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The Delta Aurigid meteor shower 2025 peaks tonight in the light of a waning gibbous moon
October 10, 2025
The little-known Delta Aurigid meteor shower peaks tonight, but you'll need luck on your side if you're to catch one of these swift shooting stars in mid-October's moon-drenched skies!
Delta Aurigid meteors appear each year as Earth careens through a debris trail left by an unknown comet.
The shower is active between Oct. 10 to Oct. 18, coming to a peak at 6 a.m. EDT (1000 GMT) on Oct. 11, when up to two meteors could be seen brightening the sky each hour under ideal dark sky conditions, according to in-the-sky.org.
Meteors will appear to originate from a patch of sky located in the constellation Auriga, the Charioteer, close to the bright star Capella.
This year, the Delta Aurigids will share the sky with a 66%-lit waning gibbous moon, which will rise alongside Auriga just a few hours after sunset and remain visible until dawn, making it challenging to spot fainter members of the shower.
When to look
Your best chance of spotting a Delta Aurigid meteor will come in the predawn hours of Oct. 11, when the radiant will be positioned high overhead.
As always, be sure to wrap up warm, head away from city lights and allow 20-30 minutes for your eyes to become adjusted to the dark.
Finder tip
Use a trusted smartphone astronomy app (e.g. Stellarium) to find Capella close to the moon, then scan a patch of sky 40 degrees away from the bright star.
Here, the meteor trails will be at their longest. If you catch just one shooting star, you will have witnessed the end of a speck of matter that has been hurtling through space — in one form or another — since the creation of our solar system over 4 billion years ago!
The Delta Aurigids aren't the only meteor shower active on Oct. 11.
The Southern Taurids and Orionids are also in play and there's always a chance that you could spot a sporadic meteor unrelated to any known shower briefly flare into the night sky.
Using the Delta Aurigids as a practice run for the Orionid meteor shower later in the month?
Then be sure to check out our guide to photographing meteor showers, along with our roundups of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography.
https://www.space.com/stargazing/meteor-showers/delta-aurigid-meteor-shower-peaks-in-light-of-a-waning-gibbous-moon-oct-11-2025
Colossal 'hole' in the sun could spark impressive auroras this weekend
October 10, 2025
A large coronal hole in the sun's atmosphere is currently facing Earth, sending a blast of high-speed solar wind our way that could trigger geomagnetic storms and auroras this weekend.
The fast solar wind stream is predicted to arrive late Saturday into Sunday (Oct. 11-12), according to space weather forecasters from both NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center and the U.K. Met Office.
Geomagnetic activity could start picking up late Oct. 11, with the highest activity slated for between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT (0900-1700 GMT) on Oct. 12.
If the predicted minor (G1) geomagnetic storm conditions are reached on Oct. 12, auroras could be visible as far south as northern Michigan and Maine, according to NOAA's G-scale, which rates the strength of these disturbances. But given the time of year, just past the recent autumn equinox, even a small bump in activity could have a bigger impact and boost the chances of more widespread auroras this weekend.
This isn't the first time we've seen this particular coronal hole, though it looks a little different.
It's the same feature that we saw last month, which took the shape of a butterfly or a bird. Coronal holes can persist for months, reappearing every 27 days or so as the sun completes one solar rotation.
Coronal holes are areas where the sun's magnetic field opens up, allowing solar wind to stream more freely into space.
When this solar wind reaches Earth, it interacts with our planet's magnetic field, or magnetosphere, and some of those energetic particles are guided down magnetic field lines toward the poles.
As they collide with atoms and molecules high in Earth's atmosphere, mostly oxygen and nitrogen, they release energy as light, creating the glowing curtains we know as the aurora.
Seasonal 'bump' in auroras
This weekend's timing is good for aurora chasers as around the autumn equinox, Earth's tilt lines up in a way that helps the solar wind connect more efficiently with our planet's magnetic field.
This seasonal boost is known as the Russell-McPherron effect.
NOAA's latest forecast predicts a peak Kp index of 5, which corresponds to minor (G1) geomagnetic storm conditions.
The Kp index is a global scale that measures geomagnetic activity from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme). The higher the number, the greater the chance of seeing auroras farther from their usual polar regions.
https://www.space.com/stargazing/auroras/colossal-hole-in-the-sun-could-spark-impressive-auroras-this-weekend-oct-11-12-2025
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/forecast-discussion
Cosmic baboon rampages through deep space in gorgeous new nebula photo
October 9, 2025
Astrophotographer Greg Meyer has captured a star-studded nebula scene that conjures the image of a colossal baboon raging in the depths of space.
The outline of the cosmic simian's mouth and face are sculpted from a colossal cloud of molecular dust located some 500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Corona Australis, while the blue glowing eyes are formed from blue reflection nebulas.
The region is colloquially referred to as the Rampaging Baboon Nebula due to its resemblance to the colorful face of a Mandrill.
It can be seen in Earth's sky close to the globular cluster NGC 6723, which is visible to the upper right of Meyer's deep-space vista.
