1 big thing: The space industry bubble

Illustration of a rocket trending downward on a grid

2. Here comes JWST

A side-by-side image of the Large Magellanic Cloud seen by Spitzer (left) and the JWST (right) in infrared.

3. Bone loss and spaceflight

4. Out of this world reading list

Two moons of Saturn in the blackness of space

5. Weekly dose of awe: Sunrise from orbit

The Sun rises above the Earth from the International Space Station

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Please send your tips, questions and startup space company ideas to miriam.kramer@axios.com, or if you received this as an email, just hit reply.

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Explore the science and business of space

Axios Space

1 big thing: Taking space junk seriously

Illustration of an astronaut floating in outer space while collecting trash and holding a garbage bag.

2. Artemis I is getting ready for launch

The Orion capsule atop its rocket awaiting launch with the Moon behind it in the night sky.

3. The Perseids are coming

Colorful meteors streak through a dark sky

A piece of debris on what looks like sand on mars shining in yellow

5. Weekly dose of awe: Cartwheeling through space

A galaxy shining in pink and blue seen by the JWST.

Thanks for reading Axios Space. At 1,241 words, this newsletter is about a 5-minute read.

Some big news here! Axios has agreed to sell to Cox Enterprises. Read more about the sale here.

Please send your tips, questions and space junk to miriam.kramer@axios.com, or if you received this as an email, just hit reply.

Big thanks to Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath, Sam Baker and Sheryl Miller for editing this week's edition and to Victoria Ellis for the great illustration. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, subscribe. ✨

1 big thing: Voyager's critical moment

Illustration of a blueprint with an image of the universe on it

2. How JWST's photos work

Five galaxies in Stephan's Quintet seen by the JWST.

3. Space investment slump

Illustration of a spaceship made from a roll of pennies

Buzz Aldrin in his EV suit stands next to the leg of the lunar lander on the cratered surface of the Moon

5. Weekly dose of awe: Jupiter through the JWST's eyes

Jupiter shining in red and yellow seen in infrared by the James Webb Space Telescope.

Thanks for reading Axios Space. At 1,454 words, this newsletter is about a 5½-minute read.

Please send your tips, questions and Voyager expectations to miriam.kramer@axios.com, or if you received this as an email, just hit reply.

Big thanks to Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath and Sheryl Miller for editing this week's edition and to the visuals team for all of their help. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, subscribe. ☀️

Axios Space: NASA's interstellar voyagers

Russia's blow to the International Space Station

1 big thing: The coming end of the ISS

Illustration of an astronaut scraping a Russian flag sticker off the side of a space station

2. 10 years of Curiosity on Mars

Illustration of "ten" number candles on the surface of Mars. 

Scientists discover "first of its kind" triple star system

3. A triple star system

A quadruple star system seen by the Hubble Space Telescope

Illustration of a satellite blocking the view of many asteroids in the background

5. Weekly dose of awe: A SpaceX rocket launch

A Falcon 9 rocket launch illuminated by the Sun.

Thanks for reading Axios Space. At 1,177 words, this newsletter is about a 4½-minute read.

I'm off on vacation, so this newsletter is taking a break next week. See y'all again on Aug. 9. 

Please send your tips, questions and breaking Roscosmos news to miriam.kramer@axios.com, or if you received this as an email, just hit reply.

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1 big thing: Large telescopes have lives of their own

Illustration of a gallery picture of the Carina Nebula with a frame made out of telescopes

2. JWST's first photos revealed

Three photos taken by the James Webb Space Telescope.

3. What's in a telescope's name?

Illustration of a "hello" name ID tag made from stars in space

Perseverance looking out on Mars. The spacecraft is foregrounded, with a large plane stretching out in front of it.

5. Weekly dose of awe: Hubble's Carina nebula

The clouds of gas and colorful dust seen by the Hubble Space Telescope in the Carina nebula.

Thanks for reading Axios Space. At 1,340 words, this newsletter is about a 5-minute read.

This week, we're devoting the entire newsletter to the importance of — and controversy surrounding — the James Webb Space Telescope.

Please send your tips, questions and JWST predictions to miriam.kramer@axios.com, or if you received this as an email, just hit reply.

Big thanks to Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath and Sheryl Miller for editing this week's edition and to the visuals team for all of their help. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, subscribe. 🔭

Over the past 10 years, NASA's Curiosity rover has revealed that Mars was once a habitable world with long-lived rivers and lakes billions of years ago.

Why it matters: These discoveries have fundamentally transformed how scientists understand the habitability of Mars, with research now pointing to the idea that the planet could have supported life for a good portion of its history. 

When did the Curiosity rover land on Mars?

