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NASA extends seat barter agreement with Roscosmos into 2027
April 13, 2025
NASA and Roscosmos have extended a seat barter agreement for flights to the International Space Station into 2027 that will feature longer Soyuz missions to the station.
NASA announced April 3 that astronaut Chris Williams had been assigned to the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft scheduled to launch to the ISS in November, joining Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev.
The announcement came ahead of the April 8 launch of fellow astronaut Jonny Kim to the ISS on Soyuz MS-27.
The announcement of the Williams flight assignment was the first public indication by NASA that it has extended an agreement with Roscosmos for “integrated crews” on Soyuz and commercial crew flights to the ISS.
Under the no-exchange-of-funds barter agreement, NASA astronauts fly on Soyuz spacecraft and Roscosmos cosmonauts fly on commercial crew vehicles to ensure that there is at least one American and one Russian on the station should either Soyuz or commercial crew vehicles be grounded for an extended period.
Last fall, the future of that seat barter agreement was unclear after Roscosmos released crew assignments for the Soyuz MS-28 and MS-29 missions that included only Russian cosmonauts.
Bill Nelson, NASA administrator at the time, said he expected that agreement to be extended “in due course” but offered no details on the timing to do so.
Reports in Russian media in January indicated that the extension had been completed, but at the time NASA declined to confirm it, with a spokesperson telling SpaceNews that the agency would provide an update on the seat barter agreement “in the coming weeks.”
NASA confirmed, after the Williams announcement, that it had extended the integrated crew agreement with Roscosmos into 2027.
“NASA and Roscosmos have amended the integrated crew agreement to allow for a second set of integrated crew missions in 2025, one set of integrated crew missions in 2026, and a SpaceX Dragon flight in 2027,” a spokesperson told SpaceNews April 9.
One change with the agreement is the cadence of Soyuz missions. While Roscosmos had been flying Soyuz missions to the ISS every six months, missions starting with Soyuz MS-27 will spend eight months at the station.
The NASA announcements about both Kim’s launch to the station and the assignment of Williams to the next mission both mentioned they would each spend eight months at the ISS.
Neither NASA nor Roscosmos offered a reason the change, which means that Roscosmos will fly one fewer Soyuz missions over a two-year period: three instead of four.
NASA is averaging commercial crew missions every six months, with some variation due to activity of other visiting vehicles to the station.
Another uncertain aspect of the agreement is if it will include future Boeing Starliner commercial crew missions to the ISS.
Last May, NASA officials said it was unlikely Roscosmos would include a cosmonaut on Starliner-1, the first crew rotation mission by that spacecraft, just as Roscosmos waited until 2022 to start flying cosmonauts on Crew Dragon.
NASA has yet to formally schedule Starliner-1, having pushed it back several times because of delays in the Crew Flight Test mission by the spacecraft and subsequent investigation into the problems encountered during that mission.
One of the astronauts assigned to Starliner-1, Mike Fincke, was recently reassigned to the Crew-11 mission launching as soon as July on Crew Dragon.
https://spacenews.com/nasa-extends-seat-barter-agreement-with-roscosmos-into-2027/
Zelensky shuns talks with Russia
14 Apr, 2025 14:13
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has cast doubt on the possibility of direct peace talks with Russia, citing the lack of trust between the two countries.
His comments come as Moscow has accused Kiev of repeatedly violating a US-mediated agreement not to strike energy facilities.
Speaking in an interview with CBS News on Sunday, Zelensky accused Russia of numerous atrocities during the conflict, stating that Moscow’s recent strikes showed that “we can’t trust negotiations with Russia.”
Zelensky was referring to a Russian strike on the city of Krivoy Rog earlier this month which Kiev claims resulted in the death of 19 people.
Moscow, however, has said that the attack targeted a meeting of Ukrainian commanders and Western instructors, claiming that up to 85 soldiers and officers were killed.
The Kremlin has also insisted that only military-related facilities are being targeted.
