NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

June 19, 2025

NGC 3521: Galaxy in a Bubble

Gorgeous spiral galaxy NGC 3521 is a mere 35 million light-years away, toward the northern springtime constellation Leo. Relatively bright in planet Earth's sky, NGC 3521 is easily visible in small telescopes but often overlooked by amateur imagers in favor of other Leo spiral galaxies, like M66 and M65. It's hard to overlook in this colorful cosmic portrait though. Spanning some 50,000 light-years the galaxy sports characteristic patchy, irregular spiral arms laced with dust, pink star forming regions, and clusters of young, blue stars. The deep image also finds NGC 3521 embedded in fainter, gigantic, bubble-like shells. The shells are likely tidal debris, streams of stars torn from satellite galaxies that have undergone mergers with NGC 3521 in the distant past.

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

SpaceX Starship bursts into flames after explosion at test site in Texas

Updated 06:40, 19 Jun 2025

Dramatic footage shows a SpaceX fligh bursting into flames during a routine test in Texas on Wednesday night.

The fire happened at around 11pm last night when Starship 36 rocket was undergoing a static fire test at Elon Musk's Starbase test site.

In shocking footage the rocket's nose suddenly bursts open - causing the screen to momentarily flash white.

It is understood that the static fire test is a pre-flight procedure whereby a rocket engine or a set of engines are ignited while the vehicle is firmly bolted to the launch mount.

This means that the rocket was not set to launch Wednesday night when the explosion happened.

The explosion was so intense local residents reported that their windows shook and dishes rattled, according to ValleyCentral.

Firefighters were quickly dispatched to the scene, as the City of Port Isabel explained to residents that SpaceX 'experienced a spacecraft anomaly during testing at its facility' and that it is monitoring the situation, KRGV reports.

It comes just weeks after its mega rocket Starship exploded. On its ninth demo, the 403-foot (123-metre) rocket blasted off from the Texas base, only for it to experience "a rapid unscheduled disassembly" - and burst apart.

Speaking after the demo, Mr Musk said: "I think I probably did spend a bit too much time on politics," a telling 13-word comment in reflection on his time as Donald Trump's senior advisor.

Last month, Mr Musk, 53, conceded his time in this capacity would have to reduce fo he can concentrate on other projects.

And these may include his SpaceX work as the Starship is yet to successful take off.

The entrepreneur continued: "It's less time than people think (on politics), because the media is going to over-represent any political stuff, because political bones of contention get a lot of traction in the media.

"It's not like I left the companies. It was a relative time allocation that probably was a little too high on the government side, and I've reduced that significantly in recent weeks."

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/spacex-starship-bursts-flames-after-35416547

https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1935572705941880971

https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/

Curiosity Blog, Sols 4573-4574: Welcome to the Uyuni Quad

Jun 18, 2025

Earth planning date: Monday, June 16, 2025

Over the weekend Curiosity successfully wrapped up activities at the “Altadena” drill site and got back on the road.

The approximately 48-meter drive (about 157 feet) was successful, and placed the rover in the next mapping quadrangle (informally referred to as a quad).

As a reminder, the rover’s exploration area has been divided into 1.5 kilometer by 1.5 kilometer square quads, and each quad is named after a town of less than 100,000 people.

As Curiosity explores features within a quad, we assign informal target names that correspond to geologic formations and features from that town on Earth.

Uyuni, Bolivia, is the gateway city near the world’s largest salt flats (salars), and it seems like an appropriate name as Curiosity explores drier depositional environments higher in the Mount Sharp stratigraphy.

The team is excited to use some new target names that will draw from Uyuni and surrounding areas, including the Atacama Desert in Chile, which hosts many Mars analog sites including eolian features, studies of life in extreme environments, and some of the world’s great observatories.

A fitting theme for this next phase of exploration!

As for today’s two-sol plan, we have a good balance of contact science, remote sensing, and another long drive. The team planned APXS and MAHLI on a nodular bedrock target named “Flamingo” to assess its chemistry and texture.

In the targeted remote sensing block, the science team planned a Mastcam mosaic of “Los Patos” to characterize a depression which may be related to a small impact crater or boxwork structures, along with a Mastcam image of “La Lava” to investigate an interesting dark block.

There are also several Mastcam mosaics of nearby troughs to assess active surface processes, and documentation images for ChemCam observations.

