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Members of Congress seek details on Chandra funding and operations
October 31, 2024
Several members of Congress are seeking more details about the operation of NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, a space telescope whose budget has faced steep cuts.
In an Oct. 30 letter to Patrick Slane, director of the Chandra X-ray Center, six members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D), asked for more details about the operation of the 25-year-old X-ray space telescope and the effects potential NASA budget cuts would have on it.
NASA had proposed a 40% cut in Chandra’s budget for fiscal year 2025 in the budget proposal the agency released in March.
However, agency officials said at an Oct. 23 town hall meeting that it was delaying a decision on those cuts as well as smaller cuts to the Hubble Space Telescope until after Congress completes its fiscal year 2025 appropriations bills. The agency is also providing funding to Chandra to avoid layoffs at the center through the 2025 fiscal year.
“Shutting Chandra down would have had far-reaching impacts on the scientific community and U.S. leadership in astronomy,” the letter noted.
“X-ray experts said they would leave the United States if Chandra was eliminated and the nation was left without an X-ray telescope, resulting in the possibility of the United States ceding X-ray telescope leadership to Europe, Japan, or China.”
The letter stated that NASA officials had informed the members that the agency will keep Chandra funded at “largely the same” level.
“This funding will allow the telescope to remain fully operational, and we appreciate NASA’s support,” the members stated in the letter
The members noted their efforts to convince NASA to defer any decisions on Chandra’s budget until after the 2025 appropriations bills are complete.
“We are glad NASA looked at the evidence we presented and decided to restore Chandra’s funding for another year, but Congress and NASA need to continue their support for X-ray astronomy,” the letter stated.
To “ensure Congress, NASA, and Chandra are looking toward the future,” the letter included more than a dozen questions about Chandra.
Several focus on the scientific productivity of the telescope, such as demand for telescope time, and the impact on astronomy in general, and U.S. X-ray astronomy in particular, if Chandra is ended prematurely.
Other questions sought information on the cost of operating Chandra and any issues it has.
NASA, when it announced the proposed budget cuts in March, argued that problems with thermal control of the telescope reduced its effectiveness, a claim astronomers who use Chandra rejected.
“How significant is the impact of thermal management on the life of Chandra and its operations?” the letter asked, also seeking details on any additional costs.
A final question asks about reductions of funding available for Chandra’s “general observer” program that makes observing time available to much of the astronomical community.
“What are the impacts of cutting the General Observer program for scientists across the United States?” the letter asked.
The letter stated it is seeking responses from the Chandra X-ray Center by Nov. 15.
A spokesperson for the center confirmed to SpaceNews Oct. 31 that they had received the letter and would respond by the deadline, but did not comment further.
Other members signing the letter are Sen. Edward Markey (D) and Reps. Seth Moulton (D), James McGovern (D), Stephen Lynch (D) and Lori Trajan (D).
All are from Massachusetts; the Chandra X-ray Center is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
https://spacenews.com/members-of-congress-seek-details-on-chandra-funding-and-operations/
https://www.scribd.com/document/786514739/Warren-MA-Lawmakers-Letter-to-Chandra-X-Ray-Center-Re-Restored-NASA-Funding-for-Chandra-and-Future-Years
NRO announces space tech agreements with three commercial companies
October 30, 2024
The National Reconnaissance Office selected three commercial space companies for its technology program that seeks innovations in space logistics and in-space mobility.
The NRO, which builds and operates the nation’s spy satellites, announced Oct. 30 it has signed agreements with Cognitive Space, Impulse Space and Starfish Space under a program called Broad Agency Announcements for Agile Launch Innovation and Strategic Technology Advancement.
The program’s key areas of focus include:
In-space mobility to enable access to non-traditional orbits and maneuvering between orbits
On-orbit logistics such as refueling, docking interfaces and de-orbiting
Techniques to accelerate space missions
Artificial intelligence for ground operations
The three agreements are study contracts to assess the companies’ capabilities.
“This BAA helps NRO advance emerging technologies across launch, on-orbit support, and command and control,” said Col. Eric Zarybnisky, director of the NRO’s office of space launch.
Cognitive Space, based in Houston, Texas, specializes in AI solutions for satellite operations. The company develops AI-driven software that automates mission management
Impulse Space, based in Redondo Beach, California, develops vehicles for in-space transportation services. The company aims to facilitate the movement of payloads between different orbits.
