TYB
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/ESA_s_Mars_orbiters_watch_solar_superstorm_hit_the_Red_Planet
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-69468-z
other ESA and UK.gov
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/02/Space_safety_hazards_space_pollution
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-sets-out-world-leading-pathway-for-space-manufactured-drugs
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-from-the-uk-space-agency-the-medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency-the-regulatory-innovation-office-and-the-civil-avia
ESA’s Mars orbiters watch solar superstorm hit the Red Planet
05/03/2026
What happens when a solar superstorm hits Mars? Thanks to the European Space Agency’s Mars orbiters, we now know: glitching spacecraft and a supercharged upper atmosphere.
In May 2024, Earth was hit by the biggest solar storm recorded in over 20 years. It sent our planet’s atmosphere into overdrive, triggering shimmering auroras that were seen as far south as Mexico.
This storm also hit Mars. Fortunately, ESA’s two Mars Orbiters – Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) – were in the right place at the right time, with a radiation monitor aboard TGO picking up a dose equivalent to 200 ‘normal’ days in just 64 hours.
A new study published today in Nature Communications now reveals in greater depth how this intense, stormy activity affected the Red Planet.
“The impact was remarkable: Mars’s upper atmosphere was flooded by electrons,” says ESA Research Fellow Jacob Parrott, lead author of the study. “It was the biggest response to a solar storm we’ve ever seen at Mars.”
The superstorm caused a dramatic increase in electrons in two distinct layers of Mars’s atmosphere at altitudes of around 110 and 130 km, with numbers rising by 45% and a whopping 278%, respectively.
This is the most electrons we’ve ever seen in this layer of martian atmosphere. "The storm also caused computer errors for both orbiters – a typical peril of space weather, as the particles involved are so energetic and hard to predict,” adds Jacob.
“Luckily, the spacecraft were designed with this in mind, and built with radiation-resistant components and specific systems for detecting and fixing these errors. They recovered fast.”
Pioneering a new technique
To investigate the superstorm’s impact on Mars, Jacob and colleagues used a technique currently being pioneered by ESA known as radio occultation. First, Mars Express beamed a radio signal to TGO at the very moment it was disappearing over the martian horizon.
As TGO vanished, the radio signal was bent (‘refracted’) by the various layers of Mars’s atmosphere before being picked up by the orbiter, allowing scientists to glean more about each layer.
The researchers also used observations from NASA’s MAVEN mission to confirm the electron densities.
“This technique has actually been used for decades to explore the Solar System, but using signals beamed from a spacecraft to Earth,” says Colin Wilson, ESA project scientist for Mars Express and TGO, and co-author of the study.
“It’s only in the past five years or so that we’ve started using it at Mars between two spacecraft, such as Mars Express and TGO, which usually use those radios to beam data between orbiters and rovers. It’s great to see it in action.”
ESA uses orbiter-to-orbiter radio occultation routinely at Earth, and plans to use it more regularly in future planetary missions.
1/2
Different worlds, different weather
The superstorm was experienced very differently at Earth and Mars, highlighting the differences between the two worlds.
At Earth, the response of the upper atmosphere was more muted, thanks to the shielding effect of Earth’s magnetic field.
As well as deflecting a lot of solar storm particles away from Earth, the magnetic field also diverted some towards Earth’s poles, where they caused the sky to light up with auroras.
While their differences can make it tricky to compare planets directly, understanding how solar activity impacts the residents of the Solar System – in other words, space weather forecasting – is hugely important.
At Earth, solar storms can be dangerous and damaging for astronauts and equipment up in space, and can disrupt our satellites and systems (power, radio, navigation) further down.
However, studying space weather is difficult as the Sun throws out radiation and material erratically, making targeted measurements largely opportunistic.
“Fortunately, we were able to use this new technique with Mars Express and TGO just 10 minutes after a large solar flare hit Mars. Currently we’re only performing two observations per week at Mars, so the timing was extremely lucky,” adds Jacob.
Jacob and colleagues captured the aftermath of three solar events – all part of the same storm, but different in terms of what they throw out into space, and how they do it:
one flare of radiation, one burst of high-energy particles, and an eruption of material known as a coronal mass ejection (CME).
Together, these events sent fast-moving, energetic, magnetised plasma and X-rays flooding towards Mars.
When this barrage of material hit the planet’s upper atmosphere it collided with neutral atoms and stripped away their electrons, causing the region to fill up with electrons and charged particles.
“The results improve our understanding of Mars by revealing how solar storms deposit energy and particles into Mars’s atmosphere – important as we know the planet has lost both huge amounts of water and most of its atmosphere to space, most likely driven by the continual wind of particles streaming out from the Sun,” says Colin.
“But there’s another side to it: the structure and contents of a planet’s atmosphere influence how radio signals travel through space.
If Mars’s upper atmosphere is packed full of electrons, this could block the signals we use to explore the planet’s surface via radar, making it a key consideration in our mission planning – and impacting our ability to investigate other worlds.”
2/2
Japanese firm Space One's Kairos rocket fails again, self-destructs on its 3rd ever launch
March 5, 2026
Space One’s Kairos rocket failed yet another launch attempt, its third so far.
The mission, which lifted off from Spaceport Kii in Wakayama Prefecture at 11:10 a.m. local time on Thursday, March 5 (9:10 p.m. EST on March 4), ended prematurely as the rocket’s flight termination system was activated.
"We determined that mission success was difficult and implemented flight termination measures," (translated from Japanese to English by X) the Japanese private launch startup noted in a post on X.
The live broadcast footage showed the rocket self-destructing a little over a minute after liftoff.
This third consecutive Kairos failure is a massive setback for Space One and stakeholders in private Japanese spaceflight.
The rocket was carrying five experimental satellites—including payloads from Tokyo-based ArkEdge Space and the Taiwan Space Agency—all of which were lost in the failure.
According to Japanese outlet NHK, the planned deployment time was about 50 minutes after launch, at an altitude of roughly 310 miles (500 kilometers). However, Kairos No. 3 did not go any higher than 18 miles (29 kilometers) above the Pacific Ocean.
“No significant abnormalities were found in the flight or onboard equipment before the self-destruction,” said Space One's Vice President Nobuhiro Sekino during a press conference, per Reuters.
The VP’s statement hints that the autonomous flight termination system may have been incorrectly triggered. The rocket's failure is a serious cause for concern, considering Japan wants to have a launch cadence of 30 in the early 2030s.
In stark contrast, the country successfully launched only three rockets in 2025, and no satellite has ever been successfully launched using a fully commercial Japanese rocket.
