TYB
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Briefs Members of the Media, Apr. 1, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8MmRlz1ZTc
Ham radio operators stand by for contact as SpaceX Fram2 polar mission passes over Australia
March 31, 2025
Amateur radio operators in Australia will play a small but important part in receiving pictures from the first space flight in polar orbit.
The history-making Fram2 mission, the first crewed space flight aiming to orbit Earth over the north and south poles, launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida on Tuesday.
Among the four atronauts is Australian polar adventurer Eric Philips, making him the fourth Australian in space and the first Space X astronaut.
Amateur, or "ham", radio operators are now waiting for the Dragon capsule to make the first of several passes over Australia so they can download slow-scan television (SSTV) pictures.
The images will be used in a worldwide competition to encourage the next generation of space and radio enthusiasts.
Connecting to SpaceX capsule
At his home in central Queensland, Shane Lynd has an impressive array of antennas, amplifiers, transmitters and radio receivers.
He is part of the worldwide Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) network that will download images for the competition.
Once computer software indicates his base station in Mackay has acquired a signal from Fram2, Mr Lynd will listen for the tell-tale sounds the capsule is transmitting an image.
"They will be transmitting what's basically a single frame video picture as the capsule passes over Australia and the idea is to try and decode that," he said.
"They're basically like photographs but when you listen to the data with the raw ear it sounds a bit like musical tones.
"We have some smart software which decodes the compressed data and transforms it into an image like a photo."
SSTV was used to transmit the first images of the moon to earth during the first lunar landing.
Ham radio operators are hoping to download up to three images during each pass, which could last up to 10 minutes from horizon to horizon.
Each image will take about 26 seconds to decode.
Voice contact may also be possible with two of the astronauts who are licensed ham radio operators.
If Mr Lynd is successful, it won't be the first time he's spoken to an astronaut.
He is one of three radio operators in the Australian ARISS community, which facilitates contact between ISS astronauts and school groups.
He has had about 80 contacts with the ISS over the past 20 years.
"No two contacts are ever the same and I get an enormous buzz out of each of them," he said.
"In the build up to each of those contacts, I'll often walk around, pacing the hallway right up until acquisition of signal.
"You'll have your 10-minute contact and then just huge relief after it."
The Fram2 mission
The north and south poles are invisible to astronauts on the ISS and have only been seen from a long distance by the Apollo lunar missions.
Flying at an altitude of 430km, the crew can travel between poles in just over 46 minutes.
The crew will conduct 22 experiments, including the first human X-ray images in space, and grow mushrooms in microgravity as a potential space crop.
Fram to ham
There are about 17,500 licensed amateur radio operators in Australia and many will be downloading images from the mission,
The Fram2 crew will send pictures of three locations that are historically significant in polar exploration.
The images will be cut up like a jigsaw, loaded to a website and competition entrants challenged to identify the Earth location.
Frank Bauer, an executive director of ARISS in the United States who previously worked for NASA for 40 years in robotic and human spacecraft, said partnering a commercial space crew was a first and was vital if ARISS was to continue linking students with astronauts.
"The space station is ultimately going to retire in a few years and so we're looking at how we can get involved in the commercial world," he said.
"This is a great mission because they want to focus on inspiring students to learn about polar history."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-01/ham-radio-operators-australia-spacex-fram2-polar-space-mission/105121252
https://www.livescience.com/space/asteroids/james-webb-telescope-takes-emergency-look-at-city-killer-asteroid-2024-yr4-ahead-of-close-encounter-in-2032
https://iawn.net/obscamp/2024YR4/gallery/YR4_memo_final_27mar25.pdf
James Webb telescope takes emergency look at 'city-killer' asteroid 2024 YR4 ahead of close encounter in 2032
Mar 31, 2025
The powerful James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has just completed the first of two planned observations of the infamous "city-killer" asteroid 2024 YR4, which will make a perilously close approach to Earth and the moon in December 2032.
Making use of emergency telescope time awarded to an international team of astronomers in February, JWST's first observation of the building-size asteroid reveals that 2024 YR4 may be slightly larger and rockier than previous ground-based telescope studies suggested.
Luckily, though, JWST also confirmed what NASA has known for weeks: 2024 YR4 is no longer a hazard, and there is zero chance that the asteroid will strike Earth in 2032. However, a direct collision with the moon is still possible.
"While an Earth impact by 2024 YR4 on December 22, 2032 has now been ruled out, it continues to have a non-zero probability of impacting the Moon at this time," the researchers wrote in their preliminary report, which has not yet been peer-reviewed.
A second round of JWST observations is planned for May 2025, before the asteroid disappears into the outer solar system for the next several years.
Tracking a "city-killer"
Astronomers first discovered asteroid 2024 YR4 in December 2024. Initial observations with ground-based telescopes indicated that the space rock had a diameter of about 180 feet (55 meters) — roughly as wide as the Leaning Tower of Pisa is tall.
Its orbital trajectory frequently crosses Earth's route around the sun, making a direct collision with our planet possible. If such a strike were to occur, it could wipe out an entire city with the equivalent force of 500 Hiroshima bombs.
While analyzing the asteroid's trajectory, researchers briefly estimated that 2024 YR4 had up to a 3.1% chance of crashing into Earth in 2032 — the highest probability ever recorded for an object of this asteroid's size.
NASA eventually refined this prediction down to 0%. But, while uncertainty reigned, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced that several hours of JWST's emergency discretionary time would be used to study the potentially hazardous space rock's size and trajectory.
Key to these observations are JWST's infrared sensors, which can directly detect heat emitted by the asteroid and provide insight into both its size and composition.
Ground-based telescopes that observe visible light can only see the sunlight reflected off of the asteroid's surface, leaving big questions about its true nature.
"In general, the brighter the asteroid, the larger it is, but this relationship strongly depends on how reflective the asteroid's surface is," ESA officials wrote in a Feb. 10 blog post.
"2024 YR4 could be 40 m [130 feet] across and very reflective, or 90 m [295 feet] across and not very reflective … the hazard represented by a 40 m asteroid is very different from that of a 90 m asteroid."
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JWST made its first observations of the asteroid on March 26, watching the asteroid rotate once every 20 minutes over a five-hour period.
The researchers then converted the asteroid's brightness to mid-infrared wavelengths, taking into account the known distances and angles between the asteroid, the sun and JWST.
With these data, the team estimated that asteroid 2024 YR4 is slightly larger than was previously estimated, measuring about 200 feet (60 m) in diameter.
The thermal analysis also suggests that the asteroid is cooler than is typical for objects of this size, hinting that it may be rockier than previously thought as well.
Front-row seats to a lunar impact?
But even if 2024 YR4 is a bit bigger and harder than we thought, it still poses no imminent threat to Earth, the JWST data confirm.
But there does remain a roughly 2% chance that the asteroid will slam into the moon in 2032, report co-author Andrew Rivkin, an astronomer at Johns Hopkins University, told New Scientist.
While a lunar impact may sound scary, the moon endures thousands of tiny meteor strikes every year and has the cratered scars to prove it has survived much larger impacts.
