Category Archives: SPACE

Astronomers Identify Rare Binary Star System Producing Radio Pulses Every Eight Minutes

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Astronomers have traced mysterious repeating radio signals from space to an unusual pair of stars located more than 5,000 light-years from Earth. The system, designated GPM J071507−114153, consists of a rapidly rotating white dwarf and a companion star similar to the Sun.

The discovery was made by researchers at the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR). It marks the first time astronomers have detected radio pulses from a white dwarf orbiting a Sun-like star, offering new insights into a rare class of astronomical objects.

White dwarf and Sun-like star form an unusual pairing

The newly identified system contains two stars orbiting each other: a white dwarf, the dense core left behind after a star dies, and a G-type star comparable to the Sun.

The white dwarf produces radio pulses at intervals of approximately eight minutes. Such signals are associated with a class of astronomical objects known as long-period transients (LPTs), which emit radio waves intermittently over periods ranging from minutes to hours.

Around a dozen LPT systems have been identified since the first discovery by the same ICRAR research team in 2021. Although several previously identified systems contain a white dwarf and another star, astronomers have struggled to establish which star produces the radio emissions.

The latest observation provides clearer evidence by revealing the white dwarf’s movement as it orbits its companion.

“This is the first time the pulses are clear enough to see the white dwarf moving in its orbit around its companion, so we know that the pulsations are coming from a region close to the white dwarf, or possibly even from the white dwarf itself,” said lead author Dr Sam McSweeney, a commissioning scientist with the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO).

Radio signals reveal stellar activity thousands of light-years away

The researchers analysed more than 100 hours of radio observations using the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre to validate and understand the white dwarf’s orbital movement.

The observations also revealed activity on the companion star. Associate Professor Natasha Hurley-Walker, a co-author of the study, said the white dwarf’s radio pulses helped the team detect stellar flares on the Sun-like star. These flares are similar to the solar activity responsible for producing auroras on Earth.

The team also observed the white dwarf moving behind a region with a strong magnetic field, which they believe is likely to be a stellar prominence. Such structures are large loops of plasma that erupt from a star’s surface.

Hurley-Walker said, “It’s amazing that by using radio wavelengths we can detect the storms on a star over 5000 light-years away.”

Multiple observatories helped identify the star system

The discovery began with a large survey conducted using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), which scans the Milky Way visible from Australia. Researchers subsequently used South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope to establish the system’s precise location.

Optical observations from the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii then confirmed its association with a G-type star.

The research involved several radio astronomy facilities that also serve as precursors to the Square Kilometre Array telescopes. These include the MWA at the CSIRO Murchison Radio-Astronomy Observatory in Western Australia and MeerKAT, operated by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory.

Discovery offers a preview of future radio astronomy capabilities

The identification of GPM J071507−114153 adds to the growing number of known long-period transient systems and provides stronger evidence about the origins of their radio emissions.

Researchers expect future observations to help establish how these unusual stellar pairs generate their signals and how their magnetic environments influence the process.

Dr McSweeney said, “If we are already making such discoveries with precursor telescopes, just imagine how many more star systems we will be able to find, and what a beautifully detailed view of their signals we will have, once the SKAO telescopes are completely built.”

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New Satellite Laser Technology Reveals Hidden Plankton Layers and Ocean Carbon

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Scientists are using advanced satellite-based laser technology to measure marine life and carbon beneath the ocean surface, addressing a major limitation of conventional ocean-monitoring satellites. A new review published in The Innovation examines how high-spectral-resolution lidar (HSRL) can reveal the vertical distribution of plankton and improve measurements of the ocean’s role in the global carbon cycle.

Traditional ocean-colour satellites primarily observe light reflected from the uppermost layer of seawater. However, much of the plankton supporting marine food webs and the carbon transported towards deeper waters lies beneath this visible surface layer.

The review traces the development of spaceborne lidar technology, from the accidental discovery of subsurface plankton layers by NASA’s CALIOP instrument to newer missions operated by China and Europe. The researchers argue that combining these measurements with satellite imagery and ocean-monitoring floats could provide a more complete picture of marine ecosystems.

Conventional Satellites Cannot See the Full Ocean Ecosystem

Passive ocean-colour instruments, including MODIS and PACE, measure the colour of reflected sunlight to estimate conditions such as chlorophyll concentration. However, these observations provide limited information about the deeper water column.

This creates challenges for estimating global marine carbon budgets and understanding how ocean ecosystems respond to environmental changes.

An important development came in 2006, when CALIOP was launched to study atmospheric clouds. Its observations unexpectedly revealed plankton layers beneath the ocean surface across different regions. The instrument also showed that polar plankton blooms begin much earlier in the season than previously believed.

However, CALIOP relied on elastic lidar, a technique that measures the intensity of returned laser light. Its measurements involve two unknowns: how strongly particles scatter light back towards the instrument and how quickly light is attenuated as it travels through water.

Because a single measurement cannot independently determine both quantities, researchers had to rely on assumed relationships to estimate particle concentrations.

ICESat-2, launched in 2018, introduced photon-counting technology and achieved a vertical resolution of 0.3 metres. This allowed scientists to identify finer structures within plankton layers. When combined with ocean-colour observations, its data also enabled the production of satellite-derived chlorophyll profiles.

However, the underlying measurement problem remained unresolved.

High-Spectral-Resolution Lidar Separates Scattered Light

High-spectral-resolution lidar addresses this limitation by distinguishing between light scattered by particles and light scattered by water molecules.

The technique uses the fact that particle scattering produces relatively little change in the laser’s frequency, while molecular scattering spreads the returned light across a wider range of frequencies.

An ultra-narrow optical filter, often using an iodine vapour cell, separates the returning signal into two channels: one measuring the total scattered light and another isolating the molecular component.

Since the scattering properties of water molecules are known and stable, the molecular measurement allows researchers to determine how much light is attenuated by the water. They can then calculate the particle contribution without relying on the assumptions required by conventional elastic lidar.

This makes it possible to obtain more reliable measurements of particle backscatter and the vertical structure of marine ecosystems.

China’s DQ-1 and Europe’s EarthCARE Advance Ocean Monitoring

Two satellite missions have brought high-spectral-resolution lidar measurements into operational use.

China launched the DQ-1 satellite in April 2022, carrying the Atmospheric Composition Detection Lidar (ACDL). It became the first operational spaceborne HSRL instrument. Its measurements of particle backscatter have shown agreement with observations from Biogeochemical-Argo floats.

Europe’s EarthCARE mission followed in May 2024, carrying the Atmospheric Lidar (ATLID). While China’s ACDL operates using green laser light at 532 nanometres, EarthCARE’s instrument works in the ultraviolet at 355 nanometres.

Ship-based comparisons have demonstrated the improvement offered by the technology. HSRL retrieved particle backscatter within 10% of reference measurements more than five times as frequently as conventional elastic lidar.

These developments provide researchers with more accurate information about the distribution of particles and plankton beneath the ocean surface.

Combining Satellite Data to Build an Ocean Digital Twin

The review proposes combining three complementary sources of ocean observations into what the authors describe as a “virtual constellation”.

The system would bring together:

  • High-spectral-resolution lidar: Measures the vertical structure of marine particles and plankton.
  • Hyperspectral imagers: Identify the composition of biological communities near the ocean surface.
  • Biogeochemical-Argo floats: Collect measurements throughout the water column, profiling depths of up to 2,000 metres and providing ground-level validation.

Combining these datasets with computer models could help researchers develop an “ocean digital twin”, a digital representation of marine ecosystems and their changing conditions.

Such a system could improve predictions of how marine ecosystems respond to climate change and strengthen estimates of the carbon absorbed and transported by the oceans. These measurements could also support the carbon accounting used in national climate assessments.

Limitations and Future Satellite Missions

Despite its advantages, HSRL technology still faces several challenges.

Spaceborne lidar collects observations along a one-dimensional path, making it difficult to combine its measurements directly with the two-dimensional coverage provided by satellite imagers. Its penetration is also limited to approximately two to three optical depths, meaning that deep chlorophyll maxima in turbid waters may remain undetected.

The researchers also noted that validation efforts have largely focused on open-ocean environments. Coastal waters remain comparatively understudied, partly because Biogeochemical-Argo floats are less common in these regions.

Future missions could help address some of these gaps. Planned projects, including CALIGOLA and China’s Guanlan mission, aim to expand ocean observations through fluorescence measurements and greater penetration depths of approximately 100 to 150 metres.

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X-Ray Observations Could Help Astronomers Predict Black Hole Jet Ejections Days in Advance

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Researchers from Japan have identified changes in X-ray emissions that could help predict when black holes are likely to eject powerful jets of particles and high-energy radiation. The warning signs, observed up to 10 days before jet ejections, could give astronomers valuable time to prepare follow-up observations.

