May 13, 2026 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Video of Japan’s HTV-X1 cargo capsule, still in orbit at an altitude of 376 kilometers
It launched in October 2025, docked with ISS, and then undocked in March 2026. It will be de-orbited later this month over the Pacific.
- China touts its dedication to climate by describing its carbon monitoring equipment launched recently to its space station
Pure propaganda. As Jay correctly notes, “China is the worst polluter in the world.”
- On this day in 1982 the first crew to visit the Soviet Union’s new Salyut-7 space station was launched
They completed a 211 day mission (a record at the time). I describe their mission extensively in my book Leaving Earth. Lots of drama.
- Video of the first carry flight of Russia’s Buran space shuttle copy, which took place on May 13, 1989
They used an Antonov An-225 Mriya strategic airlift cargo aircraft.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
“China is the worst polluter in the world.”
No surprise, when the entire world has offshored their industry to China. No one, whatever their political persuasion, seems to be too concerned about the pollution, as long as they can buy cheap stuff. Those nations with climate agendas, are notably hypocritical.
Folks on the Left hate factories/industry.
Folks on the Right hate paying good wages
China is the bipartisan result.
I didn’t care one jot about Watergate. What Nixon was praised the most for–was what I despised the most.
Blair Ivey
Your right in that the western world is hypocritical.
But its Chinas job to protect China. Not mine.
Chinas modern culture is vial. From the top to the bottom their whole philosophy centers on self. Rip everyone off to get ahead.
Ignore the rules and payoff the officials if you can.
A nation ruled by mobsters. The last thing they would care about is the land/environment they do not own. They have no connection to the land not even emotionally. Why protect it for someone else.
The best time to close a deal?
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-generosity.html
“Now, a team of researchers at the University of Portsmouth has discovered that the post-workout warm glow isn’t just good for you—it turns out it could be good for everyone around you as well. A new study, published in the journal Psychology of Sport & Exercise, suggests that the mood boost triggered by exercise makes some people significantly more generous. There’s a catch though—you have to enjoy breaking a sweat to feel the “warm glow” of generosity.”
Always be–showing up when Mark Cuban runs a gasser.