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NASA says removal of 'first woman, person of color' language from Artemis websites 'does not indicate' moon mission crew change
March 24, 2025
NASA websites no longer state that the Artemis 3 lunar mission will aim to land the first person of color and the first woman on the moon — a longstanding goal of the Artemis program that the agency has consistently called upon when discussing lunar plans.
The change appeared this weekend as NASA continues to cancel programs dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) as well as purge its websites of any language related to these efforts.
These decisions are guided by the Trump administration's push to end programs and close offices related to DEIA efforts in order to eliminate what it deems "immense public waste and shameful discrimination," according to the White House.
The agency's latest move, however, appears to have impacted its Artemis program websites. All mentions of landing the first person of color and first woman on the moon have been taken down from plans posted online, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
While it's unclear how the removal of this language might affect astronaut assignments for NASA's planned moon missions, a NASA spokesperson told Space.com that "it is important to note that the change in language does not indicate a change in crew assignments."
In addition to the statement above, the spokesperson gave Space.com the following statement, identical to ones given to other news outlets following the change in language on its Artemis program websites:
"In accordance with an Executive Order signed by President Trump, NASA is updating its language to better reflect the core mission of the Artemis campaign: returning astronauts to the lunar surface.
NASA remains committed to aligning with White House guidance and ensuring mission success."
The agency's Artemis program website previously stated that NASA "will land the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut on the moon," according to an archived version of the site available online.
The current version of the site states that "With NASA’s Artemis campaign, we are exploring the moon for scientific discovery, technology advancement, and to learn how to live and work on another world as we prepare for human missions to Mars."
As has been shown so far, federal agencies have been swift with their response to the Trump administration's abrupt requests for them to implement changes in workflow.
Trump signed a series of executive orders within days of being sworn in for his second term asking federally funded organizations to take action in various ways, one of which was indeed the mandate of closing offices and ending any related programs associated with DEIA efforts.
Acting NASA administrator Janet Petro sent a memo to agency employees following that executive order stating that the agency's DEIA programs "divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination."
NASA isn't the only agency complying with White House orders; other federally funded science organizations — for instance, the Rubin Observatory — have been deleting DEIA-related content from their websites as well.
NASA has also slashed its workforce significantly as part of the Trump administration's efforts to reduce federal spending. It's unknown to what extent the agency's budgets or workforce could be reduced.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/nasa-says-removal-of-first-woman-person-of-color-language-from-artemis-websites-does-not-indicate-moon-mission-crew-change
Spiral in the sky likely to be from SpaceX launch
March 25, 2025
A large glowing spiral visible in the night sky on Monday is believed to have been caused by a SpaceX rocket launch in the US.
The Met Office said the shape was likely produced by a frozen plume of fuel from the rocket's exhaust, which reflected the sunlight and appeared to spin in the atmosphere.
The cloud-like shape was visible for several minutes above the UK and elsewhere in Europe before fading.
The Falcon 9 rocket from Elon Musk's space company lifted off at around 13:50 local time in Florida (17:50 GMT) on a classified US government mission.
The Falcon 9 is a reusable rocket. After launching, the first part takes the payload it is carrying, such as a satellite into space.
While this part of the rocket then turns back around towards Earth, the second stage of the rocket continues to take the satellite to the correct orbit.
Once released, the second stage will eject any leftover fuel, which freezes instantly due to the altitude and forms into a spiral pattern because of the rocket's movement as it falls back to Earth.
Light is then reflected off the frozen fuel, making it visible on Earth. Astronomer Allan Trow said it had appeared above Wales's Bannau Brycheiniog national park at around 20:00 GMT.
He said he had seen the phenomenon before around four years ago. "But these are pretty rare," he told the BBC, and agreed the rocket was its likely source.
Stockport-based Sonia was already out with her telescope when she saw "a swirling galaxy that was moving across the sky".
People living almost 200 miles (321km) away also spotted the unusual glow.
Steven Hall was taking his bins out from his home in rural Suffolk when he saw what looked like "a huge Catherine wheel which appeared to have its own atmosphere around it".
He added: "It did pass my mind, is this an unexplained, unidentified flying object?" SpaceX said on X the launch was carried out on behalf of the US government National Reconnaissance Office mission.
The Kennedy Space Center also said on X the launch was a classified mission for that office.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c241073v66jo
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/mysterious-blue-spiral-spotted-over-european-skies-what-was-it-photos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW2hJFsv3Ik
Dazzling photos of this month's total lunar eclipse showcase a blood red moon near the Milky Way's heart
March 25, 2025
Breathtaking photos of the total lunar eclipse from earlier this month capture a glowing, blood red moon and star-studded heart of the Milky Way in the night skies over Chile.
A total lunar eclipse occurred overnight across March 13-14, coinciding with the Full Worm Moon.
The maximum phase, or totality, occurred at 2:59 a.m. EDT (6:59 GMT) on March 14, causing the moon to appear a deep red color in the night sky.
The "Blood Worm Moon" total lunar eclipse rose over the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), located on the summit of Mt. Cerro Tololo in northern Chile.
The National Science Foundation's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory, or NOIRLab, which oversees the observatory, shared stunning photos of the ground-based telescopes beneath a glowing blood red moon and dazzling view of the Milky Way in a post on X (formally Twitter).
During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth passes between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow on the moon.
This causes the surface of the moon to darken, and sometimes appear reddish when viewed from the night side of Earth, as the planet's atmosphere scatters sunlight.
Because of this, a total lunar eclipse is sometimes referred to as a "blood moon.”
The recent lunar eclipse — the first total lunar eclipse since 2022 — was visible across North America and most of South America.
Viewers in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile experienced totality as the moon passed entirely within the darkest part of Earth's shadow, or umbra, so that the sun was completely blocked.
Other areas including Western Europe and parts of West Africa experienced totality at moonset, before the moon disappeared below the horizon.
In New Zealand, the eclipse was partially visible as the moon rose on March 14.
The images taken at CTIO offer a breathtaking view of the total lunar eclipse, showcasing the bright red glow of the moon blanketed by Earth’s shadow.
