Artemis II Crew and Ground Teams Successfully Troubleshoot Orion’s Toilet Glitch

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Sridhar P

NASA confirmed the Artemis II crew resolved a toilet system fault aboard the Orion spacecraft on April 2 while in Earth orbit. The issue, first detected as a blinking fault light on April 1, was addressed through coordinated troubleshooting with mission control in Houston. The fix comes ahead of a scheduled perigee raise burn, a maneuver that will adjust Orion’s orbit for future deep space operations.

A minor but essential system aboard NASA’s Artemis II spacecraft briefly drew attention this week. It was not propulsion or navigation. It was the toilet.

Astronauts aboard Orion, the capsule named Integrity, reported a blinking fault light tied to the waste management system on April 1. Within hours, engineers on the ground and the crew in orbit worked through the problem together. By the next mission update, the system was back to normal operation.

The episode highlights how even routine spacecraft functions demand precision during crewed missions led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Orion spacecraft toilet issue and in-flight troubleshooting

The issue first surfaced ahead of a planned apogee raise burn, when the crew noticed a blinking fault indicator linked to Orion’s toilet system. Such warning signals are designed to flag irregularities early, even when the system continues functioning.

NASA’s mission control team at the Johnson Space Center in Houston began reviewing telemetry immediately. Engineers assessed system data while communicating directly with the astronauts to isolate the cause.

The troubleshooting process involved both software diagnostics and procedural checks inside the spacecraft. The agency did not report any hardware damage or safety risk tied to the issue.

By April 2, NASA confirmed that normal functionality had been restored. The resolution ensured that one of the spacecraft’s life-support subsystems remained fully operational as the mission continued.

Waste management systems in microgravity rely on airflow, pressure control, and precise mechanical components. Even minor anomalies require immediate attention, as they can affect crew comfort and long-duration mission readiness.

A view of the Earth’s horizon from NASA’s Orion spacecraft as it orbits above the planet during the first hours of the Artemis II test flight. NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, launched at 6:35 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, on an approximately 10-day mission around the Moon and back to Earth.
NASA

Perigee raise burn timing and mission trajectory planning

With the issue resolved, the Artemis II crew is preparing for the next major step in the mission timeline. The perigee raise burn is scheduled after a planned rest period.

Perigee refers to the lowest point of a spacecraft’s orbit around Earth. Raising it changes the orbital shape, making it more stable and better suited for future maneuvers.

This burn follows an earlier apogee raise maneuver, which increased Orion’s highest orbital point. Together, the two burns define the spacecraft’s initial orbit and test its propulsion system under operational conditions.

NASA scheduled a four-hour rest period for the crew before the maneuver. Astronauts are set to wake at 7 a.m. Eastern Time on April 2 to begin preparations. After completing post-burn procedures, they will return to a second sleep cycle later in the morning.

The sequence reflects the structured rhythm of human spaceflight, where operational tasks alternate with carefully timed rest to maintain performance.

The Artemis II mission continues to build toward its broader objective: validating systems for future missions that will carry astronauts beyond Earth orbit and toward the Moon.

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Artemis II Update-1: Orion Completes Proximity Operations, Perigee Burn Next

Artemis II Update-4: Crew completes proximity test, perigee raise burn up next

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Sridhar P

NASA’s Artemis II crew completed a proximity operations test on April 2, maneuvering the Orion spacecraft near a detached rocket stage in Earth orbit. The demonstration, lasting about 70 minutes, tested manual control systems and gathered data critical for future lunar missions. The crew now prepares for a perigee raise burn, while engineers continue troubleshooting a minor onboard toilet system issue.

The astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission spent part of April 2 guiding their spacecraft through a tightly choreographed exercise hundreds of miles above Earth.

Inside Orion, the capsule named Integrity, the crew manually steered within close range of a discarded rocket stage, testing how precisely humans can control the spacecraft in space. The task lasted just over an hour. It marked one of the first hands-on demonstrations of Orion’s maneuverability under crew control.

The exercise is part of a broader effort by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to validate systems before sending astronauts farther into deep space, including eventual missions to the Moon under the Artemis program.

The proximity operations demonstration centered on Orion’s ability to approach and move away from another object in orbit. For this test, the crew used the detached interim cryogenic propulsion stage, or ICPS, as a reference target.

The ICPS, a temporary upper stage used during launch, had already separated from the spacecraft. It remained nearby long enough for the astronauts to conduct controlled approach and retreat maneuvers.

During the roughly 70-minute session, the crew adjusted Orion’s position repeatedly, testing navigation, thruster response, and onboard guidance systems. These maneuvers simulate conditions required for future missions that may involve docking or operating near other spacecraft.

At the end of the exercise, Orion executed an automated departure burn, increasing its distance from the ICPS. The stage is scheduled to perform a disposal burn, sending it into Earth’s atmosphere over a remote Pacific region, according to NASA mission updates.

The demonstration provides engineers with real-time data on how Orion performs under manual control, a capability considered essential for complex operations during lunar missions.

Alongside the crewed mission, four small satellites known as CubeSats launched as secondary payloads aboard the Space Launch System (SLS).

CubeSats are compact, shoebox-sized spacecraft designed for targeted scientific experiments. They will deploy after the Orion stage adapter separates from the main spacecraft.

Each satellite carries a distinct research objective:

ATENEA, developed by Argentina’s national space agency, focuses on radiation shielding and communication systems in high Earth orbit.
Space Weather CubeSat-1, built by the Saudi Space Agency, will measure solar radiation, X-rays, and magnetic field activity.
TACHELES, from the German Aerospace Center, is testing electrical systems for future lunar logistics vehicles.
K-Rad Cube, developed by the Korea AeroSpace Administration, will study radiation effects across the Van Allen belts, regions of charged particles surrounding Earth.

The CubeSat deployments expand the mission’s scientific output, offering data on space weather and radiation environments that astronauts may encounter during longer missions.

Trajectory for Artemis II, NASA’s first flight with crew aboard SLS, Orion to pave the way for long-term return to the Moon, missions to Mars

Perigee raise burn planned as engineers monitor onboard issue

Attention now shifts to the next key maneuver, the perigee raise burn, scheduled after the crew’s rest period.

Perigee refers to the lowest point in a spacecraft’s orbit around Earth. Raising it adjusts the shape of the orbit and prepares Orion for later phases of the mission, including potential translunar trajectories.

The maneuver follows an earlier apogee raise burn, which increased the spacecraft’s highest orbital point. Together, these burns define Orion’s initial orbital path and test propulsion performance under operational conditions.

Before the next burn, the crew completed routine spacecraft checks. During a systems review, they reported a blinking fault light in the onboard toilet system.

NASA ground teams are analyzing the data and working with the crew to diagnose the issue. No broader system impacts have been reported in official updates.

After a scheduled four-hour rest period, the astronauts are set to wake at 7 a.m. Eastern Time on April 2 to prepare for the maneuver. The timeline includes post-burn activities followed by another sleep cycle later in the morning.

The sequence of tests, adjustments, and troubleshooting reflects the mission’s dual purpose: demonstrating Orion’s readiness for deep space while gathering operational data from a live crewed environment.

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Artemis II Update-2 : Perigee Raise Burn Completed with brief Communications Loss, NASA Probes

Artemis II Update-3: Apogee Raise burn complete, Crew prepares critical Proximity Test

Posted on April 2, 2026 by Sridhar P

NASA confirmed the Artemis II crew completed the apogee raise burn on April 2, increasing Orion’s orbital high point. The mission now transitions toward a proximity operations demonstration that will test manual spacecraft control near another object. Engineers continue to monitor a minor onboard system issue as the crew prepares for the next phase.

The spacecraft climbed higher. The mission grew more precise.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration confirmed that Artemis II successfully executed its apogee raise maneuver, a key step in refining the Orion spacecraft’s orbit around Earth. The burn, powered by the interim cryogenic propulsion stage’s RL10 engine, increased the spacecraft’s highest orbital point and aligned it for upcoming tests.

The maneuver follows earlier orbital adjustments and forms part of a carefully sequenced plan to prepare Orion for operations beyond low Earth orbit. NASA officials said the spacecraft remains in stable condition, with power generation and thermal systems operating within expected limits.

Artemis II apogee raise burn and orbit shaping

The apogee raise burn works in tandem with the previously completed perigee adjustment. Together, these maneuvers define the shape and altitude of Orion’s orbit, ensuring the spacecraft is positioned correctly for subsequent demonstrations and trajectory changes.

