TYB
I'm curious now how this tastes. Desert bison, maybe?
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4212277/vsfb-pioneers-research-on-ascent-sonic-booms/
VSFB pioneers research on ascent sonic booms
June 10, 2025
Vandenberg Space Force Base stands as a vital hub where Guardians and Airmen oversee launches that safeguard U.S. interests and uphold America’s edge in the space domain.
Each mission highlights American innovation, fortifies resilience, and increases security for the nation and its allies.
As space launch becomes more frequent, the leadership at the base are striking a delicate balance—ensuring critical support for missions that strengthen national defense, while addressing concerns like launch noise and the unique ecosystem that surrounds it.
U.S. Space Force Col. Mark Shoemaker, Space Launch Delta 30 commander and Vandenberg’s host installation commander who leads the Vandenberg spaceport and test range, has a comprehensive view of these responsibilities.
“Community and environmental considerations at Vandenberg remain consistent regardless of who is providing launch services from a U.S. Space Force installation,” Shoemaker said.
“As stewards of this base, we are working with our regulatory partners to evaluate processes to ensure consistency across the Vandenberg spaceport and test range and we are committed to doing so efficiently and with speed.”
A groundbreaking research collaboration between the U.S. Space Force, Brigham Young University, California State University-Bakersfield, the Federal Aviation Administration, SpaceX, and NASA is revolutionizing the understanding of launch acoustics and sonic booms. While previous research on acoustic shock waves is substantial, it focused primarily on aircraft. Rocket launches create more complex sonic boom patterns than aircraft due to their unique flight path, rapid acceleration, and extreme altitude changes.
"This is a significant focus area for us. As we safely move launches further east to open access to operational orbits, we're encountering new challenges, such as the phenomenon of sonic booms during ascent along the coast of California,” Shoemaker said.
“This situation presents opportunities for research, and we're currently working on modeling these effects to better understand and account for them in operational planning."
The collaborative sonic boom study, which has monitored 11 launches to date with plans to track more throughout 2025, employs a network of approximately 25 high-tech monitoring stations spread across 500 square miles of California's central coast.
These stations, positioned from the beaches between Isla Vista and Malibu to the hills of Ojai, capture data on the complex sonic boom patterns created by rockets.
"It's like trying to catch lightning in a bottle," explains Kent Gee, Department of Physics and Astronomy at Brigham Young University, who leads the academic research team.
"All launches generate sonic booms; however, their audibility to the public is influenced by several factors, including the launch trajectory, the size of the rocket, and atmospheric conditions.”
Rockets launched from Vandenberg SFB follow flight paths that primarily go south, or south-southeast. These trajectories are carefully chosen to avoid flying over populated areas in accordance with U.S. public safety priorities.
One factor that makes studying these flight paths complex is the presence of multiple microclimates along California's Central Coast, south of Vandenberg.
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“We are in the process of understanding these microclimates and creating a three-dimensional map of sound to understand how launches impact different areas," Gee said. “The data we have collected is already yielding surprises.”
Launches with nearly identical flight paths can produce vastly different noise levels on the ground, Gee said. This variability has sent researchers on a quest to unravel the complex interplay between rocket trajectories, weather conditions, and topography.
But the project goes beyond mere data collection. The U.S. Space Force is actively implementing measures based on current findings. Prior to launch, during the Launch Readiness Review process, data models are analyzed to predict noise impact.
After launch, the team uses data collected from the monitoring stations to validate predictions and guide future improvements and adjustments aiming to reduce potential disturbances.
"It's a delicate balance," Shoemaker said. "Every adjustment we make has ripple effects. Fly too far west, and it could compromise our ability to get satellites into the required orbit.
Fly too far east, and there might be increased noise in populated areas. But we're committed to collecting data, following the science, and optimizing operations."
To select launch times, Shoemaker’s team works closely with launch companies, like SpaceX, to occur during less impactful hours of the day whenever possible.
For example, many launch times have been adjusted to occur between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. instead of the middle of the night.
However, there will always be missions that can only be launched in the middle of the night due to where the satellite must be placed in space relative to the Earth.
Vandenberg SFB also hosts an Interagency Environmental Working Group, which began meeting quarterly in September 2024.
This forum brings together representatives from various agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, FAA, California Coastal Commission, and other environmental organizations to share information, review and discuss data and reports related to coastal resource impacts.
Recent meetings have focused on the collaborative sonic boom study's current findings and implications.
Despite several hurdles, the study represents a significant step forward in scientific research and space launch.
It's a powerful acknowledgment that the future of space exploration hinges not only on technological breakthroughs, but also on an unwavering commitment to rigorous research and adaptive strategies.
In this dance between cutting-edge technology and effects of progress, Guardians and Airmen at Vandenberg Space Force Base continue to play a critical role in writing the next chapter of space capabilities for the nation.
For updates on confirmed launches from Vandenberg SFB Spaceport, sign up for launch alerts at public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDODSFVANDENBERG/signup/41755.
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Ukrainian national charged over assassination plot in Russia – FSB
11 Jun, 2025 11:50
A Ukrainian national has been detained by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of plotting the assassination of a Russian military veteran, the agency announced on Wednesday.
The man, a resident of Novgorod Region in northwestern Russia, has been charged with attempted terrorist activity and illegal possession of explosives, according to an FSB statement.
Investigators are reportedly gathering further evidence to pursue additional charges of sabotage and collaboration with a hostile power.
The suspect, who is in his late 20s, told the authorities that he first contacted Ukrainian intelligence officials in October 2023, according to footage released by the agency.
He is accused of carrying out arson attacks on two privately owned vehicles belonging to individuals he believed were Russian military personnel in September and December 2024.
