TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
January 29, 2026
NGC 2442: Galaxy in Volans
Distorted galaxy NGC 2442 can be found in the southern constellation of the flying fish, (Piscis) Volans. Located about 50 million light-years away, the galaxy's two spiral arms extending from a pronounced central bar give it a hook-shaped appearance in this deep and colorful image, with foreground stars scattered across the telescopic field of view. The image also reveals the distant galaxy's obscuring dust lanes, young blue star clusters and reddish star forming regions surrounding a core of yellowish light from an older population of stars. But the star forming regions seem more concentrated along the drawn-out (upper right) spiral arm. The distorted structure is likely the result of an ancient close encounter with a smaller galaxy that lies off top left of the frame. This telescopic field of view spans over 200,000 light-years at the estimated distance of NGC 2442.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2en_PgrIN4A
Saturn Superstorm, Enceladus Ocean, Coronal Hole Stream | S0 News and frens
Jan.29.2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GUW8TX3jmQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o14caQGCMA (THE DISASTER CYCLE - Full Documentary)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RukE5o2JA84 (Ray's Astrophotography: Magnetic Pole Shift — Is the Polar Vortex IMPACTED? What They Don’t Explain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UxEz9Ru8Hw (Stefan Burns: Betelgeuse Can't Hold Back Much Longer…)
https://x.com/MrMBB333/status/2016543757668331703
https://x.com/SunWeatherMan/status/2016861090119110667
https://x.com/SunWeatherMan/status/2016622146647445619
https://x.com/SchumannBotDE/status/2016889383320719607
https://x.com/forallcurious/status/2016844671494898118
https://english.bombaysamachar.com/science-news/rare-red-aurora-over-the-skies-of-ladakhs-hanle-stuns-the-internet/
https://www.space.com/live/aurora-forecast-northern-lights-possible-tonight-jan-29
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/
https://spaceweather.com/
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I would prefer if tthey didn't clean the terrarium with us in it.
https://usaherald.com/interstellar-object-3i-atlas-displays-unusual-emission-geometry-in-newly-released-hubble-image/
https://avi-loeb.medium.com/a-comprehensive-network-for-the-discovery-and-characterization-of-interstellar-objects-like-5c5bc711e852
https://medium.com/@davidsereda/did-jesus-ascend-to-the-star-sirius-655c09cfa650
https://medium.com/@davidsereda/3-i-atlas-at-jupiter-reveals-archangel-gabriel-2-times-71df2490d115
https://medium.com/@miletapvo/3i-atlas-do-spectra-and-polarization-show-traces-of-a-micro-warp-regime-332933d2e678
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/us/science-tech/i-work-on-comet-3i/atlas-french-astronomers-commute-230-million-miles-away-with-a-medium-sized-telescope/articleshow/127691100.cms
https://x.com/NOIRLabScience/status/2016608071796006976
https://x.com/Defence12543/status/2016513876670714133
https://x.com/Tuberoot/status/2016697734657691845
https://x.com/DuatiGiuseppe/status/2016659567636074805
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tS6x78ulSI (Dobsonian Power: SOMETHING'S OFF IN MARS!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFYzdnvH5wM (David Dereda: 3I/Atlas ANNOUNCES the MESSIANIC RETURN Part 1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJhytPUqhYg (Elena Danaan and Corina Pataki: 3I Atlas, Nordic looking Extraterrestrials, and Mars Terraforming)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo2xEflcFTM (Avi Loeb: How to Track New Interstellar Objects Like 3I/ATLAS)
Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Displays Unusual Emission Geometry In Newly Released Hubble Image
January 29, 2026
INSIDE THIS REPORT
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The image is quiet at first glance, almost serene. A bright nucleus sits suspended in a dense star field, its luminous envelope tapering outward into space.
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But closer inspection reveals complexity. Multiple emission features appear to radiate from the object at distinct angles, forming a geometry that is neither symmetrical nor easily explained by standard solar-driven outgassing.
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For scientists and independent analysts tracking 3I/ATLAS, the image adds weight to a growing body of evidence that this interstellar visitor may not behave like any ordinary comet previously observed.