Mission controllers at Johnson Space Center continue to track performance data, confirming that propulsion and navigation systems responded as expected.

Ahead of the burn, astronauts also began configuring the spacecraft for sustained operations in orbit. That included routine system checks such as evaluating the onboard toilet system. During that procedure, the crew reported a blinking fault light, which engineers are now analyzing.

NASA has not indicated that the issue affects mission safety, but teams are working with the crew to identify its cause and resolve it.

Trajectory for Artemis II, NASA’s first flight with crew aboard SLS, Orion to pave the way for long-term return to the Moon, missions to Mars

Proximity operations demonstration and manual control testing

The next phase of Artemis II will focus on proximity operations, a critical test of Orion’s ability to maneuver near another spacecraft.

The demonstration will use the detached upper stage of the Space Launch System as a reference target. Astronauts will guide Orion, named Integrity, through a series of controlled movements to evaluate how the spacecraft performs under manual control.

Before the maneuver begins, communications will transition from NASA’s Near Space Network to the Deep Space Network, systems that support spacecraft from launch through deep-space operations.

During the approximately 70-minute exercise, Orion will approach the upper stage to within about 300 feet before pausing. The crew will then take manual control, using onboard hand controllers to make precise adjustments and assess responsiveness.

At a closer range of roughly 30 feet, astronauts will evaluate the spacecraft’s fine handling capabilities. These maneuvers will rely on the reaction control system thrusters located on Orion’s European-built service module.

NASA said the demonstration also includes an automated backflip maneuver, allowing Orion to reorient and face the target stage. The test will generate detailed data on navigation and control systems, including measurements from the spacecraft’s docking camera.

These data points are expected to inform future missions that require rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit, where traditional GPS systems are not available.

Preparing for future lunar operations

At the conclusion of the demonstration, Orion will execute an automated departure burn to safely distance itself from the upper stage. The stage will then perform a disposal maneuver, re-entering Earth’s atmosphere over a remote region of the Pacific Ocean.

NASA said the spacecraft’s systems remain stable as the crew transitions into this next phase. Solar arrays continue to generate power, and environmental conditions inside Orion remain within predicted ranges.

Public interest in the mission’s technical milestones remains high. “This is the kind of test that proves whether astronauts can really control the vehicle in deep space,” wrote Reddit user LunarOpsWatcher in a post with more than 1,100 upvotes, highlighting the importance of manual maneuvering capabilities.

Artemis II is designed as a test mission, but each milestone carries implications for future exploration. The proximity operations demonstration, in particular, addresses a key requirement for sustained human activity beyond Earth orbit.

With the apogee burn complete, Orion now moves into one of its most intricate tests yet.

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Artemis II Update-1: Orion Completes Proximity Operations, Perigee Burn Next

Artemis II Update-2 : Perigee Raise Burn Completed with brief Communications Loss, NASA Probes

Posted on April 2, 2026 by Sridhar P

NASA confirmed the Artemis II crew completed a perigee raise maneuver on April 2, refining Orion’s orbit around Earth. A brief communications loss occurred shortly after the burn but was quickly resolved with no reported impact on crew safety. The agency will hold a press conference from Kennedy Space Center as the mission prepares for its next orbital milestone.

A routine engine burn sharpened Artemis II’s orbit. Minutes later, mission control lost contact. Then the signal came back.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said the Orion spacecraft successfully completed its perigee raise maneuver, one of the key early steps in shaping its path around Earth. The burn used the interim cryogenic propulsion stage’s RL10 engine to lift the spacecraft’s lowest orbital point, refining its trajectory for later mission phases.

The maneuver followed earlier orbital adjustments and forms part of a sequence designed to prepare Orion for operations beyond low Earth orbit. NASA officials said the burn occurred as planned, with precise timing required to achieve the desired orbital change.

Artemis II perigee raise burn and orbital adjustments

The perigee raise maneuver increases the spacecraft’s minimum altitude during its orbit. Along with a separate apogee raise burn, which affects the highest orbital point, these adjustments create a stable and elongated orbit suitable for further testing.

NASA said these burns are critical in preparing Orion for a planned high Earth orbit phase lasting about 23.5 hours. During that period, astronauts and ground teams will conduct system checkouts before committing to the next stage of the mission.

The work is coordinated through mission control at Johnson Space Center, where engineers track propulsion performance, navigation data, and onboard systems in real time.

A view over the shoulders of NASA astronauts Victor Glover (left) and Reid Wiseman (right), pilot and commander, respectively, inside the Orion spacecraft as they participate in a proximity operations demonstration. This demonstration tests the spacecraft’s ability to manually maneuver relative to another spacecraft, the interim cryogenic propulsion stage, after separation, using its onboard navigation sensors and reaction control thrusters. NASA

Brief communication dropout under review

Shortly after completing the burn, ground teams experienced a temporary loss of communications with the spacecraft. NASA said controllers were unable to receive data from Orion or the crew for a brief period.

The interruption resolved quickly. Astronauts reported that they continued to hear communications from the ground throughout the event, indicating that onboard systems remained functional.

NASA said engineers are reviewing telemetry to determine the cause of the dropout. The agency has not indicated any impact on mission safety or trajectory.

Such communication gaps, while uncommon, are treated as high-priority review items during test missions. Artemis II, as a crewed test flight, is designed to expose and evaluate system behavior under real operating conditions.

NASA press conference and mission leadership

NASA will hold a post-launch press conference at 8 p.m. EDT from the Kennedy Space Center to provide further updates.

Scheduled participants include NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya, Lori Glaze, who serves as acting associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, and Norm Knight, director of the Flight Operations Directorate.

The briefing is expected to address the completed maneuver, the communication anomaly, and upcoming mission steps.

Public attention remains fixed on the mission’s progress. “Even a small signal loss gets people nervous, but that’s why they test,” wrote Reddit user SpaceTrackLive in a post that drew more than 900 upvotes, reflecting cautious optimism among spaceflight observers.

Next milestone: apogee raise burn and system checks

The next major step for Artemis II is the apogee raise maneuver. This burn will increase the highest point of Orion’s orbit, complementing the earlier perigee adjustment.

Together, these orbital changes define the spacecraft’s path before it transitions into high Earth orbit operations. NASA said this phase will allow for extended system verification and crew activity in preparation for the mission’s later trajectory toward the Moon.

Engineers view these incremental milestones as essential. Each burn, test, and anomaly review contributes to a broader goal: confirming that Orion can safely carry astronauts through deep space and back.

For now, Artemis II continues to move step by step. One maneuver completed, one anomaly under review, and another burn on the horizon.

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Artemis II Update-1: Orion Completes Proximity Operations, Perigee Burn Next

Posted on April 2, 2026 by Sridhar P

Astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission completed a key proximity operations test on April 2 while orbiting Earth. The maneuver involved controlled movements around a detached rocket stage to evaluate spacecraft handling. With CubeSat deployments ahead and a minor onboard system issue under review, the crew is now preparing for a perigee raise burn to refine Orion’s orbit.

A shoebox-sized satellite deployment and a blinking fault light now share space in NASA’s latest Moon mission update.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration confirmed that astronauts aboard Artemis II have completed one of the mission’s earliest and most technical tests. The crew piloted the Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, through a series of close-range maneuvers around a detached rocket stage, simulating scenarios required for future docking and deep-space operations.

The 70-minute exercise marked the mission’s proximity operations demonstration. Using the interim cryogenic propulsion stage, or ICPS, as a reference point, astronauts conducted controlled approach and retreat sequences to assess manual navigation capabilities in orbit.

At the end of the test, Orion executed an automated departure burn to safely distance itself from the stage. NASA said the ICPS will later perform a disposal burn, re-entering Earth’s atmosphere over a remote part of the Pacific Ocean.

Orion proximity operations test and orbital maneuver plan

The proximity operations test is central to Artemis II’s role as a proving mission. Unlike future lunar landings, this flight focuses on validating systems and crew performance under real spaceflight conditions.

NASA officials said the demonstration provided critical data on how Orion behaves during manual piloting near another object. These conditions are expected to be essential for future missions involving docking, assembly, or logistics operations in lunar orbit.

The crew now turns to the next phase of orbital adjustments. After completing an earlier apogee raise maneuver, mission controllers are preparing for a perigee raise burn. This engine firing will increase the lowest point of Orion’s orbit around Earth, refining its trajectory for eventual translunar injection.