"We would like to apologize to our customers and all those involved in the launch for not being able to complete the mission to the end, and we are very disappointed that we were unable to meet the expectations of everyone who supported us," (translation by Google) Space One noted in its press release, adding that it will look into the problem as soon as possible.
In March 2024, the first-ever Kairos launch had failed just five seconds after liftoff, after the rocket’s flight termination system detected lower-than-expected velocity and thrust.
The second attempt in December that year lasted only about three minutes longer. The rocket reached an altitude of 62 miles (100 kilometers) before detecting performance anomalies. That mission, too, lost five satellites.
At 59 feet (18 meters) tall, Space One’s Kairos rocket uses three solid-fuel stages topped by a liquid-propellant upper stage.
According to Space One, the rocket can carry up to 330 pounds (150 kilograms) to sun-synchronous orbit. With Kairos and other native launch service providers, Japan intends to stop relying on foreign firms like SpaceX and Rocket Lab.
Space One’s latest failure with the Kairos rocket is unlikely to slow down commercial small rocket programs not just in Japan, but around the world.
In 2025, Toyota invested in Interstellar Technologies, a company that reached outer space in 2019—a first for Japan.
Honda, too, conducted a reusable rocket experiment last year. Similar Kairos-like private rocket launches were seen elsewhere in Germany, Australia, and South Korea, but they are yet to reach orbit.
https://starlust.org/japanese-firm-space-ones-kairos-rocket-fails-again-self-destructs-on-its-3rd-ever-launch/
https://www.space-one.co.jp/news/news_20260305_02.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGaimti4hCE
Hungary Launches RAVEN Satellite Project to Test Space-Based 5G Networks
05.03.2026
new chapter is beginning in Hungary’s space industry and telecommunications technology with the launch of the RAVEN (Resilient Access Validation for Evolving NTN) satellite project, a strategic initiative led by a Hungarian consortium, officials announced on Thursday in Budapest.
According to Szabolcs Szolnoki, Deputy State Secretary responsible for technology, the space industry and the defence industry at the Ministry for National Economy, the project marks a significant milestone for Hungary’s role in the rapidly evolving global space communications sector.
The project is being implemented under the national ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) Call in Hungary programme, launched in 2025 by the European Space Agency in cooperation with the ministry.
The initiative focuses on satellite services and next-generation telecommunications technologies, including 5G and 6G.
Szolnoki said the project aligns closely with global industry efforts aimed at integrating terrestrial and space-based communication networks.
The RAVEN initiative will be carried out entirely through cooperation between Hungarian industrial and academic partners, with the consortium led by C3S Ltd.
He emphasized that the project reflects several key priorities of the ministry, including the rapid development of Hungary’s domestic space industry. C3S, he noted, has grown from a university spin-off startup into an internationally recognized company in the sector.
Another important aspect of the initiative is the involvement of new players in the Hungarian space ecosystem. Among the partners are Molaris Ltd and Óbuda University, while cooperation with a major Hungarian multinational telecommunications company is also under preparation.
According to Szolnoki, the development strengthens Hungary’s position in the global space communications and telecommunications ecosystem and demonstrates that the country’s engineering and research capabilities are competitive internationally.
The project will enable the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial communication systems, which could have important socio-economic benefits.
Gyula Horváth, chief executive of C3S, said the company will be responsible for the system design, development and integration of an 8U CubeSat satellite, as well as mission planning and satellite operations. The company currently employs nearly 70 staff, including about 60 engineers.
The mission will focus on Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) technology defined in 5G standards. This technology represents a major innovation in communications, allowing users of terrestrial public mobile networks to connect via base stations located in space.
Such systems can complement traditional ground-based networks in areas where coverage is limited or where building infrastructure would be economically unfeasible.
This capability could prove especially valuable in remote regions, during natural disasters, and in supporting future autonomous systems.
The project is scheduled to begin in 2026, with the satellite expected to be launched into orbit in 2028. Once deployed, demonstration experiments involving 5G and 6G NTN communications will begin in space.
According to project leaders, RAVEN could enable Hungary to play an active role in shaping the development of satellite-based 5G technologies. The results may also contribute internationally to the standardization and industrial adoption of NTN solutions.
https://www.hungarianconservative.com/articles/tech/hungary-raven-satellite-5g-space-project/
Astronomers unveil largest 3D map yet of hydrogen light in the early universe, illuminating 'hidden' cosmic structures
March 5, 2026
Astronomers have unveiled one of the most ambitious maps yet of the early universe, revealing a vast "sea of light" between galaxies that had remained otherwise hidden in previous surveys.
Using data from the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX), researchers created a 3D map of light emitted by excited hydrogen 9 to 11 billion years ago, when the universe was in the throes of "cosmic noon," its peak era of star formation.
This specific form of light, known as Lyman-alpha, is produced when hydrogen atoms are energized by radiation from young, hot stars, creating a distinctive ultraviolet glow that can be traced across vast cosmic distances.
The experiment operates on the Hobby-Eberly Telescope at McDonald Observatory in Texas and goes beyond simply plotting galaxies to mapping structures that are faint and difficult to observe from the early universe, according to a statement.
"Lyman alpha radiation is an important characteristic of galaxies at this period in the universe's history, an era of vigorous star formation," Robin Ciardullo, co-author of the study, said in the statement.
"Previous to this study, the locations of fainter galaxies and gas, which also emit Lyman alpha radiation, have remained largely unknown."
Other giant maps of the universe have focused on cataloging individual galaxies — cosmic cities of light bright enough to stand out against the dark.
Those surveys have been crucial for tracing large-scale structure and studying dark energy. But they miss something important: the faint glow of hydrogen gas and small, dim galaxies that lie between the bright beacons.
"There's a whole sea of light in the seemingly empty patches in between," Maja Lujan Niemeyer, lead author of the study, said in the statement.
The new map was created using a technique called Line Intensity Mapping. Instead of identifying galaxies one by one, astronomers measured the combined light from hydrogen's characteristic Lyman-alpha wavelength across huge swaths of sky.
Hydrogen, the universe's most abundant element, emits this ultraviolet light when energized by young stars. By tracking that glow, scientists can trace not just bright galaxies but also the diffuse gas that surrounds and connects them.
The result is less like a sharp city map and more like a heat map of all illumination — capturing the full "sea of light" that threads through the cosmic web.
That makes it a powerful new tool for studying how galaxies formed and evolved within their environments, and the role intergalactic gas played.
