TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
June 6, 2026
Charon: Moon of Pluto
A darkened and mysterious north polar region known to some as Mordor Macula caps this premier view of Charon, Pluto's largest moon. The high-resolution image was captured by the interplanetary space probe New Horizons near its closest approach to distant Pluto on July 14, 2015. The combined blue, red, and infrared image data was processed to enhance colors and follow variations in Charon's surface properties with a resolution of about 2.9 kilometers (1.8 miles). A stunning image of Charon's Pluto-facing hemisphere, it also features a clear view of an apparently moon-girdling belt of fractures and canyons that seems to separate smooth southern plains from varied northern terrain. Charon is 1,214 kilometers (754 miles) across. That's about 1/10th the size of planet Earth but a whopping 1/2 the diameter of Pluto itself, and makes it the largest satellite relative to its parent body in the Solar System. Still, the moon appears as a small bump at about the 1 o'clock position on Pluto's disk in the grainy, negative, telescopic picture inset at upper left. That image was used by James Christy and Robert Harrington at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Flagstaff to discover Charon in June of 1978.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR03cFRFunc
Impossible Quakes, Pole Shift Mantle Heaving | S0 News and 'freedom isn't free' frens
June.6.2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2H_VHK8NNo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVEsu9dbA6I (Stefan Burns: Big Plasma Storm Hits ⚡ Earth's Next Shift Has Begun…)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50NIQ7N2rfc (On the Pulse with Silki: New Warning Signals Detected: Giant Heat Spike and Hydroacoustic Surge at Titan Ridge Volcano)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75zntoNt8ck (EarthMaster: Large uptick of Earthquakes today. Watch for larger movement. Friday Night update)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsUQqS9wTA4 (ThorNews: Hurricane Season to start with a Bang? Watch is officially ON for June 13th!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB9twvZ_cp4 (Sen4K: 15 Minutes of Stunning Earth From Space in 4K 🚀 ISS Timelapses, Cities & Volcanoes)
https://www.space.com/stargazing/lunar-eclipses/august-2026-lunar-eclipse-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-96-percent-blood-moon
https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/weather/forecasts/tornadic-threat-the-eastern-prairies-sees-a-conducive-severe-storm-setup
https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/06/06/minor-damage-in-albay-philippines-after-magnitude-54-earthquake
https://meteoagent.com/schumann-resonance-forecast
https://weather.substack.com/p/june-5-2026-friday-spring-weather
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes-volcanoes/news/304310/Volcano-earthquake-report-for-Saturday-6-Jun-2026.html
https://www.tornadohq.com/
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g2-geomagnetic-storm-levels-reached
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/strong-geomagnetic-storm-g3-watch-effect-04-05-june-utc
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/
https://spaceweather.com/
HK Observatory says luminous fast‑moving object spotted over Mong Kok night sky was a fireball meteor
8:29PM Sat June 6, 2026
A Hong Kong resident captured a striking luminous object racing across the south‑western sky above Mong Kok at about 3.30am on 5th June, slicing through cloud before vanishing into the night.
Responding to enquiries, the Hong Kong Observatory said the object’s brightness, shape and high speed were consistent with a typical fireball meteor, though no formal sightings were logged.
Fireballs are unusually bright meteors. In astronomical terms, some define them as meteors brighter than magnitude −3 — a level that outshines Jupiter and even Venus — which explains why they stand out so vividly after dark.
Like ordinary meteors, fireballs occur when fragments of space debris plunge into Earth’s atmosphere and glow through intense frictional heating.
Their extra brilliance usually points to larger pieces of material, such as stony fragments or small asteroid shards, and they can burn for longer than standard shooting stars.
Colours seen during a fireball’s passage arise from different chemical elements within the object — for example iron, nickel or sodium — each producing distinct spectral emissions at high temperatures.
