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Space Exploration News 10 December 2025 - 26 December 2025

Comet 3I/ATLAS Today (Dec. 26, 2025): Wobbling Jets Detected in a Rare Sun-Facing Tail as the Interstellar Visitor Departs

Comet 3I/ATLAS Today (Dec. 26, 2025): Wobbling Jets Detected in a Rare Sun-Facing Tail as the Interstellar Visitor Departs

Dec. 26, 2025 — Comet 3I/ATLAS is already on its way out of our neighborhood, but it’s still managing to surprise astronomers on the way to the cosmic exit ramp. Today’s coverage centers on a fresh scientific twist: researchers have identified wobbling jet structures inside an even rarer feature—an apparent tail that points toward the Sun, not away from it. The Indian Express If you’ve been following the saga, this is the part where the universe reminds us it has a sense of humor: the comet is leaving, fading, and getting harder to observe from Earth—yet the data it already
26 December 2025
Doomed SpaceX Starlink Satellite 35956 Photographed From Orbit After In‑Space Anomaly Spreads Debris

Doomed SpaceX Starlink Satellite 35956 Photographed From Orbit After In‑Space Anomaly Spreads Debris

Dec. 24, 2025 — A rare, close-up orbital photograph has provided a clearer look at a SpaceX Starlink satellite that suffered an in-space anomaly and is now tumbling toward reentry, while a growing debris field underscores how quickly low Earth orbit can become more complicated — and potentially more dangerous — as megaconstellations expand. Space+2Reuters+2 The satellite, identified as Starlink 35956, lost communications after the incident and began an unexpected descent from its operational altitude. SpaceX says the spacecraft and associated debris are expected to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere “within weeks,” and that the satellite’s path remains below the
24 December 2025
ISRO’s ‘Baahubali’ LVM3-M6 Launches BlueBird 6 (BlueBird Block-2) for AST SpaceMobile, Setting a New Heaviest-Payload Record — Dec. 24, 2025

ISRO’s ‘Baahubali’ LVM3-M6 Launches BlueBird 6 (BlueBird Block-2) for AST SpaceMobile, Setting a New Heaviest-Payload Record — Dec. 24, 2025

India’s heavy-lift launch vehicle LVM3-M6 — popularly dubbed “Baahubali” — roared off the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR) in Sriharikota on December 24, 2025, successfully deploying BlueBird 6, a next-generation communications spacecraft for U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile. The mission, officially described by ISRO as the LVM3-M6 / BlueBird Block-2 commercial launch, is a landmark on two fronts: it is the heaviest payload ever launched by LVM3 into Low Earth Orbit and a high-visibility demonstration of India’s expanding role in global, fee-for-service satellite launches. www.ndtv.com+2ISRO+2 The satellite was inserted into a circular Low Earth Orbit around
ISRO LVM3-M6 BlueBird Block-2 Mission: Countdown Begins for “Baahubali” Rocket Launch Carrying AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 6

ISRO LVM3-M6 BlueBird Block-2 Mission: Countdown Begins for “Baahubali” Rocket Launch Carrying AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 6

On December 23, 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) entered the final stretch ahead of a headline-making commercial launch: LVM3-M6, a dedicated mission to deploy BlueBird Block-2—also widely referred to as BlueBird 6—a next-generation communications satellite built for direct-to-smartphone cellular broadband from space. ISRO+2ISRO+2 If the mission proceeds as planned, it will set multiple records at once: the heaviest payload ever launched by LVM3 from Indian soil and one of the most closely watched attempts yet to push “space-to-phone” connectivity from tech promise to operational reality. ISRO+2ISRO+2 What’s happening on December 24: launch time, location, and livestream As covered
24 December 2025
Comet 3I/ATLAS Today (Dec. 23, 2025): New Spacecraft Data, X‑Rays, “Radio Signals,” and the Next Big Test at Jupiter

Comet 3I/ATLAS Today (Dec. 23, 2025): New Spacecraft Data, X‑Rays, “Radio Signals,” and the Next Big Test at Jupiter

