Militants fire rockets at Iraqi bases supporting U.S. personnel, nearly hitting the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. (Financial Times)
Chinese espionage in the United States The U.S. Department of the Interior halts its civilian drone program indefinitely out of concerns that China manufactured the fleet via the SZ DJI Technology Company for espionage. (Reuters)
2019–2021 Iraqi protests Amid further heavy clashes in Baghdad rockets hit the United States embassy injuring at least one. (Al Jazeera) (The Guardian)
Amid further heavy clashes in Baghdad rockets hit the United States embassy injuring at least one. (Al Jazeera) (The Guardian)
HIV/AIDS research The United States National Institutes of Health stops its trial of an experimental HIV vaccine (HVTN 702) amidst poor results. The trial involved more than 5,000 people in South Africa. (BBC News)
Daredevil and flat Earth conspiracy theorist Mike Hughes dies after crashing in his homemade rocket near Barstow, California. He was attempting to prove the Earth was flat as part of a documentary series with Science Channel. (BBC News)
Astronomers at the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, United States, say an object known as 2020 CD3 has been captured by Earth's gravitational field and has been in orbit since 2017, becoming a temporary natural satellite of Earth. The Minor Planet Center confirms the findings and says "no link to a known artificial object has been found", implying the object is an asteroid. (New Scientist)
COVID-19 vaccine Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle begins testing a possible COVID-19 vaccine on 45 people. (KOMO-TV)
Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle begins testing a possible COVID-19 vaccine on 45 people. (KOMO-TV)
The United States Space Force launches its first satellite into space aboard an Atlas V rocket. (CBS News)
Artemis program NASA officially selects SpaceX, Blue Origin and Dynetics to build its next-generation lunar lander to carry American astronauts to the Moon by 2024. (Reuters)
NASA officially selects SpaceX, Blue Origin and Dynetics to build its next-generation lunar lander to carry American astronauts to the Moon by 2024. (Reuters)
The United States Space Force successfully launches its X-37B robotic spacecraft on a classified mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station via an Atlas V rocket. Though little is known about the classified program, the spacecraft is expected to deploy a satellite into orbit, and test the "power-beaming technology". (BBC News)
Indonesian police says an armed group had shot two health workers affiliated with the local COVID-19 task force in Wandai district, Intan Jaya, Papua. (The Jakarta Post)
A SpaceX Starship prototype (SN4) is destroyed in a large explosion during static fire testing at the SpaceX South Texas Launch Site. (CNBC)
Crew Dragon Demo-2 SpaceX launches Crew Dragon carrying two NASA astronauts, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, to the International Space Station (ISS) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 3:22 pm Eastern U.S. time. (CNN) Crew Dragon's mission is to check the ship's systems and the crew's readiness to work with it. Crew Dragon is heading to the ISS. It is the first time since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 that American astronauts have been launched into orbit from the United States, and is the first ever crewed commercial space flight. (WSJ)
Crew Dragon's mission is to check the ship's systems and the crew's readiness to work with it. Crew Dragon is heading to the ISS. It is the first time since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 that American astronauts have been launched into orbit from the United States, and is the first ever crewed commercial space flight. (WSJ)
SpaceX launches Crew Dragon carrying two NASA astronauts, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, to the International Space Station (ISS) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 3:22 pm Eastern U.S. time. (CNN)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tests positive for COVID-19. (CNN) COVID-19 pandemic in West Virginia West Virginia Governor Jim Justice issues an order mandating masks in indoor public spaces to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (NBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in West Virginia West Virginia Governor Jim Justice issues an order mandating masks in indoor public spaces to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (NBC News)
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice issues an order mandating masks in indoor public spaces to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (NBC News)
Militarisation of space The United Kingdom and United States accuse Russia of conducting an anti-satellite weapon test in space. Russia's Ministry of Defence says it was testing new technology on Russian space equipment. (BBC News)
The United Kingdom and United States accuse Russia of conducting an anti-satellite weapon test in space. Russia's Ministry of Defence says it was testing new technology on Russian space equipment. (BBC News)
Antwerp imposes a curfew from 11.30 p.m. to 6 a.m and the mandatory wearing of face masks in public spaces should a distance of 1.5 meters between individuals not be observed. (The Washington Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium Belgium announces the unveiling of drastic social distancing measures aimed at avoiding a new lockdown. These measures include restricting social contact outside every household to five people over the next four weeks and limiting crowds at public events to 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors. This measure will take effect next Wednesday. (France24) Antwerp imposes a curfew from 11.30 p.m. to 6 a.m and the mandatory wearing of face masks in public spaces should a distance of 1.5 meters between individuals not be observed. (The Washington Post)
2020 Kenai Peninsula mid-air collision Seven people are killed in a mid-air collision near Soldotna, Alaska, United States. Among those killed was Alaska State Representative Gary Knopp. (The New York Times) (KTUU-TV)
Artemis program SpaceX Starship prototype SN5 successfully carries out a 150-meter (490 ft) flight test at the SpaceX South Texas Launch Site. (BBC News)
SpaceX Starship prototype SN5 successfully carries out a 150-meter (490 ft) flight test at the SpaceX South Texas Launch Site. (BBC News)
The United States Department of Commerce expands its sanctions on Chinese technological vendor Huawei by adding 38 of the company's affiliates to its "entity list", limiting Huawei's access into U.S. integrated circuits and other technology. The Trump administration has viewed Huawei as "an arm of the Chinese Communist Party's surveillance state." (AFP via The Independent)
