>>24930702

TYB

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

August 13, 2026

Total Solar Eclipse Over Spain

On August 12th, 2026, the Moon totally eclipsed the Sun and cast its shadow across Siberia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal. Today’s image features two total solar eclipses viewed from Zaragoza, Spain, one over the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar and the other reflecting in the Ebro River. For a few moments, Spain saw its first major total solar eclipse since 1905. Those witnessing totality may experience a chill in the air, the quieting of birds, the confused chirps of insects, and the shared awe of many. It’s the corona’s time to shine as the Sun’s bright disk is blocked by the Moon. Among other reasons to study eclipses, they help scientists understand why the corona is millions of degrees hotter than the Sun’s surface. Enthusiastic citizens can contribute to these studies by recording how wildlife responds, imaging the corona, and monitoring air temperature and clouds.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svs7wXzyPdM

https://www.space.com/stargazing/solar-eclipses/total-solar-eclipse-2026-thrills-millions-with-a-stunning-cosmic-spectacle-photos-video

https://www.space.com/stargazing/solar-eclipses/total-solar-eclipse-stuns-skywatchers-space-photo-of-the-day-for-aug-13-2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NZVJ5YVp7Q (The complete sequence of the HISTORIC SOLAR ECLIPSE seen from TERUEL)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAYzPx9RfAY (FULL SEQUENCE of the TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE from an IBERIA PLANE)

Total solar eclipse 2026 thrills millions with a stunning cosmic spectacle

August 12, 2026

"I cannot believe what I just witnessed.

I knew what to expect - I've seen thousands of photos but nothing compares to that feeling you get when you watch the sun transform before your very eyes."

And just like that, it's over.

Total solar eclipses are incredible moments in time, but they are fleeting.

As the moon passes directly in front of the sun and its shadow sweeps across Earth's surface, the temperature drops and the light takes on an eerie twilight quality.

Birds and other animals go quiet. It's a spectacle unlike any other. And for millions today who were lucky enough to be in the path of totality across Greenland, Iceland and Spain, that's exactly what they experienced.

"I cannot believe what I just witnessed.

I knew what to expect  — I've seen thousands of photos but nothing compares to that feeling you get when you watch the sun transform before your very eyes," Space.com skywatching editor Daisy Dobrijevic said after watching the eclipse from the deck of the MS Spitsbergen on the HX Expeditions eclipse voyage in Scoresby Sund, Greenland on Aug. 12, 2026.

"It looked so big in the sky with the delicate corona streaming out into the abyss. Jupiter, Mercury and Venus even joined in the show. The huge prominence was the icing on the cake," Dobrijevic added.

"This is something I will never forget and I feel privileged to have experienced it in one of the most remarkable environments on Earth and alongside an incredible group of people aboard HX Expedition's MS Spitsbergen."

The 182 mile-wide (293-kilometer) path of totality — the line "drawn" on the face our our planet by the moon's shadow — began near Siberia over the Arctic Ocean and first arced down into eastern Greenland.

From there, the path stretched across western Iceland and then into northern Spain where millions gathered to witness the spectacle.

"It was the most incredible thing I've seen in my entire life," said Space.com skywatching writer Anthony Wood after witnessing the eclipse from Valoria la Buena, Spain alongside a team of citizen scientists from the Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast initiative.

"It feels like it really shouldn't be happening. It strikes the lizard part of your brain that just tells you that this shouldn't be real."

1/2

>>24931005

The path then crossed the Balearic Islands just east of Spain before ending over the Mediterranean Sea as the sun set.

Eclipse-watchers inside the narrow path of the moon's shadow were given a rare naked-eye glimpse of the sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona.

Witnessing the crown-like shape of the corona stretching away from the dark shadow of the moon is one of the most breathtaking moments of an eclipse. Photographs don't do it justice, as they rarely do.

Outside of the path of totality, skywatchers throughout Europe and Scandinavia were able to catch a glimpse of a partial solar eclipse — in which the moon appears to take a "bite" out of the sun.

Space.com's Harry Bennett captured the partial eclipse from a hilltop in Somerset, England, shooting the scene with a Unistellar Equinox 2 smart telescope equipped with a solar filter.

The partial solar eclipse was also visible for much of the northeastern United States and as far west as Michigan. Much of Canada got to witness the partial eclipse too, and so did Alaska.

What causes a total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes directly in front of the sun as seen from Earth.

When this alignment happens, the moon casts its shadow along a line known as the path of totality. Only within this stripe will you be able to experience full totality.

Another factor to consider is that the moon has an elliptical, or oval-shaped, orbit. This means that it's sometimes closer to Earth than other times.

Total solar eclipses only occur when the moon is at just the right distance from Earth, making it appear the same size in the sky as the sun (or even slightly larger).

This obscures the blinding light of the sun, allowing viewers to glimpse our star's outer atmosphere, or corona.

When the moon is a bit farther away from Earth, it appears relatively smaller.