A high-resolution Hubble image captured on January 22, 2026 reveals asymmetric light structures and jet behavior in interstellar object 3I/ATLAS that diverge from conventional comet models.
The image under review was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope on January 22, 2026, and released with credit to NASA and Man-To Hui of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory.
Hubble’s optical resolution and stable imaging platform make it uniquely suited for detecting faint structural details in cometary comae and tails, particularly at interstellar distances.
This image has not been materially altered for analysis beyond standard contrast normalization necessary for publication.
No compositing, artificial colorization, or structural enhancement techniques were applied that would introduce artifacts or obscure native features.
Forensic Observations
At the center of the image, the nucleus of 3I/ATLAS appears as a saturated, high-intensity point source surrounded by a diffuse coma.
Extending from this region is a dominant dust tail angled diagonally across the frame, consistent with solar radiation pressure acting on particulate matter.
What distinguishes this image, however, is the presence of multiple narrow emission features that do not align with the primary dust tail.
At least two distinct jets are visible emerging from the nucleus region at sharply different orientations, forming a fan-like or bifurcated structure.
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One emission feature appears faint and bluish, extending upward and slightly backward relative to the main tail. Another narrower structure extends downward, exhibiting a tighter collimation than typical dust dispersal.
The angular separation between these features suggests discrete emission sources rather than a single isotropic outflow.
Such geometry is inconsistent with a uniformly sublimating surface and instead indicates localized, directionally constrained release mechanisms.
Departure From Conventional Comet Behavior
In standard comet models, jets form when solar heating activates volatile pockets on a rotating nucleus, producing emissions that curve and smear as the comet spins.
Over time, these jets typically blend into broader structures or display predictable rotational modulation.
In this image, the emission features appear sharply defined and persistent, with no visible curvature or dispersion consistent with rapid rotation during the exposure window.
This raises questions about whether the emitting regions are deeply recessed, structurally shielded, or governed by material properties not commonly seen in Solar System comets.
Additionally, the relative brightness of the secondary emissions compared to the main dust tail suggests that gas-dominated processes may be contributing significantly to the observed structure.
Compositional and Structural Implications
Previous spectroscopic observations of 3I/ATLAS have already indicated the presence of uncommon materials, including nickel-bearing compounds.
When combined with the emission geometry observed here, the image supports the hypothesis that the object may possess internal compositional layering or heterogeneous material domains.
Such layering could allow for selective venting along fractures, seams, or mechanically distinct regions, producing the kind of directional emissions visible in this image.
Unlike loosely aggregated “rubble pile” comets, this behavior is more consistent with a cohesive, internally structured body.
This does not imply artificial origin, but it does place 3I/ATLAS outside the behavioral norms established by decades of cometary observation.
Why This Image Matters Now
As only the third confirmed interstellar object detected passing through our solar system, 3I/ATLAS represents a rare opportunity to study material formed around another star.
Every high-quality image contributes not just visual data, but constraints on physical models that must account for what is actually observed.
This Hubble image arrives at a critical moment, as researchers continue to debate whether existing comet frameworks are sufficient to explain the object’s behavior.
The sharply angled, multi-directional emission structures documented here will likely factor into future peer-reviewed analyses and mission planning discussions.
Further monitoring of 3I/ATLAS, particularly as viewing geometry changes, will be essential in determining whether these emission features persist, evolve, or dissipate.
If they remain stable over time, they may point to fixed structural characteristics rather than transient surface activity.
For now, the image stands as a compelling piece of visual evidence that 3I/ATLAS is not simply another icy wanderer, but a complex interstellar object whose physical story is still unfolding.
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Message from Captain Mark Richards re 3I/ATLAS
12:59 PM · Jan 28, 2026
His statement though simple is quite serious when you consider it is coming from a Captain of our SSP
Please note the following timely message from CAPTAIN MARK RICHARDS posted on my telegram channel for the world to see.
(https://t.me/projectcamelotKerry/21987). Link to the message from Captain Mark Richards posted to my Telegram channel RE 3I/ATLAS.
Copied below for convenience.
