space

the space spider that assembles structures

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When we say that China steps on NASA’s heels In your space race we are not kidding. It is not just about the missions to the Moon or the launch of your own space station. The Asian country has been able to recover one of NASA’s frustrated dreams: creating a robot that assembles large constructions directly in space. A space spider. China has replicated and improved the SpiderFaba robot designed by NASA to weave structures with carbon fiber thread, directly under microgravity conditions. In very rough terms, it is a kind of spatial 3D printer that behaves like a spider. At the moment an antenna has been woven in a terrestrial laboratory, so it would be necessary to check if it is equally viable in space. However, the results have been very promising and have also overcome several of the obstacles that NASA encountered at the time. Obstacles overcome. The idea for SpiderFab came from NASA, although the project was launched together with the company Tethers Unlimited. Although at the beginning everything seemed to be going well, during the process they encountered two obstacles so big that the project ended up being archived. These were related to the fit of the pieces in space and the resistance of the structures. Therefore, China has added some changes to the process. For starters, they use carbon fiber composite reels, rather than pure carbon fiber. These more complex compounds are stronger, but also lighter. Ideal for spatial structures. On the other hand, the robot makes assembly joints so that the pieces can fit together without the need for screws or glue. In the most extreme cases, if necessary, fusion using laser rays could be used. A much needed robot. In reality, the use of a robot like SpiderFab is very necessary to continue advancing in the space race. Spaceships have a load limit that cannot be exceeded, both for a simple matter of space and for the necessary investment in fuel. With respect to space, sometimes we resort to placing the necessary structures very well folded into orbit, and then opening them at their destination or even along the way. This is precisely what was done with the mirrors of the James Webb Space Telescope. However, this is not always feasible. That is why it is so useful to resort to strategies like this robot, capable of weaving antennas or solar panels as if it were a spider manipulating silk. Challenges still remain. At the moment, China has already gone further than NASA with its own SpiderFab. However, there are still other challenges to overcome. For example, the assembly of the robot itself must be tested in microgravity conditions. It will also be necessary to check that it adequately resists other spatial elements, such as cosmic radiation. They are on the right track, but the bells cannot yet be launched into the air. Also, thinking about it, instead of throwing the bells into the air, it would be better to weave them directly into place. Images | Tethers Unlimited In Xataka | Astronauts’ food is not appetizing at first, especially in China

Athletics has just experienced its own “moon landing.” And Adidas has defeated Nike in its particular space race

