TYB
NASA Moves Steps Closer to Artemis II Fueling Test Ahead of Launch
January 26, 2026
Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida continue to prepare the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, Orion spacecraft, and ground infrastructure in advance of the Artemis II test flight.
Engineers have remained on track or ahead of schedule as they work through planned activities at the launch pad and are getting ready to conduct a wet dress rehearsal, leading up to a simulated “launch” as early as Saturday, Jan. 31.
The upcoming wet dress rehearsal is a prelaunch test to fuel the rocket.
During the rehearsal, teams demonstrate the ability to load more than 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants into the rocket, conduct a launch countdown, and practice safely removing propellant from the rocket without astronauts inside the spacecraft.
During several “runs,” the wet dress rehearsal will test the launch team’s ability to hold, resume, and recycle to several different times in the final 10 minutes of the countdown, known as terminal count.
The rehearsal will count down to a simulated launch at 9 p.m. EST, but could run to approximately 1 a.m. if needed.
The first run will begin approximately 49 hours before launch when launch teams are called to their stations, to 1 minute 30 seconds before launch, followed by a planned three-minute hold and then countdown resumption to 33 seconds before launch – the point at which the rocket’s automatic launch sequencer will control the final seconds of the countdown.
Teams then will recycle back to T-10 minutes and hold, then resume down to 30 seconds before launch as part of a second run.
If needed, NASA may rollback SLS and Orion to the Vehicle Assembly Building for additional work ahead of launch after the wet dress rehearsal.
Over the weekend, teams successfully serviced the SLS rocket boosters, which involved loading hydrazine into the booster aft skirts.
The team continues operations to prepare Orion for flight, including stowing items inside the spacecraft and performing planned pyrotechnic work on the launch abort system.
Technicians performed checkouts of core stage’s four RS-25 engines and pressurized a tank in the spacecraft propulsion system used for fueling, called the composite overwrapped pressure vessel.
With cold weather sweeping the country and lower than normal temperatures expected in Florida Tuesday, Jan. 27, technicians are taking steps to ensure environmental control systems keeping Orion and SLS elements at the proper conditions are prepared for the cold.
Engineers and scientists also are addressing issues that cropped up during operations in preparation for crewed flight.
During an evaluation of the emergency egress system, the baskets used to transport the crew and other pad personnel from the mobile launcher in an emergency stopped short of the terminus area located inside the pad perimeter.
Since then, the brakes of the system have been adjusted to ensure the baskets fully descend. In the coming days, technicians also will take additional samples of Orion’s potable water system to ensure the crew’s water is drinkable.
Initial samples showed higher levels of total organic carbon than expected.
Crew also remain in quarantine in Houston, which they entered on Jan. 23.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/01/26/nasa-moves-steps-closer-to-artemis-ii-fueling-test-ahead-of-launch/
https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts/curious-universe/artemis-ii-inside-nasas-new-ride-to-the-moon/
https://www.wesh.com/article/nasa-addresses-safety-concerns-for-artemis-ii-mission/70148964
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/nasa-artemis-2-rocket-heat-shield-flaw-could-endanger-astronauts-experts-warn-1774076
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/artemis-2-astronauts-enter-quarantine-ahead-of-historic-nasa-moon-launch
a hunting we will go
NASA Resumes Efforts to Reestablish Contact With MAVEN
January 26, 2026
NASA Resumes Efforts to Reestablish Contact With MAVEN
As spacecraft and rovers at Mars emerge from solar conjunction – a period when the Red Planet and Earth are on opposite sides of the Sun and contact with Mars missions isn’t possible – NASA has resumed efforts to recontact its MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) spacecraft using NASA’s Deep Space Network and the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Green Bank Observatory.
The spacecraft was last heard from on Dec. 6.
In addition, the MAVEN team continues to analyze snippets of data recovered from a Dec. 6 radio science campaign.
This analysis is being used to create a timeline of possible events and identify likely root causes of the issue. NASA is assembling a formal anomaly review board to investigate the available data.
https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/maven/2026/01/26/nasa-resumes-efforts-to-reestablish-contact-with-maven/
https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/27/nasa_anomaly_review_maven/
Chris Williams
@Astro_ChrisW
The view out of the @Space_Station window can be stunning.
This timelapse video captures the Aurora Borealis from the port window of the ISS cupola window as we orbit over the Northern US and Canada.
You can also see the Moon set behind the station solar panels and even a shooting star!
The shimmering ribbons of green and red light are caused by oxygen in the upper atmosphere that has been ionized and excited by solar activity.
Nikon Z9, 28mm, f/1.4, ¼ sec exposures, 1 second interval
Timelapse was taken on 12/28/2025!
7:18 AM · Jan 26, 2026
https://x.com/Astro_ChrisW/status/2015806547826245918
https://x.com/NASA_Johnson/status/2015867634407879044
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/01/26/space-physics-cardiac-research-kickoff-last-week-in-january/
NASA Technology Brings Golden Age of Exploration to Earth
Jan 26, 2026
As NASA fosters technologies needed to live and work farther away from home than ever before, the agency’s Technology Transfer program has the sole mission of getting those innovations into the hands of companies, entrepreneurs, and, ultimately, everyday people.
The agency’s Spinoff publication has captured this endeavor for half a century, sharing stories of space technologies improving our lives on Earth.
“NASA’s work has always delivered returns well beyond the mission itself,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
“As we develop the technologies needed for a sustained presence on the Moon and prepare for human exploration of Mars, those innovations will continue to unlock new capabilities across medicine, aviation, agriculture, and other critical sectors, delivering lasting benefits to Earth well beyond the mission.”
Many technologies created to support deep space and lunar missions, including Artemis, are in use on Earth. Spinoff’s 50th edition tells the stories of two companies that developed equipment to 3D print habitats on planetary surfaces.
On Earth, one of those companies is custom-building wall panels, cladding, and facades, while the other is additively manufacturing entire neighborhoods of affordable housing.
NASA envisions a future where robots handle routine maintenance and mundane tasks to support astronauts during lunar missions.
Two companies featured in Spinoff 2026 received the agency’s support to meet that need, and each has already found applications for their technology on Earth.
