TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
July 24, 2026
RCW 86: Historical Supernova Remnant
In 185 AD, Chinese astronomers recorded the appearance of a new star in the Nanmen asterism. That part of the sky is identified with part of the southern constellation Centaurus on modern star charts. In fact, the new star was reported to be visible to the naked-eye for months before it faded from view, and is now thought to be the earliest recorded supernova. In this 21st century telescopic image, the wispy outlines of a faint emission nebula recognized as the remnant of that historical stellar explosion can be traced against a starry background. The ragged but roughly circular extent of the nebula, cataloged as RCW 86, represents interstellar gas ionized by the supernova's still expanding shock wave. Space-based images indicate an abundance of the element iron in RCW 86 and the absence of a neutron star or pulsar within the remnant, suggesting that the original supernova was Type Ia. Unlike the core collapse supernova explosion of a massive star, a Type Ia supernova is a thermonuclear detonation on a white dwarf star that has accreted material from its companion in a binary star system. Near the plane of our Milky Way galaxy and larger than the full moon on the sky this supernova remnant is too faint to be seen by eye though. RCW 86 is some 8,000 light-years distant and around 100 light-years across.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnd4–Xn5-I
Electron Microbursts, Pole Shift Record, Solar Watch | S0 News and TGIF frens
July.24.2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmrZ-fB5qhM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jco1yfMTJo8 (Tamitha Skov: The Sun Peppers Earth in Storms and Flares | Solar Storm Forecast 23 July 2026)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ycpInJhEF8 (Mudfossil University: The Mysterious Nature of Our Moon…Ringing Like a Bell)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVgFjAdfWHg (Stefan Burns: USA Get Ready, A Big Electrical Event May Be Coming…)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BON_yzt47qk (On the Pulse with Silki: WHAT Is MOVING Beneath Austria? POWERFUL Earthquake Jolts Vienna Awake !)
https://starlust.org/northern-lights-tonight-noaa-issues-minor-geomagnetic-storm-watch-for-parts-of-the-northern-us/
https://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2026/07/24/wildfire-smoke-pushes-calgary-air-quality-to-highest-risk-level/
https://www.wowt.com/video/2026/07/24/gov-beshear-requests-major-disaster-declaration-kentucky-severe-weather-damage/
https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/ridge-riding-severe-storms-intense-heat-midwest-northeast
https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/live-news/recap-bertha-weakens-after-louisiana-and-texas-landfalls/1913848
https://www.news4jax.com/news/national/2026/07/24/tropical-storm-bertha-dissipates-after-landfalls-in-louisiana-texas-no-more-activity-in-atlantic-nhc-says/
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/video/news/how-rare-were-this-weeks-tornadoes-in-new-jersey-climatologist-weighs-in/6529757/
https://www.newschannel10.com/2026/07/23/rare-earthquake-shakes-tx-panhandle-region-felt-across-multiple-states/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2026/07/24/emergency-112-alerts-eastern-greece-severe-weather-july-2026/
https://cnynews.com/ixp/39/p/2-more-tornadoes-total-11/
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes/quake-info/23210452/mag5quake-Jul-23-2026-Indonesia-Northern-Molucca-Sea.html
https://www.independent.ie/videos/watch-fire-tornado-hit-west-of-france-as-20000-people-evacuated/a/159147370.html
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singaporeans-advised-to-exercise-caution-at-4-indonesia-volcanoes-mfa
https://schumannresonance.today/
https://www.weatherbug.com/news
https://www.tornadohq.com/
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes-volcanoes/news/320496/Volcano-earthquake-report-for-Friday-24-Jul-2026.html
https://www.spaceweather.gov/
https://www.spaceweather.gov/news/solar-1-ccor-2-now-fully-operational-and-our-webpage
https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=24&month=07&year=2026
China’s Tianwen-1 captures interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS near Mars
Date: July 24, 2026
China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft has photographed the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS as it passed near Mars.
According to the China National Space Agency (CNSA), the orbiter used its high-resolution camera to capture the comet from about 30 million km (18.6 million mi) away.
Tianwen-1 has been orbiting Mars for four years and eight months, making it one of the closest spacecraft to observe the interstellar object since its discovery (on May 7th, 2025).
