Technologies

NASA Orion Captures View That Looks Like ‘Apollo 13’ Movie Poster

Artemis I delivers another stunning portrait of the spacecraft, moon and Earth — and this one might look familiar.

NASA’s moon-gazing Artemis I mission is officially on its way home. Orion performed its last lunar flyby on Monday, setting it on course for a splashdown back on Earth on Dec. 11. The spacecraft captured a sci-fi-worthy view of the moon and Earth as it zipped by. You might see it and think it looks a little familiar, especially if you’re a Tom Hanks fan.

NASA shared live views of the flyby, but one shot in particular is making the rounds. It shows the moon looming large, Orion catching the light and a sliver of Earth in the distance. That’s not Mars you’re seeing as a red dot. It’s just a lens artifact.

Multiple space fans noticed the image’s resemblance to one of the main Apollo 13 movie posters, which shows the Apollo spacecraft and a similarly large moon with Earth appearing near its curvature.

The 1995 Ron Howard-helmed blockbuster film starred Hanks and portrayed the harrowing journey of the 1970 moon mission that went awry. The crew aborted a planned lunar landing to deal with an oxygen tank failure. The astronauts survived the danger and returned safely.

The Hollywood Apollo 13 poster reads, «Houston, we have a problem.» Fortunately, Artemis I hasn’t had to echo that famous line all these decades later. The new mission hasn’t been flawless, but it has gone remarkably smoothly.

Orion launched in a blaze of glory last month with an assist from the massive Space Launch System rocket. It’s since taken a trip out past the moon and back as NASA tests the spacecraft’s systems in preparation for a future crewed Artemis mission.

The images from the journey have been a highlight. There are cameras mounted on the ends of Orion’s solar arrays, which have delivered some spectacular selfies along with scenic views of Earth and the moon.

While there’s been much to celebrate so far, one of Orion’s biggest tests will happen when it gets back to its home planet and aims for the ocean. It’s one thing to get off this rock and go for a jaunt around the moon. It’s another to get home safe. Apollo 13 managed the feat against great odds. Now it’s time for the first human-rated spacecraft of the modern moon exploration era to show us what it’s got.

Technologies

iPhone 17 Preorders Spike and Overall Phone Sales Aren’t Slowing Down Despite Tariffs

Global smartphone shipments saw a notable increase in the third quarter of 2025. Plus, preorders for Apple’s new iPhone 17 beat out the iPhone 16.

Despite tariffs and market uncertainty, global smartphone shipments increased 2.6% in the third quarter of 2025, compared to the same time last year, according to the International Data Corporation. Additionally, preorders for the iPhone 17, which launched last month, outpaced last year’s iPhone 16.

These increased sales include premium phones like the latest iPhones and Samsung foldables, suggesting yet again that pricier phones still sell in periods of economic strain. It’s a remarkable achievement, says IDC senior research director Nabila Popal, citing shrewd financing options as the reason people keep buying these high-end phones, which cost anywhere from $800 to nearly $2,000.

«[Phone makers] have mastered the art of innovation not only in hardware and software to entice upgrades but also in removing purchase friction. They have flawlessly combined cutting-edge devices with innovative financing models and aggressive trade-in programs that make the upgrading decision a ‘no-brainer’ for consumers,» Popal said in an IDC press release.

Apple sold 58.6 million iPhones this quarter, an increase of 2.9% over the same period in 2024, with more preorders for the iPhone 17 series than its predecessor. But Samsung wasn’t far behind, with its Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 selling better than all of the company’s prior foldables. The company still reigns atop the phone market with 61.4 million phones sold, representing 19% of the market in the third quarter of this year — an increase of 6.3% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, Apple lands slightly behind Samsung with 18.2% market share this quarter.

The other phone makers trailing Apple and Samsung are, in order: Xiaomi, with 13.5% of the market; Transsion, with 9%; and Vivo with 8.9%. The remaining companies in the phones industry, from Chinese stalwarts like Oppo and Honor to Motorola and Google, make up the remaining 31.4% of the market for the quarter. All told, 322.7 million phones were sold, up from 314.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, according to IDC.

IDC’s findings for the third quarter continue the small but steady growth of phone sales over the year, including a modest 1% increase in the preceding three months — which includes the April deadline when President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs. In the second quarter, IDC cited midrange devices like Samsung’s Galaxy A36 and other phones that started incorporating AI. But even persistent tariffs haven’t slowed down people’s appetites for pricier phones in the third quarter.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, Oct. 14

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 14.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s Mini Crossword has an odd vertical shape, with an extra Across clue, and only four Down clues. The clues are not terribly difficult, but one or two could be tricky. Read on if you need the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.