Starfish Space, based in Kent, Washington, develops spacecraft intended for satellite servicing and logistics.
https://spacenews.com/nro-announces-space-tech-agreements-with-three-commercial-companies/
https://www.nro.gov/Portals/135/Documents/news/press/2024/BALISTA%20Press%20Release.pdf
Concerns about electioneering: The rules and regulations voters need to follow
Oct. 30, 2024 at 3:04 PM PDT
The Washoe County Registrar of Voters office has received a few questions over the legality and rules of electioneering.
Electioneering can be defined as campaigning for or against a candidate, ballot question or political party by:
Posting signs
Distributing literature
Using loudspeakers to broadcast information about a candidate, ballot question or political party
Buying, selling, wearing or displaying any badge, button or other insignia that expressly refers to any political party or a candidate or ballot question to be voted upon at that election
Soliciting signatures to any kind of petition.
“We have received reports of people complaining maybe because there was somebody outside the line with a boom horn and so since its outside the electioneering line there’s not much we can do, and we might try to talk to those people just to try to accommodate anything,” says Media Specialist Georgie Guthrie.
The reason they can’t intervene at that point is because the act of electioneering is not necessarily illegal.
“But within that 100 ft range that’s when you need to be careful of advocating a candidate or having a campaign item anywhere,” said Guthrie.
Electioneering within 100 ft of a polling place could earn you a gross misdemeanor.
Meaning, you could find yourself with not more than 364 days in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.
https://www.kolotv.com/2024/10/30/concerns-about-electioneering-rules-regulations-voters-need-follow/
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-293.html#NRS293Sec361
Space Force opens national security launch contracts to new players
October 30, 2024
The U.S. Space Force on Oct. 30 opened the bidding process for emerging space launch providers to compete for national security missions under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program.
The new request for proposals is part of an “on ramp” strategy designed to allow new entrants to vie for contracts alongside SpaceX, Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance (ULA).
The Lane 1 program, structured as an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, is projected at $5.6 billion over five years, allowing the Space Force to issue individual task orders to qualified providers.
SpaceX earlier this month won the first round of Lane 1 task orders worth $733.5 million.
For the current on-ramp, prospective providers must demonstrate readiness for a first launch by December 2025, with formal proposals due this year by December 13 and awards expected by Spring 2025.
This on-ramp opportunity is critical for fostering competition and ensuring ensuring reliable access to space for national security operations, said Col. Douglas Pentecost, deputy program executive officer for Assured Access to Space at Space Systems Command.
“Emerging launch service providers are able to on-ramp each year to the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 contract when their launch systems are ready giving us more diversity and competition,” said Pentecost.
Among the potential new entrants, Rocket Lab stands out with its Neutron launch vehicle, anticipated to be ready for its first flight by mid-2025.
The company recently achieved a milestone by completing tests on its Neutron engine.
Relativity Space, another potential contender, indicated that its new vehicle might not be ready until 2026, which could delay its eligibility.
The NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 program aims to conduct at least 30 missions during the initial five-year period, spanning fiscal years 2025 to 2029.
With a potential five-year extension, the contract could run through 2034, providing a long runway for new entrants to integrate and demonstrate capabilities.
https://spacenews.com/space-force-opens-national-security-launch-contracts-to-new-players/
https://sam.gov/opp/9bc05c3ce9f2492a969fc8fbca312858/view
Lil Uzi Vert Takes 'Eternal Atake 2' Rollout To Next Level With 'Crazy' UFO Stunt
Oct 30, 2024, 9:30 AM PDT
Lil Uzi Vert has ramped up the rollout for their new album Eternal Atake 2 by taking over the New York City skies with a UFO.
A promotional video for the album’s release has gone viral, with fans amazed at the sight of an alien spaceship flying over the Big Apple.
It has not been revealed how the stunt was achieved but it was likely through the use of holograms.
Check out clips of the incredible moment below.
If it wasn’t clear already, Eternal Atake 2 has a strong sci-fi theme.
Lil Uzi Vert released the artwork for the album last week, with it depicting a group of purple women with their eyes lit up pink, à la Five Nights at Freddy’s.
The camera then cuts to a UFO that teleports through an Eternal Atake 2 logo and lands on a futuristic space station, where Uzi has their memory wiped by purple-eyed aliens.