The Ukrainian leader also noted that his personal view of Russian President Vladimir Putin was defined by “100% hatred,” but acknowledged that “this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t work to end the war as soon as possible and transition to diplomacy.”
Zelensky also warned that without American backing – which has been called into question since US President Donald Trump returned to office – Ukraine could suffer severe consequences.
“Without the United States, we will suffer great losses. Human and territorial. So, I wouldn’t like to consider that,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader went on to lament that the “Russian narratives are prevailing in the US,” adding “this speaks to the enormous influence of Russia’s information policy on America, on US politics, and US politicians.”
While Moscow has repeatedly said it is open to negotiations, Zelensky signed a decree banning talks with the Russian government in 2022 after four former Ukrainian territories voted to join Russia.
After Zelensky’s presidential term expired last year and he refused to hold a new election, citing martial law, Moscow declared him “illegitimate,” insisting that the legal authority now rests with Ukraine’s parliament.
Putin has said that any documents outlining a potential peace settlement could be signed only by the legitimate Ukrainian authorities.
Zelensky’s comments come as Russia has accused Ukraine of repeatedly violating a Trump-brokered moratorium on attacks on energy infrastructure.
Moscow has said that while it reserves the right to retaliate against the strikes, it has chosen to honor the agreement as a sign of improving relations with Washington.
As for the terms of a potential peace deal, Moscow insists that any agreement must address the root causes of the conflict, including NATO’s expansion toward its borders.
It also continues to demand that Ukraine renounce its ambition to join the bloc and formally recognize Crimea and four other regions as Russian territory.
https://www.rt.com/russia/615745-zelensky-shuns-talks-russia/
‘Russian narratives’ dominate US – Zelensky
14 Apr, 2025 14:47
Vladimir Zelensky has claimed that “Russian narratives are prevailing” within the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has previously suggested the Ukrainian leader is not ready for peace.
There has been not just “a shift in tone” in Washington, but also “a shift in reality,” Zelensky told CBS News. He referred to Trump calling him “a dictator without elections” in February, as well as suggestions by some US officials that Ukraine started the conflict.
“It is wrong that America wants to be neutral,” he lamented in an interview aired on Sunday. Washington was Kiev’s biggest arms supplier and financial supporter during the previous administration of President Joe Biden. Trump has vowed to cut support and end the conflict.
Zelensky’s comments come amid White House efforts to achieve a deal to end the Ukraine conflict. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Russia for the third time in two months last week to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Moscow and Washington have been engaged in negotiations since Trump took office in January, and have held several rounds of high-level talks focused on a possible ceasefire in Ukraine and restoring bilateral relations.
Last month, Zelensky publicly supported a 30-day moratorium on strikes targeting energy infrastructure agreed by Putin and Trump. However, Moscow claims that Kiev has repeatedly broken it since.
The Ukrainian leader also accused US Vice President J.D. Vance of “somehow justifying Putin’s actions” after he said the Russian president could be trusted and implied that Zelensky was spreading a false narrative.
Zelensky came under fire for ingratitude and for resisting calls to agree to a ceasefire with Moscow during a bitter dispute with Trump and Vance in the Oval Office in February.
Zelensky has alleged that these incidents are a result of the “enormous influence of Russia’s information policy on America, on US politics, and US politicians.”
While acknowledging that Moscow and Kiev should work to end the conflict “as soon as possible” and transit to diplomacy, Zelensky claimed that he “can’t trust negotiations with Russia.”
The US president reiterated on Sunday that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine would have never happened if he had won the 2020 election, describing it as “Biden’s war.”
He also said that stopping the fighting remains a top priority, but admitted the challenges involved.
https://www.rt.com/russia/615730-zelensky-russian-narrative-trump/
Drone attack on the Odessa region: civilian infrastructure damaged, 7 people injured
14 Apr, 2025
Seven people were injured in the Odessa region as a result of an overnight attack by Russian strike drones on April 14.
This was reported on Telegram by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
The report states that Russian forces attacked the Odessa region with strike UAVs during the night. The strikes caused fires at multiple locations, which were promptly extinguished by rescuers.
