An off-the-shelf camera could help us find more black holes smashing together

space.com Jul 25, 2026

An off-the-shelf camera could help us find more black holes smashing together

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Jul 25, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

A team led by Jonathan Richardson at the University of California, Riverside has devised a low‑cost fix for a subtle thermal distortion in LIGO’s main mirrors. By attaching commercially available infrared cameras and feeding the images into existing thermal‑optics models, the researchers can map nanometer‑scale warping caused by laser‑induced heating and apply precisely targeted counter‑heating. The method, which requires no new hardware development, is slated for inclusion in LIGO’s next upgrade and is projected to extend the detector’s observable range by about 33 million light‑years. Because detection volume grows with the cube of range, the modest gain translates into a dramatically larger survey of the cosmos, enabling the observation of many more distant black‑hole mergers. The approach is also slated for integration into the design of the future Cosmic Explorer observatory.

💡 Why It Matters

· Extending LIGO’s reach unlocks a vastly larger volume of space, dramatically increasing the number of detectable gravitational‑wave events.
· It also demonstrates that high‑impact scientific upgrades can arise from repurposing everyday technology.

Capsules Space

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I’m not an astronaut, but I went to the International Space Station…

A science journalist recounts his first “trip” to the International Space Station via the virtual‑reality exhibit “Space Explorers: The ISS Experience” at Manhattan’s Eclipsio. Wearing a VR headset, he navigates a life‑size, translucent model of the ISS, guided by floating hand‑trackers that mimic his movements. The experience blends real footage—such as clips of astronauts in the cupola and a training session with Artemis II specialist Christina Koch—with interactive orbs that trigger location‑specific videos. Although the digital interior is not a perfect replica, its scale matches the actual station, allowing visitors to float past the robotic arm, view Earth through the cupola’s windows, and feel the station’s vast solar panels. The exhibit, produced by Félix Lajeunesse’s Felix & Paul Studios, required roughly two years of preparation and on‑orbit camera work to capture authentic visuals.

💡 By turning authentic ISS footage into an immersive, affordable VR walk‑through, the exhibit democratizes space exposure, turning a once‑exclusive experience into a public educational tool.

therobotreport.com · Jul 26

Magmotor makes motors for a changing world for 150+ years

Magmotor Technologies Inc., founded in 1876 as Kendrick and Davis, celebrates its 150th year while announcing a expansion that aims to triple revenue and staff. The Worcester, Massachusetts firm continues to produce brushed AC and DC fan motors for aerospace, defense and high‑tech customers, many of which have operated for 15‑20 years without failure. Long‑tenured employees such as production manager Jamie Willigar and design engineer Scott Cerra underscore the company’s deep expertise. Although most manufacturing shifted to Chinese partners after the 1990s, all design and final assembly remain in‑house, and Magmotor plans to re‑introduce limited U.S. production. Its brush motors power NASA rovers, BattleBots, ship‑cleaning robots and other niche applications, and the firm is exploring new AC and brushless models.

💡 By scaling up while reshoring key assembly, Magmotor positions itself to meet rising demand for reliable brushed motors in emerging robotics and space missions, securing a niche that many competitors have abandoned.

sarawaktribune.com · Jul 26

Sarawak reaches for space: Why the New Space Economy matters?

The global space industry has transitioned from government-dominated exploration to a commercially driven New Space Economy, characterized by private innovation and reusable technologies. Historically restricted to superpowers due to high costs, space access is now expanding through smaller satellites and diverse applications. The OECD defines this sector as encompassing public and private activities creating value through space exploration and utilization. A joint report by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey & Company valued the global space economy at approximately US$630 billion in 2023, projecting growth to US$1.8 trillion by 2035. This expansion, outpacing global GDP, relies heavily on downstream applications in communications, agriculture, and disaster management. Consequently, the industry’s fastest growth occurs on Earth through satellite-enabled services. Amid this transformation, Sarawak is strategically positioning itself to participate in this rapidly evolving global market, leveraging emerging opportunities within the broader technological and economic landscape.

💡 Sarawak’s entry into the space sector signals a strategic pivot toward high-value technological integration rather than traditional aerospace manufacturing. This move allows the region to capitalize on downstream data applications that drive modern economic sectors, bypassing the prohibitive costs of physical space infrastructure.

spacenews.com · Jul 26

NASA and ESA facilities avoid major damage from wildfires in Spain

NASA and ESA ground stations in Spain escaped serious harm from wildfires that swept the Madrid region in late July. NASA evacuated the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC) on July 24 after a blaze approached the site, but an emergency‑response inspection on July 25 reported only pavement and vegetation damage, with antennas and buildings intact. The complex hosts a 70‑meter dish and five 34‑meter antennas that support the Deep Space Network’s “follow‑the‑sun” operations, now being handled by the Goldstone and Canberra sites. ESA’s nearby 35‑meter antenna near Cerberos also appears unharmed, though access for inspection remains limited. Personnel at both facilities were safely accounted for. The fire, part of a blaze emergency affecting Spain and France, threatened space infrastructure.

💡 Continuous Deep Space Network coverage is essential for real‑time command and data flow to active interplanetary missions, and any disruption tests the resilience of this critical global communications chain.

en.tempo.co · Jul 25

Starship Completes 1st Test Flight Since SpaceX IPO

SpaceX’s Starship megarocket completed its first test flight since the company’s June IPO, launching from Starbase, Texas, on Friday. The 122‑meter vehicle placed 20 Starlink satellites into sub‑orbital trajectory before re‑entering and burning up as planned, while the booster splashed down intact in the Indian Ocean, transmitting telemetry to engineers. Elon Musk announced the success on X, noting the craft remained whole and floated after splashdown. This marks Starship’s 13th flight, the first to avoid mid‑air breakup or fire that plagued earlier attempts. SpaceX said the hour‑long mission will yield critical data for expanding its satellite internet constellation, targeting deployment of V3 satellites to reach remote regions by year‑end. The test also demonstrated improved heat‑shield performance and guidance accuracy significantly.

💡 Proving Starship’s reusable splashdown and payload delivery clears the way for rapid, low‑cost broadband expansion to underserved regions.

indiavision.com · Jul 25

SpaceX launches massive Starship rocket in first test flight since IPO

SpaceX lifted off its integrated Starship system from Hawthorne, California, in the company’s first test flight since completing a initial public offering last month. The launch combined the Starship spacecraft with the Super Heavy booster, a super‑heavy‑lift vehicle intended to carry crew and cargo to low‑Earth orbit, the Moon and eventually Mars. Engineers aim to collect data on ascent performance, stage separation and the new Raptor engines under extreme conditions, although the precise trajectory remains undisclosed. Earlier prototype flights have informed design tweaks, and this mission seeks to validate the fully reusable architecture that underpins SpaceX’s long‑term interplanetary strategy. Investors and industry observers will scrutinize the results as a barometer of the firm’s ability to deliver on its post‑IPO promises.

💡 The launch tests whether the influx of public capital can accelerate SpaceX’s timeline for reusable deep‑space transport, a key factor in its Mars colonization agenda.