But seeing a known asteroid, with a known size and trajectory, gouge open a new crater in real time would be a world-first opportunity for lunar researchers.
"We've got our fingers crossed for a moon impact," Alan Fitzsimmons, a physics and math professor at Queen's University Belfast in the U.K. who was not involved in the JWST observations, told New Scientist.
"It would have no effect on Earth, but would allow us to study the formation of a lunar crater by a known asteroid for the very first time."
The second round of JWST observations, scheduled for May, will further help to refine the asteroid's orbital trajectory and its chances of hitting the moon.
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https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/sjlaehw6kl
How a history-making LGBT astronaut was accused of the first-ever space crime
March 31, 2025 09:39
Last week, the crew at the International Space Station underwent a change as Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who had been stranded in space for over nine months, finally returned to Earth along with an American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut.
They were replaced by Crew-10, which was launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
The mission was commanded by astronaut Anne McClain, who, during her previous mission in 2019, became the first person in history suspected of committing a crime in outer space after her ex-partner alleged that McClain accessed her bank account from space.
Upon McClain's return to Earth, it was revealed that the allegation was false, and her ex-wife, Summer Worden, even faced charges related to the incident.
Anne McClain, 45, was born in Spokane, Washington. She served for years as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, retiring with the rank of colonel. She participated in operations in Iraq, logging 800 hours in 216 combat missions.
Later, she trained pilots and became a test pilot, accumulating over 2,000 flight hours in 20 different types of aircraft and helicopters during her military service, receiving several commendations for her service. Simultaneously, she was also a player on the U.S. rugby team.
In 2013, McClain joined NASA's astronaut training program and completed her training in July 2015. On December 3, 2018, she embarked on her first mission to space as a flight engineer aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
During her stay, she was set to make history by participating in the first all-female spacewalk alongside Christina Koch.
However, due to the availability of only a medium-sized spacesuit at the station, the crew was ultimately changed to include a male astronaut instead. After spending 204 days in space, McClain returned to Earth.
In January 2019, Summer Worden complained that her bank account was accessed without her permission from a computer network affiliated with NASA while McClain was at the International Space Station.
A few weeks later, in August 2019, the situation escalated as NASA opened an investigation into the allegation that McClain accessed her ex-wife's bank account during her mission.
The New York Times reported that this was likely the first instance of a crime allegedly committed in outer space.
McClain admitted to accessing her ex-wife's bank account while at the International Space Station but denied any wrongdoing. Through her lawyer, she emphasized that she was managing finances that were still shared by the couple.
Worden lodged a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Additionally, a family member of Worden filed a complaint, accusing McClain of identity theft and illegally accessing Worden's financial and private documents.
The investigation brought Worden out of the closet. She and McClain married in 2014, and LGBTQ media identified McClain as a lesbian, following her career. However, McClain had not officially disclosed this in NASA publications.
The investigation changed the dynamics, making her the first openly lesbian astronaut (the fact that Sally Ride was a lesbian was revealed only after her death).
McClain's lawyer firmly rejected the allegations against her, claiming she accessed the bank account to ensure there were no financial issues and that sufficient funds were available to pay bills and support Worden's son.
According to McClain, she was unaware that Worden requested she no longer access the bank account.
After several months of investigation, it emerged that Worden, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, had indeed authorized McClain's access to the account while she was at the space station.
This was during a period when the two were separated, and they officially divorced only after McClain returned to Earth in January 2020. The investigation against McClain was closed, and ultimately, Worden was the one prosecuted.
“They’re trying to send me to prison for five years, which is the penalty, because I mistakenly recalled when I filed this FTC report that I had opened the account in September 2018,” Worden told CNN in an interview.
“But in fact, it was April. Then I went back and I made them aware of that.”
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In April 2020, CNN reported that initially, Worden told investigators she opened a private bank account in September 2018 and changed the login details so that a third party could not access them.
However, according to the indictment, Worden opened the account in April 2018 and did not change her password and login details until January 2019—meaning McClain accessed the account with permission, not by breaking in, as she had the password.
The indictment stated that Worden made two false statements: she filed a false complaint with the FTC on March 19, 2019, and made a false statement during an interview with NASA's Office of Inspector General on July 22 of that year.
Worden indicated that she recalled the wrong date regarding when she opened the account when filing her first complaint with the FTC. Worden claimed that she also updated NASA about the mistake in the dates.
The incident slipped under the radar, and according to several reports in the U.S., it was decided to close the investigation against Worden.
As for McClain, she continued her service at NASA, and in 2020 it was announced that she was among the 18 astronauts selected for the Artemis program.
This means she could potentially become the first woman to walk on the moon in a few years. As of now, she has not been assigned to the Artemis mission that is set to orbit the moon—potentially later this year.
From 2020 until the end of 2023, when she was assigned to command the Crew-10 mission, McClain participated in advanced training programs at NASA, focusing on preparing astronauts for long-duration missions in deep space.
This training included complex simulations that mimicked real space conditions, physical and intellectual training and preparation for various scenarios in future missions.
McClain worked closely with experts in various fields, including engineers, scientists and doctors, to enhance her skills and prepare for the challenges expected in deep space missions.
Additionally, McClain played a central role in developing and testing new technologies aimed at improving the safety and efficiency of crewed missions.
She collaborated with engineering and science teams to evaluate life support systems, navigation and communication technologies and solutions to address medical challenges in space.
Her contributions advanced technologies that would enable long-duration missions and extended stays in space. McClain dedicated significant time to outreach and education activities, aiming to encourage young people to pursue careers in STEM fields.
She participated in educational events, conferences and television programs, sharing her personal experiences as an astronaut and a U.S. military officer.
McClain emphasized the importance of teamwork, perseverance and meticulous preparation, becoming a role model for many.
Realizing a childhood dream, McClain returned for her second mission to the International Space Station. Before the launch, she released a short video expressing that she had dreamed of going to space since the age of three.
She stated that no one in her family discouraged her, which allowed her to achieve her goal. McClain spoke about the numerous challenges at the space station, the scientific experiments conducted by astronauts and the significance of the mission beyond Earth.
Later, she also spoke with reporters, but at no point was the "space crime" mentioned. "Missions in space are not simple," McClain told reporters. "They are incredibly complex, requiring a large team of people doing work that often goes unappreciated."
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She noted that even in her second mission, she was appointed to command the spacecraft, and it is possible she will receive command of the International Space Station during her stay in space.
"Everything I know about leadership, flying and teamwork, I learned in the military," McClain said. "This experience has been significant in learning how to lead by identifying and maximizing the contributions of each of my team members.
One leader cannot do everything alone—these missions are too complex." McClain also joked in a conversation before the launch aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, saying, "I am excited, grateful and proud to serve as the crew commander for this mission.
My background in the military is in combat helicopters, so this time we will fly faster than I am used to."
When away from space
While McClain has largely kept her personal life private, she has remained active in community and educational initiatives.
She has mentored aspiring scientists and participated in outreach programs, while also receiving honorary degrees from universities nationwide. A Houston resident, she has also been spotted at local baseball games, maintaining a visible, if low-key, public presence.
