A Dragon returns, North Korea tests a rocket engine, a wheel breaks on Mars and a spacewalk streak begins — it’s Space.com’s top news stories of the week.

Transition begins

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a bill authorizing a $19.5 billion budget for NASA in 2017, setting its priorities for the year. Vice President Mike Pence also announced that he would head a re-established National Space Council, which will advise the president on space issues. [Full Story: President Trump Signs NASA Authorization Bill]

Dragon came back

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, bringing more than 2 tons of science experiments and gear back from the International Space Station. Officials retrieved the spacecraft and had time-sensitive scientific samples in the lab within 48 hours. [Full Story: SpaceX Dragon Capsule Returns to Earth with Ocean Splashdown]

Uncertainty engine

North Korea announced that they had performed a ground test of a powerful rocket engine suited to lifting satellites — or missiles — off the ground. [Full Story: North Korea Tests Rocket Engine: Is It for Satellites or Ballistic Missiles?]

Wear and tear

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has two small breaks in the treads of one of its six heavy wheels. Curiosity has already lasted well beyond its original two-year mission lifetime, and it should be able to continue unhindered by this latest wear and tear. [Full Story: Breaks Found in Curiosity Mars Rover’s Wheel]