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  • Issue 42 | Breaking Space News: Mar 16 - 22, 2025

Issue 42 | Breaking Space News: Mar 16 - 22, 2025

The Largest 3D Map of the Universe is Telling Us That Dark Energy has Always Been Changing. This Week in Space News: The US Space Ecosystem, Euclid Observatory's Data Dump, Dust Melting the Arctic, Threats to Chilean Astronomical Sites, South Africa-China's Quantum Satellite Link, Botswana's First Satellite, ESA's 2040 Roadmap, Oxygen in the Most Distant Galaxy, Carbon Dioxide in an Exoplanet, Martian Subsurface Water & More.

Author

Lagrangian Despatch
March 23, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 49 minutes

Welcome back Explorer,

Stunning images, new studies pushing the boundaries of science, and global updates on commercial space. In the meantime, we’ve changed a little: you’ll now find a Space Terminology page under the Resources drop-down menu—a handy guide to space terms, science, technology, governance, and more. Clear, concise definitions, all in one place.

Lastly, for Gmail users, some links may not be clickable, so we’ve added a small button below ⬇️ for easy access to the full newsletter where all links work properly.

Enjoy reading!

PRIMER

 

Demystifying the U.S. Space Ecosystem: Who Does What?

Space has transitioned from a distant frontier to a vital domain for national security, economic growth, and scientific advancement. To safeguard and promote its interests in this increasingly critical arena, the U.S. government has formed a network of organizations. However, the breadth of agencies and the proliferation of acronyms present challenges in understanding the specific roles and responsibilities of each entity. Here’s a breakdown:

  • Established: December 20, 2019.

  • Mission: To organize, train, and equip space forces to protect U.S. and allied interests in space.

  • Key Responsibilities: Developing space professionals, acquiring space systems, and providing space capabilities to the joint force.

  • Fun Fact: The USSF is the first new military branch since the Air Force was created in 1947.

  • Established: March 2019.

  • Mission: To rapidly develop and deploy cutting-edge space capabilities, such as the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA)—a constellation of satellites for global connectivity and missile defense.

  • Connection to USSF: While independent, the SDA works closely with the Space Force to transition its systems into operational use.

3. U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM)

  • Established: August 2019 (re-established after being disbanded in 2002).

  • Mission: To conduct operations in, from, and through space to deter conflict and defend U.S. interests.

  • Key Difference: While the Space Force is a service branch, Space Command is a combatant command that uses space forces for operations.

  • Part of: U.S. Air Force.

  • Mission: To develop advanced technologies for air, space, and cyberspace domains.

  • Space Focus: AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate works on satellite systems, space sensors, and communications technologies that support the Space Force.

  • AFWERX: The Air Force’s innovation hub, focused on accelerating technology development for air and space domains.

  • SPACEWERX: The Space Force’s counterpart to AFWERX, driving innovation specifically for space-related challenges.

  • Key Point: SPACEWERX is not under AFWERX—they are separate entities under their respective services but share a similar mission and often collaborate.

6. Other Key U.S. Players in the Space Domain

How They All Fit Together

Here’s a simplified hierarchy to visualize the relationships: 

Department of Defense (DoD)
│
├── Department of the Air Force
│   ├── U.S. Air Force
│   │   ├── AFWERX
│   │   └── Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
│   └── U.S. Space Force
│       └── SPACEWERX
│
├── U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM)
│
├── Space Development Agency (SDA)
│
├── National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
│
├── National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
│
├── Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
│
└── Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

Independent Agencies:
│
├── National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
│
└── Office of Space Commerce (OSC) (Department of Commerce)

IMAGES

 

Deep Field Space Images : Euclid Mission Spacecraft, ESA

This is a zoom-in of Euclid’s Deep Field North, showing the Cat’s Eye Nebula in the centre of the image, around 3000 light-years away. Also known as NGC 6543, this nebula is a visual ‘fossil record’ of the dynamics and late evolution of a dying star. This dying star is shedding its outer colourful shells. (Credit: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre, E. Bertin, G. Anselmi)

The European Space Agency’s Euclid mission has released its first dataset, offering a glimpse into the large-scale structure of the universe. Covering 63 square degrees of the sky, the data includes observations of 26 million galaxies, with the most distant located 10.5 billion light-years away. Euclid’s advanced imaging capabilities have enabled detailed classifications of over 380,000 galaxies and identified 500 gravitational lens candidates. This initial release represents just 0.5% of the mission’s planned survey, which aims to map one-third of the sky over six years. The findings promise to deepen understanding of dark matter, dark energy, and galaxy evolution. The three deep field preview from Euclid can now be explored in ESASky. Euclid Deep Field South is here, Euclid Deep Field Fornax: here and Euclid Deep Field North: here.