And when solar eclipses fall on a date when the moon is at this greater distance from our planet, the moon doesn't completely block the sun. This creates what's known as an annular solar eclipse, or a "ring of fire" in the sky.

When is the next total solar eclipse?

The next total solar eclipse will occur on Aug. 2, 2027 and will be visible throughout a 160-mile-wide (258-kilometer) path that crosses southern Spain, northern Morocco, northern Algeria, northern Tunisia, northeast Libya, central Egypt, the northeastern tip of Sudan, southwest Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the northeastern tip of Somalia.

Outside of this path, a partial solar eclipse will be visible to most of Europe, much of the African continent, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, eastern Canada and parts of Maine.

In North America, the next total solar eclipse will take place on March 30, 2033, and will be visible from Alaska.

Looking farther out, the U.S. states of Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, and areas of Canada will witness a total solar eclipse on Aug. 23, 2044.

2/2

Now in Ohio! Powerful Derecho Hits Columbus, Flash Floods Sweep Through Crooksville and weather disaster frens

Aug 12, 2026

A dangerous cluster of severe weather known as a “derecho” swept across the Midwest Tuesday, bringing life-threatening conditions to northern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and parts of West Virginia and Virginia.

Storms brought winds of more than 100 mph and widespread flash flooding. Multiple radar-confirmed tornadoes touched down, adding another serious threat.

In Ohio, power outages swept the state capital region, and at least one death was reported. Derechos are prolonged straight-line wind events that unleash heavy rainfall and travel far distances.

The damage they cause is sometimes comparable to the destructive forces of tornadoes or hurricanes.

In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine said a resident of Roseville died during a health emergency when first responders, faced with flooded roads, couldn’t get there.

Forecasters said multiple rounds of rain would cause flood hazards in the Ohio Valley through early Friday.

Officials in Columbus, Ohio, sent local government workers home early ahead of another round of storms. Multiple fire departments are deployed in Perry County, where several areas are flooded Tuesday morning.

The Crooksville Volunteer Fire Department said there is "major flooding" in Crooksville, and the agency urged residents to stay indoors and get to higher ground if they live in lower areas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkQUMUtC2dw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=razoktjrKm8 (S0 News: Earth Weak Spot Grows - Live #53)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ4YzQevtYI (MrMBB333: A Once in a Century event JUST Occurred!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM4S7EZCpOw (Sean Doran: ISS - Solar Eclipse 2012 · 4K · HDR)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HFhXShxtQM (Max Velocity: What's Coming Next Is No Joke…)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3SpqESlDKA (Mr Weatherman: Tropical Storm Cristobal Forms…)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqIaUE1MHGY (dutchsinse: RESURRECTING the Old School Japanese NICT Earth's Magnetosphere simulator!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-VhUVOVKlo (On the Pulse with Silki: SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT ! Colombia 7.4 Gets MUCH WORSE !)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-YGZWn5-a4 (Stefan Burns: Giant Volcano Suddenly Erupts After Total Solar Eclipse…)

• storms and floods

https://www.weatherbug.com/news/Severe-Storms-Rally-Across-the-Midwest

https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/dangerous-flash-flooding-slam-midwest-more-storms

https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/flash-flood-emergencies-indiana-life-threatening-flooding

https://www.8newsnow.com/weather/rain-chances-in-las-vegas-increase-through-friday-morning/

https://www.covingtonky.gov/news/2026/08/12/storm-cleanup-underway-following-tuesdays-severe-storm

https://www.wdrb.com/southern-indiana-residents-say-severe-weather-warnings-didnt-reach-their-phones/video_44c5bfb9-fb6f-5587-820a-7a6f4252349e.html

https://katu.com/news/nation-world/one-person-killed-after-home-explosion-in-portage-indiana-as-strong-storms-sweep-through-area-down-power-lines-force-nearby-residents-to-evacuate-and-officials-investigate-possible-weather-related-cause-tuesday-morning-cincinnati

https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/08/13/juneau-residents-grapple-with-whether-to-stay-or-flee-as-glacial-outburst-floodwaters-rise/

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/13/fires-floods-and-foul-air-in-siberias-tyumen-region-weather-disasters-turn-biblical-a93493

https://www.turkiyetoday.com/world/japan-issues-first-ever-top-level-rain-warning-as-floods-hit-chiba-region-3226040

https://english.news.cn/20260813/bc5f0a94f79a407f831ad4d16887418f/c.html

1/2

>>24931099

• typhoons

https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-news/articles/typhoon-dolphin-weakens-eastern-china-141400144.html