The trailer ends by saying Eternal Atake 2, which will serve as the sequel to his chart-topping 2020 effort, is “coming soon.”
https://hiphopdx.com/news/lil-uzi-vert-ufo-eternal-atake-2
Ex-Pentagon UFO whistleblower reveals ‘high-res pic of alien mothership’ as he dubs ‘craft’ a ‘huge floating mini city’
Updated: 11:19, 31 Oct 2024
A FORMER Pentagon official has revealed a freaky photo of an alleged massive alien mothership and described it as a "huge mini city floating in the sky."
US Army counterintelligence specialist Luis Elizondo showed the high res pic, presumably taken in Romania, during a private event in Philadelphia.
Surreal pictures of the supposed spacecraft appears to show a distinctive disc shape, with a beaming light emanating from it's bottom.
The shape is universally recognised as what we understand an alien UFO would look like, as it hovers menacingly in the air over a road.
The mysterious "mothership" has been debuted at a private event in Philadelphia on October 28, by the former official at the Pentagon.
Luis Elizondo's claims of a ship the size of a "huge floating mini city" have drawn up fresh speculation from UFO believers and equal dismissal from critics.
Luis chose his words wisely at his secretive event, instead using his "evidence" to speak for him.
He said: "Guess what we caught in Romania in 2022? By the way, the U.S Embassy,' as Elizondo told attendees at the paid event, gesturing to the photo: 'That.'
"'There's a whole lot more here folks.
"We're having pilots, military pilots and civilian pilots in Eastern Europe and in the Middle East, report what unimaginably seems impossible
"I just want to give you kind of a small taste of what's going on "behind the scenes.""
The startling claim directly links the U.S government to a deliberate alien cover-up, that he was exposing at the bizarre presentation.
LUIS' CLAIMS HAVE DRAWN STRONG BACKLASH
These claims have drawn intense speculation from critics.
Veteran US Air Force Staff Sergeant, Jeremy McGowan, witnessed a sensational UFO encounter in the Middle East decades ago.
Despite this, he has cast strong doubt on Luis' credibility.
Jeremy said: "This unfortunate situation with Lue follows my experiences with him nearly exactly.
"I witnessed him exaggerate or outright fabricate information that simply wasn't true.
"I've been on the receiving end where Lue has pulled out his cell phone and shown me what he described as highly classified video.
"For him to think I would believe he would simply carry classified info on an unsecure civilian cell phone is just insulting.
"And it wasn't just me, multiple podcast hosts were shown video Lue attributed to things they were not."
In the mid-90s, while serving as a member of the JSOC J2 Security Team for "Ellipse Foxtrot," Jeremy says he was a witness to unusual aerial lights.
According to reports, tickets to Luis' revelatory event at The City Winery, a Pennsylvania wine bar, cost between $30-$50 (£23-38).
CRITICS THINK THEY HAVE FOUND THE TRUTH
It did not take long for other internet sleuths to poke holes in Luis' outlandish statements.
John Greenewald Jr, a government transparency advocate, tracked the photo back to September 2023, in a Facebook group called "Mysterious Ancient Discoveries".
This pic appears more likely to have originated as the reflection of an indoor chandelier reflected in window glass.
The Facebook picture has over 180,000 likes and 23,000 comments, suggesting the public were aware of the snap.
Further examination of the pic allegedly showed that it was not actually linked to the U.S Embassy, as Luis claimed.
The photo background appeared to show the Arad Power Station, a coal-fired plant.
America's Embassy is roughly 400 miles to the southeast of Arad, and is actually placed in the capital city Bucharest.
LUIS HAS MORE EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER
On October 30, two days after his paid event, Luis clarified that any misinformation involved in his presentation was the fault of his "friend in the government" who reportedly supplied the image.
Luis has been criticised by the UFO community, who have accused him of using them as pawns in a money-making scheme.
One Reddit on the forum e/UFOs, one user remarked, “Lue is 100% using us as pawns to line his pockets.
"His most recent book was no.1 seller in the nation."
According to Luis' X account, he has five more speaking engagements lined up for November.
The tagline on the promotional poster reads "WE ARE NOT ALONE".
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/31420410/ufo-claim-from-ex-pentagon-official-draws-criticism/