TURKIYE

Kangal And Soma B Thermal Power Plants: Privatization, Debt And Operational Challenges – Analysis




The Kangal Thermal Power Plant. Photo Credit: Konya Şeker Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.


November 8, 2026

By Haluk Direskeneli


Key Takeaways:

Electricity generation has stopped at Turkey’s 457 MW Kangal Thermal Power Plant after its coal contractor halted deliveries on 30 October 2026 over unpaid bills, while the related 990 MW Soma B plant was sold in October to its largest creditor, Turkish Coal Enterprises, for TRY 6.946 billion.

Both cases highlight post-privatization financial strains involving coal-supply debts, aging equipment and limited working capital, with Kangal’s roughly 950–1,000 workers placed on leave.

The developments underscore the need for integrated financial discipline, diversified supply arrangements and timely rehabilitation to sustain reliable domestic lignite-based generation.

Developments at two major thermal power plants have raised renewed concerns about the financial sustainability of Turkey’s domestic coal-based electricity generation sector.

Electricity generation has stopped at Kangal Thermal Power Plant, one of Turkey’s important domestic lignite-fired facilities. Meanwhile, Soma B Thermal Power Plant, controlled by the same parent company, went through an enforcement sale process because of accumulated coal supply debts. In October 2026, the plant was sold to its largest public creditor, Turkish Coal Enterprises (TKİ).

Taken together, these developments raise broader questions about the financing, coal supply arrangements, maintenance investments and debt repayment capacity of large energy assets following privatization.

Production stops at Kangal thermal power plant

Located in Kangal, Sivas, Kangal Thermal Power Plant has been generating electricity since 1989. Its total installed capacity is 457 MW, consisting of three units: two 150 MW units and one 157 MW unit.

The plant was designed to operate on locally produced, low-calorific-value lignite. According to operating information published by Konya Şeker, the average heating value of the coal is approximately 1,100 kcal/kg, while daily coal consumption is around 21,000 tonnes.

According to the company’s public disclosure dated 6 November 2026, Madencilik İnşaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., the contractor responsible for coal production and overburden removal activities since 2019, stopped coal production and deliveries on 30 October 2026. The company cited outstanding payments as the reason for its decision.


The disclosure also stated that the plant did not have an alternative coal supply source.

As a result, the 457 MW power plant, which requires approximately 21,000 tonnes of coal every day, was forced to suspend electricity generation following the interruption of fuel deliveries.

However, the coal supply interruption was not the only issue. The company’s disclosures also referred to technical failures, production losses and a significant decline in revenue, all of which contributed to the plant’s financial and operational difficulties.
Soma B thermal power plant: the cost of accumulated debt

Developments at Soma B Thermal Power Plant, which is also controlled by the same parent company, need to be considered when assessing the situation at Kangal.

Konya Şeker acquired Kangal Thermal Power Plant in 2013 for USD 985 million and Soma B Thermal Power Plant in 2015 for USD 685.5 million.

With an installed capacity of 990 MW, Soma B is one of Turkey’s major domestic coal-fired power plants.

Over time, however, substantial payment difficulties emerged in connection with coal supplies. Outstanding payments to Turkish Coal Enterprises (TKİ), the plant’s coal supplier, together with accumulated interest, led to enforcement proceedings.


The first auction for the plant attracted no buyers. Following the second auction, Soma B Thermal Power Plant was sold in October 2026 to TKİ, its largest creditor, for TRY 6.946 billion.

Consequently, an important power generation asset that had been transferred to the private sector in 2015 entered a process of returning to public ownership because of difficulties in collecting outstanding debts.

This development demonstrates the importance of working capital management and timely coal payments following the privatization of major energy assets.
A common issue: financial sustainability

The legal circumstances and creditors involved in the Soma and Kangal cases are different.

At Soma, enforcement proceedings arose from unpaid coal supply obligations to TKİ. At Kangal, the immediate problem was the suspension of coal deliveries by a private mining contractor following difficulties in collecting outstanding payments.

Nevertheless, both cases highlight a common concern: the financial sustainability of coal supply chains and the ability of power plant operators to meet their payment obligations.

A thermal power plant is much more than a boiler, steam turbine and generator. Coal mining, overburden removal, transportation, stock management, fuel handling and electricity generation form an interconnected operating system.

