Space News, December 2025
a day ago
- Moss spores (Physcomitrium patens) survived 283 days on the outside of the ISS, with over 80% surviving direct exposure to vacuum, radiation, and extreme temperature swings; 86-89% of survivors germinated normally on Earth.
- The moss's protective sporangium, evolved 450-500 million years ago for land transition, provided natural shielding, making it a candidate for terraforming Moon and Mars by producing oxygen and improving soil.
- Moss spores showed about 1,000 times more UV resistance than tardigrades, challenging the common perception of tardigrades as the ultimate space survivors.
- Google's Project Suncatcher plans AI data centers in orbit using solar-powered satellites, but faces major challenges: cooling in space (requires kilometer-long radiators) and severe space debris collision risks (11000+ satellites, thousands of avoidance maneuvers).
- The risk of Kessler Syndrome is accelerated by large constellations, where debris collisions could render orbits unusable; Google's proposed orbit is already congested with Starlink satellites.
- Christmas in space history includes the first song played in space (Jingle Bells on Gemini 6), Apollo 8's Genesis reading and Earthrise photo, ISS traditions, and the bizarre 2008 film 'Christmas on Mars' by The Flaming Lips.