In the past week, Planetary Science in the United States has seen significant developments driven by both ambitious missions and important political actions. The most high-profile event came from California, where NASA successfully launched its Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites, known as TRACERS, on July twenty third. Liftoff occurred at Space Launch Complex Four East at Vandenberg Space Force Base, with both spacecraft quickly establishing communications after separating from the SpaceX Falcon Nine rocket. This mission will study how Earth's magnetic shield protects the planet from the hazardous effects of space weather, focusing on phenomena near the polar cusp at the North Pole. By analyzing magnetic reconnection events, TRACERS aims to answer fundamental questions about the Sun's influence on our planet, which has implications for astronauts, satellites, and technologies sensitive to solar storms. Accompanying TRACERS were three small NASA satellites, Athena EPIC, Polylingual Experimental Terminal, and Relativistic Electron Atmospheric Loss, each tasked with testing new science instruments and data gathering techniques, further demonstrating the growing role of smaller, cost-effective spacecraft in exploratory science, according to NASA.

Alongside mission accomplishments, the ongoing debate in Congress over NASA's future funding has drawn wide attention. The Planetary Society reports that the United States Senate is advocating for a budget of seven point three billion dollars for NASA's science divisions, promising to sustain vital projects such as NEO Surveyor, Dragonfly, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Notably, this funding would also support missions previously at risk of cancellation, like OSIRIS-APEX and the American contribution to Europe's Rosalind Franklin Rover. However, political uncertainty remains as the Senate and House work to reconcile differences in their spending bills. The White House budget office's potential legal challenge to Congressional allocations could reshape how space science is funded in years to come.

While the spotlight remains on the United States, international achievements have also been celebrated this week. The European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope captured detailed images of a supernova remnant, marking the first photographic evidence for a double-detonation event. In addition, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope marked its third anniversary by imaging the Cat’s Paw Nebula, revealing previously unknown details about star formation and the impact of young massive stars.

These developments point to several key trends. There is a clear emphasis on space weather research, as both government and scientific communities recognize the growing risks our technologies and daily lives face from solar activity. Funding battles in Washington highlight how advocacy and public engagement continue to play crucial roles in determining priorities for planetary science. Lastly, the use of small satellites and international collaboration are shaping a more dynamic, resilient approach to exploring our solar system and beyond.

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