TYB
Mike Rogers announces ‘Space Command will officially be assigned to build its headquarters in Huntsville’
April 9, 2025
After years of politicized delay by the Biden Administration, Alabama Congressman and Chairman of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, Mike Rogers announced that the headquarters of U.S. Space Command will officially be built in Huntsville.
Speaking on Auburn University’s McCrary Institute’s “Cyber Focus” podcast, Rogers confirmed that the long-awaited decision will be finalized this month.
“I expect sometime during the month of April, that space command will officially be assigned to build its headquarters in Huntsville,” Rogers (R-Saks) said.
“I’ve already talked with the contractor. He is ready to turn dirt on the day the announcement’s made, and we do expect it to be announced right after the Air Force Secretary is named.”
President Donald Trump nominated Troy Meink to serve as the Secretary of the Air Force earlier this year. His confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee was successful in March.
The Senate has not yet scheduled a vote to confirm Meink’s nomination, but it is expected sometime in April, according to reports.
Roger’s statement marks the most consequential development in a long and politicized struggle with the previous Democrat-controlled White House.
In January 2021, during President Donald Trump’s first administration, the U.S. Air Force announced that Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal in Alabama was the preferred location for U.S. Space Command’s permanent headquarters.
That decision followed a comprehensive evaluation process in which Redstone Arsenal ranked first, surpassing all other contenders, including Colorado’s Peterson Space Force Base, which ranked fifth.
After taking office, Joe Biden’s administration initiated a review of the basing decision. By May 2023, reports indicated that the administration intended to reverse the previous decision and keep SPACECOM in Colorado.
Alabama’s congressional delegation responded vigorously to the potential reversal. U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) adamantly sounded the alarm in Congress that Huntsville was selected through a fair process and that political factors should not override national security interests.
Rogers’ remarks came during a wide-ranging conversation with host Frank Cilluffo that covered cyber threats, space policy, national defense priorities, and technological readiness.
During the interview, Rogers also discussed a potential new missile defense initiative called “Golden Dome,” echoing President Trump’s desire to mirror Israel’s Iron Dome system with a layered U.S. approach.
“Obviously, this would be exactly in the wheelhouse of Huntsville… They already have a big space mission up there,” he said. “This is exactly in their wheelhouse.”
As Rogers put it: “There will be a lot of battles fought where there’s not a gun fired. It’s going to be through cyber and through space.” For Huntsville, that future is about to become official.
https://yellowhammernews.com/mike-rogers-announces-space-command-will-officially-be-assigned-to-build-its-headquarters-in-huntsville/
https://twitter.com/McCraryCyber/status/1909959079876850017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjJsEAqQw7c
First African American woman to travel to space to speak at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Updated: 8:29 AM CDT April 9, 2025
FORT SMITH, Ark. — Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel to space, will visit Fort Smith on Wednesday, April 9.
Dr. Jemison will present a talk at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith titled "Exploring the Frontiers of Science and Human Potential."
During her presentation, she will also discuss her experiences as the first African American woman in space and share insights into her work as an author, researcher, and entrepreneur. A book signing will follow.
The talk will be held at the Reynolds Room at the UAFS Campus Center. The event is free, but tickets are required.
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/first-african-american-woman-travel-space-fort-smith-uafs/527-8911546a-86e4-4ab8-99a4-091a1c16fdda
https://uafs.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=1804&fbclid=IwY2xjawJjVIBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHmr5SrxnWfFWhHtuR37ZlNxiKb4RS9swSmMrbY2nXsriBXfUoh3LbyxQ3j87_aem_WS4XlH3xJP_apuTvrYaAFg
ISS SSTV Event Celebrates International Day of Human Space Flight
April 9, 2025
ARISS will celebrate International Day of Human Space Flight with a special event transmitting SSTV images from the International Space Station (ISS).
The event Humans in Space will take place April 11-16. Those listening in can expect a series of 12 different images transmitted in SSTV mode PD120 on 145.800 MHz.
For a beginner's guide to receiving images from the ISS, see this guide from AMSAT-UK.
https://daily.hamweekly.com/2025/04/iss-sstv-event-humans-in-space/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_of_Human_Space_Flight
https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/
Astroscale US to lead the first-ever refueling of a United States Space Force asset
April 9, 2025
Astroscale US will conduct two refueling operations of a US Department of Defense (DoD) satellite in geostationary orbit (GEO) for the United States Space Force (USSF).
This mission will demonstrate the ability of commercial Servicing, Mobility and Logistics providers to deliver on-orbit capabilities supporting the warfighter.
The Astroscale US Refueler is manifested to launch in the summer of 2026.
The Astroscale US Refueler will be the first spacecraft to conduct hydrazine refueling operations above GEO and will be the first-ever on-orbit refueling mission supporting a DoD asset.
Designed for maneuverability, the 300-kilogram spacecraft will carry a refillable hydrazine tank, supporting refueling for a client spacecraft during two planned operations and enabling an end-to-end refueling ecosystem with a client, servicer and depot in space.
“We’re changing the reality of what’s possible,” said Ron Lopez, President of Astroscale US. “This mission proves that in-space logistics does not have to be years away.
We’re a focused team with one goal: deliver and operate an operational prototype spacecraft for the Space Force.
That’s only possible because of our agile structure, solution-oriented design, close collaboration with Space Systems Command’s Servicing Mobility and Logistics program office and our incredible team.
The Astroscale US Refueler is proof that commercial space companies can develop and deliver new, operational capabilities on time and on budget.”
This mission will establish space heritage for scalable refueling services, a critical step toward enabling sustained maneuverability.
Astroscale US selected Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to build the bus and Orbit Fab’s refueling interfaces; the Astroscale US Refueler is part of a growing commercial ecosystem supporting dynamic space operations and enhanced options for mission planning, resilience and responsiveness.
“We’re not just enabling a refueling mission — we’re laying the groundwork for scalable, flexible logistics across space,” said Ian Thomas, Astroscale US Refueler Program Manager.
