NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

April 18, 2025

Comet C/2025 F2 SWAN

In late March, the comet now designated C/2025 F2 SWAN was found independently by citizen scientists Vladimir Bezugly, Michael Mattiazzo, and Rob Matson while examining publicly available image data from the Solar Wind ANisotropies (SWAN) camera on the sun-staring SOHO spacecraft. Comet SWAN's coma, its greenish color a signature of diatomic carbon molecules fluorescing in sunlight, is at lower left in this telescopic image. SWAN's faint ion tail extends nearly two degrees toward the upper right across the field of view. The interplanetary scene was captured in clear but moonlit skies from June Lake, California on April 14. Seen against background of stars toward the constellation Andromeda, the comet was then some 10 light-minutes from our fair planet. Now a target for binoculars and small telescopes in northern hemisphere morning skies this comet SWAN is headed for a perihelion, its closest approach to the Sun, on May 1. That will bring this visitor from the distant Oort cloud almost as close to the Sun as the orbit of inner planet Mercury.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

>>22928231

released on the18th

Hubble Spots a Squid in the Whale

Apr 18, 2025

Today’s rather aquatic-themed NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features the spiral galaxy Messier 77, also known as the Squid Galaxy, which sits 45 million light-years away in the constellation Cetus (The Whale).

The designation Messier 77 comes from the galaxy’s place in the famous catalog compiled by the French astronomer Charles Messier.

Another French astronomer, Pierre Méchain, discovered the galaxy in 1780. Both Messier and Méchain were comet hunters who cataloged nebulous objects that could be mistaken for comets.

Messier, Méchain, and other astronomers of their time mistook the Squid Galaxy for either a spiral nebula or a star cluster.

This mischaracterization isn’t surprising. More than a century would pass between the discovery of the Squid Galaxy and the realization that the ‘spiral nebulae’ scattered across the sky were not part of our galaxy but were in fact separate galaxies millions of light-years away.

The Squid Galaxy’s appearance through a small telescope — an intensely bright center surrounded by a fuzzy cloud — closely resembles one or more stars wreathed in a nebula.

The name ‘Squid Galaxy’ is recent, and stems from the extended, filamentary structure that curls around the galaxy’s disk like the tentacles of a squid.

The Squid Galaxy is a great example of how advances in technology and scientific understanding can completely change our perception of an astronomical object — and even what we call it!

Hubble previously released an image of M77 in 2013. This new image incorporates recent observations made with different filters and updated image processing techniques which allow astronomers to see the galaxy in more detail.

https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/hubble-spots-a-squid-in-the-whale/

NASA Glenn to Test Air Quality Monitors Aboard Space Station

Apr 18, 2025

As NASA prepares to return to the Moon, studying astronaut health and safety is a top priority.

Scientists monitor and analyze every part of the International Space Station crew’s daily life—down to the air they breathe.

These studies are helping NASA prepare for long-term human exploration of the Moon and, eventually, Mars.

As part of this effort, NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is sending three air quality monitors to the space station to test them for potential future use on the Moon.

The monitors are slated to launch on Monday, April 21, aboard the 32nd SpaceX commercial resupply services mission for NASA.

Like our homes here on Earth, the space station gets dusty from skin flakes, clothing fibers, and personal care products like deodorant.

Because the station operates in microgravity, particles do not have an opportunity to settle and instead remain floating in the air.

Filters aboard the orbiting laboratory collect these particles to ensure the air remains safe and breathable.

Astronauts will face another air quality risk when they work and live on the Moon—lunar dust.

“From Apollo, we know lunar dust can cause irritation when breathed into the lungs,” said Claire Fortenberry, principal investigator, Exploration Aerosol Monitors project, NASA Glenn.

“Earth has weather to naturally smooth dust particles down, but there is no atmosphere on the Moon, so lunar dust particles are sharper and craggier than Earth dust.

Lunar dust could potentially impact crew health and damage hardware.”

Future space stations and lunar habitats will need monitors capable of measuring lunar dust to ensure air filtration systems are functioning properly.

Fortenberry and her team selected commercially available monitors for flight and ground demonstration to evaluate their performance in a spacecraft environment, with the goal of providing a dust monitor for future exploration systems.

Glenn is sending three commercial monitors to the space station to test onboard air quality for seven months. All three monitors are small: no bigger than a shoe box.

Each one measures a specific property that provides a snapshot of the air quality aboard the station.

Researchers will analyze the monitors based on weight, functionality, and ability to accurately measure and identify small concentrations of particles in the air.

The research team will receive data from the space station every two weeks. While those monitors are orbiting Earth, Fortenberry will have three matching monitors at Glenn.

Engineers will compare functionality and results from the monitors used in space to those on the ground to verify they are working as expected in microgravity. Additional ground testing will involve dust simulants and smoke.

Air quality monitors like the ones NASA is testing also have Earth-based applications.

The monitors are used to investigate smoke plumes from wildfires, haze from urban pollution, indoor pollution from activities like cooking and cleaning, and how virus-containing droplets spread within an enclosed space.

Results from the investigation will help NASA evaluate which monitors could accompany astronauts to the Moon and eventually Mars.

NASA will allow the manufacturers to review results and ensure the monitors work as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Testing aboard the space station could help companies investigate pollution problems here on Earth and pave the way for future missions to the Red Planet.

“Going to the Moon gives us a chance to monitor for planetary dust and the lunar environment,” Fortenberry said.

“We can then apply what we learn from lunar exploration to predict how humans can safely explore Mars.”

NASA commercial resupply missions to the International Space Station deliver scientific investigations in the areas of biology and biotechnology, Earth and space science, physical sciences, and technology development and demonstrations.

Cargo resupply from U.S. companies ensures a national capability to deliver scientific research to the space station, significantly increasing NASA’s ability to conduct new investigations aboard humanity’s laboratory in space.

https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/glenn/nasa-glenn-to-test-air-quality-monitors-aboard-space-station/

https://www.nasa.gov/mission/nasas-spacex-crs-32/

Origins Uncertain: ‘Skull Hill’ Rock

Apr 17, 2025

Last week, NASA’s Mars 2020 rover continued its journey down lower ‘Witch Hazel Hill’ on the Jezero crater rim.

The rover stopped along a boundary visible from orbit dividing light and dark rock outcrop (also known as a contact) at a site the team has called ‘Port Anson’.

In addition to this contact, the rover has encountered a variety of neat rocks that may have originated from elsewhere and transported to their current location, also known as float.

Pictured above is an observation named ‘Skull Hill’ taken by the rover’s Mastcam-Z instrument.

This float rock uniquely contrasts the surrounding light-toned outcrop with its dark tone and angular surface, and it features a few pits in the rock.