Clear night skies also revealed the striking section of the Milky Way that we can see despite living within the galaxy, and twinkling stars above the observatory's ground-based telescopes.
Be sure to check out our roundup of the best photos of the "Blood Worm Moon" total lunar eclipse for even more spectacular views.
https://www.space.com/stargazing/astrophotography/dazzling-photos-of-this-months-total-lunar-eclipse-showcase-a-blood-red-moon-near-the-milky-ways-heart
https://twitter.com/NOIRLabAstro/status/1902510594432868433
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/space-pirates-already-have-their-sights-set-on-the-high-seas-of-earth-orbit-can-we-stop-them
https://cscpg.org/
Space pirates already have their sights set on the 'high seas' of Earth orbit. Can we stop them?
March 25, 2025
Put on your eye patch and crank up your best "arrr." And while you're at it, plop down a stack of doubloons and conjure up visions of Captain Jack Sparrow!
Talk about "high crimes" and misdemeanors. The growing pace of space as a commercial resource brings with it the prospect for misdeeds, corruption, piracy, and war.
The Center for the Study of Space Crime, Policy, and Governance (CSCPG) is looking into the risks of piracy in space and solutions to this potentially devastating economic and legal problem.
Speculative non-fiction
"Now is the time to start thinking and talking about mitigating the threat of piracy in space," said Marc Feldman, executive director of the CSCPG.
"As we like to say, and please forgive me, Leon Trotsky, but you may not be interested in space piracy, but space pirates are interested in you …"
Feldman, a space entrepreneur and finance professional, has co-authored, with Hugh Taylor, a specialist in cybersecurity, technology, and compliance, "Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit" (Wiley, 2025).
Taylor is director of the CSCPG. As they write in their newly published book, "we think the phenomenon will occur," and they offer suggestions for mitigating the risk.
"We refer to our content as 'speculative nonfiction,'" they add.
Attacks: physical and digital
Given that space piracy is a given, in their view, how best to characterize the first incident occurring - or perhaps it already has taken place?
"We are arguing that it's already started, in very early stages, with attempts to hack satellites," Taylor told Space.com.
"However, we think that the increasingly commercial nature of space will result in attacks, physical and digital, on space assets, probably starting with disruptions of Earth-based space assets like launch facilities or ground stations," he said.
As for concrete steps to counter the threat of space piracy, Taylor said that there are a couple of different entities that need to "deal with" the issue.
"From a U.S. perspective, our thought is that there needs to be a lead agency pulling together different stakeholders.
This could be the U.S. Space Force, though they don't appear to be structured for it or tasked with this right now," said Taylor.
Varied stakeholders
Alternatively, there could be a need for a dedicated space security agency (or sub-agency) in the U.S. intelligence community, Taylor said.
The U.S. Navy is a great candidate, given their 250 years of experience fighting pirates, "but they lack the legal charter to get involved, if I understand federal statutes," Taylor said.
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Worldwide, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is probably the best venue for bringing together the varied stakeholders who need to engage on this topic, Taylor added.
"People don't like the United Nations, but it arguably is the only venue where everyone can come together and talk. It could be the starting point," said Taylor.
Cartels and kidnappers
The Center is focused on criminality in space, from space hacking to existing cybersecurity standards and practices in space, laws and treaties relevant to space crime, as well as cartels and kidnappers.
A recent CSCPG webinar took on space as the next frontier for money laundering.
Feldman views initial space piracy incidents might, for example, include taking over a broadcast satellite in geosynchronous Earth orbit, to disrupt a major global media event, say the World Cup.
The edict from space pirates might be: "Either pay a very large amount to insure the televised event, or it goes dark … and other blackouts will follow," Feldman envisions.
"Also look at satellites involved in shipping. These are very vulnerable."
Rapid response
Feldman stresses the need to develop new weapons and rapid response rockets to deal with events, like the day after hostages are taken in a commercial space station. "As of now there is no way to quickly respond."
Having small, agile, quick and appropriately armed transportation to space might well provide options to deal with an event like this, Feldman told Space.com.
Feldman said that criminal actions are a major source of technological innovation. "Pirates were instrumental in forcing colonial shipbuilding from New England to the Carolinas to build bespoke ships for their pirate customers.
These ships were sleek, they were fast, and they were designed to store plunder and hostages," said Feldman.
Non-state actors
The first thing that needs to be done, Feldman suggests, is that the United States Intelligence Community and the US Space Force need to acknowledge that non-state actors like pirates and criminals are, and will be, a major threat to our military space assets.
"Right now, the focus, which is correct, is on sovereign nations, such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
We are saying the attention needs to be expanded to include non-state actors," said Feldman.
"Once this understanding is digested, creative responses to prevent and mitigate these threats will follow," he concluded.
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Rare 'solar horns' will appear during partial solar eclipse on March 29 — Here are 6 of the best places in the US and Canada to see the unusual phenomenon
March 24, 2025
There's something special about the partial solar eclipse on March 29, 2025.
For North Americans in the right place at the right time — and who get clear skies — there's a chance to see the unique spectacle of "solar horns," a phenomenon where the cusps of an eclipsed crescent sun appear as two distinct points above the horizon during sunrise.
For observers in the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada aiming to witness this rare event, selecting the optimal location is crucial.
Selecting a location for 'solar horns'
"Solar horns" will be visible from locations in southeastern Quebec and southwest New Brunswick in Canada and in northern Maine in the U.S. Specifically, the phenomenon will be seen only between the St. Lawrence River estuary and the Bay of Fundy.
For the best chance, you'll need an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon, which means coastal areas and elevated terrain, though a low horizon on land can also work well if you watch from high up. Xavier Jubier's interactive Google Map of the eclipse (which has built-in sightlines from Peak Finder), The Photographer's Ephemeris and Timeanddate.com's map of the eclipse are valuable resources when deciding on specific locations. So too, a compass for when you're in position.
Where to see 'solar horns'
Here are some locations from where the sun will rise while eclipsed, with the moon's silhouette creating the spectacle of the cusps of the eclipsed crescent sun appearing separately on the horizon — "solar horns" or a "double sunrise":
Forestville, Quebec, Canada
Sunrise: 6:20 a.m. EDT at 83.7 degrees ENE.