If a fireball is particularly large and skims the atmosphere at lower altitude, it may also be accompanied by audible phenomena.
https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/hk-observatory-says-luminous-fast%E2%80%91moving-object-spotted-over-mong-kok-night-sky-was-a-fireball-meteor/
other space objects
https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-meteor-fireball-gallup/71507521
https://thedebrief.org/the-seti-institute-searched-for-signs-of-technology-from-3i-atlas-a-new-paper-reveals-what-they-found/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhlfRfMnDTA (Jaime Maussan: The ultimate MYSTERY of 3I/ATLAS: Did it deactivate the MAVEN probe on MARS 🛸)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-QNGHIyPug (Ray's Astro: Something Isn't Adding Up About This Asteroid — We're Going There)
NASA Provides Update on Space Station Leak
June 5, 2026 6:01PM
The Zvezda service module’s transfer tunnel, known as the PrK, on the International Space Station has experienced cracks since 2019 that have resulted in small atmosphere leaks and prompted ongoing monitoring and repair efforts by Roscosmos.
NASA and Roscosmos have worked together to identify the root cause while Roscosmos has been applying leak mitigation measures, including temporary and permanent sealants.
The week of June 1, during Progress 95 spacecraft cargo operations, Roscosmos noted an increase of the previous leak rate to two pounds per day and identified new suspected leak areas in the PrK.
Following this observation, Roscosmos made the decision to begin work toward a more extensive inspection and structural repair effort Friday morning.
This revised approach involved cutting a bracket to better access an area identified as a possible leak source for further inspection, using a method that could have resulted in elevated risk to the structure in the area.
In response, NASA directed the four SpaceX Crew-12 members and NASA astronaut Chris Williams, who flew to station aboard the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft, to take a heightened safety posture, known as a safe haven, inside the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft during the procedure.
Later Friday morning, Roscosmos paused and did not perform the structural repair work in favor of conducting additional measurements and data assessments, which included inspection of suspected areas of interest and review of areas where sealant was previously applied.
NASA strongly supported that decision, and as a result, following that decision, Crew-12 and Williams ended their safe haven activities and returned to normal operations aboard the orbiting laboratory.
NASA will continue to work with our Russian counterparts, along with the rest of the international partners that support the space station, to assess and ensure a resolution to this matter.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/06/05/nasa-provides-update-on-space-station-leak/
extra NASA
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/somd/space-communications-navigation-program/nasa-concludes-antenna-mishap-investigation-releases-report/
https://science.nasa.gov/uncategorized/nasas-artemis-ii-moon-mission-research-continues-on-earth/
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/first-steps-americas-grueling-second-spacewalk/
https://www.techtimes.com/articles/317908/20260606/star-trek-uhura-actress-wins-13m-verdict-her-nasa-diversity-drive-now-spans-50-years.htm
NASA’s X-59 Aircraft Flies Supersonic for First Time
Jun 05, 2026
NASA’s experimental X-59 aircraft marked a major milestone Friday, June 5, when it flew faster than the speed of sound for the first time, setting the stage for demonstrating its quiet supersonic capabilities later this year.
NASA test pilot Jim “Clue” Less took off and landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, reaching a top speed of approximately Mach 1.1 (713 mph) and altitude of 43,400 feet.
The X-59’s flight began at 11:08 a.m. PDT and lasted 81 minutes, with the team focusing on flying qualities at both subsonic and then supersonic speeds.
”X-59 is getting ready for its quiet supersonic debut. Since the aircraft’s first flight on Oct. 28, 2025, the team has made tremendous progress, flying 16 times in the last 90 days and getting into a steady test rhythm.
In the coming days, we expect to take the next step and push to Mach 1.4,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman “I’m grateful to the NASA team and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works for their help getting us to this point, and I hope this is the first of many collaborations as we rebuild NASA’s X-plane portfolio.”
The X-59 is designed to fly at supersonic speeds while creating only a quiet thump instead of a loud sonic boom. For this flight, a NASA F‑15 chase plane flew nearby to monitor the X‑59. The loud sonic booms from the F-15 obscured any sound made by the X-59.
“The X-59’s first supersonic flight is a testament to America’s enduring leadership in science, engineering, and aerospace innovation,” said Michael Kratsios, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. “This achievement comes as the Trump Administration continues work to unleash supersonic flight and enable American ingenuity.”
This first supersonic flight is a significant milestone, but an event even more critical to the mission is upcoming.