If you look closely, you might even spot spherules within the surrounding regolith! See Alex Jones’ recent blog post for more information on these neat features: https://science.nasa.gov/blog/shocking-spherules/.

The pits on Skull Hill may have formed via the erosion of clasts from the rock or scouring by wind.

We’ve found a few of these dark-toned floats in the Port Anson region, and the team is working to better understand where these rocks came from and how they got here.

Skull Hill’s dark color is reminiscent of meteorites found in Gale crater by the Curiosity rover: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/curiosity-mars-rover-checks-odd-looking-iron-meteorite/.

Chemical composition is an important factor in identifying a meteorite, and Gale’s meteorites contain significant amounts of iron and nickel.

However, recent analysis of SuperCam data from nearby similar rocks suggests a composition inconsistent with a meteorite origin.

Alternatively, ‘Skull Hill’ could be an igneous rock eroded from a nearby outcrop or ejected from an impact crater.

On Earth and Mars, iron and magnesium are some of the main contributors to igneous rocks, which form from the cooling of magma or lava.

These rocks can include dark-colored minerals such as olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, and biotite. Luckily for us, the rover has instruments that can measure the chemical composition of rocks on Mars.

Understanding the composition of these darker-toned floats will help the team to interpret the origin of this unique rock!

https://science.nasa.gov/blog/origins-uncertain-skull-hill-rock/

NASA Studies Wind Effects and Aircraft Tracking with Joby Aircraft

Apr 17, 2025

NASA engineers began using a network of ground sensors in March to collect data from an experimental air taxi to evaluate how to safely integrate such vehicles into airspace above cities – in all kinds of weather.

Researchers will use the campaign to help improve tools to assist with collision avoidance and landing operations and ensure safe and efficient air taxi operations in various weather conditions.

For years, NASA has looked at how wind shaped by terrain, including buildings in urban areas, can affect new types of aircraft.

The latest test, which is gathering data from a Joby Aviation demonstrator aircraft, looks at another kind of wind – that which is generated by the aircraft themselves.

Joby flew its air taxi demonstrator over NASA’s ground sensor array near the agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California producing air flow data.

The Joby aircraft has six rotors that allow for vertical takeoffs and landings, and tilt to provide lift in flight. Researchers focused on the air pushed by the propellers, which rolls into turbulent, circular patterns of wind.

This rolling wind can affect the aircraft’s performance, especially when it’s close to the ground, as well as others flying in the vicinity and people on the ground.

Such wind turbulence is difficult to measure, so NASA enhanced its sensors with a new type of lidar – a system that uses lasers to measure precise distances – and that can map out the shapes of wind features.

“The design of this new type of aircraft, paired with the NASA lidar technology during this study, warrants a better understanding of possible wind and turbulence effects that can influence safe and efficient flights,” said Grady Koch, lead for this research effort, from NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Data to Improve Aircraft Tracking

NASA also set up a second array of ground nodes including radar, cameras, and microphones in the same location as the sensors to provide additional data on the aircraft.

These nodes will collect tracking data during routine flights for several months.

The agency will use the data gathered from these ground nodes to demonstrate the tracking capabilities and functions of its “distributed sensing” technology, which involves embedding multiple sensors in an area where aircraft are operating.

This technology will be important for future air taxi flights, especially those occurring in cities by tracking aircraft moving through traffic corridors and around landing zones.

Distributed sensing has the potential to enhance collision avoidance systems, air traffic management, ground-based landing sensors, and more.

“Our early work on a distributed network of sensors, and through this study, gives us the opportunity to test new technologies that can someday assist in airspace monitoring and collision avoidance above cities,” said George Gorospe, lead for this effort from NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley.

Using this data from an experimental air taxi aircraft, NASA will further develop the technology needed to help create safer air taxi flights in high-traffic areas.

Both of these efforts will benefit the companies working to bring air taxis and drones safely into the airspace.

https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/armstrong/nasa-studies-wind-effects-and-aircraft-tracking-with-joby-aircraft/

Crew Swaps Command on Friday Before Soyuz Departure and Dragon Launch

April 17, 2025

Expedition 72 will come to an end and segue into the Expedition 73 mission after three veteran crewmembers depart the International Space Station on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the orbital residents stayed busy on Thursday with cargo mission preparations, spacesuit checks, and microgravity research.

Station Commander Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos will hand over command of the orbital laboratory to JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi at 2:40 p.m. EDT on Friday.

Afterward, Ovchinin will turn his attention to returning to Earth with Flight Engineers Don Pettit of NASA and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos after 220 days in space.

The trio will undock in their Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft from the Rassvet module at 5:57 p.m. EDT on Saturday ending Expedition 72 then parachute to a landing in Kazakhstan at 8:20 p.m. the same day (6:20 a.m. on Sunday, April 20, in Kazakhstan) on Pettit’s 70th birthday.

NASA+ will broadcast Saturday’s crew farewell, undocking, and landing activities live beginning at 2 p.m.

Onishi will stay onboard the space station leading Expedition 73 and orbiting Earth until July. Remaining with Onishi will be NASA astronauts Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, and Jonny Kim, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and Kirill Pskov.

Onishi and Kim will be on duty early next week monitoring the automated approach and rendezvous of the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft carrying about 6,700 pounds of science and supplies for the orbital residents.

Dragon will launch at 4:15 a.m. EDT on Monday, April 21, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and dock at 8:20 a.m. the following day to the Harmony module’s space-facing port for a month long cargo mission.

The duo continued training on Thursday for Dragon’s arrival reviewing spacecraft monitoring techniques on a computer.

Kim began his Thursday shift studying how McClain‘s sense of balance is adapting to microgravity as she wore virtual reality goggles for the CIPHER human research investigation.

Afterward, Kim examined the retina, optic nerve, and cornea of his crew mates Ayers and Onishi using medical imaging hardware.

McClain and Ayers are due to exit the orbital outpost on May 1 for a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk.

The duo will prepare the port side truss structure for a new rollout solar array and relocate an antenna that communicates with commercial spacecraft at the station.

Pettit spent Thursday preparing their spacesuits, cleaning the cooling loops, and inspecting suit components.

Later, Kim and Onishi practiced installing jetpacks on the spacesuits that would be used to maneuver back to safety in the unlikely event a spacewalker became untethered from the space station.

Ryzhikov and Zubritsky are settling in for a seven-and-a-half-month space research mission and beginning to pick up Ovchinin’s and Vagner’s crew responsibilities.

The cosmonauts also attached sensors to themselves and studied how a long duration spaceflight affects the respiratory system.

Flight Engineer Kirill Peskov wrapped up a research session with the departing Vagner as they tested the lower body negative pressure suit that may help a crew member returning to Earth adjust quicker to gravity.