“This is infrastructure that expands options for the warfighter and demonstrates what rapid innovation looks like in action.”
https://www.satelliteevolution.com/post/astroscale-us-to-lead-the-first-ever-refueling-of-a-united-states-space-force-asset
G-Dragon's music to be beamed into space
09 Apr. 2025, 15:08
Singer G-Dragon will work with KAIST to have his music sent to space, his agency Galaxy Corporation said Wednesday.
The Big Bang singer will collaborate with the university to have a song and music video, which was created using the generative AI Sora, broadcast into space, according to the agency.
The project is related to NASA's Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence project that shot the Beatles' movie into space, Galaxy Corporation said.
"This move will be a landmark in the so-called entertech field, which encompasses AI and entertainment, as well as space physics," the agency said in a press release.
G-Dragon will discuss his vision for AI and the entertainment sector at the 2025 Innovate Korea seminar at KAIST on Wednesday.
The one-day forum is hosted by the Herald Media Group, KAIST and the National Research Council of Science & Technology.
The singer, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, was appointed visiting professor at KAIST last year.
His agency, a metaverse developer, signed a memorandum of understanding with the university in May to collaborate on finding ways to apply AI in the K-pop industry.
The two established the Galaxy Corporation-KAIST R&D Center to conduct research on AI and other future technologies. The "AI Enterttech Research Center" held its opening ceremony on Wednesday.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-09/business/tech/GDragons-music-to-be-beamed-into-space/2281233
Watch Atlas V rocket launch 1st big batch of Amazon's Project Kuiper internet satellites today
April 9, 2025
Amazon's first big batch of Project Kuiper broadband satellites will take flight today (April 9), and you can watch the action live.
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket is scheduled to launch 27 Project Kuiper satellites from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station today during a two-hour window that opens at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT).
You can watch the liftoff live here at Space.com courtesy of ULA or directly via the company. Coverage will start at 6:35 p.m. EDT (2235 GMT).
Amazon's first big batch of Project Kuiper broadband satellites will take flight today (April 9), and you can watch the action live.
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket is scheduled to launch 27 Project Kuiper satellites from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station today during a two-hour window that opens at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT).
You can watch the liftoff live here at Space.com courtesy of ULA or directly via the company. Coverage will start at 6:35 p.m. EDT (2235 GMT).
Project Kuiper is Amazon's planned broadband megaconstellation in low Earth orbit. The initial network will consist of about 3,200 satellites, Amazon representatives have said.
Amazon will assemble that big constellation over more than 80 launches, the majority of them performed by the Atlas V and its successor, ULA's new Vulcan Centaur. Amazon has also procured launches from Arianespace, Blue Origin and SpaceX.
Today's launch will be the first to send fully operational Kuiper craft skyward and the second of any type for the program: An Atlas V lofted two prototype Kuiper satellites in October 2023.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/ula-atlas-v-launch-first-batch-amazon-project-kuiper-internet-satellites-webcast
https://www.ulalaunch.com/missions/next-launch/atlas-v-kuiper-1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8XsTzF90sQ
Might also draw them in if they dig it
Lunar Outpost unveils sleek new 'Eagle' moon rover
April 9, 2025
The Eagle has landed.
Colorado-based Lunar Outpost just unveiled its new "Eagle" moon rover at the Space Foundation's 40th annual Space Symposium here, and it looks straight out of science fiction.
Sporting a sleek metallic finish and ice-blue LED lighting, the Eagle rover turned quite a few heads on the expo floor this year. But Eagle boasts more than just futuristic looks.
The rover is packed with features designed with the next generation of Artemis program moon explorers in mind and is based on feedback from current NASA astronauts at NASA's Johnson Space Center, according to Lunar Outpost's A.J Gerner.
"We've developed our all of our crew and human interfaces through a lot of testing with NASA Johnson, we've had eight astronauts, even in full pressurized suits, evaluate the design, and their feedback is throughout the vehicle," Gerner told Space.com.
One of the features astronauts particularly enjoyed during testing is the wide, easily accessible front entry area, which is maneuverable even in a bulky spacesuit.
In the configuration shown here at the symposium, the Eagle vehicle features two seats for crew, each with its own redundant and mirrored controls, meaning either astronaut can control the rover.
The steering controls on each side consist of a single handle that controls four individual motors that drive each wheel.
Each wheel can turn independently of the other three, allowing the Eagle rover to turn on its center axis or "crab walk" sideways, Gerner said.
In addition to the hand controller, each seat in the Eagle rover has a multifunction display at eye level for each of the astronauts riding on board.
These displays will fuse feeds from onboard cameras and Lunar Outpost's "Eagle eye" sensors that can see things astronauts' eyes cant, which will come in handy if the vehicle is ever sent to explore regions near the moon's south pole that contain permanently shadowed regions or deep craters where water ice might be hiding.
"The idea is to extend the crew's perception," Gerner said, "and the displays put all that information right at their fingertips."
To help astronauts conduct science and exploration on the lunar surface, Eagle also features tool lockers and refrigerated sample containers to help bring home samples of the moon safely.
Each tool locker features a shelf that can raise up to astronauts' chest height, making it easy for them to reach what they need even in a bulky spacesuit.
Additional tool racks and storage can be added to the racks along the sides of the rear of the vehicle.
But Eagle wasn't just built with astronauts in mind. Gerner said the vehicle can be operated autonomously or by controllers on Earth, allowing it to explore the lunar surface even if astronauts aren't on the moon with it.
Lunar Outpost hopes to have Eagle on the moon by the end of the decade to support NASA's planned Artemis 5 mission.
But the rover is currently in the running alongside two others, designed by Intuitive Machines and Venturi Astrolab, in NASA's quest to find its next "lunar terrain vehicle."
