TYB
>always appreciate yo NASA/Space/Science stuffs
Might be the first time anyone has said that, kek!
Always a pleasure, Bakes
o7
Jooooosssshhhhh!
DOD, GSA, NASA Recommend Changes to Cyber Acquisition Rules
January 3, 2025
The Department of Defense, the General Services Administration and NASA are seeking industry comments on a proposed new rule to add workforce knowledge and skill requirements to government cybersecurity and IT support services acquisitions.
The agencies published Tuesday in the Federal Register their recommendation to add the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, or NICE, Framework to the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
The NICE Framework, developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, establishes a common language to be implemented not just in government, but also in the commercial and academic sectors.
It identifies proficiencies needed to perform technology and cybersecurity-related work.
The resource aims to improve communication between stakeholders and enhance the development, recruitment and retention of highly qualified professionals in government.
Proposed FAR Changes
Under the Proposed Rule, all agencies will be required to elucidate an acquisition plan’s cybersecurity workforce tasks, knowledge, skills and roles in adherence to the NICE Framework.
All offers, quotes and reporting requirements contractors submit to agencies must also align with the NICE Framework.
GSA, DOD and NASA will accept written comments on the proposed FAR amendments until March 4.
https://executivegov.com/2025/01/dod-gsa-nasa-government-it-cyber-acquisition-rules/
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/03/2024-30504/federal-acquisition-regulation-strengthening-americas-cybersecurity-workforce
https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/01/elon-musk-were-going-straight-to-mars-the-moon-is-a-distraction/
Elon Musk: “We’re going straight to Mars. The Moon is a distraction.”
Jan 3, 2025 9:28 AM
Although SpaceX founder Elon Musk is known for outspokenness and controversial comments on his social media site X, he has been relatively restrained when it comes to US space policy in recent years.
For example, he has rarely criticized NASA or its overall goal to return humans to the Moon through the Artemis Program.
Rather, Musk, who has long preferred Mars as a destination for humans, has more or less been a team player when it comes to the space agency's lunar-focused plans.
This is understandable from a financial perspective, as SpaceX has contracts worth billions of dollars to not only build a Human Landing System as part of NASA's Artemis Program but also to supply food, cargo, and other logistics services to a planned Lunar Gateway in orbit around the Moon.
But privately, Musk has been critical of NASA's plans, suggesting that the Artemis Program has been moving too slowly and is too reliant on contractors who seek cost-plus government contracts and are less interested in delivering results.
Silent on policy no longer
During the last 10 days, Musk has begun airing some of these private thoughts publicly.
On Christmas Day, for example, Musk wrote on X, "The Artemis architecture is extremely inefficient, as it is a jobs-maximizing program, not a results-maximizing program. Something entirely new is needed."
Then, on Thursday evening, he added this: "No, we’re going straight to Mars. The Moon is a distraction."
These are definitive statements that directly contradict NASA's plans to send a series of human missions to the lunar south pole later this decade and establish a sustainable base of operations there with the Artemis Program.
It would be one thing if Musk was just expressing his opinion as a private citizen.
But since playing a significant part in the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States last year, Musk has assumed an important advisory role for the incoming administration.
He was also partly responsible for the expected nomination of private astronaut Jared Isaacman to become the next administrator of NASA.
Although Musk is not directing US space policy, he certainly has a meaningful say in what happens.
So what does this mean for Artemis?
The fate of Artemis is an important question not just for NASA but for the US commercial space industry, the European Space Agency, and other international partners who have aligned with the return of humans to the Moon.
With Artemis, the United States is in competition with China to establish a meaningful presence on the surface of the Moon.
Based upon conversations with people involved in developing space policy for the Trump administration, I can make some educated guesses about how to interpret Musk's comments.
None of these people, for example, would disagree with Musk's assertion that "the Artemis architecture is extremely inefficient" and that some changes are warranted.
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With that said, the Artemis Program is probably not going away. After all, it was the first Trump administration that created the program about five years ago.
However, it may be less well-remembered that the first Trump White House pushed for more significant changes, including a "major course correction" at NASA.
"I call on NASA to adopt new policies and embrace a new mindset," then-Vice President Mike Pence said in May 2019. "If our current contractors can't meet this objective, then we'll find ones that will."
