November 5, 2025 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.
- A review of the 11 new Chinese rockets that were supposed to launch for the first time in 2025
Only one has launched, the government’s Long March 8. One government and three pseudo-company rockets have done static fire tests and appear ready for launch. Of the remaining six no news.
- Scientists claim a flare from an active galaxy 10 billion light years away that was detected in 2018 was the biggest black hole flare ever detected
All together now: The uncertainty of science!
- Stilsat-1: A Russian-owned and Chinese-built satellite watching Ukraine
Apparently the Russians bought a Chinese satellite for military reconnaissance. Apparently Russia has trouble doing this kind of thing itself these days.
- Chinese astronauts enjoy ‘1st ever space BBQ’ from Tiangong-3’s brand-new oven
Unlike the prototype oven tested on ISS but then returned to Earth, this oven is permanent and intended for regular use by the astronauts.
- China completes ground testing of its own inflatable space module
Based on their graphics, they are basically copying the Orbital Reef station design as well as Sierra Space’s LIFE inflatable modules.
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
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.
- A review of the 11 new Chinese rockets that were supposed to launch for the first time in 2025
Only one has launched, the government’s Long March 8. One government and three pseudo-company rockets have done static fire tests and appear ready for launch. Of the remaining six no news.
- Scientists claim a flare from an active galaxy 10 billion light years away that was detected in 2018 was the biggest black hole flare ever detected
All together now: The uncertainty of science!
- Stilsat-1: A Russian-owned and Chinese-built satellite watching Ukraine
Apparently the Russians bought a Chinese satellite for military reconnaissance. Apparently Russia has trouble doing this kind of thing itself these days.
- Chinese astronauts enjoy ‘1st ever space BBQ’ from Tiangong-3’s brand-new oven
Unlike the prototype oven tested on ISS but then returned to Earth, this oven is permanent and intended for regular use by the astronauts.
- China completes ground testing of its own inflatable space module
Based on their graphics, they are basically copying the Orbital Reef station design as well as Sierra Space’s LIFE inflatable modules.
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

