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Watch Blue Origin launch 6 people to suborbital space today
January 22, 2026
Six space tourists will launch to the final frontier on Thursday (Jan. 22), and you can watch the action live.
Blue Origin is scheduled to launch its NS-38 suborbital mission from West Texas on Thursday, during a window that opens at 11:00 a.m. EST (1600 GMT; 10:00 a.m. local Texas time).
You can watch it live here at Space.com courtesy of Blue origin, or directly via the company. Coverage will start 30 minutes before launch.
As its name suggests, NS-38 will be the 38th flight of New Shepard, Blue Origin's reusable rocket-capsule combo. Sixteen of the vehicle's 37 missions to date have carried people; the others have been uncrewed research flights.
New Shepard flights last 10 to 12 minutes from liftoff to the capsule's parachute-aided touchdown. During this time, passengers get to experience a brief period of weightlessness and see Earth against the blackness of space.
Blue Origin has not revealed how much it charges for a seat aboard New Shepard. Virgin Galactic, the company's chief competitor in the suborbital space tourism industry, has done so; Virgin Galactic tickets are $600,000 apiece.
The six people going up on NS-38 are entrepreneur and pilot Tim Drexler; retired obstetrician/gynecologist Linda Edwards; real estate developer and investor Alain Fernandez; entrepreneur and technologist Alberto Gutiérrez; retired U.S. Air Force Col. Jim Hendren, who founded the company Hendren Plastics Inc.; and Laura Stiles, Blue Origin’s director of New Shepard launch operations. You can read more about them all via Blue Origin.
Stiles is a late addition to the manifest. Blue Origin just announced her inclusion today (Jan. 20), explaining that she's replacing a passenger who can no longer fly on Thursday due to illness (but will get to participate in a future mission).
The person who dropped out is presumably Andrew Yaffe, a veteran of the recycling industry who was identified as an NS-38 crewmember in Blue Origin's first update about the mission.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/blue-origin-ns-38-suborbital-space-tourism-mission
https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-38-mission
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T_hA6mPiIY
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Meteorological_missions/Arctic_Weather_Satellite/Arctic_Weather_Satellite_paves_way_for_constellation
Arctic Weather Satellite paves way for constellation
22/01/2026
Already recognised for its excellence and even adopted for operational weather forecasting, the European Space Agency’s Arctic Weather Satellite has now fulfilled its most important role.
This small prototype mission has succeeded in paving the way for a new constellation of similar satellites, known as EPS-Sterna.
Launched in August 2024, the Arctic Weather Satellite was conceived and deployed in just three years, and within a tightly constrained budget – demonstrating how a New Space approach can be used to realise small satellites for Earth observation.
Crucially, the mission was primarily designed to show how a constellation of similar polar-orbiting satellites could deliver frequent observations to support very short-term weather forecasts and nowcasts in the Arctic, and around the world. This need is becoming increasingly urgent.
As climate change continues to intensify weather variability in the Arctic, the demand for more – and more frequent – data is growing, particularly measurements of atmospheric water vapour.
Concentrations of water vapour can change rapidly in this region and have a significant impact on forecast accuracy. The coverage needed cannot be achieved by a single satellite alone, but only through a dedicated constellation.
Equipped with a cross-track scanning microwave radiometer, the Arctic Weather Satellite delivers detailed measurements of atmospheric humidity along with temperature.
Even though it is a prototype mission, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) deemed its data so good as to assimilate them into weather forecasts.
The data, along with numerous other observations, are merged with a short-range forecast that is guided by earlier measurements to produce the most accurate possible snapshot of the Earth’s current state.
This analysis then serves as the starting point for generating weather forecasts.
Information from the Arctic Weather Satellite’s microwave radiometer complements data from similar sensors on much larger satellites provided by organisations such as the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (Eumetsat), the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the China Meteorological Administration (CMA).
This fact alone stands as a strong endorsement of the mission’s excellence and has helped to open the door for a constellation of similar satellites – and as such Eumetsat has confirmed that the Eumetsat Polar System – Stena (EPS-Sterna) will go forward, with the aim of launching the first satellites of the constellation in 2029.
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ESA’s Arctic Weather Satellite Project Manager, Ville Kangas, said, “We are extremely proud of the Arctic Weather Satellite mission and my thanks go to the many who have been involved.
We developed this innovative satellite under very tight time and budgetary constraints, proving that this approach can be adopted for a constellation of such satellites.
“And, in orbit, the satellite has not only performed well, but exceeded expectations by actually being used operationally for weather forecasts, which wasn’t on its list of requirements – only to show that it could.
“The news that Eumetsat will now go forward with EPS-Sterna is indeed great news, and we are looking forward to developing and building the constellation in cooperation with Eumetsat.”
The constellation will comprise of six satellites – and the satellites will be replenished twice during the lifetime of the mission to ensure the continued delivery of data until at least 2042. In addition, there will be two satellites as spares, leading to a total of twenty satellite to be built.
ESA will manage the procurement of the Sterna satellites – a cooperation model similar to Europe’s other meteorological missions, namely the geostationary Meteosat and the polar-orbiting MetOp missions.
The formal agreement between ESA and Eumetsat is to be signed shortly.
EPS-Sterna will deliver global observations, with most data available within around an hour and revisit times of less than three hours for the same location on Earth.
This will be a major step forward compared with current polar-orbiting satellite systems, which typically observe the same area only twice a day.
The increased observation frequency will significantly enhance the monitoring of rapidly evolving weather, improving forecasts of severe events in vulnerable regions such as the Mediterranean, while also closing critical data gaps over the Arctic – the fastest-warming region on Earth and a key source of weather systems that affect and often intensify over Europe.
Fun fact: Sterna is the Latin genus for the Arctic Tern, a bird known for its extensive migrations, reflecting the satellites' polar orbits.
