TYB
Crew Ends Week with Spacesuit Checks and Science, Lab Hardware Maintenance
July 31, 2026 12:52PM
Expedition 75 ended July stepping up preparations for the first of three spacewalks planned for the month of August.
The International Space Station residents also wrapped up the week configuring combustion research and Earth imagery hardware while continuing lab maintenance.
NASA flight engineer Anil Menon tried on his spacesuit on Friday to get ready for his first career spacewalk planned for Thursday, Aug. 6.
NASA flight engineer Jack Hathaway assisted Menon in the Quest airlock helping him verify the suit’s comfort, mobility, and functionality.
The duo also cleaned the suit’s water-cooling loops that keep an astronaut comfortable while working in the extreme environment of space.
Menon later joined station commander Jessica Meir and reviewed procedures for the spacewalk that will see the duo spend about six-and-a-half hours building the platform upon which the orbital outpost’s seventh roll out solar array will be installed later this year to augment its power system.
Meir will lead the spacewalk, her sixth since Oct. 18, 2019, when she conducted the first all-female spacewalk with NASA astronaut Christina Koch.
Flight engineer Sophie Adenot of ESA (European Space Agency) spent her shift in the Kibo laboratory module working on scientific and life support gear.
Adenot opened up the solid combustion experiment module, swapped samples, and vacuumed soot in the research device that safely observes how solid materials burn and self‑extinguish in microgravity.
She also collected fluid samples from Kibo’s thermal system that will be analyzed for chemical composition, contaminants, and gases.
Roscosmos flight engineer Andrey Fedyaev worked in the Zvezda service module installing and testing Earth observation hardware that uses a wide range of wavelengths to capture detailed imagery of areas affected by catastrophic events.
Fedyaev completed his shift updating software that supports the European robotic arm’s control console. Roscosmos flight engineers Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina partnered together at the end of the week taking inventory of station tools, office supplies, and personal items.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/07/31/crew-ends-week-with-spacesuit-checks-and-science-lab-hardware-maintenance/
extra NASA
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasas-newest-wind-tunnel-opens-at-nasa-langley/
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-opens-new-flight-dynamics-research-facility-in-virginia/
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/esdmd/artemis-campaign-development-division/human-landing-system-program/nasa-spacex-advance-wind-tunnel-tests-for-starship-rocket/
https://x.com/NASALangley/status/2083281738525028863
Bethany Stevens
@NASASpox
Across the world, in the skies, and beyond, here’s the latest in your NASA Minute:
🇬🇧 Farnborough Air Show
✈️ Oshkosh
🌏
@Astro_ChrisW
returns home
🔭 Roman nears launch
💾 AI-focused Genesis mission
🚀 Artemis III engines arrive
As always, stay tuned for more next week!
https://x.com/NASASpox/status/2083274306977726473
moar
https://x.com/astro_Pettit/status/2083310808927293700
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2083243770435256737
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2083570645275672810
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2083571440226291846
US: Onboard neural network guides satellite, reduces ground control need
Aug 01, 2026 08:40 AM EST
Neural network steers spacecraft without real-time human intervention.
The US has demonstrated a level of artificial intelligence in orbit after a neural network autonomously controlled the orientation of a satellite without human intervention.
The flight, conducted by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), moved AI beyond managing sensors and payloads and placed it in charge of a core spacecraft function.
During the mission, an AI agent was uploaded to a satellite orbiting hundreds of miles above Earth and directed the vehicle toward its objective within a single orbit.
The system also avoided hazardous conditions while controlling the spacecraft’s orientation, showing how autonomous software could reduce dependence on ground commands during military and scientific missions.
From payload management to spacecraft control
The demonstration represents a shift in how AI could be used in space operations.
Instead of supporting only mission equipment, the neural network directly commanded the satellite bus, which determines how a spacecraft points and maneuvers in orbit.
“We have a responsibility to translate advances in AI to give our Airmen and Guardians trustworthy autonomous teammates to meet today’s fast-moving challenges,” said Department of the Air Force Technology Executive Officer and AFRL Commander Brig. Gen. Douglas P. Wickert.
“The AFRL vision is to win the future by executing our mission to discover, develop and deliver war-winning science and technology,” he added.
AFRL’s Autonomy Capability Team, known as ACT3, developed the neural network using reinforcement learning.
The team trained the model through repeated simulations before exposing it to laboratory tests designed to narrow the gap between virtual performance and real spacecraft operations.
Reinforcement learning model reaches orbit
The project followed a rapid development approach intended to move AI systems from research environments into operational testing quickly.
“We used startup-like agility to take a reinforcement learning model from the lab directly to orbit,” said Dr. Steve “Cap” Rogers, AFRL senior scientist for AI enabled autonomy. “This flight is a perfect example of ACT3’s core mission to operationalize AI at scale for the Air and Space Force.”
Reinforcement learning allows an AI model to improve its decisions by receiving feedback from simulated actions and outcomes. For this mission, the approach enabled the agent to learn how to orient the spacecraft while remaining within operational limits.
The successful flight offers evidence that neural network-based control can operate on physical spacecraft after simulation and ground validation.
Safety systems monitor autonomous decisions
Alongside the neural network, the mission evaluated an AI watchdog and runtime assurance guardrails designed to reduce the risks of autonomous control.
The watchdog system identifies when an AI approaches situations that have not been sufficiently verified, allowing control to shift to backup systems.
The guardrails monitor the spacecraft’s condition and the neural network’s outputs, intervening when predefined safety limits are approached.
Both safety systems operated in shadow mode during the flight. They did not control the vehicle but recorded how they would have responded to the AI’s decisions in real-time.
