Check out the night sky this month, July 2025. Here are videos and links to websites highlighting the top sights to observe.
** What’s Up: July 2025 Skywatching Tips from NASA | NASA JPL
What are some skywatching highlights in July 2025? Look for Mars in the evening, Venus and Jupiter in the morning, and find the eagle constellation, Aquila, soaring overhead.
0:00 Intro 0:14 July planet viewing 1:43 The Constellation Aquila 3:12 July 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/.
Let’s explore “what’s up” in the July sky in a fun and informative way! This month we’ll check on the planets’ whereabouts, go on a “sat-seeing” tour, and chase down one of best know celestial critters: Scorpius. So grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour episode.
** The Night Sky | July 2025 | Full Buck Moon | Southern Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower | Late Night Astronomy
A major meteor shower peaks and we explore the ghostly remnants of a dead star. Let’s take a look at what you can see in the night sky for July of 2025.
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Timestamps: 0:00 Southern Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower 1:52 The Moon 3:13 The Planets 4:15 Deep Sky Objects
On 26 June 2025 ESA project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland and his crewmates arrived to the International Space Station on the Axiom-4 mission (Ax-4).
The Polish project astronaut is the second of a new generation of European astronauts to fly on a commercial human spaceflight opportunity with Axiom Space.
Sponsored by the Polish government and supported by ESA, the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology (MRiT), and the Polish Space Agency (POLSA), the mission will include an ambitious technological and scientific programme with several experiments led by ESA and proposed by the Polish space industry.
Follow Sławosz’s journey to space on the Ignis mission website.
** JAXA Astronaut Discusses Life Aboard Space Station Students – Wednesday, June 25, 2025 | NASA Video
Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 73 commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) discussed living and working in space during an in-flight education interview June 25 with Japanese students. Onishi is in the midst of a long duration science mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions.
** Astronaut Discusses Life In Space With U.S. Air Force Academy Association – Tuesday, June 17, 2025 | NASA Video
Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 73 flight engineer Nichole Ayers of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview June 17 with the U.S. Air Force, Academy Association of Graduates for its podcast. Ayers, a Major in the Air Force 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.
Europe is fostering new collaborations for a sustained presence in low Earth orbit. @esa, @Thales_Alenia_S and @blueorigin signed an agreement at #SalonDuBourget today to expand their capabilities in a new era of space exploration.
Just as microgravity dramatically changes the game in medicine and manufacturing, plants also act very differently in microgravity. The Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) was developed to research growing vegetables in LEO’s unique conditions to provide a reliable food supply. It was… pic.twitter.com/1n1GTMCDRC
— Starlab can host semiconductor research and production:
Did you know that space-based semiconductor research dates back over 50 years to Skylab 3? Since then, more than 228 experiments have been conducted in space, with 70% yielding bigger, better-structured and more uniform crystals than possible on Earth.
— Starlab capabilities presented to French industry:
Last week, we presented the current status of Starlab, our next-generation commercial space station, to French industry representatives, investors, and key stakeholders. The day was filled with insightful presentations and engaging discussions, exploring potential collaborations… pic.twitter.com/kXbhfF3zJy
Now is the time to meet NASA’s call to transition its low-Earth orbit presence from the International Space Station (ISS) to a lower-cost commercial option. Vast is ready to deliver for America and our international partners. We will be delivering the world’s first, most affordable, commercial space station in 2026: Haven-1.
Haven-1 will be Vast’s first step toward a long-term commercial presence in orbit.
Purpose-built for scientific research, in-space manufacturing, and human habitation, Haven-1 will ensure humanity’s presence in low-Earth orbit. Backed by a world-class team and built with speed, safety, and efficiency at its core, this marks the next era in human space exploration—not just reaching orbit, but staying there.
he era of commercial space stations begins with Haven-1, launching next year. Whether you’re a sovereign nation, space agency, scientist, company, or private astronaut—the time is now. Join our mission and help pioneer the next giant leap in space exploration.