Over the years, several astronauts have bent the rules, though incidents within NASA have typically resulted in disciplinary action rather than criminal charges.
One of the most memorable episodes occurred in 1965, when astronaut John Young smuggled a corned beef sandwich aboard the Gemini 3 mission and offered it to crewmate Gus Grissom mid-flight.
The sandwich had been purchased in Florida by another astronaut and given to Young as a surprise for Grissom.
Though the gesture was lighthearted, NASA was not amused. The incident drew criticism from Congress and the media, and Young received a formal reprimand.
Despite the controversy, his career with the space agency was unaffected.
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FAA closes investigation into SpaceX Starship Flight 7 explosion
March 31, 2025
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has closed its investigation into Flight 7 of SpaceX's huge Starship vehicle, which ended with a dramatic explosion over the Atlantic Ocean.
Flight 7 sent Starship aloft from SpaceX's Starbase site in South Texas on Jan. 16.
Things went well at first; Starship's first-stage booster, known as Super Heavy, came back to Starbase for a launch-tower landing about seven minutes after liftoff as planned.
However, the giant rocket's 171-foot-tall (52-meter) upper stage exploded high in the sky a few minutes later, sending debris raining down on the Turks and Caicos Islands.
SpaceX soon traced the anomaly to a propellant leak, which was caused by a higher-than-expected "harmonic response" during flight. The FAA oversaw the SpaceX-led investigation and has accepted its findings, the agency announced today (March 31).
"The final mishap report cites the probable root cause for the loss of the Starship vehicle was stronger than anticipated vibrations during flight [which] led to increased stress on, and failure of, the hardware in the propulsion system," FAA officials said in an emailed statement today.
"SpaceX identified 11 corrective actions to prevent a reoccurrence of the event," the statement continued. "The FAA verified that SpaceX implemented corrective actions prior to Flight 8."
Starship Flight 8, which launched on March 6, was very similar to Flight 7: The Starbase launch tower caught the returning Super Heavy with its "chopstick" arms, but the vehicle's upper stage was lost over the Atlantic Ocean.
The SpaceX-led investigation into that mishap is apparently still open. (The FAA granted SpaceX approval to launch Flight 8 even though the Flight 7 mishap investigation was ongoing at the time.)
The FAA also announced today that it has closed its investigation into the mishap that occurred during the debut launch of Blue Origin's powerful New Glenn rocket on Jan. 16.
That mission succeeded in its primary goal, reaching orbit as planned, but New Glenn's first-stage booster failed during its landing attempt on a ship at sea.
"The FAA oversaw and accepted the findings of the Blue Origin-led investigation," agency officials wrote in an emailed statement today.
"The final mishap report identified the proximate cause of the mishap as an inability of New Glenn's first stage to restart the engines, preventing a reentry burn from occurring, and resulting in the loss of the stage."
Both the Starship Flight 7 and New Glenn mishap reports were closed on Friday (March 28), FAA officials said.
Neither incident caused any public injuries, and New Glenn's failed return to Earth didn't damage any public property. Starship Flight 7 debris caused one confirmed report of "minor vehicle damage" in the Turks and Caicos, according to the FAA.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/faa-closes-investigation-into-spacex-starship-flight-7-explosion
Sun unleashes powerful M5.6 solar flare and Earth is in the firing line — are auroras incoming?
April 1, 2025
The sun has once again unleashed a powerful solar flare, continuing its streak of intense activity.
On April 1, at 2:46 a.m. EDT (0646 GMT), an M5.6-class flare erupted from sunspot region AR4046 — the same region responsible for last week's X-class flare and massive coronal mass ejection (CME).
Unlike the previous event, this latest eruption could have a greater impact on Earth, as AR4046 has now moved into the "Earth strike zone," meaning any CME it produces in the coming days has a much higher chance of hitting our planet.
If this flare is accompanied by a CME, it could set the stage for heightened geomagnetic activity, potentially triggering geomagnetic storms and dazzling northern lights at high and even mid-latitudes.
Forecasters are currently awaiting coronagraph data to confirm whether a CME was launched alongside this event.
Meanwhile, AR4046 isn't the only sunspot region drawing attention. AR4048, a still-emerging sunspot that has yet to fully rotate to face Earth, has been crackling with activity, consistently firing off solar flares.
Space weather forecasters are closely monitoring this region, as it could become another significant source of space weather disruptions in the coming days.
The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center is placing the chances of an X-class flare — the most powerful category of solar flares — at 25% over the next three days.
If such an eruption occurs and is accompanied by a CME, Earth could experience strong geomagnetic storms, which may lead to disruptions in radio communications, satellite operations, and GPS systems, but also enhance the chances of breathtaking auroras.
If you're interested in tracking space weather and knowing when and where to spot auroras, download a space weather app that provides forecasts based on your location.
One option I use is "My Aurora Forecast & Alerts," available for both iOS and Android. However, any similar app should work well.
I also use the "Space Weather Live" app, which is available on iOS and Android, to get a deeper understanding of whether the current space weather conditions are favorable for aurora sightings.
https://www.space.com/sun-erupts-solar-flare-earth-strike-zone-april-2025
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/r2-moderate-hf-radio-blackout-event-01-apr-2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWo7F1Dwm1s
NASA officially adds SpaceX's giant Starship megarocket to its launch roster
March 31, 2025
SpaceX's Starship megarocket, the world's most powerful rocket, is officially on NASA's list for future launches.
NASA on Monday (March 31) announced that it has awarded SpaceX a launch services contract for Starship that adds the giant rocket to the private company's roster, which already includes the reusable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy boosters.
The deal, called a NASA Launch Services II (NLS II) contract, allows SpaceX to pursue NASA launches on Starship rockets.
"The NLS II contracts are multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, with an ordering period through June 2030 and an overall period of performance through December 2032," NASA wrote in a statement.
NASA uses NLS II contracts to secure commercial launch services for a wide range of missions, including Earth-orbiting satellites, planetary probes and more.
"These high-priority, low and medium risk tolerant missions have full NASA technical oversight and mission assurance, resulting in the highest probability of launch success," the agency said in the statement.
SpaceX's Starship vehicle, which stands 403.5 (123 meters) tall, is the world's largest rocket and is designed to be fully reusable.
SpaceX has launched Starship on eight test flights since 2023, but has yet to successfully orbit the Earth or deploy payloads with the spacecraft.
SpaceX launches the massive stainless steel rocket from Starbase facility near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas.
The company has successfully landed a Starship first-stage booster, called Super Heavy, several times by catching it in giant metal "chopsticks" at its launch pad.
But its last two Starship test missions, Flight 7 and Flight 8, exploded when their Ship upper stages failed during ascent in January and March of this year.
NASA has picked a lunar version of Starship to land its Artemis 3 astronauts on the moon by 2027. SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has said he wants to use Starship to send people to Mars.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/nasa-adds-spacex-starship-largest-rocket-on-earth-to-launch-roster
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-spacex-starship/
DARPA accidentally detects SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket reentry by listening to Earth's atmosphere
April 1, 2024
Researchers with the U.S. military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have successfully used Earth's atmosphere as a sensor to detect a distant disturbance.