With autonomous orientation now demonstrated in orbit, AFRL plans to test more complex AI-controlled spacecraft operations on future missions.
https://interestingengineering.com/space/usaf-onboard-neural-network-guides-satellite-reduces-ground-control-need
Space Delta 12 holds change of command at Schriever SFB
July 31, 2026
Space Delta 12 welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony July 31 at Schriever Space Force Base.
The delta leads the integrated test and evaluation of U.S. Space Force capabilities to rapidly field combat-credible weapon systems and tactics.
Col. Sacha N. Tomlinson relinquished command to Col. Anna Gunn-Golkin as Maj. Gen. James E. Smith, commander of Space Training and Readiness Command, presided.
Under Tomlinson’s leadership, Delta 12 standardized how it planned and executed test activities and strengthened how it communicated test resource requirements.
The delta advanced efforts to establish a cyber test force and made progress on test-management software across the organization.
Delta 12 planned and executed major test campaigns, including the initial Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System, and Presidential and National Voice Conference Service System.
The Space Test Course earned Air University accreditation during her tenure, awarding graduates master’s degrees for the first time.
The footprint at Edwards Air Force Base, California, also grew as the Space Force element supporting the Space Test Course became the 593rd Test and Evaluation Squadron, which develops future test professionals.
“Delta 12 turns promise into proof, and proof into operational advantage,” Smith said. “And under Col. Tomlinson’s leadership, team strengthened how the United States Space Force delivers tested, credible capability to the joint force.”
Tomlinson will next serve as the director of exercises and readiness at U.S. Space Forces Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
Gunn-Golkin commissioned from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2005 and is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. She previously commanded the 3rd Test and Evaluation Squadron, Delta 12, at Schriever SFB.
Her test experience includes work on a range of experimental spacecraft. She has logged more than 600 flight hours across more than 35 aircraft types.
Before assuming command, Gunn-Golkin served as chief of staff and space planner at the U.S. Military Delegation to NATO in Brussels, Belgium, where she advised the alliance on military policy involving the space domain.
“You bring exactly the kind of experience this mission demands: deep developmental test expertise, operational credibility, strategic perspective and a reputation for tackling ill-defined, high-stakes problems and getting them done,” Smith said.
In her remarks, Gunn-Golkin expressed respect for the Delta 12 team and reflected on the responsibility of leading the organization.
“Space test is a warfighting responsibility and Delta 12 carries that responsibility for the entire Joint Force,” Gunn-Golkin said. “It is the honor of my career to stand in front of you today as the commander of the Space Force’s premier delta.
Our work gives the Joint Force confidence. Confidence that America’s space capabilities will work when lives depend on them.”
In her farewell remarks, Tomlinson reflected on her time leading the delta and expressed confidence in its future under Gunn-Golkin.
“I’ve had the privilege of working the test mission for 15 years, and the people and purpose of Space Delta 12 will stay close to my heart for the rest of my life,” Tomlinson said.
“You are the most brilliant, innovative delta in the service, and I can’t wait to hear what you accomplish under the leadership of Col. Gunn-Golkin.”
Through rigorous, independent test and evaluation, Space Delta 12 continues to cultivate the deep domain expertise, relevant mission capability and operational agility that STARCOM requires to forge Guardians and systems ready to deliver unmatched combat credibility in the space domain.
https://www.starcom.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4558938/space-delta-12-holds-change-of-command-at-schriever-sfb/
moar Space Force
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4561995/historic-4th-space-launch-squadron-reactivates-at-vandenberg/
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article/4561435/space-force-fosters-development-for-next-generation-test-and-training-technology
https://x.com/SpaceForceCSO
https://x.com/af_academy/status/2082930992239751432
SpaceX has sent yet another batch of its Starlink internet satellites into orbit.
August 1, 2026
A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 of the broadband spacecraft lifted off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on Friday (July 31) at 11:08 p.m. EDT (8:08 p.m. local time; 0308 GMT on Aug. 1).
The rocket's first stage came back to Earth as planned 8.5 minutes later, touching down in the Pacific Ocean atop the SpaceX droneship "Of Course I Still Love You." It was the 26th mission for this particular booster, which is designated B1081.
The 24 Starlink satellites were deployed into low Earth orbit (LEO) 61.5 minutes after liftoff as planned, SpaceX confirmed via X.
They're joining more than 10,800 other spacecraft in the Starlink megaconstellation, by far the largest satellite network ever assembled.
SpaceX has now launched 89 Falcon 9 missions in 2026, 69 of which have been dedicated Starlink flights.
The company also has three other liftoffs under its belt this year — one launch of its powerful Falcon Heavy vehicle and two test flights of Starship, the fully reusable megarocket SpaceX is developing to help humanity settle the moon and Mars, among other tasks.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-starlink-falcon-9-launch-group-17-52-ocisly-vandenberg
https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-17-52
extra SpaceX (kind of)
https://avi-loeb.medium.com/the-risk-of-false-negatives-is-elon-musk-the-most-accomplished-space-entrepreneur-since-the-big-e0ce9ac9e622
Russian MOD lists military facilities hit in latest strikes on Kiev
1 Aug, 2026 12:46 | Updated 1 Aug, 2026 13:50
Russian forces hit five military-industrial facilities and a logistics hub in Kiev and its suburbs during a barrage overnight from Friday to Saturday, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said. Two ships carrying military cargo off Odessa the day before were also hit, it added.
In a statement on Saturday, the ministry said that the strikes, which involved precision air, sea and ground-based weapons, targeted the Kiev-based enterprise Radioizmeritel, which it said was supplying electronic components for Neptun-MD, Grom-2, and FP-7/FP-9 missiles and was involved in developing navigation systems for long-range drones.
