NASA’s Imaging X‑ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) measured the magnetic fields of the pulsar PSR J1101‑6101 in the Lighthouse Nebula for the first time, providing new insight into the structure of extreme cosmic objects.

PSR J1101‑6101 is a neutron star that spins 16 times per second and possesses a strong magnetic field. Neutron stars are the collapsed cores of massive stars and serve as natural laboratories for extreme physics.

In June 2025 IXPE observed the nebula for nearly 18 days. Astronomers examined two X‑ray offshoots, a filament and a trail, extending from the pulsar. The filament, the longer offshoot, and the trail, the shorter offshoot, were studied to understand how high‑energy electrons interact with the system.

Particles emitted by the pulsar create a bow shock as they collide with interstellar gas, trapping most particles behind the shock and forming the turbulent trail. Researchers had hypothesized since 2008 that the highest‑energy particles escape the bow shock and travel along magnetic field lines, producing the filament. Jack Dinsmore, a Stanford undergraduate student, said the study aimed to test the theory that high‑energy particles escape the bow shock and that a polarization measurement showing the magnetic field aligns with the filament would serve as a smoking gun.

The team used advanced analysis techniques to extract polarization information from the faint nebula. Polarization measurements of the filament and the pulsar emission were obtained. The analysis confirmed with more than 99 % confidence that the magnetic field aligns with the direction of particle flow. Roger Romani, a Stanford University professor, noted that many filament models assume strong magnetic turbulence, while the high polarization degree indicates lower turbulence than such models require.

Radio observations indicated that the magnetic field at X‑ray wavelengths is parallel to the trail, while at radio wavelengths it is nearly perpendicular. Niccolò Bucciantini of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics said the differing field orientations provide compelling evidence that particles of different energies occupy separate regions, implying multiple acceleration mechanisms.

The IXPE mission is a joint effort by NASA and the Italian Space Agency, with partners in 12 countries, and is managed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and BAE Systems with the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics.

The results indicate a structured magnetic environment in the Lighthouse Nebula and raise questions about the mechanisms that accelerate particles at different energies.

Washington — The U.S. Space Force completed a major reorganization of its acquisition organization, establishing nine mission-focused Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs) to manage the purchase, integration and modernization of space capabilities. The structure shifts from a program‑centric model to one organized around operational missions, allowing each PAE to oversee families of systems such as launch services, satellite communications, missile warning and space combat power. The memorandum signed on June 22 by Thomas Ainsworth, performing the duties of the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, states that PAEs are empowered to build their organizations, drive accountability and incorporate innovative technology. The portfolios include Space Access; Space-Based Sensing and Targeting; Missile Warning and Tracking; Infrastructure; Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications and Space Intelligence; Satellite Communications and Positioning, Navigation and Timing; Advanced Capabilities; Electromagnetic Warfare and Cyber; and Space Combat Power. Each PAE is assigned a leader, most often a colonel or a senior official, and reports acquisition decisions to the Secretary of the Air Force or the Space Force chief. The reorganization aims to accelerate procurement by giving portfolio leaders discretion to choose between developing new hardware and buying commercially available solutions, and to adjust requirements more flexibly. Officials say the new model also reduces the rigidity of requirement definition, allowing trade‑offs across mission areas and faster transition from development to operational use. The transition was completed in June after assigning leaders and defining responsibilities for each portfolio.

NASA said Anil Menon, a NASA astronaut, will launch on July 14 aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft to the International Space Station, accompanied by cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. The launch is scheduled for 10:47 a.m. EDT (7:47 p.m. Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Menon, Dubrov and Kikina will spend approximately eight months aboard the station as part of Expedition 74/75 before returning to Earth in April 2027. This will be Menon’s first spaceflight and the second for Dubrov and Kikina.

During the mission Menon will conduct research on semiconductor crystal production, augmented reality ultrasound, blood flow changes in microgravity, and bioprinting of vascular constructs. The work is intended to advance technologies for high‑performance computing, artificial intelligence, medical devices and to reduce dependence on ground support for future missions.

After docking at 1:56 p.m. at the Prichal module, the three will join the existing crew that includes NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud‑Sverchkov, Sergei Mikaev and Andrey Fedyaev.

NASA will provide live coverage beginning at 9:45 a.m. EDT on July 14 via NASA+, Amazon Prime and YouTube, with launch at 10:47 a.m., rendezvous and docking coverage starting at 1:10 p.m., docking at 1:56 p.m., and hatch opening and welcome coverage at 3:30 p.m.

The mission marks continued use of the International Space Station for scientific research and technology development, supporting NASA’s goals for low‑Earth‑orbit commercial activities, the Artemis program and eventual missions to the Moon and Mars.