One company is commercializing software to power robots that are cleaning bathrooms and building homes, and the other has created a humanoid robot capable of warehouse and assembly line tasks.
“Incredible feats on distant worlds require incredible innovation,” said Dan Lockney, Technology Transfer program executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
“We can’t wait to see what breakthroughs and advancements come from not just exploration on the lunar surface but missions to put a rotorcraft on Saturn’s moon Titan or study interstellar objects in deep space.”
Any NASA work can result in spinoff technology, including lifesaving inventions.
Technology developed by engineers trying to make life easier for astronauts on the International Space Station has evolved into an implantable heart monitor that’s helping keep heart failure patients out of the hospital.
Companies also are improving personal locator beacons for search and rescue networks based on NASA’s satellite communication technology.
Standout spinoffs
Procedures NASA created to ensure food safety for Apollo astronauts traveling to the Moon formed the foundation for safety procedures and regulations governing food production globally.
The memory foam found in mattresses today originated from NASA’s development of pressure-absorbing materials for aircraft seats in the 1970s.
Miniaturized, energy-efficient camera technology, initially engineered by NASA to create compact, high-quality imaging systems for spacecraft, is now the basis for modern digital imagery, from smartphone cameras to cinema.
Scratch-resistant lenses use diamond-hard coatings originally developed for aerospace applications, and wireless headsets are rooted in technology NASA pioneered to enable hands-free communication for astronauts.
Readers of Spinoff 2026 are invited to contribute to the next “small step” in NASA’s history of “giant leaps” and bring space-inspired technology to Earth.
In this edition’s Spinoffs of Tomorrow section, there are 20 technologies ready for commercialization, with information on how to license them or any of the other 1,300 inventions available in NASA’s Patent Portfolio.
Spinoff is part of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate and its Technology Transfer program.
Technology Transfer is charged with finding broad, innovative applications for NASA-developed technology through partnerships and licensing agreements, ensuring agency investments benefit the nation and the world.
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-technology-brings-golden-age-of-exploration-to-earth/
https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Other%20Spinoff%20Resources
>sometimes aint got no time for dat
The struggle is real and it sucks.
>be best tyvm
and right back atcha.
Floods Inundate Southern Mozambique
Jan 27, 2026
Residents of southern Mozambique who live or farm near rivers are accustomed to heading to higher ground during the wet season.
But even by local standards, the deluge in January 2026 was remarkable for its scale and severity.
In December and January, weeks of intense rain swelled rivers and overwhelmed key reservoirs, sending floodwaters spilling into heavily populated areas along the Limpopo and Incomati rivers.
The MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this false-color image (bands 7-2-1) of floodwaters coursing down the two rivers on January 25, 2026 (right).
The image on the left, captured by the Terra satellite, shows the same area on December 17, 2025, before the flooding.
A natural-color version of the image shows thick plumes of water rich in suspended sediment flowing down the rivers and into the Mozambique Channel.
Flooding has affected at least 600,000 people, displaced hundreds of thousands, and destroyed or damaged at least 30,000 homes, according to Mozambique's National Disasters Management Institute, though it's likely the numbers will increase due to ongoing search and rescue operations.
Some of the hardest-hit cities include Maputo, Xai-Xai, and Chókwè.
Agriculture officials report the flooding of at least 180,000 hectares (440,000 acres) of crops and the loss of more than 150,000 head of livestock.
Health experts are warning of elevated risk of cholera, diarrhea, and other waterborne diseases, and authorities from at least one city have reported crocodile attacks.
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/floods-inundate-southern-mozambique/
Curiosity Lights Up ‘Nevado Sajama’ at Night
January 26, 2026
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover used LED lights on the end of its robotic arm to create this rare nighttime view of the Red Planet’s surface on Dec. 6, 2025, the 4,740th Martian day, or sol, of the rover’s mission.
The LED lights are part of the Mars Hand Lens Imager, or MAHLI, a camera on the end of Curiosity’s robotic arm. The image was captured by the Mast Camera, or Mastcam, on the rover’s mast, or “head.”
On occasion, scientists have used MAHLI’s LED lights to illuminate areas deep in shadow during the day, such as the insides of drill holes and the inlet tubes leading to instruments in the rover’s belly.
Much earlier in the mission, the Curiosity team used these LEDs at night to look for layering or other features in drill hole walls that would help them understand a rock’s composition.
Since the mission changed its drilling method, the drill holes have come out too rough and dusty to see any such details.
After drilling a rock target nicknamed “Nevado Sajama” on Nov. 13, 2025 (Sol 4,718), the team noticed the drill hole walls were smooth enough to try looking for layers and decided to try illuminating the drill hole at night.
This drill hole was made during Curiosity’s exploration of a region full of geologic formations called boxwork, which crisscross the surface for miles and look like giant spiderwebs when viewed from space.
Curiosity was built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California.
JPL leads the mission on behalf of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington as part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program portfolio. Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego built and operates both Mastcam and MAHLI.
https://science.nasa.gov/resource/curiosity-lights-up-nevado-sajama-at-night/
NASA, GE Aerospace Hybrid Engine System Marks Successful Test
Jan 26, 2026
To an untrained eye, the aircraft engine sitting outside of a Cincinnati facility in December might have looked like standard hardware.
But NASA and GE Aerospace researchers watching the unit fire up for a demonstration knew what they were looking at: a hybrid engine performing at a level that could potentially power an airliner.
It’s something new in the aviation world, and the result of years of research and development.
NASA, GE Aerospace, and others working toward hybrid engine development had already tested components in the past — power system controls, electric motors, and more.
What the demonstration at GE Aerospace’s Peebles Test Operation site in Ohio represented was the first test of an integrated system.
“Turbines already exist. Compressors already exist. But there is no hybrid-electric engine flying today.
And that’s what we were able to see,” said Anthony Nerone, who served as manager of the agency’s Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) project at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland during the test engine’s development.
The test involved a modified GE Aerospace’s Passport engine with the ability to extract energy from some of its operations and insert that supplementary power into other parts.
The hybrid engine is result of research from GE Aerospace and NASA under a cost-sharing HyTEC contract. It runs on jet fuel with assistance from electric motors, a concept that seems simple in a world where hybrid cars are common.