This is Euclid’s Deep Field North. After one observation, the space telescope has already spotted more than ten million galaxies in this field. It is also very rich in Milky Way stars, as it is close to the Galactic plane. In the coming years, Euclid will make 32 observations of this field to reach its full depth. Below the centre-left of the image lies the Cat’s Eye Nebula, around 3000 light-years away. Also known as NGC 6543, this nebula is a visual ‘fossil record’ of the dynamics and late evolution of a dying star. This dying star is shedding its outer colourful shells.

A bit higher to the right of the centre of the image, a large group of galaxies can be spotted, dominated by the large galaxy NGC 6505. This galaxy hosts the first Einstein Ring that Euclid discovered, and is located 590 million light-years away. The faint blue structures in the image are dim clouds in between the stars in our own galaxy. They are a mix of gas and dust, also called ‘galactic cirrus’ because they look like cirrus clouds. Euclid is able to see these clouds with its very sensitive visible light camera because they reflect optical light from the Milky Way.

Euclid’s Deep Field North has an area of 22.9 square degrees and is located very close to the north ecliptic pole, in the constellation Draco, the dragon. The proximity to the ecliptic pole ensures maximum coverage throughout the year; the exact position was chosen to obtain maximum overlap with one of the deep fields surveyed by NASA's infrared workhorse, the Spitzer Space Telescope. (Credit: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre, E. Bertin, G. Anselmi)

This is Euclid’s Deep Field Fornax. After only one observation, the space telescope already spotted 4.5 million galaxies in this field. In the coming years, Euclid will make 52 observations of this field to reach its full depth. Euclid’s Deep Field Fornax spans 12.1 square degrees and is located in the southern constellation Fornax, the furnace. It encompasses the much smaller Chandra Deep Field South, a 0.11 square degree region of the sky that has been extensively surveyed in the past couple of decades with NASA's Chandra and ESA's XMM-Newton X-ray observatories, as well as the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and major ground-based telescopes. (Credit: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre, E. Bertin, G. Anselmi)

This is Euclid’s Deep Field South. After only one observation, the space telescope already spotted more than 11 million galaxies in this field. In the coming years, Euclid will make more observations of this field to reach its full depth. Euclid’s Deep Field South covers 28.1 square degrees in the southern constellation of Horologium, the pendulum clock. This field has not been covered to date by any deep sky survey and so has a huge potential for new, exciting discoveries.

This graphic shows the location of the Euclid Deep Fields (yellow). This all-sky view is an overlay of ESA Gaia’s star map from its second data release in 2018 and ESA Planck’s dust map from 2014. The sky is shown in the Galactic coordinate system, with the bright horizontal band corresponding to the plane of our Milky Way galaxy, where most of its stars reside. (Credit: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA; ESA/Gaia/DPAC; ESA/Planck Collaboration)

 

 

Star System Lynds 483 : NIRCam Image, James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured intricate details of Lynds 483, a star-forming region 650 light-years away in the constellation Serpens. This image reveals two protostars encased in a dense disk of gas and dust, ejecting jets that interact with surrounding material to create vibrant patterns. These ejections, observed in near-infrared light, have triggered chemical reactions forming complex molecules like carbon monoxide and methanol. The findings offer valuable insights into the early stages of star formation, shedding light on how young stars shape their environments and the processes that govern the birth of stellar systems.

Shimmering ejections emitted by two actively forming stars make up Lynds 483 (L483). High-resolution near-infrared light captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope shows incredible new detail and structure within these lobes, including asymmetrical lines that appear to run into one another. L483 is 650 light-years away in the constellation Serpens. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI)

 

 

NGC 460 : Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope has captured stunning images of NGC 460, an open star cluster within a greater collection of nebulae and star clusters known as the N83-84-85 complex, in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way.

