TYB
Kessler syndrome: How crowded satellite orbits could lead to a runaway space debris problem
6:52 PM, Dec 27, 2024
As the number of satellites in Earth orbit increases, so too does the risk from space debris — and some experts warn certain orbits could already be getting dangerously crowded.
The mass of debris in Earth orbit totals nearly 7 million kilograms, and it ranges from obsolete satellites to tiny flecks of paint.
More than 27,000 pieces of space junk are currently being tracked by the U.S. Department of Defense’s global Space Surveillance Network sensors.
Other pieces are too small to detect, but still present dangers to spacecraft due to their high velocities.
Much of the debris will eventually re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up, that process can take years. While it remains in space, it creates new problems and poses risks to space missions and astronauts.
The more collisions there are, the more debris is created, and then that junk can cause even more crashes. The problem can keep compounding.
The phenomenon is known as Kessler syndrome, named after retired NASA engineer Don Kessler, who first proposed it mechanisms in 1978.
At its most extreme, Kessler syndrome may reach a self-perpetuating threshold that could render entire orbits unusable due to debris.
According to NASA, some experts believe low Earth orbit is already pushing the limits that could lead to this runaway reaction.
The risks of debris and cascading crashes could continue to rise as companies like SpaceX and Amazon push forward with orbital projects that call for large numbers of satellites.
Amazon's Kuiper internet project, for example, could eventually include more than 3,000 satellites, while SpaceX's Starlink system already has more than 7,000 satellites in orbit and could eventually field more than 30,000.
It some cases, though, new satellites like those used with Starlink are designed to quickly fall into the atmosphere at the end of their useful life instead of lingering in orbits where they could become part of the debris problem.
https://www.scrippsnews.com/science-and-tech/space/kessler-syndrome-how-crowded-satellite-orbits-could-lead-to-a-runaway-space-debris-problem
Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Completes Integrated Launch Vehicle Hotfire
Dec 27, 2024
New Glenn successfully completed an integrated launch vehicle hotfire test today, the final major milestone on our road to first flight.
NG-1 will carry a Blue Ring Pathfinder as its first manifested payload and will launch from Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, FL.
The seven-engine hotfire lasted 24 seconds and marked the first time we operated the entire flight vehicle as an integrated system.
The multi-day test campaign leading up to the hotfire included numerous inert functional and tanking tests.
The integrated launch vehicle included the first and second stages of the NG-1 flight vehicle, and a payload test article comprised of manufacturing test demonstrator fairings, a high-capacity fixed adapter flight unit, and a 45,000 lb payload mass simulator.
One of the primary goals of the test campaign was to demonstrate day-of-launch operations in our NG-1 test configuration.
Additionally, the team conducted several tests to validate vehicle and ground systems in the fully integrated, on-pad configuration.
This data will be utilized to finalize day-of-launch timelines, confirm expected performance, and correlate our models to real-world test data.
“This is a monumental milestone and a glimpse of what’s just around the corner for New Glenn’s first launch,” said Jarrett Jones, SVP, New Glenn.
“Today’s success proves that our rigorous approach to testing–combined with our incredible tooling and design engineering–is working as intended.”
The tanking test included a full run-through of the terminal count sequence, testing the hand-off authority to and from the flight computer, and collecting fluid validation data.
The first stage (GS1) tanks were filled and pressed with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LOX), and the second stage (GS2) with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen–both to representative NG-1 set points.
The formal NG-1 Wet Dress Rehearsal demonstrated the final launch procedures leading into the hotfire engine run.
All seven engines performed nominally, firing for 24 seconds, including at 100% thrust for 13 seconds.
The test also demonstrated New Glenn’s autogenous pressurization system, which self-generates gases to pressurize GS1’s propellant tanks.
This test campaign captured a number of firsts for the New Glenn launch system, including the first seven-engine operations, the first integrated GS1-GS2 tanking demonstration, the first LNG/LOX fill for GS1, as well as first chilled helium operations for GS2.
The campaign met all objectives and marks the final major test prior to launch.
Blue Origin has several New Glenn vehicles in production and a full customer manifest. Customers include NASA, Amazon's Project Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile, several telecommunications providers, and a mix of U.S. government customers.
Blue Origin is certifying New Glenn with the U.S. Space Force for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program to meet emerging national security objectives.
