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Private FLIP moon rover replaces NASA's cancelled VIPER on 2025 lunar south pole mission
February 6, 2025
Pittsburgh-based company Astrobotic has found a replacement rover to fly on the first-ever mission of its Griffin moon lander.
Griffin was originally supposed to deliver NASA's ice-hunting VIPER rover to the moon's south polar region on its debut flight, which is scheduled to launch late this year.
The agency canceled the VIPER program last summer, leaving a big space open on Griffin. That space has finally been filled — by FLIP, a rover built by the California company Astrolab.
"Astrobotic received worldwide interest from dozens of organizations eager to fly aboard Griffin-1, and we conducted a rigorous selection process to identify the mission partner that aligned best with our timeline and Griffin’s capabilities," Astrobotic founder and CEO John Thornton said in a statement on Wednesday (Feb. 5).
"Astrolab shares our vision of making lunar science, exploration and commercial activity both accessible and transformative," he added.
"By deploying the FLIP rover on Griffin-1, we are advancing humanity’s future on the moon and enabling groundbreaking U.S. technology demonstrations at the lunar south pole."
FLIP (which stands for Flex Lunar Innovation Platform) is a robotic four-wheeled vehicle that weighs about 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms) here on Earth and can carry up to 66 pounds (30 kg) of payload.
The rover can conduct exploration work of its own, but it's also designed to test technologies that will be used by Astrolab's larger FLEX (Flexible Logistics and Exploration) commercial vehicle.
The car-sized FLEX — which will be able to carry two astronauts or operate in autonomous mode — will touch down on the moon for the first time aboard a SpaceX Starship lander as soon as late 2026.
"By joining Griffin Mission One, we will gather key insights into how lunar rovers like FLIP and FLEX operate in real lunar conditions," Jaret Matthews, founder and CEO of Astrolab, said in the same statement.
"Bringing FLIP to the moon offers an opportunity to demonstrate and test many of the critical technologies that will advance the commercial FLEX vehicle, including full-sized batteries, tires, critical avionics systems, sensors and software."
Griffin's upcoming debut will be the second lunar mission for Astrobotic.
The company's smaller Peregrine moon lander launched in January 2024 on the inaugural flight of United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket, carrying five NASA science experiments and a variety of other payloads.
Peregrine didn't make it to the moon, however; it suffered a propulsion anomaly and ended up crashing back to Earth 10 days after liftoff.
NASA's VIPER rover, by the way, could still make it to the moon, albeit not on Griffin-1.
Earlier this week, the agency asked private companies for partnership proposals that would allow the rover to perform its planned science work near the lunar south pole.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/moon-rovers/private-flip-rover-replaces-nasas-viper-on-astrobotic-moon-mission
https://www.astrobotic.com/astrolabs-flip-rover-joins-astrobotics-griffin-1-to-the-moon/
Air Force acquisition veteran takes helm of Space Development Agency
February 5, 2025
The Department of the Air Force has named longtime procurement official William Blauser as the acting director of the U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency (SDA).
The move, announced Feb. 5, follows the sudden removal of former SDA Director Derek Tournear, who was placed on administrative leave for unspecified reasons related to past contracting activities.
Blauser, who currently serves as the deputy director of the Department of the Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office, steps into the role after a two-week interim period during which Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, the head of Space Systems Command (SSC), temporarily led the agency.
“Given the importance of space acquisition programs, both the Space Development Agency and Space Systems Command require full-time leadership, and the Department of the Air Force has named Mr. Blauser as SDA’s new acting director,” a spokesperson for the Department of the Air Force said in a statement.
Implications for satellite procurements
The abrupt leadership change at SDA has raised concerns across the defense and space industry, particularly regarding the agency’s aggressive push to deploy its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), a network of satellites designed to enhance military communications, missile tracking and targeting.
Under Tournear’s leadership, SDA developed a reputation for moving at an unusually fast pace compared to traditional military space programs.
Multiple industry sources told SpaceNews that there had been speculation about SDA being folded under the much larger SSC, a move that could have slowed the agency’s streamlined satellite procurement process.
Blauser brings decades of experience in defense and space systems. At the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, he has overseen several high-profile projects, including development of the secretive B-21 stealth bomber and the X-37B military space plane.
His resume also includes stints at Sierra Nevada Corporation, where he managed ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) programs, and the National Reconnaissance Office, where he worked on classified spy satellite programs.