Tianwen-1 Reveals the Comet's Tail and Coma
The new images show several features that support the conclusion that 3I/ATLAS is a comet. A visible tail extends behind the object, while a cloud of gas and dust (coma) surrounds its nucleus.
Researchers combined multiple images into an animation that traces the comet's movement as it travels toward its closest approach to the Sun.
The observations add to growing evidence that 3I/ATLAS contains water and other volatile materials that began escaping as the object warmed during its journey through the inner solar system.
The successful observation also provides a preview of the type of work China hopes to conduct with Tianwen-2. That mission is expected to visit a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) and later study a comet.
Capturing a Small and Fast-Moving Target
The team responsible for Tianwen-1's High-Resolution Imaging Camera (HiRIC) began preparing for the encounter in early September. Their work included repeated simulations, theoretical modeling, and detailed inspections of the instrument.
Photographing 3I/ATLAS was difficult because the object was both distant and relatively small (5.6 km, 3.5 mi in diameter). Its speed added another major challenge.
The comet was moving at around 58 km/s (36 mi/s), while its motion relative to Tianwen-1 reached approximately 86 km/s (53.5 mi/s).
The camera also was not originally built to observe such a dim object. HiRIC was designed primarily to study bright features on the Martian surface, much like instruments aboard the European Space Agency's Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) spacecraft.
Mars Orbiters Turn Their Cameras Toward 3I/ATLAS
On October 3rd, both European orbiters also photographed 3I/ATLAS. Mars Express used its High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC), while the ExoMars spacecraft relied on its Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS).
The comet was exceptionally difficult to detect with these instruments. When compared with sunlit features on Mars, 3I/ATLAS appeared roughly 10,000 to 100,000 times fainter.
The High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) aboard Mars Express uses an exposure time of 0.5 seconds, while the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) can expose an image for 5 seconds.
Tianwen-1 collected its observations with the High-Resolution Imaging Camera (HiRIC).
Although HiRIC's exposure time has not been released publicly, the camera was engineered for precise timing and rapid operation.
Those capabilities allowed the team to obtain the latest image, even though it appears (albeit grainy and blurry).
A Rare Sample From Another Star System
Like the two interstellar objects identified before it, 3I/ATLAS offers unusual opportunities for both astronomy and astrobiology.
Asteroids and comets preserve leftover material from the formation of planetary systems, so an object arriving from interstellar space may contain clues about conditions around another star.
Studying such a visitor could reveal how other planetary systems formed and what kinds of materials they contain.
A mission designed to intercept an interstellar object (for which numerous concepts are being explored) could gather information that scientists cannot obtain through ordinary telescopic observations.
The only comparable alternative would involve sending spacecraft directly to another star, an undertaking that would require enormous amounts of time and money.
Future Missions Could Chase Interstellar Visitors
Scientists hope that future spacecraft will be prepared to intercept newly discovered interstellar objects and examine them at close range.One effort already under development is the European Space Agency's Comet Interceptor.
The mission is expected to be completed by 2029 and will wait in space for an opportunity to investigate a suitable comet or other promising target.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260723084052.htm
moar space objects
https://thedebrief.org/nasas-bennu-samples-reveal-tiny-ancient-clues-about-the-asteroids-long-lost-origins/
https://www.astronomy.com/the-sky-this-week/the-sky-this-week-from-july-24-to-31-2026/
https://starlust.org/buck-moon-2026-what-else-can-you-see-in-the-sky-during-julys-full-moon/
Buffalooooooo Gold slot machines?
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-to-support-blue-origin-new-glenn-rocket-testing-advance-artemis/
moar
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/space-news/2026/07/23/kennedy-space-center-visitor-complex-to-host-artemis-celebration-with-trading-cards-expert-talks/
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/crews-move-artemis-iv-liquid-hydrogen-tank/
https://x.com/NASA/status/2080330036607893817
https://x.com/NASAKennedy/status/2080348805455565100
NASA to Support Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Testing, Advance Artemis
July 24, 2026
NASA and Blue Origin announced Friday they recently agreed to conduct second stage hot fire testing for the company’s New Glenn rocket on the B-2 test stand at the agency’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
The annex to a reimbursable Space Act Agreement signed earlier this month highlights NASA’s commitment to working alongside commercial partners toward Artemis missions in 2027 and beyond.