A payment problem at any stage of this chain can eventually interrupt the operation of the entire facility.

At Soma, the inability to collect outstanding payments by a public institution resulted in enforcement proceedings and a change in ownership. At Kangal, payment difficulties involving a private mining contractor led directly to the suspension of coal deliveries.

For this reason, the situation at Kangal should not be viewed simply as a temporary fuel supply problem. The company’s overall financial position, bank loans, cash flow and outstanding obligations also need to be examined.
Ageing equipment and the need for rehabilitation

The first two units at Kangal are approximately 37 years old, while the third unit is around 26 years old. Soma B also has generating units that have been in operation for many years.

At thermal power plants of this age, regular maintenance and modernization of boilers, steam turbines, generators, coal mills, fans, electrostatic precipitators, ash handling systems and flue gas treatment equipment are essential.


As equipment ages, the frequency of failures may increase. Maintenance costs can rise, while plant availability and annual electricity generation may decline.

Facilities operating on low-calorific-value lignite require large quantities of coal to be mined, transported and burned. This makes effective financial coordination between mining operations, logistics and power plant management particularly important.

Delaying rehabilitation investments may appear to reduce short-term expenditure, but it can increase production losses and operating costs over the longer term.

The Kangal and Soma cases demonstrate why technical modernization and financial sustainability must be considered together.
Reviewing the privatization and operating model

One of the main expectations behind the privatization of Turkey’s thermal power plants was that private sector investment and management would improve operating efficiency and support electricity generation.

However, acquiring a power plant and operating it economically over many years are two different challenges.

Acquisition financing, bank loans, coal supply payments, personnel expenses, maintenance investments, environmental compliance and electricity sales revenues must all be managed together.

Changes in electricity market prices, rising production costs and higher financing expenses can place considerable pressure on the cash flow of large thermal power plants.

The enforcement sale at Soma demonstrates that financial difficulties following privatization can ultimately lead to a change in ownership.

At Kangal, the previously announced sale process, suspension of production and uncertainty over coal supplies raise further questions about the plant’s future and the possibility of attracting a new investor.

It would be premature to conclude that Kangal will face the same legal process as Soma. However, since both plants are controlled by the same parent company, the group’s overall financial position deserves closer examination.
Employees and the local economy

According to reports, Kangal Thermal Power Plant employs approximately 950 to 1,000 people, including permanent and subcontracted workers.


Following the suspension of production, employees other than the minimum personnel required to maintain technical, administrative and financial operations were instructed to use their remaining annual leave, followed by unpaid leave.

A prolonged shutdown would affect not only employees but also local businesses, transport companies, service providers and other enterprises connected to the plant.

The change in ownership at Soma also represents a new period for employees and the local economy.

These facilities are not simply electricity generation assets. They are also major sources of employment and commercial activity in their respective regions.
What should be expected in the coming months?

For Kangal Thermal Power Plant to resume operations, the coal supply issue must first be resolved. In addition, the settlement of the mining contractor’s outstanding payments, the repair of technical equipment and the provision of sufficient working capital will be essential.

The company’s bank debt, obligations to public institutions and private suppliers, possible debt restructuring arrangements and any financial security interests over the plant also need to be examined.

At Soma, following the sale to TKİ, the future operating model, financing arrangements and the position of employees will be important issues.

Both plants need a financially sustainable and technically reliable operating model.
Lessons for Turkey’s energy policy

The developments at Kangal and Soma Thermal Power Plants offer important lessons for Turkey’s domestic coal policy.

Making effective use of domestic coal resources requires more than building power plants. Mining, overburden removal, transportation, stock management, electricity generation, maintenance and financing must operate as parts of an integrated system.

Dependence on a single supplier should be carefully managed at major energy facilities. Adequate coal stocks, long-term supply agreements and reliable payment arrangements are essential elements of operational security.

Following privatization, the financial position of power plant operators should also be monitored carefully, while maintenance and rehabilitation investments must not be postponed.


At Soma, a public institution had to take ownership of the plant to recover its outstanding receivables. At Kangal, production stopped because a coal supplier could not collect its payments.

Both cases highlight the importance of financial discipline in the energy sector.

The real value of a thermal power plant cannot be measured by its installed capacity alone. It also depends on its ability to secure fuel supplies, pay its employees, maintain its equipment, service its debts and generate electricity reliably.