Civilian infrastructure was damaged, including a warehouse, a car repair station, a medical facility, and several vehicles.
Preliminary data indicates that seven people were injured.
The State Emergency Service deployed 14 units of equipment and 67 rescuers. Additionally, one unit of equipment and three volunteers from the Ukrainian Association of Volunteer Firefighters were involved.
As a result of the drone attack on Odesa during the night of April 14, eight people were injured.
This was reported on Telegram by the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper.
“As a result of the overnight Russian attack, eight people were injured. As of this morning, four of the wounded remain in medical facilities.
The others are continuing outpatient treatment,” the statement said.
https://odessa-journal.com/drone-attack-on-the-odessa-region-civilian-infrastructure-damaged-7-people-injured
Security Concerns: OSCC Flags Drone Threat To Gas Pipelines In MP
Monday, April 14, 2025, 09:00 PM IST
The Onshore Security Coordination Committee (OSCC) has raised concerns about a possible drone attack threat targeting gas pipelines and pump stations across 27 districts of the state.
These apprehensions were shared during a recent committee meeting held at the police headquarters, according to officials.
In light of drone attacks on gas pipelines reported in other countries, the officials of the gas companies expressed concern over a similar threat in India.
The meeting was attended by 28 representatives from five major companies- Gas Authority of India Limited, Bharat Oman Refinery Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, and Indian Oil Corporation.
Director General of Police Kailash Makwana and other senior officers were also present.
People in know of the matter at the meeting said that the officials discussed about the security measures being taken to safeguard pipelines laid across districts in barren lands and inhabited areas.
The committee proposed setting up uniform anti-drone technology to combat any potential danger. They said that pipelines laid in barren and populated areas face distinct threats.
Pipelines in open areas are especially vulnerable and easy targets for anti-national elements, while those in populated areas are under constant watch of such people.
There were also concerns about labourers engaged at the oil company sites, as they might gather information and pass it to miscreants.
The companies emphasised the need for proper verification of labourers before deploying them on sites.
The committee also decided to increase the number of CCTV cameras at petrol pumps and other areas to strengthen security and prevent any untoward incidents.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/security-concerns-oscc-flags-drone-threat-to-gas-pipelines-in-mp
Alaskan Drone Team Enters Active Volcano to Advance Safer Research Methods
April 14, 2025
In early March, a team from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) used drones to collect gas samples from the crater of Poás volcano in Costa Rica.
Their mission, led by research assistant professor Társilo Girona, aimed to make volcano research safer by testing a new method of soil gas measurement using unmanned aircraft.
Our goal was to test a new and safer way of measuring soil degassing at a variety of spots in an active volcanic crater, and we accomplished that goal,” Girona said.
“The UAF drone team was fantastic, and the equipment performed exceptionally well.”
The drone-based approach allowed researchers to collect data from a volcanic crater about half a mile wide and 1,000 feet deep—one of the largest on Earth—without exposing personnel to dangerous conditions.
Part of a Larger International Effort
The UAF mission was part of a broader international experiment focused on understanding the plumbing system of Poás volcano.
Now in its second year, the Poás community experiment began during the 12th Cities on Volcanoes Congress held in Guatemala and is supported by the AVERT (Anticipating Volcanic Eruptions in Real-Time) project in collaboration with Costa Rica’s Volcanological and Seismological Observatory (Oviscori).
Poás is one of Costa Rica’s most active and accessible volcanoes, standing 8,848 feet above sea level and located about 25 miles from the capital, San José.
It has seen increased seismic activity and sulfur dioxide emissions, along with ground uplift. A steam-driven eruption on March 1 released an ash column as high as 1,300 feet, followed by additional eruptions.
“The challenge with phreatic explosions lies in their sudden occurrence, with little to no warning,” Girona said. “I hope using drones to measure soil degassing and soil conditions can help us to better anticipate these events.”
Innovative Use of Drone Technology
The Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI) provided the team and equipment for the drone volcano mission.
This marked the group’s first drone flight into an active volcanic crater. Team members included drone pilots Jason Williams, Matthew Westhoff, and James Copple, alongside Girona.