The leadership change comes at a critical juncture for SDA, which is preparing to dramatically scale up deployment of its satellite network.
The agency has already launched 27 experimental tracking and communications satellites, with dozens more planned for the coming years.
The PWSA represents a departure from traditional military space architecture, which typically relies on small numbers of large, expensive satellites.
Instead, SDA plans to deploy hundreds of smaller, cheaper satellites in low Earth orbit, making the network more resilient to potential attacks and easier to upgrade over time.
Lawmakers and industry insiders have credited SDA’s rapid procurement model with accelerating the U.S. military’s ability to field advanced space capabilities, countering threats from China and Russia in orbit.
While the Department of the Air Force has not disclosed details regarding Tournear’s status, insiders indicate that the situation stems from a review of past contracting decisions.
The uncertainty surrounding his departure has sparked speculation about whether SDA’s independent approach to procurement will continue under new leadership.
https://spacenews.com/air-force-acquisition-veteran-takes-helm-of-space-development-agency/
Space Systems Command, Japan launch first bilateral space effort
Feb. 5, 2025
A U.S. space domain awareness payload hosted on Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite 6 successfully launched on a Japanese H-3 launch vehicle from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Tanegashima Space Center in Japan on February 2. This is the first bilateral U.S. Japan cooperative space effort focused on national security, and the first of two launches as part of the JAXA Quasi-Zenith Satellite System Hosted Payload program.
The satellite will be operated by Space Operations Command’s Mission Delta 2, which conducts Space Domain Awareness operations to identify, characterize, and exploit opportunities and mitigate vulnerabilities in the national security space terrain on behalf of the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command. The satellite will deliver near real time data to the Space Surveillance Network bolstering the U.S. Department of Defense understanding of the Geosynchronous Orbit regime above the Indo-Pacific region.
“This launch is a historic milestone for the U.S. – Japan alliance,” said USSF Col. Bryon McClain, program executive officer for Space Systems Command’s Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power. “In an increasingly contested space domain, Japan's contribution to the U.S. DoD’s deterrence strategy has been, and will continue to be, key to INDOPACOM awareness and operations. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Japan on space modernization, data sharing, satellite communications and more.”
"Congratulations to both nations on this achievement. Mission Delta 2 is honored to operate these payloads as they get on orbit on behalf of the USSF.
These sensors will support the fusion of space- and ground-based Space Domain Awareness to further reinforce all-domain collective defense with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific,” explained USSF Col. Raj Agrawal, commander of SpOC’s Mission Delta 2.
“I’m proud of the team for this achievement as the first launch in this first-ever bilateral collaboration,” said CMSgt. Jacqueline Sauve, SSC’s senior enlisted leader, who was on-site at TNSC for the launch.
“This mission is just the beginning of what we can accomplish together with allies and partners.”
The QZSS-HP program encompasses the integration, launch and operations of two U.S. payloads hosted on Japanese satellites.
In preparation for launch, USSF and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory teams have worked side-by-side with the NSPS and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation teams in Japan over the past two years to integrate and test the first hosted payload alongside its Japanese QZS-6 host.
Both U.S. payloads for this mission were designed and built by MIT/LL in Lexington, Mass.
The Japanese host Quasi-Zenith Satellites were designed and built by MELCO in Kamakura, Japan to augment the U.S. GPS capabilities in the region.
QZSS-HP utilizes the Multi-Mission Space Operations Center/Enterprise Command and Control – Schriever enclave located in Colorado.
“A key component to ensuring the success of the QZSS-HP mission is the ground infrastructure,” said USSF Col. Joe Roth, director of SSC’s Innovation and Prototyping Acquisition Delta.
“Ensuring the ground piece exceeds expectation paves the way for continued successful partnership opportunities with our Asia-Pacific allies.”
The strategic partnership between the USSF and Japan's National Space Policy Secretariat originated through a December 2020 international agreement to jointly execute the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System-Hosted Payload program.
The mission’s second payload aboard QZS-7 is on track for launch in early FY2026.
Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for acquiring, developing and delivering resilient capabilities to protect our nation’s strategic advantage in, from, and to space.
SSC manages a $15.6 billion space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense and works in partnership with joint forces, industry, government agencies, academic and allied organizations to outpace emerging threats.
Our actions today are making the world a better space for tomorrow.
