TYB
Scientists put moss on the outside of the International Space Station for 9 months — then kept it growing back on Earth
November 20, 2025
Moss spores have survived a prolonged trip to space, scientists reveal.
The spores spent nine months on the outside of the International Space Station (ISS) before returning to our planet, and over 80% of the spores were still able to reproduce when they arrived back on Earth.
The discovery improves our understanding of how plant species survive in extreme conditions, the researchers wrote in their findings, published Thursday (Nov. 20) in the journal iScience.
Moss thrives in some of the most extreme environments on Earth, from the cold peaks of the Himalayas to the dry, scorched sands of Death Valley.
Moss's resilience to adverse conditions makes it an ideal candidate for surviving in the harsh environment of outer space, where extreme temperature fluctuations, altered gravity, and high radiation exposure push life-forms to their limits.
Previous experiments have explored how plants might cope in space, but so far, they have focused on larger organisms such as bacteria or plant crops.
Now, researchers have shown that samples of the moss Physcomitrium patens (P. Patens) can not only survive but thrive in space.
First, the researchers tested three cell types of P. patens from various stages in the moss's reproductive cycle.
They found that sporophytes — cell structures that encase spores — showed the greatest stress tolerance when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, freezing and heat.
Sporophyte samples were then placed outside of the ISS in a special exposure facility attached to Japan’s Kibo module, where the samples lived for around nine months in 2022. After this time, the samples were returned to Earth.
"Surprisingly, over 80% of the spores survived and many germinated normally," study lead author Tomomichi Fujita, a professor of plant biology at Hokkaido University in Japan, told Live Science in an email.
From this study, Fujita and his team developed a model that suggests the moss spores could actually survive for up to 5,600 days in space, or around 15 years.
Back on Earth, the team found that most of the conditions — including the vacuum of space, microgravity and extreme temperature fluctuations — had a limited impact on the moss spores.
However, samples that were exposed to light, particularly high-energy wavelengths of UV light, fared less well.
Levels of pigments used by the moss for photosynthesis, such as chlorophyll a, were significantly reduced as a result of light damage, which affected later moss growth.
Even though some moss samples faced damage from the conditions of outer space, P. patens still fared much better than other plant species that have been previously tested under similar conditions.
Fujita thinks the protective, spongy casing surrounding the spores may help defend against UV light and dehydration.
"This protective role may have evolved early in land plant history to help mosses colonize terrestrial habitats," he said.
While this may seem like an exercise in testing the limits of a single species, the "spores' success in space could offer a biological stepping stone for building ecosystems beyond our planet," Fujita said.
In the future, he hopes to test other species and better understand how these resilient cells survive such stressful conditions.
https://www.livescience.com/space/scientists-put-moss-on-the-outside-of-the-international-space-station-for-9-months-then-kept-it-growing-back-on-earth
https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(25)02088-7
get em, sir
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/johnson/celebrating-25-years-of-humanity-in-space/
Celebrating 25 Years of Humanity in Space
Nov 19, 2025
In 2025, NASA and its international partners celebrate 25 years of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station.
Since November 2, 2000, more than 290 people from 26 countries have lived and worked aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting thousands of experiments that have advanced science and technology on Earth and paved the way for Artemis missions to the Moon and future journeys to Mars.
Beyond its role as a science platform, the station has been a bridge—connecting cultures, sparking creativity, and inspiring generations.
The memories of Johnson Space Center employees reflect how the orbiting laboratory is not only an engineering marvel but also a deeply human endeavor.
Christopher Brown – Advancing Life Support Systems for Future Exploration
As a space station Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) integrator, Christopher Brown’s role has been ensuring astronauts have clean air and water.
ECLSS removes carbon dioxide from the air, supplies oxygen for breathing, and recycles wastewater—turning yesterday’s coffee into tomorrow’s coffee. Today, these systems can recover nearly 98% of the water brought to the station.