…”December 17th, 2025, 18:30 on a Chilly, wet, Wednesday night. A busy week. 3-I-Atlas is not the threat that you have been told.
While I’m not at liberty to disclose a great deal, I can suggest that any negative events that are caused by such an object will be met by overwhelming force.
At some point in the future I look forward to a conversation that might provide more information on the subject. Again, this is a “created event”, to worry the population and attempt to get defense information concerning what might be used against such a threat.
“Loose lips sink ships,” might be remembered. But at this point I see no reason to worry about your trip to England for Christmas.
Thank you for the kind offer of “natural healing remedies” to help some of my current medical problems, but I am not allowed any such help from outside the walls that surround me.
Besides, as we both know, I’m a survivor! Things have been very busy, but I’m editing the books as you requested, and should be able to get a few pages of suggestions and ideas to you in the near future.
I’m actually enjoying the reading, and thank you for your efforts. I might also point put that with the establishment of the national headquarters of the USSF in Huntsville, Alabama, this week, you might consider starting your information searches concerning that area.
There is more there already besides Space Camp and A & M University, and while its always been a hot bed for ‘sightings’, I believe that this is going to bring a new sort of importance to that area, that will demand the attention of those who watch such things.
Clearly, I’ll be very busy the next few days, so forgive me if I seem to go dark the rest of the week. Its simply a matter of too much demanding my involvement, and not enough hours in a day.
I do hope all is well with you, and that you enjoy a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Again, don’t worry! The stars are still on our side, as are our friends.
My respects to your friends.”—CAPTAIN MARK RICHARDS, CA STATE PRISON, SOLANO, PRISONER OF WAR OF THE LUCIFERIAN REBELLION ON EARTH.
Note: Since I received that message from Captain Mark Richards I have been unable to reach him.
https://x.com/camelotQKerry/status/2016617105903538279
https://kerrycassidy.substack.com/p/message-from-captain-mark-richards
https://projectcamelotportal.com/?s=mark+richards
America 250: Presidential Message on the Anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster
January 28, 2026
On this day 40 years ago, America tragically lost 7 brilliant, visionary, and courageous titans of space exploration aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.
On this solemn anniversary, we acknowledge that their legacies will remain forever etched upon our Nation’s memory—and we recommit to advancing mankind’s journey beyond the stars with unwavering strength and an unyielding commitment to excellence.
On the morning of January 28, 1986, millions of Americans sat in anticipation as a historic launch unfolded on live television.
Aboard the spacecraft were seven remarkable Americans—scientists, engineers, aviators, and a high school teacher chosen to help inspire the next generation of students.
Just 73 seconds after liftoff, that anticipation was shattered when mechanical failures caused the shuttle to disintegrate into the cold morning air, transforming wonder and hope into devastation and disaster in a mere instant.
Yet, from the smoke-filled sky rose a lasting resolve to honor these fallen American heroes by continuing their work and advancing the causes they cherished with greater care and unshakable purpose.
Every day, my Administration is propelling their mission forward by unleashing the full force of American innovation and technology into the next era of space exploration.
Last month, I signed an Executive Order on Ensuring American Space Superiority, which calls for a return to the Moon by 2028, lays the groundwork for a permanent American lunar presence, and will help make the United States the first nation to land an astronaut on Mars.
Under my leadership, we are empowering innovation in the commercial space industry to increase capabilities and encourage a vibrant American space economy—because American leadership in space is crucial to America’s strength, security, and future.
As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, this work is just the beginning of our next great chapter as we chart the course for a glorious American future in space.
On the day of this tragedy four decades ago, the great President Ronald Reagan declared: “The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we will continue to follow them.”
Today, under my leadership, we will continue to abide by this promise—leading boldly on Earth and beyond—as we carry their lasting legacy into a new Golden Age of American exploration and discovery.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2026/01/america-250-presidential-message-on-the-anniversary-of-the-space-shuttle-challenger-disaster/
SOLD OUT: Artemis II watch party at Space Center Houston
Updated: Jan 29, 2026 / 09:20 AM CST
On February 6, 2026, witness NASA's next giant leap in human spaceflight.