In January, he was allegedly instructed to surveil and assassinate a specific individual using an improvised explosive device. The intended target was described by the FSB as a military veteran and public figure.
The authorities claim that the suspect retrieved bomb components from a hidden cache shortly before being taken into custody.
The video published by the FSB appears to show explosives, a fuse, and other elements associated with the assembly of improvised bombs.
The arrest follows another reported counterterrorism operation revealed this week.
On Tuesday, the FSB said it had foiled a separate Ukrainian-planned attack in southern Krasnodar Region, in which the suspect allegedly aimed to detonate a 2.5kg homemade explosive at an energy company.
Earlier this year, a Russian court sentenced a man who attempted to poison military cadets by delivering a cake laced with toxins to a graduation celebration.
The convict was born in Ukraine and moved to Russia in 2018, eventually becoming a naturalized citizen.
https://www.rt.com/russia/618960-fsb-bomb-plot-novgorod/
Russia hands bodies of over 1,200 soldiers to Ukraine
11 Jun, 2025 11:25
Russia has returned the remains of 1,212 Ukrainian soldiers killed in combat, in the latest exchange between Moscow and Kiev, Kremlin official Vladimir Medinsky confirmed on Wednesday.
The transfer was first announced by Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
It said the bodies were recovered from the front lines in Russia’s Kursk, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions, as well as Ukraine’s Kharkov Region. No names or further details were released.
Medinsky, who serves as Moscow’s chief negotiator in talks with Kiev, said Russia received the remains of 27 of its own troops. “Now they can be buried in a Christian manner,” he said in a statement on Telegram.
He added that the two sides had agreed to begin “urgent sanitary exchanges” involving severely wounded prisoners of war. “Russia does not abandon its own people,” Medinsky said.
Moscow has previously stated it is prepared to return the remains of more than 6,000 Ukrainian troops, but has accused Kiev of delaying acceptance.
Moscow decided to return the bodies during talks with Kiev in Istanbul earlier this month.
However, while Russia completed the delivery of the bodies to the designated exchange areas, Ukraine rescheduled the meeting without prior notice, and their representatives were nowhere to be found, Medinsky said at the time.
Despite this, Russian Lieutenant General Aleksandr Zorin, who was part of Moscow’s negotiating team, signaled that the country was fully ready to honor the agreement, saying “it is a purely humanitarian action.
Not the first of such kind and, regrettably, not the last one.”
As part of the Istanbul process, Russia and Ukraine have also agreed to conduct several POW exchanges.
The exchanges have continued after the second round of talks, with the total number of soldiers estimated at between 1,000 and 1,200 in the latest swap, according to Medinsky.
https://www.rt.com/russia/618952-russia-hands-bodies-ukraine/
Foreign mercenary sentenced for role in Kursk incursion
11 Jun, 2025 11:35
A Russian court has sentenced Colombian national Pablo Puentes Boorghes to 28 years in prison for fighting on behalf of Ukraine during its armed incursion into Kursk Region. He has also been ordered to pay a fine of 1 million rubles ($12,700).
In a statement to the news outlet RBK on Tuesday, Russia’s Investigative Committee said that Boorghes has been found guilty of mercenarism, terrorism, and several other criminal offenses, including illegal border crossing, arms trafficking, and the unlawful possession of firearms.
According to investigators, Boorghes voluntarily joined Ukraine’s 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade in late 2024 and participated in the incursion into Russia’s border region for material compensation.
The Investigative Committee stated that the Colombian took part in coordinated actions “to intimidate the population, cause significant property damage, and destabilize the activities of government bodies,” adding that he also threatened to “use firearms against the civilian population and blocked the territory of the Sudzhansky District of Kursk Region.”
Russian forces captured Boorghes near the village of Alexandria during clashes with Ukrainian units. Investigators said he admitted his guilt in full during pretrial proceedings.
According to the verdict, the Colombian will spend the first five years of his sentence in prison, with the remainder in a maximum-security penal colony.
Authorities have also confiscated over 230,000 rubles ($2,900) from Boorghes for the benefit of the state.
Russia has repeatedly prosecuted foreign nationals for fighting for Ukraine. In March, a British citizen, James Scott Rhys Anderson, was sentenced to 19 years in prison on similar charges after being captured in the same region.
Officials claimed Anderson had entered Russia alongside Ukrainian troops and committed crimes against civilians.
Moscow has consistently warned that any non-Ukrainians serving in Kiev’s military will be regarded as mercenaries and criminals and will not be covered by the Geneva Convention protections usually granted to combatants.
The last estimate on mercenary casualties in Ukraine was given in December by the acting head of the Russian delegation at the Vienna talks on military security and arms control, Yulia Zhdanova.
She reported, citing Defense Ministry data, that some 15,000 foreign fighters from 110 countries had entered Ukraine since the conflict began, mostly citizens of Poland, the US, and Georgia. Nearly 6,500 of them have since been killed in action, according to Zhdanova.
https://www.rt.com/russia/618958-colombian-mercenary-sentenced-russia/
ABC caught using Gaza footage to depict Russian strike on Ukraine
11 Jun, 2025 10:34
An affiliate of US broadcaster ABC has aired footage of the chaos in Gaza to report on an alleged Russian strike on the Ukrainian city of Kharkov.
The segment was broadcast last week on ABC’s South Florida affiliate, WPLG Local 10, but only recently captured attention.
The outlet reported on an alleged Russian attack on Kharkov, which Ukrainian officials claimed killed at least four people, while the visuals showed glaring inconsistencies.
Instead of showing an Eastern European landscape or heavily urbanized areas, the video showed a large crowd of people, some of whom were women wearing hijabs, scrambling for cover across desert terrain.
The ABC affiliate has made no public comment on the apparent error. The outlet’s YouTube page is missing the report, which has apparently been deleted.
