TYB
GM
Happy Fookin' Friday
Link no workie
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
June 20, 2025
Major Lunar Standstill 2024-2025
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, planet Earth lies on the horizon in this stack of panoramic composite images. In a monthly time series arranged vertically top to bottom the ambitious photographic project follows the annual north-south swing of sunrise points, from June solstice to December solstice and back again. It also follows the corresponding, but definitely harder to track, Full Moon rise. Of course, the north-south swing of moonrise runs opposite sunrise along the horizon. But these rising Full Moons also span a wider range on the horizon than the sunrises. That's because the well-planned project (as shown in this video) covers the period June 2024 to June 2025, centered on a major lunar standstill. Major lunar standstills represent extremes in the north-south range of moonrise driven by the 18.6 year precession period of the lunar orbit.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
>>23207716 LB
HustleBitch
@HustleBitch_
🚨 WHAT JUST RIPPED ACROSS WASHINGTON D.C.? EVEN KARI LAKE IS ASKING QUESTIONS.
At 3:30 PM, during a severe storm, a bright, fast-moving object blazed across D.C.’s radar.
Not lightning. Not a plane.
A clean, surgical streak across the sky, and it’s not showing up on flight trackers.
Kari Lake, Trump’s senior media advisor and former journalist, pulled it straight from live radar and posted it herself:
“Anyone know what is shooting across the radar over D.C.?”
If it was normal, why is someone at her level asking?
With the region locked down for military celebrations and war tensions rising globally…
What the hell is flying over the U.S. capital - and why is no one giving answers?
2:17 PM · Jun 19, 2025
Kari Lake
@KariLake
👀What is this zooming across the radar over Washington DC? 👀
I just pulled up radar to check on the massive storm overhead and noticed an anomaly on the radar loop.
Anyone know what is shooting across the radar over Washington DC around 3:30pm?
1:41 PM · Jun 19, 2025
https://x.com/HustleBitch_/status/1935809306928226756
https://x.com/KariLake/status/1935800229715988989
success, ty
NASA Aircraft to Make Low-Altitude Flights in Mid-Atlantic, California
20 Jun 2025 10:56 pm AEST
From Sunday, June 22 to Wednesday, July 2, two research aircraft will make a series of low-altitude atmospheric research flights near Philadelphia, Baltimore, and some Virginia cities, including Richmond, as well as over the Los Angeles Basin, Salton Sea, and Central Valley in California.
Pilots will operate the aircraft at altitudes lower than typical commercial flights, executing specialized maneuvers such as vertical spirals between 1,000 and 10,000 feet, circling above power plants, landfills, and urban areas.
The flights will also include occasional missed approaches at local airports and low-altitude flybys along runways to collect air samples near the surface.
The East Coast flights will be conducted between June 22 and Thursday, June 26 over Baltimore and near Philadelphia, as well as near the Virginia cities of Hampton, Hopewell, and Richmond. The California flights will occur from Sunday, June 29 to July 2.
The flights, part of NASA’s Student Airborne Research Program (SARP), will involve the agency’s Airborne Science Program’s P-3 Orion aircraft (N426NA) and a King Air B200 aircraft (N46L) owned by Dynamic Aviation and contracted by NASA.
The program is an eight-week summer internship program that provides undergraduate students with hands-on experience in every aspect of a scientific campaign.
The P-3, operated out of NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, is a four-engine turboprop aircraft outfitted with a six-instrument science payload to support a combined 40 hours of SARP science flights on each U.S. coast.
The King Air B200 will fly at the same time as the P-3 but in an independent flight profile. Students will assist in the operation of the science instruments on the aircraft to collect atmospheric data.
“The SARP flights have become mainstays of NASA’s Airborne Science Program, as they expose highly competitive STEM students to real-world data gathering within a dynamic flight environment,” said Brian Bernth, chief of flight operations at NASA Wallops.
“Despite SARP being a learning experience for both the students and mentors alike, our P-3 is being flown and performing maneuvers in some of most complex and restricted airspace in the country,” said Bernth.
“Tight coordination and crew resource management is needed to ensure that these flights are executed with precision but also safely.”
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/airborne-science/nasa-aircraft-to-make-low-altitude-flights-in-mid-atlantic-california/
NASA Provides Latest Axiom Mission 4 Launch, Station Operations Update
June 19, 2025
NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX continue reviewing launch opportunities for Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station.
NASA has made the decision to stand down from a launch on Sunday, June 22, and will target a new launch date in the coming days.
The space agency needs additional time to continue evaluating International Space Station operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory’s Zvezda service module.
Because of the space station’s interconnected and interdependent systems, NASA wants to ensure the station is ready for additional crew members, and the agency is taking the time necessary to review data.
NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX appreciate the historic nature of this mission for the nations of India, Poland, and Hungary, as well as the world.
The crew remains in quarantine in Florida, and the astronauts stand ready to launch when the station is ready to receive them.
Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot.
The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft remain healthy on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/06/19/nasa-provides-latest-axiom-mission-4-launch-station-operations-update/
https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/
Hubble Studies Small but Mighty Galaxy
Jun 20, 2025
This portrait from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope puts the nearby galaxy NGC 4449 in the spotlight. The galaxy is situated just 12.5 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs).
It is a member of the M94 galaxy group, which is near the Local Group of galaxies that the Milky Way is part of.
NGC 4449 is a dwarf galaxy, which means that it is far smaller and contains fewer stars than the Milky Way. But don’t let its small size fool you — NGC 4449 packs a punch when it comes to making stars!
This galaxy is currently forming new stars at a much faster rate than expected for its size, which makes it a starburst galaxy. Most starburst galaxies churn out stars mainly in their centers, but NGC 4449 is alight with brilliant young stars throughout.
Researchers believe that this global burst of star formation came about because of NGC 4449’s interactions with its galactic neighbors.
Because NGC 4449 is so close, it provides an excellent opportunity for Hubble to study how interactions between galaxies can influence the formation of new stars.
Hubble released an image of NGC 4449 in 2007. This new version incorporates several additional wavelengths of light that Hubble collected for multiple observing programs.
These programs encompass an incredible range of science, from a deep dive into NGC 4449’s star-formation history to the mapping of the brightest, hottest, and most massive stars in more than two dozen nearby galaxies.
The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has also observed NGC 4449, revealing in intricate detail the galaxy’s tendrils of dusty gas, glowing from the intense starlight radiated by the flourishing young stars.
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/hubble-studies-small-but-mighty-galaxy/
NASA Ignored Juneteenth This Year
June 19, 2025
Up until last year NASA always made mention of Juneteenth and what it represents to NASA and to our nation. Not any more. Why is that Janet?
https://nasawatch.com/culture/nasa-ignored-juneteenth-this-year/
Jaw-Dropping Explosions on The Sun Captured in First NASA PUNCH Images
20 June 2025
A NASA mission to observe the activity of the solar wind has returned its first images of giant coronal mass ejections (CMEs) billowing out from the Sun.
Images from the Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) were presented at the 246th meeting of the American Astronomical Society, showing these giant events on an unprecedented scale.
"I promise you you have never seen anything quite like this," heliophysicist and PUNCH principal investigator Craig DeForest of the Southwest Research Institute said in his presentation.
CMEs are huge expulsions of billions of tons of solar plasma and magnetic fields that are blasted out from the Sun, a massive release of energy and solar particles that occurs when the Sun's magnetic field lines tangle, snap, and reconnect. They often, but don't always, occur with solar flares.
A halo CME is what we call it when the CME blasts right in the direction of Earth.
From our perspective, the expanding ejecta looks to surround the Sun like a halo, before barreling through the Solar System at tremendous speed.
"That halo CME is something you have never seen before. I'd like to call your attention to the white circle near the center of the field of view here.
That circle represents the LASCO field of view; that is the largest coronagraph currently used to forecast space weather.
"You've seen halo CME movies before, if you've paid attention to the science press.
But you have never seen one 30 to 40 degrees from the Sun … you're seeing something that is literally washing across the entire sky of the inner Solar System as it comes toward the Earth."
In this case, they were able to track a CME as it blasted through the Solar System at 4 million miles an hour until about two hours before it collided with Earth's magnetic field.