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May 6, 2017. Eliud Kipchoge appears on the finish line of the Monza circuit, northern Italy. This time the sound of the engines is provided by the crash against the asphalt of the athletes who accompany the Kenyan in the breaking 2the first attempt to go under two hours in marathon distance. But it is the tires that attract attention. The feet fit the Nike Vaporfly Elite. A very high profile, a foam with an absorption capacity unlike anything seen before. And the most striking thing: a carbon plate. The promise is that the shoe saves energy when running. That is, fatigue comes later and/or the athlete can run faster with the same feeling of effort. Almost a decade ago, Eliud Kipchoge was a handful of seconds away from breaking the two-hour marathon distance. He breaking 2 It did not break the desired 120-minute barrier, but Nike had just opened a new page in the history of athletics. A space race began that has ended almost nine years after that challenge. On April 26, 2026, the moon was reached. But Adidas has put the flag. A photo for history Since 2017 we have been wondering who would be the first man to break under two hours in a conventional marathon. Eliud Kipchoge himself achieved it the following year, becoming the first to complete the 42,195 meters in less than 120 minutes. But the event, surrounded by hares, with a car making a screen to block the wind and with mobile supplies, could not be validated as a world record. In 2018, in the Berlin marathon, considered one of the circuits faster of the world, Eliud Kipchoge amazed by stopping the clock at 2:01’39”. The following year, the legendary Kenenisa Bekele was just two seconds away from that same record in one of the cruelest final stretches in history. At that time, records were already falling in pairs with the new Nike carbon plate. Athletes were breaking records at the same rate as complaints of technological doping were rising. Some, in fact, They broke contracts when they understood that they were playing at a disadvantage. With the world’s fastest man in the long distance 99 seconds away from breaking the two-hour barrier, the question of whether we would ever see this milestone was more than repeated. In 2022, Kipchoge managed to get closer and made us dream. He finally exceeded it by one minute and nine seconds. On April 26, 2026, Sabastian Sawe put the flag on the Moon. And Yomif Kejelcha propped it up. Adidas had won the space race with a photo that will go down in history. Since Nike revolutionized the market with the launch of the first Vaporfly, athletics brands went into combustion. Sneakers with carbon plates multiplied, foams softened and became more reactive. The competition arrived and Nike seemed to have fallen behind. Kelvin Kiptum in 2023 proved that we were wrong, that he was the main candidate to break the mythical barrier. He was 35 seconds away from achieving it in the Chicago Marathon but a car accident ended his life a few months later. A few months earlier, Tigst Assefa stopped the clock in a historic 2:11’53” in the Berlin Marathon. He had just shaved almost two minutes off the world record. On his feet, the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro EVO 1. The Nike-Adidas battle is on fire and in 2024 Ruth Chepngetich, dressed by Nike, becomes the first woman in history to beat 2 hours and 10 minutes. The following year, Chepngetich is sanctioned for doping but it does not affect this record. This same year in Barcelona, Fotyen Tesfay manages to go under two hours and 11 minutes and Adidas also already has the second fastest mark in the history of the women’s marathon. But the final blow was given yesterday. Only two men have gone under two hours in a conventional marathon. They both wear Adidas. From the Vaporfly to the Adizero Adios Pro EVO 3 When Nike first released the Vaporfly, all hell broke loose. Not only among the more or less amateur public, athletes verified on the spot that their shoes were not up to par with those of the Oregon brand. Until its arrival, competition shoes had been standardized in minimal profiles and low drop (the difference in height between the front and rear area). The Vaporfly blew up what was known until then. Impossible heights for the time, very soft foams and zero “feel” of the asphalt for feet accustomed to always being close to the ground. However, for some reason, they worked. The improvement was quickly attributed to the carbon plate but the plate is only one of the pieces that make the whole work. Although it was directly attributed to the plate, the truth is that that sensation of “catapult” and extreme rebound of the foot was the result of using a supercritical foam with a lot of return. In fact, the carbon served to structure the shoe and give stability to the foot. Javi Moro, head of material at the magazine Corridorexplains that these foams “are very light and have a great capacity to retain and return energy” but emphasizes that they really have not changed much in general. “They have changed the curvatures of the plate and the midsoles to generate more rocker effect,” he explains, although he emphasizes that it is more as a means to adapt to all types of audiences “because not all runners tolerate the same type of plate in the same way.” This swing is more pronounced as brands have sought the limits of the regulations. World Athletic, which organizes major events and certifies the tests and the validity of the results, prevents competition with shoes whose height between the ground and the support of the insole exceeds 40 mm. But brands play with “where” those measurements are taken (at two specific points, heel and midfoot) to play with the geometries and try to put more foam … Read more

This space company has designed the suit for astronauts that you would also want to wear on the street

