Issue 48 | Breaking Space News: Apr 27 - May 03, 2025

Explorer, welcome back!🚀

This week we will start off with a primer on Space Domain Awareness—its growing role in global security, the challenges of tracking objects in orbit, and why not just leading space-faring nations but emerging players are ramping up investments in monitoring and defense strategies.

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Hope you enjoy this Space!

• PRIMER

  • Space Domain Awareness (SDA)

    • Why Does This Matter?

    • What Does SDA Involve?

    • Real-World ample: The 2009 Satellite Collision

    • The Bigger Picture

• IMAGES

  • Proto-Planetary Disks

  • Myanmar Earthquake

  • Circinus West Molecular Cloud

• SCIENCE

  • China Launches Tianlian-2 Data Relay Satellite and Expands Guowang Megaconstellation

  • Psyche Spacecraft Faces Propulsion Setback En Route to Metal-Rich Asteroid

  • Lockheed Martin’s Tech Demonstrator Satellite Lost After Firefly's Alpha Rocket Anomaly

  • ESA’s Biomass Satellite Begins Mission to Track Forest Carbon Dynamics

  • NASA Extends Lunar Trailblazer Recontact Efforts Through Mid-June

  • ISS Conducts Maneuver to Prevent Close Approach with Space Debris

  • Scientific Method at Work as Studies Question Biosignature Claims on K2-18b

• GOVERNANCE

  • Historic Budget Cuts for NASA in White House 2026 Proposal: Lunar Gateway is Canceled, Artemis, Science Missions Reshaped

  • EU and UK Authorities Investigate $3.5 Billion SES-Intelsat Merger

• MILITARY

  • Surge in U.S. Defense and Space Investments Continues with Contracts for Hypersonics, Satellites, and Launch Infrastructure

  • French Startup Dark's Interceptor Spacecraft is Designed to Capture and Deorbit Space Debris, Potential Threats

  • US Space Force to Move Away from Military-Specific Satellites to Commercial Models for Geostationary Space Monitoring

• COMMERCIAL

  • China and Malaysia Explore Equatorial Spaceport Development in Pahang

  • First Full-Scale Deployment of Amazon's Project Kuiper Begins

  • Slingshot's New Space Domain Awareness Package Offers Nations Independent Surveillance Capabilities

  • Radian Aerospace Introduces Reusable Reentry Vehicle to Advance its Spaceplane & Hypersonic Ambitions

• RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

  • New Study Explores Imagery Depicting the Milky Way’s Great Rift in Egyptian Tombs Dating Back 3,000 to 5,000 Years

  • Potential Evidence for Planet Nine Emerges from Decades-Old Infrared Sky Observations

PRIMER

Space Domain Awareness (SDA)

Space Domain Awareness (SDA) is the practice of systematically monitoring, tracking, and analyzing objects in Earth's orbit to ensure safety, security, and sustainability in space. It involves identifying satellites, debris, and potential threats, assessing their behaviors, and predicting interactions to prevent collisions and protect critical infrastructure.

Think of it as "air traffic control for space", but with higher stakes—including evaluating orbital dynamics, mission objectives, and external influences like space weather effects to maintain peaceful and reliable access to space.

Why Does This Matter?

1. We Depend on Space Daily:
   Satellites enable GPS, weather forecasting, communications, banking, and national security. A collision or attack in space could disrupt modern life.

2. Space is Crowded:
   Over 11,000 active satellites orbit Earth, plus millions of debris fragments (old rockets, dead satellites, etc.). A single collision can create catastrophic debris clouds.

3. Growing Risks:
   Anti-satellite weapons, irresponsible satellite launches, and mega-constellations (like SpaceX’s Starlink) increase the urgency for vigilance.

What Does SDA Involve?

1. Tracking Objects:
   Using radar, telescopes, and sensors to monitor satellites and debris (even as small as a paint fleck!). Example: The U.S. Space Surveillance Network tracks ~45,000 objects larger than 10 cm.

2. Collision Avoidance:
   Predicting close calls and nudging satellites out of harm’s way. In 2022, the ISS dodged Russian debris twice.

3. Threat Detection:
   Identifying hostile acts (e.g., satellites maneuvering suspiciously or missile tests that create debris).

