Astra

• The FTSE 100 index dropped 1.7% today, driven primarily by a sharp decline in AstraZeneca shares. • Market losses were further exacerbated by rising oil prices and escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. • While the blue-chip index fell, the FTSE 250 and FTSE All-Share indices opened with more caution.

• NASA has extended the deadline for submitting abstracts and mission concepts for the Ad ASTRA Workshop. • The new submission deadline is now set for July 1, 2026. • This extension provides researchers and innovators more time to develop proposals for the agency's science-driven initiatives.

• NASA's Astrophysics Division is hosting a special session on June 18, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am PT, to discuss the future of its observatory fleet and the ASTRA Initiative. • The event will present initial findings from the "Innovation for Astrophysics Missions Workshop" held in May 2026, focusing on driving technological innovations and maintaining U.S. leadership in space. • This session serves as a strategic bridge to the upcoming "Ad ASTRA" astrophysics community science workshop scheduled for September 2026.

• NASA has announced updates to the agenda and abstract submission process for the upcoming Ad ASTRA Community Science workshop. • The event will utilize breakout sessions combining formal presentations with flexible discussions to foster collaboration among teams. • The workshop aims to help researchers with concepts at different maturity levels identify commonalities and strengthen specific capability groups.

• NASA Science is hosting a PhysPAG Community Webinar on June 2, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Time to discuss the ASTRA Initiative. • The initiative focuses on driving science questions and exploring the trade space for various implementation options for new mission concepts. • NASA encourages researchers to collaborate with Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and Standing Advisory Groups (SAGs) to synthesize individual ideas into broader, community-supported mission concepts.

• On May 8, 2025, India conducted a successful test of the advanced Agni-5 missile equipped with MIRV technology from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha, visible as far as Bangladesh. • Codenamed Mission Divyastra, the single missile deployed multiple warheads capable of striking different targets simultaneously, placing India among elite nations with this strategic capability. • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the test as a 'massive leap' in defence preparedness against 'growing threat perceptions,' with the full flight tracked by ground and ship systems.

Drugmaker had stalled large-scale UK projects but has now pledged investment at two sites, announced by Keir StarmerBritain’s biggest drugmaker AstraZeneca has said it will invest £300m in the UK in a surprise U-turn after pausing large-scale projects last year.The drugmaker had pulled back projects in Britain after becoming disillusioned with the business environment, including the availability of new medicines on the NHS and drug pricing. Continue reading...