The map was built from an enormous dataset comprising over 600 million spectra collected by HETDEX, originally designed to measure the universe's expansion and probe dark energy.
By mining this archive and using supercomputers with custom programming to analyze the large data set, researchers reconstructed a 3D view of hydrogen distribution across a vast cosmic volume.
Because matter clusters under gravity, the team could use the positions of known bright galaxies to help interpret the fainter background glow, revealing hidden structures that previous surveys could not directly detect.
By charting hydrogen during the universe's most active star-forming era, astronomers gain a clearer picture of how galaxies drew in gas, formed stars and assembled into the large-scale structures we see today.
The work also signals a broader shift in cosmic cartography: future surveys may rely increasingly on intensity mapping to reveal not just the brightest objects in the universe, but the full, glowing framework that binds them together.
"This study is an exciting first step in using intensity mapping to understand the processes involved in how galaxies form and evolve," Caryl Gronwall, co-author of the study, said in the statement.
"The combination of the pioneering Hobby-Eberly telescope with new complementary instruments is ushering in a golden age for mapping the cosmos."
https://www.space.com/astronomy/astronomers-unveil-largest-3d-map-yet-of-hydrogen-light-in-the-early-universe-illuminating-hidden-cosmic-structures
https://www.psu.edu/news/eberly-college-science/story/astronomers-reveal-hidden-structures-young-universe
On-Orbit Imagery Milestone with HEO USA's Payload Aboard Sidus Space's Multi-Mission LizzieSat-3
Mar 05, 2026, 08:31 ET
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., March 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ – Sidus Space, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIDU) ("Sidus" or the "Company"), an innovative space and defense technology company, and HEO USA, a leading provider of non-Earth imaging (NEI) and analytics, today announced the successful receipt of a series of on‑orbit images from HEO USA's NEI camera aboard Sidus Space's LizzieSat‑3 (LS‑3).
The on-orbit imagery, taken over Victoria, Australia, was captured using HEO USA's Holmes Mk1, which is designed to collect space-based imagery of resident space objects, supporting applications across space domain awareness, satellite operations, and national security.
"This milestone demonstrates our ability to increase U.S.-based system capacity while delivering innovative space domain awareness capabilities to the market" said Nate Notargiacomo, Head of HEO USA.
"The congested and contested nature of today's space environment demands high-quality, responsive solutions. Operating under U.S. license, we're expanding our on-orbit sensor network to provide exceptional value for our government and commercial customers."
Sidus Space's LizzieSat-3 platform has provided stable and reliable hosting for the HEO USA payload.
Earlier bus-level commissioning validated essential spacecraft subsystems, including avionics, power, communications, and on-orbit guidance, navigation, and control performance, alongside FeatherEdge and AIS sensing capabilities.
These combined achievements confirm LS-3's readiness to deliver integrated, multi-sensor intelligence from orbit.
"Successfully acquiring imagery from the HEO payload is a strong validation of LizzieSat-3's integrated sensor performance providing sub-5-meter resolution and our ability to support sophisticated, mission‑critical technologies in orbit," said Patrick Butler, EVP, Engineering and Programs at Sidus Space.
"This milestone confirms the stability of the spacecraft following bus‑level commissioning and demonstrates the value LizzieSat‑3 brings to our partners as we begin delivering on our subscription data service contract with HEO and advance toward full operational capability."
LizzieSat-3 builds upon Sidus Space's flight‑proven LizzieSat platform and incorporates advanced manufacturing and system design techniques, including hybrid 3D‑printed structural components, AI‑enhanced onboard processing, and modular payload integration.
The spacecraft is designed to support a wide range of Earth observation and data‑driven missions, offering scalable and responsive solutions for commercial, government, and defense customers.
As commissioning continues, HEO USA will proceed with sensor calibration and image optimization while Sidus will proceed with software updates ahead of full multi-mission activation.
Data obtained during this phase will be used to further refine on‑orbit performance and support customer mission objectives.
In 2024, HEO USA became the first company to receive NOAA approval to fly its Holmes cameras as hosted payloads on U.S.-flagged spacecraft.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/on-orbit-imagery-milestone-with-heo-usas-payload-aboard-sidus-spaces-multi-mission-lizziesat-3-302705275.html
US Space Force University Consortium awards new tech institutes, spotlights major transition successes
March 4, 2026
The United States Space Force, in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory, has awarded cooperative agreements to two university-led teams for advanced remote sensing research under the Space Strategic Technology Institute 4.
Rice University and the University of Arizona led the teams, which were awarded the agreements Feb. 5 and March 3, respectively.
This announcement, valued at up to $16 million over 3½ years, is the fourth in a series of solicitations by the USSF University Consortium.
The program aims to create revolutionary technologies by partnering with academic teams to accelerate their transition into practical applications for the U.S. Space Force.
“Innovation in the space industry is thriving, but the foundation for that innovation lies in academia,” said Dr. Stacie Williams, Space Force chief science officer.
“Through the University Consortium, the Space Force matures promising basic research into applied research programs targeted on driving Space Force capability needs.
By continuing to support and collaborate with academic institutions, the United States can ensure it remains at the forefront of technological advancement and global leadership in the increasingly contested domain of space.”
The program has already yielded significant technological and commercial transitions over the last two years. These successes include:
A $36 million commercial contract awarded to Axiom by Texas A&M University's in-space operations team.
A subsequent $6 million contract to Axiom, building on technology developed by the University of Texas-Austin.
Two Direct-to-Phase-II Small Business Innovation Research awards totaling $2.5 million for the University of Michigan’s advanced space power and propulsion team.
Multiple smaller technology transitions valued at $150,000 facilitated by the University of Colorado Boulder team.
These achievements have resulted in U.S. produced hardware for the upcoming Axiom space station, introduced advanced propulsion technology to the commercial market, and enhanced existing Space Force algorithms.
“The mission of the University Consortium is to link universities with Space Force research and transition opportunities, share key problem focus areas with consortium members, and promote collaboration – both among member universities and between academia, government and industry,” said Joshua Carlson, University Consortium program manager.
“This University Consortium represents a strategic investment in our nation's security and economic prosperity,” said Maj. Gen. Robert Claude, Task Force Futures director and mobilization assistant to the chief of space operations, praising the collaboration.
“We are not just developing cutting-edge technology; we are building a stronger, more innovative American space industry.”
