Solar Sail: Flying on Beams of Light A solar sail is a giant fabric that uses the pressure of sunlight for movement in space. Today we discuss the solar sail, a technology that could revolutionize the future of space exploration: traveling to the stars without fuel, solely relying on the energy from the Sun. In this feature, we will learn about how the sail operates, Soviet, Russian, and international projects, and what awaits us in the future.
China Warns NASA About Satellite Collision Risk China has issued its first warning to NASA regarding the risk of a satellite collision. In the past, only the US would alert about potential close approaches and maneuver satellites to avoid collisions. This development signifies China's advancements in monitoring orbital scenarios. Interactions between the Chinese and US space agencies are infrequent. Yet, with the swift expansion of extensive satellite networks like Starlink and Guowang, the necessity for coordination in preventing collisions has become crucial.
Russian Scientists Discover Traces of Ancient Volcanic Gases in Lunar Soil Researchers from GEOKHI RAS examined a sample of regolith retrieved by the Chinese lunar lander Chang'e-5. Among the findings was a microscopic magnetite fragment, an uncommon mineral on the Moon, suggesting the past presence of volcanic gases. The discovery of this unique mineral fragment sheds light on the Moon's volcanic history, indicating a previous volcanic activity that released gases into the lunar environment.
Two ESCAPADE Satellites Set to Depart for Mars The spacecraft Blue and Gold are preparing to embark on a mission to create a comprehensive map of Mars' magnetic fields, upper atmosphere, and ionosphere. This scientific endeavor aims to deepen our understanding of the Red Planet's unique characteristics. Scheduled for launch on November 9, the satellites are expected to reach Mars in 2027, where they will begin their data-gathering mission. This ambitious project holds the promise of revealing new insights into Mars' geological and atmospheric makeup, contributing to ongoing research efforts in planetary exploration.
Voyager 1 Probe's Epic Journey The Voyager 1 probe's trajectory will be a mere red line in the vast Milky Way galaxy, even after a million years. Its speed of 17 km/s pales in comparison to the immense space surrounding our Sun.
Cosmic Dust Helped Reconstruct the History of Arctic Ice Melting Scientists have utilized layers of cosmic dust on the ocean floor to monitor changes in Arctic ice over time. At the peak of the last glacial period around 20,000 years ago, there was minimal dust deposition. However, approximately 15,000 years ago, the quantity of dust rose significantly as the ice cover in the Arctic started to diminish.
Space Oven: Chinese Astronauts Cook Food for the First Time on the "Tiangong" Station The crews of the "Shenzhou-20" and "Shenzhou-21" spacecraft delighted in chicken wings and steak, marking the inaugural occasion of cooking in space, a process that lasted 28 minutes. In this milestone event, the microgravity oven employed forced air circulation to compensate for the absence of natural convection in weightlessness. Additionally, it featured an integrated filter system to prevent smoke and grease from infiltrating the station's atmosphere and equipment. For more insights into the workings of space food and the decline of tube pasta as a space meal trend, you can refer to the following link: [here](https://prokosmos.ru/2025/07/22/kak-rabotaet-kosmicheskoe-pitanie--i-pochemu-pasta-v-tyubike-uzhe-ne-v-mode?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=messenger).
Polar Stratospheric Clouds Spotted Over Icelandic Mountain Polar stratospheric clouds were captured over a mountain in Iceland within one hour. This rare phenomenon of polar stratospheric clouds appearing over the Icelandic landscape was a visually stunning sight. The clouds, also known as nacreous clouds or mother-of-pearl clouds, form in the stratosphere at high altitudes and are characterized by their vibrant iridescent colors. They are typically observed in polar regions during the winter months when the conditions are just right for their formation.
Saturn's Largest Moon Revealed More than a billion kilometers away from Earth lies an astonishing world - Titan. For a long time, its surface remained inaccessible to humanity until methods were developed to penetrate through its dense atmosphere. Expert Igor Afanasyev from Pro Cosmo explained which spacecraft studied Titan, what the moon consists of, and what it conceals.
Plasma Cloud from a Powerful Solar Flare to Hit Earth This Friday, November 7th, the strongest geomagnetic storm of the year is expected, one of the most powerful in recent years. According to forecasts, the plasma cloud triggered by an M7.4 flare will reach the planet around 12:00 pm Moscow time.