The total potential value of the lunar terrain vehicle services contract is $4.6 billion.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/moon-rovers/lunar-outpost-unveils-sleek-new-eagle-moon-rover-photos
https://www.lunaroutpost.com/post/lunar-outpost-to-unveil-latest-lunar-terrain-vehicle-at-space-symposium-2025
Newly discovered Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN) captured in stunning photo blazing across UK skies
April 9, 2025
The newly discovered comet, now designated Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN) is making a striking debut in the early morning skies — and astrophotographer Josh Dury had front-row seats to capture it this morning.
"Amazing to witness such a newly discovered comet just several hours after its official designation," Dury told Space.com.
Dury captured Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN) soaring over the Mendip Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Somerset, U.K. at approximately 4:50 a.m. local time.
"Comets are a great celestial attraction — as these are opportunities to capture dirty snowballs; the oldest objects from the far edges of our solar system," Dury told Space.com.
"Each takes on unique characters of their own in appearance and color, providing signals from the early formation of our place in the universe."
The comet was discovered in late March by Australian amateur astronomer Michael Mattiazzo, using imagery from the SWAN instrument aboard the sun-watching SOHO spacecraft, which maps hydrogen in the solar wind.
Enough observational data has now been collected and the discovery confirmed by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center, it is now designated Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN).
If you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the comet yourself, you'll need to act quickly.
It will remain visible until around April 14, after which it moves into the constellation Andromeda and becomes lost in the twilight as it approaches the sun.
The comet reaches perihelion — its closest point to the sun — on May 1, after which it will become visible from the southern hemisphere.
"With weather and moon prospects, this was our best chance to observe from the UK," Dury said.
https://www.space.com/new-comet-swan25f-photo-josh-dury-uk-skies
https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=07&month=04&year=2025
NASA's in a 'weird period' right now, acting chief Janet Petro says
April 8, 2025
These are strange times for NASA, according to the agency's acting chief.
During the brief tenure of acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro, the agency has laid off employees, slashed budgets, ended key programs, and removed all mentions of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility from its websites.
If this stretch has seemed odd to you, you're not alone; Petro herself characterized it as a "weird period" during a fireside address today (April 8) at the Space Foundation's 40th annual Space Symposium here in Colorado Springs.
So weird, in fact, that Petro added that she thinks she is the person at NASA who is most eager to see billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman confirmed as NASA administrator. Isaacman is slated to have his first confirmation hearing tomorrow (April 9).
"I think I am the one most looking forward to that I know across the agency," Petro said today.
The acting administrator opened her fireside chat with Space Foundation CEO Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle (Ret.) by recounting how she came to find out she was given the position of acting administrator after former NASA chief Bill Nelson stepped down in January 2025.
Petro was so surprised by the news after hearing it first from her chief of staff that she thought it was a prank. "I thought he was punking me. I thought it was a joke," Petro told Space Symposium attendees today.
The acting NASA chief elaborated on how she views her role in this "weird" time at the agency, stating that she has been primarily attempting to keep the agency moving forward on its flagship programs of record like the Artemis moon missions or recent partnerships on private moon landings.
But the confirmation of a new agency administrator will "allow us to move forward even faster with some more specificity, if you will," Petro said.
"So along with that, I would say, I like to say I'm sort of preparing to wait for Jared, just making sure that everything is on track," she added.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/nasas-in-a-weird-period-right-now-acting-chief-janet-petro-says
China to seek out life in the solar system as NASA faces cuts, commercial players expand ambitions
April 9, 2025
China has unveiled a long-term planetary exploration roadmap for planetary habitability and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Released by the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL), the roadmap outlines a series of upcoming and proposed missions targeting key destinations across the solar system.
The plan kicks off with the Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission, scheduled for launch in 2028, which will search for signs of past or present life. In 2029, Tianwen-4 aims to explore Jupiter and its moon Callisto.
A mission to Venus in 2033 will collect atmospheric particles to probe its microenvironment, and a Mars research station focused on long-term environmental and biological studies is slated for around 2038.
The most ambitious proposal is a nuclear-powered mission to Neptune around 2039, intended to study its atmosphere, rings, and intriguing moon Triton.
Triton, a possible ocean world with a retrograde orbit, shows signs of cryovolcanism, where fluids such as water, ammonia and methane erupt instead of molten rock.
While not officially approved, the mission signals China’s growing interest in outer solar system astrobiology.
China’s planetary habitability roadmap looks like this:
Tianwen-3 Mars sample return (2028)
Tianwen-4 Jupiter and Callisto orbiter (2029)
Habitable Environments Simulator (2030)
Venus atmospheric sampler return (2033)
Mars Science Station (2038)
Neptune orbiter mission (2039)
Meanwhile, NASA is facing the prospect of potentially severe cuts, including expected layoffs, with rumors the White House will propose cutting NASA’s science budget by as much as 50% in its fiscal year 2026 proposal.
Expanding commercial activities
China’s commercial space sector continues to broaden its horizons, as demonstrated by two recent initiatives that underscore a growing diversity of ambitions.
Beijing Ziwei Yutong Technology Co., Ltd. (AZSpace), founded in 2019, has announced ambitious plans to conduct crewed orbital flight tests by 2027 or 2028.
The company intends to launch its self-developed B300 spacecraft in July 2025, followed by the more advanced DEAR-5 spacecraft in September 2025.
These missions aim to verify on-orbit docking and reentry capabilities, marking a significant step towards China’s first commercial crewed spaceflight.
In parallel, Beijing Lanying Xingtong Technology Co., Ltd. (Bluelink Satcom) has secured early-stage funding to develop a satellite network capable of detecting Bluetooth signals from space.
The company plans to launch China’s first Bluetooth satellite by mid-2025, facilitating low-power, wide-area Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.
The developments follow Chinese central government backing for the commercial space sector and many provinces and cities drawing up action plans to attract space companies and foster their development.
These efforts reflect a broader national strategy to cultivate a diverse and competitive commercial space ecosystem as a driver of growth.