The study, led by the University of Toyama in collaboration with Nagoya University, examined four black hole binary systems. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal on November 5, 2026.

Black holes are known for pulling surrounding matter inward, but they can also produce powerful jets that travel through space at speeds approaching that of light. Understanding what triggers these ejections remains a major challenge in astrophysics.

Changes in Accretion Disks May Provide Early Warning Signs

Matter drawn towards a black hole forms an accretion disk, where gas heats up as it spirals inward and emits X-rays. Researchers have previously observed changes in these X-ray emissions before jet ejections, including alterations in the X-ray spectrum and reductions in variability.

However, these observations have not consistently provided enough information to predict when a jet will emerge.

To investigate the possibility of more reliable forecasting, a team led by Professor Toshihiro Kawaguchi of the University of Toyama analysed archived X-ray and radio observations from four black hole binary systems.

The research built on a 2025 study of XTE J1859+226, which suggested that jets could be launched when the inner edge of an accretion disk rapidly moves towards the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO). This is the closest orbit around a black hole in which matter can maintain a stable circular path.

The latest investigation examined three additional systems: XTE J1550-564, GX 339-4, and MAXI J1820+070.

Four Black Hole Systems Reveal a Common Pattern

The researchers tracked three main parameters: the inner radius of the accretion disk, changes in X-ray variability, and the rate at which gas flows towards the black hole.

They compared these measurements with radio observations, using radio flares as indicators of jet ejection activity.

The analysis revealed a recurring pattern across all four systems. The inner radius of the accretion disk and X-ray variability both decreased approximately one to 10 days before a jet ejection.

However, the researchers did not observe any major increase in the rate of gas flowing towards the black holes.

Another important finding concerned the Eddington limit, which represents the theoretical threshold at which the outward pressure of radiation balances the inward pull of gravity.

In two of the four systems, jets formed when the gas flow rate was below this threshold. This challenges models that explain jet ejections primarily through unusually high accretion rates.

Researchers Propose a Black Hole Jet Forecasting System

The findings suggest that monitoring changes in the accretion disk’s inner radius could help astronomers anticipate jet ejections.

“Monitoring of Rin seems to be suitable for predicting the timing of jet ejections,” said Professor Kawaguchi.

The research team proposes developing an alert system that would notify astronomers when the inner radius and X-ray variability continue to decline, particularly as the disk approaches the ISCO.

Such alerts could provide an observation window ranging from several hours to several days, allowing researchers to coordinate telescope facilities and collect data around the expected time of an ejection.

“The development of a ‘jet forecast’ would enable us to concentrate observing facilities on the expected timing of jet ejections, thereby accelerating our understanding of jet physics,” Professor Kawaguchi added.

Understanding the Wider Effects of Black Hole Jets

Predicting jet ejections could help scientists investigate the physical processes responsible for some of the universe’s most energetic phenomena.

These jets release high-energy photons and particles, including neutrinos and cosmic rays, which can travel across vast distances and interact with their surroundings.

“Jet ejections in the Universe produce high-energy photons and particles, such as neutrinos, and such cosmic rays have long influenced the evolution of living creatures on Earth, including human beings,” Professor Kawaguchi said.

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European Orbiter Finds Possible Signs of Dormant Volcanic Activity on Mars

European Orbiter Finds Possible Signs of Dormant Volcanic Activity on Mars

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New observations from the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) have revealed evidence that volcanic activity may still be occurring beneath the Martian surface. Researchers detected unusual concentrations of hydrogen chloride gas above volcanic fissures near Alba Mons, suggesting that gases from underground magma could be escaping into the atmosphere.

The findings, led by an international research team under Alexander Trokhimovskiy, indicate that Mars may retain enough internal heat to support dormant or intermittent volcanic processes. The study, published in Science Advances, offers new insights into the planet’s geological activity and the possibility of habitable environments beneath its surface.

Hydrogen Chloride Spikes Point to Possible Volcanic Activity

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter first detected hydrogen chloride in the Martian atmosphere in 2021. On Earth, this gas is commonly released through magmatic vents, prompting scientists to investigate whether a similar process could be taking place on Mars.

Hydrogen chloride concentrations on Mars typically follow seasonal patterns. Levels generally peak during the northern hemisphere’s winter and decline during summer, with much of this variation associated with dust and water cycles.

However, researchers identified an unusual exception. During early summer, hydrogen chloride concentrations increased above volcanic fissures on the flanks of Alba Mons. The gas appeared repeatedly in the same location and season, suggesting a possible connection to geological activity beneath the surface.

“Our findings suggest that Mars has retained enough internal heat to support volcanic activity until recently, and possibly still does,” says Daniel Mège, Professor at the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences and co-lead author of the study.

Fresh Fissures Reveal Possible Routes for Underground Gases

Researchers combined atmospheric observations with geological analysis to investigate the source of the hydrogen chloride. Infrared spectrometers aboard TGO’s Atmospheric Chemistry Suite detected the gas, while the spacecraft’s CaSSIS camera captured images of the Alba Mons region.

The images revealed narrow, apparently fresh fissures, some extending hundreds of metres, accompanied by changes in surface colour. Scientists believe these openings could provide pathways for magmatic gases to reach the Martian atmosphere.

“The Trace Gas Orbiter was able to find the smoking gun. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack. It’s truly amazing that it spotted a handful of molecules from a perhaps intermittent source, whilst moving continuously along its orbit to monitor the whole martian atmosphere,” explains Daniel.

The research team proposes that the fissures remain blocked by ice during the Martian winter, when temperatures can fall to -120°C. As temperatures rise in early summer and the ice sublimates, hydrogen chloride and other gases may escape through the openings.

The discolouration surrounding the fissures could also result from deposits left behind by escaping gases, similar to formations found around fumaroles, or volcanic gas vents, on Earth.

“Looking at the spatial distribution of the seeping, it became instantly obvious to me that there was something volcanic behind it, but it had to be demonstrated” concedes Daniel.

Scientists also examined alternative chemical processes that could explain the presence of hydrogen chloride before linking the observations to possible volcanic activity.

“A huge part of the work consisted of examining all the possible chemical processes going on in the martian atmosphere. We needed to be rigorous, critical and creative to explain the presence of hydrogen chloride. The data were complex, but also excellent brain food,” adds Daniel.

The researchers suggest that the gas release may be connected to a dormant magma chamber beneath Alba Mons, indicating that Mars could still have an active geological system deep underground.

Could Volcanic Activity Create Habitable Environments on Mars?

The findings also raise questions about the possibility of microbial life beneath the Martian surface. Magmatic gases may have been more abundant in the planet’s past, potentially contributing to a thicker atmosphere, warmer temperatures and conditions that allowed liquid water to exist across large areas.

Researchers suggest that interactions between rising magma and underground water could create warm environments suitable for microbial activity. Such hydrothermal systems could provide microorganisms with essential chemical ingredients and energy while offering protection from the harsh conditions on the surface.

“Looking for martian life in the seeping fissures of the Alba Mons region would make a lot of sense. If hydrothermal systems are active, they could contain the ingredients and energy needed for microorganisms to develop, and shield microorganisms from the hostile and changing environment above the surface,” ponders Daniel.

Although scientists have not observed any new lava flows or volcanic eruptions on Mars, evidence from orbital imagery and marsquake detections has already raised the possibility of recent or ongoing geological activity.

“These findings may prove to be TGO’s greatest success yet,” highlights Colin Wilson, ESA’s project scientist for the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter.

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Indian Astronomers Discover UBC 63 Is Actually Two Star Clusters After Close Encounter

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Indian Astronomers Discover UBC 63 Is Actually Two Star Clusters After Close Encounter

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A team of Indian astronomers has discovered that UBC 63, previously classified as a single star cluster, is actually made up of two distinct stellar systems that passed remarkably close to each other several million years ago. The discovery offers new insights into how gravitational interactions influence the structure and evolution of star clusters in the Milky Way.

Located approximately 4,892 light-years from Earth, UBC 63 is a loosely gravitationally bound group of stars known as a galactic open cluster. Earlier research had treated it as a single cluster, with only limited information available about its properties.

The latest study, however, reveals that the system consists of two separate clusters, designated UBC 63A and UBC 63B. Researchers identified the two populations using data from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Gaia mission, which provides highly precise measurements of stellar positions and movements across the Milky Way.

The discovery provides an opportunity to investigate the aftermath of a close encounter between two stellar systems and understand how such interactions affect their long-term evolution.

Gaia Data Reveals Two Distinct Stellar Populations

The research began as an investigation into the star formation dynamics of UBC 63. A team led by Indian astronomers from Gauhati University and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), used Gaia observations to examine the cluster’s stellar properties.

