Aurora

 Scientists working with the UAE's Hope orbiter have found aurora on Mars.

As Mars' magnetic field is weak and irregular, explaining the aurora is a problem.

Perspective

 In a disappointing quarterly report, Apple announced revenues of over $116 billion.

That's more than five times NASA's annual budget.

Perseverance

 Perseverance is now exploring an ancient river delta on Mars.

Scientists think its prime territory to search for evidence of life.

Crew-4

 Crew-4 has successfully launched to ISS.

It's SpaceX's second manned launch in less than three weeks-- something NASA has rarely done.

Twitter

 Elon Musk of SpaceX is buying Twitter and taking it private.

He vows to turn it into a bastian of free speech.

Plate Tectonics

 Scientists have found evidence of plate tectonics 2.5 billion years ago in China.

Earth has been sculpting its surface for quite a while.

AATIP

 According to a U. S. government report, AATIP did more than study UFOs.  For one thing, it proposed nuking the Moon.

The point was to search for certain metals that could be at the center of the Moon.

Russia

 Russia recently flight tested a new ICBM.

U. S. officials say it poses no new threat.

Europa

 A new study suggests the ridges on the icy surface of Europa may mark places where liquid water is near the surface.

That could make the search for life easier.

NoKo

 North Korea tested another missile last weekend.

It also said its resuming nuclear testing.

Aliens

 NASA is planning to send another message to the stars in an attempt to make contact with aliens.

Many who have thought about such things argue that would be extremely dangerous.

Artemis 1

 Technical issues  have led NASA to remove the Artemis 1 rocket from the launch pad.

No word yet on when the "wet dress rehearsal" might resume.

Apollo 16

 Fifty years ago today, Apollo 16 launched to the Moon.

It was the next-to-last Apollo lunar mission.

SpaceX

 According to CNBC,  SpsceX is worth $80 billion.

And it's just getting started.

Apollo 11

 Lunar dust collected by Neil Armstrong sold at auction last night for $500,000/

It had been expected to fetch twice that.

UFO

 The Pentagon UFO report reportedly contains sections on interrupted pregnancies, advanced technologies, and plans for deep space exploration and colonization.

The report could yet explode.

Gagarin

 Sixty-one years ago today, Yuri Gagarin became the first human space.

His flight may have been the high point in Soviet history.

Neptune

 Neptune is cooling at a time scientists expected it to warm.

So far, there is no explanation.

Pluto

 A new study suggests cryovoolcanoes may still be active on Pluto.

That would imply more internal heat than thought.

Axiom-1

 SpaceX successfully launched Axiom-1 this morning.

It's the first completely private crewed mission.

UFO

 A 2010 Pentagon report. just released, says there is evidence for humans being injured and even abducted by UFOs.

The 1,500 page report cites such things as possible radiation burns and illness, genetic alterations, brain damage, and "missing time" among alleged abductees-- all reported over the years by independent UFO researchers.

Hypersonic

 Pentagon officials say the US tested a hypersonic missile last month.

It reportedly reached Mach 5.

Vulcans

 Today is First Contact Day.

According to STAR TREK lore, humans first meet aliens, the Vulcans, on April 5, 2063.

Russia

 Russia is threatening to leave ISS unless Ukraine sanctions are lifted.

There is speculation that Russia would then align its space policy with that of China.

Boom

 A loud boom rattled Indiana Wednesday.

It turned out to be a fireball explosion.

Biden

 President Biden's new budget calls for $7.5bllion allocated to putting the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, according to reports.

OPINION: Insofar as such a provision would accurately reflect Democratic Party vision, it's a narrow, ultimately destructive vision.