TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
September 22, 2025
Equinox at Saturn
On Saturn, the rings tell you the season. On Earth, today marks an equinox, the time when the Earth's equator tilts directly toward the Sun. Since Saturn's grand rings orbit along the planet's equator, these rings appear most prominent from the direction of the Sun when the spin axis of Saturn points toward the Sun. Conversely, when Saturn's spin axis points to the side, an equinox occurs, and the edge-on rings are hard to see from not only the Sun – but Earth. In the featured montage, images of Saturn between the years of 2020 and 2025 have been superposed to show the giant planet passing, with this year's equinox, from summer in the north to summer in the south. Yesterday, Saturn was coincidently about as close as it gets to planet Earth, and so this month the ringed giant's orb is relatively bright and visible throughout the night.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
NASA’s IMAP Mission ‘Go’ for Launch
September 21, 2025
NASA, SpaceX, and spacecraft mission managers are moving forward with the launch of the agency’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) mission to study space weather from the Sun and map the edges of our solar system.
During the agency’s Launch Readiness Review, Dr. Denton Gibson, NASA’s launch director, and the launch team polled “go” for launch for IMAP and its two rideshares:
NASA’s Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Follow On – Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
NASA will host a prelaunch news conference at 2:30 p.m. EDT Sunday to discuss the three missions. Coverage will stream on the agency’s website and YouTube channel with the following participants:
Dr. Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
Brad Williams, IMAP program executive, NASA Headquarters
Irene Parker, deputy assistant administrator for Systems at NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
Dr. Denton Gibson, launch director, NASA’s Launch Services Program, NASA Kennedy
Julianna Scheiman, director, NASA Science Missions, SpaceX
Arlena Moses, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron, U.S. Space Force
Following the news conference, the agency will host a science overview news conference at 3:45 p.m., also streaming on the agency’s website and YouTube channel with the following participants:
Dr. Joe Westlake, director, Heliophysics Division, NASA Headquarters
Dr. David J. McComas, IMAP principal investigator, Princeton University
Dr. Lara Waldrop, Carruthers Geocorona Observatory principal investigator, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jamie Favors, director, Space Weather Program, Heliophysics Division, NASA Headquarters
Clinton Wallace, director, NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center,
Dr. James Spann, senior scientist, NOAA Office of Space Weather Observations
Liftoff of the IMAP mission is targeted for 7:32 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
If needed, a backup opportunity is available at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-gzwILmPig (NASA Prelaunch News Conference on Three New Space Weather Missions (Sept. 21, 2025))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNRrfamTT4k (Three New Missions Launch to Track Space Weather Sep 23, 2025)
https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/imap/2025/09/21/nasas-imap-mission-go-for-launch/
James Webb Space Telescope reveals dark beads and lopsided star patterns in Saturn's atmosphere
19 September 2025 10:07
A study of Saturn's atmospheric structure using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revealed complex and mysterious features unseen before on any planet in our Solar System.
The results were presented last week by Professor Tom Stallard of Northumbria University, at the EPSC-DPS2025 Joint Meeting in Helsinki.
“This opportunity to use JWST was the first time we have ever been able to make such detailed near-infrared observations of Saturn's aurora and upper atmosphere.
The results came as a complete surprise,” said Professor Stallard.
“We anticipated seeing emissions in broad bands at the various levels. Instead, we’ve seen fine-scaled patterns of beads and stars that, despite being separated by huge distances in altitude, may somehow be interconnected – and may also be linked to the famous hexagon deeper in Saturn’s clouds.
These features were completely unexpected and, at present, are completely unexplained.”
The international team of researchers, comprising 23 scientists from institutions across the UK, US and France, made the discoveries during a continuous 10-hour observation period on 29 November 2024, as Saturn rotated beneath JWST's view.
The team focused on detecting infrared emissions by a positively charged molecular form of hydrogen, H3+, which plays a key role in reactions in Saturn’s atmosphere and so can provide valuable insights into the chemical and physical processes at work.
