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NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
April 4, 2025
Hickson 44 in Leo
Scanning the skies for galaxies, Canadian astronomer Paul Hickson and colleagues identified some 100 compact groups of galaxies, now appropriately called Hickson Compact Groups. The four prominent galaxies seen in this intriguing telescopic skyscape are one such group, Hickson 44. The galaxy group is about 100 million light-years distant, far beyond the spiky foreground Milky Way stars, toward the constellation Leo. The two spiral galaxies in the center of the image are edge-on NGC 3190 with its distinctive, warped dust lanes, and S-shaped NGC 3187. Along with the bright elliptical, NGC 3193 (above and left) they are also known as Arp 316. The spiral toward the lower right corner is NGC 3185, the 4th member of the Hickson group. Like other galaxies in Hickson groups, these show signs of distortion and enhanced star formation, evidence of a gravitational tug of war that will eventually result in galaxy mergers on a cosmic timescale. The merger process is now understood to be a normal part of the evolution of galaxies, including our own Milky Way. For scale, NGC 3190 is about 75,000 light-years across at the estimated distance of Hickson 44.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
Artemis II Insignia Honors All
Apr 03, 2025
The four astronauts who will be the first to fly to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis campaign have designed an emblem to represent their mission that references both their distant destination and the home they will return to.
The crew unveiled their patch in this April 2, 2025, photo.
The crew explained the patch’s symbolism, and its play on the abbreviation of Artemis II to AII, with the following description: The Artemis II test flight begins when a mighty team launches the first crew of the Artemis generation.
This patch designates the mission as “AII,” signifying not only the second major flight of the Artemis campaign, but also an endeavor of discovery that seeks to explore for all and by all.
Framed in Apollo 8’s famous Earthrise photo, the scene of the Earth and the Moon represents the dual nature of human spaceflight, both equally compelling: The Moon represents our exploration destination, focused on discovery of the unknown.
The Earth represents home, focused on the perspective we gain when we look back at our shared planet and learn what it is to be uniquely human.
The orbit around Earth highlights the ongoing exploration missions that have enabled Artemis to set sights on a long-term presence on the Moon and soon, Mars.
Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen from CSA (Canadian Space Agency), will venture around the Moon in 2026 on Artemis II.
The 10-day flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts.
Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/artemis-ii-insignia-honors-all/
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2025/04/04/nasa-unveils-artemis-ii-mission-patch-on-walls-of-vab-kennedy-space-center-isaacman-moon-mars-musk/82848085007/
Join our Virtual Do NASA Science LIVE Event on April 10!
Apr 04, 2025
April is Citizen Science Month! NASA, SciStarter, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Association for the Advancement of Participatory Sciences, invite you to celebrate with us.
Join us for a free, online interactive citizen science event on April 10 at 12:30 pm ET: Do NASA Science LIVE
You’ll hear from NASA project scientists and participate (in real-time, together!) in their NASA-supported citizen science projects.
This event is open to all and will include a special welcome and resources for service members, veterans, and military families.
https://science.nasa.gov/get-involved/citizen-science/join-our-virtual-do-nasa-science-live-event-on-april-10/
https://scistarter.org/nasa-live
Hubble Studies a Nearby Galaxy’s Star Formation
Apr 04, 2025
This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features the picturesque spiral galaxy NGC 4941, which lies about 67 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo (The Maiden).
Because this galaxy is nearby, cosmically speaking, Hubble’s keen instruments are able to pick out exquisite details such as individual star clusters and filamentary clouds of gas and dust.
The data used to construct this image were collected as part of an observing program that investigates the star formation and stellar feedback cycle in nearby galaxies.
As stars form in dense, cold clumps of gas, they begin to influence their surroundings. Stars heat and stir up the gas clouds in which they form through winds, starlight, and — eventually, for massive stars — by exploding as supernovae.
These processes are collectively called stellar feedback, and they influence the rate at which a galaxy can form new stars.
As it turns out, stars aren’t the only entities providing feedback in NGC 4941. At the heart of this galaxy lies an active galactic nucleus: a supermassive black hole feasting on gas.
As the black hole amasses gas from its surroundings, the gas swirls into a superheated disk that glows brightly at wavelengths across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Similar to stars — but on a much, much larger scale — active galactic nuclei shape their surroundings through winds, radiation, and powerful jets, altering not only star formation but also the evolution of the galaxy as a whole.
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/hubble-studies-a-nearby-galaxys-star-formation/
Hubble Spots Stellar Sculptors in Nearby Galaxy
Apr 04, 2025
As part of ESA/Hubble’s 35th anniversary celebrations, the European Space Agency (ESA) is sharing a new image series revisiting stunning, previously released Hubble targets with the addition of the latest Hubble data and new processing techniques.
This new image showcases the dazzling young star cluster NGC 346.
Although both the James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble have released images of NGC 346 previously, this image includes new data and is the first to combine Hubble observations made at infrared, optical, and ultraviolet wavelengths into an intricately detailed view of this vibrant star-forming factory.
NGC 346 is in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way that lies 200,000 light-years away in the constellation Tucana.
The Small Magellanic Cloud is less rich in elements heavier than helium — what astronomers call metals — than the Milky Way. This makes conditions in the galaxy similar to what existed in the early universe.
NGC 346 is home to more than 2,500 newborn stars. The cluster’s most massive stars, which are many times more massive than our Sun, blaze with an intense blue light in this image.
The glowing pink nebula and snakelike dark clouds are sculpted by the luminous stars in the cluster.
Hubble’s exquisite sensitivity and resolution were instrumental in uncovering the secrets of NGC 346’s star formation.
Using two sets of observations taken 11 years apart, researchers traced the motions of NGC 346’s stars, revealing them to be spiraling in toward the center of the cluster.
This spiraling motion arises from a stream of gas from outside of the cluster that fuels star formation in the center of the turbulent cloud.
The inhabitants of this cluster are stellar sculptors, carving out a bubble within the nebula. NGC 346’s hot, massive stars produce intense radiation and fierce stellar winds that pummel the billowing gas of their birthplace, dispersing the surrounding nebula.
The nebula, named N66, is the brightest example of an H II (pronounced ‘H-two’) region in the Small Magellanic Cloud. H II regions are set aglow by ultraviolet light from hot, young stars like those in NGC 346.
