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NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
July 4, 2025
NGC 6946 and NGC 6939
Face-on spiral galaxy NGC 6946 and open star cluster NGC 6939 share this cosmic snapshot, composed with over 68 hours of image data captured with a small telescope on planet Earth. The field of view spans spans about 1 degree or 2 full moons on the sky toward the northern constellation Cepheus. Seen through faint interstellar dust couds near the plane of our Milky Way galaxy, the stars of open cluster NGC 6939 are 5,600 light-years in the distance, near bottom right in the frame. Face-on spiral galaxy NGC 6946 is at top left, but lies some 22 million light-years away. In the last 100 years, 10 supernovae have been discovered in NGC 6946, the latest one seen in 2017. By comparison, the average rate of supernovae in our Milky Way is about 1 every 100 years or so. Of course, NGC 6946 is also known as The Fireworks Galaxy.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
NASA: What We Know About Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
July 3, 2025
Discovery
The NASA-funded ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, first reported observations to the Minor Planet Center of comet 3I/ATLAS on July 1, 2025.
Since the first report, observations made before the discovery were gathered from the archives of three different ATLAS telescopes around the world and Caltech’s Zwicky Transient Facility at the Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California.
These “pre-discovery” observations extend back to June 14.
Overview
Comet 3I/ATLAS is the third known object from outside our solar system to be discovered. Astronomers have categorized this object as interstellar because of the hyperbolic shape of its orbital path.
(It does not follow a closed orbital path about the Sun.) When the orbit of 3I/ATLAS is traced into the past, the comet clearly originates from outside our solar system.
Comet 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth and will remain far away. The closest it will approach our planet is about 1.8 astronomical units (about 170 million miles, or 270 million kilometers).
3I/ATLAS will reach its closest point to the Sun around Oct. 30, 2025, at a distance of about 1.4 au (130 million miles, or 210 million kilometers) — just inside the orbit of Mars.
The interstellar comet’s size and physical properties are being investigated by astronomers around the world.
3I/ATLAS should remain visible to ground-based telescopes through September 2025, after which it will pass too close to the Sun to observe.
It will reappear on the other side of the Sun by early December 2025, allowing for renewed observations.
How This Comet Got Its Name
Comets are generally named for their discoverer(s), in this case the ATLAS survey team.
The letter “I” is for “interstellar,” indicating that this object came from outside our solar system. It’s the third known interstellar
FAQs
Where did this interstellar object come from? 3I/ATLAS formed in another star system and was somehow ejected into interstellar space, which is the space between the stars.
For millions or even billions of years, it has drifted until it recently arrived at our solar system. It has been approaching from the general direction of the constellation Sagittarius, which is where the central region of our galaxy, the Milky Way, is located.
When discovered, 3I/ATLAS was about 410 million miles (670 million kilometers) away from the Sun, within the orbit of Jupiter.
How was it determined that 3I/ATLAS didn’t originate in our solar system?
Observations of the comet’s trajectory show that it is moving too fast to be bound by the Sun’s gravity and that it's on what is known as a hyperbolic trajectory.
In other words, it does not follow a closed orbital path around the Sun. It is simply passing through our solar system and will continue its journey into interstellar space, never to be seen again.
How many interstellar objects have been discovered?
This is the third known interstellar object to have been observed. Discovered in 2017, ‘Oumuamua was the first known interstellar object; the second was 2I/Borisov, which was discovered in 2019.
How big is 3I/ATLAS, and is it an asteroid or comet?
Astronomers don’t yet know how big 3I/ATLAS is, but from observations, they can see that it’s active, which means it has an icy nucleus and coma (a bright cloud of gas and dust surrounding a comet as it approaches the Sun).
This is why astronomers categorize it as a comet and not an asteroid.
How fast is it moving?
Very fast. When it was discovered, the interstellar comet was traveling about 137,000 miles per hour (221,000 kilometers per hour, or 61 kilometers per second), and its speed will increase as it approaches the Sun.
Is there a danger of this interstellar object hitting Earth?
No. Although the trajectory of the object brings it into the inner solar system, it won’t come close to Earth.
As the comet 3I/ATLAS journeys through the solar system, it won’t come closer than 1.6 au (about 150 million miles, or 240 million kilometers) to our planet.
https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/3i-atlas/
https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/planetary-defense/2025/07/02/nasa-discovers-interstellar-comet-moving-through-solar-system/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vzafaw0t08
US NASA astronaut captures stunning electricity burst over Earth
Updated 08:51 ET, 04 Jul 2025
An astronaut has captured an incredible burst of electricity above Earth. NASA's Nichole Ayers managed to snap a phenomenon called a red sprite from the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, July 3.
The US spacewoman said: "Just. Wow. As we went over Mexico and the US this morning, I caught this sprite.
"Sprites are TLEs or Transient Luminous Events, that happen above the clouds and are triggered by intense electrical activity in the thunderstorms below.
"We have a great view above the clouds, so scientists can use these types of pictures to better understand the formation, characteristics, and relationship of TLEs to thunderstorms."
Red sprites are large-scale, luminous electrical discharges that occur high above thunderstorm clouds, typically at altitudes between 50 and 90 kilometres (31–56 miles) in the mesosphere, the third layer of Earth's atmosphere, situated above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere.
In 2014, Ayers completed flight training and flew the T-38 for an adversary squadron at Langley Air Force Base. She later became a flight instructor, providing adversary training to F-22 Raptor units based at Langley.
In 2018, Ayers completed training for the F-22, serving as a flight instructor for the F-22. Ayers has logged more than 200 flight hours during Operation Inherent Resolve.
At the time of her selection as an Astronaut Candidate, Ayers was the assistant director of operations of the 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base.
On December 6, 2021, Nichole Ayers was revealed to be one of ten candidates selected as part of the NASA Astronaut Group 23.
