MARCIA DUNN

AP Aerospace Writer

This image provided by Blue Origin shows from left: Jeff Bezos, Kerianne Flynn, Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Aisha Bowe, Gayle King, Amanda Nguyen, Sarah Knights, director of Blue Origin's astronaut office, and Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp. (Blue Origin via AP)

Blue Origin launches an all-female celebrity crew with Katy Perry, Gayle King and Lauren Sanchez

Blue Origin has launched Jeff Bezos’ fiancee Lauren Sanchez into space with an all-female celebrity crew that included Katy Perry and Gayle King. The New Shepard rocket blasted off Monday from West Texas.

This China National Space Administration (CNSA) handout image released by Xinhua News Agency, shows the lander-ascender combination of Chang'e-6 probe taken by a mini rover after it landed on the moon surface, June 4, 2024. (CNSA/Xinhua via AP, File)

Soil from the moon’s far side suggests drier conditions than the side facing Earth

Soil and rocks returned from the moon’s far side suggest it may be drier than the side constantly facing Earth. Chinese scientists reported the findings Wednesday, but cautioned more samples are needed for a clearer picture.

Commander Jared Isaacman speaks at a news conference after arriving at the Kennedy Space Center for an upcoming private human spaceflight mission in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Aug. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

Billionaire spacewalker highlights Mars trip for astronauts in his bid to become NASA’s next chief

The nominee for NASA’s top job is outlining his vision for space exploration, highlighting Mars. President Donald Trump nominated billionaire spacewalker Jared Isaacman to become NASA’s 15th administrator.

This artistic animation shows asteroid 2024 YR4 passing by Earth. Astronomers created a 3D image of the newly discovered asteroid after observing it with a telescope in Chile. (9NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/R. Proctor via AP)

New observations show the asteroid that won’t hit Earth resembles a spinning hockey puck

The asteroid that once had a small chance of striking Earth and now might slam into the moon resembles a spinning hockey puck. That’s the word from astronomers who observed it using a telescope in Chile.

This image provided by ESA/Hubble shows Uranus' aurorae taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope on Oct. 10, 2022. (ESA/Hubble via AP)

A day at Uranus just got 28 seconds longer

A day at Uranus just got a little longer. Scientists reported Monday that observations by the Hubble Space Telescope have confirmed it takes Uranus 17 hours, 14 minutes and 52 seconds to complete a full rotation.

In this image from video provided by SpaceX, a Dragon capsule carrying four space tourists prepares to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on Friday, April 4, 2025. (SpaceX via AP)

Four space tourists return to Earth after a private flight over the poles

Four space tourists are back on Earth after orbiting over the north and south poles. Their SpaceX capsule splashed down in the Pacific off the Southern California coast on Friday.

This image provided by the European Space Agency on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, captured by NASA's Webb telescope, shows the asteroid 2024 YR4. (European Space Agency via AP)

NASA’s Webb telescope captures photos of the asteroid that won’t hit Earth in 2032

NASA’s Webb telescope has captured pictures of the asteroid that caused a stir earlier this year when it topped Earth’s hit list.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a commercial crew of four lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Monday, March 31, 2025. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Bitcoin investor buys an entire SpaceX flight for the ultimate polar adventure

A bitcoin investor is headed to space with three polar explorers on the first flight to carry people over the North and South poles. SpaceX launched the four Monday night from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Astronauts Suni Williams, from left, Nick Hague, and Butch Wilmore are interviewed at Johnson Space Center on Monday, March 31, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

NASA’s newly returned astronauts say they would fly on Boeing’s Starliner capsule again

NASA’s celebrity astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams say they would fly on Boeing’s Starliner capsule again. The two on Monday held their first news conference since returning to Earth two weeks ago.

An undated image from NASA’s Webb Space Telescope shows an outflow from a nearby still-forming star in infrared light, with a spiral galaxy off in the distance. (NASA via AP)

Webb Space Telescope captures a star in the making and a galaxy far, far away

The Webb Space Telescope has captured a plume of gas and dust streaming from a star in the making, with a spiral galaxy as a stunning backdrop.

NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore stand together for a photo enroute to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for their liftoff on a Boeing Starliner capsule to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

Who else has been stuck in space? A short history of long spaceflights

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aren’t the first to run late in space, and their 9 ½-month mission falls short of any endurance record. But never before has a quick trip morphed into such a long haul.

This image provided by NASA/Firefly Aerospace, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, shows the sun setting on the moon, with Earth and Venus in the distance. (NASA/Firefly Aerospace via AP)

Blue Ghost lander captures stunning sunset shots on the moon before falling silent

A private lunar lander has captured the first high-definition sunset pictures from the moon. Firefly Aerospace and NASA released the stunning photos Tuesday, taken before the Blue Ghost lander fell silent over the weekend.

In this image provided by NASA, a SpaceX capsule splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as it lands off the coast of Florida with NASA astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov. (Keegan Barber/NASA via AP)

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams return to Earth after 9 months stuck in space

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have returned to Earth after being stuck in space for more than nine months.

In this photo provided by NASA, Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams pose for a portrait inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station's Harmony module and Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on June 13, 2024. (NASA via AP, File)

Who are the NASA astronauts who have been stuck in space for 9 months?

NASA’s stuck astronauts are heading home now that a replacement crew has arrived at the International Space Station.