4. Traffic Management:
   Coordinating satellite launches and orbits to avoid congestion.

Real-World ample: The 2009 Satellite Collision

In 2009, a defunct Russian satellite (Cosmos 2251) and an active U.S. communications satellite (Iridium 33) collided at 26,000 mph. The crash:

• Created ~2,300+ trackable debris fragments.

• Highlighted the need for better SDA to prevent such disasters.

In December 2024, a defunct U.S. military weather satellite, DMSP-5D2 F14, exploded in orbit, creating over 50 pieces of debris. The satellite, launched in 1997 and decommissioned in 2020, suffered a low-velocity fragmentation event at 840 km altitude, likely due to a battery design flaw that has caused similar failures in past satellites.

Today, companies like LeoLabs use radar to track debris, and agencies share data globally to reduce risks.

The Bigger Picture

• Kessler Syndrome: A nightmare scenario where cascading debris collisions render orbits unusable. SDA helps prevent this.

• Global Collaboration: SDA requires international cooperation (e.g., sharing data between the U.S., EU, Russia, and China).

• Military Implications: Nations are developing SDA systems to defend satellites and deter attacks.

Space isn’t a limitless void—it’s a fragile ecosystem. Space Domain Awareness is our way of ensuring it remains safe and usable for future generations. 🛰️🌍

IMAGES

Proto-Planetary Disks : ExoALMA Survey, Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), Chile

Myanmar Earthquake : Copernicus Sentinel-1 Satellites

Circinus West Molecular Cloud : 570-megapixel Dark Energy Camera - DECam

SCIENCE

China Launches Tianlian-2 Data Relay Satellite and Expands Guowang Megaconstellation

27 April, 2025

China continues expanding its space infrastructure with two significant satellite launches. On April 27, 2025, a Long March 3B rocket deployed the Tianlian-2 (05) satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. This second-generation geosynchronous data relay satellite will enhance telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) services for crewed spacecraft, including the Tiangong space station, and support medium and low Earth orbit satellites. The announcement came from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) half an hour after China’s 22nd launch of 2025.

Two days later, on April 29, 2025, China launched the third batch of Guowang megaconstellation satellites aboard a Long March 5B rocket from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center. The Guowang constellation aims to establish a low Earth orbit broadband network, rivaling systems like Starlink. The latest deployment brings the total number of Guowang satellites in orbit to 29, advancing China’s ambitions in global satellite communications.

Psyche Spacecraft Faces Propulsion Setback En Route to Metal-Rich Asteroid

29 April, 2025

NASA reported that its Psyche spacecraft, en route to the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, has encountered a propulsion system issue nearly 150 million miles (238 million kilometers) from Earth. On April 1, 2025, the spacecraft detected a fuel pressure drop in its solar electric propulsion system, causing its thrusters to shut down automatically. The pressure fell from 36 psi to 26 psi, prompting mission engineers to suspend thrusting while investigating the cause.

Launched on Oct. 13, 2023, Psyche’s propulsion system, a first in a spacecraft, relies on Hall effect thrusters, which expel charged xenon atoms to generate a slow but efficient thrust. NASA has until mid-June to resolve the issue before trajectory adjustments become necessary. Engineers are considering switching to a backup fuel line to restore thrust.

Despite setbacks, Psyche remains on track for a Mars flyby in 2026, using the planet’s gravity to slingshot toward the asteroid belt. If successful, the spacecraft will enter 16 Psyche’s orbit in 2029, offering insights into planetary formation.

Lockheed Martin’s Tech Demonstrator Satellite Lost After Firefly's Alpha Rocket Anomaly

29 April, 2025

Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket suffered a stage separation anomaly during its April 29, 2025 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The mission, carrying Lockheed Martin’s LM 400 technology demonstrator, failed to reach orbit after the second-stage Lightning engine nozzle was damaged following separation. Despite reaching 320 km (199 miles) altitude, the rocket lacked sufficient thrust, causing the payload to fall into the Pacific Ocean instead of achieving orbital velocity.

Lockheed Martin’s satellite was designed to test new technologies and reduce risk for future missions. The LM 400 platform is a flexible mid-sized satellite bus, capable of supporting remote sensing, communications, imaging, and radar applications across low, medium, and geosynchronous Earth orbits. The mission aimed to validate on-orbit capabilities and demonstrate rapid satellite assembly and deployment for military, commercial, and civil customers.