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4421186/us-space-force-university-consortium-awards-new-tech-institutes-spotlights-majo/
https://www.afrl.af.mil/
Sorry, UFO Fans — The U.S. Commander Tracking Every Object in Space Says It’s All Ours
March 5, 2026
Key Takeaways:
Gen. Stephen Whiting, head of US Space Command, says he has never seen anything extraterrestrial in 36 years of tracking space objects.
Trump recently ordered the Pentagon to begin releasing government files related to alien life and UAPs — but Space Command’s data may not hold what enthusiasts hope for.
Both NASA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have previously found no evidence linking UAPs to alien origins.
Gen. Stephen Whiting, a career space operator with 36 years of experience, told reporters he has never observed anything in space that wasn’t either human-made or a natural phenomenon like a comet.
His comments, made at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Warfare Symposium in Colorado, throw a bucket of ice water on hopes that Trump’s recent push for UAP disclosure might yield space-based bombshells — or anything from orbit at all.
Last month, Trump took to social media to announce he would direct the Pentagon and other federal agencies to “begin the process” of disclosing government files related to alien life and UAPs — unidentified anomalous phenomena.
He cited “tremendous interest” in the files. It was the latest development in years of sensational claims, congressional hearings, and the military’s 2020 release of videos that appear to show objects defying easy explanation.
Neither NASA nor the intelligence community has backed up the extraterrestrial angle. “To date, in the peer-reviewed scientific literature, there is no conclusive evidence suggesting an extraterrestrial origin for UAP,” a NASA blue-ribbon panel wrote in a 2023 report.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence reached a similar conclusion two years earlier: “The limited amount of high-quality reporting on unidentified aerial phenomena hampers our ability to draw firm conclusions about the nature or intent of UAP.”
None of that has dampened public curiosity. The most famous Pentagon-released UAP footage was captured by cameras aboard Navy fighter planes flying over the ocean.
If something from another world were visiting Earth, though, wouldn’t the military’s network of advanced radars and optical sensors — both ground-based and orbital — pick it up on the way in?
Whiting made it clear he wouldn’t bet on it.
“I can say, I, personally, was very interested in the president’s announcement,” he told reporters.
“I look forward to seeing what data does come out. I can also tell you, as a space operator now of 36 years, having spent a lot of time with space domain awareness sensors, tracking things in space, I’ve never seen anything in space other than manmade objects, so I am not aware of anything that is extraterrestrial, other than comets and things like that.”
“But I’m fascinated in the topic,” he continued. “And if something’s revealed, I’ll be interested as an American citizen.”
Space Command’s area of responsibility stretches from the top of Earth’s atmosphere all the way past the Moon.
One of its core missions is tracking, monitoring, and cataloging every object in orbit. By Whiting’s account, everything up there traces back to a human or natural source.
He also pointed out a technicality that might disappoint UFO watchers hoping for cosmic revelations from his files.
The current terminology — UAP — includes the word “aerial,” meaning these reports deal with phenomena below the Kármán line at 100 kilometers altitude, inside Earth’s atmosphere rather than in space.
“We will respond to any presidential direction to go look at our files, but I think the term of art now is UAP, and the A is aerial, so these are things that are below the Kármán line (100 kilometers), that are in the atmosphere,” Whiting said.
“I’ve seen some of the same videos and radar data that all of you have, and my guess is those relevant services and combatant commands will turn that data over. I’m very interested in the topic, but I have no personal experience with any of those phenomena.”
So while Trump’s disclosure order may eventually shake loose new information from military branches and intelligence agencies, don’t hold your breath for anything from Space Command.
The man responsible for watching everything between Earth’s atmosphere and the Moon says the view is alien-free.
The head of US Space Command has spent more than three decades monitoring objects in orbit. His verdict on extraterrestrial visitors? Nothing. Not a trace.
https://www.technology.org/2026/03/05/sorry-ufo-fans-us-commander-says-space-all-ours/
Zelensky issues military threat to Orban
5 Mar, 2026 14:23
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has issued an apparent military threat to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban over the ongoing refusal by Budapest to lift a veto on billions in loans underwritten by EU members for Kiev.
Orban last month blocked a planned €90 billion ($106 billion) emergency loan raised by EU members for Kiev – following the bloc's failure to agree on outright stealing billions in Russian assets frozen in Belgium.
Orban took the step in response to Ukraine preventing key Russian oil supplies from reaching Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline.
Speaking on new weapons for Kiev’s armed forces on Thursday, Zelensky stated: “We hope that one person in the EU will not block the €90 billion…
Otherwise, we will give the address of this person to our armed forces, to our guys, so that they call him and communicate with him in their own language.”
The diplomatic dispute between Hungary and Ukraine has escalated in recent weeks, spilling over into personal barbs.
Zelensky launched a string of attacks against Orban, including fat-shaming him during the Munich Security Conference last month.
The Hungarian prime minister has long opposed Ukraine’s push to join the EU, and has repeatedly refused to send it weapons or approve EU military aid, calling for diplomacy instead.
Orban, meanwhile, has taken to social media to issue his own warning.
“There will be no deals, no compromise. We will break the Ukrainian oil blockade by force,” he wrote on X on Thursday, adding that oil will soon flow to Hungary again through the Druzhba pipeline.
The Soviet-era pipeline, part of which runs through Ukraine, went offline in January after Kiev claimed it had been damaged by Russian strikes – accusations Moscow denies.
Hungary and Slovakia, both heavily reliant on Russian energy, have accused Kiev of deliberately cutting them off for political reasons and inventing obstacles for restarting oil flows.
Zelensky has issued threats against foreign leaders and officials before. Last year, he suggested that Russia’s top officials should check for bomb shelters, hinting that Ukraine could target the Kremlin.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the comments “irresponsible.”
https://www.rt.com/news/633893-zelensky-military-threat-hungary/
other RT
https://www.rt.com/russia/633878-russia-ukraine-us-facilitated-pow-swap-mod/
https://www.rt.com/russia/633804-russia-exit-european-gas-putin/
Ukraine urges global action after Iranian drones strike Azerbaijan
March 5, 2026, 06:29 AM
Ukraine has condemned Iran’s drone attack on Azerbaijan and called on the international community to unite in countering what it described as the growing threat posed by the Iranian regime, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on March 5.
“There has never been any justification for Iranian terrorists to harm Azerbaijan, Ukraine — by supplying drones to Russia — or other countries where they have caused chaos, killings, and destabilization,” Sybiha said.
He stressed that the attack on Azerbaijan demonstrates that the Iranian regime represents not only a regional but also a global threat. According to Sybiha, that threat extends beyond Iran itself to its terrorist partners, including Russia.