His proudest memory was commissioning regenerative life support systems and raising a symbolic toast with the crew while on console in mission control.
He also helped activate the Water Storage System, saving crew time and improving operations on station. For Brown, these milestones were vital steps toward future long-duration missions beyond Earth.
Stephanie Sipila – The Heart of Microgravity Research
Stephanie Sipila, now integration manager for NASA’s Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program, began her career as a mechanical and robotic systems instructor for the orbital outpost.
Her favorite experiment, Engineered Heart Tissues, studies microgravity’s effect on the human heart to help develop new treatments for cardiovascular disease.
She recalls NASA astronaut Sunita Williams running the Boston Marathon on a treadmill aboard station, becoming the first person to complete the race in space and showing how astronauts stay connected to Earth while living on orbit.
Sipila also highlights the Spacesuit Art Project, an initiative that turned artwork from children with cancer into spacesuits flown to and worn aboard the orbital outpost during live downlinks, connecting science, art, and hope — and raising awareness of cancer research conducted aboard the orbital outpost.
Liz Warren – Where Exploration Meets Humanity
Space station Associate Chief Scientist Liz Warren has seen firsthand how the Spacesuit Art Project uplifted children on Earth.
During Expedition 52, she watched astronaut Jack Fischer wear a suit covered in artwork created by young cancer patients, including his own daughter, a survivor.
"It was incredibly touching to note the power of art and inspiration. Human spaceflight requires fortitude, resilience, and teamwork—so does fighting childhood cancer,” Warren said.
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Her memories also extend to her time as an operations lead for NASA’s Human Research Program, which uses research to develop methods to protect the health and performance of astronauts in space to prepare for long-duration missions.
While out for a weekend run, Warren received a call from the Payload Operations and Integration Center in Huntsville, Alabama. An astronaut on station, following a prescribed diet for a research study, wanted to swap out a food item.
Warren coordinated with her support team and relayed the decision back to orbit—all while continuing her run. The moment, she recalls, underscored the constant, real-time connection between astronauts in space and teams on the ground.
Adam Baker – Checkmate: Space Debris Cleanup
As an aerospace engineer, Adam Baker helped track experiments and spacecraft operations from mission control.
Baker remembers when mission control played a live chess match with astronaut Greg Chamitoff during Expedition 17, a moment that showed the unique ways the station connects crews in orbit with people on Earth.
His favorite technical project, though, was the RemoveDebris small satellite, deployed from the station in 2018 to test technologies for cleaning up space junk.
“Knowing these experiments could one day help keep the orbital environment safe made it even more meaningful,” he said.
Michael McFarlane – Training for Success
As chief of the Simulation and Graphics Branch, Michael McFarlane prepared astronauts for space station assembly missions using high-fidelity simulators.
“My greatest memory is seeing the station grow as we successfully executed assembly missions that looked very much like what we analyzed and trained for in our ground-based simulations,” he said.
A Legacy of Ingenuity and Community
In the Mission Evaluation Room, engineers not only troubleshoot in real time but also celebrate milestones with traditions like “MERloween,” where controllers dress in space-themed costumes to honor the year’s lessons learned.
For social media consultant Mark Garcia, sharing the station story with the public has been the highlight of his career. His favorite moment was watching NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 splash down in 2025, greeted by dolphins in the Gulf of America.
“I love writing about the science aboard the station that benefits people on Earth,” he said.
For 25 years, the International Space Station has shown what humanity can accomplish together.
The lessons learned aboard will guide Artemis missions to the Moon and future journeys to Mars—ensuring the next 25 years are built on innovation, resilience, and the human spirit.
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U.K. Space Commander earns U.S. Army Space Wings
Nov. 19, 2025
U.S. Space Command hosted a pinning ceremony on Nov. 7, 2025, at The Aerospace Corporation to officially award U.K. Space Command Commander Maj. Gen. Paul Tedman the U.S. Army Basic Space Badge.