Following the failure, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded Alpha until an investigation is completed. Firefly must demonstrate that corrective actions ensure public safety before resuming flights. This marks Alpha’s fourth failure in six launches, raising concerns about reliability despite Firefly’s long-term agreement with Lockheed Martin for up to 25 missions.

ESA’s Biomass Satellite Begins Mission to Track Forest Carbon Dynamics

29 April, 2025

The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched its Biomass satellite on April 29, 2025, aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. This mission aims to provide novel insights into global forests and their role in Earth's carbon cycle.

Biomass carries the first P-band synthetic aperture radar in space, capable of penetrating dense forest canopies to measure woody biomass, including trunks, branches, and stems. These measurements will help scientists assess carbon storage and track changes due to deforestation and climate shifts. The satellite will also contribute to mapping subsurface geology, ice sheet structures, and forest floor topography.

Manufactured by Airbus UK, and launched by Arianespace, Biomass is part of ESA’s Earth Explorer program, designed to enhance climate research and environmental monitoring. The mission expects to become a significant step in understanding forests’ impact on global carbon dynamics and climate change mitigation.

NASA Extends Lunar Trailblazer Recontact Efforts Through Mid-June

30 April, 2025

NASA has announced that it will extend its efforts to reestablish contact with the Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft. Communication with Lunar Trailblazer was lost a day after its February 26, 2025 launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The spacecraft entered a low-power state, unable to orient itself properly to charge its batteries.

Mission teams have determined that lighting conditions from May through mid-June may provide enough sunlight to recharge the batteries and potentially regain command. If successful, Lunar Trailblazer could resume its mission to map water ice deposits on the Moon, supporting future lunar exploration.

Lunar Trailblazer was launched as a secondary payload on the IM-2 mission, part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. The primary payload, Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander, was designed to deliver scientific instruments to the Moon’s surface. Other payloads included technology demonstrations and lunar exploration experiments.

NASA has also convened an Anomaly Review Board to investigate the post-launch failure and extract lessons for future missions. If contact is not restored by mid-June, NASA will begin closing out the mission. Despite setbacks, Lunar Trailblazer’s precise position remains known through ground-based tracking, offering hope for recovery and continuation of its scientific objectives.

ISS Conducts Maneuver to Prevent Close Approach with Space Debris

30 April, 2025

The International Space Station (ISS) executed a Debris Avoidance Maneuver (DAM) on April 30, 2025, using thrusters from the Progress 91 spacecraft to evade a fragment from a Chinese Long March rocket launched in 2005. The maneuver, coordinated by NASA, Roscosmos, and other international partners, raised the ISS’s orbit, preventing the debris from passing within 0.4 miles (0.64 km) of the station.

Such maneuvers have become more frequent as space debris accumulation increases, posing risks to operational spacecraft. This marks the 41st debris avoidance maneuver since 1999. Despite the orbital adjustment, ISS operations remained unaffected, including U.S. Spacewalk 93, conducted by NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers on May 1, 2025.

The incident underscores growing concerns about space debris management, as experts warn that even without new launches, collisions between existing debris could continue to generate hazardous fragments, complicating future space missions.

Scientific Method at Work: Independent Analysis Raises Doubts About Alien Life Detection on K2-18b

30 April, 2025

Recent claims of potential biosignatures on exoplanet K2-18b are facing increasing scrutiny as independent analyses challenge the validity of the findings. Initially, researchers from the University of Cambridge reported detecting dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a molecule associated with biological activity on Earth, using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). However, a new study led by Jake Taylor of the University of Oxford suggests the signal may be too weak or noisy to confirm the presence of DMS.

Critics argue that the detection lacks the statistical significance required for a robust scientific claim and that alternative non-biological explanations remain plausible. While the debate continues, experts emphasize that this process reflects the scientific method in action, where independent verification is crucial before drawing conclusions about extraterrestrial life. Further observations will be necessary to resolve uncertainties surrounding K2-18b’s atmospheric composition.

