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Introducing, The Space Coast Rocket Countdown—a new weekly column that takes you on an enlightening countdown through the most significant space related headlines.  Each Saturday, The Space Coast Rocket Countdown sifts through the bombardment of news alerts and internet pings to quiet the cacophony to just 10 concise headlines.  

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From rocket launches and astronomical discoveries to the latest in space technology, The Space Coast Rocket Countdown is your ticket to staying informed and inspired. Whether you are a seasoned space enthusiast or a curious newcomer, our countdown will ignite your imagination and fuel your passion for space.  

The Space Coast Rocket Countdown for the week of July 21-27, 2024:  

10. NASA’s Artemis II Rocket Core Arrives at Kennedy Space Center 

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• NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket core for the Artemis II mission was transported from Michoud Assembly Facility to Kennedy Space Center, marking a significant step towards the mission aimed at returning humans to the Moon (SciTechDaily) . 

9. Chandra X-ray Observatory Celebrates 25th Anniversary 

• NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory celebrated its 25th anniversary with the release of 25 new images showcasing cosmic discoveries, from local solar system bodies to distant galaxy clusters (SciTechDaily) . 

8. Astronomers Discover Unexpected Star Pair 

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• Researchers at the European Southern Observatory revealed peculiar characteristics of the HD 148937 star system, including a magnetic star and its young companion, challenging existing theories of stellar evolution (SciTechDaily) . 

7. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Finds Hidden Ocean on Ariel 

• The James Webb Space Telescope discovered carbon dioxide-rich deposits on Ariel, a moon of Uranus, suggesting the presence of a hidden subsurface ocean (Space.com) (SciTechDaily) . 

6. Historic Solar Flare Recorded 

• On July 23, the Sun emitted the most powerful solar flare of the current solar cycle, accompanied by a massive coronal mass ejection, although it was fortunately directed away from Earth (Space.com) . 

5. SpaceX’s Historic Launch of Starlink Group 10-9 

• After the FAA lifted its grounding, SpaceX successfully launched the Starlink Group 10-9 mission from Kennedy Space Center, deploying 23 satellites and marking a pivotal moment in the company’s recovery from a recent in-flight failure (Space.com) (Space.com) (rpgphotography). 

4. New Insights into Decaying Planetary Orbits 

• A study from Durham University provided new insights into the orbital decay of ‘hot Jupiter’ exoplanets, highlighting the role of stellar magnetic fields in this process (SciTechDaily) . 

3. Webb Telescope’s Breakthrough on WASP-39b 

• The James Webb Space Telescope offered a detailed analysis of WASP-39b, a tidally locked exoplanet, revealing differing atmospheric conditions on its morning and evening sides (SciTechDaily) . 

2. SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn Mission Delayed 

• The launch of SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission, which will feature the first private spacewalk, has been postponed to mid- to late August, highlighting the ongoing preparations and challenges in commercial space exploration (Space.com) . 

1. Earth’s Wobble and Longer Days 

• New studies utilizing AI have shown that Earth’s days are getting longer and the planet’s wobble is increasing, primarily due to climate change. These changes could have significant implications for humanity’s future (Space.com) . 

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