Watch live: SpaceX Fram2 astronauts return to Earth after almost 4 days in polar orbit

SpaceX's Fram2, the first crewed mission ever to orbit our planet's poles, will return to Earth today (April 4). Fram2's Crew Dragon Resilience is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California at 12:19 p.m. EDT (1619 GMT).

Tech

clouds can be seen beneath the curvature of earth under a dark blue sky at the edge of space

DARPA accidentally detects SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket reentry by listening to Earth's atmosphere

By Brett Tingley published

Researchers with the U.S. military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have successfully used Earth's atmosphere as a sensor to detect a distant disturbance.

Tech

This spacecraft swarm could spot interstellar visitors zipping through our solar system

By Stefanie Waldek published

Hiroyasu Tsukamota has developed a deep-learning-based guidance and control framework called Neural-Rendezvous that could allow spacecraft to safely encounter interstellar objects.

Tech
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Spaceflight

a space view of a landmass on earth neighboring a blue sea

SpaceX Fram2 astronauts see their Florida launch site from space as historic pole-orbiting mission nears its end (video)

By Josh Dinner published

SpaceX's Fram2 astronauts are sharing incredible views from the first human spaceflight to orbit Earth's poles, as their mission nears a conclusion.

Private Spaceflight
the south polar region of earth as seen from a spacecraft in polar orbit

SpaceX Fram2 astronauts see 'pure white' Antarctica from polar orbit: Space photo of the day

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Fram2 crew was surprised to not see any evidence of human activity at the South Pole from 285 miles above.

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Science & Astronomy

graphic illustration showing what flat-earther's believe our planet looks like, a flat disk.

How to debate a flat-Earther: Proven scientific arguments and strategies

By Paul Sutter last updated

Some people around the world believe our planet is flat. Here's the (surprising) truth about debating them.

Earth

What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2025

By Tariq Malik, Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference See what moon phase it is tonight and find out when you can see the rest of the moon phases for 2025.

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Meet the team

Search For Life

man sits on a rock under the milky way

The Fermi Paradox: Where are all the aliens?

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference The Fermi Paradox seeks to answer the question of where the aliens are. After all, the universe is incredibly old, big and filled with potentially habitable planets.

Reference
An image of Cassiopeia A (Cas A), the remnant of a massive star that exploded about 300 years ago.

Massive star explosions may have triggered two mass extinctions in Earth's past: 'It would be terrifying.'

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Two nearby explosive massive star deaths, or supernovas, may have triggered mass extinction events in Earth's distant past, new research suggests.

Search for Life

'Poppy seeds' and 'leopard spots' on Mars could hint at ancient microbial life

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

A rock on Mars that may hold clues about ancient microbial life on the Red Planet continues to puzzle scientists.

Search for Life
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Skywatching

Northern lights forecasts, alerts, and geomagnetic storm warnings

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

The latest aurora forecast for tonight help you make sure you're in the right place at the right time to see the northern lights.

Aurora Borealis
graphic with night sky in large font and silhouettes of people below looking up at the night sky.

Night sky for tonight: Visible planets, stars and more in this evening's sky

By Jamie Carter last updated

Find out what you can see in the night sky for tonight, from planets and stars to dazzling meteor showers.

Stargazing
A view of the exhibit floor at the Northeast Astronomy Forum in 2019.

I'm going to a huge astronomy expo to see the latest telescope tech this weekend. I won't be alone.

By Tariq Malik published

Billed as the "World's Largest Astronomy & Space Expo," NEAF 2025 draws thousands of stargazers each year, with astronauts and exoplanet hunters speaking this year.

Stargazing
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Entertainment

Screenshot from Doom: The Dark Ages

Doom: The Dark Ages — Release date, trailers & everything we know

By Fran Ruiz published

More than five years after Doom Eternal, we’re once again ready to rip and tear through demons in Doom: The Dark Ages.

Space Games & Toys
A woman piloting a spaceship, sat in the cockpit and wearing a futuristic flight suit and helmet.

New 'Black Mirror' Season 7 trailer teases an epic space battle for the USS Callister (video)

By Jeff Spry published

Alongside this exciting teaser for 'Black Mirror 'Season 7, which launches on April 10, we also have details on this week’s 'USS Callister: Into Infinity' virtual watch party on April 8.

Space Movies & Shows
Five sci-fi characters with a star-filled background

Captain Pike and his crew explore a lost Starfleet vessel in a new 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' novel coming later this month

By Jeff Spry published

'Strange New Worlds' Season 3 is coming soon, so why not crack open this thrilling new 'Star Trek' book to set the mood?

Entertainment
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References

Graphic illustration with 'space calendar' in large blue neon letters and 2025 below it in smaller white letters. Below the title are four neon images depicting a meteor or comet, a telescope, a rocket launch and an astronaut's helmet. There is a starry background to the entire image.

Space calendar 2025: Rocket launches, skywatching events, missions & more!

By Space.com last updated

Reference Keep up with all the rocket launches, astronomical events and mission milestones for 2025 with our space calendar.

Reference
man sits on a rock under the milky way

The Fermi Paradox: Where are all the aliens?

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference The Fermi Paradox seeks to answer the question of where the aliens are. After all, the universe is incredibly old, big and filled with potentially habitable planets.

Reference
graphic illustration showing what flat-earther's believe our planet looks like, a flat disk.

How to debate a flat-Earther: Proven scientific arguments and strategies

By Paul Sutter last updated

Some people around the world believe our planet is flat. Here's the (surprising) truth about debating them.

Earth
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