WATCH LIVE: Rocket Lab launching Japanese tech-demonstrating satellite

Rocket Lab plans to launch a Japanese technology-demonstrating satellite from its site in New Zealand today (Dec. 13) at 10:09 p.m. EST (0309 GMT on Dec. 14). Watch it live here and read our preview story.

Rocket Lab - 'RAISE and Shine' Launch for JAXA - YouTube Rocket Lab - 'RAISE and Shine' Launch for JAXA - YouTube
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Skywatching

A golden astronaut trophy in front of a dark background with the words "Global Space Awards 2025" next to it on the right side in white

Global Space Award winners 2025: Playmakers, innovators, and science breakthroughs

By Anthony Wood published

The inaugural ceremony was held at London's Natural History Museum on Dec. 5.

Stargazing
A person stands with arms outstretched behind a bright orange tent looking up at the night sky full of streaks with meteors with a large flashlight beam pointed up.

Geminid meteor shower forecast: Will skies be clear across the US on Dec. 13–14?

By Joe Rao published

The Geminid meteor shower peaks Dec. 13–14, and the U.S. weather forecast will play a key role in what you'll see.

Meteors & Meteor Showers
The Milky Way glows orange and yellow amidst the stars in the night sky, with a streak of white at the right side of the image where comet Lemmon moves across with a domed observatory and mountains silhouetted at the bottom

Comet Lemmon and Milky Way spotted over Hawaii | Space photo of the day for Dec. 12, 2025

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

Hawaiian stargazers got a particularly special treat recently.

Stargazing
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Spaceflight

the blue waters and white clouds stretch to out to Earth's horizon, set against the blackness of space; in the foreground, a space capsule extends out from a space station

Astronaut sees gorgeous 'skies of blue and clouds of white' | On the International Space Station this week Dec. 8-12, 2025

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The seven members of the Expedition 74 crew studied stem cells, packed up a cargo ship and maintained their toilet this week aboard the International Space Station.

International Space Station
a triple-core rocket blasts off under a sunny, partly cloudy blue sky. smoke expands below next to an obscured launch tower, near a long white hanger with SPACEX written on the side. To the left, a bird flies away.

Rocket launch today: Is there a rocket launch and what time?

By Josh Dinner, Tariq Malik last updated

Follow Space.com's rocket launch blog for the latest on when the next rocket launch will be and how to follow it live.

Launches & Spacecraft
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
Satellite trails seen in Hubble Space Telescope images taken between 2002 and 2021

Satellite constellations could obscure most space telescope observations by late 2030s: 'That part of the image will be forever lost'

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

"The natural question that comes up is: how many more space telescopes will be affected when all these constellations are launched?"

Satellites
a white rocket lifts off from a desert launch site into the dawn sky

Blue Origin targeting Dec. 18 for historic 1st spaceflight of wheelchair user

By Mike Wall published

Blue Origin is targeting Dec. 18 for its NS-37 suborbital launch, which will fly a wheelchair user to space for the first time ever.

Private Spaceflight
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Science & Astronomy

A dendritic shaped dark spot is seen against an icy surface

A spider-like scar haunts Jupiter's moon Europa — and scientists think they know why

By Samantha Mathewson published

A strange, spider-like scar on Jupiter's icy moon Europa may mark where salty water once surged up through its fractured crust.

Jupiter
Swirls of blue, yellow and purple lights show the shape of a galaxy cluster in space

NASA's Chandra telescope uses 'X-arithmetic' to reveal how black holes shape galaxy clusters (images)

By Samantha Mathewson published

A novel "X-arithmetic" technique reveals how black holes shape the universe's largest structures.

Astronomy
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Space Photo of the Day

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Entertainment

an astronaut encounters a strange alien being

'Exodus' is a spiritual successor to 'Mass Effect' with a hard sci-fi edge. We spoke to the devs about time-dilation, human evolution, and honoring hard sci-fi (exclusive)

By Jeff Spry published

Sci-fi adventure Exodus is looking alright, alright, alright.

Space Games
a blonde girl and a blue and red caped costume

Supergirl's rockin' 1st trailer shows intergalactic bar fights, hangovers, and Krypto peeing on Superman's face (video)

By Jeff Spry published

Kara Zor-El goes galactic for this wild teaser set to Blondie's '80s anthem, 'Call Me'.

Space Movies & Shows
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What's Up In Space Today

Search For Life

A silhouette of a planet is in front of a giant sun with a small planet to the right of the image

Which exoplanet in the TRAPPIST-1 system could be habitable? Scientists are modeling the star to find out

By Samantha Mathewson published

Frequent flares from the nearby star TRAPPIST-1 could offer new clues in the search for habitable planets beyond Earth.

Search for Life
A reddish dusty surface is seen with an orange sun in the background

Beyond the habitable zone: Exoplanet atmospheres are the next clue to finding life on planets orbiting distant stars

By Morgan Underwood published

But being in this sweet spot doesn't automatically mean a planet is hospitable to life.

Search for Life
"Wow!" signal printout. The comment on the side inspired the event's name.

SETI's 'Noah’s Ark' – a space historian explores how the advent of radio astronomy led to the USSR’s search for extraterrestrial life

By Gabriela Radulescu published

An expert dives into the history of radio astronomy and the search for life beyond our Earth.

Search for Life
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Technology

A SpaceX rocket lifts off in the background behind the sign for Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

US Space Force to get 'next level' tech to combat drones near Cape Canaveral launch sites

By Brett Tingley published

The U.S. Space Force is boosting its ability to deter and defeat drones and other uncrewed aerial systems near Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and the Eastern Range.

Aerospace
An experiment using different colored bacteria with the camera focused on a metal box containing the bacteria

How color-changing, bacteria-infused spacesuits could help keep future astronauts safe from space radiation

By Jessica Rendall published

Like a mood ring, clothing could let future space travelers know when they've been exposed to unsafe levels of radiation.

Technology
California-based company Aetherflux wants to make space-based solar power a reality.

Startup announces 'Galactic Brain' project to put AI data centers in orbit

By Josh Dinner published

Aetherflux has focused its efforts on space-based solar power, with the goal of "building an American power grid in space."

Technology
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