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As of August 2025, acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy has accelerated plans to develop a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor for lunar deployment by 2030. This move aims to outpace a joint China-Russia lunar reactor project targeted for the mid-2030s. The directive prioritizes human space exploration over Earth science amid budget cuts and technical challenges, despite expert skepticism about the feasibility of the timeline.
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Jim Lovell, famed NASA astronaut and commander of the Apollo 13 mission, died on August 7, 2025, at age 97 in Lake Forest, Illinois. Lovell was the first person to fly four space missions, including Apollo 8, the first crewed lunar orbit, and Apollo 13, a near-disastrous mission that ended in a safe return. NASA praised his courage and legacy.
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A rare total lunar eclipse, known as a Blood Moon, will be visible across Hong Kong, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia on September 7-8, 2025. The event includes a long duration of totality, with the moon turning reddish due to Earth's atmosphere. Observers can view it safely with the naked eye, weather permitting.
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On September 22, 2025, the autumnal equinox marks equal day and night globally, signaling the start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, it coincides closely with a partial solar eclipse on September 21 visible mainly in the Southern Hemisphere. Earlier, a total lunar eclipse on September 7-8 was widely observed across Asia, Australia, and parts of Africa and Europe.
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On November 5, 2025, China postponed the return of its Shenzhou-20 crew from the Tiangong space station due to suspected damage from small space debris. The crew, led by Chen Dong, has been aboard since April. Meanwhile, the Shenzhou-21 crew recently docked, temporarily increasing station occupancy to six. The delay prioritizes astronaut safety amid ongoing risk assessments.