Yet the execution was complex, requiring researchers to invent, adapt, and integrate parts into a system that could deliver the requisite power needed for a single-aisle aircraft safely and reliably.
As a result, the demonstration — known as a power extraction test — was one of the most complex GE Aerospace has staged to date.
“They had to integrate equipment they’ve never needed for previous tests like this,” said Laura Evans, acting HyTEC project manager at Glenn.
Despite the complexity, the team witnessed a successful demonstration. Not a balancing test or a preliminary exercise, but an engine on a mount doing many of the things it would need to do if installed in an aircraft.
The test comes at a time when U.S. aviation is increasingly looking for power systems that can do more while also saving money on fuel. It’s a trend NASA was well ahead of.
Hybrid aircraft engine technology began to emerge from Glenn roughly 20 years ago, when it seemed nearly impossible to realize, Nerone said.
“Now,” he said. “When you go to a conference, hybrid technology is everywhere.” And NASA and GE now have real data for how the technology can be applied to flight.
From that early start, NASA transitioned into HyTEC and its contract with GE Aerospace.
HyTEC’s goal is to mature technology that will enable a hybrid engine that burns up to 10% less fuel compared to today’s best-in-class engines. NASA’s overall goal is to leverage its resources to bring the technology to market faster, meeting industry needs.
The work is far from over. Both NASA and GE Aerospace are analyzing data from the demonstration and from previous work and are making progress toward a compact engine test this decade.
Still, the demonstration was a chance to see the integration of technology that’s closer than ever to practical application.
“We’re getting close to the payoff on work that’d been in progress for a long time,” Nerone said.
https://www.nasa.gov/aeronautics/hybrid-engine-tested/
https://www.nasa.gov/aeronautics/nasa-ge-hybrid-electric-research-092024/
Moroccan Scientist Kamal Oudrhiri Receives NASA Leadership Medal
Jan, 27, 2026
NASA has honored Moroccan scientist Kamal Oudrhiri with a Leadership Medal to recognize his outstanding scientific career and his key role in major space exploration and advanced science projects.
According to NASA, the award “recognizes exceptional people-leadership skills critical to the ongoing success of the NASA exploration missions.”
The award particularly acknowledges Oudrhiri’s leadership of the Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL), the world’s first quantum science laboratory operated in space. He has directed the project aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since 2018.
The laboratory allows scientists to study atoms at extremely low temperatures. This helps offer new insights into quantum physics and open the door to future technologies such as quantum computing, ultra-precise measurement tools, and advanced navigation systems.
Oudrhiri is a senior planetary scientist at NASA and has spent more than two decades contributing to some of the agency’s most important missions.
His work spans several fields, including planetary atmospheric science, gravity and radio science, and space telecommunications.
He has also played a central role in multiple Mars exploration missions, as he helped improve how spacecraft communicate with Earth and how scientists study planetary environments.
These include the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER), the international Cassini mission to Saturn, the GRAIL lunar mission, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), the Juno mission to Jupiter, and the New Horizons mission to Pluto.
In addition, Oudrhirii is known for combining scientific excellence with strong leadership. He has helped guide complex international teams and cutting-edge research programs that continue to shape modern space science.
The Moroccan scientist has received three NASA’s JPL Mariner & Voyager Honor Awards and multiple NASA Group Achievement Awards.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/01/276519/moroccan-scientist-kamal-oudrhiri-receives-nasa-leadership-medal/
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
@NASAAdmin
Visited NASA Ames Research Center as the next stop on my roadshow and spent time with the team supporting some of NASA’s most important work.
@NASAAmes is where heat shields are developed and arc-jet testing provides critical data for atmospheric entry, including work that was instrumental for Artemis II.
Wind tunnels inform hardware design and performance, researchers are advancing next-generation air traffic control to safely scale aviation, including eVTOL, scientists study planetary environments and the conditions for life, and teams continue to move exciting missions like VIPER forward.
I appreciate the legacy of this center and all the history the team here will help make in the years ahead.
6:44 AM · Jan 27, 2026
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2016160416859111715
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2015927259966931255
NASA, ISRO Make Initial NISAR Sample Data Available to Researchers
January 26, 2026
The NASA-Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Mission Team has released 25 new NISAR sample data products — the first public release of NISAR Level 1 to Level 3 L-band data.
Now users are able to test accessing the data and metadata for each data product type and get to know the characteristics of the L-band data (data and ancillary data layers, metadata and product specifications, noise levels, resolution, etc.).
These sample data are intended to help users prepare for managing NISAR’s large data volumes and refine processing pipelines as the archive grows.
The NISAR project is still undergoing early-stage refinement and the data products are not fully calibrated. Through processing of the global data, the project has revealed unique characteristics of this first-of-a-kind radar system and identified required algorithm updates.
As a result, while some limitations and artifacts have been identified in the data, a number of these are expected to be improved in future releases.
Known data product limitations in this release:
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Radiometric banding across the swath caused by incomplete calibration.
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Inter-beam channel calibration: Onboard digital beamforming uses amplitude and phase weights for each receive channel that have not yet been updated using diagnostic mode analysis. Expected adjustments are very small and would provide only minor improvements to signal-to-noise ratio and phase variability. Beamforming performance is otherwise nominal.
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Antenna pattern calibration: Calibration is ongoing and still being refined.
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Low-amplitude radiometric ripple aligned with the azimuth direction. The effect is visible only in some radar-dark areas and at spatial scales of about 600 meters and shorter. Efforts are underway to improve radiometric uniformity at this level, but some SNR banding at this scale may persist.
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Polarimetric channel imbalance: Polarimetric calibration and estimation of channel imbalances have not yet been performed because of highly active ionospheric conditions. These steps will follow completion of the radiometric corrections.
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Quad-polarimetric (QP) product noise layers: In QP data products, the noiseEquivalentBackscatter layer for the horizontal transmit, horizontal receive (HH) channel is incorrectly populated with zeros. The corresponding layers for the horizontal transmit, vertical receive (HV) and vertical transmit, vertical receive (VV) channels contain correct but uncalibrated values.
