May 25-31, 2026 | Vol 45, Week 21 | Hawai`i Island, USA
Shenzhou 23: Imminent Launch Followed by Shenzhou 24: International Collaboration in Autumn
The Shenzhou 23 mission is scheduled to launch NET May 24. Although originally planned for November, the craft was moved sooner consequent to the space debris impact on the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft. The 3-member crew will be introduced to the public at a pre-launch press conference with the possible reveal of the Taikonaut who will stay in space for a year, the other 2 returning after a standard 6-month stay. In October, Shenzhou 24 will be the next crew rotation—one with international significance as a Pakistani Astronaut will stay for a few days, returning to Earth with two Shenzhou 23 Taikonauts. Science for both Shenzhou 23 and 24 is planned at a high level; the docked Tianzhou-10 cargo ship delivering 67 experiments (768 kg, for 41 research projects). During the one-year stay, cardiovascular system, eye health, psychological state and genetic shifts will be tracked. Other life study includes animal embryo growth, stem cell differentiation and bone cell degradation. Physical science projects include: seeing how fluids behave, mix and transfer heat without gravity, vital for designing better spacecraft fuel tanks and thermal systems; melting, mixing and solidifying exotic metal alloys and crystals inside high-temperature materials racks. Crews will continue live interactive science broadcasts. (Image Credits: CNSA)
IAU Assists Astronomers in Energizing Public Engagement at CAP2026
The 11th Communicating Astronomy with the Public (CAP) Conference is being held this week to strategize best practices for engaging with those who are not professional astronomers. Hosted every two years by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Commission C2 and Office for Astronomy Outreach, exchange of ideas and global collaboration are encouraged among the ~200 expected onsite in Yerevan, Armenia, and perhaps as many participating online. Co-hosts with IAU are Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory and Armenian Astronomical Society; collaborator is National Astronomical Observatory of Japan ahead of the November 2-6 symposium in Tokyo, “Innovative Research and Techniques in Astronomy Communication”. CAP2026’s theme is “Democratizing Astronomy Communication in the Era of Accessible Artificial Intelligence”. It is hoped that Yerevan will become a major astronomy networking hub for Central Asia and the Middle East. Learning to bridge complex scientific data and public understanding provides benefits for professional and amateur astronomers; communicators, journalists and writers; planetarium and science center staff; and even informal educators and creative artists. OAO also manages the peer-reviewed CAP Journal to highlight astronomy communication. (Image Credits: IAU)
Humans in Space
☆ International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 74 members are preparing and reviewing procedures for a spacewalk this week by Roscosmos Cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. They are inspecting two Orlan spacesuits for correct function while Andrey Fedyaev is configuring the European robotic arm. ESA Astronaut Sophie Adenot has been photographing the Moon documented during her “Epsilon” mission. NASA Astronauts Chris Williams, Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway are conducting experiments with cartilage tissue and cancer-treatment drugs and are about to being growing microgreens for a healthy diet.
☆ Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou-21 three members are enjoying steaks, chicken wings, peaches and grapes brought on the latest cargo delivery along with a 3rd more-comfortable spacesuit and 41 science items involving fluid physics, fish observing, embryos — zebrafish / mice / human-stem-cell-derived artificial, fibers, and 80-micrometer-thick flexible solar cells. They will soon deploy a small satellite produced for Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics by MinoSpace to demonstrate controlled formation flight between spacecraft. Shenzhou-23 crew planned to launch NET May 24.
◐ Lunar Enterprise News: Intuitive Machines advancing its lunar communications network with purchase of a company operating dozens of ground antennas, while expecting NASA’s decision on its rover. | Jared Isaacman believes Chinese Taikonauts will fly around the Moon in 2027 — which first requires multiple successful tests of Long March 10 and the Mengzhou spacecraft. | Beyond Earth Institute has published “Securing a Cislunar Future: Markets, Minerals and Momentum”. | New campus doubles the size of Firefly’s facilities in Cedar Park TX to enable assembly line of lunar landers and orbital vehicles. | Artemis III SLS rocket may be stacked within 2 months. | New NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson joins in “accelerating the Artemis Program“. | Ascend2026 panel emphasizes need for nuclear power to survive lunar night. | NASA ranks extended lunar operation #1 in its 2026 shortfall list. | PricewaterhouseCoopers published a Lunar Market Assessment, projecting US$127B annual revenues, dependent on radioisotope or nuclear power to survive lunar night. | Intuitive Machines will use a laser landing unit by Advanced Navigation for its IM-4 mission. | Astrolab FLIP Rover, flying on Astrobotic Griffin-1 lander NET late 2026, to carry 4 CLPS instruments: METAL, LRA, LDES and LiDAR.
Near-Earth Objects Close Approaches – Mon May 25: Apollo Asteroid 2026 KW (0.008 AU) | Wed May 27: Amor Asteroid 2026 JJ (0.048 AU) | Thu May 28: Amor Asteroid 2026 KD1 (0.028 AU) | Sat May 30: Aten Asteroid 2023 BM4 (0.031 AU)
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