These events often produce the aurora that light up Earth's polar skies, but can also interrupt communications and damage satellites, so scientists are keen to develop better space weather tracking and prediction tools.
PUNCH is just beginning its planned two-year mission to record solar events in 3D, in an attempt to better understand space weather.
The four probes aren't quite yet in their final positions, but the team here on Earth is testing the instruments and taking observations.
"These are preliminary data. They look good now, but they are going to look fabulous once we are done with calibration later this summer," DeForest said.
"This is the first of many, I'm sure, and the best is still to come."
https://www.sciencealert.com/jaw-dropping-explosions-on-the-sun-captured-in-first-nasa-punch-images
Powerful X-class solar flare erupts from sun, knocking out radio signals across the Pacific
June 20, 2025
Sunspot region 4114 has unleashed its most powerful solar flare yet — an X1.9 class that erupted late June 19, triggering shortwave radio blackouts across the Pacific Ocean, including parts of Hawaii.
The solar flare peaked at 9:50 p.m. EDT on June 19 (0150 a.m. GMT June 20) according to Space Weather Live.
While this event delivered a strong burst of electromagnetic radiation, it did not launch a coronal mass ejection (CME), meaning aurora hunters will be disappointed — at least for now.
Intense enough to ionize Earth's upper atmosphere, the eruption caused a shortwave radio blackout centered over the Pacific Ocean.
Ham radio operators — especially those in Hawaii — may have noticed a sudden loss of signal on frequencies below 25 MHz shortly after the flare erupted, according to spaceweather.com.
The flare also appears to have destabilized a large magnetic filament located in the sun's southern hemisphere.
Short wave radio blackouts are common during intense solar activity, and occur when solar flares release X-rays and extreme ultraviolet radiation into space.
Traveling at the speed of light, this radiation reaches Earth almost instantly, ionizing the upper atmosphere. The increased ionization alters atmospheric density, impacting high-frequency shortwave radio signals used for long-distance communication.
As these signals pass through the charged atmospheric layers, energy loss from collisions with electrons can weaken or even fully absorb transmissions, leading to radio blackouts.
X-class flares are the most energetic class of solar flares, with each step up in number representing a tenfold increase in power.
At X1.9, this flare ranks among the stronger eruptions of the current solar cycle, and it's further evidence that sunspot region 4114 is a highly active and magnetically complex zone worth watching.
Just a few days ago, the same sunspot region erupted with another X-class solar flare, measuring X1.2. The prolific flare factory doesn't look like stopping anytime soon.
If future flares do launch CMEs toward Earth, they could trigger geomagnetic storms and even auroras.
Stay up to date with the latest space weather news and forecasts on our aurora forecast live blog and NOAA's 3-day geomagnetic outlook.
https://www.space.com/astronomy/sun/powerful-x-class-solar-flare-erupts-from-sun-knocking-out-radio-signals-across-the-pacific-video
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/r3-strong-event-observed-19-jun-2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeHUdIjHiw8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XopAOwcRapk (X Class Flare (Again), The Worst Paper I've Ever Reported | S0 News Jun.20.2025)
Hideo Kojima wants to be the first game developer to make games in space – “I’m not a scientist, but I could probably make games in space”
June 20, 2025
Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima is all set to release his next game, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, in just a few days.
As the creator looks to the future with his horror game OD and his stealth-action game Physint, he’s also looking to the stars with dreams of making video games in space.
Kojima explained in a recent interview that he wants to be the first game developer to successfully create a video game in outer space.
As movie star Tom Cruise aims to create a movie on the International Space Station, Kojima wants to do the same for video games.
Kojima wants to make a game in space
Speaking to The Guardian, Kojima revealed his intentions to make some form of video game in space.
While the Death Stranding creator doesn’t have a concrete plan for what game he would create, he wants to “train” to be able to handle the effects of low-gravity in space.
“I want to train properly, learn how to do the docking, go to the International Space Station and stay there for a few months,” the Metal Gear Solid creator said.
“I’m not a scientist, but I could probably make games in space. I want to be the first. There are a lot of astronauts over 60, so I guess it’s possible.”
Hideo Kojima joked that the lack of gravity in space wouldn’t “irritate his bad back”, and that he has started to developer “Tom Cruise disease” as he gets the urge to risk his life to find “out his worth”.
The Metal Gear Solid creator has spoken in numerous interviews as of late regarding the latter years of his life.
With games taking so long to make, the video game auteur is aiming to make as many different games as possible in his remaining decades.
For example, while the developer has plans for a Death Stranding 3, he has confirmed that someone else will have to make it.
After finishing up work on Death Stranding 2, Kojima Productions will be going on a short break, but Hideo Kojima himself will immediately go to work on his next title.
Unfortunately, there’s no planned release date for the upcoming game at the time of writing.
https://www.videogamer.com/news/hideo-kojima-wants-to-be-the-first-game-developer-to-make-games-in-space/
Space breakthrough as scientists set out vision for massive 'oases' in 2040
20/06/2025 - 15:08
Scientists from the European Space Agency have unveiled plans for humanity to establish permanent settlements across the solar system within the next fifteen years.
The Technology 2040 document outlines a future where people inhabit self-sufficient colonies on both lunar and Martian surfaces.
According to the plan, these extraterrestrial settlements will function as "space oases" featuring closed-loop life support systems and advanced resource management capabilities.
The vision extends beyond planetary surfaces to include orbital habitats around Earth.
European space officials describe the strategy as humanity's transformation into an "interplanetary species" through revolutionary technological advances.
The agency's vision encompasses autonomous robotic explorers equipped with artificial intelligence that will independently investigate previously inaccessible locations.
These machines will have the capability to determine their own exploration priorities, including whether to descend into extraterrestrial oceans or navigate Martian crater systems.
It describes a future where "multipurpose robots leverage their intelligence to infiltrate previously off-limit environments: the depths of craters, caves or even subsurface seas".
Mining operations on asteroids and comets will extract both valuable minerals and scientific data about our solar system's formation.
The agency anticipates that orbital manufacturing will eliminate current constraints imposed by rocket payload capacities.
The document stated: "Large space structures are no longer bound by the limitations of launch vehicle dimensions.
"Either unfolded in space or manufactured and assembled directly in orbit or on the surfaces of the Moon or Mars, these mammoth constructions can be as big as they need to be."
Three-dimensional printing capabilities will allow the construction of massive infrastructure directly in space rather than transporting materials from Earth.
Josef Aschbacher, ESA's director-general, has urged member nations, including Britain, to endorse the strategic vision for the coming twenty years.
"This is not just a road map; it is a call to action," he stated.
The document said: "Expanding into space is not a luxury but a necessity. Space is no longer a frontier; it is a territory. It unlocks unknown resources that open new markets and enable scientific breakthroughs."
The agency predicts a "rapid evolution of technology that will redefine our understanding of space and humanity's role within it".
https://www.gbnews.com/science/space-breakthrough-scientists-vision-oases
Dawn Aerospace launches first commercial space plane
June 20, 2025
Dawn Aerospace has announced that its Aurora spaceplane is now available for purchase, marking the first time a space-capable vehicle has been offered for direct sale to customers. Olivia Palamountain reports
New Zealand-based Dawn Aerospace has become the company to offer space-capable aircraft for purchase direct to customers.
The Aurora spaceplane can achieve a max altitude of 100 km (328,000 ft) - meaning it can fly above the Karman Line, located at an altitude of 100km (62m) above sea level.
First deliveries of the aircraft are expected in 2027, introducing a business model similar to commercial airlines where operators can purchase aircraft and deliver services independently of the manufacturer.
Capable of horizontal takeoff and landing, rapid refuelling and multiple flights per day, Aurora offers aircraft-like simplicity, cost-efficiency, and flexibility - enabling local operators to access high-altitudes and space from local runways on demand.
It is set to become the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever to take off from a conventional runway, blending the extreme performance of rocket propulsion with the reusability and operational simplicity of traditional aviation.
This breakthrough enables high-frequency, low-cost access to both high-altitudes and space.
“For the first time, customers have the opportunity to own an aircraft capable of reaching the edge of space,” says Stefan Powell, CEO of Dawn Aerospace.
“Aurora is a game-changing platform for governments, spaceports, and new spaceplane operators to access extreme altitudes and deliver vital services and programs.
