This week, off world: Two experimental mega rockets launch in one week, India achieves docking in space and loads more...

  Decades of conflict have devastated the Central African Republic, with especially harsh effects on children. To help alleviate the suffering if this mostly forgotten conflict, you can donate here...

...and here is (one) place you can donate to help children in Afghanistan, caught under the Taliban.

Thank you!

  Pick o' the podcasts:

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 143 — King Starship | Space

ADVERT

From the video store:

India's SpaDex mission achieves docking in space

SpaceX's Starship mega-rocket launches - booster makes safe & accurate landing, but Starship itself is lost in flight:

By contrast: New Glenn's maiden launch - makes it to orbit, but booster misses landing (just) & is lost

ESA's new spaceplane design:

SpaceX Transporter-12 launches more than 100 satellites - NASASpaceFlight.com

SpaceX launches NROL-153, expanding U.S. spy satellite constellation   - SpaceNews

Smart robot helps out astronauts on China's Tiangong space station (video) | Space

Chinese sea launch sends 10 navigation enhancement satellites into orbit - SpaceNews

Sound of a meteorite hitting Earth captured for the first time – on a doorbell camera

Reading material:

A mysterious US spaceplane just achieved a new milestone

Rosotics pivots to focus on orbital transport vehicles - SpaceNews

Yutu-2 rover likely immobile on the moon after historic lunar far side mission - SpaceNews

Four Astranis GEO satellites pass initial commissioning milestone  - SpaceNews

Defense Department's new tool to investigate on-orbit anomalies - SpaceNews

China test-fires 5 new rocket engines in a single day. But what are they for? (video) | Space