The cluster sits some 30,000 light-years away from the solar system and contains hundreds of thousands, if not millions of stars.
Meyer captured the scene over the course of 13 nights spread throughout June, July and August earlier this year using an Esprit 120mm telescope in conjunction with a QHY 268M astronomy camera and accessories from the Starfront Observatory in Texas.
A grand total of 16.5 hours observation time was needed to collect the ancient light, after which the astrophotographer set about editing the image in Photoshop, Lightroom and Pixinsight.
"I saw images with some oxygen, but OMG it [was] faint," Meyer told Space.com in an email. "I kept shooting, and finally said enough.
My scope is f7, so even with 200 x 10 min [exposures] the oxygen was faint, so I did my best to bring it out a little for some contrast."
https://www.space.com/stargazing/astrophotography/cosmic-baboon-rampages-through-deep-space-in-gorgeous-new-nebula-photo-october-2025
Station DC is Bringing the New Space Economy to Washington
October 10, 2025
A new entity is trying to bridge the language gap between space startup execs and policymakers.
Station DC, a non-profit tech incubator in DC’s Union Market neighborhood, opened its doors last month just before the US government shutdown.
Its mission is simple: Connect policymakers and builders in the same room to shape the future of American technology competitiveness, especially in the space industry.
Challenges in DC: “Policymakers on the Hill, and space startups, from Chantilly, Colorado, Alabama, and elsewhere speak in different languages”, said Zachary Kirstein, head of growth at Northwood Space.
Kirstein added that his company has struggled to fully communicate ground infrastructure to Congressional staffers in 10-15 minute Hill meetings.
Staffers generally only look one or two budget cycles ahead—which leads to an obvious disconnect when talking about space tech with long horizons.
“If you pitch staffers a space technology that becomes operational in a five-to-10-year timeframe, they do not really engage with startups,” Michael Mealling, a general partner at Starbridge VC, told Payload.
What Station DC provides: Station DC plans to address these challenges by hosting curated events, policy dinners, and roundtables to make meeting military leaders and Hill staffers financially and socially easier for space startups—in a bid to level the playing field against aerospace and defense primes with an established presence in DC.
Tom Mancinelli, the head of federal strategy and policy at Antares, told Payload that Station DC events allowed him to meet other space companies and learn from them about their processes in systems engineering, payload launches, and other areas of shared concern.
Instead of fast-paced, unfocused Hill meetings, Varda Space Industries has been able to meet with members of the House Armed Services Committee, DoD employees, and think tank experts in high-quality, national-security-focused policy discussions, said Josh Martin, the company’s VP of government affairs.
Building the Future: Space startups and Station DC share the same goal: bring more innovative space companies to DC so the United States leads in space exploration.
“DC has always been where American power converges. Founders of the next SpaceX or Palantir should be able to walk into a room here and find people who get it,” Station DC Executive Director James Barlia told Payload.
“It’s not about bringing Silicon Valley to DC, but about building something entirely new—one that feels deeply American, and unmistakably possible.”
https://payloadspace.com/station-dc-is-bringing-the-new-space-economy-to-washington/
https://www.stationdc.org/
Major keks
Portal Space Systems Validates 3D Printed Solar Thermal Propulsion in Vacuum Test
Paloma Duran October 10th 2025 - 11:09am
US spacecraft company Portal Space Systems has conducted what it describes as a first-of-its-kind test for the commercial space industry, successfully operating a solar thermal propulsion (STP) system at full power and high temperatures inside a vacuum chamber.
The demonstration validated key elements of the technology used in Supernova, the company’s spacecraft designed for long-duration missions and enhanced orbital maneuverability.
The test campaign took place at Portal’s facility in Bothell, Washington, and confirmed the performance of the company’s patented, 3D printed heat exchanger (HEX) thruster, called Flare.
According to Portal, the thruster achieved the expected results under flight-like conditions and enables spacecraft to travel “from LEO to MEO in a few hours, MEO to GEO in under a day, and LEO to Cislunar space in just a few days,” using a single, storable, non-cryogenic propellant—ammonia.
“With maneuverability becoming a defining advantage in space operations, Supernova is built to give national security and commercial operators the ability to reposition, respond, and persist across orbits,” said Jeff Thornburg, CEO of Portal Space Systems.
“This propulsion system unlocks mission tactics and timelines that traditional chemical or electric systems simply can’t support.”
STP Test Confirms Supernova’s Mobility
Solar thermal propulsion has been investigated by NASA and the U.S. Air Force since the 1960s but has largely remained at the research stage.
Portal states it is the first commercial company to demonstrate the technology in a flight-representative environment, using additive manufacturing, advanced materials, and a new heat exchanger design to make STP suitable for operational missions.
Unlike conventional systems focused on maintaining orbital position, Supernova is designed for mobility, supporting transfers and extended presence across LEO, MEO, GEO, and Cislunar space.
The propulsion system relies on a non-cryogenic propellant and operates without combustion, allowing for potential refueling and a projected operational life exceeding five years.