Clandestine geostationary activity
Meanwhile, in geostationary orbit, China is continuing to expand its presence, deploying satellites with advanced capabilities that have raised security concerns among international observers.
The recent launches of the classified TJS-15 and TJS-16 satellites exemplify this trend.
China launched the classified TJS-15 satellite March 9 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Days after reaching GEO, a companion object was detected alongside TJS-15.
While cataloged by U.S. Space Force as an apparent apogee kick motor, the launch echoes the earlier TJS-3 mission, signaling possible satellite inspection, rendezvous or other capabilities.
Subsequently, March 29, the TJS-16 satellite was launched from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March 7A rocket.
While officially described as a communication technology experiment satellite, the lack of detailed information and the nature of previous TJS missions suggest that TJS-16 may possess advanced functionalities, including signals intelligence or early warning capabilities.
Mission patches issued by the satellites’ maker appear to represent two of the Four Heavenly Kings indicating the two missions may be linked, with more to come.
https://spacenews.com/china-to-seek-out-life-in-the-solar-system-as-nasa-faces-cuts-commercial-players-expand-ambitions/
https://x.com/AJ_FI/status/1906685103973044563
USSF launches Orbital Watch, strengthens U.S. Commercial Space Industry
April 8, 2025
Summary: Front Door launches a new initiative designed to enhance critical unclassified threat information sharing with commercial space providers to bolster space system security and resilience.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – The U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) Front Door office has launched a new initiative designed to enhance unclassified threat-information-sharing with commercial space companies.
On Mar. 21, Front Door launched Orbital Watch, its rapid communication platform, and released an unclassified threat fact sheet authored by Headquarters Space Force Intelligence to over 900 commercial providers in the Front Door’s catalog.
As space threats continue to evolve—from cyber intrusions and electronic warfare to adversarial on-orbit activities—Orbital Watch intends to communicate critical unclassified threat information to ensure commercial providers can build resilient systems and mitigate threats.
“This initiative is in direct alignment with the DoD Commercial Space Integration Strategy and the USSF Commercial Space Strategy, as well as congressional guidance” said Col. Richard Kniseley, senior materiel leader, SSC Commercial Space Office.
“Front Door has vast ties to industry right now and a clear mechanism for communicating threat information. The goal is sharing threat information in a timely manner, and Front Door is well equipped to do that.”
In an era of increasing threats, Orbital Watch is the culmination of partnerships with various organizations within the government intelligence community, such as the Director of National Intelligence, Office of the Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, Space Force Intelligence Office and the Commercial Integration Cell – a commercial integration cell within the U.S. Space Command.
Front Door is taking decisive steps to strengthen collaboration with commercial space providers, improve collective situational awareness, and enhance overall resilience in the space domain.
“Front Door is moving out on this essential effort,” said Victor Vigliotti, director, SSC Front Door.
“We are providing our commercial partners the information needed to increase system resilience and mitigate threats, both of which are foundational to the successful integration of commercial space capabilities in national security space architectures.
Front Door is the USSF organization with the technological capability and authority to disseminate unclassified threat information to a growing catalog of commercial space providers in a timely and organized manner.”
Orbital Watch will roll out in phases. Its initial operating capability, or beta phase, is focused on outbound dissemination on a quarterly basis that provides industry with assessments of evolving risks in the space domain.
As Front Door works to identify and consolidate additional sources of unclassified threat information, Orbital Watch’s cadence of dissemination will increase, ensuring commercial operators receive timely and actionable threat information.
The full operational capability phase of Orbital Watch will introduce a secure “Commercial Portal,” enabling two-way threat information sharing between the government and commercial space providers deemed critical to Space Force operations.
“The launch of Orbital Watch truly marks the beginning of a new age for threat information sharing and solves a critical challenge for both the government and industry,” said Vigliotti. “U.S. adversaries are moving fast; we need to move faster.
Orbital Watch is essential in developing collaborative and dynamically hybrid security architectures, which starts with commercial partners’ security and resiliency with lasting effects that will ensure our warfighters and operations remain protected from growing space threats.”
Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force’s field command responsible for acquiring, developing, and delivering resilient capabilities to protect our nation’s strategic advantage in, from, and to space.
SSC manages a $15.6 billion space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense and works in partnership with joint forces, industry, government agencies, and academic and allied organizations to outpace emerging threats.
Our actions today are making the world a better space for tomorrow. For more information, visit ssc.spaceforce.mil and follow @USSF-SSC on LinkedIn.
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article/4149587/ussf-launches-orbital-watch-strengthens-us-commercial-space-industry
Downed US MQ9 drone in Yemen
Apr 9, 2025, 7:16 PM
Yemen's armed forces shot down another U.S. MQ-9 drone on Wednesday, the 18th since the start of the war in Gaza.
"Our air defenses shot down a U.S. MQ-9 drone in the airspace of Al-Jawf province, using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile," the Yemeni military spokesperson general Yahya Sarea said in a televised statement aired by local al-Masirah TV.
The following is another video of the wreckage of a US MQ-9 drone shot down in Al-Jawf Governorate by Yemeni forces.
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/230403/VIDEO-Downed-US-MQ9-drone-in-Yemen
BRIDGE TOO FAR Incredible drone footage shows new world’s tallest bridge taking shape – and it looms NINE TIMES higher than Golden Gate
Updated: 16:06, 9 Apr 2025
INCREDIBLE drone footage shows the new world's tallest bridge taking shape, as it is set to open this year.
China's Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge is a whopping nine times higher than the Golden Gate Bridge and twice the height of the Eiffel Tower.
The nail-biting footage shows construction workers at the edge of the bridge adding finishing touches.
Vehicles can be seen weaving in and out of the building site in the clouds as they travel the length of the mammoth structure.
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge is 1.85 miles long and towers 2,050ft above the Beipan River.
The central element of the bridge is made up of 93 segments and weighs a total of 22,000 tons – or three times the weight of the Eiffel Tower.
At such an immense height, travelling over the world's tallest bridge is certainly not for the fainthearted.