“All international efforts must be consolidated to neutralize the threats posed by the Iranian regime, give the Iranian people a chance at a normal life, and restore security and stability in the Middle East and beyond,” Sybiha said.
On March 5, drones flying from the direction of Iran crashed on Azerbaijani territory. One drone struck a terminal building at the airport in the city of Nakhchivan, while another landed near a school.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the drone strike and said two people were injured. The Azerbaijani government summoned Iran’s ambassador following the incident.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry warned that the attack would not go unanswered.
At the same time, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi denied Tehran’s involvement in the drone strike on the Azerbaijani airport.
He said Iranian strikes would only target countries hosting military bases belonging to Iran’s adversaries. Iran’s armed forces also denied carrying out a drone attack on Azerbaijan, Reuters reported.
Regional tensions escalated on Feb. 28 after the United States and Israel launched operations against Iran and killed several senior Iranian officials. Tehran responded by launching missiles and drones at Israel and later at countries across the Persian Gulf.
Explosions were reported in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Iran also targeted U.S. military bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.
Officials in the United Arab Emirates said Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones, damaging airports, ports, U.S. consulates, and civilian infrastructure. Large fires were also reported at oil facilities in the UAE.
On March 4, Türkiye’s Defense Ministry said NATO air defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran that flew over Iraq and Syria and was heading toward Turkish airspace. Debris fell in Türkiye’s Hatay province, but no casualties were reported.
Iran said on March 5 that it had not launched missiles toward “friendly” Türkiye and claimed it “respects the country’s sovereignty.”
https://english.nv.ua/nation/ukraine-condemns-iranian-drone-attack-on-azerbaijan-calls-for-global-response-50589291.html
other Ukraine and Russia
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/71273
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/trump-says-hell-accept-help-from-any-country-on-iran-after-ukraine-drone-offer/
https://united24media.com/latest-news/russian-universities-recruiting-students-for-kremlins-drone-forces-investigation-finds-16531
https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/03/05/a-ukrainian-drone-operator-explains-russias-spring-advantage-and-the-two-things-that-can-neutralize-it/
https://www.kyivpost.com/videos/71326
https://acleddata.com/expert-comment/israel-prepares-ground-invasion-lebanon-hezbollah-formally-joins-war
other Israel
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-latest-tehran-strikes-targeted-basij-bases-special-forces-hq-other-command-centers/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-issues-evacuation-warning-for-iranians-in-industrial-zones-near-tehran-ahead-of-strikes/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/423395
https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/68025
https://news.am/eng/news/934362.html
https://www.jns.org/idf-orders-part-of-beirut-cleared-amid-war-with-hezbollah/
https://www.columbusjewishnews.com/news/world_news/hezbollah-anti-tank-rocket-wounds-idf-soldiers-in-south-lebanon/article_8fd813bf-a963-49fd-ac6b-f34f16061447.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-wave-of-overnight-tehran-strikes-targeted-missile-storage-launch-sites/
https://vinnews.com/2026/03/05/idf-hamas-commander-killed-in-israeli-navy-strike-on-lebanese-refugee-camp/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-03-05/live-updates-888885
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/03/05/operation-rising-lion-day-6-hezbollah-northern-front/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/four-charged-in-fresh-gaza-smuggling-scandal-said-aided-by-idf-official/
https://www.jns.org/watch-israeli-f-35-fighter-downs-iranian-jet-over-tehran/
https://www.the-express.com/news/us-news/201147/idf-uses-anti-war-song-americans
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-fires-six-missile-barrages-at-israel-on-wars-sixth-day-as-idf-bombers-pound-tehran/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-888968
Israel prepares a ground invasion in Lebanon as Hezbollah formally joins the war
5 March 2026
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has intensified its attacks across Lebanon and issued evacuation orders affecting at least 800,000 people following missile fire from Hezbollah.
These orders included an order issued at around 3 pm on 5 March, affecting an estimated 500,000 people in southern Beirut, ahead of a planned bombing of Hezbollah’s strongholds.1
Since the November 2024 ceasefire, Hezbollah has restrained itself from responding to Israeli air and drone attacks targeting its members.
However, the United States and Israel’s targeted assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has pushed the group to open a new front against Israel. What began as retaliatory missile strikes by Hezbollah quickly evolved into a broader conflict.
For now, Israel and Hezbollah have moved toward direct ground confrontation in southern Lebanon, particularly in the region’s eastern sector. Israel is conducting sustained air operations and preparing for a ground invasion south of the Litani River that will likely come in the next weeks.
On 1 March, Hezbollah announced it had fired six missiles targeting Haifa and its outskirts.
Since the attack, the Israeli military has retaliated with at least 250 airstrikes targeting what it claims to be Hezbollah military and financial infrastructure, as well as targeted assassinations of Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Jamaa Islamiya commanders.
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In recent days, the Israeli government began signaling that it would likely move beyond airstrikes to carry out a large-scale ground invasion.
On 4 March, the Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, issued an unusually broad evacuation order instructing civilians to head north of the Litani River.
The order creates a major logistical and humanitarian challenge, as the region includes between 250 and 300 settlements, including major cities Tyre and Nabatieh.
The order is reminiscent of previous evacuation directives issued by the IDF in southern Lebanon3 and is likely a precursor to a ground invasion.
Additionally, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the IDF, with the approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to occupy additional positions inside Lebanese territory.
The Israeli military is likely seeking to create a buffer zone between the Litani River and the Israeli border to eliminate Hezbollah’s capacity to threaten northern Israeli communities (see map below).
Israel’s preparation for a ground invasion comes amid its frustrations with the Lebanese government and army’s progress toward disarmament, which it argues have not done enough to remove the “Hezbollah threat.”
Although the Lebanese government announced on 8 January that the army had fully disarmed Hezbollah south of the Litani River,5 the group was able to launch its recent attacks, bolstering Israel’s long-running claims that Hezbollah is rearming and reorganizing.
An Israeli ground invasion is likely to be conducted by the IDF’s 91st, 210th, and 146th Divisions, currently deployed in the east of southern Lebanon, the Mount Dov area, and the west of southern Lebanon, respectively.
It could resemble the limited incursions that previously took place along three main corridors: the Western Sector (Ras al-Naqoura), the Eastern Sector (Khiyam), and the Middle Sector (Aita ech Chaab).
In the short term, a ground invasion south of the Litani River would likely produce sustained clashes between IDF forces and Hezbollah militants, particularly in fortified villages.