Surrounded by glowing hydrogen clouds, the cluster resides in a region shaped by stellar winds and radiation from massive O-type stars. These stars, known for their extreme luminosity and high surface temperatures exceeding 30,000 Kelvin, are among the rarest but most influential stars, driving dynamic interactions between gas, dust, and young stars in nearby galaxies. (Credit: NASA, ESA, and C. Lindberg (The Johns Hopkins University); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America))

SCIENCE

 

Dark Energy Study Using Largest 3D Map of the Universe Suggests Evolution in Dark Energy, Challenges Cosmological Assumptions

Credit: DESI Collaboration/DOE/KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/R. Proctor

The DESI collaboration has published a new analysis of dark energy using their first three years of collected data, which spans nearly 15 million galaxies and quasars. Combined with studies of the cosmic microwave background, supernovae, and weak lensing, the analysis hints that dark energy changes over time. Data Release 1, containing data from DESI’s survey validation and first year of observations, has now been made available for scientists and the public to explore. (Credit: DESI Collaboration/DOE/KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/R. Proctor)

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collaboration has released groundbreaking findings suggesting that dark energy, long considered a cosmological constant, may evolve over time. Using the largest 3D map of the Universe, spanning 15 million galaxies and quasars, DESI’s analysis tracks dark energy’s influence over the past 11 billion years. This immense dataset effectively allows scientists to look back in time, as the light from distant galaxies took billions of years to reach Earth, offering a direct glimpse into the Universe's past dynamics.

An annotated version of a contour plot from DESI's new dark energy analysis, showing the constraints on parameters of evolving dark energy. The plot describes the ‘behavior’ of dark energy — how its density changes as space expands. (Credit: DESI Collaboration/DOE/KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/ AURA/C. Garcia-Quintero)

This slice of the DESI data maps celestial objects from Earth (center) to billions of light-years away. Among the objects are nearby bright galaxies (yellow), luminous red galaxies (orange), emission-line galaxies (blue), and quasars (green). The large-scale structure of the Universe is visible in the inset image, which shows the densest survey region and represents less than 0.1% of the DESI survey’s total volume. ( Credit: DESI Collaboration/DOE/KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/C. Lamman)

While DESI’s data aligns with the standard Lambda-CDM model, combining it with other measurements—such as the cosmic microwave background, supernovae, and weak lensing—hints at a weakening impact of dark energy. These findings, shared at the American Physical Society’s Global Physics Summit, mark a pivotal moment in cosmology, challenging established theories about the Universe’s accelerating expansion.

The U.S. National Science Foundation Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), a Program of NSF NOIRLab. (Credit: DESI Collaboration/DOE/KPNO/ NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/M. Sargent (Berkeley Lab))

Managed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, DESI operates on the NSF’s Mayall Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. DESI’s data release is free and available to access through the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), a facility at Berkeley Lab where DESI processes and stores data. Space fans can also explore some of DESI’s data through an interactive portal: the Legacy Survey Sky Browser. The DESI data is discussed in a series of papers available here.

Among the most important data ARCSIX scientists collected in Greenland were detailed measurements of low, thin clouds, such as those seen here. (Credit: Gary Banziger (NASA Langley) and Ralph Kahn (NASA GSFC/University of Colorado Boulder))

NASA’s ARCSIX mission has revealed that Arctic ice is melting faster than expected, with dust from Greenland’s exposed landmass identified as a contributing factor. The mission, conducted during the summer of 2024 from May until August 16, when seasonal sea ice melt was at its height and involved aircraft equipped with advanced instruments to measure ice thickness, cloud composition, and aerosol levels. Findings showed that sea ice thickness north of Greenland was significantly lower than anticipated, highlighting the fragility of multi-year ice in the region. The team anticipated finding ice 3.5 meters/11.5 feet thick but discovered it was only 2.2 meters/7.2 feet thick.

The Arctic has been losing 12% of its ice per decade since 1979, with the pace accelerating in recent years. Dust particles, carried by winds and deposited on ice surfaces, darken the ice and increase absorption of solar radiation, creating a self-reinforcing feedback loop. These results underscore the urgency of addressing climate change and its cascading effects on vulnerable ecosystems. The data collected offers critical insights into the Arctic’s future and the broader implications for global climate systems. Read more on the story here.

ESO's Environmental Analysis Highlights Threats to Chilean Astronomical Sites

This image is captured from ESO’s Paranal Observatory. Home to ESO’s Very Large Telescope, the observatory sits atop the 2635-metre-high Cerro Paranal in Northern Chile’s Atacama Desert. It also shows four smaller Auxiliary Telescopes. (Credit: ESO/P. Horálek)

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has released a detailed analysis highlighting the potential damage posed by the green hydrogen production facility, INNA industrial megaproject near the Paranal Observatory in Chile. The project, led by AES Andes, a subsidiary of the U.S. based AES Corporation, spans over 3,000 hectares and includes energy and processing facilities. ESO’s findings reveal that INNA would increase light pollution by at least 35% above the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and over 50% above the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory South (CTAO-South). Additionally, air turbulence and vibrations from the project could impair the functionality of key facilities, including the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT).

