>>23314855

Good mornin'

TYB

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

July 12, 2025

Clouds and the Golden Moon

As the Sun set, a bright Full Moon rose on July 10. Its golden light illuminates clouds drifting through southern hemisphere skies in this well-composed telephoto image from Conceição do Coité, Bahia, Brazil. The brightest lunar phase is captured here with both a short and long exposure. The two exposures were combined to reveal details of the lunar surface in bright moonlight and a subtle iridescence along the dramatically backlit cloudscape. Of course, July's Full Moon is a winter moon in the southern hemisphere. But in the north it's known to some as the Thunder Moon, likely a nod to the sounds of this northern summer month's typically stormy weather.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

NASA Astronaut Shannon Walker Retires

Jul 11, 2025

NASA astronaut Shannon Walker retired July 10, concluding a career that spanned 38 years, including 30 years of federal service and more than 21 years as an astronaut.

During two spaceflights, she spent 330 days in orbit, contributing to hundreds of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations for the benefit of humanity.

Walker served as a mission specialist during NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station in 2020, the first crewed operational Dragon spacecraft flight. She also was the first woman to fly aboard a Dragon spacecraft.

Once aboard the orbiting laboratory, Walker joined the Expedition 64/65 crew and briefly commanded Expedition 65, logging 167 days in space before returning to Earth in May 2021.

She spent 163 days in space during her first spaceflight in 2010 as a member of the space station’s Expedition 24/25 crew. She was the pilot of the Soyuz TMA-19, which became the first crew to dock with the station’s Rassvet module.

“Shannon’s dedication to human space exploration has left an incredible impact, not just here in Houston, but across the industry,” said Steve Koerner, acting director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“Her leadership and guidance will be missed immensely, but she leaves behind a legacy of excellence that will continue to inspire the next generation of explorers for decades to come.”

Most recently, Walker served as the deputy chief of the Astronaut Office. She also oversaw the 2021 class of astronaut candidates, supervising their training and graduation in 2024.

“Shannon and I were a part of the same astronaut class back when we first started,” said Joe Acaba, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA Johnson.

“She has been a great friend to me ever since and a great leader within the Astronaut Office. I could not imagine a better partner by my side when, nearly 20 years later, we’d become chief and deputy chief.

She has undoubtedly been a positive influence on this office, and her retirement is well-deserved.”

Walker began her career as a flight controller in the Mission Control Center at NASA Johnson, supporting several shuttle missions.

She next worked in the International Space Station Program Office, helping to develop, build, and integrate hardware for the space station.

In the early days of the space station, she returned to mission control, leading the engineering team responsible for the space station’s technical health.

She was selected as an astronaut in 2004. After completing her initial two years of training, she served as a crew support astronaut and worked as a capsule communicator, or capcom.

She also held leadership positions within the several branches of the Astronaut Office focused on International Space Station operations, crew Soyuz missions, and supporting astronauts with flight assignments.

She also commanded the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations project, or NEEMO 15 underwater mission.

“I had always known I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up, but looking back on the past 38 years, I never would have imagined how many adventures my career would take me on,” said Walker.

“I feel fortunate to have been able to work with people all over the world in the pursuit of space exploration.

I have seen a lot of change in the evolution of human spaceflight, and I know the future is in good hands with all the talented people we have here and the generations yet to come.”

The Houston native attended Rice University in her hometown, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in physics, followed by a master’s degree and doctorate in space physics.

https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-astronaut-shannon-walker-retires/

https://www.nasa.gov/solar-system/planets/mars/advances-in-nasa-imaging-changed-how-world-sees-mars/

Advances in NASA Imaging Changed How World Sees Mars

Jul 11, 2025

Sixty years ago, NASA’s Mariner 4 captured groundbreaking views of the Red Planet, leading to a steady stream of advances in the cameras used to study other worlds.

In 1965, NASA’s Mariner 4 mission brought Mars into American living rooms, where TV sets showed fuzzy black-and-white images of a cratered landscape.

The spacecraft took 21 complete pictures — the first ever captured of another planet — as it flew by as close as 6,118 miles (9,846 kilometers) above the surface.

The mission team couldn’t wait to see what the camera aboard the spacecraft would return. When the actual images were delayed, they went so far as to create a color-by-numbers image, assigning hues to specific values in the data.

Their handiwork wasn’t far off, and the barren landscape Mariner 4 captured ignited the imaginations of future scientists and engineers who would go on to work on a succession of missions, each revealing Mars in a way it had never been seen before.

Millions of Mars images have been taken since then, many of which are captivating in their own way. The images that follow highlight some of the “firsts” in the way the agency has used imaging to help unlock the secrets of Mars.

• Viking 1 Sets Foot on Mars July 20, 1976

Viking 1 became the first spacecraft to touch down on Mars on July 20, 1976. The first high-resolution image it sent to Earth captured a dry, rocky landscape that dashed any hope among scientists of discovering life on the surface.

But the crisp images that followed from the lander’s 360-degree cylindrical scan camera underscored the scientific value of seeing Mars from the ground and generated excitement for a more ambitious visit: a robotic spacecraft that could drive across this alien world.

• Portrait of Mars by Viking 1 Orbiter 1980

When the twin Viking landers arrived at Mars, each descended from an orbiter that used cameras to map Mars in a way Earth-based telescopes couldn’t.

They began capturing images before the landers even touched down, continuing until 1980. That year, the Viking 1 orbiter captured images that were later stitched into a defining portrait of Valles Marineris — the “Grand Canyon of Mars.”

• Sojourner Starts to Explore July 5, 1997

By the time NASA returned to the Martian surface in 1997 with the Pathfinder lander and its microwave-oven-size Sojourner rover, much had changed on Earth since Mariner 4’s images beamed to TV viewers: Now, the internet was bringing around-the-clock news to personal computers, allowing a young generation of space fans to witness the tentative first steps of a new form of planetary exploration.

The panoramic images from the ground were the first since Viking and, as part of NASA’s “faster, better, cheaper” initiative, offered more detail and a comparatively lower cost.

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• Opportunity Spots Passing Dust Devil March 31, 2016

In 2004, NASA’s golf-cart-size twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity set down on the Red Planet, beginning a new phase of Martian exploration.

Equipped with both mast-mounted panoramic and arm-mounted microscopic imagers, the roving spacecraft let scientists, engineers, and the world discover new terrain each day.

They captured colorful views of Martian vistas and revealed details of pebble-size “blueberries.” Mars was beginning to feel less like an unfamiliar world than a place with recognizable landmarks.

• MRO’s HiRISE Views Victoria Crater July 18, 2009

Since Viking, a series of increasingly advanced orbiters have arrived at Mars with new science tools and cameras. Using increasingly sophisticated imagers, they have mapped the planet’s hills and valleys, identified significant minerals, and found buried glaciers.

A camera that has been in operation aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter since 2006, the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) frequently captures individual dunes, boulders, and craters, as with this picture of Victoria Crater, revealing features that had been blurry in previous images.

The camera has also identified landing sites and places where future rovers (perhaps even astronauts) could explore.

• Curiosity, Perseverance Bring More Cameras and Color Aug. 5, 2012 and Feb. 18, 2021

Both Curiosity and Perseverance arrived at Mars (in 2012 and 2021, respectively) loaded with cameras that pack millions of pixels into their images and peer farther into the distance than Spirit or Opportunity ever could.

They also feature upgraded arm-mounted cameras for studying fine details like sand particles and rock textures.

Perseverance took a step beyond Curiosity in several ways, including with high-speed cameras that showed its parachute deploying and its rocket-powered jetpack flying away during entry, descent, and landing on Mars.

Another advance can be seen in each vehicle’s hazard-avoidance cameras, which help rover drivers spot rocks they might bump into.

As seen in the first images each rover sent back, Curiosity’s black-and-white cameras were upgraded to color and higher resolution for Perseverance, providing clearer views of the surface.

• Ingenuity Spots Perseverance at Belva Crater Aug. 22, 2023

Just as Pathfinder brought the tiny Sojourner rover to Mars, NASA’s next-generation Perseverance rover carried the Ingenuity helicopter.

Along with proving flight in Mars’ thin air was possible, Ingenuity used a commercial, off-the-shelf color camera to take aerial views over the course of 72 flights.

During one of those flights, Ingenuity even spotted Perseverance in the distance — another first on the Red Planet. Future Mars helicopters might be able to scout paths ahead and find scientifically interesting sites for robots and astronauts alike.

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Putting the X-59 to the Test

Jul 11, 2025

Researchers from NASA and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) recently tested a scale model of the X-59 experimental aircraft in a supersonic wind tunnel located in Chofu, Japan, to assess the noise audible underneath the aircraft.

The model can be seen in the wind tunnel in this image released on July 11, 2025.

The test was an important milestone for NASA’s one-of-a-kind X-59, which is designed to fly faster than the speed of sound without causing a loud sonic boom.

When the X-59 flies, sound underneath it – a result of its pressure signature – will be a critical factor for what people hear on the ground.

This marked the third round of wind tunnel tests for the X-59 model, following a previous test at JAXA and at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.

The data will help researchers understand the noise level that will be created by the shock waves the X-59 produces at supersonic speeds.

https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/putting-the-x-59-to-the-test/

Ax-4 Go for Monday Undocking, Finalizing Research

July 11, 2025

Mission managers have given the “go” for the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew to board the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and undock from the International Space Station’s space-facing port on the Harmony module at 7:05 a.m. EDT on Monday, July 14.

Ax-4 Commander Peggy Whitson will lead Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu back to Earth completing a two-and-a-half-week research mission aboard the orbiting lab.