But as well as breaking world-records, the bridge is set to increase connectivity in the region.
Locals are currently forced to spend at least an hour navigating the vast canyon.
But when the mighty bridge is unveiled, travel time will be reduced to just two minutes.
Chen Jianlei, deputy director of Guizhou Transport Department told China Daily: "The completion of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge will strengthen economic ties between [neighbouring cities] Guiyang, Anshun and Qianxinan, fostering regional economic integration."
The chief engineer of the record-breaking bridge has said that seeing his project come to life gives him "a profound sense of achievement and pride."
Work on the £227 million project began in 2022.
Until it opens, the title of tallest bridge in the world will remain with the Beipanjiang Bridge in Guizhou province around 200 miles north of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge.
The bridge with four lanes of traffic was finished in 2016 and stands 1788 feet over the Beipan River.
Meanwhile, construction has started once again on the world's tallest skyscraper that was left half-built seven years ago.
Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Tower, once completed, will be three times taller than the Shard and will dwarf all other developments.
The enormous tower would stand 3,280ft high when completed.
The Rise Tower it is set to double the height of the world's current tallest building at a 1.2 miles.
The breathtaking feat will double the height of Dubai's Burj Khalifa, and surpass the upcoming Jeddah Tower.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/34381325/world-tallest-bridge-drone-footage/
in a daiquiri somewhere
Ukraine launches 'massive drone attack targeting key Russian bases in overnight strike'
UPDATED: 08:20 ET, Wed, Apr 9, 2025
A massive Ukrainian drone attack struck Russia in the early hours of Wednesday, Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed.
As many as 158 drones were allegedly shot down over the occupied Crimean Peninsula and Russian territory near there. One of the likely targets was the military airfield in Mozdok, North Ossetia, the ministry claimed.
The head of the region cited no casualties or damage as a result of the strike. The Kyiv Post reported that the Telegram channel ASTRA published a photo that was allegedly taken near the local House of Culture, which is about 3.7 miles from the airfield.
Sergey Menyaylo, who is the head of the region, said the attack in the district was "repelled." At least 15 drones were destroyed by the region's air defense systems, he said, insisting there were "no casualties or destruction."
He admitted, however, that a "drone danger regime" is currently in effect across North Ossetia, with the threat of more attacks on the horizon.
The Mozdok airbase is used by Russia to launch Tupolev strategic bombers and MiG-31K fighter-bombers involved in several missile strikes across Ukraine. The MiG-31K is referred to by NATO as the Foxhound.
Ukrainian drones are also said to have targeted a military airfield in Russia's Orenburg region, acting Governor Yevgeny Solnstev said. He claimed the drones were shot down by air defense systems without casualties or damage.
ASTRA added that the strike was aimed at the Orenburg-2 airbase. Russia's Ministry of Defense has yet to comment on the incident.
Ukrainian drones were also shot down over Russia's Penza region overnight, it was reported, specifically in the Serdobsky district, where a major Russian missile and artillery ammunition depot is located.
Penza's governor stated that two drones were shot down by air defense systems at approximately 9 p.m. local time on Tuesday. He added that there were no casualties or visible damage there, either.
Open-source data suggests that the district hosts the military arsenal of unit 58661-90, formerly known as unit 83368, which stores rocket and artillery equipment.
The exact target of the Penza attacks wasn't confirmed, but it's likely the depot was at least an objective.
That same ammunition depot was attacked last October, leading to a fire breaking out at the site, ASTRA reported. Serdobsk is located about 435 miles from the Ukrainian border.
Russian Telegram channels have meanwhile been citing local residents who reported multiple explosions across several Russian settlements in the Rostov regoin, damaging rooftops in residential areas.
In Russia's Aksay district, one drone allegeldy struck a clothesline on the balcony of a high-rise building, prompting the evacuation of its residents. Ukraine, meanwhile, has not issued a statement about the alleged attacks on Russian territory.
Russia's Ministry of Defense said 67 drones were shot down over Krasnodar Krai, 29 over Rostov, 15 over North Ossetia, 11 over Voronezh, 10 over Kursk, seven over the Sea of Azov, six over the Black sea, five over Belgorod, three over occupied Crimean territory, two over Penza, one over Saratov, one over Oryol and one over Stavropol Krai.
https://www.the-express.com/news/world-news/168560/ukrainian-drone-attack-russia-bases
Ukraine Unveils Shahed-Killer Interceptor Drones
April 9, 2025, 5:31 pm
Ukraine has unveiled its interceptor drones, which reportedly downed Russia’s Shahed kamikaze drones in midair on Tuesday.
President Volodymyr Zelensky showed a sample of the drone in a promotional video depicting a meeting between Ukrainian and Belgian arms manufacturers released on Tuesday.
Military news outlet Militarnyi, citing the drones’ developers, said the new interceptor drones have downed more than 20 Shaheds over the past two months, but details remain scarce.
The developers claimed the drones can reach up to 5 kilometers (16,400 feet) in altitude and accelerate to 200 kph (124 mph) and are capable of intercepting targets that are smaller than the Shahed drones in a comment to Militarnyi.
In the video, the drone can be seen equipped with a nose camera and features a reflective exterior that resembles the structure of carbon fibers.
Its rear propeller, without a visible combustion engine and vent holes for heat dissipation, suggests that it might be electrically powered.
By referencing objects in the background, Kyiv Post believes the drone’s wingspan is likely less than two meters (6.6 feet).
The name of the drone and manufacturer was not mentioned. While the interceptor drones are presumably equipped with warheads that detonate upon interception, its exact mechanics have not been disclosed.
The meeting between Belgian and Ukrainian arms manufacturers was part of the program during Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, and Defense Minister Theo Francken’s Tuesday visit to Kyiv.
Zelensky, in his X update, hailed talks of arms manufacturing between Ukraine and Belgium and hinted at further bilateral cooperation.