About New Glenn
New Glenn stands more than 320 feet (98 meters) high and features a seven-meter payload fairing, enabling twice the volume of standard five-meter class commercial launch systems.
Its reusable first stage aims for a minimum of 25 missions and will land on Jacklyn, a sea-based platform located several hundred miles downrange. Reusability is integral to radically reducing cost-per-launch.
The vehicle is powered by seven of Blue Origin’s BE-4 engines, the most powerful liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled, oxygen-rich staged combustion engine ever flown.
LNG is cleaner-burning and higher-performing than kerosene-based fuels, and the seven BE-4s generate over 3.8 million lbf of thrust.
The vehicle’s second stage is powered by two BE-3Us, liquid oxygen (LOX)/liquid hydrogen (LH2) engines designed to together yield over 320,000 lbf of vacuum thrust.
In addition to the BE-4 and BE-3U, Blue Origin manufactures BE-7 engines for our Blue Moon lunar landers and New Shepard’s BE-3PM engine.
https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-glenn-completes-integrated-launch-vehicle-hotfire
China's new radio telescopes put into use for deep space exploration
09:23, 28-Dec-2024
Two radio telescopes with 40-meter-diameter antennas, one located in northeast and the other in southwest China, were put into use on Friday.
These telescopes will aid in exploring deep space and unraveling cosmic mysteries.
The two telescopes were built by the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in the Changbai Mountain area in northeast China's Jilin Province and in Shigatse in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region respectively.
Following the deployment of the two new telescopes, the Very-Long-Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) network in China now includes one control center in Shanghai and six stations: two in Shanghai and one in each of Urumqi, Kunming, Changbai Mountain and Shigatse, according to SHAO.
VLBI is a radio interferometry technology that can be used to obtain fine radio images and precise positions of cosmic objects.
Additionally, it is capable of achieving high-precision positioning for deep space probes. Unlike conventional techniques, the VLBI technique can combine signals received at different telescopes for joint processing.
In other words, it is a "virtual telescope" with a size equal to the maximum separation between the telescopes, scientists explained.
With the two new telescopes, the longest baseline of China's VLBI network, or the "effective aperture of the virtual telescope" has been extended from approximately 3,200 kilometers to about 3,800 kilometers, said Shen Zhiqiang, head of SHAO.
As a result, the observable sky area of the upgraded VLBI network in China could be expanded by 25 percent, and the angular resolution in the X-band could be improved by 18 percent, according to Shen.
China's VLBI network has supported lunar exploration missions from Chang'e-1 to Chang'e-6 and the Mars mission Tianwen-1, providing high-precision measurement information about the orbits and position of the spacecraft.
Such a Chinese VLBI network with six stations will allow simultaneous measurement and flexible tracking of multiple targets in different celestial regions, providing stronger support for lunar and deep-space exploration missions in the future, Shen said.
At the launch ceremony for the two telescopes on Friday, Ding Chibiao, vice president of CAS, emphasized the crucial role of major sci-tech infrastructure in supporting innovation, and called for promoting openness and sharing of sci-tech facilities.
Ye Shuhua, an academician of CAS, said the two new telescopes will play an important role in future lunar exploration, as well as deep space missions to explore asteroids, Mars, Jupiter and other celestial bodies.
The construction of the two telescopes, which started in September 2023, has featured great challenges.
One telescope was built at an altitude of 4,100 meters, while the other was located in the frigid region where winter temperatures can drop below minus 20 degrees Celsius, according to Shen.
The two telescopes will enhance China's capability in radio astronomy research and promote cutting-edge astronomical studies such as supermassive black holes, compact astrophysical objects with rapid variability, electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational waves and galactic dynamics, Shen added.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-12-28/China-s-new-radio-telescopes-put-into-use-for-deep-space-exploration-1zGWdKD1yiQ/p.html
https://www.space.com/stargazing/the-rare-black-moon-of-december-30-rises-next-week
The rare 'black moon' of December 30 rises next week
December 27, 2024
December 2024 will see a rare "black moon," a term for the second new moon in a calendar month.
The second new moon of December will occur at 5:27 p.m. ET (2227 GMT) on Dec. 30, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory, two days after the waning moon passes by Mercury in the predawn sky.