In August 2024, Ayers received her first spaceflight assignment. On March 14, 2025, she launched to the International Space Station as the pilot of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission.
She will remain aboard the station for six months as part of the crew of Expedition 72 and 73. Crew-10 is scheduled to return to Earth in July 2025.
In April 2025, Ayers was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in a surprise ceremony while aboard the International Space Station.
https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/nasa-astronaut-captures-stunning-electricity-1245108
https://x.com/Astro_Ayers/status/1940810789830451563
NASA Remembers Former Johnson Director Jefferson Howell
Jul 03, 2025
Jefferson Davis Howell, Jr., former director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, died July 2, in Bee Cave, Texas. He was 85 years old.
Howell was a champion of the construction of the International Space Station, working on a deadline to complete the orbiting lab by 2004.
He oversaw four space shuttle crews delivering equipment and hardware to reach that goal. He also served as director during a pivotal moment for the agency: the loss of STS-107 and the crew of space shuttle Columbia.
He made it his personal responsibility to meet with the families, look after them, and attend memorial services, all while keeping the families informed of the accident investigation as it unfolded.
“Gen. Howell led NASA Johnson through one of the most difficult chapters in our history, following the loss of Columbia and her crew,” said acting associate administrator Vanessa Wyche.
“He brought strength and steady direction, guiding the workforce with clarity and compassion. He cared deeply for the people behind the mission and shared his leadership skills generously with the team.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and all who knew and loved him.”
At the time of his selection as director, he was serving as senior vice president with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) as the program manager for the safety, reliability, and quality assurance contract at Johnson.
Following the accident, he made it his mission to improve the relationship between the civil servant and contractor workforce. He left his position and the agency, in October 2005, shortly after the Return-to-Flight mission of STS-114.
“General Howell stepped into leadership at Johnson during a pivotal time, as the International Space Station was just beginning to take shape.
He led and supported NASA’s successes not only in space but here on the ground — helping to strengthen the center’s culture and offering guidance through both triumph and tragedy,” said Steve Koerner, Johnson Space Center’s acting director.
“On behalf of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, we offer our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of working alongside him.
The impact of his legacy will continue to shape Johnson for decades to come.”
The Victoria, Texas, native was a retired lieutenant general in the U.S. Marine Corps with a decorated military career prior to his service at NASA. He flew more than 300 combat missions in Vietnam and Thailand.
Howell is survived by his wife Janel and two children. A tree dedication will be held at NASA Johnson’s memorial grove in the coming year.
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-remembers-former-johnson-director-jefferson-howell/
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/tempo/nasa-mission-monitoring-air-quality-from-space-extended/
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/tempo/
NASA Mission Monitoring Air Quality from Space Extended
Jul 03, 2025
Since launching in 2023, NASA’s Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution mission, or TEMPO, has been measuring the quality of the air we breathe from 22,000 miles above the ground.
June 19 marked the successful completion of TEMPO’s 20-month-long initial prime mission, and based on the quality of measurements to date, the mission has been extended through at least September 2026.
The TEMPO mission is NASA’s first to use a spectrometer to gather hourly air quality data continuously over North America during daytime hours.
It can see details down to just a few square miles, a significant advancement over previous satellites.
“NASA satellites have a long history of missions lasting well beyond the primary mission timeline.
While TEMPO has completed its primary mission, the life for TEMPO is far from over,” said Laura Judd, research physical scientist and TEMPO science team member at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
“It is a big jump going from once-daily images prior to this mission to hourly data. We are continually learning how to use this data to interpret how emissions change over time and how to track anomalous events, such as smoggy days in cities or the transport of wildfire smoke.”
When air quality is altered by smog, wildfire smoke, dust, or emissions from vehicle traffic and power plants, TEMPO detects the trace gases that come with those effects.
These include nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and formaldehyde in the troposphere, the lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere.
“A major breakthrough during the primary mission has been the successful test of data delivery in under three hours with the help of NASA’s Satellite Needs Working Group.
This information empowers decision-makers and first responders to issue timely air quality warnings and help the public reduce outdoor exposure during times of higher pollution,” said Hazem Mahmoud, lead data scientist at NASA’s Atmospheric Science Data Center located at Langley Research Center.
TEMPO data is archived and distributed freely through the Atmospheric Science Data Center.
“The TEMPO mission has set a groundbreaking record as the first mission to surpass two petabytes, or 2 million gigabytes, of data downloads within a single year,” said Mahmoud.
“With over 800 unique users, the substantial demand for TEMPO’s data underscores its critical role and the immense value it provides to the scientific community and beyond.” Air quality forecasters, atmospheric scientists, and health researchers make up the bulk of the data users so far.
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The TEMPO mission is a collaboration between NASA and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, whose Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian oversees daily operations of the TEMPO instrument and produces data products through its Instrument Operations Center.
Datasets from TEMPO will be expanded through collaborations with partner agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is deriving aerosol products that can distinguish between smoke and dust particles and offer insights into their altitude and concentration.
“These datasets are being used to inform the public of rush-hour pollution, air quality alerts, and the movement of smoke from forest fires,” said Xiong Liu, TEMPO’s principal investigator at the Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian.
“The library will soon grow with the important addition of aerosol products. Users will be able to use these expanded TEMPO products for air quality monitoring, improving forecast models, deriving pollutant amounts in emissions and many other science applications.”
“The TEMPO data validation has truly been a community effort with over 20 agencies at the federal and international level, as well as a community of over 200 scientists at research and academic institutions,” Judd added.
“I look forward to seeing how TEMPO data will help close knowledge gaps about the timing, sources, and evolution of air pollution from this unprecedented space-based view.”
An agency review will take place in the fall to assess TEMPO’s achievements and extended mission goals and identify lessons learned that can be applied to future missions.
The TEMPO mission is part of NASA’s Earth Venture Instrument program, which includes small, targeted science investigations designed to complement NASA’s larger research missions.