JWST’s Near Infrared Spectrograph allowed the team to simultaneously observe H₃⁺ ions from the ionosphere, 1,100 kilometres above Saturn’s nominal surface, and methane molecules in the underlying stratosphere, at an altitude of 600 kilometres.
In the electrically charged plasma of the ionosphere, the team observed a series of dark, bead-like features embedded in bright auroral halos.
These structures remained stable over hours but appeared to drift slowly over longer periods.
Around 500 kilometres lower, in Saturn’s stratosphere, the team discovered an asymmetric star-shaped feature.
This unusual structure extended out from Saturn's north pole towards the equator. Only four of the star’s six arms were visible, with two mysteriously missing, creating a lopsided pattern.
“Saturn's upper atmosphere has proven incredibly difficult to study with missions and telescope facilities to date due to the extremely weak emissions from this region,” said Professor Stallard.
“JWST's incredible sensitivity has revolutionised our ability to observe these atmospheric layers, revealing structures that are completely unlike anything we've seen before on any planet.”
The team mapped the exact locations of the features and found that they overlaid the same region of Saturn at different levels, with the star’s arms appearing to emanate from positions directly above the points of the storm-cloud-level hexagon.
This suggests that the processes that are driving the patterns may influence a column stretching right through Saturn’s atmosphere.
“We think that the dark beads may result from complex interactions between Saturn's magnetosphere and its rotating atmosphere, potentially providing new insights into the energy exchange that drives Saturn's aurora.
The asymmetric star pattern suggests previously unknown atmospheric processes operating in Saturn's stratosphere, possibly linked to the hexagonal storm pattern observed deeper in Saturn's atmosphere,” said Professor Stallard.
“Tantalisingly, the darkest beads in the ionosphere appear to line up with the strongest star-arm in the stratosphere, but it’s not clear at this point whether they are actually linked or whether it’s just a coincidence.”
While both features could have significant implications for understanding atmospheric dynamics on gas giant planets, more work is needed to provide explanations for the underlying causes.
The team hopes that additional time may be granted in future to carry out follow-up observations of Saturn with JWST to further explore the features.
With the planet at its equinox, which occurs approximately every 15 Earth years, the structures may change dramatically as Saturn's orientation to the Sun shifts and the northern hemisphere moves into autumn.
"Since neither atmospheric layer can be observed using ground-based telescopes, the need for JWST follow-up observations during this key time of seasonal change on Saturn is pressing," Stallard added.
https://newsroom.northumbria.ac.uk/pressreleases/james-webb-space-telescope-reveals-dark-beads-and-lopsided-star-patterns-in-saturns-atmosphere-3405547
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025GL116491
https://yucatanmagazine.com/first-indigenous-woman-astronaut-in-mexico/
With Mexico’s Space Agency, Dreamers Shoot the Moon
September 21, 2025
The image spread like wildfire across social media. A young Indigenous woman in an astronaut suit, her dark hair framing determined eyes, the flag of Mexico visible on her sleeve.
The accompanying story was irresistible: Isabella Tapia, a Maya woman from Chiapas, barefoot on her ancestral land, had just been selected as Mexico’s first Indigenous astronaut candidate.
Within hours, the AI-generated image and the unsubstantiated narrative had been shared thousands of times across Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
Comments poured in from across Latin America—words of pride, inspiration, and hope. Indigenous youth tagged their friends. Parents shared it with their children. The story touched something deep in the collective imagination.
But Isabella Tapia doesn’t exist—at least not as a single person. Unless an official announcement comes forward with a real photo, we’re betting Isabella Tapia is a composite character, representing the aspirations of countless Indigenous youth across Mexico and the potential that remains largely untapped in the country’s emerging space program.
Why the Story Resonated
The viral response to Isabella’s fictional journey reveals a profound hunger for representation in space exploration.
