TYB
https://thedebrief.org/americas-moment-of-uncertainty-continues-amid-unprecedented-exits-and-odd-questions/
AMERICA’S MOMENT OF UNCERTAINTY CONTINUES AMID UNPRECEDENTED EXITS AND ODD QUESTIONS
JULY 25, 2024
Welcome to this week’s Intelligence Brief… in recent days, more confusion has erupted in the aftermath of an announcement by President Joseph Biden on Sunday, where he revealed that he would not seek reelection in the 2024 presidential race. In our analysis of events, we’ll be looking at
1) what the outgoing President said, and did not say, during an official address from the Oval Office this week,
2) the storm surrounding the U.S. Secret Service that led to its Director’s resignation,
and 3) why the FBI Director says his bureau is uncertain what the object was that injured former President Donald Trump during an attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania event.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“There is some question about whether or not it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit [Donald Trump’s] ear.”
– FBI DIRECTOR CHRIS WRAY
BIDEN MAKES AN UNPRECEDENTED EXIT
Over the weekend, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he would not seek reelection in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Race, in a sudden departure where he endorsed his Vice President, Kamala Harris.
“I revere this office, but I love my country more,” Biden said on Wednesday during a rare address from the Oval Office, marking the first time he addressed his decision since it was revealed on Sunday.
“It’s been the honor of my life to serve as your president. But in the defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think it’s more important than any title.”
“I draw strength and find joy in working for the American people. But this sacred task of perfecting our union is not about me, it’s about you. Your families, your futures.”
Notably absent from the President’s address had been any clear stated reason for his choice to drop out of the current election.
However, Biden’s decision followed increased pressure from members of his own party who had privately urged him to step down, following a disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump, who recently accepted the official nomination from his party.
“In recent weeks, it has become clear to me that I need to unite my party in this critical endeavor,” Biden said on Wednesday.
“I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America’s future, all merited a second term.
But nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition.”
“So I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. It’s the best way to unite our nation,” Biden said.”
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SECRET SERVICE CHIEF KIM CHEATLE RESIGNS
While Biden’s official statement on his resignation was arguably the focal point of the historic events occurring this week, pressure building over lingering concerns about the efficacy of the U.S. Secret Service following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump came to a head on Monday, when now former Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle appeared before lawmakers.
“The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders,” Cheatle told the House Oversight and Accountability Committee on Monday. “On July 13th, we failed.”
Cheatle was lambasted by members of the committee, many of whom had called for her resignation. Following Monday’s hearing, Cheatle announced she would be stepping down from the position.
In a statement issued by the White House, the outgoing President was less critical of Cheatle, thanking her for her service while acknowledging that the U.S. Secret Service cannot allow such significant failures in the future.
“We all know what happened that day can never happen again,” Biden said in a written statement. “As we move forward, I wish Kim all the best, and I will plan to appoint a new Director soon.”
FBI DIRECTOR: BULLET, OR SHRAPNEL?
In another odd turn of events this week, FBI Director Chris Wray revealed this week that the Bureau was uncertain whether a bullet had actually been what struck former President Donald Trump during an assassination attempt that occurred at a recent outdoor rally in Pennsylvania.
During a session before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, Wray said the FBI is currently still investigating the incident, and that among the remaining questions is a degree of uncertainty about the identity of the object that struck Trump’s right ear.
“There is some question about whether or not it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear, so it is conceivable, as I sit here right now, I don’t know whether that bullet, in addition to causing the grazing, could have also landed somewhere else,” Wray told lawmakers.
The FBI director offered no additional information on what the source of the possible shrapnel might have been, nor what led the FBI to draw this conclusion.
Following the odd revelation, former President Trump called for Wray’s resignation on social media over unrelated statements the FBI Director made during the hearing regarding his past “uneventful and unremarkable” interactions with President Biden.