Other targets included the Burevestnik plant, said to build electronics for long- and medium-range drones and radar equipment, and a Fire Point facility producing parts and warheads for FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles, along with chemicals for solid-fuel boosters.
The ministry also listed a site tied to Lima jamming systems used to spoof precision-guidance signals, as well as a drone assembly and storage point which specialized in several types of interceptor UAVs.
Officials added that the strikes hit a logistics center in Vishnevoye, in Kiev Region, which handled components and warheads for Ukrainian drones. On Friday, two ships were also struck south of Odessa while transporting military cargo, the statement added.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky claimed that the strike involved 35 missiles – 27 of them ballistic – and 185 drones, with Kiev as the main target, alongside attacks on Dnepropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkov and Poltava Regions.
He said only one ballistic missile was intercepted, citing a shortage of Western-supplied Patriot interceptors.
Zelensky also reported fires across seven districts of Kiev, claiming that at least nine people had been killed and dozens injured. Meanwhile, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported fires at both residential and unspecified non-residential industrial sites.
Moscow has been carrying out strikes on Ukraine’s defense-related facilities as retaliation for Kiev’s attacks deep into Russian territory, which often target critical infrastructure and residential buildings. Russia maintains it never targets civilians.
https://www.rt.com/russia/643744-russia-list-kiev-strikes/
extra RT
https://www.rt.com/russia/643738-kiev-missile-strikes-explosions/
https://www.rt.com/news/643741-us-take-whatever-we-want-ukraine-trump/
https://www.rt.com/russia/643715-ukraine-frontline-unit-abuses/
https://www.rt.com/russia/643735-ukrainian-death-toll-reverse-zelensky/
https://www.rt.com/russia/643718-ukraine-destabilization-shipping-benefit-us/
https://www.rt.com/russia/643746-ukraine-piracy-ship-sunk-rosatom/
Ukrainian drone strike sinks Russian cargo ship in Black Sea, all 17 crew rescued
August 1, 2026, 16:55:13 IST
Two Ukrainian drones struck and sank a civilian cargo vessel linked to Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom in the Black Sea, with all 17 crew members rescued, Russian officials said on Saturday.
The vessel, named Yanina, was reportedly sailing near the Russian port of Novorossiysk when it came under attack overnight. Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev condemned the strike as “piracy and maritime robbery”.
All 17 crew members rescued
According to Rosatom, the crew abandoned the vessel in an organised manner after it began taking on water and eventually sank. All 17 people on board were rescued and were reported to be in good condition.
The rescue operation involved Russian Black Sea Fleet naval aviation as well as the crew of the merchant vessel Delphinus, according to Russian state media.
Likhachev said the Yanina was an ordinary civilian container ship sailing in international waters and carrying commercial goods, including frozen food, construction materials and finishing supplies.
Zelenskyy confirms strike
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian forces had targeted the Russian-flagged Yanina, saying the sanctioned vessel had a capacity of more than 100,000 tonnes and had “gone to the bottom”.
Ukraine did not immediately provide further details about the operation.
There was no immediate indication that the vessel was transporting nuclear material or carrying out activities directly linked to Rosatom’s nuclear operations.
Black Sea attacks escalate
The incident comes amid a wider escalation in attacks on vessels and maritime infrastructure linked to the Russia-Ukraine war.
Kyiv has accused Moscow of using the Black Sea to transport sanctioned goods, including oil, while Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian ports and ships approaching Ukrainian ports. Ukraine has described some of those attacks as war crimes.
Russian reports said the Yanina was operated by FESCO, one of the country’s major transport and logistics companies. FESCO has been under Rosatom’s control since 2023.
The latest strike follows Ukraine’s broader efforts to disrupt Russian military logistics in the northwestern Black Sea. On June 27, the Ukrainian Navy said it had destroyed a Russian logistics boat carrying supplies to Russian forces on the occupied Tendra Spit.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/ukrainian-drone-strike-sinks-russian-cargo-ship-in-black-sea-all-17-crew-rescued-14035341.html
https://gcaptain.com/civilian-vessel-sinks-in-black-sea-after-ukrainian-drone-attack/
https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/ukraines-naval-drones-sink-russian-state-nuclear-giants-cargo-ship-in-black-sea-21254
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/01/ukraine-sinks-russian-owned-container-ship-in-black-sea-rosatom-says-a93393
other Russia and Ukraine
https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/russias-giant-ufa-refinery-engulfed-in-flames-after-drone-strike-21253
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81528
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81542
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/ukraine-s-military-intelligence-strikes-costly-1785585250.html
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/81544
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-08-01/live-updates-904253
other Israel
https://www.aninews.in/news/world/middle-east/blatant-violation-of-ceasefire-lebanese-pm-nawaf-salam-condemns-recent-israeli-attacks20260801103112/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/five-hamas-arms-depots-destroyed-in-gaza-airstrikes-overnight-idf/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/un-says-idf-demolitions-in-south-lebanon-deeply-concerning/
https://www.jfeed.com/news-israel/idf-hezbollah-southern-lebanon-operations#google_vignette
Live Updates: Iran preparing response plan for potential US-Israeli strikes on energy infrastructure
August 1, 9:43 PM
US, BoP officials discuss details of Gaza reconstruction plan • IDF destroys Hezbollah tunnel network in southern Lebanon • US officials say deal will prevent next Oct. 7
August 1, 9:43 PM
Israel raises alert as officials estimate large-scale American attack on Iran imminent - report
Israeli officials warn renewed US strikes on Iran could trigger attacks on Israel, as embassies urge citizens to consider leaving amid rising tensions.
Israeli officials have raised the alert over the possibility of a new escalation of the Iran conflict, with many estimating that the conflict is "on the verge of exploding," N12 News reported on Saturday.
