TYB
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/ESA_s_ExoMars_and_Mars_Express_observe_comet_3I_ATLAS
https://x.com/esascience/status/1975574655764472200
https://x.com/DobsonianPower
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfaa4RUKrvU
ESA’s ExoMars and Mars Express observe comet 3I/ATLAS
07/10/2025
Between 1 and 7 October, ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Mars Express spacecraft turned their eyes towards interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, as it passed close to Mars.
The two Mars orbiters had the closest view of the comet of all ESA spacecraft. During its closest approach to the Red Planet on 3 October, the interstellar interloper was 30 million km away from them.
Each spacecraft used its dedicated camera to watch the comet pass. Both cameras are designed to photograph the bright surface of Mars just a few hundred to a few thousand km below. Scientists were unsure what to expect from observations of a relatively dim target so far away.
ExoMars TGO captured the series of images shown in the GIF below with its Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS). Comet 3I/ATLAS is the slightly fuzzy white dot moving downwards near the centre of the image.
This dot is the centre of the comet, comprising its icy-rocky nucleus and its surrounding coma.
CaSSIS could not distinguish the nucleus from the coma, because 3I/ATLAS was too far away. Imaging this kilometre-wide nucleus would have been as impossible as seeing a mobile phone on the Moon from Earth.
But the coma, measuring a few thousand kilometres across, is clearly visible. The coma is created as 3I/ATLAS approaches the Sun. The Sun’s heat and radiation is bringing the comet to life, causing it to release gas and dust, which collects as this halo surrounding the nucleus.
The full size of the coma could not be measured by CaSSIS because the brightness of the dust decreases quickly with distance from the nucleus.
This means that the coma fades into the noise in the image. Typically, material from the coma is swept into a long tail, which can grow up to millions of kilometres long as the comet moves closer to the Sun.
The tail is much dimmer than the coma. We can’t see the tail in the CaSSIS images, but it may become more visible in future observations as the comet continues to heat up and release more ice.
Nick Thomas, Principal Investigator of the CaSSIS camera explains, “This was a very challenging observation for the instrument. The comet is around 10 000 to 100 000 times fainter than our usual target.”
The work continues
3I/ATLAS has not yet revealed itself in the Mars Express images, partly because these were taken with an exposure time of just 0.5 seconds (the maximum limit for Mars Express) compared to five seconds for ExoMars TGO.
Scientists will continue to analyse the data from both orbiters, including adding together several images from Mars Express to see if they can spot the faint comet.
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They also tried to measure the spectrum of light from comet 3I/ATLAS using Mars Express’s OMEGA and SPICAM spectrometers, and ExoMars TGO’s NOMAD spectrometer. At this point, it is uncertain whether the coma and tail were bright enough for a spectral characterisation.
Scientists will keep analysing the data over the next weeks and months to try to figure out more about what 3I/ATLAS is made of and how it is behaving as it approaches the Sun.
Colin Wilson, Mars Express and ExoMars project scientist at ESA says: “Though our Mars orbiters continue to make impressive contributions to Mars science, it’s always extra exciting to see them responding to unexpected situations like this one.
I look forward to seeing what the data reveals following further analysis.”
A rare visitor
Originating from outside our Solar System, comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar comet ever seen, following 1I/ʻOumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.
These comets are absolutely foreign. Every planet, moon, asteroid, comet and lifeform in our Solar System share a common origin. But interstellar comets are true outsiders, carrying clues about the formation of worlds far beyond our own.
Comet 3I/ATLAS was first spotted on 1 July 2025 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in Río Hurtado, Chile. Since then, astronomers have used ground-based and space telescopes to monitor its progress and discover more about it.
Based on its trajectory, astronomers suspect that 3I/ATLAS could be the oldest comet ever observed. It may be three billion years older than the Solar System, which is itself already 4.6 billion years old.
What’s next?
Next month, we will observe the comet with our Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice).
Though Juice will be further from 3I/ATLAS than our Mars orbiters were last week, it will see the comet just after its closest approach to the Sun, meaning that it will be in a more active state.
We don’t expect to receive data from Juice’s observations until February 2026 – find out why in our FAQs.
Icy wanderers such as 3I/ATLAS offer a rare, tangible connection to the broader galaxy. To actually visit one would connect humankind with the Universe on a far greater scale. To this end, ESA is preparing the Comet Interceptor mission.
Comet Interceptor is due to launch in 2029 into a parking orbit, from where it will lie in wait for a suitable target – a pristine comet from the distant Oort Cloud that surrounds our Solar System, or, unlikely but highly appealing, an interstellar object like 3I/ATLAS.
Michael Kueppers, Comet Interceptor project scientist expands: “When Comet Interceptor was selected in 2019, we only knew of one interstellar object – 1I/ʻOumuamua, discovered in 2017.
Since then, two more such objects have been discovered, showing large diversity in their appearance. Visiting one could provide a breakthrough in understanding their nature.”
