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- Issue 50 | Breaking Space News: May 11 - 17, 2025
Issue 50 | Breaking Space News: May 11 - 17, 2025
Alchemy at CERN: Scientists Transform Lead into Gold—This Week in Space News: The Sound of Black Holes' Evolution, Tracking Titan’s Clouds, China’s AI-Driven Orbital Computing, Experts Weigh in on NASA’s Budget Woes, Pentagon’s Hybrid Space Architecture Updates, & Commercial Updates from Saudi Arabia, Japan & China—Plus Observational Proof of Einstein’s Special Theory & More
Maharshi Bhattacharya
May 18, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 43 minutes
Explorer, welcome back!🚀
Thanks for joining. Last week witnessed some compelling developments in space science and research. I’ll let you get on with it. Having trouble with links? Click below for the full newsletter experience.
NASA Transforms Black Hole Evolution Data from Telescopes into Sound
Astronomers Track Shifting Clouds and Methane Cycle on Saturn’s Largest Moon Titan
China, Startups Deploys AI-Driven Orbital Computing & Classified Remote-Sensing Satellite Missions
Australia’s First Homegrown Orbital Rocket Launch Delayed Due to Unexpected Rocket Fairing Issue
Scientists Explore 'Sweating' Spacecraft Shielding Concept to Improve Reentry Thermal Protection
PRIMER
Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity (1905)
Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity revolutionized physics by redefining our understanding of space, time, and motion. It applies to objects moving at constant speeds (no acceleration) in a straight line (inertial frames). Here are its two key postulates and their mind-bending consequences:
1. The Laws of Physics Are the Same for All Observers in Uniform Motion
No matter how fast you’re moving (as long as it’s constant), physics works the same way.
Example: If you’re in a smoothly moving train with no windows, you can’t tell if you’re moving or stationary—just like how you don’t feel Earth’s motion.
2. The Speed of Light (c) Is Constant for All Observers
Unlike sound or thrown objects, light always travels at ~300,000 km/s (186,000 mi/s)—no matter how fast the source or observer is moving.
This leads to crazy effects like time dilation and length contraction.
Mind-Blowing Consequences (With Examples)
A. Time Dilation (Moving Clocks Run Slower)
The faster you move, the slower time passes for you compared to someone at rest.
Example:
A spaceship flies past Earth at 90% the speed of light.
To people on Earth, the astronaut’s clock ticks slower.
If the astronaut returns after 10 years (their time), Earth might have aged 23 years. (This is real—GPS satellites account for this.)
B. Length Contraction (Moving Objects Shrink)
Objects moving near light speed appear shorter in the direction of motion.
Example:
A 10-meter-long spaceship flying at 99% of light speed would look like only 1.4 meters long to a stationary observer.
C. Relativity of Simultaneity (Events Can Happen in Different Orders)
Two events that seem simultaneous to one observer may not be to another.
Example:
A train moves past a platform. Lightning strikes both ends of the train simultaneously for someone on the platform.
But for someone inside the moving train, the front lightning strike happens first because light takes time to reach them.
D. Mass-Energy Equivalence (E=mc²)
Energy and mass are interchangeable. A tiny amount of mass can produce enormous energy.
Example:
In nuclear reactions, a small loss of mass (like in the Sun) releases huge energy (E=mc²).
Why Does This Matter?
GPS systems adjust for time dilation (satellites move fast, so their clocks tick slower).
Particle accelerators (like the LHC) rely on relativity to study high-speed particles.
Black holes & cosmology depend on these principles.
Special Relativity shows that time and space are flexible, not absolute. The universe is far stranger than our everyday experience suggests!
SCIENCE
Alchemy at CERN: Scientists Transform Lead into Gold in Large Hadron Collider Experiment
Picture of the ALICE detector. (Credit: CERN)
8 May, 2025
Scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), have achieved a fleeting but remarkable transformation: converting lead into gold through near-miss collisions. Unlike traditional particle collisions, these interactions generate intense electromagnetic fields, stripping three protons from lead nuclei, effectively turning them into gold atoms.
The experiment, conducted by the ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment project) collaboration, marks the first systematic detection of gold production at the LHC. Researchers estimate that the collider produces up to 89,000 gold nuclei per second, though they exist only for a fraction of a second before breaking apart.
