The Milky Way and Andromeda are two of the most iconic and studied galaxies in the universe. Though they share similarities, they also have striking differences that make each one unique.

What They Have in Common
Spiral Shape: Both are majestic spiral galaxies, featuring sweeping arms of stars, gas, and dust wrapped around a central bulge.

Barred Structure: Each galaxy has a central bar-shaped core, a common feature in large spiral galaxies.

How They Differ
Size:
Andromeda spans ~220,000 light-years, making it nearly twice the size of the Milky Way, which measures about 100,000 light-years.

Location:
Milky Way is our cosmic home.
Andromeda lies 2.5 million light-years away from us.

Future Collision:
They're on a cosmic collision course! In about 4.5 billion years, the two galaxies are expected to merge, forming a new elliptical galaxy—sometimes dubbed Milkomeda.

Unique Traits
Andromeda: Hosts a larger entourage of satellite galaxies, including dozens of dwarfs in orbit.

Milky Way: Features a richer, more dynamic structure with a pronounced bar and vivid, active spiral arms.

Together, these galactic giants help scientists unravel the mysteries of how galaxies form, evolve, and interact across billions of years.

Elon Musk has activated Starlink satellite internet over Iran in response to widespread government-imposed internet blackouts triggered by escalating Iran–Israel tensions.

The move was confirmed by Musk with a post saying, “The beams are on,” indicating Starlink coverage was live in Iranian airspace.

-- Why It Matters

Iran has recently faced major internet shutdowns due to regional instability and internal crackdowns. Starlink’s activation is intended to restore independent internet access for Iranians during this communication crisis.

-- Who Can Access It?

Despite the satellite signals being active:

Only those with Starlink terminals can access the service.

Terminals are not legally sold or distributed in Iran, so access is largely limited to people who already have the equipment or can smuggle it in, such as activists or tech-savvy citizens.

-- Historical Context

This is not the first time Starlink has supported Iranians:

In 2022, Musk offered similar support during anti-government protests in Iran.

The U.S. government eased sanctions back then to allow tech services like Starlink to assist civilians.

Honda R&D Co., Ltd., the research division of Honda, successfully launched and vertically landed a prototype reusable rocket at its testing site in Taiki, Hokkaido, Japan.

The test vehicle stood 6.3 meters tall, weighed about 1.3 metric tons, and reached a height of 271 meters (890 feet). Most impressively, it achieved a precision landing within 37 centimeters of the designated pad after hovering for over 56 seconds.

This test was part of Honda’s long-term vision to develop low-cost, small-scale reusable launch systems that can support satellite deployment and suborbital missions.

By 2029, Honda aims to develop a rocket capable of reaching suborbital space (~100 km altitude), marking a serious entry into the private aerospace sector.

While Honda has not announced any immediate commercial plans, the test marks a significant milestone. It positions the company alongside global players like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and ISRO, showcasing the potential of traditional automakers to expand into space technology.

The successful test also underscores Honda’s ability to integrate its automotive expertise—particularly in control systems and fuel efficiency—into space applications.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has made history with its Proba-3 mission, which successfully created the first artificial solar eclipses in space.

This was achieved using two satellites flying in precise formation: one blocks the Sun (the occulter) while the other observes the Sun’s outer atmosphere (coronagraph). Unlike natural solar eclipses that last just a few minutes, these artificial eclipses can last up to 6 hours, and can be repeated twice a week.

Since March 2025, over 10 eclipses have already been conducted, and the first clear, high-quality images of the solar corona have been released.

This breakthrough allows scientists to continuously study solar phenomena like coronal heating, solar wind, and coronal mass ejections—which are key to understanding and predicting space weather.

This marks a major technological leap in satellite coordination and solar research, offering nearly 200 eclipses and 1,000+ hours of corona observation over the mission's two-year life—far surpassing what’s possible from Earth.

At Systems Labs in California, six brilliant NASA scientists stood on ladders, chalk in hand, filling an enormous blackboard with equations to plot satellite orbits—no computers, just pure brainpower.

In the dawn of the space age, with limited technology and no digital calculators, every calculation was done by hand. Precision mattered. One error could send a satellite off course—or worse, into oblivion.

This iconic scene is a powerful reminder of the grit, collaboration, and raw intellect that fueled the earliest leaps into space.
A true tribute to the pioneers who laid the mathematical groundwork for humanity’s journey beyond Earth.

#NASAHistory #SpaceRace #SatelliteScience #BrainsBeforeBytes #1950sNASA