The test campaign included full-power operation of the Flare thruster in vacuum, verification of thrust and specific impulse predictions, and high-temperature performance validation of its 3D printed heat exchanger.
Portal’s facility used high-power electric heating to simulate solar energy, and the company reports that the propulsion architecture has been validated for integration with future flight hardware.
Key Tests in 3D Printing Prove Successful
Beyond Portal Space Systems, other industry players are also advancing 3D printing for aerospace applications.
In September, Firehawk Aerospace, a manufacturer of advanced energetics systems for defense, successfully completed the first flight test of its AM GMLRS-class Firehawk Analog (GFA), a 3D printed hybrid rocket engine system.
This demonstration highlights the company’s capability to produce hybrid propulsion systems additively, as part of its ongoing Phase III SBIR contract with the Army Applications Laboratory (AAL).
Elsewhere, New Frontier Aerospace (NFA), an equity-funded startup specializing in advanced rocket propulsion, successfully completed a series of hot fire tests for its Mjölnir rocket engine.
The engine, produced using AM, features a full-flow staged combustion cycle, one of the most efficient designs for liquid rocket propulsion.
This makes Mjölnir well-suited for reusable launch systems, hypersonic vehicles, and orbital transfer platforms.
https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/portal-space-systems-validates-3d-printed-solar-thermal-propulsion-in-vacuum-test-245175/
US firms to test nuclear reactor for satellites to power deep-space missions
Updated: Oct 10, 2025 07:54 AM EST
Texas-based Space Ocean Corporation has entered into an agreement with Space Nuclear Power Corporation to test the latter’s microreactor in its satellite.
The Letter of Intent (LOI) signed between the two companies signals a strategic collaboration around reactor technology, fluid logistics, and infrastructure development in space.
The LOI primarily outlines a plan to explore integrating Space Nukes’ 10-kilowatt nuclear reactor aboard its ALV-N satellite.
Further, if the microreactor meets the performance criteria and expectations, Space Nukes will become a core supplier of nuclear power units for future Space Ocean missions focused on lunar and planetary operations.
Paul S. Mamakos, CEO of Space Ocean Corp, hailed the LOI and said that power is of utmost importance, especially in the deeper parts of space.
Nuclear reactor to be tested aboard satellite
The collaboration will give Space Ocean an opportunity to pair its fluid logistics and delivery infrastructure with nuclear reactor technology that can scale and sustain orbital and planetary missions.
Space Nukes says that its first-generation nuclear reactors do not require technology development or new infrastructure.
The company says they are identical to KRUSTY (Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology), which was made by the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for NASA.
The project was officially started in 2015 to develop a fission reactor that could be scaled from one to 10 kWe and applicable for both science and human exploration.
In the ground tests, the reactor operated at steady state with a thermal power output of over four kWt at a temperature of 1,472 degrees Fahrenheit (800°C).
Space Nukes says that because the operation and performance are identical to KRUSTY’s, their first-generation reactors do not need any additional testing.
The 1 to 20 kWe Gen1 HEU space reactors are small enough and light enough to fit a range of deep space missions, the company says. They are designed to operate for decades without any control commands.
The company states that the 10-kWe variant of the reactor would weigh approximately 2,866 pounds (1,300 kg) with the highly enriched Uranium (HEU) core.
Space Ocean’s planned missions
Space Ocean aims to launch its first demonstration mission in 2027. In the long run, it aims to enable more efficient, long-term space missions, supporting the infrastructure that powers a new era of space exploration.
The company has high goals as it wants to support various propellants for satellites up to 11,023 pounds (5,000 kilograms).
Space Ocean aims to be the leader in supplying fluids in orbit and synchronize with the satellite’s orbit to minimize disruptions in operations.
Moreover, it also aims for a secure robotic supply by reducing launch frequency through prolonged satellite life.
“Space Ocean’s vision aligns with our belief that small, scalable, and extremely reliable nuclear power is essential for long-duration missions,” said Andrew Phelps, CEO of Space Nuclear Power Corporation.
“Together, we’re laying the groundwork for a future where spacecraft can generate, manage and distribute energy far beyond Earth orbit.”
The non-binding LOI also includes mutual objectives, including exploration of integrating fluid delivery systems with nuclear reactor modules, collecting operational data to support Technology Readiness Level 9 (TR-9) certification, and forming a joint working group to pursue additional space infrastructure and commercial opportunities.
https://interestingengineering.com/space/us-firm-microreactor-satellite
https://spaceoceancorp.com/news/space-nukes-space-ocean-collaboration-loi
Russian envoy slams Western ‘hypocrisy’ on Ukraine’s toxic warfare
10 Oct, 2025 03:29
Ukraine’s Western backers are turning a blind eye to Kiev’s use of chemical weapons in the conflict with Moscow, the Russian envoy to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Vladimir Tarabrin, has said.
At a session of the chemical weapons watchdog’s Executive Council in The Hague on Thursday, he said Russia presented “a new batch of evidence, recorded by a certified laboratory” to the organization’s “high standards.”