(Speaking of the vice president, it's unlikely that the National Space Council will be reconstituted under JD Vance).
To a large extent, NASA resisted this change during the remainder of the Trump administration, keeping its core group of major contractors, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, in place.
It had help from key US Senators, including Richard Shelby, the now-retired Republican from Alabama.
But this time, the push for change is likely to be more concerted, especially with key elements of NASA's architecture, including the Space Launch System rocket, being bypassed by privately developed rockets such as SpaceX's Starship vehicle and Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket.
Not one, but both
In all likelihood, NASA will adopt a new "Artemis" plan that involves initiatives to both the Moon and Mars.
When Musk said "we're going straight to Mars," he may have meant that this will be the thrust of SpaceX, with support from NASA.
That does not preclude a separate initiative, possibly led by Blue Origin with help from NASA, to develop lunar return plans.
Isaacman, who is keeping a fairly low profile ahead of his nomination, has not weighed in on Musk's comments. However, when his nomination was announced one month ago, he did make a germane comment on X.
"I was born after the Moon landings; my children were born after the final space shuttle launch," he wrote.
"With the support of President Trump, I can promise you this: We will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars and never settle for second place.
We will inspire children, yours and mine, to look up and dream of what is possible. Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth."
In short, NASA is likely to adopt a two-lane strategy of reaching for both the Moon and Mars. Whether the space agency is successful with either one will be a major question asked of the new administration.
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'Life Sprouts In Space' As Cowpea Seeds Germinate Under Microgravity Conditions
04 Jan 2025, 07:51 PM IST
ISRO on Saturday said the cowpea seeds it had sent to space onboard the PSLV-C60 POEM-4 platform have germinated under microgravity conditions within four days of the launch of the mission.
The space agency sent eight cowpea seeds as part of the Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies experiment conducted by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre to study plant growth in microgravity conditions.
"Life sprouts in space! VSSC's CROPS experiment onboard PSLV-C60 POEM-4 successfully sprouted cowpea seeds in four days. Leaves expected soon," ISRO said in a post on X.
The PSLV-C60 mission placed two SpaDeX satellites in orbit on the night of Dec. 30. The fourth stage of the rocket carrying the POEM-4 platform has been orbiting the earth with 24 onboard experiments at an altitude of 350 km since Tuesday.
The CROPS experiment aims to understand how plants grow in the unique conditions of space, which is essential for future long-duration space missions.
The experiment involves growing eight cowpea seeds in a controlled environment with active thermal regulation, simulating conditions that plants might encounter during extended space travel.
CROPS is envisioned as a multi-phase platform to develop and evolve ISRO's capabilities for growing and sustaining flora in extraterrestrial environments.
Designed as a fully-automated system, a five to seven-day experiment has been planned to demonstrate seed germination and plant sustenance until reaching the two-leaf stage in a microgravity environment.
The cowpea seeds have been placed in a closed-box environment with active thermal control.
Passive measurements, including camera imaging, oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations, relative humidity, temperature, and soil moisture monitoring, are available for plant growth and monitoring, the space agency said.
ISRO also posted a separate 'selfie video' of the chaser satellite of the space docking experiment that is orbiting the earth at an altitude of 470 km.
The chaser satellite is expected to dock with the target satellite in space on Tuesday, a feat that would make India only the fourth country to master this cutting-edge technology after Russia, the US and China.
https://www.ndtvprofit.com/nation/isro-says-life-sprouts-in-space-after-cowpea-seeds-germinate-under-microgravity-conditions
https://x.com/isro/status/1875464259557322884
Chinese 'robot dog' that moves like a cat could revolutionize space exploration and asteroid mining
January 4, 2025
A cat-like exploration robot could one day scramble over the surface of asteroids using a unique movement system designed to keep it in motion even in the most extreme conditions.
Scientists designed the robot’s movement program using a reinforcement learning artificial intelligence (AI) model, meaning it can adapt its movement to best suit the environment in which it is currently placed.
This will allow the robot to move dexterously in low-gravity scenarios for which traditional quadruped robots would be unsuitable.
When you’re hurtling through space on the side of an asteroid, even a small misstep could cause serious damage — or even leave you stranded in space, drifting away from the rock itself.
Each time the robot jumps in a low-gravity scenario, however, it will float through the air for at least several seconds, reported the South China Morning Post (SCMP). It is unclear in which academic journal the scientists published their work.
