Daniel Kleppner, a groundbreaking physicist whose work on ultra-precise atomic clocks made modern GPS technology possible, has passed away at 92. His innovations didn’t just help your phone navigate—they also proved a bizarre quantum phenomenon Einstein once theorized.

Editor’s Note: Kleppner’s research might sound niche, but it quietly shapes daily life for billions. Without those hyper-accurate atomic clocks, GPS would drift by miles, rideshares would get lost, and even stock trades would falter. His death is a reminder of how foundational science often goes unnoticed—until you realize it’s the reason your delivery dinner arrived hot.

This week’s episode of This Week In Space dives into the latest space news, with hosts Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik covering the big stories—including the appointment of Sean Duffy as NASA’s interim Administrator. It’s a quick, engaging rundown of what’s happening beyond Earth.

Editor’s Note: Leadership changes at NASA might not sound thrilling, but they’re a big deal for the agency’s direction—especially with ambitious missions like Artemis on the horizon. This podcast episode gives you the lowdown without the jargon, making it easy to stay in the loop.

While ground teams gear up for the return of the Axiom-4 mission, the crew aboard the spacecraft is still busy conducting scientific experiments in orbit. If the weather cooperates, the crew—including astronaut Shux—is scheduled to undock and begin their journey back to Earth on July 14 at 4:35 PM IST.

Editor’s Note: This update keeps us in the loop about the behind-the-scenes work of space missions—balancing the excitement of a crew’s return with the steady grind of ongoing research in orbit. It’s a reminder that even as missions near their end, science doesn’t stop until the last possible moment. For space enthusiasts, it’s a peek into the meticulous planning (and weather-dependent chaos) that shapes human spaceflight.

NASA and SpaceX are gearing up to launch the Crew-11 mission on July 31, sending a team of four astronauts—some newbies, some seasoned pros—to the International Space Station. It’s another milestone in their ongoing partnership to keep the ISS crewed and science humming along in orbit.

NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket booster had a fiery hiccup during a recent test, captured in a dramatic photo labeled "Space Photo of the Day." The agency described the incident as an "anomaly"—a polite way of saying things didn’t go exactly as planned.