Space Operations Command is the service force provider, focused on generating combat-ready Space forces, sourcing and providing forces for service and combatant commands, and advocating for combat-ready space power from future force to fielded force.
Mission Delta 2 is the Space Force’s lead Delta for application of Space Domain Awareness to achieve our Nation’s interests in, from, and to space.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4055022/space-systems-command-japan-launch-first-bilateral-space-effort/
Iran launches first naval drone carrier
Updated: February 06, 2025, 7:41 AM
Iran's dedicated drone carrier was shown at sea on Thursday, in a report by state broadcaster IRIB. The Shahid Bahman Bagheri, which became operational in December, is a converted civilian container ship purchased from South Korea more than 20 years ago.
With the decks cleared for a runway and launch ramp, the vessel will be used in the naval force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. As well as carrying helicopters, the ship was shown launching one-way attack drones and recoverable drones such as the Mohajer 6, which can fly for 12 hours.
Iran also showed a new drone aboard the ship, the JAS-313, which resembles a small fighter aircraft. It is similar in appearance to US drones known as collaborative combat aircraft, which the US military is looking to integrate with artificial intelligence.
The report from IRIB showed the JAS-313 rising from below deck, before taking off. It is not clear what role the aircraft would have given the major technical hurdles to achieving pilotless aerial combat – a challenge the US is working on with its Air Combat Evolution programme. But any drone with a range of hundreds of kilometres could assist the IRGC in building what experts call a "kill chain", the ability to guide weapons over the horizon to strike moving targets including ships.
Iran, which has often suffered budget crunches because of western sanctions, has previously used converted container ships as an cheaper alternative to purpose-built warships. These include the Shahid Mahdavi, which can fire ballistic missiles housed in standard shipping containers. The launch of the Iranian drone carrier comes after Turkey revealed a drone carrier last year, the TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship. It can launch Bayraktar TB3 drones. In January, the Chinese navy confirmed it would have a dedicated drone carrier, a Type 076 amphibious assault ship.
Drones launched from platforms at sea are increasingly attractive to navies struggling to overcome vast distances and the strain that puts pilots and equipment. The US first launched a drone from an aircraft carrier in 2013, fielding the experimental, stealthy X-47B. The US Marine Corps now operates the Reaper MQ-9 Extended Range drone in naval operations. The drone can fly for 30 hours, far longer than piloted aircraft such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/02/06/iran-launches-first-naval-drone-carrier/
Homeland Security Chair Sounds Alarm Over Cartels Using Drones
Feb 6, 2025 at 7:30 AM EST
The chairman of the Homeland Security Committee has raised alarm over the escalating use of drones by cartels at the southern border, urging the Department of Homeland Security to take immediate action against the growing threat.
When Newsweek asked whether the U.S. could deploy drones to combat cartels, Representative Mark Green issued a statement stressing the importance of DHS being able to respond quickly and effectively.
"It is absolutely critical that DHS is able to respond swiftly and effectively to threats that emerge from new technologies.
Cartel use of drones to smuggle contraband and surveil law enforcement at our Southwest border has long been a concern," Green told Newsweek.
Cartels and gangs have become a central focus of the GOP's push for stricter immigration enforcement and border security as President Donald Trump's administration ramps up large-scale deportation efforts.
Trump made immigration a core component of his successful presidential campaign, with Americans largely supporting immigration reform overall but disagreeing about how policies such as deportations should be carried out.
Green, who represents Tennessee's 7th congressional district, has been pushing for stronger measures to combat drone-related threats.
It comes after a report on a leaked memo, obtained by NewsNation, indicated that cartels have authorized the use of weaponized drones equipped with explosives to target Customs and Border Protection personnel and other U.S. law enforcement officers along the southern border.
The increasing use of drones by cartels adds a new layer of complexity to border security. Cartels are known to employ drones to transport drugs and weapons and even conduct reconnaissance missions to monitor law enforcement activities.
Their growing technological capabilities are fueling concerns among policymakers and security officials.
The issue has become a focal point for Republicans, who are implementing tougher border security policies. The Trump administration, which has prioritized immigration, has said cartel activity is a national security threat.
Trump signed an executive order on Day 1 designating Mexican drug cartels and other Latin American criminal groups as terrorist organizations.
Trump's order states that these groups "threaten the safety of the American people, the security of the United States, and the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere."
Meanwhile, Representative Brian Babin, a Republican from Texas, suggested that the U.S. could use drones against Mexican cartels to protect American lives.