While the process is far from practical for gold production, it provides valuable insights into electromagnetic dissociation and beam loss mechanisms, which impact future accelerator designs. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of high-energy nuclear interactions, reinforcing the LHC’s role in exploring the fundamental nature of matter. In a paper published in Physical Review Journals, the ALICE collaboration reports measurements that quantify the transmutation of lead into gold.
Electromagnetic dissociation occurs when highly charged atomic nuclei pass close to one another at high speeds, generating intense electromagnetic fields that can strip protons or neutrons from the interacting nuclei. Unlike direct collisions, which cause violent nuclear fragmentation, electromagnetic dissociation happens at a distance, altering atomic structures without direct physical contact. In the case of the ALICE experiment, lead nuclei lost three protons, momentarily transforming into gold. Beam loss mechanisms refer to processes that result in particles being removed or deflected from their intended paths in an accelerator.
NASA Transforms Black Hole Evolution Data from Telescopes into Sound
These three sonifications capture distinct stages of black hole formation and evolution. WR 124, an exceptionally bright and short-lived Wolf-Rayet star, is shedding its outer layers and may eventually collapse into a black hole. SS 433, a binary system, features a Sun-like star orbiting either a neutron star or a black hole, creating dynamic interactions. Meanwhile, Centaurus A, a massive galaxy, hosts a supermassive black hole at its core, generating an immense jet that stretches across the galaxy.
Using observations from Chandra and other telescopes, scientists translated this astronomical data into sonifications, converting cosmic phenomena into sound, offering a unique way to experience black hole dynamics. (Credit: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major; Sonification: NASA/CXC/SAO/K.Arcand, SYSTEM Sounds (M. Russo, A. Santaguida))
NASA has released a trio of sonifications—X-ray, infrared, and radio data converted into sound—offering a unique auditory perspective on black hole evolution and stellar processes. Using observations from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb Space Telescope, and Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), scientists created three distinct sound compositions based on celestial interactions.
The first piece captures WR124, a massive Wolf-Rayet star shedding its outer layers, potentially leading to a supernova and black hole formation. The second focuses on SS 433, a binary system where a star orbits a black hole, producing X-ray fluctuations mapped into sound. The final movement highlights Centaurus A, a galaxy with a supermassive black hole emitting powerful jets across space.
These sonifications provide an alternative way to explore black hole dynamics, offering insights into their formation, interactions, and cosmic influence
Astronomers Track Shifting Clouds and Methane Cycle on Saturn’s Largest Moon Titan
A science team has combined data from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and the Keck II telescope to see evidence of cloud convection on Saturn’s moon Titan in the northern hemisphere for the first time. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Keck Observatory)
These images of Titan were taken by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope on July 11, 2023 (top row) and the ground-based W.M. Keck Observatories on July 14, 2023 (bottom row). They show methane clouds (denoted by the white arrows) appearing at different altitudes in Titan’s northern hemisphere.
On the left side are representative-color images from both telescopes. In the Webb image light at 1.4 microns is colored blue, 1.5 microns is green, and 2.0 microns is red (filters F140M, F150W, and F200W, respectively). In the Keck image light at 2.13 microns is colored blue, 2.12 microns is green, and 2.06 microns is red (H2 1-0, Kp, and He1b, respectively).
In the middle column are single-wavelength images taken by Webb and Keck at 2.12 microns. This wavelength is sensitive to emission from Titan’s lower troposphere. The rightmost images show emission at 1.64 microns (Webb) and 2.17 microns (Keck), which favor higher altitudes, in Titan’s upper troposphere and stratosphere (an atmospheric layer above the troposphere). It demonstrates that the clouds are seen at higher altitudes on July 14 than earlier on July 11, indicative of upward motion. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, and W.M. Keck Observatories)
14 May, 2025
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and Keck II telescope have observed cloud convection on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, in its northern hemisphere for the first time. This region hosts most of Titan’s lakes and seas, which are likely replenished by methane and ethane rainfall.
This four-panel infographic demonstrates a key chemical process believed to occur in the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan.
1. Titan has a thick, nitrogen (N2) atmosphere that also contains methane (CH4).
2. Molecules known as methyl radicals (CH3) form when methane is broken apart by sunlight or energetic electrons from Saturn’s magnetosphere.