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https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/armstrong/nasa-tests-technology-offering-potential-fuel-savings-for-commercial-aviation/
NASA Tests Technology Offering Potential Fuel Savings for Commercial Aviation
Jan 21, 2026
NASA researchers successfully completed a high-speed taxi test of a scale model of a design that could make future aircraft more efficient by improving how air flows across a wing’s surface, saving fuel and money.
On Jan. 12, the Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) test article reached speeds of approximately 144 mph, marking its first major milestone.
The 3-foot-tall scale model looks like a fin mounted under the belly of one of the agency’s research F-15B testbed jets. However, it’s a scale model of a wing, mounted vertically instead of horizontally.
The setup allows NASA to flight-test the wing design using an existing aircraft.
The CATNLF concept aims to increase a phenomenon known as laminar flow and reduce wind resistance, also known as drag.
A NASA computational study conducted between 2014 and 2017 estimated that applying a CATNLF wing design to a large, long-range aircraft like the Boeing 777 could achieve annual fuel savings of up to 10%.
Although quantifying the exact savings this technology could achieve is difficult, the study indicates it could approach millions of dollars per aircraft each year.
“Even small improvements in efficiency can add up to significant reductions in fuel burn and emissions for commercial airlines,” said Mike Frederick, principal investigator for CATNLF at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
Reducing drag is key to improving efficiency. During flight, a thin cover of air known as the boundary layer forms very near an aircraft’s surface. In this area, most aircraft experience increasing friction, also known as turbulent flow, where air abruptly changes direction.
These abrupt changes increase drag and fuel consumption. CATNLF increases laminar flow, or the smooth motion of air, within the boundary layer. The result is more efficient aerodynamics, reduced friction, and less fuel burn.
The CATNLF testing falls under NASA’s Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities project, a part of the agency’s Integrated Aviation Systems Program under the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.
The concept of was first developed by NASA’s Advanced Air Transport Technology project, and in 2019, NASA Armstrong researchers developed the initial shape and parameters of the model.
The design was later refined for efficiency at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
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“Laminar flow technology has been studied and used on airplanes to reduce drag for many decades now, but laminar flow has historically been limited in application,” said Michelle Banchy, Langley principal investigator for CATNLF.
This limitation is due to crossflow, an aerodynamic phenomenon on angled surfaces that can prematurely end laminar flow. While large, swept wings like those found on most commercial aircraft provide aerodynamic efficiencies, crossflow tendencies remain.
In a 2018 wind tunnel test at Langley, researchers confirmed that the CATNLF design successfully achieved prolonged laminar flow.
“After the positive results in the wind tunnel test, NASA saw enough promise in the technology to progress to flight testing,” Banchy said.
“Flight testing allows us to increase the size of the model and fly in air that has less turbulence than a wind tunnel environment, which are great things for studying laminar flow.”
NASA Armstrong’s F-15B testbed aircraft provides the necessary flight environment for laminar flow testing, Banchy said.
The aircraft enables researchers to address fundamental questions about the technology while keeping costs lower than alternatives, such as replacing a test aircraft’s wing with a full-scale CATNLF model or building a dedicated demonstrator aircraft.
CATNLF currently focuses on commercial aviation, which has steadily increased over the past 20 years, with passenger numbers expected to double in the next 20, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Commercial passenger aircraft fly at subsonic speeds, or slower than the speed of sound.
“Most of us fly subsonic, so that’s where this technology would have the greatest impact right now,” Frederick said. NASA’s previous computational studies also confirmed that technology like CATNLF could be adapted for supersonic application.
In the coming weeks, CATNLF is expected to begin its first flight, kicking off a series of test flights designed to evaluate the design’s performance and capabilities in flight.
Looking ahead, NASA’s work on CATNLF could lay the groundwork for more efficient commercial air travel and might one day extend similar capabilities to supersonic flight, improving fuel efficiency at even higher speeds.
“The CATNLF flight test at NASA Armstrong will bring laminar technology one step closer to being implemented on next-generation aircraft,” Banchy said.
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NASA Invites Media to Crew-10 Visit at Marshall
Jan 21, 2026
NASA will host two astronauts at 10 a.m. CST Friday, Jan. 23, for a media opportunity at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, who served as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission, will discuss their recent mission to the International Space Station.
Media interested in attending the event must confirm their attendance with Lance D. Davis, lance.d.davis@nasa.gov, and Molly Porter, molly.a.porter@nasa.gov, by 12 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 22 to receive further instructions.
The Crew-10 mission launched March 14 and was NASA’s 11th human spaceflight with SpaceX to the space station for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
Aboard the station, the crew completed dozens of experiments and technology demonstrations before safely returning to Earth on Aug. 9, 2025.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program provides reliable access to space, maximizing the use of the station for research and development and supporting future missions beyond low Earth orbit by partnering with private companies to transport astronauts to and from the space station.
The International Space Station remains the springboard to NASA’s next leap in space exploration, including future missions to the Moon and, eventually, Mars.
The agency’s Huntsville Operations Support Center, or HOSC, at Marshall provides engineering and mission operations support for the space station, Commercial Crew Program, and other missions.
Within the HOSC, the commercial crew support team provides engineering and safety and mission assurance expertise for launch vehicles, spacecraft propulsion, and integrated vehicle performance.
The HOSC’s Payload Operations Integration Center, which operates, plans, and coordinates science experiments aboard the space station 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, supported the Crew-10 mission, managing communications between the International Space Station crew and researchers worldwide.
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-invites-media-to-crew-10-visit-at-marshall/
https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/commercial-space/commercial-crew-program/
Protostar EC 53 in the Serpens Nebula (NIRCam Image)
January 21, 2026
This image, taken by NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, shows the actively forming protostar EC 53 (circled) in the Serpens Nebula.