• wildfires

https://www.chronicleonline.com/weeklies/levy_county_citizen/local_news/smokey-bear-marks-82-years-of-wildfire-prevention/article_884dabd8-ebf9-5c90-8e13-e2fa496feea1.html

https://www.dailyrepublic.com/news/u-s-senate-passes-wildfire-tax-bill/article_4fe924a9-c590-4199-a9d0-957426cd5bb8.html

https://13wham.com/news/nation-world/2-pilots-killed-in-fort-hood-apache-helicopter-crash-near-salado-wildfire-sparked

https://www.military.com/240-army-soldiers-swap-rifles-for-hand-tools-to-fight-washington-wildfire

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/timber-fire-grows-acres-22385278.php

https://www.2news.com/news/local/bug-fire-now-3-contained-stallion-fire-still-uncontained-evacuation-orders-and-warnings-remain/article_2cdc0eb9-1d73-4963-a2fc-de088885f846.html

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/firefighters-widlfire-west-lake-tahoe/4127464/

https://dailydispatch.com/fire-news/wildland/arkansas-wildfire-risk-rises-as-all-75-counties-reach-moderate-level/

https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2026/08/12/utah-national-guard-helps-fight-wildfires-from-the-sky/

https://www.kitv.com/news/firefighters-respond-to-2-wildfires-near-daniel-k-inouye-hwy-in-south-kohala/article_c33b7fc0-1ad6-43a0-a5ef-ceece56620ff.html

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/need-to-know-british-columbia-wildfires-aug-13-9.7305510

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/northwestern-ontario-wildfires-aug-10-9.7305249

https://www.aol.com/articles/europe-wildfire-tracker-france-spain-112044000.html

• tornadoes

https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5341

• earthquakes

https://insiderpaper.com/10-magnitude-7-earthquakes-2026/

https://en.newsner.com/news/earthquake-expert-who-warned-before-deadly-colombia-quake-says-california-is-super-overdue-for-major-event/

https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-just-found-a-hidden-fault-under-new-jersey-and-it-caused-the-2024-earthquake

https://co.usembassy.gov/natural-disaster-alert-colombia-earthquake-update-2-august-12-2026/

https://co.usembassy.gov/united-states-mobilizes-life-saving-response-to-colombia-earthquake/

https://anewz.tv/world/world-news/23264/venezuela-seeks-bank-of-england-gold-for-earthquake-recovery/news

• volcanoes

https://mauinow.com/2026/08/13/episode-53-lava-fountaining-at-kilauea-summit-ends-after-nearly-10-hours/

https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes-volcanoes/news/325264/Volcano-earthquake-report-for-Thursday-13-Aug-2026.html

https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/cascade-volcanoes-shrouded-in-smoke/

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2283769/kanlaon-volcano-in-negros-emits-ash-on-thursday-morning-aug-13

• dailys

https://schumannresonance.today/

https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn

https://www.americanforests.org/wildfire-map/

https://www.tornadohq.com/

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/

https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes-volcanoes/news/325264/Volcano-earthquake-report-for-Thursday-13-Aug-2026.html

https://www.spaceweather.gov/

https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=13&month=08&year=2026

2/2

>>24931068

they stood for the national anthem

The Perseid meteor shower peak was spectacular: Here are our favorite photos

August 13, 2026

The Perseid meteor shower peaked last night in spectacular fashion, dazzling stargazers as countless shooting stars blazed overhead mere hours after a total solar eclipse saw the lunar disk hide the sun over Greenland, Iceland and Spain.

Perseid shooting stars appear as Earth enters the debris trail cast off by the icy comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Each year, countless shards of this ancient comet collide with our wandering planet. What follows is truly spectacular.

Most are no larger than a particle of dust, or grain of sand. Yet the incredible velocity at which they strike our atmosphere — 37 miles (59 kilometers) per second on average — sees many carve a fiery path as they disintegrate in Earth's sky, which is easily visible to the naked eye.

Countless photographers were primed and ready to capture this magnificent display as Earth passed through the densest region of Swift-Tuttle debris trail, heralding the appearance of hundreds of shooting stars.

Read on to see a selection of our favorite photos of the 2026 Perseid meteor shower, taken in the beautifully dark nights surrounding the August new moon phase.

other space objects

https://www.space.com/astronomy/mars/1-billion-year-old-mars-meteorite-found-in-algeria-is-like-nothing-weve-seen-from-the-red-planet

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/photos/perseid-meteor-shower-photo-scroller-9.7305813

https://www.newsx.com/space-and-science/perseid-meteor-shower-2026-when-does-it-start-check-date-peak-time-and-how-to-watch-259955/

https://www.livemint.com/news/world/watch-meteor-blazes-over-istanbul-as-perseids-peak-across-the-northern-hemisphere-11786591418384.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58JrFJdfLOA (Meteor Lights Up Turkey Sky! Stunning Fireball During Perseid Meteor Shower)

https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Hera/Cruise_control_the_team_guiding_Hera_to_its_asteroid

>>24931202

https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-astronaut-mike-fincke-leaves-nasa-career-includes-4-spaceflights/

https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/astronauts/

moar

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/08/12/ongoing-spacewalk-preps-emergency-training-keep-crew-busy-on-wednesday/

https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/notes-from-the-field/2026/08/13/crossing-maines-waters-in-pursuit-of-gnats/

https://www.nasa.gov/technology/tech-transfer-spinoffs/nasa-data-helps-commercial-space-plan-living-off-our-moon/

https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/programs/cosmic-origins/community/agn-sig-spotlight-series-august-18-2026/

NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke Leaves NASA, Career Includes 4 Spaceflights

Aug 12, 2026

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke is departing the agency on Wednesday after 30 years of service.

