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: Buzz Aldrin is still planting flags 56 years after he did so on the moon, only now it is to promote Verizon's satellite services. In an ad for the company's space-based coverage, Aldrin goes to "dead zones" to test "Can you text me now?" Verizon has teamed up with Skylo and AST SpaceMobile to expand its network to the remote areas across the United States where its cell service drops out. "That's one giant leap for connectivity..."
: The 2025 inductee class for the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame includes two record-setting spacewalkers: Bernard Harris, who in 1995 became the first African American to conduct an EVA, and Peggy Whitson, whose ten spacewalks are more than any other woman. Together, the two will raise the hall's ranks to 111 at a public ceremony under the space shuttle Atlantis at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex May 31.
: Big Sky, Montana served Tuesday (Jan. 21) as the "First Day of Issue" city for the U.S. Postal Service's 2025 Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express stamps. Both releases feature images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), continuing a theme for its second year. The $10.10 Priority Mail "Spiral Galaxy" and $31.40 Priority Mail Express "Star Cluster" stamps are sold in panes of four at post offices nationwide.
: Blue Origin, the spaceflight company founded by Jeff Bezos, accomplished a successful first flight of its New Glenn rocket, lofting into Earth orbit a pathfinder for the Blue Ring space mobility platform. An attempt at an ocean-based landing of the New Glenn's first stage did not go as well, ending in it being lost. The 320-foot-tall New Glenn was the first rocket to fly from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex-36 (LC-36) in 20 years.
: It was the best of times... for fans of lunar exploration as two commercial spacecraft launched on separate paths to the moon aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Firefly Aerospace's first Blue Ghost lander is now on a 45-day transit, while ispace's Resiliance is expected to take four to five months before arriving at the moon. Blue Ghost is carrying NASA research instruments, while Resilience is delivering a rover and private payloads.
: John Glenn was "deeply touched" that Blue Origin named its first orbital-class rocket after him, as he expressed in what was his last written correspondence before his death. Now, nine years later, the New Glenn is ready to launch on its maiden mission. Designed to be reusable, the heavy-lift rocket will help fulfill the "original" Glenn's hope for the future: when it is possible for millions to enter orbit like he first did in 1962.
: National Geographic premiered "SALLY," Cristina Costantini's new documentary about the first U.S. woman in space and her untold love, at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah on Tuesday (Jan. 28). Joining the audience in Park City were Bear Ride, Sally's sister; astronaut Cady Coleman; and Tam O'Shaughnessy, Ride's life partner of 27 years. The feature-length film uses archive footage and reenactments to show Ride's full story.
: Nicole Stott is the latest astronaut to lend her autograph to the Space Hipsters Signature Edition series of "signed" patches. The embroidered emblem features one of the colorful spacesuits that Stott has led pediatric cancer patients in creating and her mission "back to Earth" to encourage a shared, crew-like approach to protecting our planet. Proceeds from the patch's sale will go towards sending Native American girls to Space Camp.
: The United States Mint has provided a first look at the designs of two coins that will celebrate advancements in space exploration. Set for a spring and summer release, respectively, Florida and Texas' American Innovation dollars will commemorate the space shuttle and Mission Control, the latter represented by the International Space Station and an astronaut on a spacewalk as examples of supporting human spaceflight.
: Blasting off between the end of the Apollo program and the space shuttle's first launch, Space Mountain at Walt Disney World in Florida was itself a blend of what the public thought spaceflight would be like and a "realistic feeling" of what it was like to enter orbit. When the ride opened 50 years ago, an Apollo moonwalker was its first passenger, NASA's insignia was on display and Space Mountain was dedicated to opening the new frontier.
: Mikael Genberg has been working to send a house to the moon for 25 years. Now it is set to happen. Genberg's "Moonhouse," a model cottage styled after Sweden's red houses with white corners, has been mounted to ispace's "Tenacious" rover riding on the company's "Resilience" lunar lander. Genberg previously placed similar homes in a tree, under the water and even launched one to the International Space Station.
: NASA's efforts to explore Mars, including the first helicopter to achieve powered flight on another planet, made for the "Best Day Ever" aboard a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day 2025 (Jan. 1). Created by La Cañada Flintridge, the California city where JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) is located, the "Rover Rendezvous" float featured numerous nods to real missions, including a flying Ingenuity rotorcraft.
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