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/04/17/crew-swaps-command-on-friday-before-soyuz-departure-and-dragon-launch/

https://plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-video/international-space-station-change-of-command-ceremony-2/

NASA’s Curiosity Rover May Have Solved Mars’ Missing Carbonate Mystery

Apr 17, 2025

New findings from NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover could provide an answer to the mystery of what happened to the planet’s ancient atmosphere and how Mars has evolved over time.

Researchers have long believed that Mars once had a thick, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere and liquid water on the planet’s surface. That carbon dioxide and water should have reacted with Martian rocks to create carbonate minerals.

Until now, though, rover missions and near-infrared spectroscopy analysis from Mars-orbiting satellites haven’t found the amounts of carbonate on the planet’s surface predicted by this theory.

Reported in an April paper in Science, data from three of Curiosity’s drill sites revealed the presence of siderite, an iron carbonate mineral, within the sulfate-rich rocky layers of Mount Sharp in Mars’ Gale Crater.

“The discovery of abundant siderite in Gale Crater represents both a surprising and important breakthrough in our understanding of the geologic and atmospheric evolution of Mars,” said Benjamin Tutolo, associate professor at the University of Calgary, Canada, and lead author of the paper.

To study the Red Planet’s chemical and mineral makeup, Curiosity drills three to four centimeters down into the subsurface, then drops the powdered rock samples into its CheMin instrument.

The instrument, led by NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, uses X-ray diffraction to analyze rocks and soil.

CheMin’s data was processed and analyzed by scientists at the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Division at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“Drilling through the layered Martian surface is like going through a history book,” said Thomas Bristow, research scientist at NASA Ames and coauthor of the paper.

“Just a few centimeters down gives us a good idea of the minerals that formed at or close to the surface around 3.5 billion years ago.”

The discovery of this carbonate mineral in rocks beneath the surface suggests that carbonate may be masked by other minerals in near-infrared satellite analysis.

If other sulfate-rich layers across Mars also contain carbonates, the amount of stored carbon dioxide would be a fraction of that needed in the ancient atmosphere to create conditions warm enough to support liquid water.

The rest could be hidden in other deposits or have been lost to space over time.

https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/ames/nasas-curiosity-rover-may-have-solved-mars-missing-carbonate-mystery/

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado9966

>>22928358

Nice

NASA’s PUNCH Mission Captures First Images of Sun, Space

April 17, 2025

NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission successfully completed spacecraft commissioning this week, opening its instrument doors to capture “first light”, the mission’s first images of the Sun’s outer atmosphere and the surrounding space.

This is the first step in revealing new details of how the solar atmosphere unfolds and streams through the solar system. Now, mission operation teams will continue the commissioning phase for the spacecraft’s instruments.

On April 14, the Narrow Field Imager (NFI) and one of the mission’s three Wide Field Imagers (WFI) opened its instrument doors and captured the first images for the mission.

On April 16, the remaining WFIs opened their doors and also started capturing images. The first NFI image shows star fields with the Sun near the center of the image.

The image was filtered to emphasize background star fields, which was obscured by zodiacal light, a very faint diffuse glow from dust orbiting the Sun.

Throughout the commissioning phase, scientists will be calibrating this view to better reveal details the Sun’s corona, or wispy outer atmosphere.

This calibration process will remove about 99% of the light from the corona, enabling scientists to track the faint threads of solar material as they flow outward throughout space.

The WFI image below, taken April 14, shows the wide field of view from WFI and is marked with labeled constellations.

As commissioning progresses, the PUNCH team will be removing the star fields and other background light from all images to highlight the faint stream of solar wind as it travels toward Earth.

These early images confirm a crucial milestone: the cameras onboard PUNCH’s four satellites are in focus and functioning as designed.

The PUNCH mission will make global, 3D observations of the inner solar system and the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, to learn how its mass and energy become the solar wind, a stream of charged particles blowing outward from the Sun in all directions.

The mission will explore the formation and evolution of space weather events such as coronal mass ejections, which can create storms of energetic particle radiation that can endanger spacecraft and astronauts.

During this first phase of the commissioning period, the team at mission control at Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, worked to assure that the four satellites were functioning correctly and are moving into the proper orbit around Earth and distance from each other to create the PUNCH constellation.

The PUNCH satellites include one NFI and three WFIs. The NFI is a coronagraph, which blocks out the bright light from the Sun to better see details in the Sun’s corona.

The WFIs are heliospheric imagers that view the very faint, outermost portion of the solar corona and the solar wind itself. Once the PUNCH satellites reach their targeted alignment, the images from these instruments will be stitched together to create the wide view of the journey of the Sun’s corona and solar wind to Earth.

Once the commissioning is complete, PUNCH will provide the first-ever imagery of the solar wind and coronal mass ejections in polarized light, enabling scientists to discern new information about this activity.

Southwest Research Institute, based in San Antonio, Texas, leads the PUNCH mission and operates the four spacecraft from its facilities in Boulder, Colorado.

The mission is managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/punch/2025/04/17/nasas-punch-mission-captures-first-images-of-sun-space/

Hubble Spies Cosmic Pillar in Eagle Nebula

Apr 18, 2025

As part of ESA/Hubble’s 35th anniversary celebrations, the European Space Agency (ESA) is sharing a new image series revisiting stunning, previously released Hubble targets with the addition of the latest Hubble data and new processing techniques.

New images of NGC 346 and the Sombrero Galaxy have already been published.

Now, ESA/Hubble is revisiting the Eagle Nebula (originally published in 2005 as part of Hubble's 15th anniversary celebrations) with new image processing techniques.

Unfurling along the length of the image is a pillar of cold gas and dust that is 9.5 light-years tall.

As enormous as this dusty pillar is, it’s just one small piece of the greater Eagle Nebula, also called Messier 16.

The name Messier 16 comes from the French astronomer Charles Messier, a comet hunter who compiled a catalog of deep-sky objects that could be mistaken for comets.

The name Eagle Nebula was inspired by the nebula’s appearance. The edge of this shining nebula is shaped by dark clouds like this one, giving it the appearance of an eagle spreading its wings.

Not too far from the region pictured here are the famous Pillars of Creation, which Hubble photographed multiple times, with images released in 1995 and 2015.

The heart of the nebula, which is located beyond the edge of this image, is home to a cluster of young stars. These stars have excavated an immense cavity in the center of the nebula, shaping otherworldly pillars and globules of dusty gas.

This particular feature extends like a pointing finger toward the center of the nebula and the rich young star cluster embedded there.

The Eagle Nebula is one of many nebulae in the Milky Way that are known for their sculpted, dusty clouds.

Nebulae take on these fantastic shapes when exposed to powerful radiation and winds from infant stars.

