Space

The Webb Space Telescope is marking one year of cosmic photographs with one of its best yet: the dramatic close-up of dozens of stars at the moment of birth.NASA unveiled the latest snapshot Wednesday, revealing 50 baby stars in a cloud complex 390 light-years away. A light-year is nearly 6 trillion miles (9.7 trillion kilometers).

We explore some of what’s been happening in the world of space science with Dr. Derek Buzasi. He is an astronomer and the Whitaker Eminent Scholar in Florida Gulf Coast University’s Department of Chemistry and Physics.

Patrick Space Force Base in Brevard County has been named the “preferred” location for two parts of the growing U.S. Space Force — the Space Training and Readiness Command Headquarters and Space Delta 10, according to the U.S. Air Force.

Wednesday morning, after years of delays and billions in cost overruns, the Space Launch System rocket thundered skyward, rising from Kennedy Space Center on 8.8 million pounds (4 million kilograms) of thrust and hitting 100 mph (160 kph) within seconds.

“Right now, there’s nothing preventing us” from attempting a launch on Wednesday, said NASA’s Jim Free, an associate administrator.

Students at Canterbury School of Fort Myers made contact with the International Space Station. Canterbury is one of eight schools in the world to have this opportunity right now.

During a press conference on Thursday, space agency officials said they were eyeing Sept. 23 or Sept. 27 as possible dates for the launch.

The first attempt earlier in the week was also marred by escaping hydrogen, but those leaks were elsewhere on the 322-foot rocket.

With the next step in America’s return to the moon set for Monday, Florida’s aerospace agency views the launch of the unmanned Artemis 1 mission as reinforcing the importance of space-related business around Cape Canaveral.

The Song of the Day for July 8 features "Mr. Spaceman" by The Byrds and tells how Roswell, New Mexico became a hot town in the Cold War.