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
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/.
Phases of the Moon during March 2025. Credits. NASA JPL
** Two eclipses visible this month! What to see in the night sky, March 2025 – BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal the best things to see in the sky throughout March 2025, including a lunar eclipse and solar eclipse.
This month we’ll mark two seasonal transitions, watch eclipses of the Moon and Sun, track down the elusive planet Mercury, and trace out the Winter Hexagon. So grab your curiosity, and come along with Sky & Telescope’s Kelly Beatty on this month’s Sky Tour.
** The Night Sky | March 2025 | Total Lunar Eclipse | Blood Moon | Partial Solar Eclipse – Late Night Astronomy
A total lunar eclipse and partial solar eclipse put on a show for millions of us around the world. Let’s take a look at what you can see in the night sky for March of 2025.
…
Timestamps: 0:00 Total Lunar Eclipse 2:21 Partial Solar Eclipse 3:10 The Planets 4:00 Comets
Tylos (or WASP-121b) is a gaseous, giant exoplanet located some 900 light-years away in the constellation Puppis. Using the ESPRESSO instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), scientists have been able to prove into its atmosphere, revealing its 3D structure. This is the first time that this has been possible on a planet outside of the Solar System. The atmosphere of Tylos is divided into three layers, with iron winds at the bottom, followed by a very fast jet stream of sodium, and finally an upper layer of hydrogen winds. This kind of climate has never been seen before on any planet.
Astronomers have peered through the atmosphere of a planet beyond the Solar System, mapping its 3D structure for the first time. By combining all four telescope units of the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), they found powerful winds carrying chemical elements like iron and titanium, creating intricate weather patterns across the planet’s atmosphere. The discovery opens the door for detailed studies of the chemical makeup and weather of other alien worlds.
“This planet’s atmosphere behaves in ways that challenge our understanding of how weather works — not just on Earth, but on all planets. It feels like something out of science fiction,”
says Julia Victoria Seidel, a researcher at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile and lead author of the study, published today in Nature.
The planet, WASP-121b (also known as Tylos), is some 900 light-years away in the constellation Puppis. It’s an ultra-hot Jupiter, a gas giant orbiting its host star so closely that a year there lasts only about 30 Earth hours. Moreover, one side of the planet is scorching, as it is always facing the star, while the other side is much cooler.
The team has now probed deep inside Tylos’s atmosphere and revealed distinct winds in separate layers, forming a map of the atmosphere’s 3D structure. It’s the first time astronomers have been able to study the atmosphere of a planet outside our Solar System in such depth and detail.
“What we found was surprising: a jet stream rotates material around the planet’s equator, while a separate flow at lower levels of the atmosphere moves gas from the hot side to the cooler side. This kind of climate has never been seen before on any planet,”
says Seidel, who is also a researcher at the Lagrange Laboratory, part of the Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, in France. The observed jet stream spans half of the planet, gaining speed and violently churning the atmosphere high up in the sky as it crosses the hot side of Tylos.
“Even the strongest hurricanes in the Solar System seem calm in comparison,”
she adds.
This diagram shows the structure and motion of the atmosphere of the exoplanet Tylos (WASP-121b). The exoplanet is shown from above in this figure, looking at one of its poles. The planet rotates counter-clockwise, in such a way that it always shows the same side to its parent star, so it’s always day on one half of the planet and night on the other. The transition between night and day is the “morning side” while the “evening side” represents the transition between day and night; its morning side is to the right and its evening side to the left. As the planet crosses in front of its host star, atoms in the planet’s atmosphere absorb specific colours or wavelengths of the star’s light, which can be measured with a spectrograph. From this data –– obtained in this case with the ESPRESSO instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope –– astronomers can reconstruct the composition and velocity of different layers in the atmosphere. The deepest layer is a wind of iron that blows away from the point of the planet where the star is directly overhead. Above this layer there is a very fast jet of sodium that moves faster than the planet rotates. This jet actually accelerates as it moves from the morning side to the evening side of the planet. Finally, there is an upper layer of hydrogen wind blowing outwards. This hydrogen layer overlaps with the sodium jet below it.
To uncover the 3D structure of the exoplanet’s atmosphere, the team used the ESPRESSO instrument on ESO’s VLT to combine the light of its four large telescope units into a single signal. This combined mode of the VLT collects four times as much light as an individual telescope unit, revealing fainter details. By observing the planet for one full transit in front of its host star, ESPRESSO was able to detect signatures of multiple chemical elements, probing different layers of the atmosphere as a result.
“The VLT enabled us to probe three different layers of the exoplanet’s atmosphere in one fell swoop,”
says study co-author Leonardo A. dos Santos, an assistant astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, United States. The team tracked the movements of iron, sodium and hydrogen, which allowed them to trace winds in the deep, mid and shallow layers of the planet’s atmosphere, respectively.
“It’s the kind of observation that is very challenging to do with space telescopes, highlighting the importance of ground-based observations of exoplanets,”
he adds.