Russian forces discovered a Ukrainian improvised explosive device (IED) containing test tubes filled with a mixture of toxic chemicals in the Donetsk People’s Republic in May, Tarabrin said.
According to the envoy, they contained a solution of chloroacetophenone in chloropicrin, chemicals that cause severe eye and lung irritation and are banned for use in warfare under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
“Our opponents… are striving to construct a parallel reality within the OPCW, one in which the Kiev regime is portrayed as a bastion of democracy and freedom, a responsible actor in international relations.
At the same time, they deliberately turn a blind eye to the use of chemical weapons by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and ignore the existence of an entire network of laboratories in Ukraine dedicated to producing toxic chemicals and chemical warfare agents,” Tarabrin said.
He added that “it is simply impossible to believe that Western specialists, who are deeply involved in the conflict, are unaware of these facts.
Of course, they know – yet they continue to display the utmost hypocrisy.” He stressed that Moscow does not use chemical agents in breach of the CWC.
According to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Ukraine’s use of chemicals on the battlefield has become “commonplace.”
During the conflict, Russian forces have repeatedly found improvised explosive devices containing chloropicrin for use with drones, and last year uncovered a Ukrainian laboratory producing hydrogen cyanide, a highly toxic compound that can cause rapid suffocation and death, the FSB said.
https://www.rt.com/russia/626166-west-ignoring-ukrainian-chemical-weapons/
Retreating Ukrainian troops blow up ammonia pipeline – MOD
9 Oct, 2025 22:07
Ukrainian troops have blown up an ammonia pipeline and caused a toxic spill during their retreat in Donetsk Region on Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry has said.
The Soviet-era Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline carried the highly toxic liquefied gas from Russia to Ukraine prior to the escalation of the conflict between the two countries.
“The Ukrainian Armed Forces mined a branch of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline,” and blew it up to slow the advance of Russian forces in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
The blast resulted “in the release of residual ammonia through the damaged section,” it added. No Russian troops were hurt as a result, the ministry said.
In a video published by the MOD, clouds of gas are seen billowing from under the ground and spreading into the surrounding countryside.
Earlier this year, Russia warned that Kiev was preparing to provoke a major ecological disaster by sabotaging a different portion of the pipeline and blaming it on Moscow.
In July, Major General Aleksey Rtishchev, the commander of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, accused international chemical weapons watchdog OPCW of ignoring Russian reports of Ukrainian violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention, but taking Kiev’s accusations at face value.
A section of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline in Kharkov Region was blown up in 2023, injuring several civilians, in what Moscow called Ukrainian sabotage.
https://www.rt.com/russia/626160-ukrainian-troops-ammonia-spill-mod/
Sprawling blackouts in Kiev after Russian strike – mayor
10 Oct, 2025 03:19
A wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has caused a large-scale blackout in Kiev, local media and officials have reported. Russia’s Ministry of Defense has yet to comment.
In the early hours of Friday, Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko claimed that the Ukrainian capital came under a “massive attack,” adding that the left bank of Kiev was “currently without power” and that there were also problems with water distribution.
He said nine people were injured, with five of them taken to the hospital. “The situation is difficult.”
Klitschko also reported several fires in the city, urging citizens to “stay in shelters,” adding that work is underway to restore power.
According to Ukrainian media outlets, several Russian drones targeted Kiev’s Thermal Power Plant No. 6, one of the city’s key electricity suppliers.
The reported strike caused widespread outages, with some local channels also claiming that parts of the right bank had lost power.
Videos posted on social media appear to show much of Kiev plunged into darkness. In one clip, a powerful explosion was followed by the lights going out along a major highway.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky later claimed that the Russian strike targeting the nation’s energy infrastructure involved more than 450 drones and more than 30 missiles.
He reported power outages not only in Kiev, but also in Donetsk, Chernigov, Cherkasy, Kharkov, Sumy, Poltava, and Odessa Regions.
Zelensky added that some areas in Dnepropetrovsk, Zaporozhye, Kirovograd, and Kherson Regions are also recovering from the attack.
Elsewhere, officials in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporozhye also reported a Russian attack and fires, noting that one person died of his injuries in the hospital, with two others in serious condition.
Russia has been conducting strikes on Ukraine’s military-related infrastructure and defense industrial complex.
It says the attacks are retaliation for Kiev’s “terrorist” raids into Russia, which often target critical infrastructure and residential areas. Moscow maintains that it never target civilians.
https://www.rt.com/russia/626167-sprawling-blackouts-reported-kiev/
https://twitter.com/TheOtherSideRu/status/1976452816731599045
https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/1976484010948952237
Suspected jihadist drone plot against Belgian PM foiled
October 10, 2025
Police in Belgium have arrested three people suspected of plotting an attack on the country's prime minister, Bart De Wever.
The alleged plot was described by prosecutors as a "jihadist-inspired terrorist attack" on the PM and other politicians.
Authorities found a suspected improvised explosive device and evidence the suspects were planning to use a drone during searches in Deurne, Antwerp, close to the prime minister's private residence.
The intended targets of the attack were not named by the prosecutor's office, but Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot said De Wever was among them.