While Mexico has produced several notable astronauts, none have been Indigenous—a significant gap given that Indigenous peoples make up approximately 10% of Mexico’s population.
In Chiapas, where Isabella’s story was set, education levels for indigenous women are extremely low—most only go to school for an average of 6 years.
While an estimated 10% of the population of Mexico is indigenous, it is the least represented in higher education… only between 1% and 3% of higher education enrollment in Mexico is indigenous.
Isabella’s fictional achievement represents not just individual triumph, but a reimagining of what’s possible.
The story struck a chord because it offered hope in the face of real challenges. As one viral tweet put it: “Whether or not Isabella is real, the girls who see this and start studying physics tonight are very real.”
Mexico’s Actual Space Heritage
Behind the fiction lies a remarkable reality: Mexico has been making genuine strides in space exploration, building on a foundation laid by pioneering astronauts who blazed trails for future generations.
Rodolfo Neri Vela: The Trailblazer
Rodolfo Neri Vela (born February 19, 1952, Chilpancingo, Guerrero estado (state), Mexico) is a Mexican scientist and engineer, and he was the first Mexican citizen to fly into space.
Dr. Vela became Mexico’s first astronaut, as a mission specialist for the joint NASA/European Space Agency mission STS-61B on November 27, 1985.
He spent 165 hours in outer space aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, helping to place in orbit the Mexican satellite Morelos 2.
During the mission the crew deployed the MORELOS-B, AUSSATT II, and SATCOM K-2 communications satellites, conducted two six-hour spacewalks to demonstrate space station construction techniques, and Neri requested tortillas in his food supply on the flight.
Subsequently, NASA began including tortillas on shuttle and ISS missions, since tortillas, unlike regular bread, did not create crumbs and could be used to make sandwiches or hold other food items.
Neri Vela’s achievement was monumental for Mexico. He is the second Latin American to have traveled to space after Cuban cosmonaut Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez.
Today, he continues to advocate for Mexico’s space development as a Professor in the Faculty of Engineering of the UNAM.
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José Hernández: From Farmworker to Astronaut
Perhaps even more inspiring is the story of José Moreno Hernández (born August 7, 1962) is a Mexican-American engineer and astronaut… Hernández was on the Space Shuttle mission STS-128 in August 2009.
“I was hoeing a row of sugar beets in a field near Stockton, Calif., and I heard on my transistor radio that Franklin Chang-Diaz had been selected for the Astronaut Corps,” says Hernandez, who was a senior in high school at the time.
His family is originally from La Piedad, Michoacán, Mexico… As a child, Hernández worked alongside his family and other farmworkers throughout the fields of California, harvesting crops and moving from one town to another.
He attended many schools and didn’t learn to speak English until he was 12.
After three years and being turned down eleven times for astronaut training by NASA, Hernández was selected in May 2004. His perseverance paid off when he flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 2009.
Hernández is the subject of the 2023 biopic A Million Miles Away in which he is portrayed by Michael Peña.
Katya Echazarreta: Breaking New Ground
Katya Echazarreta is the first Mexican woman to make it into space, having flew into suborbital space as a citizen astronaut on June 4 aboard the fifth crewed rocket launched by Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos.
At age 27, Katya Echazarreta already has appeared on the cover of Vogue Mexico, was a woman of the year for Glamour magazine’s Mexican edition, and has a Barbie doll in her likeness.
Echazarreta moved with her parents from her native Mexico to Chula Vista when she was 8.
She is encouraging other young native Mexicans to shoot for the stars as she did, having studied electrical engineering in college, interned at NASA and worked on space mission ground support.
Mexico’s Space Program: Present and Future
Growing International Partnerships
Mexico’s space ambitions are expanding rapidly through strategic partnerships. Mexico has joined the NASA-led Artemis Program for space exploration, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.
