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<![CDATA[ Latest from Space.com ]]>
https://www.space.com
- Fri, 02 Jan 2026 20:00:00 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ Space.com headlines crossword quiz for week of Dec. 29, 2025: Which meteor shower peaks in early January? ]]>
+ Every week, Space.com delivers the latest discoveries, launches, and cosmic curiosities from across the universe. From groundbreaking research aboard the International Space Station to dazzling new images from the James Webb Space Telescope, the stories are as vast and varied as space itself. But how closely have you been paying attention?
To celebrate the thrill of space exploration and the joy of learning, we've created a special crossword puzzle built entirely from this week's top Space.com stories. It's a fun, brain-tickling way to revisit the highlights, whether you're a casual stargazer or a die-hard astrophysics fan.
Expect clues that span planetary science, rocket launches, stargazing, and entertainment tied to the stars. If you read about it on Space.com last week, it might just show up in this puzzle. And if you didn't? Well, now's your chance to catch up while flexing your trivia muscles.
So channel your inner astronaut or astronomer, and dive into this week's interstellar quiz. The answers are out there, you just have to connect the clues.
Try it out below and see how well you do!
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+ https://www.space.com/astronomy/space-com-headlines-crossword-quiz-for-week-of-dec-29-2025-which-meteor-shower-peaks-in-early-january
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+ Sat, 03 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0000Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:54:10 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ 2025's extreme weather had the jet stream's fingerprints all over it, from flash floods to hurricanes ]]>
+ This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.
Both scenarios were unusual – and they were largely directed by the polar jet stream.
What is a jet stream?
Jet streams are narrow bands of high-speed winds in the upper troposphere, around four to eight miles (seven to 13 kilometers) above the surface of the Earth, flowing west to east around the entire planet. They form where strong temperature contrasts exist.
Each hemisphere hosts two primary jet streams:
The polar jet stream is typically found near 50 to 60 degrees latitude, across Canada in the Northern Hemisphere, where cold polar air meets warmer midlatitude air. It plays a major role in modulating weather systems in the midlatitudes, including the continental U.S. With winds up to 200 mph, it's also the usual steering force that brings those bitter cold storms down from Canada.
The subtropical jet stream is typically closer to 30 degrees latitude, which in the Northern Hemisphere crosses Florida. It follows the boundary between tropical air masses and subtropical air masses. It’s generally the weaker and steadier of the two jet streams.
A cross section of atmospheric circulations shows where the jet streams exist between large cells of rising and falling air, movements largely driven by solar heating in the tropics. (Image credit: NOAA)
Stronger (faster) jet streams can intensify storm systems, whereas weaker (slower) jet streams can stall storm systems, leading to prolonged rainfall and flooding.
2025's intense summer of flooding
Most summers, the polar jet stream retreats northwardinto Canada and weakens considerably, leaving the continental U.S. with calmer weather. When rainstorms pop up, they’re typically caused by localized convection due to uneven heating of the land – picture afternoon pop-up thunderstorms.
During the summer of 2025, however, the polar jet stream shifted unusually far south and steered larger storm systems into the midlatitudes of the U.S. At the same time, the jet stream weakened, with two critical consequences.
First, instead of moving storms quickly eastward, the sluggish jet stream stalled storm systems in place, causing prolonged downpours and flash flooding.
Second, a weak jet stream tends to meander more dramatically. Its broad north-south swings in summer 2025 funneled humid air from the Gulf of Mexico deep into the interior, supplying storm systems with abundant moisture and intensifying rainfall.
This moisture surge was amplified by unusually warm conditions over the Atlantic and Gulf regions. A warmer ocean evaporates more water, and warmer air holds a greater amount of moisture. As a result, extraordinary levels of atmospheric moisture were directed into storm systems, fueling stronger convection and heavier precipitation.
Finally, the wavy jet stream became locked in place by persistent high-pressure systems, anchoring storm tracks over the same regions. This led to repeated episodes of heavy rainfall and catastrophic flooding across much of the continental U.S. The same behavior can leave other regions facing days of unrelenting heat waves.
The jet stream buffered US in hurricane season
The jet stream also played a role in the 2025 hurricane season.
Given its west-to-east wind direction, the southward dip of the jet stream – along with a weak high pressure system over the Atlantic – helped steer all five hurricanes away from the U.S. mainland.
Most of the year's 13 tropical storms and hurricanes veered off into the Atlantic before even reaching the Caribbean.
Climate change plays a role in these shifts
So, how does climate change influence the jet stream?
A higher temperature contrast leads to stronger jet streams. As the planet warms, the Arctic is heating up at more than twice the global average rate, and that is reducing the equator-to-pole temperature difference. As that temperature gradient weakens, jet streams lose their strength and become more prone to stalling.
This increases the risk of persistent extreme rainfall events.
Weaker jet streams also meander more, producing larger waves and more erratic behavior. This increases the likelihood of unusual shifts, such as the southward swing of the jet stream in the summer of 2025.
A recent study found that amplified planetary waves in the jet streams, which can cause weather systems to stay in place for days or weeks, are occurring three times more frequently than in the 1950s.
What's ahead?
As the global climate continues to warm, extreme weather events driven by erratic behavior of jet streams are expected to become more common. Combined with additional moisture that warmer oceans and air masses supply, these events will intensify, producing storms that are more frequent and more destructive to societies and ecosystems.
In the short term, the polar jet stream will be shaping the winter ahead. It is most powerful in winter, when it dips southward into the central and even southern U.S., driving frequent storm systems, blizzards and cold air outbreaks.
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+ https://www.space.com/science/climate-change/2025s-extreme-weather-had-the-jet-streams-fingerprints-all-over-it-from-flash-floods-to-hurricanes
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+ Sat, 03 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0000Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:51:45 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ Can scientists detect life without knowing what it looks like? Research using machine learning offers a new way ]]>
+ This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.
When NASA scientists opened the sample return canister from the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample mission in late 2023, they found something astonishing.
Dust and rock collected from the asteroid Bennu contained many of life's building blocks, including all five nucleobases used in DNA and RNA, 14 of the 20 amino acids found in proteins, and a rich collection of other organic molecules. These are built primarily from carbon and hydrogen, and they often form the backbone of life's chemistry.
For decades, scientists have predicted that early asteroids may have delivered the ingredients of life to Earth, and these findings seemed like promising evidence.
Even more surprising, these amino acids from Bennu were split almost evenly between "left-handed" and "right-handed" forms. Amino acids come in two mirror-image configurations, just like our left and right hands, called chiral forms.
On Earth, almost all biology requires the left-handed versions. If scientists had found a strong left-handed excess in Bennu, it would have suggested that life's molecular asymmetry might have been inherited directly from space. Instead, the near-equal mixture points to a different story: Life's left-handed preference likely emerged later, through processes on Earth, rather than being pre-imprinted in the material delivered by asteroids.
A 'chiral' molecule is one that is not superposable with another that is its mirror image, even if you rotate it. (Image credit: NASA)
If space rocks can carry familiar ingredients but not the chemical "signature" that life leaves behind, then identifying the true signs of biology becomes extremely complicated.
These discoveries raise a deeper question – one that becomes more urgent as new missions target Mars, the Martian moons and the ocean worldsof our solar system: How do researchers detect life when the chemistry alone begins to look "lifelike"? If nonliving materials can produce rich, organized mixtures of organic molecules, then the traditional signs we use to recognize biology may no longer be enough.
As a computational scientist studying biological signatures, I face this challenge directly. In my astrobiology work, I ask how to determine whether a collection of molecules was formed by complex geochemistry or by extraterrestrial biology, when exploring other planets.
In a new study in the journal PNAS Nexus, my colleagues and I developed a framework called LifeTracer to help answer this question. Instead of searching for a single molecule or structure that proves the presence of biology, we attempted to classify how likely mixtures of compounds preserved in rocks and meteorites were to contain traces of life by examining the full chemical patterns they contain.
Identifying potential biosignatures
The key idea behind our framework is that life produces molecules with purpose, while nonliving chemistry does not. Cells must store energy, build membranes and transmit information. Abiotic chemistry produced by nonliving chemical processes, even when abundant, follows different rules because it is not shaped by metabolism or evolution.
Traditional biosignature approaches focus on searching for specific compounds, such as certain amino acids or lipid structures, or for chiral preferences, like left-handedness.
These signals can be powerful, but they are based entirely on the molecular patterns used by life on Earth. If we assume that alien life uses the same chemistry, we risk missing biology that is similar – but not identical – to our own, or misidentifying nonliving chemistry as a sign of life.
The Bennu results highlight this problem. The asteroid sample contained molecules familiar to life, yet nothing within it appears to have been alive.
To reduce the risk of assuming these molecules indicate life, we assembled a unique dataset of organic materials right at the dividing line between life and nonlife. We used samples from eight carbon-rich meteorites that preserve abiotic chemistry from the early solar system, as well as 10 samples of soils and sedimentary materials from Earth, containing the degraded remnants of biological molecules from past or present life. Each sample contained tens of thousands of organic molecules, many present in low abundance and many whose structures could not be fully identified.
At NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, our team of scientists crushed each sample, added solvent and heated it to extract the organics — this process is like brewing tea. Then, we took the "tea" containing the extracted organics and passed it through two filtering columns that separated the complex mixture of organic molecules. Then, the organics were pushed into a chamber where we bombarded them with electrons until they broke into smaller fragments.
Traditionally, chemists use these mass fragments as puzzle pieces to reconstruct each molecular structure, but having tens of thousands of compounds in each sample presented a challenge.
LifeTracer
LifeTracer is a unique approach for data analysis: It works by taking in the fragmented puzzle pieces and analyzing them to find specific patterns, rather than reconstructing each structure.
It characterizes those puzzle pieces by their mass and two other chemical properties and then organizes them into a large matrix describing the set of molecules present in each sample. It then trains a machine learning model to distinguish between the meteorites and the terrestrial materials from Earth's surface, based on the type of molecules present in each.
One of the most common forms of machine learning is called supervised learning. It works by taking many input and output pairs as examples and learns a rule to go from input to output. Even with only 18 samples as those examples, LifeTracer performed remarkably well. It consistently separated abiotic from biotic origins.
What mattered most to LifeTracer was not the presence of a specific molecule but the overall distribution of chemical fingerprints found in each sample. Meteorite samples tended to contain more volatile compounds – they evaporate or break apart more easily – which reflected the type of chemistry most common in the cold environment of space.