While it remains improbable that we will discover an interstellar object that is reachable for Comet Interceptor, as a first demonstration of a rapid response mission that waits in space for its target, it will be a pathfinder for possible future missions to intercept these mysterious visitors.
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US FCC readies space rules overhaul
October 7, 2025
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) indicated space would be the next frontier in efforts to establish the nation as a global technology leader, with chair Brendan Carr (pictured) outlining plans to update regulations as part of a month-long focus on the sector.
Carr declared October Space Month during the opening of a satellite manufacturing facility in El Segundo, California, explaining the coming weeks would see the US regulator outline strategies to advance its Build America Agenda by focusing on the space economy.
He said President Donald Trump was leading the US into a “new golden age of innovation in space, one where US businesses are going to dominate.”
Carr noted the president previously acted to “streamline regulations and foster a commercial space industry”.
The FCC leader said the regulator would hold a vote on measures to shake up regulation of the space sector later this month.
Items on the agenda include plans to modernise licensing processes, replacing bespoke procedures with an assembly-line model intended to speed the issue of permissions for services which are in the public interest.
The FCC also wants to see simpler application processes and provide clarity on the timelines involved.
Spectrum is also on the bill: the FCC noted demand had soared in the decade since it introduced regulations covering the use of Upper Microwave Flexible Use bands for earth stations and stated it intends to explore options to reform siting rules to make the most of the airwaves.
Carr said the big picture is to ensure the “US is the friendliest regulatory environment in the world for innovators to start, to grow and to accelerate their space operations”.
https://www.mobileworldlive.com/fcc/us-fcc-readies-space-rules-overhaul/
https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/fcc-chair-brendan-carr-delivers-remarks-on-space-agenda/666707
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Large_Space_Simulator_gets_a_digital_twin
Large Space Simulator gets a digital twin
06/10/2025
The Large Space Simulator, Europe’s largest vacuum chamber, routinely reproduces space conditions on Earth to test spacecraft before they fly into orbit.
The facility is complex, and the current process of training a new operator is lengthy and complicated.
To make it easier, the space simulator now has a digital twin – the most realistic virtual model of the facility yet, developed for the European Space Agency (ESA) by the Spanish engineering company Empresarios Agrupados.
The Large Space Simulator (LSS), located at ESA’s Test Centre in the Netherlands, is a large chamber capable of reproducing a space-like environment.
Its pumps can extract all air from the inside to create high vacuum, and liquid nitrogen circulating through thermal panels covering its walls can lower the temperature to chilly -180 °C.
“The facility is very complex, and it takes many years for people to learn how to operate it,” explains Remko Moeys, ESA’s engineer leading the digital twin project.
“On top of that, we perform only about 2-3 tests per year, which offers very few occasions for a trainee to shadow and learn from an experienced operator.
“To make the process more efficient, we developed a training simulator. This ‘digital twin’ mimics the real operations of the LSS as closely as possible. Essentially, it works in a similar way to a flight simulator for pilots.”
The LSS digital twin software was developed for ESA by the Spanish engineering company Empresarios Agrupados using the simulation software ‘EcosimPro’, which the company have devised for ESA with the aim to support the aerospace industry modelling and simulation needs in several disciplines.
After almost two years of development, the training software is up and running on the monitors of the real-life LSS control room, making the experience of an operator-in-training as realistic as possible.
“In the digital twin software, a trainee sees the same things on the screen that they would see when operating the real facility, and the data is displayed in the same way as well. Everything underneath has been virtualised,” Remko clarifies.
“Let’s say I click a button in the programme to open a valve. In a real-life scenario, the computer would send a signal to the real valve and open it. In a simulated scenario, a ‘virtual valve’ opens instead.
The computer calculates what would happen once it’s opened, returning the simulated data to us.
“A great advantage of our training software is that a test can be started from any point, it can be paused or stopped, and it can run faster than real-time, allowing us to skip uneventful phases that normally last hours.
“We can even introduce a failure into the test, like a valve not opening or air leaking into the vacuum chamber. This allows trainees to practice handling all kinds of potential scenarios.”
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Julien Pioton, LSS operator and test engineer at the European Test Services (ETS), notes: “Training operators on a real-life facility is a long and complex process, often requiring years of hands-on experience.
Moreover, operating such facilities isn’t without risk. This tool offers a safe and efficient alternative by allowing LSS operators to repeatedly practice specific test phases, build confidence, and refine their skills.”
The digital twin software will help more than just operator training.
It is a powerful tool for the virtual testing of any changes to the facility before they are performed in real life, it can be used to carry out various studies such as optimising the facility’s consumption of nitrogen, rehearsing test operations in advance, or simulating abnormal operations in case of equipment failure.
Miguel Alcázar, Simulation Manager at Empresarios Agrupados, concludes: “I’m immensely proud of our team's ability to bring this challenging project to completion in such a short time.”