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The private space company Vast has presented at the 46th Space Symposium the suits that its team will wear both in training on Earth and in missions in space. These are aesthetically appealing clothes, but above all they have been manufactured with careful consideration of the needs of astronauts. on the International Space Station. Thus, the aim is to facilitate both their movements and their ability to work. Both with and without gravity. As explained in a Vast statement former astronaut and company advisor Megan McArthur, in space the body takes on positions that it does not take on Earth. Additionally, when working in microgravity, it is necessary to always have your hands free and tools within reach. They may be necessary at any time. For this reason, spacesuits must put comfort and operability above all things. Pockets, zippers and hooks. Vast’s spacesuit consists of two pieces, which can be worn separately or as a jumpsuit, joining both parts with a zipper. It has a multitude of pockets, like cargo pants. The main difference with any garment with pockets that can be worn on Earth is that each of them is intentionally placed to squeeze out their use in microgravity. They are right where they are needed. On the other hand, astronauts may need to access tools quickly, so opening and closing the zipper of the pocket takes up too much of their time. That’s why spacesuits also have hook-and-loop closures on the pants legs. Mobility comes first. The suits are made from a lightweight, breathable and flexible material with rear vents and shoulder gussets, allowing full range of motion. In addition, it is tailored to each astronaut, so that the fit is completely personalized. Many tests ahead. Vast has just signed its first contract with NASA to take its astronauts to the International Space Station in 2027. During all that time, just as the hardware necessary for the mission is thoroughly tested, the relevant tests will be carried out on the spacesuit. Above all, it must be confirmed that the materials are safe, durable and compatible with the space station environment. There is no washing machine in space. Both the Vast suit and the rest of the uniforms used by astronauts on the International Space Station, They must be dirt resistant and quick drying. Thus, crew members can wear the same clothes for several days without problem. Clothes that get dirty faster, such as underwear, are changed more often. They are placed in airtight bags and, when enough accumulates, they are added along with other waste in a cargo vehicle that is sent to Earth, so that all of these waste products are burned as they pass through the atmosphere. Not to be confused with the extravehicular suit. What Vast has just presented is the uniform of its astronauts. This should not be confused with the extravehicular suit, which is used on flights and spacewalks to protect astronauts from radiation, fire, or extreme temperatures. The uniforms They are something much simplerwhich can even be worn on Earth to attend events. Still, these are not random garments. There is also a lot of technology behind it. Vast Seasons. Vast’s goal is to support continued human presence in space in the future, with an eye toward space research, industry and tourism. To this end, this company has several space station projects, both single module and multimodular. They also plan to build a station with artificial gravity in the future, something that has not yet been achieved. But first they must gain experience and hours in space. Therefore, the first step will be to take its astronauts to the International Space Station. Now, thanks to NASAhave their first private mission in these facilities on the horizon. If all goes well, the launch window will open in summer 2027. Images | Vast In Xataka | This woman has been accused for years of committing the only crime that has taken place in space. It was all a lie

your dream of putting AI data centers in space is probably not feasible

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The possibility of setting up data centers for artificial intelligence (AI) in space is very attractive. So much so that several CEOs of some of the largest technology companies in the US have not hesitated to get wet and ensure that support this strategy. Jeff Bezos predicted in early October 2025 that data centers will reach space over the next two decades with the purpose of solving in one fell swoop the power supply problems currently posed by these facilities on Earth. Elon Musk did not take long to encourage the discussion even more. Shortly after Bezos’ statement posted a tweet in X in which he assured that SpaceX only needed to scale its Starlink V3 satellites equipped with high-speed laser links to bring this idea to fruition. In fact, he closed his tweet with a forceful statement: “SpaceX is going to do it”. However, the laws of physics are implacable. And SpaceX has had no choice but to acknowledge to its investors the daunting challenges that this project entails. Orbital data centers may not come to fruition According to ReutersSpaceX has delivered an official document to its investors in which it recognizes that both orbital AI data centers and human settlement on the Moon and Mars depend on technologies that have not yet been developed or tested, and that, therefore, may not be viable from a commercial point of view. SpaceX is preparing its IPOand this evaluation puts on the table the caution required by the legal obligation to be extremely honest with the risks to avoid future lawsuits from new shareholders. “Our efforts to develop orbital AI computing and in-orbit, lunar and interplanetary industrialization are in the early stages and involve significant technical complexity and the use of technologies that have not yet been tested. For these reasons they may not be able to achieve commercial viability,” SpaceX clarifies. There is no doubt that the challenges that need to be solved for data centers to reach space are colossal. The challenges that need to be solved for data centers to reach space are colossal One of them is the impact of the ionizing radiation about the hardware. This form of radiation is a type of high-frequency energy, such as X-rays, gamma, alpha or beta, which is capable of tearing electrons from atoms, thus altering the structure of molecules. In space, server chips are not protected by the Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field, which makes them very vulnerable to ionizing radiation, which has the ability to permanently degrade them. To solve this problem it will be necessary to develop some type of shielding capable of protecting the hardware of the servers of the cosmic radiation. This requirement leads us to the next critical challenge: in space it is not possible cool servers using convectionas on Earth, because in the vacuum of space there is neither air nor water. In addition, it would be necessary to use enormous radiators. It is possible to propose several solutions to these problems, but we must not overlook that it is crucial to minimize the weight and complexity of the material that needs to be put into orbit. Otherwise its commercial viability will be non-existent. The two challenges we just delved into are probably the most difficult to solve, but orbital data centers pose more difficulties. One of them is that to deliver the gigawatts per hour they require, it would be necessary to use enormous solar panels. Furthermore, in some applications the latency that these space installations would introduce would probably be unaffordable. And, on top of that, maintaining an orbital data center would be extremely expensive. In fact, it probably wouldn’t even be economically feasible, forcing its owners to introduce massive redundancy that would push it away from profitability. Image | freepik More information | Reuters In Xataka | Elon Musk knows that TSMC is overwhelmed: Terafab is his idea to completely change the global chip industry