ESO has raised concerns about the irreversible impact on astronomical observations in one of the world’s darkest skies. This analysis underscores the tension between industrial development and scientific preservation, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices to protect critical research infrastructure and the pristine conditions required for cutting-edge astronomy. In December, AES Energy had submitted an environmental impact assessment to Chile's Environmental Impact Agency, claiming a negligible 0.27% increase in sky brightness over Paranal, while ESO experts predict far greater consequences.

Rocket Lab, NASA, and MIT's Private Venus Mission Aims for 2026 Atmospheric Study

A rendering of the Rocket Lab Photon spacecraft above the clouds of Venus (Credit: Rocket Lab)

Rocket Lab, in collaboration with NASA and MIT, is working on the first private mission to Venus, targeting a summer 2026 launch after missing the January 2025 window. The mission aims to explore Venus' atmosphere for potential signs of microbial life, focusing on the cloud layer between 72 and 97 miles altitude. The spacecraft will deploy a small atmospheric probe equipped with an autofluorescing nephelometer to detect organic compounds.

Engineers at NASA's Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley attach the HEET heat shield on the first private spacecraft targeted for Venus. (Credit: NASA/Brandon Torres Navarrete)

NASA's Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET), a woven thermal barrier capable of withstanding temperatures up to 4,500°F, will protect the probe during its descent through Venus' dense atmosphere. Originally planned for Rocket Lab's Electron rocket, the mission will now launch aboard the yet-to-fly Neutron booster, tying its timeline to the rocket's development. This mission is part of the Morningstar Missions to Venus, a series of planned missions designed to investigate the possibility of life in Venus' clouds.

Star Catcher Demonstrates Space-Based Power Beaming Technology in First Ground Test

During the demonstration, Star Catcher’s proprietary energy transmission system successfully collected and transmitted concentrated solar energy over 100 meters to multiple off-the-shelf satellite solar arrays. (Credit: Star Catcher Industries)

Star Catcher Industries has successfully demonstrated its space-based power-beaming technology at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The test involved transmitting concentrated solar energy over 100 meters to standard satellite solar arrays, validating the system’s ability to integrate with existing spacecraft without requiring retrofits. This breakthrough marked a critical step toward the development of the Star Catcher Network, an in-space energy grid designed to provide continuous, on-demand power to satellites and space stations.

Founded in 2024, Star Catcher has rapidly advanced its technology, securing $12.25 million in seed funding and an AFWERX SBIR Phase 1 contract. The company plans a larger-scale test this summer at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility, targeting power transmission over one kilometer.

South Africa and China Achieve Milestone with World’s Longest Quantum Satellite Link

Scientists from South Africa and China have successfully established the world’s longest intercontinental quantum satellite link, spanning 12,900 kilometers. (Credit: Ignus Dreyer via Business Insider Africa)

Scientists from South Africa and China have successfully established the world’s longest intercontinental quantum satellite link, spanning 12,900 kilometers. Using the Chinese quantum microsatellite Jinan-1, launched into low Earth orbit, this collaboration marks the first quantum satellite communication link in the Southern Hemisphere. The experiment demonstrated real-time quantum key generation through Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), enabling secure encryption of images transmitted between ground stations in China and South Africa. In South Africa, Stellenbosch University’s ground station achieved an exceptional key generation rate of 1.07 million secure bits during a single satellite pass, aided by the region’s clear skies and low humidity. Quantum communication leverages principles of quantum mechanics, ensuring unparalleled security against interception or computational attacks.

The scientists used satellites to broadcast two photos, one of the Great Wall of China and one of the Stellenbosch University campus, to a facility in Beijing maintained by researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China. Professor Juan Yin, who led the Chinese team, has previously contributed to the 2017 Micius satellite project, which established a 7,600 km quantum link between China and Austria. Dr. Yaseera Ismail and Professor Francesco Petruccione spearheaded efforts at Stellenbosch, with Petruccione playing a key role in advancing South Africa's quantum communication infrastructure. The team's research was published in Nature.

Botswana Successfully Launches First Satellite, BOTSAT-1

Transporter-13 payloads overview. (Credit: SpaceX)

Botswana has successfully launched its first satellite, BOTSAT-1, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s space ambitions. The satellite was developed by the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) in collaboration with international partners, including EnduroSat, based in Sofia, Bulgaria, and Dragonfly Aerospace, headquartered in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-13 rideshare mission, BOTSAT-1 is equipped with a hyperspectral imager designed to support environmental monitoring, agriculture, and urban planning.