3. It then recombines with other molecules or with itself to make substances like ethane (C2H6).
4. Methane, ethane, and other molecules condense and rain out of the atmosphere, forming lakes and seas on Titan’s surface. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope detected the methyl radical on Titan for the first time, providing a key missing piece for our understanding of Titan’s chemical processes. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, and Elizabeth Wheatley (STScI))
Titan’s methane cycle mirrors Earth’s water cycle, with methane evaporating, forming clouds, and precipitating onto a solid surface of frozen water ice. Observations from November 2022 and July 2023 revealed clouds shifting to higher altitudes, suggesting dynamic atmospheric processes.
Additionally, Webb detected a key carbon-containing molecule, offering insights into Titan’s complex atmospheric chemistry. These findings provide valuable data on Titan’s seasonal changes, which were previously unobservable during the Cassini-Huygens mission. Scientists hope future missions will explore Titan’s atmosphere up close, further unraveling its Earth-like meteorological patterns. A study of the summer atmosphere of Titan's northern hemisphere has been published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
China, Startups Deploys AI-Driven Orbital Computing & Classified Remote-Sensing Satellite Missions
A Long March 2D rocket lifts off from Jiuquan, northwest China, May 14, 2025, carrying 12 satellites for the Three-Body Computing Constellation. (Credit: ADA Space)
14 May, 2025
China is accelerating its satellite deployment with multiple launches aimed at advancing space-based computing and reconnaissance capabilities. On May 14, 2025, a Long March 2D rocket lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, carrying 12 satellites for the Three-Body Computing Constellation. The launch was part of a 2,800-satellite AI-driven network designed to process data in orbit rather than relying on ground-based infrastructure.
Led by China-based startups ADA Space and Zhejiang Lab the computing project features 100 Gbps laser inter-satellite links, and remote sensing payloads that process data onboard, minimizing transmission needs. One of the satellites carries a cosmic X-ray polarimeter from Guangxi University and and the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC), designed to detect, classify, and trigger follow-up observations of transient events like gamma-ray bursts.
ADA Space claims the 12-satellite constellation is the world’s first dedicated orbital computing network.
Meanwhile, China continues expanding its classified satellite programs. On May 11, a Long March 6A rocket launched the Yaogan 40 Group 02, a trio of remote-sensing satellites for electromagnetic environment detection. The following day, a Long March 3C rocket deployed TJS-19, a communication technology experiment satellite, believed to support military intelligence and early warning systems.
Australia’s First Homegrown Orbital Rocket Launch by Gilmour Space Delayed Due to Unexpected Rocket Fairing Issue
Gilmour Space Technologies' first Eris rocket stands on the launch pad in north Queensland. (Credit: Gilmour Space Technologies)
15 May, 2025
Australia’s first homegrown orbital rocket, Eris, developed by Gilmour Space Technologies, has been indefinitely delayed due to a payload fairing issue discovered during final launch preparations. The electrical fault triggered an unexpected deployment of the rocket’s nose cone before fueling, prompting the company to stand down from its TestFlight1 campaign while investigating the anomaly.
Despite the setback, Gilmour Space intends to launch from its Bowen Orbital Spaceport, aiming to establish Australia’s sovereign launch capability. The three-stage Eris rocket, designed to carry up to 305 kg to orbit, represents a significant milestone for the country’s commercial space sector.
A replacement fairing is being sent from Gilmour’s Gold Coast factory, but no new launch date has been announced. The company emphasizes that no damage occurred to the rocket or pad, and the Vegemite payload remains intact.
Scientists Explore 'Sweating' Spacecraft Shielding Concept to Improve Reentry Thermal Protection
The research team stands in front of a hypersonics testing tunnel at the National Aerothermochemistry and Hypersonics Laboratory. From left to right: Dr. Hassan Saad Ifti, Dr. Ivett Leyva, and William Matthews. (Credit: Emily Oswald/Texas A&M Engineering)
Researchers at Texas A&M University, in collaboration with Canopy Aerospace, are developing a transpiration cooling system that could make reusable spacecraft more efficient. The approach involves a 3D-printed silicon carbide material that releases a coolant gas, forming a protective layer that insulates the spacecraft during atmospheric reentry.
Traditional heat shields rely on either ablative materials, which burn away to dissipate heat but require replacement, or passive insulation, which reflects heat but has limited durability. The new “sweating” spacecraft concept aims to eliminate these constraints, potentially reducing turnaround time from months to hours. The Air Force Small Business Technology Transfer program has awarded $1.7 million to support testing, which includes evaluating the material’s porosity, durability, and cooling efficiency.
If successful, this technology could revolutionize spacecraft design, making orbital missions more cost-effective while improving thermal protection for future hypersonic vehicles.