China has understood better than anyone where the space launch bottleneck is. Your solution: the sea

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On April 18, China will launch a space rocket from open waters for the first time. The Dong Fang Hang Tian Gang vessel has been modified to function as a launch platform, minimizing many of the problems that terrestrial platforms currently represent. The facts. This aquatic launch platform is a vessel that measures 162 meters long and 40 meters wide. The Jielong-3 rocket will be on board31 meters, designed by the Chinese Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology for commercial flights. It will be launched from the South China Sea, marking the first time a launch has been carried out from open waters. If all goes well, China’s goal is to make it far from the last time. A huge waiting list. China has decided to launch rockets from the sea to address various problems. The first, without a doubt, is the saturation to which conventional launch platforms are currently exposed. The rise of the satellite industry, both for telecommunications as with other crazier purposeshas led to more and more launches scheduled on all launch platforms around the world. As a result, each new release must go onto a long waiting list, which can get complicated when you consider that there is usually only a few days’ release window available. It’s cheaper. Another advantage of aquatic launch pads is that they are very easy to build. To build one on dry land it is necessary to acquire a large amount of land and install all the necessary infrastructure. The result is not only complex. It is also very expensive. In the sea, on the other hand, a platform adapted to the immensity of the ocean is enough. Also safer. On the other hand, these types of offshore launch platforms are much safer than land-based ones for several reasons. To begin with, methane is increasingly being used as fuel. It is very powerful, but also very explosive. Therefore, large safety zones must be established around the launch pad. This is vital in case of an accidental explosion. In the ocean, however, it is not necessary. On the other hand, space launches cause great noise pollution for surrounding populations. If we add to all this that they could suffer the risk of falling parts, the truth is that living near a launch pad is not almost anyone’s dream. All of them are problems that are solved by launching rockets in the middle of the ocean. If there are accidents, the pieces must be removed to avoid contamination, but at least there are no populated areas that are at risk. The rocket to be launched will be a Jielong 3 Proximity to the equator. As a bonus, the ability to move barges wherever needed makes it easier for the Chinese Academy of Sciences to take its launches closer to the equator than land enclaves allow. This is very advantageous, since at this point the benefit of the Earth’s rotation can be maximized, giving greater momentum during launch. It’s not the first time, but there is a nuance. Actually, China has already launched rockets from water platforms in the past. A good example of this is Ceres-1S, which even used the same boat. Gravity-1 was also launched from a cliff. However, there is a difference. While Jielong-3 will be launched from open waters, Ceres-1 and Gravity-1 were launched near the coast, with logistics controlled from land and some of the same drawbacks that a land launch would have. A launch from open water, far from the coast, is another step forward. China continues to advance. In recent years, China has been positioning itself as a major space power. Just look at the progress it has made in lunar exploration. His plan to take humans to the Moon advanceswhile that of NASA does not stop finding impediments. Furthermore, its space station, Tiangong, continues receiving astronauts at a good pace, robotic exploration of Mars It is quite advanced and even They have found in Europe a great partner to explore solar inclemencies. Having an aquatic platform that gives agility to your throws can be another big step forward. Images | Freepik | China News Service In Xataka | China has the Moon between its eyebrows: it has now created the first chemical map of the hidden face