The instrument also forms part of a virtual constellation of air quality monitors for the Northern Hemisphere which includes South Korea’s Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer and ESA’s (European Space Agency) Sentinel-4 satellite.
TEMPO was built by BAE Systems Inc., Space & Mission Systems (formerly Ball Aerospace). It flies onboard the Intelsat 40e satellite built by Maxar Technologies.
The TEMPO Instrument Operations Center and the Science Data Processing Center are operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, part of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian in Cambridge.
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Hubble Observations Give “Missing” Globular Cluster Time to Shine
Jul 03, 2025
A previously unexplored globular cluster glitters with multicolored stars in this NASA Hubble Space Telescope image.
Globular clusters like this one, called ESO 591-12 or Palomar 8, are spherical collections of tens of thousands to millions of stars tightly bound together by gravity.
Globular clusters generally form early in the galaxies’ histories in regions rich in gas and dust. Since the stars form from the same cloud of gas as it collapses, they typically hover around the same age.
Strewn across this image of ESO 591-12 are a number of red and blue stars. The colors indicate their temperatures; red stars are cooler, while the blue stars are hotter.
Hubble captured the data used to create this image of ESO 591-12 as part of a study intended to resolve individual stars of the entire globular cluster system of the Milky Way.
Hubble revolutionized the study of globular clusters since earthbound telescopes are unable to distinguish individual stars in the compact clusters.
The study is part of the Hubble Missing Globular Clusters Survey, which targets 34 confirmed Milky Way globular clusters that Hubble has yet to observe.
The program aims to provide complete observations of ages and distances for all of the Milky Way’s globular clusters and investigate fundamental properties of still-unexplored clusters in the galactic bulge or halo.
The observations will provide key information on the early stages of our galaxy, when globular clusters formed.
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/hubble-observations-give-missing-globular-cluster-time-to-shine/
Progress Cargo Craft Launches to Station for Saturday Delivery
July 3, 2025
The unpiloted Roscosmos Progress 92 spacecraft is safely in orbit headed for the International Space Station following a launch at 3:32 p.m. EDT (12:32 a.m., Baikonur time, Friday, July 4) on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
After a two-day, in-orbit journey to the station, the spacecraft will dock autonomously to the space-facing port of the orbiting laboratory’s Poisk module at approximately 5:27 p.m. on Saturday, July 5.
NASA’s rendezvous and docking coverage will begin at 4:45 p.m. on NASA+. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.
The spacecraft will deliver about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies to the space station.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/07/03/progress-cargo-craft-launches-to-station-for-saturday-delivery/
Old Glory on the Red Planet
Jul 03, 2025
The United States flag adorns an aluminum plate mounted at the base of the mast, or “head,” of NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover.
This image of the plate was taken on June 28, 2025 (the 1,548th day, or sol, of the mission), by the WATSON (Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering) camera on the end of the rover’s robotic arm.
WATSON, part of an instrument called SHERLOC (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman & Luminescence for Organics & Chemicals), was built by Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS) in San Diego and is operated jointly by MSSS and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. JPL, which is managed for the agency by Caltech, built and manages operations of the Perseverance rover.
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/old-glory-on-the-red-planet/
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/mars-2020-perseverance/perseverance-rover/nasas-perseverance-rover-scours-mars-for-science/
Discovery Alert: Scientists Spot a Planetary Carousel
Jul 03, 2025
The Planets
KOI-134 b and KOI-134 c
The Discovery
A new investigation into old Kepler data has revealed that a planetary system once thought to house zero planets actually has two planets which orbit their star in a unique style, like an old-fashioned merry-go-round.
Key Facts
The KOI-134 system contains two planets which orbit their star in a peculiar fashion on two different orbital planes, with one planet exhibiting significant variation in transit times. This is the first-discovered system of its kind.
Details
Over a decade ago, scientists used NASA's Kepler Space Telescope to observe the KOI-134 system and thought that it might have a planet orbiting, but they deemed this planet candidate to be a false positive, because its transits (or passes in front of its star) were not lining up as expected.
These transits were so abnormal that the planet was actually weeded out through an automated system as a false positive before it could be analyzed further.
However, NASA’s commitment to openly sharing scientific data means that researchers can constantly revisit old observations to make new discoveries.
In this new study, researchers re-analyzed this Kepler data on KOI-134 and confirmed that not only is the "false positive" actually a real planet, but the system has two planets and some really interesting orbital dynamics!
First, the "false positive" planet, named KOI-134 b, was confirmed to be a warm Jupiter (or a warm planet of a similar size to Jupiter).
Through this analysis, researchers uncovered that the reason this planet eluded confirmation previously is because it experiences what are called transit timing variations (TTVs), or small differences in a planet's transit across its star that can make its transit "early" or "late" because the planet is being pushed or pulled by the gravity from another planet which was also revealed in this study.
Researchers estimate that KOI-134 b transits across its star as much as 20 hours "late" or "early," which is a significant variation. In fact, it was so significant that it's the reason why the planet wasn't confirmed in initial observations.
As these TTVs are caused by the gravitational interaction with another planet, this discovery also revealed a planetary sibling: KOI-134 c.
Through studying this system in simulations that include these TTVs, the team found that KOI-134 c is a planet slightly smaller than Saturn and closer to its star than KOI-134 b.
KOI-134 c previously eluded observation because it orbits on a tilted orbital plane, a different plane from KOI-134 b, and this tilted orbit prevents the planet from transiting its star.
The two orbital planes of these planets are about 15 degrees different from one another, also known as a mutual inclination of 15 degrees, which is significant.
Due to the gravitational push and pull between these two planets, their orbital planes also tilt back and forth.
Another interesting feature of this planetary system is something called resonance.
These two planets have a 2 to 1 resonance, meaning within the same time that one planet completes one orbit, the other completes two orbits.
