IO Group: https://groups.io/g/DARCskynet/topics

Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/306498286059167/

Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.

Discussion Topic of the Evening.

What We Learned from the Final Manned Lunar Mission (Apollo 17)

Apollo 17 – Jack Schmitt (L), Earthrise (R)

https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/20221207071212_808adf8d660e83f8b355a094192dcc4718ab2c641abcbb90e18ccf44c4d0a41e.webp

Taurus-Littrow Landing Site

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTUX6E68VRBm2zXHVBR2XsIKmhL9DOEZGrRuA&s

EVA Map

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gwenael-Caravaca/publication/340308807/figure/fig1/AS:875140493619200@1585661161843/Apollo-17-traverse-map-and-location-of-EVA3-stations-6-and-7.jpg

Tracy’s Rock

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Apollo_17_Harrison_H._Schmitt_and_Tracy%27s_Rock_-_AS17-140-21493%2BAS17-140-21497_2025.jpg

Orange Soil Discovery

https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/484745788_682321540918047_5556692984896786721_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s1080x2048_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=aa7b47&_nc_ohc=XIPw0nW4G-YQ7kNvwHBmWe1&_nc_oc=AdlJK7kAZNAGF6hESR81U1-8uPItbw0DMK0PWah-XxEh5KWaMrdhHlRbrxmzsnCqmhdmIh4cm4CHd5DZeLu-SOX6&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&_nc_gid=rNRC1zqdGnWUKHVgGhBsrA&oh=00_AfmrIkL-3qOwswTjIJttXA2jnLgx_PQ1quNvRmdf0wyiug&oe=694B6ED6

Deep Core Samples: 

https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/1210/686033/1000w_q95.jpg

Sample 76535

https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/14153130/PRI_2150827671.jpg?width=1674

The Lunar Sounder mapped subsurface layers, while the Traverse Gravimeter measured gravity variations, giving insights into the Moon’s crust and mantle.

https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_17/images/apollo17-view-1.jpg

Ancient Magnetic Field Discovered

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EDmtkpaJvuWdyyjpZvG7XH-1500-80.jpg.webp

Artemis II Mission Profile

https://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/artemis2_chart.jpg

Star of Bethlehem 

Space Exploration and Space History 

Space Exploration News

December 13 – China’s Kuaizhou-11 Y8 Rocket Launch

http://english.scio.gov.cn/m/2025-12/15/118227979_f697ac8c-0254-4ff8-9758-130f3c2330ba.JPG.2

December 17 – Arianespace’s Ariane 6 Launches Galileo Satellites

https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2025/12/ariane_6_fairing_release_revealing_galileo_sat_33_and_34/27008739-1-eng-GB/Ariane_6_fairing_release_revealing_Galileo_SAT_33_and_34_article.jpg

December 15 – Hubble’s Image of the “Lost Galaxy” (NGC 4535)

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qbcNBh5c6Sf2qsrDSFiLfD-1920-80.jpg.webp

December 16 – New Study Highlights Megaconstellation Impact on Astronomy

https://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251207_projected_satellite_impacts-copy.jpg

December 18 – Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator

https://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241204_isaacman2.jpeg

December 20 – Blue Origin Successfully Launched the First Wheelchair User into Space. 

https://cdn.geekwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/251217-blue4.jpg

