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https://science.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/advancing-single-photon-sensing-image-sensors-to-enable-the-search-for-life-beyond-earth/
https://techport.nasa.gov/projects/158668
Advancing Single-Photon Sensing Image Sensors to Enable the Search for Life Beyond Earth
Sep 02, 2025
Are we alone in the universe? This age-old question has inspired scientific exploration for centuries. If life on other planets evolves similarly to life on Earth, it can imprint its presence in atmospheric spectral features known asbiosignatures.
They include absorption and emission lines in the spectrum produced by oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, and other molecules that could indicate conditions which can support life.
A future NASA astrophysics mission, the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), will seek to find biosignatures in the ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared (NIR) spectra of exoplanet atmospheres to look for evidence that life may exist elsewhere in the universe.
HWO will need highly sensitive detector technology to detect these faint biosignatures on distant exoplanets. The Single-Photon Sensing Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (SPSCMOS) image sensor is a promising technology for this application.
These silicon-based sensors can detect and resolve individual optical-wavelength photons using a low-capacitance, high-gain floating diffusion sense node. They operate effectively over a broad temperature range, including at room temperature.
They have near-zero read noise, are tolerant to radiation, and generate very little unwanted signal—such as dark current. When cooled to 250 K, the dark current drops to just one electron every half-hour.
If either the read noise or dark current is too high, the sensor will fail to detect the faint signals that biosignatures produce.
A research team at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Center for Detectors (CfD) is accelerating the readiness of these SPSCMOS sensors for use in space missions through detector technology maturation programs funded by NASA’s Strategic Astrophysics Technology and Early Stage Innovations solicitations.
These development programs include several key goals:
Characterize critical detector performance metrics like dark current, quantum efficiency, and read noise before, during, and after exposure to high-energy radiation
Develop new readout modes for these sensors to mitigate effects from short-term and long-term radiation damage
Design a new NIR version of the sensor using Technology Computer-Aided Design (TCAD) software
SPSCMOS sensors operate similarly to traditional CMOS image sensors but are optimized to detect individual photons—an essential capability for ultra-sensitive space-based observations, such as measuring the gases in the atmospheres of exoplanets.
Incoming photons enter the sensor and generate free charges (electrons) in the sensor material.
These charges collect in a pixel’s storage well and eventually transfer to a low-capacitance component called the floating diffusion (FD) sense node where each free charge causes a large and resolved voltage shift.
This voltage shift is then digitized to read the signal.
Experiments that measure sensor performance in a space relevant environment use a vacuum Dewar and a thermally-controlled mount to allow precise tuning of the sensors temperature.
The Dewar enables testing at conditions that match the expected thermal environment of the HWO instrument, and can even cool the sensor and its on-chip circuits to temperatures colder than any prior testing reported for this detector family.
These tests are critical for revealing performance limitations with respect to detector metrics like dark current, quantum efficiency, and read noise.
As temperatures change, the electrical properties of on-chip circuits can also change, which affects the read out of charge in a pixel.
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The radiation-rich environment for HWO will cause temporary and permanent effects in the sensor.
These effects can corrupt the signal measured in a pixel, interrupt sensor clocking and digital logic, and can cause cumulative damage that gradually degrades sensor performance.
To mitigate the loss of detector sensitivity throughout a mission lifetime, the RIT team is developing new readout modes that are not available in commercial CMOS sensors.
These custom modes sample the signal over time (a "ramp" acquisition) to enable the detection and removal of cosmic ray artifacts.
In one mode, when the system identifies an artifact, it segments the signal ramp and selectively averages the segments to reconstruct the original signal—preserving scientific data that would otherwise be lost.
In addition, a real-time data acquisition system monitors the detector’s power consumption, which may change from the accumulation of damage throughout a mission.
The acquisition system records these shifts and communicates with the detector electronics to adjust voltages and maintain nominal operation. These radiation damage mitigation strategies will be evaluated during a number of test programs at ground-based radiation facilities.
The tests will help identify unique failure mechanisms that impact SPSCMOS technology when it is exposed to radiation equivalent to the dose expected for HWO.
While existing SPSCMOS sensors are limited to detecting visible light due to their silicon-based design, the RIT team is developing the world’s first NIR single-photon photodiode based on the architecture used in the optical sensors.
The photodiode design starts as a simulation in TCAD software to model the optical and electrical properties of the low-capacitance CMOS architecture.
The model simulates light-sensitive circuits using both silicon and Mercury Cadmium Telluride (HgCdTe or MCT) material to determine how well the pixel would measure photo-generated charge if a semiconductor foundry physically fabricated it.
It has 2D and 3D device structures that convert light into electrical charge, and circuits to control charge transfer and signal readout with virtual probes that can measure current flow and electric potential.
These simulations help to evaluate the key mechanisms like the conversion of light into electrons, storing and transferring the electrons, and the output voltage of the photodiode sampling circuit.
In addition to laboratory testing, the project includes performance evaluations at a ground-based telescope. These tests allow the sensor to observe astronomical targets that cannot be fully replicated in lab.
Star fields and diffuse nebulae challenge the detector’s full signal chain under real sky backgrounds with faint flux levels, field-dependent aberrations, and varying seeing conditions.
These observations help identify performance limitations that may not be apparent in controlled laboratory measurements.
In January 2025, a team of researchers led by PhD student Edwin Alexani used an SPSCMOS-based camera at the C.E.K. Mees Observatory in Ontario County, New York.
They observed star cluster M36 to evaluate the sensor’s photometric precision, and the Bubble Nebula in a narrow-band H-alpha filter. The measured dark current and read noise were consistent with laboratory results.
The team observed photometric reference stars to estimate the quantum efficiency (QE) or the ability for the detector to convert photons into signal. The calculated QE agreed with laboratory measurements, despite differences in calibration methods.
The team also observed the satellite STARLINK-32727 as it passed through the telescope’s field of view and measured negligible persistent charge—residual signal that can remain in detector pixels after exposure to a bright source.