EC 53 is surrounded by a protoplanetary disk where planets and comets may eventually form. (That disk isn’t an obvious feature for two reasons: It’s tiny from a distance, and dark dust obscures the area.)
Researchers took additional observations of EC 53 using Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) to observe the star and its system when it was “quiet” and during its “party-like” burst phase.
The team, led by Jeong-Eun Lee of Seoul National University in South Korea, discovered a slew of silicates all across the star’s disk of gas and dust.
MIRI’s spectra turned up crystalline forsterite and enstatite, and amorphous olivine and pyroxene near the star and throughout its protoplanetary disk.
Webb’s data also mapped the star’s narrow, high-velocity jets near its poles, its slightly cooler and slower outflows, and the star’s wider and weaker stellar winds.
By showing precisely what is present — and where everything is — the researchers proved that crystalline silicates are being forged in the hot, inner region of the disk of gas and dust around the star, before being shot out into far-flung locales.
Astronomers have long sought evidence to explain why comets at the edge of our own solar system contain crystalline silicates, since these minerals require intense heat to form and comets spend most of their orbits in the ultracold Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud. This is the first direct evidence that can explain how that may have happened.
Also see what researchers reported finding about other stars in the Serpens Nebula in 2024.
https://science.nasa.gov/asset/webb/protostar-ec-53-in-the-serpens-nebula-nircam-image/
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/first-of-its-kind-detection-made-in-striking-new-webb-image/
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/artemis-2/nasas-artemis-ii-mission-to-fly-legacy-keepsakes-with-astronaut-crew/
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20412/
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasas-artemis-ii-rocket-and-spacecraft-make-their-way-to-launch-pad/
NASA’s Artemis II Mission to Fly Legacy Keepsakes with Astronaut Crew
Jan 21, 2026
As America approaches its 250th anniversary of declaring independence, NASA’s Artemis II mission will carry a host of mementos that reflect the nation’s long tradition of exploration, innovation, and leadership in its official flight kit.
The items will fly aboard the Orion spacecraft, launched on top of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, as it carries four astronauts around the Moon on the first crewed test flight of the agency’s Artemis campaign.
“Historical artifacts flying aboard Artemis II reflect the long arc of American exploration and the generations of innovators who made this moment possible,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
“This mission will bring together pieces of our earliest achievements in aviation, defining moments from human spaceflight, and symbols of where we’re headed next.
During America’s 250th anniversary, Orion will carry astronauts around the Moon while also carrying our history forward into the next chapter beyond Earth.”
Selected to honor America’s historic achievements in space, inspire the next generation of explorers, and reinforce U.S. leadership through international cooperation in science and education, the mementos continue a proud tradition carried forward from Artemis I and earlier human spaceflight missions.
Together, they highlight the freedom and innovation that have unlocked the Golden Age of human space exploration.
A 1-inch by-1-inch swatch of muslin fabric from the original Wright Flyer the Wright Brothers used to make the first powered flight in 1903 will be flying aboard Artemis II, lent by the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
A smaller square cut of the swatch previously flew aboard space shuttle Discovery on STS-51D in 1985 and will make its second journey into space.
After the mission, the fabric will be reunited with two other 1903 Wright Flyer swatches at the museum, celebrating the nation’s history and innovation in aviation.
Also flying aboard the Artemis II mission will be a 13-by-8-inch American flag, which flew with the first shuttle mission, STS-1, the final shuttle mission, STS-135, and NASA’s first crewed test flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, SpaceX Demo-2.
A flag that was set to fly on NASA’s Apollo 18 mission is included in the flight kit and will make its premiere flight with Orion.
The flag serves as a powerful emblem of America’s renewed commitment to human exploration of the Moon, while honoring the legacy of the Apollo pioneers who first blazed the trail.
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Orion also will carry a copy of a 4-by-5-inch negative of a photo from the Ranger 7 mission, the first U.S. mission to successfully make contact with the lunar surface.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California managed the Ranger series of spacecraft, built to help identify safe Moon landing sites for Apollo astronauts.
The photo represents a major turning point in the race to the Moon that will be echoed today through the success of Artemis.
On Artemis I, a variety of tree seeds flew and were distributed to educational organizations and teachers after the mission, following in the footsteps of tree seeds flown aboard the Apollo 14 mission sprouted into “Moon Trees” after being returned to Earth.
The seeds have since taken root at 236 locations across the U.S. to become their own Artemis I Moon Trees.
Soil samples collected from the base of established Artemis I Moon Trees planted at NASA’s 10 centers will fly aboard Artemis II, representing the full cycle of exploration: launch, flight, growth, and return to space again.
The CSA (Canadian Space Agency) will fly various tree seeds in the kit with the intention of distributing them after the mission.
Also included in the kit will be an SD card including the millions of names of those who participated in the “Send Your Name to Space” campaign, bringing the public along on this journey.
The kit will include a variety of flags, patches, and pins to be distributed after the mission to stakeholders and employees who contributed to the flight.
Additionally, NASA has included items from several of its partners in the kit.
Stickers and patches from CSA will fly, and ESA (European Space Agency) will fly a flag in the kit for distribution after the mission, marking NASA’s international collaboration with other space agencies through Artemis.
Orion’s European Service Module, the powerhouse of the spacecraft, is provided by ESA.
Carrying mementos on the NASA spacecraft has been a tradition since the 1960s, one that was continued on Artemis I, the first uncrewed test flight of Orion and the SLS.
During this mission, Orion carried a symbolic flight kit including historical artifacts, from Apollo missions STEM, or science, technology, engineering, and math, items, digitized student essays and teacher pledges, and more.
The official flight kit for Artemis II, which contains about 10 pounds of mementos in total, augments important scientific research aboard Orion.
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Snow Buries Kamchatka
Jan 22, 2026
It has been an eventful few months for the Northern Hemisphere atmosphere.
