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The Irish Sun
01-07-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
What is Putin doing in space? Secretive Russian ‘killer satellite' detected launching mystery probe near US spacecraft
A SECRETIVE Russian "killer satellite" deployed in space was detected launching another mysterious flying object near a US spacecraft. Kosmos-2558 is a Russian military satellite that is currently on an orbital path which is suspiciously close to USA-326 - an American spy satellite. Advertisement 5 Kosmos-2558 as seen on June 28 Credit: TU Delft 5 Just 16 seconds later, a new flying object called Object C can be seen moving in the same direction but on a different orbit Credit: TU Delft 5 Russians launched Cosmos-2576 on a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome, some 497 miles north of Moscow Credit: East2West 5 The 14F150 Nivelir-type satellite was deployed into a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) - and has presumably been stalking the US space asset since 2022. It is believed to have the capacity to constantly monitor enemy spy satellites and potentially shoot them down if needed. Space program researchers have now detected a new object that appeared to have separated from the Russian inspector satellite on June 26. The new flying object, named 2025-089C or simply Object C, appeared to be a subsatellite that was launched by Kosmos-2558. Advertisement It was filmed on 28 June 2025 from Leiden, the Netherlands, using a powerful astronomy camera. The clip shows Kosmos 2558 passing through the frame. Just 16 seconds later, Object C can be seen moving in the same direction but on a different orbit. It is believed that Object C is a highly manoeuvrable sub-satellite with onboard high-speed kinetic anti-satellite weapons. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Two earlier Russian satellites of the same type, Kosmos-2519 and 2542, also released subsatellites, which were designated Cosmos-2521 and 2543. Bart Hendrickx, a long-time space researcher and Russian space program expert, wrote in his blog: "Both of those [Russian] satellites showed significant manoeuvring capability and each fired a high-speed projectile that was interpreted by the Pentagon as an anti-satellite weapon. Billionaire battle goes interstellar as Musk v Bezos ignites 21st-century space race - who will win? "This happened when they were flying in the vicinity of other Russian satellites." Last year, Putin launched a terrifying weapon system into space capable of killing other satellites. Advertisement The Pentagon said that the The Russian space object believed to be Cosmos-2576 was launched on May 16 on a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome, some 497 miles north of It is now following American spy satellite USA 314, operated by the US National Reconnaissance Office. An unofficial Russian source claimed the launch carried a "secret military device". Advertisement While it was previously reported as a Russian space satellite, the US has now warned it could be a counter-space weapon capable of attacking other such tech. Pentagon spokesman Brig Gen Pat Ryder said: "Russia launched a satellite into low Earth orbit that we assess is likely a counter-space weapon. Terrifying space weapons of the future Rods from God A strange but utterly terrifying weapon has been dubbed 'rods from the God' and is based on the concept of creating man-made meteorites that can be guided towards the enemy. Instead of using rocks, rods the size of telephone poles are deployed. These would be made out of tungsten — a rare metal that can stand the intense heat generated by entering Earth's atmosphere. One satellite fires the rods towards the Earth's atmosphere while the other steers them to a target on the ground. Reaching speeds of 7000mph they hit the ground with the force of a small nuclear weapon — but crucially creating no radiation fall out. As bizarre as it sounds, a US Congressional report recently revealed the military has been pushing ahead with the kinetic space weapons. Molten metal cannons This intriguing idea is being developed by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). It is called the Magneto Hydrodynamic Explosive Munition or MAHEM. This game changing rail-gun can fire a jet of molten metal, hurled through space at several hundred miles per second by the most powerful electromagnets ever built. The molten metal can then morph into an aerodynamic slug during flight and pierce through another spacecraft or satellite and a munition explodes inside. Space force ships Already the United States is powering head with its spacecraft, although China is busy developing one of their own. The top-secret American XS-1 is under development by DARPA. It can travel ten times the speed of sound and launch missiles. Meanwhile an unmanned craft is currently being developed in the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre in Mianyang, Sichuan province, which is also known as Base 29. "It was deployed into the same orbit as a US government satellite and assessments further indicate characteristics resembling previously deployed counter space payloads from 2019 and 2022." Advertisement "We will continue to monitor the situation ... we have a responsibility to be ready to protect and defend the space domain and ensure continuous and uninterrupted support to the joint and combined force." Russia's Roskosmos state space agency said the launch was "in the interests of the defence ministry of the Russian Federation". In 2023, US intelligence chiefs warned that that would destroy satellites in a . Read more on the Irish Sun Military Advertisement 5 Russia is feared to be planning to use anti-satellite nuclear weapons in orbit Credit: Getty - Contributor
Scottish Sun
01-07-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
What is Putin doing in space? Secretive Russian ‘killer satellite' detected launching mystery probe near US spacecraft