Although the satellite briefly produced a bright streak across several pixels due to reflected sunlight, the average latent charge in affected pixels was only 0.03 e-/pix – well below both the sky-background and sensor’s read noise.
As NASA advances and matures the HWO mission, SPSCMOS technology promises to be a game-changer for exoplanet and general astrophysics research.
These sensors will enhance our ability to detect and analyze distant worlds, bringing us one step closer to answering one of humanity’s most profound questions: are we alone?
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Venus Aerospace Appoints Former NASA Leader to Its Board of Directors
September 2, 2025 10:15 AM EDT
Venus Aerospace, the Houston-based startup redefining rocket engine propulsion, today announced the appointment of aerospace veteran Pamela Melroy, former NASA Deputy Administrator, to its Board of Directors.
Melroy is one of the most accomplished figures in aerospace, whose career spans military, government, commercial, and international leadership.
Her experiences include flying combat missions in the U.S. Air Force, sustaining America's International Space Station, and serving as a NASA astronaut.
As an executive leader at NASA, DARPA, and the FAA, Melroy shaped America's strategy in space, accelerated commercial space partnerships, and deepened space exploration.
In the private sector, Melroy has held industry leadership roles including at Lockheed Martin, as well as board and advisory positions with defense contractors, and has advised on the establishment of the Australian Space Agency.
Earlier in her career, Melroy became one of only two women to ever command a Space Shuttle mission.
"Pam is a preeminent leader in the world of aerospace and has already shaped the future of industry through her leadership at NASA," said Sassie Duggleby, Co-founder and CEO of Venus Aerospace.
"We're honored to welcome her at a moment when Venus has taken our historic rocket engine from concept to flight-proven. Pam brings extraordinary experience and vision to help us scale this breakthrough and capture a $100 billion propulsion market."
"Advanced rocket propulsion has been of interest to me for over a decade, and Venus Aerospace's recent achievements in demonstrating the stability of rotating detonation rocket engines represent a significant development.
I'm excited to join the team in scaling this transformational capability." said Melroy.
Redefining Propulsion: A Generational Leap in Technology 60 Years in the Making
Venus Aerospace has delivered the first major advance in rocket engines in more than six decades and is now the only company in the world with a flight-proven, high-thrust Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE).
In flight, Venus's RDRE delivers 15% greater efficiency than legacy systems and increases payload-to-orbit capacity by up to four times.
In May 2025, Venus completed the first-ever flight of its RDRE. This historic test proved that detonation-based propulsion is flight-ready and capable of outperforming legacy engines in efficiency, size, and cost.
Since then, Venus has seen a surge of interest in its engines across the multi-billion aerospace industry. With unmatched performance and a design built for scale, the company is positioned to be the premier propulsion company powering aerospace.
https://www.streetinsider.com/PRNewswire/Venus+Aerospace+Appoints+Former+NASA+Leader+to+Its+Board+of+Directors/25282788.html
https://www.venusaero.com/
Astronaut drove 900 miles to attack her ex's girlfriend in disturbing case that changed NASA forever
Updated 12:40 2 Sep 2025 GMT+1
An astronaut drove 900 miles to attack her ex’s girlfriend in a disturbing case that completely changed NASA forever.
The incident dates back to 2007 after Lisa Nowak, who is an American aeronautical engineer and former NASA astronaut, was selected to join the Space Shuttle Discovery on a 13-day mission in July 2006 where she acted as a mission flight engineer, operating the robotic arm for several spacewalks.
However, in February 2007, Nowak made the decision to drive 900 miles from Houston, Texas, all the way to Orlando, Florida, with items including a trench coat, wig, pepper spray, a BB gun, rope, trash bags and an 8-inch knife, found in her car.
At Orlando International Airport, the mother of three walked up to Colleen Shipman’s car and banged on the window.
Claiming that she needed a ride after her boyfriend had not turned up, Nowak burst into tears and Shipman rolled down her window.
Instantly, Nowak pepper sprayed her, shouting ‘you b****’, before running away. When she was later arrested, Nowak was charged with attempted murder and kidnapping.
The media discovered that Shipman had been dating Bill Oefelein, an astronaut that Nowak had previously had an affair with.
Prior to the attack, a jealous Nowak had snuck into Oefelein’s apartment and read emails between the couple. She also called him multiple times a day.
The case was later dubbed the ‘Astronaut Love Triangle’.
After initially pleading not guilty, Nowak later agreed to a plea deal and pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of burglary and misdemeanor battery. She was sentenced to a year’s probation.
During the court hearing, she said she was ‘sincerely sorry’ for her actions.
How did the Lisa Nowak incident change NASA?
In response to the incident, NASA changed the way the agency evaluates its astronauts’ mental well being. Instead of only having psychological evaluations at selection, going forward it would have continuous assessments.
It would also introduce mandated access to counseling for its staff as well as launching a formal astronaut Code of Conduct.
As of 2008, the Behavioural and Health Performance programme (BHP) was formed.
Nick Kanas, a psychiatrist who previously screened NASA astronauts, said: “Before 2008, psychiatric screening was only done for astronaut candidates.
“Now all astronauts are screened by a psychiatrist every year regardless if they are flying or not.” Oefelein and Shipman later got married, and Nowak is said to be living a quiet life in Texas, working in the private sector.
https://www.uniladtech.com/science/space/nasa-astronaut-slice-suit-glove-spacewalk-937716-20250502
https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/09/01/meet-luo-weiwei-a-former-nasa-scientist-who-became-chinas-semiconductor-trump-card
Meet Luo Weiwei: A Former Nasa scientist who became China’s semiconductor trump card
Monday, 01 Sep 2025 3:48 PM MYT
At a time when the United States is decoupling from China on cutting-edge chip technology, Nvidia has unveiled its list of suppliers for the advanced 800 VDC power architecture powering next-generation AI data centres.