A second new moon is sometimes called a "black moon," just as two full moons in a month is sometimes called a "blue moon" — though neither is a true astronomical term.
New moons happen when the sun and the moon share the same celestial longitude, a position also called conjunction.
You can't see the moon during this phase from Earth because the illuminated side is facing away from us; only during solar eclipses do new moons make themselves visible.
New moon nights are a boon to astronomers both professional and amateur; the lack of a bright moon means that fainter objects are easier to see in the sky.
This can be especially true in the winter in much of North America when in addition to having no interference from the moon, the air tends to be drier and offer better seeing through telescopes.
A Mercury conjunction
On Dec. 28 at 11:24 p.m. Eastern Time, the moon will be in conjunction with Mercury; the two will appear about 6 degrees apart. The event itself won't be visible from the United States.
However, in New York City Mercury will rise at 5:38 a.m. on Dec. 28, and the sun follows at 6:48 a.m. The moon, meanwhile, rises at 5:26 a.m.
If one looks towards the eastern horizon by 6:15 a.m. one can spot Mercury and the moon, both about 6 degrees high; the moon will be a thin crescent and to the right of Mercury.
The closeness to the horizon makes spotting the two a challenge, but one can use the moon to orient.
To see the conjunction one must go eastward; in Cairo, for example, the conjunction is at 6:24 a.m. local time on Dec. 29, according to In-the-sky.org.
Sunrise is at 6:50 a.m. but Mercury rises at 5:13 a.m. and the moon at 5:33 a.m. At the time of conjunction (6:24 a.m.) the moon is 8 degrees high in the southeast and Mercury is at 13 degrees.
From Cape Town, the viewing is little better because the austral summer means that the sun rises earlier, at 5:36 a.m., so the conjunction happens after sunrise.
Mercury rises there at 4:12 a.m. local time and the moon at 3:48 a.m. The pair will be about 10 degrees high by 5:00 a.m. with the moon above and to the right of Mercury.
Visible Planets
On the night of the new moon itself, Mercury will be just visible in the dawn skies on Dec. 31, rising at 5:45 a.m. in New York.
Sunrise isn't until 7:20 a.m. By 6:45 a,m. Mercury will be about 9 degrees high in the southeast – difficult to see but not impossible with a flat horizon and clear conditions.
In the evening, by about 6 p.m., Venus and Saturn will be in the southwestern sky, at 22 degrees and 35 degrees respectively. In New York Venus sets at 8:27 p.m. and Saturn at 9:57 p.m.
Jupiter, meanwhile, is in the east about halfway to the zenith from the horizon at 43 degrees; the planet will be situated to the left of Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus and the contrast between the two – Aldebaran is much redder than Jupiter – makes them easy to spot.
Jupiter sets on Dec. 31 at 5:26 a.m. Mars rises at 6:07 p.m. and by 8 p.m. is 20 degrees above the eastern horizon; it is visible until sunrise.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the days are long – at the latitude of Buenos Aires the sky doesn't get dark until about 9 p.m. (sunset there on Dec. 30 is at 8:09 p.m.) and sunrise is early; at 5:43 a.m. a.m. in Buenos Aires.
In the predawn hours of Dec. 31 Mercury rises at 4:18 a.m., and as in the Northern Hemisphere is only about 7 degrees high by 5 a.m.
On Dec. 30, as in the Northern Hemisphere, one will see Venus and Saturn in the west, with Venus closer to the horizon and Saturn above and to the right (northwards).
In Buenos Aires Venus sets at 10:54 p.m., Saturn at 11:44 p.m. Turning northeast one will see Jupiter; from mid-southern latitudes the planet appears to be below Aldebaran; Jupiter sets at 4:00 a.m. Dec. 31.
In Buenos Aires Mars rises at 9:42 p.m. and takes some time to get high enough to see easily; by 11:30 p.m. the red planet is only 18 degrees high in the northeast.
1/2
Stars and constellations
Winter constellations are in full swing for Northern Hemisphere observers in January. By about 6 p.m. Orion, the Hunter, is just above the Eastern horizon, and one can watch its stars appear as the sky darkens.
Orion faces Taurus, which early in the evening is above the Hunter (the constellation is actually to the west and north). One can see the Hyades, a cluster of bright stars that is the "face" of the bull.