“This wouldn’t be possible without the EcosimPro tools developed by Empresarios Agrupados over the past 25 years – they have become invaluable, not only for companies in space and aeronautics, but also for energy, water, and biomedicine sectors,” he adds.
“I look forward to continuing our support to ESA’s future technological developments.”
About the Large Space Simulator
The Large Space Simulator (LSS), located at ESA’s Test Centre in the Netherlands, is Europe’s largest vacuum chamber. It is used for the testing of spacecraft in a space-like environment, including vacuum and extreme temperatures, before they fly into orbit.
A spacecraft under test is installed on a large robotic arm in the centre of the chamber and can be rotated with respect to a blinding beam of light produced by a set of 19 lamps, each the size of a grapefruit.
This setup mimics how, when in space, the Sun-facing side of a spacecraft will heat up, while the shaded side will remain freezing cold
Exactly 50 years ago, the predecessor of the LSS – the Dynamic Test Chamber – was completed. Since then, the facility has evolved into the 15 m-high and 10 m-wide chamber we know today.
Over the past half-century, engineers have subjected countless spacecraft to the harsh conditions of space in the LSS, including the most recent EarthCARE, Smile, or the test version of Plato.
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Dream Chaser to debut as free-flying spacecraft in 2026
October 05, 2025
Sierra Space and NASA have renegotiated their contract for the Dream Chaser spaceplane that will allow the spacecraft to make its first orbital flight next year as a free flier instead of visiting the International Space Station (ISS).
The ISS is an outpost in space and like any outpost it needs to be resupplied on a regular basis in order to survive.
Currently, the space lab is kept in freeze-dried shrimp cocktail and toilet paper by cargo ships from SpaceX and Northrop Grumman, but these were meant to be the first pair of a larger fleet of spacecraft that would regularly visit the station.
In 2016, NASA awarded a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-2) contract to Sierra Space to be one of the second tranche of companies to run cargo missions to the ISS, using the Dream Chaser spaceplane and its Shooting Star disposable versions that can be burned up in the Earth's atmosphere for garbage disposal.
Under this contract, NASA was required to buy at least seven supply missions from Sierra Space. However, since then, circumstances have thrown that plan into the trash.
The Dream Chaser program ended up suffering from frequent delays due to mishaps, design changes, and the complex nature of its three-mode propulsion system that can shift between low, medium, and high thrust by swapping from hydrogen peroxide to a mixture of peroxide and RP-1 fuel.
This resulted in delays in certifying Dream Chaser to clear it for visiting the ISS.
On NASA's side, the ISS has been officially scheduled for decommissioning in 2030, after which it will be sent on a controlled plunge into the Earth's atmosphere.
As a result, there was the question of whether there is time to schedule seven cargo missions for Dream Chaser.
Added to this, Sierra Space wants to turn Dream Chaser into a "national asset" that needs to be decoupled from NASA so it can be used for national defense or security missions.
To this end, the space agency and Sierra Space have written up a new agreement where Dream Chaser's first orbital flight scheduled for 2026 will be as a free flier that will not visit the ISS.
In addition, NASA is no longer required to buy any cargo missions, though it may do so if time allows.
One other point to this new agreement is that it looks to the post-ISS future of low-Earth orbit human spaceflight. Sierra Space seems keen on positioning Dream Chaser for the post-ISS age.
With its ability to launch vertically on a rocket and land on a runway like a conventional aircraft, it's hoped that the spacecraft will be not only suitable for servicing planned private space stations, but will have the reusability, rapid turnaround, and affordability for defense and intelligence work.
“Dream Chaser represents the future of versatile space transportation and mission flexibility,” said Fatih Ozmen, Executive Chair at Sierra Space.
“This transition provides unique capabilities to meet the needs of diverse mission profiles, including emerging and existential threats and national security priorities that align with our acceleration into the Defense Tech market.
Together with NASA, we are seeking to preserve the exceptional potential of Dream Chaser as a national asset, ensuring its readiness for the next era of space innovation.”
https://newatlas.com/space/dream-chaser-spaceplane-fly-free/
The Draconid meteor shower peaks on Oct. 8: Here's what to expect
October 7, 2025
The Draconid meteor shower peaks tonight, heralding a spectacular natural light show as a flurry of meteors streak through the moonlit October skies.
Draconid meteors can be seen each year as Earth barrels through the trail of debris left behind by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.
The shower is active during a relatively brief window from Oct. 6 to Oct. 10 and comes to a peak as our planet passes through the densest section of the debris trail at 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) on Oct. 8.
Around this time, up to 10 shooting stars could be visible under ideal circumstances each hour, as ancient fragments of comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner collide with Earth's atmosphere, burning up in a fiery display that we liken to "shooting stars".
However, the light of a 93%-lit waning gibbous moon two days past its full moon phase will saturate the sky with reflected sunlight, making it harder to see fainter members of the annual shower.