The sequence of burns shapes the spacecraft’s path before it departs Earth’s gravitational influence. These adjustments are necessary to ensure precision as the mission transitions toward its planned lunar flyby.

CubeSat deployments expand international science efforts

Alongside the crewed mission, Artemis II is carrying four CubeSats, compact satellites designed for scientific research and technology demonstrations.

These payloads, housed within the Space Launch System adapter, will deploy after separation from Orion. Each satellite represents an international collaboration and targets a different aspect of space science.

Argentina’s ATENEA CubeSat will study radiation shielding and communication systems. The Saudi Space Agency’s Space Weather CubeSat-1 will measure solar radiation and magnetic fields. Germany’s TACHELES mission will test components for future lunar logistics systems. South Korea’s K-Rad Cube will analyze radiation exposure and its biological effects across the Van Allen belts.

NASA describes CubeSats as small but versatile tools that can extend mission science at relatively low cost. Their deployment during Artemis II adds a layer of experimentation beyond the primary crewed objectives.

Toilet system issue under review during mission operations

Amid the technical milestones, engineers are also tracking a minor onboard issue.

During routine spacecraft configuration checks, the crew reported a blinking fault light in Orion’s toilet system. Mission control teams at Johnson Space Center are analyzing telemetry and working with astronauts to troubleshoot the problem.

NASA has not indicated that the issue poses a risk to crew safety or mission objectives. Such anomalies are not uncommon during test flights, where systems are evaluated under operational conditions for the first time.

The crew’s schedule includes carefully timed rest periods between mission activities. After a four-hour sleep cycle, astronauts are set to wake at 7 a.m. EDT to prepare for the upcoming burn, before returning to rest later in the day.

Public reaction to the update has reflected both enthusiasm and curiosity about the mission’s technical details. “It’s fascinating to see them actually test manual flying like this,” wrote Reddit user OrbitalWatcher, in a post that drew more than 1,200 upvotes, noting that such maneuvers are rarely visible to the public.

Preparing for deeper space operations

Artemis II continues to function as a systems validation mission, bridging the gap between uncrewed tests and future lunar landings.

Each milestone, from proximity operations to orbital burns, contributes to a broader objective. NASA aims to confirm that Orion and its supporting systems can reliably carry astronauts beyond low Earth orbit and back.

The upcoming perigee raise burn represents another step in that process. Once completed, it will help finalize the spacecraft’s orbit before the mission advances toward its lunar trajectory.

For engineers and mission planners, these incremental steps are essential. They provide the data needed to support more complex operations in future Artemis missions, including sustained human presence on the Moon.

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Artemis II Mission Launch: NASA Sends Crew on First Moon Flyby in 50 Years

Posted on April 2, 2026 by Sridhar P

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched four astronauts on April 2 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the Artemis II mission. The crew is set for a 10-day test flight around the Moon, marking the first human lunar flyby since the Apollo era. The mission aims to validate spacecraft systems and pave the way for future Moon landings and Mars exploration.

The countdown ended just after dusk in Florida. At 6:35 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, a new chapter in human spaceflight lifted off from Launch Pad 39B.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration sent four astronauts toward the Moon aboard its Artemis II mission, marking the first crewed lunar journey in more than five decades. The launch took place at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center, the same historic ground that supported Apollo-era missions.

Aboard the Orion spacecraft were NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The 10-day mission is designed as a test flight, with no lunar landing planned, but its implications extend far beyond a single journey.

“Today’s launch marks a defining moment for our nation and for all who believe in exploration,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in an official statement. “Artemis II builds on the vision set by President Donald J. Trump, returning humanity to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.”

Artemis II mission objectives and timeline

The mission began with the ignition of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket the agency has developed. About 49 minutes after liftoff, the rocket’s upper stage fired to place Orion into an elliptical orbit around Earth. A second burn is scheduled to push the spacecraft into a high Earth orbit extending roughly 46,000 miles from the planet.

From there, the spacecraft will separate and continue independently. Engineers confirmed that Orion deployed its solar arrays shortly after reaching space, allowing it to draw energy from the Sun.

The crew will spend about a day in high Earth orbit conducting system checks and a manual piloting demonstration. These early operations are designed to test the spacecraft’s handling and ensure its readiness for deeper space travel.

If all systems perform as expected, mission controllers at Johnson Space Center will authorize a translunar injection burn. This maneuver, lasting about six minutes, will send Orion on a trajectory toward the Moon.

NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya described the mission as a proving ground. “Artemis II is a test flight, and the test has just begun,” he said. “Over the next 10 days, the crew will put Orion through its paces so future missions can land on the Moon with confidence.”

Lunar flyby and scientific goals

The spacecraft is scheduled to reach the Moon for a flyby on April 6. During this phase, the astronauts will travel around the lunar far side, an area rarely seen directly by human eyes.

NASA officials said the lighting conditions during the flyby could provide enhanced visibility of surface features such as ridges, crater rims and slopes. The crew is expected to capture images and make observational reports that will inform future missions.

The mission also includes scientific experiments, including human health studies designed to assess how astronauts respond to deep-space conditions. These findings will contribute to planning for longer missions, including eventual journeys to Mars.

Alongside the primary mission, the rocket’s upper stage will deploy four CubeSats developed by international partners. These small satellites will conduct independent research and technology demonstrations, highlighting the global collaboration involved in Artemis.

Return to the Moon after Apollo

Artemis II is the first crewed mission in NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon. The last time astronauts traveled beyond low Earth orbit was during the Apollo program in the early 1970s.

The current mission does not include a landing, but it sets the stage for future Artemis missions that will attempt to place astronauts on the lunar surface. NASA has said the long-term goal is to build infrastructure that supports extended stays on the Moon.

The program also serves as a stepping stone for missions to Mars, with engineers using Artemis to test technologies and operational strategies required for deeper space exploration.

Public reaction to the launch reflected a mix of excitement and historical awareness. One widely shared comment on Reddit captured the moment’s significance. “We’re finally going back to the Moon with people on board,” wrote user AstroFan92 on a thread with more than 3,000 upvotes, calling it “a milestone that feels like history repeating itself in the best way.”

What comes next for Artemis

Following the lunar flyby, Orion will begin its return trajectory to Earth. The mission is expected to conclude with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Recovery teams will retrieve the crew and spacecraft for post-mission analysis.

NASA officials describe Artemis II as a foundation mission. It tests life support systems, validates navigation and communication technologies, and confirms that astronauts can safely travel beyond low Earth orbit using the new spacecraft.

Future Artemis missions will build on these results. Planned objectives include landing astronauts on the Moon, establishing a long-term lunar presence, and eventually preparing for human exploration of Mars.

For now, Artemis II represents a return. Not just to the Moon, but to a scale of ambition that defined an earlier era of spaceflight.

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RRI scientists trace mysterious X-ray bursts to wobbling disk in distant galaxy

Posted on March 30, 2026 by Sridhar P

Scientists from the Raman Research Institute have identified a possible cause behind irregular X-ray bursts from a distant space object, based on observations spanning 2001 to 2021. The study focuses on ULX M74 X-1, an ultraluminous X-ray source in the spiral galaxy M74, using data from NASA and European space telescopes. Researchers suggest that a wobbling accretion disk may explain the unusual and unpredictable flaring pattern observed over time.

A distant object in space has been flashing bursts of energy in a pattern that refuses to settle into rhythm. Indian scientists now think they know why.

Researchers at the Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru have analyzed years of observational data to explain the unusual behavior of a powerful X-ray source known as ULX M74 X-1. Their findings point to a wobbling disk of matter spiraling into a compact object, possibly a black hole or neutron star.

ULX M74 X-1 and the mystery of irregular X-ray flares

Ultraluminous X-ray sources, or ULXs, are among the brightest objects in the universe. They consist of a compact object such as a black hole or neutron star pulling in material from a companion star in what astronomers call an accreting binary system.

These systems can exceed the so-called Eddington limit, the theoretical cap on how bright an object can shine based on its mass. In some cases, ULXs surpass this limit by more than 100 times, making them key targets for astrophysical research.

The specific source studied, ULX M74 X-1, lies in the spiral galaxy M74 and first drew attention in the mid-2000s when scientists detected rapid bursts of energy, known as flares. These flares showed a repeating pattern, but not at consistent intervals, creating a puzzle that remained unresolved for years.

To investigate, the RRI team led by researcher Aman Upadhyay used archival data from Chandra X-ray Observatory and XMM-Newton, covering two decades of observations.