Looking left, above Orion's head, one sees Auriga, the Charioteer. To find it, look for Orion's Belt, then for Betelgeuse, the Hunter's right shoulder (his left from the perspective of a ground-based observer). Betelgeuse is recognizable as it is visibly reddish-orange.
Looking almost straight upwards from Betelgeuse one will see Aldebaran, another orange-colored star that will be to the right of Jupiter, which will be slightly brighter and emit a steady light; if you can see stars twinkle you will notice that Jupiter does not; marking it as a planet.
Draw a line straight from Aldebaran through Jupiter and you will reach the middle of Auriga, eventually hitting a fainter star called Menkalinan, or Beta Aurigae. Above Menkalinan is Capella, noticeably brighter and yellowish white.
By about 9 p.m. on Dec. 30, Canis Major and Canis Minor, the "hunting dogs" of Orion, have both cleared the horizon and are in the southeast.
Canis Major is below Orion (to its south and east) while Canis Minor is to the east (on Orion's right, the observer's left). Canis Major, the Big Dog, contains Sirius, the brightest star in the sky.
Looking left and above Sirius one will see Procyon, the brightest star in the Little Dog. Procyon, Sirius and Betelgeuse in Orion form the Winter Triangle asterism that is easy to see even from light-polluted locations in cities and suburbs.
By 11 p.m. Leo the Lion has fully risen; one can spot it by looking for Sirius which by that point is in the south-southeast. Turn to the left (eastwards) and upwards; one will see Procyon.
Continue left from Procyon and downwards slightly until one is facing nearly due east; one should be able to see Regulus, or Alpha Leonis, also called Cor Leonis, the Heart of the Lion.
Regulus is at the bottom of a sickle-shaped group of stars that is Leo's head and mane. Look towards the horizon and to the left and one encounters Denebola, the Lion's tail.
By this time of night Orion is fully "upright" with the Belt stars making a line from east to west angled slightly upwards; it's much easier to see the shape that forms Orion's shoulders and legs.
To the right and below the Belt is a bright blue-white star; that's Rigel, the foot of Orion.
If local city lights are not too bright one can spot a fainter star just above and to the right of Rigel; this is the start of Eridanus, the River, and the star is called Cursa or Beta Eridani, as it is the second-brightest star in the constellation.
Eridanus' brightest star, Achernar, isn't visible at all north of 33 degrees latitude. In the continental U.S. that means one must be in one of the states along the Gulf Coast, the southern half of Arizona or New Mexico, or San Diego.
For Southern Hemisphere observers, January is when Puppis, Carina and Vela, the three constellations that make up the ship (connected to the Argo, the famous ship of Jason and the Argonauts) are prominent, rising in the southeast as the sky gets dark.
As it is the austral summer the sky takes until about 9 p.m. to get fully dark (in Buenos Aires civil twilight ends at 8:38 p.m.) At that point in the northeastern sky one would see an "upside down" Orion, with the Belt stars above Betelgeuse, which is below the Belt and to the right.
Rigel, meanwhile, is upwards and to the left, and this time when one follows the River from Cursa, one goes across the sky through the zenith to a point a full 64 degrees high in the southeast, to Achernar.
If one uses Betelgeuse and Sirius as "pointers" one can draw a line between them southwards (this will be to the right) and above that line is the bright Canopus, the brightest star in Carina, the Ship's Keel, about 47 degrees high in the southeast.
Between Canopus and Sirius is a group of seven fainter stars that forms a long shape something like a foot; that's Puppis, the Poop Deck.
Look just south (to the right) and one can see the ring-shaped group of stars that is Vela, the Sail.
Turning a bit further south – it will be to the right – one can see Crux, the Southern Cross, which covers an area between 6 and 12 degrees high in the south-southeast.
From the latitude of Buenos Aires Crux never sets; at this point it is rising from its low point just above the southern horizon.
2/2
Christmas solar flares erupt from the sun. Will they trigger aurora 'fireworks' as we close out 2024?
December 27, 2024
In the final hours of Christmas Day, the sun fired off four solar flares within less than three hours.
The biggest flare of the series, recorded at a M7.3, erupted from sunspot region AR3938 on Dec. 25 at 10:15 p,m. EST (0315 GMT on Dec. 26).