Interestingly, the observations also revealed the presence of titanium just below the jet stream, as highlighted in a companion study published in Astronomy and Astrophysics. This was another surprise since previous observations of the planet had shown this element to be absent, possibly because it’s hidden deep in the atmosphere.
“It’s truly mind-blowing that we’re able to study details like the chemical makeup and weather patterns of a planet at such a vast distance,”
says Bibiana Prinoth, a PhD student at Lund University, Sweden, and ESO, who led the companion study and is a co-author of the Nature paper.
To uncover the atmosphere of smaller, Earth-like planets, though, larger telescopes will be needed. They will include ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which is currently under construction in Chile’s Atacama Desert, and its ANDES instrument.
“The ELT will be a game-changer for studying exoplanet atmospheres,” says Prinoth. “This experience makes me feel like we’re on the verge of uncovering incredible things we can only dream about now.”
The International Space Station is scheduled to be in operation until 2030. We have revised the Axiom Station module sequence to enable our commercial space station to become an independent orbital platform as early as 2028. The new on-orbit assembly sequence will start with the… pic.twitter.com/howOpcpxzw
In this week’s episode our guest is Kam Ghaffarian, Chairman, Axiom Space, Intuitive Machines and other companies. Inspired by the Apollo 11 moon landing, starting in his basement, and finally reaching the moon. This is Kam Ghaffarian’s inspirational story.
Our Dream Chaser spaceplane is one step closer to resupplying the @Space_Station, thanks to a successful test in collaboration with @NASA. The test demonstrated several key capabilities of Dream Chaser, including its ability to power-on, air-cool, and exchange data with multiple… pic.twitter.com/b9OVaWusqR
Vast and SpaceX announced a joint request for research proposals from the global space science community aimed at advancing long-term human habitation and exploration in space. Building on their established partnership, the two companies seek high-impact research projects to support humanity on Earth and advance our capacity to live and work in Earth orbit and beyond. Submitted proposals will be evaluated based on scientific and technical merit, feasibility, and alignment with mission objectives. Approved research proposals will be able to leverage the capabilities of the Haven-1 Lab, Dragon spacecraft, and/or private astronaut missions to the International Space Station (ISS).
Haven-1 is scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station and crewed microgravity research, development, and manufacturing platform. This groundbreaking facility will enable cutting-edge research and technological advancements, opening new frontiers in space science.
…
While no direct funding will be provided to the research project, Vast and SpaceX will offer selected researchers access to a hosted orbital laboratory, on-orbit crew time, and support for project design and flight qualification—at no cost.
…
For additional information and details on how to submit a proposal, please visit SpaceX.com/research.
** Haven-1 Development Update – January 2025 – VAST Youtube
Here is the latest as we build the team, facilities, and hardware to launch the world’s first commercial space station. Every step brings us closer to redefining space exploration. Stay tuned for more milestones as we make history. We are proud to bring space station primary structure manufacturing back to the United States.
This video captures 90 minutes of exposure time of our night sky and star trails, representing a full orbit in low-Earth orbit—the future home of Haven-1. pic.twitter.com/GByGxFFgFM
** Chinese astronauts welcome Year of the Snake in space – VideoFromSpace
China’s Shenzhou-19 astronauts sent their Lunar New Year greetings home from the nation’s Tiangong space station to welcome in the Year of the Snake.
SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Shenzhou-19 space mission crew: “We are in the space home of the Chinese people, wishing you all a happy Chinese New Year! We wish the people of the whole country good health and all the best in the Year of Snake! May our great motherland enjoy harmony and prosperity!”
Chinese astronaut Wang Haoze of the Shenzhou 19 crew shared that her favorite activity in space is to gaze at the breathtaking sceneries of the mountains and rivers of her homeland, savoring the beauty of the Earth from orbit.
Wang Haoze, China’s first female space flight engineer, along with fellow astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong, is on a six-month mission aboard the Tiangong space station. The trio arrived at the orbiting station following the launch of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship on Oct 30 last year.
** Shenzhou-19 Commander Reflects on Mid-Mission Progress, Says Good to Be Back to Space Station – CCTV Video News Agency
Chinese astronaut and commander of the Shenzhou-19 space mission Cai Xuzhe shared his experience of returning to the Chinese space station while delivering a mid-mission progress review.
China launched the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship on Oct 30 last year, sending three astronauts, Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, to the orbiting space station for a six-month mission.
Cai first joined the journey into space as a crew member of the Shenzhou-14 mission in 2022. He was honored with the title “Heroic Astronaut” for his service and accomplishments during that mission.
perform a study to identify the challenges associated with fabricating a shipyard in space using technologies and assets available today. Building on their ISAM&C [In Space Assembly, Manufacturing, & Construction] technology and their expertise in the field, ThinkOrbital will develop CONOPS, preliminary designs, and a cost analysis of deploying a shipyard to low Earth orbit.
