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The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida has revealed plans for a revamped attraction called The Gantry at LC-39, set to open in early 2025, as per reports. The reimagined observation tower, which was previously used for launch viewing, will now offer an interactive experience, including a simulated rocket engine test. Visitors will have the chance to stand beneath a full-scale rocket engine and experience the sights and sounds of a simulated test fire, complete with lights, sound effects, and a cooling mist.

A New Chapter for The Gantry at LC-39

According to a statement, Therrin Protze, Chief Operating Officer of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, emphasised the educational mission of the new attraction. Described as “an innovative, interactive experience,” The Gantry at LC-39 will offer visitors insights into NASA’s ongoing research and space exploration initiatives.

Reportedly, the attraction’s features will include a 360-degree viewing platform showcasing active launch sites at NASA and Space Force facilities, exhibits highlighting the history of the space program and activities for guests, such as designing and virtually launching rockets. Visitors can also explore an Earth Information Center, which provides immersive exhibits on planetary changes and environmental challenges.

Enhanced Visitor Experiences and Historical Significance

The Gantry, originally built in 1998 and closed to the public after the 9/11 attacks, is being revitalised to blend historical significance with modern innovation. Reports indicate that the facility will continue as a premium launch viewing site while hosting interactive exhibits. Educational displays will also highlight the Kennedy Space Center’s location within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Renovations include a dining area and access to space-related artefacts, such as a tread from a crawler-transporter. As per reports, this development aims to make space exploration more accessible and engaging for the public. The experience promises to captivate visitors of all ages when it opens in 2025.

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NASA and ISRO Confirm Japan’s Moon Lander Resilience Crashed at Mare Frigoris

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June 25, 2025

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NASA and ISRO Confirm Japan’s Moon Lander Resilience Crashed at Mare Frigoris

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and India’s Chandrayaan-2 orbiter have captured images of Japan’s Resilience lunar lander after it suffered a catastrophic crash on the Moon. Resilience, developed by private firm ispace, had been attempting to touch down in the Mare Frigoris region on June 5. The lander was carrying scientific experiments and a small European lunar rover, Tenacious, slated to deploy an art model on the surface. Contact was lost about 100 seconds before the planned touchdown, and the new images show debris scattered around the impact site. These images provide the first confirmation of Resilience’s fate.

Crash site images reveal debris field

According to the captured crash site image by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter on June 11, 2025, there is a dark smudge of disturbed regolith where Resilience hit the surface. India’s Chandrayaan-2 orbiter captured follow-up images on June 16 showing the debris field in greater detail. Astronomy experts identified at least a dozen fragments of the lander and its small rover Tenacious in these photos.

One enthusiast catalogued at least 12 separate debris items, though their exact spread is unclear. A faint bright halo of ejected dust surrounds the smudge, consistent with a violent impact. These detailed views provide clues to investigators piecing together how Resilience broke apart on impact.

Laser rangefinder fault pinpointed as cause

Resilience’s onboard laser altimeter began lagging about 100 seconds before landing, causing the descent to proceed too fast. On June 24, ispace confirmed that this rangefinder malfunction during descent prevented the lander from decelerating to the planned touchdown speed. The hard impact “likely tore the spacecraft apart” and destroyed all scientific payloads.

Investigators are examining factors like lunar surface reflectivity or hardware degradation as possible triggers of the failure. Resilience was ispace’s second Hakuto-R moon lander; its predecessor (April 2023) likewise crash-landed. CEO Takeshi Hakamada said the company is working on fixes and “will not let this be a setback” as it pursues future lunar missions.

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Supermassive Black Hole Burps Matter at Near-Light Speeds After Consuming Gas Too Fast

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June 25, 2025

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Supermassive Black Hole Burps Matter at Near-Light Speeds After Consuming Gas Too Fast

A distant supermassive black hole has stunned astronomers by expelling matter at speeds nearing a third of light velocity after consuming material at an extreme rate. Designated PG1211+143, this cosmic powerhouse lies in a Seyfert galaxy 1.2 billion light-years away and boasts a mass 40 million times greater than the Sun. Researchers using the ESA’s XMM-Newton X-ray telescope tracked an influx of gas equivalent to 10 Earths over just five weeks, only to find the black hole burping out excess matter at around 0.27 times the speed of light.

Supermassive Black Hole’s Outflows May Halt Star Formation and Alter Galaxy Evolution Permanently

As per a report in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, these ultra-fast outflows followed the inflow by a delay of a few days, heating the surrounding active galactic nucleus (AGN) to millions of degrees. The radiation pressure generated was powerful enough to push out surrounding gas, potentially starving the black hole’s galaxy of star-forming material. This feedback loop, scientists suggest, might represent the transition from active star-birth sites to galaxies entering a quieter period.

The winds ejected at more than 181 million mph most likely blew away clouds of cold gas, which were necessary for stellar births. The evidence found allowed Pounds to observe a black hole as it grew, even though there is not much matter to feed the black hole, even if it is large.

This discovery can enable people to understand the influence of quasars and AGNs on galaxy life cycles. High-speed ejections of outflowing matter paralyse the star-formation process and turn star-forming regions into barren space. However, additional monitoring in pursuit to determine their frequency and global pattern of cosmic evolution.

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Amazon’s Kuiper Launches 27 Satellites, Eyes 2025 LEO Broadband Rollout

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June 25, 2025

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Amazon's Kuiper Launches 27 Satellites, Eyes 2025 LEO Broadband Rollout

Demand for broadband connectivity is driving a surge in satellite constellations in low Earth orbit (LEO). LEO systems offer lower-latency links to remote areas and the potential to connect underserved communities. Amazon’s Project Kuiper and SpaceX’s Starlink head this wave. GeekWire notes that each Kuiper launch is “another significant step toward competing with SpaceX’s global Starlink network”, and Amazon is joining a “growing list of companies” seeking to challenge Starlink in the rapidly evolving LEO broadband arena. Indeed, filings show Amazon expects Kuiper to begin offering service by 2025.

Project Kuiper’s Ambitious Launch Plans

According to Amazon, Kuiper project is now moving into full deployment. It first flew two prototype satellites in late 2023, and on April 28, 2025 it launched 27 production satellites aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. Kuiper aims for roughly a 3,200-satellite constellation, and Amazon has pre-booked dozens of heavy-lift launches to build it. For example, Space.com reports Kuiper will require “more than 3,200 satellites… after 83 launches on Atlas V, ULA’s Vulcan, Blue Origin’s New Glenn and Arianespace’s Ariane 6 rockets”. In December 2023 Amazon also secured three SpaceX Falcon 9 launches. These multi-provider launch contracts (costing many billions) are intended to spread schedule risk and ensure Kuiper’s constellation is delivered on time.

Amazon expects to begin customer service in late 2025, driving its schedule. To meet this timeline, it has reserved dozens of launch slots on Atlas V, ULA’s new Vulcan, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, Arianespace’s Ariane 6 and even SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets. These commitments ensure the required satellites will launch quickly to meet Amazon’s deployment milestones.

Global Competition in LEO Broadband

SpaceX’s Starlink leads with over 7,600 satellites already in orbit. SpaceX has flown dozens of Starlink launches this year to expand coverage. Meanwhile, rivals aim even higher: China’s state-backed Guowang project plans roughly 13,000 satellites, and the Shanghai-led “Thousand Sails” (Qianfan) network targets about 14,000. SpaceNews noted that these Chinese launches “advance [China’s] ambitious LEO network to rival Starlink and other global systems”. This worldwide build-out underscores that LEO broadband is evolving into a critical new domain of internet infrastructure.

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