Tedman earned the badge on Sept. 10, 2025, after serving 26 months as the deputy director of USSPACECOM’s strategy, plans and policy directorate (J5), from September 2021 to November 2023, and completing the required space training: Space 100, 200, and 300 courses.
Foreign service members must meet the same rigorous standards as U.S. personnel, including completing qualifying space training courses and serving in approved space operations positions.
“Today, we’re here to celebrate Maj. Gen. Paul Tedman’s awesome contributions to Army and Joint Space warfighting,” said Lt. Gen. Thomas James, former USSPACECOM deputy commander.
“Talk about a high-stakes impactful assignment for a partner. In the role of USSPACECOM J5 deputy director, his leadership and vision in space situational awareness; space control; and satellite communication strategy, plans, and policy, were vital.
His contributions to improving coordination with allies and partners were a game-changer.”
Tedman is the first British Army officer to earn and receive the honor. While not formally recognized by the British military, he can display the badge, paving the way for future reciprocal badge exchanges, like foreign jump wings for paratroopers.
“He's not just a leader; he's a true advocate for the space domain and its protection. Maj. Gen. Tedman, your passion and dedication are inspiring. It’s our pleasure to present you with the Army Basic Space Badge,” James said.
Awarding badges to partner-nation service members represents our mutual respect and common accomplishments, and champions the trust, collaboration, and interoperability in which our relationships are rooted.
Though many accolades – such as the Army Basic Space Badge – acknowledge an individual’s success and contributions, they also serve to remind others of the tremendous value of allied integration.
As the U.K. Space Commander, Tedman plays a key role in the U.S.-U.K. space partnership, facilitating direct communication, collaboration, and alignment of strategic objectives between the two commands.
In response to receiving the award, Tedman said, “I was both surprised and delighted to be awarded the U.S. Army Space Badge by Lt. Gen. Tom James, one of the pioneers of Army Space in the U.S.
My assignment as the inaugural allied DJ5 in USSPACECOM was one of the most demanding and rewarding experiences of my life to date.”
He continued, “I feel enormously privileged to have benefited from the U.S. military’s deep space lineage and experience.
They took a simple soldier and, through an amazing syllabus of space education and training, turned me into a space professional – I now have a badge to prove it!”
Tedman also reflected on the significance of allied integration during his time at USSPACECOM.
“I was humbled by the experience, and specifically USSPACECOM’s desire to treat me as one of their own and break down barriers to complete allied integration.
The friendships and bonds I established in the U.S. have endured in my current role as Commander, U.K. Space Command.”
He concluded, “The U.K.-U.S. space relationship is going from strength to strength. Just last month, we conducted a first-of-its-kind bilateral co-orbital Rendezvous and Proximity Operation with USSPACECOM.
I will wear my badge with immense pride, and it will always remind me of the fantastic people I worked with in the U.S.”
The Army Space Badge was established as a unique Army badge in February 2011, following approval by the Chief of Staff of the Army.
Before this, it was known as the Air Force Space Badge and was awarded to Army personnel beginning in 2006.
In 2012, an Exception to Policy was approved by the Department of the Army G1, allowing foreign military personnel to be awarded the Space Badge.
The establishment of the badge reflects the increasing importance of space as a warfighting domain.
The U.S. and U.K. have forged an increasingly strong partnership in space, collaborating across diverse fields including satellite technology, scientific research, and space situational awareness.
This deepened cooperation includes multinational efforts like Multi-National Force Operation Olympic Defender, which has expanded its focus to optimize space operations, improve mission assurance, enhance resilience of space-based systems, synchronize efforts to strengthen deterrence, and reduce space debris. In addition to the U.K. and U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany and New Zealand are participating MNF OOD nations.
https://www.spacecom.mil/Newsroom/News/Article-Display/Article/4337686/uk-space-commander-earns-us-army-space-wings/
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-star-blew-a-diamond-ring-bubble-in-space
https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2025/11/aa56159-25/aa56159-25.html
A Star Blew A "Diamond Ring" Bubble In Space
November 20, 2025 05:11 PM UTC | Stars
The Cygnus X star-forming region is about 4,600 light-years away. It contains a huge number of massive protostars, and one of the most massive star-forming molecular clouds known.