It’s been over a century since commercial airlines began—now it’s time to launch the first spaceline.”
In November 2024, on the 57th flight of Aurora, it reached supersonic speeds, Mach 1.12, and climbed to 82,500 feet / 25.1 km.
In doing so, Aurora set a record for the fastest climb from runway to above 20km, breaking a nearly 50-year-old record previously held by the modified F-15 Streak Eagle.
Aurora Spaceplane – Key Specifications
Maximum Altitude: 100 km (328,000 ft)
Top Speed: Mach 3.5 (2,270 mph)
Turnaround Time: <4 hours (enabling multiple daily flights from standard runways)
Payload Capacity: Up to 10 kg (22 lbs.)
Propulsion System: Bi-propellant rocket engine
Microgravity Duration: Up to 3 minutes
Trajectory: Customisable
Maximum Range: 130 km (80.8 miles)
Dawn Aerospace is now coordinating inaugural deliveries of Aurora with early adopters across research, commercial and government sectors.
https://globetrender.com/2025/06/20/dawn-aerospace-launches-first-commercial-space-plane/
https://www.dawnaerospace.com/
Macron calls for Europe to ramp up investment in space
20 Jun 2025 07:37PM
PARIS :French President Emmanuel Macron threw his weight behind plans for a unified European satellite manufacturing champion and called for accelerated deployment of satellites, as he set out a new space strategy at the Paris Airshow on Friday.
Speaking after France moved to take control of satellite operator Eutelsat, Macron called for accelerated efforts across the board from launch to satellite manufacturing and Starlink-like services as he declared space the next "gauge of power".
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/macron-calls-europe-ramp-up-investment-space-5194171
Well have a gay ol' time!
China leads international drive to build global space weather monitoring network
Jun 16, 2025
Chinese researchers, in partnership with global scientific bodies, have launched an international initiative to construct the most extensive ground-based monitoring system yet aimed at decoding the physics and dynamics of space weather.
At the Second Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange in Chengdu, Sichuan province, five institutions formalized new collaborations with the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
These agreements officially initiated the International Meridian Circle Program (IMCP), a Big Science Program designed to advance global space weather research.
Altogether, 36 cooperative arrangements have now been established with international partners under the IMCP framework, uniting global research efforts across disciplines and borders.
"The IMCP builds upon the Chinese Meridian Project, with the vision of creating the most comprehensive ground-based monitoring chain along the 120 E to 60 W meridian," explained Wang Chi, the program's general commander.
"This network will enable globally integrated, multiparameter observations essential for decoding geospace phenomena."
Geospace, considered the fourth domain of human activity, is central to technologies such as spaceflight, communications, and navigation.
However, Wang emphasized that disturbances driven by solar activity can generate severe and unpredictable disruptions, underlining the urgency of improved forecasting capabilities.
The IMCP is planned to span more than 11 years to encompass an entire solar cycle, facilitating in-depth observation of geospace and long-term study of space weather dynamics.
Wang said the initiative would evolve into a global research community, uniting diverse observation techniques and a distributed monitoring infrastructure.
This integrated approach is expected to yield major advances in theory and technology, supporting global efforts to mitigate the risks posed by space weather events.
By connecting solar and atmospheric observations in a seamless system, the IMCP also aims to further understanding of planetary habitability and encourage the peaceful use of space resources.
"We are transitioning from a regional space weather alert system to a truly global early warning framework," Wang added. "The IMCP embodies our commitment to building a shared future for humanity in the realm of space science."
https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_leads_international_drive_to_build_global_space_weather_monitoring_network_999.html
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3314816/china-lead-global-space-weather-network-monitor-dangerous-solar-eruptions
https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/space-law-doesnt-protect-historical-sites-mining-operations-and-bases-on-the-moon-a-space-lawyer-describes-a-framework-that-could
https://theconversation.com/space-law-doesnt-protect-historical-sites-mining-operations-and-bases-on-the-moon-a-space-lawyer-describes-a-framework-that-could-255757
https://www.forallmoonkind.org/institute/moonkind-mission-statement/
Space law doesn't protect historical sites, mining operations and bases on the moon – a space lawyer describes a framework that could
June 20, 2025
April 2025 was a busy month for space.
Pop icon Katy Perry joined five other civilian women on a quick jaunt to the edge of space, making headlines.
Meanwhile, another group of people at the United Nations was contemplating a critical issue for the future of space exploration: the discovery, extraction and utilization of natural resources on the moon.
At the end of April, a dedicated Working Group of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space released a draft set of recommended principles for space resource activities.
Essentially, these are rules to govern mining on the moon, asteroids and elsewhere in space for elements that are rare here on Earth.
As a space lawyer and co-founder of For All Moonkind, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting human heritage in outer space, I know that the moon could be the proving ground for humanity’s evolution into a species that lives and thrives on more than one planet.
However, this new frontier raises complex legal questions.
Space, legally
Outer space – including the moon – from a legal perspective, is a unique domain without direct terrestrial equivalent. It is not, like the high seas, the “common heritage of humankind,” nor is it an area, like Antarctica, where commercial mining is prohibited.
Instead, the 1967 Outer Space Treaty – signed by more than 115 nations, including China, Russia and the United States – establishes that the exploration and use of space are the “province of all humankind.”
That means no country may claim territory in outer space, and all have the right to access all areas of the moon and other celestial bodies freely.
The fact that, pursuant to Article II of the treaty, a country cannot claim territory in outer space, known as the nonappropriation principle, suggests to some that property ownership in space is forbidden.
Can this be true? If your grandchildren move to Mars, will they never own a home? How can a company protect its investment in a lunar mine if it must be freely accessible by all?
What happens, as it inevitably will, when two rovers race to a particular area on the lunar surface known to host valuable water ice? Does the winner take all?
As it turns out, the Outer Space Treaty does offer some wiggle room. Article IX requires countries to show “due regard” for the corresponding interests of others.
It is a legally vague standard, although the Permanent Court of Arbitration has suggested that due regard means simply paying attention to what’s reasonable under the circumstances.
First mover advantage – it’s a race
The treaty’s broad language encourages a race to the moon. The first entity to any spot will have a unilateral opportunity to determine what’s legally “reasonable.”
For example, creating an overly large buffer zone around equipment might be justified to mitigate potential damage from lunar dust.
On top of that, Article XII of the Outer Space Treaty assumes that there will be installations, like bases or mining operations, on the moon. Contrary to the free access principle, the treaty suggests that access to these may be blocked unless the owner grants permission to enter.
Both of these paths within the treaty would allow the first person to make it to their desired spot on the moon to keep others out. The U.N. principles in their current form don’t address these loopholes.
The draft U.N. principles released in April mirror, and are confined by, the language of the Outer Space Treaty. This tension between free access and the need to protect – most easily by forbidding access – remains unresolved. And the clock is ticking.
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The moon's vulnerable legacy
The more than 115 other sites on the Moon that bear evidence of human activity are frozen in time without degradation from weather, animal or human activity. But this could change.
A single errant spacecraft or rover could kick up abrasive lunar dust, erasing bootprints or damaging artifacts.
Protection and the Outer Space Treaty
In 2011, NASA recommended establishing buffer, or safety zones, of up to 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) to protect certain sites with U.S. artifacts.
Because it understood that outright exclusion violates the Outer Space Treaty, NASA issued these recommendations as voluntary guidelines.
Nevertheless, the safety zone concept, essentially managing access to and activities around specific areas, could be a practical tool for protecting heritage sites. They could act as a starting point to find a balance between protection and access.
One hundred and ninety-six nations have agreed, through the 1972 World Heritage Convention, on the importance of recognizing and protecting cultural heritage of universal value found here on Earth.
Building on this agreement, the international community could require specific access protocols — such as a permitting process, activity restrictions, shared access rules, monitoring and other controls — for heritage sites on the Moon.
If accepted, these protective measures for heritage sites could also work as a template for scientific and operational sites. This would create a consistent framework that avoids the perception of claiming territory.
At this time, the draft U.N. principles released in April 2025 do not directly address the opposing concepts of access and protection. Instead, they defer to Article I of the Outer Space Treaty and reaffirm that everyone has free access to all areas of the Moon and other celestial bodies.