“Stennis continues to be a hub for the commercial space industry,” said Sen. Roger Wicker. “Mississippi warmly welcomes Blue Origin’s return to the coast and to our legendary rocket testing facilities.”
“The success of Artemis II has roots at NASA Stennis, and I’m excited about the prospect of Blue Origin establishing a rigorous test program in Mississippi as part of future American crewed missions to the Moon and beyond.
I hope its use of B-2 test stand becomes a long-term arrangement that broadens our state’s contribution to space exploration. I will certainly do what I can to make that a reality,” said Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.
“Mississippi continues to play a vital role in America’s space program, and this agreement between NASA and Blue Origin is another major win for Stennis Space Center.
The world-class capabilities at the B-2 test stand will help advance the next generation of rocket propulsion while supporting high-skilled jobs and strengthening our nation’s leadership in space exploration.
I look forward to seeing the innovation that comes from this partnership,” said Rep. Mike Ezell.
Testing, targeted to begin this fall, directly supports NASA’s work to achieve the national goal of landing American astronauts on the surface of the Moon and building a Moon Base near the lunar South Pole.
These efforts aim to strengthen American leadership in space, unlock scientific discovery, drive innovation with industry, and prepare for human missions to Mars.
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“Winning the new space race means moving faster and working alongside a strong commercial industry.
Supporting Blue Origin at NASA’s Stennis Space Center puts world-class American infrastructure to work advancing the capabilities needed to return astronauts to the Moon, establish a sustained lunar presence, and prepare for Mars.
Partnerships like this strengthen our industrial base and help ensure the United States remains the world’s leader in space,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
Building on the successful Artemis II flight from April, Artemis III is a highly choreographed, multi-launch campaign that will require four astronauts to test rendezvous and docking capabilities of NASA’s Orion spacecraft with commercial human landing systems from Blue Origin and SpaceX in low Earth orbit.
In addition, Blue Origin’s New Glenn will be used to launch missions that will land on the Moon.
“We are proud to partner with NASA and build on our shared commitment to returning America to the Moon and our broader mission to build a road to space for the benefit of Earth,” said Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp.
“Stennis helped take Americans to the Moon, and through this partnership, it will help take us back.”
In May, NASA announced the first three Moon Base missions to begin building sustained operations, including an award to Blue Origin to launch a robotic mission this fall.
The company’s Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander will deliver NASA payloads to the lunar South Pole’s Shackleton Connecting Ridge, demonstrating capabilities that reduce risk for astronauts to land on the Moon during Artemis IV and V in 2028.
To support upcoming testing at Stennis, NASA will provide the engineers, equipment, and building services needed to design, build, and install parts that will prepare the B-2 for second stage testing of the rocket named in honor of the late NASA astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth.
The rocket’s second stage is powered by two BE‑3 engines that use liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants, with each engine generating 200,000 pounds of thrust in vacuum.
In addition to providing hands‑on technical support, NASA also will assist Blue Origin’s test operations by providing dedicated workspace and sharing agency expertise and lessons learned from propulsion testing conducted at the test stand.
Blue Origin will work toward second stage rocket testing on a stand with a history of testing rocket stages for Moon missions dating back to the 1960s.
The agency constructed the stand to test the Saturn V rocket stages that carried humans to the Moon during the Apollo Program.
More recently, NASA conducted a Green Run test series of the SLS core stage on the stand before the Artemis I test flight.
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Crew Works on Biomedicine, Spacesuits Day Before Swapping Commanders
July 24, 2026 10:41AM
The Expedition 74 crew is wrapping up its final weekend together with biomedical checks, spacesuit cleaning, and cargo packing inside the Soyuz MS-28 crew spacecraft.
The orbital residents will swap commanders on Saturday the day before three crewmates depart the International Space Station for a ride back to Earth.
Blood sample processing and vein scans were the main scientific activities aboard the orbital outpost on Friday.
Doctors are continuously collecting crew biomedical data to help astronauts stay healthy while living and working long-term in space.
The unique insights are only possible in microgravity and also have the potential to advance health on Earth.
NASA flight engineer Anil Menon was back on cell immunity research spinning crew blood samples in a centrifuge then stowing them in a science freezer for preservation and later analysis.