PIB

Spectral clues reveal shifting perspectives

The team analyzed both flaring and non-flaring states of the source by studying its spectrum, which maps the intensity of radiation across energy levels.

During flares, the data showed a distinct feature around one kilo-electronvolt, a unit used to measure X-ray energy. This feature suggests the presence of strong winds blowing off the accretion disk due to intense radiation pressure.

In such scenarios, the structure of the system creates a funnel-like region around its axis. When observed through this funnel, the system appears at a low inclination angle. When viewed through the surrounding wind, it appears edge-on, or at a higher inclination angle.

However, the non-flaring data told a different story. High-energy photons dominated the spectrum, indicating a direct view of the inner, brightest region of the disk without interference from wind.

This contrast suggested that the observer’s line of sight was not fixed, but changing over time.

Wobbling accretion disk explains irregular bursts

To reconcile the conflicting observations, researchers proposed that the accretion disk itself is wobbling, similar to a spinning top.

As the disk tilts and shifts, the wind surrounding it moves in and out of the telescope’s line of sight. This leads to periodic changes in brightness, producing flares that repeat but not at regular intervals.

Co-author Prof. Vikram Rana said the wobble could explain why the same object appears differently depending on when it is observed, offering a unified explanation for both flaring and non-flaring states.

The mechanism provides a physical model for understanding irregular variability in ULXs, which has been a long-standing question in high-energy astrophysics.

Black hole or neutron star: the central debate

The nature of the compact object at the center of ULX M74 X-1 remains uncertain.

Earlier studies suggested the presence of an intermediate-mass black hole, based on lower temperature readings of the accretion disk. However, the RRI team applied updated spectral models that describe the disk as having multiple temperature zones.

Using this approach, they estimated the object’s mass to be about seven times that of the Sun, placing it in the category of stellar-mass black holes.

At the same time, the observed characteristics also resemble those of neutron star ULXs, leaving open the possibility that the object could be a neutron star instead.

Researchers say future work will focus on detecting pulsations, which would confirm the presence of a neutron star.

Expanding understanding of extreme cosmic systems

The findings contribute to a broader effort to understand how matter behaves under extreme gravitational and radiation conditions.

By linking irregular flaring patterns to geometric changes in the accretion disk, the study offers a framework that could be applied to other ULXs showing similar behavior.

The research, published in The Astrophysical Journal, highlights how long-term observational data can reveal subtle dynamics in distant cosmic systems that are otherwise impossible to detect directly.

For scientists studying the most energetic objects in the universe, the work adds a new piece to a complex puzzle that continues to evolve with each observation.

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Space Breakthrough: Astronomers confirm rogue planet candidate as a planet for the first time

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

An international team led by Peking University confirmed the mass of a rogue planet for the first time using a rare alignment of telescopes in May 2024. The object, detected through microlensing, was found to be about the mass of Saturn, confirming it as a true planet. The findings, published in Science in January 2026, relied on combined data from ground observatories and the Gaia spacecraft. Scientists say the discovery could reshape understanding of free-floating planets across the Milky Way.

In the vast dark between stars, planets drift unseen. For years, astronomers suspected they existed in large numbers, but proving what they were has been far more difficult.

That changed with a brief flicker of light in May 2024.

The signal lasted just two days. It came from a distant star whose brightness momentarily intensified as an unseen object passed in front of it. That phenomenon, known as microlensing, has long been one of the few ways to detect rogue planets.

This time, the data went further.

“For the first time, we have a direct measurement of a rogue planet candidate’s mass and not just a rough statistical estimate,” said Dong Subo, an astronomer at Peking University. “We know for sure it’s a planet.”

Microlensing technique confirms rogue planet mass for first time

Rogue planets, unlike Earth or Jupiter, do not orbit a star. They move independently through space, making them nearly impossible to detect with traditional methods that rely on starlight.

Microlensing offers a workaround. When a planet crosses the line of sight between Earth and a distant star, its gravity bends the star’s light, briefly amplifying it. The effect acts like a natural magnifying glass.

Astronomers have used this method for decades, but it comes with limitations. While it reveals that an object exists, it often cannot precisely determine its mass because distance and gravitational strength are intertwined in the signal.

That ambiguity has left many rogue planet candidates in a gray area.

The new study, published in Science, resolved that uncertainty for one object by combining observations from multiple telescopes across Earth and space. The event, catalogued as KMT-2024-BLG-0792 and OGLE-2024-BLG-0516, was first detected by the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network and the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment.

At the same time, the Gaia spacecraft, operated by the European Space Agency, recorded the same event from its position roughly 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.

That overlap proved critical.

Gaia parallax measurement unlocks distance and mass data

The key to the breakthrough lay in measuring what astronomers call the microlens parallax effect. This effect works similarly to human depth perception, where viewing an object from two different positions reveals its distance.

In this case, Gaia’s vantage point in space and Earth-based telescopes provided two perspectives of the same event. The microlensing signal appeared about two hours later from Gaia’s position than from Earth.

That time difference allowed researchers to separate the object’s distance from its gravitational influence, enabling a precise mass calculation.

“We are able to use the same principle to extract the distance information of this rogue planet candidate, finding the mass and distance separately,” Dong said.

The result placed the object at roughly one-fifth the mass of Jupiter, comparable to Saturn. That measurement confirmed it as a planet rather than a more massive object such as a brown dwarf.

Implications for rogue planet population in the Milky Way

The finding carries implications beyond a single object. Astronomers have long theorized that the Milky Way Galaxy may host vast numbers of rogue planets, potentially numbering in the billions or more.

“Our discovery offers further evidence that the Galaxy may be teeming with rogue planets that were likely ejected from their original homes,” Dong said.

These planets are thought to form within star systems before being expelled through gravitational interactions, especially during early stages of planetary formation. Passing stars may also disrupt systems, sending planets into interstellar space.

Some theories suggest that a subset of rogue planets could form independently, collapsing directly from gas clouds without ever orbiting a star.

The new measurement strengthens confidence in microlensing surveys that have hinted at such populations for years.

Future space telescopes to expand rogue planet discoveries

The study also highlights the importance of coordinated observations across multiple platforms. The overlap between Gaia, KMTNet, and OGLE marked the only time in Gaia’s operational lifetime that all three observed the same rogue planet candidate.

Future missions are expected to make such measurements more routine.

NASA plans to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which will conduct large-scale microlensing surveys capable of detecting hundreds of rogue planets. China is also developing new missions, including the Chinese Space Station Survey Telescope and a proposed Earth 2.0 mission, both of which include microlensing in their scientific goals. [8]

These next-generation observatories will operate above Earth’s atmosphere, improving sensitivity and reducing distortions that affect ground-based observations.

“The new space-based facilities such as Roman, CSST, and Earth 2.0 are going to revolutionize the field of microlensing and the study of free-floating planets,” Dong said.

For now, the confirmed mass of a single rogue planet marks a turning point. It transforms a fleeting signal into a measurable world, offering a clearer view of a population that has long remained in the shadows.

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Thousands Of Pico-Satellites Could Redefine Direct Smartphone Connectivity From Space

XRISM finally solves famous star’s 50-year space mystery

Thousands Of Pico-Satellites Could Redefine Direct Smartphone Connectivity From Space

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

A new approach to satellite communications could significantly reshape how smartphones connect to space, with researchers proposing the use of thousands of tiny satellites working in unison rather than relying on a single, complex spacecraft.

Scientists in Japan have demonstrated that swarms of pico-satellites—each carrying a small हिस्सा of a larger antenna system—can collectively function as a single, powerful phased-array antenna. The early-stage experiment showed that such a distributed system can deliver stable, high-quality data transmission, offering a potential pathway to cheaper and more resilient global connectivity.

The concept builds on the growing interest in direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications, which aim to allow ordinary smartphones to connect directly to satellites without the need for ground infrastructure. The technology is particularly attractive for extending coverage to remote regions such as oceans, deserts, and disaster-hit areas where terrestrial networks are either weak or nonexistent.

Traditionally, achieving this requires large satellites equipped with sophisticated phased-array antennas. These systems rely on tightly coordinated antenna elements that can steer signals electronically. However, they are expensive to build and launch, and their centralized design creates a single point of failure—any major malfunction can render the entire satellite ineffective.

The Japanese research team, led by Associate Professor Atsushi Shirane, has proposed a fundamentally different architecture. Instead of concentrating antenna elements on one satellite, the system distributes them across thousands of pico-satellites flying in formation. These miniature units are synchronized wirelessly, eliminating the need for physical connections.