Draconid meteors appear to streak away from a point of origin — or radiant — located close to the head of the great dragon represented by the constellation Draco, which can be found glittering above the Big Dipper asterism in the northwestern sky after sunset in mid-October.
The best time to hunt for Draconoids is at sunset on Oct. 8, when the shower's radiant will be at its highest in the night sky.
You can maximize your chances of catching meteors with the longest tails by staring into a patch of sky some 40 degrees above the radiant.
Remember: the width of your clenched fist accounts for roughly 10 degrees in the sky when held at arm's length!
https://www.space.com/stargazing/meteor-showers/draconid-meteor-shower-peaks-tonight-heres-what-to-expect-oct-8-2025
Ukrainian drone targets nuclear plant inside Russia – operator
7 Oct, 2025 11:38
A Ukrainian drone has targeted a nuclear power station in Russia’s Voronezh Region overnight, Rosenergoatom, a state-run company which operates the country’s nuclear power plants, has said.
The UAV hit a cooling tower of the sixth power-generating unit at the Novovoronezh NPP after being diverted by electronic warfare means, the company said in a statement on Telegram on Tuesday.
There was no damage or injuries as a result of the incident, the statement read. A dark mark was left in the spot where the drone struck the tower, it added.
The attack did not affect the operations of the station, with the radiation level on site remaining unchanged and corresponding to natural levels, Rosenergoatom said.
This is yet another act of aggression by the Ukrainian military against the Russian nuclear power plants. Previously, it had attempted attacks against the main facilities of the Kursk and Smolensk Nuclear Power Plants,” the company stated.
In late September, a Ukrainian drone hit one of the auxiliary buildings at Russia’s Kursk NPP, on the day when International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi was visiting Moscow.
A few days before that, the power lines feeding Russia’s Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, the largest facility of its kind in Europe, were struck by Ukrainian artillery, forcing the station to switch to generators.
Speaking at the Valdai forum in Sochi last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Ukraine was “playing a dangerous game” by going after Russian nuclear stations.
The government in Kiev “should also understand… they still have operating nuclear power plants on their side. So, what is stopping us from responding in kind? They better think about it,” Putin said.
https://www.rt.com/russia/626029-ukraine-drone-voronezh-nuclear/
Kiev secretly preparing for presidential election – Politico
7 Oct, 2025 10:53
Kiev is conducting a “stealthy albeit rough” campaign to prepare for a potential presidential election, Politico has reported, citing Ukrainian officials and sources within the ruling Servant of the People party.
Signs of imminent elections are visible in the behavior of Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, as well as criminal cases against Ukrainian generals and pressure on anti-corruption agencies, the outlet said on Monday.
In an interview with Axios last month, Zelensky said he was ready to step down once the hostilities with Russia end.
The statement came amid questions regarding his legitimacy, as his presidential term officially expired in May 2024 but he refused to hold elections, citing martial law.
“If [it guarantees] peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to resign, I am ready. I can exchange it for NATO,” he said at the time, indicating that he would step down if it meant his country could be included in the US-led bloc.
Opposition figures, however, remain skeptical regarding Zelensky’s commitment to leave office. Ukrainian former Deputy Prime Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze has stated, “many of Zelensky’s actions point in the opposite direction. Deeds and not words matter.”
The political maneuvering follows a closed-door September meeting where Zelensky “was bullish about his reelection prospects.”
According to the outlet, he “lashed out at opponents and critics, complaining that members of parliament, civil society activists and journalists had failed to promote an unwaveringly flattering image of Ukraine in the eyes of Western partners.”
His summer attempt to strip Ukraine’s main anti-corruption bodies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP), has been pointed to by officials as part of the election preparations.
“After what happened in July with the anti-corruption bodies, politics in Ukraine is back. It’s impossible to hide it,” a former Ukrainian minister told Politico.
Zelensky’s regime is using legal pressure against potential rivals, the report said.
“The tactic is that ‘you say something against us, we open up criminal proceedings against you and sanction you.’ They’re essentially blackmailing all their potential opponents or perceived opponents,” another former minister told the outlet.
Moscow has also accused Kiev of authoritarian tendencies. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recently argued that Ukraine’s leadership is clinging to power by prolonging martial law and preventing elections.
Russian officials contend any peace deal signed under Zelensky could be invalidated due to his expired term and suspended democratic processes.
https://www.rt.com/russia/626021-ukraine-election-preparations/
Russia-North Korea friendship ‘immortal’ – Kim
7 Oct, 2025 05:47
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has hailed his country’s exceptionally close ties with Russia, calling their friendship “immortal.”
In a message published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday, Kim wished 73-year-old Russian President Vladimir Putin a happy birthday and lauded his “wise leadership” and “patriotic devotion.”
He added that Russia was “demonstrating its glory as a world power” and “taking the lead in establishing a new, multi-polarized world.”
Kim pledged that Pyongyang would “remain faithful to the implementation of the inter-state treaty between the DPRK and Russia,” describing it as a “fraternal duty.”