Doctors will examine the samples to monitor crew health and cellular immune function for the Immunity Assay investigation.
NASA flight engineer Jessica Meir took her turn as crew medical officer and operated the Ultrasound 3 device to scan the veins of flight engineers Sophie Adenot of ESA (European Space Agency) and Andrey Fedyaev of Roscosmos.
NASA flight engineer Chris Williams then took over from Meir and scanned her veins with the Ultrasound 3 as part of his final duties aboard the space station.
NASA flight engineer Jack Hathway spent his shift inside the Quest airlock cleaning a pair of spacesuits. Hathaway first cleaned the water-cooling loops that keep the suit’s temperature stable during a spacewalk.
Then he checked the spacesuits for operability before refilling their tanks and liquid cooling ventilation garments with water.
Roscosmos flight engineers Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina are still continuing lab orientation activities as they adapt to weightlessness and learn new technical skills. Dubrov also checked the Elektron oxygen generator’s external tanks for water and air bubbles.
Kikina assisted cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev as they tested the lower body negative pressure suit that may ease the duo’s adjustment to gravity after returning to Earth on Sunday.
Kud-Sverchkov will hand over command of the orbital outpost to Meir at 9:40 a.m. on Saturday.
Then he, Mikaev, and Williams will end their eight-month space research mission at 3:03 a.m. EDT on Sunday when they undock from the Rassvet module aboard the Soyuz MS-28.
Expedition 75 officially begins and Expedition 74 ends when the Soyuz departs the orbital outpost. They will parachute back to Earth inside the Soyuz and land in Kazakhstan at 6:25 a.m. (3:25 p.m. local time).
All mission events will be streamed live on NASA+ and other platforms.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/07/23/science-and-spacesuit-work-before-crew-changes-commanders/
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/07/24/crew-works-on-biomedicine-spacesuits-day-before-swapping-commanders/
moar
https://dailygalaxy.com/2026/07/nasa-astronaut-crystal-shape-in-space/
https://x.com/astro_Pettit/status/2078553330683437238
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/hubble-spies-one-sided-spiral/
https://x.com/NASA/status/2080659774136291424
https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/news/blog/historical-data-action-less-predictable-winter-weather-wisconsin
Look for NASA+ Now Streaming on Amazon Fire TV
Jul 23, 2026
Continuing agency efforts to bring space closer to home, NASA+ is heading to more streaming platforms.
On Thursday, NASA announced its programming is on Fire TV Channels. Fire TV customers can easily access this content by asking Alexa+ on compatible devices.
Future programming on Fire TV may include science mission launches, a test flight for rendezvous and docking with human landing systems, robotic lunar deliveries, the first crewed mission to the Moon under Artemis, and more.
As always, NASA+ also remains available for free, with no ads, through the NASA app and on the agency’s website.
“The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 calls on us to share our story of space exploration with the broadest possible audience, and our streaming partners help us accomplish that,” said Rebecca Sirmons, general manager of NASA+ at the agency’s Headquarters in Washington.
“Artemis II captured the hearts and minds of viewers globally, inspiring the Artemis generation. As we work toward building humanity’s first Moon Base, we will continue to provide transparent, engaging content coverage every step of the way.”
Earlier this year during its Ignition event, NASA shared plans for a bold path forward for the agency, including increasing its cadence of Artemis missions to the lunar surface, and building the first Moon Base, among other agency priorities.
This distribution partnership is another step in executing NASA’s promise to the public for a greater look into the agency, making mission and educational content available on multiple devices for viewers on their preferred channels.
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/look-for-nasa-now-streaming-on-amazon-fire-tv/
extra extra
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/a-million-panel-project/
https://science.nasa.gov/blog/curiosity-blog-sols-4954-4960-celebrating-our-rover-engineers-past-and-present/
https://science.nasa.gov/people/lucia-s-tsaoussi-ph-d/
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/vulcan-centaur-swapped-out-again-nasa-goes-with-spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket-for-launch-of-space-weather-mission
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/why-more-100-former-nasa-195754794.html
thrice extra NASA
https://nasawatch.com/2026/07/23/oig-report-workforce-and-budget-threats-loom/
Why More Than 100 Former NASA Astronauts Are Entering the Fight for American Democracy
Updated Thu, July 23, 2026 at 12:57 PM PDT
When astronauts launch into space, politics tend not to be top of mind. In fact, the success of a mission depends on other factors: trust, teamwork, and a shared commitment to the overall plan, even when opinions differ.
