TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
March 28, 2026
Robert Goddard and Nell
Robert H. Goddard, considered the father of modern rocketry, was born in Worcester Massachusetts in 1882. As a 16 year old, Goddard read H.G. Wells' science fiction classic "War Of The Worlds" and dreamed of space flight. By 1926 he had designed, built, and flown the world's first liquid fuel rocket. Launched 100 years ago, on March 16, 1926 from his aunt Effie's farm in Auburn Massachusetts, the rocket dubbed "Nell", rose to an altitude of 41 feet in a flight that lasted about 2 1/2 seconds. In this posed photo Goddard stands next to the 10 foot tall rocket, holding the launch stand frame. To achieve a stable flight without the need for fins, the rocket's heavy motor was located at the top, fed by lines from liquid oxygen and gasoline fuel tanks at the bottom. Widely recognized as a gifted experimenter and engineering genius, his rockets were many years ahead of their time. Goddard was awarded over 200 patents in rocket technology, most of them after his death in 1945. A liquid fuel rocket constructed on principles developed by Goddard landed humans on the Moon in 1969.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEN6eu9jHKQ
The Sun is Waking Up, Star Field, Satellite Risk | S0 News and frens
Mar.28.2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92vVbt-j1Lk
https://dailygalaxy.com/2026/03/scientists-just-found-the-hidden-magnetic-engine-powering-the-suns-explosive-storms/
https://www.space.com/astronomy/sun/sun-storms-are-powered-by-a-magnetic-engine-16-earths-deep-study-finds
https://futurism.com/space/negative-mass-anomaly-mars
https://thedebrief.org/scientists-have-discovered-buried-mass-anomalies-deep-below-the-martian-surface-are-they-quickening-the-red-planets-spin/
https://artthreat.net/13637-59665-international-space-station-detects-atmospheric-waves-55-miles-above-earth-from/
https://x.com/schumannbot/status/2037892496026460314
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes-volcanoes/news/298730/Volcano-earthquake-report-for-Saturday-28-Mar-2026.html
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-viewline-tonight-and-tomorrow-night-experimental
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/
https://spaceweather.com/
https://avi-loeb.medium.com/is-the-recent-surge-in-meteor-fireballs-on-earth-related-to-3i-atlas-a9e8f48d1a00
https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/something-is-happening-around-earth-inside-2026s-massive-fireball-surge/
https://dailygalaxy.com/2026/03/meteor-showers-surge-across-the-u-s/
https://www.wkyc.com/article/tech/science/cleveland-area-carpenter-finds-big-meteorite-knew-where-to-go-from-dream/95-eb47149c-b48c-454d-9455-5329b97e1f8f
https://x.com/Skriptkeeper17/status/2037838226572906809
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/8-sky-events-in-april-2026-you-cant-miss-from-a-blazing-comet-to-meteor-storms/photostory/129852221.cms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGrpGC7aQak (Stefan Burns: METEOR MELTDOWN OVER THE USA ☄️ What's Really Happening?!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2bVkpEsSZY (Dobsonian Power: LIVE TELESCOPE - 3I/ATLAS PROBES NEAR JUPITER?)
Fireballs, comets, and meteors, oh my!
Is the Recent Surge in Meteor Fireballs on Earth Related to 3I/ATLAS?
March 28, 2026
In the second half of March 2026, Earth arrived within its closest distance of 54.6 million kilometers from the path of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS through the Solar System.
By now, 3I/ATLAS is heading out of the Solar System at a distance of 5.3 times the Sun’s distance from Earth.
Back on August 8–12, 2025, data the SPHEREx space observatory revealed a carbon-dioxide gas plume extending out to a distance of at least 348,000 kilometers from the nucleus of 3I/ATLAS (as reported in the caption of Figure 2 here).
In case this gas cloud around 3I/ATLAS was accompanied by solid fragments of debris from 3I/ATLAS, some of these fragments could have collided in recent months with Earth. Let us work some numbers that could educate us whether such collisions are possible.
The ejection speed required for a fragment to cross a distance of 54.6 million kilometers in the seven months that elapsed since August 2025 is 3 kilometers per second. This is just 5% of the speed of 3I/ATLAS through the Solar System, which is about 60 kilometers per second.
But if these fragments departed from 3I/ATLAS ten years ago, when the interstellar object was located at a distance of 126 times the Earth-Sun separation, the required ejection speed would have been only 170 meters per second, comparable to the thermal speed of the gas molecules surrounding it.
This implies that if 3I/ATLAS shed solid fragments from its surface a long time ago, some of these fragments could have potentially impacted Earth in recent months.
In a recent paper that I co-authored with Valentin Thos and Andi Burkert (accessible here), the mass of 3I/ATLAS was estimated, based on its non-gravitational acceleration, to be of order a billion metric tons.
Assuming that a tenth of this mass was broken into fragment of centimeter-radius, a total of ten trillion fragments — each carrying a mass of 10 grams, were shed by 3I/ATLAS.
The maximum fraction of these fragments that could intercept the Earth equals to the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the Earth divided by the surface area of a sphere with a radius of 54.6 million kilometers.
This gives a total maximum of 34,000 fragments that would burn up as a result of their passage through the Earth’s atmosphere and appear as meteor fireballs in the sky.
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The expected surge in the number of meteor fireballs scales in proportion to the fraction of the mass of 3I/ATLAS carried by the fragments (assumed to be 10% in the above estimate) and inversely with the fragment mass (assumed to be 10 grams above) or the square of the distance that the fragments traveled before hitting Earth (assumed to be 54.6 million kilometers above). Adopting more pessimistic values of a mass fraction of 1% and a distance similar to the Earth-Sun separation (150 million kilometers) still yields 30 extra fireballs triggered by meteoroids, each measuring 5 centimeter (2-inches) in diameter.
