Leak

 There's been a small leak in the ISS for a few weeks that has been traced to the Russian habitat module.

The crew is not in any added danger.

Mars

 Scientists have found a series of small saltwater lakes under the ice of a polar cap on Mars.

They think the lakes could be millions or even billions of years old.

Aussie Crater

 Gold miners in the Australian Outback have discovered a 3-mile wide impact crater.

The meteorite hit about 100 million years ago.

Moon

New research on lunar rocks brought to Earth by Apollo astronauts finds new evidence that the Moon was formed after a Mars-sized object slammed into Earth.

The research was done using tools and techniques not available during Apollo.

Wormholes

 A new study suggests some black holes may in fact be wormholes.

Wormholes have yet to be confirmed in nature.

Starship

 SpaceX intentionally destroyed a Starship tank in a pressure test this week.

Starship is designed to carry 100 people to Mars.

China

 China has two functioning probes on the Moon right now.

One is on the near side, and the other is on the far side.

Artemis 3

 NASA Administrator Bridenstine says Artemis 3 will land near the lunar south pole in 2024.

There had been reports NASA was considering less demanding landing sites.

Galileo

 Seventeen years ago today, the Galileo mission to Jupiter ended when then probe was deliberately plunged into the giant planet's atmosphere.

It was an extraordinary success.

Artemis

 The first lunar landing of the Artemis program may not be in the south polar region.

NASA is considering equatorial sites-- including the Apollo sites-- which are easier to reach.

Dynetics

 Dynetics unveiled a model of its proposed lunar lander this week.

It is competing to be the lander for the Artemis program.

White Dwarf Planet

 Astronomers have found indications of a giant planet orbiting a white dwarf-- the result of a supernova explosion.

How that could be ia still a mystery.

Rocket Lab

 Rocket Lab, a private company, plans to send a probe to Venus in 2023 to search for life.

The project was set before the recent discovery of phosphine, a possible biosignature, in the Venusian atmosphere.

Virgin Galactic

 According to CNBC, Virgin Galactic plans to fly its final two test flights starting next month.

The flights will launch from VG's new home in New Mexico.

Venus Life?

 Astronomers have detected phosphine, a possible biosignature, in the atmosphere of Venus.

More work needs to be done, and there are non-biological explanations, but life on Venus would be remarkable.

Newton's Law

 The Breakthrough Prize Foundation has awarded $3 million to three physicists probing the law of gravity.

So far, Newton's formulation has held down to millimeter distances.

Buying Dirt

 NASA will pay private companies for lunar soil samples.

The point is to establish the principle of using lunar resources.

NFL

 The NFL season opens tonight.

Hopefully, they'll be able to play the full season.

Oumaamaa

 New research suggests Oumaamaa is a fragment of a comet.

The rocky core has accumulated dust from the comet, as well.

Shatner

William Shatner wants commanders of U. S. Space Force ships to be captains, not colonels, as they would be now.

Congress is considering the change.

Quantum Mechanics

 Theoretical physicists have come up with a neat new experiment to question the reality of reality.

Quantum mechanics. possibly, might require an intelligent observer in the mix.

Rusty Moon

 Scientists have found rust in the southern polar region of the Moon.

Similar rust is what gives Mars its blood red hue in the night sky.

Voyagers

 On this date in 1977, Voyager 1 launched to the giant planets and beyond.

The Voyagers, 1 and 2, will go down as one of NASA's most successful programs.

GW Orionis

 After 11 years of studying the triple star system GW Orionis, scientists have the first direct evidence that multiple star systems can warp and rip planetary disks.

That could result in planets in highly inclined orbits.

2011 ESA

 Asteroid 2011 ESA, the size of a jumbo jet, flew past Earth yesterday well within the orbit of the Moon.

It's another argument for planetary defense.

MUFON

 In August, 645 UFO sightings worldwide were reported to MUFON.

Of those, 518 were in the U. S.

History

 On this date in 1979, Pioneer 1 became the first spacecraft to fly by Saturn.

On this date in 1939, World War II began when Germany invaded Poland.