The Space Race - Weekly Roundup April 1st

Author

Juan Fernández
April 01, 2025

In partnership with

Hey there, dear space friends!

From Mars to the Moon and the Sun, it's been a packed week in space exploration. NASA discovered the biggest organic molecules ever found on Mars, Europe gave its ExoMars mission new life, and Perseverance is testing future spacesuits. Plus: Starship joins NASA’s launcher list, Gaia says goodbye, and much more.

But first, a quick shoutout to our sponsor this week: 1440 Media.

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Now, let’s explore together the top space stories of the week👇

🛰️ First-Ever Crewed Flight Over the Poles

SpaceX has launched Fram2, a private astronaut mission that makes history as the first human spaceflight to orbit over both poles. Led by crypto billionaire Chun Wang, the mission is packed with experiments (from growing mushrooms to testing medical X-rays) and will splash down off California after 3 days in orbit.

💥 Crash Landing in Norway

It was supposed to be a historic moment: Europe’s first-ever orbital rocket launch from its own soil. Instead, Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket lifted off and exploded just 18 seconds later. Isar Aerospace’s test flight may have failed, but no payloads were onboard, and the data gathered will fuel better designs. Every breakthrough starts with a brave first step. If you get a chance, don’t miss the stunning launch footage.

🚀 NASA Adds Starship to Launch Lineup

NASA has officially added SpaceX’s Starship to its list of eligible rockets for future missions. While it’s not ready for high-risk science launches just yet, it’s a major step forward. Starship will first play a key role in landing astronauts on the Moon as part of the Artemis program.

🔥 Satellites Launched to Fight Wildfires

Rocket Lab just launched eight satellites for OroraTech, aimed at spotting wildfires faster and more accurately. These new eyes in the sky will help cover the high-risk afternoon hours. It’s great to see space tech being used for something so urgent and impactful: protecting our forests and communities.

🧪 Biggest Organic Molecules Found on Mars

Curiosity just made a jaw-dropping discovery: the largest organic molecules ever detected on Mars. While it’s not proof of life, it’s a huge clue that ancient Mars may have had the right chemistry to support it. These fatty acid traces bring us one step closer to answering the big question: was Mars ever alive?

🤖 Japan Plans Robot Arm for Moon Rover

Japanese startup GITAI has finished designing a robotic arm for Japan’s future crewed lunar rover. The arm will handle tasks like digging, collecting samples, and moving equipment—both with and without astronauts onboard. It’s a key step toward Japan’s role in NASA’s Artemis missions and long-term Moon exploration.

👨‍🚀 Mars Suits Getting a Reality Check

Perseverance isn’t just hunting for ancient life: it’s testing spacesuit fabrics too. After four years on the Martian surface, NASA’s swatches are showing how brutal Mars really is. It’s smart, forward-thinking science: before sending astronauts, we’re learning how their gear will hold up in one of the harshest environments imaginable.

🛬 Europe’s New Mars Lander Is a Go

After years of delays and a canceled Russian partnership, ESA’s ExoMars mission is back on track. Airbus will now build the lander that’ll safely deliver the Rosalind Franklin rover to Mars by 2030.

☀️ Parker Zooms Past the Sun Again!

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe just survived another blazing flyby, skimming only 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) from the Sun at a jaw-dropping 430,000 mph (692,000 km/h). This marks its 23rd close encounter, gathering rare data on solar wind and space weather. It’s one of the boldest space missions ever, and it’s far from done.

🚁 What’s Next After Ingenuity?

NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter showed that powered flight on Mars works. Now, scientists are working on upgraded versions that can carry scientific tools, scout for astronauts, and reach tough terrain. They're light, low-cost, and full of potential. Ingenuity opened the door. And now it's time to explore what’s possible.

🌠 Gaia Says Goodbye, Science Lives On

ESA’s Gaia spacecraft has ended its operations after 11 brilliant years in space. Though its instruments are now silent, the data it sent back—mapping nearly 2 billion stars—will guide astronomers for decades. Gaia changed how we see our galaxy forever.

🪐 Small Disks Reveal How Planets Form

Astronomers have captured detailed images of young star systems and found most are surrounded by small disks of dust and gas. These tiny disks likely form compact planets close to their stars, not huge distant ones. It’s a big step toward understanding how the most common planets in the universe are born.

📹 Our latest videos

Here are the latest videos we've published on our YouTube channel this week:

🚀 Upcoming Rocket Launches

A quick summary of all planned rocket launches for the week ahead.

Tuesday, Apr 1st:

  • Falcon 9 Block 5 (SpaceX, USA) – Fram2. Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.

  • Long March 2D (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China) – Unknown Payload. Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China.

Wednesday, Apr 2nd: Falcon 9 Block 5 (SpaceX, USA) – Starlink Group 11-13. Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.

Thursday, Apr 3rd: Long March 6 (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China) – Unknown Payload. Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China.

Saturday, Apr 5th: Falcon 9 Block 5 (SpaceX, USA) – Starlink Group 11-11. Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.

Sunday, Apr 6th: Falcon 9 Block 5 (SpaceX, USA) – Starlink Group 6-72. Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.

Tuesday, Apr 8th: Soyuz 2.1a (Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS), Russia/Kazakhstan) – Soyuz MS-27. Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan.

And that’s it for this week. Stay curious! 😊 

Juan and the team at The Space Race

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