** Haven-1 Virtual Reality – Available Now for Download | VAST on Youtube
Experience Haven-1, the world’s first commercial space station, in virtual reality (VR): www.vastspace.com/haven-1-vr
Join Andrew Feustel, former NASA Acting Chief Astronaut and Lead Astronaut at Vast, as he narrates the immersive journey through the next-generation space-station, launching in May 2026.
Haven-1 VR is officially available for download from Meta, the App Store, and Steam.
=== Chinese space habitats
** Doing experiments and organizing logistics, Shenzhou 20 crews daily work at Tiangong Space Station | CNSA Watcher – Archives
#SummerSolstice# has arrived, pursue dreams and go!】Experimental schedule full, material organized diligently… What were the new developments in the ‘Space Home’ last week? Let’s follow the daily work of the Shen 20 crew together! #TiangongTVSeason9# Video of manned spaceflight on Weibo
** Crew of Shenzhou-20 spacecraft prepares for second spacewalk from Tiangong space station | CNSA Watcher – Archives
The crew of Shenzhou-20 spacecraft is ready for their second extravehicular activity. The space station is running smoothly and the astronauts have been working in orbit for over two months. They are in good physical and mental condition, fully prepared for the upcoming EVA. (Source: China Manned Space Engineering Office) Sky and space, pursuing dreams.
** Shenzhou-20 astronauts complete second spacewalk | SciNews
According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the second extravehicular activity (EVA) of the Shenzhou-20 (神舟二十) mission was completed on 26 June 2025, at 13:29 UTC (21:29 China Standard Time). During the ~6.5 hours spacewalk, astronauts Chen Dong (陈冬, commander) and Chen Zhong Rui (陈中瑞) completed the installation of a debris protection device, the inspection and maintenance of external equipment, as well as installation of new equipment designed to improve the efficiency of astronauts during EVAs. Astronaut Wang Jie (王杰) assisted them from inside the Tianhe Core Module (天和核心舱) by operating the robotic arm of the China Space Station (中国空间站). Credit: China National Space Administration (CNSA)/China Central Television (CCTV)
The Moon represent a vast supply of resources critical to space development, particularly the lunar poles. How do we balance competing interests of development and science, and competing interests of various nations and groups?
The Joint Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Test Team (JETT), led out of Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, is a specialized group that develops, integrates, and executes tests and analog missions that enable evaluations of lunar surface systems and operations for Artemis missions. This field test is the fifth in the series and is the highest fidelity Artemis moonwalk mission simulation to date. The test consists of two integrated teams working together as they practice end-to-end lunar operations with a team of astronauts, NASA engineers, and field experts in the Arizona desert conducting the simulated moonwalks, and a team of flight controllers and scientists at NASA Johnson monitoring and guiding their activities. The test evaluates gaps and challenges associated with lunar South Pole operations, including data collection and communications between the flight control team and science team in Houston for rapid decision-making protocols. The week-long test was conducted in the San Francisco Volcanic Field near Flagstaff, Arizona in May of 2024.
Long-term survival in space won’t just be about food, air, and shielding—it’s about gravity. In this episode, we’ll explore why artificial gravity may be essential for keeping humans healthy on starships and space stations, and how we might create it using rotation, magnetism, or future technologies.
** Cities of the Future – Megacities, Arcologies, and Floating Utopias | Isaac Arthur on Youtube
In tomorrow’s world, cities may rise into the clouds, dive beneath oceans, or float among the stars—join us as we journey through these radical urban frontiers.
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Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:16 The Growth of Cities 4:05 Urban Challenges & Opportunities 6:09 Vertical Cities & Arcologies 21:15 Space Scrapers & Space Towers 24:19 Subterranean Cities 26:26 Artificial Island Cities 28:05 Underwater Cities 29:29 Cities in the Sky 30:59 Space Habitats 33:56 Cities on Other Worlds
** Worldhouses & Paraterraforming: Building Planets, One Dome at a Time | Isaac Arthur on Youtube
Why wait centuries to terraform Mars when you could build a habitable world overnight? In this episode, we explore the concept of Worldhouses—planet-spanning domes that let us colonize hostile worlds by enclosing them beneath engineered skies, one dome at a time.