But even in the most optimistic scenario, where half the mass of 3I/ATLAS was lost to fragments, no excess meteoroids larger than a meter in diameter or a ton in mass, are expected.
There is not enough mass available in 3I/ATLAS to create a sufficient number fragments so massive that one of them will intercept the Earth.
On March 21, 2026 at 4:40PM CT, a 1-ton meteoroid broke apart above the Houston metro area, producing loud boom and a 26-ton TNT equivalent airburst (as reported here).
On March 17, 2026 at 8:57 AM ET, a 7-ton meteoroid exploded over Lake Erie, producing a boom and a 250-tons TNT equivalent airburst across Ohio and into Pennsylvania (as reported here). These recent fireballs are too energetic to be associated with 3I/ATLAS.
Nevertheless, there appears to be a surge in the number of smaller meteor fireballs during the first quarter of 2026.
A report this week by the American Meteor Society (posted here) documented an increase by a factor of a few in the number of bright events witnessed by more than 200 people.
Almost half of all March 2026 events were each seen by more than 50 people. The March 2026 average witness count per event was 142.7 — nearly three times the next-highest March on record (49.4 in 2021).
A systematic study of the directional and velocity information for the 2026 meteoroids of different sizes could assess which any subset of them might have properties consistent with past ejections of fragments by 3I/ATLAS towards Earth.
If the timing, arrival direction and speed of any them are consistent with an ejection from 3I/ATLAS, then finding related meteorites on the ground would be revealing about the nature and origin of 3I/ATLAS.
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Crew Off-Duty, Cosmonauts Work Cargo and Station Upkeep
March 27, 2026 11:50AM
Four Expedition 74 crew members are enjoying an off-duty day following a busy week of science prep, post-spacewalk closeout procedures, cargo operations, and more.
Three other International Space Station residents set their sights on an array of maintenance tasks throughout the day.
NASA astronauts Chris Williams, Jessica Meir, and Jack Hathaway, along with European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot all had the day off on Friday. The quartet exercised and spent the day relaxing.
NASA continues to assess potential dates for U.S. spacewalk 95 outside the International Space Station as teams prepare for the installation of future roll-out solar arrays.
The agency has been reviewing the standard spacesuit preparations and other procedures needed following U.S. spacewalk 94 along with other station activities including cargo, research, and maintenance activities
On March 18, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams successfully completed U.S. spacewalk 94, preparing the 2A power channel and performing additional tasks.
This work will enable the future installation of roll-out solar arrays to provide additional power for the orbiting laboratory, supporting critical systems and its safe, controlled deorbit.
NASA will share the updated date and time for spacewalk 95 once scheduling is finalized.
In the Roscosmos segment, space station commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov removed and replaced an AC compressor.
He then proceeded to take a health assessment that analyzes how a crew member works individually and with their teammates before conducting some maintenance on the treadmill.
Flight engineer Andrey Fedyaev worked in the Nauka module to replace stowage battery units and test video cameras the crew uses to document work and life aboard the orbital complex.
Flight engineer Sergei Mikaev reviewed the schedule for next week, organized and cleaned up files on station computers, and configured cameras and hardware crewmembers use to take photos of Earth.
He ended his day on Progress 94 cargo operations, unloading food and supplies that were delivered earlier this week, and installed a payload that will assist with acquiring images of Earth in the visible and near-infrared ranges.
Science, supplies, and equipment are soon to be delivered to the International Space Station aboard a Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL spacecraft.
NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission is targeted to lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida no earlier than Wednesday, April 8 at 8:49 a.m. EDT.
In addition to food, supplies, and equipment for the crew, Cygnus will deliver research to the space station, including a new module to advance quantum science that could improve computing technology and aid in the search for dark matter and hardware to produce a greater number of therapeutic stem cells for blood diseases and cancer.
Cygnus also will carry model organisms to study the gut microbiome and a receiver that could enhance space weather models that protect critical space infrastructure, such as GPS and radar.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/03/27/crew-off-duty-cosmonauts-work-cargo-and-station-upkeep/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1n7cyMdfbY (Sen4K: Tropical Cyclone Narelle, Sea Ice and LED Fishing Fleets in 4K | This Week in Orbit)
Artemis II Crew Arrives at Launch Site, Shares Moon Mascot + extra Artemis
March 27, 2026 4:10PM
The four astronauts set to fly around the Moon on NASA’s Artemis II test flight arrived at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Friday, March 27.
NASA continues to target as soon as Wednesday, April 1, for launch within a two-hour window that opens at 6:24 p.m. EDT.
During remarks at Kennedy’s Launch and Landing Facility, Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman announced “Rise,” designed by Lucas Ye of Mountain View, California, as the zero gravity indicator that will fly with the crew around the Moon.
“Rise” was inspired by the iconic Earthrise moment from the Apollo 8 mission. A zero gravity indicator is a small plush item that typically rides with a crew to visually indicate when they are in space.
The design was selected from more than 2,600 submissions from over 50 countries, including K-12 students, that were part of a Moon Mascot contest.