"We also discussed the development of Ukraine’s defense industry, opportunities for joint production, and localization of manufacturing in Ukraine.
Today, documents were signed envisaging cooperation between the defense companies of both our countries,” Zelensky said.
Belgium is among the Western coalition that has pledged its F-16 warplanes to Ukraine.
However, recent reports suggest that the delivery has been delayed due to continuing delays in the production of the US F-35s slated to replace Belgium’s F-16s.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/50491
Unifly Joins European ENSURE Project to Bridge Drone and Aircraft Airspace Systems
April 9, 2025
Terra Drone subsidiary Unifly has joined a major European research initiative to integrate drone traffic systems with traditional air traffic management, according to an announcement from Terra Drone Corporation.
The ENSURE project, led by the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking, aims to develop standardized interfaces allowing unmanned aircraft and conventional aviation to safely share airspace.
Strategic Integration of U-space and ATM Systems
The rapid commercial expansion of drone operations across Europe has created an urgent need for sophisticated airspace management solutions.
The ENSURE project represents a significant step toward establishing a unified framework where drones and manned aircraft can coexist without compromising safety or operational efficiency.
ENSURE builds upon previous SESAR initiatives including CORUS-XUAM and EUREKA, but takes a more comprehensive approach by developing standardized interfaces between U-space and Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems.
A central innovation is the implementation of dynamic airspace reconfiguration (DAR) — technology that enables real-time airspace adjustments based on operational demands.
Consortium of Aviation Leaders
The project brings together an impressive consortium of European aviation stakeholders under the leadership of INDRA, a Spanish aviation technology provider.
Other participants include aerospace giant Airbus, pan-European air navigation organization EUROCONTROL, Italian air navigation service provider ENAV, and UTM Specialist Unifly, as detailed in the Terra Drone announcement.
As a recognized leader in Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) solutions, Unifly will contribute expertise to several critical aspects of the project:
Development of U-Space services enabling real-time coordination between drone operations and traditional air traffic
Technical support for standardizing interfaces between U-space and ATM systems
Participation in validation exercises testing the dynamic airspace reconfiguration systems
Deployment support for digital airspace management tools
Validation Timeline and Industry Engagement
The ENSURE project has established an ambitious timeline, with integration demonstrations scheduled throughout 2025.
These demonstrations will focus particularly on high-density airspace scenarios where the benefits of dynamic reconfiguration would be most significant.
To promote transparency and industry collaboration, ENSURE will host an Open Day on May 28, 2025, at Tern Systems in Iceland.
During this event, Unifly plans to showcase its advanced UTM solutions and present on U-Space digitalization and automation.
Regulatory and Safety Considerations
A core component of ENSURE involves addressing the evolving regulatory landscape for integrated airspace operations.
The project aligns with the European Union’s U-space regulatory framework, which establishes requirements for drone operations in controlled airspace.
Safety remains paramount, with ENSURE implementing comprehensive risk assessment methodologies and developing contingency protocols for various operational scenarios.
The integration must maintain or exceed current safety standards while accommodating rapidly increasing drone traffic.
Market Implications
For the broader Drone Industry, ENSURE represents a critical stepping stone toward routine beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations and advanced drone delivery services.
The standardization of U-space and ATM interfaces will likely accelerate commercial drone adoption across multiple sectors.
Terra Drone Corporation, which acquired a majority stake in Unifly in July 2023, continues to expand its UTM portfolio, having also invested in U.S.-based Aloft Technologies in February 2024.
The Japanese company recently listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (Stock Code: 278A) in November 2024 and has been recognized as a top industrial drone service provider globally for five consecutive years.
https://dronexl.co/2025/04/09/unifly-joins-european-ensure-project/
Brierley Hill pair jailed over drone drug smuggling plot
April 9, 2025
A PAIR from Brierley Hill have been jailed for their roles in attempts to smuggle packages of illegal items, including Class A drugs and smartphones, into prisons using drones.
Josh Morris and Simon Woodall, both aged 32, previously admitted conspiracy to convey list A and list B prohibited articles into a prison using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s).
An investigation was launched by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) after Morris was arrested near HMP Frankland in Durham.
The investigation involved law enforcement partners from across the UK and Woodall was linked during the course of these enquiries.
The conspiracy includes offences in County Durham, Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, Greater Manchester, Wiltshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire and the Humber between August 2023 and February 2024.
The pair used large sophisticated UAV’s and flight mapping and control software to convey packages which included a significant quantity of Class A and B drugs, prescription medications, smartphones, memory cards, data dongles and tobacco.
Morris and Woodall were sentenced to 42 months and 30 months imprisonment respectively at Peterborough Crown Court this week.
Detective Inspector Ollie Scoones, of the YHROCU, said “This was a complex investigation led by the YHROCU that showcased the benefits of collaborative working with other ROCU’s, police forces, HMPPS and partner agencies across the UK to combat the threat from serious organised crime groups and the criminal use of UAV’s.
"The sentencing sends a clear message to those involved in serious organised crime that the YHROCU will continue to dismantle their operations, pursue prosecutions and prevent them from benefitting from the proceeds of criminal activity to protect communities from the harm they cause.”
https://www.dudleynews.co.uk/news/25077130.brierley-hill-pair-jailed-drone-drug-smuggling-plot/
Beijing rejects Zelensky’s captured soldiers claims
9 Apr, 2025 10:51
Beijing has dismissed claims by Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky that a significant number of Chinese nationals are fighting alongside Russian forces against Kiev.
On Tuesday, Zelensky shared a brief video featuring an individual he claimed was a Chinese citizen captured during the conflict.
He alleged that two such individuals are in Ukrainian custody, and that “significantly more” are currently serving with the Russian military.
Responding on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian branded the claims “groundless,” reiterating that Beijing consistently advises its citizens against participating in foreign armed conflicts in any capacity.
”China’s stance on the Ukrainian crisis is clear and unambiguous, and it has been widely acknowledged by the international community,” the spokesperson added.