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Chapters: 0:00 Intro 2:47 The Worldhouse Concept 7:04 How Would a Worldhouse Be Built? 15:19 The Quilt Approach: Expanding a Worldhouse Over Time 20:22 Antimatter Propulsion 21:42 Partial Enclosures: Mega-Domes Over Key Regions 23:56 Enclosing Asteroids: The Micro-Worldhouse 28:07 Earth as a Worldhouse: Could We Enclose Our Own Planet? 30:43 The Future of Worldhouses
Long before the International Space Station, Wernher von Braun imagined something bolder: a massive, rotating space habitat that used motion to simulate gravity—a wheel in the sky. In this episode, we explore the origins and design of the Von Braun Wheel, its cultural legacy, and how this mid-20th-century vision still shapes the dreams of space settlement today.
We’ll trace its journey from Cold War concept to science fiction icon, revisit its influence on shows like 2001: A Space Odyssey, and examine the very real possibility of building such a station with today’s technology. We’ll also reflect on von Braun’s enduring impact—culminating in the National Space Society’s von Braun Award, presented this year to Jared Isaacman and the Polaris Dawn team.
From dreams to docking hubs, from Disney collaborations to modern-day launch systems, the Von Braun Wheel remains a symbol of humanity’s path to the stars. Join us as we honor its legacy—and explore how we might finally bring it to life.
** How to Build in Space — for Life on Earth | Ariel Ekblaw | TED
Is space the “final frontier” — or the perfect place to revolutionize life on Earth? Space architect Ariel Ekblaw reveals how self-assembling structures could build orbiting real estate in space dedicated to solving humanity’s greatest dilemmas on Earth, leading to scientific and medical breakthroughs only possible in zero gravity. (Recorded at TED2025 on April 11, 2025)
Before humanity can spread across the stars, we must first build the foundation—just above our heads. In this episode, we explore the concept of the orbital commons: the shared space around Earth that must become our first true space ecosystem. From fuel depots and tugcraft to habitats, shipyards, and traffic control, the infrastructure of near-Earth space is the key to unlocking a sustainable spacefaring future.
We’ll examine what it takes to turn Earth orbit from a fragile staging area into a thriving zone of commerce, habitation, and exploration. And we’ll look at the legal, logistical, and technological tools we’ll need to protect and expand this new frontier.
The road to Mars and beyond begins here—with the highways, hubs, and habitats of cislunar space.
=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:
Calendar:
July 11: You’re Gonna Need Juice For That: Establishing Infrastructure in Space, Friday, July 11 from 1:00-2:30 pm via Zoom. Sponsored by Beyond Earth Institute
Tyler Bender (Moderator) – Policy Analyst, Beyond Earth Institute
September 29 – October 3 — International Astronautical Conference (IAC) By the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in Sydney, Australia [Learn more ➔]
October 9-11 — International Mars Society Convention in Los Angeles [Learn more ➔]
October 24-25 — New Worlds Conference in Houston, TX [Learn more ➔]
November 3-4 — Space Settlement Summit by the NSS at the University of Central Florida by the National Space Society [Save the date]
November 5-6 — Space Economy Summit by The Economist at the University of Central Florida [Learn more ➔]
** Super high-speed camera on ISS captures high-altitude electrical storms:
The Thor-Davis investigation tests a special camera that photographs high-altitude thunderstorms through space station’s windows. Capturing imagery up to 100,000 frames per second, Thor-Davis could be a useful tool for observing severe electrical storms from space.… pic.twitter.com/bzKWhS7Acb
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) June 27, 2025
** Transitions from earth to aurora to space:
Color of Earth meets the blackness of deep space. Stars above green and red auroras, seen as fixed points due to my homemade orbital sidereal drive. pic.twitter.com/6j4sADNPLb
** 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 June 2025?
Saturn and Venus in the morning sky, and Mars at night. June brings the longest and shortest day of the year, depending on your hemisphere. And make your way out to dark skies to marvel at the Milky Way Galaxy’s core.