Maximum eclipse: 87% at 6:24 a.m. EDT
Here's how it will look from the coastline at Forestville on the north side of the St Lawrence River, which has a water horizon.
Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada
Sunrise: 7:15 a.m. ADT at 84.2 degrees ENE.
Maximum eclipse: 83% at 7:18 a.m. ADT
Here's how it will look from Pagan Point Nature Reserve on the southeast corner of Saint Andrews, which has a low horizon over Passamaquoddy Bay, with the sun rising behind the coast of Mascarene.
Quoddy Head State Park, Maine, U.S.
Sunrise: 6:13 a.m. EDT at 84.2 degrees ENE.
Maximum eclipse: 83% at 6:17 a.m. EDT.
Here's how it will look from West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, the most eastern point of the continental U.S., which has an ocean horizon over the Bay of Fundy.
South Lubec Flats, Maine, U.S.
Sunrise at 6:13 a.m. EDT at 84.2 degrees ENE.
Maximum eclipse: 83% at 6:18 a.m. EDT.
Here's how it will look from the South Lubec Flats Bar Road Parking Area, which has an ocean horizon over the Bay of Fundy. On the beach, just south of the parking area, the eclipsed sun will rise between Campobello Island in New Brunswick and Quoddy Head in Maine.
Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada
Sunrise at 7:14 a.m. ADT at 84.2 degrees ENE.
Maximum eclipse: 83% at 7:18 a.m. ADT.
Here's how it will look from Liberty Point at the end of Campobello Island in the Roosevelt Campobello International Park, which has an ocean horizon over the Bay of Fundy.
Presque Isle, Maine, U.S.
Sunrise: 6:16 a.m. EDT at 84 degrees ENE.
Maximum eclipse: 85% at 6:21 a.m. EDT.
Here's how it will look from Presque Isle, though since this is inland, an observing location offering elevation is recommended to see low to the horizon.
Where to see an eclipsed sunrise
Although only in Quebec, New Brunswick and Maine can the "solar horns" be seen — if skies are clear — an eclipsed crescent sunrise will be seen rising on its side from several other locations.
Anywhere with an ocean horizon will be best, with plenty of choice along the U.S. coast from Maine's border with Canada to Cape Cod in Massachusetts.
A very slightly eclipsed sunrise will be seen from New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia. From all of these locations, a low view to the northeast will be required to get a clear view of sunrise.
https://www.space.com/where-to-see-rare-solar-horns-partial-solar-eclipse-march-2025
NASA terminating $420 million in contracts
March 25, 2025
NASA is terminating $420 million in contracts the agency says are redundant or “misaligned” with its core priorities, but has provided few details about what is being cut.
In a statement to SpaceNews late March 24, NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens confirmed a post by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that NASA had terminated about $420 million in “unneeded” contracts.
“NASA is committed to optimizing its workforce and resources in alignment with the Department of Government Efficiency’s initiatives.
As part of this effort, NASA has identified and phased out $420 million in contracts that were determined to be redundant or misaligned with our core mission priorities,” Stevens said in the statement.
“This streamlining effort ensures that taxpayer dollars are directed toward the highest-impact projects while maintaining NASA’s essential functions at the highest level of execution,” she continued.
“In total, we are aiming for these measures to result in considerably more savings for the American people, reinforcing our commitment to efficiency, innovation, and continued leadership in space exploration.”
NASA did not answer questions about specific contracts selected for termination or details about how it determined those contracts were redundant or misaligned.
The DOGE post, published just before midnight March 21, said only that it included three contracts worth $15 million each to consultancies for “Change Management Support Services.”
NASA awarded several blanket purchase agreements in early 2024 to consulting firms to provide support services for agency leadership, with a maximum, but not guaranteed, value of $15 million each over five years.
According to federal procurement databases, NASA issued “termination for convenience” notices to four of the companies — Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, Guidehouse, and McKinsey & Co. — in mid-March.
None of the companies had been funded for any work under those agreements at the time NASA issued the termination notices.
DOGE has stated it will maintain a list of savings from canceled contracts, grants and real estate leases, but has been slow to do so.
The website is updated only weekly, with the last update March 19. In February, the DOGE website stated it would provide updates twice weekly.
The site currently lists 17 NASA contract terminations, whose total value is $44.5 million. However, the actual savings is significantly less: $26.1 million, with only four of the contracts offering any savings.
The rest, with savings of $0 listed, suggest they are contracts whose total value has already been paid.
Both the total value and savings of the terminated NASA contracts is dominated by a single entry, a contract worth nearly $30 million for the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), which examines the “human dimensions of global change needed for Earth science research.” According to DOGE, canceling that contract saved $19.4 million.
There is concern in the scientific community that many of the new savings being announced by NASA may come in the form of grant terminations.
There are anecdotal accounts of research awards being revoked, but the reasons for doing so, and whether they are linked to this announcement, are unclear.
The announcement adds to uncertainty about the agency and its workforce since the start of the Trump administration.
That has included closing three offices at NASA Headquarters and laying off 23 employees, with plans in progress for larger-scale layoffs that could revamping headquarters.
There are rumors that the administration, in its upcoming fiscal year 2026 budget request, will seek significant reductions in NASA science programs that could approach 50% of its current budget.
That alarm extends to Capitol Hill. “What I want to focus on is, in the near term, preventing harm to NASA’s institutions,” said Rep. George Whitesides (D-Calif.), vice-ranking member of the House Science Committee and a former NASA chief of staff, during a Planetary Society event here March 24.
“All this brouhaha about cuts, about moving NASA’s headquarters, I mean, all this is distraction and, ultimately, potentially damage to what is one of the most noble pursuits of humankind, which is the exploration of space,” he said.
https://spacenews.com/nasa-terminating-420-million-in-contracts/
https://doge.gov/savings
Companies in the Space Force commercial reserve program will not be publicly identified
March 25, 2025
The U.S. Space Force plans to keep the names of commercial companies participating in its new space reserve program under wraps, aiming to protect them from potential adversary threats as commercial satellites play a growing role in military operations.