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SECRETIVE Russian "killer satellite" deployed in space was detected launching another mysterious flying object near a US spacecraft. Kosmos-2558 is a Russian military satellite that is currently on an orbital path which is suspiciously close to USA-326 - an American spy satellite. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Kosmos-2558 as seen on June 28 Credit: TU Delft 5 Just 16 seconds later, a new flying object called Object C can be seen moving in the same direction but on a different orbit Credit: TU Delft 5 Russians launched Cosmos-2576 on a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome, some 497 miles north of Moscow Credit: East2West 5 The 14F150 Nivelir-type satellite was deployed into a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) - and has presumably been stalking the US space asset since 2022. It is believed to have the capacity to constantly monitor enemy spy satellites and potentially shoot them down if needed. Space program researchers have now detected a new object that appeared to have separated from the Russian inspector satellite on June 26. The new flying object, named 2025-089C or simply Object C, appeared to be a subsatellite that was launched by Kosmos-2558. It was filmed on 28 June 2025 from Leiden, the Netherlands, using a powerful astronomy camera. The clip shows Kosmos 2558 passing through the frame. Just 16 seconds later, Object C can be seen moving in the same direction but on a different orbit. It is believed that Object C is a highly manoeuvrable sub-satellite with onboard high-speed kinetic anti-satellite weapons. Two earlier Russian satellites of the same type, Kosmos-2519 and 2542, also released subsatellites, which were designated Cosmos-2521 and 2543. Bart Hendrickx, a long-time space researcher and Russian space program expert, wrote in his blog: "Both of those [Russian] satellites showed significant manoeuvring capability and each fired a high-speed projectile that was interpreted by the Pentagon as an anti-satellite weapon. Billionaire battle goes interstellar as Musk v Bezos ignites 21st-century space race - who will win? "This happened when they were flying in the vicinity of other Russian satellites." Last year, Putin launched a terrifying weapon system into space capable of killing other satellites. The Pentagon said that the Russian counter-space weapon was put into the "same orbit" as a US government satellite - and is likely tracking the space device already. The Russian space object believed to be Cosmos-2576 was launched on May 16 on a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome, some 497 miles north of Moscow. It is now following American spy satellite USA 314, operated by the US National Reconnaissance Office. An unofficial Russian source claimed the launch carried a "secret military device". While it was previously reported as a Russian space satellite, the US has now warned it could be a counter-space weapon capable of attacking other such tech. Pentagon spokesman Brig Gen Pat Ryder said: "Russia launched a satellite into low Earth orbit that we assess is likely a counter-space weapon. Terrifying space weapons of the future Rods from God A strange but utterly terrifying weapon has been dubbed 'rods from the God' and is based on the concept of creating man-made meteorites that can be guided towards the enemy. Instead of using rocks, rods the size of telephone poles are deployed. These would be made out of tungsten — a rare metal that can stand the intense heat generated by entering Earth's atmosphere. One satellite fires the rods towards the Earth's atmosphere while the other steers them to a target on the ground. Reaching speeds of 7000mph they hit the ground with the force of a small nuclear weapon — but crucially creating no radiation fall out. As bizarre as it sounds, a US Congressional report recently revealed the military has been pushing ahead with the kinetic space weapons. Molten metal cannons This intriguing idea is being developed by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). It is called the Magneto Hydrodynamic Explosive Munition or MAHEM. This game changing rail-gun can fire a jet of molten metal, hurled through space at several hundred miles per second by the most powerful electromagnets ever built. The molten metal can then morph into an aerodynamic slug during flight and pierce through another spacecraft or satellite and a munition explodes inside. Space force ships Already the United States is powering head with its spacecraft, although China is busy developing one of their own. The top-secret American XS-1 is under development by DARPA. It can travel ten times the speed of sound and launch missiles. Meanwhile an unmanned craft is currently being developed in the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre in Mianyang, Sichuan province, which is also known as Base 29. "It was deployed into the same orbit as a US government satellite and assessments further indicate characteristics resembling previously deployed counter space payloads from 2019 and 2022." "We will continue to monitor the situation ... we have a responsibility to be ready to protect and defend the space domain and ensure continuous and uninterrupted support to the joint and combined force." Russia's Roskosmos state space agency said the launch was "in the interests of the defence ministry of the Russian Federation". In 2023, US intelligence chiefs warned that Russia is planning to launch nukes into space that would destroy satellites in a "grave" threat to the world's security. Military experts have warned that Putin would take the "suicidal" decision to launch the deadly weapons if he felt his grip on power was being threatened by Ukraine and the West. Mad despot Putin has already tested orbital weapons designed for blasting Western kits - such as the anti-satellite weapon, Cosmos 2543.