Now, more than 100 former NASA astronauts say those same principles are urgently needed here on Earth. They've come together to form Astronauts for America, a new nonpartisan organization that aims to advocate for constitutional principles, civic engagement, and evidence-based leadership.
We spoke with former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman — author of the book Sharing Space — about why she believes this moment called for action, whether astronauts should weigh in on politics at all, and what lessons spaceflight might offer a deeply divided nation.
Some critics will inevitably argue that astronauts should stick to space, not politics. What's your response to people who believe efforts like this risk politicizing NASA's legacy?
Over my 24 years at NASA, I flew three missions to space, including almost six months on the International Space Station. During that time I flew with more than 20 other astronauts and never knew — or needed to know — their political affiliations.
We shared a common mission and accomplished great things together, regardless of our differences.
When we become NASA astronauts, we swear an oath to defend the Constitution. That commitment doesn't stop after leaving the Astronaut Corps.
We feel a unique responsibility to ensure that America remains a place of opportunity and democracy and lives up to its highest ideals for another 250 years.
That's why over 100 of my fellow astronauts — including Republicans, Democrats, and Independents — have joined together to form a nonpartisan organization to fulfill that commitment: Astronauts for America (AFA).
Today, our country is the mission. We know that America works best when our leaders support the Constitution and rule of law, when our elected officials respect science and truth, when every American feels empowered to participate in the democratic process.
We're raising our voices to defend those values.
The organization plans to release candidate scorecards. Which specific standards or metrics will you use to evaluate candidates, and how do you ensure that process remains credible across the political spectrum?
Our scorecards will evaluate elected officials based on how well their actions align with our constitutional principles, not whether they align with a specific political party.
Scorecards will show how incumbents and candidates stand on commitment to scientific evidence, ability to work across the political spectrum to achieve shared goals, and fealty to the rule of law and the Constitution.
Through these scorecards, we hope to educate American voters about their leaders and to support leaders committed to civic and science-based leadership.
Education is one issue that I'm personally committed to. I'm the product of the American K-12 public education system and then I attended MIT on a ROTC scholarship, and UMass Amherst for graduate school.
I was so fortunate to have that education and that support. So, I'll be interested in seeing how candidates of all parties prioritize education and increase access to quality education for every American.
At AFA, we're mobilizing Americans to join us in this work and become our crewmates. We want to encourage them to think critically about their representatives and candidates and to hold them to account.
As a scientist, I'm committed to supporting leaders whose policy positions are guided by evidence and truth. AFA will help educate and inspire Americans to do the same. Together, we can build a long-term civic infrastructure that encourages sound leadership.
NASA missions succeed because everyone is working toward a shared objective, regardless of personal differences.
Looking at today's political climate, what lessons from the astronaut corps do you think are most urgently needed in American civic life — and are there any that don't translate?
I've incorporated many lessons from my time in the Astronaut Corps into my daily life. Topmost on my mind right now are: commitment to service; demonstration of sound, evidence-based judgement; and patriotism, which includes being willing to speak out when we know something isn't right. These are hallmarks of the Astronaut Corps. As astronauts working together in space, it's very clear to us that mission success requires the ability to work across differences and that down here on the ground, that ability will benefit the country we all love.
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Related to that, in spaceflight, we all bring unique talents and resources, and the same goes for those in our communities and in government.
When we can identify where our own weaknesses are and others' strengths lie, we can combine forces to tackle challenges and build a stronger civic environment.
On the Space Station, we fulfilled our mission and worked together successfully by finding points of connection. We bonded over family, food, music, and the shared awe we felt when looking back at our Earth.
We want to encourage Americans to find ways to connect together that allow all of us to harness cooperation and truth, and in doing so, to overcome division.
Many Americans are deeply skeptical of institutions and of experts: Why do you think astronauts are uniquely positioned to help rebuild public trust?