The researchers initially noticed that the stars appeared to form two separate sequences in a colour-magnitude diagram, an important astronomical tool used to study the brightness, colours and evolutionary stages of stars.

This observation suggested that UBC 63 might contain two distinct stellar populations rather than one unified cluster.

Further examination of stellar movements and other properties, supported by machine learning techniques and advanced dynamical simulations using high-performance computing, confirmed the presence of two separate clusters.

The analysis also revealed a substantial difference in their ages. UBC 63A is estimated to be approximately 21 million years old, while UBC 63B is considerably older, with an estimated age of around 562 million years.

This significant age difference indicates that the two clusters did not form as a single stellar system.

Two Star Clusters Passed Within 23 Light-Years of Each Other

After identifying the two clusters, researchers investigated how stellar systems with such different formation histories came to occupy nearby regions of the Milky Way.

By simulating their movements through the galaxy, the team reconstructed their past trajectories and identified evidence of a remarkably close encounter.

According to the simulations, when the younger cluster formed, the two systems were separated by approximately 60 parsecs, equivalent to around 196 light-years.

However, approximately six million years ago, they approached each other to within just seven parsecs, or roughly 23 light-years.

Today, UBC 63A and UBC 63B are separated by approximately 26 parsecs, equivalent to around 85 light-years.

Their present movements indicate that the clusters are not gravitationally bound to one another. Instead, they are moving apart following their close encounter.

Such interactions between star clusters are relatively uncommon, making the discovery particularly useful for studying how gravitational encounters influence stellar systems.

Study Highlights the Role of Gaia and Machine Learning in Astronomy

The discovery demonstrates how modern astronomical surveys can reveal structures that may remain hidden when stars are examined only through their apparent positions in the sky.

Gaia’s precise measurements of stellar positions and movements allowed researchers to distinguish the two populations within what was previously considered a single cluster.

The use of machine learning and high-performance computing further helped the team examine stellar properties and reconstruct the clusters’ dynamical histories.

The findings provide an opportunity to study how close encounters between stellar systems influence their structure, movement and evolution within the Milky Way.

Indian Research Team Publishes Findings in The Astronomical Journal

The research was published in The Astronomical Journal and involved an international team of astronomers.

The authors include Samrat Biswas, an INSPIRE Senior Research Fellow at Gauhati University; Biman J. Medhi of Gauhati University; Sergio Messina of the INAF Catania Astrophysical Observatory; Zhanpeng Zhu of Shanghai Normal University; Songmei Qin of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory; Sukanta Deb of Cotton University; A. H. Sheikh, also an INSPIRE Senior Research Fellow at Gauhati University; H. S. Das of Assam University; Motohide Tamura of the University of Tokyo; Maheswar Gopinathan and Ram Sagar of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.

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India Targets Debris-Free Space by 2030 as Cosmoserve Space Opens Hyderabad Facility

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India is stepping up its efforts to tackle the growing problem of space debris, with Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh announcing a vision to achieve debris-free space by 2030. The initiative reflects India’s growing capabilities in space technology and its efforts to develop solutions for safer and more sustainable space operations.

The announcement was made on November 5, 2026, during the inauguration of Cosmoserve Space’s Base 1 facility at VSD Tech Park in Gachibowli, Hyderabad. Dr. Jitendra Singh attended the event virtually from Kartavya Bhawan in New Delhi, while Telangana’s IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu attended as the Guest of Honour alongside Cosmoserve Space Founder and CEO Dr. Chiranjeevi Phanindra.

The facility will focus on Active Space Debris Removal (ADR) and in-orbit servicing, two areas of technology aimed at addressing the challenges posed by inactive satellites and other objects orbiting Earth.

Cosmoserve Space Opens Advanced Robotics and Debris Removal Facility

Congratulating the company on the inauguration, Dr. Jitendra Singh described Base 1 as an advanced facility covering approximately 14,800 square feet. It brings together capabilities for designing, developing, testing and operating space robotics systems under simulated space conditions.

The facility includes orbital rendezvous and capture laboratories, space robotics innovation labs, microgravity simulation platforms and satellite integration clean rooms. These facilities are intended to support the development and testing of technologies required for future space missions.

The Minister also highlighted Cosmoserve Space’s work on active debris removal and in-orbit servicing. Its Mission EMBRACE conducted an in-space test of soft robotic petals in July 2026, less than a year after the company’s establishment.

Dr. Jitendra Singh praised the team’s experience in ISRO and the Gaganyaan programme, noting how its technical expertise is being translated into collaborative innovation within India’s private space sector.

The company has also established partnerships with Pixxel for satellite systems, Dhruv Aerospace Netherlands for propulsion systems and Skyroot Aerospace for launch services. According to the Minister, these collaborations demonstrate how private companies are combining indigenous technologies, satellite systems, battery capabilities and launch infrastructure to develop integrated space missions.

India’s Space Economy Projected to Reach $40-45 Billion

Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the expansion of India’s space industry following the space sector reforms introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He noted that the establishment of NewSpace India Limited and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) helped reshape the country’s space ecosystem by creating opportunities for private companies and startups.

India’s space economy has grown to nearly $9 billion and is projected to reach $40-45 billion over the coming decade. The country’s space startup ecosystem has also expanded significantly, growing from single-digit numbers to nearly 450 enterprises.

The Minister said India already had considerable scientific talent and technological capabilities, but required a supportive ecosystem to allow young innovators and entrepreneurs to contribute to the sector.

He encouraged domestic and international investors to increase their participation in India’s space industry. He also called for greater philanthropic investment in scientific research and innovation to support emerging technologies and strengthen industry collaborations.

India Focuses on Space Sustainability and Technological Self-Reliance

The Minister emphasised that India’s space ambitions extend beyond commercial growth, with technological self-reliance and the development of sovereign capabilities remaining key priorities.

He pointed to India’s Chandrayaan missions and the Gaganyaan programme as examples of the country’s ability to undertake sophisticated space projects at comparatively lower costs. He also highlighted the contribution of space technology to activities on Earth, including the Gati Shakti initiative, smart city development and disaster preparedness.

Dr. Jitendra Singh described Cosmoserve Space’s work as an example of Vishwa Bandhu Bharat, reflecting India’s commitment to extending the benefits of space technology and sustainability beyond national boundaries.

He said initiatives focused on removing space debris and servicing satellites could contribute to a safer orbital environment for the international community while strengthening India’s position in the global space sector.

The Minister congratulated Cosmoserve Space and its team for their contribution to space sustainability and expressed his intention to visit the Hyderabad facility in person to interact with its members.

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University of Washington Scientists Develop Virtual Earth Model to Help Detect Life on Other Planets

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Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a computer simulation of Earth without life to help astronomers identify atmospheric evidence of potential life on distant rocky planets.

Scientists searching for life beyond Earth have catalogued more than 6,000 planets outside our solar system. Researchers are examining the atmospheres of promising exoplanets for chemical signatures that could indicate biological activity.

Atmospheres similar to Earth’s are of particular interest because they can retain enough heat to support liquid water on a planet’s surface, a key condition for life as we know it. However, scientists must also distinguish between planets that are merely habitable and those that actually support life.

To address this challenge, researchers at the University of Washington (UW) have developed a virtual model of Earth that simulates the planet’s geochemical systems without including the influence of life.

Simulation Reconstructs Earth’s Geochemical Evolution Over Five Billion Years

Published on September 18 in The Planetary Science Journal, the study describes a simulation that models Earth’s geochemical systems over five billion years. It covers the planet’s history from its formation approximately 4.5 billion years ago to around 500 million years into the future.

The model tracks the exchange of chemicals between Earth’s core, mantle, crust, surface and atmosphere over time. By excluding biological influences, researchers created a baseline for understanding how a planet’s atmosphere and other systems might evolve without life.

The simulation accurately predicted 19 planetary properties, including heat flow through the mantle. Researchers also designed it to be adaptable to other rocky planets, allowing scientists to investigate whether their observed atmospheric conditions can be explained without biological activity.

“This model can help us see how habitable but non-living planets might mimic living planets,” said lead author Samantha Gilbert-Janizek, who conducted the research as a University of Washington doctoral student in astronomy and is now a postdoctoral fellow at UC Riverside.

“When we interpret observations of an exoplanet’s atmosphere, this tool will help us determine the probability that what we observe indicates life on the surface.”

Model Tracks Chemical Exchanges Across the Planet

The research builds on an earlier model developed in the laboratory of senior author Rory Barnes, an associate professor of astronomy at the University of Washington.

Previous versions simulated the planet’s core, mantle, crust and stellar radiation but did not incorporate its surface or atmosphere. Gilbert-Janizek expanded the model to include these components, providing a more complete picture of how chemicals move through Earth’s interconnected systems.