India Today
28-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
Dutch researchers redesign speculum, gynaec medical tool unchanged for 185 years
A medical tool used since the Roman Empire for gynaecological exams just got its first meaningful upgrade, and it's all thanks to a team of women-led design researchers in the pelvic exams being key to women's health, the tools used for them haven't evolved much. In fact, the vaginal speculum -- often described as the 'duckbill' -- as remained more or less the same since the big reason? Women's healthcare is notoriously underfunded. A 2023 Deloitte report found that only 1% of healthcare R&D investment globally goes towards female-specific conditions. But that might be starting to Izcara Gual, a recent graduate, and researcher Tamara Hoveling, both from TU Delft, a technical university in Netherlands, have now developed a completely new speculum design, called promises better comfort, less anxiety, better visibility, and a more user-friendly experience for both patients and ROMAN TIMES TO TU DELFT LABSThe speculum has a long and uncomfortable history. Its earliest versions date back to ancient Rome, where instruments resembling metal spoons were it was J Marion Sims -- the 19th-century 'father of gynaecology' -- who popularised the duckbill-shaped speculum made of metal, based on a bent tested his devices on enslaved Black women without anaesthesia, and the tool's design remained largely untouched for over a today, many women describe it as cold, invasive, and deeply uncomfortable. The shape and sounds can trigger anxiety and Ariadna put it, even more than the pain that comes with inserting or removing the device, 'It is about the 'pistol' shape, the cold and uncomfortable feeling, the emotions.'That's what inspired her and Tamara to create Lilium. This speculum that uses soft materials and a flower-inspired design to ease both physical and psychological LILIUM: A FLOWER, NOT A DUCKBILLThe Lilium speculum is made of semi-flexible, medical-grade TPV rubber. It consists of two main parts: a three-petal insert shaped like a flower, and a gentle tube mechanism to push the petals apart for can either insert it themselves, like a tampon, or have a healthcare provider do it. TU Delft's new speculum design 'Lilium' replaces the cold metal duckbill (l) with a petal-inspired design (r). (Photos: Initial testing has shown promising results. Eight patients and seven healthcare professionals (including five nurses and two doctors) tried it out using a pelvic verdict: better visibility of the cervix -- especially in obese patients with a folding wall where traditional duckbill tools struggle -- and a much more comfortable experience eight patients preferred Lilium over the traditional is also eco-friendlier than existing tools. With just two parts (compared to nine in many standard speculums), it's easier to clean, sterilise and IT MATTERS: THE PROBLEM WITH TODAY'S TOOLSAround 35% of women report experiencing pain, fear or shame during vaginal examinations, and around a third cite fear, embarrassment or anxiety.A Turkish study found that up to 76% of women described pelvic exams as physically uncomfortable, while 80% said they felt emotional distress before feelings often lead to women avoiding or postponing crucial check-ups, increasing the risk of undetected infections or cervical REDESIGN ATTEMPTS: DID THEY WORK?Lilium isn't the first attempt to rethink the speculum, but it might be the most in 2017, a design firm named Frog, led by Hailey Stewart, introduced 'Yona', a silicone-based, three-leaf design that aimed to be quieter, warmer, and gentler. But it never reached came Nella, a startup that created a thinner, sleeker duckbill-style speculum with a silent open-and-close mechanism. While it stuck to the original blade concept, Nella gained more traction, and is now used in some gynaecological both these alternatives still largely retained the duckbill say it's not always the lack of innovation -- it's the challenge of breaking into a system where medical tools rarely why Lilium, backed by a university and already tested with healthcare professionals, might just succeed where others didn' NEXT FOR LILIUM?The prototype has already won the Young Medical Delta Thesis Award. Ariadna and Tamara are now seeking partners to help take Lilium from prototype to practice, and distribute it more widely.'We can make pelvic examinations safer, more pleasant, and the patient more self-confident,' says that the duckbill speculum hasn't really changed in over 150 years, Lilium could be the reset button patients and providers have been waiting for.- Ends
Business Wire
26-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Delft University of Technology Joins Dassault Systemes' 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Center of Excellence Program, Boosting Tomorrow's Aerospace Workforce
VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8, and Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands' largest university of technology, today announced that TU Delft became the 28 th member of Dassault Systèmes' 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Center of Excellence global program, creating a unique opportunity for Dutch students and professionals to develop in-demand digital skills in aerospace, manufacturing automation and other sectors. The 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Center of Excellence label recognizes TU Delft as the first educational institution in the Netherlands to provide proven expertise in using and deploying Dassault Systèmes' cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE platform for experiential and lifelong learning. TU Delft also becomes the first member to adhere to the revised charter of the program, which distinguishes a member's knowledge of virtual twins and the best practices emerging in generative industries. 'We're proud to become the first 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Center of Excellence in the Netherlands. It helps us to meet the growing demand for skilled talent to lead the digital transformation and accelerated innovation for a wide range of industries, from aviation to maritime, and the smart and flexible automation of manufacturing,' said Henri Werij, Dean Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, TU Delft. Stronger collaboration between industry, academia and technology leaders is crucial to develop innovative learning approaches that enhance employability and accelerate upskilling. Today's aerospace industry, in particular, requires highly skilled labor to sustain a culture of innovation, but faces challenges in replacing a retiring workforce to reduce the skills gap. Since its launch in 2021, the 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Center of Excellence program has trained thousands of graduates. As a 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Center of Excellence, TU Delft will develop programs bridging education and practice at SAM XL, its campus-based field lab focused on smart advanced manufacturing. Starting in September 2025, programs will engage university departments, applied sciences institutions and industry partners, applying the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to industry-relevant use cases. Students will learn to work with virtual twins, supported by platform-certified instructors, to prepare them for evolving and future jobs, while professionals in the lifelong learning curriculum of the university can upskill. 'We're thrilled to welcome TU Delft and its SAM XL field lab into our 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Center of Excellence program. This partnership leverages our ambition to provide 3D UNIV+RSES that combine virtual twins, industry-driven AI, and real-world applications to prepare future engineers for the generative economy. By co-developing programs with industry partners at SAM XL, TU Delft is helping close the skills gap and accelerate digital transformation. Together, we are shaping the next generation of aerospace excellence,' said Elisa Prisner, Executive Vice-President, Industry, Marketing and Sustainability, Dassault Systèmes. About Dassault Systèmes Dassault Systèmes is a catalyst for human progress. Since 1981, the company has pioneered virtual worlds to improve real life for consumers, patients and citizens. With Dassault Systèmes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 370,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, can collaborate, imagine and create sustainable innovations that drive meaningful impact. For more information, visit: About TU Delft Delft University of Technology is the Netherlands' oldest and largest university of technology. The university has a strong foundation. As builder of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneer in areas such as biotech, aerospace and maritime engineering TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. TU Delft stands for world-class education, research and innovation to meet challenges in energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. Generations of Delft engineers have proven to be enterprising problem solvers in business and social contexts. SAM XL SAM XL (Smart Advanced Manufacturing XL) is a manufacturing automation expertise centre that forms a unique liaison between TU Delft faculties, the industry and suppliers. The engineers develop software and hardware to enhance the intelligence, connectivity and flexibility of industrial robots. This industrial-scale automation lab functions as an incubator to validate and demonstrate the robot technology for executing complex and varied tasks on large structures. SAM XL also provides training to uplift digital skills in executing automation projects.