During the selection process, the crew narrowed a list of 25 finalists to five top designs, including:
“Big Steps of Little Octopus,” Anzhelika Iudakova, Finland
“Corey the Explorer,” Daniela Colina, Peru
“Creation Mythos,” Johanna Beck, McPherson, Kansas
“Lepus the Moon Rabbit,” Oakville Trafalgar School, Canada
“Rise,” Lucas Ye, Mountain View, California
While work continues to prepare the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, Orion spacecraft, and ground systems for launch, the crew – NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen — will review their launch day timeline and mission activities, participate in medical checkouts, and spend time with family.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/03/27/artemis-ii-crew-arrives-at-launch-site-shares-moon-mascot/
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/artemis-2-astronauts-arrive-at-kennedy-space-center-ahead-of-nasas-historic-launch-around-the-moon
https://www.nasa.gov/general/nasa-releases-artemis-ii-moon-mission-launch-countdown/
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/i-am-artemis/i-am-artemis-erik-richards/
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/clps/nasa-selects-intuitive-machines-to-deliver-artemis-science-tech-to-moon/
No hospitals in space: Astronaut details health scare above Earth
March 28, 2026
A sudden medical emergency ended Michael Fincke’s ISS mission early. The cause remains unknown, highlighting risks of long-duration spaceflight.
More than two months after a medical emergency aboard the International Space Station abruptly ended his crew’s mission, astronaut Michael Fincke still doesn’t know what caused his sudden illness.
Fincke said he experienced a brief period in which he was unable to speak, describing the episode as something that “came out of the blue.”
“We were getting ready for a spacewalk on Jan. 8, and the evening before we had just met with the doctors,” he said. “I was feeling super. Everyone was feeling super. And then I wasn’t.”
Four crew members returned to Earth in January after their five-month mission was cut short. NASA did not comment on the severity of the medical issue, citing privacy concerns.
Fincke said he was eating dinner when he suddenly could not talk.
“My crewmates saw I was in distress and immediately started taking care of me,” he said. “One of the Russian crewmates went to get the others, and it was all hands on deck within seconds.”
Within moments, flight doctors on the ground were looped in via video and guided the crew through initial diagnostic tests.
Unlike on Earth, there are no hospitals in space. NASA stocks medical supplies aboard the station, but they are minimal compared to what is available on the ground.
“I did my own echocardiogram—we have ultrasounds there—and it looked like I did not have a heart attack,” Fincke said. “We ran a few other tests to rule out some big issues.
Eventually, we felt comfortable saying we didn’t know what was going on, but to rule out serious possibilities, we needed to come back to Earth.”
During their mission, the crew marked the 25th anniversary of continuous operations on the ISS and completed more than 140 experiments.
RELATED STORY |First medical evacuation from International Space Station brings crew safely home
Fincke believes his sudden illness may have been linked to prolonged exposure to microgravity.
He hopes the experience will help NASA develop strategies to keep astronauts safe during longer missions.
The incident comes as NASA prepares to send a crew on a lunar flyby, potentially as soon as this week. The Artemis program is designed to pave the way for a crewed mission to Mars — a journey that could keep astronauts away from Earth for years.
“It’s a really interesting time right now,” Fincke said. “As we prepare to spend more time on the moon and Mars, the space station is showing its value in low Earth orbit, helping us understand how humans and microgravity interact.”
https://www.scrippsnews.com/science-and-tech/space/no-hospitals-in-space-astronaut-details-health-scare-above-earth
Celeste’s first satellites launched to explore LEO-based satellite navigation
28/03/2026
On 28 March, the European Space Agency (ESA) took a major step forward in strengthening Europe's ambition for more resilient satellite navigation, as the first two satellites of the Celeste in-orbit demonstration mission lifted off from New Zealand aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron.
Their mission is to begin testing a complementary low Earth orbit layer for Galileo.
The two satellites – built respectively by GMV and Thales Alenia Space - were launched at 10:14 CET and separated from the launcher about an hour later.
This marks the beginning of their early operations phase, during which mission control gets them ready for life in orbit.
The two satellites will validate core technologies and new signals and service capabilities and will bring into use the required frequencies in L- and S-band signals for the mission’s operational phase, in adherence to International Telecommunication Union regulations.
Additional launches in 2027 will bring the mission to its full configuration of 11 spacecraft in orbit offering a wide range of experimentation opportunities in different frequency bands, user environments and applications.
“With this mission, we are exploring new frontiers for satellite navigation.
Celeste will demonstrate how a satellite navigation constellation in low Earth orbit can complement Europe’s current Galileo system in medium Earth orbit.
Celeste was among the first ESA missions to embrace a New Space-inspired development approach, enabling faster and more flexible deployment of satellites and technical capabilities, and ultimately ensuring Europe stays at the forefront of innovation in satellite navigation,” said ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher.
“Over the past two decades, satellite navigation has become integral to our society. Galileo and EGNOS are a European success today, fuelling our society, generating economic growth while ensuring our independence and security.
With Celeste, ESA is ensuring that Europe continues to pioneer innovation in positioning, navigation and timing. The mission will demonstrate how a complementary layer in low Earth orbit can enhance Europe’s current navigation systems, making them more resilient, more robust, and capable of delivering entirely new services,” said Francisco-Javier Benedicto Ruiz, ESA’s Director of Navigation.
By flying closer to Earth, Celeste offers the opportunity for more robust signals and new frequencies.
The mission will offer an in-orbit test bench for a broad range of applications, such as enhanced navigation capabilities for autonomous vehicles, railway, maritime, and aviation, increased availability in urban canyons and remote polar and arctic regions, enhanced positioning and messaging with emergency services during disasters, tracking of connected devices and Internet-of-Things applications, and even indoor navigation.