The presence of this nebula indicates the young age of the star cluster, as an H II region shines only as long as the stars that power it — a mere few million years for the massive stars pictured here.
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/hubble-spots-stellar-sculptors-in-nearby-galaxy/
https://esahubble.org/projects/Hubble35/
Queensland flooding devastation captured from space
11:09am Apr 4, 2025
Satellite photographs revealing the scale of the devastating flooding in central-western Queensland have been released by NASA.
The once-in-a-lifetime weather event has been disastrous for farmers, with huge areas of land inundated and more than 140,000 head of livestock lost or killed.
The NASA images provide a snapshot of the flooding at Cooper Creek, near the small outback town of Windorah, last month.
The space agency's Landsat 9 Operational Land Imager (OLI) took photos on March, while its Landsat 8 satellite photographed the area on March 29 after heavy rainfall.
In the false-colour images, water is shown as dark and light blue, while bare land is brown and green represents vegetation.
This week showers have eased in outback Queensland but the conditions remain devastating for farmers and residents.
Rainfall totals have dropped from the triple digits into the double digits in most affected towns but despite the decrease, creeks and rivers are still rising and flowing.
The small town of Adavale was swamped suddenly last week and had to evacuate to the nearby town of Quilpie.
They will have to continue to wait to return as authorities work to clear the damage.
The Bureau of Meteorology says a weak trough will linger across central and northern Queensland today before contracting northward over the weekend.
During the coming weeks and months, the floodwaters will drain towards Lake Eyre, also known as Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, about 600km south-west of Windorah.
The lake sits at the lowest natural point in Australia and is dry most of the year.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-floods-shown-from-space-by-nasa-satellite/e6c51529-bbce-4e9b-a5c8-9fa1e8688d33
Crew Studies Advanced Tech, Space Biology Before Next Crew Departs
April 3, 2025
3D printing, space navigation, and human research filled the science schedule aboard the International Space Station on Thursday.
The Expedition 72 crew members are helping researchers plan missions farther away from Earth with less support from mission controllers.
Flight Engineers Don Pettit of NASA and Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) kicked off their day supporting operations for the Metal 3D Printer investigation to learn how to print spare parts in space.
Pettit opened the 3D printer’s sealed box and removed a printed specimen for analysis. Onishi assisted Pettit with the sample removal tasks before the duo returned the space manufacturing hardware back into the Columbus laboratory module’s European Drawer Rack-2.
Onishi later tested new space navigation technology that could provide a more accurate alternative to satellite systems for lunar navigation. Pettit spent the rest of his day repressurizing the station’s air and servicing orbital plumbing gear.
NASA Flight Engineer Anne McClain continued her exercise research to understand how the heart and lungs respond to strenuous activity in microgravity.
She pedaled on an exercise cycle while wearing breathing gear and electrodes measuring her aerobic capacity, or the bodies’ ability to deliver and use oxygen while working out.
The data collected from the experiment will help scientists understand the energy needs required by astronauts for intense physical activities such as spacewalks.
NASA Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers spent her day on lab maintenance ensuring the upkeep of the orbital outpost. She began her day inspecting and cleaning avionics hardware in the Destiny laboratory module that cools space station racks.
Pettit and McClain assisted with the life support work installing airflow sensors on a carbon dioxide removal system in Destiny. Ayers later brushed up on her robotics proficiency skills practicing Canadarm2 robotic arm maneuvers on a computer.
Station Commander Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos continued collecting cargo for packing inside the Soyuz MS-26 crew ship that he, Pettit, and Flight Engineer Ivan Vagner will ride in when they return to Earth on April 19.
Vagner joined Flight Engineer Kirill Peskov and set up hardware to image a variety of landmarks on Earth in the visible and near-infrared wavelengths for analysis. Vagner later worked on cargo transfers inside the Progress 90P cargo craft.
Peskov wrapped up his shift with more Earth observations imaging the nighttime atmosphere in ultraviolet wavelengths.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/04/03/crew-studies-advanced-tech-space-biology-before-next-crew-departs/
Sol 4498: Right Navigation Camera, Cylindrical Projection
April 3, 2025
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity took 31 images in Gale Crater using its mast-mounted Right Navigation Camera (Navcam) to create this mosaic.
The seam-corrected mosaic provides a 360-degree cylindrical projection panorama of the Martian surface centered at 257 degrees azimuth (measured clockwise from north).
Curiosity took the images on April 02, 2025, Sol 4498 of the Mars Science Laboratory mission at drive 2292, site number 114.
The local mean solar time for the image exposures was 4 PM. Each Navcam image has a 45 degree field of view.
https://science.nasa.gov/resource/sol-4498-right-navigation-camera-cylindrical-projection/
Sols 4498-4499: Flexing Our Arm Once Again
Apr 03, 2025
Planning today began with two pieces of great news. First, our 50-meter drive (about 164 feet) from the weekend plan completed successfully, bringing us oh-so-close to finally driving out of the small canyon that we've been traversing through and toward the "boxwork" structures to our southwest.
Second, we passed our “Slip Risk Assessment Process” (SRAP), confirming that all six of Curiosity's wheels are parked firmly on solid ground.
Avid readers of this blog will be familiar with last week's SRAP challenges, which prevented us from using the rover's arm for the entire week.
With a green light on SRAP, we were finally able to put our suite of contact science instruments back to work today.
The arm gets to work early on the first sol of this plan, with an APXS integration on “Los Osos,” a bedrock target in our workspace, after it has been cleared of the ubiquitous Martian dust by DRT.
The rest of our arm activities consist of a series of MAHLI observations later in the afternoon, both of Los Osos and “Black Star Canyon.”
Of course, just because we managed to get contact science in this plan doesn't mean we’re letting our remote sensing instruments take a break.
In fact, we have more than two hours of remote sensing, split between the two sols and the two science teams (Geology and Mineralogy [GEO] and Atmosphere and Environment [ENV]).
GEO will be using Mastcam to survey both the highs and the lows of the terrain, with mosaics of “Devil's Gate” (some stratigraphy in a nearby ledge) and some small troughs close to the rover.
We'll also be getting even more Mastcam images of “Gould Mesa,” an imaging target in many previous plans, as we continue to drive past it.