None of the lawmakers present during the hearing with Wray asked for additional clarity on the FBI Director’s uncertainty over what the object that struck the former President’s ear may have been.
That concludes this week’s installment of The Intelligence Brief. You can read past editions of The Intelligence Brief at our website, or if you found this installment online, don’t forget to subscribe and get future email editions from us here.
Also, if you have a tip or other information you’d like to send along directly to me, you can email me at micah [@] thedebrief [dot] org, or Tweet at me @MicahHanks.
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China's tiny 'Golden Toad' rover used AI to take an epic photo on the moon's far side
July 24, 2024
A new video shows how a tiny rover on China's ambitious Chang'e 6 mission used AI to snap an epic shot on the far side of the moon.
The Chang'e 6 lunar far side sample-return mission launched on May 3 atop a Long March 5 rocket. It was disclosed after launch that the spacecraft also packed a surprise rover.
The roughly 11-pound (5 kilograms) rover was deployed on the surface of the far side of the moon and imaged the Chang'e 6 spacecraft after it had completed collecting samples but before the precious cargo was blasted into lunar orbit for a journey to Earth.
Researchers now reveal how highly functional the rover was despite its small size, and how a modeled lunar arena — complete with variable lighting conditions and terrain — was used as a testing ground to train the AI-driven robot to take photos on the moon.
Named Jinchan, which translates to "golden toad," the rover was equipped with significantly enhanced autonomous intelligence and highly integrated, lightweight hardware.
"Though the droid is very tiny, it is very functional. It is capable of autonomous separation, autonomous movement and lunar imagining," Xing Yan, staff member of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), told China Central Television (CCTV).
"After reaching the surface, it can detach from the lander by itself and move to a relatively suitable location for taking pictures.
And it was able to intelligently choose the best angle and composition, leaving some precious memories for the Chang'e 6 mission."
The rover utilized neural networks to learn from experiences and make adjustments like changing photographic angles, Xing said. This allowed Jinchan to get into position for a perfect shot of its mother spacecraft.
Such operations with earlier missions required pre-calculation of the relative distance between a lander and a camera on a rover, the orientation and the best time to snap a photo.
"We are more concerned about the position of the main body's position and the angle of some sunlight. The reflection may be too strong in some angles, which is not our ideal situation," said Huang Huang, another staff member of CASC.
China sent the Yutu rover to the near side of the moon with the Chang'e 3 mission in 2013 and Yutu 2 to the far side on Chang'e 4 in 2019. Each Yutu weighed around 310 pounds (140 kg).
But the tiny Chang'e 6 rover was much more self-sufficient in terms of executing its goal.
"We tried our best to make it as knowledgeable as possible, to construct these physical samples, to do some feature modeling of the environment, and in such an environment, we let the rover learn and finally realize the intelligent decision support when taking pictures," Huang said.
After Jinchan took its image, an ascent vehicle blasted off from atop the Chang'e 6 lander on June 24, carrying 68.27 ounces (1,935.3 grams) of precious samples into lunar orbit. From there, the ascender docked with an orbiting service module for a return to Earth.
https://www.space.com/china-change-6-mini-moon-rover-training-video
Sierra Space conducts second full-scale burst test of inflatable module
July 25, 2024
Sierra Space has completed a second full-scale burst test of an inflatable module that the company is developing for the Orbital Reef commercial space station and its own efforts.
The company announced July 25 that it conducted the “ultimate burst pressure” test in June at the Marshall Space Flight Center. In the test, the 300-cubic-meter module was pressurized until it burst to test its strength and compliance with safety margins.
The company said the module burst at a pressure of 74 pounds per square inch (psi), well above NASA’s safety requirement of 60.8 psi.
That is close to the first ultimate burst pressure test of the module design in December, which reached 77 psi.
“We’ve taken a softgoods system that very few companies around the world have been able to design, and now we have consistent, back-to-back results,” said Shawn Buckley, the Sierra Space vice president leading development of the module, in a statement.