The Ax-4 private quartet had a full schedule on Friday first collecting blood samples for analysis as part of its biomedical research.

Next, microalgae was studied as a food source for crews and a key part of biological life support systems on spacecraft. Nanomaterials were also investigated as a basis for constructing wearable devices that comfortably monitor crew health.

Ax-4 will go into Saturday finalizing science experiments including an electrical muscle stimulation study, testing suit fabrics that promote thermal comfort while exercising, and filming crew activities for a behavioral health study.

On Sunday, they will begin packing science gear filled with research samples and loading personal items and other cargo inside Dragon for retrieval on Earth.

Station Flight Engineer Anne McClain from NASA began helping the Ax-4 crew turn its attention to Monday’s undocking gathering hardware and other items for packing inside Dragon.

McClain also continued assisting the private crewmates as they kept up their science investigations using space station resources.

NASA Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers began her day in the Columbus laboratory module also assisting the Ax-4 crew spinning the astronaut’s blood samples in a centrifuge and stowing them in a science freezer for preservation.

She later worked inside the Quest airlock transferring water in a pair of spacesuits. NASA Flight Engineer Jonny Kim assisted Ayers with the blood sample processing then spent the rest of his day inspecting electronics gear and swapping computer cables.

Station Commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) started his day processing saliva samples for analysis then recording his sleep experience for a computer questionnaire.

He later worked in the Tranquility module replacing orbital plumbing hardware before deactivating and stowing a microscope in the Kibo laboratory module.

Roscosmos Flight Engineers Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy took turns pedaling on an exercise cycle while wearing electrodes for a physical fitness evaluation.

Researchers will use the data to understand the energy requirements crew members need for strenuous activities such as spacewalks.

Fight Engineer Kirill Peskov replaced fire extinguishers in the Poisk, Rassvet, and Zvezda modules then checked computer hardware that supports the European robotic arm.

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/07/11/ax-4-go-for-monday-undocking-finalizing-research/

https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-to-provide-coverage-of-axiom-mission-4-departure-from-station/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkUmeVlocCU

This company could save NASA’s doomed Martian Sample Return mission

Jul 12th, 2025 10:30AM EDT

Lockheed Martin is trying to position itself as a savior for many NASA missions currently facing the chopping block at the hands of the Trump administration.

The administration has already detailed massive budget cuts to NASA, which could include a complete shutdown of the Mars Sample Return mission, which Perseverance has been working on for the past several years.

However, Lockheed Martin — yes, the same company known for its extensive role in America’s defense system — has come up with a fixed budget plan to save the Sample Return mission and bring back the collections Perseverance has already made.

Over the years, NASA has struggled to bring its plans for Mars exploration to life. While the Mars Sample Return mission was a great idea, its actual execution has been less than smooth, with the budget often skyrocketing above the original numbers NASA provided years ago when it started operating on the mission.

The numbers have changed so much, in fact, that even before the Trump administration’s shocking budget cuts, NASA was already looking at possibly canceling the MSR or finding cheaper alternatives.

Thankfully, those cuts seem to have been relinquished for now, but it doesn’t mean NASA is out of the fire just yet.

But Lockheed Martin’s plan could make that unnecessary.

According to a detailed post and video shared to Lockheed Martin’s website, the company has come up with at least one way it could utilize existing services and vehicles to complete NASA’s expensive Mars Sample Return mission.

Further, the company says it would be able to pull it off for $3 billion, less than half NASA’s current $7 billion projection.

If true, it could give NASA the extra hand that it needs to get the Mars Sample Return mission back on track.

While Trump and others have put a renewed focus on actually getting humans to Mars, being able to understand the Red Planet better will be key to surviving there and creating a human colony that can thrive.

That’s why these samples are so important.

They could finally help us answer vital questions about the history of water on Mars, as well as determine the best places to land and colonize the planet.

Of course, NASA and the U.S. government have to say yes to all of that first. But it’s at least a nice plan that the bigwigs out there can mull over in the meantime.

And, with a little luck, we could see the plans to can the Mars Sample Return turned on their head. And that would be a great thing to see.

https://bgr.com/science/this-company-could-save-nasas-doomed-martian-sample-return-mission/

https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/features/2025/bringing-commercial-industry-efficiency-to-exploration-lockheed-martins-plan-for-mars-sample-return.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GViU3tRRps

https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/whooos-there-james-webb-telescope-spots-cosmic-owl-super-rare-structure-formed-from-colliding-ring-galaxies

https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.10058

Whooo's there? James Webb telescope spots 'Cosmic Owl,' super-rare structure formed from colliding ring galaxies

July 8, 2025

Whoooooo's there? Just a "Cosmic Owl," the latest strange discovery from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

A new study using JWST data has helped scientists spot an owl-faced object peering out at us from billions of light-years away.

Formed through the extremely unusual collision of two rare ring galaxies, the structure also serves as a natural laboratory where researchers can study many of the processes accompanying the evolution of galaxies.

Galaxies come in several shapes, from swirling spirals like our home galaxy, the Milky Way, to the cigar-shaped M82. One slightly more peculiar type are ring galaxies, such as Hoag's Object.

These galaxies form when a small galaxy cruises straight through its larger buddy, kicking out stars and gas through shock waves into a ring around a central core.

Ring galaxies are pretty rare, accounting for just 0.01% of all galaxies discovered so far. Even rarer, though, is a pair of ring galaxies detected when colliding — exactly what the "Cosmic Owl" is, as described June 11 in a preprint posted to arXiv.

The paper has yet to be peer-reviewed, but the object has already been confirmed by another team that independently detected the same collision — which they dubbed the "Infinity galaxy" in a paper posted to arXiv June 19.

Mingyu Li, a doctoral student in the Department of Astronomy at Tsinghua University in China and the new study's first author, said he and his co-authors discovered the avian-like astronomical spectacle serendipitously.

"We were analyzing all radio sources using public JWST data in a very well-studied region called the COSMOS field," the largest mosaic of the sky, spanning 2 square degrees, he told Live Science in an email.

Li added that the colliding galaxy pair immediately stood out because of JWST's high-resolution imaging capabilities.

These snapshots revealed that the galaxies are quite similar; apart from being ring galaxies, both are relatively tiny.

Each has a diameter of roughly 26,000 light-years, or about a quarter the diameter of the Milky Way. Additionally, each galaxy's core — which is tightly packed with old stars around a supermassive black hole — forms an eye of the owl.

Fine-scale JWST data shows that both black holes, each more than 10 million times the sun's mass, are furiously pulling in surrounding matter, making the galactic cores "active galactic nuclei."

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In contrast, the JWST images show that the "beak" — the collisional front between the two galaxies — is "a region of incredibly intense activity," Li said.

Drawing on data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, the researchers found that the beak contains an enormous clump of molecular gas.

Li described it as "the raw fuel for star formation," being squished by the galaxies' collision-related shock wave. The ALMA data also placed the owl's redshift at 1.14, or approximately 11 billion light-years from us.

Additionally, radio-frequency observations from the New Mexico-based Very Large Array suggest that a jet of charged particles spewing from one galaxy's black hole is slamming into and further compressing the molecular gas cloud.

According to Li, the shock wave and the radio jet have together "triggered a massive burst of star formation," transforming the beak into a 'stellar nursery.'"

Simulations of galactic collisions show they last a few hundred million years. In this case, the researchers estimate the collision occurred 38 million years ago, meaning the owl's face will likely remain visible for a long time.

But the owl isn't just visually striking, Li said — it's also "an exceptional natural laboratory because it allows [researchers] to see several critical galaxy evolution processes happening simultaneously in one system."

In fact, the owl has already provided valuable insights about how galaxies form and grow.

Li said the bursts of star formation triggered by the galactic collision and radio jets in the beak region "could be a crucial and previously underappreciated mechanism for the rapid and efficient conversion of gas into stars."

This could help researchers understand how galaxies built their stellar mass so quickly in the universe's early history, he added.

The researchers plan to study the owl further to understand the physical processes that created it.

Li said simulations of the galaxies' gas would help researchers "understand the precise conditions — such as the collision angle and the original structure of the galaxies — that could lead to the formation of such a rare, symmetric 'twin-ring' morphology."

The owl joins several bizarrely shaped astronomical phenomena that JWST previously spotted. These include a question-mark-shaped structure formed from galaxies and a wisp of gas from a newborn star that resembles a cat's tail.

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From Shrimp Cocktails To Cake: NASA Astronaut Offers A Glimpse Into Dining In Space

Jul 12, 2025 12:52 pm IST

In the vast expanse of the International Space Station (ISS), food isn't just fuel - it's a shared experience, a cultural bridge, and, occasionally, a source of joy.

For NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, one such moment stood out: an evening meal that brought together astronauts from various corners of the world during the Ax-4 mission.

Kim shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter), "One of the most unforgettable evenings I've experienced on this mission was sharing a meal with new friends, Ax-4, aboard the International Space Station."

The occasion was more than just a simple dinner - it was a celebration of human connection, diversity, and cuisine.

Kim added, "We swapped stories and marvelled at how people from diverse backgrounds and nations came together to represent humanity in space."

Despite the many limitations of space food, the team aboard the ISS managed to put together a hearty spread.

The evening began with an appetiser, which included "rehydrated shrimp cocktails and crackers."

While it may not match the presentation of an Earth-bound seafood platter, the dish offered a familiar taste of home and set the tone for the night.

Rehydrated meals are a staple in space dining, where water is added to freeze-dried components to restore texture and flavour. The main course was satisfying.

