Science

Per Futurism, NASA is aiming for a crewed Moon landing in 2028 with Artemis IV, ahead of China's 2030 target. It would be the first return to the lunar surface since 1972.

NASA says October's full Moon, the Hunter's Moon, rises on the night of 26 October, a name tied to hunters relying on bright moonlight in the season.

Astronomy Picture of the Day features a deep image of M42, the Great Nebula in Orion, with glowing hydrogen gas around hot young stars. Image: Roberto Palaia.

NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day shows a frame from the Hayden Planetarium's Dark Universe simulation: dark matter filaments (black) strung like spider webs, with ordinary matter in orange. Illustration: Tom Abel & Ralf Kaehler (KIPAC, SLAC), AMNH.

Dave Limp says the last module (number 9) is done and the Vehicle Access Tower at LC-36 is fully assembled again, with every repaired module back in place.

NASA marks 25 years since Mars Odyssey slipped into orbit around the Red Planet on 24 October 2001. It still does science and relays messages from the rovers.

NASASpaceflight cameras caught Starship Ship 43, slated for Flight 16, returning from the Massey's test site while Ship 42, the vehicle for Flight 15, moved in to take its place.

SpaceX posted a full-duration static fire of all 33 engines on the Super Heavy booster that is being prepared for Starship's Flight 15.

NASA JPL explains that the Orionids, tiny bits of debris left behind by Halley's Comet, peak on the night of October 21-22. Your best chance is a few hours before dawn, after the bright Moon sets, from a dark spot. A short explainer video is attached. Source: NASA JPL on X

France 24 reports that Japan sent a spacecraft on a five-year mission to study Mars' moons Phobos and Deimos and return the first samples from one of them. The $578 million project plans to deliver the material to Earth in 2031.

A short NASA video outlines the first phase of its Moon Base plan: robotic rovers will survey the area around the Moon's south pole, and lunar terrain vehicles will let each Artemis mission cover more ground.