An unusually early sudden stratospheric warming episode in late November appears to have factored into a weakened and distorted polar vortex at times in December, likely causing extra waviness in the polar jet stream.
This helped fuel extensive intrusions of frigid air into the mid-latitudes, contributing to cold snaps in North America, Europe, and Asia, and priming the atmosphere for disruptive winter storms in January.
Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula has been among the areas hit hard by cold and snowy weather in December and January.
More than 2 meters (7 feet) of snow fell in the first two weeks of January, following 3.7 meters in December, according to news reports.
Together, these totals make it one of the snowiest periods the peninsula has seen since the 1970s, according to Kamchatka’s Hydrometeorology Center.
The onslaught brought Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the regional capital, to a standstill, with reports of large snowdrifts burying cars and blocking access to buildings and infrastructure.
This image, acquired by the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) instrument on NASA’s Aqua satellite, shows fresh snow blanketing the peninsula's rugged terrain on January 17, 2026.
Several circular, snow-covered volcanic peaks are visible across the peninsula, one of the most volcanically active areas in the world.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, home to more than 160,000 people, sits along Avacha Bay—a deep, sheltered bay formed by a combination of tectonic, volcanic, and glacial activity.
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/snow-buries-kamchatka/
NASA’s Universe of Learning Unveils Fresh Facilitator Guides Inspired by Community Feedback
Jan 21, 2026
The goal of NASA's Universe of Learning (UoL) is to connect the public to the data, discoveries, and experts that span NASA’s Astrophysics missions.
To make this possible, the NASA's UoL team creates engaging STEM experiences that let people explore data and discoveries from NASA’s Astrophysics missions and learn from the experts behind them.
Our science center does a lot of work with after school groups weekly. I can’t wait to use this program guide [Finding Exoplanets] to help run some programs for our ‘space week’ this fall.
I also appreciate the adaptations for different age groups.
One example is the Program Facilitator Guides—a series of resources for informal educators that cover different astrophysics themes and empower organizations to share NASA science with their audiences.
Since their introduction, these guides have supported libraries and community centers in delivering engaging STEM learning experiences. ""The Programming Guide is just amazing … that resource alone is really great for planning.
There’s so many opportunities for programs… and there’s room for your own creativity as well,"" shared one educator.
The NASA's UoL team is excited to announce the refresh of several Program Facilitator Guides, along with the introduction of a new guide.
These resources have been updated based on feedback from the informal education community, collected through evaluation surveys, focus groups, and webinars.
From events held last year before the updates, the guides received a highly favorable rating—91% of educators found them useful as a resource, emphasizing their value in supporting informal STEM education.
To make them more effective, we implemented the following updates:
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Easy and direct access to all Program Facilitator Guides through a dedicated web page under the “Informal Educators” menu on NASA’s Universe of Learning.
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Creating an easy-to-access URL for the Program Facilitator Guides: https://universe-of-learning.org/program-guides.
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Making available PowerPoint slides and Kahoot Quizzes for the facilitator to complement the Program Facilitator Guide themes.
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Moving activity guides to a more user-friendly and standard template.
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Designing a set of resources around some of the methods astronomers use to find exoplanets — worlds beyond the solar system — in collaboration with a NASA Science Mission Directorate Community of Practice for Education (SCoPE) grantee:
–The “Finding Exoplanets” Program Facilitator Guide.
–The “Lights, Coronagraph, Action!” Activity Guide that demonstrates how astronomers find exoplanets via direct imaging.
–The “Exoplanet Detectives” Activity Guide that shows how astronomers find exoplanets by measuring the amount of light that gets blocked when a planet transits its host star.
The new and updated resources are available now through the following URL: https://www.universe-of-learning.org/program-guides.
https://science.nasa.gov/learning-resources/science-activation/nasas-universe-of-learning-unveils-fresh-facilitator-guides-inspired-by-community-feedback/
Sound and Hearing Studies, Earth Observations Fill Science Schedule
January 21, 2026
Sound and hearing studies as well as Earth observations kept the Expedition 74 trio busy on Wednesday. The International Space Station residents also worked on cargo transfers, downloaded radiation data, and kept up lab maintenance.
NASA Flight Engineer Chris Williams began his day inside the Columbus laboratory module exploring how sound and shockwaves travel through small, solid particles, also called granular materials.
Sensors measured the speed of sound and how the waves weaken and change shape as they move through the loose collection of tiny beads. Results may show how lunar or Martial soils behave as construction materials or during resource extraction.
Insights could also lead to a better understanding of soil mechanics on Earth helping prevent landslides and sinkholes.
Williams also took turns with cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, station Commander and Flight Engineer respectively, taking a regularly scheduled hearing test.
Using a quiet area in the orbital outpost, such as the Quest airlock, the crew wore a headset connected to a laptop computer and responded to a series of beeps and tones to check the health of the eardrum and inner ear in microgravity.
Williams spent the second half of his shift organizing cargo inside a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft due to return to Earth this spring.
Dragon will bring back a variety completed experiments for analysis including material samples exposed to the external space environment, liquid crystal films developed in microgravity, and stem cells programmed to turn into brain and cardiac cells.
Dragon will also fire its engines one more time, while docked to the Harmony module’s forward port, boosting the station’s orbit at the end of the week.
Mikaev continued his Earth observations at the beginning of his shift pointing a camera out windows on the Zvezda and Nauka modules and photographing African landmarks including the Nile Delta, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Lake Malawi.
He also performed a monthly collection of radiation detectors and downloaded radiation dosages for review by mission controllers on the ground.
Kud-Sverchkov worked the first half of his shift on electronics and communications maintenance in the Rassvet module.