Regions with denser gas are more able to withstand the onslaught of radiation and stellar winds from young stars, and these dense areas remain as dusty sculptures like the starry pillar shown here.

https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/hubble-spies-cosmic-pillar-in-eagle-nebula/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWrlGQQicNk

NASA Image Reveals Evidence of Ancient 'Megamonsoons' in Western US

Updated Apr 17, 2025 at 10:44 PM EDT

Anewly released satellite image from NASA's Earth Observatory has unveiled dramatic evidence of the extreme weather phenomena that shaped the prehistoric American West.

The image, captured by the Landsat 9 satellite's Operational Land Imager-2 in June 2024, shows deep red rock formations outcropping in Montana and Wyoming that scientists believe were formed by ancient "megamonsoons" some 220 million years ago.

At the center of this discovery is the Chugwater Formation in the Bighorn Basin, an oval-shaped lowland bordered by six mountain ranges.

The basin spans 150 miles across parts of Montana and Wyoming and is famed for its fossil troves.

Scientists analyzing the image said the area's distinctive reddish hue signals vast oxidation of sedimentary layers caused by extreme climate swings during the Triassic Period, when North America was still part of the supercontinent Pangaea.

The NASA image shows prominent geological folds cutting through the landscape, a result of millions of years of tectonic activity.

These formations originated when landmasses, once joined in Pangea, later broke apart and recombined to make the continents we live on today.

During that period, large-scale "megamonsoons" are believed to have swept through the tropical belts of the former supercontinent, bringing powerful seasonal wet and dry cycles.

These climate shifts are thought to have triggered oxidation—rusting—of exposed sediments across enormous areas.

The red rocks captured in the Landsat image are composed of hematite (iron oxide)-rich layers known as "red beds" that developed under these ancient atmospheric conditions.

Scientists have identified similar rust-colored strata on several continents.

One of the clearest expressions of this process lies in the Bighorn Basin, particularly at its northern end where the Chugwater Formation emerges.

This distinct band of red intersects Bighorn Canyon, a deep rift in the Earth that extends north into Montana.

The canyon reaches up to 2,500 feet deep and is a central feature of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.

The park, established in 1966 following the construction of Yellowtail Dam, encompasses more than 70 miles of lake along the Bighorn River and offers a window into both geological and human history.

Within the canyon and its surrounding wilderness, researchers have uncovered fossils dating to the Jurassic Period.

The diverse ecosystem now hosts bighorn sheep, wild horses and coyotes across its shrubland and woodland expanses.

Meanwhile, artifacts preserved along the Bad Pass Trail mark a route once used by indigenous communities over thousands of years.

Today, the recreation area attracts over 200,000 visitors annually for hiking, fishing, boating and exploration of the landscape's ancient past.

https://www.newsweek.com/nasa-megamonsoons-western-usa-wyoming-pangaea-triassic-2061053

Wendy’s reacts to backlash for poking fun at Katy Perry — refuses to apologize

Updated April 18, 2025, 10:54 a.m. ET

Wendy’s is not looking to shake things up with Katy Perry.

The fast-food chain recently responded to the backlash it received after cracking a joke about the pop star, 40, launching into space on Monday as part of the all-female Blue Origin crew.

After a series of posts on X poking fun at Perry, the burger giant has explained its stance.

“We always bring a little spice to our socials, but Wendy’s has a ton of respect for Katy Perry and her out-of-this-world-talent,” the company told People in a statement Thursday.

Wendy’s beef with Perry came to a head after Pop Crave posted an update about her launch into space on X.

The pop culture account said, “Katy Perry has returned from space,” to which the official Wendy’s X account responded, “Can we send her back.”

The jokes didn’t stop there, as Wendy’s also commented beneath a photo of Perry kissing the ground after she returned to Earth.

The account wrote, “I kissed the ground and i liked it,” a play on the artist’s hit track “I Kissed a Girl.”

Fans flocked to the comments section to share their upset over Wendy’s riffing of Perry, with one source telling People that the post wasn’t cheeky as much as it was cheap.

An insider close to the situation told the outlet, “Wendy’s didn’t make a joke — they made a choice.”

“This wasn’t harmless banter, this was a billion-dollar brand using its platform to publicly demean a woman… when billion-dollar brands join in, it’s irresponsible.”

Also part of the all-women Blue Origin NS-31 crew that took the historic flight were Lauren Sánchez, Gayle King, astronaut and bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyen, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and filmmaker Kerianne Flynn.

Sánchez, 55, wasn’t thrilled with Wendy’s comments either, telling People, “I would love to have them come to Blue Origin and see the thousands of employees that don’t just work here, but they put their heart and soul into this vehicle.”

She added, “Come with me. I’ll show you what this is about, and it’s really eye-opening.”

Along with the online teasing, the 11-minute mission came under fire from many of Perry’s peers, who felt the trip was a waste.

“What are they doing?” Olivia Munn questioned while on “Today With Jenna & Friends” earlier this month. “I know this probably isn’t the cool thing to say, but there are so many other things that are so important in the world right now.”

“I know this is probably obnoxious but like, it’s so much money to go to space, and there’s a lot of people who can’t even afford eggs,” she continued.

“Is it historic that you guys are going on a ride? I think it’s a bit gluttonous. Space exploration was to further our knowledge and to help mankind. What are they gonna do up there that has made it better for us down here?”

Olivia Wilde also ripped into the Blue Origin endeavor on her Instagram Story Monday.

“Billion dollars bought some good memes I guess,” she captioned a photo of Perry returning to Earth and kissing the ground.

King, 70, also stepped in to defend herself and her fellow astronauts.

“Anybody that’s criticizing it doesn’t really understand what is happening here,” the CBS journalist told People after landing.

“We can all speak to the response we’re getting from young women from young girls about what this represents.”

https://nypost.com/2025/04/18/us-news/wheres-the-beef-beloved-fast-food-chain-refuses-to-apologize-for-online-burn-of-katy-perrys-space-voyage/

Kenya Space Agency Cautions Public on Potential Space Debris Re-Entry Over Eastern Africa

Friday, 18 April 2025 - 4:37 pm

The government, through the Kenya Space Agency, has cautioned Kenyans to be vigilant about the potential re-entry of a strange object from space.

The Agency, in a statement on Friday, April 18, noted that the object was of particular interest to Kenya, as the projected flight trajectory was over the eastern African region.

According to the Space Agency, the object could fall in Kenya, either from the North Eastern region to the South East of the country towards Tanzania and further southward.

Kenyans were urged to take great caution, as the object was predicted to fall within the region between Saturday, April 19, at around 7:29 am, and Sunday, April 20, at around 3:01 pm.

The Agency further warned that the object, of unknown weight, could pose a significant risk to people's lives and property along its path, owing to its large size.

"The Kenya Space Agency is working with partners to obtain a more precise prediction of the flight path and timeline," the Agency announced.

