California · Regional Lead · 2026-10-14
Ames prepares electronics for NASA’s experimental lunar batteries
California’s NASA center is contributing flight-support hardware to the SPEARS development effort.
NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley is developing test boards and electronics for the agency’s SPEARS solid-state battery project, NASA reported October 14.
The work is intended to prepare experimental batteries for spaceflight and testing in space environments. Glenn Research Center in Ohio leads the project, while Langley in Virginia has performed thermal-vacuum tests of small cells.
NASA’s reported results distinguish operation from survival: prototypes could operate at very low temperatures, but after more severe cold they would need to be warmed before supplying power.
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World · 2026-10-15
Schengen system adds alerts based on trusted external security information
Member states can enter partner-supplied information on terrorism and serious crime with Europol support.
The European Commission announced an additional information-alert capability in the Schengen Information System on October 15. It allows participating member states to make trusted information from non-EU countries and international organizations available through the system.
The new category covers information concerning suspected terrorists, foreign terrorist fighters and suspects in serious-crime investigations. Europol supports member states as they use information received from external partners.
Read articleScience · 2026-10-15
Dragon docks at space station with research cargo and final solar arrays
NASA confirmed the October 15 arrival of more than 6,300 pounds of supplies and equipment.
A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft docked with the International Space Station at 10:27 a.m. Eastern on October 15, NASA confirmed. It arrived at the space-facing port of the Harmony module on SpaceX’s 35th commercial resupply mission for the agency.
The shipment includes more than 6,300 pounds of food, equipment and research materials, together with the final pair of station roll-out solar arrays. The arrays have arrived but still require later installation.
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