“A second successful full-scale test is an absolute game changer. We now know it’s possible to equal or surpass the total habitable volume of the entire International Space Station, in a single launch,” he added.
The module, which Sierra Space has developed in collaboration with ILC Dover, is one of the contributions Sierra Space is making to Orbital Reef, a commercial station proposed by Sierra Space and Blue Origin. Sierra Space said the test completed a milestone in a NASA award to Blue Origin that is part of the agency’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations program to stimulate development of commercial stations to succeed the ISS.
Sierra Space has also discussed flying the module as a standalone spacecraft as a pathfinder for later stations.
The company, which has a unfunded NASA Space Act Agreement to support that effort, said the pathfinder mission is expected to launch “before the end of the decade.”
The 300-cubic-meter module, itself offering one-third the volume of the entire ISS, is a precursor for larger modules. Sierra Space said in the statement it plans to start testing a module with a volume of 500 cubic meters next year.
“Our revolutionary, expandable space station technology reinvents the space station,” argued Tom Vice, chief executive of Sierra Space, in the statement.
“Our technology, for the first time, will enable the right unit economics that will usher in the full commercialization of space.”
https://spacenews.com/sierra-space-conducts-second-full-scale-burst-test-of-inflatable-module/
Rocket engine startup Ursa Major adds 3D printing lab in Ohio
July 25, 2024
Ursa Major, a rocket propulsion startup based in Colorado, opened a new additive manufacturing research center in Youngstown, Ohio, the company announced July 25.
Ursa Major uses 3D printing technology to produce rocket engine components and solid rocket motors.
Ursa Major’s expansion in Ohio builds upon its existing Advanced Manufacturing Lab, established in 2021 in partnership with America Makes.
America Makes is a public-private partnership the U.S. government started in 2012 to help accelerate industrial competitiveness through the adoption of additive manufacturing.
Ursa Major said its new facility represents a $14.5 million capital investment, including $4 million from a JobsOhio grant.
The company currently holds contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, including development work for the U.S. Air Force on propulsion technology for national security programs such as the Arroway engine, a reusable liquid oxygen and methane staged combustion engine for medium and heavy launch vehicles, which is expected to hotfire in 2025 with support from the Air Force Research Laboratory.
“Ursa Major is expanding its R&D efforts to meet a rapidly growing portfolio of U.S. Department of Defense development contracts,” said Joe Laurienti, CEO of Ursa Major.
The decision to expand 3D printing operations in Ohio, he said, was influenced by the state’s access to raw materials, suppliers, and a robust additive manufacturing ecosystem supported by the America Makes program.
Laurienti said the new center will focus on accelerating material development and qualification processes for aerospace applications of additive manufacturing.
This includes developing metallic alloys for solid rocket motors and copper and nickel alloys for liquid rocket engines.
The facility will house advanced 3D printers for rapid prototyping and material development, aimed at speeding up innovation in propulsion technology.
https://spacenews.com/rocket-engine-startup-ursa-major-adds-3d-printing-lab-in-ohio/
SES providing “managed satcom” services to U.S. Army
July 24, 2024
SES Space & Defense, the U.S. arm of Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES, announced July 24 it secured a $3.6 million contract to provide satellite communication services to the U.S. Army.
The contract is part of a pilot program initiated by the Army in September to explore “satcom as a managed service,” a departure from traditional military contracts for satellite capacity.
Under this model, SES will deliver comprehensive services including satellite capacity, ground infrastructure, and network management.
The Army’s Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T) last year announced the selection of SES and Intelsat for this pilot that aims to inform future procurements, potentially leading to broader adoption of the managed service approach.
The contract’s value, previously undisclosed when the Army announced the selection of SES and Intelsat for the pilot in September, has now been revealed as $3.6 million.
David Fields, president and CEO of SES Space & Defense, said the program is a “great opportunity for SES Space & Defense to continue to support our Army customers leveraging a true multi-orbit strategy and multi-band satellite fleet.”
