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Elon Musk announced plans for SpaceX to launch five uncrewed Starship missions to Mars in 2026, with crewed flights potentially following in 2028. However, regulatory delays from the FAA threaten these timelines, raising concerns about the feasibility of Musk's ambitious goals for Mars colonization.
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Jared Isaacman and his crew successfully completed the first-ever private spacewalk during SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission. The Crew Dragon capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico after five days in orbit, achieving significant milestones in commercial spaceflight and spacesuit technology testing.
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NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will remain aboard the ISS until February 2025 due to safety concerns with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. They were initially scheduled to return in June but will now return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission, extending their stay to over eight months.
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Comet A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), last seen 80,000 years ago, is currently visible in the northern hemisphere. Stargazers can observe it with the naked eye or binoculars until October 30, following its closest approach to Earth on October 12, 2024. The comet is noted for its brightness and distinctive tail.
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SpaceX's Starship, the largest and most powerful spacecraft ever built, is set for its fifth test flight this weekend. The mission aims to demonstrate the vehicle's reusability, particularly focusing on the landing of its Super Heavy booster, a feat never accomplished before. This marks a significant step towards future Mars missions.