DARPA's AtmoSense program aims to study how sound waves or electromagnetic frequencies travel through Earth's atmosphere, and to find ways to use these waves as a "global sensor" to detect and pinpoint disturbances such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
But researchers with the AtmoSense program found that, when studying waves created by controlled explosions in New Mexico, they were also able to detect atmospheric disturbances created by a Space Falcon 9 rocket reentry.
"The phenomenon is highly repeatable," said Michael Nayak, AtmoSense program manager, in a DARPA statement. "We discovered an unplanned new technique for identifying objects entering the earth's atmosphere."
Nayak explained that the technique works by measuring flows of electrons in the atmosphere, comparing them to water streaming from a hose.
"That's a flow of electrons, and if you put your fist in front of the hose, you'll notice a significant drop in water volume coming out of the hose," Nayak said in the statement.
Once the team noticed the dip in electron content, they were able to pinpoint its location and determine that it correlated with a Falcon 9 reentry the same day.
The data showed that the AtmoSesne project can detect more than just ground-based disturbances like earthquakes, but also those that take place in air or space that are "of interest to national security," DARPA wrote in the statement.
Researchers with the program are planning a virtual workshop in April to share their progress with both the scientific and national security communities and to explore potential applications for AtmoSense.
DARPA's aim for the program is to be eventually be able to sense atmospheric waves created from events anywhere in the world.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/tech/darpa-accidentally-detects-spacex-falcon-9-rocket-reentry-by-listening-to-earths-atmosphere
https://www.darpa.mil/news/2025/atmosense-shows-promise
Floating blue-eyed robot keeps watch on the ISS: Space photo of the day
April 1, 2025
What's black and white and can see you when you float?
Japan's Internal Ball Camera-2: an experimental free-flying robot designed to take photos and video of the astronauts onboard the International Space Station while they are going about their day-to-day activities.
Why is this amazing?
Who wouldn't want their own robotic photographer just hovering by waiting to capture your activities as you work in space?
Rather than have to spend time adjusting settings and re-positioning the camera so ground controllers can see what the astronauts are doing in orbit, the Internal Ball Camera-2 (or Int-Ball2) can automate that process, freeing the crew members to focus on their work.
How does it know where to go?
The Int-Ball2 is remotely operated by controllers with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on Earth, but is also equipped with an Epson-designed inertial measurement unit (IMU) that when used in collaboration with a visual location and mapping system, enables the ball to maintain its orientation and navigate through the space station.
These onboard systems also allow Int-Ball2 to autonomously dock to its battery charging station.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/floating-blue-eyed-robot-keeps-watch-on-the-iss-space-photo-of-the-day
https://www.space.com/37523-adorable-japanese-ball-drone-roams-space-station.html
Watch chilling 1st views of Earth's poles seen by SpaceX Fram2 astronauts
April 1, 2025
The first humans to orbit over Earth's north and south poles are sending back images from their spaceflight, and the views are incredible.
SpaceX launched the private Fram2 mission Monday (March 31), sending a crew of four spaceflight rookies into an orbit never before flown by astronauts.
The crew is riding aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience in a polar orbit around the planet, on a trajectory that flies Resilience above some of Earth's most remote regions.
Liftoff of the Fram2 mission occurred Monday at 9:46 p.m. EDT (0146 GMT on April 1), with a short 10-minute flight to low-Earth orbit where the crew's Falcon 9 launch vehicle released Resilience to fly under its own power.
Now, comfortably in orbit, the Fram2 crew has begun uploading the breathtaking images they're witnessing from space.
Fram2 is commanded by Chun Wang of Malta, who funded the mission. Wang is joined by Jannicke Mikkelsen from Norway, flying as vehicle commander, mission pilot Rabea Rogge, from Germany, and mission specialist and medical officer, Australian Eric Phillips.
"Today, we become the 681st humans to fly above the Kármán line, and the 626th to orbit the Earth," Wang said in a post on X shortly after reaching orbit.
Early Tuesday morning, SpaceX shared a video taken from the open nosecone of Resilience's forward hatch, revealing the spacecraft's domed cupola window with a white-blanketed landmass of one of Earth's poles passing below.
"First views of Earth's polar regions from Dragon," SpaceX said in the post.
The mission gets its name from an early 20th-century Norwegian seafaring ship named "Fram," which is known for its explorations of the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
The Fram2 is hoping their mission will live up to its predecessor and namesake through nearly two dozen science experiments planned for their time on orbit.
One of these includes the first attempt to grow mushrooms in space. The crew also plans to take the first on-orbit X-rays of the human body.
Other experiments will follow the trend of the majority of science investigations in space, as the crew conducts experiments to measure the effects of microgravity on the human musculoskeletal system.
Fram2 is expected to remain on orbit for the next two to four days. At the end of their mission, Resilience will perform a deorbit burn on a trajectory for a Pacific Ocean splashdown — a first for one of SpaceX's crewed missions.
This will be the first of many Pacific coast landings, as SpaceX is shifting mission recovery operations from Florida to reduce the chances of space debris surviving atmospheric reentry and causing damage or injury on the ground.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/watch-chilling-1st-views-of-earths-poles-seen-by-spacex-fram2-astronauts-video
https://twitter.com/satofishi/status/1906889254468477086
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1906951397477929029
China launches internet technology test satellites with Long March 2D
April 1, 2025
China conducted a new launch for a nebulous series of internet technology test satellites early Tuesday.
A Long March 2D rocket lifted off at 12:00 a.m. (0400 UTC) April 1 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert. Insulation tiles fell away from the payload fairing as the rocket climbed into a clear blue sky, propelled by a hypergolic exhaust plume.
The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), a state-owned rocket maker, announced the success of the launch, revealing the payload to be a satellite Internet technology test satellite (wexing hulianwang jishu shiyan weixing).
The satellite will be used mainly for technical tests and verification for direct-to-cell satellite broadband and space-ground network integration, according to SAST. It did not provide further details nor images of the satellite.
The Radio Management Bureau of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) reported that the launch carried four internet satellite test satellites, designated 0001-0004, carrying Ka and other frequency band payloads.
Commercial satellite manufacturers and operators Changguang Satellite Technology and Galaxy Space later confirmed they each provided a pair of satellites for the launch. No details of the satellites were provided beyond reiterating a brief description of their uses.
Satellite Internet test program
It is China’s sixth “satellite Internet technology test satellite” launch, following a first mission in July 2023, using a Long March 2C and a YZ-1 upper stage, and a previous mission using the new Long March 12 rocket in November 2024.
The missions have used a range of launch vehicles and carried 1-3 satellites each. Authorities have published only short descriptions and no images of the satellites.
Development of a number of these has been attributed to the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a major state-owned spacecraft maker.
China is already pressing ahead with two low Earth orbit megaconstellations, Guowang and Qianfan/Thousand Sails, yet the satellite Internet technology test satellite missions are continuing.
These could be unrelated, or be pathfinders for new generations of satellites for these projects, and test systems such as propulsion, power, thermal control and phased array antennas.