The crew worked from a safe viewing platform located about one-third of a mile from the crater. They deployed two drones: a small Parrot drone to scout a safe landing area and a 24-pound Alta X Heavy Lift drone to carry the scientific instruments.
The Parrot drone remained airborne to monitor activity while the Alta X approached the landing site.
The Alta X carried a gas accumulation chamber, gas sensor, and soil sensor. It landed, powered down its rotors, and pressed the chamber into the soil to collect samples for about two minutes before moving on to the next site.
“The aircraft performed extremely well in the challenging environment of the volcano,” said Williams, ACUASI’s chief unmanned aircraft systems pilot.
“There were some challenges to overcome, mainly the difficulty in determining the height of the instrumented aircraft from the ground while performing the landing and the exact lateral position in relation to the desired landing spot,” he added.
Coordination was essential, as a third drone operated by Copple provided real-time altitude data to guide the Alta X pilot during landing.
“There was an enormous amount of crew coordination by all three pilots while attempting to land the instrumented drone in the crater,” Williams said.
“Since all three aircraft were airborne and in close proximity to each other, we were constantly informing each other of our height and position.”
Promising Results and Next Steps
The team collected data on carbon dioxide, water vapor, soil temperature, and moisture—key indicators of magma and hydrothermal activity.
Girona said the mission proved that drones can conduct remote soil degassing campaigns safely and efficiently.
“It demonstrates the feasibility of using our approach for remote soil degassing measurements in challenging environments,” Girona said.
“The mission not only confirmed the viability of the technique but also provided critical experience that will enhance future deployments in similar volcanic environments.”
Looking ahead, Girona hopes to secure additional funding to improve the method, expand to new volcanoes, and integrate more advanced technologies.
“With additional funding, we plan to refine and optimize our approach, expand fieldwork to different volcanic environments, and integrate advanced technologies to enhance measurement capabilities,” he said.
Girona plans to publish results from the Poás volcano campaign, further contributing to the growing body of research in safe, remote volcanology.
https://dronelife.com/2025/04/14/alaskan-drone-team-enters-active-volcano-to-advance-safer-research-methods/
US airstrikes kill six in Yemen as Houthis claim to have shot down another Reaper drone
Monday 14 April 2025 11:58 BST
Overnight American airstrikes killed at least six people and wounded dozens in Yemen’s Sanaa province, Houthi media reported on Monday.
A Yemeni news channel showed firefighters spraying water on a raging fire they said was caused by the latest airstrikes.
The Houthis, who rule much of the Arab nation, also claimed in a local news broadcast that they had shot down another American MQ-9 Reaper drone.
The US has not claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The Donald Trump administration last month intensified the American air campaign against Yemen, claiming it was intended to deter the Houthis from attacking shipping in the Red Sea.
The American attacks have killed dozens of civilians thus far.
The Houthis have effectively closed the Red Sea to Western shipping by attacking commercial and military vessels linked to Israel and its allies in retaliation for Israel’s war on Gaza.
The Yemenis had stopped the attacks after the US mediated a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas earlier this year, but renewed the campaign after Israeli forces enforced a total blockade on the supply of food aid, fuel and medicines to the besieged Palestinian territory at the start of March, ending the short-lived truce.
They have pledged to halt their military operations again if a truce was enforced in Gaza.
They reportedly targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two and killing four sailors, between November 2023 and January this year.
They also launched attacks on American warships.
The US military campaign against Yemen under Mr Trump appears to be more extensive, dropping bombs on cities, than the one under former president Joe Biden, which reportedly targeted Houthis personnel and missile launch sites.
The military’s Central Command, which oversees operations in the region, has launched more than 200 strikes since 15 March, according to the White House. The attacks have killed at least 120 people in the country, according to the health ministry.
The Houthis separately claimed on Sunday that they had struck down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone in the northwest of the country near the border with Saudi Arabia.
A military spokesperson said the US drone was targeted by "a locally manufactured missile”.