Col. Richard Kniseley, director of the Space Force’s Commercial Space Office, said companies signing agreements under the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR) program can disclose their participation but are not required to.
“That potentially puts a target on their back,” Kniseley told SpaceNews, underscoring the risk to private-sector firms providing space-based services during wartime.
The CASR initiative, authorized by Congress after more than two years of development, is designed to establish a reserve fleet of commercial satellites and support services to augment government-owned systems in times of crisis.
The program operates through pre-negotiated contracts with providers, allowing the U.S. government to secure priority access to satellite communications, surveillance, and space domain awareness services when military systems are overstretched.
Space services reserve for conflicts
On March 1, the first four companies signed CASR agreements for an initial three-month pilot program, supplying space domain awareness data to help track and analyze objects in orbit, said Kniseley.
These firms will also take part in the first CASR wargames scheduled for March 25, an exercise meant to refine operational procedures.
“The pilot program is essential to execute and exercise our practices and procedures,” he said.
While the companies are contracted to provide services under peacetime conditions, their agreements include ‘surge’ options and pre-priced capabilities for rapid scaling in emergencies.
However, key details surrounding CASR agreements remain unresolved. Kniseley acknowledged ongoing discussions between defense officials and industry executives on issues such as financial protection for commercial operators, service prioritization in wartime, and potential “denial of service” clauses.
These provisions could require participating firms to halt services to other customers if the U.S. military calls up their capacity during a conflict.
Industry concerns over financial risk
One sticking point is the question of compensation for damaged or destroyed satellites in a conflict.
Kniseley said defense policy officials are working to establish a framework that balances national security needs with the financial realities faced by commercial operators.
The decision to maintain confidentiality around CASR participants came after extensive discussions with industry leaders.
“We wanted to understand from them what would make a good partnership,” Kniseley said. “A lot of the feedback that we got from industry was this may put a target on their back.”
U.S. officials have long been aware of threats to commercial satellite infrastructure, including cyberattacks.
Kniseley noted that adversaries could see companies supporting military operations as strategic targets, making anonymity a necessary safeguard.
However, individual companies retain the option to publicly identify themselves as CASR members if they choose.
The cost and scale of CASR contracts are still being evaluated.
Kniseley said the Space Force is conducting mission area analyses to determine how much satellite capacity regional military commands — such as those in the Indo-Pacific region —will need for operations like secure communications and surveillance.
“We’re still doing that analysis, so that might be a conversation for the future,” Kniseley said.
https://spacenews.com/companies-in-the-space-force-commercial-reserve-program-will-not-be-publicly-identified/
Moon Landing: Giant Leap or Grand Hoax?
Mar 24, 2025
We take a deep dive into one of the most controversial debates of the last century: did we really land on the moon, or was it an elaborate hoax?
Grant Stinchfield doesn’t take sides, instead he presents both the mainstream narrative and the skeptical viewpoint with equal scrutiny.
We’ll explore the historical context, the Cold War pressures, and the scientific evidence that supports NASA’s Apollo program.
But we’ll also examine the inconsistencies and unanswered questions raised by skeptics who believe the U.S. government may have staged the moon landing to win the space race.
With expert interviews, archival audio, and in-depth analysis, we aim to foster an open discussion on a topic that still sparks heated debate today.
Whether you’re a firm believer in NASA’s achievement or you suspect something isn’t adding up, Stinchfield challenges the assumptions and encourages critical thinking.
Grant breaks down the infamous photographs, the many anomalies and even the peculiar behaviors of the astronauts themselves. Could it be that the greatest technological feat in human history was an illusion?
Or is the skepticism itself the real misinformation? Join us as we weigh the evidence, question the narratives, and seek the truth. In the end, we let you decide.
https://truthsocial.com/@stinchfield1776/posts/114219985363420755
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdCmRjrUpBc
NASA scientists are clocking wildflower blooms to understand our ever-changing planet
March 24, 2025
NASA research is revealing there's more to flowers than meets the human eye. A recent analysis of wildflowers in California shows how aircraft- and space-based instruments can use color to track seasonal flower cycles.
The results suggest a potential new tool for farmers and natural-resource managers who rely on flowering plants.
In their study, the scientists surveyed thousands of acres of nature preserve using a technology built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
The instrument—an imaging spectrometer—mapped the landscape in hundreds of wavelengths of light, capturing flowers as they blossomed and aged over the course of months.
It was the first time the instrument had been deployed to track vegetation steadily through the growing season, making this a "first-of-a-kind study," said David Schimel, a research scientist at JPL.
For many plant species from crops to cacti, flowering is timed to seasonal swings in temperature, daylight, and precipitation.
Scientists are taking a closer look at the relationship between plant life and seasons—known as vegetation phenology—to understand how rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns may be impacting ecosystems.
Typically, wildflower surveys rely on boots-on-the-ground observations and tools such as time-lapse photography.
But these approaches cannot capture broader changes that may be happening in different ecosystems around the globe, said lead author Yoseline Angel, a scientist at the University of Maryland-College Park and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
"One challenge is that compared to leaves or other parts of a plant, flowers can be pretty ephemeral," she said. "They may last only a few weeks."
To track blooms on a large scale, Angel and other NASA scientists are looking to one of the signature qualities of flowers: color.
Flower pigments fall into three major groups: carotenoids and betalains (associated with yellow, orange, and red colors), and anthocyanins (responsible for many deep reds, violets, and blues).
The different chemical structures of the pigments reflect and absorb light in unique patterns. Spectrometers allow scientists to analyze the patterns and catalog plant species by their chemical "fingerprint."
As all molecules reflect and absorb a unique pattern of light, spectrometers can identify a wide range of biological substances, minerals, and gases.
Handheld devices are used to analyze samples in the field or lab. To survey moons and planets, including Earth, NASA has developed increasingly powerful imaging spectrometers over the past 45 years.
One such instrument is called AVIRIS-NG (short for Airborne Visible/InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer-Next Generation), which was built by JPL to fly on aircraft.
