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Scientists have confirmed that galaxy mergers trigger supermassive black hole activity, using data from the Euclid space telescope to observe over 1.2 million galaxies in a single year. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the universe and the role of supermassive black holes within it.
On December 10, Rocket Lab launched the NEONSAT-1A satellite aboard its Electron rocket from New Zealand, aiming to monitor natural disasters in the Korean Peninsula. This launch marks the second NEONSAT satellite deployed by Rocket Lab, following the successful launch of NEONSAT-1 in April 2024.
NASA has lost contact with its MAVEN Mars orbiter after the spacecraft disappeared behind the Red Planet, prompting an investigation into the anomaly. The incident occurred on December 6 and has significant implications for NASA's ongoing Mars exploration efforts.
A damaged Russian launch pad has prompted NASA to accelerate the launch of two Cargo Dragon supply missions to the International Space Station, ensuring a steady supply of essential goods for astronauts on board. The incident highlights the complexities and challenges of maintaining a reliable supply chain in space exploration.
On December 10, 2025, SpaceX successfully launched 27 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base, marking a significant expansion of its satellite constellation. This launch brings the total number of operational Starlink satellites to over 9,000, further solidifying the company"s position in the global satellite communications market.
A breathtaking image of Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) passing in front of the Eagle Nebula and the Pillars of Creation was captured on October 17, 2025, providing a unique glimpse into the celestial world. This rare event will not be repeated for approximately 1,400 years.
A reexamination of 40-year-old data from the Voyager 2 spacecraft's encounter with Uranus has uncovered surprising details about the planet's radiation belts and magnetosphere, suggesting that Uranus may have more in common with Earth than previously thought. The findings provide new insights into the planetary magnetic fields and their interactions with the solar wind.
The European Southern Observatory is building the Extremely Large Telescope, a groundbreaking instrument that will enable scientists to study the universe with unprecedented clarity and shed new light on its origins. The ELT will be capable of directly imaging small, rocky exoplanets and measuring the universe"s rate of expansion.
French ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot will hold a press conference on February 15 to discuss her first mission to space, dubbed "εpsilon", where she will conduct scientific experiments on the International Space Station. The mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than February 15 and will take place in Low Earth Orbit.
SpaceX is preparing to launch its 160th Falcon 9 rocket of 2025, carrying 27 broadband internet satellites to low Earth orbit as part of its Starlink megaconstellation. The mission aims to further expand SpaceX"s satellite network, with the Falcon 9 booster targeting a landing on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You".
A team of astronomers has observed the longest gamma-ray burst ever recorded, lasting approximately 7 hours, which could be the result of an intermediate-mass black hole devouring a star. This discovery was made possible by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and other ground-based telescopes.
China has successfully launched three Long March rockets in less than 19 hours, setting a new national record for launch cadence and extending its yearly orbital-launch tally to 83. This achievement demonstrates China's growing capabilities in space exploration and its commitment to advancing its aerospace industry.
On December 9, 2025, Chinese astronauts performed an 8-hour spacewalk to inspect the damaged Shenzhou 20 spacecraft, which was deemed unsafe for return to Earth due to a space junk strike. The successful inspection paved the way for a new rescue plan, involving the launch of a replacement spacecraft, Shenzhou 22.
The US military is developing a comprehensive missile defense system, called Golden Dome, to safeguard the homeland from various types of missile threats by 2028 at an estimated cost of $175 billion. This system will utilize hundreds or thousands of Space-Based Interceptors deployed on satellites in low-Earth orbit.
A recent astronomical observation has revealed a supermassive black hole generating powerful winds at approximately 60,000 km/s, triggered by a rapid burst of X-ray light. This phenomenon, studied using the XMM-Newton and XRISM space telescopes, provides new insights into the behavior of active galactic nuclei.
Lunar Outpost"s Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP) rover will be the first robotic rover to operate on the moon alongside astronauts during the Artemis IV mission in 2028, supporting the DUSTER investigation to study the dust and plasma environment on the lunar surface. The mission aims to find solutions to the challenges posed by dust on the lunar surface, marking a significant step in NASA"s Artemis program.
A new report outlines the primary scientific goals for human missions to Mars, including searching for life and understanding the planet's geology, providing a rationale for sending astronauts over robotic explorers. The report highlights the need for significant funding and resources to support these ambitious endeavors.
SpaceX has launched a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking the 10th and final NRO launch of 2025. The mission utilized a previously flown Falcon 9 first stage booster and may be the last time SpaceX uses Landing Zone 2 for a landing.
The Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, carrying NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and two Russian cosmonauts, has safely landed in Kazakhstan after an eight-month mission to the International Space Station. The crew traveled over 104 million miles during their time in space, conducting research and maintenance activities.
A recent report by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recommends that the first astronauts on Mars should prioritize searching for signs of life, outlining 11 science objectives for the human Mars exploration campaign. The search for life is considered the top priority, with four possible three-mission campaigns proposed to achieve these objectives.
In late October, astronauts aboard the International Space Station captured a striking view of the Earth"s atmosphere glowing green due to a phenomenon known as airglow. This observation highlights the complex interactions between the Earth"s atmosphere and external energy sources.
Aetherflux, a space-based solar technology company, has announced plans to launch a constellation of solar-powered satellites for artificial intelligence data center production, aiming to speed up AI computing power without bulky infrastructure. The first node of the Galactic Brain constellation is set to launch in 2027.
On December 9, 2025, SpaceX launched a classified payload for the US military on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking the company's third mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and US Space Systems Command this year. The launch is part of SpaceX's ongoing partnership with the NRO to provide launch services for national security payloads.
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft safely landed in Kazakhstan, marking the end of an eight-month mission to the International Space Station for two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut. The successful landing brings to a close Expedition 73 and paves the way for Expedition 74.