As NASA astronauts, we're entrusted with certain responsibilities: responsibility for mission success, our crewmates' safety, and for upholding American values.
When I strapped myself into a rocket and left Earth, I represented everyone in our country, and in fact, everyone on our planet. As astronauts, we don't take the public's trust for granted, and that's precisely why we came together to launch this organization.
Most of us have spent decades honoring the faith our country has placed in us. We don't shy away from a challenge.
Rebuilding trust in democracy and strengthening civic engagement is no easy feat, but we're inspired by the thousands of crewmates across America who have already reached out to us, shared messages of inspiration, and pledged to help us on this mission.
The recent Artemis 2 mission is a perfect example of the inspiration and hope that a space mission — sending four humans around the Moon — can bring to our country. A space mission is incredibly complex and it takes thousands of people across numerous public and private organizations.
Artemis 2 was clear evidence that our institutions and experts, working together, can accomplish the seemingly impossible. It's one of the reasons that I — and many other people across our country — were left feeling more hopeful about our potential to work across differences.
It's that kind of energy and cooperative spirit that AFA can spark.
What would success for Astronauts for America actually look like five years from now?
To us, success means Americans embracing the importance of our constitutional principles and dedicating themselves to actively participate in civic life.
It means more leaders publicly committing to uphold evidence-based governance. It means that our crewmates feel empowered to speak out when their elected officials aren't representing them.
We want to remind our fellow Americans of the importance of voting and making your voice heard. Our aim is to build durability and to reaffirm our shared principles so that our children and grandchildren can live the American dream just as we were able to do as astronauts.
Astronauts for America launched with more than 100 former astronauts — a broad coalition. Were there difficult conversations behind the scenes about whether this was the right move, and was there anything that nearly kept the organization from getting off the ground?
Just like many organizations getting off the ground, we've had disagreements about how best to fulfill our mission. Astronauts For America is composed of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. So we certainly don't agree on every kitchen table issue or aspect of foreign policy.
But those differences haven't prevented us from finding our way forward guided by our desire to stand up for the foundational American principles that we share.
It can be difficult to raise your hand and speak up when you see something wrong. We've all watched as partisan polarization has weakened trust in our institutions and caused rifts in our society.
We represent a group of concerned citizens, all former military or civil servants, who are dedicated to using our voices to defend the constitutional principles that undergird this great nation.
When we stepped out to the launch pad for a mission, we all wore the American flag on our spacesuits.
Today, as Astronauts For America, we are reaffirming our love of our country and its values by standing up together and speaking out, and hopefully inspiring others to do the same.
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Sidus Space Appoints Alan Khalili CFO to Support Commercial Expansion and Recurring Revenue Growth
July 24, 2026
Sidus Space has appointed Alan Khalili as chief financial officer, adding an experienced finance executive as the space and defense technology company advances the commercialization of its satellite, artificial intelligence and mission systems businesses.
Khalili will assume the role on July 27, succeeding Interim Chief Financial Officer John Burke.
He will oversee the company’s financial operations, including financial planning and analysis, accounting, treasury, capital allocation, compliance, internal controls and investor relations support as Sidus pursues growth across government and commercial markets.
The appointment comes as space technology companies increasingly shift from research and development toward commercialization, placing greater emphasis on financial discipline, recurring revenue generation and efficient capital deployment.
Publicly traded companies in the sector are also facing heightened investor expectations for operational execution and sustainable growth.
“Alan joins Sidus following a year in which we strengthened our balance sheet, expanded our technology portfolio, and advanced the commercialization of our products as a space and defense technology company,” said Carol Craig, founder, chief executive officer and chairman of Sidus Space. “His experience leading finance organizations through periods of transformation, combined with his expertise in public company operations and strategic finance, makes him a strong addition to our executive leadership team.”
Khalili brings more than 20 years of financial leadership experience spanning the space, satellite and technology industries.
His background includes executive finance roles at both publicly traded and high-growth companies, with expertise in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, public company reporting, strategic planning and operational scaling.
Earlier in his career, he worked in investment banking and public accounting and co-founded a space-based aviation surveillance data platform.
At Sidus, he will play a key role in supporting the company’s expanding portfolio, which includes satellite manufacturing, the Fortis VPX digital mission computing platform, artificial intelligence technologies and space-based data services.