In 2022 it was used in a large ecology field campaign to survey vegetation in the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve and the Sedgwick Reserve, both in Santa Barbara County.
Among the plants observed were two native shrub species—Coreopsis gigantea and Artemisia californica—from February to June.
The scientists developed a method to tease out the spectral fingerprint of the flowers from other landscape features that crowded their image pixels.
In fact, they were able to capture 97% of the subtle spectral differences among flowers, leaves, and background cover (soil and shadows) and identify different flowering stages with 80% certainty.
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Predicting superblooms
The results open the door to more air- and space-based studies of flowering plants, which represent about 90% of all plant species on land.
One of the ultimate goals, Angel said, would be to support farmers and natural resource managers who depend on these species along with insects and other pollinators in their midst.
Fruit, nuts, many medicines, and cotton are a few of the commodities produced from flowering plants.
Angel is working with new data collected by AVIRIS's sister spectrometer that orbits on the International Space Station.
Called EMIT (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation), it was designed to map minerals around Earth's arid regions.
Combining its data with other environmental observations could help scientists study superblooms, a phenomenon where vast patches of desert flowers bloom after heavy rains.
One of the delights of researching flowers, Angel said, is the enthusiasm from citizen scientists.
"I have social media alerts on my phone," she added, noting one way she stays on top of wildflower activity around the world.
https://phys.org/news/2025-03-nasa-scientists-clocking-wildflower-blooms.html
https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.70127
Space Day Texas at State Capitol celebrates 25 years of the International Space Station
March 25, 2025
Outer space is taking over the Texas Capitol on March 25. Space Day Texas recognizes the state’s special role and impact on human space exploration.
Beginning at 9 a.m., NASA and a variety of aerospace companies will host events at the State Capitol. Exhibits can be found on the “The Great Walk,” Southwest Lawn, and in the Reverse Rotunda.
Live space suit demos are scheduled at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. in the Reverse Rotunda within the Capitol Extension.
On the Southwest Lawn, members from the International Space Station Program and Artemis programs will be in attendance.
According to NASA, proclamations celebrating 25 years aboard the International Space Station will be held at 10 a.m.
Stranded astronauts return home, but face recovery from extended space stay
At noon, the crew of Artemis II will hold public remarks on the south steps.
This crew will be the first manned flight to enter orbit of the moon since the 1970s. That mission is scheduled for 2026.
At 3 p.m., an Artemis Moon “Tree Ceremony” will occur on the south steps of the Capitol.
Events wrap at 4 p.m. on March 25. The event is free and open to the public.
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/techandscience/space-day-texas-at-state-capitol-celebrates-25-years-of-the-international-space-station/ar-AA1BCqMA
https://www.spacedaytx.com/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14533959/NASA-hazardous-asteroid-approach-Earth.html
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=2014%20TN17
NASA warns 'potentially hazardous' asteroid the size of Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza will make its closest approach to Earth for more than 100 YEARS tomorrow
Updated: 09:48 EDT, 25 March 2025
A 'potentially hazardous' asteroid the size of a pyramid will skim past Earth tomorrow, NASA has revealed.
The asteroid, called 2014 TN17, is expected to come as close as 0.03404 astronomical units, or around 3 million miles, to Earth, at 11:34 GMT on Wednesday.
It'll mark the closest the asteroid has got to our planet in more than than 100 years.
Asteroid 2014 TN17 is estimated to be around 540 feet in diameter, which is greater than the height of the Pyramid of Giza in Egypt (449 feet).
It's also nearly twice the height of India's famous Taj Mahal.
As 2014 TN17 flies past Earth tomorrow, it'll be travelling at a speed of just over 48,000 miles per hour.
That's roughly 60 times the speed of sound!
While the asteroid is classified as 'potentially hazardous', thankfully NASA says the might space rock poses zero risk of hitting us.
NASA lists it as one of the upcoming close approaches on its online tracker, which compiles upcoming objects that are getting closer and closer to Earth.
An asteroid is defined as 'potentially hazardous' if it comes within 0.05 astronomical units (4.65 million miles) of Earth and is larger than 459 feet (140 meters) in diameter.
Asteroid 2014 TN17 meets both these specifications set by NASA, which is constantly tracking space objects using its powerful ground-based and space telescopes.
Hypothetically, if 2014 TN17 were to impact our planet it would be large enough to wipe out a city, but not large enough to wipe out life on Earth.
However, the space rock has no chance of hitting Earth tomorrow.
'2014 TN17 is pretty large, definitely big enough to hypothetically flatten a major city, but there's absolutely no risk of it hitting Earth,' said Dr James O'Donoghue, astronomer at the University of Reading.
'These kinds of flybys happen more often than most people realise.'
At 3.1 million miles away, 2014 TN17 will around 13 times further away than the moon to us – which is too far see with binoculars or a telescope.
Discovered 11 years ago, asteroid 2014 TN17 has a highly 'elliptical' orbit – one that's not perfectly circular – that takes it around the sun once ever 1,240 days (3.39 years).
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Just like planets, comets and other objects in the solar system, asteroids orbit the sun due to our star's immense gravitational pull.
Due to its relative proximity to Earth, the asteroid is classed as a near-Earth object (NEO) – a term which can either refer to comets or asteroids.
A NEO is defined as such when it comes within 1.3 astronomical units (AU) (120.8million miles) of the sun and hence within 0.3 AU (27.8million miles) of Earth's orbit.
'NEOs are comets and asteroids that have been nudged by the gravitational attraction of nearby planets into orbits that allow them to enter the Earth's neighbourhood,' said NASA.
'Composed mostly of water ice with embedded dust particles, comets originally formed in the cold outer planetary system while most of the rocky asteroids formed in the warmer inner solar system between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
'The scientific interest in comets and asteroids is due largely to their status as the relatively unchanged remnant debris from the solar system formation process some 4.6 billion years ago.'
According to NASA, there are an estimated 11,000 near-Earth asteroids larger than 460 feet (140 metres) in diameter and 870 larger than 3,280 feet (1km) in diameter.
On average, Earth is hit by a football pitch-sized rock every 5,000 years, and a civilisation-ending asteroid every one million years, according to its Near-Earth Object Program.