Throughout his career, he flew four missions, spent 549 days in space, and completed nine spacewalks in support of the International Space Station.

“Few people have had the opportunity to shape as many chapters of NASA’s history as Mike Fincke,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.

“Over a remarkable career, Mike served our nation as a pilot, engineer, astronaut, and mentor. From long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station to helping prepare the Artemis generation, his contributions have helped position NASA for what comes next.

The success we’re building on today is possible because of people like Mike, who dedicated their careers to moving our space program forward and preparing the next generation to carry the mission even further.

I’d like to congratulate Mike on an incredible career and thank him for his decades of service to NASA, our nation, and the countless people who had the opportunity to learn from and fly alongside him.”

He ranks fourth among NASA astronauts in accumulated time in space, and his spacewalks total 48 hours and 37 minutes.

Most recently, Fincke piloted NASA’s SpaceX Crew‑11 mission, which launched in August 2025 and returned in January. During the mission, he served as a flight engineer for International Space Station Expedition 73 and commander of Expedition 74.

Fincke joined NASA’s 16th astronaut class in 1996 and first flew to space in 2004 aboard Soyuz TMA‑4 in support of the space station’s Expedition 9. Serving as a science officer and flight engineer, he helped maintain station systems and performed four spacewalks.

He returned to space in 2008 on Soyuz TMA‑13 as commander of Expedition 18, preparing the space station for its transition to six‑person crews at the time and completing two more spacewalks.

In 2011, Fincke flew on STS‑134, the final flight of space shuttle Endeavour. As mission specialist and robotic arm operator, he completed three spacewalks and helped deliver and install the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer.

“Mike’s remarkable career reflects three decades of dedication to NASA’s mission and the advancement of human spaceflight,” said Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“From his time aboard the International Space Station to his commitment to mentoring the next generation, Mike has made an immense impact across our agency. His legacy of service, mentorship, and dedication to exploration will continue to inspire the generations to come.”

Throughout his career, Fincke bridged spacecraft development, flight testing, and mission operations. Early in the International Space Station Program, he helped test and integrate several of the station’s initial modules before launch.

His flight experience spanned multiple generations of human spacecraft, including two missions aboard Soyuz, one aboard the space shuttle, and later piloting the SpaceX Dragon.

1/2

>>24931314

Fincke was a foundational contributor to NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

As chief of the Astronaut Office’s Commercial Crew Branch, he worked to ensure astronaut needs, crew safety, and human spaceflight experience informed development of the nation’s next generation of crewed spacecraft.

He spent five years supporting Boeing’s Crew Flight Test program training as a crew member and backup pilot, contributing to flight software, systems integration, integrated testing, and spacecraft interfaces.

Fincke also supported station operations from the ground as a crew test support team member in Russia, a capsule communicator, or capcom, and crew procedures team lead.

He helped translate complex engineering and operational requirements into clear instructions for crews working in orbit. His continuity across development, integration, mission support, and long‑duration flight gave him an end‑to‑end perspective on space station assembly and operation.

“Mike approached every assignment with experience, humility, and an unwavering focus on the mission,” said Scott Tingle, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA Johnson.

“Whether flying aboard the station, supporting crews from the ground, or helping shape the spacecraft that future crews will rely on, he consistently strengthened our team. His legacy is woven into the way we fly today.”

A native of Emsworth, Pennsylvania, Fincke holds bachelor’s degrees in aeronautics and astronautics and in Earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he also studied in the Soviet Union through an exchange program with the Moscow Aviation Institute.

He earned master’s degrees in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University and in planetary geology from the University of Houston, Clear Lake.

Fincke is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.

He served as a space systems engineer and flight test engineer at Edwards and Eglin Air Force Bases and later as the U.S. flight test liaison to the Japanese‑U.S. XF‑2 fighter program at Gifu Air Base in Japan.

He accumulated more than 2,000 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft types.

“After exactly 30 years, I am departing NASA, but I remain deeply committed to the work of exploration.”

Fincke said. “NASA gave me the extraordinary privilege of serving alongside remarkable people, flying and helping develop spacecraft, and contributing to the International Space Station from its earliest days through command in orbit.

I am profoundly grateful to my crewmates, the teams on the ground, our international partners, and the families who make this work possible. I am excited to carry those lessons forward and help prepare the next generation of engineers, explorers, and leaders.