"While the debris is not expected to drop in Kenya, KSA, out of an abundance of caution, wishes to advise members of the public to be vigilant and to be on the lookout for potential debris dropping from or flying through the sky within the specified period."

Further, Kenyans were urged to report a dropping of any space debris to the security agencies through the nearest police station, national government administrative office or military camp for necessary action.

The latest announcement comes on the back of a similar incident that occurred on December 30, 2024, where a large space debris weighing 500 kilogrammes fell in Makuku Village, Makueni County.

According to villagers, a loud bang accompanied the object’s descent, prompting their attention. The locals who gathered around the ring-like object speculated about its origin and the dangers to their safety.

Days after its descent, the Kenya Space Agency and officials from the National Police Service (NPS) secured the site and retrieved the debris before commencing an investigation.

In a press statement, KSA confirmed that the ring-shaped object was a separation from a space rocket, adding that such items re-enter the atmosphere after burning up.

https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/111206-kenya-space-agency-cautions-public-potential-space-debris-re-entry-over-eastern-africa

https://scitechdaily.com/ghost-particle-from-space-shatters-energy-records-16000x-more-powerful-than-large-hadron-collider/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08543-1

Ghost Particle From Space Shatters Energy Records: 16,000x More Powerful Than Large Hadron Collider

April 17, 2025

A groundbreaking discovery has rocked the field of neutrino astronomy—scientists have detected an ultra-high-energy neutrino using the KM3NeT telescope, with an energy level 16,000 times greater than the most powerful collisions at the Large Hadron Collider.

These elusive “ghost particles” provide a rare glimpse into the universe’s most extreme events, potentially originating from supermassive black holes or cataclysmic supernovae.

The detection of this neutrino, possibly a cosmogenic one, could unlock new secrets about cosmic ray acceleration and the fundamental forces shaping our cosmos.

However, more detections are needed to pinpoint its true origin and confirm its significance.

Chasing Ghost Particles

On February 13, 2023, an international team of scientists, including astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, detected a neutrino with record-setting energy using the KM3NeT telescope.

This deep-sea observatory, spanning a kilometer in size, captured a signal 16,000 times more energetic than the most powerful particle collisions ever produced at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.

How KM3NeT Captures Neutrinos

Neutrinos are among the most elusive particles in the universe. They have almost no mass, carry no electric charge, and rarely interact with matter.

“They are special cosmic messengers that reveal the secrets of the most energetic phenomena in the universe,” said Rosa Coniglione, then deputy spokesperson for KM3NeT.

Because neutrinos pass through most matter undetected, KM3NeT relies on seawater as its detection medium. Soon, the observatory will span several cubic kilometers, dramatically increasing its sensitivity.

When a high-energy neutrino interacts with an atomic nucleus in the water, it can produce a muon—a heavier cousin of the electron that carries a negative charge.

The muon travels so fast that it generates a cone of light, known as Cherenkov radiation, similar to the sonic boom produced by a supersonic jet.

KM3NeT is designed to detect this light. The telescope consists of 230 vertical strings, each holding 18 spherical optical modules, resembling pearls on a necklace.

Inside each module, 31 photomultipliers amplify even the faintest flashes of light from all directions.

These instruments allow scientists to track the elusive neutrinos and uncover their origins, shedding light on some of the most powerful cosmic events in the universe.

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>>22928535

A New Era for Neutrino Astronomy

KM3NeT is now detecting neutrinos from extreme astrophysical events, exploring previously uncharted energy ranges.

“This first detection of a neutrino in the hundreds of PeV range opens a new chapter in neutrino astronomy,” says Paschal Coyle, KM3NeT spokesperson at the time of the detection and a researcher at IN2P3/CNRS in France.

One petaelectronvolt (PeV) corresponds to 1015 or one quadrillion electronvolts.

Where Did the Record-Breaking Neutrino Come From?

The central question is where the high-energy particles that hit the Earth and react in its ocean or atmosphere come from.

“By adding observations from other telescopes, we seek to connect the acceleration of cosmic rays, the production of neutrinos, and the role of supermassive black holes in shaping these energetic phenomena,” says Yuri Kovalev of the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy.

In addition to the environment of supermassive black holes, supernova explosions are also among the candidates for powerful cosmic particle accelerators.

The high-energy neutrino that has now been measured could come directly from such an accelerator, or it could be the first detection of a cosmogenic neutrino.

Cosmogenic neutrinos could be produced when other cosmic particles react with the weak light of the cosmic microwave background, creating extremely energetic neutrinos.

However, since only a single event has been measured here at hundreds of PeV, the origin remains uncertain. To learn more, researchers need to detect more such events.

High-Energy Particles from Space Are Nothing New

A somewhat smaller neutrino telescope of the same design, Antares, has also measured high-energy neutrinos from space. And there are a number of other creative experiments that have captured the particle bombardment from space.

Such as the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina, which also measures Cherenkov radiation. In this case, however, the initiators among the cosmic particles are protons that hit the Earth’s atmosphere and trigger cascades of secondary particles in it.

The muons that are created in the process are not detected in seawater, but in over 1600 water tanks distributed throughout the Argentinean pampas.

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ELVIS to enter orbit: Pioneering imaging system to enhance space biology and life detection beyond Earth

April 17, 2025

Onboard the International Space Station (ISS), the Extant Life Volumetric Imaging System, dubbed ELVIS, is not about resurrecting rock-n-roll legends, but pioneering scientific discovery.

Using innovative holographic technology to deliver detailed 3D views of cells and microbes, the system allows scientists to study the adaptability and resilience of life under extreme conditions.

Knowledge gained could reveal how life might persist on distant moons and planets, significantly enhancing our search for life outside Earth.

Beyond the capabilities of traditional two-dimensional microscopes, ELVIS offers scientists a closer look at the intricate structure, volume, and environmental interactions of cellular organisms.

This detailed view enables more accurate biological assessments that could shed light on the ability of life to thrive in the most extreme environments of space.

Portland State University (PSU), in collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is spearheading the ELVIS project, which is scheduled to launch on SpaceX's 32nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission, contracted by NASA.

The investigation combines expertise in biology, physics, and cutting-edge imaging technology, says Jay Nadeau, a physics professor at PSU and a principal investigator on the project.

"We are thrilled to leverage the ISS National Lab to prepare ELVIS for its future roles in space exploration missions," says Nadeau.

She added, "The successful operation of ELVIS in the demanding conditions of space not only paves the way for its use in off-Earth environments but also holds implications for enhancing biomedical and microbiological research on our planet."

During its tenure in space, ELVIS will focus its analysis on two resilient types of Earth-based life forms: Euglena gracilis, a microalga lauded for its adaptability, and Colwellia psychrerythraea, a bacterium that thrives in frigid ocean waters.