The experiences of Kangal and Soma remind us of an important principle: energy security is not simply about having domestic energy resources. It is also about operating those resources efficiently, responsibly and sustainably.

About Haluk Direskeneli

Haluk Direskeneli, is a graduate of METU Mechanical Engineering department (1973). He worked in public, private enterprises, USA Turkish JV companies (B&W, CSWI, AEP, Entergy), in fabrication, basic and detail design, marketing, sales and project management of thermal power plants. He is currently working as freelance consultant/ energy analyst with thermal power plants basic/ detail design software expertise for private engineering companies, investors, universities and research institutions. He is a member of Chamber of Turkish Mechanical Engineers Energy Working Group.
View all posts by Haluk Direskeneli →

 

Global Virus Network adds six centers of excellence and new affiliate across four continents

New members bring expertise in emerging viruses, surveillance, respiratory and arboviral diseases, One Health, antiviral development and pandemic preparedness

Global Virus Network

TAMPA, Fla., October 13, 2026 — The Global Virus Network (GVN), a coalition of leading medical virologists representing more than 100 Centers of Excellence and Affiliates in more than 40 countries, today announced six new Centers of Excellence and one Affiliate in Austria, Brazil, China, India, Panama, Switzerland and the United States. Collectively, the new members bring expertise in emerging and re-emerging viruses, respiratory and arboviral infections, how viruses cause disease, vaccines and antivirals, genomic and wastewater surveillance, diagnostics, and One Health.

The new members include the Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria; the Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University in Brazil; the National Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College in China; the Institute of Life Sciences in India, which joins as an Affiliate through the Manipal Institute of Virology–Manipal Academy of Higher Education GVN Center of Excellence; the Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología in Panama; the Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, University Hospitals of Geneva in Switzerland; and the Cornell University Department of Microbiology & Immunology and Department of Public & Ecosystem Health in the United States.

“No one group can cover all classes of virology,” said Robert C. Gallo, MD, GVN Co-founder and Chair of its Scientific Leadership Committee. “You need strong basic science, different areas of expertise and scientists around the world who know each other and work together, which is why we founded the GVN. We don’t know what the next serious viral threat will be or where it will come from, so these relationships need to be there before it happens.”

Dr. Gallo is also founding director of the University of South Florida Institute for Translational Virology and Innovation, a GVN Center of Excellence; James P. Cullison Professor of Medicine at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine; and director of the Microbial Oncogenesis Program at the Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute.

“These new Centers significantly expand the breadth, depth and scope of expertise and capacity across the GVN,” said Mathew Evins, Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer and Founding Board Member of GVN. “They strengthen the network across disciplines, institutions and regions of the world, adding scientific capabilities and infrastructure that will be important in addressing emerging viral threats.”

Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck — Austria

Directed by Gisa Gerold, PhD, Professor and Director of the Institute of Virology at the Medical University of Innsbruck, the new Center of Excellence contributes expertise in arboviruses and respiratory viruses. Its work includes chikungunya vaccine research, vaccine- and infection-induced antibody responses and studies of respiratory syncytial virus epidemiology.

“Rapid communication among scientists is critical during outbreaks and epidemics,” said Dr. Gerold. “Through GVN, we look forward to strengthening those international connections while contributing our expertise in arboviruses and respiratory viruses to preparedness and response efforts.”

Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University — Brazil

Directed by Fernando Rosado Spilki, DVM, MSc, PhD, Vice-Rector for Research, Graduate Studies and Extension and Full Professor, Feevale University, the laboratory studies emerging and neglected viruses affecting humans, wildlife, domestic animals and environmental health. Its work includes environmental and clinical virology, molecular surveillance, metagenomics, wastewater-based epidemiology and viral persistence.

“Joining GVN will allow us to deepen our collaborations with virologists around the world, particularly through joint research and multicenter studies on emerging and re-emerging viruses,” said Dr. Spilki. “It also creates important opportunities for our students and early-career researchers to work with and learn from scientists across the GVN network.”

National Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College — China

Directed by Yuelong Shu, PhD, Director of the National Institute of Pathogen Biology, the new Center of Excellence conducts fundamental and applied research focused on preventing and controlling infectious diseases. The institute houses major research programs in respiratory health, pathogen systems biology, and infection prevention and control, with capabilities in structural biology, molecular and cellular imaging, multi-omics, high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics.

