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Elon Musk defies X ban in Brazil by beaming app from space
September 3, 2024
Elon Musk has found a way to bypass a ban on his social media firm X in Brazil by allowing people in the country to access the app through his satellite internet provider Starlink.
Brazil’s Supreme Court voted on Monday to uphold a ban on X that was introduced last week by Justice Alexandre de Moraes after the company failed to follow a court order to appoint a new legal representative in the country.
Mr Musk criticised the ruling, claiming that Judge Moraes was a “dictator” who should be impeached for violating freedom of speech.
The new law forces internet service providers in the country to implement an “immediate, complete and comprehensive” ban of X, or face legal and financial ramifications.
Starlink, which is controlled by Mr Musk’s other company SpaceX, has more than 250,000 customers in Brazil, who access the broadband network through satellite receivers.
Starlink has not complied with the court order, resulting in the network’s bank accounts in Brazil being frozen, preventing the company from processing financial transactions.
“This order is based on an unfounded determination that Starlink should be responsible for the fines levied – unconstitutionally – against X,” Starlink posted on X last week.
“It was issued in secret and without affording Starlink any of the due process of law guaranteed by the Constitution of Brazil.
We intend to address the matter legally… We are proud of the impact Starlink is making in communities across the country, and the Starlink team is doing everything possible to ensure their service is not interrupted.”
Mr Musk claimed the freezing of Starlink bank accounts was illegal and pledged to provide free internet access to its Brazilian customers while the accounts remain blocked.
Under the court ruling, any X users who access the platform’s app or website through Starlink or a virtual private network (VPN) face a fine of up to 50,000 reais (£6,750).
https://www.the-independent.com/tech/elon-musk-x-ban-brazil-starlink-b2606095.html
Watch Sentinel-2C launch live on the final Vega rocket
September 4, 2024
Owing to electrical issues, the VV24 Vega launch with Copernicus Sentinel-2C planned for 4 September was postponed.
Arianespace has confirmed a new launch attempt for 5 September at 03:50 CEST (4 September 22:50 local time in French Guiana).
The launcher and its passenger, the Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite, are in stable and safe conditions.
Tune in to ESA WebTV on 5 September from 03:30 CEST to watch the satellite soar into space on the last Vega rocket to be launched from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Sentinel-2C is scheduled to liftoff at 03:50 CEST.
About Copernicus Sentinel-2
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission provides high-resolution optical imagery for a wide range of applications including land, water and atmospheric monitoring.
The mission is based on a constellation of two identical satellites flying in the same orbit but 180° apart: Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B. Together, they cover all of Earth’s land and coastal waters every five days.
The satellites each carry a high-resolution multispectral imager that generates optical images in the visible, near-infrared and shortwave-infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
From their altitude of 786 km, they provide continuous imagery in 13 spectral bands with resolutions of 10 m, 20 m and 60 m, with a large swath width of 290 km.
Sentinel-2C is the third in the Sentinel-2 series. Once commissioned in orbit, it will replace its predecessor, Sentinel-2A.
Later, Sentinel-2D will replace Sentinel-2B. This all ensures the continuity of imagery for Copernicus Services and beyond.
More information about Sentinel-2
About Vega
Vega was the very first rocket entirely managed by ESA, built to send small satellites into low Earth orbit.
Designed by Avio, who is also the prime contractor, the rocket is operated by Arianespace.
Vega consists of four stages, the first three propelled by solid propellant motors and the last stage uses liquid propulsion.
The Vega inaugural flight took place in February 2012.
In all, including this final upcoming VV24 mission, Vega will have launched 22 times during its years in service, taking more than 100 missions to space from dozens of European institutions but also customers around the world.
Sentinel-2C will be the last liftoff for the Vega rocket which specialises in launching such small scientific and Earth observation spacecraft to sun-synchronous orbits, flying over the poles of Earth and following the Sun.