He also affirmed support for Russia’s “just struggle for defending national sovereignty, territorial integrity and security interests.”
“Pyongyang and Moscow will always stand together and our friendship will be immortal,” the North Korean leader said.
In June 2024, Russia and North Korea signed a landmark Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, which includes a mutual defense clause. It stipulates that if either side comes under “armed invasion,” the other will “provide military and other assistance… without delay.”
North Korean soldiers have fought alongside Russian forces in Kursk Region, repelling a large-scale Ukrainian incursion, with Putin praising Pyongyang’s participation in the “joint fight against modern neo-Nazism.”
https://www.rt.com/news/626010-russia-north-korea-friendship-immortal/
Putin 'tries to put nuclear weapons in space' as WW3 fears persist
Updated: 13:52, Tue, Oct 7, 2025
Vladimir Putin is working on putting nuclear weapons in space, a military chief has said.
Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that Moscow is continuing to "challenge and probe NATO states’ capabilities", possibly as part of preparations for a potential future war between Russia and the West.
UK Space Command chief Major General Paul Tedman said on October 2 that Moscow has been trying to jam British military satellites with ground-based systems every week, adding that Russians are “flying relatively close” to orbital devices to try and collect information.
This activity is deliberate, it is believed, and has increased since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The military boss added that Russia and China have tested anti-satellite weapons, and Russia is "developing the capability to put nuclear weapons in space".
Tedman suggested that China has more sophisticated capabilities, but Putin has at his disposal a greater will to use its counter-space systems.
“We’re seeing our satellites being jammed by the Russians on a reasonably persistent basis,” he said.
Tedman added: “They’ve got payloads on board that can see our satellites and are trying to collect information from them.”
The UK operates approximately six dedicated military satellites for communications and surveillance, which Tedman said were equipped with counter-jamming technology.
Between September 4 and 12, a US satellite was repositioned in orbit to examine a UK satellite to confirm its proper functioning.
The inspection was part of Operation Olympic Defender, a joint military framework aimed at improving satellite defence and resilience.
“Expertly executed with US Space Command, I could not be more pleased or proud of the rapid progress we are making with our allies,” Maj Gen Tedman said.
“We are now, with our allies, conducting advanced orbital operations to protect and defend our shared national and military interests in space.”
Experts also highlighted that German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius reported on September 25 that Russia had used two Olymp-K satellites to track German military Intelsat satellites.
He added that Russia and China can jam, blind, manipulate or physically disrupt satellites.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2118238/putin-nuclear-weapons-in-space-ww3-russia-nato
Drones Target Oil Refinery in Western Siberia’s Tyumen Region in What May Be Ukraine’s Farthest Strike Yet
October 7, 2025
Authorities in Western Siberia’s Tyumen region said they downed three drones near an industrial site on Monday evening in what may be the furthest Ukrainian drone incursion reported inside Russian territory since the start of the war.
Tyumen residents posted videos online showing fire trucks and ambulances rushing toward the Antipinsky oil refinery, one of the region’s largest, with a processing capacity of 9 million tons of crude per year.
Local Telegram news channels reported there being at least two explosions and mobile network disruptions in the area, located roughly 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
Regional authorities said that emergency crews were initially dispatched to an industrial site in Antipino after reports of explosions and fire, but added that no blaze was found.
Less than 30 minutes later, they said three drones were “detected and neutralized on the premises of an enterprise.”
“A prompt response from emergency services prevented a detonation. There were no casualties, explosions or fires. All enterprises in the area continue to operate normally,” the Tyumen government press service said without specifying who was behind the drone incursion.
Andriy Kovalenko, who heads the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council’s anti-disinformation center, appeared to confirm the attack when he wrote “it’s a bad night for the Antipinsky refinery in Tyumen” in a Monday Telegram post on Monday night.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has not commented on the incident.
If confirmed, the attack would mark one of the deepest Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory to date. The key Russian oil refining and petrochemical hub of Tyumen had not reported any drone attacks before Monday.
Previously, Ukrainian drones reached targets in the Orenburg region, located 1,800 kilometers (1,110 miles) from the border, and multiple times the Murmansk region in Russia’s Far North, around 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles) from the border.
In June, Ukraine likewise launched a large-scale covert drone attack, dubbed Operation Spiderweb, across several Russian regions, targeting five military airbases. In those strikes, drones were concealed and launched from inside Russia.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/10/07/drones-target-oil-refinery-in-western-siberias-tyumen-region-in-what-may-be-ukraines-farthest-strike-yet-a90743
Hamas demanding full IDF withdrawal from Gaza as soon as last hostage is released, source tells Al Jazeera
October 7, 2025 7:22 pm
Hamas is demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip as soon as it hands over the final hostage, an unnamed source from within the terror group tells the Al Jazeera news network, at the end of the second day of negotiations in Cairo.
The Hamas source tells the Qatari outlet that the terror group is also seeking international guarantees that Israel will abide by the demand for a complete ceasefire and total withdrawal from the Strip.