At the heart of the innovation is what the researchers describe as “spatial wireless combining and distributing technology.” In this setup, a central gateway satellite broadcasts a reference signal that allows all participating pico-satellites to remain precisely synchronized. This removes the need for energy-intensive components such as local oscillators on each unit, enabling further miniaturization and reducing power consumption.

The team developed a compact transceiver chip using standard silicon CMOS technology, making it suitable for large-scale, low-cost manufacturing. In laboratory simulations replicating satellite formations, the system demonstrated accurate beam steering and reliable data transmission using communication protocols similar to those found in modern smartphones.

Beyond lowering costs, the distributed nature of the system offers a major reliability advantage. Because the network is made up of numerous independent satellites, the failure of individual units does not compromise the entire system—unlike traditional monolithic satellites.

The findings suggest that formation-flying pico-satellites could become a viable foundation for next-generation satellite networks. If scaled successfully, the approach could expand global connectivity while reducing both financial and operational risks, bringing direct satellite communication closer to everyday mobile users.

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XRISM finally solves famous star’s 50-year space mystery

Posted on March 24, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

A star visible to the naked eye has held a secret for more than half a century.

Gamma Cassiopeiae, a bright star in the constellation Cassiopeia, has puzzled astronomers since the 1970s with its unusually intense X ray emissions. [1]

Now, researchers using the X Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission, a joint space observatory developed by Japan, the United States and Europe, say they have identified the source. [1]

The emissions come from an unseen white dwarf companion that pulls in material from the larger star and releases X rays as it does so. [1]

Gamma Cas X ray origin explained by white dwarf companion

The findings are based on high resolution observations from XRISM’s Resolve spectrometer, which can track subtle changes in X ray signals.

Researchers found that the hot plasma responsible for the X rays moves in sync with the orbit of the hidden companion star. [1]

This motion provided direct evidence that the emissions are linked to accretion, a process in which matter falls onto a dense object such as a white dwarf.

Lead author Yaël Nazé, an astronomer at the University of Liège in Belgium, said the result concludes decades of investigation.

“There has been an intense effort to solve the mystery of gamma Cas across many research groups for many decades. And now, thanks to the high precision observations of XRISM, we have finally done it,” Nazé said. [1]

For years, scientists had narrowed the explanation to two possibilities. One involved magnetic interactions between the star and its surrounding disc. The other suggested that a companion object was drawing in material and generating X rays.

The XRISM data supports the second explanation. [1]

Be stars gamma Cas history and unusual emission features

Gamma Cassiopeiae belongs to a class known as Be stars, a type of hot, rapidly rotating star surrounded by a disc of material.

The star’s unusual behavior was first noted in 1866 by Italian astronomer Angelo Secchi, who observed unexpected emission lines in its light spectrum. [1]

Those observations led to the classification of Be stars, which are known for ejecting material that forms a rotating disc around them.

By the mid 20th century, astronomers had detected that gamma Cas also had a low mass companion, though it remained invisible to direct observation. [1]

The discovery of strong X ray emissions in the 1970s added another layer to the mystery. The radiation was traced to extremely hot plasma, reaching temperatures of about 150 million degrees, far exceeding typical levels for such stars. [1]

Subsequent observations with space telescopes such as XMM Newton, the European Space Agency’s X ray observatory, NASA’s Chandra X ray Observatory, and the eROSITA telescope identified similar behavior in a small group of stars now known as gamma Cas type objects. [1]

XRISM discovery impact on binary star evolution research

The identification of a white dwarf companion resolves the origin of the X rays and provides a clearer picture of how these systems function.

In this model, material from the Be star’s disc spirals toward the white dwarf, heating up and emitting high energy radiation in the process.

Researchers say the findings also raise new questions about how such binary systems form.

White dwarf companions were expected to be common in systems with lower mass stars. The new results suggest they may instead occur more frequently with high mass Be stars. [1]

Alice Borghese, a research fellow at the European Space Agency specializing in high energy astrophysics, said earlier missions helped narrow the possibilities.

“XMM Newton did so much of the groundwork in ruling out various theories about gamma Cas. And now with the next generation of advanced instrumentation, XRISM has brought us over the finish line,” she said. [1]

The study highlights the role of international collaboration in space science. XRISM combines contributions from Japanese, European and American teams.

Matteo Guainazzi, the European Space Agency’s XRISM project scientist, said the result demonstrates the value of that cooperation.

“This wonderful result underlines the strong collaboration between XRISM’s Japanese, European and American teams,” he said. [1]

For astronomers, the long running puzzle of gamma Cas has shifted from speculation to measurement.

A mystery that began with unusual light signatures in the 19th century now has a defined mechanism grounded in observation.

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NASA to stream launch and docking of ‘Progress 94 cargo spacecraft’ to ISS

Posted on March 21, 2026 by Naresh Kumar

NASA is set to broadcast the launch and arrival of a Russian cargo spacecraft carrying essential supplies to astronauts aboard the International Space Station, as part of routine resupply operations that keep the orbital lab running.

The uncrewed Progress 94 spacecraft, operated by Russia’s space agency Roscosmos, is scheduled to lift off on Sunday, March 22, at 7:59 a.m. EDT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The mission will ride aboard a Soyuz rocket and is loaded with nearly three tonnes of food, fuel, and other critical materials for the station’s crew.

NASA will begin live coverage of the launch at 7:30 a.m. EDT. The broadcast will be available on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s official YouTube channel, alongside other digital platforms.

Following a two-day journey in orbit, the spacecraft is expected to dock automatically with the space-facing port of the Poisk module at around 9:34 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 24. Live coverage of the rendezvous and docking is scheduled to start at 8:45 a.m.

Once attached, Progress 94 will remain at the station for roughly six months. During that time, it will serve both as a supply vessel and a storage unit for waste. At the end of its mission, it will detach and burn up upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, safely disposing of onboard trash.

The mission follows the departure of Progress 92, which undocked from the station on March 16 and disintegrated over the Pacific Ocean without incident.

The International Space Station has been continuously inhabited for over 25 years, serving as a hub for scientific research in microgravity. The platform continues to support studies that cannot be conducted on Earth, while also helping space agencies prepare for longer missions beyond low Earth orbit, including NASA’s Artemis programme aimed at returning humans to the Moon, and eventual crewed missions to Mars.

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NASA to Brief Media on X-59 Supersonic Aircraft Flight Tests After 2nd California Mission

Posted on March 21, 2026 by Naresh Kumar

NASA is scheduled to host a media teleconference Friday at 6 p.m. EDT to outline the next phase of flight testing for its X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft, with the briefing set to follow the plane’s second test flight over California the same day.

The call will include NASA leadership, representatives from the agency’s Quesst mission, and officials from primary contractor Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. The X-59’s test pilots are also expected to participate, addressing questions about flight conditions and pre-flight preparation protocols.

The Quesst mission, short for Quiet SuperSonic Technology, is designed to gather data on how communities on the ground perceive sonic disturbances from supersonic flight, with the goal of informing potential regulatory changes to current restrictions on overland supersonic commercial travel in the United States. The X-59 is engineered to reduce the sonic boom typically associated with supersonic aircraft to what NASA describes as a quieter “sonic thump.”

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, the advanced development division behind the aircraft’s construction, has been working alongside NASA on the program since the agency awarded the contract in 2018. The X-59 completed its first flight in March 2024 at Lockheed’s facility in Palmdale, California.

Full teleconference details and dial-in credentials are expected to be made available through NASA’s media channels ahead of the Friday briefing, which will be streamed on NASA’s YouTube channel. An instant replay will be available online.

Participants include:

Bob Pearce, associate administrator, NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, Washington
Cathy Bahm, project manager, Low Boom Flight Demonstrator, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards, California
Peter Coen, Quesst mission integration manager, NASA’s Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia
Jim “Clue” Less, X-59 test pilot, NASA Armstrong
Pat LeBeau, Lockheed Martin X-59 project manager

To participate in the virtual call, members of the media must RSVP no later than two hours before the start of the event to: kristen.m.hatfield@nasa.gov. NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online.

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Huge Craters On an Asteroid Psyche Could Provide Clues to Early Planets

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Another investigation that forms the structure of massive craters on asteroid 16 Psyche is providing new perspectives on one of the most persistent mysteries of the Solar System, whether the metallic object is the open core of an unsuccessful planet or a complex of debris formed during numerous collisions.