With all of this activity, it's not surprising that it also hosts some objects that have puzzled astronomers.
One of them is the so-named "Diamond Ring," an usual bubble blown in space by a massive star.
While other stellar bubbles are spherical and expand rapidly, the Diamond Ring is flat and is expanding slowly. An international team of researchers have figured out what's going on.
Their results are in research published in Astronomy and Astrophysics titled "The Diamond Ring in Cygnus X: Advanced stage of an expanding bubble of ionised carbon."
The lead author is Simon Dannhauer from the Institute of Physics at the University of Cologne in Germany.
"The radiation and stellar winds emitted by OB stars inject substantial radiative, thermal, and mechanical energy into the interstellar medium (ISM)," the authors write.
This stellar feedback is important and can reduce star formation in its vicinity. Recently, astronomers have developed a method of quantifying this stellar feedback by using the fine structure of ionized carbon (CII).
These CII emissions do a great job of tracing the boundary and interface between ionized regions and neutral gas. This is exactly where stellar winds and radiation interact with the ISM.
"The ‘Diamond Ring’ within Cygnus X, south-west of the DR21 ridge, stands out as a prominent, nearly circular structure in infrared (IR) and far-infrared (FIR) emission, spanning approximately 6 pc in diameter," the researchers write.
It contains an HII region, which is hydrogen ionized by powerful UV radiation coming from massive young stars.
The researchers say that the HII region is very similar to other regions associated with expanding stellar bubbles, however those regions are routinely seen in ionized carbon (CII).
This new research is based on observations from SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, which ended operations in September, 2022.
SOFIA's CII observations show that the Diamond Ring is tilted, that is has a mass of about 103 M⊙, or about 1,000 solar masses.
It's also expanding at a rate of about 1.3 km s−1, or about 4,680 km/h. While that is incredibly fast in our Earthly frame of reference, it's a relatively sedate pace for an expanding stellar bubble.
The bubble, and the HII region, were created by a B0.5e star. All B-type stars are hot, but B0.5 stars are among the hottest.
The 'e' indicates emission lines, which means that the star is rotating very rapidly and ejecting material from its equator, which forms a disk of material. The disk is where the emissions come from.
*This image is an overview of the northern part of the Cygnus X star formation region. The black star labelled #227 is the star that carved out the bubble.
The part of the bubble that appears as a diamond on the ring is actually not part of the structure. It's a cluster of young stars a few hundred light-years closer. Image Credit: Dannhauer et al. 2025. A&A*
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"This observation marks the first instance where we observe only a slowly expanding ring of [C II] emission and not an expanding 3D shell," the authors write.
"We suggest that the H II region (along with its associated [C II] bubble), initially formed by a massive star, expanded outwards from a flat slab of molecular gas nearly in the plane of the sky."
The slowly expanding ring represents the final stage in the expanding bubble.
“For the first time, we observed the final stage of such a gas bubble in a distinctly flat cloud structure,” explained lead author Dannhauer in a press release.
“The bubble has ‘burst’, because gases were able to escape into the thinner areas around it. All that remained was the particular flat shape.”
*These are some of the CII scientific images of the Diamond Ring from the study. Each panel shows the star that carved the bubble with a yellow star, while magenta crosses represent other protostars in the region.
The images show "the emission distribution and velocity structure of the [C II] and CO lines in the Diamond Ring.
All figures reveal a mostly coherent ring-like structure in [C II] at the DR21 bulk velocity, spanning from −3 km s−1 to 1 km s−1" the authors explain. Image Credit: Dannhauer et al. 2025. A&A*
The bubble initially expanded in all directions, like a regular bubble. Now, the ring is confined by gas swept up into the flat slab of molecular gas.