A planet’s atmosphere is influenced by several non-biological processes, including heat and gases released from its interior and radiation from its host star. These factors can produce atmospheric conditions that may resemble those associated with life.

On Earth, for example, plants and animals continuously release oxygen and methane into the atmosphere. These two gases react with each other and destroy one another. Their continued presence together could therefore attract the attention of astronomers studying Earth from another planetary system, as it may suggest that biological processes are replenishing them.

The new simulation helps researchers determine whether similar atmospheric combinations could occur without life.

Researchers Can Test Atmospheric Conditions on Distant Planets

The model can be adapted to study rocky exoplanets by entering basic information about a planet and simulating its atmospheric evolution without biological influence.

Researchers can then compare the simulated atmosphere with actual observations. If the model cannot reproduce the observed atmospheric conditions without life, the planet becomes a more interesting candidate for further investigation.

“Dr. Gilbert-Janizek’s work represents an exciting step toward understanding where life can exist in the universe,” said senior author Rory Barnes.

“After more than a decade of work by many scientists, Dr. Gilbert-Janizek has finally completed a model of the Earth that simultaneously reproduces properties of Earth’s core, mantle, surface and atmosphere. That calibration gives us confidence that future simulations of exoplanets will be accurate.”

Research Could Support Future Exoplanet Telescopes

The improved model could also help guide the design of future telescopes intended to study distant planets, including NASA’s proposed Habitable Worlds Observatory.

Gilbert-Janizek highlighted the long-term scientific effort required to achieve the goals of such missions.

“Realizing the ambitious goals of a telescope like the Habitable Worlds Observatory requires decades of work across many generations of scientists,” Gilbert-Janizek said.

“I’m so grateful to join this lineage and one day pass the torch to the next generation so that we can continue chipping away at this question of whether or not we are alone in the universe.”

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Aditya-L1 Observations Reveal Asymmetric Expansion of Solar Eruption, Offering New Space Weather Insights

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Scientists analysing observations from India’s Aditya-L1 solar observatory have discovered that a coronal mass ejection expanded asymmetrically, providing new insights into solar eruptions and their potential effects on space weather.

India’s first space-based solar observatory, Aditya-L1, has helped researchers uncover new details about the expansion of a coronal mass ejection (CME), a type of solar eruption. The findings could improve scientists’ understanding of space-weather disturbances that may affect satellites and communication networks.

Launched in September 2023, Aditya-L1 is operational at the Sun–Earth L1 point, where it continuously observes the Sun. The spacecraft carries seven scientific payloads, including the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), its primary instrument, which is designed to observe the solar corona simultaneously in different modes.

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), combined VELC observations with data from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and three-dimensional modelling to reconstruct the geometry and dynamics of a solar eruption.

Aditya-L1 and NASA Observations Reveal Uneven CME Expansion

The researchers examined a CME that occurred on August 5, 2024, originating from an active region near the Sun’s western limb.

“We observed the CME that occurred on 5 August 2024 using the VELC as well as data from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)”, explained Saurabh Tripathi, a PhD student at IIA, and lead author of the study.

VELC’s spectroscopic observations detected an unusual Doppler pattern involving both blueward and redward shifts in the emission. These shifts indicate plasma moving towards and away from the observer, respectively.

“Our results show that the CME did not expand uniformly. The AIA images captured how the CME propagated across the sky, while VELC revealed the motion of the expanding CME bubble towards and away from us,” Tanmoy Samanta, a solar astronomer at IIA and the corresponding author of the study elaborated.

Together, the observations showed that the eruption developed an asymmetric shape because of its non-uniform expansion.

VELC Spectroscopy Helps Track Plasma Motion

VELC studies newly developing CMEs through spectroscopy using the 530.3-nanometre green emission line produced by highly ionised iron atoms in the solar corona.

This emission captures hot coronal plasma at temperatures of approximately 1.8 million Kelvin. Changes in the wavelength of the emission, known as Doppler shifts, provide information about plasma velocity along the line of sight and close to the solar disk.

The instrument was designed and fabricated by IIA at its MGK Menon Lab for Space Sciences on the CREST campus in Hosakote, with substantial support from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Three-Dimensional Model Confirms Asymmetric Solar Eruption

To investigate the unusual spectral observations, researchers developed a three-dimensional geometric-kinematic model of the expanding CME.

“To understand the unusual spectral pattern observed by VELC, we then developed a 3-D geometric-kinematic model of an expanding CME”, said Jayant Joshi of IIA and a co-author.

The researchers used the model to examine how the CME’s orientation and uneven sideways expansion could produce the observed spectral structures.

A model assuming symmetric expansion failed to reproduce the observations. However, a model incorporating an inclined CME axis and asymmetric lateral expansion generated a spectral pattern and temporal evolution similar to those recorded by VELC.

The team plans to apply this technique to other CMEs to reconstruct their motion without depending entirely on observations from multiple viewing positions in space.

This approach is particularly useful in the lower solar corona, where CMEs evolve rapidly and imaging alone cannot determine plasma motion along the line of sight.

Findings Could Improve Understanding of Space Weather

The discovery could have implications for understanding how solar eruptions travel through space and potentially affect Earth.

“The asymmetric shape of an early CME can have important implications for how it interacts with the solar wind and experiences drag during its propagation through the heliosphere. Such effects can influence the CME’s speed and, ultimately, its arrival time at Earth”, said Joshi.

By revealing the three-dimensional behaviour of CMEs during their early development, the study provides additional insights into the processes that influence solar eruptions and their propagation towards Earth.

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NASA’s Swift Observatory Is Falling Back to Earth: What to Know About the Impending Impact

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NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a space telescope that spent nearly 22 years studying cosmic explosions, is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere on November 4, with the possibility of surviving debris reaching the surface.

The 3,200-pound (approximately 1,450-kg) observatory is making an uncontrolled descent after a $30 million rescue mission failed to raise it into a higher orbit. NASA says most of the spacecraft is expected to burn up during re-entry, while the risk of harm to people on Earth remains very low.

The impending re-entry marks the end of a mission that far exceeded its original two-year operating target and helped astronomers investigate some of the universe’s most powerful events.

When and where could Swift re-enter?

swift

How solar activity accelerated the descent

Swift’s orbit gradually deteriorated because of atmospheric drag. Increased solar activity in 2024 heated and expanded Earth’s upper atmosphere, increasing the drag acting on the spacecraft and accelerating its descent.

NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies attempted to save the observatory through a $30 million servicing mission. The robotic spacecraft LINK was intended to capture Swift and raise it into a higher orbit, potentially extending its scientific life by years.

The rescue effort was abandoned after LINK encountered problems with its orientation and stability. Swift’s final scientific observation took place on October 20, 2026, when it had descended to approximately 275 kilometres above Earth.

What Swift leaves behind

Swift was launched on November 20, 2004, to detect gamma-ray bursts, some of the most energetic explosions in the universe. Its three telescopes allowed it to observe cosmic events across multiple wavelengths and rapidly alert other observatories.

During its mission, Swift:

  • Observed more than 2,000 gamma-ray bursts.

  • Studied more than 1,400 supernova explosions.

  • Investigated stars being destroyed by black holes.

  • Contributed data to approximately 7,000 scientific papers.

  • Built a publicly accessible archive of nearly 22 years of observations.

NASA said the observatory’s scientific archive could support discoveries for decades after the spacecraft’s re-entry.

What happens next?

NASA and the US Space Force are continuing to track Swift’s descent and refine the re-entry forecast. The exact time and location of atmospheric entry will become clearer as the spacecraft approaches Earth.

The observatory’s re-entry also highlights the growing challenge of managing ageing spacecraft in low Earth orbit, where atmospheric drag can eventually bring satellites back to Earth without a controlled landing.

 

Halloween in Orbit: How ISS Astronauts Keep Earth’s Traditions Alive in Space

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Halloween aboard the International Space Station comes without door-to-door trick-or-treating, but astronauts have found creative ways to mark the holiday while living hundreds of miles above Earth.

NASA has shared photographs of crew members celebrating Halloween in orbit, showing astronauts wearing costumes, decorating parts of the station and finding ways to bring the familiar holiday spirit into their extraordinary surroundings.

The celebrations offer a brief break from the station’s demanding schedule of scientific experiments and operational duties. They also help crew members maintain a sense of connection with life on Earth while working in an environment unlike any other.

Costumes made for life in microgravity

Astronauts have celebrated Halloween individually and as teams, choosing outfits that range from spooky characters to imaginative designs.

With no costume shop aboard the orbiting laboratory, crew members often make use of materials already available on the station. The resulting outfits reflect the creativity required to celebrate a familiar holiday in an unconventional setting.