However, its verified X account still features the story, accompanied by a screenshot from Gaza, prompting derision from several users.
RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan quipped at the clip, writing: “Oh, never mind. Their audience couldn’t find either place on the map.”
In recent weeks, Moscow has launched attacks on Ukrainian military-linked targets to retaliate for a drastic increase in drone raids and sabotage attempts in Russia.
The Russian military insists that its attacks never target civilians.
https://www.rt.com/news/618949-abc-caught-using-gaza-footage-ukraine/
https://t.me/stranaua/198810
US to cut Ukraine aid – defense secretary
10 Jun, 2025 21:51
The White House will be slashing military funding for Ukraine as the administration of US President Donald Trump seeks a peaceful resolution to the conflict, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said.
The Pentagon chief made the statement before the House Appropriations Committee in Congress on Tuesday.
“It is a reduction in this budget,” Hegseth said when asked about upcoming military aid funding for Ukraine.
“This administration takes a very different view of that conflict,” he added.
Trump has worked towards negotiating an end to the Ukraine conflict and has diplomatically re-engaged with Russia.
Since he took office in January, Moscow and Kiev have restarted direct talks for the first time since 2022, when Ukraine unilaterally left the first Istanbul negotiations.
“A negotiated peaceful settlement is in the best interest of both parties and our nation's interests especially with all the competing interests around the globe,” Hegseth said.
The Trump administration has also touted an “America First” pivot and significantly cut foreign assistance, including aid to Ukraine, promising to channel funds towards domestic issues.
Last week, US Vice President J.D. Vance echoed Trump’s criticism of his predecessor Joe Biden, accusing his administration of spending “crazy” amounts of money on supporting Kiev.
“They sent $300 billion to Ukraine,” without “trying to force a diplomatic settlement,” he said.
In April, Trump signed a major deal with Kiev allowing the US priority access to Ukraine’s mineral wealth, in what he described would be a way for Washington to “get back” the hundreds of billions it spent on Ukraine under Biden.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has often complained of a constant shortage of US-supplied air defenses, and waning assistance from Washington in recent months.
Additionally, the Trump administration rerouted some 20,000 anti-drone missiles – initially earmarked for Kiev under Biden – to the Middle East, the Ukrainian leader claimed on Sunday.
https://www.rt.com/news/618929-us-cut-ukraine-aid-hegseth/
Ukrainian drones strike major Russian gunpowder factory producing explosives for military
11/06/2025
Ukrainian drones struck the Tambov Gunpowder Factory in Russia’s Tambov Oblast during the night of 11 June, marking the latest attack on a facility that supplies explosives to Russian military forces.
Ukraine regularly target Russian military-industrial sites, logistics hubs and oil refineries to degrade Russia’s ability to wage war, disrupt supply chains, and retaliate for attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Acting governor of Tambov oblast Yevgeny Pervyshov confirmed that authorities repelled what he described as a “massive drone attack” on the city of Kotovsk, 700 km (434 miles) away from the Ukrainian border.
Pervyshov said law enforcement officers responded to the scene and that “the situation is under control.”
Russian Telegram channels Astra and Mash provided additional details about the incident.
Local residents told Astra that the drones targeted the gunpowder factory, which subsequently caught fire. Mash reported that 15 explosions occurred during the attack.
Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, noted that the facility has been attacked “not for the first time” and indicated that the factory has paused operations following the strike.
The Tambov Gunpowder Factory produces ammunition and gunpowder for small arms, artillery, and rocket systems, as well as colloxilin used in explosives manufacturing.
The enterprise manufactures over 200 product types, including pyroxylin gunpowders for small arms, hand grenades, grenade launcher ammunition, and artillery shells.
The factory operates as part of the Rostec state corporation and serves as one of Russia’s primary suppliers of explosive materials to its armed forces.
Production at the facility increased substantially following the start of the full-scale invasion in Ukraine. This attack continues a pattern of Ukrainian strikes on the facility.
Previous drone attacks occurred in January 2024, July 2024, and November 2023, demonstrating the site’s recurring status as a military target.
https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/06/11/ukrainian-drones-strike-major-russian-gunpowder-factory-producing-explosives-for-military/
https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1932716222388293824
Russian drone hits sappers during demining in Kharkiv region, one dead, several wounded
11.06.2025 19:34
Russian military attacked rescuers with a strike drone while they were clearing mines from agricultural land in the liberated territories of the Izium district of the Kharkiv region.
This was reported by the State Emergency Service on Facebook, according to Ukrinform.
The invaders directed the drone directly at the working part of the Minewolf MV-370 demining machine while sappers were servicing it and checking its operation.
One pyrotechnician was killed in the enemy attack. Two of his colleagues were wounded and are in hospital, where doctors are fighting for their lives.
“The price of safety is extremely high. Every day, our heroes go out to do dangerous work to rid Ukrainian soil of the deadly legacy of war,” the State Emergency Service emphasizes.
As reported by Ukrinform, on June 6, during the elimination of the consequences of the Russian missile and drone strike in Kyiv, three State Emergency Service rescuers were killed and nine others were injured.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4003265-russian-drone-hits-sappers-during-demining-in-kharkiv-region-one-dead-several-wounded.html
Moscow increasingly appears permanent target for Kyiv drone strikes – media
11.06.2025 18:58
The Kremlin is well aware of the capabilities of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
At the same time, Moscow is no longer perceived as untouchable: it increasingly looks less like a global center of power and more like a permanent target for drone strikes from Kyiv.
This is stated in an article by the online publication EuroMaidan Press, as reported by Ukrinform.
As noted in the publication, in the three years since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has carried out dozens of unprecedented special operations both deep behind enemy lines and abroad, from Africa to Siberia.