Under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, Hamas is to hand over the remaining 48 hostages, the living and the dead, and only then will the IDF begin a gradual withdrawal from the enclave.
The source tells Al Jazeera that the main focus of today’s indirect negotiations was the timetable for the release of the Israeli hostages, whom he calls “prisoners.”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hamas-demanding-full-idf-withdrawal-from-gaza-as-soon-as-last-hostage-is-released-source-tells-al-jazeera/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-869688
IDF says two Hezbollah operatives killed in southern Lebanon drone strikes
October 7, 2025 4:54 pm
Two Hezbollah operatives were killed within an hour of each other in separate Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces said.
The first strike in the town of Deir Aames killed Ali Issa, who served as Hezbollah’s local representative in the nearby town of Kafra, according to the IDF.
As part of his role, the military said, Issa was responsible for liaising between the Iran-backed terror group and local residents “on economic and military matters.”
“The terrorist acted to seize private property for the organization’s military needs, such as renting homes for storing weapons and conducting surveillance,” said the IDF.
The second strike hit a Hezbollah operative who was operating an excavator between the southern towns of Yater and Zinqin, said the military, adding that “the terrorist was struck while attempting to restore Hezbollah terror infrastructure.”
The IDF said both operatives’ activities “constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.”
Under the November 27 Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, the Lebanese military was to take over southern Lebanon and dismantle the terror group’s infrastructure there.
Tuesday’s attacks follow an Israeli strike the day before that killed a man who was previously wounded and lost his sight when Israel blew up hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members last year.
The man, Hassan Atwi, was a key Hezbollah air defense operative and was killed alongside his wife, Zainab Raslan, according to the IDF.
Hezbollah, which was severely weakened by the war with Israel, faces a push to give up its arsenal.
Under intense US and Israeli pressure, Lebanon’s government is seeking to disarm Hezbollah, and the Lebanese army has drawn up a plan to do so beginning in the country’s south.
The fighting began when Hezbollah, unprovoked, started launching near-daily attacks on northern Israel starting October 8, 2023 — a day after fellow Iran-backed group Hamas stormed southern Israel, sparking the Gaza war.
Hezbollah’s attacks displaced some 60,000 residents of northern Israel. In a bid to ensure their return home, Israel stepped up operations against Hezbollah in September 2024, decimating the terror group’s leadership and launching a ground invasion of Lebanon. Israel has since withdrawn from all but five strategic points in Lebanon and carried out numerous strikes against targets it accuses of violating the agreement.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-two-hezbollah-operatives-killed-in-southern-lebanon-drone-strikes/
IDF downs four Houthi drones over Eilat within an hour
October 7, 2025 4:19 pm
Four explosive-laden drones launched by the Houthis in Yemen were shot down by Israeli air defenses near the Red Sea resort city of Eilat within an hour on Tuesday afternoon, the Israel Defense Forces said.
Sirens sounded in Eilat at 2:36 p.m. for the first Houthi drone, and again at 2:58 p.m., when two more drones reached the coast off of Israel’s southernmost city.
The fourth drone did not set off alerts in Eilat, as it was downed before getting close enough to pose a threat.
All four drones were successfully intercepted by the Israeli Air Force, the military said.
There were no reports of injuries or damage.
The attacks came amid the Sukkot holiday and on the second anniversary of the Hamas terror group’s devastating October 7 onslaught in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed terror group, have repeatedly attacked Israel with ballistic missiles and drones, saying they are doing so in support of the Gaza Strip amid Israel’s war there against Hamas.
A drone launched by the Houthis in Yemen was shot down by air defenses over Israel's southernmost city of Eilat, the military says.
Sirens had sounded in the city. There are no reports of injuries or damage.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-downs-four-houthi-drones-over-eilat-within-an-hour/
Unmanned sea drone found off Artvin coast destroyed by naval commandos
October 07, 2025 06:27 PM GMT+03:00
Fishermen discovered an unmanned sea drone off the coast of Artvin's Hopa district on Tuesday morning, the second such device found in Turkish Black Sea waters in a week, prompting authorities to dispatch naval commandos who destroyed the device in a controlled manner.
Fishermen on a boat spotted an object on the sea surface off Hopa in the morning hours and reported it to the Hopa Coast Guard Command. A Coast Guard boat was dispatched to the area following the report.
Upon examination by teams, the object was determined to be a kamikaze-type unmanned sea vessel. Teams established a security perimeter around the area at sea.
Same model as the Trabzon drone
According to initial assessments, the unmanned sea drone is the same model as the one found off Trabzon's Carsibasi district on September 30.
Artvin Governor Turan Ergun made a statement to journalists on the issue regarding the Kemalpasa district coast.
Noting that the same unmanned sea drone encountered off Trabzon last week was detected off Hopa today, Ergun said he estimates it could be an unmanned sea drone originating from the Russia-Ukraine war.
