The U.S. civil space agency steering exploration and aeronautics research
Several wildfires are burning across Georgia and the Southeast, with containment improving in Brantley County while others persist; authorities warn the battles will extend for days as drought and wind drive spread.
A U.S.-brokered three-day ceasefire has been breaking down: both Ukraine and Russia have reported drone, missile and artillery strikes across multiple regions since May 9–11, with civilian casualties in Kherson, Zaporizhia, Kharkiv, Rivne, Dnipropetrovsk and elsewhere. Each side is accusing the other of violations while exchanges of large drone attacks and air-defence activity have continued.
The Psyche mission has used a Mars gravity assist to accelerate toward its metal-rich target. Launched in 2023, the probe has reoriented its orbit and is on track to arrive at the asteroid Psyche in summer 2029, after testing its science instruments during the Mars flyby.
The Pentagon has released over 160 previously classified files on UFOs, aliens and unidentified phenomena. The batch includes videos, photographs and witness accounts, with officials promising further releases in coming weeks. Skeptics warn the material remains inconclusive while some observers warn of possible concealment.
NASA has selected Lunar Outpost and AstroLab to build lunar terrain vehicles for a moon base program and announced private partners will lead the first uncrewed lunar landers and cargo missions this year, with iterative demonstrations planned toward a permanent lunar outpost.
Airlines have adjusted summer schedules and are temporarily suspending select routes in August–September because jet fuel costs have surged since the Iran conflict closed key shipping lanes. Carriers including American, easyJet and others have reduced seats, delayed route launches or paused services; travelers are being offered refunds or rebooking and face higher fares and fees.
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.
A meteor about 3 feet wide has entered the atmosphere near the New Hampshire–Massachusetts border, producing loud booms and shaking reported from Delaware to Montreal. NASA and the American Meteor Society say most such meteors burn up before reaching the ground, with possible oceanic impact if any fragment survives.
NASA has disclosed new details about a weekend meteor over New England that produced a double sonic boom. The natural object, 5 feet wide and elephant-sized, traveled at roughly 42,000 mph, fragmented about 40 miles above the ground, and released energy equivalent to about 230-300 tons of TNT. The meteor likely landed in Cape Cod Bay, with no ground impact confirmed.
A wave of space-based data-center startups and defense-aligned ventures are racing to deploy orbital computing. Companies plan test satellites, funding rounds, and government programs to scale AI workloads in orbit, while observers caution about the cost, heat management, and regulatory hurdles.
Blue Origin has lost a New Glenn rocket in a catastrophic engine test at Cape Canaveral, producing a fireball that damaged the LC‑36A pad and generated seismic waves. Jeff Bezos and CEO Dave Limp have said key propellant tanks and some hardware survived and the company has begun a pad rebuild, while NASA is offering technical support for Artemis-related schedules.
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 directed Crew-12 members to assume a Safe Haven posture in the SpaceX Crew Dragon while Roscosmos conducts an extended repair on persistent air leaks in the Zvezda module. The operation follows earlier leaks that have troubled the aging station since 2019, with assessments focusing on microscopic cracks and corrosion. Crews are returning to normal operations after measurements are completed.
A wave of local and state actions is shaping the data-center boom. New rules aim to curb power use, water consumption and cost pressures, while critics warn of overreach and uneven economic impacts.
Prada has unveiled a body-hugging Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment, created with Axiom Space, featuring ventilation tubes woven into the fabric. The collaboration links luxury fashion with space exploration as brands seek fresh relevance amid market softness. Artemis-era space initiatives loom in the background.
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.
Ukrainian forces have carried out long‑range strikes deep inside Russia, targeting drone components and oil infrastructure. Authorities report damage at facilities in Cheboksary and Samara, while Kyiv says other oil facilities and drones are being targeted. Russia reports drone activity and counterstrikes across multiple regions.
SOLAR-1 has passed eight months of testing and now transmits coronal mass ejection images to NOAA within 30 minutes, improving early warnings for solar storms that could disrupt signals and infrastructure.
SpaceX has priced the largest IPO in history at $135 per share, raising about $75 billion and valuing the company around $1.75 trillion. The debut has sparked a debate on whether the stock can sustain momentum, while Musk’s broader empire—SpaceX, Starlink, xAI—gains attention as investors weigh the long-term profitability and strategic moves.
The Pentagon has released a batch of 50-plus classified documents on unidentified aerial phenomena. The material offers no proof of alien life, but details new sightings and how authorities have tried to interpret them. Reports include a 2022 Colorado Springs incident described as a potato-like object, and a 2023 series of sightings by federal agents.
The latest batch of declassified UAP documents has been released, with reports detailing orb sightings near sensitive sites and other unexplained phenomena. Officials say the materials are historical records and do not establish alien life or a national security threat. Public interest remains high as investigations continue.