ChemCam gets involved with a LIBS observation of “Fishbowls,” which will also be imaged by Mastcam, a post-drive AEGIS, and two RMI mosaics of Gould Mesa and “Torote Bowl,” which was also imaged over the weekend.
ENV's activities are fairly typical for this time of year as Curiosity monitors the development of the Aphelion Cloud Belt (ACB) with several Navcam cloud movies, as well as seasonal changes in the amount of dust in and above Gale with Navcam line-of-sight observations and Mastcam taus.
We'll also be taking a Navcam dust devil movie to see if we can catch any cold-weather wind-driven dust movement. ENV also filled this plan with their usual set of REMS, RAD, and DAN observations.
The drive planned today is significantly shorter than the one over the weekend, at just about 10 meters (about 33 feet). This is because we're driving up a small ridge, which limits our ability to see what's on the other side.
Although our rover knows how to keep itself safe, we still prefer not to drive through terrain that we can't see in advance, if it can be avoided.
Once we've got a better eye on what lies in front of us, we will hopefully be able to continue our speedy trek toward the boxwork structures.
https://science.nasa.gov/blog/sols-4498-4499-flexing-our-arm-once-again/
Perserverance Captures Crater Rim Dust Devil Eating Its Own
April 3, 2025
A Martian dust devil can be seen consuming a smaller one in this short video made of images taken by one of the navigation cameras aboard NASA's Perseverance Mars rover on Jan. 25, 2025, the 1,398th day, or sol, of the mission.
When the rover snapped these images from about 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) away, the larger dust devil was approximately 210 feet (65 meters) wide, at least 1,300 feet (400 meters) tall, and moving about 2 mph (1 meter per second) to the west-northwest.
The smaller dust devil trailing behind (also in the foreground) was roughly 16 feet (5 meters) wide, about the same height, and traveling a bit fast as it was sucked into the larger whirlwind.
Perseverance recorded the scene as it explored the western rim of Mars' Jezero Crater at a location called "Witch Hazel Hill."
Two other dust devils can be seen in the left and center background of image.
The video, which has been enhanced in order to show maximal detail, was speeded up 30 times. It is composed of 21 frames taken about 6 seconds apart.
A key objective for Perseverance's mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life.
The rover will characterize the planet's geology and past climate, pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet, and be the first mission to collect and cache Martian rock and regolith.
NASA's Mars Sample Return Program, in cooperation with ESA (European Space Agency), is designed to send spacecraft to Mars to collect these sealed samples from the surface and return them to Earth for in-depth analysis.
The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program (MEP) portfolio and the agency's Moon to Mars exploration approach, which includes Artemis missions to the Moon that will help prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is managed for the agency by Caltech in Pasadena, California, built and manages operations of the Perseverance rover.
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia26528-perserverance-captures-crater-rim-dust-devil-eating-its-own/
https://www.autoweek.com/news/a64383421/honda-fuel-cell-technology-in-space/
Honda Aiming to Put Its Fuel-Cell Tech In Space and on the Moon
Apr 04, 2025 10:43 AM EDT
While there doesn’t seem to be too big a market for fuel-cell vehicles here on Earth, at least not yet, maybe there’s a demand elsewhere… like on the moon!
Here’s the deal: There is ice on the moon and ice is H2O. Hydrogen is what a fuel-cell needs to make electricity, while oxygen is what humans need to breathe.
Combined with abundant solar power during two weeks of lunar daytime, Honda figures it can use its fuel-cell technology in space, and on a future moon base.
“Honda R&D Co. Ltd. today announced plans to test its high-differential pressure water electrolysis system at the International Space Station (ISS) in collaboration with leading space and technology companies Sierra Space and Tec-Masters,” Honda announced this morning.
“The project is part of Honda’s vision for a regenerative fuel-cell system that could provide advanced energy storage capable of supporting human life on the lunar surface.”
Honda hopes to use its decades of fuel-cell experience to create a regenerative fuel-cell system, also called a circulative renewable energy system.
Through conservation of energy and matter, the system will continuously produce oxygen, hydrogen, and electricity.
“Honda envisions the circulative renewable energy system to be part of the infrastructure for humanity’s sustained habitation on the Moon—utilizing the available resources of sunlight and water,” the company said.
“By enhancing the performance of the circulative renewable energy system, improvements can be made to long-life regenerative fuel cells that can be used as a scalable, clean, and renewable energy source both in space and on Earth.”
It’ll use the abundant sunshine available in space, and for two weeks at a time on the moon, to make electricity, which will then produce hydrogen and oxygen from the moon’s water.
“During the Lunar Night, when the Moon is not receiving sunlight, some of the oxygen will be used for astronauts to breathe. The Honda fuel-cell system will use the remaining oxygen, along with the hydrogen produced during the Lunar Day, to generate electricity.”
After the fuel cells generate electricity, the only byproduct is water, which is recycled back into the water electrolysis system and voila—a closed-loop energy cycle.
“This process is similar to how a home solar system operates on Earth, where daytime solar electricity is harnessed, and excess energy is stored in home energy batteries to provide power throughout the night.”
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Here’s how it works.
The first step is to test it out on the space station. “Honda will test the core part of its high-differential pressure water electrolysis system to verify the efficiency and reliability of the system in the microgravity environment of the ISS.
“For the ISS testing, Honda is collaborating with Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company at the forefront of innovation and the commercialization of space, and Tec-Masters, a leading provider of innovative scientific and technological solutions.
“Sierra Space will be the primary space mission integrator, working with NASA to transport materials on Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spaceplane, the world’s only commercial spaceplane. Tec-Masters will be the ISS technology expert.”
All love to be out by the light of the moon.
In February Honda showed off its Next Generation Fuel-Cell Module, a powerful, compact unit that produces 150 kW of electricity. It costs half as much and offers more than double the durability of the previous model, developed with GM.
A week after that reveal, Honda showed off its coming CR-V Fuel-Cell vehicle, which comes with a 17.7-kWh battery so it can function as a plug-in hybrid. The $51,395 crossover puts 174 hp to the front wheels. Range is 270 miles.
But that’s here on Earth. Honda has bigger aspirations for the new technology being introduced today. Decades ago, General Motors got credit for its work on the Lunar Rover.
Now Honda hopes to see its technology used in space and on the moon. Ain’t technology grand?