During the second half of his day, the two-time station resident inspected and inventoried electrodes that help maintain muscle health in microgravity then finally replaced expired gas masks with new gas masks inside Nauka.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/01/21/sound-and-hearing-studies-earth-observations-fill-science-schedule/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15487651/NASA-hint-ISS-medical-emergency.html
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/we-can-handle-any-kind-of-difficult-situation-crew-11-astronauts-say-1st-medical-evacuation-from-iss-had-a-silver-lining
https://www.aol.com/articles/nasa-astronauts-first-public-appearance-092814257.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/nasa-astronauts-reveal-details-emergency-032441845.html
NASA drops a MAJOR hint at the medical emergency that triggered a historic evacuation of astronauts on the ISS - as it reveals a portable ultrasound machine was critical
Updated: 09:07 EST, 22 January 2026
NASA has dropped a major hint at the medical emergency that triggered a historic evacuation of astronauts from the International Space Station.
During their first public appearance since returning to Earth, the astronauts revealed that a portable ultrasound machine was 'super handy' during the crisis.
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, pilot for the ill–fated Crew–11 mission, said that the machine had been used when medical issues arose on January 7.
'Having a portable ultrasound machine helped us in this situation; we were able to take a look at things that we didn't have,' he explained.
While Mr Fincke did not elaborate on the medical emergency, the fact that an ultrasound was used suggests two likely reasons.
Firstly, ultrasound scans are often used to examine how astronauts' cardiac systems are functioning in low gravity. The other main use for ultrasound in space is to monitor astronauts' eye health.
However, ultrasound can also be used as a general diagnostic tool in a vast number of medical cases – so it remains unclear what the medical emergency was, or how ultrasound proved useful.
During the press conference, Mr Fincke explained that the crew had lots of experience using the ultrasound machine to track changes in the human body, so 'when we had this emergency, the ultrasound machine came in super handy'.
The Crew–11 pilot even went so far as to claim that all future spaceflights should be equipped with portable ultrasound machines. 'Of course, we didn't have other big machines that we have here on planet Earth,' he said.
'We do try to make sure that everybody before we fly are really, really not prone to surprises. But sometimes things happen and surprises happen, and the team was ready … preparation was super important.'
The Crew-11 astronautas splashed back to Earth last Thursday, following NASA's first medical evacuation in 65 years of spaceflight, and the first time that the ISS has ever been evacuated.
The medical issue was first reported on January 8, when a planned spacewalk was unexpectedly cancelled. Just days later, on January 10, NASA had set the timeline to bring the crew home a month ahead of schedule.
That crew included NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.
Prior to their departure, NASA's chief health and medical officer, Dr James Polk, said that the astronaut was 'absolutely stable' and that this was not an 'emergent evacuation'.
Dr Polk added: 'We're not immediately disembarking and getting the astronaut down, but it leaves that lingering risk and lingering question as to what that diagnosis is, and that means there is some lingering risk for that astronaut onboard.'
NASA has remained extremely reticent to discuss any of the details of the medical emergency or which member of the crew it might have affected.
However, this latest update from Mr Fincke is the first clue as to what might have happened.
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Ultrasound imaging sends a beam of soundwaves into the body and records how they bounce back to a receiver.
As the sound moves at different speeds through different types of tissue, you can 'see' inside the body without using any invasive methods.
Since 2011, the ISS has carried a modified off–the–shelf ultrasound machine called Ultrasound 2 that is used in both biomedical research and routine health checkups.
On Earth, sound has a huge array of uses, ranging from diagnosing gallbladder diseases and kidney stones to checking the health and gender of unborn babies.
However, on the ISS, Ultrasound 2 is generally used for two main medical issues - cardiac and ocular problems.
In a constant state of free–fall induced microgravity, blood tends to drift up from the astronauts' feet and collect around their head and chest.
This creates a significantly increased risk of developing blood clots that can be life–threatening if they migrate into the heart or lungs.
In 2020, a NASA astronaut developed a large clot in their internal jugular vein during spaceflight and was forced to stretch the station's dwindling supply of blood thinners to last more than 40 days until supplies could be sent.
The other main use for ultrasound in space is to monitor astronauts' eye health.
As fluids build up in the head, they can cause swelling that triggers a collection of changes in the eye and brain called 'spaceflight–associated neuro–ocular syndrome'.
Increased pressure around the optic nerve causes swelling in the connection between the eye and the brain, and flattening of the back of the eye.
This can lead to blurred vision and long–term damage to an astronaut's vision.
Once a month, astronauts on the ISS are required to use Ultrasound 2 to perform ocular scans to keep track of this condition.
NASA's Zena Cardman, who commanded the crew's early return flight with SpaceX, said that the space station is set up as well as it can be for medical emergencies.
She added that NASA 'made all the right decisions' in cancelling the spacewalk, which would have been her first, and prioritising the crew's well–being.
Likewise, Japan's Kimiya Yui said he was surprised how well all the preflight training paid off in dealing with the health concerns.
Mr Yui said: 'We can handle any kind of difficult situation. This is actually very, very good experience for the future of human spaceflight.'
The Daily Mail has contacted NASA for comment.
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EXCLUSIVE: NASA head reveals America's EPIC moonshot mission
Jan 21, 2026
President Trump's new NASA administrator Jared Isaacman joins Glenn Beck to discuss two game-changing stories out of NASA.
First, NASA recently successfully completed its first medical evacuation of the International Space Station.
And second, NASA's Artemis II mission will soon return mankind to the moon's orbit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8OiIVOkTGg
https://x.com/glennbeck
https://x.com/NASAAdmin
Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 21 January 2026: Lake Untersee Base Camp Weather
January 22, 2026
Hi Keith,
The past couple of days brought low clouds, some drifting snow, and steady winds that peaked around 30 m/s (~67 mph).
Today, the sun made a welcome return and although the wind stayed brisk through much of the day, conditions were stable enough for us to get some solid work done.
We collected glacial ice, took air samples for environmental DNA, and began melting out the instruments we deployed in the lake last season—those measuring dissolved oxygen and light.
