Basic Automata: How Willie Ley Predicted the Launch of the First Earth Satellites Two years before the triumphant "Beep! Beep! Beep!" of the First Satellite, American science popularizer Willie Ley detailed what the spacecraft of the Space Age's beginning would be like. Small, unmanned, with minimal instruments – he calculated the mass, trajectory, and goals of these "pioneers." Expert Igor Afanasyev from Pro Cosmo highlighted Willie Ley's prophetic accuracy that proved remarkably true. Ley's insights into the characteristics of the first satellites, including their size, unmanned nature, and basic instrumentation, were remarkably prescient and aligned with the actual developments in the early days of space exploration.

Russian Device on the ISS Captures Powerful Signal from the Sun Despite the overall decrease in solar activity, the X-ray monitor SPIN-Kh1-MVN on the International Space Station (ISS) has detected one of the most intense signals ever recorded during its operation. The SPIN-Kh1-MVN, installed outside the "Zvezda" module in December 2024 by cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Wagner for the "Sky Monitor" (MVN) experiment, captured this remarkable solar event.

All-Female Crew Completes 10-Day Isolation Experiment in Kazakhstan Four female engineers and researchers in Kazakhstan recently concluded a 10-day isolation experiment from October 1 to 10. The team performed cognitive and behavioral studies, physiological measurements, and assessed the capsule's engineering systems. At the end of the experiment, only three participants remained, with valuable data gathered to enhance the national astronaut training program. The findings from the isolation experiment, named SANA-1, will play a crucial role in shaping the country's future astronaut training initiatives. The research conducted by the all-female crew will contribute to advancing knowledge in space exploration and preparing for future manned missions.

Gravitational Lensing Helps Detect the Lightest Dark Object Dark matter, which cannot be directly observed, influences the distortion and deflection of light from distant galaxies due to the gravity of unseen objects. The recently discovered dark object surpasses the Sun's mass by a million times and is positioned approximately 10 billion light years away from Earth.

Perseids Meteor Shower Reaches Peak The current peak of the Perseids meteor shower is showcasing a spectacular display of over 100 meteors captured in a composite photo. The image, compiled from shots taken across six nights, highlights the meteors originating from the radiant point in the Perseus constellation. In addition to the meteor shower, the long-exposure photos also unveil the Milky Way and various nebulae, offering a stunning glimpse into the vastness and dynamism of the night sky during the Perseids activity.

More Than 43,000 Satellites to Be Launched Worldwide by 2035 The increasing launch activity is projected to boost the space services market by $665 billion. This growth is fueled by major orbital constellations, defense projects, and rapid advancements in launch technologies. This surge in satellite launches reflects a significant expansion in space-related industries, with various sectors benefitting from the advancements in satellite technology.

First Stage Testing of "Soyuz-5" Rocket Yesterday, fire tests were carried out at Roscosmos' facility, the Scientific and Testing Center of the Rocket and Space Industry, marking the final stage of ground testing. The stage features the RD-171MV rocket engine, generating 800 tons of thrust by NPO Energomash and using kerosene and liquid oxygen as fuel components for environmental friendliness. The successful verification of the interaction between the first stage systems and the engine, with the RD-171MV operating for the designated 160 seconds, paves the way for the start of flight-design tests for the "Soyuz-5" carrier rocket developed by Roscosmos' Rocket and Space Center "Progress." This rocket is designed for launches under the joint project "Baiterek" with Kazakhstan, focusing on launching automatic spacecraft into various near-earth orbits with the use of booster blocks.

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Ground Fire Tests Conducted on "Soyuz-5" First Stage At the Scientific and Testing Center of Rocket and Space Industry, ground fire tests were carried out on the first stage of the "Soyuz-5" rocket. The tests involved the RD-171MV engine with a thrust of 800 tons, using kerosene and liquid oxygen components for a duration of 160 seconds. The interaction of onboard systems was successfully verified during the testing. The first stage of "Soyuz-5" is a crucial component of a prospective super-heavy-class rocket. These tests mark a significant step towards the planned launch of "Soyuz-5" from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by the end of this year. A video showcasing the tests will be released tomorrow, promising an impressive display of power.

Russian Astrophysicists Find Error in Galactic Coordinates Quasars, which are active galactic nuclei containing massive black holes, are crucial as stable radio sources for navigation satellites. However, the presence of "false beacons" has resulted in a notable systematic error within navigation systems. A recent study by Russian astrophysicists has revealed 35 galaxies with inaccurate coordinates. In these cases, the brightest region is identified as a shock wave within the jet, rather than the central core.