0:00 Intro 0:13 June planet viewing 1:09 Milky Way core season 1:59 June solstice 3:36 June 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 June 2025. Credits NASA JPL
Let’s go on a 13-minute tour of “what’s up” in the June nighttime sky. This month we’ll celebrate the Sun’s solstice; follow the Moon through all its phases and close encounters; track down a couple of faint constellations; and shine a spotlight on the star Arcturus. So grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour episode.
** Space to Ground: Return Items: May 30, 2025 | NASA
**Jonny Kim Discusses Life In Space With Meltwater Summit Attendees – Wednesday, May 7, 2025 | NASA Video
Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 73 flight engineer Jonny Kim of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview with attendees at the Meltwater Summit in New York City. Kim, 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.
** Recent parking at the ISS:
The science and cargo packed @SpaceX Dragon ended its stay undocking from the station’s Harmony module at 12:05pm ET today for a return to Earth early Sunday. https://t.co/4xdwFBEeD2
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) May 23, 2025
** Growing private gardens on the ISS:
Bootleg agrarian society in the space station
Astronaut Kate Rubins surprised us with her stories of secretive plant growth in the ISS. She started with sanctioned experiments to grow radishes in space. Instead of disposing of the plants, they hid them where the LED lighting… pic.twitter.com/KU1SxgCjN1
Axiom Station’s habitation module will provide living quarters, work spaces, and life support systems for astronauts. Building a structure that can withstand the harsh conditions of space while maintaining a pressurized interior is quite a challenge. The Node Cylinder, 1 of 4… pic.twitter.com/U6Y8gwNrdc
Living in space poses unique challenges that can affect mood and circadian rhythms. Traditional Space Station lighting has LED lighting focused on basic circadian regulation, but Axiom Station is taking it a step further with mood-responsive lighting that can monitor an astronaut… pic.twitter.com/bom0fE4Mh4
— NASA Fires Hypervelocity Projectile at Inflatable Space Station | Sierra Space Youtube
Sierra Space recently conducted successful hypervelocity impact trials at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to optimize the structural integrity of Sierra Space’s Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE®) habitat. The goal of this NASA-supported testing was to refine a shield for the company’s expandable, flexible space station structure to make it capable of withstanding impacts from hazards on orbit.
Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company and defense tech prime that is building a platform in space to benefit and protect life on Earth, announced today that it recently conducted successful hypervelocity impact trials at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to optimize the structural integrity of Sierra Space’s Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE®) habitat. The goal of this NASA-supported testing was to refine a shield for the company’s expandable, flexible space station structure to make it capable of withstanding impacts from hazards on orbit.
The LIFE habitat’s shield, constructed from innovative, high-strength, flexible “softgoods” – a chemically-woven fabric material called Vectran® – provides a lightweight yet durable alternative to traditional rigid structures. The Sierra Space and NASA test teams used a two-stage light gas gun to simulate micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) impacts to LIFE’s outer shield. The testing aimed to select materials and configurations that enhance the habitat’s shielding performance while achieving significant mass savings – critical for space missions. You can view and download video of the test campaign here and photos here.
“Our innovative space station technology drives scientific discovery and fuels a low-Earth orbit economy,” said Shawn Buckley, Vice President, Space Destinations Systems at Sierra Space. “This collaboration with NASA advances our efforts to development a shield that protects against micrometeoroids and space debris, bringing us closer to launching the LIFE habitat into orbit and readying our technology for repeat and long-duration space missions.”
The impact testing, conducted under an unfunded Space Act Agreement called Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities (CCSC-2), used NASA’s .50 caliber two-stage light gas gun to replicate MMOD traveling at speeds around seven kilometers per second. Housed in the Remote Hypervelocity Test Laboratory, the gun uses gunpowder (the first stage) and highly compressed hydrogen (the second stage) to accelerate projectiles at high velocities to simulate orbital debris impacts on spacecraft and satellite materials and components. Testing is conducted in a near vacuum chamber to simulate space conditions.
— Growing veggies 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
Sierra Space secured a one-year, $3.6M NASA contract to study how its inflatable space station technology could provide logistical infrastructure for future lunar bases.
The contract—part of NASA’s NextSTEP-2 Appendix R set of studies—tasks Sierra Space with examining how it would upgrade its LEO space station technology to withstand the lunar environment, given the Moon’s sharp regolith and extra gravity.
