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From left: Beyoncé, some bears, Ozzy

From left: Beyoncé, some bears, Ozzy. Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images; Olivier Morin/AFP via Getty Images; Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images hide caption

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Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images; Olivier Morin/AFP via Getty Images; Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

The NPR news quiz

Do you remember 'Sharpiegate'? What about Roman numerals? Find out in the quiz

This week calls for some throwback thinking. If you can recall how Roman numerals work, you'll get at least one question correct.

Friday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Wednesday

In this handout photo released by Roscosmos Space Agency Press Service, a view of the International Space Station taken on Mar. 30, 2022 by crew of Russian Soyuz MS-19 space ship after undocking from the Station.

In this handout photo released by Roscosmos Space Agency Press Service, a view of the International Space Station taken on Mar. 30, 2022 by crew of Russian Soyuz MS-19 space ship after undocking from the Station. Roscosmos Space Agency Press Service/AP hide caption

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Roscosmos Space Agency Press Service/AP

National

The International Space Station adjusts its orbit to avoid space debris

There are at least 19,000 pieces of space debris in Earth's orbit, not including active satellites, that the U.S is monitoring.

Thursday

Wednesday

Humans on Mars? Here's why you shouldn't plan a space move anytime soon

Artistic renditions of a future Mars settlement often feature structures above ground, as seen above. But after extensive research, authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith found that any potential settlement would have to be below ground. janiecbros/Getty Images hide caption

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janiecbros/Getty Images

Short Wave

Humans on Mars? Here's why you shouldn't plan a space move anytime soon

As global warming continues and space technology improves, there is more and more talk about the growing possibility of a sci-fi future in which humans become a multiplanetary species. Specifically, that we could live on Mars. Biologist Kelly Weinersmith and cartoonist Zach Weinersmith have spent the last four years researching what this would look like if we did this anytime soon. In their new book A City On Mars, they get into all sorts of questions: How would we have babies in space? How would we have enough food? They join host Regina G. Barber and explain why it might be best to stay on Earth.

Humans on Mars? Here's why you shouldn't plan a space move anytime soon

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Monday

Wednesday

A Long March rocket with a Shenzhou-19 spacecraft atop takes off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwestern China in the early hours of Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.

A Long March rocket with a Shenzhou-19 spacecraft atop takes off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwestern China in the early hours of Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Ng Han Guan/AP/AP hide caption

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Ng Han Guan/AP/AP

Space

China launches new crew to its space station as it seeks to expand exploration

China declared a “complete success” after it launched a new three-person crew to its space station early Wednesday as the country seeks to expand its exploration of outer space.

Friday

NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 official crew portrait with Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, (ROS) Aleksandr Grebenkin.

Official SpaceX Crew-8 portrait with (L-R) Roscosmos cosmonaut and Mission Specialist Aleksandr Grebenkin, and Pilot Michael Barratt, Commander Matthew Dominick, and Mission Specialist Jeanette Epps, all three NASA astronauts. Bill Stafford/NASA hide caption

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Bill Stafford/NASA

Space

NASA's Crew-8 mission members return to Earth on SpaceX capsule

Three NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut splashed down off the Florida coast early Friday, capping a nearly eight-month science and research mission to the International Space Station.

Monday

Thursday

Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-Atlas is seen over the hills near the village of Aguas Blancas, Lavalleja Department, Uruguay, at dawn on Sept. 28.

Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-Atlas is seen over the hills near the village of Aguas Blancas, Lavalleja Department, Uruguay, at dawn on Sept. 28,. Mariana Suarez/Getty Images hide caption

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Mariana Suarez/Getty Images

Space

Rare comet to streak across night sky. Here’s how you can see it

Your unusual chance to see a comet in the sky is here. C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was discovered by astronomers in 2023 — and will appear to the naked eye over the next couple weeks.

Monday

An image captured from a SpaceX livestream shows the European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft preparing to lift off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Monday.

An image captured from a SpaceX livestream shows the European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft preparing to lift off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Monday. SpaceX/Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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SpaceX/Screenshot by NPR

Space

A European spacecraft launches to perform a crash scene investigation on an asteroid

A NASA spacecraft knocked into an asteroid two years ago to test planetary defense. Now, a new mission will inspect the damage, with the goal of helping future asteroid deflection.

Saturday

Astronauts and Artemis II mission specialists Christina Koch, left, and Jeremy Hansen, right, exit the International Space Station mockup in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility on Aug. 26, 2024, at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Astronauts and Artemis II mission specialists Christina Koch, left, and Jeremy Hansen, right, exit the International Space Station mockup in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility on Aug. 26, 2024, at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Danielle Villasana for NPR hide caption

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Danielle Villasana for NPR

Space

Meet the astronauts preparing to travel farther from Earth than any human before

This time next year, NASA plans to send its first crewed mission to the moon in more than 50 years. NPR visited the facility to find out how astronauts are preparing for this high stakes exploration.

How the crew of NASA's Artemis II prepares for a mission to the moon

Listen · 10:25
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