Zelensky has further claimed that Russia is “involving China directly or indirectly” in the Ukraine conflict, and called for a swift response from the US and the EU. US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce described the situation as “disturbing” and labeled China “a major enabler of Russia” in the conflict, emphasizing the urgency of President Donald Trump’s calls for a negotiated peace.
China has long denied Washington’s claims that its trade with Russia bolsters the latter’s military production, insisting that unlike Western nations it remains neutral in the conflict.
Last year, the administration of then-President Joe Biden referenced claims that North Korean troops were assisting in repelling a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region to justify easing restrictions on the use of American-supplied weapons by Kiev.
Moscow and Pyongyang have neither confirmed nor denied the reports.
Ukrainian MP Aleksandr Dubinsky, a Zelensky critic who is facing accusations of treason, has suggested that Kiev may be repeating a tactic of fabricating evidence.
He posted a clip showing that the video file shared by Zelensky was originally named “Korean_Soldier_2.mp4,” although it has since been renamed.
Ukrainian diplomats will have to explain to Beijing “whether it was fake or just a naming failure,” the lawmaker remarked.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last month agreed to Trump’s proposal for a 30-day moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure.
According to Moscow, Kiev has violated the partial ceasefire on multiple occasions, which officials have described as proof of Zelensky’s lack of trustworthiness.
https://www.rt.com/news/615432-chinese-soldiers-zelensky-claims/
CLOSE ENCOUNTER Chilling new UFO footage shows US warship facing off with ‘Tic Tac’ aircraft as four mysterious objects menace destroyer
Updated: 12:29 ET, Apr 9 2025
CHILLING new UFO footage shows a US warship facing off with two "Tic Tac" aircraft as four mysterious objects were spotted darting around the destroyer
The objects are captured taking off in a "sychronized" flight off the coast of southern California - stunning sailors aboard the USS Jackson who claim they saw four in total.
New bombshell footage shows the unbelievable moment two of the UFOs burst from the ocean during the February 2023 incident.
Their shape resembles a 2004 sighting of a Tic Tac shaped UFO in the same waters, with the incident investigated by a top secret government program.
One of the stunned sailors told News 8 Now: "All we witnessed was all four of them. "All in synchronous, jetting into the abyss.
"All four, all timed together and all left. And we were like holy s***.
"The second they left, maybe three, four seconds pass, I run to my station and I look at my radar, they're all off radar. That's it, they all zoomed off.
"But it's clear that they're in communication with one another and synchronized like three, two, one countdown. Let's all go.
I think unless there's some level of like one entity controlling all four and then they all leave at the same time."
And former defense department analyst Marik Von Rennenkampff added fuel to the UFO fire after analyzing flight data from the exact time and location of the sighting - concluding there were no US aircraft in the area.
He said: "I don’t think it’s ours. I suspect there are better places for us to showcase that kind of equipment to unwitting sailors.
"That just doesn’t make sense."
The latest incident with the chilling footage bares similarities to the infamous Nimitz incident a whopping two decades prior.
Several pilots encountered the unknown, flying object as it sped over the pacific near Mexico on November 14, 2004.
Pilot David Fravor was one of four people in two fighter jets sent to monitor the object after it was spotted by his bosses on board the USS Nimitz.
He told CNN at the time that they came across a disturbance above the water that was causing the sea to foam and "a white object, oblong, pointing north".
He added: "It had no wings. So you think, 'okay, it's a helicopter', but there's no rotor wash in the water, there's no rotors and when helicopters move from side-to-side they're kind of slow then pick up speed going the other way.
"This was extremely abrupt - like a ping pong ball bouncing off a wall. It would hit and go the other way and change directions at will.
"Then the ability to hover over the water then start a vertical climb from zero up to about 12,000ft and then accelerate in less than two seconds and disappear is something that I've never seen in my life."
When asked about those who may be sceptical of the claim, he replied: "It's easy to doubt what we can't explain and this isn't the first account of people seeing a UFO.
"In this situation you're talking about four people, all eyeballs on, ranging in experience from relatively new in a fleet squadron… to myself who had over 16 years of flying."
And fellow F-18 pilot Lietenant Chad Underwood flew out and caught the object on video which was published by the New York Times in 2017.
This sparked a mixture of uproar and intrigue on how much the government knows of UFOs.
At the time, the sighting didn't get looked into on a large scale - until the Defense Intelligence Agency looked into it in 2008.
Both Fravor and Underwood expressed how they couldn't believe the similarities between the infamous Nimitz incident and the latest sighting - therefore questioning whether the UFOs were returning or never left at all.
https://www.the-sun.com/news/13974133/ufo-warship-tic-tac-encounter/
https://www.weaponizedpodcast.com/news-1/uss-jackson-tic-tac-uap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vum9ny7yytg
WBS Penguins host ‘Carbondale UFOs takeover’
Updated: Apr 8, 2025 / 02:57 PM EDT
WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY, CT — Mohegan Arena is set to go intergalactic as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are paying homage to a local, legendary UFO crash that was never confirmed.
It’s an invasion at Mohegan Arena where aliens are taking over, but they come in peace.
Making friends with Tux and taking part in the Wilkes-barre/Scranton Penguins’ third installment of its community theme night competing as the ‘Carbondale UFO’s’ Saturday.
“We just really wanted to figure out a way to highlight everything that goes on in this area and just really showcase how special NEPA is,” says Allie Debe.
The night pays tribute to the reported UFO crash on November 9th, 1974 in Carbondale.
That night, three boys were at Russell Park when they claimed to have seen a glowing ball from the sky hovering over the silt pond, and then crash into the water; leaving it glowing for hours.
“The national guard came in, kind of shut everything down and made everybody leave because tens of thousands of people gathered there,” says Nicole Curtis.
The mystery ended with police calling it a hoax.
“I think it was a diversion, but they sent a diver into the pond, and pulled out a lantern that they said was lit for nine hours. But people in town all have the same story, that something left on a flatbed truck covered in a tarp.”