Starlab Space LLC and Balance Ophthalmics have partnered to find a solution for Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome, a condition that describes functional changes to the eyes of astronauts. One in three astronauts on long-duration International Space Station missions experiences symptoms of SANS, including hyperopic shifts, globe flattening, choroidal/retinal folds and cotton wool spots. If not addressed, prolonged microgravity exposure, including during missions to the Moon or Mars, could cause complete and irreversible vision loss for astronauts.
This partnership demonstrates Starlab’s commitment to scientific research and to safe and repeatable space flight experiences. The company aims to enhance astronauts’ way of life today on the International Space Station, while also setting a baseline for further improvement and future use on Starlab. Dual-use technologies are key to this effort, jumpstarting discoveries that can transform humanity both on Earth and in space.
Balance Ophthalmics has developed the first and only non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical way to treat eye pressure. The FYSX™ Ocular Pressure Adjusting Pump features a quiet, compact, portable pump combined with innovative pressure sensing goggles. The device has been granted FDA DeNovo Classification and shown to lower pressure in every patient at every visit while worn.
“While our issues are reversed in space – we need to increase pressure on the eyes rather than lower it – the technology behind Balance Ophthalmics can be a game changer for future space missions and improve our customer experience on Starlab. I’m looking forward to partnering with Balance, addressing this critical concern and exploring the many other benefits of the technology, so that our astronauts can clearly and completely focus on their best work,” said Tim Kopra, Starlab CEO.
— Starlab in Europe:
Our European team recently showcased Starlab at the inaugural SpaceTechNRW Conference in Cologne, bringing together key leaders in the space sector and highlighting the region’s strong position in today’s space ecosystem and its vision for future growth.
The Haven-1 primary structure qualification article continues critical testing at our Mojave, CA, test site. Last year, in just six months, we built the qualification article, enabling early testing and validation of our design to ensure we are building a safe and low-cost… pic.twitter.com/VgOJgGTQtn
—- Vast to launch Haven-1, the world’s first commercial space station, in May 2026 | Spaceflight Now on YouTube
The International Space Station, a beacon of research and technological advancements in a low Earth orbit, microgravity environment, is nearing the end of its operational life. Vast, a commercial space station company based in Long Beach, California, is working on its bid to replace the ISS as part of NASA’s Commercial LEO Development (CLD) program.
As part of its proof of concept, Vast plans to launch the single-module, Haven-1 space station into LEO no earlier than May 2026. It will be followed by the first crewed mission to this new orbiting laboratory no earlier than late June 2026.
Spaceflight Now Reporter Will Robinson-Smith toured Vast’s Haven-1 Experience at the 40th Space Symposium with Vast CEO Max Haot and spoke with Lead Astronaut Andrew Feustel to learn about the design, manufacturing and vision for Vast’s first foray into creating a commercial space station. Haven-1 is designed to pave the way for the multi-module Haven-2, which is Vast’s entrant to become the successor to the ISS.
Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:34 – Our tour begins… 00:58 – Haven-1 overview 02:46 – Lead Astronaut Drew Feustel 03:53 – Science partners 06:51 – Vast and CLD development 08:36 – Glimpse of Haven-2 08:56 – Haven-1 hatch and SpaceX partnership 12:40 – Crew quarters and Vast Haven-1 sleep system 14:49 – Hardware progress on Haven-1 19:14 – Working towards Haven-2
—- Inside Vast Headquarters: Where Next Generation Space Stations Are Built | VAST Youtube
— More touring of Vast’s facilities:
We recently welcomed journalist Pablo Fuente to our facilities and Mojave test site for an in-depth look at our progress toward building next-generation space stations, our pursuit of NASA’s CLD bid, and the talented team making it happen. Thanks to @PabloFuente and… https://t.co/FxytfQU9By
Haven-1’s domed window will enable the crew to observe and photograph the Earth and space. This test fixture is critical to confirming the window’s strength and ensuring crew safety in space. Each test kick simulates hundreds of pounds of force, mimicking accidental bumps from… pic.twitter.com/DpLV17EwhT
To evaluate the performance of our Haven-1 domed window, the team conducted nighttime star photography tests. This setup allowed us to assess how light sources, such as stars and the Moon, interact with the window’s multiple panes. We evaluated camera views through the window and… pic.twitter.com/ogBEWMOKXj
NASA-supported commercial space station, Vast’s Haven-1, recently completed a test of a critical air filter system for keeping future astronauts healthy in orbit. Testing confirmed the system can maintain a safe and healthy atmosphere for all planned Haven-1 mission phases.