Houstonians and visitors alike with SOLD OUT tickets will get to witness history as Space Center Houston hosts a live Artemis II launch watch party, welcoming the public to celebrate NASA’s next major step in human spaceflight.
The event will take place Friday, February 6, 2026, at Space Center Houston, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center.
Doors open to SOLD OUT ticket holders at 7:30 p.m. for a live viewing of the Artemis II mission launch from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39.
Artemis II will send astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day mission aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft.
The mission includes a lunar flyby and will test critical systems needed for future deep-space missions, marking the first U.S. crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.
NASA officials say the mission builds on the success of Artemis I, the uncrewed test flight completed in 2022, and is a key step toward Artemis III and future missions to the Moon and beyond.
As with Artemis I, Orion will launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket.
While attending the watch party, visitors can also explore Space Center Houston’s Artemis Gallery, featuring the newly installed “Commander Moonikin Campos.”
The manikin flew aboard Artemis I in the commander’s seat, collecting vital data that helped engineers refine spacecraft design and safety systems.
Moonikin Campos is named in honor of Arturo Campos, a NASA electrical systems manager credited with helping save the Apollo 13 mission.
The launch celebration coincides with Space Center Houston’s 34th annual Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC), running February 5–7.
The international conference brings educators together to explore space science and innovation, with highlights including a panel discussion featuring Blue Origin astronauts sharing firsthand spaceflight experiences.
Tickets for the Artemis II watch party are sold out. Attendees will receive a commemorative T-shirt while supplies last.
Launch dates remain subject to change. Updates and additional event information can be found on Space Center Houston’s website and FAQ page.
WATCH PARTY DETAILS
What: Space Center Houston Celebrates Humanity’s Next Giant Leap – Artemis II Watch Party
When: Friday, February 6, 2026
Time: Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Space Center Houston, 1601 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058
Tickets available sold out
For Houstonians, the event offers a rare chance to come together and celebrate the city’s deep connection to human spaceflight as NASA prepares for its next journey around the Moon.
https://cw39.com/news/space-exploration/artemis-ii-launch-party-houston/
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/networks-keeping-nasas-artemis-ii-mission-connected/
NASA Puts 183.7 Acres Near Johnson Space Center Up For Grabs
January 29, 2026
NASA is offering about 183.7 acres of undeveloped land next to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston for commercial use through a long-term lease.
The land is outside JSC’s security perimeter and can be used for research, manufacturing, or other space-related operations. The site may need “a little re-fencing work” before use.
This is the first formal solicitation for the property in years, according to Houston Business Journal.
The official solicitation on SAM.gov confirms that the available land totals approximately 183.7 acres, is accessible via Saturn Lane and sits outside Johnson’s controlled access area.
The document sets key dates: a site visit on Feb. 18, with requests to attend due by February 16, a Q&A cutoff of February 23 and a proposal closing date of April 30.
The solicitation also states that the lease structure includes a 20-year base period with two 20-year extension options.
About Exploration Park
Exploration Park is NASA Johnson’s long-running push to turn underused land next to the center into a commercial hub for human-spaceflight support, with labs, clean rooms, offices and light manufacturing in the mix.
The agency has already inked leases for portions of the project with academic and private-sector partners and says the campus is meant to broaden industry access while keeping secure operations protected on-base, as noted by the NASA.
The current solicitation focuses on remaining undeveloped acreage that NASA has described as suitable for phased or subdivided development.
Developer ACMI and others have put forward renderings and plans for a multibuilding campus that could host both R&D and manufacturing, with materials envisioning roughly 1.5 million square feet of built space, as per Globe News Wire.
The Houston Chronicle has reported that KBR plans a 45,000-square-foot food lab at Exploration Park aimed at serving both commercial customers and NASA missions.
Developers say the land’s position outside the fence will make it easier to work with international and commercial partners who do not need federal clearances.
What It Could Mean For Houston
Supporters say the park could generate construction jobs in the near term and longer-term technical roles in the Clear Lake and Bay Area economies, while helping build out a supply chain for human-spaceflight activities.