Another asteroid, 2024 YR4, recently made headlines when NASA revealed it has a chance of hitting Earth in December 2032.
However, Earthlings were relieved last month when NASA greatly reduced the risk of impact to just one in 26,000.
If we imagine that an asteroid is definitely on course for Earth, humanity's best chance may be deflecting it off course by intentionally hitting it with a spacecraft.
NASA demonstrated that this form of sophisticated planetary defence technique is indeed possible back in 2022, when its DART craft hit the asteroid Dimorphos.
Unfortunately, there are some types of space rock that could prove difficult or impossible to deflect with any such manmade object, a recent study suggests.
'Rubble pile' asteroids – such as Itokawa around 1.2 million miles away – are made up of loose boulders and rocks that have clumped together under the influence of gravity, so much of them are empty space.
Such an asteroid would act as a 'space cushion' in that it would absorb any impact energy and carry on its trajectory, the study authors claimed.
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I was gonna substitute camels for the giraffe measurements because of the pyramid thing
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4133838/tricare-online-patient-portal-decommissioning-download-your-health-records-now/
https://www.tricareonline.com/tol2/prelogin/desktopIndex.xhtml
https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Technology/MHS-GENESIS
TRICARE Online Patient Portal decommissioning: Download your health records now
Published March 25, 2025
On April 1, the TRICARE Online Patient Portal will no longer be available.
The Department of Defense’s new electronic health record — MHS GENESIS — has replaced the TOL Patient Portal. As part of the transition, the DoD is decommissioning the TOL Patient Portal.
If you want to keep a copy of your legacy health records for personal use, you must download them from the TOL Patient Portal before April 1.
“All military hospitals and clinics have transitioned to MHS GENESIS. We encourage you to take these important steps to save your personal health records before the TOL Patient Portal decommissions,” said Rear Adm.
Tracy Farrill, Principal Deputy, Assistant Director for Health Care Administration and Military Health System EHR Functional Champion at the Defense Health Agency.
“Your medical history is a valuable resource for managing your health, and saving your records now ensures you have access if you need it.”
Here’s what you need to know before the TOL Patient Portal decommissions.
Why is the TOL Patient Portal decommissioning?
The MHS GENESIS Patient Portal has replaced the TOL Patient Portal. As detailed in the TRICARE Choices in the United States Handbook, MHS GENESIS allows you to access your EHR 24/7.
You can also book and cancel appointments, request prescription refills and renewals, see clinical notes and certain test results, and exchange secure messages with your military healthcare team.
The change from TOL to MHS GENESIS eliminates the need to maintain two systems and streamlines EHR management.
What will happen to my records?
Provider access: Your provider will continue to have access to your complete health records.
Personal access: You can use the steps below to download your legacy records for personal use before April 1. You can also request a physical copy from your military hospital or clinic’s records management office.
To do this, you’ll need to complete a request form in person and then return at a later designated time to pick up the records. Beginning April 1, if you want your legacy health records, you’ll have to follow this process.
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What should I do now?
To keep copies of your legacy health records, follow these instructions:
Visit www.TRICAREOnline.com.
Log in: Sign in using your DS Logon, CAC, or DFAS myPay credentials. If you don’t have a DS Logon, you’ll need to create one by clicking “Need An Account.”
Access: On the TOL homepage, click the blue “Health Record” button to view your personal health data.
Find data: Select “Download My Data.” You’ll see several data categories.
Customize: Choose the person, data types, date range and format for the records you want to download.
Download: You can choose to download your records in portable document format (.pdf) or as a (.xml) continuity of care document.
The CCD format allows you to share your data with family, caregivers, providers, and healthcare systems, or to document data in your preferred personal health record.
Save: After downloading, you can either open the file or save it securely for future use. You can also print your records and store them in a safe place.
Important details
Your records won’t transfer to MHS GENESIS once TOL decommissions.
Your TOL health records only reflect periods of time when your military hospital or clinic was using TOL.
Note: If you moved from one duty station to another, and one military hospital or clinic used TOL and the other used MHS GENESIS, your records in MHS GENESIS may have gaps.
You’ll find these “gap” records in the TOL Patient Portal. Be sure to download them.
You can only download your records from the past 30 years, from the date you log in to TOL.
Protect your health information. When you download or print your personal health information, it becomes your responsibility to keep it safe. Use secure options. Avoid saving personal data on unsecure devices or platforms.
It’s also important to know that if you’re planning to file a claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs, this decommissioning won’t affect your ability to do so. Providers will still have access to your complete health records.
Can I see my children’s health records?
Yes. You can view all available health data for your children under the age of 12. For children aged 12 to 17, you may view COVID-19, coronavirus, and flu test results, as well as allergies, vitals, and immunization data.
Due to state privacy laws, there are limits to what health data you can view online for your children aged 12 to 17. You can request printed results from your child’s clinic or provider.
Don’t wait—take action
Remember: The TOL Patient Portal will only be available until April 1. Take the time now to download and store your health records to ensure you can easily access them if needed.
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Strong infrared signals could reveal alien life on "waterworld" planets
March 23, 2025
Finding alien life won’t be as dramatic as a flying saucer landing on the White House lawn – it’ll be NASA scientists holding a press conference to excitedly show off a chart that’s incomprehensible to most people.
Now, we’re a step closer to that boring but groundbreaking day. Astronomers from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) have identified a new potential signature to look for in the atmospheres of exoplanets, which could indicate life is present.
It’s a group of gases called methyl halides, which are made up of a carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms bound to a halogen atom.
Here on Earth, these gases are almost entirely emitted by lifeforms like bacteria, algae, fungi and a few plant species.
They make up a pretty small proportion of our atmosphere, but the researchers’ modeling suggested that they should build up significantly around a particular type of exoplanet.
Hycean worlds are a class of mini-Neptunes that are believed to host global oceans of liquid water on their surfaces, beneath a hot, high-pressure atmosphere rich in hydrogen.
That special mix of Hycean air would lend itself to an accumulation of methyl halides, the UCR team says, if microbes living in those oceans are belching them out.