The signing of the Artemis Accords was announced today at an event led by Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard. “50 years ago, ‘We were spectators. Now we are going to be participants. This is a giant step for Mexico,'” says Foreign Secretary Ebrard.
NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy and Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, will travel to Mexico City…
This visit will focus on fostering partnerships in astronomy and astrophysics research, as well as highlighting opportunities for economic, educational, and science, technology, engineering, and math collaborations between the two nations.
Ambitious 2027 Mission Plans
A top official in the Sheinbaum administration stated last week that Mexico is working to create a 100% Latino mission to space in 2027 — led by Mexican-born astronaut Katya Echazarreta — as part of an overall plan to advance the Mexican aerospace industry.
This mission represents a significant leap forward for Mexican space capabilities and Latin American representation in space exploration.
The Mexican Space Agency (AEM)
The Mexican Space Agency (AEM; Spanish: Agencia Espacial Mexicana) is the national space agency of Mexico, established in July 2010.
The agency does not have infrastructure, and aims to promote and coordinate education, research and development of the space-related activities that are performed in the country.
The bill for the foundation of a formal space agency, was originally conceived by José Luis Garcia and Fernando de la Peña.
It was reviewed by Gianfranco Bissiacchi, José Hernández, Rodolfo Neri Vela among others. Notably, Mexico’s actual astronauts played key roles in establishing the agency.
However, challenges remain. José Hernández, the third Mexican astronaut to participate in a space mission, emphasized the urgent need for Mexico to attract investment in the aerospace industry…
“I do not blame the AEM because they have a very small budget and cannot do more. They want to achieve more, but they cannot.”
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The Path Forward: Training and Development
NASA’s Expanding Astronaut Programs
After evaluating more than 8,000 applications, NASA will debut its 2025 class of astronaut candidates during a ceremony at 12:30 p.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 22… They’ll go on to complete about two years of training before the candidates are eligible for a space flight.
NASA astronaut Raja Chari participates in the HAATS course in April 2025. Since 2021, 22 NASA astronauts and one ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut have participated and evaluated the course based on functionality and Artemis mission needs.
This intensive training includes everything from spacewalking, operating the space station, flying T-38 jet planes and controlling a robotic arm to specialized lunar landing simulations.
Mexico’s Astronaut Training Opportunities
“Mexico can sign an agreement with NASA to have Mexican astronauts, just like Sweden, Canada, and Brazil have done. The requirement is that the country must allocate a budget to obtain specialized training.
This is where Mexico falls short. We must fund these trainings so that Mexico can select a man and a woman to train at NASA alongside other international astronauts and have the opportunity to go to space,” Hernández stated.
The Representation Gap: Why Isabella Matters
While Mexico celebrates its astronaut achievements, the absence of Indigenous representation remains stark. Chiapas is home to one of the largest indigenous populations in the country, with twelve federally recognized ethnicities.
Due to the adverse effects of these rigid gender roles, education levels for indigenous women are extremely low—most only go to school for an average of 6 years… Their school attendance rate is 6.3 percentage points less than the male attendance rate.
The viral Isabella Tapia story highlighted this gap while demonstrating the hunger for representation. Real programs are working to address these disparities:
MEF currently supports up to 50 university students in Chiapas… Women and students from remote areas are given preference, and the scholarship amounts are currently about US$200 a month per student.
60 teachers were trained in various STEM education methodologies, strengthening their capacities to address scientific problems from a multidisciplinary perspective…
Given that many of these indigenous education schools have multi-grade classrooms, the teachers were exposed to technology platforms like GeoGebra and Geoplano Digital that can be used with children across different grades.
Space Dreams and Social Media Reality
The Isabella Tapia phenomenon demonstrates the power of representation—even fictional—to inspire real change. Social media users who shared her story weren’t just spreading a compelling narrative; they were expressing their hopes for a more inclusive future in space exploration.
Young Indigenous women across Mexico and Latin America saw Isabella and imagined themselves in her place. Teachers printed out her image for classroom walls.
