passed a critical test milestone: successful proof testing on 1/31/25 ✅ We are also updating our launch schedule to May 2026. Program update and additional testing details below.https://t.co/L56jZZJafupic.twitter.com/UmtXEsmDms
We are proud to report that Haven-1 successfully passed its primary structure qualification proof test on the first attempt—a critical milestone in our journey.
This achievement demonstrates:
The full proof qualification of a space station pressure vessel A space station structure designed, built, and tested entirely in-house by Vast A record timeline—completed in just 15 months from zero aluminum work to a proof tested structure
This is just the beginning of Vast’s vehicle operations. Our team is incredibly proud of this milestone and remains focused on what’s next.
Over the coming weeks, we will complete the full qualification test campaign, which involves:
Applying simulated launch and on-orbit forces using hydraulic actuators Conducting structural load tests under pressure Replicating the flight conditions the vehicle will experience in orbit
Stay tuned for updates on our social media and a full blog post once the campaign is complete.
In the meantime, our core team remains focused on our critical path—building the Haven-1 flight primary structure.
Here is their latest timeline for the Haven-1 project:
Vast schedule for Haven-1construction, launch, and initiation of operations. Credits: Vast
The company says,
This is an ambitious timeline, especially for a program of this scale within the crewed systems and space station industry.
We announced Haven-1 in May 2023 with no facilities and a team of fewer than 140 people. Today, we have over 700 team members, nearly 200,000 square feet of operational space, and 16 acres dedicated to manufacturing, integration, testing, and training.
If all goes as planned, we will have designed, built, and launched the world’s first commercial space station in three years—a pace never before achieved in human spaceflight.
=== Overviews of commercial space station projects
… I reached out to each of these companies this week to get the most up-to-date timelines for their projects. All but Blue Origin responded, so here’s the latest rundown of when those launches are planned:
Vast Haven-1 – 2026 Q2
Gravitics Demonstration – 2026
Axiom Payload Power Thermal Module (PPTM) – 2027
Blue Origin Orbital Reef – 2027*
Axiom Hab-1 – 2028
Vast Haven-2 – Late 2028
Voyager Starlab – mid-2029
* Orbital Reef info not confirmed and may be out of date.
=== Chinese space habitats
** Shenzhou-19 Crew Advances Space Experiments Four Months into Mission – CCTV Video News Agency
China’s Shenzhou-19 astronauts aboard the country’s Tiangong space station have now spent four months in orbit, successfully conducting a series of scientific experiments while maintaining good physical and mental health, according to China’s Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
** Shenzhou-19 Crew Continues Scientific Exploration, Space Station Maintenance – CCTV Video News Agency
China’s Shenzhou-19 astronauts have been conducting multi-disciplinary experiments and technical verifications in their four-month stay in the Tiangong space station, thereby gathering essential data and experience for future missions, according to China’s Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
=== Lunar habitation
** How Gateway Will Support NASA’s Artemis Campaign and Pave the Way for Future Mars Missions – NASA Johnson
“We know how to live and work in low Earth orbit. Now, it’s time to go further.” Gateway, humanity’s first lunar space station, will advance science and exploration on and around the Moon as part of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Gateway will also help NASA and its partners test the technologies and operations essential for a sustained presence in deep space, laying the groundwork for the first human mission to Mars. This video brings together insights from the “Houston We Have a Podcast” miniseries on Gateway, “Lunar Space Station 101,” where NASA leaders and astronauts discuss how Gateway will shape the future of space exploration.
Voices featured: NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, deputy director for NASA’s Exploration Operations Office Stephanie Dudley, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano, and NASA’s Lunar Architecture Lead Shatel Bhakta.
In this week’s episode of Space Minds, meet Mars Society president Robert Zubrin, who reflects on his lifelong fascination with Mars, the nature of future martian settlements, and humanity’s fate as a multiplanetary species.
And don’t miss our co-hosts Space Take on important stories before we close the Space Loop this week with trivia and feedback from you.
=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:
Star trail time exposure. Our orbit creates star trails during a time exposure, in this case, about 30 minutes during orbital night. This was assembled from multiple 30 second exposures by @BabakTafreshi. Big thanks to Babak for applying his processing skills with image… pic.twitter.com/4SQrFshmgh
Sen is on a mission to democratize space through the use of high-quality video from space. The cameras it has launched into space so far include a free 4K video livestream from the International Space Station (ISS). NSF recently spoke with the company’s CEO, Charles Black, who hopes these views will be accessed by billions of people to inspire, educate, inform, and ultimately benefit humanity.
“If you look at Earth from space, you see things differently,” says Black, the founder of the London-based company. “I’m driven by this idea that there’s eight billion people on the planet, and everyone should see that reality of our existence, in the same way astronauts do if you were looking out of the window of the Space Station. Everyone should have that perspective.”
** Earth from space in 4K with music | 2 hours | January 2025 – SEN on Youtube
Experience nearly two hours of breathtaking footage of Earth from space, accompanied by music. All footage was captured by Sen’s 4K cameras aboard the International Space Station thoughout January 2025.
** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) – NASA
Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.
The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8
Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov
