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South Korea is converting an abandoned coal mine into a moon exploration testing ground
April 8, 2025
South Korea is transforming abandoned coal mines into testing grounds for lunar exploration.
The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) conducted a demonstration inside the tunnel of the former Hamtae mine in Taebaek, Gangwon Province, in late March, deploying prototype lunar rovers using autonomous navigation and other technologies with potential for use in space mining, the South Korean news outlet Pulse reported.
The rovers demonstrated mobility across challenging terrain, sample collection and remote sensing capabilities.
The move highlights the plan, which involves government and research institutes, to turn the mine into a space resource convergence demonstration complex and help develop technologies that could extract useful resources from the moon.
"To compete in the global resource race, Korea must develop space resource technologies independently," said Kim Kyeong-ja, head of the Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Center at KIGAM, Pulse reported.
"This requires mobilizing national capabilities via the collaboration of multiple institutions. It is not something that a single researcher or institute can achieve alone."
South Korea has already launched a lunar orbiter, Danuri, which is also known as the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO).
The country established its national space agency, KASA, last year and is targeting its first robotic lunar landing by 2032.
Taebek is South Korea's highest-elevation city, and therefore symbolically the closest one to space.
Its former use for mining coal for energy is giving way to the testing of technology that could unlock future energy sources from off world.
"The coal that was once mined in Taebaek fueled Korea's industrialization during the 1960s," KIGAM President Lee Pyeong-koo said.
"We are now beginning a new mission to explore energy resources for future generations, and we are once again starting in Taebaek."
https://www.space.com/the-universe/moon/south-korea-is-converting-an-abandoned-coal-mine-into-a-moon-exploration-testing-ground
Indian experiment module falls from space and crashes into ocean, but it's all according to plan
April 7, 2025
An Indian experiment module fell out of space and crashed into the Indian Ocean in recent days, just months after launching into orbit, but it wasn't because of a failure, Indian space officials said.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on April 4 confirmed that its PSLV Orbital Experimental Module 4 (or POEM-4) was intentionally destroyed to mark the end of its successful mission.
The experiment platform launched into space on Dec. 30 on an ISRO Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle as part of the country's Space Docking Experiment mission, also known as SPADEX.
"During its mission life, POEM-4 hosted altogether 24 payloads (14 payloads from ISRO and 10 from various [non-government entities]) and all payloads worked as expected yielding valuable science data," ISRO officials wrote in a statement.
The Space Docking Experiment mission, which demonstrated India's first-ever autonomous docking in space, was also a success.
ISRO deorbited the POEM-4 module, which was attached to the upper stage of its PSLV rocket, so it didn't become a space debris hazard in orbit.
Flight controllers directed the rocket stage to maneuver into a collision course with the Indian Ocean, then vent off any remaining propellant to avoid an accidental explosion or breakup during reentry.
It officially fell out of space at 8:03 a.m. Indian Standard Time on April 4 (0233 GMT; 9:33 p.m. April 3 EDT).
"The safe reentry of POEM-4 is yet another accomplishment to ISRO’s commitment to contain the growth of space debris, reaffirming the prominent role of ISRO in the long-term sustainability of outer space environment and Debris Free Space Mission," ISRO officials said.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/indian-experiment-module-falls-from-space-and-crashes-into-ocean-but-its-all-according-to-plan
https://www.isro.gov.in/Atomospheric_Re_entry_of_POEM4.html
Moon mission patch beamed onto rocket assembly building: Space photo of the day
April 7, 2025
NASA on April 4, 2025 released its long-awaited mission patch for the first mission to fly astronauts to the moon in more than 50 years.
To celebrate, the Artemis 2 insignia was projected that night onto the exterior of the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Why is this amazing?
The release of the mission patch, while minor in comparison to other milestones, is another step forward to returning astronauts to the moon more than a half century after the Apollo program ended.
The Artemis 2 crew of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen will become the first people to fly on NASA's Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which are being stacked together in the VAB.
The Artemis 2 launch is currently targeted for no later than April 2026.
How big is that projection?
The projected Artemis 2 patch appears to be about the same size as the painted NASA "meatball" logo above it, such that each is more than 100 feet (30 meters) tall.
Of course it was a lot easier and quicker to project the Artemis 2 insignia than it was to apply the NASA emblem.
The last time the latter needed to be reapplied, it required 700 gallons of red, white and blue paint.
What is happening behind the projected patch?
Inside the VAB's High Bay 3, the Space Launch System rocket's core stage and side-mounted solid rocket boosters have been mated and stand ready for pre-flight tests atop a mobile launch platform.
Next, the launch vehicle stage adapter will be lifted and secured atop the core stage.
From there, the interim cryogenic propulsion stage, Orion stage adapter, and the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis 2 mission will be added to the stack, completing the SLS's launch configuration.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/moon-mission-patch-beamed-onto-rocket-assembly-building-space-photo-of-the-day
SpaceX's Fram2 mission captures 1st human X-ray in Earth orbit
April 7, 2025
In 1895, when German physics professor Wihelm Röntgen was experimenting with cathode rays, he accidentally discovered what we know today as X-rays.
Realizing the technology could benefit the medical field, Röntgen took the first ever X-ray image of the human body. It was an image of his wife's hand wearing a ring.
About 130 years later, the crew of SpaceX's private Fram2 mission has recreated that X-ray portrait — except in space.
The Fram2 mission launched on March 31, carrying a quartet of passengers who would soon complete the first human spaceflight in polar orbit.
The launch was funded by Maltese cryptocurrency billionaire Chun Wang, who enlisted three polar expedition colleagues to join him on the novel mission.
During the three-and-a-half-day spaceflight, the crew performed a total of 22 research experiments, which included observation of Earth's poles, growing mushrooms — and indeed taking the first X-ray images of a human while in orbit.
Following the successful hand X-ray, the Fram2 crew continued this technology demonstration with a series of other diagnostic images that included the forearm, pelvis, abdomen and chest; the astronauts also imaged electronics to test the use of the X-ray as a hardware diagnostics tool.
The crew further demonstrated a DXA (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan.
Fram2's Crew Dragon Resilience splashed down on Friday (April 4), parachuting toward the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oceanside, California.
The crewmembers were recovered aboard SpaceX's Dragon recovery vessel Shannon.
They recently arrived at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to complete a number of post-flight experiments and collect post-flight biometric data while recovering from the microgravity environment.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/spacexs-fram2-mission-captures-1st-human-x-ray-in-earth-orbit
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1907860020643115098
Space nuclear power poised for breakthroughs — if NASA and DoD stay committed
April 8, 2025
Space nuclear power and propulsion technologies are poised for a breakthrough after decades of development, but will need consistent government investment to transition to operational systems, according to L3Harris executives.
“We are finally at the cusp for both nuclear electric propulsion and nuclear thermal propulsion,” said Kristin Houston, president of space propulsion and power systems at L3Harris Technologies.
“These solutions can be matured and be ready for flight in the next five years.”
Houston leads the business unit absorbed from L3Harris’s acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne — a longtime supplier of space nuclear propulsion systems to NASA.
Several NASA programs are harnessing innovations in space nuclear technology, Houston noted.
L3Harris is supplying the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator for NASA’s Dragonfly mission to Titan, the largest moon of Saturn. Scheduled for launch in July 2028 and arrival in 2034.
The industry is also closely monitoring NASA’s Fission Surface Power program, which aims to develop nuclear power systems for lunar and Mars surface operations.
Currently in a three-way competition, the program features teams from Westinghouse with L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, and X-Energy. A second phase is expected to start later this year, Houston said.
The program targets systems capable of providing 40 kilowatts — enough to power about 30 households continuously for a decade — and represents a crucial milestone in understanding NASA’s long-term funding priorities for lunar and Mars infrastructure.
Power generation vs. propulsion
Space nuclear applications often fall into two primary categories: power generation and propulsion.
For power generation, radioisotope thermoelectric generators convert heat from radioactive decay into electricity. These systems are crucial for missions traveling to deep space where solar power becomes impractical.
On the propulsion side, two primary technologies are advancing:
Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP): This uses a nuclear reactor to heat a propellant (typically liquid hydrogen) which is expelled through a nozzle to generate thrust.
These systems offer high thrust levels similar to chemical rockets but with improved efficiency.
Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP): This process converts thermal energy from a nuclear reactor into electricity as a way to power electric thrusters.
This approach provides lower thrust but exceptional efficiency, making it ideal for sustained acceleration on long-duration missions.
National security and scientific applications
These technologies have applications beyond science and exploration, Houston said. “It enhances strategic mobility by providing faster and more efficient transportation of spacecraft, enabling quicker development and repositioning of assets in space.”
Nuclear propulsion technologies offer significant advantages for future Mars missions, she added.
Spacecraft powered by nuclear thermal propulsion could reach Mars in approximately half the time of chemical engines, while NEP systems could efficiently transport cargo vehicles.
NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are co-sponsoring the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program to test a nuclear thermal rocket engine in space.
William Sack, director of advanced space and power programs at L3Harris, said demonstrations such as DRACO are important to showcase the capabilities of nuclear thermal propulsion. He noted that L3Harris has developed its own NTP vehicle concept.
“We would expect to be a player in the future if NASA is going to be going forward with something like this, for going to Mars or somewhere else,” Sack said.
Despite the promising outlook, Houston emphasized that consistent government investments and leadership are essential to deploy these technologies to help accelerate the space economy.
https://spacenews.com/space-nuclear-power-at-a-crossroads-as-industry-pushes-for-steady-investment/
NASA developing options for agency restructuring in “unsettling” environment
April 8, 2025
NASA is developing options for restructuring and potentially downsizing the agency, with the final decisions to be left to the agency’s next leader.
In an interview during the 40th Space Symposium April 7, NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro acknowledged that it is an “unsettling” time for the agency’s workforce, as well as across the federal government, as the Trump administration seeks to make sweeping changes that include large-scale reductions in force (RIFs) or layoffs.
NASA is currently working on what Petro calls a “workforce optimization” plan, also known as the Agency RIF and Reorganization Plan.
The agency submitted phase one of that plan last month and is working on phase two, due to the administration in about two weeks.
The plan will include options for restructuring NASA, but Petro did not go into details.
“We are going to be different as we’re looking at how do we want to optimize our organization so that maybe we operate a little bit more efficiently and effectively,” she said.
That plan, she said, would provide options that Jared Isaacman, the White House’s nominee to be NASA administrator, can select and implement once he is confirmed.
“From my perspective, I want to put together some options for when Jared gets confirmed,” she said. “I don’t want to make choices before he gets here, where he might want to do things a little bit differently.”
“It’s all about efficiency,” she said of those plans. “How can we organize differently? How can we increase our decision velocity? How can we flatten the organization to be more responsive and efficient?”
She acknowledged those changes are worrying at least some at the agency, who wonder if they may still be employed in the coming months.
“I’m certain it is very unsettling for people who have worked for the federal government for 20 or 30 years and have never seen this sort of thing happen.”
Petro said one concern is keeping employees focused on agency missions amid these changes. NASA lost about 5% of its workforce in the deferred resignation initiative.
“There were holes in several of our programs that we had to fill,” she said. “Filling back in those holes has been a challenge in many areas, and it is a distraction to people.”
She defended the decision in March to shutter three offices at NASA Headquarters, including the Office of the Chief Scientist and the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy as well as a part of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Closing those offices resulted in laying off 23 people.
“We looked at it and those three offices stuck out as not really having a long-term, enduring position within this administration,” she said.
“In terms of efficiency, we wanted to go ahead and take those staff offices off the table,” calling them “low-hanging fruit that we wanted to go ahead and move out on.”
Some have criticized those layoffs, noting that affected employees were given only 30 days notice instead of 60 days, and also not given an opportunity to move into other open positions in the agency.
Petro defended that move, stating that providing 30 days notice “was enough.” “I don’t think we are going to have any open hiring for a while,” she added, other than some “targeted positions” for critical skills. Another area of uncertainty is the agency’s budget.
Petro said she has not received any information on the administration’s plans for its fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, other than “rumors from really not credible sources.”
There had been widespread speculation that the budget proposal will seek a major cut in NASA science programs in particular, potentially as large as 50%.
At a congressional roundtable at Space Symposium April 6, attended by Petro, Rep. George Whitesides (D-Calif.) said he had learned that Earth science missions in formulation or in extended mission has been told to work on termination plans as a contingency.
“We have confirmed that nobody has actually reached out and told us any of the things that he said” about preparing termination plans, she said, calling his comments “a surprise to all of us.”
Petro said that she has talked informally with Isaacman and sat in on briefings that some mission directorates have had with him to discuss their activities.
Isaacman, meanwhile, has been preparing for winning Senate confirmation to become administrator, with a hearing on his nomination by the Senate Commerce Committee scheduled for April 9.
Petro said Isaacman has not been involved in the development of the restructuring plans that he will be charged with implementing.
“He knows nothing about them. I don’t think he wants to know,” she said. “I think he’s just focusing on his upcoming hearing.”
https://spacenews.com/nasa-developing-options-for-agency-restructuring-in-unsettling-environment/
Watch the moon's shadow race across US on first anniversary of historic total solar eclipse
April 9, 2025
This striking satellite footage shows the moon's shadow racing across North America at more than 1,500 mph (2,400 km/h) during 2024's historic total solar eclipse, when several unique phenomena were observed as day briefly turned to night.
On April 8 last year, tens of millions of people in the U.S., Canada and Mexico looked up to the skies to see the moon temporarily block out our home star. During the event, totality — the period in which the sun is completely obscured — lasted up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds, depending on the viewer's location. This was the first total solar eclipse visible from the continent since 2017, but the longest totality there for 54 years.
From space, the darkest part of the moon's shadow, or umbra, slowly swept across the continent from western Mexico to eastern Canada over roughly 4 hours, allowing satellites and astronauts to snap some stunning shots of the event.
NOAA's 16th Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-16) was one of these orbital observers.
This spacecraft is geostationary, meaning that it orbits Earth at the same speed as the planet spins, allowing it to watch one part of Earth from a fixed position.
From its vantage point around 22,300 miles (36,000 kilometers) above North America, the satellite captured thousands of photos that were later digitally stitched together into the time-lapse video above.
Photos from other spacecraft also provided alternative perspectives of the sweeping shadow.
NASA's Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) captured video of the shadow moving across the globe from its position, roughly 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometers) from Earth.
And astronauts onboard the International Space Station (ISS) also snapped up-close photos of the shadow from around 260 miles (418 kilometers) above our planet's surface.
A unique event
Several strange phenomena can occur during a total solar eclipse, and 2024 was no exception.
Many observers spotted pink or red spots around the sun's obscured disc. Some people wrongly assumed that these were solar flares exploding from the sun.
Experts later revealed that these were solar prominences — plasma plumes that tower above the sun but do not explode outward.
On the same day as the eclipse, astronomers also discovered a tiny sungrazer comet dive-bombing toward the sun.
The newly spotted object was then photographed during totality, before it was destroyed by our home star just a few hours later.
One of the most bizarre effects observed was a subtle shift in global time signals sent and received by communication centers across North America as the sun's shadow cooled the upper atmosphere, slightly altering how radio signals bounced off this part of our planet.
However, the changes were too small to impact any time-keeping devices.
Several other unusual things were seen during totality, including disappearing clouds, daytime-visible planets, changes to color perception and optical effects around the sun as seen from Earth, such as "Baily's beads" and "diamond rings."
Some wild and captive animals also appeared to be confused as the skies turned dark.
