New footage shows moment Orion capsule hatch is opened at sea
New footage shows the moment Orion capsule hatch is opened at sea
A recently unveiled video captures the instant a recovery team unsealed the hatch of Artemis II’s Orion capsule, marking a triumphant return of four astronauts to Earth. The crew, consisting of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, were confirmed safe and in good condition following their splashdown on Friday, April 10. The historic mission achieved a milestone by sending the astronauts farther from Earth than any human before.
Steve Backshall documented a rare sighting of two of the UK’s last surviving orcas, calling it one of his “greatest British wildlife moments.” Meanwhile, iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Barcelona’s Sagrada Família Basilica briefly turned off their lights for an hour on Saturday night. The 98-meter Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft traveled four miles from their assembly building to Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Weather and wildlife in focus
Tenerife experienced unusual snowfall as Storm Therese swept through the Canary Islands. BBC science correspondent Pallab Ghosh explores the implications of an astronaut falling ill in space. The Met Office issued yellow severe weather warnings for wind and rain across the UK. London Zoo conducted its annual animal weigh-in, assessing over 10,000 creatures to track their health.
Scientific breakthroughs and celestial events
Astronomical observations in North York Moors National Park on 13 August revealed a significant celestial phenomenon. Researchers analyzing planet K2-18b’s atmosphere detected molecular traces typically produced by simple organisms on Earth. Baroness Kathy Willis emphasized the value of urban green and blue spaces in promoting city well-being. Studies of ice sheet samples provide a climate record spanning over a million years.
President Trump recently attributed the UK’s rising energy costs to wind power, prompting analysis from BBC Verify’s Ben Chu. The animal rights activist, who passed away at 91, was a trailblazer in chimpanzee research. From meteor showers to supermoons, stargazers were captivated by a range of stunning astronomical sights this year.
