Exploring Space

Space photos, articles and other space related things.

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Orbital launches by countries in the first half of 2026.

Source and details:

Orbital launch stats from around the world.

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China is the largest producer of four of the eight key materials powering the modern space race.

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Successful recovery of China's Long March-10B rocket

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This image shows what it might look like standing on the surface of a planet orbiting a brown dwarf star. An alien moon can also be seen in the sky. The brown dwarf gives off such feeble visible light it is difficult to see any of the landscape except for the reflection in the water.

credit: Jeff Bryant

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Two new asteroid pictures in the past week: Torifune (up) by Hayabusa2 and Kamo'oalewa (down) by Tianwen-2.

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Most launched orbital rockets in the first half of 2026

Source and details: 2026 orbital launches

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Comparison of the European Big Five: Life expectancy

Comparison of the European Big Five: Life expectancy

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2026 July 4

Pathfinder on Mars Image Credit: Mars Pathfinder, JPL, NASA

Explanation: On July 4th, 1997, using its own array of fireworks, a parachute, and a cocoon of airbags, the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft bounced like a giant beach ball at least 15 times before it came to rest on the surface of Mars at 10:07 AM Pacific Daylight Time. After its then novel airbag-assisted landing sequence was completed, Pathfinder transmitted this color mosaic to mission operators on Earth. In the scene from another world, the Mars Sojourner robot rover is visible in the foreground, crouched on top of the unfolded Pathfinder. About the size of a large house cat, the six-wheeled, solar-powered Sojourner became the first successful Martian rover. Surrounding Pathfinder are deflated airbags and the rock-strewn terrain of the Ares Vallis floodplain. In the distance Martian hills appear against a dusty brownish sky. The Pathfinder lander was subsequently renamed the Carl Sagan Memorial Station.

∞ Source: apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260704.html

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Hubble image of interacting galaxy UGC 181

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Annual Number of Objects Launched into Space

(by u/oscarleo0)

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Recent Coronal Mass Ejection

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Space Launch Sites (2016-2026)

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This artist’s concept imagines exoplanet HD 80606 b orbiting its Sun-like star. As HD 80606 b approached periastron, its temperature jumped 1,100 F, causing environmental changes that scientists are still analyzing.

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Dragonfly Takes Off

Dragonfly, the first-of-its-kind rotorcraft to explore another world, will fly to various locations on Saturn’s moon Titan and investigate the moon’s habitability.

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Orbital launches by India, 1979-2025

Details:

Orbital launch stats from around the world.

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Comparison of H3 rocket configurations (5x speed)

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Giotto launch preparations

Lowering Giotto and its adapter ring onto the third stage of the Ariane 1 launch vehicle.