The Launchpad
Happy Thursday space enthusiasts!

There is a lot happening as we bring you all things space news and science, starting with the Tintina Fault in Canada that could trigger a massive earthquake after 12,000 years of silence. Using satellites and lidar mapping, researchers could track how much the fault has moved, and when it may slip again. 

In other headlines, NASA's Perseverance rover sees a mysterious 'helmet' rock on the Red Planet's surface, China launches its 8th batch of satellites to build its internet megaconstellation and a tense reunion happens in the latest 'Foundation' episode on Apple TV. 

We have all that and more for your daily read. 

Thanks for exploring with us. 
Keep looking up, 
Kenna 

Content Manager, Space.com 
Hidden fault beneath Canada could trigger earthquake
Hidden fault beneath Canada could trigger earthquake
Advanced satellite and lidar mapping has uncovered signs that the Tintina fault in Canada's Yukon may be primed for a powerful earthquake.
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NASA's Artemis 2 Orion spacecraft fuels up
NASA's Artemis 2 Orion spacecraft fuels up
Orion could launch as early as February 2026, but that is in the most optimistic of scenarios.
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Space quiz! Which of these is an instrument on NASA's Perseverance rover?
Click here for answer!

Skywatching
Moon rendezvous with the Pleiades on Aug. 16-17
Moon rendezvous with the Pleiades on Aug. 16-17
The moon will drift towards the Pleiades and Uranus in the early hours of Aug. 16-17.
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Spaceflight
China launches 8th satellite batch for constellation
China launches 8th satellite batch for constellation
It was the fourth Guowang launch in less than three weeks.
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Science & Astronomy
NASA's Perseverance rover spies 'helmet' on Mars
NASA's Perseverance rover spies 'helmet' on Mars
The medieval-looking "helmet" is the latest addition to Mars' gallery of odd-shaped rocks.
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AI helps astronomers find exploding star & black hole
AI helps astronomers find exploding star & black hole
"We're now entering an era where we can automatically catch these rare events as they happen, not just after the fact."
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SpaceX
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches with satellites
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches with satellites
Liftoff occurred at 1:05 a.m. EDT on Thursday (Aug. 14).
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Search for Life
Is water really a necessary ingredient for life?
Is water really a necessary ingredient for life?
"This can dramatically increase the habitability zone for all rocky worlds."
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Entertainment
Exclusive 'Foundation' S3 clip shows tense reunion
Exclusive 'Foundation' S3 clip shows tense reunion
It's a 300-year reunion in our violent peek at this week's episode, 'The Shape of Time'.
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Star Trek
Why Kirk's main character energy is bad news
Why Kirk's main character energy is bad news
The future captain of the Enterprise eclipses his co-stars every time he appears in "Strange New Worlds."
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Today in Space
On this day: Aug. 14, 1992: Meteor shower hits Uganda
On this day: Aug. 14, 1992: Meteor shower hits Uganda
Scientists estimated that the original meteorite weighed upwards of 2,000 pounds.
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Image of day: SpaceX Crew-11 spacecraft nears ISS
Image of day: SpaceX Crew-11 spacecraft nears ISS
This is SpaceX's 11th contracted mission for NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
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