UK research laboratories will face £160m in savings over the next four years, leading to budget reductions for major facilities such as the Diamond Light Source and Daresbury Laboratory. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) says the savings are required because spending forecasts show an inability to fund planned research increases up to 2030. Overall R&D spending is set to rise to a record £22.6bn annually by 2029‑30, while UKRI’s share is expected to grow from about £9bn to nearly £10bn over the same period. Prof Sir Ian Chapman, head of UKRI, said the plan is to focus investment where it makes the largest impact. Funding priorities include artificial intelligence with £1.6bn, quantum technologies with about £1bn, and a national supercomputer with £750m. As well as scientific impact, the funding criteria consider long‑term economic growth. The money for scientific work at national laboratories is projected to fall by well over half, while overall lab and estate budgets decline less because of increased spending on building repairs. The Prospect Union said the cuts represent a hammer blow to UK science and noted their role in regional business ecosystems and local job creation. At Daresbury Laboratory, the Accelerator Science and Technology Centre will see an annual budget reduction of £8m by 2029, and the Scientific Computing Department will reduce access to computing power by £10m. The Boulby Underground Laboratory’s budget will be cut by 40%, though the UK will remain a leading contributor to CERN, increasing its subscription by 19% over four years. Multidisciplinary research facilities will have their budgets reduced by around 15% and will receive transition funding from a £100m pot to seek commercial income. The Diamond Light Source may cut beam time by up to a fifth, and its planned upgrade is now uncertain. ISIS Neutron and Muon Source will run for fewer hours, shut some instruments, and close muon experiments. Part of the Central Laser Facility, which supports biology and chemistry research, may close unless alternative funding is found. Cuts to particle physics and astronomy experiments at CERN have been reduced to 2.7% after lobbying, but significant reductions remain due to rising research costs. Daniel Rathbone, Deputy Executive Director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, said the cuts could hinder long‑term economic growth and research capability. The overall impact of the savings on the economy remains to be seen.

The Exploration Company, a German space transportation firm, announced the creation of TEC Federal, a U.S.-based entity, and the opening of a Rapid Innovation Lab in Houston, Texas. The company said the new entity and lab will provide engineering and testing capabilities needed to compete for U.S. government contracts. The company is developing the Nyx reusable spacecraft, with a cargo version slated for an orbital flight test in 2028 that would deliver supplies to the International Space Station. Initial development of the cargo variant received 25 million euros from the European Space Agency’s LEO Cargo Return initiative. In a July 8 press release, the company explained that TEC Federal and the Houston lab will enable it to access NASA expertise and pursue government programs. The lab, located near Johnson Space Center, contains a full-scale mockup of the crewed version of Nyx, which will be used to refine crew interfaces. 'Houston gives us direct access to the people and expertise that have built and operated human spaceflight systems for decades,' Hélène Huby, chief executive of The Exploration Company, said in the release. 'We’re excited to invest and expand around that — engineers, operators, and astronauts working together and moving quickly towards building a crew capsule.' Funding for the program includes 25 million euros from ESA and a potential additional 200 million euros for Phase 2, which the agency is reviewing. The company is considering financing options for a crewed version of Nyx. With its Houston expansion, The Exploration Company is positioning itself closer to NASA and a larger pool of U.S. government funding as it determines how to finance the crewed version of Nyx.

NASA engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory tested a new spacecraft sensor in a two‑week field campaign in April. Scientists flew a World War II‑era aircraft at an altitude of 1,500 feet (457 m) over the Arctic Ocean, collecting data with multiple instruments designed to measure sea ice thickness and snow depth. The sensor, a prototype for a microwave radiometer, will launch in 2026. Flights were timed to coincide with satellite passes, allowing coordinated observations of the same ice features from air and space. The campaign covered roughly 50 flight hours and included routes near Inuvik and Cambridge Bay. Researchers from NASA, the European Space Agency, Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute, and Canada’s University of Calgary participated. In Inuvik, the team coordinated with NASA’s Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission, which can also measure sea ice above the waterline. In Cambridge Bay, flights intersected with NASA’s ICESat‑2 and ESA’s CryoSat‑2 missions. The effort aims to improve estimates of sea ice thickness, supporting navigation, weather, ocean research, and future satellite observations. According to Sahra Kacimi, JPL science lead, warming Arctic conditions may affect public safety and economic interests. She noted that combining space, airborne, and ground measurements is essential for validating algorithms for current and future missions. The campaign also provided an opportunity to engage local communities and discuss how changing ice conditions impact Arctic residents.

Pulse Space, a Bellevue, Washington startup founded in 2022, received a $40 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to develop its laser‑based technology for transmitting power and data between spacecraft. The contract will fund development of the technology but did not disclose specific military applications. Founder and chief executive Karl Stedman said on July 9 that the company is honored to partner with the Space Force. Pulse Space is developing laser systems that can wirelessly transmit electrical power and data through optical links, enabling satellites to share power and communicate via high‑bandwidth connections. The award is part of the Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD indefinite‑delivery, indefinite‑quantity contract, which allows competing firms to compete for task orders supporting missile defense initiatives, including elements of the Pentagon’s Golden Dome architecture. Pulse Space previously received a $1.9 million Small Business Innovation Research contract to advance high‑power laser systems for long‑range, precise beam transmission, addressing challenges such as atmospheric turbulence and platform constraints. In its SBIR proposal, the company outlined plans for a low‑Earth‑orbit satellite network equipped with high‑power lasers to provide secure, high‑bandwidth communications and inter‑spacecraft energy transfer. Pulse Space announced a partnership with Scout Space last year to demonstrate laser‑enabled directed energy transmission between spacecraft.

ESA held a five‑day Navigation Training Course in Belgium from 22 to 26 June 2026 for 30 students from Europe and Canada. Organized by ESA Academy and ESA Navigation, the program introduced participants to Global Navigation Satellite Systems, emphasizing Europe’s Galileo system. Twenty ESA experts guided the students through the design, construction, and operation of Galileo, its role in European autonomy, and its applications in daily life. The curriculum also covered Galileo’s second generation, the Celeste system for low‑Earth‑orbit positioning, navigation and timing, and the Moonlight system for lunar navigation. Hands‑on sessions provided practical experience demonstrating how PNT technologies are used in real‑world scenarios. Participants left with a foundational understanding of satellite navigation and the opportunity to help shape future PNT technologies.