China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), after ten years, is poised to be a contender for the largest infrastructure program in the world, with the potential of creating political allies and economic opportunities. But the progress has been fraught with high-profile failures, including accusations of corruption and crumbling dams, sparking discussion and criticism. After years of complicated developments, the ambitious project is proving difficult to implement, but in the process, it is shaking up the global political, economic and engineering landscape.

NASA’s Artemis program is poised to make history by sending the first woman and next man to the Moon in 2024. To prepare for the historic mission, astronauts have begun training in an enormous bubblelike pool where they simulate the conditions of low gravity they’ll experience on the lunar surface. These intense training exercises challenge the astronauts both physically and mentally, but the payoff of helping NASA reach its goal of a sustained presence in the Moon’s orbit is worth it. Astronauts’ hard work and perseverance will propel mankind ever closer to the stars.