Together, we will return humanity to the Moon, travel to Mars, journey outward to the planets and moons beyond Earth, and someday reach for the stars – all while caring for Earth, the most beautiful planet in our solar system.”

2/2

https://www.dailymail.com/sciencetech/article-16050031/nasa-mars-photo-jellyfish-life-theories.html

moar

https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=7ECF9372-4E9B-4991-93E6-F1004B517883

https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/jared-isaacman-nasa-moon/2026/08/12/id/1265936/

https://thedebrief.org/look-what-nasa-caught-photobombing-the-august-2026-solar-eclipse-in-this-striking-new-image/

https://www.wionews.com/trending/demogorgon-fish-with-no-eyes-found-in-cave-under-nasa-rocket-land-in-alabama-1786616676840

Mysterious 'jellyfish' spotted in NASA Mars photo sparks theories of life on the Red Planet

11:24 EDT, 13 August 2026 | Updated: 11:24 EDT, 13 August 2026

An unearthed NASA image of Mars has captured a strange object in the distance, which some have suggested was a jellyfish-like being or mechanical device.

NASA's Curiosity rover, which has been investigating whether Mars could have supported microbial life for the last 14 years, snapped the image on August 20, 2023 at around 6.27pm ET.

It shows the dusty Martian landscape with rocky hills and large mountains.

However, the panorama also revealed a small figure in the left corner that appeared to have a large black body perched atop two spindly legs.

Fueling speculation that NASA’s rover had captured something moving across Mars, images taken of the same area less than a minute earlier showed no sign of the mysterious figure.

Moreover, the photo with the object was the last image posted on NASA's website for that day. The next picture from Curiosity was taken nearly two hours later with the camera pointed in a different direction.

In September 2025, NASA declared it had found the clearest signs of ancient microbial life on Mars in a sample collected by the Perseverance rover.

However, the space agency and White House have maintained that no signs of intelligent life have ever been found.

There were no other photos from August 20, 2023 posted by NASA that revealed if the object kept moving, approached the rover or if it was simply a glitch of the camera - which space officials refer to as an 'artifact.'

The 2023 image was reposted on Wednesday by social media user Kari Sivertzen, a space enthusiast who regularly shares public NASA images that contain strange anomalies that cannot be easily explained.

Sivertzen said on X: 'Sometimes I spot things that catch my eye, and I share them here. I believe there is life on other planets, and since NASA has found potential traces of life on Mars, it’s the perfect place to look.'

'One of the best Mars UFO photographs I've seen!' one person replied.

Independent Mars researcher Jean Ward said on X: 'Jellyfish-shaped UFO/UAP Spotted on Mars. This one seems to be interacting with the surface.

'It also reminds me of a tripod-like object.'

1/2

>>24931367

Some have compared the distant object to the giant alien walkers seen in the science fiction movie 'War of the Worlds.'

However, many skeptics argued that the small black figure standing in the distance was nothing more than corrupted pixels in Curiosity's photo.

Another doubter claimed the object was actually a human-made craft.

Specifically, they claimed it was the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which made the first powered and remotely controlled flight on another planet in 2021.

However, this claim was quickly debunked as Ingenuity is more than 2,000 miles away in a completely different crater on Mars.

Curiosity rover has been exploring Gale Crater since 2012. The area is a huge impact crater roughly the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined, with a towering mountain rising from its center.

Scientists believe this location will provide more evidence that life once existed on Mars thousands, and possibly millions, of years ago.

Like the Perseverance rover, it is using onboard instruments to study rock layers, clay deposits and climate history to look for microbial traces of life.

'Looks like a tower or some type of structure, a dome on top… a relic from Mars distant past civilization,' one person describing the object from 2023 claimed.

'Looks like a scarecrow to me! Really, what is it? Doesn't look like a dust devil!' another viewer said.

As Perseverance and Curiosity send back more and more images from the Martian surface, eagle-eyed viewers have been finding a growing number of strange objects which look like doorways, ancient statues and even people walking on the Red Planet.

Such discoveries frequently capture public attention because the human brain naturally attempts to recognize familiar shapes in ambiguous images, a phenomenon known as pareidolia.

It is the same psychological effect that can cause people to see faces in clouds, animals in rock formations or human-made structures across the barren Martian landscape.

Mars has produced several famous examples, most notably the so-called ‘Face on Mars,’ which was photographed by NASA’s Viking 1 orbiter in 1976.

Higher-resolution images later revealed that the apparent face was an ordinary eroded hill whose human-like appearance resulted from shadows and the relatively poor quality of the original photograph.

NASA and the Trump Administration are now planning for the first manned mission to Mars by the end of the decade.

2/2

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman

@NASAAdmin

Few people have had the opportunity to shape as many chapters of @NASA’s history as Mike Fincke.

Over a remarkable career, Mike served our Nation as a pilot, engineer, astronaut, and mentor. From long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station to helping prepare the Artemis generation, his contributions have helped position NASA for what comes next.