As Robert Louis Stevenson wrote more than 125 years ago:
The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse,
The howling dog by the door of the house,
The bat that lies in bed at noon,
All love to be out by the light of the moon.
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U.S. Space & Rocket Center debuts weather exhibit
April 4, 2025
Huntsville continues to reveal its diversity beyond renown as the Rocket City, though space does play a role in an exhibit unveiled Monday at the most visited tourist attraction in the state.
A ribbon-cutting was held for the Baron Critical Weather Institute’s “How We Know The Weather’’ exhibit inside the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The innovative STEM-based educational attraction includes 30 interactive displays, live feeds and sensory experiences.
Visitors learn about the science of weather and the instruments developed to measure the interaction between the Sun and the Earth. Subjects range from the evolution of weather satellites and radar technology to the science of lightning.
Esteemed longtime city weather expert and 2024 Alabama Business Hall of Fame inductee Bob Baron, founder and CEO of his namesake institute, told those gathered for the celebration that Huntsville through the years has been a “mecca of weather innovation.’’
It’s only fitting the exhibit be housed in the mecca of pay-to-see places in Alabama.
According to Dr. Kimberly Robinson, CEO/COO and executive director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, the new display is “part of the effort to revitalize our campus.’’
The center was millions of dollars in debt two decades ago and struggled through the Covid 19 pandemic.
“The United States is the mecca of ideas to move the science of weather prediction forward,’’ Robinson said. “The difference between space and weather – they’re inextricably linked.
Weather in space affects satellites, launches and space missions. Atmosphere and space both shape life here on Earth.’’
In what has become an oft-repeated happening in the city and county in the Huntsville metro area, Monday’s event drew U.S. Congressmen Dale Strong (R-Monrovia), Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison County Commission Chair Mac McCutcheon and many other prominent civic leaders.
Lockheed Martin, presenting sponsor of the ceremony, plays a crucial role in weather and Earth science through the development and deployment of advanced weather satellites, including the GOES-R series that provides data to specialists.
The company’s GOES-R satellites provide imagery, lightning mapping and atmospheric measurements to enhance accuracy and timeliness of weather predictions and warnings.
These assets are important to residents not only in Huntsville and the region but throughout the state.
“Research shows Alabama tornadoes are the deadliest in the United States,’’ said Matt Mahlman, weather and earth science director at Lockheed Martin.
Mahlman noted that the ribbon-cutting fell just shy of the 51st anniversary of the April 3-4, 1974 Super Outbreak of twisters that tore through 13 states and Canada that killed 335, injured 6,000 and cost what in today’s currency would be an estimated $5.3 billion.
Among the lethal tornadoes that rolled through North Alabama, one categorized as F3 tore through Huntsville from Redstone Arsenal to Memorial Parkway before crossing Monte Sano.
The night’s frenzied weather activity left city and area residents warily watching the skies from then on.
Baron, who longtime city residents remember as the chief meteorologist at WAAY-TV from 1978-1996, founded Baron Weather in 1989 and the Critical Weather Institute in 2016. The exhibit, he said, will inform visitors of “all aspects of life on the planet.’’
The exhibit includes information about tornadoes and hurricanes, including a walk-in tornado shelter. A wind exhibit allows visitors to see patterns of wind movement, and another illustrates how to read radar maps.
The multi-dimensional, analogue-into-digital data exhibit contains much more weather details, including fun facts like fleas bite more before rain, in its 2,500-foot display room.
Of NASA, Baron said, “How gracious, how generous to donate all this space to How To Know The Weather.’’ Battle summed up the latest addition to the museum, calling it a weather predicting “center of excellence.’’
https://huntsvillebusinessjournal.com/news/2025/04/04/u-s-space-rocket-center-debuts-weather-exhibit/
Watch Live! SpaceX's Fram2 astronaut mission return to Earth
April 4, 2025
Fram2 launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday night (March 31), sending four spaceflight rookies to orbit.
That quartet is Maltese cryptocurrency billionaire Chun Wang, who funded and commands Fram2; vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen of Norway; pilot Rabea Rogge of Germany; and Australian Eric Philips, mission specialist and medical officer.
Fram2 has been conducting 22 science experiments as it circles Earth, including one called MushVroom, which is attempting to grow mushrooms in orbit for the first time.
https://www.space.com/news/live/fram2-spacex-mission-updates
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWBmcRl2UeI
Pakistan becomes first foreign country to join China’s space station training programme: Suparco
April 4, 2025
Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) Director Shafaat Ali on Friday revealed that Pakistan will send two merit-based astronauts for training in China, marking a significant milestone as it becomes the first foreign country to participate in Beijing’s space station training programme.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan signed an agreement with China to train Pakistani astronauts, with candidates selected based on merit, including PhD holders, experienced pilots and graduates meeting specific physical requirements, he told a private news channel.
He said that Pakistan has collaborated with China to offer astronaut training to Pakistani nationals, with a focus on selecting candidates with exceptional academic credentials, relevant expertise and adherence to specific physical standards.
Ali highlighted that China initially reserved astronaut training exclusively for its citizens, but has now extended this opportunity to Pakistan, fostering greater bonding and friendship between the two nations.
The Suparco director outlined a rigorous three-stage selection process for aspiring Pakistani astronauts, ensuring only the most qualified candidates are chosen for the training programme in China.
The astronaut selection process will be completed by 2026, he added.
Responding to a query, he said that the mission will conduct cutting-edge scientific experiments in various fields, including biological and medical sciences, aerospace, applied physics, fluid mechanics, space radiation, ecology, material sciences, microgravity studies, and astronomy at CSS.
Ali also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the PM and the Chinese government for extending this remarkable opportunity to Pakistan, enabling the country to take a giant leap in space exploration.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1902040
Earth from Space: The shrinking Aral Sea
04/04/2025
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission shows us what is left of the Aral Sea, once the fourth largest lake in the world. Zoom in to explore this image at its full resolution or click on the circles to learn more.
Straddling the border between Kazakhstan in the north and Uzbekistan in the south, the Aral Sea was once a large inland water body in Central Asia. In 1960, the lake covered an area of about 68 000 sq km – twice the size of Belgium.
Before the 1950s, the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya rivers carried fresh mountain water into this temperate oasis, situated in a mostly arid region.