Known limitations in the Geocoded Unwrapped (GUNW) interferogram data product:
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The wrapped interferogram layer is incorrectly georeferenced. This issue does not affect other layers in the GUNW product.
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The boundary of the ionospheric phase layer contains edge-effect artifacts that will be reduced in a future release.
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Interferogram generation does not yet use the full “rubbersheeting” algorithm to estimate local image distortions caused by deformation. While this capability is important for fast-moving regions in global production, it is not critical for the current sample data products, which show modest deformation. - Current coregistration relies on geometry-based offsets refined with a polynomial fit to dense offsets derived from amplitude cross-correlation.
NASA Earthdata looks forward to sharing the upcoming release of a larger volume of global data products around the end of February 2026. Fully calibrated and algorithmically improved global data products are anticipated for release around May/June 2026.
https://www.hpcwire.com/bigdatawire/this-just-in/nasa-isro-make-initial-nisar-sample-data-available-to-researchers/
https://nisar-docs.asf.alaska.edu/availability-overview/
How NASA Is Homing in From Space on Ocean Debris
Jan 26, 2026
Space-based technology could help track plastic and other flotsam by its ‘fingerprints.’
In late 2025, scientists reported that, for the first time, they were able to detect concentrations of plastic pollution on land using NASA’s Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) sensor aboard the International Space Station.
The technology has inspired marine researchers to see whether it could also help track debris in our waters.
Before future generations of sensors like EMIT can be called upon to detect ocean litter, scientists need to know what to look for.
Working with collaborators, NASA intern Ashley Ohall has built a newly published reference library containing nearly 25,000 molecular “fingerprints” from all manner of flotsam and jetsam, including rope, tires, metal, bubble wrap, buoys, and bottle caps.
Given the overwhelming presence of plastic in marine debris, the library includes some 19 types of polymer.
Most of the estimated 8 million tons or more of plastic that enter the ocean every year comes from land, so mapping pollution hot spots near coastlines could be a first step toward reducing what ends up on beaches and washed out to sea.
That’s exactly what NASA’s sensor showed it could do, though detecting plastic wasn’t its first mission. Launched in 2022, EMIT maps minerals across desert regions to help determine how the dust can heat or cool the atmosphere.
But the instrument has proved itself incredibly nimble. From its perch on the space station, it can identify hundreds of compounds on Earth via the unique spectral patterns they make in reflected sunlight.
The technology behind EMIT, called imaging spectroscopy, was pioneered at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and is used on missions throughout the solar system.
One of EMIT’s cousins discovered lunar water in 2009, and another is set to return to the Moon to help future astronauts identify scientifically valuable areas to sample.
The same technology has now shown that it can find plastic compounds in landfills and large-scale structures like greenhouses, said JPL’s David Thompson, who coauthored the 2025 study.
However, detecting plastic once it enters the ocean is more challenging: Seawater absorbs infrared light, masking many of plastic’s prominent spectral features.
Litter library
That’s where the work of Ohall and her collaborators comes in. Their open-source library compiles the work of many researchers over the years who’ve analyzed marine debris using handheld instruments in laboratories.
Standardizing the various datasets into one searchable repository is crucial because different kinds of debris have slightly different spectra based on material, color, and condition.
Weathered water bottles, for example, “look” different than washed-up hurricane detritus. Once the patterns are known, detection algorithms can be developed.
Carried by ocean currents, debris can travel thousands of miles from the source, so a better understanding of where it is and where it’s headed could be a boon for public health and coastal tourism, said Ohall, a Florida native who recently graduated from the University of Georgia.
“My biggest hope is that people see remote sensing as an important and useful tool for marine debris monitoring,” Ohall said. “Just because it hasn’t been done yet doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”
Planet-scale challenge
Conventional methods for quantifying plastic in the ocean — including dragging nets through garbage patches — can’t sample the millions of tons that flow in.
With NASA’s support, scientists are learning more about the ability of existing sensors as well as what’s still needed to spot marine debris. Teams are also training AI tools to sift through satellite imagery.
It remains a planet-scale endeavor, said Kelsey Bisson, a program manager at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The groundwork being done by Ohall and other scientists brings us a step closer to leveraging a powerful technology flying in air and space today.
“Humans have a visceral connection to the ocean and its health,” Bisson said. “Detecting marine debris is the kind of incredible challenge that NASA can help solve.”
https://www.nasa.gov/earth/how-nasa-is-homing-in-from-space-on-ocean-debris/
https://allatra.org/nanoplastics-threat-to-life
NOAA’s New Space Weather Satellite SOLAR-1 Reaches Final Orbit One Million Miles From Earth
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 11:55 AM
A major milestone in space weather monitoring was reached this week as NOAA’s Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) observatory successfully executed its final engine burn and entered its intended orbit at the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 1, roughly one million miles from Earth. At this unique vantage point, the satellite will be able to continuously observe the sun and space weather conditions before they reach our planet.
With its arrival at this critical location on January 23, the observatory has officially been renamed Space weather Observations at L1 to Advance Readiness – 1 (SOLAR-1). This marks a significant step forward in operational space weather forecasting for NOAA.
Greg Marlow, Director of NOAA’s Office of Space Weather Observations, highlighted the importance of the mission, saying, “SOLAR-1, America’s first satellite designed exclusively for continuous, operational space weather observations, represents a major advancement in our defense against solar storms.”
SOLAR-1 will provide state-of-the-art data to forecasters and other users, improving the timeliness and accuracy of space weather forecasts, warnings and alerts.
Richard Ullman, Deputy Director of NOAA’s Office of Space Weather Observations, emphasized that the data will help protect critical missions and infrastructure, including support for NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration program.
“This spacecraft is going to be an impressive new tool… because space weather is a global concern,” said Shawn Dahl, Service Coordinator at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
Dahl noted that space weather events can have wide-ranging impacts, from affecting critical systems on Earth to space-based infrastructure.
SOLAR-1 will undergo additional checkout and instrument validation before beginning operational service in Spring 2026.
Once fully commissioned, the observatory is expected to deliver continuous real-time observations of the solar wind and other space weather phenomena that can disrupt communications, navigation systems and power infrastructure here on Earth.
