Mikhail Kovalchuk Allows Construction of Thermonuclear Power Plant in Space Mikhail Kovalchuk, the head of the Kurchatov Institute, has approved the idea of building a thermonuclear power plant in space. He highlighted the importance of two main conditions for achieving thermonuclear fusion in space: the presence of a vacuum and extremely low temperatures. Kovalchuk also revealed that in Russia, there are considerations for using plasma thrusters for long-distance space travel. These innovative thrusters operate by utilizing ionized gas instead of traditional fuel sources.

Interstellar Comet Hit by Sun's Plasma Cloud The Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences captured a video showing comet 3I/ATLAS moving alongside a star. Overnight from October 21 to 22, the comet experienced a powerful plasma eruption from the sun, marking one of the strongest events in the current 25th solar cycle. Following the incident, the comet 3I/ATLAS has moved out of the LASCO instrument's field of view, making further observation of its movement impossible. The next opportunity to observe this interstellar comet from Earth is expected to be in mid-November.

Meteorite Explosion Over Moscow Sends Debris Across Regions A meteorite burst over Moscow on October 27, scattering debris to the Novgorod and Tver regions. Traveling at 35 km/s, the object fragmented at 42 km altitude, passing over Vologda, Cherepovets, and part of the Rybinsk Reservoir within 20 seconds. Remnants of the meteorite have been discovered near the M-11 highway connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg, showcasing the widespread reach of the celestial event.

The Mysterious Octagon This image displays Jupiter's north pole, taken by the JIRAM instrument on the Juno spacecraft in the infrared spectrum. The picture reveals a massive cyclonic storm with a diameter of approximately three thousand kilometers, encircled by an octagon formation of smaller cyclones. The color scheme indicates cloud temperatures, with brighter shades representing warmer areas, ranging from -13° to -118.33°C.

Meteorite Explosion Over Moscow Sends Fragments to Novgorod and Tver Regions A meteorite exploded over Moscow on October 27, scattering fragments to the Novgorod and Tver regions. The celestial object entered the atmosphere at a speed of 35 km/s, disintegrating at an altitude of 42 km. In a span of just 20 seconds, it traversed areas including Vologda, Cherepovets, and part of the Rybinsk Reservoir. Debris from the meteorite has been discovered near the M-11 highway connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg, indicating the extent of its reach beyond the initial explosion site.

Private Indian Rocket Vikram-1 Set for Inaugural Launch Vikram-1, the first private Indian rocket, is poised to launch within three months. This rocket has the capacity to carry satellites weighing up to 350 kg into low Earth orbit and up to 260 kg into sun-synchronous orbit. Constructed with carbon materials, Vikram-1 features a liquid engine manufactured via 3D printing technology. The maiden launch of Vikram-1 is anticipated to include the deployment of multiple commercial spacecraft, marking a significant milestone in India's private space industry.

Russian Cosmonauts Undergo Exams at GCTC Before ISS Mission Training sessions span two days, occurring on October 30 and 31. Both the main and backup crews participate in exams using simulators replicating the "Soyuz" spacecraft and the Russian segment of the ISS. The ISS-74 main crew comprises Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Ryzhikov, and NASA astronaut Christopher Williams. The backup crew consists of Roscosmos cosmonauts Petr Dubrov, Anna Kikina, and NASA astronaut Anil Menon. During the exam, crew members choose a card detailing potential emergency scenarios for them to address while "in flight" on the spacecraft or station.

Earth "on the Edge": 2024 Hottest Year in 125,000 Years Two-thirds of critical planetary indicators have hit all-time highs, spanning from greenhouse gas concentrations to ocean warmth. Experts caution that humanity is facing a state of "ecological overstrain."

Earth's Upper Atmosphere Contracts Due to Carbon Dioxide Influence NASA researchers have identified carbon dioxide as the driving force behind the contraction of the Earth's upper atmosphere. While carbon dioxide near the surface raises temperatures in the lower layers, it has the opposite effect in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, causing them to cool and contract. Over the period from 2002 to 2019, these upper atmospheric layers shrank by about 1.3 km, with a projected drop in temperatures of 1.7°C in the coming years. As a consequence of this phenomenon, the prolonged cooling and contraction of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere will lead to an extension in the duration that space debris remains at high altitudes. This development poses potential challenges for satellite operations and space activities due to the increased presence of debris in these regions.

China Moves Closer to Landing Humans on the Moon by 2030 The initial prototypes of the lunar lander "Lanyue," piloted spacecraft "Manzhou," carrier rocket "Changzheng-10," lunar spacesuit "Wan'yu," and moon rover "Tanso" have been completed. Accelerated progress is being made on the launch and landing platforms, but many new developments still require testing.