Parents pointed to her story as proof that their children could dream beyond traditional limitations.
Beyond Fiction: Creating Real Opportunities
While Isabella Tapia may be a composite character, her story points toward real possibilities. Mexico’s space program is expanding, international partnerships are growing, and educational initiatives are slowly addressing historical disparities.
Dr. José Hernández Moreno, retired NASA astronaut with Mexican roots, applauded the signing, saying “It’s good that Mexico is joining the Artemis project, because once again we are going to return to the Moon, but this time we are not going to do it as a country, […] we are going to do it as a community.”
That sense of community must include all of Mexico’s diverse peoples. The challenge now is translating the inspiration generated by Isabella’s fictional journey into real programs, real scholarships, and real opportunities for Indigenous youth to pursue STEM careers.
When Mexico’s next astronaut is selected—whether for the 2027 Latino mission or future Artemis flights—there’s hope that they might carry not just the flag of Mexico, but the dreams of every community that saw themselves reflected in Isabella Tapia’s viral story.
The horizon of possibility has indeed stretched far beyond space—into every classroom where Indigenous children now dare to dream of touching the stars.
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See the sun transform into a fiery crescent in breathtaking photos of the September 2025 partial solar eclipse
September 22, 2025
A partial solar eclipse swept across the face of the sun on Sept. 21, mesmerizing stargazers with a dramatic display of orbital mechanics that saw the curved silhouette of the lunar disk turn the incandescent orb of our parent star into a fiery crescent over the Pacific Ocean.
The Sept. 21 partial solar eclipse occurred as the moon traveled between Earth and the sun, blocking the disk of our parent star and darkening the sky for over 16 million people in New Zealand, Antarctica and a host of Pacific island nations.
September's solar spectacle was captured in exquisite detail by a host of New Zealand photographers, who turned their lenses on the dawn eclipse to capture the partially occulted moon alongside the swirling clouds of the Pacific, along with some colossal ships.
Scroll down to view a selection of the best images of the September 2025 partial lunar eclipse and, while you're at it, why not read our partial solar eclipse live blog for a blow-by-blow chronological recap of the event as it happened.
cont.
https://www.space.com/stargazing/solar-eclipses/see-sun-transform-into-fiery-crescent-breathtaking-photos-partial-solar-eclipse-sept-21-2025
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Happy autumnal equinox 2025! Fall begins in the northern hemisphere today
September 22, 2025
The autumn equinox is now upon us!
Today marks the moment that the sun crosses the celestial equator, ushering in the beginning of astronomical autumn in the northern hemisphere, which brings with it the inevitability of longer nights, perfect for stargazing.
In 2025, the autumn equinox will occur on Sept. 22 at 2:20 p.m. EDT (1820 GMT), when the sun moves southward across the celestial equator.
The celestial equator is an imaginary projection of Earth's equator into space, forming a circle around the sky that divides the northern and southern celestial hemispheres.
The sun's drop across the equator is due to a 23.5° tilt in Earth's rotational axis, which shifts our star's apparent path in the sky as our planet goes about its yearly orbit.
We experience two equinoxes each year, one in March and one in September, when the tilt of Earth is such that the sun shines equally on the north and south hemispheres.
During an equinox day and night boast a roughly even 12-hour duration. It is for this characteristic that the name equinox was derived, from the Latin words "aequus" (equal) and "nox" (night).
On the day of the 2025 autumnal equinox, the sun rises almost exactly due east and sets to the west.
The months that follow will see cooler temperatures set in as the northern hemisphere receives less direct sunlight, while the nights will grow longer and darker — a trend that will continue until we celebrate the winter solstice on Dec. 21.
While Sept. 22 marks the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere, the exact opposite is true south of the equator, where spring is about to begin in earnest!
