TYB
A look back at 2025 for Europe’s Spaceport
13/03/2026
In brief
2025 was a particularly memorable year for Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, with a return to a full autonomous launch capability driven by the ramp-up of Ariane 6 launches and the confirmation of a robust return to flight of Vega-C.
In-depth
Ariane 6: a new reference for Europe
Following on from Ariane 5, Ariane 6 established itself in 2025 as the European heavy-lift launcher, marking a decisive step forward for European space autonomy.
6 March: launch of the CSO-3 observation satellite.
13 August: launch of Europe’s first MetOp Second Generation, MetOp-SG-A1, weather satellite, which hosts the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission.
4 November: launch of the Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite.
17 December: 14th launch of Galileo satellites.
These launches confirm the reliability, versatility and performance of Ariane 6, capable of meeting a wide range of needs, launching strategic missions for Earth observation, meteorological and navigation satellites.
Vega-C: reliability at the service of scientific missions
The Vega-C rocket played an essential role in Europe’s scientific and environmental missions. In 2025, several launches from Europe’s Spaceport demonstrated the launcher’s versatility and reliability:
29 April: launch of ESA’s Biomass satellite, a mission dedicated to studying forests and the carbon cycle.
25 July: launch of the CO3D and MicroCarb satellites dedicated to Earth observation and carbon dioxide monitoring, contributing to European climate, environment and sustainable development objectives.
1 December: launch of Kompsat-7 satellite.
Complementarity at the heart of European strategy
2025 illustrated how Ariane 6 and Vega-C complement each other. Together the two launchers allow Europe to launch a wide range of missions, from heavy institutional satellites to medium-sized scientific and environmental missions.
For Europe, this complementarity is a strategic asset, guaranteeing flexible and autonomous access to space from the Europe’s Spaceport.
Solid improvement
On 24 April the P160C solid rocket motor was fired up at Europe’s Spaceport solid propulsion test stand, a visually striking milestone after three years of intense development work.
P160C is the larger version of the P120C rocket motor that is used as a booster for Ariane 6 and as a first stage motor for Vega-C.
In 2026, Europe’s Spaceport will continue to ramp up its activities with a sustained launch schedule.
Ariane 6 will be at the heart of operations, with several commercial and institutional missions planned, notably the heavy-lift version of Ariane 6 – with four boosters – designed for the largest payloads.
Vega-C will carry out missions for smaller satellites, particularly in the fields of Earth observation and other European institutional missions.
Europe’s Spaceport is undergoing a major transformation to become a more modern, sustainable and competitive spaceport, capable of meeting the needs of both institutional players and new entrants to the space sector, while reducing its environmental impact.
The Spaceport is modernising its infrastructure to new standards and to increase launch activities: optimising launch facilities, improving logistics and strengthening security and control systems.
These developments will enhance competitiveness, secure Europe's autonomous access to space and prepare for future space programmes.
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Europe_s_Spaceport/A_look_back_at_2025_for_Europe_s_Spaceport
How the Universe makes gold: Scientists solve a 20-year puzzle
March 14, 2026
Heavy elements such as gold and platinum are born in some of the Universe’s most violent events.
These heavy elements form when stars collapse or when neutron stars collide, triggering a rapid chain of nuclear reactions known as the r-process.
In this extreme environment, atomic nuclei become more unstable due to rapid neutron absorption.
Eventually, these heavy nuclei decay into more stable forms. This often happens through beta decay, a process that can release one or more neutrons as the nucleus stabilizes.
Because the nuclei involved are extremely rare and short-lived, scientists usually rely on theoretical models rather than direct measurements.
Now, scientists from the University of Tennessee have uncovered new details about this mysterious process. In experiments at CERN, the team made three important discoveries about how unstable atomic nuclei break apart during these reactions.
Their findings, published in Physical Review Letters, provide crucial data that could improve models explaining how the Universe produces heavy elements like gold.
To better understand this process, scientists studied the rare isotope indium-134. The experiments took place at the ISOLDE Decay Station at CERN, where advanced laser separation techniques produced a pure beam of the isotope.
Professor Robert Grzywacz from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville stated, “These nuclei are hard to make and require a lot of new technology to synthesize in sufficient quantities.”
When indium-134 decays, it forms excited versions of several tin isotopes, including tin-134, tin-133, and tin-132. These nuclei can release neutrons as they settle into more stable states.
Using a highly sensitive neutron detector supported by the National Science Foundation, scientists were able to track these emissions in unprecedented detail.
The team’s most important breakthrough was the first measurement of neutron energies produced during beta-delayed two-neutron emission.
Models reveal the first hints of nuclear fission in cosmos
This rare process occurs in exotic nuclei that exist only briefly. Until now, scientists could detect the emission but had never measured the energy of the released neutrons.
Neutrons are difficult to track because they scatter easily inside detectors. Distinguishing whether one neutron or two were emitted has therefore been a long-standing challenge.