December 23, 2025 — Comet 3I/ATLAS, the third confirmed interstellar object ever seen passing through our solar system, is already on its way out. But the news cycle around it is still very much inbound. In the days following 3I/ATLAS’ closest approach to Earth on Dec. 19, 2025, space agencies and research teams have been stitching together an unusually rich, multiwavelength “biography” of this visitor from another star system: NASA says it’s a normal (if rare) active comet, while ESA and Japan’s XRISM mission have revealed something never conclusively seen in an interstellar comet before—an X‑ray glow produced as the
23 December 2025
Comet 3I/ATLAS Today (22 December 2025): The Latest Science, Spacecraft Views, and “Radio Signal” Reality Check

Comet 3I/ATLAS Today (22 December 2025): The Latest Science, Spacecraft Views, and “Radio Signal” Reality Check

As of 22.12.2025, the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS—only the third confirmed object from beyond our solar system—is already on its way out again. Its closest pass by Earth happened just days ago, and while the comet never came anywhere near “close” in a human sense, the flyby has triggered a wave of fresh data releases, rapid-response observations, and (inevitably) some internet-fueled mythology. Here’s what’s new right now: what scientists have actually seen, what they haven’t seen, and what comes next as 3I/ATLAS heads toward the outer solar system. NASA Science+1 The big headline today: 3I/ATLAS is leaving—but the best data is
Comet 3I/ATLAS Today (Dec. 20, 2025): Europa Clipper’s UV Surprise, Parker Solar Probe Images, and the Latest Forecast

Comet 3I/ATLAS Today (Dec. 20, 2025): Europa Clipper’s UV Surprise, Parker Solar Probe Images, and the Latest Forecast

December 20, 2025 — The rare interstellar visitor known as Comet 3I/ATLAS is now past its closest approach to Earth and heading back out toward the outer solar system. But “past” doesn’t mean “gone.” Today’s updates include a new research release describing ultraviolet measurements from NASA’s Europa Clipper that captured the comet when Earth- and Mars-based observers had limited views, plus fresh details on how NASA’s Parker Solar Probe tracked the comet near the Sun—right through the glare that normally hides objects like this from ground-based telescopes. ScienceDaily+2NASA Science+2 For skywatchers, 3I/ATLAS remains a telescope target rather than a naked-eye
20 December 2025
The Role of Starlink in Scientific Research: How SpaceX’s Satellite Internet Is Transforming Field Science, Earth Observation, and Space Missions—While Challenging Astronomy

The Role of Starlink in Scientific Research: How SpaceX’s Satellite Internet Is Transforming Field Science, Earth Observation, and Space Missions—While Challenging Astronomy

Starlink—the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet network built by SpaceX—was designed to solve a commercial problem: fast, low-latency connectivity anywhere on Earth. But as the constellation has scaled into the thousands of satellites and millions of users, it has quietly become something else, too: a new layer of scientific infrastructure. For researchers, Starlink is increasingly the difference between collecting data and acting on data—in real time, from places that used to be disconnected by default. From volcanic and seismic monitoring in Yellowstone, to university research vessels at sea, to Antarctic field camps, Starlink’s bandwidth and latency are changing how science is done
18 December 2025
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Today: Latest Dec. 17, 2025 Updates Ahead of Its Dec. 19 Earth Flyby

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Today: Latest Dec. 17, 2025 Updates Ahead of Its Dec. 19 Earth Flyby

Two days before it reaches its closest point to Earth, interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is giving astronomers and serious backyard skywatchers a rare, time-limited opportunity: observe a visitor that formed around another star, then wandered into our solar system on a one-way trip back to interstellar space. The flyby itself isn’t close in the everyday sense—NASA says 3I/ATLAS will remain about 1.8 astronomical unitsfrom Earth on Dec. 19, 2025 (roughly 170 million miles / 270 million kilometers, nearly twice the Earth–Sun distance). But for scientists, it’s still “close” enough to run intensive observation campaigns, compare measurements across many telescopes and spacecraft, and test new ways of tracking
18 December 2025
Jared Isaacman NASA Today: Senate Confirms Billionaire Spaceflight Veteran as New NASA Administrator (Dec. 17, 2025)

Jared Isaacman NASA Today: Senate Confirms Billionaire Spaceflight Veteran as New NASA Administrator (Dec. 17, 2025)

WASHINGTON — Jared Isaacman, the billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut best known for commanding the all-civilian Inspiration4 mission and SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, to lead NASA. The confirmation vote was 67–30, elevating Isaacman to the role of NASA administrator at a moment when America’s civil space program is juggling high-profile Moon and Mars ambitions, intense geopolitical competition with China, and renewed political scrutiny over budgets and contracting. Reuters+2AP News+2 Isaacman’s ascent is more than a headline about a famous space tourist taking a government job. It also signals how central commercial
18 December 2025
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Nears Closest Earth Flyby on Dec. 19: New X‑ray Views, UN Tracking, and What Scientists Know Now