In just days, the aircraft is expected to make its first “mission conditions” flight, reaching a cruising speed of Mach 1.4 (925 mph) and altitude of approximately 55,000 feet. The X-59 also will be accompanied by a chase plane for this flight.
This speed and altitude are the base conditions for the X-59 when it will eventually fly over several U.S. communities enabling NASA to gather data about how people may perceive its quiet thump.
NASA will share this data with U.S. and international regulators to help establish new data-driven noise standards to enable a future viable market for supersonic commercial flight over land.
For the last several months, the X-59 has been participating in an ongoing series of flights where the plane has been flying at a wide range of speeds and altitudes – a process known as envelope expansion.
These tests are the first phase of the X-59’s flight testing. They are focused on performance and involve chase plane monitoring. When the aircraft completes this phase it will enter another, focused on its sound profile in order to verify its quiet thump capability.
The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission, which aims to demonstrate quiet supersonic flight and help enable commercial supersonic flight over land worldwide.
These advancements will help travelers reach their preferred destinations faster, spending less time in the air.
Through Quesst’s development of the X-59, NASA also will deliver design tools and technology for quiet supersonic airliners that will achieve the high speeds desired by commercial operators without disturbing people on the ground.
NASA will validate design tools through ground and flight testing, providing U.S. aircraft manufacturers the ability to explore new quiet supersonic concepts, and provide them with confidence that their resulting designs will meet quiet flight requirements.
https://www.nasa.gov/aeronautics/x-59-first-supersonic-flight/
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2063008154045370518
https://x.com/NASAaero/status/2063048370776608818
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/nasas-quiet-supersonic-jet-could-cut-la-to-new-york-flights-to-3-hours/
https://www.ktpress.rw/2026/06/rwanda-seeks-expanded-partnership-with-u-s-space-agency-nasa/
extra extra NASA
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/smallsatellites/2026/06/05/nasas-incus-mission-on-road-to-launch-study-storms-from-space/
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-incus-mission-on-road-to-launch-study-storms-from-space/
https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/swift/2026/06/05/robotic-spacecraft-for-swift-boost-mission-arrives-at-nasa-wallops/
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/swift/swift-boost-mission/swift-boost-media-resources/
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/prizes-challenges-crowdsourcing-program/center-of-excellence-for-collaborative-innovation-coeci/nasa-announces-winners-of-2026-university-innovation-competition/
Rwanda Seeks Expanded Partnership with U.S. Space Agency NASA
June 5, 2026
KIGALI — Rwanda is exploring deeper cooperation with the United States in strategic sectors including space technology, scientific research, energy, and innovation, as the two countries seek to broaden a partnership that officials say has evolved significantly over the past decade.
Speaking at a reception hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Kigali on June 4 to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and 64 years of diplomatic relations between Rwanda and the United States, Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe highlighted Rwanda’s interest in working more closely with the U.S. space agency, NASA.
“As a member of the Artemis Accords community, Rwanda remains keen to explore practical avenues of collaboration with NASA and looks forward to identifying mutually beneficial initiatives that can contribute to scientific advancement, capacity building and economic development,” Nduhungirehe said.
The Artemis Accords are a framework of international agreements designed to guide cooperation in civil space exploration, particularly future lunar missions, scientific research, technological development, and other space-related activities.
Rwanda’s growing interest in space cooperation is underpinned by an ambitious national space program led by the Rwanda Space Agency, which was established in 2020.
The agency focuses on leveraging space technology to drive socio-economic development through Earth observation, climate resilience, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and disaster management.
The country launched its first satellite, RwSat-1, in 2019 and is currently developing a hyperspectral satellite designed to enhance Earth observation capabilities. Rwanda also operates a Tier 3-certified teleport and is implementing its National Space Policy adopted in 2025.
Through partnerships with countries including Japan and the United Arab Emirates, as well as its participation in the Artemis Accords, Rwanda is seeking to build a competitive space ecosystem and position itself as an emerging player in the global space sector.
Nduhungirehe described Rwanda-U.S. relations as having grown beyond traditional diplomatic engagement into a broader strategic partnership.