Already on 4 March, Hezbollah militants and Israeli forces clashed on the outskirts of Khiyam and Ed Dhayra towns. The group announced late that night that its militants had repelled an Israeli incursion and were currently clashing with IDF forces.
In the medium term, the creation of a buffer zone would risk entrenching Israeli forces inside Lebanese territory, increasing the probability of protracted insurgent-style resistance and expanding the conflict geographically.
Hezbollah may respond by widening its strike range deeper into northern Israel.
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https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202603053543
other Iran
https://www.rt.com/news/633779-hegseth-us-submarine-sank-iranian-warship/
https://www.rt.com/news/633813-iran-tehran-destruction-video/
https://www.rt.com/news/633794-iran-schoolgirls-murder-media/
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202603031421
https://x.com/gghamari/status/2029406942502748161
https://www.arabnews.jp/en/middle-east/article_165353/
https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/uae-air-defenses-destroy-6-ballistic-missiles-and-125-iranian-drones-1.500464712
https://united24media.com/latest-news/azerbaijan-closes-part-of-southern-airspace-for-12-hours-after-iranian-drone-attack-16546
https://gvwire.com/2026/03/05/uk-says-drone-attack-on-cyprus-base-not-from-iran/
https://www.cathstan.org/us-world/drone-strike-on-iraqi-catholic-church-complex-reopens-old-wounds
Trump says he will have a role in choosing Iran's next leader
March 5, 2026
Summary
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US President Donald Trump on Thursday described Mojtaba Khamenei's leadership as "unacceptable", telling Axios he must be personally involved in choosing Iran's next leader.
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Some members of Iran’s Assembly of Experts have protested plans to announce Mojtaba Khamenei as the next supreme leader, arguing it could amount to “hereditary leadership,” Iran International has learned.
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Azerbaijan summoned Iran’s ambassador after drone attacks on the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan on Thursday.
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Israel’s military said it was continuing strikes in central Tehran, targeting infrastructure linked to Iran’s ballistic missile system.
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A 12,000-seat indoor arena in Tehran was hit in airstrikes by the US and Israel on Thursday morning.
14 minutes ago
BREAKING NEWS
US suspends operations at embassy in Kuwait
The United States has suspended operations at its embassy in Kuwait, the State Department said in a statement on Thursday.
“While there have been no reported injuries to US personnel, the safety of Americans abroad remains the highest priority of the US Department of State,” the statement said.
“US citizens in Kuwait should depart the country, if they can do so safely, using commercial or other available transportation options,” the statement added.
26 minutes ago
EU’s foreign policy chief says Iran seeking to widen Middle East war
Iran is seeking to escalate the conflict in the Middle East by attacking other countries in the region indiscriminately, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday.
“Iran is an exporter of war,” Kallas told reporters. “Right now, the regime tries to drag as many countries into this war as possible.”
33 minutes ago
Video: Missile launcher hidden in fodder warehouse near Tehran destroyed
41 minutes ago
Video: Iran lawmaker says forces authorized to shoot 'enemy collaborators'
46 minutes ago
Rubio discusses Iran threats, US operations with Kuwait FM
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed ongoing US operations to counter Iranian threats and other regional developments with Kuwait’s foreign minister, the State Department said on Thursday.
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1 hour ago
Araghchi says Iran not afraid of US ground troops, is 'waiting' for them
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is prepared to confront a potential US ground invasion and is not afraid of American troops entering the country.
Asked in an interview with NBC News whether he feared a US ground invasion, Araghchi replied: “No, we are waiting for them.”
“We are ready for this war,” he added.
1 hour ago
Iran FM says US plan for rapid military victory failed
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the United States had failed to achieve a rapid military victory in the conflict, in a post on X addressed to US President Donald Trump.
“Plan A for a clean rapid military victory failed, Mr. President. Your Plan B will be even bigger failure,” Araghchi wrote.
Araghchi also said a potential diplomatic agreement had been lost after the conflict began, claiming negotiations had been making “significant progress” before the war and accusing what he called an “America Last” faction of derailing the talks.
“‘Israel First’ always means ‘America Last,’” he added.
1 hour ago
Trump says US open to help against Iranian drones after Ukraine offer
President Donald Trump said the United States would accept assistance from any country to defend against Iranian.
“Certainly I'll take, you know, any assistance from any country,” Trump said in a telephone interview with Reuters when asked about the offer.
Earlier, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv had received a specific request from the United States for help dealing with drones in the Middle East.
2 hours ago
BREAKING NEWS
Trump says US will have a role in choosing Iran's next leader
The United States will have a role in choosing Iran's next leader, US President Donald Trump told Reuters in a telephone interview on Thursday.
"We want to be involved in the process of choosing the person who is going to lead Iran into the future," Reuters quoted Trump as saying.
"We don't have to go back every five years and do this again and again … Somebody that's going to be great for the people, great for the country," he added.
Trump said it was very early in the process of picking a new leader but that Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba was an unlikely choice, according to the report.
Asked about reports of US support for Kurdish forces launching an offensive into Iran,Trump said: “I think it’s wonderful if they want to do that.”
2 hours ago
Video: Bahrain's oil refinery on fire Iranian missile strike
2 hours ago
Netanyahu hails Israel-US cooperation against Iran as 'historic'
Israel's prime minister on Thursday hailed his country's “historic" cooperation with the United States in the campaign against Iran.
“We continue striking targets of the terrorist regime in Iran as well as terrorist elements in Lebanon. The achievements are significant, but the work is still great," Benjamin Netanyahu said in a visit the Ovda Israeli Air Force base in southern Israel housing both Israeli and American air crews.
2 hours ago
Drone strikes target Iranian opposition camp in Iraqi Kurdistan
Drone strikes targeted a camp belonging to an Iranian opposition group in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, Reuters reported citing security sources.
Norway-based rights group Hengaw said Azadi Camp, a base of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), was hit by four suicide drones.
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Pentagon IDs Army Reserve Soldiers Killed in Iranian Strike in Kuwait
March 5, 2026 1:14 PM
The Pentagon has released the names of the Army Reserve soldiers killed in an Iranian strike in Kuwait over the weekend.
Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa, Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla., Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn., Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb., and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, were killed Sunday in the retaliatory Iranian strike on Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait.
The Pentagon believes Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, Calif., also died in the attack.
All six soldiers were assigned to 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa.
“We honor our fallen Heroes, who served fearlessly and selflessly in defense of our nation.
Their sacrifice, and the sacrifices of their families, will never be forgotten,” Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, commanding general of the Army Reserve Command, said in the Army Reserve release.
