NASA's Europa Clipper Launched to Search for Habitable Conditions on Jupiter's Moon

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NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft has been successfully launched towards Jupiter on a mission to probe Europa for potential habitable qualities. The solar-powered spacecraft, which is about 30m long, 17m wide and weighs six tonnes, will travel 1.8 billion miles and enter orbit around Jupiter in 2030. It will carry out 49 close flybys of Europa over three years, gathering detailed measurements to investigate the moon. The mission's main scientific goal is to establish whether there are places below the surface of the moon that can harbour life. NASA said: "The mission's detailed exploration of Europa will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential for habitable worlds beyond our planet."

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Trump and Musk's Friendship on Full Display at SpaceX Starship Launch

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Donald Trump and Elon Musk recently attended the sixth flight test of SpaceX's Super Heavy-Starship in Texas. This burgeoning friendship played a key role in Trump's reelection, with Musk now set to run a government efficiency agency in the coming months. The Super Heavy-Starship is designed to be reusable, and its first stage super heavy booster was successfully captured last month. Trump and Musk are co-leading a new Department of Government Efficiency, aiming to dismantle government bureaucracy and cut wasteful expenditures. The Super Heavy-Starship is the centerpiece of Musk's drive to make humanity 'multi-planetary' and potentially advance SpaceX's plans for the Artemis moon program.

Samantha Harvey Wins Booker Prize with 'Orbital': A First in Five Years for Women Authors

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Samantha Harvey has become the first woman since 2019 to win the prestigious Booker Prize.** Her book, 'Orbital', tells the story of astronauts looking down at Earth and was named the winner at a ceremony in London. The novel explores the beauty of space and the challenges of isolation, resonating with many during the pandemic. Harvey dedicated the prize to those who work for peace and the dignity of all life. This is a significant win for women authors, as they have been underrepresented in the Booker Prize's history. The shortlist this year featured five women, the largest number in its 55-year history. Harvey is the 19th woman to win the award since 1969, compared to 36 male winners. The Queen was among the first to congratulate the author, describing the novel as 'brilliant'.

NASA Astronauts' Mysterious Hospitalization: Updates and Details

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NASA Reveals Health Update on Sunita Williams
Astronaut Sunita Williams is safe and healthy, despite concerns raised by her gaunt appearance in a recent photo.*

Crew-8 Astronauts Hospitalized After Space Mission
Four NASA/SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts were hospitalized after their return from the International Space Station, but the reasons remain undisclosed by NASA.*

Astronauts Discuss Health and Space Experience
Three of the four astronauts from the Crew-8 mission spoke about their health and experiences upon their return to Earth.*

Astronauts Return to Earth After Extended Stay on Space Station

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Four astronauts successfully returned to Earth on Friday after spending nearly eight months on the International Space Station. Their original mission was supposed to last only six months, but was extended due to Boeing's capsule trouble and Hurricane Milton. The astronauts launched in March and were replaced by two Starliner test pilots and two other astronauts, who will remain in space until February. The space station is now back to its normal crew size of seven.

Despite the challenges, the astronauts expressed gratitude for the support teams back home who helped them 'roll with all those punches.'

How to Watch the Orionid Meteor Shower and What to Expect

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Get ready for a celestial light show as the Orionid meteor shower peaks this week! Debris from Halley's Comet will streak across the night sky, offering up to 25 meteors per hour. To catch the best view, find a dark spot away from city lights after midnight, allow your eyes to adjust to the dark for 15 minutes, and look towards the constellation of Orion in the east. The radiant, or point of origin, is near the red-tinged star Betelgeuse. Unfortunately, this year's peak will coincide with a bright moon, so viewing may be best later in the week or during the Geminids in December. Despite the moon's interference, this annual shower provides a thrilling glimpse of the comet's beauty for those who miss its rare appearance every 75 to 76 years. Happy stargazing!

Get Ready for TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 Space Stage and The Space Challenge!

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Are you ready for the final agenda of the Space Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024?** Get ready to learn about the challenges and possibilities waiting in orbit from leaders across the industry. Don't miss the pitch competition, 'The Space Challenge, powered by Aerospace', where innovative startups will compete for attention and contracts. Join thousands of startup and VC leaders from October 28-30 at Moscone West in San Francisco. **Blast off with us at Disrupt 2024!

Trailblazing Women in Sports and Science to be Honored with Congressional Gold Medals

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Get ready for a historic moment as two inspiring groups of women are about to be honored with Congressional Gold Medals! Tennis legend Billie Jean King, who fought for gender equality in sports, will become the first individual female athlete to receive this prestigious award. At the same time, a group of unsung heroes known as the "Hidden Figures" will also be recognized for their crucial contributions to NASA during the space race. These trailblazing women opened doors and paved the way for future generations – it's time to celebrate their achievements!

A Partial Lunar Eclipse of a Supermoon Dazzled the Sky: Here's What You Missed

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A partial lunar eclipse of a supermoon dazzled the sky in the early hours of Tuesday morning.** A supermoon occurs when a full moon is at its closest point to Earth during its orbit, making it appear 30% brighter and 14% bigger in the sky. The partial lunar eclipse took place between 1.41am and 5.47am UK time, with around 4% of the moon covered. This event won't happen again until 2026, when 96% of the moon will be in shadow. The supermoon was also a harvest moon, named so because it is the closest one to the autumn equinox and around the time of the traditional autumn harvest. The next supermoon will light up the sky on Thursday, October 17, nicknamed the Hunter's Moon. Don't miss out!

Billionaire Astronaut Completes First Private Spacewalk

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Title: **Billionaire Astronaut Completes First Private Spacewalk
Summary:
American billionaire Jared Isaacman has become the first person to perform a private spacewalk, reaching 460 miles above Earth.
The Polaris Dawn mission, operated by SpaceX, carried four private citizens, including SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis.
The crew tested SpaceX's new spacewalking suits and orbited higher than the International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope.
Jared Isaacman, a tech entrepreneur and founder of Shift4 Payments, called Earth 'a perfect world' during the mission.

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Billionaire Makes History With First Private Spacewalk

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Jared Isaacman, the billionaire entrepreneur, just made history as the first non-professional astronaut to walk in space.** Launching aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spaceship, Isaacman and three others went into space as part of the Polaris Dawn mission. Isaacman, who made his fortune from payment processing company Shift4 Payments, is no stranger to space travel, having previously led the first private, all-civilian team to orbit the Earth in 2021. **This latest mission marks the first time a non-professional has ever performed a spacewalk, a major milestone for private space travel.

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Northwood Space: Bridgit Mendler's Startup Tackling Ground Station Infrastructure for Space Data

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Bridgit Mendler, former Disney star and singer, is making waves in the space industry with her startup, Northwood Space. The company aims to revolutionize ground station infrastructure, a critical yet often overlooked part of space technology. With impressive funding from top-tier investors, Northwood is poised to address the pressing bottleneck of limited ground stations, which are essential for transmitting satellite data to operators. Mendler, who founded Northwood with two co-founders, will join TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 to share her insights on the company's vision and progress. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about Northwood Space and the future of space data infrastructure!

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Lockheed Martin to Rescue Terran Orbital: A Multi-Million Dollar Deal

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Lockheed Martin is set to acquire satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital for $450 million, taking the smaller company private and potentially saving it from running out of cash and facing serious debt. The two companies already had a relationship, with Lockheed Martin Ventures making several investments in Terran Orbital. Lockheed already owned a 28.3% stake in Terran Orbital, while Lockheed contracts represent about 70% of Terran Orbital’s revenue and 91% of its backlog. But why is Lockheed Martin so interested in rescuing Terran Orbital?

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