We’re taking a look back at 10 of the most memorable space moments from 2025, as we leap into a new year that’s sure to be chock-full of more intriguing space events and discoveries.
2025 was filled with dozens of space discoveries and moments worth making headlines, but in no particular order, here are 10 of our favorites.
1. Stranded astronauts return to Earth
After spending 286 days stuck in space from early June 2024 to mid-March 2025, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams finally made it back to Earth.
Wilmore and Williams were supposed to only spend 10 days in space on a NASA mission, but after docking at the International Space Station following problems with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, they ended up spending almost nine months in space.
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The astronauts splashed down on Florida’s Gulf Coast in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule where NASA and SpaceX teams were waiting on boats to greet the astronaut crew.
2. Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS discovered
On July 1, 2025, Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was found by the NASA-funded ATLAS survey telescope in Chile. The comet quickly made headlines, as scientists determined it’s only the third known discovered object to pass through the solar system from the outside.
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The comet was determined to have no threat to Earth, and passed the closest to Earth it could get at 167 million miles from the planet on Dec. 19.
NASA and other research and science agencies monitored and studied the comet as it moved through the galaxy.
In early December, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope took a deeper look at the comet as it passed through the solar system.
3. Extremely rare meteor explosion captured live on space webcam
In November, live-streaming company Sen caught the explosion of a meteor live on their 24/7 livestream from space.
Also called a bolide, video showed the moment the meteor exploded over the North Pacific Ocean.
Many believe it was the first time such an event had been caught on a camera from space.
4. SpaceX Starship explodes
Less than 10 minutes after its launch from Texas in March, SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft exploded over the Caribbean and western Atlantic.
The explosion sent glittering debris cascading from the sky across Florida and the Caribbean.
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SpaceX said the Starship experienced a