The world's next total solar eclipse will occur on Aug. 12, 2026 and will be most visible from parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain.
https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/watch-the-moons-shadow-race-across-us-on-first-anniversary-of-historic-total-solar-eclipse-earth-from-space
40th annual Space Symposium is underway in Colorado Springs
April 8, 2025
The yearly event is a gathering place for the worldwide space industry.
The event, running April 7 – 10, will feature exhibitors and speakers representing the various agencies with interests in space, including military, industry, commercial and government attendees.
https://csbj.com/40th-annual-space-symposium-is-underway-in-colorado-springs/
https://www.spacesymposium.org/
Sea-Air-Space: First P-8A Overhauled by L3Harris to Be Delivered in 2025
April 8, 2025
The first P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to be overhauled by L3Harris (Booth 937) is scheduled to be delivered back to the U.S. Navy this year, a company official said.
L3Harris was awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract in September 2024 from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) for depot-level maintenance, overhaul, and repair of the Navy’s fleet of P-8As, which will number 135 upon completion of the service’s planned procurement, said Jason Lambert, president of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance at L3Harris.
The program is scheduled to continue through September 2029.
“NAVAIR’s No. 1 priority is aircraft availability, and it’s an honor for us at L3Harris to support the Navy to ensure the P-8 aircraft is mission-ready,” Lambert said.
Lambert said the company currently has four P-8As in its workflow, with a capability to induct a minimum of nine aircraft per year, and the potential capability to induct 12 aircraft the first year.
The work will be accomplished at the company’s facility in Waco, Texas.
He said the contract allows processing foreign P-8 aircraft along with U.S. Navy aircraft. “The Navy awarded the ID/IQ to both L3Harris and AAR,” he said. “AAR previously had this program.
The Navy decided to go with a dual source, so the Navy determines the allocation of the aircraft across our two companies.
“L3 has provided decades of modification and sustainment support on the P-3 Orion, the predecessor of the P-8 platform across multiple customers including the U.S. Navy, NOAA, and the [defense] ministries of Brazil, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea ,and we’re very honored to extend our long-lasting support to the U.S. Navy by supporting this next-generation Poseidon fleet,” Lambert said.
https://seapowermagazine.org/sea-air-space-first-p-8a-overhauled-by-l3harris-to-be-delivered-in-2025/
Space Force reassigns GPS satellite launch from ULA to SpaceX
April 7, 2025
The U.S. Space Force is transferring the launch of a GPS satellite from United Launch Alliance (ULA) to SpaceX in an effort to reduce a backlog of satellites waiting in storage.
The GPS III SV-08 satellite, the eighth in the GPS III constellation, is now scheduled to launch no earlier than late May aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, the Space Systems Command announced April 7.
This marks the second time in recent months that the Space Force has reassigned a GPS launch from ULA to SpaceX.
Last year, the GPS III SV-07 satellite was moved from a planned ULA Vulcan rocket launch in late 2025 to a SpaceX Falcon 9, which successfully launched on December 16 in a mission called Rapid Response Trailblazer.
To maintain contract obligations with launch providers, the Space Force said a future GPS launch previously assigned to SpaceX will be given back to ULA. ULA’s Vulcan rocket, which recently received certification to fly NSSL missions, has faced development delays and has a backlog of military launches assigned under the NSSL Phase 2 contract awarded in 2020.
In a statement about the SV-08 launch, Col. Jim Horne, senior materiel leader of launch execution at the Space Systems Command, said this launch “executes a launch vehicle trade of the GPS III-7 mission from Vulcan to a Falcon 9 rocket, and swaps a later GPS IIIF-1 mission from Falcon Heavy to Vulcan, showcasing our ability to launch in three months, compared to the typical 24 months.”
Faster launch planning timeline
Officials characterized the previous reassignment as a demonstration of the Space Force’s ability to accelerate launch timelines under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, which handles high-value military and intelligence satellites.
The goal is to prove that planning cycles typically requiring two years can be compressed to just a few months.
For both the SV-07 and upcoming SV-08 missions, the Space Force and satellite manufacturer Lockheed Martin had to modify the payload interface—the hardware connecting the spacecraft to the rocket—to make it compatible with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 instead of ULA’s Vulcan.
“The accelerated mission involves a complex integration of effort across multiple Space Force organizations to retrieve a Global Positioning System (GPS) III satellite from storage, expedite integration with a launch vehicle, and prepare it for launch on an accelerated timeline,” the Space Systems Command said.
Lockheed Martin announced April 7 that the SV-08 spacecraft, which has been ready for launch since 2021, was delivered to Florida on a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III on April 2, where it will undergo final processing before launch.
The GPS III satellites represent the newest generation of the U.S. global positioning system, offering enhanced accuracy, improved anti-jamming capabilities, and increased interoperability with international satellite navigation systems.
https://spacenews.com/space-force-reassigns-gps-satellite-launch-from-ula-to-spacex/
The Department of Defense announces Deferred Resignation Program
April 7, 2025
The Department of Defense (DoD) announced a Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) for civilian employees, offering an opportunity for eligible employees to resign or retire while receiving paid administrative leave until September 30, 2025. DoD DRP and VERA are workforce-shaping tools that will help the DoD reach its projected civilian workforce goals of reduction by 5-8% through voluntary measures while allowing an opportunity for employees to transition from the Department smoothly.
Employees can apply for DRP and/or VERA from April 7, 2025, through April 14, 2025.
Department of the Air Force (DAF) civilians can expect to receive direct emails from the Acting Secretary of the Air Force and myFSS where they will be provided with a form to apply for these programs.
Employees are encouraged to review the information carefully and discuss their intentions to apply with their supervisors.
Interested employees may apply until April 14, 2025 using the following link:
https://play.apps.appsplatform.us/play/e/default-8331b18d-2d87-48ef-a35f-ac8818ebf9b4/a/4fe0d4d0-695c-448a-a830-af806e2af82e?tenantId=8331b18d-2d87-48ef-a35f-ac8818ebf9b4&hint=d5ce11be-c97c-4457-9224-ef50d403ca49&sourcetime=1743787100070
Those approved for DRP will enter a transition period, beginning no earlier than May 1, 2025, during which they are not expected to work and will receive paid administrative leave until September 30, 2025.
Individuals who elect into the DoD DRP will then resign or retire by September 30, 2025. Employees will also be exempt from in-person work requirements.
The VERA program allows eligible federal employees to retire early with full benefits. To qualify, employees must be at least 50 years old with 20 years of creditable federal service, or any age with 25 years of creditable federal service.
For more information on VERA, see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-early-retirement-authority/.
Civilian employees eligible for VERA may also apply to the DoD’s DRP. Upon approval, these employees will also be placed on administrative leave and off-board by September 30, 2025.
In line with the Secretary of Defense's directive to prioritize readiness and critical missions, limited exemptions to the DRP will be considered.
These exemptions are based on mission-critical functions to ensure the Department can maintain its operational readiness while offering this opportunity to as many employees as possible.
DoD DRP and VERA are not available for the following employees:
Non-appropriated fund (NAF) employees
Foreign Local National employees
Dual Status Military Technicians
Highly Qualified Experts
Re-employed Annuitants
Childcare and youth program employees
Flight instructors (aircraft and simulators)
After evaluating overall participation and operational mission requirements, the DAF may identify further employee exemptions.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4146358/the-department-of-defense-announces-deferred-resignation-program/
https://www.af.mil/Portals/1/documents/2025SAF/Implementation_of_DoD_Deferred_Resignation_Program.pdf
Mexico would reject unilateral US military action, after drone strike report
April 8, 2025
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday that her nation would categorically reject any unilateral U.S. military in Mexico and that such military action "would not resolve anything."
Her comments were in response to a question about an NBC News report that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is considering drone strikes on drug cartels in Mexico to combat trafficking across the countries' shared border.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mexico-would-reject-unilateral-us-military-action-after-drone-strike-report/ar-AA1CxeV3
Second Drone Smuggling Attempt at Prison
April 08, 2025 10:59am
(Westville, IN) - A second person has been arrested for allegedly using a drone to try and smuggle drugs and other contraband like tobacco into Westville Correctional Facility.
Authorities also suspect Zamale Davis succeeded on at least one previous attempt at the prison.
Davis, 30, of South Bend is charged in La Porte Superior Court 2 with two counts of Level 5 felony trafficking with an inmate.
According to court documents, an official with the Indiana Department of Correction and multiple police agencies on the night of April 3 responded to the prison’s drone detective system.
The system alerted to the presence of a drone in the air space around the prison.
Authorities soon went inside a nearby building along U.S. 421 with a tracking dog and a man later identified as Davis was spotted running along the edge of the property, according to court documents.
Despite commands to stop, Davis kept running even after warned about the dog and his potential to bite. He stopped, though, when informed the dog had been released to chase him down, authorities said.
A duffle bag containing the drone, remote control along with multiple bags of contraband were among the items found during a search of the building, according to court documents
Authorities said the contraband included nearly two pounds of marijuana, about one pound of tobacco and over 1,300 rolling papers.
Also allegedly seized were seven cell phones, four chargers, five vape pens and 11 lighters, which are also prohibited from being in the prison.
According to court documents, Davis is suspected in a drone drug trafficking incident at the prison on March 2.
That’s because Davis while arrested was recognized by Warden Jason Smiley from the previous drone related response and the drugs seized were in the same type bags that somehow found their way into the prison last month.
Davis was being held in the LaPorte County Jail on $15,000 bond.
On March 21, Eric Patino was allegedly caught in a failed attempt to get methamphetamine and other drugs inside the prison through the use of a drone.
A drone detected in the prison’s airspace was soon witnessed hovering above the responding authorities and flying toward where it was launched.
The 29 year old Hammond man quickly emerged from some nearby brush and was chased on foot until he was soon captured, police said.
Authorities walking toward where Patino was first spotted discovered the drone along with large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, tobacco and suboxone, according to court documents.
LaPorte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan said the use of drones to get contraband into the hands of offenders appears to be a “disturbing trend” and one he believes will continue.
“You never underestimate people and what they can think of and how to use things. It’s a game of cat and mouse,” he said.
https://hometownnewsnow.com/local-news/787667
Motorola Solutions enhances 911 command centers with drone technology
April 8, 2025
Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) announced its investments in BRINC and SkySafe, forming strategic alliances to integrate Drone as First Responder (DFR) and drone detection technologies into its 911 command center solution, CommandCentral, and expand the companies’ go-to-market opportunities.
With more than 60% of North America’s public safety answering points (PSAP) already relying on Motorola Solutions’ 911 command center software, this collective U.S.-made offering enables public safety agencies to seamlessly introduce drones to help protect the public’s safety and security.