The plan includes a ChemCam LIBS observation on a target named “Tacos” to assess the local bedrock, and a long-distance RMI mosaic to evaluate sedimentary structures at “Mishe Mokwa” butte.

Then the rover will drive about 56 meters (about 184 feet) to the southwest, and take post-drive imaging to prepare for the next plan.

On the second sol, Curiosity will complete a ChemCam calibration target activity, a Mastcam data management activity, and a few Navcam activities to monitor clouds and dust in the atmosphere.

We’re looking forward to exploring more of Uyuni as we work our way toward the larger exposure of boxwork structures that lie ahead, and the clues they hold to ancient Mars conditions.

https://science.nasa.gov/blog/curiosity-blog-sols-4573-4574-welcome-to-the-uyuni-quad/

Crew Videotapes, Photographs Station Activities and Hardware for Training and Inspection

June 18, 2025

Video and photography operations filled the Expedition 73 crew’s schedule on Wednesday helping mission controllers monitor robotic activities, train future crews, and verify lab inventories.

Meanwhile, more exercise research and spacesuit checks rounded out the crew’s day aboard the International Space Station.

Station Commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) activated the Internal Ball Camera 2 inside the Kibo laboratory module at the beginning of his shift. Onishi set up a camera downlinking video in real time of the ball camera’s free-flying movements.

Ground engineers were analyzing the ball camera as it performed several tasks to continue improving the accuracy of its automated maneuvers.

The small, spherical camera is demonstrating the ability to autonomously take photographs and videos of the crew performing research and maintenance activities.

Afterward, Onishi joined NASA Flight Engineer Jonny Kim to configure and stage high-definition video cameras throughout the orbital outpost, recording the duo as they participated in a variety of daily tasks.

Each took turns recording themselves performing duties such as research operations, life support maintenance, and biomedical activities. Onishi and Kim narrated their work then downloaded the videos to train future crews preparing for upcoming missions to the space station.

Kim began his day reconfiguring the sensor-packed Bio-Monitor vest and headband and reapplying sensors that he wore during his sleep shift measuring his health data. Next, while wearing the same biomedical device he exercised for two hours.

First, on the advanced resistive exercise device and then on the COLBERT treadmill. Kim is wearing the health-monitoring hardware for a 48-hour session, testing its comfort while doctors review the downlinked data that includes heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and more.

NASA Flight Engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers also focused on visual media as they videotaped and photographed cargo packed in crew transfer bags. The NASA duo documented the cargo, seeking to identify obsolete hardware for disposal and lost or unknown items for identification.

Ayers also maneuvered throughout the station’s U.S. segment while filming the spacecraft’s internal configuration including science racks, life support hardware, and safety gear for mission controllers’ assessment.

Roscosmos Flight Engineer Sergey Ryzhikov was back on spacesuit operations inside the Poisk module on Wednesday. He first checked the oxygen pressure in Poisk where spacewalks in Roscosmos Orlan spacesuits are staged.

Next, he inspected the suits’ life support components. Flight Engineer Kirill Peskov monitored Ryzhikov’s maintenance work once again continuing to familiarize himself with spacesuit operations.

Ryzhikov later pointed a camera toward Earth targeting mountains, lakes, and forests in different wavelengths for analysis. Peskov organized cargo space inside the Zarya module and searched for small electronics gear.

Flight Engineer Alexey Zubritskiy also participated in the standard cargo work inside the Rassvet module. He also serviced the Zvezda service module’s oxygen generator filling its condensate water tanks.

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/general-blog/2025/06/18/crew-videotapes-photographs-station-activities-and-hardware-for-training-and-inspection/

Water Pours Into Australia’s Lake Eyre

June 19, 2025

Lake Eyre (also called Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre) sits in the heart of the Australian outback, the continent’s most arid area.

Receiving an average of 140 millimeters (5.5 inches) of rain each year, the lake is a dry, salty plain much of the time. But every once in a while, it transforms into an expansive inland sea.

Approximately one-sixth of the Australian continent drains toward Lake Eyre, rather than to an ocean. Water often evaporates before it makes it there, although some will end up in the lake every few years.

In 2025, extreme autumn rainfall in Queensland flooded several rivers that flow toward Lake Eyre. Since late March, these floodwaters have been coursing hundreds of kilometers through the desert.

