‘SpaceX Crew-7 Returns to Earth, Europa Clipper’s Solar Arrays, Mapping the Far Side of Our Galaxy’

NASA has recently discussed the strong state of the agency during their annual State of NASA address in Washington. The Biden-Harris Administration’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget request aims to support NASA’s role in space exploration, scientific discovery, cutting-edge technology, climate data, and inspiring future leaders.

One notable event was the return of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 mission from the International Space Station. The crew, which included NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, safely splashed down off the coast of Pensacola, Florida after spending 199 days in orbit.

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center has been busy testing critical hardware for a future mission, specifically the Europa Clipper spacecraft. Technicians at the center recently fully extended the first of two five-panel solar arrays for the spacecraft. The Europa Clipper mission will explore Jupiter’s moon Europa, which is believed to have a global ocean beneath its icy crust.

Additionally, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team has announced plans for an unprecedented survey of the Milky Way galaxy to map more stars than all previous observations combined. The telescope is scheduled for launch by May 2027.

These developments showcase NASA’s commitment to space exploration, scientific advancement, and pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.