SES, which operates a fleet of over 70 satellites in geostationary and medium Earth orbits, under the pilot program will support military combatant commands across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions.
Satcom as a managed service is a shift from the Army’s usual approach to acquiring commercial satellite communications, from self-managed infrastructure to a more streamlined, provider-managed model.
https://spacenews.com/ses-providing-managed-satcom-services-to-u-s-army/
Fresh twist in 'alien mummy' corpses as fingerprint results come back
12:43, 25 Jul 2024
A bizarre collection of corpses found in Peru which were branded "alien mummies" are "not human" – according to their fingerprints.
The alleged alien corpses were released to the public last September in Mexico.
Many dismissed the ancient 'alien' bodies as nothing short of a prank but UFO expert Jaime Maussan stood his ground.
And now, a new development in the case has shocked everybody.
A senior US attorney has shockingly deemed the fingerprints tested of one of the 'alien' bodies and has concluded that they're 'non-human'.
The body of the supposed 'alien' Maria was investigated by three independent medical examiners and Joshua McDowell, a US defence lawyer.
McDowell told the MailOnline: “These were not traditional human fingerprint patterns.
We did not see any loops or whirls on the prints of the fingers or on the toes.”
He added: “I’m a former prosecutor. I’m a criminal defence attorney. I’ve seen lots of fingerprints. And these were not classic fingerprints.”
Earlier this year, forensic archaeologist Flavio Estrada was dismissive of the chances of the corpses being extra terrestrial.
He said: "The conclusion is simple: they are dolls assembled with bones of animals from this planet, with modern synthetic glues, therefore they were not assembled during pre-Hispanic times,”
He added: “They are not extraterrestrials; they are not aliens.” Meanwhile, Christopher Heaney, a Latin American historian offered another theory.
He told MailOnline: "The Spanish, when they arrived in the 16th Century observed and commented on individuals walking around with very specifically shaped skulls."
Christopher said that the 'alien-like' skulls could be put down to ancient Peruvian practices, where 'bandages' were used to manipulate the head shape.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/fresh-twist-alien-mummy-corpses-33318182
Department Of Veterans Affairs Faces $15 Billion Shortfall
Jul 25, 2024
Veterans who depend on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for benefits and healthcare may be in for a big disappointment: the department acknowledged it will run roughly $15 billion short through this year and 2025.
VA benefits accounts could plunge $2.9 billion, and healthcare accounts could be almost $12 billion short next year.
“Right now, due in large part to the historic PACT Act, VA is delivering more care and more benefits to more veterans than ever before,” VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes stated.
“These results are life-changing for veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors, and VA will continue to push to make sure that they get the care and benefits they deserve.”
But according to Military.com, Congress was apprised in a slideshow that there could be “potential disruptions to benefits payments if there’s insufficient funding by the end of the fiscal year.”
“If VBA (Veterans Benefits Administration) has insufficient funding available, then compensation and pension payments to over 7 million veterans and survivors and readjustment benefit payments to over 500,000 individuals that are scheduled to be delivered on October 1, 2024, are at risk,” the slideshow stated.
“This represents by far the largest budget shortfall the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has experienced under any administration and a repudiation of the FY 2025 budget request that the Biden-Harris administration presented just four months ago,” Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL), Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman, wrote VA Secretary Denis McDonough on Wednesday.
”Not only have your chief financial officers thrown out the dollar amounts requested for many key accounts, they have abandoned many of the estimates and projections that underpinned their budget.
This is not just fiscal mismanagement; it is strategic whiplash.”
“I understand that priorities may change, but it boggles my mind how the roughly 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workforce reduction and the nationwide VHA hiring restrictions that you defended just a few months ago have already become a more than 22,000 FTE increase.
Hiring quality health care workers is difficult enough without a constantly moving target,” Bost added.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/department-of-veterans-affairs-faces-15-billion-shortfall