"The news of a planned attack targeting Prime Minister Bart De Wever is extremely shocking," Prevot wrote in a post on X on Thursday.
"It highlights that we are facing a very real terrorist threat and that we have to remain vigilant," he added.
Flemish reports later suggested that Antwerp Mayor Els van Doesburg may also have been targeted.
Dutch anti-Islam leader Geert Wilders decided not to take part in an election debate on Dutch radio, because of reports that he too may have been a target.
Defence Minister Theo Francken was unable to confirm whether anyone else had been targeted, but said he knew that he was not.
Francken told Flemish public broadcaster VRT "it is terrible for Bart and his family, and of course it's Islamists again".
The minister added that drone technology presented great opportunities but also presented risks and they were becoming "more and more dangerous".
Ann Lukowiak, a spokeswoman for the federal prosecutor, said this was the first time there were indications that Belgium could be targeted with a drone, "although the phenomenon was already there in neighbouring countries".
The three individuals who were arrested on suspicion of attempted terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group all live in Antwerp, according to the prosecutor's office.
The suspects were born in 2001, 2002 and 2007 and one of them has since been released. Belgian reports say the eldest was freed on Thursday night due to lack of evidence.
The two others were still being questioned and were expected to appear before an investigating judge on Friday.
Federal prosecutors said they were taken into custody after a judge ordered searches of their homes in the city by police officers backed by explosive sniffer dogs.
It was during these searches that they discovered a device which "bore strong resemblances to an improvised explosive device," federal prosecutor Ann Fransen said at a press conference on Thursday.
Searches also uncovered a "bag of steel balls" and a 3D printer, with "indications that they intended to use a drone to attach a payload," she added.
Fransen said that there had been 80 terrorism investigations opened in Belgium this year - more than the total number of cases in 2024.
In April, five people were convicted of a 2023 plot to attack De Wever while he was serving as Antwerp's mayor.
Arriving at the prime minister's office in Brussels on Friday, De Wever gave a thumbs-up to reporters. He then sought to make light of the situation, posting a picture of himself on Instagram while sitting on his office sofa with his grey cat Maximus.
"Maximus, can you catch a drone?" De Wever wrote in a speech bubble. "Catch a dream?," the cat answers, "I'm up there with the best of them."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd721zdzr4xo
IDF Completes Major Withdrawal in Gaza, Beginning Ceasefire
October 10, 2025
People across Israel are praising God for the peace deal finally being signed both by Israeli officials and Hamas.
The Times of Israel reports that IDF soldiers serving in Gaza have begun to withdraw from the main areas of the Gaza Strip, and the 72-hour countdown for Hamas to free the hostages who have been held since October 7 began.
The IDF released footage of the withdrawal, while U.S. Envoy to Israel Steve Witkoff confirmed the obligations had been completed at 12 PM local time.
In a tearful statement at a press conference, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was “an emotional moment for the people of Israel and for the IDF troops and soldiers who have fought and acted over the past two years with courage, bravery, and out of a sense of mission and dedication.”
Defrin showed the IDF’s current deployment in the Gaza Strip as part of the deal, and said that troops “will act to eliminate any threat to their security, no risks will be taken.
“We will do everything possible to protect the security of the residents of the western Negev, the south, and the entire country,” he said.
IDF forces will remain stationed in certain areas of Gaza and border crossings until the first phase of the peace deal is complete.
According to the terms of the deal, the hostages are expected to make their return home to Israel on Monday or Tuesday.
“Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” (Psalm 66:20). Along with the resilience of the Jewish people, the power of prayer is undeniable.
https://www.ifcj.org/news/stand-for-israel-blog/idf-completes-major-withdrawal-in-gaza-beginning-ceasefire
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-10-10/ty-article-live/idf-combat-soldier-michael-mordechai-nachmani-26-killed-in-northern-gaza/00000199-cbf6-dd44-ab99-ebf7d72b0000
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-870023
Sweden invests 3.5 billion kronor in anti-drone systems
Oct 10, 2025 12:28
Sweden will invest 3.5 billion Swedish kronor (316.95 million euros) in more anti-drone systems, the defense minister said, quoted by "Reuters", reports News.bg.
A wave of drone incursions has shaken European aviation, raising concerns about hybrid attacks potentially targeting Ukraine's allies in Europe.
"The latest violations and drone sightings are a reminder that aerial threats are an increasingly important part of modern warfare," Defense Minister Pál Jónsson said on X. "We must protect ourselves from this.
The northern NATO member will acquire drone-shooting systems, deploy interceptor drones to air bases and install jamming sensors, among other measures, the minister added.
Sweden will spend an additional 1.5 billion kronor to improve the capabilities of its JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet, a government statement said.
The investment covers spare parts, mission equipment and basic materials to strengthen the air force's ability to operate from air bases and temporary road bases, the statement added.