Following the demonstration activities, the Celeste in-orbit preparatory (IOP) phase, fully supported by ESA Member States at CM25, will leverage European industry to validate the technologies in-orbit and build pre-operational infrastructure.
Ultimately, the results of the Celeste mission will prepare European industry and support the European Union’s decision towards the establishment of an operational navigation layer in LEO, complementing Galileo and EGNOS, Europe's current position, navigation and timing systems.
About Celeste
The Celeste mission is ESA's initiative for LEO-PNT (Low Earth Orbit Positioning Navigation and Timing) and is currently in its in-orbit demonstration phase.
This first phase features a demonstration constellation of 11 satellites that will fly in low Earth orbit to test innovative signals across various frequency bands. Its goal is to advance satellite navigation concepts for resilient positioning, navigation and timing services.
The Celeste in-orbit demonstration phase was approved at ESA’s Council at Ministerial Level of 2022.
The fleet is being developed through two parallel contracts respectively led by GMV (ES) with OHB (DE) as core partner, and by Thales Alenia Space (FR) as prime and Thales Alenia Space (IT) as space segment responsible.
The two consortia involve over 50 entities from more than 14 European countries.
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Satellite_navigation/Celeste/Celeste_s_first_satellites_launched_to_explore_LEO-based_satellite_navigation
https://rocketlabcorp.com/missions/launches/daughter-of-the-stars/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vls1yNbQtZ0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR1en0oGPRs
Astrophotographer captures spectacular photo of Antennae Galaxies dueling in deep space
March 28, 2026
Astrophotographer Greg Meyer took aim at the constellation Corvus to capture a majestic view of the Antennae Galaxies, whose once spiral forms have been rendered chaotic as they merge into a single elliptical monster of a galaxy.
The deep space image captures a fleeting moment in a titanic struggle that has lasted hundreds of millions of years, as the gravitational influence of the galaxies NGC 4038 and NGC 4039 pulls at one another to create chaos on a truly cosmic scale.
"I have a Sky-Watcher Esprit 120 [telescope] with a focal length of 840mm, which is a little short for most galaxies, this being galaxy season now," Meyer told Space.com in an email.
"So whenever I see a picture of a galaxy, I see if it is within reach for me by checking Astrobin for photos taken with the same scope. And since this is such a cool image of 2 galaxies, with an amazing backstory, I had to go for it."
Meyer's shot reveals the orange-yellow cores of the dueling galaxies glowing in a maelstrom of interstellar dust, gas and stars, from which a pair of sweeping "tidal tails" made from elongated spiral arms reach out for light-years on either side.
The sweeping structures bear a striking resemblance to the sensory organs sported by members of the insect world, which eventually granted them the nickname of the Antennae Galaxies.
The cosmic tug of war has triggered an outburst of star formation, which has led to the creation of "super star clusters" in the vast antenna-like arms, according to NASA.
90% of these goliath clusters are likely to disperse as the galaxies merge and settle, while others will persevere as globular clusters.
Meyer dedicated just under 21 hours of observation time collecting light from the distant galaxies using a series of astronomy filters as they glowed in the skies over the Starfront Observatory in Rockwood, Texas.
The light data was then compiled and edited using Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom in concert with the astrophotography software PixInsight.
https://www.space.com/stargazing/astrophotography/astrophotographer-captures-spectacular-photo-of-antennae-galaxies-dueling-in-deep-space
Scientists Reveal How Gold Is Created in Space
March 28, 2026
Nuclear physicists at the University of Tennessee have made three discoveries that bring scientists closer to understanding how gold is created during violent events in space.
The findings shed light on a process that produces heavy elements such as gold and platinum when stars collapse, explode or collide.
These stellar events trigger a chain reaction known as the rapid neutron capture process, or r-process. During this process, atomic nuclei absorb neutrons one after another.
As each nucleus grows heavier, it becomes unstable and eventually splits apart into lighter forms. One key step in that chain involves a sequence where beta decay precedes the emission of two neutrons, which has been difficult to study until now.
The team worked alongside researchers from other institutions at the ISOLDE Decay Station at CERN. They focused on indium-134, a rare and short-lived isotope that is difficult to produce in large amounts.
When indium-134 decays, it generates excited versions of three tin isotopes: tin-132, tin-133 and tin-134. Professor Robert Grzywacz said producing these nuclei in sufficient quantities requires advanced technology.
How gold gets created in space through stellar collisions
A neutron detector constructed at the university, with funding from the National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation program, allowed the team to record the energies of neutrons released during beta-delayed two-neutron emission.
Grzywacz said this was the most significant result because this type of emission occurs only in short-lived exotic nuclei, and no previous experiment had measured those energies. He added that it opens an entirely new area of research.
The second discovery confirmed a neutron state in tin-133 that theorists had anticipated for years but never detected in an experiment. Grzywacz explained that tin-133 does not fully lose the imprint of its origin after beta decay.
A trace of its earlier state remains, which he described as the nucleus retaining a kind of memory. He noted that researchers had been searching for this state for two decades before the two-neutron data finally revealed it.
Finding challenges models for exotic nuclear behavior
The third finding showed that this newly identified state was populated in a way that did not match standard statistical expectations.
Grzywacz said the result was more striking because the decay conditions were relatively clean and well separated, which makes the deviation from expected behavior harder to explain.
He said scientists will likely need to develop entirely new theoretical models to describe exotic nuclei far from stability.
Graduate student Peter Dyszel led the data analysis and co-authored the study, published in Physical Review Letters.