Some operations resulted in the elimination of high-ranking Russian military commanders. These actions demonstrated the inability of Russian special services to counter the spread of Ukrainian reconnaissance and sabotage activities on the territory of the aggressor country.
“If you are asking about Mossad, which is known for eliminating its country's enemies, then we have done this and will continue to do so.
We don't need to create anything because it already exists,” says Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Ukrainian special operations have not only a tactical but also a strategic dimension — demonstrating the vulnerability of the Russian Federation's security system, undermining confidence in Russia's military and political leadership, and sending a signal to the Kremlin's top leadership about the reachability of any targets on the territory of the aggressor country, the publication emphasizes.
According to international experts, these operations also refute one of the most common fears that has dominated the West since 2022 – the fear that Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory, particularly in Moscow, will inevitably provoke a large-scale escalation.
"The Kremlin is well aware of the capabilities of the DIU. The Russian special services treat Ukrainian intelligence with professional respect, despite ideological hostility," said British military analyst Mark Galeotti.
According to estimates by the international analytical community, the activities of the DIU MOU have become one of the key factors creating operational uncertainty for the enemy.
“Moscow is no longer perceived as untouchable. It looks less and less like a global center of power - and more and more like a permanent target for drone strikes from Kyiv,” said retired Australian Army Major General Mick Ryan.
As reported by Ukrinform, long-range strike drones of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine struck a camouflaged UAV production site in the village of Obukhovo, Dzerzhinsky District, Kaluga Region, Russian Federation.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4003256-moscow-increasingly-appears-permanent-target-for-kyiv-drone-strikes-media.html
Ukraine Launches Civilian Drone Hunters to Counter Russia’s Aerial Onslaught
June 11, 2025, 4:45 pm
Ukraine will recruit local volunteers to shoot down Russian drones under a new government program, offering up to 100,000 hryvnias (around $2,400) per month from local budgets.
The government representative in the Verkhovna Rada, Taras Melnychuk, announced on Telegram that the Cabinet of Ministers had approved the Ministry of Defense’s proposal to launch the experimental project.
It will operate during martial law but for no longer than two years.
The project will recruit members of paramilitary units and volunteer territorial defense units who have the necessary drone operation skills or qualifications.
They will be tasked with defending against Russian aerial threats, including detecting, tracking, and shooting down drones using UAVs, piloted aircraft, and personal weapons.
Verkhovna Rada Deputy Oleksiy Honcharenko published a draft government decision detailing that volunteers must undergo training and certification to participate.
In December 2024, the Commander of Ukraine’s National Guard, Oleksandr Pivnenko, said Ukraine’s critical infrastructure was being protected by 900 fire groups, about 500 of which were mobile.
At the time, he expressed hopes to further modernize these groups to improve their mobility and effectiveness.
“The National Guard fire groups are integrated into the air defense system and controlled by the Air Force. We continue to upgrade their equipment and training,” Pivnenko said.
“They use tablets to track incoming threats in real-time. Weather and altitude can affect success rates, but the performance of these groups is improving,” he added.
In recent weeks, Russia has significantly intensified drone attacks against Ukraine.
The largest recorded assault took place on June 9, when Russian forces launched 499 drones and missiles, including 479 Shahed strike UAVs and simulator drones of various types, as per the Ukrainian Air Force report.
Ukrainian air defenses successfully neutralized 460 drones and 19 missiles, though strikes and falling debris were reported in multiple locations across the country.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/54360
Illegal drone flies over Puri Jagannath Temple amid tight security for Snana Purnima
Jun 11, 2025
Puri: An illegal drone was seen flying over Puri Jagannath Temple amid tight security for the Snana Purnima of Lord Jagannath and his siblings on Wednesday.
Anticipating huge rush of devotees to the pilgrim city to take part in the Snana Yatra, the Puri district administration with the help of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and the temple sevayats along with other law enforcement agencies had made elaborate arrangement to conduct the annual festival successfully. Even the district police has beefed up security for the same.
As many as 70 platoons police forces have been deployed while Central IG S Praveen Kumar, Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Vinit Agrawal and senior police officers are taking stock of the situation with their physical presence on the Grand Road.
Besides, the major roads and the entire city are under CCTV surveillance and anti-terrorist squad has been deployed.
Despite, all the tight security arrangements, miscreants could manage to use an illegal drone that not only flew over the Srimandir but also captured visuals of the Snana Purnima from the Snana Bedi (bathing altar) before it vanished from everyone’s sight.
Sources said that police had kept a drone to use it for security reason but before they go ahead with their plan, the illegal drone was spotted flying over the 12th century shrine.
While who, why and from where used the illegal drone in the restricted areas are yet to be known, the incident has raised eyebrow over the capability of police in checking usage of such drones even after occurrence of several similar incidents.
Police also have not initiated any action to trace the illegal drone and its user as their entire focus now is to ensure a hustle-free Snana Yatra, said the sources adding that they (cops) would probe the incident soon, mostly by tomorrow.
Notably, an illegal drone was seen flying over the Srimandir on Jun 1.
https://kalingatv.com/odisha/illegal-drone-flies-over-puri-jagannath-temple-amid-tight-security-for-snana-purnima-watch/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRLxaD5hqoM
Over 4,300 Koalas Found in Newcastle’s Fringe Forests by Drone Survey
Updated: 11 June 2025 22:00 IST
In a landmark survey, University of Newcastle researchers mapped a previously hidden koala population on the outskirts of Newcastle, NSW.
The study estimated about 4,357 koalas across roughly 67,300 hectares of bushland (208 sites). They also found more than 290 koalas in Sugarloaf State Conservation Area, a region with few prior records.
Local researcher Daryn McKenny, who grew up nearby and first reported seeing a koala there years ago, contributed his knowledge and sightings to the project.