Some types of molecules, called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, were present in both groups, but they had distinctive structural differences that the model could parse. A sulfur-containing compound, 1,2,4-trithiolane, emerged as a strong marker for abiotic samples, while terrestrial materials contained products formed through biological process.
These discoveries suggest that the contrast between life and nonlife is not defined by a single chemical clue but by how an entire suite of organic molecules is organized. By focusing on patterns rather than assumptions about which molecules life "should" use, approaches like LifeTracer open up new possibilities for evaluating samples returned from missions to Mars, its moons Phobos and Deimos, Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus.
Future samples will likely contain mixtures of organics from multiple sources, some biological and some not. Instead of relying only on a few familiar molecules, we can now assess whether the whole chemical landscape looks more like biology or random geochemistry.
LifeTracer is not a universal life detector. Rather, it provides a foundation for interpreting complex organic mixtures. The Bennu findings remind us that life-friendly chemistry may be widespread across the solar system, but that chemistry alone does not equal biology.
To tell the difference, scientists will need all the tools we can build — not only better spacecraft and instruments, but also smarter ways to read the stories written in the molecules they bring home.
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+ https://www.space.com/space-exploration/search-for-life/can-scientists-detect-life-without-knowing-what-it-looks-like-research-using-machine-learning-offers-a-new-way
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+ Sat, 03 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000Fri, 02 Jan 2026 21:27:49 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ The largest sun of 2026 rises today as Earth draws closest to our parent star ]]>
+ The sun will appear larger in the sky than on any other day in 2026 on Jan. 3, as our planet reaches its closest point to our parent star in its 365-day orbit during an event known to astronomers as perihelion.
Earth orbits the sun at an average distance of 93 million miles (150 million kilometers), a distance known as 1 astronomical unit. However, our planet's path around its star isn't a perfect circle, but rather takes the form of an ellipse, or oval, which sees Earth's distance from the sun vary by approximately 3% as it progresses through its yearly orbit.
The moment of perihelion — our closest approach to the sun in 2026 — will occur at 12:15 p.m. EST (1715 GMT) on Jan. 3, when our Blue Marble will pass 91,498,806 miles 147,253,054 km) from our parent star.
Around this time, the sun would loom fractionally larger when viewed through a telescope fitted with a quality solar filter compared to how it would look at its most distant point from the sun known as aphelion, when we are separated by a further 3.1 million miles (5 million km).
However, this difference is very slight, with the sun having an angular size of 32 arcminutes and 31 arcseconds at perihelion compared to 31 arcminutes and 27 arcseconds at aphelion, according to In-The-Sky. The slight decrease in our distance to the sun also has no appreciable effect on Earth's temperature or the passage of the seasons, which is driven by the 23.4 degree tilt in Earth's rotational axis relative to our orbit around the sun.
Remember, it's never safe to look at the sun with the naked eye or through an ordinary telescope, pair of binoculars, or any other optical equipment as doing so can lead to an instant and permanent loss of vision.
Editor's Note: If you have the specialized equipment needed to safely capture an image of the sun during perihelion and would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.
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+ https://www.space.com/stargazing/the-largest-sun-of-2026-rises-today-as-earth-draws-closest-to-our-parent-star
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+ Sat, 03 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000Sat, 03 Jan 2026 14:33:33 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks tonight, but will the full 'Wolf Moon' outshine the show? ]]>
+ Your first major opportunity to spot shooting stars and bright fireballs in 2026 arrives overnight tonight with the peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower, though only the brightest members may be visible, as the annual event crescendos in the bright light of a full moon.
The Quadrantid meteor shower is active from Dec. 26, 2025 to Jan. 16, 2026, with a narrow peak lasting roughly six hours that unfolds in the period preceding dawn on Jan. 4,according to EarthSky.org. The shower owes its brief peak to the near-perpendicular angle at which Earth smashes through the thin debris trail left by asteroid 2003 EH1. Shooting stars appear when shards of ancient comets and asteroids collide with Earth, burning up in a fiery display as they are overwhelmed by friction.
Quadrantid meteor showers are capable of producing impressive displays, with up to 200 shooting stars visible each hour under dark sky conditions around the peak. Unfortunately, the 2025-6 shower comes to a head in the light of a full moon, whose glare will wash out all but the brightest meteors. NASA predicts an hourly rate of just 10 meteors per hour on the night of the peak. The January full moon is often called the "Wolf Moon", in reference to the predators that have been heard howling at Earth's satellite during the scarcity of winter.
Meteors associated with the Quadrantid shower appear to come from a patch of sky close to the "handle" of the famous Big Dipperasterism in the constellation Ursa Major — a circumpolar constellation that never sets for stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere. As such, the shower is best viewed from locations north of 51 degrees latitude.
The shower gets its name from a constellation created by French astronomer Jerome Lalande in 1795, known as Quadrans Muralis, which occupies this space near the Big Dipper, according to NASA. The constellation, however, was not chosen as one of the 88 constellations formally recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
The radiant will rest low on the northern horizon after sunset, but soars high overhead during the pre-dawn peak-viewing hours. Quadrantid meteors can appear in any part of the sky, though it's best not to look exactly in the direction of the radiant, where the trails will be at their shortest.
Editor's Note: If you capture an image of a Quadrantid meteor and want to share your astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.
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+ https://www.space.com/stargazing/meteor-showers/the-quadrantid-meteor-shower-2026-peaks-tonight-but-will-the-full-wolf-moon-outshine-the-show
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+ Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000Sat, 03 Jan 2026 14:33:33 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ 'Star Trek' warps into 2026 with epic 'Space For Everybody' Rose Parade float ]]>
+ 2026 is a special year for creator Gene Roddenberry's iconic "Wagon Train To The Stars" sci-fi franchise as it celebrates its 60th anniversary seeking out new life and new civilizations!
Those of you who woke up early yesterday for New Year's Day after a night of champagne and fireworks to watch the 137th annual Tournament of Roses Parade in person, online, or on TV might have spotted Paramount's "Star Trek" 60th Anniversary float cruising along down rainy Colorado Boulevard amid the colorful flow of equestrian units and marching bands.
Actors from four different Star Trek series give the Vulcan salute on the bridge of the Star Trek float in the Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2026. From left are: Rebecca Romjin of Star Trek Strange New Worlds, Karim Diane of Starfleet Academy, George Takei of Star Trek: The Original Series and Tig Notaro of Star Trek: Discovery. (Image credit: Rodin Eckenroth / Stringer/Getty Images)
Paramount+ Essential (ads): $5.99 /mo Paramount+ with SHOWTIME (no ads): $11.99 /mo
Star Trek:'s next series, Starfleet Academy, will be available to watch on Paramount+. You can also watch almost every other Star Trek show and movie on there, too, while you wait.View Deal
In addition to reminding fans of "Star Trek's" big birthday bash this coming fall, the fantastic float designed by artist John Ramirez and constructed by Artistic Entertainment Services (AES) also served to herald "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy," which premieres Jan. 15 on Paramount+.
Christened as "Star Trek 60: Space For Everybody," this aromatic Rose Parade creation was blanketed in flowers, seaweed, lettuce seeds, and white coconut lovingly applied by more than 100 "Star Trek" volunteers. It featured a partial starship bridge, a pair of transporters, San Francisco's Golden Gate, orbiting worlds, and the majestic USS Enterprise hovering above it all. Riding aboard the float and demonstrating their finest parade waves were "The Original Series'" George Takei, "Strange New Worlds'" Rebecca Romijn, and "Starfleet Academy's" Karim Diané and Tig Notaro (who also appears in "Star Trek: Discovery").
Artist John Ramirez' concept art for the "Star Trek 60" parade float (Image credit: Paramount/AES)
Here's Paramount's official description:
"As the year of 2026 marks a historic chapter for Star Trek, highlighting the legendary franchise's milestone of six decades, the anniversary emphasizes “Space for Everybody,” extending an open invitation to celebrate the future that Star Trek aspires to — a future of HOPE, a future of EXPLORATION and a future where we rise to the challenge to BE BOLD.
"From back to front, the float features the iconic starship U.S.S. Enterprise rising above an array of Star Trek planets. Local Los Angeles landmark Vasquez Rocks feature prominently at the back of the float, paying homage to its role as a frequent Star Trek filming location, with interactive transporters adorning the center of the float.
"In honor of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, their campus also rises above the float as the newest addition to both the Star Trek universe and the classic San Francisco cityscape. The side of the float boasts the Star Trek 60 logo in honor of the franchise’s 60th anniversary, while front and center is the renowned bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise, where Star Trek actors will be stationed for the parade."
A Starfleet cadet is ready to beam up in the Star Trek 60th anniversary float in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California on Jan. 1, 2026. (Image credit: Rodin Eckenroth / Stringer/Getty Images)
It's hard to believe, but apparently this was also the first time that any "Star Trek" cast members had been seen riding on a Rose Parade Float. And in a bit of parade magic, the creatives at AES also crafted the float with a pair of transporter pods made from golden red millet and blue statice that simulated sci-fi tech using a set of twins dressed in red Starfleet uniforms.
Stay tuned all year for more news on "Star Trek's" 60th anniversary!
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+ https://www.space.com/entertainment/star-trek-warps-into-2026-with-epic-space-for-everybody-rose-parade-float
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+ Fri, 02 Jan 2026 21:41:14 +0000Fri, 02 Jan 2026 21:41:14 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ Why do I need a VPN? ]]>
+ Why do I need a VPN? It's a valid question, and we'll answer it over the course of this article. You can read the verdict if you don't want to look too deeply into the details.
VPN stands for virtual private network and essentially, it gives the device you're using its own IP address. This is helpful for several reasons, both concerning entertainment purposes and for online safety, with additional safety support like ad blockers, password managers, malware detection and much, much more.
So, if you're travelling to a skywatching location or a launch site and you want to access content on the best streaming services from back home, which may be geolocked on your travels, or you want to better protect your own device, which may be one of the best laptops, getting one of the best VPNs is a great way to do that.
VPNs also range in price, from free options available to hundreds of dollars, depending on the plan you opt for. Thankfully, though, they're often on offer, so you can get a long-term plan from a reliable provider that will only cost a couple of dollars a month, or the equivalent of. So why exactly do you need one? Read on to find out.
How Does a VPN Work?
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A VPN can help increase your online security significantly, although it can't guarantee 100% online safety. (Image credit: Getty Images)
Something that may surprise you is that VPNs don't actually use satellite signals. Instead, they take the internet connection, obtained by your router via satellite signal and they 'tunnel' it to a server location of your choice. Tunnelling is where an encrypted connection is established between your device and the server you choose, making your device appear as if it's in a different location.