The success we’re building on today is possible because of people like Mike, who dedicated their careers to moving our space program forward and preparing the next generation to carry the mission even further.

Congratulations on an incredible career, Mike. Thank you for your service to NASA, to our Nation, and to everyone who has had the opportunity to learn from and fly alongside you.

6:29 AM · Aug 13, 2026

https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2087894190294217083

extra Isaacman

https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2087880073126834372

https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2087872439082430868

https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2087592392736100699

https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2087601967254380644

https://spacenews.com/one-species-one-planet-the-moon-is-our-ethical-dress-rehearsal-for-mars/

United States Space Force

@USSpaceForce

STARTING SOON: Watch live as the U.S. Space Force honors @SpaceForceCSO Gen. Chance Saltzman and celebrates his distinguished 35-year military career during his retirement ceremony.

9:55 AM · Aug 13, 2026

https://x.com/USSpaceForce/status/2087946090821665074

https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/38289

moar Space Force

https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4570009/space-force-guardians-conference-focuses-on-service-trajectory-professional-gro/

https://www.petersonschriever.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/News/Display/Article/4572364/a-year-at-the-top-of-the-world-leading-pituffik-space-base/

https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4572659/space-forces-in-europe-space-forces-africa-changes-command/

https://www.starcom.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4572301/azimuth-immerses-cadets-in-space-force-missions/

STRATOS 2026 Campaign: Canadian experiments to be tested in space-like environment

August 13, 2025

From August 15 to 23, as part of the STRATOS (ICARUS) 2026 Campaign, five weather balloons will be launched from the Timmins Balloon Base in Ontario.

They will carry five Canadian payloads, along with 15 experiments designed by high school students, to test new technologies, conduct scientific research, and collect measurements from the stratosphere.

The following Canadian university teams and organizations will participate in this year’s campaign:

PolyOrbite, Polytechnique Montréal

Mission SpaceWalker, University of Alberta

InSpace, Carleton University

LASSENA, École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS Montréal)

Willi Lab, University of Lethbridge

Science Timmins

WIBCA Montréal (West Island Black Community Association)

The goal of the campaign is to provide students with a unique opportunity to design, build and test small payloads before they are launched aboard stratospheric expandable balloon systems to altitudes of up to 35km.

It is a hands-on and enriching experience that helps develop skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

https://www.canada.ca/en/space-agency/news/2026/08/stratos-2026-campaign-canadian-experiments-to-be-tested-in-space-like-environment.html

Virgin Galactic postpones its new spaceship's first commercial flight to 2027

Aug. 13, 2026 7:28 am EST

It’s currently running a poll for the new vehicle’s name.

Virgin Galactic has been developing its "Delta class" of spaceships for a while now. It even stopped offering trips to suborbital space in 2024 after seven successful commercial flights to focus on its next-gen vehicle.

The company had been preparing for the new spaceship's debut later this year and was originally planning to put it through a series of tests over the next few months leading up to its first commercial flight in the fourth quarter of 2026.

But Virgin Galactic apparently faced several issues with the vehicle's assembly, and it has now announced that the new ship's debut commercial flight will take place in February 2027 at the earliest. 

Michael Colglazier, Virgin Galactic's CEO, announced the delay in an earnings call, according to SpaceNews.

He said it wasn't one single issue that forced the company to push back the new vehicle's commercial flights, but "hundreds of relatively small but important installation tasks" related to its construction.

He explained that his team encountered many instances wherein a component is "a few thousandths of an inch taller or shorter" than it's supposed to be.

A delay will give them more time to correct issues and make sure the vehicle has been properly built. The company plans to start conducting ground tests on the vehicle later this month.

Colglazier has also revealed during the call that the company has already sold over 50 tickets at $750,000 each for future suborbital tourist flights. He said Virgin Galactic sold over $50 million in bookings from that tranche of tickets, which it started selling in March.

Despite the delay, the CEO expects the company's financials to be just fine. He said a second spaceship is already in production and is scheduled to also be used for commercial flights sometime in the second quarter of 2027.

The company, he said, intends to launch 10 flights a month by the end of that quarter.

By the way, we keep calling the new vehicle just the "spaceship," because it has yet to be named. Virgin Galactic has opened a poll where people can cast their vote on what they want the spacecraft to be called.

Voters can only choose between four options — Horizon, Explorer, Ascend and Apeiron — so there's no chance of the new spaceship being named something akin to Boaty McBoatface. 

https://www.engadget.com/2236080/virgin-galactic-postpones-commercial-flight-to-2027/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/space/2026/08/13/virgin-galactic-spaceship-name-vote/91269114007/

https://x.com/virgingalactic/status/2087337783287484490

Blue Origin Begins Global Rollout of Quartz Ground Station Network

Aug 13, 2026

The ground station communications network will support customers across a broad range of mission sets.

