SpaceX record-breaking missions
SpaceX is preparing a record-breaking Falcon 9 launch today, October 19, 2025, marking the 31st flight of a single booster (B1067) carrying Starlink 10-17 satellites from Cape Canaveral. This will also be the 520th overall booster landing in the company’s history, showcasing SpaceX’s remarkable reusability milestone.
Interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS observed
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed the passage of comet 3I/ATLAS, a rare interstellar object entering our Solar System. It was observed near Mars by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and Mars Express early in October. The comet will reach its closest solar point by late October, and the JUICE mission will next capture it near Jupiter in November.
Asteroid 2025 TC near-Earth flyby
A house-sized asteroid, dubbed 2025 TC, passed near Earth on October 3 at a distance of around 53,000 miles (85,000 km)—closer than the Moon but posing no threat. Traveling at 58,100 km/h, it served as a reminder of the need for continuous asteroid monitoring.
Skywatching and celestial events
NASA’s October stargazing calendar featured a supermoon, the Draconid and Orionid meteor showers, both visible this month. The Orionids peak around October 20–21, offering one of the fastest and brightest meteor displays of the year.
Space station moment: Aurora from orbit
A Japanese astronaut aboard the ISS captured breathtaking photographs of bright auroras over Earth earlier this week, showing ongoing activity aboard the space station despite the U.S. government’s temporary budget disruption affecting NASA communications.
Upcoming launches
According to recent mission listings, SpaceX is planning multiple Starlink launches (Groups 11-21 and 10-37) on October 27–28 from Vandenberg and Cape Canaveral, and China’s Long March 11H will conduct a Yellow Sea platform launch on October 28.
Summary of key space stories
| Event | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SpaceX Falcon 9 record 31st flight | Oct 19 | Launch of Starlink 10-17, setting reuse record |
| Asteroid 2025 TC flyby | Oct 3 | Passed Earth safely at 53,000 miles |
| Comet 3I/ATLAS observed by Mars orbiters | Oct 1–7 | ESA and NASA study interstellar visitor |
| Orionid meteor shower peak | Oct 20–21 | Best time for bright meteors from Halley’s Comet |
| ISS aurora photos by JAXA astronaut | Oct 17 | Stunning images of Earth’s aurora from orbit |
These developments mark a vibrant month for space exploration, blending human space activity, asteroid monitoring, and celestial observation.