In this case, KOI-134 b has an orbital period (the time it takes a planet to complete one orbit) of about 67 days, which is twice the orbital period of KOI-134 c, which orbits every 33-34 days.
Between the separate orbital planes tilting back and forth, the TTVs, and the resonance, the two planets orbit their star in a pattern that resembles two wooden ponies bobbing up and down as they circle around on an old-fashioned merry go round.
Fun Facts
While this system started as a false positive with Kepler, this re-analysis of the data reveals a vibrant system with two planets.
In fact, this is the first-ever discovered compact, multiplanetary system that isn't flat, has such a significant TTV, and experiences orbital planes tilting back and forth.
Also, most planetary systems do not have high mutual inclinations between close planet pairs. In addition to being a rarity, mutual inclinations like this are also not often measured because of challenges within the observation process.
So, having measurements like this of a significant mutual inclination in a system, as well as measurements of resonance and TTVs, provides a clear picture of dynamics within a planetary system which we are not always able to see.
The Discoverers
A team of scientists led by Emma Nabbie of the University of Southern Queensland published a paper on June 27 on their discovery, "A high mutual inclination system around KOI-134 revealed by transit timing variations," in the journal "Nature Astronomy."
https://science.nasa.gov/universe/exoplanets/discovery-alert-scientists-spot-a-planetary-carousel/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-025-02594-8
Wildfires in Izmir Province, Turkey
July 3, 2025
Large wildfires burning in Izmir Province, Turkey, are seen in the image above.
The large cluster of fire points in the center of the image are burning near the Aegean coastal town of Cesme, and the large cluster of fires to the east of that are burning near the town of Odemis.
These fires are thought to have been sparked by electrical lines and quickly ignited dry grasses. Fierce winds then fueled the fire's spread.
The region has been experiencing a heat wave, low humidity, and strong winds, providing optimal conditions for fires to spread fast.
The true-color corrected reflectance image was captured on July 3, 2025, by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard the joint NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP platform and is overlaid with the Fires and Thermal Anomalies layer, represented as red dots on the map.
The image above shows the various nighttime lights in the region from lights emanating from cities and towns and along highways. The wildfires are identified by overlaying the Fires and Thermal Anomalies layer.
The Black Marble Nighttime Blue/Yellow Composite (Day/Night Band) is a false-color composite using VIIRS at-sensor radiance and the brightness temperatures from the M15 band. Data are provided by NASA's VJ146A1 product using NOAA-20 platform observations.
Originally designed by the U.S. Naval Research Lab and incorporated into NASA research and applications efforts, the Black Marble false-color scheme shows nighttime city lights in shades of yellow with infrared and nighttime cloud presence in shades of blue.
During bright moonlight conditions, moonlight reflected from cloud tops and the land surface may also add a yellow hue to these features.
Comparisons of cloud-free conditions before and after a period of significant change, such as new city growth, disasters, fires, or other factors, may exhibit a change in emitted light (yellows) from those features over time.
https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/news/worldview-image-archive/wildfires-izmir-province-turkey
https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/
'We are proud to serve our country, both on Earth and in space': NASA astronauts beam home July 4 message from ISS
July 4, 2025
Three NASA astronauts living aboard the International Space Station (ISS) marked Independence Day with a few heartfelt words for their compatriots here on Earth.
It was written by the American members of the station's current Expedition 73 mission, Nichole Ayers, Jonny Kim and Anne McClain.
All three are members of the U.S military — Ayers is a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, McClain is an Army colonel and Kim is a lieutenant commander in the Navy, as well as a former SEAL — so Independence Day has a special meaning for them.
"This is a special holiday for me. It just reminds us of the freedom that we get to enjoy and that we have enjoyed for so many years," Ayers said in a 160-second video, which was recorded on June 16 but posted by NASA on Thursday (July 3).
"Protecting that freedom is important to all of us here as military officers, but also NASA astronauts," she added. "And we are proud to serve our country, both on Earth and in space."
"For me, the Fourth of July represents the responsibilities that we each have — to whom much is given, much is expected," McClain said.
"Our forefathers gave us the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and every generation must protect that for future generations."
Kim said the Fourth of July is a "deep day of reflection" for him, an occasion to remember American ideals and honor the sacrifices of those who have helped uphold them.
"And to those following our mission, the spirit of exploration, just like the spirit of freedom and democracy, is what has made our country so great," he added.
The trio spoke in front of a large American flag, which they had affixed to an ISS module wall. They also provided more patriotic flair toward the end of the video: All three did a celebratory backflip, revealing socks with a stars-and-stripes theme.
Ayers, McClain and Kim aren't the only Americans currently living on the orbiting lab. It also houses record-setting former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who's now the director of human spaceflight for the Houston-based company Axiom Space.
Whitson is commanding Axiom's four-person Ax-4 mission, which arrived at the ISS on June 26 for a roughly two-week stay.
Her three crewmates are pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India; mission specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a European Space Agency astronaut from Poland; and mission specialist Tibor Kapu, who hails from Hungary.
There are four other people on station at the moment as well, all of them members of Expedition 73: cosmonauts Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, as well as Takuya Onishi of JAXA (the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency).
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/we-are-proud-to-serve-our-country-both-on-earth-and-in-space-nasa-astronauts-beam-home-july-4-message-from-iss-video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbymsx1N35k
https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/private-lunar-landing-how-blue-ghost-measured-the-moons-electric-and-magnetic-fields
Private lunar landing: How Blue Ghost measured the moon's electric and magnetic fields
July 3, 2025
After achieving a touchdown in early March within the moon's Mare Crisium impact basin, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander became an on-duty robotic scientist.
Kicking up dust and rocks, the Blue Ghost Mission-1's March 2 moon landing marked the start of executing NASA-backed Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) instruments.
The moon lander wrapped up more than 14 Earth days of surface operations (346 hours of daylight) and worked just over five hours into the super-chilly lunar night — checkmark accomplishments after performing the first fully successful commercial moon landing.