"It is estimated that [US President Donald] Trump has not yet decided on the scope of the attack, and it is not known whether he wants Israel with him in the first phase or not," the outlet reported.
According to the report, the White House supports the Israeli assessment that a significant and targeted attack on energy facilities could lead to the overthrow of the regime.
"Such a powerful attack could be targeted in time and would not necessarily lead to an 'energy war' that would raise prices. These are specific facilities that could have a significant effect on the public," the source told N12.
August 1, 7:08 PM
IDF kills several Hezbollah terrorists identified within Security Zone
The IDF killed several Hezbollah terrorists identified in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area, within the IDF’s Security Zone in southern Lebanon, in overnight strikes on Saturday.
One Israeli soldier was moderately injured as a result of the encounter with the terrorists and was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment.
August 1, 4:37 PM
WATCH: IDF destroys five Hamas weapons storage facilities in overnight strikes
The IDF destroyed five Hamas weapons storage facilities during overnight strikes on the Gaza Strip, the military announced on Saturday.
The strikes were guided by Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) intelligence and targeted locations where rifles, explosives, anti-tank missiles, ammunition, and additional arms were stored.
One of the targeted facilities was located adjacent to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, which the IDF stated is frequently used as a hideout facility for Hamas terrorists.
August 1, 4:33 PM
Israel-Lebanon talks expected to resume on Tuesday - report
Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold the seventh round of negotiations in Rome on Tuesday, Lebanese media reported on Saturday.
According to a report by Al-Hadath, the Lebanese delegation will propose moving to the second phase of the "pilot zones," where the IDF is expected to withdraw in order to let the Lebanese army take control.
The report also mentions that Lebanese authorities will not allow for an Israeli inspection of the areas included in the phase one, with only a third party being able to inspect the sites.
1/2
August 1, 2:25 PM
IDF officer moderately injured in southern Lebanon, military says
An IDF officer was moderately injured overnight in southern Lebanon, the military said on Saturday.
The officer was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment, and his family has been notified.
August 1, 2:21 PM
US Embassies in Israel, Iraq issue security alerts, warn of travel disruptions
The US Embassies in Israel and Iraq warned that due to "heightened tensions in the Middle East," US citizens should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions, the Embassy announced on X/Twitter Saturday.
The alert noted that some airlines have postponed flights scheduled while others have canceled some routes.
August 1, 2:10 PM
Blast in western Iran caused by old artillery shell detonating, Iranian media says
An explosion heard in Eslamabad Gharb in western Iran was caused by the detonation of an old artillery shell, Iranian media cited the local governor as saying Saturday.
August 1, 11:35 AM
US Embassy in Jordan issues security alert warning of travel disruptions
The US Embassy in Amman, Jordan, warned that due to "heightened tensions in the Middle East," US citizens should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions, the Embassy announced on X/Twitter Saturday.
The announcement included a warning to US citizens that Iran and its supportive groups may target US interests, including businesses and Americans throughout the world.
The alert noted that some airlines postponed scheduled flights while others canceled some routes.
August 1, 10:15 AM
EU naval force says Italian frigate escorts merchant vessel safely through Red Sea
A merchant vessel safely passed through the Red Sea under the protection of the Italian frigate Bergamini, the European Union naval mission ASPIDES said on Saturday.
ASPIDES, the EU's defensive maritime security operation in the Red Sea, did not identify the vessel or disclose its flag, ownership or cargo details.
Shipping in the Red Sea has faced renewed disruption in recent weeks after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia and subsequently attacked Saudi vessels, raising risks for commercial traffic and contributing to higher oil prices.
August 1, 9:53 AM
Kuwait air defenses intercept Iranian drone attacks, military says
Kuwaiti air defenses responded to hostile drone attacks from Iran on Saturday, the Kuwaiti military said on Saturday morning.
The army told the public that any sounds of explosions are the result of interceptions.
2/2
Learn About Japan’s Centuries-Old Legend of the Hollow UFO Ship
August 1, 2026
In 1803, something strange washed ashore on the coast of Hitachi Province, in what is now Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
Local fishermen found a round, hollow vessel bobbing in the shallows. Inside sat a young woman in unfamiliar clothing.
She clutched a small box and refused to let it go. She spoke a language no one recognized, and strange writing covered the vessel. Then, according to the old records, she vanished from history.
The story is known as utsuro-bune, meaning “hollow ship.” It appears in several manuscripts from Japan’s Edo period, which lasted from 1603 to 1868. Centuries later, the legend still puzzles researchers.
The vessel’s unusual shape and the woman’s mysterious appearance have earned the tale a nickname: Japan’s flying saucer legend. It predates the 1947 sighting that helped spark America’s modern UFO craze by more than a century.
Tanaka Kazuo, a professor emeritus at Gifu University, spent decades investigating the legend. His interest in utsuro-bune began after the 1995 sarin gas attacks carried out by the Aum Shinrikyo cult.
While researching pseudoscience and paranormal claims for a lecture series, he encountered the story and became fascinated by its unusual paper trail.
Tanaka tracked down 11 separate documents describing the Hitachi incident. The accounts disagree about the exact dates and locations. Several, however, offer detailed descriptions of the vessel.
The most cited include Toen Shosetsu, a collection edited by novelist Kyokutei Bakin in 1825, and Ume no Chiri, an 1844 text by Nagahashi Matajiro.
Other sources, including Records of Castaways, describe a vessel roughly 3.3 meters tall and 5.4 meters wide. According to these accounts, it featured rosewood, iron, glass, and crystal.
The folklorist Yanagita Kunio once dismissed utsuro-bune tales as pure invention. Tanaka disagrees, at least when it comes to the 1803 Hitachi case.