“With over 240 million 911 calls made each year, a faster response time to the call can be the consequential difference in an emergency,” said Mahesh Saptharishi, executive vice president and chief technology officer, Motorola Solutions.
“We’re integrating the powerful capabilities of drones into 911 software, enabling precious time saved to deliver that life-saving medicine or give officers eyes and ears on scene before they arrive.”
BRINC allows 911 call handlers to immediately dispatch drones in response to emergency calls or with the push of a button from a Motorola Solutions APX NEXT smart radio.
According to the company, some 911 calls can be cleared solely with drones, which Motorola Solutions expects to augment with “Assist for 911,” its AI application that can automate incident analysis and help determine when a DFR-based response is appropriate.
Integrating Drones into 911 Command Centers
“Of equal importance to the public’s safety is managing the growing threat of unauthorized drones,” Saptharishi said.
“Greater security for our airspace is an imperative to safeguard our critical infrastructure, borders and communities. This alliance also brings drone detection to the screens of 911 and command center operators across the nation.”
SkySafe can track and identify a drone, its operator’s location and real-time flight path and historical data.
With SkySafe’s cloud-based SaaS platform, customers can have a reliable airspace security solution that requires no hardware or infrastructure investment.
The company predicts the number of consumer drones in the U.S. can rise into the millions, highlighting the scale of risk that unauthorized drones potentially pose.
The new streams of drone intelligence enabled through these integrations can be streamed live into the command center and shared with officers in the field on in-vehicle computers or mobile devices.
It can further be stored in agencies’ evidence management systems as part of Motorola Solutions’ ecosystem of safety and security technologies.
Agencies can combine other incident data, such as 911 call records, officers’ radio dialogue, officers’ location information and more, for comprehensive analysis and evidence, including AI-based redaction to protect privacy.
“Drones are often first on the scene, providing the initial set of eyes on an emergency and equipping first responders to arrive better prepared,” said Blake Resnick, founder and CEO of BRINC.
“We’re proud of our work with Motorola Solutions to help make drones an attainable reality for public safety agencies, helping to safeguard human life.”
“Unauthorized drones at major events and airports can cause immediate, harmful effects on people and operations,” said Grant Jordan, CEO of SkySafe.
“We share Motorola Solutions’ vision to empower PSAPs to detect and protect against the increasing threats from malicious drones.”
https://www.securityinfowatch.com/alarms-monitoring/emergency-safety-equipment/emergency-communications-equipment/press-release/55280583/motorola-solutions-motorola-solutions-enhances-911-command-centers-with-drone-technology
Mali, Algeria close airspace to each other amid rows over drone downing
April 8, 2025
BAMAKO | Xinhua | Mali on Monday announced the decision to close its airspace to all civilian and military aircraft traveling to and from Algeria, effective immediately and until further notice, as tension escalates between the two countries after Algeria shot down a Malian drone.
The Malian Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure said that the move was in response to Algeria’s decision to take the same action, condemning Algeria for its “continued support of international terrorism.”
Just hours earlier, Algeria’s Ministry of National Defense decided to ban all air traffic between the two countries starting Monday, citing “repeated airspace violations” by Mali.
Also on Monday, Algeria’s Foreign Ministry of Foreign also announced the recall of its ambassadors to Mali and Niger and the postponement of the deployment of its new ambassador to Burkina Faso.
In recent years, relations between Mali and Algeria have been tense, with Mali repeatedly accusing Algeria of “harboring terrorist groups along their shared border.”
In January 2024, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), after being sanctioned by the bloc over military coups.
On July 6, the three countries held the first summit of the “Alliance of Sahel States” in Niamey, the capital of Niger, and announced the establishment of the Confederation of Sahel States.
https://www.independent.co.ug/mali-algeria-close-airspace-to-each-other-amid-rows-over-drone-downing/
U.S. forces to deploy large reconnaissance drones in Japan's Okinawa
April 8, 2025 20:05
U.S. forces will deploy large reconnaissance drones in the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa for an indefinite period to enhance surveillance and information gathering, the Japanese Defense Ministry said Tuesday, although the move has triggered local objection.
MQ-4C Triton aircraft are expected to begin operating out of Kadena Air Base "within a few weeks," Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told a press conference in Tokyo.
The Triton is a long-endurance unmanned aircraft with a wingspan of around 40 meters designed to fly at higher altitudes and cover wider areas than the smaller MQ-9 Reaper drones that have been stationed at the same air base since 2023.
Last year, the U.S. military tentatively deployed two Tritons at the Kadena base for about five months from May.
Okinawa is part of a chain of islands stretching southwest from Kyushu toward Taiwan, facing the East China Sea where Chinese military activity has been increasing.
After being informed of the deployment by the Defense Ministry, the Okinawa prefectural government expressed opposition to the plan as it could increase the base-hosting burden on local communities.
The prefecture hosts the bulk of U.S. military installations in Japan.
"We strongly demand that the deployment plan be reconsidered and that our burden be reduced in a visible manner," Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki said in a statement.
Nakatani told the press conference that he expects the noise to be "limited," citing that almost no complaints were reported during last year's provisional Triton deployment and that the aircraft, like the RQ-4 Global Hawk drones that are already operating in Japan, does not need to take off and land frequently given its long-range capability.