GOVERNANCE
Chang’e-5 landed on the Moon’s nearside in December 2020, targeting the volcanic Mons Rümker region. The collected samples, estimated to be 1.2–1.3 billion years old, provide valuable insights into the Moon’s geological history. The image shows the robotic sampling arm and scoop marks left behind. (Credit: CNSA/CLEP)
China has begun sharing Chang’e-5 lunar samples with international researchers, marking a significant step in global scientific collaboration. Scientists from Europe, Ethiopia, Russia, and the United States have received portions of the 1,731-gram collection, enabling comparative studies with Apollo-era samples. However, due to the Wolf Amendment, a 2011 U.S. law restricting NASA’s cooperation with China, federally funded American researchers cannot participate.
Despite this limitation, Stony Brook University secured a sample through private funding, allowing U.S. scientists to analyze its thermal properties and compare them to lunar surface maps. The Chang’e-5 samples, collected from Mons Rümker, an ancient volcanic region, offer insights into lunar volcanism and the Moon’s geological evolution.
While China’s openness fosters international scientific exchange, the Wolf Amendment continues to limit U.S.-China space collaboration, raising broader questions about the future of global lunar research.
Scientists Warn Against Reduced Funding for Planetary Exploration, Asteroid Tracking, Raise Concerns Over US Leadership in Space Science
Mars Sample Return promotional video. (Credit: NASA/ESA)
The Trump administration’s proposed 2026 NASA budget has sparked concerns among scientists and policymakers, with significant cuts to planetary science and asteroid tracking programs. The budget blueprint calls for a 24% reduction in NASA’s overall funding, with a 47% cut to science programs, including the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission. Experts argue that canceling MSR—a project designed to retrieve rock samples collected by the Perseverance rover—would be a major setback for understanding Mars’ past habitability.
The Near-Earth Object Surveyor space telescope (NEO Surveyor) is designed to help advance NASA’s planetary defense efforts to discover and characterize most of the potentially hazardous asteroids and comets that come within 30 million miles of Earth’s orbit. These are collectively known as near-earth objects, or NEOs. (Credit: NASA)
Additionally, U.S. representatives worry that slashing funding for planetary defense could hinder efforts to track potentially hazardous asteroids. The Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission, designed to improve asteroid detection, faces uncertainty under the proposed budget, raising concerns about the nation’s ability to respond to future threats.
Scientists warn that these cuts could cede U.S. leadership in space exploration to other nations, particularly China, which is advancing its own Mars sample return mission. The administration’s focus on human spaceflight—including plans to land astronauts on Mars—has led to reductions in robotic exploration and planetary science.
Despite these concerns, the administration has decided to retain the National Space Council, a policy body that coordinates space initiatives across government agencies. The council, chaired by the Vice President, is expected to guide the administration’s ambitious space goals, including lunar exploration and Mars missions.
While the budget prioritizes human exploration, critics argue that cutting science programs could weaken NASA’s long-term research capabilities, affecting global collaboration and technological advancements in space exploration. The debate over funding highlights the tension between scientific discovery and geopolitical strategy, as the U.S. seeks to maintain its dominance in space while balancing fiscal constraints.
MILITARY
US Space Force Advances Cloud-Based Ground Systems as Pentagon’s Hybrid Space Architecture Gains New Industry Partners for Secure Defense Communications
An aerial view of the Pentagon, 2002. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons, USGS)
12 May, 2025
The U.S. Space Force and Pentagon are expanding efforts to integrate commercial satellite infrastructure into military operations, selecting vendors to develop cloud-based ground station marketplaces and enhance the Hybrid Space Architecture (HSA) network.
The Space Force awarded contracts to Auria Space ($8.1 million) and Sphinx Defense ($9.5 million) to build competing versions of a joint antenna marketplace, aiming to modernize satellite ground control with cloud-based solutions. This initiative seeks to improve real-time operational capabilities, moving away from legacy systems.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) added new companies to its Hybrid Space Architecture (HSA) project, which integrates commercial and military satellites for secure, resilient data transport. Participants include Capella Space, EdgeCortix, Eutelsat America Corp. OneWeb Technologies, Fairwinds Technologies and AST Space Mobile, Illumina Computing Group, Lockheed Martin Space, MapLarge, SES Space & Defense, Skycorp, SkyFi, Ursa Space, and Viasat. The program, launched in 2022, aims to create a multi-orbit communications network, supporting battlefield data transmission and global military operations.