“The reason this is hard is that neutrons like to bounce around. It’s hard to tell if it’s one or two,” Grzywacz explained. In earlier attempts, “no one measured energies,” so this approach “opens a completely new field.”
The new measurement opens the door to studying similar nuclear processes along the r-process pathway.
The scientists also detected, for the first time, a long-predicted single-particle neutron state in tin-133.
Scientists discovered that tin nuclei retain a “memory” of their beta decay. It contradicts the earlier belief that they released neutrons and forgot the event.
Thanks to advanced neutron detectors, this hidden nuclear state came out from behind a curtain. These findings suggest the need for new models to explain why some decays emit one neutron while others emit two.
“People were searching for it for 20 years, and we found it,” Grzywacz said. “Those two neutrons allowed us to see this state.”
“The newly observed state represents an intermediate stage in the two-neutron emission sequence.
It also represents the final elementary excitation of the tin-133 nucleus, helping complete the nuclear structure picture and improving the accuracy of theoretical calculations.”
The third discovery surprised scientists even more.
The newly observed nuclear state did not appear according to the statistical patterns normally expected in nuclear decay. In this experiment, the environment was relatively clean, with nuclear states separated instead of crowded together.
“Yet, in most cases, the system still behaves statistically, like split‑pea soup,” as Grzywacz put it. “Why this happens, and why it doesn’t in this case, remains unclear.”
The findings suggest that as scientists probe more exotic nuclei, such as Tennessine, existing models may no longer be enough. New theories will be needed to explain these extreme systems.
Improved models of the r-process will help scientists better understand the chemical evolution of the Universe and explain how elements such as gold and platinum are forged in stellar explosions and collisions.
The study also highlights the importance of advanced facilities like CERN and international collaboration in exploring some of the rarest forms of matter in the Universe.
https://www.techexplorist.com/universe-gold-scientists-solve-20-year-puzzle/102297/
https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/l24v-5m31
Vandenberg Celebrates New Senior Master Sergeants
March 13, 2026
Space Launch Delta 30
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. –
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Elijah Snyder, operations superintendent for the National Reconnaissance Office, a Senior Master Sgt. select, and Master Sgt. William Young II, 2nd Space Launch Squadron flight chief, a Senior Master Sgt. select, receives a promotion trophy from Space Launch Delta 30 leadership during the Senior Master Sergeant Release Party held at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., March 12, 2026.
The event recognized the achievements of Air Force personnel advancing to the senior enlisted ranks.
U.S. Space Force Col. James T. Horne III, Space Launch Delta 30 commander, delivered closing remarks, mentioning the commitment and tenacity required of individuals who are selected for promotion to senior master sergeant and his hopes for their continued success and leadership.
Promotion release parties like these are held to honor the ascension of a master sergeant to senior master sergeant, denoting years of effort to attain the rank.
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4434856/vandenberg-celebrates-new-senior-master-sergeants/
extra Space Force
https://www.petersonschriever.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/News/Display/Article/4434645/sbd-41-child-and-youth-program-increases-family-readiness/
Ret. NASA Astronaut Trolls Trump Spokesperson, “Hopefully One Day Adults Will Staff the Federal Government Again”
March 13, 2026
NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens, whose X profile reads “Serving President Trump under the leadership of the NASA Administrator” (Jared Isaacman), was scolded by retired NASA astronaut and former International Space Station commander Terry Virts for a comment she made against liberal media influencer Aaron Rupar.
As seen below, Rupar shared a clip of Isaacman — a billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut who became NASA administrator in December — defending President Trump’s decision to initiate a military strike on Iran. Isaacman said:
“You can’t let a country have nuclear weapons or highly enriched uranium.”
Rupar wrote: “lmao why is the NASA administrator going on Fox and railing against Iran? (this is a rhetorical question — the answer is that nobody in the Trump administration has actual job duties).”
Stevens, a former press secretary for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), replied to Rupar: “Because he was asked. Unsurprisingly, you weren’t! Unlike you, he’s got a long list of qualifications that make him exactly the right person to speak on the intersection of space and national security:
– founder of a military aerospace company – commercial astronaut – first civilian to spacewalk – NASA Administrator Thank you for your interest in America’s space program.”
Virts replied to Stevens: “Anyone else remember when NASA was staffed by competent people focused on mission, not on ‘owning the libs?’ Hopefully one day adults will staff the Federal Government again.”
Note: Not all NASA administrators were former NASA astronauts. Most recently, during the first Trump administration, Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) led the agency.
Former U.S. Senator (D-FL) and space shuttle astronaut Bill Nelson served as the NASA Administrator under President Biden.
https://2paragraphs.com/2026/03/ret-nasa-astronaut-trolls-trump-spokesperson-hopefully-one-day-adults-will-staff-the-federal-government-again/
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/2032094140133945403
https://twitter.com/AstroTerry/status/2032276153176596489