"This enhances the readiness and resilience of Gripen in peace, crisis and wartime conditions," Johnson noted.
https://fakti.bg/en/world/1006264-sweden-invests-35-billion-kronor-in-anti-drone-systems
Unidentified drone breaches NATO base in Germany
10/10/2025
An unidentified drone penetrated the restricted airspace above the strategically important NATO base in Geilenkirchen on the evening of 9 October, according to Der Spiegel.
The incident marks the latest in a series of airspace violations across NATO territory that have prompted heightened security measures and coordinated international responses.
According to internal government documents reviewed by Der Spiegel, the suspicious aircraft was detected shortly after 7 pm in the flight prohibition zone surrounding the base located in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The drone remained at low altitude over the runway of the airfield for approximately one minute before disappearing from monitoring systems.
The military police reported the incident to civilian law enforcement immediately upon detection.
The base, which serves as the operational hub for NATO's AWACS reconnaissance aircraft, triggered immediate alarm protocols.
Both military and civilian police units were deployed to search the surrounding area and investigate the intrusion.
According to the internal documentation, police conducted thorough searches but were unable to locate either the drone or identify the operator.
Despite the unsuccessful search, authorities implemented what the memo described as "heightened protective measures" at the facility.
Broader context of escalating violations
The Geilenkirchen incident occurs within a pattern of repeated airspace violations that have affected multiple NATO member states throughout September and into October.
These violations have prompted coordinated diplomatic and military responses from the alliance.
On the night of 10 September, Russian drones entered Polish airspace in a significant incursion. Polish military forces intercepted and shot down approximately four of the 19 unmanned aircraft detected.
One drone caused damage to residential property in the Lublin Voivodeship, with debris scattered across several villages.
In response, Poland activated Article 4 of the NATO treaty that same day, triggering consultations among alliance members regarding the security threat.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte responded with a formal announcement on 12 September of a new operation designated "Eastern Guard," deployed along the alliance's eastern flank.
The operation, according to alliance statements, targets threats related to drone operations and includes coverage of Polish and Romanian territory.
Polish President Andrzej Duda subsequently signed a resolution on 14 September, authorizing NATO military presence on Polish soil under the Eastern Guard framework.
Similar incidents have been documented across the region. Romania declared an air alert in northern regions on 13 September following detection of strike drone threats.
Two F-16 fighters were scrambled at 6 pm, intercepting what the Romanian Defense Ministry identified as a Russian Shahed drone over the Danube around 7 pm The ministry clarified that the drone did not traverse populated areas and posed no immediate civilian threat.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disputed this assessment, stating that the Russian drone remained over Romanian territory for 50 minutes.
Estonia experienced its own airspace violation on 19 September when three Russian fighters spent 12 minutes in Estonian airspace.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna characterized the incursion as "a violation of territorial integrity and UN Charter principles that require refraining from the threat of force."
The escalation prompted an emergency session of the UN Security Council in New York on 22 September, where Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha was present to discuss the Russian aircraft violations of Estonian airspace.
Sybiha emphasized during the session that similar threats require immediate neutralization. The North Atlantic Council convened under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty on 23 September to officially consult on and condemn Russia's September 19 incursion into Estonian airspace.
https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/10/10/unidentified-drone-breaches-nato-base-in-germany/
Czech Republic records suspicious drone flights over military facilities
October 10, 2025 17:24
In the Czech Republic, cases of the appearance of unknown drones in the country’s airspace have become more frequent, particularly near strategic infrastructure and military facilities.
This was reported by the Echo24 publication with reference to the General Staff of the country’s Armed Forces.
General Staff spokeswoman Zdenka Sobarnia Košvantsová noted that the Czech army regularly records drone flights over critical facilities.
“First of all, we are talking about our military facilities. Their list is classified,” she emphasized.
According to her, the Czech Republic actively exchanges data on potential threats with NATO partners. However, even this information is kept secret.
The Czech army, according to the spokeswoman, is ready to act in the event of a threat – in particular, to neutralize drones using both non-lethal methods (electromagnetic jamming) and lethal methods (destruction by kinetic means).
“The choice of the form of deployment of forces is also associated with possible risks of collateral damage. The conditions for the deployment of the Czech army on our territory are determined by law,” Košvantsová added.
Czech Interior Ministry spokeswoman Hana Mala, commenting on the situation, confirmed that the authorities are actively cooperating with international partners to increase resilience to such incidents.
Later, army spokeswoman Magdalena Dvorzhakova clarified that the military systematically collects data on drone flights in the areas of military units.
“Indeed, there is an increase in incidents with drones. However, most cases are related to violations of the rules by amateurs or due to ignorance of the law. These are typical administrative violations,” she noted.
The Czech military says it has not detected drones of the type that have recently caused concern in Germany, but it is continuing to strengthen its monitoring system, particularly around military facilities.
Recall that in recent weeks, reports of unidentified UAVs over critical infrastructure have been received from various EU countries. Among them are Germany , Belgium , Denmark , and Norway .