Among American and European giants was an unexpected name: Innoscience, a Chinese company specialising in gallium nitride (GaN) technology.
Innoscience marks China’s growing clout in the high-stakes semiconductor race, and behind the company’s rapid rise is Luo Weiwei, a former Nasa scientist who spent 15 years advancing aerospace technologies in the US before returning to China.
Luo founded Innoscience in 2015, betting big on GaN – a material poised to redefine efficiency in power electronics.
In less than six years, her company became the world’s first to mass-produce 8-inch silicon-based GaN wafers, leapfrogging industry norms and positioning China at the forefront of third-generation semiconductor technology.
Now headquartered in Suzhou and publicly listed in Hong Kong, Innoscience is not only the largest dedicated GaN manufacturer globally but also a strategic asset in China’s quest for technological self-reliance.
With a 29.9 per cent share of the 2024 global GaN power device market and a production capacity racing towards 70,000 wafers per month, the company is fuelling everything from fast chargers to AI data centres and defence systems.
Luo Weiwei, the once low-key scientist, has quietly become one of China’s most powerful players in the battle for semiconductor supremacy.
GaN is a third-generation semiconductor material offering advantages such as higher energy efficiency and reduced size compared with traditional silicon-based chips.
It is widely used in devices such as chargers, 5G base stations, radar systems, military communications and aerospace applications.
According to Innoscience’s website, the company is involved in the design, development and production of various types of GaN products, including integrated circuits, wafers and modules, serving applications across multiple sectors such as consumer electronics, LED lighting, data centres and new energy vehicles.
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Information about her childhood and early education is limited. But according to a report on Tuesday by the Chinese new media platform QbitAI, Luo was born in 1970 and is said to have ancestral roots in Zhuji, Zhejiang province.
Luo earned her doctorate in applied mathematics from Massey University in New Zealand. In 1999, she joined a Nasa research institute and rose from senior project manager to chief scientist over the next 15 years.
According to QbitAI, she was working at Nasa’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where she researched rocket fuel combustion. Luo also established two companies that focus on new materials.
For her third venture in 2015, Luo set her sights on the emerging GaN technology. “GaN represents the future of third-generation semiconductors and China cannot afford to miss this opportunity again,” she was quoted as saying.
While 6-inch gallium nitride technology was widely adopted at the time, her start-up aimed to manufacture 8-inch chips because larger wafers deliver superior performance per unit cost. However, this increased the technical complexity exponentially.
According to a July report by a social media platform which features female entrepreneurs, Luo’s team initially faced many hardships. She led her engineers to the secondhand market to hunt for used machinery as the West refused to sell some of the critical equipment her company needed.
Backed by a good team, substantial government and private investment and a comprehensive local supply chain, Innoscience achieved a technological leap in under six years and began mass producing gallium-nitride-on-silicon (GaN-on-Si) power chips in 2021.
The company’s success also rested on China’s dominance of gallium. China produces 98 per cent of the world’s gallium and has banned its export to the US, making it more difficult and costly for the Pentagon to acquire GaN-based chips.
However, cross-border commercial disputes and geopolitical tensions between China and the US also cloud the prospects of the Chinese chipmaker, as Washington is pushing hard to constrain China’s chip development.
Last November, the US International Trade Commission ruled that Innoscience Technology had infringed a patent held by its American rival, Efficient Power Conversion Corp.
This month, the Munich Regional Court ordered the Chinese manufacturer to stop selling its gallium nitride products in Germany, ruling that they infringed a patent held by Infineon Technologies, Germany’s largest semiconductor manufacturer. – SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
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What’s Up: September 2025 Skywatching Tips from NASA
Sep 02, 2025
Saturn's spectacle, a Conjunction, and the Autumnal Equinox
Saturn shines throughout the month, a conjunction sparkles in the sky, and we welcome the autumnal equinox.
Skywatching Highlights
All of September: Saturn is visible
Sept. 19: A conjunction between the Moon, Venus, and Regulus
Sept. 21: Saturn is at opposition
Sept. 22: The autumnal equinox
Transcript
What’s Up for September? Saturn puts on a spectacular show, a sunrise conjunction shines bright, and we ring in the autumnal equinox.
Saturn at Opposition
Saturn will be putting on an out-of-this-world performance this month.
While Venus and Jupiter shine in the eastern morning sky, the ringed planet will be incredibly bright in the sky throughout September in the eastern evening sky and western early morning sky.
But why is Saturn the star of the show? Well, on September 21, Saturn will be at opposition, meaning Earth will find itself in between Saturn and the Sun, temporarily lined up.
This also means that Saturn is at its closest and brightest all year! Saturn will be visible with just your eyes in the night sky, but with a small telescope, you might be able to see its rings!
Conjunction Trio
If you look to the east just before sunrise on September 19, you'll see a trio of celestial objects in a magnificent conjunction.
In the early pre-dawn hours, look east toward the waning, crescent Moon setting in the sky and you'll notice something peculiar.
The Moon will be nestled up right next to both Venus and Regulus, one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
The three are part of a conjunction, which simply means that they look close together in the sky (even if they’re actually far apart in space).
To find this conjunction, just look to the Moon. And if you want some additional astronomical context, or want to specifically locate Regulus, this star lies within the constellation Leo, the lion.
The Autumnal Equinox
On September 22, we mark the autumnal equinox or the official start of fall in the northern hemisphere. Astronomically, this is the time when the Sun finds itself exactly above the equator.
On this day, our planet isn't tilted toward or away from the Sun, and both day and night are almost exactly 12 hours (with a few small exceptions).
https://science.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/jpl/whats-up-september-2025-skywatching-tips-from-nasa/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_n8BV4vQ8k
Former space chief distraught by Trump's move to kill parts of Moon and Mars programs
Updated: 15:27 EDT, 1 September 2025
President Trump's 2026 budget proposal would slash NASA funding by $6 billion – nearly a quarter of its total – leaving former NASA chief Bill Nelson 'deeply' concerned as America's flagship missions to the Moon and Mars face the axe.