While suspended in midair, minute movements in the legs of conventional robots programmed to stabilize themselves in Earth’s gravity could create a gyroscopic effect that would rotate the robot and prevent it from safely landing.
To fix this issue, researchers at Harbin Institute of Technology used iterative AI training to design a program that could use all four legs in tandem to precisely control its orientation throughout jumps.
It is unclear in which academic journal the scientists published their work.
If deployed, the robot could become the first device of its kind to map the surface of asteroids in our solar system, the scientists said.
Although humanity has been landing probes on asteroids since NASA’s NEAR Shoemaker program in 2001, these static craft have sought imagery and sensor readings by orbiting asteroids before landing on them to collect samples and take further images.
Once on the asteroid, however, they cannot move across the surface — unlike this proposed robot.
This cat-inspired robot is also incredibly energy-efficient, SCMP reported, suiting it well for work in space, where it would likely operate for hours with no opportunity to charge its batteries..
https://www.livescience.com/technology/robotics/chinese-robot-dog-that-moves-like-a-cat-could-revolutionize-space-exploration-and-asteroid-mining
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3288131/robot-jumps-and-lands-cat-it-could-be-used-explore-asteroids
'No threat to public health': Gov't says on mysterious space object that landed in Makueni
January 04, 2025 12:18 (EAT)
The government has come out to allay health fears surrounding the mysterious space object that fell at Makuku Village in Makueni County on Monday, December 30, 2024.
Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, in a statement on Saturday, assured the locals and the public that an assessment by multi-agency teams on the ground had established that the metal debris posed no immediate health risks to the people.
PS Muthoni urged the residents to exercise caution while approaching the area or handling surrounding materials, further urging them to report any incident.
“While preliminary assessments suggest no immediate threat to public health, the Ministry of Health advises the public to avoid the area where the object was found and refrain from handling any unknown materials.
Communities are encouraged to report any health concerns or unusual environmental changes to local health authorities,” she stated.
The PS revealed that investigations were still ongoing to establish the source of the metallic object that landed measuring approximately 2.5 metres in diameter and weighing about 500 kg, which has since been identified as a ‘separation from a rocket’.
The ministry underscored that it was working with technical teams from the Kenya Space Agency (KSA), Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA) and Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) to shed more light on the occurrence.
The mysterious object, which eyewitnesses said was heard making a loud bang several kilometres away, fell from the sky on Monday, driving the locals into a frenzy of panic.
No injuries or casualties were reported even after the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) retrieved the object the following day.
KSA after visiting the site said, "This is an isolated case, which the Agency will investigate and address using the established framework under the International Space law."
"The Agency wishes to thank the local residents of Mukuku village for their prompt action in reporting the incident to the authorities and for their cooperation in ensuring public safety."
https://www.citizen.digital/news/no-threat-to-public-health-govt-says-on-mysterious-space-object-that-landed-in-makueni-n355323
If Trump is Batman, Elon is Iron Man, who is Spiderman?
Peter Parker battles a rogue alien hunter in Marvel's 'Predator vs. Spider-Man'
January 3, 2025
Since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox and its vault of valuable intellectual property back in 2019, the House of Mouse has been slowly tapping into its fresh stable of Fox film franchises to create mashups and crossovers with its more popular Marvel Comics characters and so far the results are electrifying.
That dreadlocked interstellar hunter known as the Predator has already infiltrated two Marvel miniseries courtesy of veteran writer Benjamin Percy, with 2023's "Predator vs. Wolverine" and 2024's "Predator vs. Black Panther."
Now Percy is back to pounce on a new Predator project arriving in April of 2025 that brings together the fierce Yautja warrior with your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man for a cross-species, webslinging showdown amid the skyscrapers of New York.
Here's the official synopsis:
"In 'Predator vs. Wolverine,' readers saw a single Predator stalk Earth's greatest prey, the killing machine Wolverine. In 'Predator vs. Black Panther,' Yautja invaded Wakanda and nearly dethroned its king.
This April, writer Benjamin Percy turns his twisted brain to Marvel's most beloved icon alongside superstar artist Marcelo Ferreira in 'Predator vs. Spider-Man!'