The findings show koalas can survive – and even thrive – in peri-urban forests, underscoring the need to protect these fringe habitats.
Hidden Koalas on Newcastle's Fringe
According to the study, the survey estimated 4,357 koalas in 208 bushland sites around Newcastle.
Lead author Shelby Ryan said that the drone surveys allowed the team to find koalas within minutes in areas that had taken hours on foot.
Seven national parks were sampled (about 10% of each) with multiple night surveys, and a statistical model extrapolated these counts across the landscape.
Maria National Park had the highest density (about 521 koalas per 3,350 hectares), while fire-affected parks from the 2019-20 fires hosted roughly two-thirds fewer koalas.
Survey Methods and Conservation Implications
Thermal imaging revealed koalas as yellow hotspots, which were then confirmed by a spotlight to identify the animal.
The team used a statistical model accounting for terrain slope, tree coverage, and soil moisture to extrapolate koala numbers across the landscape.
University of Newcastle's Dr. Ryan Witt said that this model can even extend estimates to private or otherwise inaccessible lands that were not directly surveyed.
WWF-Australia – which co-funded the work – hailed the findings as critical for its goal of doubling koala numbers by 2050, noting that accurate abundance estimates are the “holy grail” of koala conservation.
https://www.gadgets360.com/science/news/drone-survey-reveals-hidden-koala-populations-on-newcastle-s-urban-fringe-8640656
Drones will soon be everywhere, as U.S. seeks to lead future of aviation
June 11, 2025
Regulations that have held back commercial drones in the U.S. are easing, which could soon unleash a swarm of low-altitude autonomous aircraft crisscrossing the sky.
Why it matters: Using a 4,000-pound vehicle to deliver a 2-pound burrito is incredibly inefficient. Shifting small package deliveries to the sky could help ease road congestion and cut tailpipe emissions.
With fewer restrictions, drones could also be used more widely for things like infrastructure inspections, agriculture, public safety and filmmaking.
The big picture: The U.S. isn't the aviation leader it used to be, in part because of stifling regulations, at least according to the White House.
America once dominated supersonic flight, for example, but restrictions limited its growth.
China's DJI is the global leader in drones, and the first passengers on U.S.-built electric air taxis will be in the Middle East.
Even America's aviation champion, Boeing, has faced setbacks after a slew of safety and quality concerns.
Driving the news: Three executive orders signed last week by President Trump aim to restore U.S. leadership for the next wave of aviation.
Trump directed the Federal Aviation Administration to enable routine drone operations "beyond visual line of sight" — a key step for wide-scale drone deliveries.
The sweeping order would also reduce U.S. reliance on Chinese drones and accelerate real-world testing of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, or air taxis.
A second order seeks to reestablish U.S. leadership in supersonic flight, while a third would bolster U.S. defenses against threatening drones ahead of huge events like the Olympics and the World Cup.
Between the lines: Just last week, Walmart announced it would expand drone delivery to five more cities.
But the big hangup is that commercial drone operators can only fly long distances with case-by-case approvals from the FAA.
Many of the requirements make it impractical and costly to scale up for deliveries — for example, rules that prohibit one pilot from monitoring many aircraft.
Fast-tracking FAA rules so drones can fly beyond visual line of sight will unlock their economic potential and attract new investors to the sector, according to industry advocates.
What they're saying: "Drone technology is ready to take off, but bad policy has put an artificial ceiling on innovation," Lisa Ellman, CEO of the Commercial Drone Alliance, tells Axios.
"What we needed was a clear framework to scale—and now we have it," added Eric Brock, founder and CEO of drone operator Ondas Holdings, who said Trump's action boosted investor confidence in the company's $40 million stock offering this week.
What's next: The FAA is expected to publish a draft rule on drones within 30 days, and a final rule by early 2026.
Electric air taxis will also get a boost from Trump's executive order.
The FAA will establish at least five pilot projects to advance eVTOL applications like cargo transport, medical response and rural access.
The projects will likely benefit eVTOL manufacturers, including Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation and Beta Technologies.
Boom Supersonic, the first independent company to break the sound barrier, also now has a clear path to commercialization.
Trump's order would repeal a rule that prohibited supersonic jets from flying over land because technology advances have eliminated their "sonic boom."
"We just knocked over the big domino," Boom CEO Blake Scholl tells Axios. "We had one regulatory roadblock and now we have none."
The bottom line: The next wave of advanced aviation is providing the U.S. with a rare second chance to lead the world.
https://www.axios.com/2025/06/11/drones-us-china-dji
Report: Cargo Ships Searched After Incidents with Unidentified Drones
Jun 10, 2025 8:05 PM
The unexplained sightings of drones continue to rise with the latest reports coming from Dutch and German news outlets recounting how authorities recently searched two Russian-crewed cargo ships suspected of launching drones in the North Sea area.
No evidence was found but the speculation continues that it could be the latest spying effort or a new form of hybrid warfare.
Drones have drawn attention in many places around the globe.
Last year, there were nightly reports of unidentified drones in the Northeastern United States that drew extensive media coverage but were never explained.
The Dutch news outlet Pointer (KRO-NCRV) and German news magazine Der Spiegel recount similar stories saying German law enforcement agencies have been seeing an increase in drone sightings over critical infrastructure such as ports, chemical facilities, and military installations.
The Dutch Coast Guard also told Pointer that it was aware of unidentified drones being spotted at sea.
Two instances are being reported that happened in May 2025. In the first instance, it says drones were spotted near a military site near Kiel, Germany.
Ten days later, Der Spiegel says the German patrol ship Potsdam reported it was being followed by a drone for three hours until just before it reached Dutch waters.