Dark, long autumn and winter nights are the perfect time to indulge in some astronomy.
https://www.space.com/stargazing/happy-autumnal-equinox-fall-begins-northern-hemisphere-today-sept-22-2025
https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/selfies-from-space-aussie-nanosatellite-completes-first-phase-of-mission/
Selfies from space: Aussie nanosatellite completes first phase of mission
23 Sep 2025 12:06 am AEST
Australia’s SpIRIT nanosatellite has successfully completed the initial phase of its mission, marking a milestone achievement for Australia’s place and reputation in the global space industry.
Led by the University of Melbourne, in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the Space Industry Responsive Intelligent Thermal nanosatellite – known as ‘SpIRIT’ – is the first space telescope funded by the Australian Space Agency to carry a foreign space agency’s scientific instrument as its main payload.
Since its launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California in December 2023, SpIRIT has circled the Earth more than 9,000 times – travelling a distance comparable to a round trip between Earth and Mars – and has been in orbit for over 600 days.
SpIRIT’s radiators after deployment, flying high over the Indian Ocean. The “Eagle”, a copper structure on the right radiator can be seen, which is designed to help dissipate heat from SpIRIT’s thermal management system.
Principal Investigator, University of Melbourne Professor Michele Trenti, said SpIRIT’s successful commissioning period is a true milestone for Australian technological advancements and space capabilities.
“SpIRIT is a complex satellite designed and built in Australia, with many components flying for the first time and hosting a scientific instrument contributed by the Italian Space Agency,” Professor Trenti said.
“Now that SpIRIT has completed rigorous testing in space, we are confident it’s ready to commence the next phase of its mission, which is a truly exciting.”
Expected to remain in orbit for more than 1000 days in total, SpIRIT’s core mission will now transition from testing flight capabilities and Australian space technology to scientific observation.
SpIRIT will be scanning large areas of space using its HERMES X-ray detector to spot cosmic explosions called gamma rays bursts, which are created when stars collide or die.
These explosions are unpredictable and difficult to spot, like a needle in a haystack.
Principal Investigator, University of Melbourne Professor Michele Trenti, said SpIRIT’s successful commissioning period is a true milestone for Australian technological advancements and space capabilities.
“SpIRIT is a complex satellite designed and built in Australia, with many components flying for the first time and hosting a scientific instrument contributed by the Italian Space Agency,” Professor Trenti said.
“Now that SpIRIT has completed rigorous testing in space, we are confident it’s ready to commence the next phase of its mission, which is a truly exciting.”
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Expected to remain in orbit for more than 1000 days in total, SpIRIT’s core mission will now transition from testing flight capabilities and Australian space technology to scientific observation.
SpIRIT will be scanning large areas of space using its HERMES X-ray detector to spot cosmic explosions called gamma rays bursts, which are created when stars collide or die.
These explosions are unpredictable and difficult to spot, like a needle in a haystack. Acting as an early warning system, SpIRIT will alert astronomers to a gamma ray burst event for further investigation.
The completion of the first phase of SpIRIT’s mission was marked with the deployment of its winged thermal management system and selfie stick, which it used to take a ‘selfie’ in space.
The image, beamed back to Earth, showed the nanosatellite crested in emblems of partners who made its mission possible with Australia in view behind it.
SpIRIT’s unique wings, designed by the University of Melbourne, helps keep the space telescope cool and increase science performance.
Now in its final configuration, the spacecraft measures almost a meter in size.
Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo welcomed the milestone and transition to the next phase of the mission.
“The SpIRIT mission has demonstrated the capability that exists within the Australian space sector – from building the satellite and testing new technologies in orbit and on ground, to hosting international science payloads and successfully completing its initial phase,” Mr Palermo said.
“I commend the team, and our colleagues at the Italian Space Agency, on their persistent long-duration operations in space. SpIRIT is a great example of the mutual benefit that comes from collaborating in space.”
“The result confirms the excellence of Italian space science, capable of producing technologically advanced equipment, and at the same time reaffirms the strong strategic value of scientific collaboration between the Italian Space Agency and its Australian counterpart,” said Teodoro Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency.