NASA has described Exploration Park as a way to speed up commercial research and manufacturing near Mission Control, and backers argue the campus will help draw new investment and workforce training tied to Artemis and other missions.
City and regional leaders have been pushing for projects like this to deepen Houston’s standing in the commercial space economy.
How To Apply
Prospective tenants are directed to review the full Announcement for Proposals on SAM.gov, including submission requirements, maps and concept plans.
The solicitation lists contact information for NASA’s real estate office (hq-realestate@mail.nasa.gov) for procedural questions and clarifications.
With a site visit on the calendar and an April 30 deadline, interested players do not have much time to pull together proposals and partnerships.
https://hoodline.com/2026/01/nasa-puts-183-7-acres-near-johnson-space-center-up-for-grabs/
The West Faces Snow Drought
Jan 29, 2026
The mountains of the western United States are sporting thin winter coats in early 2026.
Although most regions saw average or above-average precipitation in fall and early winter, warmer temperatures meant that much of it fell as rain.
The result has been an unusually low snowpack for this time of year, constituting a snow drought.
This image, acquired with the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite, provides a wide view of meager western snow cover on January 15.
On that day, measurements derived from satellite observations showed that snow blanketed 142,700 square miles (369,700 square kilometers) of the west.
That’s the lowest coverage for that date in the MODIS record dating back to 2001 and less than one-third of the median. Coverage had increased slightly by January 26.
In addition to snow cover area, snow water equivalent (SWE)—the amount of water stored in the snowpack—is an important indicator of winter conditions in the West.
In early January, the National Integrated Drought Information System reported that snow drought, defined as SWE below the 20th percentile for a given date, was most acute in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
At least one ground-based monitoring station in every major western watershed recorded the lowest SWE in at least 20 years on January 26, according to data published by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Overall, the preceding few months were very wet and warm across the West. For the water year beginning on October 1, 2025, many regions saw average or above-average precipitation.
However, record warmth across a vast expanse of the region meant that much of that precipitation fell as rain rather than snow. A December 2025 atmospheric river in the Pacific Northwest was one such warm precipitation event.
One nuance in the snow deficit picture can be found in the Southern Sierra and Northern Rockies, where more precipitation has fallen as snow than rain on the lofty peaks. SWE levels stood above average at some high-elevation locations but were low farther downslope.
“This is a classic climate-change, temperature-driven, elevationally dependent snowpack deficit,” said Daniel Swain, climate scientist at the California Institute for Water Resources, in a presentation.
Precipitation falling as rain tends to run off before it can recharge reservoirs and groundwater. On the other hand, winter snowpack that melts in the spring can produce a more metered, sustained water supply.
The health of the mountain snowpack has implications for ecosystems, wildfire dynamics, and water availability for agriculture and other uses during drier times of the year.
There is still a lot of winter remaining, and February and March can bring significant amounts of snow. But snowfall in the coming months may not be able to make up for existing deficits.
In places such as the Pacific Northwest and the Colorado River Basin that are already dry, snow drought may turn into or exacerbate traditional drought.
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/the-west-faces-snow-drought/
Kevin Murphy Named NASA’s Acting Chief AI Officer, CDO
January 28, 2026
NASA has appointed Kevin Murphy, the agency’s chief data science officer, as acting chief artificial intelligence officer, or CAIO, and acting chief data officer, or CDO.
NASA’s leadership moves signal how seriously the federal government is positioning itself around AI. As agencies strengthen AI and data leadership, industry and government leaders will gather to discuss what’s next for policy, innovation and mission delivery.
Register now to join the conversation at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18.
Murphy announced his new roles in a LinkedIn post.
His appointment comes after David Salvagnini announced plans to step down as NASA’s CAIO and CDO in a LinkedIn post two months ago.
Salvagnini, who assumed responsibility as the space agency’s first CAIO in May 2024, said in the post that he started his transition under the Deferred Resignation Program on Oct. 31 and would retire after over four decades of federal service in the spring of 2026.
Who Is Kevin Murphy?
Murphy has been with NASA for over 17 years, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He has been serving as chief data science officer within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate since 2021. In this capacity, he oversees the strategic development of data, computing and analysis systems that advance scientific and engineering innovation across the agency.