Around the same time the drone was spotted in Kiel, Pointer says German authorities identified a small cargo ship, HAV Dolphin (3,000 dwt) behaving suspiciously off the coast of Kiel.
The vessel, which was built in 1993 and is registered in Antigua and Barbuda, Pointer reports had previously spent a month in the Russian port of Kaliningrad. It contends the vessel was spotted operating at times without its AIS signal.
According to the report, the authorities detained and searched the vessel when it reached the Volkerak locks. They report the inspectors did not find drones aboard the vessel.
The patrol ship BP 81 Potsdam was tracking a Russian freighter Lauga (3,200 dwt) in the North Sea reports Der Spiegel when it counted seven drones overhead tracking itself and the cargo ship.
Because it was night, they could not identify the drones or where they were coming from. Lauga the news outlets highlight was used by Russia in Syria possibly carrying military cargo and has also operated at times without an AIS signal.
Der Spiegel says that the Federal Police asked Belgian authorities to inspect the freighter at its destination port. However, again the inspection found no evidence of drones on board.
Pointer reports the German authorities have informed European law enforcement agencies about both the incidents. Both outlets say that the police and other authorities do not have the resources to properly track and identify drones.
The drone sightings come as Northern Europe remains on alert after the incidents with vessels dragging anchors in the Baltic and damaging undersea cables.
Russia has consistently denied involvement or knowledge of these incidents and points to the damage to its Nord Stream 2 pipeline which it claims the West refused to investigate.
NATO and the Scandinavian and Baltic countries have increased monitoring and surveillance leading to tensions in the region.
https://maritime-executive.com/article/report-cargo-ships-searched-after-incidents-with-unidentified-drones
Feds Reportedly Sent a Predator Drone to Spy on LA Protesters
June 10, 2025
As Trump’s shock troops invade Los Angeles, his administration is using every tool at its disposal to attack and surveil the political protests taking place in the city’s streets.
That apparently includes the use of a Predator drone, which 404 Media reports was spotted by an aviation tracker as it zoomed over the city.
The outlet notes that, over the weekend, an MQ-9 Reaper flew over the city’s protests. Onlookers suspected the drone’s presence based on public flight data that picked up movements of a mysterious craft:
One aircraft with no callsign, making it initially difficult to determine its model or which agency it belongs to, flew above the areas of the protests in Paramount and downtown Los Angeles on Sunday.
The data showed this aircraft flying in distinctive hexagonal patterns, and 404 Media observed it fly afterwards to the U.S.-Mexico border.
The existence of the drone appears to have been confirmed by an aviation tracking enthusiast, “Aeroscout,” who came across air traffic control audio that largely corroborates the vehicle’s presence during the protests and riots.
The audio was shared with 404 Media by Aeroscout. “TROY703, traffic 12 o’clock, 8 miles, opposite direction, another ‘TROY’ Q-9 at FL230,” an air traffic operator can be heard to say, in apparent reference to the autonomous plane.
TROY is a callsign used by DHS, which would have been operating the drone, 404 writes. Q-9 is a shorthand for MQ-9, it adds.
This isn’t the first time that the government has treated its own population like a foreign enemy. I
n 2020, as George Floyd protests roiled cities throughout the country, Customs and Border Patrol also used a Predator drone to surveil protesters.
The use of the drone sparked inquiries by congressional leaders into its legality.
A variety of other aircraft were deployed over LA during the last few days. On Monday, it was reported that an LAPD helicopter had flown over a group of protesters and claimed, “I have all of you on camera.
I’m going to come to your house.” Privacy advocates have noted that the existence of facial recognition and other covert tracking tech make such threats possible if not particularly likely.
Trump’s excursion in LA represents a significant escalation from previous federal outings and has little precedent in the modern era.
His mobilization of the National Guard, followed by the deployment of U.S. Marines, is an incredible overreaction to a smattering of riots that pale in comparison to your average Super Bowl mob.
At the same time, recently leaked documents show that Trump’s DHS head, Kristi Neom, had asked the Defense Department to use the military to arrest “lawbreakers”—an act that, under general U.S. law, would be illegal without the invocation of the Insurrection Act.
Trump has also claimed he might arrest California’s governor, Gavin Newsom. Critics maintain that the administration is dancing on the knife’s edge of dictatorial overreach.
Predictably, the police-state style tactics have inspired significant criticism, including from LA Mayor Karen Bass, who said that her city was being used as a “test case” for future authoritarian operations.
This is “what happens when the federal government moves in and takes the authority away from the state or away from local government,” Bass said, during a recent press conference. “I don’t think our city should be used for an experiment.”
Bass added that the “chaos” in the city was “started” by “Washington DC” and that “nothing warranted the raids” that had taken place as part of ICE’s operations.
Why has the Trump administration chosen this particular moment to stage a climactic battle in the heart of Liberal America?
The government maintains that it’s just keeping the peace in a city overrun by criminals, though critics (like Jon Stewart) have voiced other theories:
Could it be that Trump is doing this now because his former “First Buddy,” Elon Musk, accused him of being in the Epstein files last week—an accusation that swiftly gained traction as a result of Democratic lawmakers’ interest in pursuing the matter?
Could it be that this latest display of authoritarian stagecraft is really just a flailing and desperate effort to distract from the President’s longtime ties to a notorious pedophile who died during Trump’s last term in office?
There is, of course, no way to tell, but onlookers are entitled to their perspectives.
https://gizmodo.com/feds-reportedly-sent-a-predator-drone-to-spy-on-la-protesters-2000613964
How Ross, Lt. Col. Blitch vetted UFO whistleblower Jake Barber | Reality Check
Updated: Jun 10, 2025 / 04:45 PM CDT
In this episode of “Reality Check,” Ross Coulthart invites you to watch his speeches and hear your questions from “Contact in the Desert.”