Essentially, all traffic on your device is encrypted, meaning it's close to impossible to intercept, and is sent to the VPN server, at which point the traffic is forwarded to the correct destination on the internet.
The benefits of this mean your device is a lot harder to track and hack into. It also allows you to access content on a website or app from back home while you're travelling. So if you're travelling and you want to watch something on Disney Plus (for example) that may be available at home, but not abroad, you can set your device's location to home and access your content that way.
Safety Features
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A VPN is a great online safety tool and it can cover a range of devices. (Image credit: Surfshark)
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The levels of protection offered by a VPN provider will usually depend on the plan you opt for. (Image credit: ExpressVPN)
On top of a dedicated IP address, making your device appear as if it's in a different country, VPN providers will often offer added security features, increasing levels of which are available depending on which plan you choose to subscribe to.
These features include, but are not limited to, ad and tracker blockers, which improve your online experience and prevent anyone from seeing your online activity. Anti-malware protection, which will often protect you against software that's designed to cause damage to your device. And, data breach scanners to protect you against and alert you to anything that tries to breach your device's defences and gain access to your personal data.
More advanced features can include Password managers, encrypted cloud storage and advanced features on browsing and downloading content. You'll also often find that you can secure numerous devices at once if you get a VPN from one of the leading VPN providers.
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A VPN can make your device appear as if it's in a different location, which is excellent for accessing streaming content from back home while you're travelling. (Image credit: ProtonVPN)
The added safety features are particularly useful when you're travelling to a dedicated skywatching location or a launch site, for example, especially if you're using public Wi-Fi or hotspotting from a mobile phone. That's because these types of connections are when your device is at its most vulnerable to online threats, so having a scrambled connection, a dedicated IP address and features like scanners and anti-malware protection give you that security when on the go and when you're unable to use a secure connection.
Of course, you need to be vigilant at the best of times, too. That's why some of the safety features you can get with a VPN from a top provider can help protect you against malicious and dodgy links, websites and, as mentioned above, anything that tries to gain access to your device or details, even when you're on a reliable and trusted connection. You can also get Wi-Fi routers with a built-in VPN, so that you have a layer of protection before your connection even reaches your device.
It's important to note, however, that a VPN does not guarantee 100% online safety, even if it does increase your levels of protection.
How much do they cost?
The range of cost on a VPN will often depend on the plan you opt for. (Image credit: ExpressVPN)
Well, this depends on what plan you go for, from which provider and if you get a good deal or not. So the objective answer is you can get a decent VPN for anywhere between free and hundreds of dollars. When you sign up, you'll usually have to pay the full amount rather than in installments. That's not the most helpful answer, we know, but let's break it down a little bit.
As has been mentioned, VPN providers will offer higher levels of security and more features, the more you pay for a chosen plan. This can range from a dedicated IP address, ad/tracker blockers and protection against malware, to all the bells and whistles, including dedicated email addresses, encrypted storage and insurance. Typically, the most basic plans will cost a couple of dollars a month, between $2 to $4. After that, we can see prices rise to just below $10 a month for the most premium plans.
It also depends on if you get a good deal or not. Without an offer, most decent VPN providers will offer their plans for several hundred dollars, spread over a certain period of time (i.e. 12/24 months). But you don't have to wait for a sales event like Black Friday, as we often see VPNs on offer year-round. Providers will also sometimes host their own sales, so it's important to keep an eye out. We also see free plans available, which will often only offer basic protection, but free is free and it's a step up from not having a VPN.
It's certainly a good idea to have one. It vastly improves your online safety and it's particularly useful to have on your travels. If you want added levels of security while streaming, downloading and for general online use, you should get a VPN.
It must be said that your online experience will stay the same without one, so if you're happy as you are, you don't need one. But, by getting a dedicated IP address and having security features that block ads and trackers and look out for malware, your online safety is improved. It's particularly useful when using public Wi-Fi connections and hotspots, especially if your device has personal details on it.
On top of the added security, it's great for unlocking streaming content that might be blocked or unavailable in a region you're in, which would otherwise be available from back home.
So, in a world where technology is ever improving and it's getting harder and harder to stay safe online, it's a good idea to have a VPN, regardless of which plan from which provider you opt for, as long as they're a reliable provider.
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+ https://www.space.com/technology/why-do-i-need-a-vpn
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+ Fri, 02 Jan 2026 21:05:00 +0000Fri, 02 Jan 2026 13:18:46 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ SpaceX launches Italian Earth-observing satellite to orbit on the 1st mission of 2026 (video) ]]>
+
SpaceX launched the first mission of 2026 tonight (Jan. 2).
A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California tonight at 9:09 p.m. EST (6:09 p.m. local California time; 0209 GMT on Jan. 3), carrying an Italian Earth-observing satellite to orbit.
The rocket's first stage landed back at Vandenberg as planned about 8.5 minutes after liftoff. It was the 21st flight for this particular booster, according to SpaceX.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation mission for the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defence from California on Jan. 2, 2026. (Image credit: SpaceX)
About 4.5 minutes later, the Falcon 9's second stage deployed the payload — a COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellite — into low Earth orbit for the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defence.
The spacecraft will study Earth using synthetic aperture radar, gathering data at all times of day and in all weather conditions from an altitude of 385 miles (620 kilometers).
COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation is a small network designed to "monitor the Earth for the sake of emergency prevention, strategy, scientific and commercial purposes, providing data on a global scale to support a variety of applications," according to a European Space Agency explainer.
Among those applications are "risk management, cartography, forest & environment protection, natural resources exploration, land management, defense and security, maritime surveillance, food & agriculture management," the explainer adds.
Three COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellites have now launched to date. The first one flew in December 2019 atop a Soyuz rocket, and the second lifted off in January 2022 on a Falcon 9.
The upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket deploys a COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellite into low Earth orbit for the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defence on Jan. 2, 2026. (Image credit: SpaceX)
Tonight's liftoff was the first of 2026 not just for SpaceX but for the global launch community.
It's no surprise that SpaceX is breaking in the year. Elon Musk's company launched a whopping 165 orbital missions in 2025 — far more than any other entity, either commercial or governmental. That was also a record for SpaceX, which the company may aim to break again this year.
Editor's note: This story was updated at 9:25 p.m. ET on Jan. 2 with news of successful launch, rocket landing and satellite deployment.
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+ <![CDATA[ SpaceX lowering orbits of 4,400 Starlink satellites for safety's sake ]]>We'll see a mass migration of SpaceX Starlink satellites this year.
All Starlink broadband spacecraft currently orbiting 342 miles (550 kilometers) or so above Earth — about 4,400 satellites — will descend to an altitude of roughly 298 miles (480 km) over the course of 2026.
There are two main reasons for the move, according to Michael Nicolls, vice president of Starlink engineering at SpaceX, who announced the plan via X on Thursday (Jan. 1).
"As solar mininum approaches, atmospheric density decreases, which means the ballistic decay time at any given altitude increases — lowering will mean a >80% reduction in ballistic decay time in solar minimum, or 4+ years reduced to a few months," Nicolls wrote in his X post. "Correspondingly, the number of debris objects and planned satellite constellations is significantly lower below 500 km, reducing the aggregate likelihood of collision."
Solar activity waxes and wanes on an 11-year cycle. We likely just passed through the maximum phase of the current one, known as Solar Cycle 25. (Scientists have been tracking these cycles diligently since 1755, when the numbering system began.) The next solar minimum is expected in 2030 or thereabouts.
As Nicolls noted, the atmospheric changes wrought by solar activity are of great interest and importance to satellite operators. An active sun causes a thicker atmosphere, which increases frictional drag on spacecraft and brings them down faster. Low solar activity has the opposite effect.
The downward migration in 2026 involves roughly half of SpaceX's Starlink megaconstellation, which currently consists of nearly 9,400 operational spacecraft (though that number is always growing). The fleet is highly reliable; there are just two dead Starlinks currently in orbit, according to Nicolls.
"Nevertheless, if a satellite does fail on orbit, we want it to deorbit as quickly as possible," he wrote. "These actions will further improve the safety of the constellation, particularly with difficult-to-control risks such as uncoordinated maneuvers and launches by other satellite operators."
Low earth orbit (LEO) is getting increasingly crowded these days. Starlink is the main driving factor; about two-thirds of all operational satellites belong to the megaconstellation. But other giant networks are being assembled as well. For example, China has begun building out two LEO internet constellations, each of which will each feature more than 10,000 spacecraft if all goes to plan.
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- <![CDATA[ The best sci-fi Blu-rays to own: Beat the streaming subscriptions ]]>
- The streaming revolution has its perks, but it's annoying when you want to watch the best sci-fi movies of all time and none of your subscriptions cover them, which is why Sci-Fi DVDs and Blu-rays are still worth chasing.
Renowned movie franchises like Star Wars are easy to stream on Disney Plus, sure, but the Force isn't with fans who seek hours of extras, too. If you're really into a long movie series, standalone classics and/or some of the best sci-fi TV shows ever made, physical media won't leave you hanging. We're also using this opportunity to dig up some killer box sets and limited editions you can still grab if you're fast, so this guide is pretty solid for your Christmas and/or birthday gift needs.
Regardless, you'll need the best streaming services to catch the latest science fiction movies and shows coming exclusively to Disney Plus, Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV Plus and more. On the matter of presents, keep an eye on the best Lego Star Wars, Marvel and space sets you can grab, too. But for the best Sci-Fi Blu-rays, scroll down below.
Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
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If you're a Star Wars fan, you'll want the Skywalker Saga 4K UHD Blu-rays. (Image credit: LucasFilm)
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If you're a Star Wars fan, you'll want the Skywalker Saga 4K UHD Blu-rays. (Image credit: Amazon)
Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (4K UHD + Blu-ray)
The most iconic of Sci-Fi franchises. All the movies, all in one place.
Cast: Mark Hamill, Hayden Christensen, Daisy Ridley | Run time: 20 hours 38 minutes (movies only) | Number of discs: 27
All the movies, all in one place
Loaded with extras
Expensive
Whether you loved the entire ride or would rather forget about the sequels, the complete Star Wars movie experience is worth embarking on, especially for newcomers. With the absolutely massive Skywalker Saga 4K UHD box set released in 2020, the path of a Jedi has never been more complete.
