U.S. advances plans for lunar nuclear power plant; China reveals lander test

U.S. advances plans for lunar nuclear power plant; China reveals lander test

Special to CosmicTribune.com, August 13, 2025 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher The second race to the Moon, this time between the United States and China, saw another step in China’s favor on Aug. 6, 2025, when a full-scale powered version of China’s manned Moon lander called Lanyue (for Embracing The Moon) reportedly achieved its first powered […]

The sky, Aug. 11-17: Jupiter and Venus in conjunction at dawn on Aug. 12

The sky, Aug. 11-17: Jupiter and Venus in conjunction at dawn on Aug. 12

Special to CosmicTribune.com, August 11, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. MONDAY, AUGUST 11 ■ Venus and Jupiter shine in conjunction, just 0.9° apart, in the east during early dawn Tuesday morning the 12th. In fact, they rise about an hour before dawn even begins if you have a good flat horizon to the east-northeast. Brilliant celestial cat’s eyes […]

Despite nuclear threats, Russian state media promote space cooperation with U.S.

Despite nuclear threats, Russian state media promote space cooperation with U.S.

Special to CosmicTribune.com, August 6, 2025 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher The roller coaster of United States-Russia relations hit a dangerous curve this past week, making curious Russia’s simultaneous public gesture that it desires continued space cooperation with the Washington. President Donald Trump campaigned promising to seek an early end to Russia’s horrific war against Ukraine […]

The sky, August 4-10: Perseid meteor shower begin

The sky, August 4-10: Perseid meteor shower begin

Special to CosmicTribune.com, August 4, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, AUGUST 3 ■ This evening the waxing gibbous Moon hangs hardly more than 1° below orange Antares, the 1st-magnitude heart of Scorpius. MONDAY AUGUST 4 ■ Now the thickening, brightening gibbous Moon shines midway between Antares to its right and the spout of the Sagittarius […]

Making the most of the International Space Station while it remains

Making the most of the International Space Station while it remains

Special to CosmicTribune.com, July 30, 2025 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher While it could still be transferred to and operated by a consortium of “private” companies, it appears that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to end its operation of the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030, and to thereafter begin operations to deorbit […]

The sky, July 28-Aug. 3: Titan’s shadow crosses Saturn early on Aug. 3

The sky, July 28-Aug. 3: Titan’s shadow crosses Saturn early on Aug. 3

Special to CosmicTribune.com, July 28, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, JULY 27 ■ Use the low crescent Moon to guide you to Mars and Denebola in the fading twilight this evening, as shown below. At dusk across four days, the waxing crescent Moon moves from lower right of Mars to much closer lower right of […]

50 years after Apollo-Soyuz, the myth of Peace-In-Space endures on Earth

50 years after Apollo-Soyuz, the myth of Peace-In-Space endures on Earth

Special to CosmicTribune.com, July 23, 2025 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher The myth that Peace-in-Space can lead to, or even influence the possibility of Peace-on-Earth rests in part on the historically brief but emotionally enduring impact of the first international mission in space, the July 17, 1975 docking of the United States-Soviet Union Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. […]

The sky, July 21-27: Milky Way views optimal on Thursday

The sky, July 21-27: Milky Way views optimal on Thursday

Special to CosmicTribune.com, July 21, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. The waning crescent Moon in the dawn passes Venus, then Jupiter. Look before or during early dawn, while the sky is still pretty dark, to spot the horntips of Taurus a well as the rest of Taurus off the frame to the upper right. MONDAY, JULY […]

Not so ‘private’ Chinese company Landspace eyes its version of ‘Starship’

Not so ‘private’ Chinese company Landspace eyes its version of  ‘Starship’

Special to CosmicTribune.com, July 16, 2025 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher In mid-June China’s largest and most successful “private” space company Landspace (or Blue Arrow Space Technology) revealed its ambition to build a 10-meter diameter reusable space launch vehicle (SLV) perhaps by 2030 — a potential great prize for China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) controlled space […]

The sky, July 13-20: Venus brilliant at -4.1 magnitude

The sky, July 13-20: Venus brilliant at -4.1 magnitude

Special to CosmicTribune.com, July 14, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY JULY 13 ■ Scorpius is sometimes called “the Orion of Summer” for its brightness, its 1st-magnitude red supergiant star, and its many blue-white giants. But Scorpius passes a lot lower across the southern sky than Orion does. So for those of us at mid-northern latitudes […]