Babin, a co-chair of the Border Security Caucus, told NewsNation's The Hill Tuesday that the United States could deploy drones against cartels if it would help protect American lives.
"It certainly could. I'm not saying it will," Babin said, adding, "It could come down to that."
Industry experts are also raising concerns about the capabilities of cartel-operated drones. John Ferguson, CEO of Saxon Aerospace, a Kansas-based drone manufacturer, told Newsweek that cartel drone operations should be treated as a serious national security risk.
Representative Mark Green told Newsweek in a statement, "Along with the Transportation and Infrastructure and Judiciary Committees, I helped spearhead efforts to reauthorize DHS authority, including through components like Border Patrol, to detect, track, and mitigate hostile drone use—even by using drones themselves.
After four years of chaos and crisis at our Southwest border, President Trump, DHS Secretary Noem, and border czar Homan are restoring law and order and taking back control from vicious cartels."
John Ferguson, the chief executive officer of Saxon Aerospace, a drone manufacturer in Kansas, told Newsweek: "An attack of any sorts is considered an act of war.
If the Mexican Government allows this to happen and does not clean this up internally then they should be willing to work with the United States to help mitigate this threat.
We all know the Government cannot combat the Cartels within Mexico so they should be willing to offer assistance at the very least.
"The Cartels have more small arms firepower than most militaries in the world. They also have the same ability as any other country regarding drones and the utilization of drones to militarize them."
Representative Brian Babin told NewsNation on Tuesday, "Everything's on the table, and we could absolutely take that type of action against them to save American lives, to save our property, to save our sovereignty."
The administration has ramped up efforts to curb unlawful border crossings and cartel activity, with drone threats now high on the priority list.
https://www.newsweek.com/homeland-security-chair-sounds-alarm-cartels-drones-2027134
Ukraine Announces Successful Use of First Laser Weapon on Battlefield
February 6, 2025
A Ukrainian military commander has announced the successful use of the country’s first laser weapon on the battlefield, revealing that it has effectively targeted specific objects.
“I will repeat: laser technologies are already striking certain targets at certain altitudes,” Kyiv’s Unmanned Systems Forces commander Vadym Sukharevskyi stated.
No further details regarding the laser weapon’s deployment, including the date and location, were provided.
In December 2024, Sukharevskyi confirmed that Ukraine became the “fifth country to possess” such a weapon.
The laser weapon is dubbed “Tryzub” (Trident), with a reported operational range of two kilometers (1.24 miles).
A Strategic Shift in Air Defense
The laser weapon’s deployment is a part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to enhance its air defense capabilities, particularly in countering drone threats.
It also reflects Kyiv’s commitment to advancing cutting-edge military technology to stay competitive in modern warfare.
Russia has increasingly relied on sophisticated unmanned aerial systems, including Iranian-supplied Shahed drones, to target Ukrainian military positions and critical infrastructure.
However, defense expert James Black, assistant director at RAND Europe, explained that the laser weapon’s use might currently be “limited and largely experimental.”
He emphasized the technical, logistical, and operational hurdles that Ukraine could face as it looks to scale up deployment of such systems.
Black also highlighted other key challenges, including integrating the laser system with other air defense assets, ensuring a reliable energy supply, and operating in adverse weather conditions.
https://thedefensepost.com/2025/02/06/ukraine-laser-weapon-battlefield/
Russia strikes Ukraine with 77 drones and 2 missiles overnight: Air defense's work reported
Thu, February 06, 2025 - 09:55
On the night of Thursday, February 6, the Russian army launched 77 attack drones at Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense forces operated in 11 regions of the country.
On the night of February 6, 2025, from 7 p.m. Kyiv time on February 5, Russia attacked Ukraine with 77 Shahed-type attack drones and various types of imitator drones.
The drones were launched from the following directions: Orel, Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, and Shatalovo.
The Russians also launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the Rostov region.
Russian air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups of the Air Force and the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
As of 9 a.m. Kyiv time, 56 Shahed attack drones and other types of drones have been confirmed downed in Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Odesa regions.
Another 18 Russian imitator drones were lost in the area without any negative consequences. However, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, and Dnipropetrovsk regions suffered as a result of the Russian attack.
Russian night attack on Kharkiv
Late in the evening of February 5, amid the drone threat, explosions were heard in Kharkiv. Authorities reported Russian strikes in 2 districts.