The satellite was launched on September 24, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the start of its journey to its final orbit.
https://www.finedayradio.com/news/tv-delmarva-channel-33/noaas-new-space-weather-satellite-solar-1-reaches-final-orbit-one-million-miles-from-earth/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEVfnl43zuQ
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Finds Crystal-Spewing Protostar
Jan 27, 2026
The NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope captured the actively forming protostar EC 53 (circled at left) in the Serpens Nebula in this image released on Jan. 21, 2026.
Astronomers have long sought evidence to explain why comets at the outskirts of our own solar system contain crystalline silicates, since crystals require intense heat to form and these “dirty snowballs” spend most of their time in the ultracold Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud.
Now, looking outside our solar system, Webb has returned the first conclusive evidence that links how those conditions are possible.
The telescope clearly showed for the first time that the hot, inner part of the disk of gas and dust surrounding a very young, actively forming star is where crystalline silicates are forged.
Webb also revealed a strong outflow that is capable of carrying the crystals to the outer edges of this disk. Compared to our own fully formed, mostly dust-cleared solar system, the crystals would be forming approximately between the Sun and Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasas-james-webb-space-telescope-finds-crystal-spewing-protostar/
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasa-webb-finds-young-sun-like-star-forging-spewing-common-crystals/
Satellite Trails Are Disrupting the Hubble Telescope’s Images, Space Data
1/27/2026
A NASA-led study has revealed how satellite launches — largely driven by commercial megaconstellations — are interfering with the Hubble Space Telescope’s view and future cosmic discoveries.
NASA warns that if this trend continues, “satellite trails” could interfere with nearly 40% of Hubble’s images and up to 96% of images from other near-Earth observatories by 2035.
30 Years of Stunning Images
Hubble has been at the center of every major astronomical breakthrough since its launch on April 24, 1990. Its iconic image of the Eagle Nebula’s “Pillars of Creation” remains one of the most recognizable images in science to this day.
Visual legacy aside, Hubble has also helped refine estimates of the universe’s age (13.8 billion years), provided critical evidence for supermassive black holes that support the existence of dark energy, and detected water vapor in exoplanet atmospheres.
Contaminating Space Data
There are over 15,000 active satellites circling our planet today, and projections suggest that number could swell to about 560,000 by 2035!
While this will revolutionize global communications, satellites tend to reflect a wide range of light, creating bright streaks known as “satellite trails” when they pass through Hubble’s field of view, contaminating vital space data.
For near-Earth space telescopes like NASA’s SPHEREx and ESA’s ARRAKIHS, satellite trails are projected to contaminate up to 96% of their observations, meaning we could miss out, among other things, the faint motion of an asteroid hurtling towards Earth until it’s too late.
Luckily, the James Webb Space Telescope is unaffected by satellite trails because it operates far beyond low-Earth orbit.
Satellite Interference Remedies
The NASA-led study suggests designing satellites with darker, less reflective surfaces or adding sunshades to limit glare for tackling this growing cosmic light pollution.
Better coordination of satellite orbits could also help minimize the interference from megaconstellations like SpaceX’s Starlink with Hubble’s view.
https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/hubble-telescope-view-satellite-disruption/
https://nautil.us/satellite-photobombing-is-disrupting-space-telescope-astronomy-1252951/
Army seeks Soldiers to become space operations specialists
01.21.2026
To meet the rising threats in missile defense and the space domain, the U.S Army is now accepting applications for its newest military occupational specialty, or MOS.
Effective Oct. 1, 2026, the Army will establish the MOS 40D Tactical Space Operations Specialist for enlisted Soldiers in the grades of E-4 (specialist) to E-9 (sergeant major).
This new specialty will create a permanent career path in space operations and is open to Army active duty, National Guard and Reserve component Soldiers.
The establishment of the 40D MOS represents a significant advancement for Army space operations and Army space leadership, creating a noncommissioned officer corps that will complement FA40A officers and form the backbone of the Army Space Operations Branch.
This milestone reflects a 25-year evolution aimed at enhancing tactical and technical expertise within Army space, and thereby fostering the development of future platoon sergeants, master gunners and senior enlisted advisors across various echelons.
Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command commanding general, said the new MOS will allow the command to build and retain expertise among its space noncommissioned officer cohort though a stable career path.
Previously, enlisted personnel were “borrowed” from other branches and returned after roughly three years.
“This is the first space-specific MOS for enlisted Soldiers, and it couldn’t have come at a better time,” Gainey said during his address at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Ala., in August.
“The establishment of 40D MOS will alleviate the burden on other Army branches who are lending their Soldiers to space operations.
This new space operations MOS is designed to build a robust and experienced noncommissioned officer corps in Army space and will ensure that Army space formations are equipped with Soldiers who have experience in space operations.”
As outlined in FM 3-14 Chapter 3, the Army relies on space capabilities and systems to provide global positioning, SATCOM, weather and related environmental conditions and intelligence collection platforms.
The Army uses these critical enablers to plan, communicate, navigate, maneuver, engage the enemy, provide missile warning, maintain situational understanding, protect, and sustain forces.
“[We will] look across the entire Army for Soldiers who wish to take that leap to the 40D MOS that will propel them to new heights, skills and knowledge,” Command Sgt. Maj. John Foley, USASMDC command sergeant major, said.
“We need them on the front edge of the fight within the space domain, which is 24/7, as the character of war continues to change and be able to dominate in the space environment to fight and win our future wars.”
The 40D combat-ready professionals will support the warfighter and ensure the success of joint and partner forces in multidomain operations by denying, disrupting and degrading adversary operations through the electromagnetic spectrum and countering space domain threats before and during competition, crisis and conflict.
“Army space Soldiers must be on the ground to provide effects to the warfighter and operate in deep enemy and extended deep areas,” Foley said. “That is the distinct difference that only Soldiers can do for our Army.”
The qualification for the 40D MOS builds upon the training and experience of assessed Soldiers, incorporating a defined training pipeline designed to prepare them for operational space, high altitude and missile defense missions.
The contributions of these enlisted Army space professionals will be pivotal at all levels, providing critical space expertise to combatant commands, Army Service Component Commands, divisions, and beyond.
The Army is currently forecasting around 1,000 40D billets, which could grow up to 1,500 billets by 2032.