'A lot of things I deeply care about and worked hard on are getting cut,' lamented Nelson, the former Democratic senator who flew aboard the space shuttle and served as NASA's 14th administrator.
The devastating cuts would cancel NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion crew capsule after their third Artemis flight in 2027, effectively grounding all future lunar missions despite decades of investment and billions already spent.
Nearly every area of NASA faces cuts , including a brutal 50 percent reduction to major science programs that support thousands of researchers worldwide – raising alarm about America's ability to compete with China's expanding space efforts.
Even the Mars Sample Return mission, designed to bring Martian rock and soil back to Earth, would be scrapped. The White House dismisses it as 'grossly over budget' and argues its goals could be met through future human Mars missions instead.
A White House document also notes that MSR wouldn't return samples until the 2030s. The Artemis program, NASA's most ambitious effort to return humans to the Moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars, would be gutted just as it gains momentum.
One exception is a $1 billion boost for Mars-focused human exploration efforts.
Drawing on his experience in both politics and spaceflight, Nelson has remained a notable voice in discussions about the future of U.S. space policy and exploration efforts.
Nelson tells Daily Mail that by cutting efforts to return to the Moon and to pursue Mars missions—both international priorities—the proposal undermines NASA's future.
He argues that the cuts threaten efforts he carefully advanced during his tenure. Not only cuts to programs, but also, staff.
'All this uncertainty is going on while people at NASA have been encouraged to retire, one round in June, another round happening now, and as many as I believe 3,500 that were retired with incentives of three months 'pay to take retirement,' Nelson said.
Adding, 'Those people don't go to work by the way, they are just paid.'
NASA sources say these changes had nothing to do with DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, a department formerly led by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk –– clarifying that it was a direct incentives program from the administration.
'These are the experienced people who are in leadership on many of these high–risk programs, such as space–tech, lunar programs, and space science,' Nelson said.
Nelson expressed concern to the Daily Mail over the departure of experienced personnel at NASA, warning that such losses could pose serious risks to the agency's operations.
'Everything is so high–risk at NASA, you just can't afford to have any mistakes because the consequences are so dire. Because of mistakes, we lost 17 astronauts on missions already,' he added.
Trump–appointed Secretary Sean Duffy's dual role places him at the helm of both NASA and the Department of Transportation – an unconventional leadership pairing but also one that aligns with the Trump administration's streamlined approach.
At the Department of Transportation, Duffy has already pushed for significant changes like streamlining operations at the FAA, relocating their staff and modernizing systems, as well as trying to recruit more air–traffic controllers and signing an executive order to boost the commercial space sector by easing regulations.
Duffy's priority has been focusing NASA towards human exploration on other planets.
Last month, Duffy announced a plan to fast–track a 100–kilowatt nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030 – to power future lunar bases and stay ahead of China in the space race.
Nelson says he hopes Duffy can become a stabilizing force for NASA, but mentions a problem he says is too obvious. 'How can he do both jobs?'
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House and the Department of Transportation for comment.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15054797/Former-space-chief-distraught-Trumps-kill-parts-Moon-Mars-programs.html
NASA warns a HUGE asteroid the size of a commercial jet will skim past Earth tomorrow at blistering speeds of over 28,000mph
Updated: 09:52 EDT, 2 September 2025
An asteroid the size of a commercial jet plane will skim past Earth tomorrow, NASA has warned.
The 38-metre (124ft) space rock will make an exceptionally close pass of our planet at blistering speeds over 28,000 miles per hour (45,000 km/h).
At its closest point, the asteroid will be just 135,465 miles (218,009 kilometres) from the surface of Earth.
That is just over half the distance between Earth and the Moon.
The asteroid, dubbed 2025 QD8, will make its pass of Earth at 15:56 BST tomorrow afternoon.
At almost 40 metres in diameter, this chunk of debris has the potential to be a 'city killer' if it were to collide with the planet.
However, scientists say there is no reason to be worried.
According to NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), 2025 QD8 will harmlessly whizz past Earth, without any risk of collision.
Following its discovery earlier this year, the asteroid 2025 QD8 was spotted by a group of amateur astronomers from the Virtual Telescope Project.
Using a 17-inch telescope, the astronomers managed to capture an image of 2025 QD8 while it was 2.4 million miles (3.9 million km) from Earth.
This confirmed that the asteroid is between 17 and 38 metres (55-125 feet) wide, and is travelling directly towards Earth.
The size of the asteroid is an estimate based on the amount of light reflecting off its surface, which means that measurements cannot be entirely certain.
If the asteroid is made of a particularly dark or unreflective material, then it could be nearer to the higher end of the estimate range or potentially even larger.
However, even at the lower end of its estimated range, the asteroid still carries a huge destructive potential.
Dr Shyam Balaji, an astrophysicist from King's College London, told Daily Mail: 'It could cause significant local effects, though not global devastation.'
In 2013, an 18-metre (59ft) meteor exploded over the city of Chelyabinsk in Russia, near the border with Kazakhstan.
The resulting explosion was 30 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, producing a shockwave that travelled twice around the world.
Directly beneath the explosion, 28 miles (45km) above the ground, the heat was so intense that people were left with burns and retinal damage.
Around 1,500 people were injured and over 3,600 homes were damaged, even though only 0.05 per cent of the original rock made it to the ground.
With a potential size up to 38 metres in diameter, 2025 QD8 has the potential to be even more destructive - possibly even ranking it as a 'city killer' size asteroid.
Dr Balaji adds: 'Larger examples, like the Tunguska event in 1908, flattened thousands of square kilometres of forest.
'An impact over a populated area could therefore be serious, but events of this scale remain rare.'
However, although the asteroid will pass extremely close to the planet, it poses no threat whatsoever to Earth.
Thanks to careful study by the network of planetary defence telescopes, astronomers are able to make very precise calculations of asteroids' orbits.