Space-Related Birthdays

Name	Birthday	Birth Year	Flights	Notes
Robert Allan Ridley Parker	December 14	1936	STS-9 Spacelab-1, STS-35	STS-9 (1983) focused on scientific experiments using the Spacelab module. STS-35 (1990) was dedicated to astronomical observations with the ASTRO-1 ultraviolet astronomy laboratory.
Steven Glenwood MacLean	December 14	1954	STS-52, STS-115	STS-52 (1992) involved him as a Payload Specialist evaluating the Space Vision System. STS-115 (2006) saw him as a Mission Specialist for ISS assembly, where he performed a spacewalk and operated Canadarm2.
Catherine Grace “Cady” Coleman	December 14	1960	STS-73, STS-93, Soyuz TMA-20 / Expedition 26/27	STS-73 (1995) was her first flight as a mission specialist focusing on materials science and biotechnology. On Soyuz TMA-20 / Expedition 26/27 (2010-2011), she served as a flight engineer and lead robotics and science officer on the ISS.
Boris Valentinovich Volynov	December 18	1934	Soyuz 5, Soyuz 21	Soyuz 5 (1969) achieved the first-ever docking of two crewed spacecraft. Soyuz 21 (1976) was a mission to the Salyut 5 military space station for scientific and military observations.
Andrew Sydney Withiel Thomas	December 18	1951	STS-77, STS-89/91, STS-102, STS-114	During STS-89/91 (1998), he spent 140 days on the Mir space station. On STS-102 (2001), he performed a 6.5-hour spacewalk to install components on the exterior of the ISS.
Reinhold Ewald	December 18	1956	Mir ’97 (Soyuz TM-25)	Mir ’97 (1997) saw him as a research cosmonaut on the Mir space station, conducting biomedical and material sciences experiments. He also performed operational tests for future ISS missions.
Laurence R. Young	December 19	1935	Alternate Payload Specialist for STS-58	He was a Principal or Co-Investigator on seven Space Shuttle missions, where he conducted human orientation experiments. His contributions to space science were significant despite not flying.
Fred Weldon Leslie	December 19	1951	STS-73	STS-73 (1995) involved him as a payload specialist for a 16-day mission on Space Shuttle Columbia, focusing on materials science, biotechnology, combustion science, and fluid physics.
Michael Edward Fossum	December 19	1957	STS-121, STS-124, Expedition 28/29	During STS-121 (2006), he participated in three spacewalks for safety and repair techniques on the ISS. On Expedition 28/29 (2011), he served as a mission specialist and commander, overseeing research and operations on the ISS.

This Week in Space History

December 14, 1962: Mariner 2 Fly-By Venus

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Mariner_2_Engineering_Model.jpg

December 15, 1965: Gemini 6A Launched

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/s65-63188_orig.jpg

December 15, 1970: Venera 7 Lands on Venus

https://cdn.theatlantic.com/media/mt/international/mf%20venus%20p.jpg

December 19, 1972: Apollo 17 (Return to Earth)

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/apollo_17_splashdown_5_as17-589-s72-55864-12.19.72.jpg

Space Launches For This Week

Space Flight Now Launch Schedule

Launch Schedule

December 21, 2025: SpaceX Falcon 9 (Starlink 6-88)

Launch Location: Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40), Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, Florida

Launch Time: To be announced.

Mission Profile: This mission will deploy another batch of Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, continuing the expansion of SpaceX’s broadband internet constellation. These satellites are crucial for providing high-speed, low-latency internet access globally, especially to underserved and remote areas. The regular deployment of Starlink satellites is a key component of SpaceX’s long-term strategy for space-based internet services.

December 24, 2025: LVM-3 (BlueBird Block 2 #1)

Launch Location: Satish Dhawan Space Center, India

Launch Time: To be announced.

Mission Profile: This launch will carry an AST SpaceMobile satellite, BlueBird Block 2 #1, into orbit. The satellite is designed to provide continuous cellular broadband service directly to unmodified mobile phones on Earth. This mission represents a significant advancement in global mobile connectivity, aiming to eliminate coverage gaps and extend communication services to remote regions worldwide.

Visible satellite passages over the next couple of days.

You can use the http://www.heavens-above.com website to find out what’s in orbit and

where to look during fly-overs

All times are “local” (Dallas) time.

Tiangong Passes over Lewisville, TX:

Date	Duration of Pass	Brightness (magnitude)	Start of Pass Direction	End of Pass Direction
Dec 18, 2025	40 seconds	0.7	10° SSW	15° SSW
Dec 19, 2025	2 minutes 53 seconds	-0.2	10° S	16° SE