“Long-term scientific partnerships are essential to understanding and preparing for emerging viral threats,” said Dr. Shu. “Joining GVN will give us new opportunities to share research and laboratory resources, participate in scientific exchanges and develop joint research on emerging viruses and pandemic preparedness.”

Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) — India | Affiliate

Directed by Soma Chattopadhyay, MSc, PhD, Scientist G in the Infectious Disease Biology Division of ILS, the Affiliate studies molecular virology, antiviral drug discovery, viral pathogenesis and host-virus interactions, with particular expertise in arboviruses and respiratory viruses. Its research infrastructure includes BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories, antiviral screening platforms, immunological assays and proteomics.

ILS joins GVN as an Affiliate through the Manipal Institute of Virology–Manipal Academy of Higher Education Center of Excellence. The affiliation supports collaborative research and advanced training in emerging and re-emerging viral infections.

“We look forward to working with GVN scientists on emerging and re-emerging viral infections and expanding opportunities for translational research,” said Dr. Chattopadhyay. “Just as important is training the next generation of investigators in virology, outbreak preparedness and pandemic response through joint programs and scientific exchanges.”

Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT-AIP) — Panama

Directed by Timothy Thomson, MD, PhD, Director and Group Leader at INDICASAT-AIP, the new Center of Excellence conducts research in infectious diseases, genomics, drug discovery, computational biology, biotechnology, and One Health. Its scientific platforms include genomics, bioinformatics, advanced microscopy, medicinal chemistry and metabolomics.

“Emerging and re-emerging viral diseases are a global concern, but they also have distinct regional impacts,” said Dr. Thomson. “Through GVN, we hope to strengthen collaborative research and surveillance while contributing our experience and partnerships in Panama, Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, University of Geneva and Geneva University Hospitals— Switzerland

Directed by Isabella Eckerle, MD, DTMH, Full Professor and Director of the Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, University of Geneva and Geneva University Hospitals, the Center of Excellence integrates clinical care, diagnostics, surveillance, translational research and field response for emerging and highly pathogenic viral infections. It hosts three National Reference Centres and is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for epidemic and pandemic diseases.

Its scientists have participated in responses to Ebola, Marburg, COVID-19 and mpox and are active in national and international surveillance and outbreak-response programs. The center also brings expertise in diagnostic development, viral phenotyping and the study of emerging viral diseases.

“Our work brings together clinical care, diagnostics, surveillance and research, and those connections are especially important when a new viral threat emerges,” said Dr. Eckerle. “Through GVN, we look forward to expanding international collaboration on diagnostics and the exchange of samples to strengthen preparedness and outbreak response.”

Cornell University Department of Microbiology & Immunology and Department of Public & Ecosystem Health — United States

Directed by Gary Whittaker, PhD, James Law Professor of Virology and Research Director at the Graduate Field of Public Health & Planetary Health, the new Center of Excellence brings together Cornell University’s Department of Microbiology & Immunology and Department of Public & Ecosystem Health, along with other departments. The Center includes 19 faculty members at Cornell’s Ithaca campus and Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. Researchers study a broad range of human, animal, and vector-borne viruses, including coronaviruses, influenza viruses, flaviviruses, alphaviruses, henipaviruses, poxviruses, and HIV.

The Center’s work spans viral pathogenesis and immunology, vaccines and antivirals, diagnostics, epidemiology and disease modeling. With faculty based in Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, it also brings a strong One Health component that connects human, animal, and environmental health.

“Cornell brings together scientists working across human, animal and vector-borne viruses, with expertise ranging from virology and immunology to epidemiology, vaccines, antivirals and disease modeling,” said Dr. Whittaker. “Joining GVN gives us an opportunity to put those strengths to work with colleagues across the network on emerging viral threats, while creating new international research and training opportunities for our faculty and trainees.”

GVN Centers of Excellence are leading virology institutions with deep expertise in multiple areas of viral research and a shared commitment to international collaboration. Affiliates partner with an established Center, providing opportunities for mentorship, scientific exchange and collaboration.