O’Brien commissioned into the Army Reserves as a signal corps officer in 2012 and deployed to Kuwait in 2019.
Khork enlisted as a multiple launch rocket system/fire direction speciality in the National Guard in 2009. He commissioned into the Army Reserve as a military police officer in 2014.
Previous deployments include Saudi Arabia in 2013, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2021 and Poland in 2024.
Khork held a degree in political science and loved history, his family said in a statement to The Associated Press. He was patriotic and drawn to a life in the service.
Amor enlisted in the National Guard as an automated logistics specialist in 2005 and transferred to the Army Reserve in 2006. She deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019.
Her tour in Kuwait was supposed to wrap up in a couple of days, her husband told The Associated Press. She leaves behind two children.
Tietjens enlisted in the Army Reserve as a wheeled vehicle mechanic in 2006. He previously deployed to Kuwait in 2009 and 2019.
He was married with a son, The Associated Press reported. He also served as an instructor in Philippine Combatives and Taekwondo and earned a black belt in both.
The Army posthumously promoted 20-year-old Coady to sergeant from specialist, according to the release. He enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2023 as an Army information technology specialist.
His family told The Associated Press that he was taking online classes in Kuwait and wanted to become an officer.
The Army requires confirmation from the medical examiner to say for certain that Marzan died in the attack.
A press release from California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said Marzan is survived by his wife and family.
“California mourns the loss of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Marzan, a courageous Californian whose service to our nation was marked by honor and distinction,” reads the release.
“We offer our deepest condolences to his wife and family during this time of profound sorrow. The sacrifices made by military families are immeasurable, and California stands in solidarity with them, united in grief and gratitude.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Marzan’s steadfast commitment exemplifies the highest ideals of our state and our country.”
https://news.usni.org/2026/03/05/pentagon-ids-army-reserve-soldiers-killed-in-iranian-strike-in-kuwait
https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4420475/dow-identifies-army-casualties/
https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4421430/dow-identifies-army-casualty/
https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4421433/dow-identifies-an-army-believed-to-be-casualty/
NEET INTEL
@neetintel
🇮🇱🇮🇷 HAPPENING NOW: V32, the Farsi shortwave station that began broadcasting on February 28, is active on 7910 kHz.
6:19 PM · Mar 3, 2026
https://x.com/neetintel/status/2029018957278031948
NEET INTEL
@neetintel
==🇮🇱🇮🇷 BREAKING: The mysterious Farsi numbers station on 7910 kHz has NOT broadcast as scheduled – instead, the frequency is being jammed, quite possibly by the Iranians!
6:27 PM · Mar 4, 2026
https://x.com/neetintel/status/2029383193544048750
Mysterious UFO Sighted Over Iran’s Karaj City Moments Before Airstrikes
March 5, 2026
A baffling video capturing an unidentified flying object (UFO) hovering in the skies above Karaj, Iran, has taken the internet by storm.
Recorded just minutes before the onset of airstrikes on February 28, 2026, the footage shows a strange luminous entity maneuvering erratically over the city.
This sighting coincides with heightened tensions in the Middle East, adding fuel to speculation about its possible connection to the military actions that followed.
The video, initially shared on local Iranian social media platforms like Telegram and Instagram, quickly went viral, amassing millions of views worldwide within hours.
Witnesses in Karaj described the object as a glowing orb that changed colors from blue to orange, emitting no sound and moving at speeds inconsistent with conventional aircraft.
Military analysts and UFO researchers have scrutinized the footage, but no consensus has emerged.
Some experts, including former Pentagon officials, suggest it could be an advanced drone or experimental missile from a foreign power, possibly linked to the impending airstrikes.
Others propose natural explanations, like a meteor, atmospheric phenomenon, or even a lens flare from the camera.
Iranian state media invited specialists from Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology to conduct frame-by-frame analysis, revealing unusual heat signatures via infrared filters, yet the object’s origin remains elusive.
https://ua-stena.info/en/mysterious-ufo-sighted-over-irans-karaj-city/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa8a-pzDjL0
other Iran UFOs
https://x.com/Historyind169/status/2029480303757246790
https://x.com/RSMatthews1111/status/2029525544316866979
https://enigmalabs.io/library/931061e0-3eb3-497f-8535-a62aea968217 (Tehran Incident 1976)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/03/us-israel-iran-war-christian-rhetoric
https://rumble.com/v76nlcs-will-the-iran-war-stop-trumps-ufo-release-steve-bassett.html (SierraDelta: Will The Iran War STOP Trump’s UFO Release? - Steve Bassett)
almost like there's a blackout coming or something.
Get them in front of congress, pronto!
Strange Light Near Peoria, Illinois—Helicopter in Pursuit?
March 5, 2026
A weird pursuit was reportedly spotted over Peoria, Illinois recently as an eyewitness claims a large, strange light had a helicopter in pursuit.
This new report just shared by the National UFO Reporting Center was captured the night of February 15, 2026. According to the eyewitness report, a large light about double the size of a helicopter was seen near Peoria, Illinois around 6:10pm.
Here's a small part of what they saw that night:
"I looked up to the east the way I was facing I noticed a white light, much larger than any star, and very bright, it was moving southbound horizontally and slightly downward angle, I couldn’t under what I was seeing because it had no tail, moved slower than any shooting star, and did not have any details similar to a plane or helicopter, not to mention its speed and size, before I fully processed it all it suddenly vanished."
The person who reported this sighting went on to say "a couple minutes later a helicopter of unknown origin passed through the same area I can just seeing this anomaly".
The eyewitness also said the object seemed to have a haze around it and animals seemed to react to its presence. The description of this report reminds me of another UFO over Peoria a few years ago.
What did this person near Peoria see a few weeks ago? So far there are no known explanations that have been shared on the National UFO Reporting Center site. That means, by definition, it is an unidentified flying object.
https://101theeagle.com/peoria-illinois-ufo-pursuit/
https://nuforc.org/sighting/?id=196133
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zRcsUcsNclY
Declassified Antarctic UFO case: 1991 Argentine base recorded “impossible” atmospheric signal
5 March 2026
Documents released to the public have surfaced in Argentina regarding a UFO cover-up of a 1990s sighting in Antarctica, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed.
Miguel Amaya, a former air force official, testified in the early 2000s that bizarre encounters occurred at the General San Martín military base, close to the South Pole.
The incident reportedly began around 1:15 a.m. on a mid-spring night in late April or early May 1991.
A laboratory alarm connected to an ionospheric monitoring instrument called a riometer suddenly activated, out of the blue.