Solar flares are ranked and categorized by their power on a 4-level classification scale, with M-class the second strongest to the beastly X-class at the top.
According to Spaceweather.com, this was part of a group of four different flares that happened within two and a half hours coinciding with three sunspot regions — AR3938, AR3933, and AR3936.
In footage of the sun taken during time period, it looks like the lights twinkling on and off on a Christmas tree.
This same active show on the sun can be seen in images captured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Solar Ultraviolent Imager (SUVI) aboard its Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-16).
These types of synchronized blasts are referred to as sympathetic solar flares, and are a very rare phenomenon.
When these explosions happen at practically the same time from different sunspot regions, they are actually intertwined and do not fire off on their own.
This can occur when the sunspots are spaced far away from each other but are still linked by magnetic loops that are invisible to the eye.
As always, the big question when solar flares occur is if we will have any effects from the sun’s explosions here on the Earth (which for space lovers, would be another opportunity to see auroras).
According to the Thursday morning discussion from forecasters at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), at this time it appears the coronal mass ejection (CME) that resulted from the M7.3 flare is predicted to miss our planet just to the north.
CMEs are supercharged plasma bubbles that get hurled off into space following powerful solar flare eruptions.
Sscientists remain confident that the sun will remain active through the end of the year with these active regions.
All is takes is just one powerful flare to send a CME our way that could bring a late Christmas gift of auroras before the clock strikes 12 on New Year’s Eve.
https://www.space.com/the-universe/sun/christmas-solar-flares-fire-off-from-the-sun-will-they-trigger-aurora-fireworks-as-we-close-out-2024
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g1-minor-geomagnetic-storm-watch-issued-december-25th
Year of Venus: How to see the 'evening star' at its best in 2025
December 28, 2024
In early 2025, Venus will dazzle in the southwest sky after sunset, earning its "evening star" nickname.
This phenomenon, which occurs when Venus gets close to Earth, happens once every 19 months.
However, as Venus brightens, it will retreat to a slim crescent as it goes through its astonishing moon-phase-like dichotomy.
Here's everything you need to know about Venus in 2025.
Venus as the "evening star" and "morning star"
As seen from Earth, Venus doesn't cross the night sky as the slower-moving planets appear to do.
Instead, it can be seen only near sunrise and sunset, moving from "morning star" to "evening star" and back again every 584 days, or about 19 months.
Venus orbits the sun every 225 days, compared with Earth's 365-day orbit. Those orbital periods combine to create an eight-year cycle in which Venus appears to orbit the sun 13 times, as seen from Earth.
During that time, Venus traces a pentagram pattern in Earth's sky every eight years.
Because Venus is closer to the sun than Earth is and orbits faster, from Earth's point of view, Venus is always seen close to the sun, just after sunset, when it's called the "evening star," or just before sunrise, when it's dubbed the "morning star."
About once every 19 months, Venus gets exceptionally bright because it gets closer to Earth than any other planet and because its global clouds reflect a lot of sunlight.
Venus has spent much of the second half of 2024 climbing higher into the post-sunset night sky as the "evening star," but in 2025, its position above the western horizon will peak and then quickly decrease.
On Jan. 10, 2025, Venus will reach its greatest elongation east in the post-sunset sky, putting it high above the western horizon after dark.
From Earth's point of view, this is the farthest it appears to be from the sun in its current apparition. A few days later, it reaches dichotomy, which is when a planet's disk is half lit by the sun as seen from Earth.
In the following weeks, Venus will get closer to Earth and appear to shrink to a crescent. Just 23% of it will be lit by Feb. 19, when it reaches its highest point in the post-sunset sky.
By that time, it will be shining at a brilliant magnitude -4.9. (Lower magnitudes are brighter.) If you have a small telescope, point it at Venus in January and February 2025 to see the planet's phase change.
With a telescope, you'll be able to see Venus appear to grow as it gets closer to Earth. In fact, during the planet's dichotomy, the size of Venus' disk will increase by about 60% between Jan. 12 and Feb. 16.
Want to get an up-close look at the planets? Check out our guides to the best telescopes and best binoculars.
Plus, we have tips for how to photograph the planets, as well as guides to the best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography.