… ThinkOrbital has some pedigree in doing ISAM&C tasks that no one else has done before. In May 2024, they launched and successfully tested the first-ever weld in space. The mission flew on a Falcon 9, spot-welded together some quarter-inch pieces of aluminum, and returned it to Earth, where the welds were closely examined.
They used a method called electron beam welding, which has several advantages for use in space. First, it doesn’t require as much power as a traditional arc welder—only around 2KW, equivalent to a household iron. Second, it doesn’t create a lot of heat, which can degrade the metal being welded and cause issues like splintering, which can become dangerous in zero-gravity situations.
— ThinkOrbital Flight-1: world’s first autonomous in-space welding – ThinkOrbital on Youtube
We have launched world’s first autonomous in-space welding system!
We are thrilled to announce that we’ve achieved the majority of our Flight-1 objectives, marking a significant leap forward in space innovation. Our journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, from the groundbreaking first-ever autonomous in-space weld to the historic return of flown-in-space Electron-beam welder samples. These samples will be meticulously analyzed by NASA and the European Space Agency, paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries.
Throughout this milestone-filled journey, we have:
Designed and built the world’s first autonomous in-space welding system. Conducted and passed rigorous vibration, shock, and thermal testing. Garnered FAA and FCC flight authorization. Successfully launched and landed on Falcon 9 on May 6, 2024.
This is just the beginning of our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of possibility in space exploration. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we chart a course towards new frontiers!
— NASA Just Funded This Project. Assembling Large Structures in Space [NIAC 2025] – Fraser Cain
Space Docks are everywhere in science fiction. It’s the most logical way to build big constructions in space. So, NASA funded a futuristic project that studies the possibility of assembling structures in space.
In this month’s post we explore a few concepts and challenges related to artificial gravity (AG) that when explored and understood will enable human’s to live healthy lives and thrive in space. First up, Austria-based architect and civil engineer Werner Grandl, a researcher of space stations and space colonies, and mechanical engineer Clemens Böck describe their concept for the evolving construction of a spinning Artificial Gravity Orbital Station (AGOS) in this Research Gate working paper. AGOS is envisioned as a potential successor to the International Space Station (ISS).
How does NASA plan to use resources on the surface of the Moon?
One method is the ISRU Pilot Excavator, or IPEx!
Designed by Kennedy Space Center’s Swamp Works team, the primary goal of IPEx is to dig up lunar soil, known as regolith, and transport it across the Moon’s surface.
** Derek Webber on The Space Show – Jan.24.2025 – Lunar Commerce, Moon vs Mars, etc
Derek Webber returned to the program to discuss his excellent new book, “Lunar Commerce: A Primer [Amazon commission link].” During the hour and 45 minutes we engaged in a detailed discussion about lunar commerce from what we can do now to a long time in the future. Part of this discussion centered on going to Mars, the Moon as a digression, then new Trump Administration lunar and/or Mars policy, cislunar, launchers, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and so much more. We had several listener calls plus multiple emails with a few listeners sending us multiple emails as extensions of their first one. Derek’s book names companies, policies, all sorts of good items are jam packed into the nearly 200 pages jammed pack with excellent information.
America now has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to open the space frontier by initiating a sustained program of human exploration of Mars. Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship launch system will soon be operational, offering payload delivery capability comparable to a Saturn V Moon rocket at about five percent of the cost. Musk has positioned himself close to President Donald Trump, who at his inauguration in January promised that his administration would be “launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.” As far as meeting the central political and technical conditions for making a bold reach to the Red Planet are concerned, it’s game on.
There are, however, several problems. First and foremost, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency that one would expect to lead such an endeavor, is currently not competent to do so. And while SpaceX is far more competent, it should not be put into the position of executing a Mars mission alone, as some would like. NASA needs to be leading the effort because America should go to Mars, not just a private space enterprise. But to effectively lead human space exploration, NASA first needs to be fixed.
We welcomed John Jossy back to the show, especially at the last minute when the planned guest cancelled due to illness. John brought us current on space settlement matters as we start the new year with a new administration. Our topics in the mentioning of a new space film documentary, the Gerald Black Space Review article on phasing out SLS and Orion, Starship impact, the new Dr. Joel Sercel of TransAstraYouTube video on creating civilizations in space, plus John’s own list of special items including links to the relative subjects and materials. John also posted a short agenda items list of his discussion point on the blog for this program.
=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:
Enjoy the creativity of astronaut Don Pettit, currently on his 4th mission aboard the ISS, as he captures surreal photos of Earth. His long-duration exposures reveal tracks of urban night lights as the ISS passes over. The stars show their own curving pattern, and the aurora adds even more mystery. This magical dance is accompanied by the music of Chilean composer Mario Quiroga. He is a “musico-terapista” (musical therapist), who creates floating music with his digital synthesizers, designed to help soothe the soul. Here we feature his “Aurora Boreal” composition, like a musical magic carpet as we soar over these ethereal views. Recorded on 11/9/2024.
** 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