Retired Lt. Col. John Blitch returns to speak with Ross about his thoughts on abductions and the U.S. government as well as his personal experience with UAPs and helping UFO whistleblower Jake Barber be vetted for his bombshell NewsNation exclusive interview.
0:00 - 1:26 - Intro
1:27-48:21 - Ross' speech
48:22-1:10:14 - Lt. Col. John Blitch
1:10:15-1:23:17 - Audience Q&A
1:23:18 Outro
https://www.newsnationnow.com/podcasts-newsnation/how-ross-lt-col-blitch-vetted-ufo-whistleblower-jake-barber-reality-check/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Je3uhJz6xs
https://www.space.com/what-is-the-black-knight.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLi6yWiVTug
The 'Black Knight' satellite: A 120-year-old conspiracy theory
June 10, 2025
The Black Knight satellite conspiracy theory claims that a mysterious, artificial object is orbiting Earth in near-polar orbit, possibly of alien origin, and has been doing so for more than 13,000 years.
While scientists and space agencies have debunked the claim many times the Black Knight satellite myth persists in online forums and tabloid articles, fuelled by a jumble of unrelated space phenomena, misidentified objects and speculative science fiction.
Let's unravel the myth, where it came from and why the Black Knight satellite continues to fascinate.
In 1998, the crew of space shuttle mission STS-88 took a series of photographs showing a dark, twisted object orbiting Earth.
UFO enthusiasts quickly claimed the object was the fabled Black Knight satellite. However, NASA and the astronauts involved offered a more down-to-earth explanation.
According to astronaut Jerry Ross, the object was a thermal blanket lost during a spacewalk to install insulation on the International Space Station module. "
Jerry, one of the thermal covers got away from you," STS-88 commander Robert Cabana told Ross during the spacewalk, and it soon became apparent that the cover was lost for good.
The object was later catalogued by NASA (catalog number 025570) and burned up in Earth's atmosphere a few days later.
Much of this information has been placed on the record. Former NASA engineer James Oberg, who personally knows Ross and the person who took the photos, cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, has demonstrated that these supposed images of the Black Knight actually depict a very mundane object.
So why do some people believe the Black Knight is an ancient alien spacecraft? The answer lies in a century-long mix of stories, stretching back to the early days of radio experiments.
Is the Black Knight satellite real?
The Black Knight satellite is a lost thermal blanket from a 1998 space mission. Though the conspiracy theory lives on.
Did Nikola Tesla detect signals from the Black Knight satellite?
Tesla detected unusual radio signals, but scientists believe they were natural or from Earth-based sources, not from a satellite.
Origins of the Black Knight satellite conspiracy
The Black Knight satellite myth is a patchwork of different events spanning more than a century.
Believers often point to Nikola Tesla's 1899 experiments in Colorado Springs where he reportedly detected repeating radio signals that he believed might have been from extraterrestrial sources.
In 1927, amateur radio operator Jørgen Hals in Norway observed long-delayed radio echoes — signals that returned seconds after transmission.
This phenomenon, which remains not fully explained, added to the growing legend of strange signals from space.
Then in 1954, newspapers published claims by retired U.S. Air Force major Donald Keyhoe that the U.S. Air Force had detected two artificial satellites orbiting Earth — at a time when no nation had yet launched one.
These claims have never been substantiated.
Further fuel was added in 1960, when TIME magazine reported that the U.S. Navy detected a "dark object" thought to be a Soviet spy satellite in orbit.
It was later identified as a piece of the Discoverer 8 satellite, part of the CORONA program, America's first spy satellite project.
The modern surge in interest in the Black Knight satellite came with the release of images from NASA's STS-88 mission in 1998.
The images show a strange, black, wing-like object silhouetted against Earth's blue background. They quickly circulated online and became "evidence" for the Black Knight in UFO communities.
But spaceflight experts say there's a more mundane explanation.
James Oberg, a space historian and former NASA engineer who worked on the STS-88 trajectory design team, says the object was a thermal insulation blanket lost during a spacewalk.
He's spoken with the astronauts involved, including cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, who took the photos.
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James Oberg
Former NASA engineer
James Oberg is a space journalist, historian and former NASA engineer who worked on the STS-88 trajectory design team. Oberg personally knows Ross and the person who took the photos, cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev.
Oberg frequently addresses supposed UFO sightings, offering scientific interpretations for phenomena that may appear extraterrestrial or debunking them as hoaxes.
Oberg told All About Space: "Every step of the way, there is consistency with what I learned as a lifelong spaceflight operations specialist.
Why the blankets were needed, why one of them came loose, why it floated off the way it did."
He added that public misunderstanding was made worse when NASA's website changed, breaking the original links to the photos, which some interpreted as a cover-up.
"They're probably some of the weirdest-looking 70-mm photos to ever come out of the shuttle program," Oberg said.
"But all normal journalistic practices — establishing a timeline, asking witnesses, looking for broader context — were skipped."
Why the Black Knight satellite myth persists
Despite expert explanations, the Black Knight satellite theory remains popular among conspiracy theorists.
Part of its endurance lies in human psychology — our brains are wired to look for patterns, stories, and hidden meanings. The theory also fits into a larger cultural interest in aliens, UFOs, and secret space programs.
Recent attention to UAPs (unidentified aerial phenomena) and declassified government reports has made the public more open to space-related mysteries, even ones long since debunked.
The myth's ingredients — Tesla, strange signals, lost satellites, and eerie space photos — are irresistible to those looking for signs of alien contact or government secrets.
What scientists say about Tesla's signals
So what happened in 1899? Nikola Tesla began to record some very odd signals, seemingly from outer space.
While in his barn-like laboratory in Colorado Springs that year, the genius Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer noted some unusual radio signals and speculated they had come from an intelligent alien civilization.