This study goes beyond merely observing organisms; it tests their observable and genetic adaptations to microgravity.

The insights gained could illuminate how life might survive beneath the icy shells of distant moons like Europa and Enceladus.

Built to endure the rigors of space, ELVIS incorporates durable, low-maintenance components and features automation that minimizes astronaut involvement, ensuring experiments can run continuously without disruption. As ELVIS gears up for launch, the team looks forward to testing its full potential to explore the resilience and adaptability of life under extreme conditions, Nadeau noted.

SpaceX CRS-32 is scheduled to launch no earlier than April 21, 2025, at 4:15 a.m., from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

https://phys.org/news/2025-04-elvis-orbit-imaging-space-biology.html

https://www.space.com/space-exploration/apollo/apollo-11-astronaut-neil-armstrongs-gold-omega-moonwatch-sells-for-record-usd2-2m-at-auction

https://www.rrauction.com/auctions/details/716/

Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong's gold Omega moonwatch sells for record $2.2M at auction

April 18, 2025

A new record has been set for the most paid at auction for an astronaut's timepiece.

The 18-karat gold Omega Speedmaster that was presented to Neil Armstrong four months after he became the first person to walk on the moon in 1969, sold for a hammer price of $1.7 million on Thursday (April 17).

With the auction house's fees included, the total price for the chronograph was $2,187,500 — $280,546.25 more than the previous record set in 2022 by a nearly-identical gold Speedmaster gifted to Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronaut Walter "Wally" Schirra.

The Armstrong watch also commanded the third most-ever paid for a space-related artifact, exceeded only by a Soviet-era Vostok 3KA-2 space capsule that sold for $2,882,500 in 2011 and the jacket that Armstrong's crewmate, Buzz Aldrin, wore aboard the Apollo 11 spacecraft, which went for $2,772,500 in 2022.

"This watch, which my father liked to wear on special occasions, symbolizes one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of mankind," said Mark Armstrong, son of the late astronaut, in a statement released by RR Auction of Boston, Massachusetts.

Half of the hammer price, or $850,000, will be donated to charitable causes Neil Armstrong believed in, as identified by his son.

The unnamed consignor who placed the watch up for sale with RR Auction has also pledged a portion of the hammer price to the Wisconsin-based Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation, which helps shape future generations through scholarships that honor character and service.

"A substantial portion of the proceeds from the sale will [further] the impact that [my father] and many other Americans made to humanity more than half a century ago," said Mark Armstrong.

Like all of the astronauts who flew Gemini and Apollo missions, NASA issued Armstrong with an Omega Speedmaster Professional chronograph as part of his flight equipment.

As the commander of the Apollo 11 mission, Armstrong left his Speedmaster inside the lunar module "Eagle" as a backup to a broken timer, leading to Aldrin becoming the first person to wear a watch on the lunar surface.

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>>22928572

The NASA-issued Speedmasters were not intended as gifts and, ultimately, the space agency transferred them to the Smithsonian, where Armstrong's flown-to-the-moon chronograph is now on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

As a commemorative and a replacement, Omega created a set of 26 solid yellow gold Speedmaster Professional wristwatches, which were presented to Armstrong, Aldrin and their Apollo 11 crewmate Michael Collins, as well as other astronauts who had flown into space at the time, at a gala dinner hosted by the Hotel Warwick in Houston on Nov. 25, 1969.

Each of the "Tribute to Astronauts" timepieces was engraved on its back with the recipient's name and missions, a number relative to when he flew into space and a quote: "To mark man's conquest of space with time, through time, on time."

Armstrong was issued watch number 17. Numbers "1" and "2" were reserved for President Richard Nixon and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, respectively.

Omega later made more "Tribute" watches for Apollo 14 through Apollo 17 crews, as well as sold 976 pieces to the public (the retail version replaced the personalized info on the caseback with the phase, "the first watch worn on the moon").

Thursday's auction was held at the Royal Sonesta Boston Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts, after eliciting 20 bids totaling $1,366,694 on RR Auction's website since March 24.

"Hammer's down at $1.7 million," said the auctioneer to a round of applause. "Ladies and gentlemen, friends, thank you, thank you, thank you for being here and being a part of history at $1.7 million."

The winning bidder was not identified.

The Armstrong watch was part of RR Auction's semi-annual space-themed sale, which included another astronaut's gold Omega Speedmaster.

The chronograph gifted to the late Apollo 14 lunar module pilot Edgar Mitchell sold for $142,663.75 with the 25% buyer's premium.

Other "Tribute to the Astronauts" gold Speedmasters have sold over the last five years for $150,000 to $375,000 at auction.

The wristwatch presented to Apollo 11 command module pilot Michael Collins commanded $765,000 in 2022.

Among the larger category of space artifacts and memorabilia, the Armstrong watch now sits between Aldrin's flown Apollo 11 inflight coverall jacket and the personal Rolex GMT-Master chronometer that Mitchell flew aboard Apollo 14, which sold for $2,163,199 in 2024.

Other examples of seven-figure sales have included a protective pouch that held the bagged, first lunar sample collected by Armstrong ($1,812,500 in 2017); the Soyuz TM-10 descent module ($1,652,500 in 1993); and a prototype Bulova chronograph that became the second type of wristwatch worn on the moon during the Apollo 15 mission in 1971 ($1,625,000 in 2015).

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Bill Nye on NASA budget cuts & key space issues

April 17, 2025

In this week’s episode of Space Minds, Bill Nye, CEO of the Planetary Society sits down with host David Ariosto.

The conversation starts with Bill’s journey but quickly pivots to the proposed science budget cuts at NASA.

In this conversation, Bill Nye reflects on the current state of space exploration, describing it as the most exciting period since the Apollo era due to the surge in rocket launches, commercial space ventures, and ambitious scientific missions.

He emphasizes the importance of NASA focusing on extraordinary, non-commercial tasks such as exploring Mars, Europa, and Venus, while leaving routine operations in low Earth orbit to private companies.

Nye voices strong opposition to proposed budget cuts to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, arguing that such reductions undermine essential scientific progress and public interest in space exploration.

He also critiques the idea of colonizing Mars, noting the planet’s extreme hostility and drawing parallels to the inhospitable nature of Antarctica.

The conversation delves into the philosophical implications of discovering extraterrestrial life, which Nye believes would profoundly shift humanity’s understanding of its place in the universe.

He warns against prematurely contaminating potential Martian habitats with human bacteria, advocating for cautious and deliberate exploration.

Beyond space science, Nye addresses the challenges of modern science communication and the divide between scientifically literate and disengaged populations.