He leads the agency’s High-End Computing Capability portfolio and works across five science divisions to advance machine learning, cloud, data management and analysis platforms for scientific data.
He helped establish the Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition Program and led the Satellite Needs Assessment Working Group.
Murphy spent six years at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, where he served as a system architect.
What Are NASA’s AI Efforts?
NASA has leveraged AI through strategic partnerships with industry. In August, the agency partnered with Google to develop a system that uses natural language processing and machine learning to support diagnosis and medical decision-making for astronauts during missions.
In 2023, IBM and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center collaborated to advance the use of AI for extracting insights from Earth observation data as part of the agency’s Open-Source Science Initiative.
Building on the work, IBM and NASA unveiled an open-source AI model, called Surya, designed to predict solar weather.
https://www.executivegov.com/articles/kevin-murphy-named-nasa-acting-chief-ai-officer-cdo
Advanced Tech Research on Station as Crew-12 Announces Launch Opportunities
January 28, 2026
Robotics and artificial intelligence were back on the research schedule Wednesday for the Expedition 74 crew to inspire college students and explore boosting crew efficiency.
Earth observations and life support maintenance also rounded out the day for the orbital residents aboard the International Space Station.
Several teams of college students from the Asia-Pacific region competed to see whose code could best command the Astrobee robotic free-flyers during a “treasure” hunt aboard the Kibo laboratory module.
The challenge was to maneuver the Astrobee and properly identify and locate hidden items throughout the Kibo lab.
NASA Flight Engineer Chris Williams monitored the Kibo robotics challenge ensuring the toaster-sized, cube-shaped robots were correctly configured and operated safely.
The ultimate objective of the robotics challenge is to inspire students to study science, technology, engineering, and math subjects.
Station Commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of Roscosmos worked in the Zvezda service module and studied using artificial intelligence to boost crew efficiency aboard the orbital outpost.
He tested AI-assisted tools to convert speech-to-text and improve data handling and communications between the crew and ground controllers.
Researchers seek to use the new technology to speed up and increase the accuracy of crew documentation benefitting operations aboard spacecraft.
The commander also checked out a variety of cameras throughout the station’s Roscosmos segment and synchronized them to Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT, to accurately timestamp imagery.
Kud-Sverchkov then moved on and serviced plumbing and ventilation systems in the Nauka and Zarya modules.
Roscosmos Flight Engineer Sergei Mikaev pointed a camera out a station window and programmed it to automatically photograph landmarks across eastern Europe at the beginning of his shift.
Afterward, Mikaev uninstalled the Earth observation equipment and downloaded the imagery data for analysis on the ground.
During the second half of his shift, he checked out computer software supporting physics research hardware then answered a questionnaire to help researchers improve communications between international crews and mission controllers from around the world.
The earliest opportunity for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 launch to the space station is 6 a.m. EST, Feb. 11, from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Next opportunities are 5:38 a.m. Feb. 12 & 5:15 a.m. Feb. 13. NASA continues working toward potential launch windows for two important crewed missions this February: Artemis II and Crew-12.
We will make any decisions on the best launch opportunity for each mission closer to flight.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/01/28/advanced-tech-research-on-station-as-crew-12-announces-launch-opportunities/
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/commercialcrew/2026/01/28/nasas-spacex-crew-12-begins-quarantine-for-space-station-mission/
https://news.arizona.edu/news/u-takes-leading-operations-role-nasa-mission
U of A takes leading operations role in NASA mission
January 29, 2026
The newly launched Pandora satellite became the first on-orbit NASA mission to be managed from the University of Arizona's Multi-Mission Operation Center, or MMOC, on Jan. 16, marking a milestone in the U of A's decades-long history in space research and exploration.
Five days after Pandora launched into space via a SpaceX Falcon 9 on Jan. 11, the MMOC team assumed its mission control role from the Colorado-based aerospace company Blue Canyon Technologies.
The company was responsible for building and integrating the spacecraft and verified that the satellite was operating as expected before making the planned handover to the MMOC.