Deep dive
One of those investigations involved a distinctive deep dive into studying the interior of the moon.
Blue Ghost deployed four tethered Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder (LMS) electrodes at 90-degree angles to each other onto the lunar surface, shot far from the lander's top deck.
It also unleashed a tall, mast-mounted magnetometer that extended some 8 feet (2.4 meters) above the lunar surface to reduce interference from the lander and to work in tandem with the "shoot from the deck" electrodes.
LMS was designed to measure the moon's electric and magnetic fields.
Developed by the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), the instrument aimed to gather data that would reveal insights into the moon's mantle, revealing how it has cooled and chemically evolved since its formation.
The LMS payload was funded for delivery to the lunar surface through NASA's CLPS initiative. SwRI designed the instrument, built its electronics box and led the science investigation.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland provided the LMS magnetometer to measure the magnetic fields, and Heliospace Corporation provided the magnetometer mast and four electrodes used to measure the electrical fields.
Wham, there it goes
"The data is shaping up," said SwRI's Robert Grimm, the LMS principal investigator. "The electrodes all worked," he told Space.com, adding that they arched some 80 feet (25 m) away from Blue Ghost to their respective landing spots.
While the core LMS technique is used every day on Earth, Grimm said it was the first extraterrestrial application of magnetotellurics. "And ours are laying on the surface of the moon."
On Earth, the method is used for finding oil, water, geothermal and mineral resources, as well as to understand geologic processes such as the growth of continents.
Grimm remembers awaiting the electrode deployments while sitting in a SwRI operations center.
"Then suddenly, wham, there it goes. It was a pretty exciting moment. There were a lot of high fives," said Grimm. All the deployments happened with the LMS team immediately starting to take test data.
"We got some really great swaths of high-rate data that are going to be the real heart of our experiment…the best data nuggets for us to analyze," said Grimm. LMS operated for 13 days, he said, with what was learned forthcoming in a few months.
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Payload birthright
The road to the moon was a long one.
Indeed, the LMS payload's development goes back years, Grimm said, stemming from SwRI internal funding for prototype landing instruments for two icy ocean moons — Jupiter's Europa and Saturn's Enceladus.
For the LMS proposal to NASA, Grimm said the team could point to heritage hardware that had been subjected to vibration and thermal-vacuum testing. "You are not going to be picked if you don't have hardware," Grimm said, "and writing proposals is like breathing for us."
Moreover, the team's moon instrument pitch put forward the idea of landing at Mare Crisium, Grimm recalled, "because it's outside where all the Apollo landings were. We wanted to look at a part of the moon that we thought would offer a different interior composition."
Once selected, and through a consensus process with NASA, Firefly Aerospace, and the other payload selectees, Blue Ghost was targeted for Mare Crisium.
Team building
Throughout the process of scoping out Blue Ghost's mission, deliberations were ongoing and focused on power needs, how long experiments would run, data requirements, baseline minimums and maximums, and other specifics.
"There was a team-building process. Maybe it happened naturally over that time. We got to know them, they got to know us," Grimm said, pointing out that the CLPS contract with Firefly Aerospace was geared to delivering science gathered on the lunar surface.
The Blue Ghost lunar lander was lofted moonward on Jan. 15, 2025 by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
As an in-person viewer of the early morning liftoff from 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) away, "it was exciting and louder than I thought it would be. It made car alarms go off.
But it didn't rattle the change in my pocket," said Grimm. "A person from SpaceX reminded us we're going to the moon from the Apollo launch pad!"
Themes and expressions
On moon landing day, "it was very smooth. Everything tracked all the way down," Grimm said.
Following the nearly two weeks of LMS operating on the moon, as sunset fell on the Blue Ghost machinery, the experiment was turned off. "It was a poignant moment," Grimm recalled. "We cracked a beer, made a toast, and that was it."
A number of moon research signals became evident to Grimm. For one, themes and expressions used around the Commercial Lunar Payload Services concept like "more shots on goal" and "FedEx to the moon" are bothersome, he said.
It's still hard
Given the CLPS lunar landings to date, and the less-than-hoped-for moon science produced, there's a high failure rate at work.
Also, the FedEx notion of simply bolting on your experiment and waiting for the data to roll in doesn't really hold.
"We thought that we were going to turn it on and that was going to be it. Instead, it was a rollercoaster the whole way," Grimm said.
"I'm hopeful that the CLPS is making progress. There's a half-dozen missions already cued up next," Grimm explained.
It's still spaceflight, Grimm stressed. "It's still hard. In some sense harder than it used to be because it has got to be done for so cheap. So it's hard." And many moon mysteries remain, even how it was formed in the first place.
"The giant impact theory is and has been the leading theory. It explains more than anything else," said Grimm. However, he added, "anything in science is subject to revision if you get more and better data. We don't have all the answers as yet."
2/2
A newly forming ocean may split Africa apart, scientists say
July 2, 2025
A plume of molten rock deep beneath eastern Africa is pulsing upward in rhythmic surges, slowly splitting the continent apart and potentially marking the birth of a new ocean.
At least, that's what a team of researchers led by Emma Watts of the Swansea University in the U.K. recently discovered.
More specifically, the scientists' new study found that the Afar region of Ethiopia is underlain by a plume of hot mantle that rises and falls in a repeated pattern, almost like "a beating heart."
These pulses, the team says, are closely tied to overlying tectonic plates and play a key role in the slow rifting of the African continent.
"We found that the mantle beneath Afar is not uniform or stationary — it pulses, and these pulses carry distinct chemical signatures," Watts said in a statement.
"That's important for how we think about the interaction between Earth's interior and its surface."
The Afar region, which covers the northeastern region of Ethiopia, is one of the few places on Earth where three tectonic rift systems meet — the Red Sea Rift, the Gulf of Aden Rift and the Main Ethiopian Rift.