"Our main course featured savoury chicken and beef fajitas," Kim wrote. And no meal - even one in space - is complete without dessert.

"The cosmonauts capped the night with a delicious cake made from sweet bread, condensed milk, and walnuts," Kim added. Take a look:

This wasn't the first time the ISS crew showcased their culinary creativity. Back in June, Kim shared another post on X, offering a glimpse into a unique celebration in orbit.

When a fellow astronaut confessed to craving sushi, the crew banded together to recreate a version of the Japanese classic using onboard supplies.

"Space sushi" was born - crafted from rice, Spam, fish, gochujang (spicy Korean chilli paste), and a dash of wasabi for an extra kick. Click here to read more.

In a place where resources are limited and routines are strict, these shared meals serve as a powerful reminder that even in space, food can bring people together.

https://www.ndtv.com/food/from-shrimp-cocktails-to-cake-nasa-astronaut-offers-a-glimpse-into-dining-in-space-8864045

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1943369184987001254

Astronaut/Aviation Challenge alum Jared Isaacman makes $15M gift to Space & Rocket Center

July 12, 2025

Tech billionaire Jared Isaacman, a private astronaut and leader of the Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn missions to space, has made a second significant donation to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center for its Space Camp programs.

Isaacman’s gift of $15 million will go toward the Inspiration4 Skills Training Complex, currently under construction, and seed money for a fourth dormitory for Space Camp students.

i“The Inspiration4 Skills Training Complex and the Polaris Dawn mission activities will transform Space Camp,” said Space Camp Vice President Robin Soprano.

“Through this extraordinary investment, we are building cutting-edge experiences to take our programs and our students into the future.”

Isaacman is the founder and executive chairman of Shift4 and co-founder of Draken International, a defense and aerospace company.

Last December, President Trump nominated Isaacman to head NASA and was set to be confirmed by the Senate last month.

However, Trump withdrew Isaacman’s nomination in May, citing a review of his “prior associations.”

Isaacman attended the Rocket Center’s Aviation Challenge program when he was 12, an experience he credits with furthering his interest in becoming a pilot.

In 2022, he made a $10 million donation to begin the Inspiration4 project, which is named for the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit. The Inspiration4 three-day mission flew in September 2021.

Today’s donation will fund the training complex’s mission operations for Space Camp, and activities for Space Camp Robotics and U.S. Cyber Camp students.

These activities, named for the five-day Polaris Dawn mission that took place in September 2024, Isaacman’s second space mission, include:

Simulated space missions to Mars and the Moon

A realistic space station mission including all onboard operations

A Mission Control Center

An AI-powered mission support specialist

A full-motion interactive Mars and lunar rover

Futuristic spacewalks

Science laboratories, robotics, 3-D printing systems, and holographic displays visualizing planetary environments, spacecraft systems, and mission data.

Critical thinking and problem-solving scenarios

In addition to the mission operations area, the 50,000-square-foot training complex includes a two-story ropes course and an aviation wing where Aviation Challenge campers will train with state-of-the art night vision simulations, experience a virtual reality parachute landing, and explore flight dynamics through a spatial disorientation simulator.

“The Inspiration4 Skills Training Complex and the Polaris Dawn mission activities will transform Space Camp,” said Space Camp Vice President Robin Soprano.

“Through this extraordinary investment, we are building cutting-edge experiences to take our programs and our students into the future.”

The Inspiration4 complex is scheduled to open for the 2026 summer camp season. Further fundraising will be needed before construction on the dormitory begins.

U.S. Space and Rocket Center launches 'Mission: Cosmic Campout' for stuffed animals

6:00 AM CDT July 12, 2025

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is launching "Mission: Cosmic Campout," a unique overnight sleepover experience designed exclusively for stuffed animals.

The cosmic adventure, scheduled for July 28-29, offers plush companions an out-of-this-world overnight stay at the premier space education facility.

For $8, participating stuffed animals will embark on what organizers call "the cutest and most cosmic sleepover ever."

Drop-off takes place July 28 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Space Works: A Makers Lab near the Main Museum entrance. Stuffed animal "campers" must measure 6-24 inches tall to participate in planned activities.

Each plush participant receives a SWAG bag and meets a special guest during pickup on July 29 from 9-11 a.m. at the same location. Families also receive $10 off museum admission on pickup day.

The event is strictly limited to stuffed animals, with no human participants allowed overnight. This unique approach lets children imagine their beloved toys experiencing space adventures while parents enjoy a night off.

https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/news/local/us-space-and-rocket-center-launches-mission-cosmic-campout/525-9a9db9c7-f823-4c87-a915-7570f8192a92

https://shop.rocketcenter.com/Events.aspx

https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/07/12/axiom-space-oakley-partner-on-spacesuit-visor-for-artemis-missions/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxq3jkPjNoU

Axiom Space, Oakley partner on spacesuit visor for Artemis missions

July 12, 2025

The next humans to walk on the South Pole of the Moon will sport a truly unique visor, courtesy of Oakley.

The high-end sunglasses designer is the newest announced partner to join Axiom Space in its development of its Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit designed for lunar exploration.

Oakley’s foray into space coincides with the 50th anniversary of the California-based company. The AxEMU is set to support the astronaut who will explore the Moon on the Artemis 3 mission, currently targeting launch in mid-2027.

“Really what you want to do is optimize the clarity and the vision of the astronauts when they perform EVAs (extravehicular activities). And so, we started thinking through different options on how to approach the design of that system.

And really, this is something that Oakley is really skilled at and they do a lot of different optical systems,” said Russell Ralston, Executive Vice President of EVA at Axiom Space.

“So, we ended up getting in contact with each other and it was pretty clear immediately that one, they are certainly experts, undoubtedly, in their field, and it was a really good opportunity for us to work together to engage traditionally non-aerospace industry, solve what was a challenging, technical problem and honestly, just do something that was pretty cool.”

The AxEMU visor will feature what Oakley calls its “next-gen High-Definition Optics (HDO), which it uses in its glasses.

“Developing the AxEMU visor system alongside Axiom Space marks a historic milestone.

This breakthrough represents decades of relentless innovation, a clear commitment beyond reason,” said Ryan Saylor, Senior Vice President of Advanced Product Development at Oakley, in a statement.

“We’re proud to bring this legacy of optical performance and visual acuity to the Artemis 3 mission and define the future of space exploration.”

The visor system includes features like a deployable, two-part visor for harsher lighting, a secondary helmet bubble that shields the user from both UV radiation and dust and is coated with 24-karat gold to further help with the bright sunlight at the South Pole.

“Gold, in particular, has some natural properties that help filter out certain portions of sunlight that are relatively harmful,” Ralston said. “In space, they’re even more harmful than, say, down here on the beach or wherever you’re at.

So really, it comes down to just the requirement space, in terms of, we need to protect the eye from certain types of light and gold has some kind of intrinsic properties that helps do that.”

The multiple coatings factored into the visor system are also critical when it comes to dust mitigation and the unpredictable elements of conducting a multi-hour spacewalk on the Moon.

“Oakley has quite a bit of experience in terms of dealing with optical systems that are in dirty environments, whether it’s mountain biking or motocross riding or other things.

And so, there’s definitely some coatings and things like that, but other treatments that can be done to help deal with the lunar dust issue,” Ralston said.

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“But it’s not just that. There’s impact that we have to take, if you were to fall on the Moo and land face-forward on your helmet.

So, it actually has to be a pretty strong system overall and be able to take quite a bit of abuse. Overall, we’re extremely happy with where it’s at.”

NASA tapped Axiom Space to build the AxEMU suit back in September 2022 when it awarded it a task order valued at $228.5 million.

The company also received an additional contract the following year to create the necessary modifications for the suit to operate in a low Earth orbit environment.

In May, Axiom Space brought the AxEMU to NASA’s Johnson Space Center where Koichi Wakata, Axiom Space astronaut, Chief Technology Officer and former JAXA astronaut, performed tests inside the massive pool called the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL).

Two spacesuit engineers from NASA also donned the suit in the NBL.

“These are early days in the NBL testing, as you can imagine. Obviously, we want to make sure this suit has integrity and clearly, that was the case,” said Michael López-Alegría, Lead Astronaut at Axiom Space.

“We have to test out the procedures and how we go through the pressurization with a person inside instead of just a dummy or nobody.”

A new spacesuit hasn’t been designed in more than 40 years and it’s been even longer since the suits worn during the Apollo era were conceived and manufactured.

Ralston said the undertaking has been challenging, but new technologies that have become available since then are allowing them to advance the capabilities of these next-generation spacesuits beyond what was available to last generation of moon walkers.

“I think we do a fairly good job of balancing taking the value from the past and learning from it with the new innovation and creativity from the tools that we have today to create a system, ultimately for our customer, NASA, that is the best possible suit that, in our minds, can be conceived,” Ralston said.

“Partnerships like this, with Oakley, are one of those tools in the toolbox where we at Axiom are extremely skilled when it comes to space systems, but we’re not necessarily the world’s foremost expert in, say, optical systems.

So what we do is we will partner with those people and leverage those mutual kind of skill sets.”

Oakley is the latest partner to join in developing the AxEMU, joining the likes of Prada and Gu. López-Alegría said it’s an important part of Axiom Space’s business model to bring new players into the aerospace world.

“Oakley’s a non-traditional partner, they don’t have a big footprint in the space world, but it’s emblematic of what at Axiom we’re trying to do, which is to bring in more of these non-space players into the space realm,” López-Alegría said.

“Obviously, our most important driver for that is to try to get people who are the best at what they do, as you can see with Oakley, with Prada and some others.