Curiosity had a prime mission for just two years when it landed on the Red Planet on Aug. 5, 2012. 

But 10 years later, the mission continues, with the car-sized rover currently exploring Mount Sharp and getting a good look at the various layers of sediment set down within the large mountain's location in Gale Crater, the spacecraft's landing site.

So far, Curiosity has driven 17.58 miles since landing in the crater. 

"It was not at all a sure thing that we would be here 10 years, and especially in such good shape," Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity's project scientist tells Axios. "We're right on the verge of accomplishing some of the last things we ever envisioned accomplishing at Mount Sharp and Gale Crater."

Curiosity discovered what used to be an ancient stream bed that was home to a river that was once ankle to hip deep, according to a NASA report from 2013. 

The rover has shown that the planet hosts organic molecules, which aren't themselves signs of life but are the building blocks of it. 

It also discovered that there is methane being released into the atmosphere of the world, a possible sign of life or the result of normal geological processes. 

The big picture: Curiosity represents a culmination of decades of hardware sent to Mars over the years. 

Earlier rovers, like Opportunity and Sojourner, were relatively simple machines that gathered important science but didn't have the analytical abilities of more complicated tools.

Curiosity is effectively a full science laboratory, with the ability to sample the Martian rock and parse out exactly what it is and even how it formed. 

Even Perseverance, the newest rover sent to Mars by NASA, is more focused on gathering samples for an eventual return to Earth instead of analyzing these samples just from the Martian surface.

Curiosity will build on its past successes over the next three years on its newly extended mission. 

In the immediate future, the rover is continuing its climb up Mount Sharp, with plans to go to an area where the geology of the mountain changes.

"Pretty much everywhere we've explored on Mount Sharp to this point, there has been evidence of a lot of water in the ancient past. Most of the layers we've explored, formed as mud at the bottom of ancient lakes," Vasavada says.

"Now we're about to switch maybe to something more like the opposite. Maybe the lakes will disappear forever in the historical record of Mount Sharp."

If that is the case and Curiosity finds that these layers have always been dry, the question then becomes whether Mars could have still been habitable for microbial life — perhaps below the surface of the planet — even after those lakes disappeared.

What to watch: Curiosity runs on nuclear power, and eventually that will deplete, ending its long, scientifically productive stint on Mars. 

"Things could change tomorrow, but we could have, five to eight years," Andy Mishkin, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, tells Axios.

A decade of Curiosity on Mars

The Curiosity rover landed on the Red Planet on Aug. 5, 2012.

NASA

Space

Over the past 10 years, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="NASA&#x27;s Curiosity rover" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2019/08/08/curiosity-rover-7-years-on-mars" data-vars-content-id="23207981-0872-44c3-80ef-888f43d89c41" data-vars-headline="A decade of Curiosity on Mars" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2019/08/08/curiosity-rover-7-years-on-mars" target="_self">NASA&#x27;s Curiosity rover</a> has revealed that Mars was once a habitable world with long-lived rivers and lakes billions of years ago.Why it matters: These discoveries have fundamentally transformed how scientists understand the habitability of Mars, with research now pointing to the idea that the planet could have supported life for a good portion of its history.

A look at the scientific breakthroughs changing the world, explorations in space and in worlds beyond our own and the threats posed to us by our own planet, both out of our control and of our own making.

Science

The Perseid meteor shower — typically one of the best of the year — is set to peak this week, but a bright Moon could wash out all but the brightest shooting stars. 

The big picture: This meteor shower comes around each year as the Earth passes through the trail of debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle, which was last visible from Earth in 1992.

State of play: In a typical year, observers checking out the Perseids from dark parts of the world can see 50–100 meteors per hour during the peak of the shower.

This year, however, people watching in dark conditions in North America will likely only be able to see 10–20 meteors per hour during the shower's peak from late Friday night to the early hours of Saturday morning, according to NASA astronomer Bill Cooke.

“Sadly, this year’s Perseids peak will see the worst possible circumstances for spotters," Cooke added in a statement.

How it works: If you still want to check out the Perseids, the best way is to head out to a dark area free of clouds and far from city lights. 

The Moon will still wash out the sky, but if you allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness — such as it is — you should hopefully be able to see at least a few meteors during the shower's peak.

The peak of the shower will likely occur between midnight and dawn on Saturday.

How to watch the Perseid meteor shower

The shower peaks this week during a full Moon.

Streaks of meteors streaming in a dark, star-dotted sky.