This means we know with a very high level of certainty that 2025 QD8 will not hit Earth or the moon.
Although NASA and ESA have detected tens of thousands of near-earth objects, calculations show it is highly unlikely that a dangerous asteroid will hit Earth in the next 100 years.
Unfortunately, despite its close passage, the asteroid won't be visible to the naked eye.
'It will be far too faint, and even telescopes would need to be well-equipped and precisely aimed,' says Dr Balaji.
However, budding astronomers will still have an opportunity to watch this close encounter.
The Virtual Telescope Project will host a free live stream of the asteroid's passage, starting from midnight tonight, which you can watch at this link.
The live stream will feature views of the approaching asteroid gathered by the group's suite of robotic telescopes located in Manciano, Italy.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15057373/NASA-warns-HUGE-asteroid-Earth.html
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroid-watch/next-five-approaches/
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=2025%20QD8&view=VOP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS1Fpe3acuQ
Trump expected to move Space Command HQ from Colorado to Alabama
Updated: Sep 2, 2025 / 11:07 AM CDT
President Donald Trump is expected to announce that the U.S. Space Command headquarters is moving from Colorado to Alabama, a source familiar with the move confirmed to NewsNation.
Trump is expected to confirm the change from the Oval Office on Tuesday afternoon in what the Pentagon’s public affairs website called a “U.S. Space Command HQ Announcement,” the source said.
NewsNation will stream the announcement from this story when it begins.
The move would shift the command’s operations from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama.
Huntsville is nicknamed the “Rocket City” and has long been home to the Army’s Redstone Arsenal and the Army Space and Missile Defense Command, along with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
Alabama was Trump’s top choice for headquarters location in 2021, the Associated Press reported at the time. In 2023, the Biden administration chose Colorado Springs as the command’s permanent site.
https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/trump-space-command-headquarters-announcement-live-alabama/
Rare red auroras illuminate sky in extraordinary display
September 02, 2025
US astronaut Don Pettit has captured a striking image of a red aurora from the International Space Station (ISS).
According to Pettit, auroras of this size and intensity appear only two to three times during a six-month mission aboard the ISS.
Auroras occur when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms and molecules in Earth’s upper atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of light.
While green auroras are more common, red auroras are rare and linked to intense solar activity. The colour is rare because of the high altitude needed for it to occur.
Scientists say the phenomenon occurs when particles interact with oxygen at altitudes above 150 miles (241 km), where the atmosphere is thinner.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2564631/rare-red-auroras-illuminate-sky-in-extraordinary-display
https://x.com/astro_Pettit/status/1961852493274460218
https://x.com/astro_Pettit/status/1962608331979141138
1st Indian astronaut to visit ISS welcomed home as a hero
September 2, 2025
Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently became the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS), received a grand welcome in his hometown of Lucknow in northern India earlier this week.
Shukla returned to India from the U.S. on Aug. 17, following an 18-day mission in space as part of the Axiom-4 crew.
Thousands of residents, students and officials lined the streets and the airport to celebrate his historic achievement upon returning to Lucknow, according to local reports.
At Lucknow Airport, Shukla was greeted by family members and cheering crowds waving the Indian tricolour and chanting "Vande Mataram."
Students from his alma mater, City Montessori School, joined the celebrations dressed as celestial objects, while a band played drums and trumpets, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
Shukla embarked on a roadshow in an open-top vehicle through the city, waving to the crowd. "Since I landed in Lucknow around 7:30 this morning, I must have clicked about 2,000 selfies," he said, according to PTI.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, joined by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan and state officials, announced a scholarship in Shukla's name for students in Uttar Pradesh aspiring to study space technology.
Adityanath noted that just four years ago, no universities in the state offered courses in space science, but today over a dozen institutes provide such programs. "This reflects our determination to contribute to India's growth story," he said.
Shukla's mission included 60 experiments in total, seven of which were designed by Indian scientists. "The proudest moment was performing experiments created by our scientists," said Shukla, PTI reported.
"For the first time, they got the opportunity to conduct microgravity research. The real achievement is not just the data but the doors this mission has opened."
During a visit to his alma mater, Shukla encouraged students to dream big.
"While I was in orbit, no one asked me what astronauts do. They all asked how I became an astronaut," he said. "Please aspire …
We have a great vision and ambition to land on the moon by 2040. And it would probably be one of you who would be setting foot there," he said.
"I am going to be in the competition!" he joked, drawing laughter from the crowd. "So work hard and we will compete together… Let's see who goes to the moon in 2040."
Ahead of the celebrations, local authorities conducted a cleanliness drive in the neighborhood where Shukla's family resides, relaid streets along his travel route, and decorated the area with patriotic posters and large digital screens broadcasting clips from his mission, according to Hindustan Times.
The Rashtriya Kisan Manch, which is a prominent farmers' rights organization based in Lucknow, has called for Shukla to be honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
The day after returning to Earth, Shukla met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, where Shukla described the challenges of readjusting to Earth's gravity after microgravity, among other topics.
Despite feeling well, he said he stumbled on his first steps back on Earth and required support.
Shukla also shared with Modi insights from experiments he conducted aboard the ISS, including growing green legumes and fenugreek, highlighting their potential to address food security challenges both in space and on Earth.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/1st-indian-astronaut-to-visit-iss-welcomed-home-as-a-hero
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4290939/usspacecom-hosts-5th-annual-jist-summit/https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4290939/usspacecom-hosts-5th-annual-jist-summit/
USSPACECOM hosts 5th annual JIST Summit
Sept. 2, 2025
U.S. Space Command hosted Joint Integrated Space Team leaders for the fifth annual JIST Summit in Colorado Springs, August 26-27.
The summit provided a forum for USSPACECOM to align the teams with its vision, direction and priorities, enabling them to carry its outcomes forward throughout the combatant commands, or CCMDs, they are integrated with.