He highlights the need to inspire younger generations to pursue STEM fields. Nye concludes by underscoring the need for strong leadership at NASA to maintain U.S. prominence in space and support ongoing missions.

https://spacenews.com/bill-nye-on-nasa-budget-cuts-key-space-issues/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYceCR8H-t8

Gen. Saltzman addresses future Air Force, Space Force leaders at NATCON 2025

April 17, 2025

U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman emphasized the evolving role of the Space Force in the future fight during the 2025 National Conclave for Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings April 14.

Speaking to hundreds of cadets and national leaders gathered in Atlanta, Saltzman reinforced space as a critical domain of modern warfare, linking its increasing significance to the cyber-centric focus of this year’s conclave.

Retired and former U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond also attended NATCON.

The presence of both the first and second CSO at NATCON marked a pivotal moment in the annual gathering by connecting high-level national security discourse on space to the leadership development of future Air Force and Space Force officers.

The opportunity to hear directly from the highest-ranking Guardian was a significant milestone for cadets, many of whom are preparing to commission into an increasingly complex joint and multi-domain force. Saltzman, using a lighthearted and relatable approach to connect with attendees, left them with ten simple, yet powerful habits to embody for success.

“If you make a mistake, fix it.”

“If you are thankful, show it.”

“If you are confused, ask questions.”

“If you love someone, tell them.”

“If you hurt someone, take responsibility.”

“If someone needs help, give it.”

“If you are stuck, ask for help.”

“If you fall, get back up.”

“If you are wrong, acknowledge it.”

“If you see a wrong, make it right.”

Saltzman’s message highlighted character as the foundation of effective leadership in uncertain environments.

Beyond strategic insight, Saltzman offered a leadership philosophy rooted in accountability, empathy and integrity, all values essential not only for national defense but for personal growth amongst future leaders.

“This is truly a period of consequence in our nation’s history, and we are going to need incredible leadership. That leadership is going to come from you,” Saltzman said.

His presence at NATCON was not limited to the podium.

Throughout the event, Saltzman engaged with cadets in small-group conversations, photo opportunities and informal mentoring moments, embodying the very principles he preached.

His willingness to listen, advise and connect made a lasting impression on many future officers and members of the Department of Defense.

“The continued effort of Gen. Saltzman and other senior officers to interact with our generation through Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings is vital to the continued strength of our military and the development of its future leaders,” said Cadet Sunita Agarwala, NATCON co-commander from Detachment 590, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“His actions, generosity and words will not be soon forgotten by myself or anyone else in attendance.”

As the Space Force continues to define its identity and mission in an increasingly contested domain, the character of its future leaders will be just as critical as its technology.

Saltzman’s time at NATCON served as both a strategic briefing and a heartfelt challenge for those in attendance to lead boldly, live ethically and serve with purpose.

https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4159071/gen-saltzman-addresses-future-air-force-space-force-leaders-at-natcon-2025/

World’s first ghost drone unveiled to hunt enemy UAVs without being seen on radar

Updated: Apr 18, 2025 10:52 AM EST

In response to the evolving threat landscape, ELT Group has launched its latest Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) system by introducing KARMA (Kinetic Anti-drone Mobile Asset).

Engineered for rapid deployment and equipped with advanced AI-based capabilities, KARMA is available in both mobile and fixed configurations. It can detect, recognize, and identify Class 1 and Class 2 UAS platforms.

The new drone is the next-generation system of ELT’s earlier system, Adrian, which has been operational since 2015.

Ghost drone to kill UAVs

KARMA is purpose-built to ensure the security of military assets and critical infrastructure across dynamic threat environments.

The system uses a design that doesn’t rely on radar, making it quieter and harder to detect. This is important because modern warfare often involves using electromagnetic signals.

By keeping its electromagnetic signals low, the system becomes less noticeable while still being able to monitor its surroundings.

The system features a Track While Scan capability, delivering uninterrupted 360° surveillance through an infrared (IR) camera suite.

Integrated with proprietary artificial intelligence algorithms within the Command and Control (C2) framework, KARMA ensures high-confidence UAS detection and classification.

The C2 suite incorporates a simplified and intuitive Human-Machine Interface (HMI), offering the operator a comprehensive Local Air Picture (LAP).

The AI engine within the HMI continuously processes real-time data to optimize threat detection, recognition, and identification.

Once a threat is identified in operational settings, KARMA can relay target designation data to a federated Fire Control System (FCS) onboard the host platform.

The platform operator makes the final decisions on engagement, including any hard-kill actions. This ensures that humans are in charge during kinetic engagements.

Improving electronic warfare

From an electronic warfare perspective, KARMA integrates a high-fidelity RF sensor capable of intercepting and analyzing drone communication protocols.

This enables the extraction of critical metadata and operational patterns from adversarial drones.

The onboard jamming module is designed to disrupt drone communication links using directed RF energy, effectively neutralizing the threat.

The system is optimized for swarming threat scenarios, ensuring layered and redundant countermeasures in high-saturation environments.

KARMA’s flexible design allows it to connect easily with larger air defense systems.

It works with different sensors and tools, making it adaptable for specific mission needs.

The system can be deployed on legacy and new-generation military vehicles and civil platforms, making it suitable for border surveillance, strategic site protection, and urban infrastructure defense.

Capable of continuous, real-time airspace monitoring, KARMA ensures robust defense coverage in both civil and military domains.

Its AI-driven sensor fusion, silent operation, and flexible deployment options establish it as a formidable asset in the face of modern drone threats.

ELT Group is dedicated to providing advanced electromagnetic and AI solutions for defense and security.

With KARMA, they aim to improve traditional Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) methods by making them smarter, stealthier, and more responsive.

https://interestingengineering.com/military/ghost-drone-unveiled-to-hunt-uavs

Azerbaijan intercepts Iranian drone loaded with drugs

18 April 2025 18:35

On April 18, Azerbaijan's border authorities successfully intercepted an attempt to smuggle drugs from Iran using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The incident took place on the service territory of the Horadiz border detachment, the Azerbaijani State Border Service told Caliber.Az.

The small drone, which had illegally crossed into Azerbaijan’s airspace, was quickly detected and neutralised following prompt operational measures.

A search of the area revealed a significant drug haul, including 8 grams of opium and 535 grams of marijuana, amounting to a total of 543 grams of narcotics.

The authorities seized the drugs and took immediate steps to secure the area.

https://caliber.az/en/post/azerbaijan-intercepts-iranian-drone-loaded-with-drugs

AI-Powered Drones Dominate World’s Most Advanced Autonomous Race in Abu Dhabi

April 18, 2025

The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL), part of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), in collaboration with the Drone Champions League (DCL), concluded the inaugural A2RL x DCL Autonomous Drone Championship in the Middle East, at ADNEC Marina Hall, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

In a major breakthrough for autonomous flight and aerial robotics, Team MavLab’s AI drone outpaced a world-leading human pilot to win the AI vs Human Challenge.