His responsibilities will include aligning financial strategy with commercial execution as the company seeks to grow recurring revenue streams and strengthen shareholder value.
“Sidus has built a differentiated, vertically integrated position in the space and defense technology market, spanning dual-use satellite manufacturing and space-based data solutions, AI products and mission critical hardware,” Khalili said.
“My focus will be the financial discipline needed to convert the portfolio into durable, recurring revenue.”
The appointment reflects a broader trend across the commercial space industry, where companies are increasingly combining satellite manufacturing with software, AI and data analytics to diversify revenue beyond hardware sales.
As government agencies and commercial customers demand integrated space capabilities, financial leadership has become increasingly important in balancing innovation with disciplined execution.
Headquartered on Florida’s Space Coast, Sidus Space develops satellite manufacturing, technology integration, AI-driven space data solutions, mission planning systems and defense hardware for government, intelligence and commercial customers.
The company operates a 35,000-square-foot manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing facility and has demonstrated end-to-end capabilities through the development and operation of its LizzieSat satellite platform.
Khalili’s appointment strengthens Sidus Space’s executive team as the company enters its next stage of growth, positioning the business to scale operations, support expanding commercialization efforts and convert its broad portfolio of dual-use technologies into long-term, recurring revenue opportunities across the rapidly evolving space and defense markets.
https://www.citybiz.co/article/878916/sidus-space-appoints-alan-khalili-cfo-to-support-commercial-expansion-and-recurring-revenue-growth/
moar general space
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/epic-photo-captures-lightning-striking-a-chinese-rocket-during-liftoff
https://asgardia.space/en/news/Whats-New-in-Space-74
NNSA Delivers Next-Generation Global Burst Detector for Space Force GPS Satellite
July 23, 2026
NNSA delivered its fifth next-generation Global Burst Detector sensor payload to the U.S. Space Force this month. They monitor for above-ground nuclear detonations around the world.
WASHINGTON – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) delivered its fifth next-generation Global Burst Detector (GBD) sensor payload to the U.S. Space Force this month.
Designed to monitor above-ground nuclear detonations around the world, these space-based sensors are part of a system that has anchored the nation’s nuclear explosion detection capabilities for more than six decades.
Orbiting about 12,550 miles above the planet on U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, GBD sensors provide 24/7 monitoring capabilities.
This mission, which began in the early 1960s, supports the U.S. Nuclear Detonation Detection System to sense nuclear events on the Earth’s surface.
“A strong nuclear deterrence posture is critical to shielding America against attack, and the delivery of this capability provides the nation with the capability to detect nuclear detonations under all conditions,” said Matthew Napoli, NNSA’s Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. “Once launched, this next-gen GBD payload will join the existing satellites, ensuring monitoring capability well into the future.”
GBD sensors are designed, manufactured, and delivered through a partnership between Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), with essential systems engineering and independent mission assurance support from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and The Aerospace Corporation.
The GBD payload has multiple systems that recognize the unique signatures produced by nuclear explosions. SNL designs and produces the optical sensors and sensor management subsystem.
LANL develops the electromagnetic pulse, X-ray, and charged-particle sensors. LLNL and The Aerospace Corporation perform independent checks to confirm that computer models and simulations are accurate, ensuring that the systems will work as intended.
The development, production, and deployment of these systems involves rigorous engineering, technology development, manufacturing, review, and testing to certify the GBD sensors for spaceflight.
Once completed, the payload is delivered to the U.S. Space Force’s GPS spacecraft contractor for integration and launch.
https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/articles/nnsa-delivers-next-generation-global-burst-detector-space-force-gps-satellite
extra Space Force
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4554492/cmssf-visit-to-pacom-highlights-maturation-of-space-integration/
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4554252/sld-30-celebrates-2026-2nd-quarter-awards/
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4553805/aflcmc-signs-transition-plan-standardizing-military-gps-programs-under-air-force
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4553786/aflcmc-partners-with-space-systems-command-to-award-next-gen-mavrc-gps-receiver
Two new Galileo satellites enter service
24/07/2026
Two new satellites have now officially joined Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation constellation, strengthening its capabilities, resilience and autonomy.
Four Galileo First Generation satellites remain to be launched, with the next pair planned for the end of the year.
