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On Episode 217 of This Week In Space , Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the progression of American space efforts.

Since 1958, the United States has been part of the spaceflight adventure, and since the mid-1960s has led in just about any category that counts. In this episode, we review which flights launched or landed on July 4, and relive some of our very favorite US space missions of all time!

Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space .

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Space news of the week

NASA launches rescue mission to save Swift space telescope from burning up in Earth's atmosphere

The Harvard astronomer dubbed Trump’s chief alien hunter starts by assuming UFOs human-made

'Independence Day' at 30: Roland Emmerich & Dean Devlin talk blowing up the White House and crafting a true sci-fi classic (interview)

Flag Day – Flying High: The Stars and Stripes in Space

America at 500: Where will we be in space in 2276?

Model Falcon 9!

TOP TELESCOPE PICK:

(Image credit: Celestron) Looking for a telescope to see planets and comets? We recommend the Celestron Astro Fi 102 as the top pick in our best beginner's telescope guide .

Finally, did you know you can launch your own SpaceX rocket? Model rocket maker Estes' stunning scale model of a Falcon 9 rocket that you can pick up now. The launchable model is a detailed recreation of the Falcon 9 and retails for $149.99. You can save 10% by using the code IN-COLLECTSPACE at checkout , courtesy of our partners collectSPACE.com.

About This Week In Space

This Week in Space covers the new space age. Every Friday we take a deep dive into a fascinating topic. What's happening with the new race to the moon and other planets? When will SpaceX really send people to Mars?

Join Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik from Space.com as they tackle those questions and more each week on Friday afternoons. You can subscribe today on your favorite podcatcher.

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Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.

Prosecutors in Poland have indicted a German citizen of Iranian origin for making statements denying the Holocaust during a tour of the former Nazi-German death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau, which he then published in an online video.

If found guilty of denying Nazi crimes, he could face up to three years in prison.

Oddziałowa Komisja Ścigania Zbrodni przeciwko Narodowi Polskiemu w Krakowie skierowała do Sądu Rejonowego w Oświęcimiu akt oskarżenia przeciwko obywatelowi Niemiec za zaprzeczanie zbrodniom popełnionym w KL Auschwitz-Birkenau. https://t.co/v8QuQJTrwW

— IPN Kraków (@ipn_krakow) July 3, 2026

On Friday, the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), a state historical body that has prosecutorial powers, announced that it had filed an indictment against the suspect, who can be named only as Reza B. under Polish privacy law.

The alleged offence took place in November 2022 during a tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum , which manages the site of the former camp that was established and run by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland during World War Two.

The IPN says that, while standing next to the infamous gates to Auschwitz II-Birkenau – the part of the camp where around 90% of victims were killed, mainly in gas chambers – Reza B:

“publicly and contrary to the facts denied the crimes committed by members of the camp staff against Jewish people, questioned the criminal use of gas chambers and crematoriums in that camp, and recorded this statement in a video, which he then posted on YouTube and on his Facebook profile, making it available to anyone using the internet”.

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Around 1.1 million people were killed at Auschwitz, 1 million of them Jews, who were transported for extermination from various parts of German-occupied Europe.

While some prisoners died from the harsh conditions in the camp, most were executed en masse in gas chambers immediately after arrival. Their bodies were then burned in crematoriums.

Reza B., who is aged 55 and was born in Tehran but is now a German citizen, has been indicted for denying Nazi crimes, an offence that carries a prison sentence of up to three years in Poland.

The IPN revealed that, when questioned as a suspect, Reza B. “did not respond to the charges brought against him and refused to provide explanations”.

An Israeli teenager who was seen doing a fascist salute at the former German-Nazi camp of Auschwitz has been has been fined for propagating Nazism, which is a crime in Poland https://t.co/rm3XzdNYCs

— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) March 10, 2025

Almost six million Polish citizens, around half of them Polish Jews, died during the brutal German-Nazi occupation between 1939-45.

Nazi Germany also transported millions of Jews from other parts of Europe to their deaths in occupied Poland, where it had established the extermination camps of Auschwitz, Chełmno, Bełżeć, Sobibór, Treblinka and Majdanek.

Poland now strictly enforces its laws prohibiting the denial of Nazi crimes and the promotion of Nazi ideology. Last year, an Israeli teenager seen doing a fascist salute at Auschwitz was fined for propagating Nazism .

Earlier this year, Polish far-right leader Grzegorz Braun was stripped of immunity by the European Parliament to face Holocaust denial charges in Poland for his claims that the gas chambers at Auschwitz are “fake”.