Also, just so you’re aware, we’ve got a small Ambient WS-4000 weather station set up near camp. When it’s online, it shares our current weather conditions in real time.
— Dale —
You can see the temperature and wind data as of 9:00 pm EST 21 January 2026
Astrobiologist Dale Andersen is heading back in Antarctica at Lake Untersee in January-February 2026 for another field season of research.
Previous reports
Astrobiologist Dale Andersen’s Antarctic Field Report: Preview: 2026 Lake Untersee Field Seas
Dale and I have been proving research updates – from Antarctica – since 1996. We think we actually had the first webserver (located in my old condo) updated from Antarctica.
More details here: Dale Andersen’s 1996 Antarctic Field Research Photo Albums
Astrobiology, exobiology,
https://astrobiology.com/2026/01/dale-andersens-astrobiology-antarctic-status-report-21-january-2026-lake-untersee-base-camp-weather.html
https://nasawatch.com/astrobiology/astrobiology-away-team-at-work-in-antarctica/
https://astrobiology.com/2023/11/dale-andersens-1996-antarctic-field-research-photo-albums.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRVGJd2PPc0
NASA Scientists to Participate in Mexico’s First Aerospace Forum
21 January, 2026
Mexico is set to host its first national aerospace forum, bringing together leading experts from the global space community, including scientists from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in an event aimed at strengthening the country’s aerospace and space science ecosystem.
The multi-day forum will feature keynote talks, technical sessions, and educational activities focused on innovation, space exploration, and emerging aerospace technologies.
Topics will include international collaboration in space missions, future lunar exploration, and the growing role of new space economies in scientific and industrial development.
NASA specialists are expected to share insights drawn from decades of research and mission experience, offering participants a closer look at current trends in space science, engineering, and technology transfer.
Their participation is also intended to inspire students and young professionals to pursue careers in aerospace-related fields.
In addition to academic and scientific discussions, the forum will promote dialogue between government agencies, universities, research centers, and private companies, with the goal of building stronger partnerships and accelerating technological capabilities within Mexico’s aerospace sector.
The event is part of broader efforts to position Mexico as an active player in the international aerospace community, encouraging investment, talent development, and long-term cooperation with global institutions involved in space exploration and advanced aviation.
https://mexico-now.com/nasa-scientists-to-participate-in-mexicos-first-aerospace-forum/
Blue Origin Introduces TeraWave, a 6 Tbps Space-Based Network for Global Connectivity
Jan 21, 2026
Purpose-built to serve enterprise-grade customers
Kent, WA – Blue Origin today announced TeraWave, a satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth.
This network will service tens of thousands of enterprise, data center, and government users who require reliable connectivity for critical operations.
The TeraWave architecture consists of 5,408 optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO).
This multi-orbit design enables ultra-high-throughput links between global hubs and distributed, multigigabit user connections, particularly in remote, rural, and suburban areas where diverse fiber paths are costly, technically infeasible, or slow to deploy.
TeraWave enterprise-grade user and gateway terminals can be rapidly deployed worldwide and interface with existing high-capacity infrastructure, providing additional route diversity and strengthening overall network resilience.
TeraWave addresses the unmet needs of customers who are seeking higher throughput, symmetrical upload/download speeds, more redundancy, and rapid scalability.
It complements fiber backhaul with a unique architecture that delivers both high performance RF and optical connectivity.
Globally distributed customers can each access speeds of up to 144 Gbps delivered using Q/V-band links from a constellation of 5,280 LEO satellites, while up to 6 Tbps can be accessed via optical links from 128 MEO satellites.
TeraWave provides both point-to-point connectivity and enterprise-grade internet access. It enables customers to choose throughput and physical presence in response to changes in their needs.
Deployment of the TeraWave constellation will begin in Q4 2027.
https://www.blueorigin.com/news/blue-origin-introduces-terawave-space-based-network-for-global-connectivity
Living Legends To Celebrate Bizav, Space, Military Achievements
January 22, 2026
The 23 rd annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards, to be headlined by entertainers and aviators John Travolta, Morgan Freeman and Kenny G, will be held Jan. 23 to honor the accomplishments of those who are shaping the future of flight and space exploration, organizers say.
Paywall
https://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/aircraft-propulsion/living-legends-celebrate-bizav-space-military-achievements
https://themalaysianreserve.com/2026/01/16/john-travolta-morgan-freeman-and-kenny-g-to-headline-hollywoods-biggest-night-in-aviation/
https://living-legends-of-aviation.myshopify.com/
https://living-legends-of-aviation.myshopify.com/pages/22nd-annual-inductees-honorees
Rocket Lab launches its 1st mission of 2026, sending 2 satellites to orbit
January 22, 2026
Rocket Lab just launched its first mission of 2026.
An Electron rocket carrying two satellites for the European company Open Cosmos lifted off from Rocket Lab's New Zealand site today (Jan. 22) at 5:52 a.m. EST (1052 GMT; 11:52 p.m. local time in New Zealand).
Electron's "kick stage" deployed the two spacecraft into a circular orbit 1,050 kilometers (652 miles) above Earth as planned about 70 minutes after liftoff.
Today's launch was Rocket Lab's first dedicated mission for Open Cosmos, a company that designs, builds and operates satellites and also offers data-sharing and data-analysis services.
"Our approach not only dramatically lowers the costs, complexity and timescales of missions, but it also simplifies access to EO [Earth observation] data in a way that removes the barriers for all companies —even non-space customers — to address society’s most urgent challenges," Open Cosmos' website reads.
This morning's mission, which Rocket Lab called "The Cosmos Will See You Now," sent up the first two satellites in Open Cosmos' planned telecom constellation in low Earth orbit.
"This new constellation complements the already-in-orbit satellites that deliver high-resolution imagery and global monitoring capabilities, supporting a wide range of applications and providing valuable metadata for diverse uses," Rocket Lab said in an emailed statement after the launch.