"Revealed last month, 'Predator vs. Spider-Man' is the latest four-issue epic pitting pop culture's bloodiest hunter against Marvel superheroes.
The series will debut a new Predator named "Skinner" whose brutal ways guarantee this will be one of the most visceral battles in Spider-Man history…
"A heat wave sends NYC into a blackout and Spider-Man on patrol as tempers boil across the city. But beneath its grimy sewers and subways lurks a threat unlike anything Peter Parker has faced before.
Introducing "Skinner," a Predator of no honor and no clan – only a thirst for blood."
Check out this potent pair of covers unveiled by Marvel and try to deny that you'd love to see these two iconic heavyweights engage in full combat on the darkened boulevards of the Big Apple as the mercury rises.
"Spider-Man is at the top of every writer's wishlist. I'm thrilled and grateful to get this opportunity, putting this beloved webslinger against the galaxy's greatest hunters in the urban wilderness of New York," Percy said in a. statement.
"It's so much fun to live in Peter Parker's world and to put my own wild spin on his relationship with MJ, Jonah Jameson, and (yes oh, hell yes) Kraven.
Marcelo Ferreira captures the visual dynamism of Spidey so well, and we've had a lot of fun designing a Predator that is unlike any other. This Yautja who we're calling Skinner has no code or clan. He's the perfect nightmarish foil to the big-hearted Parker."
Marvel Comics' "Predator vs. Spider-Man #1" strikes on April 23, 2025 with Paulo Siqueira's dynamic main cover and a combative variant cover courtesy of acclaimed artist Ryan Brown.
https://www.space.com/entertainment/peter-parker-battles-a-rogue-alien-hunter-in-marvels-predator-vs-spider-man
Danish police investigate mystery drone sightings
January 4, 2025
Some 20 drones have been reported flying over the port of Koege, southwest of Copenhagen, Danish police said Saturday.
They said the origins of the drones remained unclear and that they notified Denmark's PET domestic intelligence service about the incident.
This incident comes amid heightened concerns in Nordic and Baltic states about potential Russian hybrid attacks following recent damage to several undersea cables.
Mysterious drones above Baltic port
Police were called to the marina in Koege on Friday night after an eyewitness reported seeing the drones. Officers spotted four of the drones before the devices quickly vanished over the sea.
It remains unclear where they came from, why they were there, or who launched them. At that time, no one had issued permits for drone flights in that area.
Drone sightings in the US, UK and Germany
Drones of unknown origin have often been seen flying over power stations and airports in Scandinavia in recent years. Authorities have not been able to identify who launched them.
In recent weeks, a large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over the US state of New Jersey and across the eastern United States, sparking speculation and concern over where they came from and why.
Mystery drone sightings reported over US
In November, a number of unidentified drones were spotted overthree airbases in the United Kingdom used by the United States Air Force.
German authorities also said unidentified drones had been spotted flying over sensitive military and industrial sites, including the US air base at Ramstein.
Concern over potential Russian sabotage
Friday's drone sightings in Koege come after multiple incidents involving undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. Koege is a port on the Baltic Sea.
Last week, the Estlink 2 undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia was damaged.
Finnish authorities believe the incident may have been an act of sabotage and detained the Cook Islands-flagged oil tanker Eagle S, a ship that the EU believes could belong to the so-called Russian "shadow fleet."
The "shadow fleet" refers to ships that Russia uses to circumvent sanctions, such as oil sales.
In a separate incident in November, two fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea were severed. Swedish authorities boarded a Chinese ship as part of an investigation into potential sabotage.
As a deterrent, NATO has announced an increase in its military presence in the Baltic Sea.
https://www.dw.com/en/danish-police-investigate-mystery-drone-sightings/a-71217317
Russia attacks Kherson region with drones, injuring civilians
4 January, 2025 Saturday 17:54
On the morning of January 4, the occupying Russian army attacked Antonivka in the Kherson region using drones, injuring four people.
Russian troops also dropped explosives from UAVs on a resident of Kindiyka
This was reported by the head of the Kherson City Military Administration (CMA), Roman Mrochko, and the Kherson Regional Military Administration (RMA).
Russian attacks on Antonivka
"Around 8:00 AM, Russian occupiers attacked Antonivka with a drone. A 71-year-old man sustained blast injuries and shrapnel wounds," Mrochko noted.
