Astronaut Sunita Williams is ringing in 2025 uniquely from her post aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where she and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, both part of Expedition 72, are experiencing a remarkable 16 sunrises and sunsets on New Year's Day. This spectacle is due to the ISS's rapid orbiting speed, allowing its crew to witness numerous day-night cycles each Earth day.
In other space news, the year 2025 marks significant achievements and challenges in the aerospace sector. On New Year's Eve, SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch completed a record-breaking year of rocket launches, highlighting the increasing pace of activity in space exploration and travel.
While the sector celebrates milestones like these, it also faces hurdles such as billion-dollar secret projects and astronauts facing extended stays due to unforeseen circumstances. These developments underscore the complexities and ambitions defining the current era of space exploration.