Poland has asked the European Parliament to strip far-right leader Grzegorz Braun of immunity to face charges for calling the Auschwitz gas chambers "fake".

Denying Nazi crimes is an offence in Poland that carries a prison sentence of up to three years https://t.co/W2wzGncs8y

— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) September 5, 2025

Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.

Main image credit: Dieglop/Wikimedia Commons (under CC BY-SA 4.0 )

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Mercedes-AMG’s EV SUV is a high-riding counterpart to the GT sedan.

A triple-motor setup pushes 1,153 horsepower to all four wheels.

Even the lesser GT 55 is expected to muster a thumping 805 horsepower.

Reaction to Mercedes-AMG’s new electric 4-Door GT has certainly split the room. Its gaping gob, rounded surfacing and unconventional rear have set the comment sections at each other’s throats. For all the prancing horses in this world, though, it could look a lot worse than it does.

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Read: Mercedes-AMG’s Upcoming EV Looks Bland, But Will Let The Performance Do The Talking

Whether buyer sentiment overpowers internet diatribe remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: AMG are amping up momentum with a high-riding, SUV counterpart that brings supercar performance to a more user-friendly package.

Slipping Through The Wind

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Illustrations Josh Byrnes / Carscoops

AMG’s crossover will borrow heavily from the GT sedan’s aesthetic playbook. Our spy shot-based illustration reveals a taller, more practical body with a low-slung ‘Panamericana’ nose and a slim, full-width light strip. Large intakes, shapely front fenders and a heavily sculpted hood exude a go-fast presence.

Also: Hyundai’s IONIQ V Has Lambo Looks And 225 HP, So We Imagined The N

In profile, a long wheelbase in tandem with a relatively low roofline cements a planted stance. Flush door handles, large wheels and pronounced rear haunches also contribute to the look. Out back, the tri-circle taillights are housed in a better-resolved black panel than the GT sedan, and an integrated roof spoiler is more function than form. Whether it gains the sedan’s optional active ‘Aerokinetics’ rear diffuser remains to be seen.

Nightclub On Wheels

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The interior of the new AMG GT 4-Door Coupe EV.

The cabin will largely be copy-pasted from the sedan, with extra cargo space thrown in. Expect a 14-inch driver-oriented digital instrument cluster and a 10.2-inch infotainment display running Mercedes-Benz MB.OS software. The MBUX-based system also brings over-the-air updates, connected services, and AI integration.

Also: A Bill Built To Stop Chinese Cars Could Ban Mercedes From America

Other goodies will include an augmented-reality head-up display, Burmester 4D surround sound, performance telemetry, and customizable drive modes. Red contrast stitching, heavily bolstered Alcantara sports seats, and carbon fiber trim will finish off the performance look inside.

The Fundamentals

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SH Proshots

AMG’s hyper SUV will ride on the automaker’s AMG.EA architecture, developed exclusively for high-performance vehicles. The aluminium-intensive structure is abundant with high-strength materials and weight-saving measures.

Read: Nissan’s New Skyline Is Coming To America As The Q50, And It May Bring Back The Manual

Its higher center of gravity is kept in check with adaptive air suspension, rear-axle steering and active roll stabilization. Advanced torque-vectoring and chassis management help the sports driving experience.

Flux Power

Mirroring its sedan sibling, the electric powertrain will feature axial-flux motors developed by YASA, which are compact and lighter compared to radial-flux motors.

Also: 2027 BMW X5 Drops Door Handles For Wings, Adds A 435-Mile Electric iX5

The headline act is the GT 63 tri-motor configuration, with 1153 horsepower (860 kW) and 1475 ft-lbs (2000 Nm) of torque. Power is fed to all four wheels, enabling a 0-60 mph time in about 2.5 seconds. The lower-powered GT 55 variant still offers a thumping 805 hp (600kW).

Power comes from a 106 kWh high-performance battery featuring cylindrical cells and advanced cooling. An F1-developed 800-volt architecture will support DC fast charging up to 600 kW in ideal conditions and offer a WLTP range of up to 435 miles (700 km). It will also feature synthesized gear shifting accompanied by a faux V8 soundtrack .

Rivals and Reveal

Mercedes-AMG’s flagship electric SUV will target the upper echelon of the performance market, taking on the Porsche Cayenne Electric , Lotus Eletre , and Xiaomi YU7 GT .

Related: Mercedes-AMG Plans 27 New Cars In 36 Months To Catch BMW’s M

With prototype testing underway, expect the production model to debut early next year. When it arrives, it will become the second model built on the AMG.EA platform.

Does the GT in SUV guise redeem the sedan’s controversial look? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Illustrations Josh Byrnes / Carscoops