The victim was hospitalized, and doctors assess his condition as moderate. Later, the Kherson RMA reported that Russian troops dropped an explosive from a drone on a 43-year-old man.
"He sustained a blast injury, a leg fracture, and shin wounds. The victim was taken to a hospital for medical assistance. Doctors assess his condition as moderate," the report states.
At approximately 9:30 AM, another drone-dropped explosive injured a 65-year-old man. He was diagnosed with a blast injury and shrapnel wounds to his legs.
The victim is now under medical supervision. Later, the RMA reported another victim of a Russian drone attack in Antonivka.
"A 62-year-old woman suffered a blast injury, shrapnel wounds, and a shin fracture. She was hospitalized to receive medical care," the report states.
According to the head of the CMA, at around 2:00 PM, a 68-year-old man sustained a blast injury and shrapnel wounds after Russian troops dropped explosives from a drone.
Attack on Kindiyka
The RMA reported that Russian troops dropped an explosive from a UAV on a 48-year-old resident of Kindiyka. He sustained blast injuries and shrapnel wounds to his legs.
"The victim, in moderate condition, was taken to a hospital. Doctors are now conducting further examinations," the RMA stated.
Throughout 2024, Russian forces attacked the Kherson community approximately 6,500 times, resulting in the deaths of 116 civilians.
https://global.espreso.tv/russia-ukraine-war-russia-attacks-kherson-region-with-drones-civilians-injured
They had a super limited gold color too.
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15352421/in-1980-you-could-buy-an-85000-24k-gold-plated-delorean/
Dramatic moment huge blast rocks Russian gas terminal after drone attack
UPDATED: 14:22, Sat, Jan 4, 2025
Spectacular footage has shown the moment a Russian oil refinery in St Petersburg is rocked by a likely Ukrainian drone strike.
Drones targeted the nation's largest maritime trade port, Ust-Luga, in a suspected attack today (January 4).
The port, considered second in importance only to Novorossiysk, has been a vital node in Russian maritime logistics
According to the Telegram channel ASTRA, most of the drones were intercepted over the Novatrans terminal within the port.
Initial reports suggest damage was limited to shattered windows in one of the port’s buildings.
Local authorities claimed four drones were shot down and reported no casualties or significant infrastructure damage.
The Ust-Luga maritime trade port began operations in December 2001 with the establishment of a coal terminal.
By the early 2020s, it had grown to become Russia's second-largest port, playing an important role in exporting fuel supplies, including those used for military operations.
This is not the first reported attack on the facility. On January 21, explosions occurred near the oil terminal, later confirmed as part of a special operation by Ukraine's Security Service (SSU).
Ukrainian forces have increasingly targeted Russian infrastructure since the invasion in 2022, aiming to disrupt logistical and military supply chains.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1996147/huge-blast-russian-gas-terminal-st-petersburg
Chinese military trains with new cargo drones
Jan 4, 2025
On January 2, the Xining Joint Logistic Support Center demonstrated its capabilities with a new cargo drone during operational training for its personnel.
The helicopter-type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) showcased its potential to deliver supplies and humanitarian aid to hard-to-reach areas efficiently and safely.
The new cargo drone is part of China’s efforts to enhance logistical support capabilities, particularly in challenging terrains where traditional delivery methods face significant hurdles.
Its helicopter design offers increased maneuverability and the ability to operate in confined spaces, making it a vital tool for both military logistics and emergency response scenarios.
The Chinese military has emphasized its commitment to advancing technology and modernizing its forces.
“Our aim is to ensure a force that can be trusted by the party and the people,” stated a spokesperson for the training program.
This latest training exercise highlights the growing role of UAVs in China’s military operations, reflecting broader trends in the integration of unmanned systems into modern warfare and logistics.
As the training progresses, the military aims to refine these technologies and ensure seamless integration into broader operational frameworks.
The unveiling of the drone underscores the importance of innovation in addressing logistical challenges, particularly in remote or conflict-prone regions.
It also signals China’s ongoing commitment to building a force capable of rapid and effective response in diverse scenarios.
https://defence-blog.com/chinese-military-trains-with-new-cargo-drones/
Turkish base near Iraq border targeted by drones
Jan 4, 2025, 1:27 PM
An informed source revealed that the landing site of Turkish helicopters at a base near the Iraqi border was targeted by a drone attack.