Fittingly the Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B satellites were also launched on Vega marking a logical conclusion to Vega’s stellar roster of satellites launched.
This final launch marks the handover of Vega to the upgraded Vega-C.
Vega has for years ensured that Europe has a versatile, independent access to space, complementing the Ariane family of rockets to launch any satellite to any orbit – continuing with Vega-C and Ariane 6.
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-2/Watch_Sentinel-2C_launch_live_on_the_final_Vega_rocket
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZzcOxxeMyA&feature=youtu.be
A huge asteroid crash permanently altered Jupiter's biggest moon Ganymede
September 4, 2024
A colossal asteroid slammed into Jupiter's largest moon Ganymede with so much power it dramatically and permanently reoriented the moon roughly 4 billion years ago, new research suggests.
Scientists say the pivotal impact also significantly influenced the geological and internal evolution of the moon, which is larger than Mercury.
Computer simulations by planetary scientist Naoyuki Hirata of Japan's Kobe University predict the asteroid must have been about 186 miles (300 kilometers) wide, or 20 times bigger than the fateful one that wiped out the dinosaurs from the face of our planet about 66 million years ago.
Only an impact of this scale would be powerful enough to destabilize Ganymede and cause the tidally-locked moon to whirl on its axis, according to a study published by Hirata on Tuesday (Sept. 3) in the journal Scientific Reports.
"This is a neat attempt to rewind the clock via computer simulations, searching for an explanation for the distribution of scars across Ganymede," Leigh Fletcher, a planetary scientist at the University of Leicester in the U.K. who was not involved with the new study, told The Guardian.
Hirata estimates the consequential process unfolded over approximately 1,000 years following the asteroid impact.
The space rock likely crashed into Ganymede at an angle of 60 to 90 degrees and produced a crater somewhere between 870 to 990 miles wide (1400 to 1600 km), the new study finds.
The evidence for Ganymede's reorientation is rooted in its surface, which is pockmarked with extensive furrows, or concentric rings of troughs thought to be fragmented remnants of bowl-shaped basins created by asteroid impacts.
A fresh analysis of Ganymede's largest furrow system, which scars the moon just below its equator, suggests that the asteroid strike caused the moon to spin such that the impact crater faces away from Jupiter.
The asteroid strike would have "completely removed the original surface" of Ganymede, thanks to the crater reaching a whopping 25 percent of the moon's size, the researcher said in a recent statement.
The impact would have significantly affected the moon's geology and interior, where scientists think a hidden saltwater ocean containing more water than all of Earth's oceans combined exists.
Although both Voyager spacecraft as well as the Galileo probe took images of Ganymede in the late 1900s, many areas of the moon have not yet been imaged with sufficient resolution, limiting scientists' understanding of its history and evolution.
For instance, Ganymede's dramatic reorientation may have spurred fractures and other tectonic landforms across its surface that haven't been discovered yet, Hirata said.
Forthcoming images of Ganymede from the European Space Agency's JUICE spacecraft could reveal more about how the asteroid strike shaped the moon's evolution.
JUICE pulled off difficult gravitational slingshots past our moon and Earth just last month, and is set to arrive at the Jupiter system in 2031.
Over the following 2.5 years, the solar-powered JUICE will orbit the gas giant while swinging past Ganymede, Europa and Callisto multiple times, cataloging their surface features as well as potential for habitability by flying within 120 to 620 miles (200 to 1,000 kilometers) of their surfaces.
JUICE will return to Ganymede in December 2034 for a dedicated nine-month study, which would mark the first time a spacecraft orbits a moon other than our own.
https://www.space.com/jupiter-moon-ganymede-asteroid-impact-tilt-axis
https://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/news/article/20240903-65914/
Tiny asteroid will hit Earth today, burn up over Philippines. 'Discovered this morning,' ESA says
September 4, 2024
A small asteroid is on a collision course with Earth today, but don't worry.
It will burn up harmlessly in Earth's atmosphere when it strikes, scientists say.