Attendees received guidance from Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command; Lt. Gen. Tom James, deputy commander; Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, chief of staff; Chief Master Sgt. Jacob Simmons, command senior enlisted leader; and representatives from numerous directorates.
“You are the critical elements supporting cross-CCMD integration,” Whiting said. “Help them integrate space into their functional or theater campaign plan.
Show them how space can support their [operations, activities and investments] and how their OAIs support Space. Demonstrate how space threats effect their objectives and how space plays in their wargames and exercises.”
JISTs serve as space expertise liaisons within the other 10 CCMDs, integrating space capabilities into operational planning, intelligence, security cooperation and exercises.
They tailor space solutions to address regional challenges and operational requirements, acting as a link between USSPACECOM and the specific needs of each CCMD.
During his remarks, Whiting highlighted key successes JISTs provided over the past year, citing a recent large-scale exercise between USSPACECOM and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
This integration is particularly vital in the Indo-Pacific region, where the strategic landscape is rapidly evolving. The growing demand for space-based support underscores the JISTs' crucial role in maintaining a competitive advantage and ensuring mission success.
"USINDOPACOM’s need for space capabilities has grown exponentially in just the past few years," said U.S. Navy Capt. David Tebbe, USINDOPACOM JIST director.
"As our adversaries continue to develop robust space architectures that hold our forces at risk, USSPACECOM's mission has never been more relevant to the Pacific theater.
USINDOPACOM's need for USSPACECOM support will continue to grow in the years to come, as changes in modern warfare have put an ever-increasing demand on space capabilities."
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Whiting also highlighted the U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Special Operations Command JIST’s key support in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility.
Col. John Kolb, USSOUTHCOM JIST director, expanded on this, citing how his team is working within USSOUTHCOM’s Enhanced Domain Awareness platform to comprehensively integrate into USSOUTHCOM’s overall planning process, including developing a space strategy annex in its campaign plan.
“The Enhanced Domain Awareness program now has a dedicated space coordination page, and in it, they can request space capabilities,” Kolb said.
The integration of space capabilities signifies a crucial shift towards a more comprehensive and proactive approach to regional security.
By establishing a dedicated space coordination system, USSOUTHCOM can now effectively incorporate space resources into its planning and operations, address emerging threats like GPS jamming, and foster stronger collaboration with partner nations, ultimately solidifying partnerships and allowing USSOUTHCOM to shape regional perceptions and responses to space-based challenges, Kolb said.
Another key achievement this year was the U.S. Central Command JIST’s crucial support during Iran's attacks on Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, and operations in Yemen.
Col. Robert McConnell, USCENTCOM JIST director, highlighted how space considerations within USCENTCOM have evolved beyond simple support roles, with planning that now integrates space assets and coordinates with USSPACECOM on both tactical and operational levels.
“The joint force’s space awareness improved over the past six years, to include the dual nature of responsibilities during both regional and global engagements,” McConnell said.
McConnell added that there remains much to be learned across the space enterprise about how to effectively employ space assets, but JIST directors agreed the partnerships have matured.
However, as Simmons shared, the importance of continuing to strengthen and share capabilities remains paramount.
“As we improve our integration within warfighting institutions, we inherently enhance our collective effectiveness.
Through engagements like the JIST Summit, we strengthen and streamline our solution sharing capabilities, while ensuring the strategic benefits that space assets provide to the warfighter are intrinsic to war planning,” Simmons said.
Whiting further emphasized the importance of coordinating space operations not only between USSPACECOM and JISTs but across all combatant commands.
He highlighted a panel discussion he will be a part of in September at the Air and Space Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference called, "The Nexus of Space, Cyber and Special Operations" as just one example of the importance of this coordination.
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South Africa calls for immediate ceasefire in war-torn Sudan
2 Sep, 2025 10:33
South Africa has called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan and is urging both sides to resume talks. It said on Saturday there was a need for “inclusive dialogue” to resolve the conflict, which has been raging since April 2023.
Battles between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have killed thousands and displaced millions.
The South African Foreign Ministry described the war as a “humanitarian and refugee crisis” marked by civilian deaths, destruction of infrastructure, and mass displacement in Sudan and neighboring countries.
“South Africa stands in solidarity with the people of Sudan, especially women and children, who continue to face the plight of this war,” the ministry said, reiterating calls for an immediate ceasefire and return to negotiations.
Particular concern was raised over El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur province, “which has been besieged for over 500 days.”
According to the ministry, artillery strikes earlier in August hit densely populated areas, including the central market, leaving 24 people dead and at least 55 injured.
The statement warned that the conflict threatened regional stability and economic security. It called for the protection of civilians, adherence to international humanitarian law, and unimpeded access for humanitarian and medical aid, particularly in El Fasher.
“There can be no military solution to the conflict, which must be resolved in a peaceful manner on the basis of a Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led inclusive dialogue, paving the way to a peaceful transition process where a civilian-led, democratic Government, can steer the country towards harmony, reconciliation and redevelopment,” it stated.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by fierce fighting between the paramilitary RSF and the national army, with both factions vying for control amid a stalled transition to civilian rule.
In June, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin met with the UN secretary-general’s envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, to discuss ways to bring the armed conflict in Sudan to an end.
https://www.rt.com/africa/623921-south-africa-urges-immediate-ceasefire-sudan/
Putin and Xi issue WWII statement
2 Sep, 2025 07:54
Russia and China share a responsibility to preserve the historic memory of the sacrifices their peoples made in defeating the Axis powers during the Second World War, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping stated on Tuesday.
The two leaders met in Beijing ahead of Wednesday’s military parade commemorating the end of the war.
Xi had traveled to Moscow earlier this year to commemorate Russia’s Victory Day on May 9.
Mutual visits, Xi said, “have become a good bilateral tradition and showcase the great responsibility that China and Russia hold as major victor states in World War II and permanent members of the UN Security Council.”
He emphasized the importance of protecting the historic truth of the achievement.