“But the side effect of it is also that we’re spreading some of our space seed, if you will, to the industries that those companies are big players in.

And I think that bringing these two infrastructures or these realms together is a very positive thing and gives us access.”

2/2

Sunspot crackling with magnetic 'bombs' is now turning toward Earth

July 11, 2025

A new sunspot emerging over the eastern limb of the sun is putting on an explosive show and it's heading our way. Sunspot region 4136 was recently captured crackling with dozens of magnetic explosions known as Ellerman bombs.

French astrophotographer Philippe Tosi photographed the activity on July 10 from Nîmes, France, using an H-alpha filter to capture the fine-scale action in exquisite detail.

The image shows Ellerman bombs popping like fireworks near a sunspot that has already hurled out multiple M-class solar flares — mid-level eruptions on the solar flare scale — as it appeared over the eastern limb of the sun, according to spaceweather.com.

"This is not the first time I have observed Ellerman's bombs," Tosi told Space.com in an email translated from French using Google translate.

"The conditions were difficult because it is currently very hot in the south of France — around 38°C [100 degrees Fahrenheit]."

Ellerman bombs were first described in the early 20th Century by physicist Ferdinand Ellerman.

These events occur in the lower solar atmosphere and are driven by magnetic reconnection, a process on the sun in which oppositely charged magnetic fields meet and explosively reconfigure.

Each Ellerman bomb releases around 10²⁶ ergs of energy — roughly equivalent to 100,000 World War II-era atomic bombs, according to spaceweather.com.

While that's only about one-millionth the energy of a large solar flare, these mini-explosions are seen as indicators of magnetic complexity in a sunspot.

When opposite magnetic polarities collide and reconnect, they release energy in quick, bright flashes.

That complexity could mean bigger fireworks ahead. With the sunspot now rotating to face Earth, it could pose a threat for stronger space weather events in the coming days.

M-class flares, like those already seen, can cause brief radio blackouts and minor satellite disruptions when aimed directly at our planet.

Scientists and skywatchers alike will be keeping a close eye on this sunspot region as it rotates into an Earth-facing position in the coming days.

https://www.space.com/astronomy/sun/sunspot-crackling-with-magnetic-bombs-is-now-turning-toward-earth-photo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cod0IXxpheI (Solar Storm Watch This Weekend | S0 News July.12.2025)

https://spaceweather.com/

Don't miss the last full 'Manhattanhenge' sunset of 2025 light up NYC today (Yesterday)

July 11, 2025

July 11 is the last opportunity to see the 'Manhattanhenge' phenomenon light up New York City's iconic thoroughfares, as the sun positions itself perfectly between the city's concrete canyons for the final time in 2025.

Each passing day, the sun rises and sets on a subtly different point on the horizon.

This gradual creep gives rise to the Manhattanhenge phenomenon — a solar spectacle that sees the setting sun appear directly between New York City's iconic east-west thoroughfares, kissing the street before sinking out of view below the horizon.

The full sun only appears to touch, or "kiss" the city's west-facing city streets on two occasions throughout the entire Manhattanhenge season, which runs from late-May to mid-July each year.

The first of these spectacular photo ops took place on May 29, as the gradual northward creep of the setting sun saw it descend to light up New York's high-rise buildings in a dramatic display of solar brilliance.

In the weeks that followed, New Yorkers will have witnessed a lesser phenomenon known as the 'Manhattanhenge Effect', wherein the sun rides low between the skyscrapers around sunset, but doesn't move low enough to 'touch' the street before disappearing to the right.

The final opportunity to witness Manhattanhenge 2025

The position of the setting sun has been steadily creeping southward in the wake of the Summer Solstice on June 20, setting the stage for the last full Manhattanhenge event of 2025.

The full sun will be positioned touching New York's east-west oriented streets at exactly 8:20 p.m. ET on July 11 (0020 GMT July 12), according to Jackie Faherty, the senior research scientist at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) tasked with calculating the timings of the Manhattanhenge phenomenon.

"July Manhattanhenge is what I call the goodbye to the grid, because then it's too low on the horizon," said Faherty in a May interview with Space.com. "And then after the July date, it won't cross the grid again, we have to say goodbye to the sun until next year."

The AMNH is set to hold a Manhattanhenge viewing event on July 11 at the LeFrak Theatre on New York's 77th Street, featuring live music from the Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra preceded by a presentation by Faherty delving into the history and science behind the phenomenon.

"We are, as far as I know, the only official street closure in the city for Manhattanhenge, for people to safely enjoy the experience," continued Faherty.

"We're really leaning into the community component of it. People will get the full experience when they come to the museum for our Manhattanhenge program."

If you miss it, you can still catch the half sun setting below the horizon between the grid at 8:22 p.m. ET On July 12 (0022 GMT on July 13).

https://www.space.com/stargazing/dont-miss-the-last-full-manhattanhenge-sunset-of-2025-light-up-nyc-today

https://www.amnh.org/calendar/manhattanhenge-block-party

Don't miss the stars of the Summer Triangle twinkling in the eastern sky this weekend

July 12, 2025

The warm nights surrounding July 12 present a golden opportunity to hunt for the three bright stars that form the famous "Summer Triangle" asterism in the northern hemisphere night sky.

Each of the Summer Triangle's three prominent stars — Vega, Deneb and Altair — belong to a different constellation in the night sky and will be among the first twinkling lights to appear as the glow of the setting sun gives way to darkness in the coming months.

The blue supergiant star Deneb can be found shining above the eastern horizon in the hours following sunset in July, forming the tail of the great swan represented by the constellation Cygnus.

Vega, the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, will be visible to its upper right, forming the apex of the triangle, while Altair — the most dazzling of the three stellar bodies — will twinkle to the lower right of the pair in the constellation Aquila.

Whilst their brightness makes them fairly easy to spot with the naked eye, inexperienced stargazers may want to enlist the aid of a smartphone astronomy app to help pinpoint the locations of the stars and their constellations in the night sky.

Each evening will see the stars of the Summer Triangle embark on a lazy journey through the night sky, travelling overhead from their sunset position above the eastern horizon to end the night in the western sky as dawn breaks, hiding them from view.

Our view of the Summer Triangle will become all the more spectacular on the nights surrounding the new moon phase on July 24, at which time the bright ribbon of light from the Milky Way may be visible from dark sky areas, tumbling directly through the cosmic triangle.

Skywatchers looking to make the most of those warm summer stargazing sessions should check out our guides to the top telescopes and binoculars for exploring the wonders of the post-sunset realm.

Photographers looking to upgrade their gear should also read up on the best lenses and cameras for astrophotography.

https://www.space.com/stargazing/dont-miss-the-stars-of-the-summer-triangle-twinkling-in-the-eastern-sky-this-weekend

Readout of Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman’s travel to Canada

July 11, 2025

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman traveled to Canada Jul. 8-10 to attend the Royal Canadian Air Force Change of Command ceremony, engage military space leaders, and reaffirm the strong bilateral space partnership.

During his visit, Saltzman participated in engagements at the Canadian Space Operations Centre, including a roundtable discussion with 3 Canadian Space Division commander Brig. Gen. Christopher Horner and other Canadian military space officials.

The roundtable provided the leaders with a key opportunity to exchange strategic perspectives, advance the longstanding bilateral defense relationship, and identify new avenues to increase capability, interoperability, and deterrence in the space domain.

Saltzman also took part in a bilateral meeting with the new RCAF commander, Lt. Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet. Saltzman congratulated Speiser-Blanchet on her new role, and the two leaders discussed her priorities moving forward.

They affirmed the importance of bilateral space cooperation and agreed that the interests of the U.S. Space Force and RCAF are intrinsically linked.

Saltzman expressed support for Canada’s focus on space control, space domain awareness, and Arctic satellite communications capabilities, and underscored the U.S. Space Force commitment to increasing cooperation in line with shared defense interests.

Additionally, Saltzman presented the Legion of Merit to Speiser-Blanchet’s predecessor, Lt. Gen. Eric Kenny, in recognition of his leadership in enhancing the RCAF’s ability to operate seamlessly alongside the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Air Force and strengthening the defense of North America.

The Legion of Merit is one of the highest honors the U.S. can bestow upon a foreign servicemember. During the trip, Saltzman also met with U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra and other embassy officials.

https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4242246/readout-of-chief-of-space-operations-gen-chance-saltzmans-travel-to-canada/

Iran sets terms for resuming nuclear talks

11 Jul, 2025 21:04

Iran has signaled that it is open to resuming dialogue with the US but only under strict conditions, following Israeli and American strikes on its nuclear facilities, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said.

The sixth round of indirect talks, scheduled for June 15 in Oman, was canceled two days earlier after Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and senior military figures – an escalation Tehran called a declaration of war.

The dialogue, revived earlier this year by US President Donald Trump, collapsed in the wake of the attacks. Washington joined in on June 22, deploying heavy bombers against key nuclear facilities.

Trump later said the sites were “completely obliterated,” a claim which was disputed in a number of media reports.

In a written interview with Le Monde published on Thursday, Araghchi condemned the attacks as a violation of international law and said it was the US that broke off negotiations and turned to military action.

He added that Tehran remains committed to diplomacy but stressed that any renewed engagement must be based on accountability, mutual respect, and “guarantees against any attack.”

Araghchi stated that despite the tensions, diplomatic exchanges are still underway via mediators. The US State Department said this week that the Trump administration is committed to peace with Iran.

“Our commitment has been steadfast through all of these conflicts and now is a time for Iran to take advantage of that,” spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters.

Asked about Trump’s statements, Iranian foreign minister replied: “To claim that a program has been annihilated… is a miscalculation,” adding that Tehran is “assessing the damage” and may seek compensation.

Washington has long demanded that Tehran halt all uranium enrichment – a position Iran considers a deal-breaker. Araghchi reaffirmed that the country’s nuclear program remains peaceful, lawful, and under constant IAEA supervision.

Iran currently enriches uranium to 60% purity, well above the 3.67% cap set under the now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal, which was rendered null and void after Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from it during his first term.

“The level of enrichment is determined by Iran’s needs,” Araghchi said, adding that the current level is meant “to demonstrate that threat and pressure are not solutions.”

He also ruled out any discussion of Iran’s ballistic missile program, calling it “purely defensive and deterrent,” and said it is “unreasonable to expect Iran to abandon its defensive capabilities” under the current conditions.

https://www.rt.com/news/621365-iran-us-nuclear-talks/

Trump sees Zelensky as ‘primary obstacle’ to Ukraine peace – FT

12 Jul, 2025 12:49

US President Donald Trump continues to regard Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky as the main hurdle to resolving the conflict, despite his recent criticism of Moscow, the Financial Times reported on Saturday, citing sources.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Trump said he was “unhappy” with Putin, claiming the Russian leader did not want to end the conflict.

"We get a lot of bullsh*t thrown at us by Putin,” Trump said. The US president added that while Putin was “very nice all the time,” it turned out to be “meaningless” for ending the fighting.

Later, he announced a “major statement” on Russia soon amid reported discussions in Washington over imposing a 500% tariff on countries that buy Russian energy and goods.

However, two unnamed senior officials involved in defense and security talks with Washington told the FT that there was little indication the White House had actually adopted a more pro-Kiev stance.

Ukraine’s backers, the report said, are “still assuming Trump was predisposed to seeing Putin as his main negotiating partner in any settlement and Zelensky as the primary obstacle to a workable peace deal.”

One official pointed to “a little bit of overexcitement based on a shift in tone,” while cautioning that “we’re not seeing that translate into major actions.”

The FT report echoes a New York Times article in June claiming that the US president is “exasperated” with both Putin and Zelensky, but “reserves special animosity” for the Ukrainian leader, viewing him as a “bad guy” pushing the world towards a global conflict.

In May, Trump openly criticized Zelensky, suggesting that “everything out of his mouth causes problems.”

The fiercest public clash between the two came in February at the White House, when Trump accused Zelensky of ingratitude and “gambling with World War III.”

Commenting on Trump’s remarks targeting Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is “calm about this,” adding that “we are committed to continuing our dialogue with Washington and our policy of repairing the significantly damaged bilateral relations.”

Russia maintains it is open to a diplomatic settlement of the Ukraine conflict, but in a way that would address its “root causes” and its security concerns.

Moscow insists on Ukraine’s neutrality, recognition of the “territorial reality on the ground,” as well as demilitarization and denazification.

https://www.rt.com/news/621382-trump-zelensky-primary-obstacle-ukraine-peace/

Assassinated Ukrainian officer ran secret ‘gray units’ – NYT

11 Jul, 2025 20:30

A senior Ukrainian intelligence officer was shot dead in Kiev on Thursday. According to the New York Times, the man was formerly part of a CIA-linked special ops unit, and more recently ran “gray zone” operations in the Ukraine conflict.

Local news reported that a man was gunned down in a Kiev parking lot on Thursday. Security footage circulating on social media showed someone approaching the victim from behind and shooting him several times at close range.

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), Kiev’s successor to the Soviet-era KGB, later confirmed to the media that the deceased was one of their intelligence officers, Colonel Ivan Voronich.

The officer had formerly commanded the SBU’s Fifth Directorate special operations unit, which “received technical support from the CIA,” the NYT wrote on Friday, citing one of the colonel’s former colleagues.

The unit was responsible for the 2016 assassination of Arsen Pavlov, known by his nom-de-guerre ‘Motorola’, a senior military officer in the then breakaway Ukrainian region of Donetsk.

Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Voronich “was part of an elite unit responsible for operating in the gray zone between the enemy lines,” NYT cited its sources as saying.

His unit allegedly played a crucial role in the Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region last year.

Kiev invaded Kursk last August, aiming to take territory as a bargaining chip for future ceasefire negotiations and to divert Russian forces from key parts of the front line.

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Aleksandr Syrsky, later admitted that the gambit failed to achieve this.

Moscow announced that Kursk Region was fully liberated in April. Russian authorities have since said they discovered evidence of widespread atrocities committed against the local civilian population.

According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kiev’s forces lost around 76,000 soldiers, dead and wounded, in the incursion.

As a result, Moscow has pushed “to establish a security zone along large sections of the border,” forcing Ukraine to divert “troops they can’t spare” along the 2,000km front line, Putin said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum last month.

Ukrainian units are now “stretched thin” and “only 47% manned,” he stated.

https://www.rt.com/news/621364-assassinated-ukrainian-officer-secret-units/

IDF says drone strike killed Hezbollah anti-tank missile operative in south Lebanon

July 12, 2025 5:15 pm

An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon’s Khiam earlier today killed a member of Hezbollah’s anti-tank missile unit, the military says.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry earlier reported that one person was killed in a strike on the town.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-drone-strike-killed-hezbollah-anti-tank-missile-operative-in-south-lebanon/

IDF: Over 250 terror targets hit in strikes over past 48 hours; Hamas-run ministry says 143 killed

July 12, 2025 11:36 am

Over 250 terror targets were struck by the Israeli Air Force in the Gaza Strip in the past 48 hours, the military says.

The IDF says the targets included operatives, booby-trapped buildings, weapon depots, anti-tank launch posts, sniper posts, tunnels, and other terror infrastructure.

At least 143 Palestinians were killed in Gaza over the past two days, according to statistics published by the Hamas-run health ministry last night.

The strikes come as five IDF divisions, made up of tens of thousands of troops, continue to operate across Gaza.

The military says in Gaza City’s Shejaiya and Zeitoun neighborhoods, troops of the 98th Division located Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad observation posts and caches of explosive devices.

Numerous operatives were killed elsewhere by the troops, including by calling in airstrikes, the IDF adds.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-over-250-terror-targets-hit-in-strikes-over-past-48-hours-hamas-run-ministry-says-143-killed/

Ukraine Says 4 Killed in Massive Russian Drone, Missile Attack

July 12, 2025

Russia fired more than 620 drones and long-range missiles overnight, killing four people, Ukraine said Saturday, calling for fresh sanctions on Moscow to halt its record barrages.

Kyiv and Moscow have stepped up aerial strikes over recent months, and U.S.-led ceasefire talks aimed at pausing the over three-year war have stalled.

"Twenty-six cruise missiles and 597 attack drones were launched, of which more than half were 'Shaheds'," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, referring to Iranian-made drones.

The Ukrainian air force said it had downed 319 Shahed drones and 25 missiles, adding that one missile and about 20 drones hit "five locations." It did not elaborate.

Zelensky said the strikes had killed at least two people and wounded 20 in Chernivtsi in the west, far from the front lines of the east and south.

Six people were wounded in Lviv, also in the west, while in the east, two people died in the Dnipropetrovsk region and three were wounded in Kharkiv, local authorities said.

Russia's Defense Ministry said it had targeted companies in Ukraine's military-industrial complex in Lviv, Kharkiv and Lutsk and a military aerodrome.

On Friday, Ukrainian drone and shelling attacks killed three people in Russia.

U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg is due on Monday to begin his latest visit to Ukraine as a Washington-led peace effort flounders.

On Friday, the Kremlin restated its opposition to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, after French President Emmanuel Macron said Kyiv's allies had a plan "ready to go in the hours after a ceasefire."

U.S. President Donald Trump called Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday but said afterwards there had been no progress towards ending the war.

The Kremlin said Putin would not give up on Russia's war goals but would nonetheless continue to take part in negotiations.

Moscow says its aim in Ukraine is to get rid of the "root causes" of the conflict and has demanded that Kyiv give up its NATO ambitions.

In Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, a drone "hit the Belgorod Arena sports center, where classes were taking place," regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said Saturday, adding there were no casualties.

He said a man died after a separate strike hit a house in the city of Shebekino.

Weapons, sanctions

Zelensky said on Thursday that Trump had given him firm dates for the resumption of U.S. weapons shipments and planned to make a statement on Russia on Monday.

Washington's announcement earlier this month that it would pause some armament deliveries to Ukraine was a blow to Kyiv, which is reliant on Western military support.

On Saturday, Zelensky urged his Western allies to send "more than just signals" to stop the war launched by Russia in February 2022.

"The pace of Russian air strikes requires swift decisions and it can be curbed right now through sanctions," he said.

Zelensky specifically demanded penalties for those who "help Russia produce drones and profit from oil."

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/07/12/ukraine-says-russia-fired-623-drones-and-missiles-overnight-a89791

https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/15084

Frontline report: Ukraine hit four Russian airbases in one wave. The fires burned for days

12/07/2025

Today, there is big news from the Russian Federation. Ukrainian forces executed a series of precision strikes aimed at critically undermining Russia’s air strike capabilities, delivering powerful blows to several strategically significant Russian airfields and ammunition storages.

By limiting Russian air power, Ukraine aims to leave Russian ground forces without fire support, making their attacks much more vulnerable.

One of the most impactful attacks occurred at the Borisoglebsk airfield in Russia’s Voronezh Oblast, home to advanced Russian jets including Su-34, Su-35S, and Su-30SM aircraft.

The attack resulted in massive fires, destroying a critical depot containing KAB guided aerial bombs and severely damaging at least one combat training jet—with likely several more jets destroyed.