Boston Globe
09-06-2025
- Science
- Boston Globe
At Brown, engineers work on laser-powered lightsails that could make it to Mars in hours instead of months
A highly reflective lightsail pushed by light energy in the same way sailboats are pushed by the wind could travel as fast as one-fifth the speed of light, reducing the time it takes to reach nearby stars from a few thousand years to a few decades, according to Miguel Bessa, an associate professor in Brown's School of Engineering who co-leads research with Richard Norte, an associate professor at TU Delft. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up 'The aim of it is to try to make sails that are so thin and so reflective, which are hard to make at the same time, because what you're talking about are sails that need to be about a thousand times thinner than a human hair,' Norte told the Globe. 'Once you get to this very low mass, then you can really push lightsails very quickly.' Advertisement A machine used to create the ultra-thin holes in a lightsail designed by Brown University and Delft University of Technology. Image courtesy of Norte lab, TU Delft and Bessa lab, Brown University. A piece of the lightsail designed by Brown University and Delft University of Technology researchers say may one day help reach another star system in a lifetime. Image courtesy of Norte lab, TU Delft and Bessa lab, Brown University. The project builds on research started by the Bessa and Norte discussed their partnership with the Globe and explained how working together has opened their eyes to innovative ideas in their respective disciplines. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Advertisement Q: What are lightsails and how have they been used before? Norte: There actually have been sails deployed in space called 'solar sails' and generally these are using the light from the sun. These have actually been Bessa: Because that laser has so much energy, it's very controlled light. We can impress a lot of speed in the lightsail (about one-fifth the speed of light, or 670 million mph). Compared with — twin spacecraft sent to explore our solar system in 1977, which are now in interstellar space — how could your research speed up space exploration? Norte: If you were to take Voyager's speed, which has been going for about 47 years and just left the solar system, and have it go to the nearest star, which is Alpha Centauri (about 25 trillion miles away), it would take about 10,000 years to get there. Whereas, if you started to make these sails out of these thin materials that we're developing, you can really cut that time down to about 20 years. Something in the order of about a generation rather than, the entirety of humanity. ... Even if you just look within our solar system, it already gets very interesting what we can do with what we've developed. Let's say, Mars. The fastest fly-by probe that we've ever made to Mars is about four months. But with the sails that we're making, we could cut that time down to about 32 hours. Advertisement Bessa: There are some challenges that are remaining in making this happen. And it's very unlikely that the university or a group of universities, like in this case, would be able to make it get to Alpha Centauri. But maybe it's not that far away. The bits are there; you just need the right investment and professionals in aerospace to really scale it up. What has been one of the biggest challenges in fabricating a laser-powered sail versatile enough to survive space travel? Bessa: The holes that you have to create to interface with light and reflect it in the right way, they have to be extremely small. In the light sail that Richard (Norte) fabricated with a student, you have the 60 centimeters by 60 centimeters membrane, but you have billions of holes. Billions, right? With a 'B.' It's not easy to fabricate this in a realistic timescale with low enough costs to make it reasonable. That's something we haven't seen before. Richard really was the first one to show it. Norte: It's counterintuitive that you'd poke holes in something and make it very reflective, but we designed them in such a way that they interfere with the light they reflect. A process for designing ultra-thin membranes with billions of nanoscale holes may one day help small spacecraft reach the stars. Image courtesy of Norte lab, TU Delft and Bessa lab, Brown University. What sparked the idea for this project? Norte: Funny enough, I actually saw it in the Advertisement Bessa : The only thing I find funny is that I'm a mechanical engineer, and because of Richard I've been working on photonics with him on these crazy projects and I'm having a blast, really. Do you see a non-space use for this, too? Norte: In terms of the optical element itself, I see many uses. But this idea of pushing something with a laser is because you really need long distances for this to accelerate it. In terms of Earth-based things, mirrors are a special element that are useful for high-precision measurements. So, the optical element itself is interesting for many different applications. But the idea of pushing these sails to fast distances, I'm not sure that I can say that I can think of other things to use this for outside of space exploration. What else is there to explore in our solar system? Norte: I think people think that the solar system, for instance, is all figured out, right? It's not. I think there's a moon around Saturn where there's maybe oceans of methane. Wouldn't it be great to send microchips into it? That's a huge mission to send anything there. People are measuring gravitational anomalies out around the outer edge of our solar system, like past Pluto. There might even be another planet or maybe some kind of black hole that we can't see. We've only reached it with Advertisement What do you need to do to complete this project successfully? Norte: We got quite a good amount of funding to try to do our first few launches in Earth's gravity of these sails. You can think of it as getting a rocket and firing it off but chaining it down so you can see what the dynamics look like and how it works. We're trying to do actually some launches with a high-powered laser. I have students in the lab burning a lot of things, blowing up some stuff with lasers. I don't know if you're familiar with this movie 'Weird Science' from the '80s, that's what my labs turned into. A lot of high-powered lasers and people trying to lift giant objects. We're trying to lift a macroscopic sail that we can see with our eyes. Carlos Muñoz can be reached at