"We estimate it could be an unmanned sea drone originating from the Russia-Ukraine war," Ergun said.
Naval commandos deployed from Istanbul
Ergun stated that the Coast Guard Command has taken necessary security measures.
"A team consisting of SAS commandos attached to Naval Forces came from Istanbul to Trabzon," Ergun said, adding, "They will come here, examine and destroy it."
Explaining that if the team reaches the scene before dark, the disposal operation will take place today; otherwise, tomorrow, Ergun said they will evaluate the sea drone as if it contains explosive material and destroy it on site.
"We evaluate it as if there is explosive material in the sea drone and destroy it there," Ergun said, adding, "The general technique is like that."
Security zone established
The governor reiterated that security measures have been taken in the area, noting that Coast Guard teams established a security line around the object, entry and exit within 3.5 miles has been prohibited and fishermen are not being allowed to approach the area.
Noting that similar objects can be seen from time to time in different regions of the Black Sea, Ergun made the following assessment:
"Not only on our coasts but also in the Western Black Sea. Similar situations can occur in every region of the Central and Eastern Black Sea," Ergun said.
"When they encounter such an object, especially fishermen who go to sea first in the morning hours may encounter them more. We ask them to immediately inform our Coast Guard or 112 without approaching or touching," he added.
Trabzon drone destroyed
The Governorship of Trabzon announced that the unmanned sea drone found off the coast of Trabzon was destroyed in a controlled manner.
"The unmanned sea drone found off Trabzon in the morning hours today was destroyed in a controlled manner by SAS teams at its location as of 4:45 p.m.," the governorship statement said.
The explosion sound during the destruction of the unmanned sea drone was heard from many points in Ortahisar district.
Previous incidents
On Sept. 30, a Ukrainian-origin unmanned sea drone noticed by a fishing boat off Carsibasi district was brought to Yoroz Port and destroyed by military personnel in a controlled manner offshore.
Such threats in the region are not being experienced for the first time. On Feb. 21, 2024, following suspicion of a bomb on an overturned boat found off Akcaabat, the Coast Guard intervened and SAS commandos destroyed the suspicious object with detonators by diving.
On Tuesday, fishermen who encountered an unmanned sea drone similar to the unmanned sea drone found off Trabzon's Carsibasi district last week, off Artvin's Hopa district, informed authorities.
Mines, unmanned vehicles and explosive-laden objects used in the Russia-Ukraine war can drift to regional coasts with waves.
https://www.turkiyetoday.com/nation/unmanned-sea-drone-found-off-artvin-coast-destroyed-by-naval-commandos-3208107
Laser Installation Deployed To Protect Munich Airport From Drone Sightings
October 7, 2025
German authorities have deployed a laser installation at Munich Airport (MUC) following multiple drone sightings at the facility since the start of the month.
The hub is one of several across Europe to have faced operational disruption of this nature in recent times, including multiple days last week.
Now, those responsible for protecting Munich Airport are hoping that the newly-deployed laser installation at the Bavarian hub will be able to prevent further reoccurrences, or minimize disruption in the event that the drone issues rear their ugly head once again.
Let's take a closer look at the situation.
Multiple Days Of Drone Disruption
According to Euro News, Munich Airport experienced its first drone-related disruption on October 2, when a preventative closure was put into action following sightings near the facility.
This resulted in the cancellation of 17 flights on Thursday evening, with another 15 being diverted elsewhere in southern Germany, and even to Vienna International Airport (VIE) in neighboring Austria, as search operations began.
The airport subsequently reported further sightings on Friday evening and Saturday morning, resulting in the start of flight operations being delayed on October 4.
While these were ramped up throughout the day, knock-on disruption was extensive, with hundreds of delays and cancellations at Germany's second-busiest airport on the holiday weekend following German Unity Day. The airport explained that:
"When a drone is suspected of being sighted, the safety of travellers is the top priority. Reporting chains between air traffic control, the airport, and police authorities have been established for years."
Laser Defenses Hope To Deter Drones
While a few days of drone-based disruption are a manageable annoyance for a major hub like Munich Airport, its operations would not be so sustainable in the longer term.
As such, Euro News notes that, according to anonymous security sources cited by the Bild newspaper in Germany, laser equipment has been installed at the facility with the intention of protecting it from future disruption caused by drones.
Specifically, the technology is said to be able to allow opportunities to establish the distance from the airport of the offending drone(s), which should help expedite search procedures if and when more are sighted in the vicinity of the hub once again.
Munich Airport notes that, last week, "helicopters from the Federal and Bavarian State Police were also deployed to monitor the airspace and conduct searches."
https://simpleflying.com/munich-airport-laser-installation-drone-sighting-protection/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/bavaria-allow-police-shoot-down-145141094.html
https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/prisons-boss-626-drone-sightings-near-facilities-in-5-months-6.2.2418542.3356b67d1b
Prisons boss: 626 drone sightings near facilities in 5 months
October 7, 2025
With over 600 reported drone sightings near prison facilities between April and last month, Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander says efforts are underway to procure anti-drone technology to quell the smuggling and surveillance activities by criminals.