Around the start of May, water arrived at Lake Eyre—and then kept coming.

This animation, composed of 16 images acquired with the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite, shows Lake Eyre’s evolution from April 29 to June 12.

The images are false-color to emphasize the presence of water.

During this period, water can be seen entering the north side of the basin and expanding to cover larger areas every few days.

Within weeks, water had reached Madigan Gulf and Belt Bay at the southern part of the lake, some 120 kilometers (75 miles) away.

At more than 15 meters (49 feet) below sea level, these bays are the lowest points on the continent and the lake’s deepest areas.

This year’s flood is shaping up to be quite the spectacle—possibly on a scale not seen since 1974, local observers say.

That was the last time Lake Eyre filled to capacity, and it reached a record depth of 6 meters (20 feet) that year.

Optimism around a complete fill in 2025 abounds, but rangers and area business owners told news outlets they do not anticipate it will quite reach that point. The lake has only filled completely three times in the past 160 years.

Rainfall in Queensland and river flow through Channel Country were extraordinarily high earlier in the year, and cooler temperatures may help keep evaporation rates in check, some think.

But two consecutive wet years may be needed for a chance at a full lake, locals say.

Regardless of where the lake level peaks, the influx of water brings with it a profusion of wildlife.

The eggs of brine shrimp, which can remain dormant for years in dry soil, hatch. Shield shrimp and freshwater crabs, also with adaptations for the unique environment, emerge.

Fish that breed in the river systems come down into the lake, and the newly formed oasis and veritable buffet attract millions of migratory waterbirds.

Pelicans, banded stilts, and many other species are known to flock to the area from as far away as China and Japan.

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154451/water-pours-into-australias-lake-eyre

NASA to Gather In-Flight Imagery of Commercial Test Capsule Re-Entry

Jun 18, 2025

A NASA team specializing in collecting imagery-based engineering datasets from spacecraft during launch and reentry is supporting a European aerospace company’s upcoming mission to return a subscale demonstration capsule from space.

NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) team supports a broad range of mission needs across the agency, including Artemis, science missions like OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Regolith Explorer), and NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

The SCIFLI team also supports other commercial space efforts, helping to develop and strengthen public-private partnerships as NASA works to advance exploration, further cooperation, and open space to more science, people, and opportunities.

Later this month, SCIFLI intends to gather data on The Exploration Company’s Mission Possible capsule as it returns to Earth following the launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

One of the key instruments SCIFLI will employ is a spectrometer detects light radiating from the capsule’s surface, which researchers can use to determine the surface temperature of the spacecraft.

Traditionally, much of this data comes from advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling of what happens when objects of various sizes, shapes, and materials enter different atmospheres, such as those on Earth, Mars, or Venus.

“While very powerful, there is still some uncertainty in these Computational Fluid Dynamics models.

Real-world measurements made by the SCIFLI team help NASA researchers refine their models, meaning better performance for sustained flight, higher safety margins for crew returning from the Moon or Mars, or landing more mass safely while exploring other planets,” said Carey Scott, SCIFLI capability lead at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

The SCIFLI team will be staged in Hawaii and will fly aboard an agency Gulfstream III aircraft during the re-entry of Mission Possible over the Pacific Ocean.

“The data will provide The Exploration Company with a little bit of redundancy and a different perspective — a decoupled data package, if you will — from their onboard sensors,” said Scott.

From the Gulfstream, SCIFLI will have the spectrometer and an ultra-high-definition telescope trained on Mission Possible. The observation may be challenging since the team will be tracking the capsule against the bright daytime sky.

Researchers expect to be able to acquire the capsule shortly after entry interface, the point at roughly 200,000 feet, where the atmosphere becomes thick enough to begin interacting with a capsule, producing compressive effects such as heating, a shock layer, and the emission of photons, or light.

"Real-world measurements made by the SCIFLI team help NASA researchers refine their models, meaning better performance for sustained flight, higher safety margins for crew returning from the Moon or Mars, or landing more mass safely while exploring other planets."

Carey Scott

SCIFLI Capability Lead

In addition to spectrometer data on Mission Possible’s thermal protection system, SCIFLI will capture imagery of the parachute system opening.

First, a small drogue chute deploys to slow the capsule from supersonic to subsonic, followed by the deployment of a main parachute.