Kent, WA – Blue Origin's first three Quartz ground stations are installed and successfully tested in Bermuda, New Zealand, and Australia, as part of a phased global rollout extending across nine sites by the end of the year.

Quartz is Blue Origin's ground communications network, purpose-built to address the fragmented infrastructure, limited contact window availability, and opaque pricing models that have long constrained space operators across every mission type.

"Ground communications infrastructure has historically been one of the most fragmented and costly elements of space operations, for national security programs, civil, and commercial operators alike," said Tory Bruno, president of National Security at Blue Origin.

"With Quartz, we've built a single, fully integrated network that changes that equation. One interface, one operations team, transparent pricing, and a security architecture built to meet the most demanding mission requirements."

Phase one of the Quartz ground stations feature 3.7-meter aperture antennas supporting S-band and X-band frequencies for low Earth orbit (LEO) operations.

Blue Origin's Global Network Operations Center provides continuous oversight and incident response across all sites, resulting in a ground communications architecture with no third-party dependencies.

Quartz was designed with security in mind and supports radiometric tracking, signal intelligence, and Space Domain Awareness capabilities across all sites.

To accelerate the global buildout, Blue Origin has partnered with RBC Signals, a provider of flexible and cost-effective space communications solutions.

RBC Signals will support site surveys, antenna procurement, deployment, and hosting across the expanding Quartz network, enabling Blue Origin to scale Quartz without compromising mission success across the company’s on-orbit portfolio.

Through the end of year, Blue Origin will continue expanding its Quartz ground stations across global sites, with new installations featuring 9-meter apertures supporting L-, S-, X-, and Ka-band frequencies to enable mission data and Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C) capabilities for geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), geostationary orbit (GEO), cislunar, and beyond.

https://www.blueorigin.com/news/blue-origin-begins-global-rollout-quartz-ground-station-network

extra Blue Origin

https://www.blueorigin.com/news/returning-launch-complex-36-to-two-pads

MTG-I1 captures eclipse path of totality over Europe

13/08/2026

Yesterday between 20:26 and 20:34 CEST, parts of the Iberian peninsula experienced a total solar eclipse.

This animation, composed of images from the Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite (MTG-I1), caught the Moon’s dark shadow as it passed over Earth’s surface – converging with the advancing twilight shadow as dusk fell over Europe.

From its vantage point in geostationary orbit, MTG-I1 keeps its imaging instruments focused on Europe and northern Africa from a distance of 36 000 km above Earth’s surface.

This enabled it to track the Moon’s shadow, called the path of totality, as it swept first over Greenland and Iceland, then over a small part of northeastern Portugal and finally, Spain.

While the total eclipse itself lasted just a few minutes on mainland Europe, a partial eclipse was visible over a much wider area.

Spectators were able to see the Moon partially covering the Sun’s disc as far apart as northern Canada, the Nordic countries and the western coast of Africa, as far south as Sierra Leone and Liberia.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, blocking the face of the Sun for a short period. During totality, a halo of light is visible around the Moon, known as the Sun’s corona.

There are more solar eclipses to come between now and 2028 – watch out for updates on ESA’s solar eclipse activities.

The MTG mission is preparing to place its third satellite in orbit. MTG-I2 is scheduled for launch on 27 August 2026, on board flight VA270 on an Ariane 6 launcher, from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/08/MTG-I1_captures_eclipse_path_of_totality_over_Europe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_QQmGeX5dw

extra ESA

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/08/Musification_of_the_2026_total_solar_eclipse

https://www.esa.int/Education/ESA_Academy/ESA_Academy_students_put_rocketry_knowledge_into_practice

Ukraine blocking prisoner swaps with Russia – human rights commissioner

13 Aug, 2026 07:50 | Updated 13 Aug, 2026 08:55

Kiev prioritizes publicity over human life, Yana Lantratova has said

Ukraine has been blocking Russian proposals to exchange certain prisoners while publicly accusing Moscow of holding up the process, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova has said.

Lantratova, whose office is directly involved in prisoner swaps, criticized the Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday, accusing them of misrepresenting Russia’s position on a group of detainees captured between 2014 and 2022 who are from Donbass and Crimea.

“The Ukrainian side published lists of our guys… claiming Moscow refuses to include them in exchanges,” Lantratova wrote.

“Those are our lists,” she added. “We compiled them based on conversations with their mothers, families, and loved ones, and we are fighting for each of them.

These are the same names Ukraine cynically publishes while claiming they have been ‘abandoned,’ despite knowing that in reality we are waiting for Kiev to formally respond to our proposal.”

Lantratova also pointed to a list of 224 Ukrainian citizens whom she said Russia is prepared to release in exchange for prisoners held by Kiev, but whom the Ukrainian government has declined to accept.

“Ukraine refuses to take them back. They don’t want those 224 people. They value publicity, not human life,” she stated.

On Thursday, Lantratova released another list containing the names of 273 Ukrainians whom she said could also be included in a prisoner exchange.