The addition of SAT 33 and SAT 34 to the Galileo constellation reinforces the world’s most advanced global navigation satellite system, ensuring enhanced system redundancy and continuous data provision to billions of users worldwide.
Over the past months, mission operators at the Galileo Control Centre in Germany (GCC-D) have been busy preparing the latest two Galileo satellites for operational service.
Launched on 17 December, the mission benefitted from the most precise orbital injection ever achieved for Galileo, a near-perfect insertion that confirmed the high performance of Ariane 6.
Galileo is the only programme to have flown satellites of the same mass to the same orbit with four launchers, using Soyuz, Ariane 5, Falcon 9 and now Ariane 6.
Satellite separation took place about four hours after launch, followed by signal acquisition and solar array deployment, marking the beginning of the critical launch and early operations phase (LEOP).
During this phase, GCC-D teams, under the responsibility of the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), commissioned the satellites’ essential subsystems, manoeuvred them to point towards the Earth and started an orbital drift towards their target constellation slots.
About seven days after launch, the LEOP was completed and the satellites declared fit for life into space. The commissioning phase was ready to begin.
Final orbit and full commissioning
Early this year, the satellites transmitted their first ‘signal-in-space’, the first broadcast of the navigation payload, to the Galileo in-orbit testing station, located at ESA-ESEC, in Redu, Belgium.
This step opened the payload in-orbit testing phase, which ensures that the new satellites will contribute positively to the global performance of the Galileo service.
While the GCC-D led satellite operations, ESA designed the test cases and payload configurations executed throughout the test campaign.
In the meantime, teams configured and validated the navigation payload, atomic clocks, transponders and security functions. In parallel, operators manoeuvred the satellites to their precise orbital slots at 23 222 km.
In May 2026, the EU Space Programme Security Accreditation Board authorised the entry into service of SAT 33. This was followed by that of SAT 34 on 23 July 2026, marking the full deployment of the L14 satellites within the Galileo constellation.
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Satellite_navigation/Two_new_Galileo_satellites_enter_service
moar ESA
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2026/07/Earth_from_Space_Agricultural_patchwork
https://dailygalaxy.com/2026/07/nasa-mars-spiders-spring-gas-polar-ice/
Six dead and dozens injured in Ukrainian strike on Russian industrial plant
24 Jul, 2026 10:21 | Updated 24 Jul, 2026 11:25
Kiev’s forces carried out a missile strike on the city of Kirov, causing a fire at the facility that has since been extinguished, according to local authorities
Six people have been killed and several dozen others injured in a Ukrainian missile strike on an industrial plant in the city of Kirov in northeastern Russia, regional Governor Aleksandr Sokolov has said.
The facility was attacked on Friday morning, sparking a fire and disrupting electricity and water supplies in parts of the city, according to local authorities.
“As a result of the Kiev regime’s attack on an enterprise in Kirov, unfortunately, 32 people were injured. Six of them died at the scene,” Sokolov wrote on Telegram.
Kirov is nearly 900 km from Moscow and is around 1,350 km from the Ukrainian border.
The governor expressed condolences to the victims’ families and said the regional government would provide them with support. The wounded are receiving medical assistance, with some hospitalized, he added.
Emergency crews have since extinguished the fire and restored water and electricity supplies. Nearby residential buildings are being inspected for possible damage, after which the authorities will decide what assistance should be provided to residents.
The strike came amid yet another large-scale Ukrainian attack on Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry said air defenses had destroyed 571 drones overnight over several regions and the Azov and Black seas.
Separate attacks were reported on logistics facilities in Leningrad and Tver Regions.
A drone strike also sparked a fire at a warehouse of online retailer Wildberries near St. Petersburg, while another blaze broke out at a logistics center in Tver Region. No casualties were reported in either incident.
https://www.rt.com/russia/643418-ukraine-missile-attack-kirov/
extra RT
https://www.rt.com/russia/643409-ukrainian-drones-wildberries-strike/
https://www.rt.com/news/643424-romania-shoots-down-drone/
https://www.rt.com/news/643392-turkish-sailor-ukraine-drone-strikes/
https://www.rt.com/russia/643399-european-elites-destroy-themselves-mp/