Potential assignments include both CONUS and OCONUS locations as well as locations in the INDOPACOM, CENTCOM, AFRICOM and EUCOM areas of operations.
The application period is Jan. 1 through April 30, 2026. To qualify, Soldiers must apply to transfer to the new MOS and, if selected, complete formal training conducted by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense School in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Notifications of selection board results are expected in the summer, and initial selectees will transition to the 40D MOS and attend training beginning Oct. 1.
Applicants must be able to obtain a Top-Secret clearance.
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/556466/army-seeks-soldiers-become-space-operations-specialists
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4390586/afms-senior-leadership-workshop-aligns-purposeful-execution-with-unmatched-read/
AFMS Senior Leadership Workshop aligns purposeful execution with unmatched readiness
Jan. 27, 2026
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFNS) – Senior medical leaders convened for the Air Force Medical Service’s 2025 Senior Leadership Workshop, Jan. 12 to 15, to align the enterprise around unified leadership, purposeful execution and unmatched readiness.
Hosted by Lt. Gen. John DeGoes, U.S. Air Force and Space Force surgeon general, and Chief Master Sgt. James Woods, Medical Enlisted Force and Enlisted Corps chief, the workshop united AFMS senior leaders on a shared vision of a more integrated and operationally focused medical force.
DeGoes described the medical forces as the maintainers of the human weapon system. “You contribute to having Airmen and Guardians optimized and sustained for peak performance,” he said.
“AFMS readiness in not just about medical excellence,” said Col. Melissa J. Runge, U.S. Space Force Medical Operations Directorate deputy director.
“It is about guaranteeing the health and wellbeing of the Airmen and Guardians who secure the nation, making readiness a non-negotiable prerequisite for national defense.”
Day 1 - Mission alignment and force design
To drive home mission readiness relevancy, day 1 included recognition of Staff Sgt. Michael Mendenhall, a pharmacy technician assigned 21st Medical Group, Peterson Space Base Delta 1.
DeGoes and Woods celebrated Mendenhall as the 2025 Airman of the Battlefield for his providing aid to a wounded individual trapped in an overturned vehicle.
Seminar topics included capturing operational demand through improved data-driven analysis and AI supported technology, force development, global partnerships and initiatives that enhance medical capabilities, and Air Force Medical Command updates.
Tech. Sgt. Donald Belec, noncommissioned officer in charge of Force Readiness Reporting, and Maj. Alexander Moore, chief Operational Readiness Support for AFMEDCOM, offered an overview of the Force Element Tracking, a platform designed to enable consistent, reliable analysis across organizational levels.
They said, through employing AI, FET will shift the focus from data collection and reporting to predictive analysis and solution delivery.
Maj. Gen. Robert Blake, mobilization assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff, gave insight on how medical forces support the operational mission in One Force Design.
He also addressed the pacing threat within the Pacific theater and shared the vision of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, “to expect more rapid improvement and rapid direction” in the approach to strategic deterrence within the contested environment.
Day 2 - Future force of the AFMS
Shifting from mission alignment to execution, medical leaders examined AFMS efforts to innovate, modernize data and integrate medical expertise into operations to meet future demands.
Runge challenged leaders to embrace innovation and operational involvement as leadership responsibilities.
“The Air Force and the Space Force are relying on us to be strategic, to be innovative and to advise our comrades … in optimizing the warfighter,” she said.
“Leadership isn’t confined to a job description. It’s about seeking risk clearly, acting decisively and improving systems so people can survive and succeed. This is what the future force demands.”
As leaders shared insights on data modernization, artificial intelligence enablement and the modernization of integrated operational support, the emphasis on communication during these developments became a central theme.
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Day 3 - Strategic alignment and execution
Leaders shared the importance of executing readiness at scale, examining AFMEDCOM and medical readiness command efforts to align strategy, authorities and resources.
“My commander’s intent is to lead AFMEDCOM as one unit built on the foundation of generating medically optimized warfighters while presenting operationally relevant medical capability,” DeGoes said.
Brig. Gen. Eveline Yao, special assistant to the AFMEDCOM commander, led a candid discussion on enterprise friction points, highlighting how legacy processes, overlapping responsibilities and organizational change challenge execution.
During the discussion, leaders emphasized meeting these challenges directly to improve clarity and trust across the enterprise.
Senior leaders emphasized the need to ensure alignment between strategy, policy, resourcing and mission execution, and the importance of integrating medical capabilities into the larger design of the force, especially as medical units transfer to AFMEDCOM through the inter-command transfer process.
“Air Force medical capability is a critical component of DAF missions. We must be integrated in Air and Space Force force design, mission areas, capability development and force employment from start to finish,” said Brig. Gen. Jason Lennen, director of Policy and Resources at the Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, noting that integration into the force design is an enabling function.
“Our effectiveness should be measured … by Airmen and Guardians medically ready to do their jobs, and by ready medics beside them to make sure they get home.”
AFMEDCOM recently concluded its first inter-command transfer, realigning medical Airmen from the Air Force District of Washington’s Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, under MRC-Bravo.
Col. Stacy Friesen, Andrews Medical Group commander and MTF director, shared her perspective of the transfer.
She described adaptability as a critical leadership trait, noting that transparent communication and flexibility enabled the installation to maintain readiness while adjusting to new command relationships.
“That partnership does not change the day you become part of AFMEDCOM,” Friesen said, explaining that MDGs are mission partners. “Continue to invest in those relationships. We are just as present today as we were the day before.”
Day 4 - Medical Readiness Command standup and unity of command
The workshop’s final day included the formal standup ceremony for Medical Readiness Commands Alpha and Bravo, a landmark event in the AFMS’s ongoing transformation.
“This is a historic moment,” DeGoes said during the ceremony. “It’s not just symbolic, it’s operationally consequential.”
DeGoes explained that the MRCs enable the Air Force to articulate, advocate and integrate operational medical requirements within the joint health care enterprise in partnership with the Defense Health Agency.
Maj. Gen. Jeannine M. Ryder, MRC - Bravo commander and Defense Health Network Continental director, reinforced the impact leaders have across the force.