As more countries and companies compete to reach the Moon, a clear lunar legal framework can guide them to avoid conflicts and preserve historical sites. The draft U.N. principles show that the international community is ready to explore what this framework could look like.
The U.S. Artemis program aims to return humans to the moon by 2028, China has plans for human return by 2030, and in the intervening years, more than 100 robotic missions are planned by countries and private industry alike.
For the most part, these missions are all headed to the same sweet spot: the lunar south pole. Here, peaks of eternal light and deep craters containing water ice promise the best mining, science and research opportunities.
In this excitement, it’s easy to forget that humans already have a deep history of lunar exploration. Scattered on the lunar surface are artifacts displaying humanity’s technological progress.
After centuries of gazing at our closest celestial neighbor with fascination, in 1959 the Soviet spacecraft, Luna 2, became the first human-made object to impact another celestial body.
Ten years later, two humans, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, became the first ever to set foot upon another celestial body.
More recently, in 2019, China’s Chang’e 4 achieved the first soft landing on the moon’s far side. And in 2023, India’s Chandrayaan-3 became the first to land successfully near the lunar south pole.
These sites memorialize humanity’s baby steps off our home planet and easily meet the United Nations definition of terrestrial heritage, as they are so “exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity.”
The international community works to protect such sites on Earth, but those protection protocols do not extend to outer space.
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Watch Rocket Lab launch secret satellite to orbit today (Scrubbed)
June 20, 2025
Rocket Lab will launch a mysterious satellite early Friday morning (June 20), and you can watch the action live.
An Electron rocket topped with a single spacecraft is scheduled to lift off from Rocket Lab's New Zealand site on Friday at 5:24 a.m. EDT (0924 GMT; 9:24 p.m. local New Zealand time).
Rocket Lab will livestream the event, starting 30 minutes before launch. Space.com will carry the feed as well.
The mission, which Rocket Lab calls "Symphony in the Stars," will send a satellite to a circular orbit 650 kilometers (404 miles) above Earth, if all goes according to plan.
"Symphony in the Stars" is the first of two missions for "a confidential commercial customer," Rocket Lab wrote in a mission description. The second of those flights is expected to launch this year as well.
And that's pretty much all of the information the company has revealed about Friday's mission; for example, we don't know what the satellite will do once it reaches orbit.
"Symphony in the Stars" will be the ninth mission of 2025 and 67th liftoff overall for Electron, a 59-foot-tall (18-meter-tall) rocket that gives small satellites dedicated rides to orbit.
Rocket Lab is also developing a larger, partially reusable rocket called Neutron, which is expected to debut sometime this year.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/watch-rocket-lab-launch-secret-satellite-to-orbit-today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSYrNicmZMc
https://spacenews.com/esa-and-eu-emphasize-good-relationship-as-they-press-forward-on-imaging-constellation/
ESA and EU emphasize good relationship as they press forward on imaging constellation
June 20, 2025
The European Space Agency and European Commission say their relationship is closer than ever as they embark on a new satellite program, although some members have raised questions about that program.
At a joint press conference during the Paris Air Show June 18, Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, and Andrius Kubilius, the EU’s commissioner for defense and space, so they were working well together as they prepare to move ahead with a satellite program that will provide imagery with high spatial and temporal resolution.
“I consider the current relations are perfect,” Kubilius said when asked to assess the current state of the relationship between ESA and the European Commission.
“We’re working very closely to show all the member states that what we are proposing to our joint understanding and joint development is very important.”
“The cooperation is extremely strong, maybe as strong as ever before,” Aschbacher added.
He argued that ESA and the European Commission have long worked well together, citing the long-running cooperation on the Galileo navigation satellite system and Copernicus line of Earth science satellites.
There have been tensions over the years, though, as the agencies tried to determine their roles and responsibilities, including concerns by some at ESA that the EU was intruding on its turf.
“It is not so complicated. Sometimes people make it more complicated than it is,” he said of the ESA-EU relationship. He argued that the commission has a clear political mandate while ESA has technical expertise.
“I think these roles are so complementary and so easy to implement.”
That current cooperation is important as ESA and the EU embark on a new satellite effort focused on security.
At a June 12 briefing after an ESA Council meeting, the agency said member states formally approved an “enabling resolution” to direct ESA to proceed with planning for the European Resilience from Space (ERS) satellite program.
ESA plans to seek about one billion euros ($1.15 billion) from member states at the ESA ministerial conference in late November to begin the first phase of the program.
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ERS will feature a constellation of radar and optical imaging satellites able to provide high resolution imagery with revisit times of about 30 minutes.
The funding ESA seeks in November would cover the first phase of the program, while the European Commission will request funding for a later phase in its next seven-year multiannual financial framework that starts in 2028.
“It will be a stepwise implementation,” Aschbacher said of ERS to Kubilius, citing the initial ESA funding and future EU funding.
“Of course, decisions have yet to be made, but on our side we would like to make sure that we are preparing our ministerial conference — this is something my member states asked me to do — very closely with you to make sure our activities are well-aligned.”
Kubilius said it was vital to get started on EGS, or what the commission calls Earth Observation Government Service, because of the growing capabilities in other nations, such as an unnamed Chinese system that he said will be able to observe the same area every six minutes.
“We now have capabilities on the European level for once a day,” he said. “I see the difference.”
The rush to develop ERS, though, has raised concerns among some ESA members.
At a separate event at the Paris Air Show June 16, Lionel Suchet, deputy chief executive of the French space agency CNES, broadly endorsed the concept but wanted more details about the implementation.
“Space is more and more needed for security and defense, so I think it’s normal that the European Commission, European Union, is working on that,” he said of the system. “The question is how to involve ESA in that.”
His concern was about a lack of a detailed plan for ERS. “We don’t begin by doing satellites and billions of euros,” he said.
He called for a “phase zero” for the program to determine user needs and requirements, followed by studies and risk-reduction efforts. “But not to build the constellation by itself.”
Only once that phase zero study period was done, he said later, “we will have the decision at the EU to develop the constellation.”
Kubilius said at his briefing with Aschbacher that he understood some countries had concerns about how imagery from the planned constellation will be used. “That is what we are doing,” he said, but didn’t elaborate on those efforts.
He emphasized, though, the need to quickly develop ERS, which could start by combining European commercial and government imaging satellite systems in some way.
“Speed for us here is very important,” he said, noting the role imagery plays in the war in Ukraine. “I hope that we shall find the best solution on how to move ahead.”
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"Will Crash Plane": Bengaluru Doctor Warns Crew After Fight Over Bag Space
Jun 20, 2025 12:47 pm IST
A 36-year-old female doctor was taken into custody by Bengaluru Police after she allegedly misbehaved with cabin crew aboard an Air India Express flight and even threatened to crash the aircraft, earlier this week.
The incident took place minutes before flight IX2749 was scheduled to take off for Surat International Airport from Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), at around 2.30 pm, on Tuesday.
According to sources, the female passenger, Vyas Hiral Mohanbhai, left her baggage in the first row of the aircraft before occupying her seat at 20F.
When the cabin crew objected to her bag's placement and asked her to keep it in the overhead compartment near her seat, she refused. She, instead, demanded that the crew move her bag to her seat, the sources said.
Despite repeated requests by the crew and the pilot's intervention, Ms Mohanbhai refused to comply and allegedly began misbehaving. The sources said she also shouted at fellow passengers who tried to reason with her.
The situation escalated when she allegedly threatened to "crash the flight". The pilot and the crew alerted the security and CISF personnel, who subsequently removed her from the aircraft.
The woman's behaviour threatened the safety of the remaining passengers, the sources said. The doctor is a resident of Shivanahalli, near Yelahanka, in Bengaluru.
The woman has been booked under sections 351 (4) (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication) and 353 (1)(b) (statements of public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as well as section 3(1)(a) (act of violence against a person on board an aircraft in flight which is likely to endanger the safety of such aircraft) of the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, the Indian Express reported.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bengaluru-doctor-threatens-to-crash-air-india-express-plane-over-bag-space-surat-ix2749-8714446
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/ask-the-cio/2025/06/space-force-diu-open-the-door-wider-to-commercial-technologies/
Space Force, DIU open the door wider to commercial technologies
June 19, 2025 5:45 pm
The Space Force is making sure its commercial space strategy isn’t just another document that sits on the shelf.
