Summary of Science News from Reuters

German company HyImpulse made history by successfully launching a candle wax-powered rocket on a test suborbital flight into space, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. The rocket, capable of carrying commercial satellites, demonstrated Germany’s prowess as a spacefaring nation and expanded Europe’s access to space.

Meanwhile, Boeing is gearing up to send its first astronaut crew to space after years of delay, with the Starliner space capsule set to ferry two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. This mission comes after years of setbacks and cost overruns, giving Boeing a much-needed opportunity to compete with SpaceX in the commercial space industry.

In another exciting discovery, scientists have potentially found a hammerhead shark nursery off an island in Ecuador’s Galapagos archipelago. This sighting of a breeding ground for smooth hammerhead sharks would be a rare occurrence and could provide valuable insights into the species’ behavior and conservation.

Additionally, China launched a groundbreaking mission to collect samples from the moon’s “hidden” side, marking a new phase in the country’s Chang’e lunar program. The mission, which aims to retrieve rocks and soil from the far side of the moon, represents a significant achievement in space exploration.

New Zealand also made strides in polar science cooperation by signing a memorandum of understanding with Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute to foster collaboration in Antarctic research. This partnership will strengthen connections between the two countries’ marine and polar science institutes amid growing interest and activity in Antarctica.