Space

• Five astronauts aboard the International Space Station were ordered to take shelter and prepare for evacuation for approximately two hours on Friday due to a worsening air leak. • The emergency was triggered by a crack located on the Russian segment of the orbital laboratory, which Russian crews attempted to repair. • NASA has since reversed the evacuation alert, allowing the crew to resume normal operations after the situation was stabilized.

• UC San Diego engineers are researching the ability to grow plants under simulated space conditions to produce essential pharmaceuticals during long-term missions. • The initiative addresses a critical safety gap, as medications degrade faster in space; studies show over half of the International Space Station's drug supply expires within three years. • This biological production method is vital for deep-space travel, such as a round trip to Mars, which requires approximately 400 days of travel time.

• The drug discovery technology market is projected to grow significantly, with its total size expected to surpass USD 80.27 billion by 2035. • Growth is primarily driven by the integration of genomic data and testing, which allow researchers to identify novel drug targets and analyze DNA variations. • These advancements matter because they reduce compound testing failures and enable precision medicine, ensuring preclinical validation before expensive clinical trials begin.

Environmental groups say exchange between US government and SpaceX would worsen ecological risksSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Environmental groups on Wednesday sued in an attempt to stop the Trump administration from giving SpaceX more than 700 acres (280 hectares) of wildlife refuge in Texas, claiming it would worsen ecological risks to a Gulf coast region already transformed by billionaire Elon Musk’s rocket operations.The US Fish and Wildlife Service this month approved moving forward with the deal with SpaceX, which would surrender 683 acres (276 hectares) the company owns in exchange for federal land in the Lower Rio Grande Valley national wildlife refuge. The 103,000-acre (41,700-hectare) refuge spans four counties along the Texas border and is home to animal habitats and historical landmarks. Continue reading...

• Researchers have developed a new 2-in-1 propulsion system that feeds a single "monopropellant" fuel into both electrical and chemical thrusters. • By combining two types of propulsion into one package, the system aims to significantly reduce overall spacecraft mass and mechanical complexity. • This breakthrough is critical for long-duration deep space travel, such as future missions to Mars, where efficiency and weight savings are paramount.

• Mid-2026 space exploration is marked by a mix of significant milestones and critical setbacks, including updates on the Artemis II lunar mission. • Blue Origin experienced a major setback with an explosion involving its New Glenn rocket, while the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) continues to deliver cosmic breakthroughs. • These events highlight the volatile nature of deep-space ambition, balancing high-stakes engineering failures with revolutionary scientific discoveries.

• NASA is considering a potential orbit reboost for the Hubble Space Telescope to counteract its decaying orbit. • The agency's Science Mission Directorate is currently evaluating how to lower operating costs to make such a mission financially viable. • This effort is part of a broader strategy to reduce the expenses of extended missions and free up funding for new scientific projects.