A time lapse of meteors streaking through the sky. Photo: NASA/JPL

Astronomy

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Perseid meteor shower" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/08/03/perseid-meteor-shower-where-how-watch" data-vars-content-id="285110c9-d4fa-400b-837e-87904dcf3fd2" data-vars-headline="How to watch the Perseid meteor shower" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/08/03/perseid-meteor-shower-where-how-watch" target="_self">Perseid meteor shower</a> — typically one of the best of the year — is set to peak this week, but a bright Moon could wash out all but the brightest shooting stars. The big picture: This meteor shower comes around each year as the Earth passes through the trail of debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle, which was last visible from Earth in 1992.

Scientists have discovered a special, massive triple star system like nothing they've seen before. 

Why it matters: By learning more about these types of star systems, astronomers are able to piece together a better idea of how stars and planets form throughout the universe. 

What they found: The system consists of two stars orbiting one another in a binary and the third orbiting the binary, according to a study published at the end of June in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 

The two stars in the binary combined are 12 times larger than the Sun, and the third star is 16 times the mass of the Sun. 

"As far as we know, it is the first of its kind ever detected," Alejandro Vigna-Gómez, one of the authors of the study, said in a statement. 

"We know of many tertiary star systems (three star systems), but they are typically significantly less massive. The massive stars in this triple are very close together — it is a compact system."

The big picture: The scientists behind the discovery think that this system likely formed as two sets of binaries orbiting one another. 

One of the stars in the outer binary then merged with its companion, leaving one massive star to orbit the other binary.

Go deeper: What happens when a black hole eats a star

The system consists of two stars orbiting one another in a binary and the third orbiting the binary.

A star system like the one detailed in this story with two sets of binary stars. Photo: NASA/ESA/STScI

Stars

Scientists have discovered a special, massive triple star system like nothing they&#x27;ve seen before. Why it matters: By learning more about these types of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="star systems" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/09/07/supernova-new-type-discovered-space-astronomy" data-vars-content-id="ac94087d-86ef-4050-bb09-db76fd40fc8d" data-vars-headline="Scientists discover &quot;first of its kind&quot; triple star system" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/09/07/supernova-new-type-discovered-space-astronomy" target="_self">star systems</a>, astronomers are able to piece together a better idea of how stars and planets form throughout the universe.

As close calls between satellites and debris in orbit become more frequent, the U.S. government is signaling that it's time to take the threats posed by space junk seriously.

Why it matters: There are thousands of pieces of space junk circling the Earth at more than 17,000 miles per hour, threatening operational satellites and even people in orbit.

"I think that the large swaths of space becoming unusable is something that could very well happen in the next few years," Moriba Jah, the co-founder of Privateer Space, tells Axios.

Driving the news: The White House issued an implementation plan at the end of last month detailing the steps the Biden administration hopes to take in order to track, remediate and mitigate debris in orbit, building on work started by previous administrations.

The document — which is the culmination of months of inter-agency work — lays out which parts of the U.S. government are responsible for studying ways to clean up junk in space, track it and stop the creation of more of it.

The plan could lead to better characterization and tracking of the debris in space today — with research going toward "improving characterization" of debris that's less than 1 centimeter in low-Earth orbit. 

The document also potentially reopens debate on just how long debris — like rocket bodies — can be allowed to stay in orbit. Current, internationally adopted guidelines that spent satellites and rocket bodies should deorbit after 25 years have been cited as too lax in recent years.

State of play: Experts warn that events like the uncontrolled descent of a Chinese rocket body last month and pieces of a SpaceX capsule that ended up in Australia after re-entering the atmosphere could become more common along with collisions of satellites in orbit in the future.

There is already some evidence that the Kessler effect — the self-perpetuating creation of debris from uncontrolled collisions of junk — is happening in some orbits, Luc Riesbeck of Astroscale US says. 

The big picture: Cleaning up space junk isn't just about one nation — or one company — taking on the responsibility and making it happen. 

Instead, like fighting climate change, experts say it will require many nations to come together to establish norms and rules that aggressively target the removal and mitigation of debris.

"Space debris is an international problem, but the U.S. has an opportunity to lead," Ezinne Uzo-Okoro, assistant director for space policy at the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy, tells Axios.

Yes, but: Unlike Europe and Japan, the U.S. doesn't yet have its own cleanup mission on the books, something that the implementation plan doesn't directly put into the pipeline. 

The regulatory framework around actually removing junk from orbit — especially if it wasn't created by the specific country that is cleaning it up — is also complicated.

If one country cleans up junk created by another country, it could set a precedent that leads to one nation interfering with another nation's satellites in orbit. Space junk cleanup could also be a matter of national pride.

"For countries that don't have a lot going on in their space sector or are having trouble in their space sector otherwise, it might look bad if they can't even afford to remove their trash from orbit," Victoria Samson, of the Secure World Foundation, says.

