Athena Rising

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445
Across
  1. 4. A very large stellar explosion.
  2. 7. Proof that planets don't need atmospheres.
  3. 8. Wars or Trek?
  4. 9. Merz's first name.
  5. 11. You are here.
  6. 13. NASA's current program to send people to the moon.
  7. 18. Source of many planetary names.
  8. 19. Former president after whom a Texas space center was named.
  9. 21. First American woman in space.
  10. 22. C, to some.
  11. 23. The name of a NASA probe sent to Jupiter.
  12. 25. You are here.
  13. 27. Former space shuttle that shares a name with CASA's hometown.
  14. 29. Space shuttle with an aquatic name.
  15. 30. Wrote a song about a "Rocket Man" disillusioned with space travel.
  16. 32. Our sister?
  17. 35. What you're doing right now.
  18. 38. CASA's space program?
  19. 39. School was cancelled due to the solar variation earlier this month.
  20. 42. Object intentionally orbiting the Earth.
  21. 44. The protagonist of Bowie's "Space Oddity."
  22. 45. A certain John from NASA's early days.
Down
  1. 1. The Windy City's celestial counterpart?
  2. 2. Tom who informs Houston of a major problem in "Apollo 13."
  3. 3. USA's opponent in the Space Race.
  4. 5. Max Strode's official title.
  5. 6. The largest planet.
  6. 10. Forces many professional scientists to confront their inner middle schooler every day.
  7. 11. A dwarf planet in the asteroid belt.
  8. 12. May have more natural satellites than Jupiter. Will look into.
  9. 14. One of Jupiter's many natural satellites.
  10. 15. The first program to send people to the moon.
  11. 16. The name shared by NASA's two deep space probes.
  12. 17. Buzz, of Star Command fame.
  13. 20. President during the Moon landing.
  14. 23. Rock chalk! (included for Merz's sake)
  15. 24. Object accidentally orbiting the Earth.
  16. 26. A once-in-a-lifetime sight (twice if you're Mark Twain).
  17. 28. Curiosity's destination?
  18. 31. Cool NASA program to reach out to high schools with a terrible acronym.
  19. 33. Former president after whom a Florida space center was named.
  20. 34. A certain Russian Yuri who made a big first.
  21. 36. Simulated on-board emergency.
  22. 37. You are here.
  23. 40. Not a planet, but absolutely should be.
  24. 41. Buzz, of Apollo 11 fame.
  25. 43. Elon Musk's rocket-making company.