With his curiosity piqued, the engineer called the meteorological station to ask whether any radio equipment was transmitting.
According to Amaya, no transmissions were happening, making the signal even more eerie. Researchers then activated a graphic recorder that tracked ionospheric radio absorption with three needles.
At first, the instrument behaved normally, but minutes later, something bizarre happened. As Amaya recalled, “after five minutes, the three indicator needles began to make the same marks, which the engineer explained was impossible.”
Suspicious reading on the instruments
A riometer is a device that measures cosmic radio noise in the ionosphere – Earth's upper atmosphere – by tracking radio wave absorption at different frequencies.
Normally, each frequency produces a different pattern on the recorder. During the incident, however, the three needles began tracing identical patterns simultaneously.
The signal also appeared in intermittent bursts lasting 10-15 minutes. According to the witness, the fluctuations were intense enough to disrupt the recording system.
According to Amaya, “sometimes with such force that the needles would jump off the belt.” The anomaly reportedly lasted roughly 4.5 hours, generating dozens of meters of paper data.
A nuclear aircraft, perhaps?
Researchers struggled to find any natural explanation for the readings. According to the testimony, the engineer used an extreme comparison to describe the signal strength.
Amaya recalled him saying the readings were as if “the American aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk had been anchored ten meters from the house with its nuclear engines running.”
Another comparison suggested the equivalent of “a city like Buenos Aires suspended 100 meters above the ground.” At one point, the scientists even stepped outside with flashlights to check the sky.
They reportedly wondered if a UFO could be hovering above the base, causing the interference. The signal finally stopped around 5:30 a.m.
“Circle of light”
The strange measurements were not the only unusual event reported that day. Roughly 16 hours later, a member of the base allegedly saw something in the sky.
The witness had stepped outside during heavy snow and low clouds. According to Amaya’s testimony, the observer suddenly looked upward.
He reportedly saw “a huge circle of light, very dim due to the cloud cover.” The object appeared to move slowly and silently toward the sea. By the time others were alerted, the light had disappeared.
According to the account, the engineer reported the anomaly to his superior via radio the next day. The reaction reportedly halted further discussion.
Amaya said the supervisor responded: “There are some things that can’t be discussed over the radio.” The engineer was instructed to personally deliver the recording rolls months later.
Argentina has now confirmed that nine rolls of riometer data from 1991 still exist. The documents are currently stored at the Argentine Antarctic Institute.
Researchers say the newly released records could allow scientists to re-examine the unexplained atmospheric disturbance decades later.
https://cybernews.com/news/ufo-uap-argentina-classified/
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/pentagon-secret-ufo-program-navy-records-1783293
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/pentagon-handpicked-friendly-journalists-secret-ufo-briefing-foia-lifts-lid-1774121#goog_rewarded
Navy FOIA Bombshell as Secret UFO Program AATIP Resurfaces in Classified 2022 Pentagon Briefing With Mystery Guests
05 March 2026, 11:01 AM GMT
For years the Pentagon insisted its secret UFO study programme quietly ended in 2012. But newly released Navy records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act have reignited the mystery.
The documents reveal that a classified briefing about the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, or AATIP, took place in March 2022 at a secure military facility in Washington.
How a Secret UFO Programme First Began
AATIP first emerged publicly in 2017 when reports revealed that the United States Department of Defense had quietly funded a programme to study unidentified aerial phenomena, commonly called UFOs.
The initiative began in 2007 under the Defence Intelligence Agency and received about 22 million dollars in funding.
The effort was strongly supported by former Nevada senator Harry Reid, who believed unusual aerial encounters reported by military personnel deserved serious investigation.
The programme focused on incidents involving aircraft and objects performing manoeuvres that appeared to defy known technology.
Many of these encounters involved Navy pilots who reported observing mysterious craft moving at extreme speeds or changing direction in ways conventional aircraft could not achieve.
The best known example is the famous 'Tic Tac' incident involving the USS Nimitz carrier strike group in 2004.
The programme was reportedly run by counterintelligence officer Luis Elizondo, who later resigned from the Pentagon in 2017 and became a public figure in the push for greater transparency on UFO investigations.
Although the Department of Defense later acknowledged AATIP existed, officials maintained the programme had a limited scope and was closed years earlier.
What FOIA Emails Reveal About the 2022 Briefing
The newly released Navy records tell a more complicated story. Two separate FOIA requests submitted nearly a year apart both produced the same responsive document.
It was a chain of emails arranging a 23 March 2022 briefing covering AATIP and another Pentagon office called the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronisation Group, known as AOIMSG.
The event was divided into three sessions. One was unclassified and scheduled to last about 50 to 55 minutes followed by a short question session.
Two other presentations were classified at the TS SCI level, meaning Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information.
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Those classified discussions took place inside a secure facility known as a SCIF located in Roosevelt Hall at the National War College on the Fort McNair campus in Washington.
Perhaps the most striking detail in the released records is that the original invitation email was labelled as coming from a non Department of Defense source.
This suggests the briefing was arranged through communication between government officials and at least one outside individual or organisation.
However the identities of the participants remain hidden. All names and contact details were removed from the documents under FOIA privacy rules.
Redacted Names Hint at Possible Key Figures
Although the released documents conceal the names involved, the structure of the FOIA requests provides clues.
One request specifically searched for emails sent to or from Brennan P McKernan, who has previously been reported as a director connected to the Pentagon's UAP task force.
Another request required the keyword 'Elizondo' and sought communications involving Luis Elizondo as a private citizen.
The fact that the email chain was considered responsive to both searches strongly suggests those names appear somewhere within the redacted header fields such as the sender or recipient lines.
This does not prove either individual attended the briefing. But it indicates that their names were at least mentioned in connection with the planning or communication surrounding the event.
All identifying information was removed under FOIA exemption rules protecting personal privacy.
Why the Briefing Raises New Questions About AATIP
The March 2022 presentation is notable because it took place years after AATIP was officially said to have ended.
The briefing itself was described as an 'AATIP AOIMSG Presentation,' suggesting that the earlier programme was being discussed alongside its successor office.
AOIMSG was established in 2021 to coordinate the Pentagon's approach to unidentified airborne objects.
The presentation reportedly included discussion of congressional reports and multiple 'Tic Tac' incidents.
That wording is significant because public attention has largely focused on a single encounter involving the USS Nimitz. The use of the plural term suggests that other similar events may have been examined during the classified briefing.
While the released emails do not confirm who attended or what information was presented behind closed doors, they show that AATIP remained part of official discussions within secure military settings.
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