GOVERNANCE

Historic Budget Cuts for NASA in White House 2026 Proposal: Lunar Gateway is Canceled, Artemis, Science Missions Reshaped

02 May, 2025

The White House’s 2026 budget proposal introduces sweeping changes to NASA’s funding, marking the largest single-year cut in the agency’s history. The plan reduces NASA’s budget by $6 billion, bringing it down to $18.8 billion, a nearly 25% decrease from 2025 levels. The cuts primarily target science programs, with the Science Mission Directorate facing a 47% reduction, forcing the termination of multiple missions, including the Mars Sample Return program.

The proposal also phases out the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft after Artemis III, citing cost overruns and delays. The Lunar Gateway program, the lunar orbital space station intended to support long-term lunar exploration, is canceled, shifting NASA’s focus toward commercial alternatives for future Moon missions. While the budget increases funding for human space exploration, particularly Mars-focused programs, critics argue that the cuts undermine NASA’s broader scientific objectives.

On April 29, 2025, NASA had announced the delay of its next astrophysics mission call for proposals due to budget uncertainties. The Small Explorer (SMEX) mission competition, originally scheduled for April 2025, is now postponed until April 2026, reflecting concerns over reduced funding for astrophysics research.

The budget proposal has sparked alarm among scientists and space advocates, who warn that the cuts could jeopardize American leadership in space exploration. The Planetary Society and other organizations have urged Congress to reject the proposal, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that supports both human exploration and scientific discovery

EU and UK Authorities Investigate $3.5 Billion SES-Intelsat Merger

A preliminary investigation has been launched into Luxembourg-based satellite services provider SES’s planned acquisition of U.S.-based competitor Intelsat. European regulators will investigate the $3.5 billion merger that would consolidate two major satellite operators. The European Commission has set a June 10 deadline to determine whether to approve the deal, impose conditions, or initiate a full-scale competition probe lasting up to four months.

The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is also reviewing the merger, with a June 12 deadline for its initial assessment. If deeper scrutiny is required, the timeline for closing could extend into late 2025 or early 2026.

Regulators are expected to examine whether the merger could reduce competition in key markets, including government and mobility services, where both companies serve mission-critical customers. The combined entity would operate over 100 geostationary satellites and expand its fleet to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink network

MILITARY

Surge in U.S. Defense and Space Investments Continues with Contracts for Hypersonics, Satellites, and Launch Infrastructure

The investment surge in the U.S. defense and space sectors continued last week with multiple contracts awarded to U.S.-based commercial entities offering advance hypersonic propulsion, satellite security, and launch infrastructure.

Ursa Major secured a $28.5 million contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to flight-test its Draper engine, a storable propulsion system designed for hypersonic missile applications. The engine, capable of producing 4,000 pounds of thrust, is expected to enhance the Pentagon’s missile defense capabilities.

Meanwhile, True Anomaly, a defense-focused space startup, raised $260 million in a Series C funding round, aiming to expand its autonomous space security capabilities and accelerate spacecraft flight tests. The company has already launched its Jackal spacecraft, designed for orbital surveillance and defense operations.

In parallel, Astrotech, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, won a $77.5 million contract from the Space Systems Command to enhance pre-launch satellite processing at Vandenberg Space Force Base, supporting growing national security space launch demands.

Additionally, the U.S. Space Force has awarded $237 million in contracts to 12 companies under its Space Test Experiments Platform (STEP) 2.0 initiative, aimed at advancing military space technology through commercial innovation. This 10-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract allows selected vendors to compete for task orders to develop small satellite buses, which serve as modular spacecraft hosting experimental payloads.

The companies selected include Lockheed Martin, General Atomics, Blue Canyon Technologies, Loft Orbital Federal, Spire Global, Terran Orbital, York Space Systems, Axient, Lynk Global, Orbit Systems, Turion Space, and Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Lab. These firms will build and integrate satellites capable of carrying military experiments and sensors, supporting the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program (STP).

STEP 2.0 aims to streamline the testing and validation of emerging space technologies, addressing past delays in aligning experimental payload development with launch windows. By leveraging commercial spacecraft, the program seeks to accelerate space-based defense capabilities, ensuring a steady pipeline of small satellites for military applications.

