Earth’s natural satellite; the lone companion that shapes tides and cycles
Tesla has reported weak Q2 profits and heavy capital spending on AI, robotaxis and humanoid robots, turning free cash flow negative and sending its shares sharply lower. SpaceX has fallen since its IPO and heavy short interest is piling up. Investors are demanding clearer timelines for robotaxi, Optimus and Tesla–SpaceX collaboration as capital needs rise.
The UK will witness a partial solar eclipse on 12 August 2026, with up to 95% coverage in the South West and around 90% in London. Royal Museums Greenwich and UK health bodies have issued viewing guidance, including the use of certified eclipse glasses. The event follows a global eclipse season, with additional eclipses and related events planned in Europe and the Southern Hemisphere.
The Buck Moon has peaked this evening with clear conditions predicted in the south and east. The Moon appears full to the naked eye and will be visible across much of the country as storms are expected to stay away.
NASA is reorganizing its mission directorates to speed Artemis, advance Moon activity, and prepare field centers for new funding and autonomy. The plan consolidates operations, aims to streamline decision-making, and preserves core science and support functions during a shifting space program.
SpaceX has floated on Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX, raising about $75 billion at $135 a share and debuting with a market value above $2 trillion. The newly public group combines SpaceX's rocket and Starlink businesses with xAI and X. Investors have driven strong demand despite losses and questions about unproven projects such as orbital data centres and Mars plans.
SpaceX has filed to sell 555.6 million shares at $135 each, aiming to raise about $75 billion and value the company near $1.75–1.77 trillion. Elon Musk will retain roughly 82% voting control. The company has allocated unusually large tranches to retail buyers, employees and direct-share participants, and disclosed AI compute deals that affect revenue assumptions.
NASA has named Randy Bresnik, Luca Parmitano, Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas as the Artemis III crew for a mid‑2027, two‑week Earth‑orbit test flight to practice docking with prototype lunar landers from Blue Origin and SpaceX. The all‑male selection has drawn online criticism and questions about whether Blue Origin’s May New Glenn explosion will delay the program.
AP News reports the SpaceX IPO could raise around $75 billion, financing aggressive expansion into spaceflight, lunar bases, and Mars colonization. The prospectus frames SpaceX as pursuing an interplanetary future, with Musk aiming to become the world’s first trillionaire if the plan succeeds. Separately, a wildlife land swap linked to SpaceX perches on the U.S.-Mexico border amid opposition and litigation.
Bezos has launched Prometheus to build an “artificial general engineer” that could accelerate invention, with funding surpassing $12 billion and 150 employees. He asserts AI will raise productivity and create opportunities, countering fears of widespread job losses. The company is pursuing AI models for engineering, manufacturing and design, while exploring regulation debates.
The New World screwworm has re-emerged in the U.S., with cases detected in Texas and New Mexico, triggering cross-border restrictions and a major USDA response. Authorities are deploying sterile flies to suppress the pest while preparing additional facilities, amid high beef prices and a fragile cattle herd.
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has begun the Legacy Survey of Space and Time, a 10-year program that will image the southern sky every few nights. The telescope has started regular operations from its Chilean mountaintop site and is already returning new detections, including thousands of asteroids and transient views such as Comet 3I/ATLAS.
The world’s richest person has seen his fortune swing wildly after SpaceX’s IPO. SpaceX and Tesla shares have fallen amid a broader tech sell-off, eroding Musk’s trillionaire status. Despite volatility, he remains the wealthiest individual as markets reassess growth prospects in AI and tech.
Brands have mobilised around Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Madison Square Garden wedding, turning the moment into marketing opportunities. The White House has responded with a parody about Trump, while other outlets highlight the celebrity event’s cultural footprint.
NASA has outlined a campaign to return humans to the Moon and establish a permanent outpost by 2030, shifting from a mission-by-mission approach to a sustained lunar program. Artemis II has demonstrated new capabilities and sparked debate over the logistics, funding, and strategic value of a long-term lunar presence.
Astronomers have detected helium escaping from LHS 1140b, a rocky 'super-Earth' 48 light-years away that orbits in its star's habitable zone. The finding has confirmed an atmosphere around a habitable-zone rocky exoplanet for the first time and has been published in Science; teams used ground-based infrared spectroscopy and modelling.
SpaceX’s stock has fallen since its IPO last month. A failed Starship test flight led to a further drop, with shares trading below the IPO price and investors weighing the impact on SpaceX’s multi‑billion contracts and future launches.
India’s Skyroot Aerospace has successfully placed payloads into orbit with Vikram-1, marking the first privately developed Indian rocket to reach orbit. The mission validates propulsion, avionics, and control systems and signals a push to grow India’s private space sector. The launch signals a new era for small-satellite launches and cab-service style access to space.
SpaceX’s Starship 13th flight has deployed Starlink satellites and tested heat-shield upgrades. The test landed in the Indian Ocean with an intact booster and a taller test profile. Analysts discuss remaining heat-shield challenges for rapid reuse and cost reduction, with NASA eyeing Artemis and lunar missions.
The upper stage of a SpaceX rocket has a planned, unintentional crash into the Moon, creating a crater and dust plume. Observers worldwide are gearing up to watch, with NASA and international probes set to capture before-and-after images. The event underscores growing orbital debris concerns.
UKRI has withdrawn funding for the e-MERLIN network at Jodrell Bank, with current support ending in March 2028. Observations may stop unless alternative funding is secured, risking 28 jobs and years of scientific work at the UNESCO site.