Turkish defense systems shot down the drone, according to the report.
Ankara has started deploying anti-drone systems in its bases in northern Iraq, the source added.
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/226455/Turkish-base-near-Iraq-border-targeted-by-drones
Drone Attack Halts Flights at St. Petersburg Airport
January 4, 2025
Flights at St. Petersburg's main airport were grounded for more than two hours on Saturday morning due to a drone attack, officials said.
Arrivals and departures at Pulkovo International Airport, located over 800 kilometers from Russia's border with Ukraine, were suspended from 7:45 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. Moscow time, Rosaviatsia press secretary Artyom Korenyako said on the Telegram messaging app.
The halt in air traffic came as Russian air defenses destroyed a record four drones over the Leningrad region overnight, Governor Alexander Drozdenk said. No casualties or damage were reported.
Twenty planes heading to Pulkovo were redirected to alternate airfields during the flight suspension, Korenyako said.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that the military shot down 16 drones over the Leningrad, Bryansk, Smolensk, Belgorod and Pskov regions overnight.
While Russian regions bordering Ukraine have frequently been attacked by drones since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion nearly three years ago, Russia's second-largest city has largely been spared from drone attacks.
St. Petersburg reported its first drone attack in January 2024.
In March 2024, city authorities announced strengthened security measures throughout the city after a drone crashed into an apartment building and exploded there.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/04/drone-attack-halts-flights-at-st-petersburg-airport-a87508
Headquarters, Army Criminal Investigation Division
Phone directory for offices located at Headquarters, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Russell-Knox-Building, 27130 Telegraph Road, Quantico, VA 22134-2253.
https://www.cid.army.mil/
https://www.cid.army.mil/The-Agency/Headquarters-Directory/
Russia Launches Drone Attack Against Multiple Regions Of Ukraine
January 04, 2025
Russian troops attacked Ukraine with a barrage of strike drones late on January 3, including the north central regions of Zhytomyr and Kyiv far from the front line, the Air Force Command reported.
Drone attacks were reported in the Zhytomyr region and in Brovary on the outskirts of the city of Kyiv, where the mayor said the city’s air defense had been activated.
"Air defense forces are working on enemy [drones] on the left bank of the capital. Stay in cover!" Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said.
The Air Force Command said that drones were also moving in the north of the Kyiv region and in the regions of Sumy, Chernihiv, and Poltava late on January 3.
The air raid alert was lifted in Kyiv but remained in effect in the northern part of the region and in Chernihiv and Poltava regions.
Local officials said earlier on January 3 that one person was killed and five were injured when three missiles hit a residential area near Chernihiv in north central Ukraine.
A picture posted on social media by Chernihiv regional Governor Vyacheslav Chaus showed the shattered facade of a private home.
'Everything Went Black': Deadly Russian Strike On Chernihiv Destroys Homes
The person killed was an associate professor at the Institute of Postgraduate Education, according to Suspilne Chernihiv.
Local media said the 72-year-old's house was burned down after it was hit by Russian shelling in March 2022. Since then he had been living in a barn.
Five people were injured in an earlier drone attack in the Kyiv region, and four were hurt when the town of Slovyansk near the front line in the Donetsk region was shelled, officials said.
All four were hospitalized. Among the injured is a 2-year-old boy, whose mother was injured in the attack and was in serious condition, said Mayor Vadym Lyakh.
Russian forces used a guided aerial bomb, which struck a private sector of Slovyansk at about 3 p.m. local time, a police representative at the scene told RFE/RL.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on X that in the first three days of 2025, Russia had launched 300 attack drones and nearly 20 missiles on Ukrainian targets.
Most, he said, had been downed or intercepted, but he said the attacks had killed and injured people.
Additionally, daily strikes continue with Russian guided aerial bombs.
Such "Russian terror" requires both us and all our partners not to reduce efforts in strengthening our air defense shield, he said.
"We must consistently replenish our stock of missiles for air defense and continuously enhance the capabilities of mobile fire groups," Zelenskiy said, adding that Ukraine and its partners are "preparing for meetings and negotiations next week to further strengthen our air defense."
In Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have taken over swathes of territory since launching an incursion in August, a man walking down a road was killed in a drone strike, the regional governor said.