The European Space Agency (ESA) says a 3-foot (1-meter) asteroid will strike the atmosphere and burn up harmlessly on Wednesday (Sept. 4) around 12:46 p.m. ET (1646 GMT) above the western Pacific Ocean near Luzon Island in the Philippines.
The asteroid, known as 2024 RW1, was discovered today by research technologist Jacqueline Fazekas with the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey, a NASA-funded observatory near Tucson, Arizona dedicated to tracking and cataloging near-Earth objects.
It is only the ninth asteroid that has been spotted prior to impact, ESA wrote in a post on X .
NASA's Asteroid Watch website predicted that the impact could create a fireball visible from the east coast of the Philippines.
Unfortunately, weather conditions could mean that the event isn't visible from the ground.
"The nearby tropical storm Yagi/Enteng will make fireball observations difficult," ESA wrote on X.
Planetary defense, which involves searching for near-Earth asteroids such as 2024 RW1 and cataloging them for tracking, has become a major priority for space agencies worldwide.
In 2022, NASA's DART mission crashed an impactor into a double asteroid system in an attempt to change its trajectory.
NASA is also planning a new infrared telescope known as NEO Surveyor, and China is developing its own mission to deflect an asteroid by 2030.
https://www.space.com/asteroid-earth-impact-september-2024-rw1
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3892827/sw25-space-planning-for-future-operations/
SW25: Space planning for future operations
Published Sept. 3, 2024
How will the U.S. and its allies conduct operations in space to support terrestrial objectives in an ever-increasing environment of space congestion infiltrating all orbits around the earth?
Or, more clearly – How is the U.S. deterring and defending against adversaries today and into the future?
This is precisely the question that Schriever Wargame 2025 seeks answer in its 17th iteration, scheduled to take place next year.
Originally established in 1998, the Schriever Wargame exercises have grown in sophistication to reflect emerging technologies.
Today, they are designed to explore critical space issues, identify solutions to anticipated challenges, and advance space support within air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace doctrine.
The exercises span several days and include participation from allied nations.
The planning and development of SW25 is a multi-year process directed by Space Force’s Space Training and Readiness Command’s, Delta 10.
On July 8-12, 2024 – roughly midway through its planning calendar – the SW25 Mid-Planning Conference/Operational Planning Workshop was held at Space Systems Command and hosted by the Aerospace Corporation.
"Schriever Wargames has a legacy of demonstrated ability to address the complex interfaces among our international partners is exemplary,” said David Swanson, associate professor, War Gaming Department, Center for Naval Warfare Studies, U.S. Naval War College.
“No other wargaming organization brings so many partners together to investigate operational issues in the Space domain. This planning event was essential to a successful capstone game."
SW25’s MPC/OPWS continued the operational design from the initial planning conference and conducted course of action wargaming to prepare for the final planning conference and follow-on wargame execution at the Capstone.
Multi-domain planning against an advisory’s space-based threats was the focus.
U.S. participants of the MPC/OPWS included U.S. space components from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Combatant Commands, and other governmental agencies.
International space planning partners participated from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, and United Kingdom.
The objectives of the Mid-Year Operational Planning Conference were to:
Review and analyze updated scenario, execution orders, and intelligence products
Review notional capabilities and accompanying Rules of Engagement and authorities produced during the Policy/Legal Framework Workshop
Refine friendly forces course of action and develop draft schemes of maneuver.
Conduct CoA Wargaming to explore options and enable follow-on analysis in preparation for CoA selection and detailed scheme of maneuver development
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To achieve these objectives, the SW25 directors formed a friendly forces cell, an adversary cell, and a neutral/other agencies cell. Based on scenario and actions of the cells, the operational design structure provided a roadmap of the design process of the wargames.
The design process provided ample refresher and planning training for those who have attended service and joint professional development education and an inside view for those who are new to the U.S. military operational design process.
