These are some of my latest posts
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American crewed spaceflight in 2019
Since the retirement of the Space Shuttle in July 2011, America has been unable to put any astronauts into orbit around the Earth. Instead, it has been in the difficult situation of having to rely on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS). This situation may change…
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21 January 2019 lunar eclipse
On the night of 20/21 January 2019 there will be a total eclipse of the Moon, which will be viewable from many areas of the world. This will be worth making the effort to see, especially for my readers in the western USA and Canada for whom it will occur at a sociable hour. The…
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Chinese Moon missions
Like many people, I was very excited to hear the news on 3 January that the Chinese spacecraft, Chang’e 4, had landed as planned in the Von Karman crater on the far side of the Moon. Chang’e 4 in the Von Karman crater. The crater lies in the South Pole-Aitken basin on the far side of…
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What altitude does space begin?
Virgin Galactic plans to resume spaceflights for wealthy customers at around $600,000 per flight, lasting 2.5 hours with only 5 minutes above 80 km. The definition of the boundary of space varies, with the Karman Line at 100 km supported by the FAI, while the FAA considers it at 80 km.… Continue reading What altitude…
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December 21 2018 – the solstice
The winter solstice, occurring around December 21, marks the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere. This phenomenon’s significance is tied to early human cultures, illustrated by Stonehenge, which aligns with solstice events. Celebrations continue today, especially among groups like Druids and Pagans, honoring the gradual return of sunlight.… Continue reading December 21 2018 – the solstice…
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e-book on Venus from Explaining Science
Updated 7 December 2025 Venus is, the planet closest to the Earth in size and internal composition, and the brightest natural object in the sky after the Sun and the Moon. This completly revised e-book covers most of the main areas about Venus. To find out more click on A Short Guide to Venus e-book…
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Soyuz MS-11
On 3 December 2018 a Soyuz spacecraft will take off on a mission to transport three astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The new crew will be ISS Expedition 58 and will stay at the station for six months and their arrival will allow the current ISS crew to return to Earth. Mission patch…
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Future of the International Space Station: Funding & Challenges
From 2011 to 2020, astronauts relied solely on Russian Soyuz spacecraft for ISS access. Following a Soyuz failure in 2018, concerns arose about ISS crew rotation. NASA’s funding for the ISS was threatened in 2018, leading to discussions on privatization. The ISS’s future options include continued government funding or controlled deorbiting.… Continue reading Future of…
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Soyuz – What next?
Many of my readers will be aware the Soyuz MS-10 spacecraft failed to get into orbit on Thursday 11 October. It was on a mission to take fresh crew to the International Space Station (ISS). Mission patch for Soyuz MS-10 A major fault occurred at an altitude of about 50 km when the booster rocket…
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Salyut to the ISS: A Journey Through Space Stations
Updated June 2026 In this post I’ll talk about the history of the International Space Station (ISS) and some of the other space stations which have been constucted over the years. I’ll also touch on some of the politics involved. The International Space Station Image from NASA The First Space Stations Although America was the…
Explaining Science 