The nine-movie ride alone is over 20 hours long, and the incredible offering of extras runs for even longer than that. Disney and Lucasfilm really went all out with this one, and Star Wars fanatics who aren’t strict purists won't find a better box set right now.
The whole saga and all the extras are spread across 27 discs, including 1080p Blu-rays, with stunning interior art pieces based on each trilogy and concept art, and a 'digibook' design which makes it feel extra special. Considering the high price tag on this one (it's only gone up due to scarcity of stock), it’s only for the biggest collectors around, but we think it'll be a good while before Disney puts out a Star Wars box set as complete.
Star Trek: The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
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If you're a Star Trek fan, the complete original series is up there with the best Blu-ray options you can buy. (Image credit: Paramount Pictures)
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If you're a Star Trek fan, the complete original series is up there with the best Blu-ray options you can buy. (Image credit: Amazon)
Star Trek: The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
Owning a physical copy of the original series means your affinity with Star Trek will live long and prosper.
Cast: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols | Run time: 67 hours 42 minutes | Number of discs: 20
Similarly priced to one year's subscription of Paramount Plus
Nearly 70 hours of content
A little pricey for just one TV show
Much less pricey than the Star Wars entry above is the Blu-ray (1080p) release of the complete Star Trek original series, which runs for over 67 hours and is spread across 20 discs.
Considering it's still selling at around $70, it's one hell of a deal, no matter if this is your first attempt to get into Star Trek or you're a longtime fan looking to secure a clean and straight-to-the-point Blu-ray edition.
This release isn't just an 'enhanced for 1080p' remaster of the show as it was either. It also features 'enhanced visual effects' (purists may not enjoy this) and a 7.1 surround sound option on top of the preserved original mono audio tracks. As for special bonus content, the 'special features' run for over 9 hours, though the box clearly states that they're not presented in high definition. It may not be the definitive treatment for the series that started it all, but it's more than enough to boldly go where no man has gone before.
Stargate: The Blu-ray Collection (Blu-ray)
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This Stargate Blu-ray collection has over 300 hours of content, spread across nearly 70 discs. (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)
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This Stargate Blu-ray collection has over 300 hours of content, spread across nearly 70 disks. (Image credit: Amazon)
Stargate: The Blu-ray Collection (Blu-ray)
Over 300 hours and nearly 70 discs worth of television show makes this a box set worth getting.
Cast: Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge | Run time: 309 hours | Number of discs: 69
Over 300 hours of run time
Nearly 70 discs in total
You get a lot for your money
Expensive
The absolute largest (but not priciest) Sci-Fi Blu-ray collection we've found so far is the complete Stargate collection, which includes Stargate SG-1, Atlantis and Universe. In total, you're looking at over 300 hours of old-fashioned TV goodness with this one.
It's safe to say you won't be rewatching the whole box set often, but you get a lot of content for your money. Only 1080p and English language in this one, but you're getting a lot of bang for your buck, especially as bonus features are included.
With Amazon MGM Studios now in ownership of the IP, we've been banging the drum of "Stargate should return" for a while now. If you only watched the original movie and would like to learn what the heck all the praise and online noise is all about, buckle up, prepare accordingly and enjoy a lengthy but delightful journey through TV shows that did a lot with minimal budgets. Just make sure to input the right coordinates when you make each space-bending trip...
Predator 4-Movie Collection (Blu-ray)
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The Predator 4-movie pack is perfect for fans of the predator franchise. (Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
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The Predator 4-movie pack is perfect for fans of the predator franchise. (Image credit: Amazon)
Predator 4-Movie Collection (Blu-ray)
Experience the journey that is the first four Predator movies, all in one box set
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny Glover, Adrien Brody | Run time: 7 hours 9 minutes | Number of discs: 4
Four movies with great upscaling work
Great to catch up before the more recent releases
inexpensive compared to others
Not a complete set
Before recent Dan Trachtenberg-directed entries like Prey and Predator: Badlands, the Predator movie series wasn't in super great shape, but the Predator 4-Movie Collection released in late 2018 packs Predator 1 & 2 (classics), Predators (a fairly underrated one) and The Predator (the one that nearly killed the franchise).
For roughly $30, it's a pretty great deal if you want to catch up with the series before the more recent installments or want to surprise a hardcore Yautja fanatic.
Of course, not everyone was a fan of the upscaling work done on the two older movies when they first made the jump to 1080p and above, but the following releases improved the image quality without sacrificing most of the original texture. While we believe the 4K UHD version of this 4-disc set is a bit too expensive considering it's not loaded with extras, the regular Blu-ray version is a fantastic deal. Additionally, you're also getting a digital copy of each movie.
Avatar – Collector’s Edition (4K UHD + Blu-ray)
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This Avatar Blu-ray is the best option for collectors. (Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
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This Avatar Blu-ray is the best option for collectors. (Image credit: Amazon)
Avatar – Collector’s Edition (4K UHD + Blu-ray)
Return to Pandora with hours and hours of bonus content and different versions of the record-breaking movie.
Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang | Run time: 3 hours and 15 minutes | Number of discs: 4
Multiple versions of the movie
Over 10 hours of bonus content
Most complete version of the movie yet
Expensive for one movie
Avatar: Fire and Ash is upon us, which means both Na'vi diehards and folks planning a more casual trip to Pandora might be looking to grab the first two movies in the sharpest possible quality.
Disney and 20th Century Studios have always been well aware of how much money these movies make in the domestic market, too, so it comes as no surprise we've seen countless different editions of the 2009 original released over the years.
At the time of writing, the late-2023 re-release of Avatar, dubbed 'Collector's Edition' is the most complete you can find if you're really into James Cameron's industry-shaking phenomenon. The delightful pack includes the movie in 4K UHD, 1080p Blu-ray and digital. It's also the first time the Special Edition and Collector's Extended Cut have been available to watch in 4K, plus two entire discs are dedicated to bonus materials. While we're expecting Disney to milk Eywa until it's dry in the future, this is the best Avatar Blu-ray deal money can buy at the moment.
Alien – 40th Anniversary (4K UHD + Blu-ray)
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This Blu-ray option is the best for fans of the movie, and the franchise, Alien. (Image credit: 20th century studios)
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This Blu-ray option is the best for fans of the movie, and the franchise, Alien. (Image credit: Amazon)
Alien – 40th Anniversary (4K UHD + Blu-ray)
Experience one of the most iconic Sci-Fi movies with upgraded visuals and effects
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Ian Holm, Tom Skerritt | Run time: 1 hour 57 minutes | Number of discs: 2
Inexpensive compared to the other entries
Bonus material
Improved visuals and effects
Just one movie, not a box set
We've had plenty of physical media releases of Alien (1979) worth purchasing over the years, so it was unsurprising to see the 40th Anniversary Edition released in 2019, being a fantastic refresh of both cuts of the movie (theatrical and director's cut), which remains available due to continued success. That stylish cover is killer, and the no-BS approach to the overall presentation is exactly what you want out of a revisited classic.
At home, everyone can hear you scream, especially if you're easily startled; the crisp audio (DTS, DTS-HD and Dolby 5.1 options) pops alongside the sharper 4K image quality, and the high dynamic range's extra sauce (if you have a TV prepared for the full experience) is exactly what the Nostromo needed to come to life like never before. Not as impressive are the special features, but with great audio commentary by Ridley Scott and cast and crew members, plus a bunch of deleted scenes, the basics are covered.
Dune 2-Film Collection (4K UHD)
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This two-film collection is the best Blu-ray option for Dune fans. (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)
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This two-film collection is the best Blu-ray option for Dune fans. (Image credit: Amazon)
Dune 2-Film Collection (4K UHD)
A must for Dune fans looking to watch the movies with maximum visual effects.
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac | Run time: 5 hours 21 minutes | Number of discs: 2
4K UHD
Bonus material
Great visual output
A little light on extra content
Denis Villeneuve's two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune somehow managed to please most fans while also captivating millions of casual moviegoers with no previous knowledge of the (admittedly dense) source material. That’s no small feat, and such a wondrous Sci-Fi epic deserves the biggest 4K screen you can fit inside your house. For now, our favorite domestic release of the two movies is the 2-Film Collection released in 2024.
As usual in Warner Bros. Pictures' domestic releases, the 4K UHD image and sound (Dolby 5.1, 7.1 and Atmos audio) quality is astonishing, making Arrakis' sights and sounds pop like in cinemas, which is exactly what you want from a 4K release of big Sci-Fi epics.
Sadly, this pack doesn't include regular 1080p Blu-ray discs like similar boxes, so it's a no-no for those still rocking a regular Blu-ray player but looking to future-proof their collection. The bonus features are also on the lighter side, but if you're looking to catch up ahead of Dune: Messiah while adding fantastic modern Sci-Fi classics to your physical media collection, it's an easy yes.
Blade Runner: The Final Cut (4K UHD + Blu-ray)
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Blade Runner: The final cut is the best Blu-ray option for fans of Blade Runner. (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)
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Blade Runner: The final cut is the best Blu-ray option for fans of Blade Runner. (Image credit: Amazon)
Blade Runner: The Final Cut (4K UHD + Blu-ray)
As well as the original movie, over 7 hours of extra material, across 4 discs, make this a must.
Cast: Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Rutger Hauer | Run time: 1 hour 58 minutes | Number of discs: 4
Great in 4K
Lots of bonus material
Not as great in 1080p
We thought it'd be weird to write this recap without searching for a great edition of the original Blade Runner, and we quickly came across the 4K UHD re-release of the Final Cut, regular Blu-ray and digital copy included.
It's yet another 'lean and mean' winner re-release from Warner Bros. and with a gorgeous cover to boot. Just make sure to buy it for the 4K UHD disc, as the encoding of the 1080p disc isn't the greatest, sadly.
When it comes to special features, it packs an introduction by Ridley Scott, three audio filmmaker commentaries, an entire documentary on the making of the movie and other extra bits (over 7 hours in total). Despite releasing in 2017 ahead of Blade Runner 2049, this release also has pretty great HDR support for the 4K disc; there's a good reason it's still kicking around. Ahead of the Blade Runner 2099 series, there's never been a better time to revisit the beginning of it all.
This stunning remaster offers the best steelbook option out there
Cast: Kathleen Quinlan, Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill | Run time: 1 hour 35 minutes | Number of discs: 2
Aesthetically great physical copy
4K UHD
Great for fans of the movie
Not great if you're not a fan of the movie
2024's Limited Edition reprint of the 4K steelbook release of Event Horizon is amazing. There have been many versions of this space horror cult classic dropping over the years despite the mixed reception it got back in 1997, but its 4K UHD restoration was a huge one for fans, and the 25th Anniversary Edition was a killer package with a disturbing new cover to boot. It vanished quickly, which is why Paramount was pressed to push out a re-release last year. At the time of writing, you can still get it, but don't wait too long.
