Over the last seven days, spaceflight and astronomy delivered major milestones in human and robotic exploration. NASA showcased detailed new imagery of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing a rare visitor from beyond the solar system in unprecedented detail. SpaceX expanded its Starlink constellation with a predawn Falcon 9 launch from California using a brand‑new booster that landed successfully at sea. NASA’s Artemis 2 moon rocket reached a critical integration step as the Orion spacecraft was stacked on the Space Launch System ahead of a crewed lunar flyby in 2026. On the International Space Station, astronauts continued busy science operations while preparing for new crew arrivals on a Soyuz launching later this week. China also advanced its human spaceflight program by sending an uncrewed Shenzhou‑22 spacecraft to resupply and relieve a temporarily stranded crew aboard the Tiangong space station.
NASA UNVEILS INTERSTELLAR COMET 3I/ATLAS IMAGES
On November 19, 2025, NASA held a live event to present new imagery of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS captured by several spacecraft and observatories. The images show the comet as an ancient, radiation‑weathered body likely older than the Sun, giving scientists a chance to study material formed in distant regions of the galaxy. Data from missions, including a Mars‑orbiting camera, are being used to refine estimates of the comet’s nucleus size, coma structure, and jets. Researchers are especially interested in how billions of years of cosmic‑ray exposure altered its surface and chemistry. The close‑up views help trace the comet’s origin within the Milky Way’s stellar disks, though its exact birthplace remains uncertain. Analysts note that these observations will improve models of interstellar objects passing through planetary systems like ours. NASA has made the full image set and accompanying analysis available through its online galleries and partner coverage. Public interest has spiked as astronomers emphasize that such detailed observations of an interstellar comet are extremely rare. UofA News | CBS News | Live Science | NASA
SPACEX LAUNCHES NEW FALCON 9 WITH 28 STARLINK SATELLITES
On November 23, 2025, SpaceX launched 28 Starlink satellites aboard a brand‑new Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff occurred from Space Launch Complex 4E at 3:48 a.m. EST, sending the vehicle on a southeastern trajectory along the California coast. The mission targeted a low Earth orbit with an inclination of about 53 degrees to the equator, suitable for enhancing Starlink’s global broadband coverage. After stage separation, the first‑stage booster performed a controlled descent and landed on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” roughly eight and a half minutes after launch. Deployment of the 28 satellites was confirmed about one hour and 19 minutes into the flight, marking another successful addition to the growing megaconstellation. This launch introduced a new Falcon 9 first stage to SpaceX’s fleet, which is expected to support multiple future missions thanks to its reusability design. The mission underscores SpaceX’s continued high cadence of launches aimed at expanding Starlink’s capacity and coverage. Observers noted that the flight proceeded nominally, further validating the company’s approach to rapid reflight of boosters. Spaceflight Now | Space.com
ARTEMIS 2 MOON ROCKET STACKING MILESTONE
Around November 21, 2025, NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems team completed a key assembly step by lifting and integrating the Orion spacecraft atop the Space Launch System rocket for Artemis 2. The stacking operation took place in the Vehicle Assembly Building as engineers carefully mated Orion with the SLS core stage and boosters. This integration marks one of the final major milestones before the planned Artemis 2 mission, which aims to send astronauts on a circumlunar flight in early 2026. NASA views the achievement as central to its goal of returning humans to lunar orbit for the first time in more than 50 years. The combined SLS‑Orion stack will undergo a series of integrated tests and checkouts to verify readiness for rollout and launch. Artemis 2 is intended to validate life‑support, navigation, and communications systems with crew aboard, building directly on the uncrewed Artemis 1 flight. Program officials emphasize that the successful stacking keeps the mission timeline on track while demonstrating complex ground operations capability. The milestone also reinforces broader Artemis objectives, including establishing a sustainable lunar presence and preparing for future Mars missions. Space.com
ISS CREW SCIENCE AND UPCOMING SOYUZ ARRIVAL
On November 25, 2025, NASA reported that astronauts aboard the International Space Station were engaged in a wide variety of experiments while awaiting new arrivals. The current crew worked on investigations spanning human health, microgravity materials science, and technology demonstrations to support future deep‑space missions. A new Soyuz spacecraft is scheduled to launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome at 4:27 a.m. EST (2:27 p.m. Baikonur time) on Thursday, November 27. After liftoff, the Soyuz is planned to orbit Earth twice before docking to the station’s Rassvet module at 7:38 a.m. the same day. The arriving crew is expected to begin an approximately eight‑month mission focused on continued research and maintenance. NASA indicated that live coverage of the launch and docking will be carried on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube beginning at 3:30 a.m. EST. This rotation helps ensure continuous human presence in low Earth orbit and supports ongoing international collaboration. The update highlights the station’s role as a long‑running orbital laboratory and testbed for future exploration. NASA
CHINA LAUNCHES SHENZHOU‑22 RESUPPLY AND RELIEF MISSION TO TIANGONG
By November 24–25, 2025, Chinese space authorities had launched and docked the uncrewed Shenzhou‑22 spacecraft to the Tiangong space station to aid three astronauts who were temporarily stranded. Reports indicate that Shenzhou‑22 carried supplies and systems intended to support the crew and help stabilize station operations until a new crewed vehicle can fly. The mission was organized after an earlier issue delayed the astronauts’ planned return and subsequent crew rotation. Successful docking demonstrated the flexibility of China’s human spaceflight architecture to use a normally crewed vehicle in an automated cargo and relief role. Analysts note that the operation underscores Tiangong’s growing importance as a long‑duration orbital outpost and research platform. The situation also highlights the need for robust contingency planning in crew transportation and station logistics. Chinese officials framed the mission as a key step in ensuring astronaut safety and continuity of scientific work in orbit. International observers are watching closely as China refines procedures for emergency resupply and rescue‑style operations in low Earth orbit. Live Science