The scientists in the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory of the University of Arizona are the researchers who conducted the study, which was published in JGR Planets, and dedicated to the possibility of unlocking the inner composition of Psyche due to a large impact basin located near the north pole of the asteroid. The results will likely inform the interpretation of the data of the NASA Psyche space probe, which will visit the asteroid in the year 2029.

The largest known metal-rich asteroid is psyche, which is found in the prime asteroid belt separating mars and Jupiter and is one of the heaviest bodies found in the area. Its bizarre structure has been a long-standing puzzle to scientists, and rival theories have proposed that it might be the rocky and metallic inertia of an early planet, or of violent impact that caused the mixing of metals and rock over time.

To experiment with such situations, scientists ran high-speed crashes on a 3-D model of Psyche which was how a crater similar to 30 miles across and three miles deep was formed. The differing impact conditions and internal structures allowed the team to come up with predictions regarding the way various compositions would form the resulting crater and the surrounding debris.

According to the simulations, porosity, which is the empty space in the asteroid, is an important factor that affects the crater formation. This is different to solid planetary bodies, most asteroids are loose or fractured and thus can absorb impact energy in a different manner. Impacts in more porous structures will create deeper and steeper craters and less material ejected on the surface.

Asteroid layered metallic core

There were two main models of the interior of Psyche tested in the study: the asteroid is layered reaching a dense metallic core and thin rocky mantle, and the second one is that the metal and silicate materials are evenly intermingled. Although both scenarios could result in the measured crater sizes, each scenario created a different ejecta pattern and internal compression pattern.

These variations, according to researchers, may turn out to be important suggestions when there would be direct observations. Equipments in the Psyche spacecraft will capture the surface composition of the asteroid, gravity and magnetic field, an assessment of the difference in density that could have occurred due to impact in the past.

Scientists compare the research to the reconstruction of a process that has been abandoned long ago based on its remains. Through surface studies of craters and patterns of debris those studying them hope to be able to determine the internal composition of a body that might be able to tell us about the very earliest phases of planetary formation.

Origin of Psyche

The theory of the origin of Psyche has more far-reaching consequences in the field of planetary science. The discovery of the asteroid as an exposed core would give an opportunity to study processes that formed rocky planets such as Earth processes that are otherwise not reachable since planetary cores are buried deep within thick mantles.

Another theme addressed in the study is the increased importance of advanced simulations in space mission preparation. Predicting tests set in advance before the arrival of the spacecraft, researchers want to speed up the analysis of the information once the real-time stream of information arrives.

Psyche mission, which was initiated by Arizona State University and is supported by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and other organizations belongs to NASA Discovery Program. By the time the spacecraft arrives at its destination towards the end of this decade, scientists are hopeful that it will provide the first close-up view of a metallic world – and possibly end a two hundred plus century long debate.

New NASA DART mission data reveals asteroids throw ‘cosmic snowballs’ at each other

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Bharath Panchajanya

Binary asteroid systems are not uncommon in our cosmic neighborhood with about 15 percent of asteroids around the Earth having small moons around them.

A team of astronomers (headed by the University of Maryland) has since found that these binary asteroid systems are much more dynamic than they thought- involving active exchange of rocks and dust in slow, slow-motion collisions that reform them over millions of years.

Upon the analysis of the images captured by the NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft just before deliberately colliding with the asteroid moon Dimorphos in 2022, the team observed bright, fan-shaped streaks across the surface of the moon, which is the first direct evidence of the material naturally traveling between two asteroids. The implications of the findings given by the researchers in The Planetary Science Journal on March 6, 2026, regarding the information about asteroids that may pose a threat to the earth are far reaching.

Initially, we assumed that it must have been a problem with the camera, then we assumed it must have been a problem with our processing of the images, said the lead author of the paper, Jessica Sunshine, a professor with joint appointments in both the Department of Astronomy and Department of Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences of UMD. However, once we cleared it up we found the marks we were observing were quite regular with respect to low velocity collisions, such as tossing cosmic snowballs. We possessed the first direct evidence of material movement within the recent past in a binary asteroid system.

The results of the team were also the first, visual confirmation of the Yarkovsky-O Keefe Radzievskii Paddak (YORP) effect wherein small asteroids rapidly rotate due to the presence of sunlight, causing material to be thrown off their surfaces to form moons. This was probably true of Didymos and its smaller satellite Dimorphos in the case of Sunshine reported the remnants of the so-called cosmic snowballs which had been deposited on the surface of Dimorphos.

How they found these traces?

They took months of investigative efforts to find these traces. The original images captured by the DART spacecraft could not see the fan-shaped streaks yet, UMD astronomy research scientist Tony Farnham and former postdoctoral researcher Juan Rizos developed more intricate methods to eliminate the boulder shadow and lightning effects in the images and exposed the eye-opening streaks that were left behind by the ‘cosmic snowballs’.

We finally saw these rays wrapping round Dimorphos, something no one has ever seen, you see, Farnham said. At the initial stages, it could not be believed because it was gentle and distinct.

To the researchers, the path of the DART mission provided a peculiar challenge. The space ship flew directly into the target with only slight distinctions in lighting and viewpoint that made it hard to differentiate actual features and any potential lighting possibilities. To demonstrate the authenticity of the streaks the team traced them to the source in one of the areas near the edge of Dimorphos- clearly out of phase with where the sun was overhead. Having done this, the team came to the conclusion that the traces left by the so-called cosmic snowballs were not really a light illusion.

Not fainter as we smoothed out the 3D image of the moon the fan-shaped streaks became more distinct, Farnham said. “It made us sure that we were dealing with a reality.

Earlier researchers noted an indirect evidence of the sunlight causing small asteroids to spin faster triggering the expulsion of material off their surfaces. However, the recently perfected models of the asteroid moon Dimorphos created by the UMD team give the first graphic assurance of the process and the precise sites of the shed material of its original asteroid, Didymos. Additional calculations by UMD alumnus Harrison Agrusa (M.S. ’19, Ph.D. ’22, astronomy) also indicated that the material moved Didymos at 30.7 centimeters per second, which is slower than the typical pace of a human walking.

Fan-shaped marks

“That would be why it had the fan-shaped marks,” Sunshine said. “These slow moving effects would not cause a crater as they would cause a deposit instead of being evenly distributed. And they are focused on the equator as theorized on modeling material ripped off the primary.”

The researchers headed by the former UMD postdoctoral associate Esteban Wright conducted a battery of experiments in their laboratories to test their hypotheses at the UMD Institute of Physical Science and Technology. To replicate boulders on Dimorphos, they tossed marbles into a sand filled with painted gravel. The experiment was recorded with high-speed cameras, and it was found that boulders filtered some material and allowed other particles to stream in-between the boulders- forming ray-like patterns similar to those found on Dimorphos.

The results were verified in computer simulations of effects of loose clumps of dust done at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The shape of the fan-shaped rays on the surface of the asteroid was naturally formed by boulders that formed the cosmic snowballs on the surface of the asteroid whether the impactor was a compact rock such as the marble or a loose clump of material.

These marks could be seen on Dimorphos in that film taken by the DART spacecraft immediately before the large collision, evidence that there was an exchange of material between it and Didymos, said Sunshine. The fan line deposit must stretch up to the side of the moon that we did not strike and there is a chance that it was not smashed in by the blow.

These features could be found to be still present on Didymos as the Hera mission of the European Space Agency will possibly arrive in December 2026 and see them. Sunshine and her colleagues give an estimate as to how Hera will also witness new ray patterns formed when boulders are struck by the DART spacecraft, knocking them loose, which gives them a different perspective of the asteroids that have the potential to threaten the earth.

According to Sunshine, these new findings which arise out of this research play a critical part in our knowledge about the near-Earth asteroids and their evolutionary patterns. It has been discovered that they are much more dynamic than we thought before and this will assist us in streamlining our models and our planetary defense efforts.

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Oval orbit casts new light on black hole, neutron star mergers

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Scientists have uncovered the first robust evidence of a black hole and neutron star crashing together but orbiting in an oval path rather than a perfect circle just before they merged. This discovery challenges long-standing assumptions about how these cosmic pairs form and evolve.

Researchers from the University of Birmingham, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics published their findings today (11 Mar) in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Most neutron star-black hole pairs are expected to adopt circular orbits long before merging. But the analysis of the gravitational-wave event GW200105 shows that this system travelled on an oval orbit long before merging to form a black hole 13 times more massive than the Sun. An oval orbit is something never seen before in this kind of collision.