“Ready medics, ready forces and safe, reliable care are the pillars of your responsibility,” she said. “AFMEDCOM’s success is dependent on you leading though challenges, making tough decisions and holding the line of accountability.
Now let’s get to work because our Air and Space Force and nation are depending on us.”
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US sets condition for Ukraine security guarantees – FT
27 Jan, 2026 09:42
US negotiators have pressed Kiev to fully withdraw from the part of Russia’s Donbass it still controls as a condition for any future security guarantees, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing sources.
Eight people familiar with the matter told the paper that the administration of US President Donald Trump insists that American security guarantees would depend on whether Kiev agrees to a peace deal, likely requiring it to pull back from the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.
The two regions overwhelmingly voted to join Russia in 2022, and Moscow has said that Ukraine’s withdrawal from there is a key prerequisite for sustainable peace.
The paper also said that in order to sweeten the deal, Washington signaled that it could give Ukraine more weapons in peacetime if it accepts the terms.
However, another FT source said that the US was “not trying to force any territorial concessions upon Ukraine,” adding that security guarantees included in the peace deal would depend on both sides.
Deputy White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly has dismissed the report as “false,” adding that Washington’s only rle in the peacemaking process is “to bring both sides together to make a deal.”
Meanwhile, a senior Ukrainian official told the FT that Kiev is getting increasingly uncertain about whether Washington will commit to security guarantees, lamenting that America “stops each time the security guarantees can be signed.”
This comes despite Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky saying on Sunday that the security guarantee framework is “100% ready” and is only waiting to be signed.
Last week, the Financial Times also reported that while Zelensky had hoped to ink the document during a meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, he ultimately left the talks without a deal.
The report comes after Russia, the US, and Ukraine held their first trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, which reportedly revolved around the territorial dispute and steps required for de-escalation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the negotiations were “constructive,” but dialed down hopes for a quick breakthrough, considering how “very complex” the issues under discussion are.
Kiev, meanwhile, has consistently rejected any territorial concessions.
A New York Times report claimed that the US and Ukraine have discussed several options for ending the Ukraine conflict, including the creation of a demilitarized zone or the deployment of neutral peacekeepers in the Kiev-controlled part of Donbass.
https://www.rt.com/russia/631577-us-ukraine-peace-donbass-withdrawal/
https://www.rt.com/russia/631567-top-russian-general-battlefield-advances/
Kremlin urges patience on Russia-US-Ukraine talks
26 Jan, 2026 21:19
It is too early to expect a breakthrough from the trilateral talks between Russia, the US, and Ukraine, considering how “very complex” the issues under discussion are, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Monday.
The meeting took place on Friday and Saturday in Abu Dhabi, marking the first trilateral round of negotiations in the US-backed diplomatic push to settle the Ukraine conflict.
“It would be a mistake to expect any significant results from the initial contacts,” Peskov told reporters.
“The very fact that these contacts have begun in a constructive manner can be considered a positive,” he said. “However, there is still significant work ahead.”
Expert groups are currently leading the negotiations. The next round of talks is pending in the coming days, but no exact date has been scheduled, according to Peskov.
“The territorial issue, which is part of the ‘Anchorage formula’, is of fundamental importance,” the spokesman said.
Putin-Trump Alaska Summit
On August 15, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss ways to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The two leaders spoke for three hours, afterwards praising the talks as productive and promising of a breakthrough. During the summit, Putin insisted on the necessity of a lasting peace settlement, as opposed to a ceasefire Kiev and its EU backers have been calling for.
Trump emerged from the talks sharing this sentiment. He also said Ukraine may have to give up territories in order for this settlement to take place – something Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky categorically rejects.
Moscow has stayed tight-lipped on the exact points agreed upon in Alaska, but has said that it made certain compromises insisted on by Trump. However, one of Russia’s key demands remains that Ukrainian forces leave Donbass entirely, according to Peskov.
Shortly after the first round of the trilateral talks concluded, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky announced that Kiev would not make territorial concessions “under any circumstances,” despite mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump to “make a deal.”
Russia maintains that it would prefer to settle the Ukraine conflict diplomatically, but will push towards its goals militarily if Kiev stalls negotiations.
https://www.rt.com/russia/631554-kremlin-patience-russia-us-ukraine-talks/
https://www.basketballnetwork.net/latest-news/grizzlies-owner-robert-pera-linked-to-russias-alleged-crimes-against-humanity
https://leaguealertsofficial.com/nba/grizzlies-owner-linked-to-russias-drone-war-supply-chain/
Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera linked to Russia’s alleged crimes against humanity: “This enables precision drone attacks against Ukrainian civilians”
Jan 27, 2026 9:29 AM EST
The NBA season has officially reached its latter half, with some of the teams already looking towards the draft to bolster their chances next season, and others coming out as the clear favorites in their respective conferences.
And when it comes to on-court action, excitement is not lacking for the fans.
However, another scandal, one that has absolutely nothing to do with the game of basketball, is (not so) quietly brewing.
This time, the spotlight has shifted toward the Memphis Grizzlies’ owner, Robert Pera, who has been linked to allegations involving the sale of technology equipment that ended up in Russian hands during the war in Ukraine.
Pera’s company is connected with the drone strikes in Ukraine
At first glance, it would be hard for someone to connect the dots between a billionaire NBA franchise owner and warfare on an entirely different continent.
Yet behind the scenes, there are growing allegations tied to the war in Ukraine, suggesting that Pera, or rather his company, may be one of the key shadow players enabling Russian military operations through communication technology.
According to Forbes’ real-time net worth, Pera is worth roughly $26.7 billion and is the founder and CEO of wireless equipment maker Ubiquiti Networks.
The company produces Wi-Fi routers, antennas, and radio equipment that are commonly used to establish communication in places where connectivity is difficult, such as forests, villages, rural areas, and isolated terrain.
That is where the issue begins.
According to multiple investigations, those same devices have allegedly ended up on the front lines of the war in Ukraine.
Hunterbrook Media journalist Sam Koppelman spent six months conducting extensive research, uncovering what he describes as a troubling connection between the American billionaire’s company and Russian forces using the equipment to maintain communication and coordinate attacks, especially with drones involved.