Putin praised the upcoming Chinese commemorations, saying he was confident the People’s Liberation Army would conduct the event “with its usual brilliance.” He echoed Xi’s call to preserve the memory of the war.
“Our ancestors, our fathers and grandfathers have paid a huge price for peace and freedom,” Putin said. “We remember that. That is the foundation of our achievements today and in the future.”
China’s war with Imperial Japan, which began in 1937, is estimated to have claimed 15 to 20 million lives, including soldiers from rival communist and nationalist forces as well as civilians.
The Soviet Union lost an estimated 27 million troops and civilians and troops defeating Nazi Germany following its invasion in June 1941.
https://www.rt.com/news/623910-putin-xi-war-commemorations/
China announces visa-free travel for Russians
2 Sep, 2025 15:56
China will grant visa-free entry to Russian citizens on a one-year trial basis to further facilitate travel between the two countries, Beijing announced on Tuesday.
The announcement comes during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s four-day visit to the country for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, where he has met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and other world leaders.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press briefing that the visa waiver program would be expanded to ordinary passport holders from Russia starting September 15.
Travelers will be able to enter the country for up to 30 days for business, tourism, personal visits, exchanges, and transit purposes.
Guo said the decision reflected the high level of development in China-Russia relations and is aimed at deepening people-to-people exchanges.
Interest in trips to China surged following the ministry’s announcement, according to the Russian Association of Travel Aggregators.
Its head, Aleksandr Bragin, told TASS that online searches for flights and hotel bookings doubled immediately. He predicts overall demand to grow by 30% or more.
At present, Russians need a visa to visit China, with tourist permits issued through visa centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as Chinese consulates in cities including Ekaterinburg, Kazan, Khabarovsk, and Vladivostok.
Fees range from 2,500 to 3,300 rubles ($31-41) for a single-entry visa, while multiple-entries start from $92. Processing usually takes a week, but sometimes longer.
Moscow and Beijing launched a visa-free group tourist exchange in August 2023, which was used by nearly 130,000 people that year, according to Russia’s Association of Tour Operators.
Tourism between the two countries has been soaring, boosted by relaxed entry rules and the launch of e-visa services.
At present, eight Russian airlines operate 36 routes to China, while ten Chinese carriers fly on 24 routes to Russia, with a combined 230 flights a week.
According to the Russian flag carrier Aeroflot, passenger traffic to China nearly tripled in 2024 to 830,000, focused on popular destinations such as Hainan Island, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.
https://www.rt.com/news/623941-russians-visa-free-travel-china/
https://twitter.com/MFA_China/status/1962816028389580954
Drone attack on Bila Tserkva: nine high-rise buildings and school damaged
02.09.2025 11:05
In Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region, nine high-rise buildings and a school were damaged as a result of an attack by Russian drones, 29 garages were destroyed, and a garage cooperative security guard was killed.
According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the Head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, Mykola Kalashnyk, on Telegram.
“Another night attack by enemy drones on the Kyiv region. The peaceful city of Bila Tserkva was hit. Unfortunately, one person was killed. He was a man born in 1960.
His body was found while extinguishing a fire in a garage cooperative, where he worked as a security guard,” he said.
According to Kalashnyk, as a result of the enemy attack, windows were broken in nine multi-story residential buildings, two private houses, and the roof of a school were damaged.
“Twenty-nine garages and six cars were destroyed, and another 11 garages and eight cars were damaged,” he said.
Rescuers extinguished fires on the territory of commercial and industrial enterprises and a garage cooperative.
“Together with local authorities and our partners, we are already working to help people whose property has been damaged.
Emergency services continue to work to assess and eliminate the consequences of the enemy attack,” Kalashnyk emphasized.
As reported by Ukrinform, a fire broke out in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region, as a result of an attack by Russian drones, killing one person and injuring others.
The Head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration, Mykola Kalashnyk, specified that the body of the deceased man was found during the extinguishing of a fire in a garage cooperative.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4031946-drone-attack-on-bila-tserkva-nine-highrise-buildings-and-school-damaged.html
https://t.me/Mykola_Kalashnyk/6834
Ukrainian drone attack forces hundreds to evacuate homes in Russian city
September 2, 2025
More than 300 people were evacuated from their apartments overnight following a Ukrainian drone attack on the capital of the Rostov region, the acting governor said on Tuesday.
The Russian defence ministry said air defence units destroyed 13 Ukrainian drones over the Rostov region overnight. It did not say how many drones were detected.
“An unexploded (drone) shell was discovered in one of the apartments,” Rostov region’s acting governor, Yuri Slyusar, said on the Telegram messaging app. “As a precaution, 320 residents of the building are being evacuated.”
The attack damaged several apartment buildings in the city of Rostov-on-Don, he added. Three people, including a child, were lightly injured.
Rostov-on-Don Mayor Alexandr Skryabin said residents were relocated to a school while bomb disposal experts were removing the shell.
There was no immediate response from Kyiv. Both sides deny targeting civilians in their strikes during the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion on Ukraine in 2022.
https://ddnews.gov.in/en/ukrainian-drone-attack-forces-hundreds-to-evacuate-homes-in-russian-city/
Hebron mayor, convicted terrorist Tayseer Abu Sneineh arrested by IDF
Updated: SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 17:47
Mayor of Hebron Tayseer Abu Sneineh was arrested early Tuesday morning after an IDF raid of his home, the Hebron Municipality reported.
His arrest was due to his ongoing terrorist activities within the southern West Bank city, according to its Israeli municipality.
The Municipal Council in Hebron Municipality strongly condemns the footsteps of the Israeli Underworld Forces today, Tuesday, on the arrest of the Mayor of Hebron Municipality, Mr. Tesir Abu Sunina, after a large military force broke into his house and violated his sanctity and messed with its contents, causing heavy material damage,” the Hebron Palestinian Municipality posted on Facebook.
