european space agency

Lunar lava tubes are emerging as potential natural shelters for future moon missions, offering protection from extreme temperatures, radiation, and micrometeorites. Recent radar studies confirm these underground voids could provide stable environments, significantly reducing the need for extensive shielding from Earth. Scientists are actively mapping these subterranean spaces, seeing them as a promising solution for human survival on the Moon.

NASA's Artemis III mission is on the brink of an exciting Earth orbit test, honing in on essential rendezvous and docking maneuvers with Blue Origin and SpaceX landers. This pivotal trial marks a critical phase ahead of the lunar South Pole landing, ensuring astronauts' safety on their journey.

Beneath the thick ice cover of Antarctica lies water flowing continuously through its network. This discovery increases the known total to 231. The lakes are part of a vast, interconnected water system. Satellite data helped identify these hidden lakes. This finding is crucial for understanding ice flow and predicting sea level rise.

A South American cruise has triggered a global health alert due to an Andes virus outbreak, a rare human-to-human hantavirus. Three deaths have occurred, with passengers quarantined worldwide. A UK healthcare worker showing symptoms after treating a patient raises concerns, though authorities stress low public risk due to close contact requirements.

Mercury, once thought a simple iron ball, may boast a mile-thick diamond layer beneath its surface. New research suggests intense pressure and sulfur during its cooling transformed carbon into diamond, forming a unique boundary between its core and mantle. This discovery could explain the planet's strong magnetic field and offers clues for finding habitable exoplanets.

Canada has confirmed its first hantavirus case linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak. A British Columbia passenger, exhibiting mild symptoms, tested "presumptively positive" for the rare, person-to-person transmissible Andes strain. While the risk to the public is deemed low, this marks a significant development in the ongoing international investigation.

India's ambitious military reforms, creating integrated theatre commands, face a critical leadership gap. The nation's vast armed forces are led by a disproportionately small number of four-star generals compared to global peers. This deficit risks undermining the effectiveness of new theatre commands, demanding a strategic increase in senior leadership to match evolving responsibilities and complex security challenges.

A year after a devastating terror attack claimed 26 lives in Pahalgam, the valley grapples with lingering fear and a fractured tourism economy. India responded with Operation Sindoor, a cross-border military action, and extensive diplomatic efforts. While security has been bolstered, the region's recovery remains fragile, with businesses and residents still navigating the profound impact of the violence.

Blue Origin has successfully extracted oxygen from Moon-like soil in laboratory settings, a significant step towards sustainable lunar presence. This molten regolith electrolysis technique, which heats soil to melt and then uses electricity to release oxygen, could reduce reliance on Earth-based supplies. The development paves the way for utilizing lunar resources for breathing, water, and rocket fuel.

Artemis II is set to carry over 5.6 million names to the Moon, a digital archive collected through NASA's "Send Your Name to the Moon" campaign. This initiative fosters global participation, transforming space exploration into a shared milestone. The names, stored on an SD card aboard the Orion spacecraft, represent humanity's collective aspirations as NASA prepares for future lunar missions.

The european space agency (ESA) is organizing a competition to develop a robotic cargo capsule for transportation to and from the International Space Station (ISS). The capsule will be operated as a commercial venture by the competition winner, who will receive financial support and technical assistance from ESA. The selected company may also be tasked with upgrading the capsule for transporting ESA astronauts and potentially traveling to other destinations, such as the Moon. This competition model is inspired by NASA's successful approach of working with private companies.