He also built detector frames, assembled equipment, developed software, and tested electronic systems throughout the experiment.
https://greekreporter.com/2026/03/28/gold-created-space/
https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/l24v-5m31
Commercial Space Federation (CSF) Welcomes Two New Associate Members
March 27, 2026
The Commercial Space Federation (CSF) is pleased to welcome Astrolab and Zeno Power, two innovative companies advancing planetary mobility and reliable energy in extreme environments.
Together, their work supports critical missions on Earth and in space while helping to expand the capabilities and resilience of the commercial space economy.
Astrolab: Astrolab is on a mission to move humanity forward to the next horizon by designing, building, and operating a fleet of multi-purpose rovers for all planetary surface needs.
Formed by a highly specialized team of NASA veterans, former SpaceXers, and JPL engineers, Astrolab is laser-focused on providing adaptive mobility solutions essential for life beyond Earth.
The team has industry-leading experience in terrestrial and planetary robotics, electric vehicles, human spaceflight, and more.
Astrolab’s depth of experience and strategic partnerships with a wide array of world-class institutions enable the delivery of Lunar and Mars mobility offerings at maximum reliability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. The company is headquartered in Hawthorne, California.
“We are excited to join the Commercial Space Federation.
CSF’s advocacy for a flourishing commercial space industry aligns closely with our mission to deploy multi-purpose rovers like FLEX, enabling cargo transport, infrastructure build-out, and sustained human presence across planetary surfaces.” – Jaret Matthews, Founder & CEO
Zeno: Zeno Power builds nuclear batteries, also known as radioisotope power systems, that provide reliable, clean energy in frontier environments. By harnessing the heat from radioisotopes, Zeno’s batteries power critical missions on Earth, in space, and at sea.
Designed for the modern space era, Zeno’s nuclear batteries provide the heat and electricity needed to survive extreme cold and darkness, enabling long-duration missions through the lunar night, in permanently shadowed regions, on Mars, and across deep space.
“We are thrilled to join the Commercial Space Federation, the leading voice for the commercial space industry.
CSF gives Zeno Power a powerful platform to engage with the broader ecosystem of commercial space companies and space policy, and to showcase how our nuclear batteries can enhance and enable their products and services.
It also serves as a force multiplier for the space policy initiatives that matter most to our community. Together, we look forward to advocating directly to government stakeholders for policies that will drive growth, innovation, and U.S. leadership in space for decades to come.” – A.C. Charania, SVP of Space Business Development
About CSF
Founded in 2006, the Commercial Space Federation (CSF) and its members are laying the foundation for democratizing access to outer space for scientists, students, civilians, and businesses. All while working towards the goal of expanding the U.S. Commercial Space Economy.
Through the promotion of technological innovation, CSF and its diverse membership are guiding the bolstering of U.S. leadership in aerospace and inspiring America’s next generation of engineers and explorers.
CSF also serves as the commercial space industry’s primary advocate with the U.S. Congress and the Administration, helping inform the development and implementation of policy priorities.
By engaging with congressional players, CSF is able to provide recommendations on commercial space issues that will impact the commercial space industry in the short and long term.
https://spacenews.com/commercial-space-federation-csf-welcomes-two-new-associate-members/
China planning human research program at space station
Mar 28, 2026 09:08 AM
The China Manned Space Agency announced that it would solicit proposals for a space human research program starting April 1, targeting major strategic, fundamental, and forward-looking scientific issues related to the long-term healthy survival of humans during future space station flights and lunar landing missions.
The program aims to create a space human atlas, establish a space human research database, and yield a series of innovative research outcomes that can benefit both the health of taikonauts on long-duration orbital missions and the public on Earth.
It is also part of the country's efforts to accelerate the construction of aerospace power and technological power, according to the program guidelines issued by the agency this week.
Taking human samples, organoids and cells as research objects, the program will study the effects of microgravity on bones and muscles and the impacts of long-term spaceflight and post-return conditions on the heart and blood vessels, metabolism, cognition, and aging.
Space medicine experiments are among the crucial research areas aboard the Chinese space station Tiangong, which means Heavenly Palace.
Since a public solicitation announcement issued in June 2023, a total of 387 projects have been submitted, and 53 of them have been conducted on the national space lab, the agency said.
China is targeting a crewed lunar landing by 2030. Moreover, the orbiting Tiangong space station will receive two crews this year, and one taikonaut involved will undertake an orbital stay lasting over one year.
As long-term crewed missions in space become more frequent, ensuring taikonauts' well-being has become a matter of public concern.
Space medicine research has also helped advance public health on Earth.
According to Li Yinghui, a researcher at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, the country has made several achievements in the field, including completing the country's first research on a space organ chip and the world's first involving an artificial blood vessel tissue chip.
These research results have provided theoretical and technological support for studies into heart health, the muscular system, neurodegenerative diseases, human aging, and drug protection and screening.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1357743.shtml
State Route 1 temporarily shut down in front of Vandenberg Space Force Base for suspicious vehicle investigation
March 27, 2026 12:51 pm
State Route 1 was closed earlier today between California Boulevard and Timberlane Lane, directly in front of the main gate of Vandenberg Space Force Base, for a military-led investigation of a suspicious vehicle in the area.
According to Vandenberg Space Force Base, security personnel responded to a suspicious vehicle near the Santa Maria Gate around 10:10 a.m. Friday morning.
One person was detained for questioning added Vandenberg Space Force Base.