However, in the 1960s, the rivers were diverted to irrigate cotton fields across the region and since then the Aral Sea has shrunk dramatically.
By the end of the 1980s, the Aral Sea had split into two bodies of water – the Large Aral shared by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and a smaller almost unconnected lake to the north, the Small Aral, in Kazakhstan.
By 2000, the Large Aral had further split into two.
In this image from 18 March 2025, we can see how the western lobe has reduced substantially, while the eastern lobe, still visible in this image from 2006, has virtually dried up.
As the Aral Sea evaporated, it left behind a zone of dry, salty terrain. This appears in the image as a whitish area over the former lakebed, now the Aralkum Desert, Earth’s youngest desert.
The retreat of the waters devastated the area’s thriving fishing industry and altered the regional microclimate.
Violent sandstorms have now become an annual occurrence, transporting tonnes of salt and sand from the dried-up lakebed across hundreds of kilometres.
This causes severe health problems for the local population and makes regional winters colder and summers hotter.
At the northern tip of the western half of the Large Aral, we can spot the remnant of what appeared as an emerald green heart-shaped body of water in 2019. This water body is also retreating and is likely to disappear soon.
The ice-covered waters of the Small Aral Sea can be seen in the upper part of the image. While the lake’s entire southern section is expected to soon dry out completely, the Small Aral Sea is the focus of international preservation efforts.
The two brown straight lines at the southeastern tip of Small Aral indicate the Kok-Aral dike, which was constructed to prevent water from flowing into the southern section of the lake and to stabilise the water level and salinity in the northern section.
Since its completion in 2005, the water level has risen in the northern section by an average of 4 m.
The drying up of the Aral Sea is a striking example of long-term changes – both natural and linked to human activity – that can be tracked by satellites to provide data to help decision-making.
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/04/Earth_from_Space_The_shrinking_Aral_Sea
ISS National Lab launches accelerator program for space startups
April 3, 2025
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. - The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory has launched the Orbital Edge Accelerator program, an initiative to support early-stage space startups with funding, mentorship, and research opportunities in low Earth orbit.
The program will select six startups to receive up to $500,000 each from investment partners Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), E2MC, and Stellar Ventures.
The chosen companies will also be able to conduct ISS National Lab-sponsored research in space.
“Engaging startups is a key priority for us,” the ISS National Lab said in a statement. “Access to space allows entrepreneurs to push the boundaries of science and technology in ways not possible on Earth.”
Related: MDA Space joins Starlab Space as partner in commercial space station venture
Over the years, startups supported by the ISS National Lab have collectively raised nearly $2.4 billion in postflight funding, underscoring the commercial potential of space-based research.
The accelerator aims to build on this success, fostering innovations in fields such as remote sensing, biotechnology, and advanced materials.
Dates of interest
TechConnect, a commercialization-focused organization, will help run the program, with Amazon Web Services (AWS) serving as a corporate partner.
Applications are due by May 19, 2025, with selected finalists presenting their pitches virtually.
The six chosen startups will participate in the ISS Research and Development Conference in Seattle from July 28-31.
A webinar providing details on the program will be held on 22 April. More information is available on the Orbital Edge Accelerator webpage: https://orbitaledge.techconnect.org/.
https://www.militaryaerospace.com/home/article/55279681/iss-national-lab-launches-accelerator-program-for-space-startups
SpaceX Starlink Mission
April 3, 2025
On Thursday, April 3 at 6:02 p.m. PT, Falcon 9 launched 27 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
This was the fifth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-126, Transporter-12, SPHEREx, NROL-57, and now a Starlink mission.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-11-13
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-27-starlink-satellites-to-orbit-from-california
Watch 'potentially hazardous' asteroid fly near Earth this weekend in this free livestream
April 4, 2025
An asteroid will make a close pass of Earth this weekend and you can watch it live online.
The near-Earth asteroid 2025 BC10 will sweep briefly across the early morning sky on Saturday (April 5).
The asteroid will pass safely by Earth, making its closest approach at 6:12 a.m. EDT (1012 GMT) from a distance of 2.3 million miles (3.7 million kilometers), about 9.6 times the average distance between Earth and the moon.
The Virtual Telescope Project will provide a view of the asteroid's close approach using its robotic telescopes in Manciano, Italy (weather permitting).
The project's free online livestream will begin at 4 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT) on Saturday, as the asteroid moves away from Earth.
You can watch the livestream here on Space.com courtesy of the Virtual Telescope Project or directly on their WebTV page or YouTube channel.
Asteroids are small, rocky remnants from the early formation of our solar system. They orbit the sun and are mostly found in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter, but some orbit closer to Earth.
When viewed from Earth, asteroids appear as faint moving points of light through telescopes.
First discovered on Jan. 28, 2025, asteroid 2025 BC10 has an estimated diameter between 1,181 and 2,625 feet (360 and 800 meters).
Despite being labeled by NASA as potentially hazardous due to its size and proximity to Earth's orbit, Saturday's flyby poses no risk to our planet, Virtual Telescope Project founder and astronomer Gianluca Masi told Space.com in an email.
The Virtual Telescope Project snapped a photo of the asteroid on March 30, using one of its robotic telescopes to track the asteroid's movement across the sky, matching its speed and direction.
As a result, the asteroid appears as a sharp dot of light in the 120-second exposure, compared to the background stars, which exhibit short trails from their relative movement.
https://www.space.com/the-universe/asteroids/watch-potentially-hazardous-asteroid-fly-near-earth-this-weekend-in-this-free-livestream
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=2025%20BC10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-qLZW1oK1Y
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/04/03/pentagon-hiring-freeze-hits-army-space-force-base-day-care-centers-colorado.html
Pentagon Hiring Freeze Hits Army, Space Force Base Day Care Centers in Colorado
April 03, 2025 at 4:21pm ET
Day care centers at Peterson Space Force Base and Fort Carson in Colorado are disenrolling some families and pausing waitlists amid staffing issues, the latest impacts of the Trump administration's hiring freeze throughout the federal government.
Two memos, reviewed by Military.com and confirmed as authentic by base officials, both express issues with ongoing staffing challenges at the Space Force base, as well as the Army garrison.