Damage assessments are ongoing, but preliminary reports suggest substantial impairment of Russian aerial offensive capabilities.

Ukrainian drones destroy bomb depots and air defense in Kursk and Bryansk

Another successful strike targeted the Khalino airbase in Kursk Oblast. Ukrainian munitions precisely hit a storage facility housing aerial bombs and missiles, destroying a Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system guarding the site.

Ukrainian intelligence also coordinated a devastating strike on the 1060th Logistics Support Center in Bryansk Oblast, triggering extensive fires and secondary detonations.

Multiple Russian munition depots full of rocket fuel, lubricants, and air-launched bombs and missiles were destroyed.

Su-34 fighter-bombers destroyed in Marinovka airbase attack

The most painful strike for Russia occurred at the Marinovka airbase in Volgograd Oblast, where Ukrainian Special Operations Forces confirmed the destruction of four advanced Su-34 fighter-bombers—Russia’s key tactical aircraft for strikes on Ukraine.

Satellite imagery shows extensive damage, including multiple craters, indicating the destruction of several ordnance storage sites.

A former Russian military pilot and aviation analyst called this strike a multibillion-ruble loss that could have been prevented, citing serious operational security failures.

Tires on jets? Russian bases use ineffective defenses

Despite mounting losses, Russian airbase personnel continue placing tires over jet aircraft as a defense against drone strikes—a tactic repeatedly proven ineffective.

This futile measure adds strain to Russian maintenance crews, further reducing operational readiness.

Ukrainian drones and missiles, unaffected by these rudimentary barriers, continue to destroy Russian aircraft on the ground with alarming precision.

Ukraine targets Russian air-ground strategy at its core

Ukraine’s strikes follow a clear strategic logic. Russian ground tactics depend heavily on air and artillery support, typically locating Ukrainian positions by using waves of low-skilled infantry to draw fire.

By destroying aircraft, ammo depots, and air-defense systems in rear areas, Ukraine disrupts Russia’s ability to coordinate ground assaults, easing pressure on frontline troops and forcing Russia into riskier air operations with fewer assets.

Accidents rise as Russia pushes overworked aircrews

With fewer aircraft and an increasingly strained maintenance workforce, Russian aviation is suffering from higher accident rates.

A recent crash of a Su-34 due to a landing gear malfunction killed an experienced pilot.

These self-inflicted losses, combined with the depletion of skilled personnel, are worsening Russia’s battlefield attrition.

Russian airbases left vulnerable as protective measures stall

To reduce turnaround time, Russia has moved many aircraft dangerously close to the front line.

While earlier efforts were made to build concrete protective shelters, satellite evidence suggests this work has stalled or been abandoned.

Without public or military pressure to resume fortification, Russia risks further devastating losses in future Ukrainian strikes.

Ukraine’s sustained campaign is strategically critical—weakening Russian air power, protecting civilians, and degrading offensive potential during the decisive summer months. Neutralizing Russian air superiority remains key to Ukraine’s battlefield success.

https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/07/12/ukraine-drone-strike-russian-airbases/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w7kUSMn1FE

One year after Butler assassination attempt, Secret Service bolsters security with drones, mobile command posts

Updated on: July 11, 2025 / 7:40 PM EDT

Laurel, Maryland — It was almost one year ago that 20-year-old Thomas Crooks attempted to assassinate President Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, an incident which prompted several investigations into the U.S. Secret Service's actions and procedures on that day.

Prior to the shooting on July 13, 2024, Crooks flew his own commercial drone for 11 minutes above the Butler campaign rally site, but the Secret Service missed it.

This week, CBS News was taken inside the Secret Service's James J. Rowley Training Center in Laurel, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., to see the agency's newest eyes in the sky, a fleet of military-grade drones that reimagine aerial reconnaissance in a post-Butler era.

Matt Quinn, Secret Service deputy director, told CBS News he feels confident in the new technology. "Yes, we're in position now, to not just detect, but to mitigate unauthorized UAS (unmanned aircraft systems)," Quinn said.

In Butler, local police warnings did not reach Secret Service counter-snipers because the agencies could not radio each other directly.

Along with the military-grade drones, the Secret Service also established a system of mobile command posts — with price tags ranging from $600,000 to $1.5 million — which allow agents to communicate over radio directly with local law enforcement, something that did not exist in Butler.

"This is tremendous to be able to consolidate communications, make sure everyone's on the same page," Quinn said. It is one of the many lessons still being learned a year later.

"We're focused today on providing the absolute best technology, the best communications equipment, so that July 13th is never repeated," Quinn said.

On Thursday, the Secret Service announced it was suspending six personnel without pay following an internal investigation into the Butler shooting, which along with wounding Mr. Trump, left one rallygoer dead and two others injured.

Quinn believes that the changes the Secret Service are making are a step in the right direction.

"I'm confident that we are getting there," he said.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/secret-service-bolsters-security-drones-mobile-command-posts-after-butler-assassination-attempt-trump/

Amarnath Yatra: Army Launches Operation Shiva, 8,500 Troops Deployed

Jul 11, 2025 23:03 pm IST

Jammu: The Indian Army has launched Operation Shiva as part of a multi-tier security setup to secure the ongoing Amarnath Yatra deploying 8,500 troops and a counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) grid on the twin routes to the cave shrine, an official on Friday said.

The 38-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high shrine commenced on July 3 from the valley via twin tracks - the traditional 48-kilometre-long Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14-kilometre shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

The yatra will conclude on August 9.

"The Indian Army has launched Operation Shiva in close coordination with the civil administration and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of the Amarnath Yatra," said a defence spokesperson.

The spokesperson said this annual high-tempo operation aims to provide a robust security architecture along both the northern and southern yatra routes, particularly in light of the heightened threat from Pakistan-backed proxies in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.

"As part of this year's enhanced security framework, over 8,500 troops have been deployed, supported by a wide array of technological and operational resources," he added.

The spokesperson asserted it is part of a multi-tier security setup, a dynamic counter-terrorism grid, prophylactic security deployment and corridor protection measures have been instituted.

"Comprehensive assistance to civil authorities is also being provided, particularly in disaster management and emergency response," he said.

Spelling out key deployments and tasks under Operation Shiva, the spokesperson said that a counter-UAS grid with more than 50 C-UAS and electronic warfare (EW) systems has been put in place to neutralise drone threats apart from regular UAV missions and live monitoring of the yatra routes and the holy cave.

He further said that engineer task forces have also been deployed for bridge construction, track widening and disaster mitigation, with more than 150 doctors and medical personnel, two advanced dressing stations, nine medical aid posts, a 100-bed hospital and 26 oxygen booths supported by 2,00,000 litres of oxygen.

In addition, signal companies for seamless communication, EME detachments for technical support and bomb detection and disposal squads have been put in place along with emergency rations for 25,000 persons, QRTs, tent cities, water points and plant equipments, including bulldozers and excavators.

"Indian Army helicopters remain on standby for any contingency response," said the spokesperson, adding the Army is harnessing advanced technology to ensure a robust security framework during the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.

"By implementing live tracking of yatra convoys between Jammu and the holy cave, the Army is maintaining constant situational awareness through high-resolution PTZ camera and drone feeds.

Real-time updates on convoy movement are being monitored to pre-empt any threats, while seamless multi-agency coordination ensures swift response and effective security management across the entire route," he said.

Operation Shiva reflects the Indian Army's unwavering commitment to ensure a safe, seamless, and spiritually fulfilling yatra for all devotees undertaking the sacred pilgrimage, the spokesperson added.

Over 1.40 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance to the ice lingam of Lord Shiva. More than four lakh persons have registered online for the pilgrimage so far.

Over 5.10 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance last year at the cave shrine, which houses a naturally formed ice lingam.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/amarnath-yatra-army-launches-operation-shiva-8-500-troops-deployed-8862652

Stryker units detect cartel drone activity, drug smuggling in Laredo

July 12, 2025

More than a week after announcing that a Stryker Battalion would be deployed along the border to monitor criminal gang drone and drug activity, the city of Laredo and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar received a report detailing high levels of detected criminal activity.

The city and Cuellar announced June 30 that Joint Task Force – Southern Border planned a short-term deployment of a Stryker Battalion along the Laredo border.

According to Cuellar, the mission aimed to combat drones used by cartels to surveil Border Patrol agents and detect border openings for illegal entry.

“We’ve talked to the Department of Defense Council, and I know we don’t want to militarize the border,” the congressman said at the time. “I don’t believe in militarizing the border. But they’re coming in.”

While drone activity remains more prominent in other areas such as El Paso, officials said during a recent briefing with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Defense that drone incursions are increasingly being detected in the Laredo region as well.

The city of Laredo stated Friday that CBP and the DOD reported 70 drone detections so far, raising concerns about high-speed chases, stash houses and drug smuggling in the region.

Stryker surveillance equipment recently detected a drone launched from Mexico, according to the CBP and DOD — underscoring the importance of real-time monitoring and coordinated responses in countering drone threats.

Cuellar said he and Trevino toured one of the Stryker units, which is equipped with high-resolution cameras and cutting-edge technology capable of tracking a mouse from a mile away.

“These units are providing much-needed surveillance support and helping strengthen efforts of our Border Patrol agents,” Cuellar said. “Once a Stryker unit is deployed to a location, the number of illegal crossings and related criminal activity drops considerably.”

The local presence of Stryker units is part of a broader effort to strengthen public safety and address evolving threats tied to border activity, officials said.