Better yet, when these planets are viewed in infrared, those methyl halides would provide a strong, clear signal as they absorb certain wavelengths of light. And that’s just the kind of light that the James Webb Space Telescope is using to scan the skies.
“One of the great benefits of looking for methyl halides is you could potentially find them in as few as 13 hours with James Webb,” said Michaela Leung, first author of the study.
“That is similar or lower, by a lot, to how much telescope time you’d need to find gases like oxygen or methane. Less time with the telescope means it’s less expensive.”
These signals should be visible, the team calculates, even if the methyl halide concentrations are as low as 10 parts per million (ppm). James Webb and future infrared telescopes could soon be finding these signatures regularly.
“If we start finding methyl halides on multiple planets, it would suggest that microbial life is common across the universe,” said Leung. “That would reshape our understanding of life’s distribution and the processes that lead to the origins of life.”
If we’re lucky, we could get that Nobel Prize-winning PowerPoint presentation sooner than we hoped.
https://newatlas.com/space/alien-life-infrared-waterworld-planets-james-webb/
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/adb558
Senior Hezbollah commander killed in Israeli drone strike in Lebanon
Mar 25, 2025, 21:20 IST
Beirut/Jerusalem, March 25 (IANS) A senior military commander of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah was killed in an Israeli drone strike in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, according to a Lebanese security source on Tuesday.
The source told Xinhua news agency that "an Israeli drone fired an air-to-ground missile at a civilian vehicle … in (the village of) Qa'qaiyat al-Jisr, killing one person and setting the car ablaze."
The body, transported by civil defence teams to a hospital in Nabatieh, was identified as a Hezbollah military commander named Hassan Kamal Halawi, the unnamed source said.
However, Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Centre said in a statement that the dead person was "a civilian, according to initial reports."
Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed that it launched a drone strike last night in Nabatieh and killed Halawi, whom it identified as chief of Hezbollah's anti-tank unit in southern Lebanon.
The military said in a statement that "Halawi, during the war, was responsible for numerous terror attacks against the State of Israel.
He facilitated the movement of operatives and weapons into southern Lebanon," claiming that "in recent months, Halawi continued to engage in terrorist activity against Israeli civilians."
Since November 27, 2024, a US- and French-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel has been in place, ending over a year of hostilities triggered by the war in the Gaza Strip.
Despite the agreement, which requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory, Israeli forces have maintained positions at five key locations along the border beyond the February 18 deadline.
The Israeli military continues to launch intermittent strikes in Lebanon, under repeated claims that such attacks aim to eliminate "threats posed by Hezbollah."
https://www.sakshipost.com/news/senior-hezbollah-commander-killed-israeli-drone-strike-lebanon-390843
Army refutes Chinese drone hijack claim, warns against misinformation
Updated : Mar 25 2025 | 7:32 PM IST
Hours after social media buzzed with a report claiming that China had taken control of an Indian in-service drone near the eastern sector of the border, the Indian Army clarified that no such incident had taken place.
It urged media houses and social media users to refrain from circulating unverified and misleading content.
Earlier, a report published by news portal AlphaDefense claimed that an Indian drone operating near the China border had suddenly veered into Chinese territory.
According to the report, “The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) immediately took control of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), operated it for a brief period, and then returned it to the Indian side.”
The report further questioned the robustness of India’s encryption in critical defence systems.
It stated, “This incident clearly highlights the PLA’s ability to intercept and manipulate the drone’s data link, exposing a critical vulnerability that India must urgently address.”
Following public concern over the report, the Army issued a categorical denial, terming the claims “baseless” and “factually incorrect.”
It also urged media outlets to exercise restraint and avoid carrying unverified content that could cause confusion or alarm.
An Army spokesperson told PTI, “The article is completely baseless and factually incorrect. No such incident has taken place.”
The official also cautioned journalists and social media users against spreading disinformation that may lead to unnecessary panic in the public domain.
Broader concerns over drone security
Although the Army rejected this particular report, recent events have reignited concerns over the vulnerability of Indian drones.
In January, Firstpost reported that two Indian drones had been compromised in 2024—one at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, and another at the Line of Control (LoC).
These drones, the report claimed, were hacked by exploiting Chinese components used in their systems. Notably, both UAVs had been procured under the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
A month later, the government scrapped three contracts for the procurement of 400 logistics drones for the Army, as reported by The Times of India.
The decision marked a major crackdown on domestic private companies supplying drones containing Chinese parts to the Indian armed forces.
The Indian Army continues to emphasise that dissemination of unverified information, particularly in matters concerning national security, can be harmful and misleading.
It has reiterated the need for responsible reporting and fact-checking before publication.
https://www.business-standard.com/external-affairs-defence-security/news/army-refutes-chinese-drone-hijack-report-warns-against-misinformation-125032501028_1.html
Drone Helps Ariz. Police Foil Art Theft, Cornering Thief on Roof
March 25, 2025
The old saying "you can run — but you can't hide" is even more emphatically true in the era of police drones.
Before sunrise the morning of Jan. 7, Scottsdale Police officers responded to a report of an in-progress burglary at the American Fine Art gallery on Scottsdale Road and Main Street in the heart of Old Town.
"An employee at the gallery reported hearing someone inside," according to Aaron Bolin, a police spokesman.
Responding officers set a perimeter and launched a drone for a better look.
Bolin gave credit to a high-tech device: "With the assistance of a patrol drone, the suspect was contained to the roof."
The man, who originally gave a false identity to police but was later identified as Harpreet Singh, was arrested. Paintings by Picasso and Warhol worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and burglary tools were found near him on the roof.
Singh was released from custody after posting bail — but in March, "a pretrial services warrant was issued for his arrest due to an allegation that (Singh) removed or tampered with his electronicmonitoring device and has absconded from pretrial supervision."
On June 20, Singh "refused transport" from his jail cell to the courthouse for a bond forfeiture hearing.
But Singh did make it to court July 8, appearing before Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Barbara Spencer for a "fugitive from justice."
According to court records, Singh was "informed of a warrant for arrest out of the state of California."