Additionally, China launched three separate “high orbit” internet satellites across three launches in 2024, with the satellites operating in geostationary orbit. As with the low Earth orbit satellites, little is known about the spacecraft.
The lack of publicly available information raises speculation about its potential uses, which observers speculate could include military or dual-use applications.
The missions add to China’s overall communications space infrastructure, as it seeks to ensure sovereign access to space-based internet services without relying on foreign infrastructure.
China’s government added “satellite internet” to a list of priority “new infrastructures” back in 2020.
Its communications projects include Guowang and Thousand Sails/Qianfan, medium Earth orbit satellites, and ChinaSat and Apstar satellites in GEO.
China is also planning a space infrastructure system that would integrate communications with navigation and positioning and remote sensing.
2025 launch progress
Tuesday’s mission was China’s 17th orbital launch of 2025, following the launch of the classified TJS-16 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit March 29 via a Long March 7A rocket.
China could be targeting 100 or more launches in 2025, driven by growing commercial activity, megaconstellation projects, and new launcher development. A number of new, medium-lift and potentially reusable rockets are targeting debut flights this year.
Highlight missions will include the Shenzhou-20 and 21 human spaceflight missions to Tiangong. The Tianwen-2 near-Earth asteroid sample return mission is expected to launch from Xichang on a Long March 3B rocket around May.
https://spacenews.com/china-launches-internet-technology-test-satellites-with-long-march-2d/
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/GuJFGeenKj9ySEImh9SOmQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru8D53RhWzw
https://lionherald.com/controversial-zimbabwean-inventor-sangulani-maxwell-chikumbutso-finally-unveils-groundbreaking-fuel-free-car-alongside-president-emmerson-mnangagwa/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOMLjCZNf40
Controversial Zimbabwean inventor Sangulani Maxwell Chikumbutso finally unveils groundbreaking fuel-free car alongside President Emmerson Mnangagwa
January 30, 2025
Early this week, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially launched two vehicles model and one motorcycle that are said to be powered by a revolutionary energy source—one that defies conventional physics, a technology of zimbabwean company Saith Technologies.
The mastermind behind this invention, 44-year-old Sungulani Chikumbuso, claims his technology eliminates the need for fuel or batteries, harnessing power from radio frequencies instead.
Saith Technologies will launch a series of innovative products on February 10, including the Saith electric vehicle, which has attracted global interest.
Developed in collaboration with Chinese manufacturer KAIYI that supplied the vehicle shell and components, the Saith features an unlimited driving range, a top speed of 220 km/h, and self-parking and autonomous driving capabilities.
Production costs are US$14,000 per unit, with plans to establish a manufacturing plant in Zimbabwe for vehicles using this technology.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa praised Sangulani Chikumbutso as an inventor of a unique, first-of-its-kind technology.
He emphasized the importance of supporting such innovations, calling it an example of the national development principle “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” (A nation is built by its own people).
Chikumbuso for years has raised controversies, but he has never recieved political and his country endorsement as it was seen this week.
If validated, Chikumbuso’s invention could disrupt the global energy and automotive industries, potentially positioning Zimbabwe as a leader in clean energy technology.
However, his claims have raised eyebrows among scientists and engineers, as they challenge long-established laws of physics.
Born and raised in Harare’s Zewareseku suburb, Chikumbuso’s journey to scientific innovation was far from conventional.
Financial constraints forced him to drop out of school in Form 2, but his passion for technology never wavered.
In the late 1990s, he began experimenting with electronics, creating devices such as a radio transmitter, digital navigator, and even a turbine engine—all from scrap metal.
His focus later shifted to green energy, and in 2009, he claims to have invented what he calls the “Microsonic Energy Device.” This device, according to Chikumbuso, captures radio frequencies and converts them into usable power.
Chikumbuso’s car does not rely on traditional fuels like petrol, diesel, or even rechargeable batteries. Instead, he asserts that it draws energy from the air using radio waves, a concept that, if proven practical, could render gasoline engines and lithium-ion batteries obsolete.
“The vehicle uses what we call a Microsonic Energy Device,” Chikumbuso explained. “It harnesses radio frequencies, converts them into energy, and powers the car’s electric motor.”
This remarkable claim challenges established scientific principles, particularly the first law of thermodynamics, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
Chikumbuso acknowledges that his invention has faced skepticism, even being denied a patent on the basis that it “violates natural laws of physics.”
However, rather than abandon his project, he chose to protect it as a trade secret, ensuring its continued development without the need for patent approval.
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Chikumbuso’s prototype vehicles are not just concept models; they are fully functional. According to him, they offer:
Unlimited range – Unlike electric cars that need recharging, these vehicles purportedly never run out of power.
Impressive speed – Capable of exceeding 220 km/h, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just two seconds in sport mode.
High power output – The motor produces 160 kW (215 horsepower) with 320-308 Nm of torque, making it competitive with standard SUVs.
Household energy supply – The vehicle doubles as a portable generator, providing up to 15 kW of power to a home when parked.
If true, such capabilities could transform not only the automotive industry but also energy access in Africa, where millions lack reliable electricity.
Chikumbuso’s journey has not been without hardship. He claims that during a visit to Silicon Valley, USA, he and his research partner were poisoned—an event he believes was orchestrated by powerful interests in the oil and automotive industries.
“We were poisoned. My partner didn’t make it. He died in January 2017, but by the grace of God, I survived,” Chikumbuso recalled.
This allegation echoes a long history of inventors facing resistance when introducing disruptive energy technologies.
While there is no public evidence supporting his claims of poisoning, his suspicions highlight the potential threat his work poses to trillion-dollar industries notes comentators.
Scientific scrutiny: Is this possible?
The international recognition of Chikumbutso’s work reached new heights when Foster Gamble, producer of the acclaimed Thrive documentary, learned of his innovations.
Gamble, along with scientist Nils Rognerud, traveled to Zimbabwe in 2018 to verify the authenticity of Chikumbutso’s technology.
After weeks of rigorous testing, Rognerud and his team confirmed that the 500kW GPM generator functioned as claimed. This momentous event was captured in Thrive II, a film released on September 26, 2020, translated into 15 languages.
Chikumbuso’s technology, if genuine, would be a scientific breakthrough of unprecedented scale. However, mainstream physics suggests that radio waves do not contain enough energy to power a moving vehicle.
Existing wireless power transmission—like Tesla’s early experiments or modern inductive charging—operates only at very short distances and requires high-energy input. No known technology has achieved what Chikumbuso claims.
Dr. Takunda Moyo, a Zimbabwean electrical engineer, expressed both skepticism and curiosity:
“If this is real, it’s Nobel Prize-worthy. But extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. We need peer-reviewed studies, independent tests, and transparency before declaring this a breakthrough.”
Chikumbuso insists that his technology has undergone certifications and testing, including ISO standards, FCC approvals, and verification by Zimbabwe’s Vehicle Inspection Department (VID). However, no published scientific validation currently exists.