What if a spaceship vanished during its maiden voyage because the wormholes it used to cover great distances of space sent it through literal Hell? While all the potential of such an amazing (and horrifying) pitch wasn't realized in Paul W.S. Anderson's sci-fi horror flick, it remains a fascinating watch with a unique vibe and some of the gnarliest horror imagery in a wide theatrical science fiction release. We may never see all of the long-lost uncensored footage, but after all these years, this vision of Hell is still worth your time and money. You won't need eyes to see...
Star Wars: Andor – Season 1 (4K UHD)
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Andor Season one 4K UHD is the best option for fans of the Star Wars TV Shows. (Image credit: LucasFilm)
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(Image credit: Amazon)
Star Wars: Andor – Season 1 (4K UHD)
This hit Star Wars TV show comes with 3 discs and a bunch of bonus content.
Cast: Diego Luna, Kyle Soller, Genevieve O’Reilly | Run time : 9 hours 42 minutes | Number of discs: 3
Plenty of bonus content
Concept art cards
4K UHD
Very expensive for just one season of a show
Even if you haven't watched Andor yet, you might've heard the Tony Gilroy-created live-action series is among the best Star Wars TV shows. We totally agree; it really feels deep and textured in a way nothing else in the franchise has been.
If you're planning to grab one of the excellent physical releases of Star Wars series, Andor Season 1 in 4K UHD (no regular Blu-rays included in this one) is the absolute best credits can buy.
We'd read, watched and played through many takes on the Rebel Alliance's origins, but none captured the Empire's reign of terror in the way Andor does. The best praise we can give to spinoffs coming out of long-running franchises is that they feel like great original stories that happen to take place in established universes, and Andor is exactly that. Sure, this isn't exactly kid-friendly Star Wars, but as a more adult take on the IP, which fits in perfectly nonetheless, we couldn't have asked for anything better. Sadly, Season 2 hasn't locked a physical media release yet, but we'd be shocked if it didn't.
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- https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/the-best-sci-fi-blu-rays-to-own-beat-the-streaming-subscriptions
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- Sun, 28 Dec 2025 21:05:00 +0000Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:32:06 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Lower-cost space missions like NASA's ESCAPADE are starting to deliver exciting science – but at a price in risk and trade‑offs ]]>
- This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.
After a yearslong series of setbacks, NASA's Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers, or ESCAPADE, mission has finally begun its roundabout journey to Mars.
Launched on Nov. 13, 2025, aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, ESCAPADE's twin probes will map the planet's magnetic field and study how the solar wind – the stream of charged particles released from the Sun – has stripped away the Martian atmosphere over billions of years.
But this low-cost mission is still only getting started, and it's taking bigger risks than typical big-ticket NASA missions.
ESCAPADE is part of NASA's Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration, or SIMPLEx, program that funds low‑cost, higher‑risk projects. Of the five SIMPLEx missions selected so far, three have failed after launch due to equipment problems that might have been caught in more traditional, tightly managed programs. A fourth sits in indefinite storage.
ESCAPADE will not begin returning science data for about 30 months, and the program's history suggests the odds are not entirely in its favor. Nonetheless, the calculus goes that if enough of these missions are successful, NASA can achieve valuable science at a reduced cost – even with some losses along the way.
ESCAPADE is at the other end. It's a class D mission, defined as having "high risk tolerance" and "medium to low complexity."
Of the 21 class D missions that have launched since the designation was first applied in 2009, NASA has not had a single class D mission launch on schedule. Only four remained under budget. Four were canceled outright prior to launch.
ESCAPADE, which will have cost an estimated US$94.2 million by the end of its science operations in 2029, has stayed under the $100 million mark through a series of cost‑saving choices. It has a small set of key instruments, a low spacecraft mass to reduce launch costs, and extensively uses generic commercial components instead of custom hardware.
NASA also outsourced to private companies: Much of the spacecraft development went to Rocket Lab and the trajectory design to Advanced Space LLC, with tight contract limits to make sure the contractors didn't go over budget.
Additional savings came from creative arrangements, including the university‑funded VISIONS camera package and a discounted ride on New Glenn, which Blue Origin wanted to fly anyway for its own testing objectives.
An illustration from Rocket Lab of the Escapade mission with Rocket Lab's key designs. (Image credit: Rocket Lab)
Commercial space
ESCAPADE launched at a moment of transition in space science.
That boom has, in part, led to a resurgence in NASA's "faster, better, cheaper" push that originated in the 1980s and '90s – and which largely faded after the 2003 Columbia disaster.
In theory, leaner NASA oversight, greater use of off‑the‑shelf hardware and narrower science goals can cut costs while launching more missions and increasing the total science return. If ESCAPADE succeeds in delivering important science, it will be held up as evidence that this more commercial, risk-tolerant template can deliver.
The trade-offs
A concept put forward by Jared Isaacman, the Trump administration's nominee to lead NASA, is that 10 $100 million missions would be better than one $1 billion flagship – or top-tier – mission. This approach could encourage faster mission development and would diversify the types of missions heading out into the solar system.
But that reorganization comes with trade-offs. For example, low‑cost missions rarely match flagship missions in scope, and they typically do less to advance the technology necessary for doing innovative science.
Early in ESCAPADE's development, my role was to help create a planning document for the VISIONS cameras called the Science Traceability Matrix, which defines an instrument’s scientific goals and translates them into concrete measurement requirements.
My colleagues and I systematically asked: What do we want to learn? What observations prove it? And, critically, how precisely does the instrument need to work to be "good enough," given the budget? Loftier goals usually demand more complex instruments and operations, which drive up costs.
ESCAPADE's broader goals are to create a clearer picture of Mars' magnetic field, how the solar wind interacts with it, and figure out what that process does to Mars' atmosphere. That is valuable science. But it is more modest than the $583 million predecessor mission MAVEN's more extensive scope and richer suite of instruments. It was MAVEN that determined how and when Mars lost its once-dense atmosphere in the first place.
Both ESCAPADE and MAVEN are dwarfed again by the open‑ended potential of an operation like the James Webb Space Telescope, which observes a limitless slate of astronomical objects in the infrared light spectrum with a higher resolution than any combination of prior smaller telescopes.
Flagship missions like the James Webb Space Telescope push the state of the art in new technologies and materials. These innovations then filter into both future missions and everyday life. For example, the Webb telescope advanced the medical tools used in eye exams. Smaller missions rely more heavily on existing, mature technologies.
And when systems are built by private companies rather than NASA, those companies keep tight control over the patents rather than openly spreading the technology across the scientific community.
An image from Blue Origin's New Glenn ESCAPADE launch. (Image credit: Blue Origin)
A tense road to launch
ESCAPADE's principal investigator, Rob Lillis, has joked that it is the mission with 11 lives, having survived 11 near‑cancellations. Problems ranged from being late in reaching the technology readiness levels that helped ensure the probes wouldn't malfunction after launch, to the loss of its original free ride, with NASA's Psyche mission.
In 2024, ESCAPADE received support from NASA to ride on New Glenn's maiden flight, only to face delays as Blue Origin worked through technical hurdles. At last, in October 2025, ESCAPADE reached the launchpad.
I traveled to Cape Canaveral for the launch and felt the tension firsthand. The first window was scrubbed by bad weather and issues with ground equipment. Then a strong solar storm — ironically, a key driver of the very processes ESCAPADE will study — shut down the second window.
Finally, on Nov. 13, after repeated setbacks, New Glenn lifted off to cheers around the country. ESCAPADE reached orbit, and after a nervous few hours of receiver misalignment, mission controllers established communication with the spacecraft.
What's next
While in Florida, I also watched another milestone in commercial spaceflight: the record-breaking 94th launch from Cape Canaveral in 2025, marking the most launches from Florida in a single year. It was a SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites.
Like New Glenn, SpaceX's Falcon 9 saves money by landing and reusing rockets. If multiple providers like SpaceX and Blue Origin compete to keep launch prices low, the economics of small science missions will only improve.
If ESCAPADE's twin spacecraft reach Mars and deliver new insights as planned, they will demonstrate how minimalist, commercial-forward approaches can expand the planetary knowledge base.
But even then, a string of future SIMPLEx successes would likely not be a substitute for the uniquely capable, technology‑advancing flagship missions that answer the most far‑reaching questions. ESCAPADE can instead help test whether a broader mix of small missions – leaning on commercial partners and a few big, ambitious flagships – can together sustain planetary science in an era of tight budgets.
For now, that balance remains an open experiment, and only time will tell whether ESCAPADE is a lone bright spot or the start of a real shift.
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- https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/lower-cost-space-missions-like-nasas-escapade-are-starting-to-deliver-exciting-science-but-at-a-price-in-risk-and-trade-offs
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- Sun, 28 Dec 2025 16:00:00 +0000Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:30:39 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Event horizon hunt: A black hole word search ]]>
- Black holes are among the most fascinating and enigmatic objects in the universe. Born from collapsed stars and governed by the laws of general relativity, these cosmic beasts warp spacetime, trap light, and challenge our understanding of physics itself.
But how well do you know the vocabulary that surrounds them?
This word search quiz invites you to explore the essential terms and concepts that define black holes.
So sharpen your focus, channel your inner astrophysicist, and get ready to decode the dark. The black hole word search awaits and it's pulling you in.
See how well you score below!
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- https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/event-horizon-hunt-a-black-hole-word-search
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- Sun, 28 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:30:19 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Our favorite Space.com stories of 2025 ]]>
- Quite a bit has happened in the space sector this year, out in the cosmos as well as on Earth — and actually, in Earth orbit, too.
For instance, U.S. President Donald Trump took office in only January, but his administration is responsible for a wealth of changes that have flipped life upside down for scientists in the States. China, Russia and India are meanwhile steadily strengthening their space programs, and other countries are starting to bloom toward the cosmos as well. Earth orbit, to say the least, is getting pretty crowded.
At the same time, an interstellar comet paid our solar system a surprising visit, black holes and neutron stars continue to baffle us with their mind-bending characteristics, the northern lights are suddenly appearing in skies across the world, a Mars rover managed to find rocky treasure on the Red Planet and science fiction has been captivating enough to float us into our imaginations on days when real things like spaceflight crashes and political encroachment on climate science get overwhelming.
