Stranded Astronauts Finally Heading Home

 

EARTHBOUND! Stranded astronauts finally headed home after nine months in space, thanks to President Trump enlisting SpaceX boss @elonmusk for a rescue mission. They're set to splash down off the Florida coast tonight — stay with FOX News for live coverage. https://t.co/Jw0j6E5M39 pic.twitter.com/A5HIkJKqkM

— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) March 18, 2025

An Astronaut's View of A Meteoroid Hitting Earth

Above, Meteor Crater in Arizona. This is what a king-sized meteor can do. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever wondered what it looks like to see a meteoroid strike earth from space?

Well, wonder no more! One of the International Space Station's astronauts caught a meteoroid hitting the atmosphere on video.

Thanks to Travel + Leisure for posting the video.

About the video, they wrote:

Sure, you may have visited more countries than your friends, experienced more cultures than most, and eaten meals with names that you can’t even pronounce. But have you ever seen a meteor crash into Earth… from space? 

European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli has, and he has the footage to prove it.

The ESA pieced together Nespoli’s footage taken while aboard the International Space Station and made it into a stunning timelapse video for all of us here on terra firma to enjoy. The minute and a half video shows the Earth from above as the Space Station flew over the southern Atlantic Ocean over to Kazakhstan.

To read more and see the video, go here. 

Trump and The Space Program

Above, the shuttle Endeavour being towed in the streets of Inglewood, California in 2012. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since President Obama gutted the space shuttle program before we had a replacement vehicle to service the International Space Station, we've had to rely on the Russians to supply and man the ISS.

While I was pleased with Donald Trump's acceptance speech last night, I was disappointed that he did not mention NASA or the space program.

A few years ago, Trump Tweeted:

Since then, he has expressed that we should put our priorities onto the nation's infrastructure before spending on space. I disagree. I feel that we should be able to do both. I stand with President Kennedy's statement on space: "We mean to be a part of it. We mean to lead it!"

I have always contended that the space program was the only worthwhile government program we have. I still feel that way.

I have Tweeted to Trump that he needs to revive the space program and issue a detailed policy statement.

Japan Plans To Launch "Military Space Force," Report Says

Above, Space Battleship Yamato (2010).

There are thousands of pieces of space junk floating in orbit that threatens operating satellites and the International Space Station.

Japan is planning to launch a "military space force" to deal with this problem.

JapanToday reported:

Tokyo (AFP) —Japan is planning to launch a military space force by 2019 that would initially be tasked with protecting satellites from dangerous debris orbiting the Earth, a report said. 

The move is aimed at strengthening Japan-US cooperation in space, and comes after the countries pledged to boost joint work on monitoring space debris, Kyodo news agency said Sunday.

 To read more, go here.

The Symbol of Japan From Space

Above, a photo of Mount Fuji from the International Space Station.