The list of space launches is collapsed. Meanwhile, SpaceX has done two in a single day

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More and more public and private space companies are launching into space. Most are commercial, often satellite-related. There are so many events of this type that launch platforms are beginning to become saturated and many companies are beginning to look for alternatives, such as launches from the sea. Despite this situation, SpaceX has just launched two Starlink satellites on the same day. 19 hours difference. Last Tuesday, April 14, Elon Musk’s space company carried out two launches of rockets loaded with Starlink satellites: one at 5:23 am EDT and another at 00:29 EDT. With the first launch, 29 Starlink satellites were put into orbit and with the second 25. Favor treatment? In 2025, the Donald Trump Government announced its intention to relax space regulationsthus streamlining licenses for releases. A year earlier, when Elon Musk showed himself as one of the main supporters of the now president during his electoral campaign, this topic was already mentioned on several occasions. The CEO of SpaceX had expressed interest in which the Federal Aviation Administration accelerated the processing of licenses for its launches. Therefore, despite the fact that Musk and Trump’s relations are not the best currently, it could be thought that he has had this possibility due to favored treatment. Although it doesn’t seem like the case. The strategy. In reality, the easing of space regulations does not fall solely on SpaceX. Many licenses can be obtained more quickly. But this requires a good strategy. To begin with, when a launch is made it is necessary to stop maritime and air traffic for a time to avoid accidents. This should be done for an optimal amount of time.without putting anyone in danger, but in a way that does not slow down transport too much. Therefore, it is not viable to make two launches in a row in the same place, even if they are licensed. To avoid this problem, Elon Musk made his two launches on Tuesday from two different points: Florida and California. Thus, problems are avoided. The more the better (at least for Musk). Repeat, repeat and repeat. That is Elon Musk’s maxim. With Starshipfor example, has carried out many test launches until its operation is optimized. There have been explosions, but also achievements. The key is to rehearse over and over again. With Starlink, SpaceX aims to send tens of thousands of satellites into space. Therefore, launches cannot be spaced out over time, especially now that they have other companies on their heels. Elon Musk needs these strategies, which for him are plausible, but which give a lot to think about about the possible lack of ethics and the inequality that exists between some space companies and others. Image | US Space Force photo, Gwendolyn Kurze In Xataka | Ukraine’s military has a problem almost as important as Russia: Starlink belongs to Elon Musk

We believed that data centers in space were a thing of the future. Kepler has already activated the largest orbital cluster

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For years, talk of data centers in space sounded like the kind of idea that always seemed a few years away. The conversation existed, of course, but almost always supported by long-term plans, ambitious announcements and an industry that had not yet shown much real muscle in orbit. That is why what has just emerged deserves attention. TechCrunch explains that Kepler Communications has already launched the largest computing cluster currently operating in space, a sign that this race is beginning to leave the field of promise to enter, little by little, the field of infrastructure. What has Kepler put into orbit. It is not a large facility suspended above our heads, but rather a distributed cluster made up of 10 operational satellites. Together they add up to around 40 Nvidia Orin processors aimed at Edge Computingconnected to each other by laser links. That set, launched in January of this year, as we say, is today the largest active computing cluster in orbit. The company itself also frames this network as a constellation designed to move data in space almost in real time. What it really is. So we are not facing a massive orbital data center that replicates the Earth model, but rather a distributed architecture that combines connectivity and processing in the full space environment. This difference matters because it allows us to separate two plans that are often mixed: one thing is the large-scale vision defended by actors like SpaceX or Blue Origin, and quite another is this first step, much more attached to immediate uses and specific needs of missions in orbit. The immediate business. If this orbital computing is starting to be interesting, it is because it addresses a fairly clear problem: it does not always make sense to send all the data to Earth to process it later. The initial value of these systems is in working with the information right where it is generated, something especially useful for more advanced sensors and for applications that require a faster response. Kepler also maintains that its network can serve as a basis for future processing and connectivity services between different space assets, and the media adds that the company already transports and processes data uploaded from the ground, as well as information collected by payloads hosted on its own satellites. Sophia Space. Here a startup comes into the picture that wants to upload its proprietary operating system to one of the satellites in the constellation and try to deploy and configure it on six GPUs spread over two ships. In a terrestrial data center that would be almost routine, but it would be the first time we would see something like this in orbit. For Sophia, in addition, the test has a clear risk reduction value before its first launch scheduled for the end of 2027. And we are not talking about a minor detail: the company is developing space computers with passive cooling, a way with which it seeks to attack one of the big problems in this sector: avoiding overheating. Kepler doesn’t want to be that. In the midst of so much noise around orbital data centers, the company itself is trying to position itself in a somewhat different place on the map. Your corporate presentation insists in a mission much more linked to communications, with a hybrid optical constellation designed to modernize the flow of data in low orbit and beyond. In this sense, it does not define itself as a data center company, but as infrastructure for space applications. The journey has begun. If this step by Kepler makes anything clear, it is that orbital computing no longer belongs only to the realm of great presentations. SpaceX wants to deploy a massive network of satellites for AI, Google prepares in-orbit tests with solar-powered chips and Blue Origin has announced a constellation of more than 5,000 satellites. In parallel, starcloud already launched a satellite in 2025 with an Nvidia H100 GPU and Aetherflux targets 2027 for its first node. Images | Kepler Communications | Sophia Space In Xataka | The mystery of the misinflated balloon: the more we calculate the size of the Universe, the less sense it all makes