Eutelsat Faces GEO Market Challenges Amid U.S. Defense Contract Loss
The Eutelsat OneWeb gateway in Svalbard, Norway with 14 operational antennas, hosted by KSAT (Kongsberg Satellite Services). (Credit: Eutelsat Group)
14 May, 2025
French satellite operator Eutelsat faces growing challenges in the geostationary (GEO) market following the loss of a major U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contract. The cancellation contributed to a drop in government renewal rates, which fell below 50% for the quarter, compared to a projected 70% had the contract been retained.
Despite these setbacks, Eutelsat reported €49.5 million ($55.4 million) in government services revenue, a 10.2% year-on-year increase, largely driven by low Earth orbit (LEO) sales and demand from non-U.S. governments seeking alternatives to Starlink.
The company continues to expand its OneWeb LEO constellation, securing regulatory approvals and installing ground stations. However, broader GEO market declines, including reduced video broadcasting revenues and the impact of sanctions on Russian channels, remain a challenge. Eutelsat maintains its full-year revenue guidance, expecting results to align with the previous fiscal year despite ongoing industry shifts.
COMMERCIAL
Arabsat Expands Broadband with Telesat Lightspeed as Saudi Arabia Approves Starlink for Maritime and Aviation
A rendering of a Telesat Lightspeed satellite. (Credit: Telesat)
14 May, 2025
Saudi Arabia’s Arabsat has signed an agreement to integrate Telesat Lightspeed’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) services into its multi-orbit satellite ecosystem, marking a strategic expansion in broadband connectivity. Telesat Lightspeed, developed by Telesat, a satellite communications company headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, is designed to provide high-speed, low-latency connectivity. The deal, finalized at CABSAT 2025, the broadcast, digital media, and satellite expo held annually at the Dubai World Trade Centre, builds on a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding, ensuring multi-Gbps capacity backed by Committed Information Rates (CIRs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
This move comes as SpaceX’s Starlink secures approval from Saudi Arabia’s government to provide LEO broadband services for maritime and aviation customers. The parallel developments highlight the growing competition in satellite connectivity, with Arabsat aiming to offer blended LEO and GEO services for enterprise, telecom, government, and mobility sectors.
Industry leaders emphasize that multi-orbit satellite networks will play a crucial role in digital transformation, delivering faster, more reliable, and cost-effective connectivity across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Central Asia.
Zeno Power Secures $50M to Advance Nuclear Battery Technology for Space, Maritime, & Defense
An artist’s rendering of a cutaway view of Zeno’s radioisotope power system. (Credit: Zeno Power)
14 May, 2025
Seattle-based Zeno Power has secured $50 million in Series B funding to advance its nuclear battery technology, aiming to provide long-duration power for space, maritime, and defense applications. The funding, led by Hanaco Ventures and joined by defense-focused investors including Seraphim, Balerion Space Ventures, JAWS, Vanderbilt University, RiverPark Ventures, Stage 1 Ventures, 7i Capital, Beyond Earth Ventures among others, brings Zeno’s total investment to $70 million, following a $20 million Series A round in 2022.
Zeno’s radioisotope power systems (RPS) convert heat from radioactive decay into electricity, offering a reliable energy source for environments where solar and chemical power are impractical. The company is developing strontium-90-based batteries, with plans to demonstrate full-scale systems in 2026 and deliver commercial units by 2027.
With over $60 million in contracts from NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense, Zeno is expanding its manufacturing and workforce, positioning itself as a key player in frontier energy solutions.
Varda Space Successfully Lands W-3 Capsule in South Australia After Hypersonic Reentry Test
Varda's W-3 capsule landed successfully at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia. (Credit: Varda)
California-based Varda Space Industries successfully landed its W-3 reentry capsule in South Australia on May 13, 2025, marking its third mission focused on hypersonic research. The capsule, launched on March 14 aboard a Rocket Lab Pioneer satellite bus, carried an inertial measurement unit (IMU) developed for the U.S. Air Force by Innovative Scientific Solutions Incorporated (ISSI).
Reentering Earth’s atmosphere at speeds exceeding Mach 25, the mission provided critical data for hypersonic navigation, orbital economy applications, and national security objectives. The Koonibba Test Range, operated by Southern Launch, hosted the landing, marking Varda’s second successful reentry at the site.