###

Media Contact: 

Nora Samaranayake

nsamaranayake@gvn.org

Global Virus Network

About the Global Virus Network 

The Global Virus Network (GVN) is a worldwide coalition comprising 100+ Virology Centers of Excellence and Affiliates across 40+ countries, whose mission is to facilitate pandemic preparedness against viral pathogens and diseases that threaten public health globally. GVN advances knowledge of viruses through (i) data-driven research and solutions, (ii) fostering the next generation of virology leaders, and (iii) enhancing global resources for readiness and response to emerging viral threats. GVN provides the essential expertise required to discover and diagnose viruses that threaten public health, understand how such viruses spread illnesses, and facilitate the development of diagnostics, therapies, and treatments to combat them. GVN coordinates and collaborates with local, national, and international scientific institutions and government agencies to provide real-time virus informatics, surveillance, and response resources and strategies. GVN's pandemic preparedness mission is achieved by focusing on Education & Training, Qualitative & Quantitative Research, and Global Health Strategies & Solutions. The GVN is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, please visit www.gvn.org. 

 

Five miners killed in mine collapse in western Turkey

02.10.2026, 12:49 Uhr

Five miners have died in a collapse at a mine in western Turkey, Energy Minister Alpaslan Bayraktar said on Friday.

Bayraktar wrote on X that in total seven miners had been trapped under the rubble. 

Two were rescued alive from the mine in the Soma district of Manisa province. One remains in treatment and the other has been discharged from hospital, he said.

The accident occurred on Thursday, state news agency Anadolu reported. The cause of the collapse was not yet clear. 

Anadolu said on Friday that nine suspects, including the mine's general manager, had been detained.

Soma was the site of the deadliest disaster in Turkish mining history. In May 2014, a mine pit was engulfed in flames and carbon monoxide gas, killing 301 miners. The disaster ignited protests against the government and mine operators over lax safety measures.

(c) 2026 dpa Deutsche Presse Agentur Gmb

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Huxley’s Soma…and Ours

Fred Gardner

 July 28, 2026

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In November it will be 30 years since California voters passed Proposition 215,  legalizing cannabis for medical use. Last Sunday at the state fair some of the activists involved in that campaign were given awards –heavy medals that said “Pebbles Trippet Lifetime Achievement.”

I made the drive to hot, flat Sac to see the trailer of a film about Pebbles and a documentary about the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers’ Club, original headquarters of the Prop 215 campaign. Fairgoers were checking out the vendors’ wares and showing almost zero interest in the OGs. Like the “Cannabis Cup” of yesteryear, the highlight of the event was an awards ceremony at which growers were honored with blue ribbons that will facilitate sales in the year ahead.

The show-runners hardly paid lip service to “medical use.” People were enjoying themselves.  So this is our victory, I kept thinking: access to soma that’s safer than Prozac (or was, until Whiteman did to marijuana what he had done to coca and poppies).

 In  Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, one of the slogans promoting soma is “a gramme in time saves nine.” By pure coincidence, probably, Eli Lilly promoted Prozac as”First in line for all nine symptoms of depression.” These were defined in ads as, “depressed mood (sic), loss of interest, fatigue, sleep disturbances, weight/appetite change, lack of concentration, slowness/restlessness, guilt/feelings of worthlessness, thoughts of death.”  Five yesses and you qualify.  Is there an adult in the US who doesn’t?

Huxley was swacked out on mescaline when he wrote his prophetic novel in the late 1930s. He foresaw planetary unity with the rich/poor system in place. Genetic engineering for the sake of “social predestination.” Earlier onset of puberty for the workers. Electroshock in the nursery to create a reflex aversion to books and flowers.

A character called “The Director” explains, “A love of nature keeps no factories busy… It was decided to abolish the love of nature… We condition the masses to hate the country, but simultaneously, we condition them to love all country sports. We see to it that all country sports shall entail the use of elaborate apparatus. So that they consume manufactured articles as well as transport.”

Subliminal messages are played for the sleeping children (who are clones, of course): “Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do, because they’re so frightfully clever. I’m really awfully glad I’m a Beta, because I don’t work so hard. And then we are much better than the Gammas and Deltas. Gammas are stupid…” After the Elementary Class Consciousness lesson ends, the subliminal voices adapt demand to supply. “‘I do love flying,’ they whispered, ‘I do love flying, I do love having new clothes… old clothes are beastly,’ continued the untiring whisper. ‘We always throw away old clothes. Ending is better than mending, ending is better than mending, ending is better than mending. The more stitches, the less riches…'”

The universally worshipped figure is Henry Ford, the Elon Musk of his day. The sign of the T is sacred. Vibro-vacuum machines are available. The dissidents are called “Simple Lifers” and get mowed down. (How timely can you get?) 