He points to the story’s specific year and its consistent illustrations of a saucer-like craft. Those details, he argues, set it apart from vaguer regional versions of the legend.
The historical context also adds another layer to the mystery. During the Edo period, Japan enforced strict policies that limited contact with foreign countries.
A confirmed foreign shipwreck or visitor could have triggered an official government investigation and left a formal paper trail. When British sailors landed at Otsuhama in 1824, the incident helped push Japan toward an edict ordering foreign ships to be repelled.
Tanaka suspects that something similar, but smaller and quieter, may have occurred at Kashimanada Beach. A brief, real encounter could have later fused with older Japanese folk traditions about mysterious hollow ships.
The strange script inside the vessel remains unsolved. One theory suggests that it echoes the faux-Roman lettering sometimes used as a decorative border in ukiyo-e, a style of Japanese woodblock printing.
If so, the writing may never have meant anything at all. Tanaka has not ruled out stranger explanations, either, and has even raised the possibility of alien writing, though he does so with a laugh rather than as a serious claim.
That mix of the plausible and the unexplainable is what keeps Tanaka going. New documents could still surface, and each one could reopen the case.
A mysterious woman washing ashore in 1803 inside a disc-shaped vessel covered in unreadable script is not a story anyone can fully close the book on, and that may be exactly why it has outlasted two centuries of skeptics.
In 1803, a mysterious woman reportedly washed ashore in Japan inside a strange, disc-shaped vessel known as the utsuro-bune.
https://mymodernmet.com/utsuro-bune-japan-ufo/
'Alien Spacecraft Landing': Baba Vanga's Chilling November 2026 Extraterrestrial Warning
31 July 2026, 5:06 PM BST
Baba Vanga, the blind Bulgarian mystic, has claimed a series of predictions for 2026, claiming 'Alien Spacecraft Landing,' World War 3, and a global financial crash.
Baba Vanga believes that humans will interact with extraterrestrial intelligence in November 2026. She's envisioned a large spacecraft entering Earth's atmosphere. She's 'seen' that humans will receive contact from an unidentified civilisation already present on Earth.
These claims can't be verified due to the lack of documentation because the mystic left no written records before her death on August 11, 1996, and even predicting her own death.
'Casting' a Shadow of Doom Over 2026
The 'seer ' envisions shifting geopolitical dynamics, climate emergencies, and the rise of AI disrupting peace in the latter half of the year.
She has been nicknamed the 'Nostradamus of the Balkans,' earning respect for her prophetic abilities. She foresaw events, such as Princess Diana's death.
Her predictions for 2026 remain unconfirmed due to no written documents from the seer before her death. Many people are afraid of the latter part of the year she is suggesting lies ahead.
The oracle allegedly predicted the UK floods of 2022 and has now foreseen natural catastrophes in 2026. It's unclear where these natural disasters will strike, whether they are tornadoes, tsunamis, or earthquakes.
She predicts a devastating combination of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, causing severe weather impacts for eight percent of the Earth. Massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and extreme weather will consume 7-8% of the planet's land in 2026.
Her predictions don't include specific locations or dates, but the record heatwaves in the UK and Europe, devastating wildfires in Europe, Canada, and Australia, could be seen as part of her prediction for 2026 bearing fruit.
Vanga's credited with predicting 9/11, foresees turmoil in 2026. Among her many alarming predictions for 2026 is the beginning of World War Three, a large-scale conflict starting in 2026 involving major global powers.
The conflict is set to ripple across continents, creating a period of political instability and escalating global tensions, according to the 'seer.'
This could be tied to another worldwide financial crash, at the very least, a significant economic downturn in 2026. This World War could result in market crashes, inflation, or a currency collapse.
Baba Vanga has foreseen Putin's demise. She's foreseen the rise of a new Russian leader in 2026. This raises questions and concerns about the fate of Ukraine should Vladimir Putin's dictatorship falter.
AI Transforms Humanity
Interpretations of Baba Vanga's prophecies suggest she foresaw AI beginning to transform humanity in 2026, believing that 2027 would mark a turning point where AI permanently alters industries and daily life.
Her vision has prompted some to question how humans can maintain autonomy from 'thinking machines' as AI becomes interwoven into every aspect of daily life.
Baba Vanga's name has been attached to many powerful headline events over the years, such as Princess Diana's death and 9/11. Her successful predictions have become part of the lore surrounding her name.
2026 predictions for the latter part of the year include alien contact, World War 3, and natural disasters around the world. Her prophecies, although unverified, suggest significant geopolitical and environmental upheavals.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/baba-vanga-2026-predictions-alien-contact-world-war-3-1811781
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFaXi-NrPV0 (Jesse Michels: “I Was Taken By Aliens In 1997!” -President of Russian Republic (Kirsan Ilyumzhinov)) 1:27:07 Encounters with Baba Vanga
The Solway Spaceman: Cumbria’s strangest snapshot, explained
31st July 2026
A bright May afternoon on Burgh Marsh, with the Solway’s big sky stretching over the mudflats, should have produced nothing more dramatic than a family snapshot.
Carlisle firefighter Jim Templeton had taken his young daughter Elizabeth out to the marsh in 1964 and, like countless parents, lined her up against the empty landscape for a photograph.
It was only when the film came back from the chemist that the day became anything but ordinary.
In one frame, behind Elizabeth’s small figure, stood what looked uncannily like a tall white spaceman, complete with helmet and dark visor – a figure Templeton insisted he had not seen when he pressed the shutter.
From that moment, the picture stopped being a private family memento and became one of Britain’s most replayed UFO mysteries.
First carried in the local press, it quickly leapt into national headlines and then into newspapers overseas.