Although there is no official confirmation of the source of the drones, a number of political leaders have publicly suggested that Russia may be behind these flights .
https://prm.ua/en/czech-republic-records-suspicious-drone-flights-over-military-facilities/
’20 times faster’: Speedy ‘drone painter’ covers 200 sq ft per minute with ease
Updated: Oct 10, 2025 06:57 AM EST
Robotics company Lucid Bots, this week, unveiled a new module that lets its Sherpa drone paint buildings.
The drone, already known for cleaning exteriors and windows, can now spray paint and coatings, turning it into a full-fledged construction assistant.
This development marks a major shift in how high-risk, labor-intensive exterior work is done.
The Sherpa drone can reach up to 160 feet and operate continuously with a power tether. With the new painting module, it can cover more than 200 square feet per minute.
One operator can manage the drone easily using simple controls, completing jobs up to three times faster and at roughly half the cost of traditional methods.
“Modular robotics is redefining how essential work gets done,” stated Andrew Ashur, founder and CEO of Lucid Bots.
“The pace required to restore and expand our infrastructure demands automation that can do, not just sense and observe.
Robots are the arms and legs of AI. Done right, they raise productivity, improve safety, and increase human prosperity.”
Solving labor and safety challenges
The timing of the new Sherpa module is significant. The US is experiencing one of the largest infrastructure expansions in decades, while the construction industry faces a severe labor shortage.
More than 40 percent of skilled workers are expected to retire by 2031, leaving gaps in jobs that involve heights, hazards, and repetitive strain.
The Sherpa drone addresses these challenges. By automating dangerous and repetitive tasks, it reduces the risk to human workers.
Instead of relying on scaffolding, ladders, or safety harnesses, the drone handles exterior painting with precision and consistency. This not only improves safety but also helps contractors meet deadlines faster.
Embodied AI in action
The drone is powered by embodied AI—artificial intelligence integrated into a physical system. Unlike AI that only analyzes data, embodied AI allows machines to interact with and manipulate the real world.
In Sherpa’s case, it means adjusting for wind, surface texture, and complex building geometries to apply an even coat of paint.
In short, the drone doesn’t just observe the job but it also completes it. This technology makes it possible to maintain high quality in tasks that are difficult or dangerous for human workers.
Graffiti removal, waterproofing stadiums, and high-rise painting projects can now be done more efficiently and with fewer errors.
Modular design and market potential
Lucid Bots designed the painting module to attach to the existing Sherpa platform. Facilities that already use Sherpa for cleaning can upgrade without buying entirely new equipment.
This modular approach keeps costs predictable and simplifies adoption for contractors.
“By the time you scaffold a building like this and put the product on, work through all of any kind of tweaks that need to be done…I would say it’s a lot faster, 20 times,” said Bill Daniel, an executive from Prosoco.
The company has deployed more than 500 robots across the US. Early projects using the painting module include stadium waterproofing and graffiti removal along highways.
Interest in the new capability has already exceeded expectations. With the commercial painting and coating market valued at $237 billion, the potential for disruption is huge.
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/new-drone-paints-faster-than-humans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDmgM5BJm8I
Kin Panama FAKED the meteorite alien known as K25 on Samson's World
October 9, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjYhOEgM4EM
https://www.tiktok.com/@kinpanama
Ask a Pol
“If they're trying to undermine disclosure, we need to know why,” Gillibrand says as UAPDA targeted (again)
Oct 08, 2025
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) — Member, Senate Intelligence & Armed Services Committees / Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC)
Ask a Pol asks:
Do you know what’s up with the UAPDA — UAP Disclosure Act — in this year’s NDAA or National Defense Authorization Act?
Key Gillibrand:
“No, I have no intel on that,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand exclusively tells Ask a Pol UAP. “I need to get more info.”
It seems like no one does (once again)…
Caught our ear:
“AARO [All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office] is very much a very structural, important organization that’s doing the hard science and the other is a disclosure bill, so if they’re trying to undermine the disclosure we need to know why,” Gillibrand tells us.
https://www.askapoluaps.com/p/gillibrand-questions-effort-to-undermine-schumers-uapda
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RMxIRyEvuh4
“I don’t know which is true,” Gillibrand on WSJ report of decade's long Air Force UFO PSYOP
Oct 10, 2025
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) — Member, Senate Intelligence & Armed Services Committees / Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC)
Ask a Pol asks:
“Prof. Laslo brought homework,” Ask a Pol founder and Adjunct Political Comms Professor Matt Laslo says as he hands the Senator this summer’s WSJ feature — The Pentagon Disinformation That Fueled America’s UFO Mythology. “Have you ever read that?”
Senator starts slowly flipping through article.
“Check it out,” Laslo says. “Because if its claims are true then I’ll never ask you about a UFO again!”
Key Gillibrand:
“What’s it say?” Gillibrand asks.
Well, it says that there’s basically this Air Force PSYOP from the [fifties] on where they made up the whole “myth” around Area 51.
“Yeah. That’s true,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand exclusively tells Ask a Pol UAP. “That’s what I understand to be true.”
Decades of secret UFO “hazing” inside US Air Force?
“I was like, ‘Well, if you’ve been hazing people for 20 f*cking years, you have a real problem,’” Gillibrand says.
