As you must be aware, Airbus has grounded and ordered software updates (downgrades) for ~6,000 A320 family aircraft — more than half its global fleet — after discovering that bit flips in flight computer memory caused by solar flares can cause sudden pitch-downs and drop in altitude.
The software for the ELAC computers must be reverted to version L103 from L104 before the next flight. Apparently L104 introduced some vulnerabilities in the handling of corrupted data.
https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/airbus-flags-a320-flight-control-risk-from-solar-radiation-possible-grounding
1/n
The Airbus Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) states that reversion from software L104 to L103+ for ELAC B units is mandatory and flights without the software change will be grounded.
The software upgrade cannot be done over-the-air or a wireless network. The ~3-hour procedure requires direct cabling to special equipment.
ELAC = Elevator and Aileron Computer. A pair of such units control the elevators and ailerons on the aircraft.
https://avherald.com/files/AOT-A27N022-25-00.pdf
2/n
As you must be aware, Airbus has grounded and ordered software updates (downgrades) for ~6,000 A320 family aircraft — more than half its global fleet — after discovering that bit flips in flight computer memory caused by solar flares can cause sudden pitch-downs and drop in altitude.
The software for the ELAC computers must be reverted to version L103 from L104 before the next flight. Apparently L104 introduced some vulnerabilities in the handling of corrupted data.
https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/airbus-flags-a320-flight-control-risk-from-solar-radiation-possible-grounding
1/n
28 November, 1967 - 24-year old physicist and PhD student Jocelyn Bell Burnell discovered the first radio pulsars.
She prototyped and helped build the array telescope which consisted of wires and cables strung over a space the size of 57 tennis courts.
The subsequent 1974 "No-Bell" Prize in Physics was awarded to her advisor and another physicist but she was left out because she was a graduate student (and a woman).
https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/journeysofdiscovery-pulsars
1/n
Colorful artwork adorned the lower section of the Soyuz rocket at Baikonur.
The artwork was created by children undergoing cancer treatment from 50 cities across Russia and 14 countries. 130 of them attended the launch.
"Rocket of Dreams" is a space art therapy program run by the UNITY Foundation, which partners with organizations like Roscosmos and MoonDAO to bring hope to children and adults with cancer.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/albums/72177720330533678/with/54943853078
https://sputnikmediabank.com/media/9057706.html
https://www.moondao.com/proposal/181
8/n
Few pics of the artwork by young cancer patients being installed on the Soyuz rocket in the assembly building at Baikonur.
Source: https://x.com/robert_savitsky/status/1991880664422224189
9/n
Everything looked fine during launch preparations for the Soyuz MS-28 mission to the ISS under blue skies at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
As in all launches from Baikonur, a Russian Orthodox Priest performed the customary blessing of the rocket and the mission.
Thankfully, the mission itself was successfully and all 3 astronauts arrived safely at the ISS.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/albums/72177720330533678/with/54948165793
7/n
Colorful artwork adorned the lower section of the Soyuz rocket at Baikonur.
The artwork was created by children undergoing cancer treatment from 50 cities across Russia and 14 countries. 130 of them attended the launch.
"Rocket of Dreams" is a space art therapy program run by the UNITY Foundation, which partners with organizations like Roscosmos and MoonDAO to bring hope to children and adults with cancer.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/albums/72177720330533678/with/54943853078
https://sputnikmediabank.com/media/9057706.html
https://www.moondao.com/proposal/181
8/n
It appears that during the launch of the Soyuz MS-28 crew vehicle to the ISS on Nov 27, the launch pad in Baikonur suffered severe damage.
The retractable mobile service platform, which sits underneath the launch pad and is used to service the tail end of the rocket, broke apart and collapsed into the flame duct below the pad.
It might take months or years to repair it. Until then, service to the ISS from Russia will be on hold.
☹
️
https://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur_r7_31.html#cabin
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=63952.0;all
6/n
Everything looked fine during launch preparations for the Soyuz MS-28 mission to the ISS under blue skies at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
As in all launches from Baikonur, a Russian Orthodox Priest performed the customary blessing of the rocket and the mission.
Thankfully, the mission itself was successfully and all 3 astronauts arrived safely at the ISS.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/albums/72177720330533678/with/54948165793
7/n
Current configuration of the International Space Station, including the newly arrived Soyuz MS-28.
Seven spacecraft are currently docked at the space station. The 8th spacecraft, the Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft, has been temporarily uninstalled from the Harmony module with the Canadarm2 robotic arm until Dec. 1.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/11/27/station-waits-to-welcome-to-new-crew-hatches-open-soon/
5/n
It appears that during the launch of the Soyuz MS-28 crew vehicle to the ISS on Nov 27, the launch pad in Baikonur suffered severe damage.
The retractable mobile service platform, which sits underneath the launch pad and is used to service the tail end of the rocket, broke apart and collapsed into the flame duct below the pad.
It might take months or years to repair it. Until then, service to the ISS from Russia will be on hold.
☹️
https://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur_r7_31.html#cabin
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=63952.0;all
6/n
25 years ago, on 2 November 2000, three crew members of the first expedition to the ISS arrived aboard a Soyuz TM-31 spacecraft.
In the next 5 months, 5 different spacecraft docked with it, bringing supplies and human visitors, including three visits by crewed Space Shuttles.
Left to right:
Flight Engineer Sergei K. Krikalev
Commander William M. (Bill) Shepherd
Soyuz Commander Yuri P. Gidzenko
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/expedition-1/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expedition_1
4/n
Current configuration of the International Space Station, including the newly arrived Soyuz MS-28.
Seven spacecraft are currently docked at the space station. The 8th spacecraft, the Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft, has been temporarily uninstalled from the Harmony module with the Canadarm2 robotic arm until Dec. 1.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/11/27/station-waits-to-welcome-to-new-crew-hatches-open-soon/
5/n
Happy Thanksgiving.
Let's enjoy some Lait de poule today, pasteurized of course.
Aka
Advocaat in Dutch-speaking Belgium
Eierpunsch in Germany
Zabaglione zabaglione (dessert) in Italy
Eggnog in the United Kingdom and the United States
https://www.consoglobe.com/lait-de-poule-cg
Image credit: https://journalagricom.ca/alimentation/2019/11/29/lait-de-poule-les-origines/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eggnog
#Thanksgiving
Astronauts currently onboard the ISS -
Front left to right:
Jonny Kim - NASA
Sergey Ryzhikov - Roscosmos
Alexey Zubritsky - Roscosmos
Back left to right:
Oleg Platonov - Roscosmos
Michael Fincke - NASA
Zena Cardman - NASA
Kimiya Yui - JAXA
New arrivals -
Left to right:
Chris Williams - NASA
Sergey Kud-Sverchkov - Roscosmos
Sergei Mikaev - Roscosmos
https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/iss25/
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/11/27/crew-from-nasa-roscosmos-launching-to-station-on-nasa/
3/n
25 years ago, on 2 November 2000, three crew members of the first expedition to the ISS arrived aboard a Soyuz TM-31 spacecraft.
In the next 5 months, 5 different spacecraft docked with it, bringing supplies and human visitors, including three visits by crewed Space Shuttles.
Left to right:
Flight Engineer Sergei K. Krikalev
Commander William M. (Bill) Shepherd
Soyuz Commander Yuri P. Gidzenko
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/expedition-1/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expedition_1
4/n
AkaSci 🛰
️