A wee sample:  “Lennina and Henry were dancing in another world –the warm, the richly coloured, the infinitely friendly world of soma-holiday. How kind, how good-looking, how delightfully amusing everyone was!  ‘A gramme in time saves nine,’ said Lenina, producing a bright treasure of sleep-taught wisdom. Bernard pushed away the proffered glass impatiently. ‘Now don’t lose your temper,’ she said. ‘Remember, one cubic centimetre cures ten gloomy sentiments.’ 

“‘Oh for Ford’s sake, be quiet!’ he shouted.

“Lenina shrugged her shoulders. ‘A gramme is always better than a damn,’ she concluded with dignity, and drank the sundae herself.”

Fred Gardner is the managing editor of O’Shaughnessy’s. He can be reached at fred@plebesite.com

SPACE/COSMOS

NASA head defends Artemis 3 crew of all men

AFP
June 10, 2026 

(L/R) NASA astronaut commander Randy Bresnik, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut pilot Luca Parmitano, NASA astronaut mission specialist Frank Rubio, and NASA astronaut mission specialist Andre Douglas, the Artemis 3 crew – Copyright AFP SAUL LOEB

NASA’s administrator Jared Isaacman on Wednesday defended the makeup of the space agency’s latest Artemis crew, an all-male group.

The nominations have earned criticism that NASA may have acted in accordance with President Donald Trump’s direction to eliminate diversity and inclusion efforts.

Isaacman insisted in a lengthy social media post that the “crew selection does not involve any political appointees.”

“The Astronaut Office assigns the crew that gives the mission the best chance of meeting its objectives, taking into account many factors, including the background and expertise of the astronauts, such as test pilot experience, development work on specific programs, and availability.”

The third phase of Artemis will involve testing the Orion spacecraft and conducting rendezvous and docking tests with lunar landers. It will not include a Moon voyage.

NASA had previously committed to put both a woman and a person of color on the lunar surface.

Last year, however, NASA removed language regarding that commitment and diversity more broadly from some of its web pages, as Trump directed federal agencies to eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs and references.

That doesn’t necessarily mean NASA’s pledge has been scrapped, but it’s no longer explicit.

Isaacman said “those raising this concern may not be aware of the pipeline of crews,” including those “undergoing lunar-specific training that would be a better fit for a future surface mission.”

“We have an extraordinary astronaut corps, and every mission and every crew is part of a larger campaign to get America back to the Moon and to build the future we all dreamed about as children.”

The third Artemis crew includes NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, who will serve as commander, and mission specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio.

Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano will represent the European Space Agency as the voyage’s pilot, becoming the first European to join one of the program’s missions.

The crew of the Artemis 2 journey conducted this past spring was named prior to Trump’s return to the White House.

It included the first Black man, Victor Glover, and the first woman, Christina Koch, to fly around the Moon.

Jeremy Hansen became the first Canadian to carry out such a mission, while Reid Wiseman was the commander.

From Dusk Till Dawn

 June 10, 2026 

By Eurasia Review

Astronomers have revealed distinct differences in atmospheric conditions between the morning and evening transition zones of the ultra-hot gas planet WASP-121 b, which separate day from night, commonly called terminators. This achievement was only possible due to the unmatched sensitivity of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Led by Cyril Gapp, a PhD student at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) in Heidelberg, Germany, a team of researchers detected this phenomenon, which had previously been predicted by theoretical computations.

Confirmation of variations between dusk and dawn

The discovery corresponds to an asymmetry in the absorption of infrared light received from the host star, which is partially filtered through the planet’s atmosphere during its transit. The researchers interpret this as the result of non-uniform temperatures and chemical compositions in the exoplanet’s atmosphere.

“With its unprecedented observational quality, JWST gives us the most detailed glimpses into distant planets to date: By measuring how star light absorption changes as WASP-121 b rotates, we probe its atmosphere longitude by longitude,” said Cyril Gapp, MPIA.