“The Schriever Wargame Ops Planning Workshop was a great experience for me,” said Capt. Leah Smith, Space Forces INDOPACIFIC chief of Intel Plans and Targeting Division.
“It emphasized the importance of synchronization of force mission planning with broader whole-of-government efforts to achieve flawless mission execution.”
“The Schriever Wargame Operational Planning Workshop was an excellent opportunity to see how our international partnerships work together to achieve strategic wargaming objectives,” said 1st Lt. Katrina Heil, deputy of GRIFFON Terminals IPT, Evolved Strategic SATCOM at SSC.
“It was very impactful to see the relationships the U.S. has formed with our allies and an honor to work side by side with them.”
In a leap from sand-table war-gaming (similar to board games), a new Sector 42 computer-based platform debuted to provide an overall view of the space environment with space systems in an orbital vantage allowing for movement and execution of missions.
This provided a realistic view of space and how actions and results can be visualized in a 3-D interactive environment.
It ultimately resulted in valuable testing results of the scenarios, creation of orders and directives, policies, and intelligence products to be executed during the CAPSTONE.
To ensure the validity of the planning efforts during the conference, the planning teams conducted two rounds of testing of the products developed during the exercise.
The result confirmed the direction and efforts of the SW25 MPC/OPWS and will be further developed with the coming Final Planning Conference in October hosted by USINDOPACOM in Oahu, where SSC’s Warfighting Integration Office representatives will participate.
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https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3894370/mental-health-suicide-prevention-a-top-priority-at-space-systems-command-across/
Mental health, suicide prevention a top priority at Space Systems Command, across DoD
Sept. 4, 2024
The latest data released by the Defense Department’s Defense Suicide Prevention Office reported 94 active-duty U.S. military personnel deaths suspected or confirmed by military services to be suicides during the first quarter of 2024.
The numbers among Air and Space Force personnel have risen 41% from 2021 to 2023.
Suicide prevention is a top military priority every day, but takes on even greater focus each September, designated since 2008 as National Suicide Prevention month.
Research has found that military suicide rates are roughly the same or lower than in the U.S. population generally but remain a serious concern in military communities. Service members and their families deal with a great number of stressors, experts say.
“You're giving up a lot of autonomy and control over the trajectory of your life,” said Crystal Mabry, a licensed clinical social worker and U.S. Air Force veteran who works at Los Angeles Air Force Base.
“You don't have a lot of say in where you're living, the people you're working with, the people that are around you, and sometimes even the job that you're doing. That loss of control over your own life is very different than what civilians experience.”
Mental health awareness and suicide prevention are issues for the entire Department of Defense; including Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. At USSF’s Space Systems Command, they are top of mind for Lt. Gen. Phillip Garrant, SSC commander, and Col. Andrew Dermanoski, Space Base Delta 3 commander; both leaders have spoken out about the issue.
“No one is immune from struggle, regardless of their level in leadership. I encourage everyone to talk to each other, check in on one another, and connect.
You truly never know what someone is going through,” Dermanoski said. “There are resources available far and wide, but sometimes all it takes is the simple question, ‘Are you okay?’”
Air Force Maj. Jenneva Barrett, a mental health specialist at LAAFB, said the Defense Department’s position regarding mental health has changed significantly since she joined the Air Force in 2006.
“Stress is a part of life, (but) it's not something that we have to do by ourselves, or hold in, or carry alone,” Barrett said. “Life in general comes with a lot of weight, and none of us are designed to carry that on our own.”
At SSC headquarters at LAAFB, the 61st Medical Squadron provides mental health services to thousands of active duty, Guard, and reserve military personnel with its staff of physicians, psychologists, and mental health specialists.
Strong social connections and a sense of belonging can alleviate work stresses and so reduce the risk of suicide, experts say.
“In the military, every two to three to four years, you're relocating and rebuilding, in a sense, your social support network … in my mind that's the biggest stressor that we see patients for,” said Barrett, who commands the 61st’s Mental Health Flight, responsible for psychological health.