SpaceX has gone public in the largest IPO in history, pushing Elon Musk toward trillionaire status as the company outlines ambitious plans—from data centers in space to lunar bases—while investors weigh the feasibility and risks amid a sprawling empire.
Federal regulators have issued orders to regional grid operators to speed connections for large data centers while requiring transparency and rules to prevent ratepayers from subsidising grid upgrades. Tech firms and energy officials are defending faster hookups and new cooling tech; communities and experts are warning about water, electricity and local costs as data‑center buildouts surge.
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.
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son has argued data centers in space offer little cost benefit and that the AI race will be decided by Earth-based compute. He cites power costs, transport, and delays as barriers to orbital data centers, while emphasising the ongoing importance of on-Earth infrastructure.
Trump has canceled a signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing bill, saying he will not sign until Senate passes the SAVE America Act. The move follows a tense exchange at a Capitol Hill luncheon where Cassidy challenged the administration’s Iran war approach. The episode highlights deep GOP rifts as lawmakers balance housing affordability with stricter voting measures ahead of midterms.
Scientists have found macromolecular carbon in Martian mudstones, suggesting habitable conditions billions of years ago. The carbon could be biogenic or abiotic; samples will return to Earth for definitive testing, with timelines running 2035–2039. This marks multiple robust organic detections across Jezero crater and Gale crater.
Ukraine has intensified long‑range strikes on Russia’s oil infrastructure, targeting refineries and fuel depots. The attacks disrupt Moscow’s fuel supply, slow military logistics, and add pressure ahead of NATO diplomacy. Kyiv says its drones and missiles are striking Russia deeply behind the front lines, aiming to compel an end to the war.
NASA and partners are pursuing a high‑risk salvage to boost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory into a higher, stable orbit. A Katalyst Space Technologies robot will capture Swift and lift it from 224 miles to about 373 miles, extending its life as solar activity threatens its destruction in October.
A cohort of new lightweight electric vehicles is entering the market. Amble’s One, a 60+ mile range, 40 mph open-air buggy, is launching from Lisbon with a design pedigree linked to Audi, Ford, Cowboy, and Apple’s late car ambitions. Volvo has ceased US imports of the EX30, highlighting demand for compact EVs.
Twinning earthquakes have killed thousands and injured thousands more in Venezuela. The government reports rising tolls over the week, with La Guaira hardest hit. International aid flows in as rescue teams search for survivors amid damaged infrastructure and mounting missing-person reports.
The earthquakes have claimed at least 1,719 lives and damaged tens of thousands of buildings. Foreign rescue teams are aiding search efforts as families mourn and officials warn the death toll could rise further.
Avi Loeb has been appointed to head a White House scientific advisory council probing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). The team will report to a separate presidential panel and has begun requesting more than 50 videos, images and documents to investigate recent military sightings. Critics question the panel’s methods and Loeb’s unconventional theories.
Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 have devastated parts of Venezuela, killing more than 1,700 and injuring thousands. Rescuers from around the world have recovered several survivors, including a young child, as UN agencies warn of a humanitarian crisis and widespread damage.
A powerful double quake has devastated Venezuela, killing thousands and leaving tens of thousands missing. International teams have rescued survivors, but the focus is now turning to humanitarian relief as millions face displacement, food and water shortages, and a risk of disease.
The FAA has moved to replace its 1973 ban on overland supersonic flights with new, noise-based standards. Initial proposals could allow faster cross-country travel and reduce flight times, while NASA tests aim to refine how sonic booms are perceived. Final rules are targeted for mid-2027.
Amazon has reached a milestone with a satellite constellation of over 390 satellites, enabling initial Leo internet service later this year. The launch cadence faces delays from recent rocket setbacks, but the company plans broader coverage as more satellites go online.
NASA has commissioned a high-stakes rescue operation to move the Swift Observatory back to a safer orbit. The Link spacecraft, launched by Katalyst Space Technologies, is en route to attach to Swift and boost its altitude to prevent a fall back to Earth, with September as the target for resuming full operations.
SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell and her husband have donated SpaceX stock to the Trump Accounts for more than 2 million U.S. children, with emphasis on those near central Texas. The move forms part of a broader rollout of Trump's accounts, seeded with $1,000 per child and expanded by corporate matches.
Six spherical debris objects, likely pressurised fuel vessels from a foreign rocket, have been found washed up on Forrest Beach, north of Townsville. Authorities warn the debris may be hazardous and are securing it as they investigate the objects’ origin and potential source rocket.
AI stocks have become a driving force in Wall Street and are increasingly part of Australian superannuation portfolios. The six tech giants known as the “magnificent seven” now comprise a notable exposure within many balanced funds, with SpaceX exposure noted alongside Nvidia, Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta. Morningstar suggests the impact on Australian portfolios remains modest, even after SpaceX’s public debut.