"Pandora is the first NASA mission for which the University of Arizona is responsible for complete, end-to-end mission operations, including spacecraft commanding, telemetry monitoring, anomaly response and day-to-day flight operations, so this is breaking ground in that new territory for the university," said Nic Altamirano, the acting MMOC manager and mission operations project manager for Pandora.
"This mission allows us to be able to command and control the spacecraft, generate command sequences and work in a cross-disciplinary environment to showcase that the U of A has these capabilities, and that we cannot only do it for Pandora, but also other NASA missions."
Altamirano and the rest of the team have been working with Daniel Apai, the U of A science lead of the mission and its exoplanet science team, and a professor for astronomy and planetary sciences at the U of A Steward Observatory and Lunar and Planetary Laboratory.
The Pandora satellite will provide in-depth study of at least 20 known planets orbiting distant stars to determine the composition of their atmospheres – especially the presence of hazes, clouds and water.
Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vice president for research and partnerships, watched the Pandora launch in person from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, and said he is thrilled to see the U of A take this central mission control role.
"The Pandora mission exemplifies the University of Arizona's ability to integrate complex mission operations with world-class space science," Díaz de la Rubia said.
"By operating this mission from Tucson, we are directly executing our strategic vision to shape the future of space sciences while expanding our understanding of the universe's potential for life."
The university has played key roles in many other NASA missions ranging from the Ranger and Apollo programs of the 1960s to the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission to building an instrument for the James Webb Space Telescope.
The U of A is ranked No. 4 in space science globally, according to U.S. News and World Report, and No. 4 in NASA funding, according to a National Science Foundation HERD survey.
The university is also one of handful of U.S. universities with the capability to provide mission operations support for NASA Class D, or high risk tolerance, missions like Pandora.
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Built for mission control
Through a contract with NASA, the MMOC, housed at the Applied Research Building on the U of A's main campus, will manage and track the spacecraft's operations in real time, monitor telemetry – data sent down from the satellite – and overall spacecraft health throughout its primary, 13-month quest.
Pandora is the first space telescope designed specifically to conduct detailed, multi-wavelength observations of exoplanets as they pass in front of their host stars.
Equipped with an 18-inch mirror and advanced spectroscopic instruments, the satellite measures the tiny dip in the host star's brightness during a transit and analyzes the starlight that filters through a planet's atmosphere.
This approach will allow scientists to identify chemical elements and molecules within exoplanet atmospheres—such as water vapor, oxygen and other volatile gases—that are essential building blocks of life to infer planetary climate and potential habitability.
To ensure these atmospheric signals are accurately interpreted, Pandora will also closely observe the host stars themselves, collecting data on stellar variability and activity that could otherwise obscure planetary atmospheric signatures.
In other words, a planet's atmosphere needs to be backlit by a uniform section of their star's surface.
"Our Pandora team will observe tiny changes in stellar surfaces and catch shadows of other planets.
For these challenging measurements, we need precise control over the telescope's systems while it is speeding around the Earth seven times faster than a bullet.
We need the perfect mix of science planning and mission operations," Apai said.
The 10-person mission operations center team includes a mission operations manager, software engineers and developers, systems and operations engineers and a documentarian from the Arizona Space Institute and the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the U of A College of Science.
About every 45 minutes, Pandora has the potential to establish contact with a ground station on Earth. These ground contacts are short communication windows during which the spacecraft can send data to the ground and receive commands from the operations team.
When these opportunities occur, the MMOC team manages the scheduling, coordination and use of the communications link to support spacecraft operations.
"We are super excited about taking over mission control for Pandora. It is something that has been many years in the making," said Erika Hamden, director of the Arizona Space Institute.
"It's so cool to see it finally happening, and it's exciting because Pandora is expected to help astronomers increase our understanding of exoplanets. It's such an honor to be a part of that."
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NASA’s ADEPT Umbrella-Like Aerobrake
January 29, 2026
A flight testing success story
Commercial Space to Leverage ADEPT (Adaptable Deployable Entry and Placement Technology) for Moon and Mars Missions
NASA’s umbrella-like ADEPT deployable entry system is being adapted to serve as the aerobrake to slow down the spacecraft for future Blue Origin lunar and Martian cargo deliveries as well as Earth-return applications.