To the west in Russia's Bryansk region, one resident was killed when a village near the border came under mortar fire, the governor said.
Russia's military and local officials reported that defense systems had downed about 10 Ukrainian drones, including six in the Bryansk region.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s military said Ukrainian defense forces continue to deter attempts by Russian troops to advance deep into the territory of Ukraine.
According to its evening report on January 3, there had been 138 combat clashes at the front since the beginning of the day.
Ukrainian troops repelled Russian attacks in the Kharkiv region and near Vovchyansk, while in the area near Kupyansk, four out of six assaults were repelled.
There also were attacks near Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Kurakhiv.
Russian troops attacked Ukrainian defense positions in the Lyman area 10 times on January 3, and one battle was ongoing, the General Staff said.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-attack-air-defense-kyiv/33263004.html
Gravitic Propulsion Drones To China 'Attack': What Matthew Livelsberger's Alleged 'Manifesto' Says
Updated Jan 4, 2025, 03:41 IST
Intelligence officer Sam Shoemate has claimed in an appearance on former US Navy Seal Shawn Ryan's podcast, 'Shawn Ryan Show,' that the suspect in the Cybertruck attack in Las Vegas, Matthew Livelsberger, wrote an email to him revealing several sensitive security information.
The email makes explosive claims about the recent drone sightings on the East Coast and discusses military technologies and covert operations of the US Army.
Notably, Livelsberger was an active-duty officer at the time of the Cybertruck blast and died inside the vehicle as it was engulfed in flames.
Here are the key claims made in the email, allegedly sent by Livelsberger.
Gravitic Propulsion Systems: Both China and the US possess this technology, allowing high-speed unmanned aircraft with unlimited payload capacity to operate with stealth.
Recently, China launched an aircraft from submarines along the US East Coast, similar to intelligence-gathering balloons.
These aircraft, the email claimed, are considered a significant national security threat due to their advanced capabilities, including the ability to target strategic sites like the White House, potentially leading to a "checkmate" situation.
China’s Strategic Intent: The email claims China is preparing for potential East Coast attacks, leveraging these technologies.
Personal Surveillance: In the alleged email, Livelsberger claims that he is under surveillance by Homeland Security or the FBI, blocked from entering Mexico.
He claimed that he was being tracked both digitally and physically due to their knowledge of classified programs.
Revealed Military Actions: Livelsberger also claimed in the alleged email that he was involved in the controversial 2019 airstrikes in Nimruz, Afghanistan, resulting in civilian casualties and violations of the Geneva Convention.
They mention working with top US military officials, including General Austin S. Miller.
Verification Details: The LinkedIn profile and security credentials (TSSCI with UAP access) were also provided to authenticate the claims made in the email.
https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/gravitic-propulsion-drones-to-china-attack-what-matthew-livelsbergers-alleged-manifesto-says-article-116926701
https://x.com/ShawnRyan762/status/1875278042144162200
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xglaXVtQcis
I-Team: More red tape keeps Cleveland police from using drones
Updated: Jan 3, 2025 / 06:16 PM EST
The Fox 8 I-Team has found more Cleveland Police crimefighting bogged down in red tape over the use of drones.
Cleveland Police cannot use their own drones, and can’t ask for outside agency drones, either. This marks the latest snag in Cleveland Police using drones.
Earlier, the I-Team exposed delays. The city took years to buy drones for police even after money had been approved.
Since then, the Cleveland Police policy for using drones has been tied up under review by local and federal groups overseeing city officers.
As a result, Cleveland Police have decided officers can not even ask another police department to bring in a drone to the city to help with an investigation.
Police radio shows the topic of drones came up days ago as officers searched for a suspect.
An officer said, “Might be a dumb question. We’re not allowed to call for a drone anymore?” The answer came back, “No, we’re not.”
The officer then said, “I’m good for that. Just wanted to put that over the air… officer safety.”
Sgt. Freddy Diaz issued a statement saying, “The Cleveland Police Commission clearly outlined its stance on the Division’s permitted use of drones.
Circumventing the directive by involving an outside agency portrays the Division as deceptive.
Given these facts and circumstances, the Division will continue to comply with the CPC’s request. Any further questions should be directed to the CPC.”
However, it’s unclear how long it may take to get final approval on a Cleveland Police drone policy.
