Other

NWA-16788, The Largest Mars Meteorite Found On Earth, Weighs 24.67 Kg—70% More Than 2021’s Taoudenni 002 (14.51 Kg, Mali). Discovered In Niger’s Sahara In Nov 2023 & Confirmed By The Shanghai Astronomy Museum, It Shows Little Weathering & Contains Maskelynite, Pyroxene, And Olivine. Sotheby’s Will Auction It On 7/16/25, With Bids Up To $4M.

…

Shubhanshu Shukla Became The 1st Indian To Board The ISS Via Axiom-4, Which Launched On 6/26/25 With Astronauts From India, Poland & Hungary. Led By NASA Veteran Peggy Whitson, The 2-Wk Mission Includes 60 Experiments (7 By ISRO). Shukla Is India’s 2nd Man In Space, After Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 Soviet Mission. ISRO Paid $59M For His Seat & Training.

ESA’s Solar Orbiter, Launched In 2/20, Studies The Sun’s Atmosphere, Cycle, Wind, & Poles. In 3/25, It Took The World’s First Clear Image Of The Sun’s South Pole Using Venus Gravity Assists. By 2029, It’ll Reach 33° Tilt For Better Polar Views, Potentially Unlocking Solar Cycle & Space Weather Secrets. North Pole Images Are Expected In Oct 2025.

Denmark Will Have Europe’s Highest Retirement Age, 70 By 2040, For Those Born After 12/31/70. The Current Age Is 67, Rising Every 5 Yrs, Since 2006, Based On Life Expectancy. Critics, Citing A Strong Economy & Manual Labor Impact, Call It Unfair. Protests, Backed By Trade Unions, Have Erupted. PM Frederiksen Suggests Rethinking Auto-Hikes.

…

China & Russia Signed An Accord To Build A Nuclear Power Plant On The Moon’s S Pole By 2036 As Part Of Their Joint Intl. Lunar Res. Station (ILRS), Using Automated Tech. ILRS Will Advance Lunar Research & Support Human Presence. China’s 2028 Chang’e-8 Mission Will Lay The Groundwork & Mark Its 1st Astronaut Landing. 17 Nations Have Joined.

…