June 2025: Developments In Space
Rubin Observatory Releases First Images
[Image Credit: NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory]
The NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory unveiled its first test images on June 23, revealing the night sky in unprecedented detail. In just 10 hours of observations, the new telescope captured millions of distant galaxies and thousands of asteroids, offering a tantalizing preview of its upcoming 10-year sky survey. Astronomers were thrilled by vistas of merging galaxies and nebulae, as well as 2,000+ previously unknown asteroids (including 7 near-Earth objects) detected in the initial data. These first-light results underscore Rubin’s extraordinary observing power. The 8.4-meter Chilean telescope, equipped with a 3.2-gigapixel camera, will soon begin the Legacy Survey of Space and Time – mapping the entire southern sky every few nights and potentially discovering upwards of 20 billion new galaxies over the next decade.
SPACEX STARSHIP TEST STAND EXPLOSION
[Image Credit: SpaceX]
SpaceX’s Starship program suffered a setback on June 18 when a Starship upper-stage prototype exploded on a test stand during a pre-launch engine trial in Texas. The vehicle (Ship 36), which was being prepared for the rocket’s 10th test flight, erupted in a fireball shortly before a planned static fire, as captured in dramatic footage from observers. No injuries occurred – SpaceX had cleared the area and confirmed all personnel were safe. This incident adds to a string of Starship challenges, following three Starship test flights earlier this year that ended in vehicle loss. SpaceX is investigating the cause and will likely adjust its timelines. Despite the explosion, the Starship development continues, as the fully reusable mega-rocket is central to SpaceX’s ambitions for Mars colonization and other deep-space missions.
Webb Directly Images Saturn-Mass Exoplanet
[Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Anne-Marie Lagrange (CNRS, UGA), Mahdi Zamani (ESA/Webb)]
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope achieved a groundbreaking first in exoplanet science this month. Using a special coronagraph on its Mid-Infrared Instrument, JWST captured a direct image of an exoplanet – a world called TWA 7 b about 110 light-years away. This planet is only about the mass of Saturn (roughly 30% of Jupiter’s mass), making it the smallest exoplanet ever seen through direct imaging. By blinding the glare of the host star, Webb spotted the faint planet embedded in the star’s dusty debris disk. The discovery, published in Nature on June 25, showcases JWST’s ability to observe relatively small, cool planets – a leap beyond past direct images, which were limited to Jupiter-sized giants. Astronomers hail this as proof Webb can hunt smaller exoplanets and even anticipate that future observations might one day image Earth-sized planets around nearby stars.
New Moon Rocket Booster Tested with Anomaly
[Image Credit: NASA]
NASA and Northrop Grumman carried out a dramatic test of a next-generation SLS solid rocket booster on June 26 in Promontory, Utah. The Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension (BOLE) motor – the largest segmented solid booster ever built – fired for about 2 minutes, producing a whopping 4 million pounds of thrust to demonstrate its performance for future Artemis Moon missions. However, near the end of the burn an anomaly occurred: the booster’s nozzle broke apart about 10 seconds before scheduled shutdown, with debris observed exiting the motor plume. The test stand kept the booster secured, and no injuries resulted. Engineers are analyzing the failure, but Northrop Grumman noted the test pushed the boundaries of the new design and yielded valuable data to improve the booster. Once perfected, the BOLE boosters will enhance SLS Block 2 launch power, enabling it to loft heavier payloads for lunar exploration.
Axiom-4 Launch Brings First Indian to ISS
[Image Credit: SpaceX]
Axiom Space’s Ax-4 private mission successfully launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 on June 25, ferrying four international crew members to the International Space Station. Commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, the crew included Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India – marking the first time an Indian astronaut has visited the ISS as part of a historic US-India collaboration. The crew’s Dragon spacecraft docked on June 26, joining Expedition 73 aboard the ISS. During their two-week stay, the Ax-4 astronauts are conducting science experiments, technology demonstrations, and educational outreach events. Shukla’s presence has been celebrated in India as a proud milestone ahead of its own Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. This mission highlights the growing global participation in space exploration – with crew members from the US, India, Poland, and Hungary working together – and underscores the expanding role of commercial partnerships in human spaceflight.
May 2025: Developments In Space
Featured Editorial: The Closure of NASA's GISS Lab
[Image Credit: NASA GISS]
The recent decision to close NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in Manhattan has sent shockwaves through the scientific community. Established in 1966, GISS has been at the forefront of climate science, contributing significantly to our understanding of global warming and planetary studies.
The closure, part of broader budget cuts targeting climate research, not only disrupts ongoing projects but also symbolizes a troubling shift away from evidence-based policymaking. Former GISS director James Hansen criticized the move, emphasizing the lab's unique role in advancing climate science.
This development underscores the importance of supporting scientific institutions that inform public policy and address global challenges. As we face escalating climate crises, the dismantling of such a pivotal research center hampers our ability to respond effectively.
At Spacetime Archives, we remain committed to educating and inspiring the public about the wonders and challenges of space and Earth sciences. The closure of GISS serves as a stark reminder of the need to advocate for sustained investment in scientific research and to recognize its vital role in shaping a sustainable future.
SpaceX Achieves 450th Falcon Booster Landing
NASA Faces Significant Budget Cuts
The Trump administration's proposed FY2026 budget includes a 24% reduction in NASA's funding, potentially impacting several key programs, including the Mars Sample Return Mission and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. These cuts have raised concerns about the future of U.S. space exploration and scientific research.