As the tectonic plates in this so-called "triple junction" are pulled apart over millions of years, the crust stretches, thins, and eventually breaks, signaling an early step in the formation of a new ocean basin.
Geologists have long suspected that a plume of hot mantle lies beneath this region and helps drive the rifting process — but, until now, little was known about how that plume behaves.
To study what lies beneath, researchers collected over 100 volcanic rock samples from across Afar and the Main Ethiopian Rift.
They combined this fieldwork with existing geophysical data and advanced statistical modeling to better understand the structure and composition of the crust and underlying mantle.
Their analysis revealed a single, asymmetric plume beneath the region, marked by repeating chemical patterns or "geological barcodes," according to the new study."
The chemical striping suggests the plume is pulsing," study co-author Tom Gernon of the University of Southampton said in the statement.
"In places where the plates are thinner or pulling apart faster, like the Red Sea Rift, those pulses move more efficiently — like blood through a narrow artery."
"We found that the evolution of deep mantle upwellings is intimately tied to the motion of the plates above," study co-author Derek Keir of the University of Southampton added in the same statement.
"This has profound implications for how we interpret surface volcanism, earthquake activity, and the process of continental breakup."
https://www.space.com/astronomy/earth/a-newly-forming-ocean-may-split-africa-apart-scientists-say
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/press-office/news-events/news/2025/06/scientists-detect-deep-earth-pulses-beneath-africa.php
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-025-01717-0
Boeing Secures $2.8B Contract to Enhance U.S. Strategic SATCOM Capabilities
July 3, 2025
Boeing [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a $2.8B contract for the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (ESS) program, the space-based component of the U.S. nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) architecture.
The initial contract is for two satellites, with options for two more in the future.
“It’s a critical time to advance U.S. space capabilities to ensure peace through strength,” said Cordell DeLaPena, the U.S. Space Force Program Executive Officer for the Military Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Directorate.
“The strategic communication mission requires protection, power and always-available capability, even through adversary attempts to interrupt our connectivity.
These satellites will provide connectivity from space as part of a refreshed NC3 architecture for our nation.”
The ESS space vehicles will provide increased capacity, flexibility, reliability and resilience compared to the strategic communications satellites currently on orbit.
Since 2020, Boeing has been executing technical maturation and risk reduction under a rapid prototyping contract for the U.S. Space Force.
“The U.S. needs a strategic national security architecture that works without fail, with the highest level of protection and capability,” said Kay Sears, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space, Intelligence and Weapon Systems.
“We designed an innovative system to provide guaranteed communication to address an evolving threat environment in space.”
Boeing’s ESS solution is underpinned by technology the company has developed for the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)-11 and WGS-12 satellites and has already proven on-orbit aboard the commercial O3b mPOWER constellation.
Building on these developments, this strategic military communications satellite constellation will be equipped with flexible and resilient signals to protect against interruption or interception.
“This win validates all the investments and innovations we’ve made in our satellite technology, creating a technically mature and low-risk offering for the government,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing Space Mission Systems.
“We scaled our production capacity, invested in our team, hired cleared talent, and assembled hot production lines to make sure that we can hit the ground running from day one.
We are committed to delivering this critical capability to meet the strategic need.”
When deployed in geostationary orbit – about 22,000 miles or 35,700 km from the Earth’s surface – ESS will provide persistent coverage to strategic warfighters worldwide.
The spacecraft will leverage a highly protected waveform and classified technologies developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense.
Boeing is set to deliver the first of two space vehicles by 2031.
https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=131563
China successfully launches new test satellite
2025-07-03 20:47:45
XICHANG, July 3 (Xinhua) – China sent a new test satellite into space on Thursday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan.
The Shiyan-28B 01 satellite was launched at 5:35 p.m. (Beijing Time) aboard a Long March-4C carrier rocket and entered the preset orbit successfully.
The satellite will be mainly used for space environment exploration and related technology tests.
This is the 583rd flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.
https://english.news.cn/20250703/5473df98fefd451fbcf1801cc019c6ff/c.html
Royal New Zealand Air Force establishes first dedicated space unit
3 Jul, 2025 11:24 PM
The Royal New Zealand Air Force has established its first dedicated space unit, within a squadron that hasn’t been active since World War II.
The 62 Squadron, which originally supported Allied operations with radar technology during World War II, was reactivated today at a formal ceremony at the RNZAF Base Auckland.
Space Minister Judith Collins said it reflected the Government’s commitment to protecting the country’s interests and security in the “rapidly evolving space domain”.
“Space is vital for modern life. We rely on space-based infrastructure for a range of critical services, from weather observation to financial transactions.
This is an important signal that we’re taking space security seriously.”
The unit’s initial focus would be on monitoring, analysing and understanding space activity to “safeguard national and international interests”, Collins said.
“Recent global developments have highlighted the need for resilient, advanced defence capabilities.”
Collins, who is also the Defence Minister, said this was part of the work the Defence Force was doing to maintain a “combat-capable, flexible” force.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/royal-new-zealand-air-force-establishes-first-dedicated-space-unit/LF4OKJISQFCFBDBUUWBHQOIVNU/
>TRUMP CARD COMING.
Space Systems Command Awards $2.8B Contract to Deliver the First Two Satellites for Modernized Strategic Communication
July 3, 2025
Summary: Space Systems Command has awarded one contract to The Boeing Company to build and deliver the first two Space Vehicles, with options for two additional Space Vehicles, that will support Initial Operational Capability for strategic warfighters and assure continuity of the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications mission execution
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – The United State Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) awarded a $2.8B contract to The Boeing Company to build and deliver the first two satellites of the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (SATCOM) [ESS] program.
ESS replaces the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) capability currently provided by the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) system, modernizing this crucial element of the nation’s strategic capabilities with advanced technologies and approaches that more efficiently and effectively meet the needs of our warfighters against threats today.
