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: Japan's first citizen and the world's first journalist to launch into space, Toyohiro Akiyama died Wednesday (Aug. 26) at the age of 84. As the first commercially-sponsored cosmonaut, Akiyama launched with the Soyuz TM-11 crew for a week-long stay on the space station Mir. He provided video and audio reports every day, including sharing views of Japan and watching Japanese tree frogs adjusting to microgravity.
: Astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Mark Kelly and Christina Koch have appeared on this game show. "What is Jeopardy!?" Koch showed up to deliver the clues in a category devoted to her astronaut career — including flying to the moon on Artemis II — on Friday's (Sept. 4) semifinals of Jeopardy! Masters. Koch's cameo was the latest appearance by her since returning in April from flying by the moon and deep into space in April.
: McDonald's new meal for Texas only celebrates the Lone Star State's diverse cities on new collectible cups. The Houston cup features it as "Space City" with an astronaut and space shuttle among the icons representing H-Town. The Texas Meal includes spicy or regular Chicken McNuggets, fries and a drink, together with a plastic cup. Other cities or areas on the cups include Dallas/Ft. Worth, Austin, San Antonio and the Rio Grande.
: A small piece of "Star Trek" history was revealed aboard the International Space Station Tuesday (Sep. 8), 60 years (to the day) after the Starship Enterprise premiered on televisions in the United States. European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, appearing in a recorded video, saluted the sci-fi franchise's long-lived and prosperous legacy while sporting a Delta badge worn on "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."