Lastly, cloud-cover permitting, the team plans to image splashdown in the Pacific, which will help a recovery vessel reach the capsule as quickly as possible.

If flying over the ocean and capturing imagery of a small capsule as it zips through the atmosphere during the day sounds difficult, it is.

But this mission, like all SCIFLI’s assignments, has been carefully modeled, choreographed, and rehearsed in the months and weeks leading up to the mission.

There will even be a full-dress rehearsal in the days just before launch.

Not that there aren’t always a few anxious moments right as the entry interface is imminent and the team is looking out for its target.

According to Scott, once the target is acquired, the SCIFLI team has its procedures nailed down to a — pardon the pun — science.

“We rehearse, and we rehearse, and we rehearse until it’s almost memorized,” he said.

https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/langley/nasa-to-gather-in-flight-imagery-of-commercial-test-capsule-re-entry/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oztYqaGtv7M

NASA Scientists Find Ties Between Earth’s Oxygen and Magnetic Field

Jun 18, 2025

For 540 million years, the ebb and flow in the strength of Earth's magnetic field has correlated with fluctuations in atmospheric oxygen, according to a newly released analysis by NASA scientists.

The research suggests that processes deep inside the Earth might influence habitability on the planet’s surface.

Earth’s magnetic field arises from the flow of material in the planet’s molten interior, which acts like a giant electromagnet. The flow isn’t perfectly stable, and this causes the field to change over time.

Many scientists have argued that the magnetic field is crucial for protecting the atmosphere from eroded by energetic particles coming from the Sun.

But, the authors of the study in Science Advances point out, the role of magnetic fields in preserving the atmosphere is an area of active research.

Before addressing the complexity of the cause-and-effect relationship between magnetic fields and oxygen levels, the study authors decided to see whether Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere have fluctuated in ways that demonstrate a link.

The history of the Earth’s magnetic fields is recorded in magnetized minerals. When hot minerals that rise with magma at gaps between spreading tectonic plates cool down, they can record the surrounding magnetic field.

The minerals retain the field record as long as they are not reheated too severely. Scientists can deduce historic oxygen levels from ancient rocks and minerals because their chemical contents depend on the amount of oxygen available when they were formed.

Data for both Earth’s magnetic field and oxygen extend over comparable ranges in databases that myriad geophysicists and geochemists have compiled.

Until now, the authors of the new study say, no scientists had made a detailed comparison of the records.

“These two datasets are very similar,” said coauthor Weijia Kuang, a geophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

“Earth is the only known planet that supports complex life. The correlations we’ve found could help us to understand how life evolves and how it’s connected to the interior processes of the planet.”

When Kuang and colleagues analyzed the two separate datasets, they found that the planetary magnetic field has followed similar rising and falling patterns as oxygen in the atmosphere for nearly a half billion years, dating back to the Cambrian explosion, when complex life on Earth emerged.

“This correlation raises the possibility that both the magnetic field strength and the atmospheric oxygen level are responding to a single underlying process, such as the movement of Earth’s continents,” said study coauthor Benjamin Mills, a biogeochemist at the University of Leeds.

The researchers hope to examine longer datasets to see if the correlation extends farther back in time. They also plan to investigate the historic abundance of other chemicals essential for life as we know it, such as nitrogen, to determine whether they also support these patterns.

As for the specific causes linking the Earth’s deep interior to life on the surface, Kopparapu said: “There’s more work to be done to figure that out.”

https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-oxygen-magnetic-field-linked/

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adu8826

NASA simulates dramatic ocean rescue in Florida for Artemis crew in case of emergencies

Last updated on Jun 19, 2025 at 10:48 AM (UTC+4)

NASA is preparing for every possibility, including a dramatic ocean rescue, as it gets ready to launch the Artemis II mission around the Moon.

While the hope is for a smooth journey from lift-off to splashdown, spaceflight always carries risks.

That’s why the agency recently ran full-scale emergency drills to practice rescuing astronauts in the event of a launch failure.

The goal? Making sure that if anything goes wrong, the crew can be brought home safely and swiftly.

NASA conducting simulated drills for Artemis II

Earlier this month, NASA teamed up with the U.S. Department of Defense to rehearse what would happen if the Artemis II mission runs into trouble during launch.