Using its own strategy, released in April 2024, in conjunction with the Defense Department’s broader commercial space integration strategy, Space Force leaders aim to bring in technologies from the private sector that have a direct impact on their mission areas.
Col. Richard Kniseley, the senior materiel leader of the Commercial Space Office in the Space Systems Command for the Space Force, said the agency is leveraging the approach to pursue different mission areas that leaders believe will benefit most from commercial-sector capabilities.
“We are actively executing a mission area that we just started last year called tactical surveillance, reconnaissance and tracking.
So [we are] taking advantage of the phenomenal technologies that are being procured by our intel friends at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and utilizing commercial analytics to get things out to the command commands very fast,” Kniseley said during a recent AFCEA DC lunch, an excerpt of which was played on Ask the CIO. “We are doing that at tactical speeds right now. So from query to competition to delivery of that product is right now at less than 72 hours, and we’re getting, after all, different missions of the combatant commands, not just Russia and China, but we’re talking about counter-drug proliferation too.”
This example of a program would seem more in line with what Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman wanted in the first place.
Space Force delayed the release of the commercial space strategy after Saltzman sent the draft back to its authors, requesting a more comprehensive, concrete roadmap for industry on how to work with Space Force instead of being an “aspirational” document.
First war game just completed
Kniseley said one way the Space Force is leaning into the spirit and intent of the strategy is through the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR).
CASR is a “framework allowing the Space Force to accomplish the necessary transition throughout this continuum by entering into pre-negotiated contractual agreements which would be activated in times of crisis or conflict.” CASR’s goal is to identify voluntary commercial participants and ensure interoperability through training, war games and exercises, while also crafting pre-negotiated contracts with commercial space companies to provide surge capacity when needed.
These services could include: satellite communications; tactical surveillance, reconnaissance, and tracking; and space domain awareness.
He said understanding during peaceful times how to properly partner with commercial industry and integrate those capabilities will pay big dividends in the event of a conflict or national emergency.
“I’m not bashful to say that we started this two years ago. We were successful, awarding our first set of pilot programs [in March]. We started with space domain awareness, and we are also doing missionary analysis for commercial satellite communications.
We just finished a study with the IndoPacific, and we’re moving on to European Command,” he said. “We’re also holding because our first CASR war game, where we’re going to invite a bunch of members of the SATCOM community, and we are going to have an all commercial war game.”
The Space Force completed that war game in April, revealing areas of opportunity to better maintain secure and reliable satellite communications in times of conflict.
Like the Space Force, the Defense Innovation Unit is trying to access commercial technology more quickly and easily.
Kate Stowe, the Defense engagement lead for cyber at the DIU, said the organization continues to be focused on prototypes of technology that could help warfighters.
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“It all starts with a really good problem from our warfighter, and that problem can come out of a program executive office. In fact, I welcome that and would enjoy that because it means now I have a partner into transition and sustainment.
But oftentimes we do get them from our users,” she said. “Once we have that problem, we’ll put that on the street to all of you, it’s a total of one to two pages. That’s all you have to read for two weeks.
Then we ask in return, if you want to make a proposal, is five pages total. We don’t take any more than 5 pages or 15 slides. It allows us to really not burden you. We understand many of our innovative, small companies don’t have a proposal machine.
They don’t have massive amounts of people working dedicated to proposal writing. Many of them are engineers working on programs already, or they’re out seeking funding because they’re that young, and we want to lower that barrier to entry.”
Through the front door
Stowe said DIU then brings together a team of experts to review the proposals and participate in vendor pitches, that last for about an hour.
“Now I’ve asked what five written pages, and if you make it to the next round an hour or so of your time, we’re going to do our business intelligence and all that while that process goes on, and then we’re going to down-select and turn it over to our contracting officer, who’s going to negotiate commercial terms and get you on contract,” she said.
“That’s a heck of a lot less work than I asked of many [vendors] before. It’s not a one-size fits all. It is a tool in our acquirers toolbox to use, and it is geared towards non-traditional commercial technology and prototypes, but I think that we can reduce a lot of risk in our programs and get after technology much, much faster.”
Stowe said the DIU approach has proven not just faster timelines to get capabilities in the hands of warfighters, but it reduces risk to both the DoD and the vendor. Space Force also is trying to simplify its approach to working with commercial vendors.
Kniseley said the organization develop a “front door,” or one stop shop for industry to go to help the Space Force understand the companies’ capabilities and do some due diligence about the firm.
“We try to understand your technical readiness level. We also do a due diligence on your investments. Do you have any nefarious capital? Who else are you contracted with? From there, we have the discussions and show you capability gaps or the requirements that we have,” he said.
“One thing that we also learned through the front door is we’re trying not to hide behind the cloak of over classification.
So we’re also looking into how to stand up a no-cost contract to get a couple clearances to some of these new startups so that they better understand some of our requirements. But through that front door, we also have mechanisms to do investments.”
The Space Force launched SpaceWerx in 2020 to better connect with commercial space companies.
“One of the things that I did when I first got into that chair was notice that SpaceWerx was awarding 75% of their budget toward Phase One contracts.
If you know what a Phase One contract is, these are like $75,000 contracts, where you get great paper studies, but what are we doing here?” Kniseley said.
“What I did was took a notice of how mature the commercial market was, and we pivoted that budget, so now it is 40% going toward Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program five.
So now we’re looking at getting things more in the prototype realm, and then that helps us kind of bridge that valley of death a little bit more so that I can work with the PEOs to now transition these capabilities into a more program of record, or a capability of records.”
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African state strips French nuclear giant of uranium mine
20 Jun, 2025 12:02
Niger’s military government has announced plans to nationalize Somair uranium, a local venture operated by French state-owned nuclear fuels company Orano, amid an escalating dispute between the miner and the West African nation.
The authorities cited alleged illegal actions by Orano as justification for their decision, adding that the most recent mining agreement between Niger and the French mining giant expired in December 2023.
The Somair uranium mine in the northern Arlit region has been in operation since 1971.
“Faced with this irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behavior by Orano – a company owned by the French state, which has been openly hostile toward Niger since July 26, 2023 – the government of Niger has decided, in full sovereignty, to nationalize Somair,” national broadcaster RTN reported, citing a statement issued after a meeting of the Nigerien Council of Ministers on Thursday.
“This nationalization will allow for healthier and more sustainable management of the company and, consequently, optimal enjoyment of the wealth from mining resources by Nigeriens,” the government said in a press release published by the Niger Press Agency.
Relations between Niger and France have deteriorated since the African country’s military coup in July 2023, leading to a break in defense cooperation and the expulsion of French troops previously deployed to combat jihadist insurgents in the Sahel.
The transitional authorities have been reviewing foreign mining concessions as part of a wider regional push by governments, including allies in neighboring Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali, to boost revenues from the extractive sector.
Last December, Orano claimed that the government in Niamey had taken operational control of its Somair uranium mine, in which the French company holds a 63.4% stake and the Nigerien state owns the remainder.
In May, it reported that Nigerien security forces had raided the offices of its local subsidiaries, seized equipment and arrested one of its directors.
Orano said it has filed “several international arbitration proceedings” against Niger.
On Thursday, however, Niger accused Orano of disconnecting Somair from the company’s global IT network on December 4, effectively shutting down operations and unilaterally terminating all licenses without notice.
Niger is the world’s seventh-largest uranium producer, accounting for approximately 5% of global output, according to the World Nuclear Association.
The country’s uranium exports are a significant source of fuel for France’s nuclear reactors, supplying about 15%-17% of the uranium used in French electricity generation.
https://www.rt.com/africa/619970-niger-nationalizes-french-operated-uranium-mine/
Nazi symbols prevalent in Ukrainian military – Le Monde
19 Jun, 2025 18:15
Ukrainian soldiers continue to publicly display neo-Nazi symbols – including swastikas, SS tattoos, and Nazi salutes – according to an investigation by French outlet Le Monde.
In its report, published on Wednesday, Le Monde identified nearly 350 Ukrainian troops posting neo-Nazi imagery online, including Nazi salutes, swastika tattoos, Black Sun emblems, and Totenkopf insignias.