There are no ghouls, goblins or trick-or-treaters knocking at the station’s front hatch. Instead, astronauts create their own festivities, sometimes dressing up together and sharing the occasion with colleagues in orbit.

NASA’s photographs from previous years provide a visual record of these celebrations, capturing how different crews have adapted Halloween traditions to life aboard the ISS.

A holiday break aboard a scientific outpost

The festivities are a small part of life on a platform primarily dedicated to research. The International Space Station supports scientific investigations and helps develop the capabilities needed for future human exploration beyond Earth.

NASA continues to document the station’s work through photographs, stories and research updates, reflecting more than 25 years of continuous human presence in orbit.

The Halloween celebrations offer another glimpse into that long-running mission: alongside experiments and technical responsibilities, astronauts continue to observe cultural traditions that help make life in space feel a little more familiar.

 

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NASA Astronauts Install Seventh Roll-Out Solar Array During Spacewalk

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NASA astronauts Anil Menon and Joshua Kutryk completed a 7-hour, 11-minute spacewalk to install and deploy the seventh roll-out solar array aboard the International Space Station.

NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Joshua Kutryk concluded their spacewalk outside the International Space Station at 3:08 p.m. EDT. During the 7-hour, 11-minute operation, the astronauts installed and deployed an International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA) on the station’s 2A electrical power channel.

The newly installed array is the seventh IROSA aboard the space station. It will provide additional electricity to support critical operations, including the station’s safe and controlled deorbit.

Eighth and Final Solar Array Installation Planned for November 5

During the spacewalk, Menon and Kutryk also completed several preparatory tasks for a planned spacewalk on Thursday, November 5. During that operation, they are scheduled to install the eighth and final IROSA on the station’s 3B power channel.

NASA will begin live coverage of the November 5 spacewalk at 6:45 a.m. EDT. Viewers can follow the coverage through NASA’s official live broadcast.

Once the final array is installed, the station’s roll-out solar array system will be fully deployed, completing the planned augmentation of its power system.

Eight Arrays to Increase Available Power by Up to 30%

Together, the eight roll-out solar arrays will increase the International Space Station’s available power by up to 30%. This will raise its power generation capacity from 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts.

The additional power generation capacity will support the station’s operations as it continues its scientific and other activities in orbit.

The operation was designated U.S. spacewalk 100. It was the fourth spacewalk for Menon and the first for Kutryk.

It also marked the 285th spacewalk conducted in support of the International Space Station’s assembly, maintenance and upgrades. The installation of the seventh IROSA brings the station closer to completing its power system augmentation, with the final array scheduled for installation on November 5.

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ISS Crew Conducts Space Crop Research and Technology Experiments After Solar Array Spacewalk

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Astronauts aboard the International Space Station continued research into space-based agriculture, plant diseases, virtual reality and advanced technologies following the installation of a new roll-out solar array.

The Expedition 75 crew completed a week of scientific activities following the first of two planned spacewalks to upgrade the International Space Station’s power generation system. Alongside the station’s power upgrades, astronauts conducted experiments involving space crops, plant diseases, virtual reality and super intelligence tools.

The new roll-out solar array began generating power after NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Joshua Kutryk installed it during a spacewalk on Thursday. The two astronauts spent seven hours and 11 minutes outside the station, attaching the array to the port-side truss structure and releasing its tension bolts. This allowed the array to unfurl over a ten-minute process.

Final Solar Array Installation Scheduled for November 5

Menon and Kutryk are scheduled to install one more roll-out solar array on Thursday, November 5, completing a process that began in June 2021 to increase the station’s power generation capacity.

The eighth and final array will be installed on the starboard side of the truss structure. Once deployed, the eight arrays will increase the station’s power generation capacity from 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts.

Research Explores Plant Growth and Disease Prevention in Space

Following the spacewalk, Menon worked on a space botany investigation in the Kibo laboratory module. The research examines how microgravity affects cell division in green algae and cultured tobacco cells. The findings may support the production of food crops on the Moon and Mars.

NASA flight engineer Luke Delaney also conducted research on space-based crops, focusing on preventing plant diseases in microgravity. He inoculated thale cress plant samples after exposing them to a fungal pathogen and placed the samples inside an artificial gravity-generating incubator. The results may help improve crop disease resistance both on Earth and in space.

Meanwhile, Kutryk used the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device (E4D), a compact exercise cycle in the Columbus laboratory module. The device is being tested to assess its ability to keep crew members physically fit during long-term spaceflight.

Astronauts Continue Experiments in Virtual Reality and Advanced Technologies

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins spent her shift servicing research equipment aboard the station. She removed and photographed components inside a device that powers experiments launched aboard spacecraft. She also replaced moisture absorbers in portable science freezers used to transport frozen research samples between the station and Earth for analysis.

Station commander Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos worked on a physics experiment involving the replacement of hardware inside a temperature-controlled chamber. The research explores the manufacturing of high-purity semiconductor crystals in microgravity.

Flight engineer Sergey Teteryatnikov used a virtual reality headset to respond to computer-generated visual stimuli. The experiment examines how his sense of balance and orientation adapts to microgravity.

Another crew member, flight engineer Anna Kikina, studied how super intelligence tools could improve operational and communication efficiency aboard a spacecraft.

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NASA Announces Schedule of Key Events for MAX POWER Aerospace Expo and Air Show

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NASA has released the schedule of key activities for MAX POWER, an aerospace expo and air show taking place near Kennedy Space Center in Florida from November 6 to 8, 2026.

NASA has announced the main events and media opportunities for MAX POWER, described as America’s newest aerospace expo and air show. The three-day event will run from Friday, November 6, through Sunday, November 8, at locations on and near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The event will bring together NASA and external collaborators to showcase aircraft, autonomous vehicles, technologies and other developments shaping the future of air and space exploration. NASA will display its quiet supersonic X-59 aircraft, while agency partners will present Moon rovers, spacecraft and other technologies.

MAX POWER will also mark the culmination of NASA’s recent Inspiration Tour, which featured multiple flyovers highlighting the agency’s aircraft fleet. The latest event schedule is available on NASA’s official MAX POWER website.

Public Events to Feature Astronauts, Scientists and Aerospace Experts

The expo will offer visitors opportunities to meet NASA leadership, astronauts, engineers, scientists and other subject matter experts. The family-friendly public events will open their gates at 9 a.m. EST on November 7 and 8.

NASA will also share updates throughout the weekend, including a news conference at 5 p.m. on November 7 covering the latest developments in its Moon Base programme. Located near the lunar South Pole, the Moon Base is described by NASA as humanity’s first outpost for long-term lunar exploration.

The news conference will be streamed online through multiple platforms. Details about the broadcast are available on NASA’s live coverage page.

NASA’s MAX POWER Schedule for November 6

On Friday, November 6, NASA will offer media representatives one-on-one opportunities to preview the weekend’s MAX POWER activities. The sessions are scheduled from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the NASA Press Site.

Key Events on Saturday, November 7

Saturday’s programme will feature several NASA presentations, astronaut appearances and aircraft demonstrations.

  • 10 a.m.: A Nuclear NASA media gathering at the UP.Summit Main Stage, featuring Cynthia Simmons, director of the Space Reactors Division.
  • 11:30 a.m.: Opening air show remarks by NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson at the Air Dot Show Main Stage.
  • 11:58 a.m.: An F-5 flyover during the Air Dot Show featuring NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
  • 12:45 p.m.: A session titled Meet the Astronauts: NASA’s Artemis III Crew at the Air Dot Show Main Stage. Participants include NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, mission commander; ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano, pilot; NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, mission specialist; and NASA astronaut Bob Hines, backup crew member. NASA will hold a media gathering with the crew immediately afterwards.
  • 1:31 p.m.: A MiG-29 flyover featuring Isaacman.
  • 2 p.m.: A presentation on NASA’s Roman Space Telescope at the Journey to Mars Theater inside the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Julie McEnery, senior project scientist for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope at NASA Goddard, will deliver remarks.
  • 5 p.m.: A Moon Base news conference at the Press Site Auditorium. Participants include NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, Carlos García-Galán, manager of the Moon Base Program; Nicky Fox, associate administrator for Science at NASA Headquarters; and Dayna Ise, acting director of the Utility and Infrastructure Office of the Moon Base Program. NASA subject matter experts will be available for individual interviews following the announcement.

Sunday, November 8: X-59, Student Challenge and Astronaut Sessions

Sunday’s activities will include discussions about NASA’s X-59 aircraft, a student challenge announcement and additional astronaut appearances.