"The Cosmos Will See You Now" was Rocket Lab's 80th overall to date. The vast majority have been conducted by the 59-foot-tall (18-meter-tall) Electron, which gives small satellites dedicated rides to Earth orbit and beyond.
Rocket Lab has also conducted a handful of missions with HASTE, a suborbital version of Electron that allows customers to test hypersonic technologies in the space environment.
Rocket Lab launched 21 missions in 2025, which set a new record for the company. Its previous high, set in 2024, was 16.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/rocket-lab-electron-first-launch-2026-open-cosmos-satellites
https://rocketlabcorp.com/missions/launches/the-cosmos-will-see-you-now/
https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/2014308197969129558
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNX7oNUpvE8
SpaceX launches 25 Starlink satellites into orbit from California
January 21, 2026
SpaceX lit up the night sky over Vandenberg Space Force Base today (Jan. 22) with the launch of 25 more satellites for its Starlink broadband internet service.
A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex 4 East today at 12:47 a.m. EST (0547 GMT; 9:47 p.m. on Jan. 21 local California time.
The Falcon's upper stage reached a preliminary orbit about nine minutes later and released its Starlink payload (known as Group 17-30) as scheduled, roughly an hour after launch.
"Deployment of 25 Starlink satellites confirmed," SpaceX confirmed on social media.
The Falcon 9's first stage, known as Booster 1093, completed its 13th flight, landing on the Pacific Ocean-based drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You."
The new batch of satellites add to the 9,500 active units that comprise the Starlink megaconstellation.
The service provides internet access to underserved areas around the world, as well as to airlines wanting to offer WIFI and cell phone carries seeking direct cell-to-satellite service for emergencies.
Thursday's launch was SpaceX's ninth of the year and 592nd since 2010.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-starlink-satellite-launch-vandenberg-group-17-30
https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-17-30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtm3RQZ3jT0
Space Forces Southern activated at Davis-Monthan AFB
Jan. 22, 2026
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) – The U.S. Space Force and U.S. Southern Command officially marked the activation of Space Forces Southern during a ceremony at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Jan. 21, formalizing the command’s role in integrating space capabilities across the Western Hemisphere.
Although SPACEFOR–SOUTH became operational effective Dec. 1, 2025, the ceremony formally recognized the activation with the assumption of command by Col. Brandon P. Alford, and the digital unveiling of the Space Forces Southern emblem, symbolizing the command’s mission and regional focus.
SPACEFOR–SOUTH serves as the space component to U.S. Southern Command, responsible for integrating space power with joint, interagency and multinational partners to support regional security, deterrence and stability across Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
“This new organization reaffirms our commitment to address local threats of all shapes and sizes, ranging from malign state actors to violent extremist organizations and to transnational criminal organizations,” said Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman.
“Space Forces Southern will continue to be a force for good in the region, using space to maintain peace and stability, and defend the homeland.”
Saltzman emphasized that space capabilities are not just support elements for the Joint Force, but a fully integrated and critical component in their own right.
“As we clearly saw in recent operations in the SOUTHCOM [area of responsibility], without space, kill chains don’t close, our strategic advantage evaporates, and we can’t complete our joint missions,” Saltzman added.
As the first commander of Space Forces Southern, Alford said the activation reflects the growing operational importance of space to missions conducted daily in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.
“Today marks the beginning of a future that is more connected, more informed, agile and more united in building together to be more capable,” Alford said. “As the first commander of Space Forces Southern, I accept this responsibility with humility and optimism.
I am confident that together we will shape a space domain that reflects our shared values and shared aspirations.
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“We are not just standing up a command today,” Alford added. “Together, we are shaping the space domain so that what lies above us strengthens everything we value below.”
A career space professional, Alford brings extensive experience across the enterprise, including operational, instructional and staff assignments supporting missile warning, space control and joint space integration.
Prior to assuming command, he served in senior leadership roles aligned with U.S. Southern Command, providing continuity between the command’s initial operational capability and its formal activation.
The ceremony included a digital unveiling of the official Space Forces Southern emblem.
The design features the Southern Cross constellation to signify that Space Forces Southern is the space component focused on South America, and a lightning bolt symbolizing the speed and responsiveness of space-enabled support to joint and partner forces throughout the region.
In the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, space-enabled capabilities support operations across vast distances and complex environments.
Guardians provide positioning, navigation and timing; secure satellite communications; and space-enabled awareness supporting counter-illicit trafficking operations, multinational exercises, partner-nation capacity building and crisis response—strengthening regional stability and deterrence.
“The activation of Space Forces Southern affirms a simple and powerful idea: we are one hemisphere, stronger together,” Alford said. “Bound together by geography, values and a shared future above us—connected by shared challenges and shared opportunity.”
The ceremony was attended by senior leaders including Lt. Gen. Evan L. Pettus, acting commander of U.S. Southern Command; Maj. Gen. David Mineau, commander of Air Forces Southern; and Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Lohmeier, underscoring the importance of space integration in support of joint and departmental priorities.
Headquartered at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, SPACEFOR–SOUTH will work closely with U.S. Space Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Northern Command, the Air National Guard’s State Partnership Program and international partners to enhance interoperability and strengthen space domain awareness throughout the region.
The activation of SPACEFOR–SOUTH marks another significant step in formally establishing space as a warfighting domain critical to joint operations, reinforcing security and stability across the Western Hemisphere.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4384941/space-forces-southern-activated-at-davis-monthan-afb/
https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4385045/space-forces-southern-officially-activated-during-ceremony-in-arizona/
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Commander Ashtar?
The AxEMU: A New Generation of Mobility
Jan 22, 2026
The #AxEMU provides mobility never seen before.