In addition, the ADEPT system has drawn interest from several other commercial space companies and other government agencies.
Testing with NASA’s Flight Opportunities program in 2018 helped pave the way for commercialization of this cutting-edge technology developed at NASA’s Ames Research Center, in California’s Silicon Valley, with support from the agency’s Game Changing Development and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs.
This successful transition of NASA’s ADEPT to the commercial space industry demonstrate the far-reaching impact of early-stage and ongoing investments from NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate.
Unfolding Potential with New Technology
When venturing to other planets or returning to Earth, saving space and enabling safer atmospheric entries are top priorities. The ADEPT system is poised to help achieve both goals.
The umbrella-like ADEPT system is a semi-rigid aeroshell that opens when needed to slow down a space vehicle when returning from the Moon or landing on another planet or to perform maneuvers known as aerocapture to enter a planet’s orbit.
Not only can ADEPT be stored in a compact space, but the decelerator system is also lighter than rigid aeroshells, reducing the fuel needed for launch and freeing up space for other payloads.
The “umbrella’s canopy” for ADEPT is a special 3D woven, flexible, carbon fabric that functions both as a heat shield and an aerodynamic surface.
Developed in partnership with Pennsylvania-based Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM), this material protects the space vehicle when passing through the atmosphere during entry, where temperatures can reach up to 4,500 degrees Fahrenheit.
The company went on to develop a new version of the fabric called Spiderweave that eliminated the seams between the gore sections — that is, the triangular pieces of fabric that make up the canopy.
NASA supported BRM’s development and small-scale testing of the seamless Spiderweave 3D woven carbon fabric through the SBIR and Game Changing Development programs, respectively.
The ADEPT decelerator is patented and available for license via NASA’s Technology Transfer program.
Testing ADEPT on a Suborbital Rocket
In a Sept. 12, 2018, test supported by the agency’s Flight Opportunities program, NASA demonstrated ADEPT’s deployment sequence and entry performance aboard an UP Aerospace sounding rocket launched from Spaceport America in New Mexico.
During the flight test, ADEPT launched in a folded configuration and then separated from the rocket and unfolded 60 miles above Earth before returning to land.
The flight test provided a low-cost means to significantly mature the 1-meter (approximately 3-foot) system, proving it could successfully unfurl from its closed-umbrella configuration and then maintain stable flight in supersonic conditions.
Researchers also used flight test data to improve the design in anticipation of low Earth orbit re-entry CubeSat and other small satellite missions.
https://www.nasa.gov/stmd-flight-opportunities/transitions-of-flight-tested-technologies/nasas-adept-umbrella-like-aerobrake/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFdNcCsmYyI
NASA’s Arcstone Instrument Successfully Completes Primary Mission
January 28, 2026
NASA’s Arcstone instrument, designed to improve the accuracy of lunar calibration, successfully completed its technology demonstration, and now begins extended operations.
Arcstone launched on June 23 on a SpaceX Transporter-14 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, on a six-month mission to measure light reflected by the Moon, which is a stable and potentially highly-accurate calibration source, for satellite sensors.
The mission, led by NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, uses a specially designed spectrometer system and is the first on-orbit instrument solely dedicated to improving the accuracy of lunar calibration.
Measurements of sunlight reflected off the Moon are the first step in creating a new lunar model for the calibration of Earth-orbiting sensors — including those that map the surface of the Earth for commercial, scientific, and consumer use, such as the maps on cellphones.
“Since Arcstone is gathering measurements in space, the data it collects does not contain atmospheric effects that increase error, and operations are not dependent on having good weather,” said Cindy Young, principal investigator for the mission.
“This helps us acquire consistent and frequent lunar sampling.”
Young added that Arcstone has already collected more than 240 lunar observations and has successfully demonstrated the measurement concept on-orbit.
Next steps for the science team include processing and validating the raw data to assess accuracy.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/smallsatellites/2026/01/28/nasas-arcstone-instrument-successfully-completes-primary-mission/
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/arcstone/