According to the research, at least 200 of those identified serve in Kiev’s 3rd Assault Brigade.
Russia has repeatedly accused Kiev of fostering neo-Nazi ideology and glorifying WW2-era Hitler collaborators and has demanded the “denazification” of Ukraine as part of a negotiated peace agreement.
Formed in 2023, the 3rd Assault Brigade is a direct successor of the Azov Regiment – originally created in 2014 by far-right figure, Andrei Biletsky.
Azov has been accused by multiple human rights groups, as well as the UN, of war crimes and torture and has been widely criticized for its use of symbols tied to the Waffen-SS.
According to Le Monde, the 3rd Assault Brigade has received military training from several NATO countries, including France, Spain, Germany, the UK and Canada, who have also poured in billions in military support to Ukraine.
The paper noted that some soldiers sent to France in 2023 bore visible SS tattoos. When questioned, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces stated that it was the responsibility of Ukraine to vet the personnel.
The report also stated that a number of foreign volunteers who have joined Ukraine’s forces, including French nationals, have affiliations with far-right groups. Some were shown posting Nazi tributes and displaying related tattoos online.
Le Monde further stated that the 3rd Assault Brigade, now expanded into a full corps under Biletsky’s command, has been playing an increasingly central role in Ukraine’s military.
The outlet reported that its units continue to use Nazi-associated emblems and feature commanders with visible far-right markings.
Moscow has long condemned Kiev’s elevation of Nazi collaborators to national hero status and has accused Western governments of deliberately ignoring continued neo-Nazi activity in Ukrainian ranks.
In April, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stressed that the rebirth of Nazism cannot be allowed and outlined the destruction of the “Kiev neo-Nazi regime” as a necessary outcome of the Ukraine conflict.
He insisted that “a real de-Nazification is required” and that the ideology “needs to be rooted out not only in Ukraine, but in all of Europe.”
https://www.rt.com/russia/619862-lemonde-ukraine-nazi-symbols/
Kremlin comments on possible US strike on Iran
19 Jun, 2025 22:34
Washington’s military involvement would be the “wrong move,” Dmitry Peskov has told RT
The US would be making a serious mistake by attacking Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told RT.
Direct involvement in the conflict between the Islamic Republic and Israel would only worsen the situation in the region, he warned.
Tensions escalated last week after Israel launched a large-scale bombing campaign against Iran, claiming that the country was close to producing a nuclear bomb.
Iran dismissed the accusations and retaliated with waves of drone and missile strikes. The two nations have continued to exchange strikes ever since.
US President Donald Trump has made direct threats against Tehran in recent days, demanding its complete surrender and the abandonment of its nuclear program.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that an attack plan has already been secretly approved, but the president said the publication “has no idea.” The White House has stated that Trump would make a final decision “within the next two weeks.”
“Moscow believes it is the wrong move,” Peskov said. “This is a step that is bound to lead to further escalation, a major escalation, and would only complicate the situation in the region.”
“Such conflicts are capable of setting the entire region on fire,” Peskov warned. He added that Russia is ready to assist in resolving the conflict.
Asked about the possibility of regime change in Iran at the hands of the US or Israel, Peskov said: “We believe that it is unacceptable to have such conversations, and even more so to take such actions.”
The Russian president reportedly has a “complete picture” of the situation and the potential to act as a mediator, according to Peskov.
He noted that Putin has been in contact with both Israel and Iran, and was one of the few world leaders to speak with both countries’ leaders after the hostilities began.
However, Peskov acknowledged that there is currently “little ground” for talks, as both Israel and Iran remain determined to continue fighting.
Putin told journalists in a late-night Q&A session on Wednesday that Moscow has proposed several compromise frameworks to all parties – including the US, Israel, and Iran.
He also suggested that a potential settlement could include mutual security guarantees protecting both Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology and Israel’s right to security.
https://www.rt.com/russia/619897-striking-iran-wrong-move-kremlin/
Russia not seeking Ukraine’s surrender – Putin
20 Jun, 2025 15:34
Russia is not seeking Ukraine’s surrender, President Vladimir Putin has said.
During a plenary panel on Friday at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin was asked whether Moscow has been seeking Ukraine’s “unconditional surrender,” as US President Donald Trump is demanding from Iran.
“We are not seeking the surrender of Ukraine.
We insist on recognition of the realities that have developed on the ground,” Putin said, noting that the Ukraine conflict was “completely different” from the ongoing escalation in the Middle East.
https://www.rt.com/russia/620032-surrender-ukraine-putin-spief/
https://kyivindependent.com/kyiv-hit-by-russian-drones-and-ballistic-missiles-over-a-dozen-injured/
'A brutal strike' — Massive Russian missile and drone attack hits Kyiv, killing 30, injuring 172
Updated: June 20, 2025 12:49 AM
At total of 30 people were killed and 172 others injured after a mass Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight on June 17.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported on June 18 that search and rescue operations in the Solomianskyi district lasted more than 39 hours, involving over 400 State Emergency Service rescuers and 200 pieces of equipment.
Initial data from Ukraine's National Police cited 15 dead and 124 injured, but the death toll was revised several times — first down to 10, then up to 16 by the State Emergency Service.
Early on June 18, more victims were found under the rubble of one residential building, raising the number of fatalities to 23. After completing the operation, Klymenko confirmed 28 deaths from the attack.
President Volodymyr Zelensky updated the death toll once more in his evening address on June 19, announcing a total of 30 dead and 172 injured.
The almost nine-hour-long strike saw Moscow's forces launch large numbers of kamikaze attack drones, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles at Ukraine's capital.
Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground reported the sounds of drones, missiles, and multiple rounds of explosions throughout the night.
The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that Russia launched 472 aerial weapons overnight, including nearly 280 Shahed-type attack drones and two Kinzhal ballistic missiles. The strike primarily targeted Kyiv.
Ukraine's air defense forces reportedly destroyed 428 air targets, including 239 Shahed drones and 15 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Air defenses also intercepted one Kinzhal missile, while another was reportedly lost from radar tracking.
President Volodymyr Zelensky called the assault "one of the most horrifying attacks on Kyiv," saying more than 440 drones and 32 missiles were launched across Ukraine overnight.
"Such attacks are pure terrorism," he said in a statement on social media. "And the whole world, the U.S., and Europe must finally respond as civilized societies respond to terrorists."
Zelensky confirmed that damage had been reported in eight districts of Kyiv, with emergency workers still searching for survivors beneath the rubble of a destroyed apartment block.
In a video posted on Telegram, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said cluster munitions had been found in one area of the city. He later added that June 18 would be an official day of mourning in Kyiv.
Many of the deaths and injuries occurred when a Russian missile hit a nine-storey residential building in the Solomianskyi district, "completely destroying" one section, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said.
"I saw the missile because it was low," Olena Kushnirova, a 46-year-old nurse who lives in a neighboring building to the one that was hit, told the Kyiv Independent.
"I grabbed my daughter by the hand and shouted 'run!' It was literally 15 seconds. We ran to the toilet, and then there was a very powerful explosion."
During the attack on the capital, a 62-year-old U.S. citizen died in the Solomianskyi district in a building across from where medics were assisting the injured, Klitschko reported. Medical personnel confirmed biological death.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also condemned the attack, calling it a "massive and brutal strike" timed deliberately to coincide with the G7 summit.
"Putin does this on purpose… He sends a signal of total disrespect to the United States and other partners who have called for an end to the killing," Sybiha said. "Only strong steps and real pressure on Moscow can prove him wrong."
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A Russian drone also hit a multi-storey building Darnytskyi District.
"At first there was shock," Tatiana Bratus, a 50-year-old resident of the building told the Kyiv Independent.
"People started running outside, shouting, some in panic, because the attack wasn't over yet. They said there were still rockets flying. People ran to the bomb shelter.
A kindergarten in the Darnytskyi district was also damaged, Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration said. No casualties were reported at the site.
The upper floors of residential buildings in the Solomianskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts were also damaged.
A dormitory at the Kyiv Aviation Institute was hit by drones during the attack, the news outlet Suspilne reported. Drones struck the institute's 10th floor and broke windows on three other floors.