"Due to ongoing staffing challenges related to our adherence to current administration guidance and recent impacts from the hiring freeze the Main Child Development Center (CDC) is facing a critical shortage of qualified child care providers," a March 24 memo to families with infants at Peterson's day care center said, also stating that a classroom needed to be closed by April 11.
Similarly, an April 1 memo from Fort Carson said "the recent federal hiring freeze, while lifted, has significantly impacted our ability to hire and onboard qualified personnel," adding that staffing levels "are currently not sufficient to meet the needs of our waitlist."
It said the base is pausing enrollment from the militarychildcare.com waiting list as a result.
President Donald Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk's push to dramatically reduce the size and spending of the federal government has extended to the Department of Defense, which is aiming to cut 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs.
A Department of Defense memo issued March 18 quickly tried to stop some hemorrhaging by saying certain essential positions were exempt from the hiring freeze, including "child and youth programs staff," as well as "instructors or facility support staff at DoD schools or child care centers."
Jules Hurst III, who is performing the duties of under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said in a statement Wednesday that the hiring exemptions were necessary for a wide range of jobs deemed to "support the total lethality" of the military.
"DoD will continue to recruit the great Americans who manufacture artillery shells, repair and refit our warships, maintain our fleets of military vehicles and equipment, teach the sons and daughters of service members, and provide medical care to our warriors and their families," Hurst said in his statement.
But the effects of those hiring freeze exemptions may not be felt for quite some time. As Military.com reported in an extensive investigation last year, child development centers are frequently understaffed and lack oversight.
As a result of the staffing challenges, Peterson Space Force Base's looming closure of its infant classroom meant that eight families would have to be disenrolled, the March 24 memo said.
It asked for volunteers to transfer to a preschool about 10 miles away from the base, where they can pay the same rates as they would have at the on-base CDC.
If they didn't volunteer, the most recent families with the lowest priority levels were disenrolled, according to the memo.
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"Due to ongoing staffing challenges, one of the infant rooms is closing effective April 11 to maintain appropriate child-to-teacher ratios and ensure the children's safety and well-being.
We will work directly with the impacted families to ensure continuity of care for their children," a Space Force spokesperson, who spoke anonymously to provide information from multiple sources, told Military.com.
Peterson is home to Space Base Delta 1, as well as U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command Headquarters – consisting of more than 20,000 family members, service members and civilians, according to Military One Source.
"We are working through all our hiring freeze exemptions as quickly as possible. The hiring, on-boarding and training process will take time; however, we will work with impacted families to return to the main CDC as quickly as possible," the Space Force spokesperson said.
At Fort Carson, the April 1 memo to families said "our team is working diligently to expedite the hiring process and to get to fully staffed as quickly as possible" but did not point to other resources families could use while they wait for admittance to the child care center.
"While we had to adjust enrolling new children, [we] are working as quickly as possible to alleviate any impacts and bringing on new direct-care staff to ensure we are providing the services and support for our Fort Carson families," said a base official, who spoke to Military.com anonymously to provide information from multiple sources.
The news of the military child care woes in the Colorado Springs area is angering family advocates.
Kayla Corbitt, a military spouse and founder of Operation Child Care Project, a nonprofit group that advocates for family care for service members, told Military.com that the changes leaves troops and their loved ones scrambling.
"In the Colorado Springs area, we are seeing official and unofficial lack of access to DoD-operated care," Corbitt told Military.com. "Even at installations where the military are not being asked to leave, they are being told they cannot enroll or attend until staff is onboarded.
Military families will be relying on their community resources and support outside the installation more than ever."
Colorado isn't the only place the child care shortages are being felt. Military.com reported late last month that, due to the hiring freeze and staffing issues, Hill Air Force Base in Utah had closed one of its two day care centers – disenrolling 31 families in the process.
"It's time for the states to decide if they are a military supportive community or if they simply have military members in their state," Corbitt added.
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U.S. Space Force releases new capstone doctrine
April 4, 2025
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The U.S. Space Force—the service charged with securing the Nation’s interests in, from, and to space—has published Space Force Doctrine Document 1 - The Space Force, articulating doctrine that defines the service’s foundational tenets moving forward.
Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman urged Guardians to read and understand SFDD-1 during a keynote address March 3 at the Air and Space Forces Association Warfighter Symposium.
“The Space Force will do whatever it takes to achieve Space Superiority,” said Saltzman. “If you take away one request from my remarks, then let it be that you read SFDD-1 as soon as its available … think about what it means to you and your daily activities … and discuss it with your fellow Guardians.
This is the first step in a much longer journey.”
SFDD-1 codifies why we fight, who we are, what we do, and how we integrate into the joint force.
Describing the criticality of national and military spacepower, our guiding foundations and statutory roles, as well as the service’s mission and theory of competitive endurance, establishes a foundation for why the USSF exists as a service.
SFDD-1 also codifies our values, officer, enlisted, and civilian roles, how the USSF functionally organizes, and key relationships.
SFDD-1 then describes the employment of spacepower, and its core functions of space control, global mission operations, and space access. SFDD-1 also describes key principles of command and control, mission command, and battle management.
The doctrine document concludes with how the Space Force presents ready space forces, to include the role of the commander of space force forces, combat formations, readiness, and more.
The Space Force’s success or failure hinges entirely on the performance of Guardians, Saltzman wrote in the foreword to the document.
“At every level in any role, it is our responsibility to sharpen our readiness and to prepare for the challenges before us,” wrote Saltzman.
“Time and again, Guardians have demonstrated the confidence and skills necessary to overcome any obstacle, and it is Guardians who will ensure the Space Force answers our Nation’s call.
Your character, commitment, connection, and courage are why I am confident that the Space Force can fight and win against any adversary.”
https://www.starcom.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4134288/us-space-force-releases-new-capstone-doctrine/
https://www.spoc.spaceforce.mil/Portals/4/Documents/USSF%20Publications/Space%20Capstone%20Publication_10%20Aug%202020.pdf?ver=q2cbzItvov2XnEQbtlztOg%3d%3d
US, Australia demonstrate current, future space priorities at Avalon International Airshow
April 3, 2025
U.S. and Australian forces demonstrated their combined focus on cooperation, warfighting effectiveness and lethality in the Indo-Pacific space domain during the Avalon International Airshow and Trade Days, March 25-30.
Avalon is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest airshow and aerospace and defense exposition. During the 2025 event, multiple industry exhibits, keynote speakers and engagements focused on current priorities and future development of space concerns.