“The SpIRIT satellite carries on board a prototype detector funded by ASI, built entirely in Italy under the guidance of INAF.
The nominal operation of this miniaturized instrument, which has successfully completed the commissioning phase, has been demonstrated by pointing at the Crab gamma pulsar, detected with only 700 seconds of observation.”
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Space-Based Nuclear Detection Mission Endures
23 Sep 2025 12:16 am AEST
Roughly 12,550 miles above Earth, a constellation of U.S. global positioning satellites orbits the planet. GPS satellites also carry a sophisticated system designed to detect above ground nuclear detonations anytime, anywhere.
The Global Burst Detection system, developed by Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories, carries a suite of sensors and instruments capable of identifying signals from nuclear detonations and providing real-time information to the U.S. military and government.
The final system in the current block of eight systems launched into space in May 2025. Meanwhile, the next series, scheduled for initial deployment in 2027, already has several units completed and ready to be integrated with host satellites.
This mission has endured for more than 60 years at the Labs. Teams of engineers, scientists and technologists work a decade ahead to develop new complex technologies that can withstand the harsh space environment while countering evolving threats.
"The launch of the final IIIA series Global Burst Detector marks an important milestone in our efforts to enhance nuclear detection capabilities," Sandia manager Andrew Stuart said.
"The collaboration between Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory has been key to developing this advanced system, which will significantly contribute to our national security by improving our ability to detect nuclear detonations from space."
Marc Kippen, program manager for Space Systems and Science at Los Alamos, said, "The May launch is a testament to the decades of effort that it takes to maintain uninterrupted national security space capability.
Los Alamos National Laboratory is proud to contribute to this important and enduring mission."
A space-based deterrent
The Global Burst Detection system serves as part of the space-based component of the U.S. Nuclear Detonation Detection System.
This network of satellites, sensors and ground stations can detect, time-stamp and record electromagnetic pulse energy in specific bands, and X-ray and optical signals.
This information helps the U.S. Air Force precisely determine the location, time and yield of a nuclear detonation.
Funded by NNSA, the sensors undergo rigorous testing and mission assurance processes to ensure they perform reliably during their 15-plus-year mission.
Sandia performs a series of qualification tests, including shock, thermal, thermal vacuum, vibration and prompt X-ray tests, to demonstrate the system's ability to survive launch, deployment and operation in space.
Sandia and Los Alamos design and produce the system's five subsystems, with Sandia integrating them into a complete detection system.
The final of the IIIA series
The last IIIA series Global Burst Detector launched into space from Cape Canaveral on May 30. Teams from Sandia, Los Alamos and the U.S. Space Force calibrated the system in June and conducted early on-orbit testing to verify functionality.
For the final phase, the team will share the configuration and setting information with the U.S. Nuclear Detonation Detection System team for integration into the current satellite network.
Delivering the next generation
In 2024, Sandia and Los Alamos delivered the first two flight systems for the next generation of detectors, the IIIF, to Lockheed Martin for installation on GPS satellites. The first unit is scheduled to launch in 2027.
Teams from Sandia and Los Alamos worked together for 12 years to design and qualify the new system.
A key component of the IIIF series, the Spectral Imaging Geolocation Hyper-Temporal Sensor, or SIGHTS, has roots in Sandia's Laboratory Directed Research and Development program.
More than a decade ago, researchers conducted basic science to push the boundaries of remote sensing. That work laid the foundation for a new megapixel-density optical sensor, capable of capturing tens of thousands of frames per second.
This enables the sensor to better differentiate between legitimate signals and false positives.
Over the next decade, Sandia and Los Alamos plan to deliver, integrate and launch more IIIF Global Burst Detector systems to continue the mission.
https://www.miragenews.com/space-based-nuclear-detection-mission-endures-1538130/
Everybody was kung fu (in)fighting