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/04/efc17ea11fd7-us-forces-to-deploy-large-reconnaissance-drones-in-southern-japan.html
Trump administration mulls launching drone strikes on Mexican drug cartels: Report
April 8, 2025, 16:28:51 IST
The US government is planning to launch drone strikes against Mexican drug cartels as President Donald Trump vows to combat the trafficking of narcotics from the Latin American nation.
Officials from the US military, law enforcement and intelligence officials have told NBC News that the White House is discussing initial plans with the Defence Department to attack cartels and their networks in the country with drones in collaboration with the Mexican government.
The administration has yet to make a final decision or reach a concrete agreement on how to address the cartels.
Sources indicated that unilateral covert actions, carried out without Mexico’s approval, remain a possibility and could be considered as a last resort.
It is still uncertain whether US officials have discussed the option of drone strikes with the Mexican government.
How has US stepped up surveillance?
Although this is not the first time the US and Mexico would be working together for a possible joint operation against drug cartels, a blueprint of the plan this time would involve an unprecedented number of US personnel and American unmanned aircraft to bomb cartel personnel and assets.
According to six sources, the US military and CIA have significantly increased surveillance flights over Mexico to gather intelligence in preparation for what is expected to be a major operation against the cartels, which the White House has identified as a national security threat.
These flights are being conducted with the approval of the Mexican government, as confirmed by President Claudia Sheinbaum.
How is Mexico helping?
Last week, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that there are more lists of names of alleged drug traffickers for extradition to the United States.
In February, Mexico handed over nearly 30 jailed convicts or others accused of ties to violent drug cartels to US authorities amid threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to impose across-the-board tariffs on Mexican goods, which he later paused.
Trump is expected to announce reciprocal tariff rates on April 2, after implementing levies on aluminum, steel and automobiles.
Sheinbaum said in her daily press conference that Mexico does not believe in “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” regarding its response to US tariffs, but that action would be taken.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/trump-administration-mulls-launching-drone-strikes-on-mexican-drug-cartels-report-13878223.html
Moscow confirms new Russia-US talks
8 Apr, 2025 17:17
The next round of Russia-US talks aimed at improving diplomatic ties will take place in Istanbul, Turkiye in the coming days, Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday.
The two countries have held several rounds of high-level meetings since US President Donald Trump took office in January.
The upcoming talks will focus on normalizing the operation of the two countries’ diplomatic missions, the ministry told Russian media outlets on Tuesday.
The venue, format, and participants of the talks will remain unchanged from a previous round on February 27, also in Istanbul, it said.
“Work to remove numerous technical barriers complicating the day-to-day functioning of diplomats from both countries will continue,” the ministry said, as quoted by RIA Novosti.
The Russian delegation will be led by Moscow’s new ambassador to Washington, Aleksandr Darchiev, while the US side will be headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Eurasian Affairs Sonata Coulter.
Representatives from both foreign ministries will also take part.
Plans for a new meeting were first announced last week by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said Moscow and Washington were “in contact by phone and video conference” as they prepared for the next round of talks.
In recent years, Russia and the US cut diplomatic staff at each other’s missions, imposed banking restrictions on each other and seized diplomatic properties.
The escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022 further exacerbated tensions and led to further restrictions.
Trump has moved away from many Biden-era policies, calling for a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict and a reset in bilateral ties.
The first meeting between Russian and US high-level delegations took place in Riyadh on February 18, focusing on restoring embassy operations and easing restrictions.
A follow-up round in Istanbul on February 27 addressed diplomatic funding and Russia’s proposal to reinstate direct flights between the two countries.
Last month, delegations from both sides met again in Saudi Arabia, where they agreed to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Following the talks, Trump signaled that Washington could consider lifting certain sanctions to advance the deal, which is seen as a step toward resolving the Ukraine conflict.
https://www.rt.com/news/615400-russia-us-new-talks-istanbul/
Would-be Trump assassin sought rocket launcher from Ukraine
8 Apr, 2025 16:56
A pro-Ukraine activist sought to acquire an anti-tank grenade launcher and a Stinger anti-aircraft missile to kill Donald Trump during the US president’s ultimately-successful campaign, a recently published court document claims.
The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, was arrested in September after US Secret Service agents found him with a rifle on the perimeter of Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Court documents show that he also considered other options involving much heavier weapons.
A motion filed by the US Justice Department with the Florida Southern District Court claims that, in August 2024, the suspect reached out to an “associate Routh believed to be a Ukrainian with access to military weapons.”
The document was published by investigative journalist, Ken Silva, on the Scribd platform this week. A convicted felon, Routh had unsuccessfully attempted to join the Ukrainian military in 2022.
He afterwards embarked on a scheme to recruit former Afghan commandos to fight for Kiev in the conflict with Russia.
Routh allegedly openly told his unidentified associate via an encrypted messaging app that he wanted to kill Trump, who was still a presidential candidate at the time, the document said.
The suspect also repeatedly stated that Trump’s election would be “not good for Ukraine.” He also reportedly urged his Ukrainian contact to “send [him] an RPG or a Stinger.”
An RPG is a Russian shoulder-fired anti-tank grenade launcher, commonly known in the post-Soviet countries.
“I need the equipment so that Trump don’t [sic] get elected,” Routh wrote in one of the messages.