A military working dog team alongside members of the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordinance Disposal team searched the involved vehicle and area, but no threats nor explosives were detected noted Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The military installation shared around 2:25 p.m. Friday, that the main gate and State Route 1 have reopened and base operations will continue as normal.
https://keyt.com/vandenberg-space-base/2026/03/27/state-route-1-shut-down-in-front-of-vandenberg-space-force-bases-main-gate-friday/
US Space Command opening new top secret facility at Redstone Arsenal next month
Updated: Mar. 27, 2026, 4:03 p.m.
U.S. Space Command headquarters’ relocation from Colorado to Huntsville, Alabama continues with the opening of a top-secret facility at Redstone Arsenal next month.
“Next month in April, we would do our first ribbon cutting on a top-secret SCIF (sensitive compartmented information facility) that will seat over 80 people,” Gen. Stephen Whiting, the command’s commander, said Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
In line with the phased relocation plan, the command would operate “from interim facilities while a dedicated, purpose-built warfighting platform, designed to meet the demands of USSPACECOM’s mission needs is constructed,” Whiting said in his written statement.
And to encourage people to move, there are relocation incentives.
“We also are offering retention incentives because I need my workforce to stay with me in Colorado until their function is ready to move,” the commander added.
During questioning by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Whiting said he expects groundbreaking for the headquarters in 2027 with completion by 2031.
Currently, he explained, about 20 staff are operating from an office at the arsenal.
“And then by the end of this year, we are targeting that number to be closer to 200 people that will be working from Redstone from our headquarters,” he said.
https://www.al.com/news/2026/03/us-space-command-opening-new-top-secret-facility-at-redstone-arsenal-next-month.html
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/03/27/us-space-command-provides-update-on-phased-headquarters-relocation-to-alabama/
Fusion propulsion advances as Sunbird engine hits first plasma milestone
Mar 26, 2026 06:11 PM EST
UK-based Pulsar Fusion has achieved its first plasma in the exhaust system of its Sunbird propulsion concept, marking an early step toward developing nuclear fusion-based engines for space travel.
The company said the test demonstrates the physical architecture of a fusion exhaust system, where charged particles are guided and accelerated using electric and magnetic fields.
The milestone was presented live at the MARS Conference in California, hosted by Jeff Bezos, while the actual test was carried out in the UK and streamed to the audience.
The demonstration focused on plasma confinement within the exhaust channel, a key requirement for any future fusion propulsion system.
Fusion engine takes shape
In this initial phase, Pulsar used krypton gas as a propellant because of its ionization efficiency and stable behavior during testing. The setup allowed researchers to observe how plasma behaves within the exhaust structure under controlled conditions.
The company said this is only the beginning. The next stage will involve measuring thrust and exhaust velocity using specialized instruments, including thrust balance systems and probes.
To support long-term development, Pulsar is also working with the UK Atomic Energy Authority to study how neutron radiation affects reactor materials. This is considered one of the main challenges in maintaining fusion systems over time.
“The Sunbird program showcased this milestone live in California at the MARS Conference, hosted by Jeff Bezos,” said CEO Richard Dinan. “There is no greater platform to share this first test than here.”
Fusion propulsion aims to solve a long-standing problem in space travel. Current systems rely on either chemical rockets, which provide high thrust but limited speed, or electric propulsion, which is efficient but slow.
Race for faster travel
Fusion engines could combine both advantages, offering high thrust and high exhaust velocity. This could significantly reduce travel time across the solar system and improve the economics of space missions.
For example, faster propulsion could enable quicker transport of materials and infrastructure for projects such as building stations in orbit or on other planets.
Pulsar plans to upgrade its system with high-temperature superconducting magnets to generate stronger magnetic fields. This would allow experiments at higher plasma densities and pressures.
Future tests will also explore advanced heating methods and more detailed performance measurements. The company ultimately aims to move toward aneutronic fusion fuel cycles, which could reduce radiation-related challenges.
While the technology remains in early development, the first plasma milestone provides a proof point for the concept. It shows that key elements of a fusion exhaust system can be tested in a controlled environment.
The broader goal is to build propulsion systems that can support faster and more efficient movement in space, as the global space economy continues to expand.
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/pulsar-fusion-sunbird-first-plasma-space-propulsion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTEr_UmiaYI
https://pulsarfusion.com/
https://x.com/PulsarFusion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RohseUoSHkM (Angry Astronaut: Pulsar Fusion just shocked the world with first LIVE engine test! Better than NASA SR1 Nuclear!)
Ukraine needs nukes as security guarantee – Zelensky
Updated 28 Mar, 2026 14:25
Vladimir Zelensky has demanded that Kiev’s Western backers either admit Kiev to NATO or supply it with nuclear weapons, arguing that nothing less can protect Ukraine against a nuclear-armed Russia.
In an interview with French newspaper Le Monde on Friday, Zelensky lashed out at Ukraine’s critics, who he said did not believe in Kiev’s ultimate victory over Russia due to Moscow’s nuclear arsenal.
”When everyone says that Ukraine will not win this war because Russia is a nuclear power, then tell me, what do you think, what security guarantees should Ukraine have to oppose it? Which? NATO? Nuclear weapons? Well then, people should speak with us in the same way,” he said.
He admitted, though, that “until now, no one has asked us that question,” adding that he found “astonishing” the fact that “no one is talking about Russia, at least in the same terms.”
Zelensky’s comments came after he told Reuters earlier this week that Washington’s post-war security guarantees were contingent on Kiev withdrawing from the parts of Russia’s Donbass it still occupies.
Donbass, along with two other former Ukrainian regions, overwhelmingly voted to join Russia in 2022, and Moscow has insisted that Kiev’s full withdrawal from the territory was a key condition for a sustainable peace.