But through it all, our reporters have been following the show.
So, to create a must-read story list for you, we asked our staff to select their favorite pieces of 2025. Alas, while you're drinking leftover hot chocolate or sitting in your room trying to escape questions from your extended family, here are some great reads, twisty reads, essential reads and long, joyful reads to relax into.
1. On NASA sinking its flagship science center and possibly breaking the law
One of the episodes of our podcast "This Week in Space" talked to our staff writer Josh Dinner about his series on NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. (Image credit: Space.com / Marilyn Perkins, with contributions from Josh Dinner)
Josh has been putting out amazing stories all year, but his investigative article revealing the sweeping and chaotic changes inflicted by NASA leadership on the Goddard Space Flight Center was of a different class. It was a considered, well-researched and thoughtfully written piece that explored the human cost of the administration's actions, while alerting the public to the long-term damage that the secretive moves could wreak on the agency's scientific capabilities.
It prompted discussion and action from both Space.com's readership and also the ranking member of the U.S. congressional committee on science, space and technology, Zoe Lofgren, who cited the story in a letter to NASA acting administrator Sean Duffy while demanding that NASA cease its actions and give "a full accounting of the damage inflicted on Goddard thus far."
TLDR: Josh is the journalist I want to be when I finally grow up.
For years, Robert Hunt convinced everyone he could that he was a NASA astronaut. The truth was anything but. (Image credit: Future/Susan Lapides)
After more than 20 years of space reporting, I thought I'd heard most of the crazy stories from the space age, but must admit that Jeff Maysh's tale of huckster astronaut wannabe Robert Hunt, who for years play-acted being an astronaut, took me by surprise. Through some meticulous reporting, and interviews with Hunt himself, Jeff recounts an astounding story of one man's determination to play the role of a space traveler without actually being one. It's an amazing story, more so for how long Hunt seemed to get away with it.
Circa 1945: Astronomer Dr. Edwin Powell Hubble sitting in a chair at a desk reading a journal. A staff member at Mt. Wilson Observatory, he was the first scientist to offer observational evidence supporting the theory, now known as Hubble's Law, of the expansion of the universe. (Image credit: New York Times Co./Getty Images)
As an astronomy editor, I read and write about Edwin Hubble a lot, and in many different contexts. His presence permeates so much of physics as a whole, from the Hubble Space Telescope and Hubble's Law to the Hubble Constant and resulting Hubble Tension. But what science writer Keith Cooper did with his look back on how Hubble proved our Milky Way galaxy isn't alone in the universe is focus on the side characters responsible for Hubble's great success — characters very rarely spoken about. This engrossing read is where my rabbit-hole of knowledge about Milton Humason began, a janitor and mule skinner who helped with the construction of Mount Wilson Observatory, then went on to aid Hubble in several major discoveries.
I'm not sure if this is allowed, but I also have a second favorite that needs to be on this list. Maybe I was biased because I read this story after having a slightly rough day and sipping tea in my bed, but our editor Daisy Dobrijevic's long, narrative piece about being on a multi-day aurora cruise along Norway's frigid coast was really a treat. The vivid imagery and honest retelling of what emotions are involved when viewing neon ribbons in the sky make you feel like you were there. There's one bit about a window that has stayed in my mind. You'll know when you read it.
4. Trump's desire to slash NASA's budget rattles scientists
NASA was faced with possible severe budget cuts in 2025. (Image credit: Josh Dinner)
I love how we leaned into writing about the current U.S. administration's questionable decisions this year, and this was one of my favorites. In times of controversy, in-depth reporting matters more than ever.
An image of a black hole surrounded by matter. Does the secret of quantum gravity lie around these cosmic titans too? (Image credit: Robert Lea (created with Canva))
This story from Rob Lea dives into a space mystery, which are always my favorite, and explores how a dead NASA satellite ended up fooling astronomers into thinking they had discovered a fast radio burst (FRB) from far beyond the Milky Way. Featuring interviews with the researchers behind the discovery itself, the story explores possible ways the defunct satellite could have produced such a remarkable burst of radio waves — which still remains a mystery.
The Trump administration's budget cuts have affected all research communities, not just NASA. (Image credit: Josh Dinner via Future)
Mona's piece is my top pick because of its timely and informative content and its narrative outline. She does a wonderful job describing the impacts of NASA's and the National Science Foundation's absences at a major astronomy meeting and connects it to wider issues concerning the scientific community at a time when many in their field feel uncertain about their academic and professional futures.
Mona plainly demonstrates the stakes from an easy-to-understand perspective, and shows the importance of such organizations at these kinds of biannual gatherings in a way that put me in the shoes of the disappointed scientists who traveled all the way to Alaska only for the headline act not to show up, and the scientists who eagerly await these meetings who were barred from attending.
I'd also like to add honorable mentions, though, to two other brilliant stories from this year: Daisy Dobrijevic's piece about visiting STARMUS in La Palma and Brett Tingley's about an Apollo-era radio telescope being up for sale.
7. The division between our universe's most monstrous objects
An illustration of a neutron star. (Image credit: ESA.)
Black holes and neutron stars are without a doubt the two most fearsome and impressive objects in the known universe. Both are born when massive stars die and "go nova." That means that the obvious question is: Where is the dividing line between these two bodies? It is so cool that we are on the verge of discovering that division, which will lead us toward figuring out what the biggest neutron stars are and what the smallest black holes are.
8. An industrial project threatening the world's largest telescope
A rendering of the finished Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) on top of Cerro Armazones in Chile's Atacama Desert. (Image credit: ESO)
My favorite stories this year are Tereza Pultarova's paired features on the threat posed to Cerro Paranal, published about a year apart. Together, they show how journalism can follow an issue beyond the initial alarm, tracing it through evidence, expert voices and ultimately a call to action. They balance the urgent need for clean energy with our shared responsibility to protect the night sky, highlighting not just obvious impacts to astronomy like light pollution but also subtler ones such as vibrations and turbulence. To me, this is one of the biggest emerging threats to modern astronomy — and exactly the kind of story we need to keep telling.
Did NASA's Perseverance rover find life on Mars? (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)
This story is a great example of how to cover the search for alien life responsibly. It highlights the inherent complexity and difficulty of the E.T. hunt without sucking the excitement out of important discoveries that spot the trail, like the Perseverance rover's "poppy seed" and "leopard spot" finds. All science journalists should seek to strike this balance.
10. The film "Apollo 13" is just as good as you remember
A scene from "Apollo 13" (Image credit: Universal Pictures)
The quintessential space movie turned 30 this year, and Rich Edwards — one of our talented freelancers — looked back on Apollo 13 and how it showcased the grit and determination of NASA's scientists, and not just the rockstar astronauts onboard the stricken craft.
It's a beautifully written retrospective on a phenomenal movie, and if you missed it back in June, then it's time to perform a slingshot maneuver around the moon and check it out now.
11. The importance of journalism and a comet from beyond
Multiple images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. (Image credit: NASA)
I really enjoyed this story because I got a front row seat to see some of the coolest images of 3I/ATLAS in existence — and also because of the classic journalism spirit behind it. When this news broke, it was evening and just our astronomy editor Mona, myself, our video editor Steve, our spaceflight editor Mike and our editor in chief Tariq were on Slack, seeing these images together for the first time and tag-teaming to get the story polished and published. At one point, my internet (which I thankfully now have updated) wasn't working and I freaked out, fearing the job would reach a halt. Thankfully, the delay was short, and here we are.
So … long answer, but overall, not only is this story a joy to read because it's scientifically spectacular — look at those images of an interstellar object! — but also because of the people behind it. In a world where journalism and freedom of the press is under multiple threats, both from growing anti-intellectual culture and the rise of AI, it's important to remember people are at the heart of what we do.
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- https://www.space.com/space-exploration/our-favorite-space-com-stories-of-2025
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- Sun, 28 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:58:15 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ 8 astronomy discoveries that wowed us in 2025 ]]>
- 2025 was an exciting year for astronomical discoveries. Scientists got the best evidence yet for past life on Mars, discovered an interstellar comet zooming through our solar system, found clues of possible nearby exoplanets, and much more. Here are eight of the most spectacular space stories from the past 12 months.
1. A new interstellar comet
The highlight from the second half of 2025 was undoubtedly Comet 3I/ATLAS, which is only the third interstellar object to have been discovered cruising through our solar system.
The Chilean component of the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System spotted the interstellar interloper sneaking among the stars of the constellation Sagittarius on July 1, and it quickly became apparent that its trajectory was severely hyperbolic. Rather than orbiting the sun like comets native to our solar system do, it was just passing through — and it was moving faster than any comet ever seen. Its abnormally high velocity of 36 miles per second (58 kilometers per second) told us that the speedy object, which became known as 3I/ATLAS, had probably been wandering interstellar space and receiving gravitational nudges from nearby stars since before our solar system even existed.
By September, 3I/ATLAS was moving behind the sun, making it impossible for Earth-based telescopes to track its movements until it reappeared in mid-November. Instead, NASA and the European Space Agency turned to their fleets of spacecraft that had better views of the comet during solar conjunction.
So far, we've learned that 3I/ATLAS is a comet and that all of its features have been seen on comets before. Its chemistry is broadly similar to the solar system's own comets, which is a profound discovery in its own right. There are a few differences, though — specifically, a slightly higher carbon-dioxide-to-water ratio, and a little more nickel than iron, which reflect the chemical composition of its star system of origin.
Besides a regular comet's tail, 3I/ATLAS has also sprouted an "anti-tail" — a short tail pointed toward the sun. Often, anti-tails are an optical illusion, but 3I/ATLAS' is real.
Astronomers will continue to track 3I/ATLAS into 2026 in the hope of learning more about its composition, but one thing is clear: It is a comet, not a spaceship.
An image of 3I/ATLAS captured by the Hubble Space Telescope on Nov. 30, 2025. The telescope is tracking with the comet, which is why the fixed stars are trails. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, D. Jewitt (UCLA). Image Processing: J. DePasquale (STScI))
2. The birth of supermassive black holes
As soon as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) began taking deep images of the cosmos in 2022, it quickly started finding "little red dots" in the background. Astronomers didn't know what they were. At first they thought the dots could be dwarf galaxies or dense star clusters in the very early universe, but they were so luminous that the standard model of cosmology couldn't explain how they could have formed, prompting critics to suggest cosmology was broken.