“This blatant assault not only targets a mayor, but it targets the will of the people of Hebron City and its elected institutions, and constitutes a blatant assault on the democratic process and the right of our people to administer their affairs and serve their city with freedom and dignity.”
The council then called on international, legal, and humanitarian organizations to pressure Israel for the mayor’s immediate release.
The municipality went on to share the reaction of the Hebron local councilor, Eyal Gelman, “The arrest of the terrorist Abu Senina proves again the duty of the State of Israel to take back the reins and appoint itself a mayor, as it was before the Hebron Accord in 1997.
The time has come to unite the city again under complete Israeli control.”
Sneineh's previous terrorist activities
Abu Sneineh was one of four Palestinians behind the murder of six Israeli yeshiva students in 1980.
The students, including two American citizens and a Canadian national, were part of a group that had danced from the Cave of the Patriarchs to Beit Hadassah in Hebron when Abu Sneineh and his terror cell opened fire. The six students were killed, and 16 others were wounded.
The Palestinians were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison, but they were later released in various prisoner exchanges Israel carried out throughout the 1980s. Abu Sneineh was released in a prisoner swap in 1983.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-866065
https://www.facebook.com/Hebron.Municipality/posts/1228459205981740
Thousands of Israeli reservists report for duty, as military chief clashes with ministers
SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 14:12
Tens of thousands of reservists started to report for duty on Tuesday ahead of a new Israeli offensive in Gaza City, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to speed up, despite warnings from senior ranks.
Israeli Army Radio said that some 40,000 reservists would report for duty on Tuesday for the Gaza City offensive. The military said it was readying logistically for the intake of reservists ahead of the offensive.
Israel’s security cabinet, chaired by Netanyahu, approved a plan last month to expand the campaign in Gaza with the aim of taking Gaza City, where Israeli forces waged fierce urban warfare with Hamas in the early stages of the war.
Israel currently holds about 75% of the Gaza Strip.
A security cabinet meeting late on Sunday included angry exchanges between Netanyahu and his ministers, who want to push ahead with the Gaza City offensive, and military chief Eyal Zamir, who has urged the politicians to reach a ceasefire deal.
Zamir said the campaign will endanger hostages and put further strain on the already over-stretched army, according to four ministers and two military officials present at the meeting.
This follows similar exchanges between Zamir and Netanyahu's cabinet last month.
Netanyahu said on August 20 that he gave the instruction to speed up the timetable for taking what he describes as Hamas' last bastion.
Zamir's concerns
But on August 21, in discussions to approve the battle plans, the military again warned against hostages being endangered and said it could not begin the campaign for at least two months, according to a source in Netanyahu's circle and a defense official.
The military's main reason was that more time was needed for humanitarian efforts. But surveys have shown a substantial proportion of reservists are unhappy with the cabinet's plans, with some having taken the unusual step of openly accusing the government of lacking a cohesive strategy for Gaza, a post-war plan for the enclave or clear victory metrics.
"I don't feel like I'm doing anything that really applies significant pressure to have Hamas release the hostages," one combat reservist who has been serving in Gaza since October 7 told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak publicly.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-866080
Gazans ahead of IDF takeover: 'Let them fire a nuclear missile at us and end it' - report
Updated: SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 18:20
Gazans were filmed by Channel 12 cameras expressing dismay towards Hamas leadership and their fears of the upcoming IDF takeover of Gaza City, with many conveying their desire for a better future, including by leaving the enclave.
Expressing their desperation, one Gazan was recorded by Channel 12 as saying, "For 40 years I've heard that Israel has nuclear weapons, so let them fire a nuclear missile at us and end it. Enough, we are completely desperate."
"Of course, the army really intends to conquer Gaza, from our past experience, everything the army promised, it carried out," another Gazan stated.
One man named Mahmoud said that there is no future for his family and children, saying, "I must emigrate; if they open the crossings, I will be the first to go."
Mahmoud told Channel 12 that he had abandoned his destroyed home and pitched a tent multiple times over the past two years.
He shared his dismay at both Hamas and Israel, saying, "During these two years, no one really cared for us, neither those who ruled the Strip (Hamas) nor those outside of it, two years of hunger, pain, humiliation, poverty."
Another resident added, "Emigration is a sensitive issue, but life is more valuable. Let us emigrate and find peace."
Several Gazans spoke about the constant displacement, having "evacuated more than ten times from place to place."
However, some shared with Channel 12 that they wouldn't obey IDF evacuation warnings and not leave Gaza City ahead of the impending operation.
"We will stay in our homes and we are prepared to pay any price." "Either we live with dignity or we die with dignity; we can no longer bear this."
'We have nowhere to go in Gaza'
A woman interviewed by Channel 12 stated, "Even if we are required to evacuate, we have nowhere to go in Gaza. Rafah, for example, is also destroyed and unlivable."
"Israel claims there are safe areas in Gaza. I say there is no safe place in Gaza; no matter where you go, you are going to your death."
One Gazan recorded by Channel 12 stated that he had interacted with an IDF officer, who asked him, "Why didn't you run away?"
The Gazan responded in Hebrew that he didn't evacuate because tanks blocked the roads, and that he was afraid. The IDF officer responded, "You are right."
Residents were recorded blaming Hamas for the situation, with one Gazan stating, "The one who can stop this war is the one who started it. Whoever brought this war upon us bears the responsibility to end it."
"When you decide to invade Israel, you must provide security and a future for your people, not abandon them to death like this. The people are completely shattered."
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-866100
Yemen conducts drone attack in occupied territories
Sep 2, 2025, 3:39 PM
Following the drone attack, the Israeli army claimed to have intercepted the drone.
The Israeli army claimed to have intercepted a Yemeni drone that was trying to enter the central regions of the occupied territories from the Mediterranean Sea.
The Israeli regime's army claimed that it shot down a drone that took off from Yemen before it reached the occupied lands.
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/236029/Yemen-conducts-drone-attack-in-occupied-territories
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