However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back against Zelensky, accusing him of telling a “lie.”
“I saw him say that, and it’s unfortunate he would say that, because he knows that's not true and that’s not what he was told,” Rubio stated.
”What he was told is the obvious: security guarantees are not going to kick in until there’s an end to a war, because otherwise you’re getting yourself involved in the war.”
Zelensky has, on numerous occasions, denied that Ukraine was seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.
However, he told Sky News last month that he would accept nuclear weapons from Britain and France “with pleasure, but I didn’t have propositions,” as he responded to Moscow’s accusation that London and Paris had plans to secretly arm Ukraine with atomic capabilities.
Russia has repeatedly said it would not allow Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons under any circumstances. Moscow has also suggested that Zelensky’s openness to getting his hands on nuclear weapons before the escalation of the conflict in 2022 was one of the reasons for the start of the hostilities.
https://www.rt.com/russia/636540-ukraine-needs-nukes-zelensky/
extra RT
https://www.rt.com/russia/636507-child-killed-russia-ukraine-drone/
are they trying to repel a sky event, I wonder
Ukrainian drones reportedly strike oil refinery in Russian city of Yaroslavl
March 28, 2026 3:48 am
Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in the central Russian city of Yaroslavl overnight on March 28, Telegram news channel Exilenova Plus reported.
The Slavneft-YANOS refinery is one of Russia's five largest and is capable of producing over 15 million tons per year, the outlet reported.
The city is located about 700 kilometers (435 miles) from Ukraine's border with Russia and lies approximately 230 kilometers (142 miles) northeast of Moscow.
Yaroslavl Oblast Governor Mikhail Yevrayev earlier said that a drone attack threat had been declared in the central Russian region.
Russian forces also reportedly shot down 155 Ukrainian drones across 16 regions overnight on March 28, including in the occupied-Crimean peninsula and Moscow, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.
Moscow only reported on the drones that were downed, without saying if any hit their targets.
Ukraine regularly strikes military infrastructure deep within Russia and occupied territories in an effort to diminish Moscow's fighting power as the Kremlin wages its war.
Kyiv considers oil facilities to be valid military targets as they directly fund Russia's war.
Overnight on March 27, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck oil terminals in the port cities of Ust-Luga and Primorsk in Russia's Leningrad Oblast, Russian Telegram media channels reported.
The strikes marked the third straight night of attacks targeting oil facilities in the region.
On March 26, Ukrainian forces struck the Kirishi Petroleum Organic Synthesis (Kinef) oil refinery in the city of Kirishi, located in Russia's Leningrad Oblast, the General Staff confirmed.
Global oil prices rose to over $100 per barrel on March 8, as the war between Iran, Israel, and the U.S. escalated, marking the first time prices have passed the $100-per-barrel mark since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russian oil has been subject to sanctions such as oil price caps imposed by Ukraine's allies throughout the duration of the full-scale war.
On March 12, the U.S. issued a temporary license allowing countries to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at sea in an effort to stabilize global energy prices despite Russia's continued war against Ukraine, the U.S. Treasury Department announced.
https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-drones-reportedly-strike-oil-refinery-in-russian-city-of-yaroslavl/
other Russia and Ukraine
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/03/28/8027589/
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/03/ukraine-denies-iran-destroyed-anti-drone-system-depot-in-uae/
https://militarnyi.com/en/news/new-hangars-drone-storage-donetsk-airport/
https://english.nv.ua/nation/suspilne-odesa-building-damaged-in-drone-attack-on-march-28-photos-50595679.html
Vance says war will continue ‘a little while longer’ as Iran fires missiles at Israel for 6th time today
March 28, 2026
Summary
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Bombed steel plant in Iran halts production * Thai PM says reached deal with Iran for its oil vessels to transit Strait of Hormuz * Israeli strike in Gaza said to kill two Palestinian brothers close to Yellow Line
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Sirens triggered in Eilat due to suspected drone attack
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Home Front Command says wartime restrictions to remain in place until at least Monday night
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Video shows settlers fleeing West Bank village after reportedly throwing stones at Palestinians
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IDF says Lebanon’s Hezbollah has fired over 250 rockets at Israeli targets in past day
8:13 pm
Suspected Houthi drone intercepted over Eilat
A drone, suspected to have been launched from Yemen, was intercepted by air defenses over the southernmost city of Eilat a short while ago, according to the IDF.
The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen vowed to resume attacks on Israel, and this morning launched a ballistic missile and a cruise missile, which were both intercepted.
8:12 pm
Military says over 800 Hezbollah operatives killed in Lebanon amid the war with Iran
The Israeli military says it has killed at least 800 Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon since hostilities escalated amid the war with Iran.
They include hundreds of members of the terror group’s elite Radwan Force, according to the IDF.
The Lebanese health ministry reported earlier today that at least 1,189 people in Lebanon have been killed in the fighting, a figure that doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Over the weekend, the IDF says it struck some 170 Hezbollah sites, as ground troops continue to operate in southern Lebanon.
The IDF says troops located weapons and killed dozens of Hezbollah operatives, including those who launched rockets at Israel and at forces, amid the weekend operations.
8:11 pm
Sirens triggered in Eilat due to suspected drone attack
Sirens warning of a suspected drone attack sound in the southernmost city of Eilat.
The origin of the apparent drone is not immediately known.
Earlier today, a cruise missile launched by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen was shot down over the Red Sea, and a ballistic missile fired at southern Israel was also intercepted, according to the IDF.