Operating in a sun-synchronous orbit at approximately 500 kilometers, BOTSAT-1 will provide high-resolution Earth observation data, enhancing Botswana’s capacity for sustainable development. The project also emphasizes human capacity development, with local engineers gaining hands-on experience in satellite design and integration. A ground station at BIUST will manage data reception and analysis.

GOVERNANCE

 

ESA's 2040 Roadmap Focuses on European Space Autonomy, Climate Action and Collaborative Innovation

The European Space Agency (ESA) has unveiled its Strategy 2040 document, outlining a vision for the next 15 years that emphasizes autonomy amid shifting geopolitical dynamics. The strategy focuses on five key goals: ‘protecting the planet and climate, exploring and discovering, strengthening European autonomy and resilience, boosting growth and competitiveness, and inspiring Europe’. Building on the Agenda 2025 framework, ESA aims to enhance its capabilities in space exploration, Earth observation, and technological innovation.

A central theme of the strategy is reducing reliance on external partners by fostering independent capabilities in satellite systems, launch vehicles, and space-based services. ESA also highlights the importance of collaboration among member states to address global challenges such as climate change and sustainable development. By prioritizing autonomy and resilience, ESA seeks to position Europe as a leader in the space sector, ensuring its competitiveness and adaptability in an increasingly complex global landscape.

MILITARY

 

U.S. Space Force Embraces Innovation with AI and Commercial Technology Amid Budget Cuts

The U.S. Space Force is undergoing a strategic transformation to modernize its operations and enhance its capabilities in space. As part of this effort, the Space Force plans to divest legacy systems in favor of market-ready solutions, aiming to leverage commercial technologies and partnerships to improve efficiency and reduce costs, explained Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein, at the McAleese & Associates annual defense programs conference in Washington. This shift reflects a broader trend in the military’s approach to space operations, prioritizing adaptability and innovation over traditional, high-cost systems.

The strategy shift also comes under a full-year continuing resolution passed by U.S. Congress, which allows the Pentagon to reallocate up to $8 billion for emerging priorities, requiring military services to identify cuts and reinvestments. The U.S. Space Force's fiscal year 2025 budget has been set at $28.7 billion, falling $800 million short of the $29.5 billion initially requested. Among the changes, $30 million was shifted from the Protected Tactical Satellite program to support Resilient GPS satellites.

The document, titled “Data and Artificial Intelligence FY 2025 Strategic Action Plan,” was published March 19 in response to Defense Department directives calling for a more data-driven and AI-enabled force. (Credit: USSF)

In parallel, the Space Force has also unveiled its Fiscal Year 2025 Strategic Action Plan for data and artificial intelligence (AI) integration. The plan outlines four key initiatives: maturing enterprise-wide data and AI governance, fostering a data-driven and AI-enabled culture, rapidly adopting advanced analytics and AI technologies, and strengthening partnerships with government, industry, academia, and international allies. These efforts aim to enhance the Space Force’s ability to process and analyze vast amounts of data, enabling real-time decision-making and operational superiority in a contested domain.

COMMERCIAL

 

Isar Aerospace Prepares for Europe’s First Orbital Rocket Launch

The first Spectrum rocket by Isar Aerospace stands ready on the launch pad at Andøya Spaceport, with the launch planned as early as March 20. (Credit: Isar Aerospace)

Isar Aerospace is set to make history with the first orbital rocket launch from continental Europe outside of Russia. The German company plans to launch its Spectrum rocket from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport, with the launch window opening on March 20, 2025. This milestone follows the recent approval of a launch license by Norwegian regulators.

The mission, named “Going Full Spectrum,” aims to test all systems of the Spectrum rocket, which was developed almost entirely in-house. While no customer payloads are included, the launch represents a significant step toward establishing independent and competitive European access to space. This development comes weeks after Isar Aerospace secured a contract with the Norwegian Space Agency to launch two satellites to sun-synchronus orbit in 2028, for Norway's Arctic Ocean Surveillance (AOS) program.

constellr Captures Tokyo’s Detailed Thermal Signature in First Satellite Image

Constellr, a German Earth observation company, has released its first high-resolution thermal image of Tokyo, captured by the SkyBee-1 satellite. This image was taken weeks after the satellite’s January 2025 launch. Released in March 2025, the image marks a milestone in thermal Earth observation, showcasing unprecedented building-level temperature data. Using advanced long-wave infrared technology with cryocooling, SkyBee-1 divides Tokyo into 30-by-30-meter grids, enabling precise analysis of urban heat distribution.