“So I was very mad about it when I heard this, but I never got clarity whether it really was hazing or whether there is a program. Like, I don’t know which is true.”
Caught our ear:
Do you still have UAP whistleblowers reaching out to you?
“Not to me, but let me ask my staff,” Gillibrand tells us. “I’ve not heard of anything lately.”
Over in the House, they’re talking about maybe subpoenaing whistleblowers, and I was like, ‘That’s interesting, because I thought these people were willing to talk?’ Seems like they need whistleblower protections…
“I have not heard,” Gillibrand says. “Let me get more intel for you.”
https://www.askapoluaps.com/p/i-dont-know-which-is-true
New Underwater UFO Sightings and the Non-Human Tech the Government Is Hiding | Rep. Tim Burchett
October 10, 2025
Rep. Tim Burchett wants the government to tell the truth about UFOs, and stop insider trading in Congress. He hasn’t had much luck with either one.
Chapters:
0:00 What Is the UAP Phenomenon?
11:15 Why Is the US Government Lying About UFOs?
19:36 Why Tech Companies and Defense Contractors Want UFO Documents to Stay Classified
25:32 Non-Human Technology and Underwater UFOs
29:20 The Disinformation Campaign
39:13 Sworn Testimonies Claiming They Identified Aliens
44:22 Will Donald Trump Declassify UFO Documents?
45:27 What Were the New Jersey UFO Sightings?
48:39 Insider Trading Is Out of Control
1:02:53 The Attempts to Destroy Burchett
1:11:35 Has Burchett Been Threatened in Congress?
1:13:40 Will America’s Debt Be Our Downfall?
1:15:03 Are Members of Congress Compromised?
1:21:19 Burchett’s Friendship With George Santos
1:30:36 Are We Alone in the Universe?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3eiFAl2JtQ
https://tuckercarlson.com/tucker-show-tim-burchett
The UAP Witness That Didn’t Testify - Congress Wanted You To Hear This : WEAPONIZED : EP #92
Oct 9, 2025
Before the congressional Secrets Task Force decided to call Dylan Borland to testify publicly at a hearing in September, another witness was slated to appear.
In that same slot. Who is he? What was he prepared to say? And why did he suddenly decline to come forward?
In this episode of WEAPONIZED, Jeremy and George track down the mystery witness and hear his story for the first time in public.
This military veteran had a close-up view of a huge and astonishing craft as it sat hovering above a runway at Eglin Air Force Base, surrounded by other military personnel.
Was it one of ours… or one of theirs? This witness was invited to tell his account to Congress during the September public hearing and was prepared to do so but had to decline for reasons that were not immediately clear.
Now, he is revealing what he knows.
https://www.weaponizedpodcast.com/episodes-4/episode-92
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSvcr6kfNRk
'The McPherson Tape' — UFO abduction caught on film
October 7, 2025
Looking back at the obscure 1989 found-footage film that tested the boundaries of truth
A frame from the birthday party scene in "The McPherson Tape." Photo courtesy of Dean Alioto.
Originally titled “UFO Abduction,” “The McPherson Tape” is presented as intimate home video footage of a quiet evening with the Van Heese family that spirals into an uncanny experience.
The film — written, directed and produced by Dean Alioto in 1989 — is one of the earliest examples of the found footage horror genre.
In an interview with Found Footage Critic, Alioto said the film’s master copy was destroyed when the distributor's warehouse burned down months before its release.
Alioto said he lost hope and decided to move on after the fire.
Years later, he discovered someone had distributed rare, salvaged copies of the film to the UFO community — sparking conspiracy theories that it was real footage of an encounter.
Rumors of its authenticity escalated so far that an Air Force lieutenant colonel with 40 years of intelligence experience claimed it was authentic, according to Alioto.
The film begins in the Van Heeses' home as they celebrate their daughter Michelle’s fifth birthday.
The family sings “Happy Birthday” in the kitchen with the lights off. When they try to switch the lights on after the candles are blown out, they discover the house has lost power.
Three of the men go outside to inspect the circuit breaker when they notice a mysterious light in the sky.
They walk toward it to investigate while the rest of the family waits inside.
Disbelief paralyzes the men when they encounter a spacecraft in the distance with several extraterrestrial beings near it.
When the aliens notice them observing, the men frantically return to the house.
As the feeling of being trapped permeates, the family can no longer avoid the inevitable. The film comes to an end.
“The McPherson Tape” captures the viewer’s attention by showing how ordinary people react when they are faced with a situation that cannot be explained.
Most of the film is set in the family’s home, initially during ordinary moments of safety. Extraterrestrial life entering this environment shatters that security.
The loss of certainty as the film escalates triggers the deeply rooted evolutionary fear of being hunted — for both the viewer and the characters.
Although the storyline is unclear in moments due to shaky camera footage and the darkness inside the home, “The McPherson Tape” is generally enjoyable to watch — especially in the dark during the Halloween season.
https://www.thenorthernlight.org/stories/the-mcpherson-tape—-ufo-abduction-caught-on-film
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169005/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5urY8yDSko