China's Tianwen-2 reached asteroid Kamo'oalewa on July 4 after a 400-day trip. It will scout for a year before China's first asteroid sample return in 2027.
Japan's Hayabusa2 probe flew within 800 meters of asteroid Torifune on July 5, 2026, in a precision-trajectory test of planetary defense technology.
S&P 500 futures rise as Wall Street extends a strong week, the Dow near 53,000. Financials, Healthcare, and Industrials hit records while SMH fell 3.2%.
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has begun its 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time, scanning the southern sky with the world's largest digital camera.