  • 9 a.m.: An X-59 media gathering at the UP.Summit Exhibit Area, featuring Laurie Grindle, director of NASA’s Aeronautics Division; Peter Coen, NASA Quesst mission manager at NASA Langley; and Jim “Clue” Less, X-59 test pilot at NASA Armstrong.
  • 10 a.m.: A student challenge announcement at the Rocket Garden in the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and Carlos García-Galán, manager of the Moon Base Program, will participate. NASA experts may be available for interviews. Media representatives interested in attending must contact Lauren Low by 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 5.
  • 11:58 a.m.: An F-5 flyover during the Air Dot Show featuring Isaacman.
  • 12:45 p.m.: A United States Space Academy session at the UP.Summit Main Stage, featuring NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson.
  • 12:45 p.m.: A Meet the Astronauts: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 session at the Air Dot Show Main Stage, featuring NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway.
  • 1:31 p.m.: A MiG-29 flyover featuring Isaacman.

NASA has closed media credentialing for MAX POWER. Approved media representatives must request interviews in advance. Seating for the Moon Base news conference is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Media representatives may also participate virtually.

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NASA’s Perseverance Rover Helps Scientists Study Martian Dust

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Future astronauts travelling to Mars will have to contend with one persistent environmental challenge: dust. A new study led by Washington University in St. Louis examines how Martian dust interacts with spacesuit materials and other surfaces, providing insights that could help engineers prepare for human missions to the Red Planet.

Scientists used small swatches of spacesuit material attached to NASA’s Perseverance rover, alongside other materials such as Teflon, to examine the effects of prolonged exposure to Martian dust. Each swatch measures less than a square inch and is positioned among the rover’s scientific instruments and navigation equipment. Although the rover does not require a spacesuit, these samples allow researchers to assess how dust could damage equipment and materials used by future astronauts.

“Mars is a very dusty place,” said VanBommel. “Astronauts to Mars will have to be prepared.”

Martian Dust May Be Less Abrasive Than Lunar Dust

The Apollo missions demonstrated how dangerous dust can be during space exploration. Despite their relatively short duration, lunar missions exposed astronauts and equipment to abrasive particles that scratched visors and degraded spacesuits. Dust particles also clung to astronauts’ clothing, entered the lunar module and eventually reached their lungs, causing hay fever-like symptoms in some cases.

The new findings suggest that Martian dust may be less abrasive and irritating than lunar dust. After 1,645 Martian days of exposure, the spacesuit material samples showed little visible wear.

Researchers also found that Martian dust particles were considerably smoother than the jagged grains found on the Moon. VanBommel explained that prolonged exposure to wind may have gradually rounded the particles, giving them shapes similar to pebbles found in rivers.

“The particles in the Martian atmosphere have been blowing in the wind for potentially billions of years, so they tend to be well rounded, like pebbles in a river,” VanBommel said.

However, smoother particles do not eliminate the risks associated with Martian dust.

Ultrafine Particles Could Pose Health Risks

One of the study’s major findings concerns the extremely small size of some Martian dust particles. VanBommel developed a method to estimate individual particle sizes and identified ultrafine particles measuring as little as 100 nanometers across, equivalent to one ten-thousandth of a millimeter.

On Earth, ultrafine particles released by smoke and air pollution are considered a significant health concern because they can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.

Although astronauts will not breathe the Martian atmosphere directly, these microscopic particles could still create problems if they enter habitats or attach to spacesuits and equipment. Engineers will therefore need to consider their potential effects when designing protective clothing, habitat systems and air filters.

The researchers also found that Martian dust has electrostatic properties that influence how it interacts with different surfaces.

“The electrostatic properties of Martian dust are likely causing it to preferentially adhere to some surfaces,” said study co-author Abigail Knight, a staff scientist who helped develop and conduct the analysis.

Potentially Toxic Compounds Add to Mission Challenges

Using data from Perseverance’s PIXL (Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry) instrument, the researchers also examined the chemical composition of Martian dust.

Unlike lunar dust, the material on Mars contains perchlorates and other potentially toxic compounds. The samples were also enriched in sulfur, iron and silica.

The health risks associated with these substances will depend on the level and duration of exposure. Brief contact may not necessarily pose a serious threat, but their presence introduces additional considerations for the design of future human missions.

Perseverance Provides Insights for Future Human Exploration

NASA’s Perseverance rover and earlier Mars missions have helped scientists understand the planet’s geological history and present-day conditions. Their work also provides opportunities to test technologies and study environmental challenges that could affect future human exploration.

Researchers have now been operating rovers on Mars continuously for more than two decades, building a better understanding of how equipment performs in the planet’s dusty environment.

“We’ve been operating rovers on the surface of Mars continuously for more than 20 years at this point,” VanBommel said. “We know that dust will be a challenge, but it’s something we can prepare for and overcome.”

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378 Days on ‘Mars’: NASA’s Four Volunteers Emerge From a Year in Isolation

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Four volunteers who spent 378 days living inside a simulated Mars habitat at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston have emerged from isolation, completing an experiment designed to prepare astronauts for future missions to the Red Planet.

The crew members stepped out on October 31, 2026, after living and working in a 1,700-square-foot (158-square-metre) 3D-printed facility since October 19, 2025. Their mission recreated several challenges of a long-duration space expedition, including restricted resources, isolation and communication delays with Earth.

The experiment, known as the second Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) mission, was not an actual space journey. Instead, it placed the volunteers in a controlled environment where NASA could study how people adapt physically and psychologically to living far from Earth for extended periods.

The four participants were mission commander Ross Elder, medical officer Ellen Ellis, science officer Matthew Montgomery and flight engineer James Spicer. During their stay, they grew plants, maintained the habitat, exercised, conducted simulated spacewalks and carried out research activities designed to replicate aspects of living and working on Mars.

“It’s been a hell of a year – analog astronauts living in captivity of our own free will,” Ellis said after emerging from the habitat with her crewmates.

Elder said the experience reinforced the possibility of eventually sending humans to Mars.

“For Mars, the risks are great,” he said. “But through seeking understanding, strong vision and leadership, creativity, fortitude, hard work and incredible foundation, the goal of putting humans on Mars is not only achievable, but rather inevitable.”

NASA studies how humans cope with deep-space isolation

The CHAPEA programme is intended to help NASA understand how astronauts can remain healthy, productive and connected during missions that could keep them away from Earth for years.

One of the major challenges simulated during the experiment was the communication delay between Earth and Mars. Depending on the planets’ positions, messages between astronauts and mission control could take several minutes to travel each way, requiring crews to operate with greater independence.

Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche said the participants had to manage limited supplies, maintain their living environment and perform simulated Mars operations while adapting to delayed communications.

“These delays require patience, careful planning and greater independence – qualities that will be essential for future astronauts traveling millions of miles from home,” Wyche said.

NASA will use data collected during the mission to improve food-system design, crew schedules, medical care and psychological support for astronauts on extended missions. Researchers will also examine how restricted resources and exercise routines affect the ability to complete mission objectives, including simulated surface operations.

The four participants are scheduled to undergo two weeks of post-mission medical and performance evaluations and debriefings with NASA scientists. Their experience will be assessed alongside data collected throughout the 378-day confinement period.

Second year-long Mars simulation offers lessons for future missions

CHAPEA Mission 2 is the second such year-long experiment conducted by NASA at the Johnson Space Center. The first four-person crew also completed 378 days in isolation, spanning 2023 and 2024.

Findings from the two missions are expected to contribute to preparations for future lunar exploration, including NASA’s Artemis programme and plans for a sustained human presence on the Moon.

NASA is also working towards a crewed Mars mission, potentially as early as the 2030s. Before attempting such a journey, the agency plans to return astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972 and use lunar missions to develop capabilities for longer-duration exploration.

Unlike robotic spacecraft and rovers that have already explored Mars, a human expedition would require astronauts to withstand prolonged isolation, delayed communication, limited supplies and the physical demands of operating in an environment far from Earth.

The CHAPEA experiments cannot reproduce every danger of an actual Mars journey. However, they give NASA controlled conditions to study how crews respond to some of the most difficult aspects of long-duration spaceflight.

 

ISRO’s NVS-03 launch restores NavIC to four satellites, but India’s GPS alternative still has ground to cover

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India has put a new navigation satellite into orbit, strengthening its homegrown alternative to GPS at a time when reliable positioning and timing data are essential for transport, communications and strategic operations. But the launch of NVS-03 is not the finish line: the satellite has reached an initial transfer orbit, NavIC’s constellation remains below its planned seven-satellite strength, and wider integration into mobile services will depend on completing the system.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-F18 lifted off from Sriharikota at 11:51 p.m. on October 30, carrying the 2,250-kilogram NVS-03. ISRO said the satellite was injected into its intended geosynchronous transfer orbit. The agency’s next task is to raise it into its designated orbital position and bring it into service.