There are two Madrid startups that want to solve the logistical labyrinth of space

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If receiving an order from Madrid to Castilleja de la Cuesta (Seville) can cause you some headaches in the form of a delivery person who never arrives, imagine sending a package from Madrid to the moon. Space logistics is one of the last major bottlenecks in the commercial aerospace industry. For decades, sending cargo to space has been reserved almost exclusively to government agencieswith astronomical budgets and opaque processes. Today the industry is more open than ever, the demand for space shipments is growing, but the logistics infrastructure that supports them remains artisanal and fragmented. Two Madrid startups, Usyncro and Eye4Skythey are trying to change it. A packet destined for space. Send a kilogram of cargo into space costs approximately 20,000 euros and that is just the beginning. That package in question has to go through customs in several countries, go through the hands of multiple carriers and comply with export regulations for sensitive material. ESA and NASA satellite components are subject to dual-use regulations that vary between jurisdictions and require specific licenses for each international transfer (e.g. export control regulations and laws such as NASA’s ITAR). And when you arrive at your destination there is no one to sign a receipt. There is also no warehouse or workers. Just a satellite in orbit waiting for a critical component on which a scientific mission depends. The presentations. Usyncro is a SaaS platform founded in Madrid in 2018 that digitizes international trade logistics through blockchain and artificial intelligence, connecting all the actors of a shipment in a single panel: carriers, customs and operators. Eye4Sky is a spin-off of the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA). It was founded in 2022 by researchers with more than twenty years of experience in space optics. Manufactures polarization modulators based on liquid crystalsoptical devices the size of a spectacle lens and barely 200 grams that analyze light to obtain information about the solar magnetic field or the composition of the atmosphere of other planets, something that a conventional camera cannot do, at a lower cost than traditional instruments and equivalent performance. It operates from the Madrid Science Park, within the ESA BIC incubation program. Why is it important. What Usyncro and Eye4Sky are building goes beyond their own businesses because it points to a structural problem: managing the supply chain of a space mission has always been the territory of large contractors and government agencies. A traceable and standardized digital corridor could lower that barrier to entry. On the other hand, INTA is not a university, it is an organization attached to the Ministry of Defense with a long research tradition but little history of serving as a seed for commercial companies. That Eye4Sky is its first spin-off after decades of applied research represents a paradigm shift: institutions that have historically operated in public and military logic are beginning to open up to civilian commercialization. As for projects on the table, Eye4Sky modulators are already present on the solar observation satellite jointly developed by the European Space Agency and NASA Solar Orbiter, are confirmed in VigilESA’s first space weather mission and in the quest Talisman of Satlantis to detect methane in the Earth’s atmosphere. Usyncro, for its part, already certified via blockchain the launch of Hydra Space satellites and executed the first digital air cargo corridor between Europe and Latin America. The joint project would be the definitive leap: applying that same logic to the most complex logistics chain that exists. Context. Usyncro was a conventional logistics company specialized in coordinating land, air and sea transportation chains. Its value proposition was clear: digitize and centralize the management of complex logistics operations with multiple actors, eliminating the dispersion of information and manual processes. It worked well on land, but the sky is the limit. The turning point came when joining the Retech Digital Entrepreneurship Network of the Community of Madrid, whose aerospace node is located in Tres Cantos. There they met Eye4Skya company that manufactured components for ESA and NASA missions, but had no way to reliably and traceably manage its logistics chain to the satellite. Just what Usyncro knew how to do: manage complex logistics chains with multiple actors. Of course, this time the final destination is in orbit. How they do it. Usyncro is developing a digital logistics corridor, a system that centralizes the entire journey of merchandise in a single control panel, from when it leaves the factory until it reaches its orbital destination. Each party involved in the chain is recorded, each transaction generates a documentary record and at each node along the route images are captured that certify the status and position of the shipment. Blockchain technology guarantees the integrity of the data and reduces time in each phase of the process. The final delivery is certified automatically, without the need for a physical recipient. In essence, it is applying to space logistics the same logic that has transformed land logistics in the last decade: total visibility, real-time data and end-to-end traceability. Yes, but. The project is still in the testing phase. Usyncro and Eye4Sky are shipping material to different countries via multiple routes to validate that the system works under real conditions before scaling up to space missions. Digitizing terrestrial logistics is already a complex problem, but doing it for space cargo adds extra difficulty in issues such as legislation or handling conditions. The margins of error are practically zero. It remains to be seen whether the platform can withstand the operational, regulatory and technical pressure of a real mission before the first big test next year. As Delia Rodríguez, CEO of Eye4Sky, tells: “Our devices are the eye of missions that protect the Earth and that starting in 2027 will monitor from space the invisible shield that protects our planet.” In Xataka | Spanish technology in the return to the Moon: the system designed in Madrid that NASA will use in Artemis II In Xataka | We have been deceived by the distances of the Solar System: the … Read more