After its dichotomy and performance as a brilliant "evening star" in the southwest after dark during early 2025, Venus will move into the sun's glare in March and emerge the following month as the "morning star."
Here are some important dates for Venus in 2025:
Jan. 3, 2025: Crescent moon and Venus after sunset (separated by 1.4 degrees)
Jan. 10, 2025: Venus at its greatest elongation east after sunset (47.2 degrees angular distance from the sun)
Jan. 12, 2025: Venus at dichotomy (a half-moon shape)
Jan. 18, 2025: Venus-Saturn conjunction after sunset (separated by 2.2 degrees)
Feb. 1, 2025: Crescent moon and Venus after sunset (separated by 2.3 degrees)
Feb. 16, 2025: Venus at its brightest in the evening sky
March 22, 2025: Venus at inferior conjunction (between Earth and the sun)
April 22, 2025: Venus at its brightest in the morning sky
April 24, 2025: Crescent moon and Venus before sunrise (separated by 2.4 degrees)
May 31, 2025: Venus at its greatest elongation west before sunrise (45.9 degrees angular distance from the sun)
Aug. 12, 2025: Venus-Jupiter conjunction before sunrise (separated by 0.9 degrees)
Sept. 19, 2025: Crescent moon and Venus before sunrise (separated by 0.8 degrees)
https://www.space.com/stargazing/year-of-venus-how-to-see-the-evening-star-at-its-best-in-2025
Air Force Accessions Center early wins pave the way for FY25 success
Dec. 27, 2024
Within the first week of declaring Initial Operational Capability, personnel at the Air Force Accessions Center demonstrated their ability to adapt quickly to evolving accession requirements, resulting in dozens of highly qualified cadets being notified of a pilot career field selection.
These additions came after Headquarters Air Force Manpower, Personnel and Services directed a mid-year production increase of over 200 officers both rated and non-rated for fiscal 2025.
The AFAC was able to execute a smart solution quickly, which was key to maintaining the overall officer accession requirement for fiscal 2025.
This achievement was made possible by the successful merger of the Air Force Recruiting Service and Holm Center at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, Dec. 2, which allowed the AFRS and Reserve Officer Training Corps to bypass traditional bureaucratic hurdles.
AFRS and the Holm Center worked together to reallocate pilot Air Force Specialty Codes to cadets who had previously been unable to secure a pilot position due to limited availability.
With the new organization, AFAC was able to provide increased slots to awaiting ROTC cadets, while also adding additional slots to a just completed Officer Training School rated board.
According to Brig. Gen. Chris Amrhein, AFAC commander, “The early successes of the Air Force Accessions Center are a testament to our commitment to building a more agile and ready force.
In its first weeks of operations, we have the ability to move with unprecedented agility and provide rapid response to dynamic mission requirements.”
“It’s exciting that our new organization’s flexibility was able to quickly fulfill the dreams of these 50 candidates," he added.
“Additionally, this will also assist 19th Air Force in delivering these new lieutenants into pilot production as early as June.”
Within the same week, AFAC graduated the first Warrant Officer Training School class at Maxwell AFB, Dec. 6, celebrating a major milestone in the Air Force's vision to reoptimize for Great Power Competition.
The new warrant officers’ ability to integrate advanced technical solutions into operational planning strengthens the Air Force’s strategic edge in future conflicts at a critical time for national defense.
As the first quarter of the fiscal year ends, AFAC's mission execution remains on an upward trajectory.
The Air Force and Space Force have thus far exceeded its enlisted accession goals, with the active-duty Air Force filling jobs into March 2025.
“By expanding our programs and embracing innovative approaches to recruitment and accessions training, we're ensuring the Air and Space Forces are prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” Amrhein said.
These initiatives reflect AFAC’s proactive response to meet rising demands and build a stronger, more capable force.
As the organization charges forward into 2025, its focus remains clear: preparing future leaders, embracing innovation and adapting to ensure mission success across the Department of the Air Force.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4017181/air-force-accessions-center-early-wins-pave-the-way-for-fy25-success/
Yemeni army shoots down yet another giant US drone
Dec 28, 2024, 9:08 PM
Local media in Yemen reported on Saturday the downing of an American reconnaissance drone in the skies over Yemen.
