MetaFilter (![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png)
metafilter_feed) wrote2025-11-08 10:45 pm
metafilter_feed) wrote2025-11-08 10:45 pm
Orbital Doom, Venusian lava tubes, shutdowns, a mysterious visitor
"Humanity's last active mission at Venus is no more." What's the latest in humanity's exploration of space? Let's start with our sun and work outwards from there.
The Sun
Our star is offering some disturbed weather this week. The European Space Agency (ESA) held an exercise simulating a Carrington event. The Parker Space Probe captured images of the sun from the closest point ever while astronomers produced the most highly detailed image of a solar flare.
Venus The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) determined that its Venus orbiter Akatsuki was officially dead, ending for the moment all human direct observation of that planet. (previously) From Earth several researchers found evidence of lava tubes. On Earth's surface The African Space Agency (AfSA) was born. An electric company cut off power to Russia's Vostochny spaceport for nonpayment of bills. NASA and the White House are planning to move space shuttle Discovery from the Washington, DC area to Texas, possibly in pieces, and elicited protests. The American FAA temporarily blocked all daytime commercial rocket launches due to the government shutdown. From Earth's surface to orbit The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully "launched its heaviest communication satellite to date, CMS-03." ISRO and NASA launched a NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite. SpaceX launched a Starship for the tenth time. A cargo freighter resupplied the International Space Station (ISS) after overcoming some issues. Blue Origin will launch a Mars probe very soon. NASA announced ten new astronauts. The American Space Force stated it was preparing two ground-based weapons, named Meadowlands and the Remote Modular Terminal, designed to jam enemy satellites. Google announced Project Suncatcher, a plan to place generative AI in Earth orbit. In Earth orbit Astronauts on China's Tiangong space station celebrated a mid-autumn festival in orbit. NASA and SpaceX adjusted the ISS' orbit without Russian assistance. This month is the 10th year anniversary of the International Space Station Archaeological Project. A programmer got Doom running on an ESA satellite. Two Chinese satellites connected with each other 20,000 miles above Earth's surface, a human first. Back down to Earth Three astronauts in the Tiangong station delayed their return to Earth due to potential issues with their return craft, possibly damaged by space debris; the China National Space Administration (CNSA) reached out to NASA for collaboration. Australian company High Earth Orbit Robotics imaged the Chinese Xinjishu Yanzheng-7 satellite for the first time in public as it descended through the Earth's atmosphere. A European company lost track of a test vehicle as it returned to Earth. An old Soviet spacecraft burned up after more than 50 years in an accidental orbit. NASA announced it would deorbit the ISS in 2030. The American space agency also released its 2025 spinoff report, describing the many ways space exploration benefits humanity. Earth's Moon A Japanese astronomer captured two meteors impacting the lunar surface. NASA named its next Artemis moon mission Integrity. The Chinese government plans to launch a lunar-capable craft next year on a Long March rocket. Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian determined that the Apollo moon landings were faked. Inside the orbit of Mars 3I/ATLAS has been hurtling through the solar system, reaching its closest approach to the sun in late October. ESA probes ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and Mars Express took photos of ATLAS, which later started showing an anti-tail. From Martian orbit China's Tianwen-1 probe imaged the object. NASA's ability to work on 3I is compromised by the government shutdown. The object is on its way out of the solar system now. Mars Earlier this year Curiosity took great photos of Martian skies and Europa Clipper zoomed past the red planet. To the asteroids Tiawen-2, which launched in May, was actually designed to sample a near-Earth asteroid. An American astronomer spotted a new asteroid previously hidden by the sun's light. NASA successfully tested laser communications with the Psyche probe, more than 210 million miles away. Jupiter NASA ordered the Juno probe to shut down, but the government also shut down and prevented confirmation. Before that happened, Juno found some impressive vulcanism on Io. Beyond Neptune Astronomers found a new trans-Neptunian object, 2020 VN40. Beyond the solar system Humanity has now discovered 6,000 exoplanets, according to NASA's Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI). An International Centre of Radio Astronomy Research team produced a gorgeous new image of our galaxy.