President Mnangagwa has thrown his support behind Chikumbuso, inviting him back from the U.S. to continue his work in Zimbabwe. The government hopes this innovation will reduce the country’s reliance on fuel imports and position Zimbabwe as a technological powerhouse.
“We are proud of what our young minds can do for the country and for humanity,” Mnangagwa said.
The vehicles were assembled in China but utilize Chikumbuso’s patented powertrain. If the technology proves viable at scale, Zimbabwe could emerge as a leader in green transport and energy independence.
For now, the world remains divided between believers and skeptics. If Chikumbuso’s invention can withstand scientific scrutiny and industrial application, it could change the global energy landscape forever. But without peer-reviewed verification, many remain unconvinced.
As the launch approaches, all eyes are on Zimbabwe. If these vehicles truly run on nothing but radio waves, the implications are staggering—not just for Zimbabwe, but for the entire world.
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https://dronexl.co/2025/03/31/chinese-national-hacking-drone-vandenberg/
Chinese National Faces Sentencing After Hacking Drone to Photograph Vandenberg Space Force Base
Mar 31, 2025
A 39-year-old Chinese national who illegally flew a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base faces sentencing today in Los Angeles federal court after pleading guilty to violating national defense airspace.
This case follows a drone incident we previously reported when Yinpiao Zhou was arrested last December at San Francisco International Airport while attempting to board a flight to China, according to a report from NBC Los Angeles.
Sophisticated Drone Operation Reveals Deliberate Security Breach
According to court documents, Vandenberg’s detection systems identified Zhou’s unauthorized drone on November 30, 2024.
The aircraft operated for nearly an hour, reaching an altitude of approximately 5,280 feet (or “almost 1 mile,” as stated in the affidavit) above ground level – far exceeding standard recreational drone limits.
Base trackers determined the flight originated from Ocean Park, a public area adjacent to the military installation.
When security personnel located Zhou at the park, they discovered he had concealed the drone inside his jacket – the same one that flew over the base, according to officials.
A subsequent warranted search of Zhou’s devices revealed “several photographs of Vandenberg taken from an aerial viewpoint,” directly violating federal airspace restrictions.
Evidence Points to Premeditated Activity
Perhaps most concerning were the findings from Zhou’s phone. Investigators discovered search history for “Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules” alongside messages with another person “about hacking his drone to allow it to fly higher than it could otherwise,” according to court papers.
These communications suggest Zhou had deliberately modified his aircraft to circumvent standard safety limitations.
As a Chinese citizen with permanent resident status in the United States, Zhou had only recently returned to the U.S. from China in February 2024, approximately nine months before the incident, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This timeline adds additional context to the case as federal prosecutors build their arguments for sentencing.
Potential Sentencing and Legal Ramifications
Having entered a guilty plea earlier this month to federal charges of violating national defense airspace, Zhou now faces significant penalties.
Court documents indicate he could receive “up to one year imprisonment, a yearlong period of supervised release, and a fine of $100,000,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This case highlights the serious Legal consequences drone operators face when violating restricted airspace, particularly around critical military installations.
It also demonstrates the sophisticated detection capabilities deployed at sensitive facilities to identify and track unauthorized aircraft.
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Industry and Regulatory Implications
This incident reinforces the ongoing challenges facing drone regulation and enforcement. While most consumer drones include geofencing technology that prevents operation in restricted areas and altitude limitations
(standard FAA regulations limit recreational drones to 400 feet above ground level according to the FAA’s recreational flyer guidelines, the deliberate bypassing of these safeguards – commonly called “hacking” or “jailbreaking” – remains a persistent issue for security officials.
The case also illustrates the growing tension between the accessibility of Drone Technology and national security concerns.
As consumer drones become more capable and widespread, securing sensitive airspace becomes increasingly complex.
The incident demonstrates why regulatory bodies continue pushing for Remote ID implementation and stricter enforcement mechanisms.
For the Drone Industry, cases like Zhou’s highlight the importance of developing more tamper-resistant firmware and hardware-based limitations that can’t be easily circumvented.
Drone altitude limitations are particularly important, with the FAA specifying that drones must “fly at or below 400 feet in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace” and require special authorization in controlled airspace, as noted in current FAA regulations.
Manufacturers continue working on solutions that balance legitimate user needs for device control while preventing malicious modifications that enable illegal operations.
DroneXL’s Take
This case demonstrates why comprehensive drone detection systems are essential at sensitive installations.
Vandenberg’s ability to detect, track, and respond to the unauthorized drone likely prevented more extensive photography of the facility.
It also shows why drone operators must thoroughly understand airspace restrictions before flying.
The deliberate nature of this incident – from the apparent drone modifications to the specific searches about the base’s drone rules – suggests this wasn’t simply a recreational pilot making a mistake.
As drone technology becomes more sophisticated, the security challenges will only increase, making both technical and regulatory solutions increasingly important.
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Threat Outlook and Implications for U.S. Strategic Forces
April 1, 2025 • 2:00 – 2:45 pm EDT
The week of March 24, 2025, was a busy one on the Hill. On March 25 and 26, senior intelligence leaders testified before the Senate and House intelligence committees, respectively, on the Intelligence Community’s annual threat assessment.
Also on March 26, the commanders of U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Space Command testified before the Senate Armed Service Committee discussing “accelerating threats” and the posture and capabilities needed by each command to execute their national security missions.
China and Russia are pursuing “game changing threats,” including unprecedented space advancements, novel missile systems, and nuclear force expansion.
Iran and North Korea continue to enlarge their nuclear, missile, and space programs, while likely gaining technology benefits from Russia in return for arming it against Ukraine.
All of these threat trends have implications for U.S. strategic forces capabilities – space defenses, nuclear force structure, air and missile defenses, including the recently announced Golden Dome initiative, and electromagnetic spectrum operations.
What are the most significant changes in the threat environment over the last year, what are the implications for U.S. strategic forces and U.S. defense initiatives in space, nuclear, and missile defense policy?
How can the United States maintain its technological and industrial competitiveness in these areas?
Please join the CSIS Defense and Security Department for a conversation on these topics featuring Kari A. Bingen, director of the CSIS Aerospace Security Project, Dr. Heather Williams, director of the CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues, and Dr. Tom Karako, director of the CSIS Missile Defense Project.
https://www.csis.org/events/threat-outlook-and-implications-us-strategic-forces
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHT7Ar-5zlY
Wonderful news
Russia and U.S. Begin Talks on Rare Earth Metals, Putin Envoy Says
March 31, 2025
Russian and U.S. officials have started discussions on developing reserves of rare earth metals in Russia, President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for international economic and investment cooperation said Monday.
“Rare earth metals are an important area for cooperation, and we have started discussions about various rare earth metals and projects in Russia,” Kirill Dmitriev told the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia.
Dmitriev, who heads Russia’s Direct Investment Fund, said a number of companies had expressed interest in joint projects but did not provide further details.
Putin said last month that Moscow was open to working with Washington on developing reserves of rare earth metals, including in regions Russia claims to have annexed since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
At the time, the Kremlin leader said American and Russian companies were already “in touch” and discussing joint economic projects tied to efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump has been pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to grant U.S. businesses exclusive access to Ukrainian rare earth minerals while attempting to broker a Russian-Ukrainian ceasefire.