Varda’s W-series capsules serve as high-speed, reusable testbeds, supporting military and commercial research. The company aims to increase mission frequency, advancing low-cost hypersonic science and technology experimentation.
Rocket Lab Deploys Japanese Radar Satellite and Prepares for NASA’s Aspera Mission
Nine Rutherford engines ignite beneath a Rocket Lab Electron rocket, carrying iQPS’s Earth-observing satellite on May 17, 2025. (Credit: Rocket Lab via X)
17 May, 2025
Rocket Lab successfully launched the QPS-SAR-10 satellite for Japanese company iQPS aboard its Electron rocket from New Zealand on May 17, 2025. The mission, named “The Sea God Sees,” deployed the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite into a 575-kilometer orbit, enhancing iQPS’s growing Earth-observation constellation.
This marks the third Rocket Lab launch for iQPS and the second in a multi-launch contract to deploy eight satellites by 2026. The constellation aims to provide near real-time imaging, with updates every 10 minutes, supporting applications in disaster response, infrastructure monitoring, and security.
An artist’s rendering of the NASA Aspera astrophysics mission. (Credit: University of Arizona)
14 May, 2025
Meanwhile, NASA has selected Rocket Lab to launch the Aspera astrophysics mission, a small, 60-kilogram satellite designed to study galaxy formation and evolution. Scheduled for early 2026, Aspera will observe ultraviolet light emitted by hot gases in the intergalactic medium, helping scientists understand how galaxies grow and form stars.
The award was granted under NASA's Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) contract. The mission is part of NASA’s Pioneers Program, which funds low-cost astrophysics research. Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket will carry Aspera from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
China’s LandSpace Successfully Launches Six Spacety Satellites on Methane-Powered, Reusable Zhuque-2E Rocket
The second Zhuque-2E rocket launches from Jiuquan on May 17, 2025, delivering six Tianyi satellites into orbit. (Credit: LandSpace)
17 May, 2025
China’s LandSpace Technology successfully launched six satellites aboard its enhanced Zhuque-2E Y2 methane-powered rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on May 17, 2025. This marks the fifth flight of the Zhuque-2 series, reflecting the growing demand for reusable, cost-effective launch systems in China’s commercial space sector
The payload, developed primarily by Spacety, a Chinese satellite technology company based in Changsha, China, includes a C-band synthetic aperture radar for commercial imaging (Tianyi-42), two multispectral satellites for optical remote sensing (Tianyi-29 and 35), and three scientific research satellites for deep-space exploration, environmental monitoring, and urban infrastructure tracking (Tianyi-34, 45, and 46). Specific details on the additional clients in the mission have not been widely disclosed in available sources.
LandSpace, the first company to launch a methane-liquid oxygen rocket, is advancing toward reusable launch technology, with a test flight planned for late 2025. The company seeks to expand China’s commercial satellite network, competing with SpaceX’s Starlink in global connectivity.
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
New Research Reveals How Near-Light Speed Objects Appear Rotated: Study Confirms Terrell-Penrose Effect Predicted by Special Relativity
The images showing how objects traveling at close to the speed of light appear reversed. (Credit: Hornoff et al., 2025)
2 May, 2025
Scientists at TU Wien and the University of Vienna have successfully demonstrated the Terrell-Penrose effect, a visual distortion predicted by Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity. Using laser pulses and high-speed cameras, researchers simulated a world where light moves at just 2 meters per second, allowing them to recreate how objects traveling near the speed of light would appear.
Instead of simply contracting in length, as dictated by Lorentz contraction, fast-moving objects appear rotated due to the varying travel times of light from different points on the object. This effect, first proposed in 1959, had never been experimentally observed until now.
a). A pulsed laser beam is focused through a lens to illuminate the entire object. The gated camera is triggered to capture the light scattered back from the object with a certain delay in relation to the laser trigger. b). The slightly tilted model of the Lorentz contracted sphere seen from the camera (blue) for v = 0.999 c is almost compressed to a 2D object. The north pole points towards the camera. Next to the camera, the ps-laser pulses are guided via mirrors to a lens in order to expand over the entire field of view. The insert shows the model of the sphere from a different perspective. c). The Lorentz contracted cube with a side length of 1 × 1 × 0.6 m. (Credit: Hornoff et al., 2025)
a). Calibration image of the resting cuboid. The image is superposed with a perspective simulation of a cuboid from the camera position (white lines). b). Terrell rotation of a deliberately Lorentz contracted sphere moving at 0.999 c. c). Terrell rotation of a cube. A simulation (white contours) is superimposed on the experimental results to guide the view and verify the theoretical description. (Credit: Hornoff et al., 2025)
The findings provide new insights into relativistic motion, reinforcing how light propagation and perception influence our understanding of high-speed physics. While the experiment does not involve actual near-light-speed travel, it offers a groundbreaking visualization of relativistic effects. The research was published in the journal Communications Physics.