China has closed a huge chunk of sky for 40 days. And all we know is that space is bigger than Taiwan

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In aviation, advisories restricting the use of airspace usually last just a few days and are linked to very specific operations, while areas without altitude limits are reserved on rare occasions due to its impact on air traffic. In strategic regions of the planet, any prolonged alteration in these patterns is often interpreted as more than a simple technical measure. It just happened in China. An unprecedented air closure. China has closed for 40 days (from March 27 to May 6) a huge maritime airspace without offering any clear explanation, delimiting areas through aeronautical warnings which are normally used for short exercises but in this case they are unusually prolonged. To give us an idea, the extension of that space exceeds the size of Taiwan, which makes the measure difficult to fit within operational normality. The official silence and the scale of the movement suggest a deliberate decision that goes beyond simple air traffic management. What these notices really mean. The NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) are designed to warn of risks or temporary restrictions, but their usual use is far from the current scenario, since they usually last a few days and are linked to specific, clearly identified maneuvers. Therefore, the combination of an extraordinary duration and the absence of explanations points more to a position of sustained activity more than a specific exercise. A priori, this implies that airspace control is being used as an active tool within a broader strategy. A key space on the regional board. counted the wall street journal A few hours ago, the affected areas extended from the Yellow Sea to the East China Sea, covering areas in front of South Korea and Japan and being located in strategic corridors for any military operation in the region. Although they are far from Taiwan (several hundred km), their location does not seem coincidental and fits with scenarios where the air route control would be decisive. The scale of the reserved area reinforces the idea that this is not a limited trial, but something with deeper operational implications. Signs in the midst of a tense context. The closure also coincides with a moment of high tension in the Indo-Pacific, with military movements in Japan, pressure about Taiwan and diplomatic activity relevant in parallel. Not only that. It also occurs after a striking pause on Chinese military flights near Taiwan, followed of its resumptionsuggesting a recalibration of activity. In this context, the measure can be interpreted as a way to send strategic messages without the need for explicit statements. Ambiguity as a strategy. In short, and although there are precedents for similar airspace reservations, they had never been so long nor so widewhich marks a clear difference compared to previous practices. If you like, this ambiguity also allows China to maintain operational flexibility, test scenarios and, ultimately, generate uncertainty among its rivals without publicly committing. The result is a signal that is difficult to interpret, one that, possibly or precisely because of this, multiply your impact strategic. Image | LG Images In Xataka | In silence, China is making giant strides in a race that until now it was not leading: space. In Xataka | The US opted for the quality of the F-35 rather than quantity. China opted for the opposite and it is already a problem