On June 11 and 12, NASA ran two separate drills mimicking worst-case scenarios: one where the Orion spacecraft has to abort while still on the launch pad, and another where it aborts during ascent.

In both cases, the crew (or in this case, high-tech mannequins) would land in the Atlantic Ocean and wait to be rescued.

To simulate the ocean rescues, NASA didn’t actually launch anything.

After all, anything to do with space is extremely expensive, as evident by how a NASA astronaut’s spacesuit costs the same as a Lamborghini Huracán.

Instead, they used a stand-in version of the Orion capsule, called the Crew Module Test Article, and carefully placed it in the water at distances of five and twelve miles off the Florida coast.

Once the mock capsule was in place, U.S. Navy helicopters and a C-17 aircraft from the U.S. Air Force swooped in.

From the air, military pararescuers jumped into the ocean, swam to the capsule, and began the rescue.

On the first day, the mannequins were retrieved and brought aboard the helicopters for ‘medical care’.

The second day’s scenario ended with rescuers reaching the test capsule, but stopping short of recovery.

First time in 54 years man will land on the Moon

These ocean rescue rehearsals come ahead of the Artemis II mission, scheduled to launch in April 2026 from Kennedy Space Center.

The mission will involve four astronauts: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.

The group will embark on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back.

It’s a critical test run before astronauts land on the Moon during Artemis III, currently planned for 2027.

This is pretty historic, given that it will be the first time in almost 54 years that humans will land on the moon.

In fact, the spacecraft that’s meant to take the group to the moon has recently powered on, marking a major milestone.

The crew will travel about 230,000 miles away, even overshooting the Moon by 6,400 miles, travelling further from Earth than any humans before them.

https://supercarblondie.com/nasa-simulates-dramatic-ocean-rescue-in-florida-for-artemis-ii-crew-in-case-of-emergencies/

https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/06/curiosity-rover-mysterious-mushroom-mars/

https://mars.nasa.gov/raw_images/97629/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMVf8YnJNHQ

NASA’s Curiosity Rover Spots Mysterious ‘Mushroom’ on Mars—Could This Be a Sign of Life?

June 18, 2025

A peculiar image captured by NASA’s Curiosity rover on September 19, 2013, has reignited an age-old question: Does life exist on Mars?

The image, which features what some have called a “mushroom” on the Martian surface, has stirred a flurry of speculation and conspiracy theories.

UFO hunters and social media users alike have latched onto the image, proclaiming it as evidence of alien life, even suggesting that NASA is withholding the truth.

This intrigue builds on a growing body of Martian exploration, as the rover’s mission—launched to explore whether Mars could have once harbored life—continues to deliver curious and unexpected finds.

But is the image truly evidence of life, or is it simply another case of misinterpretation?

This particular photo, archived by UFO researcher Scott Waring, has drawn attention for what appears to be a stem-like structure with a rounded cap, which some claim closely resembles an Earth mushroom.

Waring, known for his often controversial theories about extraterrestrial life, voiced his surprise that NASA overlooked such an unusual object.

However, experts argue that this may be a natural rock formation, shaped over billions of years by Mars’ extreme environmental conditions.

The Shape That Sparked Speculation

In recent years, the Curiosity rover has captured numerous images of Mars’ rugged landscape. The image in question appears to show a strange formation on the Martian soil, seemingly rising from the dirt.

This “mushroom,” as some enthusiasts have called it, has drawn comparisons to terrestrial fungi, fueling theories that it could be proof of life on Mars. UFO researcher Scott Waring was quick to comment, stating,

“This object has a curved bottom part of a stem, same as those on Earth.” His assertion implies that the object’s appearance could be a significant clue pointing toward a biological origin.

Waring continued, expressing his frustration that NASA overlooked this potential discovery, saying, “I’m not sure how or why NASA could overlook such a thing… since NASA’s mission is to find life on other planets and moons.”

His claims gained traction online, with commenters rallying around the idea that NASA may be hiding the truth from the public.

However, many scientists take a more cautious approach when interpreting the image. They argue that the Martian surface is littered with formations that can resemble objects from Earth, and these structures are often the result of natural geological processes.

Dr. Gareth Dorrian, a planetary physicist, suggests that the object is likely a flat, disc-shaped rock, not a living organism. In his view, this formation may have been shaped by wind erosion, which is a well-documented process on Mars that creates peculiar and often misleading shapes.