Police in Carlisle could find no sign the photograph had been tampered with, and experts at Kodak reportedly declared the image genuine while offering a reward to anyone who could prove it was faked – a reward that was never claimed.
Over the years, Templeton told of mysterious visitors asking questions about the shot and of technicians at RAF Spadeadam, then home to the Blue Streak rocket programme, who claimed they had seen similar figures near a missile test site.
Each retelling added a fresh layer of intrigue, helping to fix the “Solway Spaceman” in the public imagination and nudging a quiet stretch of Cumbrian marshland onto the mental map of UFO hotspots.
Half a century on, however, a far more down‑to‑earth explanation has emerged from patient scrutiny of the original negatives.
Other images from the same roll show Templeton’s wife, Annie, present on the marsh that day.
Modern analysts argue that in the infamous frame she had simply walked into shot with her back to the camera, wearing a light blue summer dress that, under the conditions, registered as bright white.
The camera Templeton used offered only a partial view of the final image in its viewfinder, making it quite plausible that he did not realise she was in the edge of the frame when he composed the picture.
On this reading, the “spaceman” is not an otherworldly visitor but a misperceived figure, transformed by over‑exposure and memory into something uncanny.
Yet the spaceman refuses to vanish. Templeton himself never warmed to the mundane explanation and maintained that he had noticed no one standing behind Elizabeth.
Online, the photograph still circulates through UFO books, documentaries, YouTube investigations and podcasts, cropping up whenever British mysteries are discussed.
That persistence tells its own story.
The Solway Spaceman is now less a puzzle awaiting solution than a piece of local folklore: a reminder of how easily an ambiguous image can gather legend around it, and how reluctant we often are to trade a compelling mystery for the simple, human truth behind the frame.
https://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/26422565.solway-spaceman-cumbrias-strangest-snapshot-explained/
What would he wear?
Go with the classic and familiar robes or spice it up with a little modern flavor?
Trump Kisses Jesus and Arrests Aliens in Loony Truth Social Posting Spree
Aug 1st, 2026, 2:56 pm
President Donald Trump went on a posting spree on Truth Social on Saturday, sharing AI-generated images of him doing everything from arresting extraterrestrials to kissing a statue of Jesus Christ.
Trump went on Truth Social on Saturday to insist the United States is winning the Iran war and lash out at Jeannine Pirro after the U.S. Attorney in Washington D.C. dropped criminal charges against an Olympian accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
He also posted a number of strange memes that ran all over the place.
One image was of him kissing a golden statue of Jesus.
Another post was a recycled picture of Trump walking with officials next to an alien in handcuffs.
The president also doubled down on his long-standing wish for the United States to take control of Greenland.
Trump said on Friday it’d be a good bet to say the United States will have “operational control” of Greenland before the end of his second term.
“Yeah, you’ll be right if you took that. Yeah, you’ll be right. No, we want to do something very important. Greenland’s important, you know, from our standpoint, not from their standpoint, but from our standpoint. You should make that bet actually,” he said.
The president also posted an image combining his face with that of President George Washington and another of him in the Revolutionary War.
He also posted an AI image of him and his son Barron Trump, saying his son is simply a more youthful version of him, and a post claiming he ages “in reverse.”
Trump added in a swipe at musician Bruce Springsteen, a vocal critic of the presidnet.
https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-kisses-jesus-and-arrests-aliens-in-loony-truth-social-posting-spree/
EXCLUSIVE: Donald Trump 'Preparing Shocking and Unprecedented Statement on the Aliens Among Us' Disclosure
Updated Sat, August 1, 2026 at 10:58 AM PDT
President Donald Trump is set to give the American public a close encounter of an unprecedented kind by finally revealing definitive proof that aliens and UFOs do exist – and his historic speech is "written and ready," RadarOnline.com can reveal.
UFO expert Mark Christopher Lee says the commander-in-chief – who has released thousands of top secret files already – is preparing a statement about extraterrestrial life.
Filmmaker Predicts Imminent UFO Disclosure
The most recent release includes videos exposing a mysterious "eight-pointed object," spotted in Asia, a jellyfish-like UFO caught on camera above the Atlantic Ocean and another craft zigzagging across the Western U.S.
"People I have spoken with in Washington have told me that a speech on the topic has been prepared and is ready to go," said Lee, a filmmaker.
"Whether it happens tomorrow or in the coming days, it appears imminent."
Trump's bombshell announcement was apparently planned for the 79th anniversary of the July 1947 Roswell incident – when the U.S. military reportedly recovered the wreckage of a downed flying saucer in New Mexico – but those plans were scuttled by the recent NATO summit in Turkey.
Lee claims the speech will disclose contact with beings of "non-human origin," along with revelations about the Roswell recovery, the November 2004 U.S. Navy encounter with a Tic Tac-shaped aircraft off the coast of Southern California, and various other military sightings off America's East Coast in 2015.
Trump Fuels UFO Speculation
What's more, Trump plans to expose the tantalizing results of top-secret forensic tests done on the beings recovered at crash sites, Lee said.
Since the beginning of the year, Trump's unparalleled transparency has stoked the passions of UFO fanatics by ordering federal agencies to release their ET files, insisting: "I think some of it's going to be very interesting to people."
UFO Disclosure Rumors Intensify
Intelligence expert Jeff Rovin told RadarOnline.com rumors about Trump's extraterrestrial announcement have been circulating for months – with excitement peaking in recent weeks.