Lunar Glass Beads Provide Insights into the Moon’s Deep Interior
The Chang’e-5 high-MgO sample has a thin outer rim of glass, up to 100 μm thick, surrounding a crystalline core. Inside, the structure transitions from elongated, skeletal crystals at the center to a microcrystalline texture and finally smooth glass near the surface. (Credit: Ding et al., 2024)
9 May, 2025
A tiny glass bead retrieved by China’s Chang’e-5 lunar mission is offering scientists a rare glimpse into the Moon’s hidden interior. Unlike typical lunar glass formed by surface impacts, this bead contains high levels of magnesium oxide, suggesting it originated from deep within the Moon’s mantle rather than its crust.
The study, led by researchers from Curtin University, Nanjing University, and The Australian National University, suggests that such impacts can expose otherwise inaccessible mantle material, providing new insights into the Moon’s internal structure. One theory links the beads to the formation of the Imbrium Basin, a crater formed over 3 billion years ago, with remote sensing confirming mineral matches between the basin’s edge and the bead’s composition.
Researchers believe the bead formed when a massive asteroid impact excavated mantle material, bringing it to the surface. Later, a secondary impact around 68 million years ago re-melted some of this ancient debris, fusing it into glass. The bead’s composition differs significantly from previously studied lunar materials, reinforcing the theory that large impacts can expose otherwise inaccessible mantle rock.
These findings provide new insights into the Moon’s geological evolution, potentially guiding future missions aimed at exploring its deep interior and comparing its structure to Earth and other planetary bodies. This research was published in a paper in the journal Science Advances.
Revised Estimates Suggest Universe Will Fade Away Sooner Than Expected
12 May, 2025
New calculations suggest the universe is decaying much faster than previously thought, though its end remains inconceivably distant. Researchers at Radboud University in the Netherlands have refined estimates based on Hawking radiation, a process originally proposed for black hole evaporation. Their findings indicate that white dwarf stars, among the longest-lasting celestial bodies, will fade away in about 10⁷⁸ years, significantly sooner than the previous estimate of 10¹¹⁰⁰ years.
The study extends Hawking’s theory beyond black holes, showing that neutron stars and stellar black holes also undergo gravitational pair production, leading to their eventual disappearance. Surprisingly, neutron stars and black holes share a similar evaporation timescale of 10⁶⁷ years, despite black holes having stronger gravitational fields. Since black holes are some of the longest-lived objects, their disappearance signals a much earlier end for the universe.
While the universe’s demise remains far beyond human timescales, these findings reshape our understanding of cosmic longevity, reinforcing that all structures will ultimately decay. The team's new findings were published in a paper in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.
Mathematical Insights Connect Black Hole Motion to Higher-Dimensional Structures from String Theory
This visualization illustrates the energy transported by gravitational waves as two black holes pass close to each other. Scientists have computed this energy with unparalleled accuracy, utilizing Calabi–Yau periods, sophisticated mathematical functions that enhance gravitational wave modeling. (Credit: Mathias Driesse/Humboldt Universität zu Berlin)
Scientists have achieved the most precise calculations yet of gravitational waves produced when two black holes pass close to each other without merging. Using quantum field theory, researchers at Humboldt University in Berlin modeled these scattering events, refining predictions of black hole trajectories, energy loss, and recoil effects.
Unlike previous simulations relying on supercomputers, this approach systematically builds complexity, reaching the fifth post-Minkowskian order, the highest precision ever achieved in such calculations. Surprisingly, the study uncovered six-dimensional Calabi–Yau manifolds—mathematical structures previously thought to exist only in string theory—embedded within the equations describing gravitational wave energy.
These findings could significantly improve gravitational wave models, aiding future detectors like LISA and the Einstein Telescope in interpreting cosmic signals. The research highlights how abstract mathematics plays a crucial role in understanding space-time distortions, reinforcing the deep connections between relativity and quantum physics. The new findings were published on May 14 in the journal Nature.
Despatch Out. 👽🛸