The mission matters for more than the satellite itself. NVS-03 brings NavIC back to a four-satellite configuration described by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan as the system’s minimum operational strength. That is a recovery in availability, not yet the full resilience or coverage envisioned for India’s regional navigation network.

The satellite is in orbit. NavIC’s recovery is still a work in progress.

The first major step after launch is already complete. ISRO reported that NVS-03’s first orbit-raising maneuver was executed on October 31 at 4:48 p.m. The spacecraft’s Liquid Apogee Motor burned for 2,174.8 seconds, lifting it from its initial orbit of 170.3 by 38,080 kilometers to an estimated orbit of 5,477.6 by 37,833.4 kilometers. ISRO said the satellite was functioning normally, with further maneuvers planned to place it at 111.75 degrees east.

That distinction is important: a successful launch means the rocket delivered its payload; it does not mean the satellite is already operating as part of the navigation service. NVS-03 must complete its orbital maneuvers and commissioning before its signals can be relied on for routine use.

The launch was the 20th flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle. ISRO’s GSLV-F18 placed the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit roughly 18 minutes after liftoff. The mission also marked a 56-day interval between successive GSLV flights, the shortest turnaround achieved by the vehicle, according to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan.

Why NavIC needed this satellite

NavIC, or Navigation with Indian Constellation, is India’s independent regional positioning, navigation and timing system. It is designed to provide coverage across India and approximately 1,500 kilometers beyond the country’s borders. Unlike the US Global Positioning System, which serves users worldwide, NavIC is built around India’s regional coverage needs.

The system’s weakness became clear after the failure of NVS-02, launched in January 2025. The satellite reached its initial orbit but could not complete its orbit-raising maneuvers. An investigation found that an electrical signal failed to reach a pyro valve in the oxidizer line, preventing the propulsion system from firing. The satellite was left unable to reach its intended position.

That setback reduced the number of satellites available for NavIC positioning, navigation and timing services. A July 2026 parliamentary reply cited by The Times of India said only three satellites were providing those services, below the four-satellite minimum for basic positioning. Timing services remained functional, while users relying on multiple navigation constellations were not considered vulnerable to a single-system outage.
NVS-03 restores the constellation to four satellites once commissioned, but the number should not be mistaken for the system’s final configuration. ISRO’s second-generation NVS program includes five satellites, NVS-01 through NVS-05, while the broader regional navigation program envisages a seven-satellite constellation. NVS-04 and NVS-05 remain in the pipeline.

The change that could matter to phone users

NVS-03 carries navigation payloads in three frequency bands: L1, L5 and S. The addition of L1 is a key upgrade because it is widely used by global navigation systems and supported by many existing navigation receivers. NavIC’s earlier signals were L5 and S-band.

The practical implication is compatibility. By adding L1, ISRO is making NavIC easier to integrate into receivers and devices designed to use signals from multiple satellite-navigation systems. Compatible equipment could combine signals to improve positioning reliability and help address errors caused by the atmosphere. But the satellite’s new signal alone does not mean every smartphone will immediately use NavIC; device hardware, software and service integration still matter.

The satellite also carries an indigenously developed atomic clock alongside procured clocks. Navigation systems depend on precise timing: receivers calculate their position by measuring how long signals take to travel from satellites. A timing error can translate into a location error. Narayanan said two indigenous atomic clocks were already functioning in orbit, with NVS-03 carrying another.

Beyond maps: the strategic value of independent timing

Satellite navigation is not just about finding a route. Positioning, navigation and timing data support maritime operations, aviation, transport, precision agriculture, disaster management and telecommunications. NavIC also has a restricted, encrypted service for strategic users alongside its open civilian service.

That makes a reliable domestic system a matter of infrastructure and strategic autonomy. India can use other satellite-navigation systems, and many users already do. But a homegrown system gives the country an additional source of positioning and timing signals for applications where continuity and control matter. The launch strengthens that capability; the full benefit depends on the satellites, ground infrastructure and compatible receivers working together.

The mission also demonstrates ISRO’s ability to move from launch to orbit operations at a faster pace. NVS-03 is the third satellite in the second-generation series, following NVS-01 in 2023 and NVS-02 in 2025. The remaining satellites will be important to improving availability and building redundancy beyond the minimum operational threshold.

The immediate milestone is clear: NVS-03 is in orbit, its first orbit-raising maneuver is complete, and ISRO reports normal spacecraft health. The harder test comes next — commissioning the satellite, completing the constellation and making NavIC’s upgraded signals useful across civilian and strategic systems.

 

ISRO launches NVS-03 satellite to strengthen India’s own GPS system

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India’s effort to strengthen its independent satellite navigation system gained momentum on Friday night as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the next-generation navigation satellite NVS-03 aboard the GSLV-F18 rocket.

The launch took place at 11:51 p.m. from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, marking another step in India’s effort to reduce dependence on foreign navigation systems and ensure continuity of its indigenous Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) services.

“GSLV-F18 carrying NVS-03 lifts off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, Sriharikota,” ISRO said in a post on X. “Liftoff of GSLV-F18 carrying NVS-03 at 11:51 PM IST from Second Launch Pad, SHAR! ISRO’s rescue mission for NavIC is now underway,” it added.

The 50-metre-tall, three-stage GSLV-F18 rocket carried the 2,232 kg NVS-03 satellite, targeting deployment into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

Following deployment, the satellite is expected to perform a series of orbit-raising manoeuvres to reach its final geosynchronous orbital slot at 32.5 degrees East.

NVS-03 adds new signal to India’s navigation capabilities

NVS-03 is the third satellite in the second-generation NVS series, designed to augment the existing NavIC constellation and ensure the continuity of India’s regional navigation services.

The satellite carries an indigenous atomic clock alongside procured atomic clocks, an important component in determining precise positioning and timing information.

A key enhancement is the addition of the L1 navigation signal to the existing L5 and S signals. The inclusion of L1 is intended to expand NavIC’s capabilities and improve its usefulness for civilian navigation applications.

“It also includes L1 signal in addition to existing L5/S signals with Coverage over India land mass and a region extending 1500 km around Indian geopolitical boundary,” ISRO said.

The expanded signal capability is expected to strengthen NavIC’s role in providing positioning, navigation and timing services across India and the surrounding region.

NavIC is India’s independent regional satellite navigation system, developed to provide accurate Position, Velocity and Timing (PVT) services across the Indian landmass and an area extending approximately 1,500 km beyond it.

Unlike global navigation systems such as the US-operated GPS, NavIC is designed to provide India with an independent regional navigation capability.

Five second-generation satellites planned to strengthen NavIC

NavIC provides two categories of services, the Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and the Restricted Service (RS).

While SPS is intended for civilian users, RS is an encrypted service designed for authorised users.

The system has applications in transportation, maritime navigation, disaster management, precision timing and location-based services.

ISRO has envisaged five second-generation navigation satellites to augment the existing NavIC constellation. The new-generation satellites are designed to incorporate enhanced features and support the uninterrupted availability of navigation services.

The launch of NVS-03 comes as India seeks to strengthen the resilience of its satellite navigation infrastructure, which has applications ranging from everyday civilian navigation to strategic and security-related operations.

The satellite’s successful deployment and subsequent orbital manoeuvres will be crucial to its integration into the NavIC constellation.

FAQs

1. What is NVS-03 and why has ISRO launched it?

NVS-03 is the third satellite in India’s second-generation NVS navigation satellite series. It is designed to strengthen the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system and ensure continuity of India’s indigenous navigation services.

2. What is NavIC, India’s indigenous GPS system?

NavIC is India’s independent regional satellite navigation system. It provides Position, Velocity and Timing (PVT) services across India and a region extending approximately 1,500 km beyond the Indian landmass.

3. When and where was NVS-03 launched?

ISRO launched NVS-03 aboard the GSLV-F18 rocket at 11:51 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026, from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

4. What rocket carried the NVS-03 satellite?

The 50-metre-tall, three-stage GSLV-F18 rocket carried the 2,232 kg NVS-03 satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

5. What are the key technological features of NVS-03?

NVS-03 carries an indigenous atomic clock alongside procured atomic clocks. It also introduces the L1 navigation signal in addition to the existing L5 and S signals, enhancing NavIC’s navigation capabilities.

6. How will NVS-03 improve India’s navigation services?

The satellite is designed to augment the NavIC constellation, strengthen positioning and timing capabilities, and ensure continuity of navigation services across India and the surrounding region.

7. What is the coverage area of NavIC?

NavIC provides coverage across the Indian landmass and a region extending approximately 1,500 km beyond India’s geopolitical boundary.

8. What are the two types of services provided by NavIC?

NavIC provides the Standard Positioning Service (SPS), intended for civilian users, and the Restricted Service (RS), an encrypted service available to authorised users.

