In the past fifteen years, five missions have returned samples of extraterrestrial material to Earth for analysis. These included missions that rendezvoused with Near Earth Asteroids (NEAs), like the Hayabusa 1 and 2 and the OSIRIS-REx missions, and the Chang'e-5 and -6 missions, which brought back samples from the far side of the Moon. In the coming years, China plans to return samples from 469219 Kamoʻoalewa with its Tianwen-2 mission. With all the extraterrestrial materials being returned to Earth for analysis, one could argue that we are entering a "golden age of sample-return missions."
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Trump's signing of 'One Big Beautiful Bill' includes $85 million to move space shuttle Discovery from Smithsonian to Texas
The "One Big Beautiful Bill," now enacted, directs that space shuttle Discovery be removed from the Smithsonian and placed on display at Space Center Houston by January 2027.
10 fun tours and adventures for the ultimate total solar eclipse 2026 experience
The total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, will offer some fabulous travel options. Here are some adventures to consider.
Don't miss the Pleiades shine with Venus in the predawn sky on July 5
Uranus will also be on show, if you fancy a more challenging target.
Get Paramount Plus for just 99 cents a month and stream season three of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Paramount Plus is now just 99 cents a month for two months, meaning you can stream season three of Strange New Worlds without breaking the bank.
The best July 4 camera deals 2025: Top deals we've spotted so far
Ahead of the Amazon Prime Day sales, here are some of the best July 4 camera deals available right now.
Could signs of Mars life be hidden in its thick layers of clay?
Mineral-rich layers of clay suggest that ancient life could be possible on the Red Planet
Biting the 'Bullet': Amazing new JWST photo shows titanic collision of galaxy clusters
It's another step on the road to one day discovering what dark matter could be.
Best Canon lenses in 2025: Get the best lens for your Canon camera this Amazon Prime Day
Get the best Canon lenses for your Canon camera and there are savings on the horizon with Amazon Prime Day running from July 8 to 11.
Satellite spies both ISS and China's Tiangong space station | Space photo of the day for July 4, 2025
Both stations are hubs of scientific research.
Old Hubble Space Telescope Photos Unlock the Secret of a Rogue Planet
Astronomers have achieved a first in exoplanet hunting by using the Hubble Space Telescope images to investigate a mysterious event that could reveal the existence of a "rogue planet" drifting through space without a host star.
Will YR4 Hit the Moon? We Won't Know Until 2028
Why we’ll have to wait a bit to say yay or nay on a 2024 YR4 lunar impact.
Best Canon cameras 2025: Upgrade your photography with these models on Amazon Prime Day.
Find the best Canon cameras from beginner to professional grade, for any and every budget and photographic style.
Seeing 'fireworks' on Earth from space | On the ISS this week June 26 - July 4, 2025
The Expedition 73 and Axiom Mission 4 crews spent their first of two weeks together conducting science aboard the International Space Station.
'We are proud to serve our country, both on Earth and in space': NASA astronauts beam home July 4 message from ISS (video)
NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers, Jonny Kim and Anne McClain marked Independence Day with a few heartfelt words for their compatriots here on Earth.
Save 20% on this early Amazon Prime Day two-in-one Estes model rocket set
If you're looking for early Amazon Prime Day model rocket deals, then getting 20% off this Estes two-in-one set could be what you're looking for.
Best Star Wars costumes for kids and adults in 2025
If you want to become a Jedi, a Sith, or a bounty hunter without muchhassle, check out the best Star Wars costumes you can buy right now.
Earth from Space: Zanzibar, Tanzania
Image: Earth from Space: Zanzibar, Tanzania
Antarctic waters getting saltier as sea ice wanes
Using data from ESA’s SMOS satellite, scientists have revealed a surprising shift in the Southern Ocean – surface waters around Antarctica are growing saltier, even as sea ice is diminishing rapidly. This finding defies the norm because melting ice typically freshens ocean surface water.
If Dark Energy is Decreasing, is the Big Crunch Back on the Menu?
For generations, humans have gazed at the stars and wondered about the ultimate fate of the Universe. Will it expand forever into the cold emptiness, or meet a more dramatic end? A new study published by physicists from Cornell University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and other institutions suggests we may finally have an answer, and it's surprisingly specific.