Australian Army Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, chief of the Joint Capabilities Group, served as one of the keynote speakers during the event.
She urged attendees to consider both the advantages of space superiority and the necessity to rise to the challenges of the future.
“Space has never been more contested and never been more central to Australian interests. Losing in space is not an option,” Coyle said.
Reinforcing the criticality of partnerships in space, U.S. Space Force Col. Eamon Murray, director, Strategy, Plans and Force Development, U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific, shared the need to continue development alongside Australian partners.
“We must be integrated with our allies, our partners, and our industry counterparts from the beginning, ensuring that unity of effort is the starting point and not just the outcome,” Murray said.
“Global reliance on space, coupled with the growing sophistication of adversaries who seek to exploit that reliance, make space a true warfighting domain.
Murray also shared the necessity of combined U.S. and Australian exercises such as Cobra Gold and Talisman Sabre.
These recurring exercises test and perfect the integration between the two nations needed to collectively respond to emerging regional threats, regardless of domain.
“We are living in an era of profound transformation in the space domain,” Murray said. “An era that demands bold action, deep collaboration and a commitment to resilience in the face of threats.”
To inspire future bold action and further interest in space careers from a young age, the U.S. based Endeavour scholarship used Avalon as a platform to award four space-inspired students and one educator the opportunity to attend “Space Camp USA” in summer 2025.
“Today we don’t just look from earth to space, we also look from space to earth to guide our lives,” said Royal Australian Air Force Group Captain Katherine Bennell-Pegg, director of Space Technology, Australian Space Agency.
“The next greatest discoveries, the next most impactful discoveries for humans, are going to come from a place beyond all horizons, and perhaps one day from a place with new horizons.”
The weeklong Space Camp program allows students from 10 countries around the globe to attend a weeklong astronaut training in Huntsville, Alabama.
These young students work alongside allied nations to not only develop their understanding of space capabilities, but to further international cooperation and dedication to mutual space priorities.
“The Endeavour scholarship has supported me to look outside of regular career paths and inspired me to literally reach for the stars when thinking of what I want to pursue,” said Ruby-Jane Roberts, 2024 scholarship recipient and program alumni.
The scholarship program intends to both encourage careers in STEM education and bolster critical international cooperation, a key component of continued success in the space realm.
“Put simply, space is too big and too important for us to go alone,” Coyle said. “It’s all about ensuring that we have a unity of purpose that is built on a solid foundation of trust.”
U.S. participation in Avalon is a testament to the strength of the alliance and U.S. dedication to working with partners to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, on all frontiers.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4145033/us-australia-demonstrate-current-future-space-priorities-at-avalon-internationa/
Threat of War in Space Rises as U.S. General Outlines Plans to “Militarize” Low Earth Orbit
April 4, 2025
The threat of the world’s first war in space appears to be rising following comments from General Chance Saltzman, the United States Space Force’s chief of space operations, regarding American plans to militarize space assets in response to increasing attempts by adversary nations to weaponize low Earth orbit.
During a presentation at the Air & Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium last month, Saltzman said that America’s efforts to counter China and Russia’s development of space domain weapons, including reports of Russia’s orbital nuclear weapons platforms, are already falling behind.
The General also said catching up and passing our adversaries is critical to maintaining “space superiority” in any potential conflict.
“We must simultaneously be ready to defend American spacepower as well as to protect our forces against hostile spacepower,” Saltzman told conference attendees.
Few details of the exact systems were made available. However, the Space Force Chief discussed several categories of space warfare systems that are likely under consideration.
The First War in Space Will Likely Feature These Weapons
Since the end of World War II, several weapon platforms and systems designed to weaponize low Earth orbit for a potential war in space have been proposed.
The first and only weapon fired in space occurred on January 24, 1975, when the Soviet Union test-fired a modified aircraft cannon from the ALMAZ/Salyut 3/OPS-2 space station.
During the 1980s, U.S. President proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative. Nicknamed “Star Wars,” the program, which many believed violated national law governing the weaponization of space, outlined various potential weapons designed to arm America for the first war in space.
Saltzman highlighted many of those same categories, including employing “kinetic and non-kinetic means to affect adversary capabilities through disruption, degradation, and even destruction, if necessary.”
“It includes things like orbital warfare and electromagnetic (EM) warfare, and its counterspace operations can be employed for both offensive and defensive purposes at the direction of combatant commands,” the chief explained.
A report from ArsTechnica indicated that Saltzman told reporters in a separate meeting that combat lasers and several other directed-energy weapons were also under consideration.
While no specific combat laser contractor or platform was mentioned by name, The Debrief has covered several potential EM, kinetic, microwave, and laser space warfare weapons already in development, including some currently viable and some more far-out concepts from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The Air Force recently tested a device, called Thor’s Hammer, which uses microwaves to fry the electronics of drones and missiles.
Contractor Lockheed-Martin is developing two different microwave-based weapons designed to counter the electronic systems of enemy platforms.
Defense contractor BAE Systems recently bet over $5 billion on the prospect of a future war in space when it acquired Ball Aerospace.
Orbital Carrier Could be a “Game-Changer”
One space-based weapon platform already receiving funding from the Space Force is an “orbital carrier” capable of launching and retrieving automated satellites and weapons like a sea-based aircraft carrier.
According to Colin Doughan, the CEO of the $60 million award recipient SpaceWERX, their orbital carrier offers several advantages currently unavailable to military forces.
“The Orbital Carrier is a game-changer, acting as a pre-positioned launch pad in space,” Doughan said at the time of the award.
“It bypasses traditional launch constraints, enabling space vehicle operators to rapidly select a deployment orbit on demand.”
“We’re honored to partner with the U.S. Space Force on this critical initiative,” Colin Doughan added.
Although many other potential weapons systems in development could factor into the first-ever war in space, General Saltzman noted that “we’re not pursuing all of those yet.”
However, the general warned that China and Russia are “pursuing all of those.”
Whatever systems are ultimately chosen to arm the U.S. for a potential war in space, the General noted that it is merely the Space Force’s duty and honor. It is also what separates them from a scientific organization or private corporation.
“Space Superiority is the fundamental difference between a civil space agency and a warfighting space service,” the chief explained.