The portions of the bubble that were moving perpendicular to the slab have dissipated, and that's caused a decrease in the expansion of the portion of the ring that remains.
The team ran simulations that trace how the CII bubble evolves, and they support this explanaion.
According to this work, the ring itself is only about 400,000 years old, young for a cosmic structure. The observations also show that the diamond-like feature isn't actually part of the bubble.
"The [C II] data revealed that the ‘Diamond’ of the Diamond Ring is an unrelated, dense gas clump," the authors write.
Stellar feedback plays a powerful role by shaping the surroundings of young stars. It regulates the conversion of gas into stars by heating nearby gas.
Galaxies wouldn't be the same without it, so it plays a role in shaping entire galaxies. A single massive star can have a defining effect on the gas cloud that spawned it, not only negatively, but positively, too.
Some of the filaments, bubbes, and shells created by stellar feedback can trigger star formation rather than inhibit it.
“The ‘Diamond Ring’ is a prime example of how enormous the influence of individual stars can be on entire cloud complexes,” said Dr Nicola Schneider, co-author of the study.
“Such processes are crucial for understanding the formation of stars in our Milky Way,” added Dr Robert Simon, another of the study's co-authors.
The researchers explain in their article that the Diamond Ring is the terminal phase of an expanding bubble oc CII, and that it's driven both by thermal pressure and stellar winds.
"This study offers insights into how stellar feedback of a massive star impacts the dynamics of the gas in slab-like molecular environments, which are likely to be more common in star-forming regions than the idealised spherical expansion scenarios that are typically modelled," the authors conclude.
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Rocket Lab launches hypersonic test flight for US military
November 19, 2025
Rocket Lab launched its hypersonic test vehicle for the sixth time ever this week.
The HASTE suborbital rocket lifted off Tuesday (Nov. 18) at 8 a.m. EST (1300 GMT) from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 2 on Wallops Island, Virginia, on a mission for the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
The launch, which Rocket Lab named "Prometheus Run," was a success, "advancing national interests in safeguarding the homeland through the testing of advanced technologies for missile defense," Rocket Lab wrote in a description of the flight.
HASTE is a modified suborbital version of Rocket Lab's 59-foot-tall (18 meters) Electron launcher, which gives small satellites dedicated rides to orbit. That lineage is in the newer vehicle's name, which is short for "Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron."
HASTE debuted in June 2023 and has now flown a total of six times. The rocket serves as a testbed, providing "reliable, high-cadence flight test opportunities needed to advance hypersonic and suborbital system technology development," according to Rocket Lab's website.
We don't know much about the technologies that got tested on "Prometheus Run," which isn't terribly surprising given that the U.S. military booked the flight.
"Led by MDA, the mission deployed a government-provided primary payload developed by the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and multiple secondary payloads by federal and industry partners, which tested key technologies for missile defense applications," Rocket Lab's postflight statement reads.
Prometheus Run" launched within 14 months of its booking, the company added — a pretty quick turnaround for a government-sponsored test flight.
"Accessing the commercial and non-traditional ecosystem is a key enabler to accelerating progress in the hypersonics community of interest, particularly for closing mission timelines and driving towards mass and affordability," Lt. Col. Nicholas Estep, director of DIU’s Emerging Technology Portfolio, said in the same statement. "
Working with MDA to demonstrate commercially-focused sub-orbital launch services is a great example of that axiom."
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/rocket-lab-launches-hypersonic-test-flight-for-us-military-photo
https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1990963644293881928
https://rocketlabcorp.com/launch/haste/
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/watch-spacex-launch-more-than-100-satellites-to-orbit-today-on-transporter-15-rideshare-mission
https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-6-78
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSiz_09OyaI
Watch SpaceX launch more than 100 satellites to orbit today on Transporter 15 rideshare mission
November 20, 2025
SpaceX's Transporter-15 mission is poised to deliver more than 100 spacecraft to Earth orbit.