“Over the past decade, our cooperation has evolved into a strategic relationship grounded in shared interests and a commitment to delivering tangible results for our peoples,” he said.
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The minister pointed to emerging areas of cooperation, including energy and technology, saying recent agreements between the two countries could unlock new opportunities.
“This important step opens new avenues for collaboration in energy security, technology transfer, skills development and innovation,” he noted, referring to expanding cooperation in sectors such as nuclear energy.
Nduhungirehe also welcomed Washington’s continued use of the term “Genocide against the Tutsi” when referring to the 1994 genocide, saying the terminology reflects historical accuracy and supports efforts to combat genocide denial.
He said the U.S. decision to use the correct appellation “honours the truth of history, pays respect to the victims and survivors, and contributes to the global fight against genocide denial and distortion.”
According to Nduhungirehe, the future of Rwanda-U.S. relations remains promising despite occasional differences between the two countries.
“As we look ahead, it is clear that the best chapters of Rwanda–United States relations are still being written. The opportunities before us are significant, and together we can continue building a partnership that delivers lasting benefits for both our countries and our peoples,” he said.
The remarks come at a time when Kigali and Washington are working together on several regional and strategic issues, including implementation of the peace process involving Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
While the relationship has experienced some friction over U.S. sanctions imposed on certain Rwandan officials and members of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), both sides have continued diplomatic engagement.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to the United States, Mathilde Mukantabana, recently emphasized that dialogue between Kigali and Washington remains active despite the sanctions on the RDF and senior military officials.
Responding to questions about efforts to have the sanctions lifted, Mukantabana said the measures “have not closed diplomatic channels,” underscoring Rwanda’s commitment to maintaining engagement with U.S. authorities.
Her comments align with Rwanda’s broader position that cooperation with the United States continues to be important in advancing regional peace, economic development, innovation, and security.
The latest signals of cooperation, particularly Rwanda’s interest in partnerships with NASA and other high-technology institutions, suggest Kigali is looking beyond traditional areas of collaboration and seeking to strengthen its position in emerging sectors that could support long-term economic transformation.
As Rwanda advances its space ambitions and expands its scientific and technological capabilities, cooperation with NASA could become one of the most visible symbols of a relationship that both countries say is entering a new chapter.
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https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/06/05/governor-newsom-visits-space-beach-and-highlights-californias-aerospace-dominance/
https://govca.app.box.com/s/1s8karmnzu4cb3blxwxeeafz85p5jdbv
Governor Newsom visits Space Beach and highlights California’s aerospace dominance
Jun 5, 2026
What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom visited Long Beach, a hub for aerospace and space technology companies that showcase California’s leadership in innovation and advanced manufacturing.
California is home to one-third of the nation’s space technology companies and benefits from a world-class aerospace ecosystem, with top talent, research institutions, manufacturing capacity, and infrastructure across Southern California.
LONG BEACH — Recently, Governor Gavin Newsom visited Long Beach — also known as “Space Beach” — a dynamic hub for the aerospace industry that has a deep legacy in the field.
Given its prime location near major ports, military bases, and top engineering schools, Long Beach continues to serve as a leading launchpad for science and discovery.
While in Space Beach, Governor Newsom and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson toured Vast, a fast-rising commercial space company headquartered in the Golden State. Vast, founded in 2021, is quickly becoming a major player in the emerging private space industry.
The company focuses on building the next generation of commercial space stations and long-duration human habitation infrastructure in low Earth orbit, setting itself apart from major space companies that launch rockets.
Vast is strategically located in Southern California, tapping into the region’s aerospace talent base, infrastructure, port access, and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
The future happens here first in the Golden State and companies like Vast are leading the way in the commercial space industry.
California’s unparalleled innovation ecosystem and skilled workforce is fueling the Golden Age of science and discovery for the next generation of explorers.
Governor Gavin Newsom
The Golden State’s innovation ecosystem fuels the future
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With diverse aerospace and technology companies, world-class research institutions, and a skilled workforce, the Golden State is driving innovation in advanced technologies.
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California, which is home to one-third of the nation’s space technology companies, has more aerospace engineers and defense personnel than any other state.
