Astro

NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar flight of the Artemis program, is drawing wide attention ahead of launch. Coverage explains how to watch the launch, which astronauts will fly around the Moon, and what the mission means for future lunar landings. Interest centers on the four-person crew and the mission's role in returning humans to deep space for the first time since Apollo.

NASA is increasing its support for Boeing's Starliner astronaut capsule as the company works to return the spacecraft to flight. The push follows the troubled 2024 crewed test flight that left astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded on the International Space Station for months while their capsule returned uncrewed. The agency still wants a second commercial crew provider alongside SpaceX.

Boeing has said it is 'incredibly excited' to serve as the nation's only means of astronaut transportation, according to an Ars Technica report. The claim implies SpaceX is currently unavailable to fly NASA crews, leaving Boeing's Starliner as the sole option. Details on why the other provider is grounded, and how long this arrangement would last, were not given.

NASA is increasing its support for Boeing's Starliner capsule as the spacecraft works toward returning to flight, with a cargo-only mission to the International Space Station planned next. A crewed test flight is targeted for around 2028. The push follows the widely criticized 2024 test flight that left astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded on the station for months while their capsule returned empty over safety concerns.

China is preparing to fly a Pakistani astronaut aboard its space station as part of a broader space diplomacy push, according to Reuters. The move deepens China-Pakistan cooperation and showcases Beijing's efforts to position itself as a partner for other nations in human spaceflight, contrasting with more limited access to the International Space Station.

Justin Verlander has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball, closing out a career spanning nearly two decades. The three-time Cy Young Award winner and multiple World Series champion pitched for the Tigers, Astros and Mets, and finishes among the top strikeout pitchers in league history. Fans and fellow players have been flooding social media with tributes to one of his era's defining pitchers.

Forecasters are warning that Hurricane Nolo could bring catastrophic and life-threatening flooding to Hawaii as the storm approaches the island chain. Authorities and residents are tracking its projected path closely, with concerns focused on heavy rainfall, dangerous surf and possible damage across affected islands in the coming days.

An astronomer is tracking the gradual orbital decay of Starlink satellites and proposes turning their slow sink toward Earth into a global 'planetary barometer'. Because satellite drag depends on the density of the upper atmosphere, the falling spacecraft could act as a distributed network of sensors measuring how that layer changes over time.

Germany has chosen Munich as its candidate city to host the Olympic Games. If successful, it would be the first Olympics held in Germany since the 1972 Munich Games, which were overshadowed by the terrorist attack that killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches. The bid now heads to international competition, and reactions are likely to weigh the city's modern sporting infrastructure against the weight of 1972's history.

The astronauts assigned to NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 mission have arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of their upcoming launch to the International Space Station. Local coverage is streaming the arrival live as the crew settles in for final pre-launch preparations. The mission continues NASA's partnership with SpaceX, which has been flying rotational crew missions to the orbiting laboratory since 2020.

The Major League Baseball playoff bracket is now complete after the final day of the regular season. The Houston Astros clinched the AL West, while the Philadelphia Phillies held on for a National League wild card spot, locking in seeding and the full postseason schedule. Coverage is focused on the final picture, matchups, and storylines such as the Yankees and Aaron Judge heading into October.

The astronauts assigned to NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 mission have arrived in Florida ahead of their upcoming launch to the International Space Station. Their arrival marks the final pre-launch phase, with the crew expected to undergo quarantine, training and mission reviews before flying to the orbiting laboratory on a SpaceX spacecraft.

NASA is reportedly developing lunar base infrastructure ahead of sending astronauts to the Moon, with equipment and habitat systems being readied in advance of crewed landings under the Artemis program. The approach would allow robotic systems to prepare the surface before humans arrive. Commenters are debating whether the agency can stay on schedule and whether autonomous pre-positioning of a Moon base is realistic.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 astronauts have arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of their upcoming mission to the International Space Station. The crew’s arrival marks a standard pre-launch milestone, as astronauts typically quarantine and complete final training at the Florida facility in the weeks before liftoff on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

China is preparing to send a Pakistani astronaut into orbit, the first foreign national selected under Beijing's expanding space cooperation program. The move, highlighted by the China-Global South Project, underscores China's use of its space station and crewed missions to deepen ties with developing countries, offering partner nations a place in space while extending its diplomatic influence across the Global South.

The Houston Astros have won the American League West, securing the division title for the eighth time in the past ten seasons. The clinch sends Houston back to the MLB postseason, reinforcing their status as one of baseball's most consistent franchises of the past decade. Coverage is highlighting the franchise's sustained run of division crowns as attention turns to the playoff picture.

The 2026 MLB postseason field is complete. The Houston Astros have clinched the AL West title, while the Philadelphia Phillies held on to secure a National League wild card spot. The final bracket, seeding and full playoff schedule are now set, with fans and analysts reacting to the matchups ahead of the postseason's start.

The U.S. Space Force has scheduled on-orbit servicing missions for 2027 with Astroscale U.S. and Starfish Space. The contracts would see the two commercial companies demonstrate satellite servicing capabilities in orbit, including refueling or maintenance tasks that could extend the life of U.S. spacecraft. The move signals the military's growing reliance on commercial space companies for orbital logistics and sustainment.

US Representative Joaquin Castro, along with Sigrid Gonzalez and Rochelle Garza, took part in a discussion about immigration detention centers operated by ICE in Texas, as aired by San Antonio station KSAT. The conversation focused on conditions and oversight at facilities across the state, which remains central to the national immigration debate.

Major League Baseball's playoff field is now set, with the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies among the teams in the new-look bracket. Front Office Sports broke down how the postseason picture shapes up after the regular season, and baseball fans are weighing in on the matchups, seeding and each club's chances of making a deep October run.

Hurricane Nolo is forecast to bring catastrophic flooding to Hawaii, according to The Weather Channel. Officials and residents are likely bracing for heavy rain, dangerous surf and storm impacts as the storm approaches the islands. Forecasters are urging people in affected areas to prepare for life-threatening flood conditions.

Hurricane Nolo is bearing down on Hawaii, with forecasters warning it could trigger catastrophic flooding across the islands. The Weather Channel is tracking the storm's path and rainfall risks, urging residents to prepare for dangerous conditions as the system approaches the Hawaiian chain.

A new data-driven analysis by Peter Vijeh examines whether Reddit hosts coordinated astroturfing campaigns, using posting patterns and engagement data to identify suspicious activity. The findings suggest that certain topics and products receive inorganic boosts from accounts behaving in coordinated ways, fuelling renewed debate about how much discussion on the platform is genuinely organic.

The final days of the MLB regular season are deciding playoff brackets and seeding, with the Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers and Houston Astros all fighting for spots. Fans are tracking live standings updates as wild-card races and division outcomes remain unresolved heading into the postseason.