The Israeli media also confirmed the report, saying that an advanced reconnaissance drone "MQ-9" belonging to the US military was downed in Yemeni airspace.
This is not the first time the Yemeni armed forces down highly expensive "MQ-9" drone over their country.
Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine’s struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory’s Palestinian Resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.
Yemeni Armed Forces have said that they won’t stop their attacks until unrelenting Israeli ground and aerial offensives in Gaza, which have killed at least 27,948 people and wounded another 67,459 individuals, come to an end.
The United States and Britain in December 2023 announced a military coalition to target Yemen in support of Israel.
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/226161/Yemeni-army-shoots-down-yet-another-giant-US-drone
YouTuber says video shows drones flying ‘in deliberate formations’ off New Jersey coast
Dec. 28, 2024, 12:02 p.m. ET
A former stock car racer and self-proclaimed paranormal investigator has posted footage to YouTube he said shows drones flying off the New Jersey coast in “deliberate formations” over the Atlantic Ocean.
CJ Faison, a Delaware YouTuber with 600,000 subscribers, rented himself a boat, grabbed his night vision video camera, and ventured from the Pine Barrens to the ocean 26 miles east.
Faison claimed in the 45-minute video to be “doing something no YouTuber or news outlet has done.”
He teased in the footage “we think we uncovered the truth” about the recent sightings of mysterious unmanned aircraft hovering over the Garden State.
Sightings of unidentified drones emitting strange light patterns started back in mid-November, and reached a fever pitch around Dec. 8.
The debate over what the drones actually are and who is controlling them rages on, with the feds providing little more than assurances they pose no threat to the public.
Like most of the purported drone footage online, Faison’s footage from the rented boat fails to provide clear images of what he claimed were drones that emerged from the ocean.
A series of blinking lights was caught by Faison’s camera. He noted the lights blinked in a pattern similar to the lights of commercial aircraft.
They’re blending in,” the YouTuber said. “Hidden in plain sight!”
Some of the alleged drones Faison filmed moved quickly, darting across the horizon.
“It’s wild,” he proclaimed. “It’s eerie.” “This is only the beginning,” Faison further warned. “I have so many questions. What’s launching these drones?
How are they staying airborne for hours? What’s their energy source? And why here? Why New Jersey?”
New Jersey officials said this week the number of sightings had dropped, with very little activity reported around Christmas.
The drop-off follows FAA-imposed restrictions on New York and New Jersey airspace.
https://nypost.com/2024/12/28/us-news/d-rones-flying-in-deliberate-formations-off-new-jersey-coast-youtuber-says/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj3a6Q6rRkY
Drone show to mark the opening and conclusion of Mahakumbh 2025
December 28, 2024 08:48 pm IST
Uttar Pradesh government is planning for a drone show, showcasing mythological tales linked to the Mahakumbh and Prayagraj during the Mahakumbh.
The show will feature 2,000 drones and light up the skies over Sangam Nose, marking the grand opening and conclusion of the world-famous religious gathering.
Uttar Pradesh government is planning for a drone show, showcasing mythological tales linked to the Mahakumbh and Prayagraj during the Mahakumbh.
The show will feature 2,000 drones and light up the skies over Sangam Nose, marking the grand opening and conclusion of the world-famous religious gathering.
“A fleet of around 2,000 illuminated drones will bring to life the legendary tales of ‘Prayag Mahatmyam’ and the Mahakumbh.
The spectacular show will depict iconic events like the mythical Samudra Manthan [ocean churning] and the emergence of the Amrit Kalash [nectar pot], creating a magical visual narrative in the evening skies,” Aparajita Singh, district tourism officer, Prayagraj, said.
The show will also highlight the religious and spiritual significance of Prayagraj, offering a unique experience for pilgrims and locals, she added.
Mahakumbh, held every twelve years, will take place from January 13 to February 26, 2025.
The U.P. government departments are developing and beautification temples, Ganga ghats, parks, roads, and flyovers in Prayagraj.
U.P. CM Yogi Adityanath undertook multiple visits of Prayagraj in recent weeks to inspect the progress in preparation for the Mahakumbh.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/uttar-pradesh/drone-show-to-mark-the-opening-and-conclusion-of-mahakumbh-2025/article69037574.ece
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumbh_Mela