“Laredo, as the No. 1 port of entry, has to make sure that we address not just illegal crossings, which have historically been low, but also public safety issues like high-speed chases, drug smuggling and stash houses that are connected,” Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino said in a statement.

“We understand and appreciate the sensitivity of having the military here for surveillance and presence to support Border Patrol, but you can’t have economic prosperity without border security. They are intertwined.”

Cuellar also confirmed that he and the city of Laredo plan to hold a press conference next week to highlight the Department of Defense’s work in the region and discuss how ongoing efforts will continue to enhance community security.

https://www.lmtonline.com/local/article/law-enforcement-customs-intelligence-risk-data-20766885.php

US puts jet-drone teams to bigger test in race with China for air supremacy

Updated: 6:25am, 12 Jul 2025

The US military has raised the difficulty level with a coordination test of its crewed fighters and “loyal wingman” drones as it races against China towards the next frontier of air dominance.

Chinese military observers said the People’s Liberation Army was matching the United States in this technology.

The Air Force Research Laboratory said earlier this month that pilots operating an F-16C Fighting Falcon and an F-15E Strike Eagle each controlled two XQ-58A Valkyrie drones in an air combat training exercise.

The exercise was a test of real-time integration between crewed and semi-autonomous systems, according to the laboratory, which is the US Air Force’s main scientific research and development centre.

Built by defence firm Kratos, the drone first flew in 2019 as part of the air force’s push to explore the “loyal wingman” concept in which uncrewed aircraft are directed by crewed fighters.

While the Valkyrie has previously flown with different types of crewed fighters, analysts said the most recent test was more complex, with a formation that could be scaled up.

“This kind of simulated combat drill is a logical next step, given that the Valkyrie has been flying for quite a while now,” said Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation analyst.

“Commanding and controlling two drones at once raises the difficulty substantially – it demands more attention from the pilot, greater tactical judgment, and the ability to maintain broader battlefield awareness.

“We are also working on similar technologies in China, although there has been little public reporting on it. China’s loyal wingman drones capabilities are on par with the United States.”

The US Air Force described the exercise as a “major leap” in human-machine teaming, referring to the Valkyries as “autonomous collaborative platforms”.

The goal is to integrate such platforms into future air combat scenarios, reducing pilot workload while improving situational awareness and combat effectiveness.

The Valkyrie is a low-cost, long-range, high-speed drone designed for a variety of missions including strike, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, electronic warfare, decoy operations, and communications relay, according to media reports.

As early as 2020, an F-22 Raptor and an F-35A Lightning II were seen flying in formation with a Valkyrie.

In 2024, the US Marine Corps tested the Valkyrie in a loyal wingman role alongside their F-35B stealth fighters. The drone also proved its ability to launch smaller uncrewed systems during another test.

The drone is 30 feet (9.1 metres) long with a 27-foot wingspan; and has a dry weight of 2,500lbs (1.13 tonnes), a Mach 0.72 cruise speed, and a maximum range of about 3,000 nautical miles, according to media reports.

Chinese military analyst Song Zhongping said such tests showed how drones, under the control of crewed fighters, could effectively extend the operational reach of crewed aircraft.

“This is essentially a method to extend the combat radius of a fighter jet by using drones under its control,” Song said.

“China’s newest fighter jets already have this ability,” he said, adding that teaming with drones was becoming standard for both fifth- and sixth-generation aircraft.

Earlier this month, new images of China’s two-seat variant of the J-20 stealth fighter emerged online. Defence watchers say the second seat is intended for a mission systems officer to control loyal wingman drones.

State broadcaster CCTV has shown footage of the J-20 flying in formation with three GJ-11 stealth drones – evidence that China is actively experimenting with crewed-uncrewed teaming.

Song added that China’s sixth-generation fighters, which reportedly made their first flights late last year and have since undergone multiple rounds of testing, also had the potential to support loyal wingman operations.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317912/us-puts-jet-drone-teams-bigger-test-race-china-air-supremacy

Over 2K UFO sightings reported in first half of 2025

07/11/25 8:12 PM ET

There have been more than 2,000 sightings of UFOs in the first half of 2025, according to data from the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC).

The nonprofit organization collects reports of UFOs and investigates cases of unexplained sightings. The 2,174 sightings are an increase from previous years.

In 2024, the agency logged 1,492 sightings between the beginning of January and the end of June, and in 2023, 2,077 were recorded in the same time frame.

UFO sightings in 2025

NUFORC collected more than 3,000 reports during the first six months of 2025, but because of the stigma around UFOs, the group notes that many of them happened years or even decades before they were reported.

Those numbers likely only represent a small number of actual sightings, said Christian Stepien, the group’s chief technology officer. Based on anecdotal evidence, he believes roughly 5 percent of sightings get reported.

The group takes reports from everyday citizens as well as air traffic controllers, police and members of the military.

Interest in UFOs after David Grusch testimony

The topic of UFOs (or UAPs, if you’re talking to the U.S. government) has been in the headlines recently as lawmakers have pushed for more transparency on the subject.

Whistleblower David Grusch came forward in 2023, alleging a secret UFO-retrieval program was being operated by the Pentagon. His testimony sparked congressional hearings and increased public attention to the issue of unexplained sightings.

Since then, others connected with the government have come forward to support Grusch’s claims, saying the Defense Department has not been honest with the public or Congress about the subject.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has remained firm in saying that there is no evidence unexplained sightings are extraterrestrial in nature and disavowing the existence of UFO-retrieval programs.

Recent reporting from The Wall Street Journal suggested the agency itself may be behind long-standing rumors of alien technology as part of efforts to cover up Earth-based top-secret projects.

The reporting also noted that new employees in some offices were hazed with tales of secret UFO research, potentially the source of information presented by whistleblowers.

Many remain unconvinced by government denials, including lawmakers who are continuing to advocate for more transparency about unexplained sightings, regardless of whether they originate with nonhuman intelligence or are human-made.

“There are so many things being seen by so many people. And if it’s a secret block project, you’re not flying it over highly populated neighborhoods where everybody can see it, and even these days, have pictures of it,” Stepien said.

NUFORC sees wide range of UFO sightings

Cases being investigated by NUFORC range from detailed descriptions to brief notes, with some explained by known objects, including balloons, drones and planets or stars.

“We get lots of reports of balloons and things like that that we can say that’s clearly a balloon, or that’s a drone, or it’s an airplane or whatever it is,” Stepien said.

Stepien said around 3 percent of the reports the group gets end up being of high interest.

“The dramatic ones are kind of the cases where you say somebody saw a giant triangle floating over their house the size of a tennis court or a football field,” he said.

“And we get those reports fairly regularly, things that can’t possibly be mistaken for something else. ”The group notes that reports include an array of shapes, including triangles, discs, orbs, cigars and forms that appear to change.

Many of the sightings include reports of craft displaying agility or other capabilities not expected from human technology.

Going forward, Stepien said the group hopes to continue to collect reports of sightings and to get more transparency from the government, especially data collected from advanced technology.

“The government certainly has the good stuff,” he said. “These days with cellphones and things like that, we’re starting to get some nice videos and things, but we don’t have high resolution cameras and forward-looking infrared and that kind of stuff.”

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5397562-ufo-sighting-increase-report/

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/ufo-sightings-christian-stepien/2025/07/11/id/1218510/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtilGOcNmgY (Skinwalker Ranch owner says former AARO Director Sean Kirkpatrick lied, shows proof | Reality Check Jul 8, 2025)

Why a UFO landing site can be requested in Vienna

11.07.2025, 22:10

Why can citizens apply to the City of Vienna for a landing site for a UFO?

A curious form on the website of Vienna's city administration is currently causing a frown, as the Austrian weekly newspaper "Falter" reports.

The form has recently been made available in the manual of the wien.gov.at portal.

In order to obtain a landing site for an Unidentified Flying Object, applicants must prove that they either own one, have a leasing contract for it or have rented the UFO for at least "4 intergalactic months".

But be careful: for the desired landing site, the flying object must not weigh more than "35 intergalactic megatons".

The application also requires a passport, proof of citizenship - and last but not least "alien documents".

Template for extraterrestrials

Is the City of Vienna serious about all this? Yes and no. Interested parties should be suspicious at the latest when it comes to the automatically filled-in name.

It simply says "Gordon Shumway, born 29.10.1756", which is the real name of "ALF" from the TV series of the same name.

So why does this form exist? As portal manager Michael Rederer explains to "Falter", the City of Vienna's manual also contains "quality-tested templates".

Because not all partners have access to the City of Vienna's internal system, this sample form is publicly accessible.