Dr Patricia Schmidt, from the University of Birmingham, said: “This discovery gives us vital new clues about how these extreme objects come together. It tells us that our theoretical models are incomplete and raises fresh questions about where in the Universe such systems are born.”

The researchers analysed data from LIGO and Virgo detectors using a new gravitational‑wave model developed at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Gravitational Wave Astronomy. This allowed them to measure both how ‘oval’ the orbit was (eccentricity) and any spin‑induced wobbling (precession). This is the first time these two effects have been measured together in a neutron star–black hole event.

Geraint Pratten, a Royal Society University Research Fellow from the University of Birmingham, said: “The orbit gives the game away. Its elliptical shape just before merger shows this system did not evolve quietly in isolation but was almost certainly shaped by gravitational interactions with other stars, or perhaps a third companion.”

A Bayesian analysis comparing thousands of theoretical predictions to the real data, showed that a circular orbit is extremely unlikely, ruling it out with 99.5% confidence.

Past analyses of GW200105, which assumed a circular orbit, underestimated the black hole mass and overestimated the neutron star mass. The new study corrects these values and finds no compelling evidence of precession, indicating that the eccentricity was imprinted by its formation rather than by spins.

Gonzalo Morras, from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, said: “This is convincing proof that not all neutron star–black hole pairs share the same origin. The eccentric orbit suggests a birthplace in an environment where many stars interact gravitationally.”

This discovery challenges the prevailing view that all neutron star–black hole mergers arise from a single dominant formation channel and highlights the need for more advanced waveform models capable of capturing the full complexity of these systems.

The study helps to explain the growing diversity seen in compact-binary mergers and opens the door to identifying even more unusual pathways as the number of gravitational-wave detections continues to grow.

Cosmic girls: UN nurtures next generation of space professionals

Posted on November 3, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Now 18, she’s involved in aerospace projects with other young women through the Shakthi SAT initiative and she’s keen to explore the intersection between computer engineering and science, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous robotics and embedded systems that control satellites, drones and rockets.

“I’m learning things I once only dreamed of, and we’re going to launch our own satellite. How cool is that!” she told UN News.

But, prospects at home in Nepal, an impoverished nation with a nascent space industry, are very limited.

“Our parents usually don’t want us to pursue ‘risky’ careers,” she said.

‘My interest is to make humans multiplanetary’

As a little girl growing up in Hasselt, Belgium, Kaat DeGros thought becoming an astronaut in the highly competitive, male-dominated space field would never happen.

Today, at 15, she’s already designed her own sustainable research base on Mars, hailed by the Oxford Academy of Excellence.

“My interest is to make humans multiplanetary,” she said.

Demystifying space careers

A new partnership between the Space4Women project of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Cosmic Girls Foundation is bringing together young women and girls like Ms. Maharjan and Ms. DeGros from across the globe to explore how they can shape the future of space and thrive in diverse roles, from space economics and law to engineering, policy and innovation.

Over 30 girls participated in a global webinar in late July on “demystifying space careers: not just astronauts”, the first in a series of collaborations to unite UNOOSA’s global reach and Cosmic Girls’ grassroots network.

Two women leaders, a space economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and legal officer at the Kenya Space Agency, shared practical advice on how to enter the sector regardless of background and fielded questions on academic and professional paths, networking, accessing resources and dealing with rejection.

NASA astronauts Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Naoko Yamazaki and Stephanie Wilson pose for a photo at the International Space Station.

Building a space ecosystem

The girls left with several messages: be your own cheerleader, seek out mentors and allies, stay disciplined but follow your passion and join space communities.

“We are building an ecosystem that equips girls worldwide with STEM skills, astronaut training and the mindset to innovate for humanity’s future among the stars,” said Mindy Howard, founder and chief executive officer of the Netherlands- and US-based Cosmic Girls Foundation.

The partnership will influence policymakers to adopt a new vision of the space sector where men and women are equal partners, said UNOOSA programme officer Anne-Claire Grossias.

“It’s a very human-focused project. Through this connection we can move forward toward gender equality,” she explained.

Landmark study: Space sector still gender blind

Despite progress in recent years, women are still significantly under-represented in the field, especially in leadership roles. Only 11 per cent of astronauts have been women, and they represent just 30 per cent of the workforce in public space sector organizations, according to the Space4Women project’s 2024 landmark study on gender equality.

Ensuring a meaningful role for women not only fuels productivity and profit; it leads to greater global collaboration, consensus-building and lasting peace, the study found.

The idea for the survey was conceived at the 2023 Space4Women Expert Meeting. The meeting united global experts to prepare the UN’s first gender mainstreaming toolkit to help space organizations dismantle gender bias and discriminatory practices and create environments where women can succeed alongside male colleagues in space science, technology, innovation and exploration.

Mindy Howard during parabolic flight training.

Fostering the female astronaut pipeline

Since its inception in 2017, the Space4Women project has worked with committed space sector professionals to mentor over 270 girls from 68 countries.

Ms. Howard, a mentor since 2020, has brought together nearly 1,000 girls from 139 countries through her Cosmic Girls educational and networking forum. With programme partners in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and Oceania, the Cosmic Girls Foundation has launched the first global competition to train six girls, one from each continent, with the rocket science knowledge, life skills and mental preparedness to become astronauts. The grand prize for one will be a trip to space.

“The competition is such a dream come true,” said Ms. DeGros. “It gave me hope that I will succeed as an astronaut and astrophysicist.”

Building confidence in a safe environment

Supporting girls from an early age in a welcoming, nurturing environment is crucial to help them gradually test the waters and bring much-needed feminine traits and collaborative approaches for problem-solving to the field, said Ms. Howard.

“Girls are often told by their parents they are not good enough, not smart enough. This is a safe environment for them to hone their skills, which will help them later on,” she said.

Already they are feeling confident.

“This feels like something extraordinary – a real step towards a future I once thought was out of reach,” said Ms. Maharjan.

“I think there will be equality in space exploration in not so long of a time,” added Ms. DeGros.

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‘Our work is largely invisible’: Journey from outer space to frontline aid worker

Posted on August 19, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Ahead of donning a beige WFP vest and boots to face hurricanes, wars and refugee camps, the Portuguese scientist worked with satellite imagery and cartography, creating maps to support humanitarian missions, until he realised he didn’t want to stay behind a computer screen.

On the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, marked annually on 19 August, Mr. Matos shared his story with UN News.

Pedro Matos joined the WFP response team following the deadly Cyclone Idai in Mozambique in 2019. (file)

From hurricanes to war

“At a certain point, it just wasn’t enough,” he recalled about his space engineering job. “I didn’t want to be making maps for other people to go and do humanitarian responses. I want to take those maps and be the one to do the responding.”

That’s exactly what he did. At WFP, he first developed maps on the ground and then went on to coordinate the agency’s emergency operations.

Since then, he has visited dozens of countries often at the epicentre of crises, from Hurricane Idai in Mozambique to the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

In 2018, Pedro Matos looks at the Kutupalong refugee camp where Rohingya refugees live. (file)

‘Like moving an entire government’

Coordinating in an emergency response is like “moving an entire government”, where each UN agency represents a “ministry” and the response only works when everyone comes together over the four essential areas in a crisis response: food, shelter, water and health.

Having just returned from a mission in Bangladesh, he described efforts to respond at Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest refugee camp and home to 700,000 people who fled violence in Myanmar.

“We’ve been able to provide better conditions for people to live in this limbo with a little more comfort,” he said, also remembering his visit there in 2018 at the height of the crisis.

At the time, “a million people crossed the border in a month.” Today, although they remain in “limbo”, he pointed to improvements such as more monsoon-resistant homes and roads, gas stoves and reforestation.

Pedro Matos on board a humanitarian aid flight after Cyclone Idai in Mozambique. (file)

Heart-shredding challenges and profound rewards

The job has meant both challenges and rewards.

“We’ve also had a few instances where we’ve been kidnapped, or come under fire, but it’s not the things that happen to us that impact us the most,” he said. “It’s the things that happen to others that have the most impact.”

Hurricane Idai in Mozambique was a Category 5 hurricane that hit Beira in 2019 was one of the biggest and most intense crisis, but also most rewarding, he said.

“There’s this mix of something that was very intense and hard because we couldn’t reach everyone, but at the same time, the fact was that there were many people – tens or hundreds of thousands of people – who would have died if we hadn’t been there,” he said. “That was the most impactful response in my 17 years at the United Nations.”