American neurotechnology company Neuralink unveils a pig, named "Gertrude", that has been living with a brain-implanted chip for two months at an event in San Francisco. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in California It is announced that schools in Los Angeles County will remain closed until the winter. (Patch.com) COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado Governor Jared Polis says that the state might extend its mask mandate in indoor public spaces for another 30 days. (The Denver Post) COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan Michigan records 1,313 new cases, its highest single-day total since April 24. (MLive.com)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in California It is announced that schools in Los Angeles County will remain closed until the winter. (Patch.com) COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado Governor Jared Polis says that the state might extend its mask mandate in indoor public spaces for another 30 days. (The Denver Post) COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan Michigan records 1,313 new cases, its highest single-day total since April 24. (MLive.com)
Climate change in the Arctic Satellite imagery shows that a big chunk of ice shattered into many small pieces from the last remaining ice shelf in Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden, Greenland. (BBC) The discovery of the perfectly preserved remains of a cave bear, believed to be 22,000 to 39,500 years old (Late Pleistocene), is made in Lyakhovsky Islands, Siberia in the thawing permafrost. (AP)
Satellite imagery shows that a big chunk of ice shattered into many small pieces from the last remaining ice shelf in Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden, Greenland. (BBC)
According to a study from researchers at the University of California, Riverside, Venus would be able to support life if Jupiter hadn't altered its orbit around the Sun nearly 4 billion years ago. (Phys.org) (CNN)
Life on Venus According to a study from researchers at the University of California, Riverside, Venus would be able to support life if Jupiter hadn't altered its orbit around the Sun nearly 4 billion years ago. (Phys.org) (CNN)
According to a research published in the Astrobiology journal by Washington State University professor Dirk Schulze-Makuch, there are 24 possible exoplanets that are superhabitable outside the Solar System. (CNET) (SciTechDaily)
Discoveries of exoplanets According to a research published in the Astrobiology journal by Washington State University professor Dirk Schulze-Makuch, there are 24 possible exoplanets that are superhabitable outside the Solar System. (CNET) (SciTechDaily)
Exploration of the Moon The U.S.-led Artemis Accords are signed by the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Luxembourg, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. According to NASA, the Accords aim to establish norms of behavior between countries regarding lunar resource extraction and exploration, outline "safety zones" on the lunar surface where other countries should not interfere, and protect heritage sites on the lunar surface such as the Apollo landing sites. Successive signatories since then have been announced. (Reuters) (The Verge)
The U.S.-led Artemis Accords are signed by the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Luxembourg, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. According to NASA, the Accords aim to establish norms of behavior between countries regarding lunar resource extraction and exploration, outline "safety zones" on the lunar surface where other countries should not interfere, and protect heritage sites on the lunar surface such as the Apollo landing sites. Successive signatories since then have been announced. (Reuters) (The Verge)
Russia–United States relations Two United States F-22 fighters intercept a pair of Russian Tu-95 bombers in international airspace near Alaska. (Fox News)
Two United States F-22 fighters intercept a pair of Russian Tu-95 bombers in international airspace near Alaska. (Fox News)
A helicopter carrying Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) peacekeepers crashes near Sharm el-Sheikh, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt. Seven people are killed, including five Americans, a French national and a Czech national. One crew member, an American, survived and was medically evacuated to an Israeli hospital. (BBC News)
SpaceX Crew-1, Expedition 64 SpaceX successfully launches its Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying three NASA astronauts, Michael S. Hopkins, Victor J. Glover, Shannon Walker and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi to the International Space Station. It is the first crewed operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft and the first night launch in the United States since STS-130. (BBC News)
SpaceX successfully launches its Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying three NASA astronauts, Michael S. Hopkins, Victor J. Glover, Shannon Walker and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi to the International Space Station. It is the first crewed operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft and the first night launch in the United States since STS-130. (BBC News)
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs, with the full moon dimming slightly as it passes through the Earth's penumbral shadow. It is visible from most of North America, the Pacific Ocean, parts of East Asia, and New Zealand. (Space.com)
November 2020 lunar eclipse A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs, with the full moon dimming slightly as it passes through the Earth's penumbral shadow. It is visible from most of North America, the Pacific Ocean, parts of East Asia, and New Zealand. (Space.com)
Chang'e 5, Chinese Lunar Exploration Program China National Space Administration probe Chang'e 5 successfully lands at Mons Rümker on the Moon for the first lunar sample-return mission since the Soviet Union's Luna 24. (The New York Times) (BBC News)
China National Space Administration probe Chang'e 5 successfully lands at Mons Rümker on the Moon for the first lunar sample-return mission since the Soviet Union's Luna 24. (The New York Times) (BBC News)
An expert committee of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine releases a report, concluding that "directed" microwave radiation was the likely cause of illnesses among American diplomats in Cuba and China. (BBC News)
Havana syndrome An expert committee of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine releases a report, concluding that "directed" microwave radiation was the likely cause of illnesses among American diplomats in Cuba and China. (BBC News)
SpaceX Starship (prototype SN8) performs the first-time-ever Belly Flop maneuver landing attempt at the Boca Chica launch site in Texas, following a high-altitude test flight with the mostly expected destruction of the vehicle (The Independent)
Starship development history SpaceX Starship (prototype SN8) performs the first-time-ever Belly Flop maneuver landing attempt at the Boca Chica launch site in Texas, following a high-altitude test flight with the mostly expected destruction of the vehicle (The Independent)
Eight rockets are fired at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, prompting the activation of C-RAM air defences. (ABC News)