California would like to extradite Singh to face trial there, according to the trial record.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell filed an "allegation of aggravating circumstances" against Singh in March.
Mitchell noted Singh has a previous felony conviction, "lied to police to hinder their investigation" and "has another similar case pending."
And, Mitchell stated, Singh "has poor moral character" — with little likelihood of rehabilitation. The court ordered Singh to be held without bail until his extradition.
Singh's trial at Maricopa County Superior Court is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 12 — but likely will be delayed, as a Maricopa County Attorney's Office spokeswoman confirmed Singh was extradited to California. (Editor's note: Singh is expected to go to trial in April in Arizona.)
https://www.officer.com/command-hq/technology/security-surveillance/uav-uas/video/55277052/video-drone-helps-ariz-police-foil-art-theft-cornering-thief-on-roof
Troops foil attempt to smuggle 50 kg of drugs by drone over Egypt border
March 25, 2025 1:24 pm
-
(Israel Defense Forces)
The IDF says it foiled an attempt to smuggle 50 kilograms of drugs into Israel from Egypt earlier today, using a drone.
The drone had been identified crossing the border from Egypt into Israel by troops of the Home Front Command’s 991st Reserve Battalion, before it was downed.
The drugs and the drone were handed over to police for further investigation.
In recent months there have been frequent attempts to bring weapons and drugs over the Egypt border using drones.
There have also been attempts to smuggle similar contraband from Israel into Gaza using drones.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/troops-foil-attempt-to-smuggle-50-kg-of-drugs-by-drone-over-egypt-border/
US Company Poised To Radically Reshape Drone Warfare
Update 25/03/2025 12:20 p.m. ET
Satellite imagery company Maxar has unveiled new software that it says can provide drone crews with accurate, real-time location data even when GPS is jammed.
The company, which is based in Colorado, said on Tuesday that the "first-of-its-kind" software, dubbed Raptor, can help drone operators obtain "accurate ground coordinates in the absence of GPS."
Anders Linder, general manager of Maxar's International Government Division, told Newsweek: "This will be the standard way of what's going to happen in the future — I think that is the big change."
Satellite data has been critical for Ukrainian and Russian drone operators coordinating strikes on enemy assets and positions.
But just as drone warfare has defined the conflict, so too have counter-drone systems designed to knock them out.
Jamming or fooling of satellite navigation, known as spoofing, have become major obstacles to drone pilots targeting strategic assets close to frontline clashes in eastern Ukraine.
To combat counter-drone systems, Raptor provides an "extremely accurate" three-dimensional map covering 90 million square kilometers of territory, piecing together what is essentially a "digital twin of the world," according to Linder.
Drones, like those operated extensively by Ukrainian or Russian forces, can access a chunk of this 3D map, showing the specific area needed for a certain mission.
When flying, an operator can see a visual feed from the drone camera superimposed onto the 3D map, updating the location and obtaining precise coordinates.
The software can help drone operators obtain target location data accurate to within three meters, a figure comfortably within NATO guidelines for the highest level of accuracy, according to Maxar.
The software has been tested in several countries, including during trials in an undisclosed active conflict zone, the company said.
Any drones from cheap, commercial models to top-of-the-range, military-grade uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) are able to use the map.
Drone crews are also be able to operate the 3D map at night, or when the drone is flying low to the ground.
Linder told Newsweek that without the Ukraine war, innovations such as Raptor would not be on the table. "The thinking has been there for a long time," he said.
"But to take it into something productized, that can be proliferated, no — that's truly driven by what has been seen in that conflict."
Mitch Free, chief solutions architect for international government at Maxar, added: "I'm sure that the technology race on both sides of the equation is going to accelerate, but we don't see anything on the horizon at the moment."
Samuel Bendett, a drone expert with CNA, a Washington-based nonprofit for research and analyses, said that dealing with electronic warfare interference is likely to be a critical issue in any future conflict.
Steve Wright, a U.K.-based drone expert, added: "Whenever someone gets in touch asking me to make a drone, the question on whether it can operate in a 'GPS-denied environment' comes up."
He also warned there is a significant possibility that the satellites propping up the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) could become targets in a major conflict.
GPS, or Global Positioning System, is the U.S.'s network of satellites, ground stations and receivers that is often used as shorthand for GNSS, a more general term that refers to any satellite navigation system.
Europe has its Galileo constellation, while Russia uses GLONASS. Overcoming satellite navigation interference could have a major impact on the tactics deployed by military drone operators in the future.
If operators can reliably access accurate location data through Raptor's 3D map, it will be easier to coordinate multiple-drone operations, or swarming tactics.
This involves using a large number of drones, overwhelming a target's defenses. Without GNSS data, these drones are more likely to stray away from the swarm, or knock one another out of the sky.
https://www.newsweek.com/drones-ukraine-gps-jamming-maxar-ukraine-russia-2049576
Man accused of using drone to attempt smuggling drugs into Westville Correctional Facility, Indiana
March 25, 2025
A man has been accused of using a drone to attempt to smuggle drugs into Westville Correctional Facility.
29-year-old Eric Patino was charged with dealing in meth, dealing in cocaine or a narcotic drug and attempted trafficking with an inmate after officials were notified of a drone in the air around the prison.
Patino was spotted emerging from the brush outside the prison before running through an open field and refusing to stop.
The drone was found flying back to where it was launched, and the suspect was captured.
The drone was recovered along with meth, marijuana, fentanyl and cocaine.
https://www.953mnc.com/2025/03/25/man-accused-of-using-drone-to-attempt-smuggling-drugs-into-westville-correctional-facility/
Another unidentified drone crashes in Kazakhstan
15:04 / 25.03.2025
Debris from another unidentified drone has been discovered in the Jonibek district of western Kazakhstan, Uz24.uz reported. This marks the third such incident recorded in the area recently.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the origin of the drone, and investigation efforts are currently underway.
For context, Jonibek district borders Russia’s Saratov and Volgograd regions, making aerial activity in the area particularly sensitive from a security standpoint.
https://zamin.uz/en/world/146835-another-unidentified-drone-crashes-in-kazakhstan.html