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Nears Closest Earth Flyby on Dec. 19: New X‑ray Views, UN Tracking, and What Scientists Know Now

December 15, 2025 — A rare visitor from beyond our solar system is making its final, headline-worthy sweep through the inner neighborhood — and the countdown to its closest pass by Earth is nearly over. Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (also designated C/2025 N1 (ATLAS)) will reach its closest approach to Earth on Friday, December 19, 2025, staying a safe ~1.8 astronomical units away — about 270 million kilometers (167–170 million miles), roughly twice the average Earth–Sun distance. It poses no threat to Earth, but the timing is ideal for professional observatories — and for skilled backyard stargazers with telescopes — to squeeze out precious data before the comet continues outward on
Comet 3I/ATLAS Today (Dec. 15, 2025): The Interstellar Visitor Turns Green Ahead of Its Dec. 19 Flyby

Comet 3I/ATLAS Today (Dec. 15, 2025): The Interstellar Visitor Turns Green Ahead of Its Dec. 19 Flyby

On December 15, 2025, the solar system’s most talked-about “visitor” is back in headlines for two very comet-like reasons: it’s brightening and it’s glowing green. The object is Comet 3I/ATLAS—often shortened to “3I/Atlas comet”—the third confirmed interstellar object ever found passing through our neighborhood, after 1I/ʻOumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019). Space+1 Today’s coverage is focusing on what observers are seeing now that 3I/ATLAS has re-emerged for sustained viewing after its late-October solar passage: a more active coma, a greener tint, and renewed discussion of a quirky-looking feature known as an anti-tail. The Times of India+2Digit+2 With the comet set to make its closest approach to Earth on December 19—still a very safe ~270 million kilometers
15 December 2025
SpaceX Starlink Launches Dec. 15, 2025: Falcon 9 Sends 29 Satellites to Orbit from Cape Canaveral After Historic 550th Booster Landing

SpaceX Starlink Launches Dec. 15, 2025: Falcon 9 Sends 29 Satellites to Orbit from Cape Canaveral After Historic 550th Booster Landing

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX opened Monday with another late-night-to-early-morning Starlink push, lofting 29 internet satellites into low Earth orbit from Florida’s Space Coast just hours after a separate Starlink mission out of California marked a major milestone in booster reusability. At 12:25 a.m. EST (0525 GMT) on Dec. 15, a Falcon 9 rocket rose from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, threading a narrow weather needle after forecasts warned of strong winds and cloud-rule constraints. The first stage returned to the Atlantic for a droneship landing, keeping SpaceX’s rapid-fire launch cadence intact as the
15 December 2025
Moon in December 2025: Waning Crescent Tonight, New Moon Date, Geminids Peak, and NASA’s Latest Lunar Push

Moon in December 2025: Waning Crescent Tonight, New Moon Date, Geminids Peak, and NASA’s Latest Lunar Push

December 14, 2025 is shaping up as one of the most “Moon-centric” nights of the month—not because the Moon is bright and dominating the sky, but because it isn’t. With the Moon now a waning crescent and shrinking toward the New Moon on December 19, skywatchers are getting darker skies right as the Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak window. WUSF+2Space+2 At the same time, December’s Moon story isn’t only about stargazing. NASA’s lunar program is also in the headlines this month, from new Artemis lunar surface science instruments to “blast-in-a-vacuum-sphere” tests designed to understand how rocket exhaust will kick up abrasive lunar dust during future Moon landings. NASA Science+1 Below
14 December 2025
Comet 3I/ATLAS Update (Dec. 13, 2025): New Green Glow, First X‑Ray Views, and What’s Next for the Interstellar Visitor

Comet 3I/ATLAS Update (Dec. 13, 2025): New Green Glow, First X‑Ray Views, and What’s Next for the Interstellar Visitor