The thermal map reveals nighttime heat distribution across the city, distinguishing between buildings, parks, waterways, and industrial zones, offering actionable insights for urban planning and climate resilience. This granularity enables precise identification of urban heat hotspots and evaluation of cooling interventions. Early findings reveal how materials and structures influence heat retention and cooling, providing critical data for optimizing real estate development and green space design.

With plans to expand its satellite constellation, the company aims to deliver continuous, high-frequency global temperature monitoring, supporting data-driven decision-making in real estate, green space design, and resource management. Thermal imaging from space is not new, but Constellr's achievement marks progress, surpassing earlier missions like NASA’s Landsat and European Sentinel's coarse resolutions (100-1,000 meters). In December 2023, SatVu's HOTSAT-1 satellite achieved a resolution of 10 meters, offering detailed thermal maps of urban areas and natural environments.

French Startup and TDF Collaborate on VLEO Satellite-Terrestrial Hybrid 5G Network

Rendering of a CTO satellite, meant to operate in very low Earth orbit (VLEO). (Credit: Constellation Technologies & Operations)

Constellation Technologies & Operations (CTO), a French Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellite startup, has partnered with TDF, France’s largest network of carrier-neutral hosting sites, to integrate space-based 5G services with terrestrial networks. This collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, aims to provide hybrid, resilient connectivity solutions for telecom operators. By leveraging CTO’s VLEO satellite constellation and TDF’s extensive terrestrial infrastructure, the partnership seeks to address growing demands for high-speed, low-latency internet, particularly in underserved or remote areas.

The initiative allows telecom operators to utilize their 5G millimeter wave spectrum for space-based connectivity without requiring heavy investments in proprietary satellite systems. This shared, neutral infrastructure model contrasts with the proprietary constellations of new market entrants, offering a competitive alternative.

Starlab Moves Forward in Commercial Space Station Project with Preliminary Design Approval

The private Starlab space station will consist of a service module and a habitat for four astronauts. (Credit: Starlab)

Starlab Space LLC has reached a significant milestone in its commercial space station project, successfully completing the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in collaboration with NASA. This review confirms the technical soundness and safety of the station’s design, paving the way for full-scale development. The PDR also included a Level 1 safety review, ensuring readiness for future astronaut operations and certification.

The next phase involves detailed design, hardware development, and a Critical Design Review to validate the station’s readiness. Starlab plans to establish a System Integration Lab for testing avionics and software, develop a high-fidelity mock-up for astronaut training, and advance life support technologies. The company is also expanding its facilities in Bremen, Germany, to support assembly and testing.

Backed by $217.5 million from NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations program, a $15 million award by the Texas Space Commission and additional funding from international partners in Europe, Japan and Canada, Starlab expects to ensure a seamless transition from the ISS to a commercial space ecosystem. The station is expected to launch in 2028 aboard SpaceX's Starship megarocket.

Chinese Private Space Company Targets Crewed Orbital Flights by 2028

Liangxi, also known as DEAR 1 (Discovery Exploration Advanced Recovery) or Dier 1, is a recoverable satellite designed by AZSPACE. Named after Liangxi District in Wuxi City, it is an A10 series micro-spacecraft verification satellite. (Credit: AZSpace)

A Chinese commercial space company, AZSpace, has announced plans to conduct crewed orbital spaceflights by 2027 or 2028, marking a significant step in the expansion of China’s private space sector. Historically, China’s human spaceflight missions have been managed exclusively by the state-run China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). AZSpace’s ambitions signal a shift toward private sector involvement in human space exploration.

Beijing Ziwei Yutong Technology Co., Ltd., also known as AZSpace, founded in 2019, has focused on spacecraft manufacturing and space tourism, with backing from venture capital firms. It plans to launch two spacecrafts, the B300 and DEAR-5, later this year to test on-orbit docking and reentry technologies. These missions build on earlier efforts, including the launch of the DEAR-1 spacecraft in 2023.

While AZSpace’s timeline for crewed missions is ambitious, key details, such as funding sources and access to state-owned technology, remain unclear. Previously, the DEAR-1 spacecraft launched in December 2023 aboard an iSpace Hyperbola-1 rocket and remains in orbit with unclear reentry intentions, while the DEAR-3 microgravity platform (based on the B300 and has a payload capacity of up to 300 kilograms) was lost during a failed Lijian-1 (Kinetica-1) launch in December 2024. This development reflects China’s broader push to foster a competitive commercial space ecosystem. Read more on the story here.