When he was in Yemen, “we were bombed 20 times a day” in the capital, Sana’a, he said, adding that “there’s a strange normalcy” that develops.

“We find ourselves saying things like, ‘no, that wasn’t very far; it was only 500 metres from here,’” he said. “It’s something I never thought I’d think or say before doing this work.”

When reaching central Ukraine several weeks after Russia’s full-scale invasion in early 2022, he called the situation “very intense”. Within a week, he and his colleagues began distributing money to people coming from the frontlines.

We couldn’t reach everyone, but there were tens or hundreds of thousands of people who would have died if we hadn’t been there.

“When we interviewed people and asked them what they were doing with the money we gave them, it was very gratifying,” he said. “It was beautiful.”

Those who had been wounded in the war were using the money to buy painkillers. Others used it to pay for gas to escape the frontlines. One mother had been able to buy her daughter a scoop of ice cream for the first time since the war began.

“Her daughter was delighted,” he said. “There are very rewarding moments.”

Feeding millions every day

“We all think we know what the humanitarian or aid sector is,” Mr. Matos explained, adding that the scale during a crisis is much, much larger.

“I thought we’d be rehabilitating schools, feeding 100 people,” he continued. “I never imagined I’d be feeding 13 million people a day in Yemen. The scale is absolutely incredible.”

However, humanitarian work is often seen as a separate job, he said. Almost every profession that exists in private and government sectors also exists in an aid landscape, from lawyers, those who work in procurement, like in supermarkets, and human resources.

“I basically do the same work as social workers or firefighters,” he said. “They do it here every day, and I do it elsewhere. But, our work is in the same field and very similar.”

A toddler eats a food supplement, as part of WFP’s nutrition programme, in Mokha, Taiz, in Yemen.

The value of a Nobel Prize

WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, a recognition that Mr. Matos received with humility.

“Our work is largely invisible, despite feeding 120 million people every day,” he said. “It gave us a platform to raise awareness about crises like Congo, Myanmar, Sudan and Gaza, which often go unnoticed.”

Our work is largely invisible, despite feeding 120 million people every day.

He said his job is to give voice to the voiceless when crises fade from news headlines. Despite the difficulties and risks across his career, Mr. Matos has no doubt about the most important lesson he learned.

“People are essentially good,” he said. “When faced with the imminence of tragedy, people are fundamentally good and want to help others, even if that other person is very different. It was good to realise this because it’s not always obvious when we’re far from these crises.”

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Space is not the final frontier – it is the foundation of our future: UN deputy chief

Posted on July 3, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Addressing delegates at a UN forum on peaceful uses of outer space, Amina Mohammed urged greater international cooperation as the world becomes increasingly reliant on satellites for everything from disaster response to climate monitoring.

“Space is not the final frontier. It is the foundation of our present,” she said.

“Without satellites orbiting overhead right now, global food systems would collapse within weeks. Emergency responders would lose their lifelines. Climate scientists would be flying blind. And our hopes of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would be out of reach,” she added.

Expanding access to space

For nearly seven decades, the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space – the forum’s official name, has advanced international cooperation through five space treaties, sustainability guidelines and the Space 2030 Agenda.

Ms. Mohammed highlighted the UN’s efforts through the Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), in helping make space more accessible – particularly for the more than half of UN Member States that still lack a satellite in orbit.

OOSA’s programmes are opening opportunities for youth and women in developing countries, cultivating a more inclusive new generation of space leaders.

It also supports countries in building their space capabilities through technical workshops and assistance for emerging programmes, having assisted Kenya, Guatemala, Moldova and Mauritius in launching their first satellites.

Similarly, it is helping countries like Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago and Ghana, use satellite data to create detailed digital models of entire cities, allowing faster disaster response and saving lives.

Space and sustainable development

Fresh from the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla, Spain, Ms. Mohammed stressed that the areas the UN defines as critical for sustainable development acceleration all depend on space technologies.

She also relayed a critical message from the conference: “In an era of constrained investment, we must align capital with high-impact solutions,” she said. “Space is one of them.”

“The view from space shows no countries, no borders – only one shared planet, one common home. Let that perspective guide you as you build the governance frameworks for space exploration and use,” she concluded.

“Let us make space a catalyst for achieving the SDGs.”

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From the Global South to the stars: A new space race

Posted on June 21, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

Once the exclusive domain of a handful of technologically advanced countries, outer space is now within the reach of emerging nations from the Global South, as costs fall and technology becomes more widely available.

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Human Rights Council hears alarming updates on executions in Iran and global civic space crackdown

Posted on June 19, 2025 by Arun Kumar N

At least 975 people were executed in Iran in 2024, the highest number reported since 2015, according to a report Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, presented to the Geneva-based Council on Wednesday.

Of the total executions, just over half were for drug-related offenses, 43 per cent for murder, two per cent for sexual offenses, and three per cent for security-related charges. At least four executions were carried out publicly.

“These cases are marked by serious allegations of torture and due process violations, including lack of access to a lawyer,” said Ms. Al-Nashif.

Violence and discrimination against women

At least 31 women were reportedly executed in Iran last year, up from 22 in 2023. Of the 19 women executed for murder, nine had been convicted of killing their husbands in cases involving domestic violence or forced or child marriage, areas in which Iranian women have no legal protections.

Some executions were reportedly linked to protests that began in September 2022 under the banner “Women, Life, and Freedom.”

Beyond executions, femicide cases surged, with 179 reported in 2024 compared to 55 the year before. Many stemmed from so-called “honour” crimes or family disputes, often involving women and girls seeking divorce or rejecting marriage proposals.

Ms. Al-Nashif also warned that the suspended Chastity and Hijab Law, if enacted, would pose a serious threat to women’s rights. Penalties for violations such as improper dress could include heavy fines, travel bans, long-term imprisonment, or even the death penalty.

In addition, of the 125 journalists prosecuted in 2024, 40 were women, many reporting on human rights and women’s rights issues.

Religious and ethnic minorities

“In 2024, the death penalty continued to have a disproportionate impact on minority groups,” Ms. Al-Nashif told the Council.

At least 108 Baluchi and 84 Kurdish prisoners were executed in 2024, representing 11 and 9 per cent of the total, respectively.

The report also raised concerns over the lack of official data on the socioeconomic conditions of ethnic and ethno-religious minorities and non-citizens, which hampers efforts to assess their situation and measure the impact of targeted policies and programmes.

Looking ahead

While Iran continued engagement with the Office of the UN High Commissioner and other human rights mechanisms, it denied access to the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“Our Office remains ready to continue and build on its engagement with the Iranian authorities on the range of issues highlighted in the report of the Secretary-General for the promotion and protection of all human rights,” Ms. Al-Nashif concluded.

Global ‘Super Election’ cycle undermined democratic participation

In the Council’s afternoon session, Gina Romero, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, presented her report on how the 2023–2025 “super election” cycle has affected civic space around the world.

In 2024, half of the world’s population elected their local, national and international representatives. While Ms. Romero’s report on this cycle does not assess the integrity of the elections, it identifies troubling global patterns of systematic repression of the exercise of peaceful assembly and association.

“The misuse of restrictive laws, smear campaigns, disinformation targeting civil society intensified globally in the super electoral cycle, undermining electoral participation and freedom of association,” she said.

Political repression and violence

As criminal justice systems are used to repress the opposition, leaders and members of political parties faced undue restrictions and political persecution. Civil society activists and election observers have also faced harassment, arbitrary detention, torture and murder.

“When political parties, civil society, and peaceful assemblies are suppressed, genuine political pluralism and competition cannot exist,” argued Ms. Romero. “I stress that these conditions are incompatible with free and genuine elections and risk legitimising undemocratic rule.”

Minority representation

Ms. Romero also underscored that women’s political leadership remains severely underrepresented, while LGBTIQ individuals and their organizations faced attacks during the super electoral cycle.

Both groups experienced physical and online political violence, restricting their electoral participation and accelerating the decline of their rights after the elections.

Calls to protect freedoms

Amid global crises and a rapid democratic decline, Ms. Romero emphasized the urgent need to protect the rights to peaceful assembly and association throughout the entire electoral cycle.

She outlined key recommendations, including strengthening legal protections before elections, ensuring accountability afterward, regulating digital technologies and promoting non-discriminatory participation throughout.

“Dissent is a fundamental element of democratic societies,” she concluded in Spanish. “Rather than being suppressed, it should be welcomed and permanently protected.”

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