A fire was also reported at one of the city's largest markets.
The mayor's office said that the drone strikes occurred in the Kyivskyi and Kholodnohirskyi districts of Kharkiv.
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/russia-strikes-ukraine-with-77-drones-and-1738828230.html
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Warning over North Korea missile strikes as French jets arrive to bolster Kyiv
Thursday 06 February 2025 17:27 GMT
North Korean ballistic missiles fired at Ukraine by Russian forces have become far more precise over time, according to senior Ukrainian military officials.
Vladimir Putin's invading forces have been using imported North Korean projectiles since the end of 2023, and their accuracy and performance have changed drastically since then, military sources told Reuters.
All the more than 20 ballistic missiles that hit Ukraine over the past several weeks landed within 50-100m of their intended target, the sources said.
This is not only helping Russia in its war effort but also improving North Korea's military capabilities, they warned.
Meanwhile, the first batch of French Mirage 2000 fighter jets arrived in Ukraine, the French armed forces minister Sebastien Lecornu announced this morning.
“With Ukrainian pilots on board who have been trained for several months in France, they will now participate in defending the skies of Ukraine,” he wrote.
The fourth-generation jets have been modified to focus on air-to-ground combat, reportedly so they can fire French and British long-range missiles at Russian targets.
updates cont.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-casualties-live-putin-trump-drone-bombs-attack-b2693149.html
FAA grounds YouTuber: Lifetime drone ban ends ‘PhillyDroneLife’
Feb 5 2025 - 10:58 am PT
In the bustling cityscape of Philadelphia, one man’s aerial adventures have come crashing down to earth.
Michael DiCiurcio, the face behind the popular YouTube channel “PhillyDroneLife,” has been permanently grounded following a federal court’s consent judgment against him for reckless drone operations.
The rise and fall of ‘PhillyDroneLife’
Since December 2019, DiCiurcio has been capturing Philadelphia’s skyline, sharing his drone footage with thousands of subscribers. However, his flights often ventured into dangerous territories.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania alleges that DiCiurcio operated his drones unlawfully and unsafely, violating Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.
Among the alarming allegations were nighttime flights perilously close to iconic landmarks like the William Penn Statue, the PSFS Building, and Liberty One. In one instance, his drone nearly collided with a church steeple.
He also flew in controlled airspace near Philadelphia International Airport and over populated areas, even losing control of his drone during one flight, causing it to soar unpredictably over the city.
The FAA didn’t turn a blind eye to these risky maneuvers. They issued written warnings, provided DiCiurcio with counseling and education on safe drone operations, and even proposed a staggering $182,000 fine for his numerous infractions.
Despite these efforts, DiCiurcio continued his perilous flights, endangering both people and property.
The legal takedown
The situation reached a tipping point when the US Attorney’s Office filed a complaint against DiCiurcio, seeking substantial civil penalties and an injunction to halt his illegal activities.
On January 23, 2025, DiCiurcio agreed to a consent judgment before Magistrate Judge Jose Arteaga.
In this agreement, he admitted to the allegations, acknowledged his violations of FAA regulations, and accepted the administrative findings against him.
The court’s decision was unequivocal. DiCiurcio is permanently banned from operating any drones within the United States and is prohibited from seeking any certification or license to do so in the future.
He must also dismantle his “PhillyDroneLife” YouTube channel and surrender his drones and related equipment to the FAA.
Interestingly, this consent judgment has allowed DiCiurcio to avoid the hefty financial penalty of $182,000, but only by agreeing to the court’s terms of sacrificing his drones, YouTube channel, and longtime hobby.
Deputy FAA Administrator Katie Thomson emphasizes the importance of adhering to safety protocols, stating, “We work hard to educate people about safely flying their drones, and we don’t hesitate to take strong enforcement action when pilots deliberately flout the rules.”
US Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero adds, “Failing to adhere to the safety requirements for flying small unmanned aircraft systems endangers people and property.
All drone flyers have a responsibility to ensure that they observe all applicable regulations and guidance.”
For DiCiurcio, the thrill of high-flying exploits has ended in a sobering descent. His case serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities that come with drone operation.
While drones offer unique perspectives and creative opportunities, operators must prioritize safety and comply with regulations designed to protect the public.
The allure of capturing the perfect shot should never outweigh the importance of responsible flying.
https://dronedj.com/2025/02/05/phillydronelife-faa-drone-ban-fine/