That theory is still alive fifty years later being celebrated at a “Carbondalien Festival” organized by Nicole Curtis back in November, and now on jerseys for all to see.
Creative Director Jason Vogel says a lot went into the glow-in-the-dark jerseys including adding an alternate logo of a lantern with an alien inside above the words “I believe.”
“A lot of sketches, a ton of sketches actually, and you go through a bunch of alien heads, UFOs, so you’re not really sure what you want to do and how you want to represent it, but we ended up actually doing a physical ufo on the jersey.”
Getting a one-on-one with the alien ahead of Saturday night’s game, 28/22 News asked the question everybody wants to know: What happened in Russell Park in 1974?
“Well, I wasn’t there, but what I will say is, I can’t say much.”
And there you have it.
Saturday night’s game against the Springfield Thunderbirds at 6:05 p.m. will also showcase local Carbondale artists and its area high school band and choir.
https://www.pahomepage.com/news/wbs-penguins-host-carbondale-ufos-takeover/
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/an-all-sky-infrared-camera-could-search-for-alien-spacecraft-1
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/3/783
An All-Sky Infrared Camera Named Dalek Continues the Search for Alien Technosignatures
April 8, 2025
In 2021, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released a report detailing recently-declassified information on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP).
Since then, the Department of Defense has released annual reports on UAP through the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Nevertheless, there is still a lack of publicly available scientific data.
To address this, a new study led by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) and the Galileo Project proposes an All-Sky Infrared Camera (Dalek) to search for potential indications of extraterrestrial spacecraft.
The study was led by Laura Domine, a member of the Keto-Galileo Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University and a researcher with the Galileo Project.
She was joined by fellow researchers from the CfA, the Galileo Project, the Whitin Observatory, the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies, and Atlas Lens Co.
The paper summarizing their proposal was presented at the 2025 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2025 LPSC), which took place from March 10th to 14th in The Woodlands, Texas.
The instrument they describe in their paper is nicknamed Dalek, given its resemblance to the machine antagonists from the Doctor Who franchise (image above).
This instrument builds on recommendations made by NASA in a 2023 independent study, where they stated:
"[P]urpose-built future sensors for UAP detection should be designed to adjust on millisecond timescales to aid better detection.
In lockstep, alert systems should detect and share transient information quickly and uniformly… Multisensor platforms are important for providing a complete picture of a UAP event.
An object's motion should be recorded, as well as its shape (imaging data), color (multispectra or hyperspectral data) and any sounds and other characteristics."
Their paper details this multimodal, multispectral ground-based observatory, the first instrument to undergo commissioning at the Galileo Institute's development site, and the calibration process.
Professor Avi Loeb, the Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University, the Director of the Institute for Theory and Computation (2007-present) within the CfA, is also the Head of the Galileo Project (2021-present). As he told Universe Today via email:
"Often U.S. government data is classified, either because it was collected by classified sensors or because it is not fully understood and could potentially be relevant for national security. When in doubt, the data is not released to the public or the scientific community.
However, the sky is not classified, and so the Galileo Project is operating an all-sky observatory at Harvard University and constructing two other observatories in Pennsylvania and Nevada that are searching for anomalous objects in the infrared, optical, radio, and audio bands."
As Loeb detailed, these three observatories detect about 100,000 objects per month each and have already obtained data on about 1 million objects.
This is the largest database systematically assembled on NEOs, which the Galileo Project analyzes using machine-learning software.
This software consists of a You Only Look Once (YOLO) model for object detection and a Simple Online and Realtime Tracking (SORT) algorithm for trajectory reconstruction.
1/2
These algorithms are trained on familiar objects (planes, drones, balloons, birds, satellites, etc.), which allows them to sort through all observed UAPs and detect outliers. In addition, the paper contains a rundown of the observatory's first five months of operation.
As the team stated in their paper, roughly 500,000 objects were detected in this period. About 16% of the trajectories they reconstructed (~80,000) were flagged as outliers at a 95% confidence level and manually examined with infrared images.
From these, 144 trajectories remained ambiguous, which they state are likely mundane objects that cannot be further classified without information, distance, and other sensor data. Said Loeb:
"In the first five months of commissioning data reported in this paper, we studied half a million objects and assessed our ability to classify them without distance information. In the future, we hope to measure distances to objects based on triangulation by multiple detectors spaced apart within each observatory. This will allow us to determine the velocity and acceleration of various types of objects and clearly identify anomalous ones."
As Loeb detailed, these three observatories detect about 100,000 objects per month each and have already obtained data on about 1 million objects.
This is the largest database systematically assembled on NEOs, which the Galileo Project analyzes using machine-learning software.
This software consists of a You Only Look Once (YOLO) model for object detection and a Simple Online and Realtime Tracking (SORT) algorithm for trajectory reconstruction.
These algorithms are trained on familiar objects (planes, drones, balloons, birds, satellites, etc.), which allows them to sort through all observed UAPs and detect outliers.
In addition, the paper contains a rundown of the observatory's first five months of operation. As the team stated in their paper, roughly 500,000 objects were detected in this period.
About 16% of the trajectories they reconstructed (~80,000) were flagged as outliers at a 95% confidence level and manually examined with infrared images.
By comparison, classified studies performed by governmental agencies such as the AARO - which can often leverage distance estimations from radar data and multiple sensors - reported that ∼3% of the cases brought to their attention remained ambiguous.
The ultimate goal, said Loeb, is to find the few (if any) outliers that could be considered evidence of a technologically advanced species (aka. technosignatures). Said Loeb:
"Our goal is to check if there are any objects which display anomalous flight characteristics or shapes. Even if one in a million happened to show abilities beyond human-made technologies, it would constitute the biggest scientific discovery ever made.
Such an object could suggest the existence of an extraterrestrial technological civilization from which we can learn about more advanced science and technology than humans developed over the past century."
2/2