On Friday, a joint exercise between the prison service, T&T Police Service and the Defence Force led to the arrest of two people, among them a 13-year-old boy.
The duo, police said, tried to fly a drone laden with marijuana, cigarettes, wrapping paper and cellphones into the Arouca Maximum Security Prison. On September 28, three men were caught trying to fly similar items into the same prison.
In the most recent incident, police said the 13-year-old boy was released into the custody of a guardian, while the second man remained in police custody but had not yet been charged as yesterday.
Yesterday, acting Prisons Commissioner Hayden Forde confirmed that the number of sightings of drones around prisons had become increasingly common and was reflective of how determined criminals were in bypassing the prison security.
“Since April, we have had close to 626 drone sightings over various prisons, so it is showing that people are bent on trying to get contraband into our system,” Forde said.
Meanwhile, Prison Officers Association president Gerard Gordon noted that drones have sighted repeatedly near all prison facilities, including the MSP, where as many as 50 sightings have occurred in one night.
“Some officers have reported as much as 40 to 50 sightings per night at the Maximum Security Prison; then we had sightings at the Port-of-Spain prison, then we had incidents at the Eastern Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre, so it has been a problem for some time,” he said.
Yesterday, Alexander confirmed there were ongoing discussions to tackle the use of drones around prison facilities, noting that such practices were “long-standing” issues to prison security.
He stressed that while he could not divulge the full details of any planned security arrangements, it would change security infrastructure at prisons in a “major way.”
“It (security arrangements) is being done as we speak. Even this week, some officials are expected to visit and assist along those lines, because this is something that we have been complaining about for years.
On an ordinary day, these things are done undetected, but the work of the Commissioner of Police, Commissioner of Prisons and other agencies have been monitoring it more thoroughly, it has become easier to detect now more than ever,” Alexander said.
“So, what we intend to bring will definitely change the landscape of things in and around the prison.”
Alexander also said the technology would be the latest to ensure the best possibility of detecting and preventing smuggling operations.
He said any additional security mechanisms would be arranged so that individual prison officers will not be able to disable it.
“We intend to get a lot of updated equipment to treat with the drone problem and not equipment that can be turned on and off by prison officers.”
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Also contacted yesterday, acting Prisons Commissioner Hayden Forde confirmed that talks were underway with the Ministry of Homeland Security for anti-drone equipment.
Referring to cases where anti-drone nets could be used to capture drones, Forde said while these measures would be useful, there were other considerations being entertained.
“What is really needed are anti-drone devices that are in a fixed place, but can cover a certain radius and any drone which comes into that place, the device can detect it, capture it, defuse it; it can send it back to the operator where the police can follow the drone and make an arrest if possible,” he said.
“So, having the net is one thing, which is good, but it requires a certain level of dexterity from the pilot. But if you have something fixed, that means you can deal with drones at any time of the day.”
Forde also admitted he was particularly concerned about the age of one of the suspects (13 years) in the most recent incident last weekend, noting it was an example of criminals recruiting and including younger persons in their activities.
“It seems as though they (criminals) are training people to get involved in criminal activities and continue on that line,” he said. “That is alarming to us as a society because basically, what they’re doing is succession planning.
So, it means that the criminal elements are ensuring that crime is not abated in this country and young people, whose minds are bent easily, they are using these people and recruiting them to continue their nefarious activities.”
Also contacted on the issue, Prison Officers’ Association Gerard Gordon said he was not surprised by the figures quoted by the Prisons Commissioner, noting that drone sightings near prisons had gradually increased in frequency in recent times.
He noted that the association has repeatedly cited concerns over the use of drones as part of criminal smuggling operations, but felt they were often dismissed by the public.
“They thought we were blaming drones to deflect away from rogue officers when that is the furthest thing from the truth. … So now that we have their attention, we continue to support any attempt to implement technical counter-measures to address the issue.”
Drone sightings in recent week
Sept 28-29 2025: Maximum Security Prison, Arouca - Joint operation foiled drone drop; narcotics, cigarettes, devices seized. Three held near prison wall.
Oct 3-4 2025: Maximum Security Prison, Arouca - DJI drone, 16 batteries, cannabis and cigarettes seized. Two held, one a 13-year-old.
May 2024: Maximum Security Prison, Arouca - Drone with 23 batteries, marijuana and cigarettes found in car. Five arrested.
July 29 2025: Teteron Barracks, Chaguaramas - Two drones intercepted over military base after inmate transfer. Defence Force intervened.
Aug 21 2025: Staubles Bay, Chaguaramas - Security breach; contraband found inside base, UAV activity reported nearby. Inmates moved back to Teteron
July-Aug 2025: Between Staubles Bay and Teteron - A few UAVs/drones detected flying over areas. Defence Force took appropriate action.
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