# Space
The International Space Station will fly across Irish skies tonight
Observers can catch a glimpse of the station until 5 December.
Last month
October 2023
Nasa to release first images of largest asteroid sample ever collected in space
The OSIRIS-REx mission collected rock and dust from the asteroid Bennu in 2020.
This year
2023
The largest asteroid samples ever collected have returned to Earth in a NASA probe
The capsule landed in a desert in Utah after a seven-year mission.
Study of UFOs will require new scientific techniques, says Nasa
Officials said there are so few high-quality observations of unexplained sightings that no scientific conclusions can be drawn.
India launches spacecraft to study the sun after successful moon mission
The Aditya-L1 spacecraft took off on board a satellite launch vehicle from the Sriharikota space centre in southern India.
India’s moon rover confirms presence of sulphur and other elements near lunar south pole
The Chandrayan-3 Rover is expected to conduct experiments over 14 days, the ISRO has said.
Four astronauts from four countries blast off for International Space Station
Nasa’s Jasmin Moghbeli, a Marine pilot serving as commander, said her crew’s make-up demonstrates “what we can do when we work together in harmony”.
India's lunar rover to carry out experiments over 14 days on the moon
The Chandrayan-3 Rover will analyse the mineral composition of the lunar surface.
Irish scientists capture one of most advanced images of stellar birth ever taken
The images were captured using the James Webb Space Telescope.
Russian space agency chief blames decades of lunar exploration inactivity for Moon crash
The Luna-25 spacecraft crashed into the Moon after its engines failed to shut down correctly, he said.
Russia to launch its first mission to the moon in almost 50 years
The mission is important for the Russian space sector, which is suffering from funding problems and corruption scandals.
A supermoon will be visible over Ireland across the next three nights
Clouds and rain showers might spoil the view for some people across the country, however.
India launches spacecraft on month-long mission to the moon
It’s a follow-up bid to its failed effort nearly four years ago to land a rover softly on the lunar surface.
Rainy weather on Earth interrupts livestream broadcast from Mars
The images that made it through showed about one-third of Mars as the spacecraft circled the planet.
NASA scientists say 'more high quality data' needed on UFOs in first public meeting
NASA announced last year it was analysing observations in the sky that can’t be identified as aerial or natural phenomena.
UAE unveils plans to send spaceship to explore solar system’s main asteroid belt
The UAE became the first Arab country and the second country ever to successfully enter Mars’ orbit on its first try.
Nasa picks Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin to build second lunar lander for Moon mission
Blue Origin will use its still-in-development New Glenn rocket to launch its lunar missions from Cape Canaveral.
Elon Musk's SpaceX Starship explodes minutes after test launch of world's biggest rocket
Starship did not separate correctly from its second stage and exploded.
ESA mission to explore Jupiter’s moons postponed due to risk of lightning
Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or Juice, will scope out whether the planet’s watery moons could possibly support life.
Astronomers discover one of biggest black holes ever recorded using new technique
The ultramassive black hole, one of just four ever observed, is more than 30 billion times the mass of the Sun.
First ever 3D-printed rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral but fails to reach orbit
A US company has successfully launched a rocket made of 85% 3D-printed parts but it failed to reach orbit.
Nasa Webb telescope captures image of star on cusp of death 15,000 light-years away
The star in the constellation Sagittarius, officially known as WR 124, is 30 times as massive as our sun.
SpaceX Dragon crew to blast off for ISS after cancelled Monday launch
The launch was scrubbed on Monday just minutes before liftoff because of a clog in a filter that supplies ignition fluid to start the engines.
New planet ring system discovered in our Solar System
The ring system is around a newly discovered dwarf planet, named Quaoar, which is around half the size of Pluto and orbits the Sun beyond Neptune.
Green comet to make its closest approach to Earth in 50,000 years tonight
The comet will be visible in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Truck-sized asteroid misses Earth in one of the closest approaches to the planet ever recorded
Despite its proximity, it sailed harmlessly past us last night according to scientists.
Stars disappearing from human sight at ‘astonishing rate’, say scientists
Astronomers believe LED bulbs may be contributing to the night sky getting rapidly brighter.
New image from James Webb telescope holds clues on how the first stars formed
It shows a young cluster of stars NGC 346, which is more than 200,000 light-years from Earth.
Russia to send new capsule to return crew from ISS as Soyuz suffers meteorite strike
The Soyuz MS-22 will have to return to earth crewless due to damage to the craft.
Last year
2022
Irish airspace access to be briefly restricted during UK Virgin satellite launch
Virgin Orbit is planning to launch a satellite this month from Spaceport Cornwall, which is based at an airport in south-west England.
Chinese astronauts return to Earth after six-month mission
The capsule carrying the trio touched down at a landing site in the Gobi Desert in northern China.
Nasa’s Orion capsule enters moon orbit as test mission nears halfway point
The mission is one of a number of test runs intended to return humans to the moon by 2025.
British medic set to become first astronaut recruit with a disability
The European Space Agency calls John McFall a ‘Parastronaut Feasibility Study Member’.
NASA spacecraft comes within 80 miles of Moon ahead of record-breaking orbit
The capsule will travel nearly 250,000 miles from Earth, the longest distance for a spacecraft designed for astronauts.
Nasa's James Webb space telescope spots early galaxies hidden from Hubble
The Webb telescope is indicating stars may have formed sooner than previously thought.
Quiz: How much do you know about the Moon?
Nasa has again rescheduled its long-delayed uncrewed mission to the Moon.