A company wants to sell sunlight on demand using gigantic mirrors in space. We have questions

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A Californian startup wants to sell solar light at night and, although it has not yet started, many scientists are already putting their hands together. They find it difficult to do it correctly for technical reasons, but they consider that it would be even more serious if these difficulties are resolved. The consequences for people’s health, the environment and the work of astronomers can be devastating. The longest day. The goal of Reflect Orbital is to launch into space a swarm of 4,000 satellites loaded with giant mirrors. These would capture sunlight from the illuminated side of the Earth and reflect it in dark areas. Thus, the solar panels could work 24 hours a day, not only when sunlight naturally falls on them. First steps. For now, the objectives of this startup have been developed only on paper. They already have their first satellite ready, which they have named Eärendil-1, in honor of a JRR Tolkien character. However, They are still waiting for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to of the United States gives the green light for its launch. In principle It is scheduled to take place throughout this month of Aprilbut there is no definitive date. Once in low Earth orbit, this satellite will deploy an 18-meter-wide mirror, which would be capable of illuminating a 5-kilometer patch on Earth. If all goes well, a swarm of 4,000 mirrors could be launched by 2030. The background is not good. There was already a project similar to this developed in Russia in the 1990s. The goal of the project, named Znamya, was to illuminate Siberia in the dark winter months. And they got it. However, the resulting light was so dim and the satellite so difficult to control that the mission was never completed. More than technical difficulties. Fionagh Thomson, researcher in spatial ethics at Durham University, explained in statements to Live Science who does not believe that the project is viable today, since the engineering involved is very complex. They already verified it in Russia. But that’s not all. Both this and other experts warn that a large amount of light pollution would be generated, which could affect the circadian rhythms of living beings in the illuminated environment. It could also dazzle aircraft pilots and make the work of astronomers difficult. Even astronomy enthusiasts trying to look at the sky with binoculars or a telescope could suffer vision damage if they encounter the light reflected from these satellites. After all, the population would not be notified before changing the direction of the mirrors. Worse than Starlink. starlink, Elon Musk’s telecommunications companyhas been receiving criticism for many years for the artificial way in which they illuminate the night sky. However, this company’s satellites accidentally illuminate the Earth. In this case it would be something deliberate and, therefore, even more intense and serious. It’s not worth it. All these risks are not worth it when you consider the results. And many other experts assure that the light that would be obtained would be too dim. The solar radiation that would reach the solar panels, for example, would be a minimum fraction of that which arrives during the day. In order to obtain a sufficient amount of light, an exorbitant number of satellites would have to be launched into space and that would be expensive and even more dangerous. Beware of space debris. If the mirror of Eärendil-1 will measure about 18 meters in diameter, the goal of Reflect Orbital is to launch satellites into space with even larger mirrors, up to 54 meters. In general, they would be giant objects; who would therefore be at greater risk of impacting with meteorites or space junk fragments. The more exposed surface, the more risk. This would not only mean the uncontrolled release of fragments resulting from the impact, it would also cause damage to the structure of the mirrors themselves. A leaky mirror would be even more difficult to control and its harmful effects could worsen. Therefore, although the goal of selling sunlight at night seems feasible on paper, in reality it is complicated and dangerous. We’ll see where all this goes. Image | Reflect Orbital In Xataka | Solar thermal plants are in the doldrums, so now they have two jobs: generating energy by day and hunting asteroids by night

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