Outside the capital, the attacks also caused damage and injured civilians in Kyiv Oblast towns. At least one woman was injured and multiple homes were damaged, according to the regional administration.
The Russian strike damaged the production facility of Fahrenheit, a Ukrainian clothing manufacturer that supplies apparel and undergarments for both civilians and the military.
The company announced it was forced to cancel all current orders and suspend new ones indefinitely following the destruction of its Kyiv site.
Russian forces also hit a Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) freight train carrying grain. Several railcars overturned, temporarily halting operations and spilling grain from the damaged wagons.
Ukrzaliznytsia said the damage would be "promptly repaired" and train traffic would not be affected.
Ukrposhta, Ukraine's national postal service, reported the destruction of two of its branches in Kyiv during the attack, according to CEO Ihor Smiliansky. The company's team is working to "quickly restore services," he said.
The attack followed a series of drone strikes overnight on June 16 targeting Kyiv Oblast, including both the capital and surrounding settlements. In the Obukhiv district, a 60-year-old man was injured, according to regional authorities.
Russian attacks against Ukraine have intensified in May and June, with Moscow launching several record-breaking mass strikes against Kyiv and other cities.
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Ukraine imposes new sanctions on Russian, Chinese, Belarusian companies involved in drone production
June 20, 2025 5:15 PM
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on June 20, imposing sanctions on 56 individuals and 55 Russian, Chinese, and Belarusian companies involved in the production of Russian drones and sanctions circumvention.
Ukraine introduced new restrictions as Russia has escalated drone attacks against Ukrainian cities over the past weeks, launching record 400-500 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) per night.
Individuals and legal entities subject to Ukrainian sanctions cannot do business and trade in Ukraine, cannot withdraw their capital from the country.
In the meantime, their assets are blocked, as well as their access to public and defense procurement, and entry into the territory of Ukraine, among other restrictions.
The new package of sanctions targets individuals and entities involved in the development and production of Russian drones such as Geran, Orlan-10, SuperCam, and first-person-view (FPV) drones, according to a decree published on the Presidential Office's website.
The Belarusian Precision Electromechanics Plant and six Chinese enterprises located in Hong Kong and in the provinces of Shandong and Shenzhen are among the sanctioned entities.
The sanctions list includes equipment suppliers to Alabuga Machinery, a Russian manufacturer of machine tools and gears, and individuals who import components for the sanctioned Kronshtadt JSC, a drone producer that developed Banderol UAVs with jet engines.
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian cities with waves of attack drones, often striking energy infrastructure and residential buildings overnight.
Ukraine's defense forces use a mix of electronic warfare, air defense systems, and drone-on-drone interception to repel the assaults.
Drones have become one of the defining tools of the full-scale war, used extensively by both Ukraine and Russia for surveillance, long-range strikes, and tactical battlefield advantage.
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-imposes-new-sanctions-on-russian-chinese-belarusian-companies-involved-in-drone-production/
https://president.gov.ua/documents/4152025-55397
After Maxmur, another drone crashes in Chamchamal
Friday, 20 June 2025, 14:49
According to RojNews, a drone crashed in the village of Karêze Dole in the town of Sengawî, located in the Chamchamal district of Sulaymaniyah.
The country of origin of the drone is unknown. Local authorities have not made any statements.
Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, numerous drones and military objects have fallen on the territories of Iraq and South Kurdistan in recent days.
On the evening of June 18, a suicide drone flying over the Martyr Rüstem Cudi Refugee Camp in Maxmur crashed approximately 300 meters from the camp.
On June 19, a loud explosion was heard near the camp.
https://anfenglishmobile.com/kurdistan/after-maxmur-another-drone-crashes-in-chamchamal-79900
General Motors Files Patent for Drone-Assisted Towing
June 20, 2025
If you find towing to be a bit of a pain, automaker General Motors has come up with a clever idea that could make things much easier.
The automaker has filed a patent for a drone-assisted trailer system with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which features a number of innovations.
According to the outlet GM Authority, which first broke the news, the patent was initially filed in May 2023 and published in May of this year.
The patent – US 12,312,107 B2 – showcases a system in which a semi-autonomous drone flying above a vehicle assists drivers when towing.
The drone uses an array of sensors, including radar, lidar and cameras, to constantly track the vehicle, the trailer and also the road conditions.
The patent explains how it functions in three distinct modes.
During the “assessment” phase, the drone carries out essential checks that may not be obvious to a driver who is inexperienced in towing.
These include ensuring the trailer is properly – and safely – attached, checking the balance of the load and verifying that the likes of the brake lights and turn signals work as they should.
All relevant data can be sent to the driver, or even a remote adviser.
In “operational” mode, the drone can be attached to the vehicle as it makes its way along the road.
Among the advantages this offers is the ability to provide live video, making lane changes easier by eliminating blind spots – particularly useful if the trailer is causing reduced visibility.
At the same time, it allows the driver to keep track of the cargo, to make sure nothing has moved or become loose.
It can also fly directly above the vehicle, providing the sort of 360-degree view that typically assists with parking – although in this case, with a trailer attached.
Finally, “delivery” mode is activated when the vehicle arrives at its destination and can assist with several tasks, including reversing a trailer into a garage, by providing a real-time overhead view.
Of course, filing a patent is no guarantee we will ever see the tech, and GM hasn’t commented. However, the system does appear to offer several benefits that would offer genuine real-world use.
https://www.iotworldtoday.com/transportation-logistics/general-motors-files-patent-for-drone-assisted-towing#close-modal
Ukraine's Armed Forces to have its first all-female drone interception crew
Friday, 20 June 2025, 17:34
Ukraine’s Armed Forces is to create its first all-female crew to intercept Russian drones. It will be formed within the 427th Raroh Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems.
Quote: "Are your circumstances prompting you to do something useful in the army? Are you ready to go through selection and learn a lot of new things?
Why not give the UAV interception crew a try? You'll be serving alongside other women like you, with the same values and strength of character."
Source: The duties of a drone interceptor will include:
detecting and destroying Russian aerial assets;
maintaining assigned weapons and keeping them ready for use;
carrying out combat missions as part of a unit;
mastering their chosen specialism;
participating in training and combat operations;
maintaining military discipline.
The regiment offers clothing, food and medical support, as well as opportunities for professional development and career growth.
The job description states that the unit will provide all the necessary training and that the main requirement for candidates is a desire to serve.
You can join the Raroh regiment by following this link.
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/06/20/7518015/
https://lobbyx.army/brigades/batalion-bezpilotnykh-aviatsiinykh-kompleksiv-Raroh-24-OMBr/
https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2025/exclusive-japan-creates-defense-team-to-develop-combat-drone-and-artificial-intelligence-warfare
Exclusive: Japan Creates Defense Team to Develop Combat Drone and Artificial Intelligence Warfare
20 Jun, 2025
Japan’s Defense Ministry has assembled a 30-member internal group to modernize its military capabilities to develop next-generation drone and artificial intelligence (AI) warfare strategies.
According to information published by Asian Business Outlook on June 19, 2025, the ministry's initiative aims to leverage operational insights from the Ukraine war, strengthen Japan's defense-industrial base, and improve bilateral coordination with U.S. forces.
This strategic team is tasked with creating an integrated policy for the expanded use of unmanned systems and AI across Japan’s defense posture, with a focus on both domestic force modernization and export potential.
Historically, Japan’s engagement with drone technology has evolved from reconnaissance-focused platforms toward more advanced combat and multi-mission systems.
A key milestone was the development of the Fuji TACOM UAV series, including fixed-wing and VTOL variants used for target acquisition and battlefield surveillance.
More recently, the Ministry of Defense has funded the Research Institute for Secure Systems (RISEC) and other agencies to develop AI navigation modules, autonomous swarming behavior, and sensor fusion algorithms suitable for tactical and strategic UAVs.
Current platforms under review include long-endurance drones with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) payloads, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and AI-enabled real-time object recognition software.
This transition reflects a broader push to equip the Self-Defense Forces with UAVs capable of strike missions, persistent surveillance, and autonomous data processing under denied GPS conditions.
The ministry’s group will conduct in-depth evaluations of UAV capabilities, including strike drones, long-endurance surveillance platforms, and unmanned sea vessels, studying their use in recent conflicts.