Building on the legacy of the Apollo-era spacesuits, the AxEMU is built to equip the Artemis III astronauts with better flexibility and increased safety, allowing further discovery on the lunar surface and exploration of the Moon’s south pole for the first time.
Learn more about how the AxEMU is the spacesuit of the future: https://axiomspace.com/axiom-suit.
–
Axiom Space is building the world’s first commercial space station – Axiom Station.
Serving as a cornerstone for sustained human presence in space, this next-generation orbital platform fosters groundbreaking innovation and research in microgravity, and cultivates the vibrant, global space economy of tomorrow.
Today, driven by the vision of leading humanity's journey off planet, Axiom Space is the principal provider of commercial human spaceflight services to the International Space Station and developer of advanced spacesuits for the Moon and low-Earth orbit.
Axiom Space is building era-defining space infrastructure that will empower our civilization to transcend Earth for the benefit of every human, everywhere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y41RRsylDrI
https://axiomspace.com/axiom-suit
Use sex toys to keep warm amid blackouts – ex-Ukrainian FM’s fiancée
22 Jan, 2026 10:45
Ukrainians can use sex toys equipped with heating features to keep themselves warm this winter, the fiancée of former Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba has suggested. Her comments come amid recurring blackouts across the country.
Speaking on a podcast released on Tuesday, Svetlana Paveletskaya, a businesswoman who owns a sex shop, mused about recent innovations in the adult industry.
“There are toys that regulate temperature, and we’re promoting them now for cold evenings, because they heat up to 38C. If there’s no heating, you can surround yourself with vibrators and keep yourself warm just fine,” she said.
Kuleba, 43, was Ukraine’s foreign minister from March 2020 until resigning in September 2024 as part of a government reshuffle.
Media reports linked his departure to tensions within the presidential administration, including disagreements with Vladimir Zelensky’s then-chief of staff, Andrey Yermak – who also had to go after he was implicated in a major graft scandal in the energy sector.
Ukraine continues to reel under widespread outages of electricity and heating, with temperatures often dropping below -10C.
In Kiev, Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said this month that the city has only around half the electricity it needs, forcing rolling blackouts that can leave households without power for 16 to 18 hours a day.
He added that in January alone, around 600,000 people left the capital, home to around 3 million.
Videos circulating on social media show frozen sewage pipes and iced-over infrastructure; others show entire residential blocks releasing clouds of steam when heating briefly resumes after long shutdowns.
The outages come after waves of Russian strikes targeting Ukraine’s military plants and energy facilities linked to the defense industry.
Moscow has said the attacks were launched in response to Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia that targeted civilians and critical infrastructure.
https://www.rt.com/russia/631339-sex-toys-keep-warm-ukraine/
https://www.rt.com/russia/631345-ukrainian-elites-blackout-tensions/
First Russia-US-Ukraine meeting imminent – Zelensky
22 Jan, 2026 15:01
The first trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US will take place over the next two days in the UAE, Vladimir Zelensky has claimed.
The Ukrainian leader made the claim during his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday. Zelensky joined the forum earlier in the day despite previously signaling he would skip it to address pressing domestic matters.
“[The] American team will go to Moscow today. They waited for our meeting with President Trump, and now they will go, and my team will meet [the] American team and I think that it will be the first trilateral meeting in the Emirates,” Zelensky said without explicitly mentioning Russia’s participation in the upcoming negotiations.
Neither Moscow nor Washington have confirmed the “imminent” three-way talks. The United Arab Emirates has not made any official statements regarding the announcement either.
The idea of holding trilateral talks between Moscow, Kiev, and Washington at various levels of representation has been a consistent element amid the efforts of US President Donald Trump to settle the hostilities.
Last August, Trump said that a three-way meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and Ukraine’s leader “will happen.” At the time, Moscow said that preparation for such a meeting was not “very active.”
Russia has repeatedly signaled that while it was not opposed to a meeting between Putin and Zelensky, such an event should serve as the final stage of talks once tangible progress has been made in the peace process.
https://www.rt.com/russia/631365-russia-us-ukraine-talks/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc1pdgOqYdI (Zelenskyy's EXPLOSIVE SPEECH On Greenland, Iran, Venezuela, Putin & Trump | DAVOS 2026 | N18G)
Moscow reports mass graves in region liberated from Ukraine
22 Jan, 2026 07:30
The Russian authorities have found 524 bodies in “mass burial sites” in the border region of Kursk after a large-scale Ukrainian incursion was repelled last year, Russia’s human rights commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, has said.
Ukrainian forces launched an offensive on Kursk Region in August 2024 and initially made some gains, a move that Kiev framed as a way to pressure Moscow and strengthen its hand in future talks.
The incursion soon stalled, with Russia gradually pushing back the Ukrainian forces. The region was fully liberated in April 2025.
Russian officials have reported numerous testimonies alleging war crimes, indiscriminate shelling, and violence against civilians, as well as abuses of POWs, during the Ukrainian presence.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Moskalkova said Moscow mobilized all its resources to trace civilians caught up in the fighting, adding that 524 bodies have been found in mass graves since August 2024.
She did not give a breakdown of their nationality or whether they were military or civilians.
Moskalkova said 2,173 people were registered as missing in the region during the incursion; of those, 1,378 were found, 452 were still being sought, and 343 were confirmed dead.
She also accused Ukrainian forces of continuing to shell Russian border regions, stating that in 2026, as of January 20, ten people were killed and 52 civilians wounded, including three children.
Moskalkova also accused Ukraine of holding 12 Kursk residents in violation of the Geneva Conventions, urging their unconditional return. During previous POW swaps, Kiev returned some of the Kursk residents to Russia.
Earlier this month, Russian Investigative Committee head Aleksandr Bastrykin said that a total of 445 civilians were killed and 553 wounded during Ukraine’s occupation of the region.
https://www.rt.com/russia/631322-russia-mass-graves-ukraine-kursk/
Interdasting