Testing of the trace contaminant control system was completed at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, as part of a reimbursable Space Act Agreement. Vast also holds an unfunded Space Act Agreement with NASA as part of the second Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities initiative.
The subsystem of the environmental control and life support system is comprised of various filters designed to scrub hazardous chemicals produced by both humans and materials on the commercial station. During the test, a representative chemical environment was injected into a sealed environmental chamber, and the filtration system was turned on to verify the trace contaminant control system could maintain a healthy atmosphere.
“Testing of environmental control systems and subsystems is critical to ensure the health and safety of future commercial space station crews,” said Angela Hart, program manager for NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “Through NASA’s agreements with Vast and our other industry partners, the agency is contributing technical expertise, technologies, services, and facilities to support companies in the development of commercial stations while providing NASA important insight into the development and readiness to support future agency needs and services in low Earth orbit.”
Experts used the same environmental chamber at Marshall to test the International Space Station environmental control and life support system.
The knowledge and data gained during the recent testing will help validate Vast’s Haven-1 and support future Haven-2 development.
08:50 to 16:49, extravehicular activities lasted a total of 7 hours and 59 minutes 【Shenzhou-20 astronauts successfully completed their first extravehicular activity】At 16:49 today, after about 8 hours of extravehicular activities, Shenzhou-20 astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie closely cooperated with ground research personnel and successfully completed their first extravehicular task. At 08:50, astronaut Chen Dong opened the hatch of the core module and was the first to exit. After Chen Dong boarded the robotic arm, with the coordination of astronaut Chen Zhongrui … full text
** Chinese astronauts conduct spacewalk to add space debris protection on Tiangong space station | VideoFromSpace
Shenzhou-20 astronauts Chen Dong and Chen Zhongrui conducted a spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station on May 22, 2025. The “complete multiple tasks, including the installation of space debris protection devices,” according to China Central Television.
The Shenzhou-20 crew has been busy in orbit for half a month since arriving at the Chinese space station on April 25. Astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie have quickly adapted to the microgravity environment and smoothly started their “business trip to space.” Let’s take a look!
=== Mars habitation
** Elon Musk gives his latest update on the SpaceX plan for a Mars settlement:
Hosting my space about the latest Mars plan from SpaceX this evening.
* Can they do it?
* When will they be able to send humans?
* What’s the plan once they get there?
* How will everybody else respond to it?https://t.co/jXfAKkuE77
Panelists: Frank White (Sentient Media, LLC; Human Space Program; Professor at Kepler Space Univ.), David W. Peterson, Chairman, Ventana Systems, Inc., Dr. Annahita Nezami, Research Fellow, Birkbeck, University of London Chartered Psychologist
** ISS astronaut Nichole “Vapor” Ayers posts views of Earth:
The Aurora showed up this last weekend when I wasn’t expecting it! I was trying to capture the massive storms that went through both North and South America and got a nice surprise. The Aurora appeared right at sunset over the Northern US and Canada.
— Nichole “Vapor” Ayers (@Astro_Ayers) May 23, 2025
A nighttime pass over the Eastern and Southern United States. I was astounded at the scale of recent thunderstorms … some of these flashes are as large as cities! pic.twitter.com/fsdJjMo20Q
I’m still in awe of our view of the world and beyond. Today was the Flower Moon and it did NOT disappoint!
These were shot from a few different lenses for perspective. I love how you can see the texture in the clouds and on the Moon itself. pic.twitter.com/AImsX4kQ1O
— Nichole “Vapor” Ayers (@Astro_Ayers) May 13, 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
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.