With options for two additional satellites, this delivery will support Initial Operational Capability and is the first step in a phased approach to rapidly proliferate a diverse satellite constellation.
The ESS program, part of SSC’s Military Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Program Executive Office, will provide the primary strategic SATCOM capability for NC3 users worldwide, enabling joint nuclear warfighters to deliver capabilities across the full spectrum of military operations from peacetime through conflict.
With a resilient architecture, ESS will ensure America’s modernized nuclear triad functions as a deterrent capability in the face of both conventional and nuclear threats.
ESS will also continue Advanced EHF’s legacy of partnering with key international allies to deliver peace through strength through integrated deterrence.
This effort builds on the accomplishments of individual contracts under the Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototyping acquisition efforts that were awarded to Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and The Boeing Company in 2020.
During this phase, SSC drove defense innovation, leveraged competition, matured mission requirements, and reduced performance risk to critical technology elements in high-risk areas.
This culminated in the achievement of compliant preliminary segment designs and end-to-end prototype demonstrations, significantly advancing the modernization of the NC3 enterprise.
“Today’s award culminates nearly five years of industry competition and Government partnership to show the Space Force’s readiness to spearhead the modernization of the NC3 enterprise with the development and production of the ESS weapon system,” explained Col A.J. Ashby, Program Director for ESS.
“The result for our Nation will be the delivery of resilient space-based capabilities that will command and control our nuclear forces through all operational environments, critical functions necessary for enduring nuclear deterrence.”
The ESS system of systems is composed of Cryptographic, Ground, and Space Segments procured by the Space Force and a User Terminal Segment procured by the individual Services. The first four satellites will be delivered under a cost reimbursement contract.
As part of the larger $12B ESS Space Segment acquisition, additional satellites are planned to be procured through fixed price contract actions that may be awarded as sole source to support Full Operational Capability and attain global coverage, including enhanced Arctic capability.
ESS is threat-driven and risk-informed in order to evolve faster than adversaries can adapt.
The ESS program uses agile acquisition approaches across all of its segments, including targeted MTA prototyping activities, Other Transaction Authorities, and the Software Acquisition Pathway, to put capability in the hands of warfighters faster while saving taxpayer dollars.
With this contract award, ESS is poised to deliver resilient NC3 satellites in a fraction of the cost and time of legacy programs.
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4235257/space-systems-command-awards-28b-contract-to-deliver-the-first-two-satellites-f
Space Systems Command set to strengthen operational environment with enhanced global weather sensing
Published July 3, 2025
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AFNS) – Space Systems Command laid the groundwork for enhanced weather, research, development and prototyping capabilities with the USSF-178 National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 task order awarded June 27.
The $81,613,951 multi-manifest mission awarded to SpaceX makes use of available launch vehicle capacity to efficiently deliver capability to orbit.
This award leverages industry advancements to streamline integration and condense timelines, providing responsive launch options to meet emergent operational needs, including the rapid integration of spacecraft within three months of launch.
The USSF-178 mission will include SSC’s Weather System Follow-on – Microwave Space Vehicle 2, which will provide global sensing to increase prediction model performance.
It will also include BLAZE-2, a launch opportunity for operational, research, development and prototype small satellites from across the Defense Department. The mission is expected to launch in the first half of fiscal year 2027.
“We deliver assured access to space and maximize value for the American taxpayer, a commitment reflected in this USSF-178 launch service award,” explained Col. Matthew Flahive, Launch Mission Solutions Delta chief.
“It is a strategic advantage when we can flexibly manifest small satellites on our launch vehicles with additional capacity to support emergent operational requirements and the research and development community.”
USSF-178 is the third Task Order issued under Phase 3 Lane 1. SSC intends to award more missions later this year for mission partners, National Reconnaissance Office and the Space Development Agency.
Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for acquiring, developing and delivering resilient capabilities to outpace emerging threats and protect our nation’s strategic advantage in, from, and to space.
SSC manages a $15.6 billion annual space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense, working with joint forces, industry partners, government agencies, academia, and allied nations.
For more information, visit ssc.spaceforce.mil and follow @USSF-SSC on LinkedIn.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4234397/space-systems-command-set-to-strengthen-operational-environment-with-enhanced-g/
Kiev ablaze after reported overnight missile and drone barrage
4 Jul, 2025 02:01
Ukrainian officials have claimed that the Russian military launched a wave of missile and drone strikes targeting the capital early Friday. The Russian Ministry of Defense has yet to comment.
The first strikes were reported shortly after midnight, with Mayor Vitaly Klitschko urging residents to seek shelter as the capital’s air defenses engaged incoming targets.
Officials confirmed that by 4am, several mostly non-residential facilities in multiple districts had been hit in successive waves.
There were no immediate reports of fatalities, but Klitschko said at least 14 people were injured after falling debris from intercepted missiles and drones triggered fires in residential areas and private yards.
Multiple blurred-out videos shared on Ukrainian social media appear to show the aftermath of the strikes, with numerous fires lighting up the skyline of Kiev.
Officials confirmed at least 13 impacts in different parts of the capital.
The exact locations and types of facilities hit are difficult to verify, as the Ukrainian authorities heavily censor the flow of information and punish those who share footage of the impacts – unless a civilian facility is affected.
The Russian Defense Ministry has not yet issued a statement on the incident. Moscow regularly conducts drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure, maintaining that its operations do not target civilians and accusing Kiev of placing air defense systems in densely populated areas.
The reported strikes came just hours after President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with his US counterpart, during which Donald Trump reportedly urged Russia to cease hostilities in Ukraine as soon as possible.
Putin reaffirmed Moscow’s openness to a negotiated solution, but reportedly stated that Russia would not back down until the “well-known root causes” of the conflict are addressed.
Despite several rounds of direct negotiations in Istanbul in recent months, Kiev has continued long-range attacks on Russian territory, including nightly drone raids.