French Startup Dark's Interceptor Spacecraft is Designed to Capture & Deorbit Space Debris, Potential Threats

29 April, 2025

French aerospace startup Dark is developing a spacecraft designed to intercept and neutralize threats in orbit, including hostile satellites and space debris. The company, founded in 2022 by former engineers from European defense contractors MBDA and Thales, aims to address growing concerns over space weaponization and orbital congestion.

Dark’s Interceptor spacecraft will use mechanical arms to capture objects and deorbit them into the Pacific Ocean’s spacecraft graveyard. The system is designed for rapid deployment, launching from a modified commercial aircraft rather than traditional ground-based rockets. The first demonstration mission is planned for 2027.

The French Defense Innovation Agency (AID) has backed Dark’s research, highlighting the increasing focus on space security. While some experts question the feasibility of air-launch systems, Dark argues that its approach offers faster response times and flexibility for nations without dedicated launch facilities. The project reflects broader global efforts to manage space debris and orbital threats.

US Space Force to Move Away from Military-Specific Satellites to Commercial Models for Geostationary Space Monitoring

29 April, 2025

The U.S. Space Force is shifting its approach to geostationary surveillance, replacing its military-specific satellites with commercially produced alternatives. This marks a departure from traditional defense procurement, aiming to expand supplier diversity and leverage private-sector capabilities.

The overhaul targets the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP), which monitors satellites in near-geosynchronous orbit—a critical region housing missile warning and communications spacecraft. While commercial vendors initially struggled to meet military specifications, the Space Force opted for reduced requirements to facilitate industry participation.

Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, the Space Force’s top acquisition official, signed off on the new strategy, emphasizing the need for flexibility and innovation in national security space operations. The move reflects a broader trend of integrating commercial technology into defense programs, potentially reshaping how the U.S. monitors and protects its space assets.

COMMERCIAL

China and Malaysia Explore Equatorial Spaceport Development in Pahang

24 April, 2025

Malaysia is advancing plans for Southeast Asia’s first spaceport, with the Pahang state government approving a one-year feasibility study for the Pahang International Spaceport. The project, located in Nenasi, Pekan (Pahang), is backed by China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) and Lestari Angkasa Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian private space company.

The proposed near-equatorial launch site—at 3-4 degrees north latitude—would allow rockets to benefit from Earth’s rotational speed, enabling heavier payloads and greater fuel efficiency. Pahang’s central location, low population density, and accessibility via the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) make it a strategic choice for the spaceport. If approved, construction could begin within three to five years, creating over 2,000 jobs and boosting tourism and research.

A Malaysian delegation is set to visit Wenchang Space City in Hainan, China, which serves as China’s southernmost spaceport at 19 degrees north latitude. Wenchang’s coastal location allows for seaborne rocket deliveries, making it a key hub for China’s Long March rocket launches. The visit will focus on technical collaboration, as China explores establishing its first overseas launch site in Malaysia. The project signals China’s growing global space ambitions, marking its first overseas launch site and strengthening regional partnerships

First Full-Scale Deployment of Amazon's Project Kuiper Begins with Launch of 27 Operational Satellites on ULA's Atlas V

28 April, 2025

Amazon has officially begun deploying its Project Kuiper satellite constellation, launching 27 operational satellites aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This marks the first full-scale launch for the $10 billion initiative, which aims to provide global broadband internet, particularly to underserved regions.

The satellites, initially placed at 450 kilometers (280 miles) above Earth, will gradually ascend to their final operational altitude of 630 kilometers (392 miles). Amazon plans to deploy over 3,200 satellites in total, competing directly with SpaceX’s Starlink network, which already has over 7,200 operational satellites.

This launch follows the successful test deployment of two prototype satellites in 2023, and Amazon expects to begin customer service later this year. The company has secured over 80 launches to complete the constellation, leveraging ULA, Blue Origin, Arianespace, and SpaceX

Slingshot's New Space Domain Awareness Package Offers Nations Independent Surveillance Capabilities

29 April, 2025

Slingshot Aerospace has launched Sovereign Space Object Tracking, a system designed to help nations improve their space domain awareness by establishing independent space surveillance capabilities. The package includes deployable sensors, AI-powered data processing tools, and access to Slingshot’s orbital catalog, enabling governments to monitor satellites, debris, and unexpected orbital activity without relying on foreign tracking networks.