The Sun
Our star is offering some disturbed weather this week. The European Space Agency (ESA) held an exercise simulating a Carrington event. The Parker Space Probe captured images of the sun from the closest point ever while astronomers produced the most highly detailed image of a solar flare.
Venus The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) determined that its Venus orbiter Akatsuki was officially dead, ending for the moment all human direct observation of that planet. (previously) From Earth several researchers found evidence of lava tubes. On Earth's surface The African Space Agency (AfSA) was born. An electric company cut off power to Russia's Vostochny spaceport for nonpayment of bills. NASA and the White House are planning to move space shuttle Discovery from the Washington, DC area to Texas, possibly in pieces, and elicited protests. The American FAA temporarily blocked all daytime commercial rocket launches due to the government shutdown. From Earth's surface to orbit The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully "launched its heaviest communication satellite to date, CMS-03." ISRO and NASA launched a NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite. SpaceX launched a Starship for the tenth time. A cargo freighter resupplied the International Space Station (ISS) after overcoming some issues. Blue Origin will launch a Mars probe very soon. NASA announced ten new astronauts. The American Space Force stated it was preparing two ground-based weapons, named Meadowlands and the Remote Modular Terminal, designed to jam enemy satellites. Google announced Project Suncatcher, a plan to place generative AI in Earth orbit. In Earth orbit Astronauts on China's Tiangong space station celebrated a mid-autumn festival in orbit. NASA and SpaceX adjusted the ISS' orbit without Russian assistance. This month is the 10th year anniversary of the International Space Station Archaeological Project. A programmer got Doom running on an ESA satellite. Two Chinese satellites connected with each other 20,000 miles above Earth's surface, a human first. Back down to Earth Three astronauts in the Tiangong station delayed their return to Earth due to potential issues with their return craft, possibly damaged by space debris; the China National Space Administration (CNSA) reached out to NASA for collaboration. Australian company High Earth Orbit Robotics imaged the Chinese Xinjishu Yanzheng-7 satellite for the first time in public as it descended through the Earth's atmosphere. A European company lost track of a test vehicle as it returned to Earth. An old Soviet spacecraft burned up after more than 50 years in an accidental orbit. NASA announced it would deorbit the ISS in 2030. The American space agency also released its 2025 spinoff report, describing the many ways space exploration benefits humanity. Earth's Moon A Japanese astronomer captured two meteors impacting the lunar surface. NASA named its next Artemis moon mission Integrity. The Chinese government plans to launch a lunar-capable craft next year on a Long March rocket. Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian determined that the Apollo moon landings were faked. Inside the orbit of Mars 3I/ATLAS has been hurtling through the solar system, reaching its closest approach to the sun in late October. ESA probes ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and Mars Express took photos of ATLAS, which later started showing an anti-tail. From Martian orbit China's Tianwen-1 probe imaged the object. NASA's ability to work on 3I is compromised by the government shutdown. The object is on its way out of the solar system now. Mars Earlier this year Curiosity took great photos of Martian skies and Europa Clipper zoomed past the red planet. To the asteroids Tiawen-2, which launched in May, was actually designed to sample a near-Earth asteroid. An American astronomer spotted a new asteroid previously hidden by the sun's light. NASA successfully tested laser communications with the Psyche probe, more than 210 million miles away. Jupiter NASA ordered the Juno probe to shut down, but the government also shut down and prevented confirmation. Before that happened, Juno found some impressive vulcanism on Io. Beyond Neptune Astronomers found a new trans-Neptunian object, 2020 VN40. Beyond the solar system Humanity has now discovered 6,000 exoplanets, according to NASA's Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI). An International Centre of Radio Astronomy Research team produced a gorgeous new image of our galaxy.