On Sunday, Trump accused Zelensky of “trying to back out of the rare earth deal” while threatening Russia with secondary tariffs on companies dealing in Russian oil in response to Putin’s demand that Zelensky be removed from office as part of the peace process.
Putin has claimed that Russia is a world leader in rare earth minerals, with “far more” reserves than Ukraine. Other estimates rank Russia fifth globally in rare earth reserves.
According to figures from Russia’s Natural Resources Ministry cited by Izvestia, the country holds an estimated 658 million metric tons of rare metals, including 28.5 million tons of rare earth metals.
However, Russia currently produces only 1% of the world’s rare metals and has minimal processing capabilities.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/03/31/russia-and-us-begin-talks-on-rare-earth-metals-putin-envoy-says-a88538
https://iz.ru/1862462/kirill-fenin-alena-nefedova/dobycnye-dela-rf-i-ssa-nacali-peregovory-po-redkozemelnym-metallam
Ukrainian Drone Attacks Injure 15 in Occupied Donetsk Region
April 1, 2025
At least 15 people were injured in Ukrainian drone strikes in occupied eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, as Kyiv reported no overnight Russian drone attacks for the first time in months.
The injured were on their morning commute when a Ukrainian drone struck a bus in the central square of Horlivka, said Denis Pushilin, the Russian-installed governor of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic.
Horlivka’s Russian-installed mayor, Ivan Prikhodko, said 15 people were wounded. He shared photos on Telegram showing a damaged bus with shattered windows and blood on the pavement.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council spokesman, Andriy Kovalenko, reported no overnight Russian drone strikes, marking the first such pause since mid-December, according to RBC Ukraine.
“There were no drone attacks. We keep watch. This means nothing so far,” Kovalenko said.
Despite the lull in drone activity, Ukrainian officials reported 21 injuries and two deaths — one in the Donetsk region and another in Zaporizhzhia — due to Russian attacks over the past 24 hours.
Ukraine’s Air Force said its air defenses shot down two Russian cruise missiles over the Zaporizhzhia region around 9:00 p.m. Monday but reported no drone strikes.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted three Ukrainian drones over western Russia’s Bryansk region.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/01/ukrainian-drone-attacks-injure-15-in-occupied-donetsk-region-a88553
Russia Says Told U.S. About Ukrainian Strikes on Energy Sites
April 1, 2025
Russia said Tuesday that it had complained to the United States about Ukrainian strikes on its energy sites, hours after Kyiv reported a Russian attack had left tens of thousands without power.
Each side has accused the other of breaking a supposed deal to stop firing on energy sites, though a formal agreement has not been put in place and what commitments each side has undertaken remain unclear.
Following separate meetings with U.S. officials, the White House said both Ukraine and Russia had "agreed to develop measures for implementing" an "agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine."
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed allegations of Ukrainian "violations" in a private meeting of top security officials on Tuesday.
"We passed a list of violations… to the U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after the meeting.
"I have passed this list to the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio," he added.
Russia's Defense Ministry earlier accused Kyiv of striking Russian energy sites in the Russian region of Belgorod and the partially Moscow-controlled Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia.
The allegations come hours after Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said tens of thousands were left without power in the southern Kherson region by a Ukrainian strike.
Local authorities later said power supplies had been restored.
Russia has launched systematic aerial attacks on Ukrainian power plants and grid since invading in February 2022.
Putin last month rejected a joint U.S.-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional and full ceasefire.
Sybiha also said Kyiv and Washington were holding fresh talks on a minerals agreement that would give the United States access to Ukrainian natural resources in return for more support.
The two countries had planned to sign a deal in February on extracting Ukraine's strategically important minerals until a spectacular televised White House clash between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky derailed the agreement.
Trump on Sunday warned Zelensky he would have "big problems" if Kyiv rejected the latest U.S. proposal, details of which have not been published by either side.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/01/russia-says-told-us-about-ukrainian-strikes-on-energy-sites-a88571
China Is Ready to Play ‘Constructive Role’ in Ending Ukraine War, Foreign Minister Says
April 1, 2025
China is ready to play a "constructive role" in resolving the war in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Russian state media ahead of talks in Moscow on Tuesday.
Wang met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and is also expected to meet with President Vladimir Putin during his visit, the Kremlin said.
"China is ready, taking into account the aspirations of the parties involved, to play a constructive role in the settlement" of the war, Wang told the news agency RIA Novosti.
At the start of his talks with Lavrov on Tuesday, Wang said that China would work together with Russia "to make new contributions to the cause of peace and development for humanity."
Both Wang and Lavrov hailed warm relations between the countries, with the Chinese foreign minister saying their "comprehensive cooperation" will take them to a "new stage" in bilateral ties.
Lavrov, in his turn, told Wang that "thanks to the two leaders, [relations] have reached an unprecedented level and continue to develop dynamically in all areas."
China presents itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine War and says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations.
But Beijing is a close political and economic ally of Russia and NATO members have branded Beijing a "decisive enabler" of Moscow's war, which it has never condemned.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/01/china-is-ready-to-play-constructive-role-in-ending-ukraine-war-foreign-minister-says-a88559
Algerian army says it shot down 'armed surveillance drone' that violated airspace
April 1, 202510:40 AM PDT
The Algerian army shot down an "armed surveillance drone" that violated the country's airspace, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.
The drone was downed early on Tuesday near the border town of Tin Zaouatine, it said in a statement, without providing further details.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/algerian-army-says-it-shot-down-armed-surveillance-drone-that-violated-airspace-2025-04-01/
Drone drug drop at North Carolina prison thwarted by police intervention
Updated: 12:44 PM EDT April 1, 2025
Three people were arrested this past week after they allegedly used a drone to try smuggling illegal drugs into a North Carolina prison.
The Polkton Police Department said the smuggling attempt happened Friday, March 28 at Anson Correctional Institution.
Police said they were able to stop the drugs from getting inside the prison.
Among the contraband were K2 paper, meth, tobacco, cigarettes, and suboxone strips. Officers seized the drugs as well as the drone.
All three people arrested were caught at the prison. Police said they were Roland Snoke, David Johnson, and Trudy Gibbs. All were from Fayetteville and were given $100,000 secured bonds.
Records showed Snoke and Johnson had been released but Gibbs was still in the Anson County jail on April 1.
Johnson and Gibbs were appointed attorneys during March 31 court appearances, while Snoke is due in court on April 8.
Polkton police said the investigation into the smuggling attempt was ongoing and more arrests were expected, including both inmates and civilians – 10 of which are currently housed at Anson Correctional Institution.
The prison is not far off Highway 74 between Polkton and Wadesboro. It houses both men and women and is a close/medium security facility for women and a minimum-security prison for men.