1/2

>>23204069

Misinterpreting Mars: The Role of Wind Erosion and Geological Structures

Wind-driven erosion on Mars is known to create a variety of unusual rock formations. The Curiosity rover has previously photographed similar structures, including rock spires that bear a striking resemblance to mushrooms or other biological forms.

These formations are not the result of any organic growth but are rather geological features called concretions. Concretions are formed when minerals in ancient water seep into the surrounding sediment, compacting over time into hard, durable blocks.

As wind and sand erode the softer surrounding material, these blocks remain standing, sometimes with shapes that seem to mirror biological forms.

Dr. Dorrian explains, “My best guess would be they were not originally in that position, but like two rocks lying in the desert, one just below the surface and the other on the surface above it.

Over time the wind could gradually blow the sand and dust away, and the top one would gradually settle onto the bottom one.” This explanation fits well with the Martian landscape, where wind erosion is a significant force in shaping the terrain.

Additionally, such geological formations are common on Earth, where similar processes create rock spires known as hoodoos in places like the American Southwest. These structures often take on mushroom-like shapes, carved by the persistent forces of wind and water.

Mars, with its history of liquid water and harsh environmental conditions, has similarly been sculpted by the same forces, leaving behind strange and intricate formations that can easily be mistaken for biological growths.

The Harsh Reality of Mars’ Environment: Life Is Unlikely

While the image of the “mushroom” has certainly captured the public’s imagination, scientists remain firm in their belief that life, if it ever existed on Mars, is unlikely to have survived on the planet’s surface.

Dr. Dorrian highlights the severe conditions on Mars that make it inhospitable to life as we know it. “The atmospheric pressure at the Martian surface is roughly equivalent to that found 20 miles above the surface of Earth,” he explains.

This extremely thin atmosphere allows harmful cosmic rays and ultraviolet radiation to bombard the Martian surface, creating an environment that would quickly sterilize any living organism.

Temperature fluctuations on Mars further complicate the possibility of life. During the Martian day, temperatures may reach a relatively comfortable 20°C (68°F), but at night, they can plummet to a bone-chilling -100°C (-148°F).

These temperature swings, combined with the thin atmosphere and intense radiation, make the surface of Mars a hostile place for complex life forms, such as fungi.

“If life does exist on Mars, it is more likely to be found below ground, such as in underground reserves of water, where it would be shielded from the harsh environment at the surface,” Dr. Dorrian notes.

The conditions necessary for life are more likely to exist in subsurface environments, where liquid water could still be present and where organisms could find protection from the planet’s hostile surface conditions.

2/2

Secret tunnels discovered on the Moon by NASA’s lunar orbiter

June 18, 2025 at 7:50 PM

For decades, scientists have imagined that mysterious tunnels might snake beneath the Moon’s surface, but proof has remained just beyond reach—until now.

Thanks to a breakthrough analysis of NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter data, researchers have unveiled what could be the Moon’s very first underground lava tube.

This discovery not only deepens our understanding of our closest celestial neighbor but also opens exciting possibilities for future lunar exploration and habitation.

How NASA’s lunar orbiter detected hidden tunnels

The idea that the Moon might harbor vast networks of lava tubes beneath its dusty exterior is not new. These tunnels, created by ancient volcanic activity, have been theorized for over 50 years.

However, direct observation was missing—until a team led by the University of Trento in Italy re-examined data collected by NASA‘s Miniature Radio-Frequency (Mini-RF) instrument.

In 2010, during the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, Mini-RF captured radar reflections from a pit in an area called Mare Tranquillitatis, but the significance of these signals wasn’t fully understood at first.

Years later, with advanced signal processing techniques developed by the research team, experts detected patterns best explained by the presence of an underground cave system.

This radar data confirmed for the first time an accessible lava tube beneath the lunar surface.

Lorenzo Bruzzone, a leading professor involved with the study, expressed the significance: “These caves have been theorized for over 50 years, but it is the first time ever that we have demonstrated their existence.”

The team managed to create a model of part of the tunnel, showing it is likely hollow and could extend over a mile long.

Why lunar caves matter for future missions

The harsh environment on the Moon creates major challenges for potential astronauts and robotic explorers. Temperatures on the sunlit surface soar to 260 degrees Fahrenheit, while on the dark side they plunge to nearly -280 degrees.