The data indicate that the evening terminator absorbs more light than the morning side, consistent with the commonly accepted picture of powerful winds that transport intense heat from the day to the night side. Hot winds follow the planet’s rotation eastward, which heats the evening zone. With rising temperatures, this region is bound to expand, increasing the planet’s cross-section and allowing it to absorb stellar radiation more efficiently.

Besides a general slight reduction in brightness towards the end of the transit, the data obtained by JWST’s NIRSpec (Near-infrared spectrograph) instrument also reveal an increase in the carbon monoxide (CO) signal. However, this appears to be a temperature effect, not related to an increase in carbon monoxide molecules.

In contrast, the amount of water (H2O) in the atmosphere appears to drop, which the astronomers interpret as a real decrease in water molecules. The temperatures in the upper atmosphere are high enough to break water molecules into their constituents. This result again corroborates the existence of hot winds heating the evening terminator region.

Two extreme sides of an ultra-hot planet

To detect these minute variations, the astronomers exploited a peculiar behaviour of hot gas planets. The proximity to their host stars slowly synchronizes their spin and orbital motion via tidal forces, such that eventually one rotation takes as long as one revolution. Finally, these planets exhibit two distinct hemispheres: a hot side constantly facing the star and an opposite, darker and cooler side.

“WASP-121b is particularly extreme, with average temperatures on the dayside hemisphere being around 2770 Kelvin, while those on the nightside are closer to about 1000 Kelvin,” co-author Tom Evans-Soma from the University of Newcastle, Australia, explains. He previously determined the planet’s temperature range and is also affiliated with MPIA. These values translate to almost 2500 degrees Celsius, or about 4525 degrees Fahrenheit, on the dayside, and approximately 725 degrees Celsius, or 1340 degrees Fahrenheit, at night.

When astronomers observe such a planet transiting in front of a star, the planet rotates slightly between the points of ingress and egress, revealing different fractions of its atmosphere. While the planet mostly presents its night side, our point of view permits glimpses beyond the dusk and dawn towards the bright dayside, depending on the transit’s progress. The zone leading the planet’s orbit corresponds to the morning side, and the one trailing is the evening side.

Apart from recording the measured brightness variation over time, spectrographs break light into smaller components, which physicists call a spectrum, much as a prism produces a rainbow-like distribution of colours. Since atmospheric gases absorb light at distinct colours or wavelengths, a detailed analysis reveals their chemical composition.

Elapsed time converts to longitude

Hence, the variation along the direction of rotation translates into a time-dependent change of the filtered signal. In the case of WASP-121 b, the rotation angle during a full transit amounts to about 30 degrees, which is sufficient to probe the morning (dawn) and evening (dusk) terminators with high precision in longitude.

Astronomers usually average the measurements over the entire transit to achieve a clearer signal. However, to determine how the signal changes during the planet’s trajectory across the star, Gapp and his colleagues allowed for a temporal variation while the planet rotates. By applying statistical methods, they found that their procedure provides a significantly better fit to the data, indicating that they indeed detected a significant variation.

Notable gaps in atmospheric models

To verify the measured temperatures that would cause local expansion, the astronomers ran models simulating heat distribution in the upper layers of a gas planet, depending on the planet’s properties and the constellation of the planet and its host star. While these atmospheric models confirmed the asymmetric effect caused by spatial temperature variations, the data revealed a larger signal amplitude than the models predicted.

The astronomers suspected that cooling mechanisms at the morning terminator might be at work that the models didn’t account for. Previous studies have indicated that clouds may be present, albeit composed not of water droplets but of minerals such as silicates. Clouds can efficiently shield infrared light emitted from hot gaseous layers below, mimicking lower temperatures. Infamously, simulating the physics of clouds, condensation, and evaporation in a dynamic environment is hard. Therefore, physical models commonly applied to exoplanet atmospheres, such as the one used in this study, do not account for clouds, which can yield unrealistic results.

After tweaking the simulation to approximate the effect clouds have on infrared radiation from deeper layers, the results were more consistent with observations. However, only more sophisticated models will be able to confidently confirm the presence of clouds.

A blueprint for future studies

Model updates will also improve future investigations using this method. The astronomers have already identified additional suitable targets within the required temperature range and rotation speed to successfully probe the terminator regions. This will help them establish a sample of ultrahot gas planets, revealing their longitudinal structure, and potentially discover similarities and differences among these extreme worlds.