“It is the distinction between a company’s employees operating commercial satellites and Guardians conducting combat operations to achieve joint objectives.”
https://thedebrief.org/threat-of-war-in-space-rises-as-u-s-general-outlines-plans-to-militarize-low-earth-orbit/
Bloomington man charged with shooting at sheriff's department drone
Updated: 12:52 PM EDT April 4, 2025
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A Bloomington man is facing charges after deputies say he fired a gun several times at a sheriff's department drone.
Deputies with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrested 36-year-old Isaac Crouch on Tuesday, April 1.
Crouch is charged with criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, a Level 6 felony, and criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor.
Court documents say deputies were responding to a home in Bloomington after a homeowner called to report someone was walking around his property screaming and cussing.
The homeowner showed deputies a video of a man running through the driveway. While deputies searched for the man seen in the video, a deputy launched a drone.
According to court documents, while searching the area, the deputy reported hearing three loud gunshots and saw the flash on the drone camera.
Deputies later found the man, identified as Crouch, who admitted to firing the gun three times at the drone, according to court documents.
Crouch reportedly told deputies he was walking through his neighbor’s property to look for his dog and wouldn’t have shot at the drone if he knew it was from the sheriff's department.
Court documents say Crouch told deputies he believed “people were stalking him” and that “high school girls were following him everywhere he goes and running around spreading rumors about him.”
Online court records show the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office requested the state confiscate two of Crouch’s guns.
Crouch has an initial hearing in Monroe County on Friday, April 4.
https://www.wthr.com/article/news/crime/bloomington-man-isaac-crouch-shot-at-monroe-county-sheriffs-office-drone/531-551f0837-632a-4ecb-b1fc-84698a0bcf69
Heavy-Lift Drones Made in the USA: Oregon Blue Unmanned – Military-Grade Engineering
April 4, 2025
Oregon Blue Unmanned (OBU) is redefining the landscape of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) with its innovative, American-built heavy-lift drone solutions.
Founded in 2020, OBU is a small, Oregon-based manufacturing and R&D company led by certified FAA mechanics, pilots, and inspectors.
With a strong commitment to U.S.-built, FAA-compliant aircraft parts and accessories, OBU designs and manufactures drones that meet the highest industry standards.
OBU’s current flagship drone is a staggered heavy-lift octocopter, engineered for power, durability, and adaptability.
Constructed entirely from 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum and utilizing military-standard hardware, this robust platform is designed to handle demanding payload requirements.
The drone integrates state-of-the-art avionics with CubePilot technology, including the Blue Cube flight controller and Here4 GPS, ensuring precise navigation and reliable performance in complex environments.
Additionally, OBU’s system employs the NW Blue Herelink Blue controller, providing a seamless communication link for remote operations.
The platform also features a 1000-amp power distribution board, reinforcing its capability to support heavy payloads and extended flight missions.
OBU’s heavy-lift octocopter is available as a kit through NW Blue, making it accessible for operators looking to integrate a high-performance, modular solution into their workflow.
Each kit includes OBU’s 6061-T6 aluminum cargo hook, further enhancing the platform’s utility for industrial, defense, and commercial applications.
With a focus on precision engineering and compliance with FAA regulations, Oregon Blue Unmanned is committed to providing rugged, American-built UAV solutions that stand out in the market.
By leveraging CubePilot products and collaborating with NW Blue, OBU ensures that its drones deliver exceptional performance, reliability, and adaptability for mission-critical operations.
https://www.suasnews.com/2025/04/heavy-lift-drones-made-in-the-usa-oregon-blue-unmanned-military-grade-engineering/
https://oregonblueunmanned.com/
Three Arrested in Hezbollah-Linked Drone Supply Network in Barcelona
Fri 4 April 2025 at 7:32 am GMT-7
Three people were arrested in Barcelona in connection with a Hezbollah-related drone-building operation, Spain’s Civil Guard said on Friday, April 4.
According to a press release from the Civil Guard, the arrests were made on Tuesday as part of an ongoing investigation into a network that acquired materials for drone construction.
The operation also led to arrests in France and the United Kingdom.
Authorities searched properties that served as both the suspects’ residences and the headquarters of Spanish companies directly involved in acquiring materials for drone construction.
The companies evaded customs and export controls, as well as commercial oversight mechanisms, concealing the true nature and destination of shipments sent from Spain and other countries to Lebanon, the Civil Guard said.
The materials acquired by the investigated group were found to be fully compatible with those used by Hezbollah to build drones, the Civil Guard said. Credit: Guardia Civil via Storyful
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/three-arrested-hezbollah-linked-drone-143208391.html
Houthis shoot down 3rd US reaper drone as Trump administration continues daily airstrikes
Apr 4, 2025 | 10:33 AM
Houthis in Yemen have shot down another U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone, sources told Fox News.
This is the third such drone the rebels have shot down since March 3 and the second shot down since the U.S. began conducting daily strikes.
While the U.S. has been carrying out airstrikes daily for 20 days straight, there have been few updates from the Trump administration on the status of the operation.
The Pentagon has not held a press briefing in weeks, and the Defense Department has been quiet about the ongoing strikes.
On Tuesday, the State Department announced sanctions on “financial facilitators, procurement operatives, and companies operating as part of a global illicit finance network supporting the Houthis.”
The State Department put forward sanctions after the Houthis shot down the first Reaper in early March, citing weapons smuggling as the reason.
Late last month, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz spoke about the airstrikes in an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
“These guys are like al Qaeda or ISIS with advanced cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and some of the most sophisticated air defenses, all provided by Iran,” Waltz said.
“Keeping the sea lanes open, keeping trade and commerce open, is a fundamental aspect of our national security,” he added.
MQ-9 Reaper drones cost approximately $30 million each, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Houthis have shot down 13 U.S. drones since October 2023, when the Israel-Hamas war started, however, a source told Fox News that it could be as many as 17 Reapers.
The U.S. had 230 MQ-9 Reaper drones in its arsenal as of December 2024, a U.S. defense official told Fox News.
These drones are primarily used to collect intelligence but can be armed with up to eight laser-guided Hellfire missiles, according to the U.S. Air Force.
https://www.wfiwradio.com/2025/04/04/houthis-shoot-down-3rd-us-reaper-drone-as-trump-administration-continues-daily-airstrikes/