Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Vulcan Centaur rocket launches experimental military satellite

Hello space enthusiasts! | Stunning Perseid meteor shower outshines moon | Vulcan Centaur rocket launches test satellite
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August 13, 2025
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The Launchpad

We have a lot going on in the newsroom today, starting with yesterday's successful liftoffs of both the United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket (with experimental military satellite in tow) and Europe's Ariane 6 rocket carrying a weather satellite to low-Earth orbit. 

Other stories for today include stunning photos from yesterday's Perseid meteor shower peak, a blazar nicknamed 'the Eye of Sauron' spewing particles into space and a possible new mission headed to Pluto. 

We have all that and more for your daily read. 

Thanks for exploring with us. 
Keep looking up, 
Kenna 

Content Manager, Space.com 
Stunning Perseid meteor shower outshines moon
The Perseid meteor shower peaked on Aug 12-13, overcoming the glare of a waning gibbous moon to put on a spectacular show of shooting stars that delighted onlookers worldwide.
Read More
Vulcan Centaur rocket launches test satellite
The company lofted an experimental navigation satellite on behalf of the U.S. military Tuesday at 8:56 p.m. EDT (0056 GMT on Aug. 13).
Read More
Space Deal of the Day
Lego Mars Rover Perseverance almost 20% off
The 1132-piece buildable replica with moving parts is 18% off as Lego's Technic Mars Rover Perseverance set is one of its lowest prices on Amazon.
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Skywatching
1 year until total solar eclipse 2026: what to know
Where to go, how to see it, and why the 2026 eclipse is worth the journey.
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Spaceflight
Europe's Ariane 6 rocket launches for 3rd time ever
Liftoff occurred at 8:37 p.m. ET tonight (Aug. 12).
Read More
Virgin Galactic's new space plane could fly in 2026
The company is also looking at using its mothership aircraft that releases spacecraft at high altitude as a carrier platform for other customers.
Read More
Science & Astronomy
This real 'Eye of Sauron' spits out ghost particles
"We have never seen anything quite like it."
Read More
New Pluto mission may spot dwarf planet's ocean
"This mission should be able to image the whole of Pluto. It should be phenomenal."
Read More
Technology
Lunar surface simulator puts moon machinery to test
"There are lots of opportunities to use the testbed for lunar excavation testing, construction, mobility, sensing, dust mitigation and more."
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Entertainment
Zoologist explains 'Alien' xenomorph's biology
To celebrate Alien: Earth landing on Hulu, we asked a zoologist if any of the Xenomorph's infamous characteristics occur in the natural world
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Today in Space
On this day: Aug. 13, 2014: WorldView-3 sat launches
WorldView-3 is a high-resolution imaging satellite that can resolve features as small as 1 foot (31 centimeters) across.
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Image of day: China's moon lander passes key test
This test is a key step in the journey to China's goal of landing astronauts on the moon by 2030.
Read More
 

Scientist Pankaj

Today in Science: Entirely new species of human discovered

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