That's perhaps the least likely explanation, of course. Over the years, some people have speculated that Tesla may have detected emissions from a pulsar, a superdense, fast-spinning stellar corpse. But that's probably off the mark as well, scientists say.
"The very first source of non-terrestrial radio waves was discovered in the 1930s, and that was from the center of our galaxy, which is the most powerful radio source in the sky at many frequencies," said Varoujan Gorjian, a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
"It wasn't until the 1960s that the technology evolved to detect the first pulsars. If what Tesla detected was a real signal and not an artifact of his instrument, it most likely came from Earth."
A blanket, not a beacon
The legend of the Black Knight satellite is a classic case of mistaken identity — and a reminder of how easily myths can take hold when space, technology, and mystery intersect.
Though believers claim it is an ancient alien spacecraft watching over Earth, the evidence points to a far more ordinary origin: a thermal blanket lost during a 1998 spacewalk, confused with a handful of loosely connected stories spanning a century.
Still, like many conspiracy theories, the Black Knight satellite continues to orbit popular imagination.
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Kentucky Highway 81 Buzzes With Excitement Over Possible UFO Sighting
June 11, 2025
Over the weekend, there were some very concerned citizens on the southwestern side of Daviess County, Kentucky. Motorists were stopped along Hwy 81 trying to figure out what in the holy X-Files they were looking at it.
There appeared to be an unidentified, flying object hovering above them and no one (well, almost no one) knew what it was. For a brief moment, it looked like a case for Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.
Now, the thought of aliens in Kentucky isn't new. There is a now legendary account that centers around an incident in Kelly, quite close to Hopkinsville, way back in 1955.
It was August 21st of that year that Elmer 'Lucky' Sutton, his wife Vera, and their friend Billy Ray had a 'close encounter' with a flying saucer and a three-foot 'glowing' creature.
That area of the state is now home to an annual event that commemorates that sighting. The event is the Kelly Little Green Men Days Festival.
Thankfully, there were no sightings of little green men in Daviess County over the weekend. There were only reports of what looked like a UFO.
As it turns out, the object was very easily identified by Stuart Snow. He should know what it was because, well, he made it.
See, Stuart is a licensed professional fireworks and pyrotechnics expert. He was experimenting with some brand new special effects, particularly a gigantic fire and smoke ball. WATCH!
Here's Stuart chatting about his big experiment! So, Kentucky's latest UFO mystery has been solved! But, check this out. We don't appear to be alone.
https://wbkr.com/ufo-sighting-daviess-county-kentucky/
https://www.tiktok.com/@92.5_wbkr
Lights in the Sky: The Mysterious Activity Around Mount Adams
June 11, 2025
I believe anything is possible, and Washington State is known for being the #1 or #2 place in the nation for UFO sightings. Roswell, Mexico, has nothing on us here in the Evergreen State.
Why UFO Hunters Flock to This Tiny Washington Town Every Year
One little town in Washington State has sparked the interest of UFO hunters, especially at the base of Mount Adams. You'd think Mt. Rainier was the #1 place to spot a UFO, but Mt. Adams is also a hot spot.
Toppenish is the town of murals, but they should add a mural with aliens as well. With the Yakama Nation oral history, the mountain has long been considered a spiritually active place, and what modern eyes call “UFOs” might be better understood as sacred phenomena.
There's a great website that follows UFO sightings near Yakima. It's a fascinating website.
Lights in the Sky: The Mysterious Activity Around Mount Adams
Hundreds of sightings have been recorded at the James Gilliland Ranch, which claims to have established Enlightened Contact with ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence (ECETI) near Trout Lake at the base of Mt. Adams.
You can stay at the ECETI ranch and enjoy some great stargazing, and I wouldn't be surprised if you don't catch a glimpse of a UFO while visiting.
So the next time you are traveling through Eastern Washington, you might put Toppenish on your list for the best place to spot a UFO.
https://newstalk870.am/ixp/133/p/mount-adams-ufo-spotlight/
https://yakimatalk.com/2021/07/16/supernatural-skies-ufo-sightings-in-and-around-yakima/
Area 51 Cover Story Raises More Questions than Answers=
June 08, 2025
The US Department of Defense has released a report claiming the Pentagon ran a decades-long misinformation campaign to hide classified operations at Area 51.
However, this newest confession of lying to the public begs the question: is the story of a cover-up just a bigger cover-up of something more mysterious?
According to the investigation, officials disseminated doctored UFO photographs to nearby residents starting in the 1980s.
This is one of several admissions that seemingly debunk specific sightings and material proof of extraterrestrials around Area 51.
One retired colonel even stated that his assigned mission was to spread alien conspiracy theories in order to hide the true purpose of operations at the site, yet there are still eyewitnesses who have described crafts maneuvering in ways not possible with modern technology.
These sightings occurred long before and after the height of military testing, meaning it's possible the US is taking credit for advanced technology that's not its own.
Ironically, the government's attempt to end the mystery may have only deepened it. Since the start of congressional hearings regarding UAP a few years ago, the public has met each round of disclosure not with relief but with renewed suspicion.
Last year the Pentagon claimed there was no evidence of any cover-up, a statement they're now contradicting. The more convoluted the official narrative becomes, the more it's taken with a grain of salt.
https://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/area-51-cover-story-raises-more-questions-than-answers/
Buga Sphere: EXCEPTIONAL video of a sphere recorded in Yumbo, Valle del Cauca, Colombia 🛸
Jun 10, 2025
In this episode of Interstellar, journalist and researcher Jaime Maussan discusses the incredible sightings of unidentified flying spheres in Buga, Colombia, presenting irrefutable evidence of the presence of these objects on Earth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V7-6voKwGU