Specific focus areas include autonomous mission planning, AI-powered reconnaissance, and integration with existing command and control structures.
One technical goal is to develop operational frameworks for manned-unmanned teaming, enabling drones to act as loyal wingmen for future aircraft like the F-X fighter, contributing to suppression of enemy air defenses and dynamic target engagement.
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Central to the initiative is the application of artificial intelligence in joint command and control systems.
Inspired by U.S. architectures such as JADC2, the group will investigate real-time data fusion, autonomous asset tasking, and cross-domain communications under contested conditions.
AI will be employed not only to control UAVs but to enhance situational awareness, reduce cognitive load for human operators, and ensure seamless integration across air, land, and maritime domains.
On the industrial front, the Defense Ministry will explore methods to revitalize domestic production by accelerating UAV prototyping, adopting modular open architectures, and ensuring AI safety through certified firmware and secure communication protocols.
This approach also supports Japan’s growing ambition to enter the defense export market. Systems under development will be designed for compatibility with allied partners, particularly those in Southeast Asia, ensuring interoperability and political alignment.
Maritime applications will be another cornerstone of the strategy, with Japan assessing the use of AI-enabled unmanned surface vessels (USVs) for coastal surveillance, electronic warfare, and strike operations.
Drawing from Ukrainian tactics, these USVs may feature swarm coordination, autonomous target acquisition, and integration with shore-based missile systems to enhance maritime denial capabilities.
The group will also address command integration challenges with U.S. forces and assess financial frameworks such as the “Sympathy budget” to ensure sustainable collaboration.
Ultimately, the findings and recommendations from this newly formed ministry unit are expected to shape Japan’s drone and AI doctrine over the next decade, driving both domestic defense readiness and the competitiveness of its emerging defense technologies on the global stage.
Japan's formation of a dedicated defense team marks a significant step toward the integration of advanced unmanned systems and artificial intelligence across its military operations.
By focusing on autonomous capabilities, joint command structures, and strategic interoperability, the initiative aims to modernize the Self-Defense Forces while positioning Japan as a competitive player in the global defense technology market.
With a comprehensive scope that spans aerial, maritime, and cross-domain operations, this effort underscores Japan’s commitment to developing a robust, AI-driven defense posture capable of addressing emerging threats and aligning with allied operational standards.
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https://www.flyingmag.com/drone-opportunities-for-veterans/
Drone Opportunities for Military and Veterans
Friday, June 20, 2025
As a former Marine, I know all too well the heavy price paid by veterans in service to our country. Military service exposes many people to some of the very best and worst that the world has to offer.
Given their sacrifices, it’s never expected but always appreciated when someone or an organization does something to help out a veteran. It has never been lost on me how much our country does to help those who have served.
Since becoming a commercial drone pilot in 2017, I have had the opportunity to participate in numerous drone-related programs for veterans.
I know a lot of former service members who are also drone pilots, and I am surprised that so many aren’t aware of the numerous programs available to help them out.
In this article, I’ll share some of the programs worth checking out. Even if you are not a veteran, you probably know someone who is or may want to support some of these worthy causes.
It’s Best to Have a Part 107
While some of the opportunities on this list do not require a Part 107 license, if you want to get the most out of these programs, you will eventually need one.
Some programs will help you earn your Part 107 while others are more focused on expanding your existing business. The Part 107 is the FAA’s license that allows you to fly drones for profit.
The test for the license costs $175 and covers a wide range of topics. Unless you are already familiar with the rules related to drones, reading aeronautical charts, and understanding METAR/TAF reports, you will probably need to take a course to learn the material.
There are several courses and study guides on the market. Some of the best are online and offered by Altitude University and the Pilot Institute.
Both of these schools offer military and veteran discounts if you email them and ask. Other platforms, like King Schools, offer similar discounts.
Opportunities Worth Exploring
There are a lot of resources for veterans looking to enter or grow in the drone industry. These resources include government programs, non-profit organizations, and publicly traded companies.
There are numerous programs, but here are a few of my favorites:
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)
Wounded Warrior Project
Semper Fi & America’s Fund
Work Vessels for Vets
Vets to Drones
CSX Transportation
The VR&E program is a great place to start. If you are a veteran with service-connected disabilities, it can help you find employment or start your own business.
If you qualify for the self-employment track, the program offers business plan development, training and education, business supplies and equipment, financial assistance, and ongoing guidance and support.
I have met a few veterans who took advantage of this program and shared a lot of positive feedback. In one case, the veteran I spoke with was provided everything they needed to start their drone business, including a $15,000 drone.
The one downside of the program is the long wait to get in. When I last checked to see the backlog, it was over a year. If you are interested in the program, contact your Veterans Affairs (VA)benefits team to learn more.
One of my favorite Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) is Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). If it weren’t for this organization, I wouldn’t be here today.
Of the many programs it offers to benefit veterans looking to become drone pilots is the Warriors to Work program. This program is designed to help veterans and their families find success in the civilian workforce.
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For those looking to start a career in the drone industry, WWP provides training to earn your Part 107 license and, in some cases, even buy you your first drone. Additionally, the group provides the following services:
Career counseling
Veteran job placement assistance
Résumé writing assistance
Interview preparation
Tools and education for salary negotiation
Goal-setting assistance
Military skills translation guidance
Networking opportunities
The Semper Fi and America’s Fund started back in 2003 as the first wave of wounded U.S. Marines and Navy sailors returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Over the years, the fund expanded to support veterans of all services.
Today, the fund offers many different types of assistance to service members and their families, particularly those with life-altering injuries.
The fund’s education and career assistance program offers education assistance, books, fees, training, clothes for interviews, technology, and other equipment.
Each case is different, so your specific situation will dictate what the organization can do for you, but I have known several veterans who were provided training and drones by the fund.
Work Vessels for Vets (WVFV) is another great organization. It has helped over 3,000 veterans since 2008, including myself.
WVFV is hyper-focused on awarding critical and adaptive equipment to injured veteran entrepreneurs. Unlike some entities, like the VA, which is slowed by red tape and policies, WVFV tries to move quickly to support qualified veterans.
If you are a disabled veteran and looking to start or grow a business, the process begins with sending WVFV a business plan. The plan doesn’t need to be overly complicated, but it does need to show you have thought out the business and could benefit from its support.
If the group believes it can help, it will work with you to provide whatever it is that makes the most sense for your business model and its resources. In my case, the WVFV supported me with drones and equipment that significantly expanded the capabilities of my drone service business.
If you are looking for free resources to learn more about the drone industry, check out Vets to Drones. Graduates of the program are Part 107 certified and tested to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The organization assists in relief efforts by performing tasks like drone mapping after hurricanes, which can give you great hands-on experience as a pilot. It also works with other industry partners, exposing vets to a larger network within the drone industry.
A final resource worth looking into are private and public companies. There are numerous firms out there already benefiting from UAVs. As the drone industry continues to expand, an increasing number of businesses are adopting drone technology.
From drone deliveries to utility inspections, there are many companies out there using drones, and that means they are also interested in drone pilots. If you see a company using drones, it probably has a program for bringing in new pilots.
There is no harm in contacting the firm directly and seeing if it has a program for veterans or transitioning service members. Many companies do or are partnered with VSOs that help facilitate bringing on new pilots.
One such company is CSX Transportation.
If you are not familiar with CSX, it is a leading supplier of rail-based freight transportation in North America. Chances are you have seen many of its trains crisscrossing all over the country.
CSX has a “Pride in Service” program that is focused on helping military, veterans, and first responders. Through this program, it partners with VSOs like Wounded Warrior Project and Operation Homefront.
As a part of this program, CSX hosts hands-on drone training sessions for veterans. With a fleet of 200 drones and 400 pilots, the company knows what it’s doing. It is eager to share its knowledge and help veterans start a career in the drone industry, even if it is not with CSX.
The company’s commitment to service members looking to begin a career in the drone industry is one of the best examples out there. Reach out to learn more.
As you can see from this list, there are many resources out there for veterans interested in drones. The drone industry continues to grow each year, and now is the time to jump in and start benefiting from all drones have to offer.
To all veterans, thank you for your service, and good luck in all your drone endeavors.
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