However, the spectra of the little red dots didn't look like those of stars. In September, astronomers proposed an answer: The little red dots are "black hole stars" — supermassive black holes being born inside a huge, dense cloud of gas less than a billion years after the Big Bang.
These burgeoning supermassive black holes could have formed either by the direct gravitational collapse of a humongous gas cloud or from the merger of myriad stellar-mass black holes produced by the core collapse of massive stars in a dense stellar cluster hidden inside a gas cloud.
Nobody ever expected that those black holes would be produced by a whole new breed of object, so it's a crucial development in our understanding of black holes, the galaxies that eventually formed around them, and the early universe in general.
An illustration shows the JWST in space next to its observations of some of the earliest galaxies ever seen, the so-called "little red dots." (Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Dale Kocevski (Colby College)/ Robert Lea (created with Canva))
3. Weakening dark energy
The first full data release from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), a state-of-the-art device on the Mayall Telescope at Kitt Peak in Arizona, came with shocking news: Dark energy, which is responsible for accelerating the expansion of the universe, seems to be weakening.
This was a direct contradiction of the leading hypothesis, which was that dark energy was the cosmological constant and, therefore, unchanging. While the new findings are not yet at the level of confidence required for astronomers to be sure the results are correct, they are significantly intriguing.
In 2024, some preliminary results from DESI pointed toward the strength of dark energy changing over time. Then, in March 2025, the DESI collaboration released data from the instrument's first three years of observations, spanning 13.1 million galaxies, 1.6 million quasars and about 4 million stars in relatively nearby galaxies, forming the largest and most accurate 3D map of the universe ever made.
The results showed that 4.5 billion years ago, dark energy seemed to begin weakening. Furthermore, during the previous 9 billion years, dark energy was stronger than anyone expected. This superpowered dark energy, dubbed phantom dark energy, invokes exotic physics. Why phantom dark energy would have transitioned into a weakening form two-thirds of the way into the universe's history is a complete mystery. Assuming the findings from DESI are correct, it would transform the way we view the past and future of the cosmos. For now, it deepens the mystery of dark energy.
Star trails over the Mayall Telescope, which houses DESI on Kitt Peak in Arizona. (Image credit: KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Babak Tafreshi)
4. A year of biosignatures
Some of the most intriguing and controversial signs that we are not alone in the universe came to light in 2025, with discoveries on planets both near and far.
The best evidence yet for past life on Mars surfaced in September 2025, courtesy of NASA's Perseverance rover. That evidence was in the form of some light-red spots ringed by dark material. These "leopard spots" are not uncommon on rocks on Earth, and they typically form in one of two ways: either when exposed to hot, acidic conditions that have not been present in that part of Jezero crater, or through biological action. Organic molecules were also discovered in clay sediments within the rock, although Perseverance was unable to identify these molecules. The discovery is the most compelling evidence yet that microbial life could have existed in Jezero crater 3.5 billion years ago.
A more recent biosignature was potentially found on the exoplanet K2-18b by astronomers using JWST. In 2023, a team found signs of the gas dimethyl sulfide, alongside methane and oxygen. The team thinks this finding suggests K2-18b is a "hycean" planet — a world with an incredibly deep global ocean of water, surrounded by a thick, hydrogen-rich atmosphere. The team predicted that dimethyl sulfide could be a biosignature on a hycean world, as it can be on Earth, but the initial detection was very tentative. In March 2025, JWST produced stronger evidence for dimethyl sulfide's existence on K2-18b.
Even so, many astronomers are still skeptical of the discovery. Some argue against the concept of hycean worlds, point out that the signal is very weak, and raise the possibility that dimethyl sulfide can also form abiotically.
This artist’s illustration shows the planet K2-18 b, its host star and an accompanying planet in this system. K2-18 b is now the only super-Earth exoplanet known to host both water and temperatures that could support life. (Image credit: ESA/Hubble, M. Kornmesser)
5. New exoplanetary neighbors
This year, astronomers made major steps in adding to the exoplanet inventory around the nearest stars, Alpha-Proxima Centauri and Barnard's Star.
Astronomers had previously thought they'd found planets in both systems, but each time, the evidence didn't hold up. Then, in 2024, a strong candidate for a small, rocky planet orbiting Barnard's Star was revealed in data from the Very Large Telescope in Chile. In March 2025, this observation was confirmed to be real, along with those of three smaller exoplanets. The most massive of the quartet has one-third themass of Earth, while the smallest is one-fifth the mass of our planet. Unfortunately, none reside in the habitable zone, but further planets in more temperate regions have not been ruled out.
Then, in August, observations by JWST produced the most convincing evidence yet for a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri A. The exoplanet is estimated to have a mass similar to that of Saturn and, therefore, expected to be a gas giant. Intriguingly, if this world is real, it must have a highly elliptical orbit that may result from its inclusion in a binary system.
An artist's impression of the Barnard's Star system, from the surface of one of its planets. (Image credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/P. Marenfeld)
6. The Milky Way and Andromeda's uncertain future
The Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies might not crash into each other in the next 10 billion years after all. New research published this year finds that there is a 50-50 chance that the two galaxies will miss each other.
By considering the way the Large Magellanic Cloud's gravity pulls on the Milky Way and how the gravity of the Triangulum Galaxy pulls on Andromeda, researchers refined how close Andromeda and the Milky Way galaxies will get by running a multitude of simulations.
They found that the critical distance is 650,000 light years. If they pass closer than that, the two galaxies will collide at some point in the next 10 billion years. If their closest approach is greater than 650,000 light years, they won't make contact. According to the simulations, both possibilities are equally likely.
The Andromeda galaxy may avoid an imminent collision with the Milky Way. (Image credit: Westend61/Getty Images)
7. The most massive black hole ever seen?
In 2025, astronomers may have discovered the most massive black hole ever seen. This ultra-massive black hole, which tips the scales at 36 billion solar masses, resides at the heart of one of the most massive galaxies in the universe, called the Cosmic Horseshoe because it acts as a gravitational lens that bends the light of a more distant galaxy into an Einstein ring sporting a horseshoe shape.
More massive black holes have been claimed, but the authors of the new research pointed out that those other black holes had their masses measured indirectly, so their masses are just guesses. The mass of the black hole in the Cosmic Horseshoe, on the other hand, has been measured directly and more accurately by tracking the motion of groups of stars around it, pulled by the black hole's gravity. It certainly puts our 4.1 million-solar mass supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, in the shade.
The Cosmic Horseshoe may host the most massive black hole ever measured. (Image credit: NASA/ESA)
8. First light for the Vera C. Rubin Observatory
After more than a quarter century of planning and over 10 years of construction, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, armed with its 8.4-meter (27.6 feet) Simonyi Survey Telescope, saw first light in the summer of 2025 — and its images of the heavens were exquisite.
The telescope is designed for high-resolution surveys, with studies of dark matter and dark energy in mind. Two areas of the sky were targeted for first light to demonstrate the telescope's prowess. One was the mighty Virgo Cluster, whose member galaxies had never been seen so clearly across such a wide expanse of space, and with 10 million faint galaxies in the background to boot. The other image was of the Trifid and Lagoon nebulas, two star-forming regions in the Milky Way.
Each night, the telescope will capture 20TB of data with its 3.2-gigapixel CCD camera — the largest ever built — and issue 10 million alerts daily for asteroids, variable stars, tidal disruption events and supernovas. Over the course of its initial 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time, the observatory will accumulate 60 petabytes (60,000TB) of information. With all that data, the Rubin Observatory may deliver a tsunami of unprecedented astronomical discoveries.
Move over, Star Wars, and get out of here, Marvel, because there is finally an official Star Trek Lego set… and what a set. The first Star Trek Lego set was always going to be some variation of the USS Enterprise, but as a massive The Next Generation stan, I'm glad that it was my beloved: the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D.
With an 18+ recommended age rating and a hefty 3600-piece count, it's certainly not for the faint of heart. That's fine, though, because I have to imagine that just about everyone who wants one of these things is someone who watched the original show back in the day. Who knows, though, maybe Paramount+ is bringing in the next generation of Next Generation fans?
It's also a hefty $400 — a price point that will make you yearn for the moneyless society of the show. So, was it worth the wait, and is it worth the money? Let's head into the review at warp seven and find out.
Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D: Build
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Some of the Lego pieces included in the new U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
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Some of the Lego pieces included in the new U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
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The new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set starting to take shape. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
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Lego pieces and booklet instructions for the new U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
Body constructed with two mirrored halves
3600 pieces
Some easy-to-apply stickers and printed pieces
The Lego Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D is made from 3600 pieces, split across 30 different bags and two instruction books. The first book covers the ship's main body and the flight stand, while the second book is devoted to the saucer section.
To make it so, the build starts with the main body and wings that hold the nacelles (aka the ship's warp engines). You actually construct the body from two mirror halves, which are then attached using several long cross-axle pieces (the long plus-shaped bars). I was especially impressed with how the designers crafted the main deflector array — that blue oval on the front of the ship that's always firing off tractor beams and tachyon pulses — which is made from two, custom-printed cockpit windscreen pieces that you invert, creating the concave shape of the array.
With the body constructed, it's time for a quick detour to assemble the flight stand, as the fixed position it offers makes attaching the engines much easier.
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A look at the new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set in the building process. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
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A look at the new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set in the building process. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
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A look at the new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set in the building process. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
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A look at the new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set in the building process. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
Speaking of which, you'll move on to building the nacelles themselves, which make good use of blue and red transparent pieces to recreate the iconic look of the ship's glowing engines. Once assembled, the nacelles slot into place nicely, and by this point, you've got a working ship… as long as you don't mind commanding your daft-looking ship from the battle bridge.
The back half of the build is a lot more technical, as you're building a larger circular disc out of square and rectangular Lego pieces. This feat is achieved by first constructing a central frame, similar to the spokes of a wheel, and then attaching it to the main body. I ran into an issue here, as I discovered I'd made a mistake in section 1 that only reared its ugly head here. A single piece was rotated 90 degrees in the wrong direction, and it stopped the saucer from slotting in. Fortunately, I was able to repair it without disassembling the entire thing, but my heart did stop for a second when I discovered my mistake.
Once the frame is in place, you then attach the top panels, which use angled pieces and hinge attachments, slotting together into a damn impressive approximation of a circle.
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The new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set is coming along nicely in the building process. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
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The new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set is coming along nicely in the building process. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
Things get trickier from here, though, as the final stretch has you repeating this process on the underside of the ship. The instruction book seems to imagine that you've got infinite room to work underneath the ship while doing this, but in practice, it's quite tricky. I gave up in the end and just flipped the whole thing over, which felt very sketchy, and I ended up knocking a few random pieces off during the operation.