Anson Correctional is next to Brown Creek Correctional, a men's only minimum-security prison.
https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/crime/drone-drug-drop-north-carolina-prison-anson-county-nc/83-cb4ba5c6-95db-401f-975b-0e7c9c32ef1f
Over £20 million to help drones and flying taxis take to UK skies
1 April 2025
Drone services at a commercial scale and flying taxis could soon be a reality as the Aviation Minister confirms over £20 million funding today (1 April 2025) to launch new flight technologies.
The new funding will unlock barriers to growth – which is the priority of the Plan for Change – and maximise opportunities for better and cheaper public services while cutting carbon emissions.
It is designed to advance aviation tech to support healthcare for the NHS, assist police forces in combatting crime, help inspect and survey critical infrastructure and unlock delivery services for businesses and communities across the country.
As part of this, both the Aviation Minister and Science Minister have today also set out how the Department for Transport (DfT), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the new Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) will streamline regulatory processes to support the commercialisation of the industry
Aviation Minister, Mike Kane, said:
I want the UK to have the most advanced aviation technology ecosystem in the world.
That means creating a nimble regulatory environment and a culture of innovation so everyone can benefit from cutting-edge transport while tackling emissions, traffic and potentially saving lives.
Our investment alongside the new Future of Flight industry group will bring together tech experts, drone operators, flying vehicle manufacturers and local communities to identify where change needs to happen.
With safety at the heart of these advancements, the RIO is driving smarter regulation to cut red tape while ensuring high safety standards.
It will support DfT and CAA in enabling faster, integration of drones and flying taxi industries, helping businesses grow and innovate.
This includes consulting on the mandatory use of new electronic conspicuity standards and technologies, which allow aircraft to share their location electronically, helping drones and crewed aircraft fly safely alongside each other.
By making approvals quicker and operations more efficient, this will open new opportunities for the industry while maintaining the highest safety standards.
Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said:
These regulatory reforms for drones – requiring all aircraft to share their location – will make drone operations safer and therefore speed up approvals, allowing them to operate near airports and simplifying their use for delivering medical supplies – while unlocking further commercial opportunities.
This is a practical step to cut red tape and a great piece of progress for the Regulatory Innovation Office, growing the UK’s position as a world leader in emerging technologies and helping drive the growth that will deliver our Plan for Change.
In addition, as previously confirmed by the Chancellor, plans are now underway to simplify regulations to enable 2-year airspace change for drone operations. This will enable operators to fly safely for longer and gather data to inform future services.
Other changes will simplify regulations to enable emergency services including firefighters and paramedics to use drone services, as well as noise exemptions for drone trials within the Airspace Change Process, and simplifying the drone operational application process to enable them to get flying faster and easier.
Furthermore, the regulator, drone operators, flying vehicle innovators and local authorities will come together with government at the Future of Flight industry group to help guide the government on its mission to transform technology in aviation.
Part of the government’s Plan for Change, the group will focus on how to unlock the benefits of future aviation technologies to propel the country’s economic growth forward.
It will look at how government can harness the potential of technology and create a culture of innovation, with the aim of improving everyday challenges like emergency across the public sector face, while helping cut carbon emissions.
The Minister for Aviation will co-chair the group, alongside Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports.
cont.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-20-million-to-help-drones-and-flying-taxis-take-to-uk-skies
Strictly no drone flights near Puchong gas pipeline inferno, says CAAM
Tuesday, 01 Apr 2025 1:31 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 — The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has imposed a ban on drone flights in the vicinity of the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Puchong, Selangor.
CAAM said that the restriction aims to prevent any incidents that could jeopardise public safety and disrupt the rescue teams conducting aerial surveillance operations at the scene.
“The incident site is situated along a critical flight path. As such, this ban is crucial to prioritize the safety of aircraft in operation,” CAAM said in a statement.
CAAM also reminded the public that any flight activities, including drone operations, that pose a risk to public safety or property are subject to Section 4 of the Civil Aviation Act 1969 (Act 3); Regulation 98, Regulations 140-144 of the Malaysian Civil Aviation Regulations (MCAR) 2016, and the Civil Aviation Directives (CADs).
The fire that erupted this morning was caused by a leak in a Petronas gas pipeline, approximately 500 metres long, with towering flames.
Evacuation operations were also conducted to ensure the safety of residents in the surrounding area. — Bernama
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/04/01/strictly-no-drone-flights-near-puchong-gas-pipeline-inferno-says-caam/171562
Amazon's delivery drones are back in the air
April 1, 2025
Amazon is restarting drone deliveries in its two test markets after a two-month pause to update software.
The retail giant began delivering packages via Prime Air in College Station, Texas, and Tolleson, Arizona, as it works through the kinks of the new service.
But it stopped the deliveries for two months after realizing there was an issue with its drone altitude sensor caused by the dusty air of the two cities, CNBC reported.
Amazon said it “never experienced an actual safety issue,” but paused to update the technology nonetheless. To resume the deliveries, it needed approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“Safety underscores everything we do at Prime Air, which is why we paused our operations to conduct a software update on the MK30 drone,” Amazon spokesperson Av Zammit told CNBC.
“The updates are now complete and were approved by the FAA, allowing us to resume deliveries.”
David Carbon, who leads the program for Amazon, wrote on Linkedin, “The Prime Air Team is creating a faster future for our customers today,” saying it managed to deliver ZzzQuil just 31 minutes after it was ordered. Carbon said the quickest delivery has been around 15 minutes.
The program has faced pushback in College Station, where residents reportedly likened the sounds emitted by Amazon’s 80-pound-or-so drones to “flying chainsaws” and ceaseless leaf blowing.
When Amazon proposed expanding its flying in College Station last year, residents, homeowners’ groups, and even the mayor reportedly pushed back. Locals hit the FAA with around 150 comments challenging the expansion.
Amazon said it wants to be able to deliver 500 million packages via drone a year by 2030, a long delay from its original goals.
In 2013, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos suggested that Amazon’s drone program was “four, five years” away from its debut. But the company didn’t formally launch drone deliveries until 2022.
In May 2023, Amazon celebrated its 100th drone delivery — a sign that it was lagging behind competitors such as Alphabet’s Wing
https://qz.com/amazon-resumes-prime-air-drone-deliveries-arizona-texas-1851773976
The destruction of the 20th American MQ-9 drone in Yemen
Tuesday 1 April 2025 - 17:04
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA)-International Service: The defense of the Yemeni armed forces hit and shot down the 20th American MQ-9 drone in the sky of Marib.
It should be noted that the Yemeni army had shot down 4 of this type of drone in previous years during the war with the Saudi coalition.
However, during the recent war and during the operation to support the people of Yemen and the Palestinian resistance under the title of the battle of "Promised Conquest and Holy Jihad" and in less than two years, it has shot down 16 more MQ-9s.
The American terrorist army uses MQ-9s to carry out some attacks and also to identify some important targets in real-time.
The MQ-9 Reaper drone (General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper) is one of the heavy and multi-purpose drones of the US military that has carried out hundreds of different reconnaissance, surveillance and offensive operations, including assassination operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, since 2001.
The US military has used these drones to monitor the positions and movements of the Yemeni army and attack them.
https://www.avapress.com/en/news/311501/the-destruction-of-the-20th-american-mq-9-drone-in-yemen