Yet, many other police departments, large and small, already have been using drones for years.
https://fox8.com/news/i-team/i-team-more-red-tape-keeps-cleveland-police-from-using-drones/
Ex-NASA astronaut who nearly collided with two ‘metallic orbs’ while piloting plane reveals they had ‘no visible means of propulsion’
Jan. 4, 2025, 12:36 a.m. ET
The former NASA astronaut who nearly collided with a pair of metallic orbs while flying his plane remains befuddled by the mysterious objects, revealing to The Post they showed “no visible means of propulsion” when they whizzed by within 20 feet of his plane.
“They came right at me,” Dr. Leroy Chiao, who was the commander of Expedition 10, said of the “perfectly smooth” spheres he encountered while piloting his Grumman AA5BTiger in Texas last summer.
Chiao detailed the stunning experience in a lengthy interview that shed more light on the remarkably close call and expanded on his theory of orbs’ possible origin — though he’s still searching for answers.
The two objects were “10 feet to the left and 10 feet below” Chiao’s plane on a perfectly clear day — allowing the aviation expert a full view of the anomalous crafts that exhibited capabilities that challenged his ability to conventionally explain their existence.
“They were about 20 feet away,” Chiao recounted. “They were about three feet in diameter. One on top of the other.”
“I didn’t see any visible means of propulsion, so I don’t know what it would be,” a stumped Chiao told The Post. “You gotta have a jet engine or a propeller or something.”
The pilot emphasized he witnessed the orbs on a sunny, cloudless day with good visibly.
“There was nothing around me other than the panhandle of Texas at nine thousand feet on this instrument flight plan and just suddenly these things appeared,” Chiao said, detailing safety measures and instruments pilots use to identify other planes and avoid catastrophic accidents.
“The ones I saw were smooth and shiny,” Chiao said. The great American made this “smooth” observation in contrast to a widely circulated image of an orb released as part of a Pentagon report last year, which depicts an orb being covered in cresting points.
Those objects, captured on military radar in controlled airspace in Iraq, were deemed by the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to be unexplainable and were rendered in the report as pointy metallic orbs.
“That’s what it made me think of. I wonder, ‘Gosh, I wonder if this is the same thing.’” The mystery that followed the astronaut’s near-miss encounter has persisted.
“They were moving about the same speed as I was in the opposite direction. About 100-150 mph,” Chiao recounted.
The directed speed of the objects, which was apparent to Chiao, precludes them being accurately identified as mere balloons, and weather balloons would show on his flight radar, he said.
Chiao also said the flight characteristics of the orbs were unique. They did not cause an air disturbance so far as he could tell, something planes and other flying objects cause by virtue of their speed.
“If an airplane flew by me that fast, I’d feel its wake, it would have disturbed the air around my airplane.”
The commander says that the orbs passed him by in complete silence, making no noise as they zipped through the air.
Chiao said that at the time he was too surprised to realize what exactly was happening, but sees now that the one-in-a-million encounter could’ve instead led to his death.
“Obviously if I collided with them it would have been really bad,” Chiao said with a chuckle, adding, “No one would’ve known what happened to me.”
“They would probably attribute it to a bird strike or running into a big turkey buzzard or something,” he joked.
At a loss for any sort of explanation, Chiao is reduced to attributing the technology to the American military by way of default.
“That was my first thought, that this must be some secret military program but what the hell are they doing flying it where airplanes are operating, especially under instrument flight rules.
Why wouldn’t they be in military airspace?,” the spacewalker wondered. Chiao rejected any otherworldly explanation for the objects — though he believes that there are other intelligences out there in space.
“I firmly believe there is other intelligence in the universe. I think it’s the height of arrogance to think that we’re the only intelligent life in this entire universe,” Chiao said, adding a major caveat:
“The flip side of that is that we’ll never find each other because the universe is so vast.” “So I have trouble believing that aliens have visited us,” Chiao said.
These beliefs make the reality and origin of the mechanics–bending orbs all the more quizzical.
“What could be the propulsion system? Just like the orb we saw in the predator video, what could make that thing move like that?”
https://nypost.com/2025/01/04/us-news/ex-nasa-astronaut-dr-leroy-chiao-says-metallic-orbs-he-saw-had-no-visible-means-of-propulsion/