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California ranks #1 in corporate aerospace R&D spending, and #1 in space-technology venture capital. Together, these reflect the nation’s highest concentration of aerospace talent, with California alone accounting for roughly 40% of all U.S. space-technology patents.
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California’s higher education engine—California Community Colleges (CCC), California State University (CSU), and the University of California (UC)—forms the nation’s most productive public pipeline for aerospace talent. Alongside private institutions such as Stanford, USC, and Caltech, this engine helps California produce more aerospace engineers than anywhere in the U.S.
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The state is also home to all 5 traditional defense prime contractors: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General Dynamics, and Raytheon.
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More than 500 companies and 16,000 workers in the state contributed to NASA’s Artemis II – the United States’ first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years.
Investments into the aerospace & defense sector
Within Governor Newsom’s California Jobs First Economic Blueprint, the first statewide economic development strategy in more than 20 years, aerospace & defense is an “accelerate” sector – one where additional investments from the public and private sectors have the capacity to “bend the curve” to catalyze sustained growth, contributing an estimated $35 billion annually to California’s gross domestic product (GDP).
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Accordingly, the state has made a number of targeted investments into the sector over the past year, including:
Regional Investment Initiative
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Last August, the state awarded $16.95 million to two projects designed to provide ecosystem support and uplift the aerospace & defense sector’s infrastructure and workforce in the Central Coast.
CalCompetes Tax Credit Program
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In May of this year, the following aerospace and defense companies received awards:
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Mach Industries, resulting in a $32.5 million investment to expand its defense technology manufacturing and research & development in Huntington Beach, Los Angeles and San Francisco, creating 1,057 jobs.
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Apex Space, resulting in a $165.5 million investment to expand its satellite manufacturing presence in Los Angeles and the broader Southern California region, creating 483 jobs.
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Voyager Technologies, resulting in a $75 million investment to expand its Long Beach aerospace component manufacturing facility, creating 152 jobs.
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Lanteris Space, resulting in a $16 million investment and the creation of 70 jobs to expand its satellite manufacturing facility in San Jose.
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Last June, A.S. Aerospace received an award, resulting in a $19 million investment to continue manufacturing precision aerospace hardware in Palmdale and Santa Clarita.
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Last November, Hadrian Automation, Inc. was a beneficiary, creating 650 jobs and investing $52 million in Torrance and Northern California to expand its aerospace component manufacturing. True Anomaly also received an award to expand its satellite manufacturing facilities in Long Beach, creating 400 jobs along with a $12.7 million investment.
NASA Centers in California
In the Golden State, NASA has three main centers and facilities focused on research, flight, and robotic exploration that all contribute to the state’s economic competitiveness, create high-paying jobs, and inspire the next generation of explorers.
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Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley has led NASA in conducting world-class research and development in aeronautics, technology, and science since 1939.
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Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in Edwards is NASA’s primary center for high-risk, atmospheric flight research and test projects.
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena leads in robotic space exploration, sending rovers to Mars, probes to the farthest bounds of the solar system, and satellites to advance understanding of our planet. JPL manages the Deep Space Network which is an international array of giant radio antennas, as well as a major center for quantum research at the Quantum Space Innovation Center (QSIC).
Generations of aerospace & defense leadership
California’s role in powering human spaceflight stretches back decades. The Saturn V rocket that carried Apollo astronauts to the moon was built almost entirely in California and the original Apollo spacecraft itself was manufactured across the state.
The Space Shuttle fleet was assembled in Palmdale, the first U.S. space station, Skylab, was built in Huntington Beach, and the RS-25 engine – originally developed for the Shuttle and now powering the Space Launch System for Artemis II – has been designed and manufactured in the San Fernando Valley since the 1970s.
As of late 2024, California is the top state in the country for:
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NASA spending: NASA procurement spending at $5.8 billion, accounting for 25% of NASA’s total procurement nationwide and resulting in $18.6 billion in economic output for California.
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NASA-supported R&D: California’s share of NASA procurement in the R & D services sector is 67%, representing 19% of NASA-supported jobs in the state.
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NASA Employment Impact: Each NASA job in California supports an additional 35.7 jobs across the state, resulting in a total employment impact of 66,208 jobs.
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