Today’s Top Space News – What’s Up in July 2025

1. NASA Tracks Rare “Sprites” from the ISS

Astronaut Nichole Ayers aboard the ISS captured a stunning red, jellyfish-like sprite—a high-altitude electrical flash triggered by powerful thunderstorms over North America and Mexico space.com+4people.com+4space.com+4. These transient luminous events help researchers better understand lightning and atmospheric interactions.

2. SpaceX Sets Reuse Milestone with 500th Falcon 9 Launch

On July 2, SpaceX celebrated a major achievement: its 500th Falcon 9 launch, carrying 27 Starlink satellites. The booster marked a record-breaking 29th flight, highlighting SpaceX’s impressive strides in rocket reusability people.comspaceflightnow.com+2space.com+2ts2.tech+2.

3. SpaceX Builds Massive Mars-Oriented “Gigabay”

In South Texas, SpaceX is constructing a new $250 million “Gigabay” facility at Starbase. Spanning 700,000 sq ft and rising 30 stories, it will streamline production of Starship rockets aimed at Mars colonization expressnews.com.

4. U.S. Air Force Pauses SpaceX Cargo Rocket Test

The U.S. Air Force suspended SpaceX’s project to test hypersonic rocket-based cargo delivery from Johnston Atoll. Environmental concerns—especially for bird populations—have prompted a search for more suitable testing sites yahoo.com+2reuters.com+2thedailybeast.com+2.

5. NASA Discovers a Massive Interstellar Comet, 3I/ATLAS

A Manhattan-sized interstellar comet, officially named 3I/ATLAS, was detected passing through our solar system from the direction of Sagittarius. Traveling at ~37 mi/s, it poses no threat to Earth, but is expected to stay visible through September—offering a rare study opportunity apnews.com+2science.nasa.gov+2nypost.com+2.

6. NASA Confirms Crew-11 Mission Briefings

NASA has scheduled media events for the Crew-11 mission, set to launch aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon in late July or early August. The spacecraft will ferry four astronauts — including Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke — to the ISS nasa.gov+2nasa.gov+2en.wikipedia.org+2.

7. NASA Studies Record Geomagnetic Storm — One Year Later

One year after the powerful Gannon geomagnetic storm, NASA is analyzing its impacts. This storm was the strongest in 20 years and influenced satellite systems, power grids, and atmospheric chemistry science.nasa.gov.

8. July’s Skywatching: Planets & Constellations Guide

Look to the night sky this July:

• Mercury dips low at dusk (early month only).
• Mars remains bright in the evening sky.
• Venus and Jupiter shine before dawn, forming a bright planetary trio.
• Saturn rises after midnight.
• Spot Aquila and its bright star Altair in the early night sky nasa.gov+7science.nasa.gov+7science.nasa.gov+7spacex.com.

🔧 Why These Stories Matter

• We saw rare atmospheric events from space.
• SpaceX broke its own rocket reuse records and scaled Mars infrastructure.
• Strategic decisions were made to protect environment-sensitive areas.
• A rare interstellar visitor passed through our solar system.
• NASA continues prioritizing crewed missions to the ISS and examining space weather trends.
• Plus, July offers amazing stargazing opportunities for amateur astronomers.