"You will see an acknowledgement of extraterrestrial life because there needs to be time for religious and political institutions to process the revelations," said Rovin, insisting Trump will not walk to the podium with an alien.
https://www.aol.com/articles/exclusive-donald-trump-preparing-shocking-174500000.html
https://x.com/Thekingofufos/status/2079684198860734928
https://avi-loeb.medium.com/uap-disclosure-is-no-longer-optional-564443bd77ed
https://burlison.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-burlison-releases-administration-memorandum-president-trumps-uap-nda
https://x.com/RepEricBurlison/status/2083537527567241401
UAP Disclosure is No Longer Optional
August 1, 2026
Disclosure of information related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) with potential association with non-human made technologies, is no longer optional for former or current U.S. Government employees.
An unclassified memorandum by Aaron Lukas, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, states as follows:
“This memorandum provides preliminary guidance for the release of all Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) information to the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE) Task Force for review and declassification.
Consistent with Presidential Direction, the Department of War (DoW) and the Intelligence Community (IC) will implement a process to ensure current and former government employees and contractors with relevant information on UAPs shall have prior non-disclosure agreements (NDA), agreements, oaths, or commitments waived when speaking with authorized government representatives of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) or PURSUE.
All members of the IC will, within 30 days of the receipt of this memorandum, coordinate with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to establish a PURSUE designee, and inform their workforce of the President’s order.
Subsequently, ensure the workforce is aware that any previous or existing NDAs prohibiting disclosure to the President, or designees like PURSUE, are no longer in force and that anyone with knowledge of UAP information should report all such information to AARO, or to an authorized PURSUE representative.
Detailed reporting procedures will be disseminated to IC components within the next 30 days. In addition, DoW and ODNI will be issuing to departments and agencies detailed guidance for the broader PURSUE transparency project.
Signed: Aaron Lukas, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence on July 31, 2026”
1/2
This memo deviates dramatically from Steven Spielberg’s script for the recent movie “Disclosure Day”.
Following President Trump’s directive here, the U.S. government is now seeking to expose rather than conceal any scientific information on UAPs and non-human made technologies.
For data collected by classified sensors, the disclosure will start in classified sessions to ensure that no information with national security implications will be shared with adversarial nations.
Nevertheless, if current or former government employees or contractors know about data or materials of alien tech which are held within the government or contracted corporations, this will likely be revealed in the coming months since it will be unlawful for anyone to conceal it.
Legal repercussions from NDAs are no longer a valid reason for keeping this information hidden from President Trump’s administration.
This historic memo removes all legal barriers (NDAs, oaths, and secrecy agreements) for government personnel to report UAP information, representing a structural shift from traditional intelligence containment to an organized, top-down transparency mandate under the White House’s PURSUE project (https://www.war.gov/ufo/). The total legal immunity for whistleblowers is communicated through an absolute waiver of past or existing NDAs, meaning that employees and private contractors can no longer be prosecuted, stripped of security clearances, or face civil penalties for exposing highly classified UAP data, provided they speak to authorized members of AARO or the PURSUE Task Force. The Intelligence Community has a strict 30-day deadline to appoint a designated “PURSUE representative” within every agency.
This forces the decentralized spy networks (like the CIA, NSA, and DIA) to create clear, official pipelines for internal data collection. Intelligence agencies are legally obligated to actively notify their personnel that their lifetime secrecy oaths regarding UAPs are null and void when cooperating with investigators. This directly combats institutional buy-in and the fear of professional retaliation. By naming the AARO and PURSUE as the sole authorized entities, the executive branch is stripping legacy defense compartments of their monopoly on UAP data, funneling all historical and current records into central oversight databases.
The instruction to issue “detailed guidance for the broader PURSUE transparency project” implies that this memo is the operational infrastructure designed to unearth hidden data for upcoming, rolling public releases.
This consequential development directly targets the evidentiary problem that has run through past claims about alien technology which is withheld within the U.S. government. David Grusch’s testimony, George Knapp’s Lockheed material claims and Lue Elizondo’s account, have all been limited by witnesses citing classification and NDA constraints as reasons they could not fully corroborate their claims. If genuinely implemented, this memo removes that specific excuse for the exact people whose corroboration has been missing.
The UAP Science Advisory Council (https://uapsac.com/) under my leadership, will be delighted to analyze any new UAP data or materials that is revealed through this process.
We plan to share our findings with the public because of what Aaron Lukas states on the logo of his X account: “Americans deserve the truth.”
UAP disclosure is no longer optional.Our cosmic neighbors will not go away if we keep UAP knowledge secret.
The fundamental question remains: “Is there any indisputable evidence for alien tech?” We all deserve to know one way or another.
2/2
SCOOP: HPSCI leaders weren't part of UAPDA negotiations; Ranking Dem hasn’t seen UFO files
Aug 01, 2026
Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) — Ranking Member, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI)
Ask a Pol asks:
Have you looked at any of these UFO files the Pentagon’s been dropping?
Key Himes:
“I think I’ve looked at what I understand to be almost all of the compartments that, you know, are relevant, but I’m not current on what the [Defense] Department has been doing lately,” Rep. Jim Himes — the top Democrat on HPSCI — exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics.
They’ve released four batches of recently declassified UFO videos and documentation that are new to the rest of us. But that hasn’t really gotten on your radar?”
“Not really,” Himes says. “I haven’t been tracking it, but I’ll take a look.”
UAPDA — UAP Disclosure Act marches on (for now…)
Have you heard about Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s UAP Disclosure Act getting included in the House-passed version of the NDAA?
“Yeah, no, I can’t remember,” Himes replies. “I’ll take your word for it.”
But the UAPDA didn’t come up in NDAA talks in HPSCI?
“Didn’t come up in Intelligence, no,” Himes says. “We were really focused on the IAA [Intelligence Authorization Act].”