In order for it to serve as such, it must be "formally correct, but as unrealistic as possible, so that no one submits an application by mistake".

https://www.bluewin.ch/en/news/why-a-ufo-landing-site-can-be-applied-for-in-vienna-2780153.html

https://www.falter.at/morgen/20250711/gesichtet-warum-man-bei-der-stadt-wien-einen-ufo-landeplatz-beantragen-kann

UFO Whistleblowers Will Be Killed, New Interstellar Object, Enki Return, Epstein Client List

July 12, 2025

Exopolitics - Week in Review

Topics

Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, appear to laugh at a question about UFOs.https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1941460441747661064

A secret salvage operation of an aircraft carrier-sized cigar-shaped UFO that was brought down during the Bluegill Triple Prime nuclear weapons https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1941487482555474279

Important points in the archetypal battle between Christianity and Satanism. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1941496762646057296

Newly released JFK assassination documents show a connection between a CIA officer, George Joannides, specializing in psychological warfare and Lee Harvey Oswald. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1941667082078179441

How does humanity deal with the return of Ea/Enki, the Anunnaki master geneticist who bioengineered or dumbed down humanity, depending on one’s perspective? https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1941881282125783287

More info about the interstellar object 3I/Atlas, which has been estimated to be as big as 12 miles in length. It will pass close to Mars but miss Earth by 2 AU. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1941900540847251886

More evidence that the Deep State has shut down official disclosure efforts which will get nowhere if whistleblowers are threatened into silence. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1941999581442507166

JP has just released this photo he took of a craft coming down in the backyard of his home https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1942001745153999146

Bob Lazar occupies a special place in UFO history as he and John Lear put Area 51, the S-4 facility, and secret reverse engineering attempts, on the radar of all UFO researchers. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1942175635880735002

Ross Coulthart is correct that Lockheed-Martin built the Tic Tac craft that were filmed and tracked by the US Navy in 2004. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1942178652571021513

More Bigfoot humor. Language alert for mums and kiddies. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1942179819573092843

Are Alien MedBeds the Golden Cure to Disease & Aging? https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1942185248701227501

A size comparison of “unclassified” space stations. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1942568102769684742

A secret deal has been made to hide the Epstein client list after US Attorney General Pam Bondi said back in Feb that it was on her desk and was ready for release.https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1942578507185352931

Kab shares some important insights here into what is happening in the US and around the world. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1942595169108299989

Is this China’s answer to the US-led Artemis Accords and exclusion from the International Space Station? https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1942768677738217955

A new article by the Liberation Times/Christopher Sharp gives more details about the Unacknowledged Special Access Program called Immaculate Constellation that tracks UFO/UAP sightings.https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1942935096069111987

JP (ret. US Army) shares his thoughts about some UFO photos and video he took in 2017 while a civilian living near McDill AFB. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1942972050940780578

Rise of the Atlantic Space Ark – JP Update 48 https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1943274063922602437

Claims of infiltration of Swaruu Official is not such a surprise if one accepts that information about the Galactic Federation from Robert and Gosia (Cosmic Agency) since 2017/2018 is genuine. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/1943297090760671543

Next Exopolitics Monthly Briefing on July 19 https://www.crowdcast.io/c/exomonhlybriefingjuly2025

https://exopolitics.org/ufo-whistleblowers-will-be-killed-new-interstellar-object-enki-return-epstein-client-list/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snZfe1g5BTE

Strange Yellow Light Zigzags Through Chicago Night Sky

July 12, 2025

Have you ever been up late at night and spotted something in the sky that looks unusual?

That happened recently to a man in the Chicago, Illinois area as he spotted a yellow light that zigged and zagged across the skyline of the Windy City.

I came across this brand new report on the National UFO Reporting Center site that was shared from Chicago.

According to the details provided, this close encounter of the Chicago kind happened around 1:06am during the early morning hours of July 3, 2025.

The guy said that he was working on a computer late at night and decided to take a break and looked up into the night sky and was startled by what he saw:

"a few seconds after I was looking outside, the light appeared. It's oddity made me curious…the light seems to move from east to west very quickly before moving "up and to the right"…like it drew a very clear—albeit very short—"Z" in the sky"

He added there was a haze around the object and that it seemed to leave a light trail.

When I see stories like this, I weigh heavily the background of the person who shared the report. In this case, the guy is very familiar with the many aircraft that fly in and out of O'Hare.

He's seen plenty of drones and other conventional aircraft to understand when he's seeing something unconventional. I'm not saying that what he saw was extraterrestrial, but I am saying that it's not easily explainable.

You can check out his full report to see what you think he saw a few nights ago above Chicago.

https://101theeagle.com/chicago-illinois-uap-report/

https://nuforc.org/sighting/?id=190659

Viral Video Of ‘UFO Sending Down Beam’ Sparks Real Or Fake Debate

Updated Jul 12, 2025, 19:41 IST

There was a time when things that even remotely resembled UFOs and aliens were a hit. After a while though- especially since the last few years with so much happening- alien-related news and its sightings turned into an everyday thing.

However, such clips were mostly limited to ‘speeding UFOs’, unexplained phenomena or weird clouds. With that said, one can only imagine the spark THIS video caused, which allegedly recorded a ‘UFO sending down a giant beam’!

Surely something out of the ordinary- even among the UFO sightings videos.

A video was recently shared online- which was being recorded by some people- that allegedly showed a ‘UFO sending down a giant beam’.

As soon as the clip went viral, it left the internet divided. Some claimed that it was simply a tall electric pole, while the rest argued that the people recording would have known if it was a pole, as the incident happened right near their home.

As per the viral post, the incident unfolded in ‘Dallas, Texas in the United States’, on June 09. Many also resorted to cracking all kinds of jokes on the entire matter.

“A video posted on June 9th out of Dallas Texas in the United States, shows a group of neighbors witnessing what appears to be a UFO sending down a giant beam of light, casting chaos and excitement around the group,” the post read.

The video was shared on Instagram, by the handle ‘theoriesnow’. The post was shared a while back and pulled more than 219K views.

“A hood in America being the first contact Aliens have with Human life is a movie I’d watch,” a user said. “The UFO pilot was fired immediately for landing on this location,” joked another netizen.

“They need more hood videos like this so we know it’s real,” added a third person. “How is it a street light if they live right there they never saw the street light before,” speculated a fourth internet user.

“And people wonder why aliens avoid this planet,” added a fifth user. “Man, that's a light post haha,” wrote another. “This used to happen in Sacramento all the time but they must have stopped visiting us,” joked another.

https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/alien-viral-video-of-ufo-sending-down-beam-sparks-real-or-fake-debate-watch-alien-sighting-ufo-sighting-article-152268734

https://www.instagram.com/p/DLdOZSxS1Mg/

Roots of UFO Secrecy And Government UAP Projects

July 12, 2025

Cristina Gomez does a deep dive into both the public face of Government UFO projects, and the clandestine menacing angles behind the true nature of secretive objectives in keeping the public ignorant of UFO truths.

MJ 12 SERIES:

Part 1 - https://youtube.com/live/QMvo6vSjGXU

Part 2 - https://youtube.com/live/L3A5KaT1XC0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LErGBlE09Qk

https://www.ufonews.co/

The Buga Sphere: Scientists stimulated the Buga Sphere and it responded 🛸

Jul 11, 2025

In this shocking episode of Interstellar, Jaime Maussan presents the latest findings on the enigmatic Buga Sphere, an object discovered in Colombia that has sparked the interest of researchers around the world.

What appeared to be just an unexplained metallic structure took an unexpected turn when scientists decided to stimulate it with different frequencies… and the sphere responded.

What kind of technology are we witnessing? Is it possible this sphere has a non-human origin? How does an inert object react to sound, vibration, and energy stimuli? Are we witnessing an unrecognized form of intelligence?

With expert testimony, laboratory analysis, and data that defy conventional logic, this episode delves into one of the most disconcerting cases of the UFO phenomenon and anomalous technology in Latin America.

Get ready to see and hear what no one dared to tell. This isn't science fiction… it's reality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWG1Jc3AW7o

What Chariots of the Gods Got Right—And What They Still Won’t Tell You

July 12, 2025

Hosted by Jimmy Church at the Conscious Life Expo in Los Angeles, this panel honors Erich von Däniken's enduring impact on ancient astronaut theory and the global disclosure movement.

Linda Moulton Howe presents stunning research on alien craft, cattle mutilations, and ancient AI structures. Billy Carson connects the Anunnaki to Mars, genetics, and time-based civilizations.

Jason Martell unpacks advanced energy systems and timelines obscured by academic gatekeeping.

Together, they explore suppressed truths, evolving consciousness, and the undeniable shift toward accepting our galactic heritage.

The panel delivers both reverence and revelation in tribute to a book that changed the paradigm.

00:00 Honoring Erich von Däniken's Legacy

07:20 The Book That Started a Movement

14:10 Ancient AI and Extraterrestrial Craft (Howe)

23:30 Whistleblowers, Abductions & Black Projects

31:00 Sumerian Gods and Genetic Engineering (Carson)

38:20 Time Travel, Portals & Mars Colonies

46:10 Technology Lost to Time (Martell)

52:55 The Academic Stonewall & Disclosure Gaps

59:40 Hybrid Programs and Hidden History

01:07:00 Consciousness, Vibration & Alien Intelligence

01:14:25 Revisiting the Ancient Sites with New Eyes

01:21:00 Media Censorship, Archeological Suppression

01:29:30 What the Government Knew All Along

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymUOiVw-CfE

Project Pegasus | The CIA's Child Time Soldiers

Jun 23, 2025

In 1968, six-year-old Andrew Basiago stepped through Tesla's teleportation device and emerged at Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in 1863.

He was part of Project Pegasus, DARPA's classified program using technology reverse-engineered from Tesla's confiscated research.

The program began after Sputnik shocked America into creating DARPA to prevent technological surprises.

When scientists rediscovered Tesla's stolen files, they found blueprints for a teleportation machine that could bend space and time using zero-point energy.

Adult test subjects either vanished, aged rapidly, or arrived in pieces across different moments.

Only children's flexible minds could handle temporal displacement, so DARPA recruited 140 young "chrononauts" for missions throughout history.

By 1980, the technology evolved to transport people to Mars, where Basiago claims he served alongside Barry Soetoro - later known as Barack Obama.

But the program unlocked more than time travel - it opened doorways to infinite parallel realities that the government desperately tries to keep hidden.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCjo9KBpK9I

https://exopolitics.org/tag/mars-jump-room/

>>23315777

>>23315792

I don't remember what happened to his shoes either.

https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2010/11/19/rare-photo-of-lincoln-at-gettysburg/