What to watch: Congress will now need to appropriate funds to make many of the suggestions laid out in the White House's plan a reality.

"I'm glad to see lead organizations identified next to each part of this implementation plan, then it's on Congress to do its job and provide funding in a responsible and meaningful way so that these lead organizations can actually do these things — and then holding these organizations accountable," Jah says.

Taking space junk seriously

Aerospace

As close calls between satellites and debris in orbit become more frequent, the U.S. government is signaling that it&#x27;s time to take the threats posed by space junk seriously.Why it matters: There are thousands of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pieces of space junk" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/04/27/space-junk-clean-up" data-vars-content-id="b0ac96a0-f54c-49f6-b893-951bc164a26a" data-vars-headline="Taking space junk seriously" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/04/27/space-junk-clean-up" target="_self">pieces of space junk</a> circling the Earth at more than 17,000 miles per hour, threatening operational satellites and even people in orbit.

Russia is planning to pull out of the International Space Station after 2024, potentially closing the book on the nation's close relationship with the U.S. in space.

Why it matters: During times of high tension on Earth — like during Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and today's ongoing war in Ukraine — space has often been one of the only open avenues of communication between the two nations.

It's also not clear if the space station can remain operational without Russia after 2024.

NASA is planning to send astronauts to private space stations after the end of the ISS, but those stations likely won't be available until the late 2020s.

This could leave NASA's astronauts somewhat stranded, with nowhere to go in low-Earth orbit as China gains its own foothold in orbit with its space station. 

Driving the news: "The decision to leave the station after 2024 has been made," Yuri Borisov, the newly appointed head of Roscosmos — Russia's space agency — told Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the Associated Press.

After 2024, Roscosmos is planning to focus on building its own space station. 

This plan is in line with other statements made by the previous head of Roscosmos, despite the fact that other ISS partners — like NASA — have pushed to keep the program going until the end of the 2020s. 

"They have been good partners as all of our partners are," Robyn Gatens, NASA's director of the International Space Station, said during remarks at a conference today. "And we want to continue together as a partnership to continue operating the space station through the decade."

The news also comes after NASA and Russia announced seat swaps for the ISS where Russian cosmonauts will fly aboard SpaceX's Dragon capsules and NASA astronauts will fly aboard Russian Progress vehicles.

Yes, but: Any ISS partner that wants to pull out of the program needs to provide one year's notice and formal notification.

"We haven't received any official word from the partner as to the news today," Gatens said of Russia. "We'll be talking more about their plan going forward."

Between the lines: Russia's plans to leave the station after 2024 — if they come to fruition — could actually help solve a political challenge for the United States. 

Continuing on with Russia as a partner in space could be a politically difficult thing to sell on the ground because of Moscow's actions in Ukraine. 

"If the Russians are pulling out, maybe that's sort of a silver lining for the U.S." Brian Weeden of the Secure World Foundation tells me.

What to watch: The Moon is quickly becoming the focal point of geopolitical intrigue in space as attention turns away from the ISS. 

NASA is working with multiple ISS partners for its Artemis program to send people back to the lunar surface while also enlisting other nations to sign its Artemis Accords.

Russia, on the other hand, has committed to partnering with China to build a research station on the Moon, rejecting the Artemis program. 

It's not clear if the ISS can remain operational without Russia after 2024.

International Space Station

Russia

Russia is planning to<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" pull out of the International Space Station" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/26/russia-international-space-station-2024" data-vars-content-id="c622af43-ba4a-49e4-bc3f-1a53233a3632" data-vars-headline="Russia&#x27;s blow to the International Space Station" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/26/russia-international-space-station-2024" target="_self"> pull out of the International Space Station</a> after 2024, potentially closing the book on the nation&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="close relationship" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/03/16/russia-us-collaboration-space-ends" data-vars-content-id="c622af43-ba4a-49e4-bc3f-1a53233a3632" data-vars-headline="Russia&#x27;s blow to the International Space Station" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/03/16/russia-us-collaboration-space-ends" target="_self">close relationship</a> with the U.S. in space.Why it matters: During times of high tension on Earth — like during Russia&#x27;s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and today&#x27;s ongoing war in Ukraine — space has often been one of the only open avenues of communication between the two nations.

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

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Stories

How to watch the Perseid meteor shower

Taking space junk seriously

A decade of Curiosity on Mars

Scientists discover "first of its kind" triple star system

Russia's blow to the International Space Station

Newsletter editions

Axios Space: Space junk cleanup

Axios Space: Russia's blow to the ISS

Axios Space: NASA's interstellar voyagers

🔭 Axios Space: All about JWST

Axios Space: A space bubble set to pop