The US Central Command said it was aware of "reports" of the shooting down of the drone, without elaborating any further.
The Yemenis also claimed responsibility for missiles launched towards an Israeli military base in the port city of Ashdod and the Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv.
Israel’s military said they believed the missiles were intercepted by its air defences.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/us-airstrikes-yemen-houthi-reaper-drone-b2732849.html
'Stunning' new UFO footage captures sphere-shaped object zig-zagging over city
Updated 12:41, 14 Apr 2025
A suspected UFO has been seen soaring above a city in Colombia before darting back and forth in a zig-zag motion, startling at least one witness who managed to capture images of the mysterious object.
The sighting took place in the morning when the skies were otherwise clear and quiet. In footage taken by the man, the object was seen sharply zig-zagging through the air in a motion that defies typical aircraft movement.
The clip quickly began circulating online, drawing attention from intrigued viewers, who were also left unsettled by the object’s unpredictable behaviour.
The unnamed witness was recording on his camera and enjoying the early morning quiet before the unidentified object appeared and began changing direction with sudden, precise shifts.
The sphere-shaped gadget was seen flying above the man, darting down the other side of a hill and coming back into the shot. It then flew around in front of him, moving from left to right mid-air.
The object flew directly over the city before eventually slowing down and landing on the hill in front of him. It appeared to be sphere-shaped with a silver and grey coating.
The man recorded himself walking towards the suspected UFO, which was seen on the ground among some brambles. The camera then cut off, with no further updates on what happened next.
The video, shared on YouTube, garnered over 17,000 likes and plenty of comments from baffled users. One said: "The way it ends abruptly tingles my spidey senses!"
Another added: "Whatever this is it is clearly under its own control, it went straight for a while but then it turned quite a bit."
User Rob said: "Definitely not a balloon it was doing some interesting things." Another simply 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 on a morning in March, in Colombia, South America.
It comes after people across Ireland were left puzzled by an "unusual object" spotted in the sky for two consecutive nights last month.
Two flashing objects appeared side by side over Dublin's night sky on March 19, while a single flashing light was seen off the south coast on March 18.
Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather shared his confusion on social media, asking for help in identifying the strange "UFOs."
He posted: "I received two videos from followers showing an unusual object in the sky over the last two nights.
The first part is from last night over Dublin, and the second is from the night before off the south coast."
Some believed the objects might be the International Space Station, while others thought they could be lanterns in the sky.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/stunning-new-ufo-footage-captures-35049765
‘Alien Invasion?’ – Rare Purple Lightning Caught On Camera Flashing In The Skies At JB
April 14, 2025
Every now and then, Mother Nature puts on a show that leaves everyone staring at the sky in disbelief—and this time, she brought out the purple filter.
TikTok user @chloedytastes uploaded a video that has now gone viral, showing an extraordinary flash of purple lightning lighting up the night sky—allegedly spotted in Johor Bahru, as stated in the video text “seen at JB”.
The clip, which shows cars cruising along a highway under the surreal glow, has already garnered nearly 1 million likes and over 900,000 views.
But what really got people talking? The caption that reads: “Alien invasion?” And honestly, we kinda get the vibe.
The comments section quickly filled with awe-struck reactions and playful interpretations of the mysterious sighting.
“Malaysia congrats… purple purple sky means someone of significance has descended… this person shall bring prosperity to the country.”
“Purple sky = hurricane or storm nearby.”
“It’s a sign something major is gonna happen.”
While purple lightning is rare, it’s not impossible. It could be caused by specific atmospheric conditions, including humidity levels, cloud density, or even the presence of certain particles in the air.
But let’s be real—purple lightning doesn’t show up every day, especially not in JB. So it’s no surprise that people are freaking out just a little bit.
So, what do you think? Was it a totally natural occurrence—or are the aliens finally making their entrance?
https://weirdkaya.com/alien-invasion-rare-purple-lightning-caught-on-camera-flashing-in-the-skies-at-jb/
https://www.tiktok.com/@chloedytastes/video/7492229196190616850?lang=en