On December 13, 2025, Comet 3I/ATLAS—the third confirmed interstellar object ever found crossing our solar system—is back in the headlines as astronomers release fresh observations that deepen the mystery (and the science) of this rare cosmic flyby. It’s not just “another comet”: 3I/ATLAS is an outsider from beyond the Sun’s gravitational family, racing through on a hyperbolic path that proves it wasn’t born here. NASA Science+1 Today’s developments add two eye-catching chapters to the story: All this arrives just days before the comet’s closest approach to Earth on December 19, 2025—a safe but scientifically valuable alignment that researchers are treating
Comet 3I/ATLAS Update (Dec. 12, 2025): First X‑Ray View, Green Glow, and How to Spot the Interstellar Visitor

Comet 3I/ATLAS Update (Dec. 12, 2025): First X‑Ray View, Green Glow, and How to Spot the Interstellar Visitor

On December 12, 2025, the rare interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (also written 3I/Atlas) is back in headlines for two reasons: a newly released X‑ray view from ESA’s XMM‑Newton and fresh Gemini North telescope images showing the comet looking noticeably greener—all as the object heads toward its closest approach to Earth on December 19(still very far away, and not a threat). NASA Science+3European Space Agency+3Phys.org+3 What’s new today: 3I/ATLAS shines in X‑rays and shifts greener in visible light Today’s (12/12/2025) coverage converges on a simple theme: as 3I/ATLAS moves away from the Sun, scientists are catching it in more wavelengths—and the comet’s behavior is evolving quickly enough to be visible even in week‑to‑week comparisons. Today’s
13 December 2025
NASA Loses Contact With Critical MAVEN Mars Orbiter: What the Sudden Silence Means for Future Missions

NASA Loses Contact With Critical MAVEN Mars Orbiter: What the Sudden Silence Means for Future Missions

NASA is racing to re‑establish contact with MAVEN, a Mars orbiter that has quietly underpinned Red Planet science and communications for more than a decade, after the spacecraft unexpectedly fell silent on December 6, 2025.NASA Science+2ScienceAlert+2 The loss of signal raises urgent questions about the health of the spacecraft, the resilience of NASA’s aging Mars communications network, and the knock‑on effects for current and future missions — including plans to eventually return Martian rock samples to Earth.Scientific American+1 When and how NASA lost contact with MAVEN According to NASA, MAVEN (short for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) was operating normally
11 December 2025
NASA Loses Contact With MAVEN Mars Orbiter: What the Silent Spacecraft Means for Future Mars Missions

NASA Loses Contact With MAVEN Mars Orbiter: What the Silent Spacecraft Means for Future Mars Missions

NASA is racing to re-establish contact with one of its most important Mars orbiters after an unexpected loss of signal on December 6, 2025. Key facts at a glance What happened to MAVEN? NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft, which has been orbiting Mars since 2014, stopped talking to Earth on December 6, 2025. Before the blackout, telemetry showed the spacecraft behaving normally as it slipped behind Mars in its usual orbit. But when MAVEN emerged from the planet’s far side, NASA’s Deep Space Network didn’t hear the expected carrier signal.NASA Science+1 In a short statement published on December 9, NASA confirmed the
11 December 2025
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Lights Up December Skies: X‑Ray Glow, Life‑Building Molecules and How to Watch the December 19 Flyby

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Lights Up December Skies: X‑Ray Glow, Life‑Building Molecules and How to Watch the December 19 Flyby

As of 11 December 2025, interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has turned into the most closely watched object in the night sky — and not just by astronomers. In the last few days we’ve had: At the same time, a swirl of headlines about “World War I chemical weapons” and “alien probes” is competing with the science. Here’s a clear, news-style rundown of what we actually know today. What is interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS? 3I/ATLAS is only the third known interstellar object to sweep through our Solar System, after 1I/ʻOumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019). NASA classifies it as interstellar because its orbit is
11 December 2025
NASA’s Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: New Images, Life’s Ingredients and What Comes Next After the December Flyby

NASA’s Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: New Images, Life’s Ingredients and What Comes Next After the December Flyby

As of December 10, 2025, NASA and partner observatories are racing to squeeze every last photon out of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS — a green-glowing, ice‑volcano‑blasting visitor loaded with the chemical “ingredients for life.” Here’s the latest on what we’ve learned and what to watch in the days ahead. What is 3I/ATLAS, and why is it such a big deal? 3I/ATLAS — also cataloged as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) — is only the third confirmed object ever seen passing through our solar system from another star system, after 1I/ʻOumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.NASA Science+1 It was discovered on July 1,

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