ExLabs and Antares Partner to Develop Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft

ExLabs, a modular spacecraft startup, has partnered with Antares, a developer of scalable microreactors for terrestrial and space use. (Credit: ExLabs)

ExLabs and Antares have announced a strategic partnership to develop nuclear-powered spacecraft for deep-space missions. This collaboration aims to integrate Antares’ microreactor technology into ExLabs’ Science Exploration and Resource Vehicle (SERV), creating a high-power platform for geostationary and deep-space operations. The partnership represents a significant step in advancing space infrastructure, enabling longer mission durations and enhanced propulsion capabilities.

The alliance will begin with a geostationary demonstration mission to validate the use of nuclear power in space. Beyond this, the California based startups plan to pursue long-term collaborations, with ExLabs serving as a spacecraft provider and module integrator for Antares’ nuclear systems. Both companies have existing contracts with U.S. defense agencies, highlighting the strategic importance of this initiative.

This development is in line with the growing interest in nuclear technology for space exploration, as a scalable power solution for commercial, defense, and scientific applications, potentially transforming the future of deep-space missions.

Indian Edge-Computing Startup, SkyServe Partners with NASA and D-Orbit to Enhance Earth Observation with AI

Founded in 2020, Indian startup SkyServe focuses on in-space artificial intelligence and edge processing, with its AI-edge processing platform named STORM. (Credit: SkyServe)

SkyServe, an Indian edge computing startup, has partnered with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and space logistics firm D-Orbit to advance Earth observation capabilities. The collaboration focuses on deploying artificial intelligence models on D-Orbit’s ION Satellite Carrier, enabling real-time monitoring of phenomena such as wildfires, floods, and urban heat islands. In March, SkyServe successfully tested JPL’s AI models on its STORM edge-computing suite aboard a D-Orbit ION Satellite Carrier operating in low-Earth orbit. These AI models are part of NASA’s New Observations Strategies Sensorweb initiative, which aims to enhance scientific data collection and analysis.

“We deployed this software onboard the existing satellite and completed the mission. We uplinked it from the ground station and ran these AI models onboard. It’s a new way of Earth observation.”

Vinay Simha, SkyServe founder and CEO, as told to SpaceNews.

SkyServe’s edge computing technology processes data directly on satellites, reducing latency and improving responsiveness for disaster management and environmental monitoring. The partnership represents a significant step in integrating AI with space-based systems to address global challenges.

European Consortium Secures ESA Funding for Inflatable Drag Sail to Enable Satellite Deorbiting

Spaceo plans to launch its drag sail demonstrator in 2027 ahead of a de-orbit mission the following year. (Credit: Spaceo)

A consortium of European companies, led by Portuguese startup Spaceo, has secured €3 million in funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop and demonstrate an inflatable drag sail for satellite deorbiting, as part of the ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) programme . The SWIFT (Spacecraft With Inflatable Termination) project aims to address the growing issue of space debris by enabling satellites to deorbit more efficiently after completing their missions. The drag sail, initially compact at 20 square centimeters, inflates to 1.5 square meters, increasing atmospheric drag to accelerate orbital descent.

France's SpaceLocker will oversee the integration of the drag sail with the host satellite, supplied by Denmark-based smallsat company GomSpace, while the Netherlands’ SolidFlow will develop the gas generator required to deploy the sail. The system will be tested on a 12U cubesat in 2028, with expectations to reduce its altitude from 500 to 400 kilometers within a year and achieve full deorbit in 14-16 months. Unlike traditional propulsion-based deorbiting, SWIFT operates independently of satellite functionality, offering a fail-safe alternative.

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

 

In a First, JWST Captures Direct Images of Carbon Dioxide in Planets Outside Our Solar System

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has provided the clearest look in the infrared yet at the iconic multi-planet system HR 8799. The closest planet to the star, HR 8799 e, orbits 1.5 billion miles from its star, which in our solar system would be located between the orbit of Saturn and Neptune. The furthest, HR 8799 b, orbits around 6.3 billion miles from the star, more than twice Neptune’s orbital distance. Colors are applied to filters from Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera), revealing their intrinsic differences. A star symbol marks the location of the host star HR 8799, whose light has been blocked by the coronagraph. In this image, the color blue is assigned to 4.1 micron light, green to 4.3 micron light, and red to the 4.6 micron light. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, W. Balmer (JHU), L. Pueyo (STScI), M. Perrin (STScI))

This graph shows a spectrum of one of the planets in the HR 8799 system, HR 8799 e. Spectral fingerprints of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide appear in data collected by Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera). (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, J. Olmsted (STScI))

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured its first direct images of carbon dioxide in the atmospheres of exoplanets outside the solar system. Observing the young HR 8799 system, located 130 light-years away and only about 30 million years old, Webb revealed strong carbon dioxide features in the atmospheres of its four giant planets, suggesting they formed through core accretion, similar to Jupiter and Saturn. The findings also highlight the unique characteristics of HR 8799 e, the innermost planet in the system, emitting infrared light, offering valuable insights into the processes shaping planetary systems.

Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) captured this image of 51 Eridani b (also referred to as 51 Eri b), a cool, young exoplanet that orbits 890 million miles from its star, similar to Saturn’s orbit in our solar system. The 51 Eridani system is 97 light-years from Earth. This image includes filters representing 4.1-micron light as red. The background red in this image is not light from other planets, but a result of light subtraction during image processing. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, W. Balmer (JHU), L. Pueyo (STScI), M. Perrin (STScI))

Meanwhile, JWST also captured 51 Eridani b, a cool, young planet 96 light-years away, orbiting its host star at 11 billion miles (17.7 billion kilometers), similar to the distances of Neptune and Saturn from the sun. The study of Eridani 51 b and HR 8799 e including these JWST observations was published in The Astrophysical Journal.

Tiny Electrical Discharges in Water Droplets May Have Sparked Early Life

Stanford researchers propose that microlightning—tiny electrical discharges between water droplets—may have played a pivotal role in the origin of life on Earth. Their experiments demonstrated that sprays of water interacting with early atmospheric gases like methane and ammonia could produce organic molecules, including uracil and glycine, essential for DNA and proteins. This mechanism offers an alternative to the Miller-Urey hypothesis, which suggested lightning strikes as the catalyst for life. Unlike rare lightning events, microlightning from waterfalls and waves was likely more frequent, providing a consistent energy source for prebiotic chemical reactions that shaped Earth’s early biological landscape. This research received support from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The research was published in the journal Science Advances.

InSight Lander Seismic Data Points to Mars’ Subsurface Water

InSight's seismometer on the Martian ground, imaged by camera on board the lander. (Credit: NASA/JPL–Caltech.)

A diagram showing how different seismic waves travel across Mars. (Credit: Ikuo Katayama)

Recent analysis of Martian seismic data from NASA’s InSight lander suggests the presence of liquid water beneath Mars’ surface, raising the possibility of microbial life. Researchers identified boundaries at depths of 10 km and 20 km, interpreted as transitions from dry to water-filled cracks. Laboratory experiments using Martian-like rocks confirmed seismic velocity changes consistent with subsurface water. These findings, derived from Marsquake and meteorite impact data, provide new insights into the planet’s geology and potential habitability. While further exploration is needed, the study underscores the importance of seismic research in understanding Mars’ subsurface environment and its implications for extraterrestrial life. This research was published in the journal Geology.

Chang’e 6 Confirms Moon’s Volcanic History

The Moon's South Pole. (Credit: NASA GSFC Scientific Visualization Studio)

China’s Chang’e 6 mission has provided groundbreaking insights into the moon’s early history, confirming that its far side was once covered by a vast magma ocean. Samples collected from the South Pole-Aitken Basin reveal basalt compositions similar to those from NASA’s Apollo missions, supporting the theory of a global magma ocean during the moon’s infancy. However, differences in isotope ratios suggest regional variations caused by a massive impact 4.2 billion years ago. These findings enhance understanding of the moon’s volcanic processes and mantle evolution, offering a more comprehensive view of its geological history. The research from scientists with the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, was published in the journal Science.

Astronomers Detect Oxygen in Most Distant Known Galaxy

An artist’s impression of JADES-GS-z14-0, the most distant confirmed galaxy. (Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser)

Two different teams of astronomers have detected oxygen in the most distant known galaxy, JADES-GS-z14-0. The discovery, reported in two separate studies, was made possible thanks to the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), in which the European Southern Observatory (ESO) is a partner. This record-breaking detection is making astronomers rethink how quickly galaxies formed in the early Universe. (Credit:
ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/S. Carniani et al./S. Schouws et al/JWST: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Brant Robertson (UC Santa Cruz), Ben Johnson (CfA), Sandro Tacchella (Cambridge), Phill Cargile (CfA))

Astronomers have detected oxygen in the most distant known galaxy, JADES-GS-z14-0, using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). This galaxy, located 13.4 billion light-years away, is observed as it was when the universe was less than 300 million years old. The presence of oxygen suggests rapid chemical maturation, challenging previous assumptions about galaxy formation timelines. JADES-GS-z14-0 contains ten times more heavy elements than expected, indicating multiple generations of stars formed and died within a short period. These findings refine distance measurements and provide new insights into the early universe’s evolution, reshaping our understanding of cosmic dawn. The team's research has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal.

 

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