Radiation from the sun and cosmic rays bombards the surface relentlessly, in intensities up to 150 times greater than on Earth. On top of this, frequent meteorite impacts pose a constant threat.

With these extreme conditions, finding safe shelters is critical. The newly identified lava tube could serve as natural protection, shielding explorers from radiation, temperature swings, and meteorite impacts.

These caves could provide refuge for habitats, scientific instruments, or refueling stations during long-duration lunar missions.

Leonardo Carrer, a researcher from the same Italian university, noted that these natural tunnels might be the safest and most cost-effective way for humans to live and work on the Moon.

By using existing geological structures, space agencies could reduce the amount of material and energy needed to build protective habitats.

The technology and teamwork bringing lunar secrets to light

This discovery was made possible by state-of-the-art radar technology and international collaboration. Data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched in 2009, continues to offer fresh insights about the Moon’s landscape.

Wes Patterson, the Mini-RF’s principal investigator from Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, emphasized that “this research demonstrates how radar data of the Moon can be used in novel ways to address fundamental questions for science and exploration.”

The research also involved geologists and modelers from the University of Padua and the geographic exploration group La Venta Geographic Explorations APS, illustrating the power of teamwork across disciplines and borders.

Their joint efforts resulted not only in identifying the lava tube but also in understanding its geological context and formation.

Reflecting on this, I recall my own fascination when visiting a lava tube cave on Earth. Walking inside, completely enveloped by solid rock with only a sliver of light above, I felt a deep connection to the forces shaping planetary bodies.

Imagining such a space existing untouched on the Moon feels surreal and full of potential—a place that might eventually shelter astronauts exploring this alien environment.

Discoveries like this remind us that space exploration is not just about distant planets but also about uncovering hidden corners of the places closest to home.

What possibilities do you envision for these lunar caves? Could they become future homes or research stations? Share your thoughts and questions below—let’s start a conversation about the next frontier!

https://www.elcabildo.org/en/secret-tunnels-discovered-on-the-moon-by-nasas-lunar-orbiter-49896/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-024-02302-y

NASA Shares New Space Station Ops, Axiom Mission 4 Launch Update

June 18, 2025

NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than Sunday, June 22, for launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4.

The change in a targeted launch date provides NASA time to continue evaluating space station operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the International Space Station’s Zvezda service module.

Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot.

The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.

The crew will lift off aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/06/18/nasa-shares-new-space-station-ops-axiom-mission-4-launch-update/

https://www.axiomspace.com/missions/ax4

The World’s First Skyscraper Suspended from Space: Analemma Tower

June 19, 2025

Analemma Tower is a project that conceptualises a building suspended beneath an orbiting asteroid. Looking beyond skyscrapers, it stands as a space-moored building that transcends both planetary and orbital boundaries.

This is the idea behind this groundbreaking typology, designed by Clouds AO, an interdisciplinary architecture firm. It’s a speculative design in space architecture.

A New Foundation

Traditional megastructures rely on massive foundations, Analemma Tower hangs from space rather than pushing up from the ground. UOSS is a stable structure with integrity.

It is anchored to an asteroid in geosynchronous orbit with duct tape, securing the tower onto the Earth’s surface. Geosynchronous orbit holds this asteroid in place, which orbits the Earth every 24 hours.

An analemma is a tower that traces out a figure-eight orbit in the sky from Earth, thus its name. As it’s slow-moving, the tower hangs itself below an asteroid and wobbles above cities such as Dubai or New York City.

The Importance of an Analemma-Shaped Orbit

The orbit’s “ground trace”, its path across the Earth’s surface in both height and width, is not only visually striking but also purposefully designed.

As the tower nears the northern and southern turning points of its trajectory, its movement slows, creating ideal transfer zones for asteroid hubs to dock or depart.

By strategically locating one of these deceleration points above New York City, designers can propose entry hubs that require minimal relative motion for access.

In these conceptual designs, lower levels, housing shops, and residences are positioned closer to the surface for ease of use, while higher levels ascend into near-orbital altitudes, reserved for recreational or spiritual activities.

Overnight stays become viable due to the tower’s sheer height, balancing the convenience of surface access with the serenity found at altitude.