“There is a resource for everyone and there are options always available; don't wait. Don't wait.”
The medical team also works closely with the civilian social workers and counselors of the base’s Integrated Resilience Office, which - like the 61st - also serves the Space Systems Command personnel who work at the headquarters office.
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Although cases and case numbers are subject to patient confidentiality, the LAAFB mental health staff acknowledge that the number of personnel seeking assistance has increased in recent years.
The professionals, however, say that is a positive development: it shows acceptance of the reality of mental health, and movement away from historical attitudes where issues were often ignored or went unspoken.
“I think we're just getting more comfortable giving that information, and with more and more resources available, asking those questions,” said Barrett, who served for eight years as an enlisted aircraft maintainer before earning her master’s degree in social work.
“I think that we're getting more honest answers.”
Service members may request a mental health referral for any reason, including - but not limited to - personal distress, personal concerns, or trouble performing their duties.
They are not required to provide a reason or basis for the referral to their chain of command.
At an in-person and virtual “Ask Me Anything” discussion in July, Garrant, Joy White, SSC’s executive director, and Chief Master Sgt. Jacqueline Sauvé, the command’s senior enlisted leader, served as panelists responding to workforce questions about mental health issues.
“Don’t take this on yourself to try and figure out,” Sauvé said.
“Stop by and see our medical folks to help point you in the right direction, if it is mental health support that you’re seeking.”
That is exactly the message that mental health professionals want anyone who is having an issue to take to heart.
“We want to make sure we're treating our mental health like our physical health, and prioritizing it,” said Whitney Easley, a prevention analyst with the LAAFB Resilience Office.
“We don't want anyone to feel afraid or apprehensive for seeking these resources.”
The U.S. Space Force and U.S. Air Force offer a wide variety of mental health support services for personnel, including active duty and reserve military, civilian, and contractor staff.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3894370/mental-health-suicide-prevention-a-top-priority-at-space-systems-command-across/
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Trump Makes Stance Clear On Releasing JFK Assassination And UFO Files
September 4, 2024 9:00 AM EDT
Donald Trump sounds like he's ready to open the floodgates when it comes to two topics that fascinate Americans:
John F. Kennedy being assassinated and UFOs.
The former President and current Republican nominee released some files related to JFK being assassinated in Dallas in 1963, but ultimately decided not to release them all.
The decision to keep some files secret nearly 60 years later at the time was a disappointing development for many people fascinated by history.
The JFK assassination remains one of the most debated and fascinating events in American history.
Many Americans do not believe the official government story that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.
Well, it sounds like Trump will dump the rest of the JFK files if elected President in November, and he'll bring the same energy to getting UFO info out to the public.
"They also are pushing me on Kennedy. And I did release a lot, but I had people come to me and beg me not to do it.
But I'll be doing that very early. Yeah, no, but I would do that," Trump said during the interview when asked about UFOs and the JFK assassination files.
When talking specifically about releasing videos and files relating to UFOs, the former POTUS said, "I would do that. I'd love to do that. I have to do that."
I don't care what your politics are. You can hate or love Trump.
That's up to you, but I think it's a pretty common sense stance to argue documents related to the murder of someone more than 60 years ago have no business remaining classified.
What could possibly be in the JFK files that's still relevant in 2024? I'm sure the intel community will argue that sources and methods are contained in the documents.
That excuse can't be tolerated. The way American intel operated in 1963 is nothing like we do today. That's just a blanket excuse the government can throw out. Ignore it, and demand better.
Trump should have released all the JFK files when he had the chance to as President. He released some but certainly not all of them.
Now, he's claiming he'll dump them out for people to read through and will push for UFO transparency. From a pure history and curiosity standpoint, I want to know what's in those files.
https://www.outkick.com/culture/donald-trump-lex-fridman-ufo-files-jfk-assassination