8:10 pm
Home Front Command says wartime restrictions to remain in place until at least Monday night
The IDF Home Front Command says its current wartime guidelines are being extended until Monday night at least, meaning educational activities will remain prohibited in most parts of the country.
By Monday at 8 p.m., another assessment will be conducted by the Home Front Command.
Under the current guidelines, educational institutions can operate, provided there is an adequate shelter that can be reached in time, in some areas of the north, south, and West Bank.
A full list of locales can be found on the Home Front Command’s website.
Gatherings of up to 100 people indoors and 50 people outdoors are also permitted, under the same conditions in those areas.
In the rest of the country, educational activities are still prohibited. Gatherings are limited to 50 people, provided a shelter can be reached in time, and workplaces can operate under the same conditions.
12min ago
Video shows settlers fleeing West Bank village after reportedly throwing stones at Palestinians
Settlers in the West Bank have just raided the Palestinian village of Qusra, reportedly hurling stones at residents and homes.
Footage shows the settlers fleeing the village after locals began confronting them.
There are no reports of arrests, which are highly rare in such instances of settler violence, even though they take place on a daily basis.
Such attacks are particularly prominent on Shabbat, even though the perpetrators come from Orthodox backgrounds and their actions account for a number of violations of religious Jewish law.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-28-2026/
https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/iran-israel-war-2026/iran-israel-war-2026-live-updates-1/march-27-2026-iran-israel-war-2026-live-updates/
other Israel
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjx1uurozg
https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/idf-slays-hezbollah-journalist-seizes-hundreds-of-weapons-in-lebanese-school
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891437
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/iranian-cluster-munition-damaged-bombproof-room-but-those-inside-unharmed-idf-probe/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/at-least-two-hezbollah-drones-shot-down-by-idf/
Trump claims Iran’s new supreme leader is ‘probably gay’
Updated 27 Mar, 2026 16:20
US President Donald Trump has said that the CIA told him that Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, may be gay, quipping to Fox News that it puts the cleric “off to a bad start.”
The claim comes amid failed US-Israeli regime change efforts in Iran, a country where homosexual conduct is illegal under Islamic Law.
Trump had previously made other disparaging comments regarding Mojtaba Khamenei, dismissing him as a “lightweight” and an “unacceptable” leader.
However, critics have noted that such claims have only consolidated Iranian public opinion against Washington.
The president’s latest insult comes as the US and Israel continue their unprovoked attacks against Iran which began with the assassination of Mojtaba’s father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, late last month.
US and Israeli officials have repeatedly called for regime change in Tehran, but the government has not collapsed.
According to a New York Times report on Sunday, the Trump administration had embraced an Israeli plan to foment a coup in Iran within days of the start of the war.
Despite skepticism from US intelligence agencies, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly bet on the “optimistic outlook” that decapitating Iran’s leadership would spark a popular uprising.
The plan failed, and Mojtaba Khamenei was quickly appointed as the new supreme leader. However, he has remained out of public sight since being wounded in the strike that killed his father.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed the notion that the killing of top officials could bring down the government.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has a strong political structure with established political, economic, and social institutions,” he told Al Jazeera last week. “The presence or absence of a single individual does not affect this structure.”
Former Mossad official Rami Igra also told RT that the US‑Israeli strategy of decapitating Iran’s leadership in hopes of sparking a revolution was a “miscalculation,” noting that a revolution requires a popular movement, local leadership and armed control – none of which exist in Iran.
https://www.rt.com/news/636434-trump-claims-iran-leader-gay/
Drone attacks hit Kuwait International Airport, radar system severely damaged
March 28, 2026
Spokesperson for Kuwait’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation, Abdullah Al-Rajhi, announced that Kuwait International Airport was targeted by several drone attacks, resulting in no casualties and only limited physical damage.
In a statement to Kuwait News Agency today (Saturday), he noted that the incident caused significant damage to the airport’s radar system.
Al-Rajhi added that emergency teams and relevant authorities responded immediately, taking necessary measures to assess the situation, ensure the safety of operations, and restore full operational readiness as quickly as possible.
He affirmed the Authority’s full commitment, in coordination with concerned authorities, to take all necessary steps to safeguard the security and safety of civil aviation in the State of Kuwait.
https://timeskuwait.com/drone-attacks-hit-kuwait-international-airport-radar-system-severely-damaged/
https://www.azernews.az/region/256306.html
https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/kuwait-international-airport-shuts-down-after-devastating-drone-strikes-amid-heightened-tensions-in-the-middle-east-what-travelers-must-know-right-now/
Drone strike targets residence of Kurdish region leader Nechirvan Barzani [VIDEO]
28 March 2026 19:46
A drone attack has reportedly been carried out on the residence of Nechirvan Barzani, a senior figure in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, AzerNEWS reports.
Details about the extent of the damage or possible casualties have not yet been officially confirmed.
Authorities have also not disclosed who may be behind the attack.
https://www.azernews.az/region/256306.html
Two drones strike Salalah Port; expat worker injured
28 Mar 2026
Salalah– Port of Salalah was targeted by two drones on Saturday resulting in moderate injuries to an expatriate worker while causing minor damage to a crane within the facility.
Authorities confirmed that emergency teams responded promptly and the injured worker received medical attention. Operations at the port were not significantly affected.
The Sultanate of Oman strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a heinous act, and reaffirmed its commitment to taking all necessary measures to safeguard the nation’s security and ensure the safety of residents and vital infrastructure.
https://www.muscatdaily.com/2026/03/28/two-drones-strike-salalah-port-expat-worker-injured-2/