The system supports low Earth and geostationary orbit monitoring, offering flexibility for countries with limited space infrastructure. The customizable system will allow nations to build their own sensor networks using operationally tested hardware like Horus (LEO) and Argus (GEO) staring arrays, or Varda (LEO + GEO) gimbaled sensors. Each package includes on-site processing servers, weather sensors, and control software, deployed by Slingshot or certified local partners.

Additionally, customers can leverage Slingshot’s cloud-based data processing suite, which supports task orchestration, orbit determination, risk analysis, and AI-powered anomaly detection. Nations can integrate the Slingshot Global Sensor Network (SGSN) to expand visibility, tracking 90% of active spacecraft and thousands of objects daily. Slingshot also provides professional support, including sensor specialists and orbital analysts, to ensure long-term system performance.

As space congestion and security concerns grow, Slingshot’s approach provides a shortcut to space domain awareness, allowing governments to manage satellite traffic, detect maneuvers, and respond to orbital threats. While it won’t replace full national space infrastructure, it offers a scalable entry point for countries seeking greater autonomy in space operations.

Radian Aerospace Introduces Reusable Reentry Vehicle to Advance its Spaceplane & Hypersonic Ambitions

29 April, 2025

Seattle-based Radian Aerospace has unveiled plans for the Radian Reusable Reentry Vehicle (R3V), a spacecraft designed for hypersonic testing and orbital reentry applications. The vehicle will serve as a technology demonstrator for Radian’s future single-stage-to-orbit spaceplane, Radian One, while also providing a test platform for commercial and government customers interested in hypersonic flight research.

R3V will incorporate Dur-E-Therm, Radian’s proprietary thermal protection system, which has undergone laboratory testing at NASA’s Glenn Research Center. The company plans to launch R3V on a small or medium-class rocket, placing it on a suborbital trajectory before recovery and reuse. The first flight is targeted for 2026, though officials acknowledge the timeline is ambitious.

By developing R3V alongside Radian One, the company aims to accelerate technology validation, reduce costs for hypersonic research, and generate early revenue streams from interested customers. Radian’s ultimate goal is to build a fully reusable spaceplane capable of horizontal takeoff and landing, offering rapid access to space with airplane-like operations for scientific, commercial, and defense applications.

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

New Study Explores Imagery Depicting the Milky Way’s Great Rift in Egyptian Tombs Dating Back 3,000 to 5,000 Years

A new study suggests that ancient Egyptians may have visually represented the Milky Way in their artwork, offering insights into how they understood the cosmos. Researchers analyzed 125 depictions of the sky goddess Nut on coffins and tomb walls, identifying a rare undulating black curve that resembles the Great Rift, a dark band of dust cutting through the Milky Way. The tombs analyzed in the study date back approximately 3,000 to 5,000 years

The study was led by Dr. Or Graur, an Associate Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation. His findings, published in the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, challenge previous interpretations of Nut’s imagery and suggest that ancient Egyptians may have incorporated celestial features into their religious artwork.

While Nut has long been associated with the sky, this study suggests the Milky Way may have been one of several celestial features depicted on her body. The findings highlight the intersection of astronomy and Egyptology, deepening our understanding of ancient cosmology.

Potential Evidence for Planet Nine Emerges from Decades-Old Infrared Sky Observations

Astronomers may have uncovered the best candidate yet for the elusive Planet Nine, a hypothetical planet proposed to exist far beyond Neptune. A team led by Terry Long Phan of National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan analyzed two infrared sky surveys taken 23 years apart, identifying a slow-moving object that could match predictions for Planet Nine’s orbit.

Planet Nine was first theorized in 2016 by Michael Brown and Konstantin Batygin of Caltech, based on unusual clustering of Kuiper Belt objects. If confirmed, the planet would be larger than Neptune and orbit 700 times farther from the Sun than Earth.

While the discovery is promising, further observations are needed to determine whether this object truly fits Planet Nine’s expected characteristics. If validated, it could reshape our understanding of the outer solar system and the gravitational forces shaping planetary orbits. The object is reported by Phan's team in a paper accepted for publication in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia.

Despatch Out. 👽🛸