A Falcon 9 rocket will launch Transporter-15 today (Nov. 20) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is expected from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-4E during a 57-minute window that opens at 1:18 p.m. EST (1818 GMT).
Transporter-15 will deliver more than 100 satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit, where each will begin its own, individualized mission.
A livestream of the launch will be available on the SpaceX Transporter-15 mission website, the company's profile on X, as well as on Space.com beginning about 15 minutes prior to liftoff.
The mission continues SpaceX's increasing frequency of rideshare launches, and follows on the heels of the late-summer liftoff of the Transporter-14 flight, which delivered dozens of cubesats, tech demos and research craft into low Earth orbit (LEO).
Not all of Transporter-15's payloads were confirmed or identified before launch, but among those that have, there are notable contributions from organizations like the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA), as well as companies and organizations like Planet Labs, SEOPS, Leaf Space and various universities and educational institutions.
ESA's HydroGNSS-1 and HydroGNSS-2 satellites will fly as part of the agency's first Scout mission. They will study Earth's water cycle using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reflectometry measurement technique to quite literally "scout for water," according to ESA.
Taiwan is launching the FORMOSAT-8A Earth-imaging satellite, as well as three domestically built cubesats: Bellbird-1, Black Kite-1 and TORO-8U-1, from Tron Future Tech, Rapidtek Technologies Inc. and Pyras Technology Inc., respectively.
They will test high-speed data transferal communications, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and conduct remote sensing to monitor algae, plankton and ocean health.
Pelican imaging satellites 5 and 6, as well as 36 SuperDoves in the "Flock 4H" group, have been included on the rideshare launch by Planet Labs.
The company's expanding Earth-observation Pelican network is designed to "efficiently capture fleeting and emerging events, especially those that may anticipate new patterns or risks," the Planet Labs website says.
The accompanying SuperDoves will join Planet Labs' PlanetScope monitoring mission.
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SEOPS will utilize Transporter-15 to demonstrate its custom payload integration capabilities with the deployment of a wide range of student-built, scientific and commercial spacecraft. They include four payloads managed by Alba Orbital.
Also flying is Hungary's HUNITY, a new "pocketqube" platform for even smaller cubesats, measuring as small as 2 inches (5 centimeters). T
wo of these pocketqubes are SARI-1 and SARI-2 from the Saudi space agency, which will perform telemetry, IoT experiments and other research.
Alba is also flying the ANISCSAT mission from Azerbaijan, which will study environmental conditions in LEO.
SEOPS is managing two cubesats for CS3, called WISDOM and Mauve.
WISDOM, part of ESA’s NAVISP program, will test collision avoidance and deorbiting technologies using a 6U cubesat that will separate into two individual 3U spacecraft, while Mauve, a 16U cubesat, will conduct ultraviolet astronomy using a 13-cm telescope.
SEOPS is also handling NASA’s 3UCubed-A, designed to measure precipitating electrons and ultraviolet emissions at Earth's poles, SatRev's PW-6U Earth-imaging satellite for customers in the agricultural and energy industries, and TRYAD-1 and 2, lightning observation satellites built by students at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Auburn University, and funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
A large portion of the satellites on Transporter-15 will be supported by Leaf Space. In a demonstration of its growing ground infrastructure, the Italian company will add 31 of Transporter-15's payloads to its Leaf Line ground station network — roughly 30% of the launch's total spacecraft.
Those 31 will join 140 spacecraft that utilize the network, operated by various commercial customers who rely on Leaf Space for tracking and telemetry data.
Data on many of Transporter-15's payloads has yet to be released, and the mission's full manifest will likely not be known until after the launch is complete.
Due to the large number of payloads and the diversity of their missions, the Falcon 9's second stage will feature a longer-than-usual deployment process, beginning about 55 minutes after launch and lasting about two hours.