Despite my brief (and self-inflicted) cardiac episode, I had a fantastic time building the Enterprise. The nine minifigures are scattered throughout the build, providing a nice palette cleanser as you work through this sizeable build. They're all simple to construct as you'd expect, though Riker's trombone is an impressive — and rickety — piece of engineering.
Some mirror sections effectively call for you to build the same thing twice, but the fact that it's mirrored — and not identical — keeps you on your toes. There are some special printed pieces, along with some stickers scattered throughout the build, but they're all easy enough to apply.
Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D: Design
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The new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set is a seriously impressive display piece. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
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The new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set is a seriously impressive display piece. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
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The new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set is a seriously impressive display piece. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
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The new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set is a seriously impressive display piece. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
Great display model
Comprehensive collection of minifigures
Can be a little fragile to handle when completed
I've been waiting a very long time for a Lego Star Trek set, and I'm thrilled to say the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D was worth the wait. The design team has perfectly replicated the iconic starship in exquisite detail — no small feat given its awkward size and shape. I was skeptical of how the circular saucer section would look when built out of flat-edge pieces, but it looks stunning.
Some easter eggs are hiding around the ship that fans will appreciate, including the dedication plaque that emblazons the back wall of the Enterprise's bridge (complete with a hilarious typo). Sadly, this set isn't big enough to have a minifig scale bridge hidden inside it, so the plaque lives in a hidden compartment instead.
Speaking of minifigures, the collection included here is comprehensive, with almost all of your favorite characters from the show (bad luck to the Tasha Yar and Chief O'Brien stans out there). They all look wonderful, each with their own unique accessories ranging from Worf's phaser through to Riker's ridiculous trombone.
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A closer look at the new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
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A closer look at the new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
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A closer look at the new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D set. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
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The display plaque from the new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
There are some unique Lego pieces used here, too, including Worf's "hair" and Guinan's flamboyant headpiece. There is a platform to store the minifigs on, and a printed display piece with cool facts and figures about the Enterprise on it, too.
Another neat touch is the "pin" that locks the saucer section in place, which is cleverly disguised as a shuttlecraft approaching the shuttlebay. It's a cute piece of design, though the detachable saucer section itself is — much like in the show — a gimmick that you'll rarely use.
The model is too fragile to handle (since completing it, I knocked a piece off while showing it off on webcam and can not for the life of me find where it came from). Beyond that, there is no display stand to hold the saucer section on its own, so unless you're recreating the end of Star Trek: Generations, it's not worth detaching.
Should you buy the Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D?
The new Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D is an awesome set and we would recommend it for serious Star Trek and Lego fans. (Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
If you're a Star Trek fan and a Lego collector, of course, you should buy this set. And by the looks of it, a lot of you already did because the Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D sold almost immediately out on launch day. If you missed the first wave, don't worry, because we're sure it'll be back in stock at warp speed.
The Enterprise is a brilliant set to build and a gorgeous display piece when it's done. It's expensive, as you'd expect from a 3,600-piece Lego set, but I think it's well worth the price of admission for Trekkies. Your wallet's shields never stood a chance.
Other Lego sets to consider
As we said in the intro, the Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D is the first and only Star Trek Lego set out there for now (unless you count the Type-15 Shuttlepod that came with the pre-order), so we don't have any other Trekkie sets to recommend to you.
If you're agnostic in the Trek vs Wars divide, there are plenty of amazing Star Wars Lego sets to consider, though. My personal favorite is the Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser, an enormous 5,374-piece monster that dwarfs even the Enterprise.
If the $649.99/£559.99 price tag on that set has triggered a red alert from your bank, there are some cheaper sets we love too; namely, the Mos Espa Podrace Diorama and the adorable Grogu with Hover Pram, both of which can be had for under $100.
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- https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-toys-lego/lego-u-s-s-enterprise-ncc-1701-d-review
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- Sat, 27 Dec 2025 21:05:00 +0000Tue, 30 Dec 2025 15:38:11 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Space.com headlines crossword quiz for week of Dec. 22, 2025: Which NASA observatory just completed its first sky map? ]]>
- Every week, Space.com delivers the latest discoveries, launches, and cosmic curiosities from across the universe. From groundbreaking research aboard the International Space Station to dazzling new images from the James Webb Space Telescope, the stories are as vast and varied as space itself. But how closely have you been paying attention?
To celebrate the thrill of space exploration and the joy of learning, we've created a special crossword puzzle built entirely from this week's top Space.com stories. It's a fun, brain-tickling way to revisit the highlights, whether you're a casual stargazer or a die-hard astrophysics fan.
Expect clues that span planetary science, rocket launches, stargazing, and entertainment tied to the stars. If you read about it on Space.com last week, it might just show up in this puzzle. And if you didn't? Well, now's your chance to catch up while flexing your trivia muscles.
So channel your inner astronaut, and dive into this week's interstellar quiz. The answers are out there, you just have to connect the clues.
Try it out below and see how well you do!
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- https://www.space.com/astronomy/space-com-headlines-crossword-quiz-for-week-of-dec-22-2025-which-nasa-observatory-just-completed-its-first-sky-map
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- Sat, 27 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +0000Tue, 23 Dec 2025 20:36:53 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Space debris: will it take a catastrophe for nations to take the issue seriously? ]]>
- This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.
China routinely sends astronauts to and from its space station Tiangong. A crew capsule is about to undock from the station and return to Earth, but there's nothing routine about its journey home.
The Shenzhou-20 capsule will carry no crew, because one of its windows has been struck by space debris. Astronauts noticed an apparent crack on November 5, during pre-return checks.
Space journalist Andrew Jones explained how experts on the ground had studied images of the damage and concluded that a piece of debris smaller than 1mm (roughly 1/25th of an inch) had penetrated from the outer to inner layers of the glass.
Simulations and tests confirmed a low probability that the window could fail during the high-temperature re-entry through Earth's atmosphere. Although a worst-case scenario, it was one that officials deemed unacceptable. A rescue mission – Shenzhou-22 – was launched to bring the astronauts back from the station.
A tiny crack in a spacecraft window triggered China’s first-ever emergency launch to Tiangong space station. A CCTV article reveals what happened over 20 intense days, and why a piece of space debris smaller than 1 mm forced the emergency response. https://t.co/w8BqnhkH6MDecember 1, 2025
Experts have been warning about the threat posed by space debris for years. The ever-growing number of space programmes by states and private entities is now contributing to an increasingly congested environment in orbit.
The European Space Agencyestimates that there are more than 15,100 tonnes of material in space that has been launched from Earth. There are 1.2 million debris objects between 1cm and 10cm, and 140 million debris objects between 1mm and 1cm.
In low orbit they will be travelling around 7.6 km/s (roughly 17,000 miles per hour), damaging anything they hit. This is how a piece less than 1mm in size was able to penetrate the thick glass of Shenzhou-20’s capsule.
Given the mounting number of objects in orbit, this is likely to be a more regular occurrence. It's costly in terms of damage to equipment, and increasingly a threat to life. When a piece of debris hits another object in space, it can also create more space debris, adding to the problem.
A number of countries are able to track what's in space, but given that these may include classified satellites, there is a reluctance by states to share details. China's space programme is overseen by its military, in line with a view that space is inherently linked to national security. This only adds to the geopolitical tensions between states around the use of space.
Treaties and responsibilities
The outer space treaty from 1967 sought to outline how space should be governed. But it is outdated and does not account for the increased presence of debris or the proliferation of private space launches. Nor does it address responsibilities when it comes to the sustainable use of space.
A total of 117 states are parties to the treaty, yet while efforts are ongoing to develop new norms around space governance, including the creation of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee, the organisation may offer a platform for cooperation and research but does not result in binding decisions for state action. The lack of any global agreement on space debris, and more importantly repercussions, makes tackling the problem of space debris even harder.
Technology is being developed to address space debris – but this generally appears as concept mission plans with only a few trial tests being launched anywhere globally. Examples include the idea of a harpoon to collect large pieces – although the recoil of such an instrument means the spacecraft that deploys it could become a new piece of debris.
An alternative is the highly technological approach of a big net. This will work in the sense that if you can slow the debris down, it will fall into the atmosphere and burn up.
The problem with these methods is the lack of sustainability, sending one satellite up to bring only a few pieces down uses up fuel, which is adding to climate variation. An appropriate and efficient solution would be a constellation of satellites that stay in orbit and bring debris down. The process, of course, is still something to be researched.
A ground-based solution is the laser broom, which uses laser pulses to slow down objects orbiting Earth, potentially allowing them to re-enter the atmosphere and burn up. However, it is yet to be tested and comes with its own potential problems such as atmospheric warming and missing its target.
Yet without addressing the geopolitics of space governance, the removal of space debris is moot as a focus on national interests, security concerns, and the increasing presence of the private sector means that pollution in Earth orbit is happening faster than we can clean it up.
Any collisions cause many more pieces to be produced than can be collected, some notable examples include the destruction in 2007, by China, of its own Fengyun-1C satellite as part of an anti-satellite weapon test. This added an estimated 3,500 pieces in orbit.
In 2009, a Russian satellite called Kosmos 2251 collided with an Iridium communications satellite, generating roughly 2,400 pieces of debris. In 2021, Russia carried out its own anti-satellite missile test, destroying the Kosmos 1408 satellite and generating a further 1,787 pieces. These mostly came back through the atmosphere, but 400 pieces were left in orbit.
Whether such an anti-satellite weapon could be repurposed for space debris removal is unlikely but has potential.
It will require concerted global cooperation and effort to not only indicate what spacecraft states and private companies have in space, but to commit to de-orbiting every future spacecraft at the end of its life, reducing future debris.
The current space debris mitigation standards by the European Space Agency highlight that any satellites must be de-orbited within 25 years of the end of operations. While this also is intended to apply to miniature "cubesats" – the process of bringing them back down has yet to demonstrated.
Ultimately this debris will cause problems for all space launch agencies and private companies, as there is a limit to our ground-based tracking and warning abilities. This makes addressing the global governance of space critical. However, it may take several high-cost satellites being taken out of commission, or potentially loss of life, for this issue to be taken seriously.
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- https://www.space.com/space-exploration/space-debris-will-it-take-a-catastrophe-for-nations-to-take-the-issue-seriously
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- Sat, 27 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:24:43 +0000
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