9. What is the final orbital position of NVS-03?

After deployment into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, NVS-03 is expected to perform orbit-raising manoeuvres to reach its final geosynchronous orbital slot at 32.5 degrees East.

10. How many second-generation navigation satellites has ISRO planned?

ISRO has envisaged five second-generation navigation satellites to augment the existing NavIC constellation, introduce enhanced features and ensure continuity of navigation services.

 

One Year Waiting in Isolation Ends for NASA’s Mars Crew, Watch CHAPEA Mission 2 Exit Live

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NASA’s four-member simulated Mars crew has completed a year living and working in isolation inside a specially designed habitat in Houston, gathering critical data on the physical, psychological and operational challenges astronauts could face during future missions to the Red Planet.

The crew of NASA’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) Mission 2 has spent 365 days operating under Mars-like conditions, growing crops, managing limited resources, coping with communication delays and conducting simulated spacewalks on a replica Martian surface.

Watch the ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/live/2MONMgAmXNU

The mission, which began on October 19, 2025, is scheduled to conclude on October 31, 2026, when the crew exits its 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The 378-day experiment is designed to help scientists understand how astronauts can remain healthy, productive and capable of making decisions during prolonged missions far from Earth.

NASA to study health, performance data from Mars simulation

The crew comprises mission commander Ross Elder, medical officer Ellen Ellis, science officer Matthew Montgomery and flight engineer James Spicer. They have spent the past year working in a confined environment designed to replicate important aspects of a human mission to Mars.

Inside the habitat: https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/chapea/habitat/

As the mission approaches its conclusion, NASA science teams are preparing to analyse the health and performance data collected throughout the experiment. The findings could help the agency develop strategies to reduce the risks associated with long-duration spaceflight and improve preparations for future human exploration missions.

“We are extremely proud of the crew for their commitment and achievements over the last year on such a fast-paced, highly demanding mission,” said Grace Douglas, CHAPEA principal investigator. “The entire CHAPEA team is excited to congratulate the crew in person.”

Researchers will examine how the crew adapted to daily routines, resource constraints and the demands of prolonged isolation. The data could also help NASA assess how limited food supplies and exercise systems affect astronauts’ ability to complete mission objectives, including simulated spacewalks on the Martian surface.

Another major research focus is crew autonomy and decision-making when communication with Earth is delayed. On a Mars mission, communication delays could reach 45 minutes each way, making it difficult for astronauts to obtain immediate guidance from mission control.

The findings could help NASA develop decision-support systems that enable crews to handle unexpected situations more independently while maintaining safety and operational effectiveness.

Crew to reunite with families after 378-day mission

The four crew members are scheduled to leave the habitat on Saturday, October 31, marking the end of their 378-day mission. They will then reconnect with their families, with whom they have communicated only through email subject to Mars-like communication delays during the experiment.

Following their exit, the crew will undergo two weeks of post-mission evaluations and debriefings with NASA scientists. These sessions will help researchers understand the challenges of adapting to extended isolation and the routines required for missions lasting a year or longer.

The experiment is part of NASA’s broader effort to prepare for future human exploration of the Moon and Mars by studying how people respond to prolonged confinement, restricted resources and separation from Earth.

“This mission has been incredibly valuable in starting to teach us how to understand requirements for year-long missions, including medical and psychological care, via communication delays,” said Michael Stenger, chief scientist for NASA’s Human Research Program.

“When combining this Mars-realistic mission analog with a suite of physiological, psychological, and performance measures in a rigorously controlled environment, we’ll be able to translate the knowledge from these experiences to Moon Base and beyond.”

NASA will livestream the CHAPEA Mission 2 crew’s exit ceremony on October 31.

CHAPEA Mission 2: https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/chapea/chapea-mission-2/

 

 

NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Advances to Final Science Commissioning Phase

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NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has entered its science commissioning phase after successfully completing comprehensive checks of its observatory systems and primary instrument performance. Engineers are now refining image quality and calibrating instruments ahead of scientific operations.

“We’ve established that the observatory is fully functional,” said Julie McEnery, Roman’s senior project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “The telescope can guide and take exposures, data flows appropriately, and we can slew from one place to another for observations. So now we’re drilling into the fine details of the quality of the images we’re collecting.”

Early tests have also shown that Roman can observe challenging regions of space, including crowded star fields and nebulae obscured by dense dust. Scientists had questioned whether its fine guidance system could reliably track individual stars in these conditions.

“The way Roman locks onto a target is by holding steady on individual stars found in the direction it needs to point,” said Tom Barclay, Roman operations project scientist at NASA Goddard. “We had a concern that in regions where stars are either packed extremely close together or embedded in thick dust, the fine guidance system might get confused or have trouble staying tethered to those stars. But test observations of such regions have shown that Roman performs wonderfully in all cases.”

Refining Image Quality for Precise Observations

During commissioning, the team is conducting carefully planned observations to measure the observatory’s performance, calibrate instrument responses to light and improve image quality. Consistent results are essential because variations in brightness or sharpness could make it difficult for scientists to determine whether changes in cosmic objects are real or caused by the telescope itself.

“To achieve the groundbreaking science we expect from Roman, we need to have a crystal clear window into space, not one marred by pointing jitter or out-of-focus images,” said Josh Schlieder, Roman’s Wide Field Instrument scientist at NASA Goddard. “Any imperfections that affect image quality must be minimized because even very small flaws could mask the small signals we are aiming to measure.”

Initial test observations have performed well, allowing scientists to begin assessing the telescope’s ability to survey large areas of the sky quickly.

High-Speed Surveys Could Reveal Unexpected Discoveries

Roman’s observing speed is expected to help researchers capture enormous cosmic vistas filled with stars, planets and galaxies. Large mosaics of the sky, which previously required special observing campaigns, could become routine as the mission progresses.

“During commissioning, we are taking several test observations of famous parts of the sky,” said Jeremy Perkins, an astrophysicist serving as Roman’s observatory integration and test scientist at NASA Goddard. “I am marveling at the level of detail Roman provides in very short time periods.”

The telescope’s Wide Field Instrument will also be able to detect extremely faint objects, expanding opportunities to study distant and previously difficult-to-observe parts of the universe.

“In a typical observation with Roman’s Wide Field Instrument, we’ll see objects that are a hundred million times fainter than the human eye can detect,” Schlieder said. “So just imagine what strange and unexpected things might be buried in all that data.”

Some observatory systems are already performing better than required, potentially creating opportunities for additional scientific capabilities. The team will continue fine-tuning image quality and completing calibration work before Roman transitions to full science operations.

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ISS Crew Conducts Blood Vessel Bioprinting, Spacesuit Checks and Robotics Training

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The Expedition 75 crew aboard the International Space Station carried out blood vessel bioprinting, spacesuit preparations, robotic arm training and Earth photography on Thursday, supporting scientific research and an upcoming spacewalk.

NASA flight engineer Luke Delaney operated the station’s BioFabrication Facility inside the Columbus laboratory module to begin printing blood vessels using vascular cells. He retrieved the cells from a science freezer, thawed them and mixed them with biological printing material before loading the mixture into the bioprinter.

NASA flight engineer Anil Menon later preserved and nourished the printed tissues inside the facility for cultivation. The experiment contributes to research into bioprinting biological tissues in space.

Spacesuit Checks Ahead of Spacewalk

Menon and NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins assisted Canadian Space Agency astronaut Josh Kutryk as he practised putting on a spacesuit inside the station’s Quest airlock simulator. The checks assessed fit, comfort and system functionality, while accounting for physical changes such as spinal elongation that can occur in microgravity.

Menon and Kutryk are scheduled to conduct a spacewalk on October 29 to install a roll-out solar array on the station’s port-side truss structure.

Delaney also trained to operate the Canadarm2 robotic arm, which will assist the spacewalkers during the installation. He and Watkins are expected to help the astronauts with their spacesuits and provide support during the planned six-hour-and-45-minute excursion.

Robotics Training and Earth Photography

Roscosmos flight engineer Sergey Teteryatnikov practised operating the European robotic arm attached to the Nauka science module. He subsequently configured and activated Earth-observation equipment to photograph landmarks in Asia and South America using visible and near-infrared wavelengths during the crew’s sleep period.

Roscosmos flight engineer Anna Kikina photographed lakes in eastern Africa through a window in the Zvezda service module and assisted Teteryatnikov with configuring the Earth-observation camera.

Meanwhile, station commander Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos handled plumbing tasks inside Zvezda before photographing fellow crew members at work aboard the orbital laboratory.

The day’s activities combined biological research, preparations for station maintenance and Earth-observation work, reflecting the range of scientific and operational tasks undertaken by the Expedition 75 crew.

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