Environmental and Technical Considerations

The designers of Cloud AO used atmospheric studies to examine the impact of altitude on pressure, temperature, light, and comfort levels of the occupants.

The top part of the tower gets about 40 minutes of more natural light since the world is curved, and tens of thousands of meters of low temperatures and low pressures of about 40 °C would necessitate pressurized, suit-like conditions.

Additionally, top floors have the same variations in temperature over time.

Vertical movement depends on sophisticated engineering technologies. Though limited to conventional cable-based lifts, innovative cableless electromagnetic lifts will likely glide effortlessly from extreme heights to ground level.

Solar panels positioned above most of the Earth’s atmosphere enable the tower to generate high-energy outputs in even exposure, unhampered by atmospheric conditions.

Closed-loop systems would regulate the water supply by recycling rainwater, condensation, and even cloud water.

Feasibility of the Project

The concept’s feasibility is partly based on economics. Clouds AO contends that the cost per square foot to build in Dubai is one-fifth the cost of New York City.

Thus, they envision constructing the tower over Dubai before transporting it to its asteroid anchor and then to global strategic positions.

Material science and material engineering play a vital role in building a cable as strong but light enough to hold 20,000 square meters of towers. This would need unprecedented progress in material science.

Accelerating asteroids to orbits and maintaining cable stability, whether with or without orbital perturbation, remains unknown to be accurate.

The capability of humans to reside at different altitudes will require control of intense conditions such as vacuums and radiation.

Architecture Beyond Blueprints

Analemma Tower’s meaning goes beyond blueprints and drawings, as it suggests architecture does not only exist in the skyline but can be extended to touch the orbit.

It brings together celestial mechanics and architectural resilience, challenging us to find out more about the human creation’s intent.

The floating architectural concept defies all principles and looks straight out of a sci-fi movie, making this entire project extremely ambitious and will possibly redefine the architecture of the future.

https://parametric-architecture.com/worlds-first-skyscraper-suspended-from-space-analemma-tower/

https://cloudsao.com/

“The models were right”: astronomers find ‘missing’ matter

19/06/2025

The astronomers used the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton and JAXA’s Suzaku X-ray space telescopes to make the discovery.

Over one-third of the ‘normal’ matter in the local Universe – the visible stuff making up stars, planets, galaxies, life – is missing. It hasn’t yet been seen, but it’s needed to make our models of the cosmos work properly.

Said models suggest that this elusive matter might exist in long strings of gas, or filaments, bridging the densest pockets of space.

While we’ve spotted filaments before, it’s tricky to make out their properties; they’re typically faint, making it difficult to isolate their light from that of any galaxies, black holes, and other objects lying nearby.

New research is now one of the first to do just this, finding and accurately characterising a single filament of hot gas stretching between four clusters of galaxies in the nearby Universe.

“For the first time, our results closely match what we see in our leading model of the cosmos – something that’s not happened before,” says lead researcher Konstantinos Migkas of Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands.

“It seems that the simulations were right all along.”

XMM-Newton on the case

Clocking in at over 10 million degrees, the filament contains around 10 times the mass of the Milky Way and connects four galaxy clusters: two on one end, two on the other.

All are part of the Shapley Supercluster, a collection of more than 8000 galaxies that forms one of the most massive structures in the nearby Universe.

The filament stretches diagonally away from us through the supercluster for 23 million light-years, the equivalent of traversing the Milky Way end to end around 230 times.

“For the first time, our results closely match what we see in our leading model of the cosmos – something that’s not happened before,” says lead researcher Konstantinos Migkas of Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands.

“It seems that the simulations were right all along.”

XMM-Newton on the case

Clocking in at over 10 million degrees, the filament contains around 10 times the mass of the Milky Way and connects four galaxy clusters: two on one end, two on the other.

All are part of the Shapley Supercluster, a collection of more than 8000 galaxies that forms one of the most massive structures in the nearby Universe.

The filament stretches diagonally away from us through the supercluster for 23 million light-years, the equivalent of traversing the Milky Way end to end around 230 times.

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/XMM-Newton/The_models_were_right_astronomers_find_missing_matter

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/06/Astronomers_discover_vast_filament_of_missing_matter

https://www.space.com/astronomy/astronomers-turn-up-missing-matter-in-the-largest-structures-in-the-cosmos-the-models-were-right

>>23204177