On Friday Morning, a woman was killed when a drone crashed into an apartment building in Rostov Region.
On Tuesday, a Ukrainian drone strike caused multiple fatalities and serious injuries at an industrial plant in the city of Izhevsk around 1,000km (620 miles) east of Moscow.
On Monday, a woman was killed and three others injured in a missile strike on the Donetsk People’s Republic.
https://www.rt.com/russia/620968-kiev-missile-drone-strikes-fires/
https://twitter.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1940946520876183826
https://t.me/ASupersharij/42558
https://twitter.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1940944983500218749
https://t.me/ASupersharij/42565
Its in that grave over there
Ukrainian drones strike Russian plant making Shahed warheads near Moscow
04/07/2025
Ukrainian drones struck a critical military-linked facility in Russia’s Moscow Oblast that produces thermobaric warheads for Shahed drones, the Ukrainian General Staff reported on 4 July.
The strike ignited a fire and caused visible black smoke, while Russian local authorities acknowledged drone-related damage in the area.
The Ukrainian military noted that the operation was part of broader efforts to degrade Russia’s ability to carry out airstrikes and to compel Russia to halt its aggression.
Russia uses its Iranian-designed Shahed explosive drones, carrying up to 50 kg of explosives, in hundreds every day, targeting Ukrainian civilian areas.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, units from the Unmanned Systems Forces, together with other Defense Forces, hit the JSC “Scientific Research Institute of Applied Chemistry” in Sergiev Posad, Moscow Oblast.
The report emphasized that the facility is currently involved in the production of thermobaric warheads for Shahed-type UAVs and plays a vital role in Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
“It is confirmed that our strike assets reached the target directly. A fire and heavy smoke were recorded in the area of the facility,” the Ukrainian military stated.
The effects of the strike are still being assessed, according to the report.
Fires and explosions in Sergiev Posad
On the morning of 4 July, Oksana Yerokhanova, head of the Sergiev Posad city district, confirmed that drones had attacked the town.
She reported that a fire broke out at an electrical substation, leaving six neighborhoods without power.Yerokhanova also reported that two men were allegedly injured during the incident.
Geolocation confirms strike on key industrial site
Ukrainian Telegram channel ExileNova+ geolocated the black smoke column to Substation No. 94 “Zagorsk” (110/35/6 kV), believed to be part of the “Scientific Research Institute of Applied Chemistry.”
Founded in 1945, the facility develops and manufactures pyrotechnic products for both military and civilian uses. It is a subsidiary of Rostec and is under international sanctions due to its involvement in Russian military programs.
Additional footage shared by Exilenova+ shows Liutyi drones flying past the smoke column and striking separate locations.
Despite claiming the destruction of 48 drones overnight, the Russian Ministry of Defense did not mention any incidents in Moscow Oblast in its public statements.
https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/07/04/ukrainian-drones-strike-russian-plant-making-shahed-warheads-near-moscow/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxEhbT6Y8Ls
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/international/kremlin-under-attack-ukraines-massive-drone-blitz-shakes-moscow-fire-plumes-of-smoke-grip-city/videoshow/122251354.cms
Ukrainian Drone Boat Launches Bomber Drones To Destroy Russian Radar
July 4, 2025
In a major advancement in drone warfare, Ukraine has launched a bomber drone from a drone boat to destroy a high-value Russian radar system in occupied Crimea.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense confirmed that the strike took place overnight between July 1 and 2, 2025.
According to their statement, a Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel (USV), also called a drone boat, sailed close to the coast of Crimea carrying a heavy bomber drone on its deck.
Once it reached a suitable distance, the drone was launched from the boat.
The sea drone had a satellite uplink system that helped maintain communication with the bomber drone throughout the mission.
The drone flew over the coastline and reached a parking area where it located the Russian Nebo-M radar system.
It then dropped munitions and destroyed three key components: an RLM-M VHF radar, an RLM-D AESA L-band radar, and a command post truck.
The Nebo-M radar system is a multiband, high-tech air defense radar known for its ability to detect stealth aircraft and hypersonic missiles.
It usually includes one to three large truck-mounted radar arrays and can work with S-300 and S-400 missile systems for tracking and guidance. Due to these advanced capabilities, such radars are important targets for Ukraine.
This new tactic offers several advantages. Unlike FPV (first-person view) drones used in earlier missions, bomber drones can carry heavier explosives and attack more than one target in a single flight.
They also do not need to crash into the target, allowing them to remain in the air longer and hit multiple positions before returning or running out of power.
Ukraine has also developed bomber drones that can launch guided munitions, making them more effective.
In March 2025, Ukraine had already used FPV drones launched from drone boats to hit Russian radars and surface-to-air missile systems. The new use of bomber drones increases the range and power of such attacks.
A popular Russian Telegram channel called Two Majors acknowledged the attack.
They said the drone boat managed to approach unnoticed and launched bomber drones equipped with drop systems. They pointed out that these drones were able to carry out several strikes each.
One of the bomber drones was recovered by Russian forces. The channel also claimed that the sea drone was later destroyed by Russian aircraft, though no proof was provided.
Ukraine’s use of drone boats has already had a major impact on the war at sea. With U.S. support and satellite communication technology, Ukraine has created a series of advanced unmanned boats like the Magura V5.
These vessels have been used along with anti-ship missiles to force the Russian Navy out of the western Black Sea. Per reports, about one-third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been sunk or damaged through drone boat swarms and precision strikes.
The Magura V5 is the most advanced of Ukraine’s sea drones so far. In December 2024, a Magura boat armed with missiles shot down a Russian helicopter, marking the first time in history that an unmanned boat had taken down an aircraft.
In May 2025, another Magura was used to shoot down a Russian Su-30 fighter jet, which was the first time a fast jet had ever been brought down by a drone boat.
https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/video-ukrainian-drone-boat-launches-bomber-drones-to-destroy-russian-radar/