What initially might sound almost unbelievable was reportedly backed by undercover reporting, video evidence and trade data that linked Ubiquiti devices directly to Russian military units operating in Ukraine.
“What this American company is doing is helping power Russia’s communications grid,” Koppelman said during his analysis on the Pablo Torre Finds Out.
“And what experts told us is that this enables precision drone attacks against Ukrainian civilians. The types of massacres of innocent people that the UN has called crimes against humanity.”
To make matters even worse, if that is even possible, a Ukrainian soldier reportedly explained the deadly importance of such devices in those areas where there is no rest.
“We actually spoke to a Ukrainian soldier currently in the war zone who told us at Hunterbrook that without ubiquity, these drones from Russia, the ones leading to these massacres, they would not work. Quote, they’d be flying blind,” he added.
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Not the first time Ubiquiti was in the thick of things
The sale of such equipment to Russia is explicitly prohibited under U.S. sanctions. Russia has been under sanctions since 2014, with even stricter measures imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
Ubiquiti, however, already has a history of violating sanctions. Back in 2014, the company’s devices were found in Iran, resulting in a fine of roughly half a million dollars imposed by the U.S. government.
Now, according to these allegations, history appears to be repeating itself. And it does not look good. “This can’t happen again. If it happens again, I’ll be in trouble,” Sera said the first time around.
Investigative teams analyzed everything, from videos and photos from the battlefield, where Ubiquiti logos were clearly visible on antennas used by Russian units, to interviews with the people who have experienced this firsthand.
To further test the situation, Hunterbrook reporters tried a tactic where they posed as Russian buyers and discovered that online retailers were allegedly willing to ship Ubiquiti products into war zones.
They find another way to circumvent the global law, but they manage to do it in the end.
All of those findings, combined with multiple testimonies, point in one direction. And it’s on each one of us to decide for ourselves.
What will the NBA do about it?
To circle back to why this exclusive story matters in the context of the NBA and business, it is important to note that Pera became the youngest individual to own a franchise in the Association back in 2012.
He is also the same owner who punished his Grizzlies superstar, Ja Morant, extremely hard, for flashing a gun on Instagram Live and later mimicking gun gestures during celebrations.
Reports suggest that Morant lost approximately $8 million due to this, was suspended and issued a public apology.
Now, the script has flipped, and that same owner, whose billion-dollar company’s products were seen being used in military operations the United Nations has labeled crimes against humanity, has faced no consequences within the Association.
Sure, it is still a new topic, and the league officials have probably just found out about it as well. Talk about the irony…
Nevertheless, we will be watching how this drama unfolds.
Because this is not the first time this campaign that the NBA has to deal with an owner circumventing the rules, just look at the Steve Ballmer and Aspiration situation, which is still somewhere underneath the rug.
Now, Silver has another problem on his hands, one that needs urgent response.
“Does the NBA Commissioner care more about a player brandishing a gun on Instagram or if one of his billionaire bosses is enabling Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine?”
Koppelman asked as a grand finale to his analysis, leaving the question unanswered. This issue is far bigger than basketball and stretches far beyond league boundaries.
For now, there has been no definitive response from NBA officials. But one thing is certain: this story will not simply fade away. Now, we have to wait and see how, and if, Silver and his team respond to these allegations.
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Russian drones strike passenger train in Kharkiv region, injuries reported
Tue, January 27, 2026 - 18:10
Russian drones attacked a passenger train in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, causing a fire in the electric locomotive and one of the railcars.
There are wounded, according to Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine - Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine Oleksii Kuleba, as well as Kharkiv Regional State Administration head Oleh Syniehubov.
Syniehubov said that Russian Shahed drones struck a passenger train operating on the Barvinkove–Lviv–Chop route. The attack occurred in the Barvinkove community of the Kharkiv region.
"A passenger train came under enemy fire in the Barvinkove community. As a result of a Russian UAV attack, a train carriage and the electric locomotive caught fire," the official said.
It was later confirmed that enemy drones hit in front of the locomotive and a passenger carriage, sparking fires in the electric locomotive and one of the carriages.
At the time of the attack, there were 291 passengers on board. All were quickly evacuated. As of now, two people are reported injured.
They were escorted out by the train crew and handed over to medics. The wounded have been hospitalized at local medical facilities.
"At this moment, there are two injured individuals. They were evacuated by the train crew and then transferred to emergency medical services. Both have been hospitalized," Kuleba said.
Backup buses have been arranged to transport passengers, and assistance is also being provided to those waiting at stations for the return trip.
All emergency services are working at the scene, including rescuers, medics, and Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways - ed.) personnel.
Authorities stressed that the strike on the passenger train was a deliberate act of terror against civilians, with no military objective.
Other attacks on Ukrainian railways
Russian forces regularly attack Ukraine’s railway infrastructure, forcing Ukrzaliznytsia to repair damage and adjust train schedules.
For example, on January 11, it was reported that a locomotive driver and his assistant, employees of a freight locomotive, were injured during an enemy strike.
According to available information, a Shahed-type attack drone exploded near the locomotive. Monitoring personnel warned of the threat in advance.
The locomotive crew managed to safely secure the engine but had no opportunity to evacuate and were forced to take cover on site.
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/russian-drones-strike-passenger-train-in-1769529518.html
other Russia and Ukraine
https://kyivindependent.com/public-safety-warnings-issued-after-russian-strike-on-lviv-oblast-oil-terminal/
https://english.nv.ua/russian-war/russian-drone-strike-hits-infrastructure-in-lviv-oblast-air-pollution-recorded-near-brody-50578824.html
https://english.nv.ua/russian-war/russian-drone-strike-hits-energy-infrastructure-in-mykolaiv-oblast-gas-pipeline-damaged-50578859.html
https://kyivindependent.com/mass-russian-drone-strike-on-odesa-injures-27-leaves-more-under-rubble/
https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/01/27/ukraines-defense-ministry-rewards-bonuses-to-drone-units-based-on-battlefield-results/
https://www.the-independent.com/news/moscow-vladimir-putin-kyiv-telegram-protestant-b2908405.html
https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/01/26/ukraine-aims-to-build-7-million-drones-in-2026-70-times-more-than-the-us/
https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/01/27/penguin-camo/
https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/2015732107536970199