The head-to-head duel was the most complex ever staged, featuring finalists from the DCL Falcon Cup—some of the top drone pilots in the world.

Over two high-intensity days, 14 international teams qualified for the finals week, with the top four advancing to compete across multiple challenging race formats.

Teams from the UAE, Netherlands, Austria, South Korea, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Turkey, China, Spain, Canada and the USA represented a mix of university labs, research institutes, and startup innovators.

Each team raced a standardized drone equipped with the compact yet powerful NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX computing module, a forward-facing camera, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for onboard perception and control.

With no human input, the drones relied entirely on real-time processing and AI-driven decision-making to reach speeds exceeding 150 km/h through a complex race environment.

The course design pushed the boundaries of perception-based autonomy—featuring wide gate spacing, irregular lighting, and minimal visual markers.

The use of rolling shutter cameras further heightened the difficulty, testing each team’s ability to deliver fast, stable performance under demanding conditions.

This marked the first time an autonomous drone race of this scale and complexity was staged on such a visually sparse track, underscoring the ambition and technical challenge of the event.

Championship Highlights

AI Grand Challenge Winner: MavLab (TU Delft) set the fastest time on the 170-meter course, completing two laps (22 gates) in just 17 seconds.

AI vs Human Showdown Winner: MavLab’s autonomous drone outpaced top human pilot—in a landmark AI vs Human showdown.

Multi-Autonomous Drone Race Winner: TII Racing emerged victorious in the multi-drone format, in a high-speed test of AI coordination and collision avoidance.

Autonomous Drag Race Winner: MavLab (TU Delft) claimed victory in the world’s first AI-only drag race, demonstrating straight-line speed and control under high acceleration against the championship’s top teams.

“At ATRC, we believe innovation must be proven in the real world, not just promised,” said H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs, and Secretary-General of ATRC.

“A2RL is more than a race, it’s a global testbed for high-performance autonomy and reflects the UAE’s commitment to advancing AI, robotics, and next-gen mobility responsibly.”

“The future of flight doesn’t live in a lab – it lives on the racetrack,” said Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, the hosting entity of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League.

“What we saw this weekend brings us closer to scaling autonomous systems in everyday life.”

Markus Stampfer, Executive Chairman of DCL, added: “We brought elite racing conditions to autonomous flight—and the AI rose to the challenge. This was a major leap for both sport and technology.”

Ecstatic after clinching three top titles, Christophe De Wagter, team principal of MavLab, shared “Winning the AI Grand Challenge and the AI vs Human race is a huge milestone for our team.

It validates years of research and experimentation in autonomous flight. To see our algorithms outperform in such a high-pressure environment and take home the largest share of the prize pool, is incredibly rewarding.”

The A2RL X DCL Drone STEM Program, designed in collaboration with UNICEF and under the supervision of the ATRC, has trained over 100 Emirati students this year.

Over 60% earned the prestigious Trusted Operator Program certification and 24 achieved perfect scores, showcasing the cutting-edge aviation skills being developed as part of the program.

With the drone finale now in the books, all eyes turn to Season 2 of A2RL’s autonomous car racing series, set for Q4 2025 at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

https://uasweekly.com/2025/04/18/ai-powered-drones-dominate-worlds-most-advanced-autonomous-race-in-abu-dhabi/

Drone images reveal extent of damage to fire-ravaged hangar at Old Sarum Airfield in Salisbury, UK

Friday 18 April 2025 at 4:17pm

Drone images have revealed the extent of the damage to a former World War 1 airfield in Wiltshire after a huge fire broke out.

Firefighters were called to Old Sarum Airfield shortly before 7pm on Thursday 17 April, when the fire broke out at Hangar 3 on the site.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue confirmed the building had partially collapsed and a fire had spread to an adjacent building.

Crews from Amesbury, Salisbury, Ludgeshall, Andover and Ringwood were all in attendance. .

Crews have spent the morning (Friday 18 April) damping down, but the fire services says firefighters have now left the scene.

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said: "There are still some wisps of smoke rising from the rubble but the incident has been handed back to the site owner.

"A reinspection will be carried out later today. "The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

"The advice about keeping doors and windows closed has been rescinded, and any ash or debris in the local area should be left for the wind/rain to clear."

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: "An investigation is now underway into the cause of the fire, and we would like to speak to anyone who was in the area shortly before the fire started.

"If you can help with our enquiries, please contact us on 101 quoting log number 262 of yesterday's date (17/04).

"You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

"We would also ask that members of the public keep their distance from the affected area while police and fire continue with the investigation."

Andy Munns, an eyewitness, shared pictures with ITV Meridian showing firefighters trying to tackle the blaze which had spread to the nearby café.

"I saw a large plume of smoke from my living room and then social media was just lighting up about the fire, so I popped over to see what was going on and the whole hangar was ablaze," he said.

"There was a huge plume of smoke which I think could be seen from 10, 15 miles away and an inferno that had taken hold in the main hangar, but also in the buildings next to it where the cafe and Go Skydiver housed too.

"It has been here since the First World War, one of a few remaining in the country with its grass runway.

"Two of the hangars are really well preserved, but one had fallen into disrepair in recent times, and it's a real shame to see it absolutely devastated by fire.

"Firefighters did an incredible job of containing the fire to just this section of the airfield. "There's a huge amount of sadness.

"People are really angry that something that's so historic and loved in the city has been destroyed."

Overnight relief crews from Verwood, Shaftesbury, Blandford, Warminster, Ferndown, Cranborne, Westbury, Redhill Park, Gillingham and an aerial ladder platform from Swindon were on scene.

They used multiple horse reel jets and mains lines to extinguish the blaze.

In a statement, Hangar 3 Old Sarum confirmed it was affected. It said: "Due to an incident involving Hangar 3 this evening we will be closed until further notice."

The condition of the nearby GoSkyDive centre, which is adjacent to the cafe, could not be confirmed.

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service said: "We were called at 6.38pm on Thursday (17 April) to Lancaster Road, Old Sarum to reports of a building fire.

"Crews from Amesbury, Salisbury (x2), Ludgershall alongside crew from Andover and Ringwood (Hampshire and Isle of Wight FRS) are currently in attendance.

"The building has partially collapsed and the fire is affecting an adjacent building.

"Firefighters are working hard to contain the fire and a command unit is now in attendance from Devizes.

"No casualties have been reported. "Local residents are advised to please keep windows and doors shut and stay inside as a precaution due to smoke in the area."

https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2025-04-17/firefighters-tackling-large-blaze-at-aircraft-hangar

>>22928709

>Its last words were Chicken and Jockey.

We're going chocobo racing!

>>22928678

Had no idea they went back that far.