Caught our ear:
“Uh, oh,” Himes quips to Laslo. “I thought I was gonna get out of here without some question about UFOs or whatever, psilocybin.”
https://www.askapoluaps.com/p/scoop-hpsci-leaders-in-dark-on-uapda
https://x.com/AskaPol_UAPs/status/2083541317695553544
extra AskaPol
https://x.com/MattLaslo/status/2083583424288178685
>The above headline implies the shocking statement is imminent. Current sauce needed anon.
Not exactly.
The tweet from Cristopher Sharp explains he disagrees with the statment being imminent, though it does indeed exist.
https://www.liberationtimes.com/home/on-the-brink-ufo-disclosure-speech-believed-to-have-been-prepared-for-trump-amid-expanding-white-house-pushhttps://www.liberationtimes.com/home/on-the-brink-ufo-disclosure-speech-believed-to-have-been-prepared-for-trump-amid-expanding-white-house-push
Senator Rand Paul
@SenRandPaul
Bill Gates had a Q Clearance and a private editor at NIH.
Across nearly twenty years, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation built a relationship with the federal government that ran on personal access as much as formal partnership. I'm releasing the documents. 🧵
1:55 PM · Jul 31, 2026
https://x.com/SenRandPaul/status/2083295531657310573
https://x.com/overclassifiedx/status/2083590137360040209
extra
https://x.com/WilliamShatner/status/2082627697461932194
https://x.com/PeterDiamandis/status/2083621933602443698
forgot one
Interstellar
@InterstellarUAP
Dr Phil outlines the US Governments UFO Disclosure Plan 👽🛸🇺🇸
"The government is walking us toward standing at a podium and saying out loud, “We are not alone.”
They may be handing us the biggest news in human history without context, with no instructions. Just here you go. No plan for what it does to a person.
Mothers explaining it to their kids. Faith tested. People hanging by a thread while fear and rumor fill the gaps.
He describes the coming moment of pure revelation and authority, a short cinematic statement that changes everything for humanity.
https://x.com/InterstellarUAP/status/2082982029302386995
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-1cm8sPZAI (Psychology of Disclosure: The Conversation No One's Having)
last bread, unnotabled, because it upset the night baker, again
Dr Phil Reveals ET Disclosure will happen with no context nor instructions
Aug 1, 2026
Exopolitis Week In Review
Lue Elizondo claims regarding UFO crash retrievals spark intense debate. Learn the facts behind these statements and current aging research.
This breakdown examines the ongoing UFO controversy surrounding Lue Elizondo and his assertions about retrieved craft. We analyze the specific claims made and the skepticism they have generated within the community.
Whether you follow aerospace developments or are curious about the intersection of testimony and evidence, this analysis clarifies the current narrative.
Beyond the skies, we shift focus to the biology of aging. Science is exploring methods for reversing aging by resetting epigenetic status. We discuss the current state of this research and what it could mean for human longevity.
Finally, we highlight the upcoming webinar, The Green Mountain Mystery, scheduled for August 8, 2026, which promises to expand on these themes.
Lue Elizondo claims regarding UFO crash retrievals spark intense debate. Learn the facts behind these statements and current aging research.
This breakdown examines the ongoing UFO controversy surrounding Lue Elizondo and his assertions about retrieved craft.
Dr. Michael Salla analyzes the specific claims made and the skepticism they have generated within the community. Whether you follow aerospace developments or are curious about the intersection of testimony and evidence, this analysis clarifies the current narrative.
Beyond the skies, Dr. Salla shifts focus to the biology of aging. Science is exploring methods for reversing aging by resetting epigenetic status.
He discusses the current state of this research and what it could mean for human longevity. Finally, Dr. Salla highlights the upcoming webinar, The Green Mountain Mystery, scheduled for August 8, 2026, which promises to expand on these themes.
Topics
Is the public is being played in the Coulthart/Elizondo (contrived) controversy over UFO crash retrievals? https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/2082427737881362878
Jorge Pabon reveals more details about his eight-man covert mission to an underground civilization of Ant People in 2023. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/2082428426460282899
Trump administration bans import of humanoid robots on national security grounds. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/2082551263217029309
Lue Elizondo claims lack of progress in reverse engineering retrieved UFO crash material: https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/2082638348942782951
Dr Phil Reveals ET Disclosure will happen with no context nor instructions https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/2082998753443684452
Irony of Pentagon officials involved in the cover-up of ET life are being given press coverage in releasing breadcrumbs concerning the scope of ET visitation. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/2083157222612193408
Reverse ageing is not a delusional belief by those claiming to have been part of “20 and back” secret space programs. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/2083162150093078528
The Forgotten “8th Force” That Inspired Star Wars is secretly being studied under Green Mountain, Alabama. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/2083169950638707127
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGuFAjkgb8Y
https://exopolitics.org/dr-phil-reveals-et-disclosure-will-happen-with-no-context-nor-instructions/
extra disclosure dejour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-sJKyIsydQ (UAMN TV: Could Hidden Advanced Technology Save Earth? A Defence Minister's Warning | Paul Hellyer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLvtNiBx_tI (Camp Gagnon: The Secret Society That Controls The Pope)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpPfqdj8o9Y (Who Is Creating Crop Circles? | Ancient Aliens)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1JdTmPwfXM (James Franco: The Situation from Allen's perspective)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtz_4drk4jQ (Geraldine Orozco: Why You're Addicted to Stress: The Hidden Science of Trauma, Emotional Addiction & Epigenetics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWNGD6UdNjc (Civilian UFO reporting network and renewed questions about MH370 | Backscroll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w9SLXu4_No (Bryce Zabel: #76 Whose Narrative Is It Anyway? — Need to Know)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOQMGFTOWDM (WoodwardTV: Something Strange is Happening… This Is The Pattern)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi33cgWsv1g (Into the Deep LakeTahoe: The Hunt for Tahoe Tessie)