Private lunar lander Blue Ghost's shadow is seen on the moon's surface after touching down on the moon with a special delivery for NASA, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (NASA/Firefly Aerospace via AP)

Private lunar lander Blue Ghost falls silent on the moon after a 2-week mission

This image made from video by NASA shows astronauts Don Pettit, bottom center, hugging Kirill Peskov as astronauts greet each other after a SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP)

NASA’s stuck astronauts welcome their newly arrived replacements to the space station

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of four aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifts off on a mission to the International Space Station lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

SpaceX launches a new crew to the space station to replace NASA’s stuck astronauts

The replacements for NASA’s two stuck astronauts are on their way to the International Space Station. SpaceX launched the new crew from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center on Friday night. The four astronauts should reach the space station the next day.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of four aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft scrubbed prior to liftoff for a mission to the International Space Station from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

SpaceX delays flight to replace NASA’s stuck astronauts after launch pad problem

A launch pad problem has forced a flight delay to replace NASA’s two stuck astronauts. The new crew needs to get to the International Space Station before Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams can head home after nine months in orbit.

In this image from video provided by SpaceX, the company's SpaceX’s Falcon rocket, carrying NASA's newest space telescope, Spherex, lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (SpaceX via AP)

NASA’s newest space telescope blasts off to map the entire sky and millions of galaxies

NASA’s newest space telescope has blasted off to map the entire sky like never before. Launched Tuesday night from California by SpaceX, the Spherex observatory will survey the sky every six months from an orbit over Earth’s poles.

This photo provided by United States Space Force the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 (OTV-7), the U.S. Space Force’s dynamic unmanned spaceplane, successfully deorbited and landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., on March 7, 2025. (United States Space Force via AP)

US military’s mini space shuttle returns to Earth after orbiting for 434 days on a secret mission

The U.S. military’s classified mini space shuttle has returned to Earth after circling the world for 434 days. Friday’s predawn touchdown in California was not announced until hours after the fact.

This photo provided by Intuitive Machines on Friday, March 7, 2025, shows the Athena, a private lunar lander, after landing sideways in a crater near the moon's south pole. (Intuitive Machines via AP)

Private lunar lander is declared dead after landing sideways in a crater near the moon’s south pole

A private lunar lander is no longer working after landing sideways in a crater near the moon’s south pole. Intuitive Machines announced the news Friday, less than 24 hours after the botched landing attempt.

SpaceX's mega rocket Starship makes a test flight from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight ends with another explosion

SpaceX has blown up another Starship mega rocket on a test flight. Nearly two months since the last explosion, SpaceX launched another 403-foot Starship from Texas on Thursday, but lost contact with the spacecraft within minutes.

This photo provided by NASA shows the Intuitive Machines' Athena lander approaching the surface of the moon on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (NASA via AP)

Private lunar lander may have fallen over while touching down near the moon’s south pole

A privately owned lunar lander has touched down near the moon’s south pole. But flight controllers in Texas fear it may have fallen over. The last time Intuitive Machines landed a spacecraft on the moon, a year ago, it ended up sideways.

This image taken from video posted by NASA shows, from left, Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague and Suni Williams speaking during a news conference, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (NASA via AP)

NASA’s two stuck astronauts are finally closing in on their return to Earth after 9 months in space

NASA’s two stuck astronauts are just a few weeks away from finally returning to Earth after nine months in space. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams spoke with reporters Tuesday from the International Space Station.

SpaceX's mega rocket Starship sits on the pad after it's test flight from Starbase was scrubbed in Boca Chica, Texas, Monday, March 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Last-minute problems with SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship forces delay of latest test flight

Last-minute problems have delayed the latest launch of SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship. Monday evening’s countdown got down to the 40-second mark.

A flock of birds fly in front of the full moon over the city centre in Tallinn, Estonia, Oct. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)

Here’s a look at moon landing hits and misses

Landing a spacecraft on the moon has long been a series of hits and misses. Only five countries have done it. The latest casualty came this week after Intuitive Machines put another lander sideways on the moon.

Private lunar lander Blue Ghost's shadow is seen on the moon's surface after touching down on the moon with a special delivery for NASA, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (NASA/Firefly Aerospace via AP)

Private lunar lander Blue Ghost aces moon touchdown with a special delivery for NASA

A private lunar lander has touched down on the moon, delivering a drill and other experiments for NASA. Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander descended from lunar orbit Sunday, aiming for an impact basin on the moon’s near side.

This combination of photos shows Gayle King, from left, Lauren Sanchez and Katy Perry. (AP Photo)

Katy Perry and Gayle King will join Jeff Bezos’ fiancee Lauren Sanchez on Blue Origin spaceflight

Katy Perry and Gayle King are headed to space with Jeff Bezos’ fiancee Lauren Sanchez. Bezos’ rocket company Blue Origin announced the all-female celebrity crew on Thursday.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with Intuitive Machines' second lunar lander lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Private company rockets toward the moon in the latest rush of lunar landing attempts

A private company is launching another lunar lander toward the moon. Intuitive Machines’ lander blasted off on Wednesday aboard SpaceX from Florida. It’s taking a fast track to the moon with a landing next week, aiming for the south pole.

This May 18, 1969 photo provided by NASA shows Earth from 36,000 nautical miles away as photographed from the Apollo 10 spacecraft during its trans-lunar journey toward the moon. (NASA via AP)

Asteroid 2024 YR4 is no longer a threat to Earth, scientists say

Scientists have finally given the all-clear to Earth from a newly discovered asteroid. NASA and the European Space Agency said Tuesday that after two months of observations, scientists have almost fully ruled out any threat.