The suspect also allegedly told his contact that it should not be a problem to get him what he needs since “you are at war and those items [get] lost and destroyed daily – one missing would not be noticed.”
According to the document, Routh was never able to get his hands on either a grenade launcher or a Stinger.
He is now expected to face trial in September 2025. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
https://www.rt.com/news/615409-trump-assassin-rocket-launcher-ukraine/
Trump Criticizes Ongoing Bombing in Ukraine Amid Ceasefire Talks
April 8, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday voiced frustration over ongoing violence in Ukraine as his administration continues to pursue a deal to end the three-year war.
“I’m not happy about what’s going on” in Ukraine, Trump told reporters at the White House, saying that “they’re bombing like crazy right now,” even as he claimed the parties were “sort of close” to a deal.
Trump did not single out Russia specifically in his comments, but the Russian military has launched a number of deadly strikes against Ukraine over the past week, including a Friday strike on Kryvyi Rih that killed 14 people.
Describing the situation as “not good,” Trump said: “We’re meeting with Russia, we’re meeting with Ukraine, and we’re getting sort of close, but I’m not happy with all the bombing that’s gone on in the last week or so.”
“It’s horrible. It’s a horrible thing,” he added.
In March, Trump said he was “pissed off” with Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Sunday, he told reporters: “We’d like them to stop. I don’t like the bombing.”
His comments came hours after the Kremlin said it supported the idea of a truce but still had “many questions” about how a ceasefire would work — pushing back on U.S. and European accusations that it was stalling for time.
Despite Trump’s campaign promise to bring peace to Ukraine “within 24 hours” of returning to office in January, Russia has continued its strikes unabated.
Putin in March rejected a joint U.S.-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional, full ceasefire.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/08/trump-criticizes-ongoing-bombing-in-ukraine-amid-ceasefire-talks-a88645
Sphere-shaped ‘UFO’ spotted flying over city
updated: April 8, 2025 5:44 pm
A suspected UFO has been spotted flying over a city. An onlooker recorded the sighting on his camera as he enjoyed the views and early morning quiet.
The object can be seen flying above him before darting down the other side of a hill.
It comes back into the shot and flies around in front of him, moving from left to right in mid-air.
The object then flies directly over the city, as reported by Need To Know.
It looks like a sphere-shaped object with a silver and grey coating.
In the footage, the ball eventually starts to slow before landing on the hill in front of him.
The object then flies directly over the city, as reported by Need To Know.
It looks like a sphere-shaped object with a silver and grey coating.
In the footage, the ball eventually starts to slow before landing on the hill in front of him.
The man records himself making his way towards the suspected UFO, which is on the ground among some brambles.
The camera then cuts off, and it has not been confirmed what happened after.
The video has since been shared to YouTube and has gathered over 17,000 likes and plenty of comments.
Androw said: “The way it ends abruptly tingles my spidey senses!”
Bret added: “Whatever this is it is clearly under its own control, it went straight for a while but then it turned quite a bit.”
Rob said: “Definitely not a balloon… it was doing some interesting things.”
Someone else added: “That’s amazing!”
Jira said: “This document is absolutely stunning. It’s a shame it ends just as the most interesting part begins.”
The incident happened in the morning in March, in Columbia, South America.
https://needtoknow.co.uk/2025/04/08/sphere-shaped-ufo-spotted-flying-over-city/
>>22879321 PB
Skywatcher Part II: "Mapping The Unknown"
Apr 7, 2025
Skywatcher Part II builds on the narrative of Jake Barber and the Skywatcher team as they seek to scientifically validate the existence of UAPs through both electromechanical signaling ("machine calling") and neuromeditative interaction ("psionic calling").
This episode introduces James Fowler, who leads the technology team at Skywatcher.
The episode also defines a taxonomy for UAPs by introducing 9 different classes of UAP, including the Tic Tac, the jellyfish, and the manta ray.
The experience also follows the team in the field, including Dr. Garry Nolan, Alex Klokus, Matt Pines, and others as they collect additional data on UAPs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUthXIGUsq8
"I'm not familiar with them,"(fmr) NASA chief Bill Nelson never worked with AARO
Apr 05, 2025
Former US Senator and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson
Ask a Pol asks:
What’d you make of all the stuff flying over Jersey? Or reports of incursions over, say, Langley Air Force Base in Virginia or Luke Air Force Base in Arizona?
Key Nelson:
“I don't know anything about that,” (fmr) NASA Administrator Nelson exclusively tells Ask a Pol. "Oh, now you're talking about UAVs. Now you're not talking about UFOs."
Well, the FBI says they don't know what they are, so they're technically UAP…
"Well, we know about UAVs,” Nelson says. “Undisclosed, where they're from, I think that is a concern."
"AARO? I'm not familiar with that…”
"AARO?” Nelson replies to Ask a Pol. "I'm not familiar with that.”
“It's the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office,” Ask a Pol explains. “It's housed within the Pentagon, but they're the ones supposed to be reporting on UFOs.”
"Oh, oh, oh, that,” Nelson replies. “Well, we got involved because I thought we could approach it from a scientific point of view…”
Caught our ear:
“Most of the sightings are explained by electrical phenomena or balloons and things like that,” Nelson asks Ask a Pol.
https://www.askapoluaps.com/p/nasa-administrator-bill-nelson-doesnt-know-aaro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyuVWV4KDeA