The Falcon 9's first stage, booster 1071, is expected to land about 8.5 minutes after liftoff on SpaceX's "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship, stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
This will be the 30th flight for B1071, which has previously launched 18 Starlink missions, four rideshare missions, five national security missions and two missions carrying Earth-observation satellites.
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GT 254: AFGSC validates reliability, readiness of ICBM force with Minuteman III test launch
Nov. 20, 2025
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) – Air Force Global Strike Command conducted a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, Nov. 5.
This test, designated GT 254, evaluated the ongoing reliability, operational readiness, and accuracy of the ICBM system, a cornerstone of America's national defense.
A team of AFGSC Airmen from the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron employing the Airborne Launch Control System from aboard a U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft, initiated the launch, testing the effectiveness and continuous availability of the ALCS, a backup command and control system for the ICBM force.
“GT 254 is not just a launch – it's a comprehensive assessment to verify and validate the ICBM system's ability to perform its critical mission,” said Lt. Col. Karrie Wray, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander.
“The data collected during the test is invaluable in ensuring the continued reliability and accuracy of the ICBM weapon system.”
The Western Test Range at Vandenberg SFB serves as the testing ground for this critical effort.
This launch is part of a series of routine and periodic activities crucial to assessing and validating the Minuteman III's capabilities.
These tests, conducted with stringent safety protocols, allow AFGSC to collect valuable data.
“This test validated the reliability, adaptability, and modularity of the weapon system,” said Col. Dustin Harmon, 377th Test and Evaluation Group commander.
“Through this comprehensive assessment, conducted by a dedicated team of AFGSC Airmen, we ensure the highest standards of integrity and reliability for the Nation's ICBM system.”
The 377th Test and Evaluation Group, the Air Force's only dedicated ICBM test organization, oversaw the meticulous planning and execution of the test launch.
The unarmed ICBM's reentry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command's Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
The Reagan Test Site, equipped with advanced sensors, including high-fidelity metric and signature radars, optical sensors, and telemetry, collected critical data during the terminal phase of flight.
RTS team members analyze this data to evaluate system performance and support the research, development, test and evaluation of America's defense and space programs.
Airmen from all three AFGSC missile wings comprised the task force supporting the test launch, while maintainers from the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, provided essential maintenance support.
This collective effort underscored the commitment and expertise of the Airmen who maintain and operate this vital weapon system.
As the U.S. Air Force modernizes its ICBM force with the LGM-35A Sentinel weapon system, maintaining the readiness of the existing Minuteman III remains a top priority.
“As we modernize to the Sentinel weapon system, we must continue to maintain the readiness of the existing Minuteman III fleet.
GT 254 helps fulfill that commitment, ensuring its continued accuracy and reliability,” said Gen. S.L. Davis, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4338658/gt-254-afgsc-validates-reliability-readiness-of-icbm-force-with-minuteman-iii-t/
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/64575
other Russia and Ukraine
https://news.az/news/drone-attacks-trigger-explosions-in-russias-ryazan-oil-refinery-possibly-targeted-video
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4060717-drone-attack-on-sloviansk-one-person-injured-15-houses-damaged.html
https://english.nv.ua/russian-war/russian-drone-strike-damages-un-world-food-programme-warehouse-in-dnipro-50562320.html
https://mezha.net/eng/bukvy/russian-drone-attack-damages-ships-at-izmail-port/
https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/20/frontline-report-2025-11-19/
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/ukraine-scales-up-anti-drone-ammunition-production-1763633868.html
https://united24media.com/latest-news/ai-hivemind-to-power-ukraines-new-missile-and-anti-drone-systems-from-2026-13635
‘Koschei’s Oil Needle’: Ukraine Confirm Strikes on Ryazan and Ilsky Refineries
Nov. 20, 2025, 8:49 am
Loud explosions were heard in Russia’s Ryazan early on Thursday, Nov. 20, amid what appears to be a second drone attack on the city’s oil refinery in the past seven days.
Russian media reported that a “drone danger” alert was issued around midnight. After 2 a.m., local Telegram channels began posting about multiple explosions, and residents reported seeing unidentified drones over the city and surrounding areas.
A drone alert was also issued for Diaghilev airfield.
The pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ published videos showing blasts in the city, claiming: “Ryazan, an attack is underway, probably on a local refinery. Locals counted more than 10 explosions.”
The Ryazan Oil Refinery produces gasoline, diesel, liquefied gas, and roughly 840,000 tons of TS-1 aviation kerosene per year, used by Russia’s Aerospace Forces.
The facility was also attacked on Nov. 15, when Ukraine’s General Staff reported precision strikes on key military and infrastructure sites in Russia, including the refinery, causing large explosions and a major fire.
At 5.50 a.m., regional governor Pavel Malkov shared on Telegram that air defenses had destroyed several UAVs over the Ryazan region.
“Due to falling debris, a fire broke out on the territory of one enterprise,” he wrote, without identifying the site.
He said debris fell in several districts but reported no casualties and no serious damage to civilian infrastructure.
Exilenova+ also reported drone strikes on substations in the Kursk region’s Glushkov, Rylsky, and Korenovsky districts, sharing photos of fires.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted and destroyed 65 Ukrainian aircraft-type drones overnight, including 16 over the Ryazan region.
The head of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), Robert “Madyar” Brovdy, confirmed the strike on the Ryazan Oil Refinery in a Telegram post, adding that Ukrainian drones also attacked the Ilsky Oil Refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai early on Wednesday, Nov. 19.
“The Ilsky Oil Refinery… was once again pecked by the USF Birds on the night of Nov. 19. The Ryazan Oil Refinery was also not spared the polite attention of the USF Birds, together with the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), early on the morning of Nov. 20,” Brovdy wrote on Telegram.
Referencing the Slavic myth of Koschei the Immortal - whose death is hidden inside a needle - Brovdy said Russia’s “Koschei’s Oil Needle” is concealed in 40 refineries.
“About two dozen have already been targeted by the free Ukrainian Bird of the Defense Forces - some less, some more - and some are still on a ventilator to recover,” he added.
Brovdy noted that the Ilsky refinery processes more than 6 million tons of oil annually, is one of Krasnodar Krai’s largest employers, and plays a major role in the regional economy.
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Regarding the Ryazan refinery, he wrote:
“Last year it sold 13 million tons of fuel. According to the agenda, gasoline is steadily becoming a scarce liquid in the swamps, and gas and oil are burning quickly.”
The General Staff of Ukraine also confirmed the damage in its report, stating: “A strike on the target and a fire in the area of the secondary oil-processing facilities were recorded. The extent of the damage is being clarified.”
It added that additional strikes hit concentrations of Russian manpower in the occupied territory of Donetsk region, and that Russian losses are currently being assessed.
According to Russian media, this marks the second strike on the refinery in a week, the second in a month, and the third since early autumn.
The plant was previously hit on Nov. 15, Oct. 23, Sept. 5, and Aug. 2 - when Ukrainian forces began systematically targeting Russian energy infrastructure.
The Ryazan refinery, owned by Rosneft, processed 13.1 million tons of crude in 2024 and accounts for 5% of Russia’s total refining capacity. It supplies fuel to the Moscow region.
Reuters sources said that after the Nov. 15 strike, the refinery halted operations due to the shutdown of its main refining unit, responsible for 48% of capacity. It had already been operating at reduced output.
It became the fifth Russian refinery to stop production in November due to drone attacks.
Rosneft’s Tuapse refinery shut on Nov. 3, Lukoil’s Volgograd refinery on Nov. 6, Orskneftorgsintez in Orenburg on Nov. 10, and Rosneft’s Saratov refinery on Nov. 11.
Reuters also reported that, according to classified industry statistics, Russia’s overall refining output fell by 6% between August and October following repeated drone strikes.
The Kremlin classified gasoline production data in 2024, citing the risk of “market speculation.”
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