Last week, several pro-Ukrainian Telegram channels published the personal data of around 150 prisoners from Donbass, alleging that Russia regarded them as “expendable.”

The Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics broke away from Ukraine after the 2014 Western-backed coup in Kiev, which overthrew the country’s elected government and brought anti-Russian forces to power.

The ensuing conflict saw Kiev launch a military operation against the two Donbass republics. Russia initially pushed for their peaceful reintegration into Ukraine under the Minsk agreements, which envisaged special status for the region.

Former Ukrainian and Western leaders later acknowledged that the Minsk process had bought Kiev time to strengthen its military with Western support. After the conflict escalated in 2022, Donetsk and Lugansk held referendums on joining Russia and were subsequently incorporated by Moscow.

Kiev officials have at times openly disparaged the population of Donbass. Maj. Gen. Mikhail Drapaty, who later became commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, described the region in a 2023 interview as heavily populated by “settlers and criminal elements” who “do not want to work, want handouts, and do not care which country they live in.”

https://www.rt.com/russia/644196-ukraine-prisoner-exchanges-blocked/

extra RT

https://www.rt.com/news/644195-poland-threaten-musk-starlink/

https://www.rt.com/russia/644188-belgorod-childrens-hospital-ukrainian-strikes/

Deadly train strike in Ukraine's Odessa region as Russia, Kiev trade drone blows

August 13, 2026

A passenger train carrying 340 people was hit in southern Ukraine, while Kiev said it struck a major Russian oil refinery as both sides reported hundreds of drones in the latest escalation.

At least two people have been killed after a Russian strike hit a passenger train in Ukraine’s southern Odessa region overnight, as Russia and Ukraine exchanged large-scale drone attacks and Kiev claimed a strike on an oil refinery deep inside Russian territory.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said on Thursday the train was struck in Berezivka district, setting the locomotive on fire. The blaze was later extinguished.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 340 people were aboard the train and accused Russia of deliberately targeting a civilian service.

“More air defence support and more pressure on Russia are needed if the world is serious about stopping this war in Europe,” Zelenskyy said on X.

Russian strikes also damaged port infrastructure in the Odessa region, according to local authorities.

A fire was reported and electricity supplies were disrupted in parts of the southeastern port city of Izmail after local power networks were damaged.

Ukraine’s Air Force said it intercepted 111 of 133 Russian drones launched overnight.

Russia’s defence ministry said its strikes targeted what it described as a temporary deployment site for Ukrainian forces in Izmail, as well as port infrastructure allegedly used to handle military cargo.

It also claimed a Ukrainian Navy command post in the port of Reni was hit. The claims could not be independently verified.

Ukraine claims strike on Russian oil refinery

Russia, meanwhile, said its air defences destroyed 362 Ukrainian drones over 17 regions, as well as over the Black Sea, Sea of Azov and annexed Crimea.

In Bashkortostan, regional authorities reported injuries and fires following drone activity. A fire broke out in an industrial area in Salavat, while Wildberries said a nearby facility was evacuated as a precaution.

Ukraine’s General Staff later confirmed that its forces targeted the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refinery, saying the facility was hit and caught fire.

Kiev has stepped up long-range drone attacks against Russian logistics and energy infrastructure in recent weeks, while Moscow has continued strikes across Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.

Both sides have increasingly relied on large-scale drone operations as the war continues, with civilian areas and essential infrastructure repeatedly caught in the crossfire.

https://www.trtworld.com/article/3bfc433eca93

other Russia and Ukraine

https://www.marineinsight.com/ukraine-halts-drone-strikes-on-oil-tankers-using-russias-black-sea-port-after-us-request/

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/08/ukrainian-drone-strike-russian-frigates-novorossiysk/

https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/putin-just-got-handed-a-hunt-inside-his-own-drone-industry-one-executive-bombed-another-shot-in-tula/

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/13/ukrainian-drones-attack-wildberries-hub-and-oil-refinery-in-bashkortostan-a93480

https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/ukrainian-drones-hunt-down-two-russian-msta-s-howitzers-behind-the-front-line-21653

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/82299

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-08-13/live-updates-905363

other Israel

https://report.az/en/other-countries/gaza-police-chief-killed-in-idf-strike-in-gaza-city-hamas-says

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-905474

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1sonrcuml

https://www.jfeed.com/latest-news/idf-eliminates-hamas-commander-who-infiltrated-israel-on-october-7th-49410

https://www.newsweek.com/idf-working-to-counter-new-weapon-that-gives-hezbollah-a-chance-12315595

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-it-shot-terror-operative-who-crossed-gazas-yellow-line/

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-backtracks-says-palestinians-in-west-banks-qusra-will-not-be-moved-from-homes/

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hj0000sjsigg

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/IDF-says-it-dismantled-'illegal-outposts'-in-West-Bank/66913169

Live Updates: US prepares USS George Washington to replace Lincoln in Mid East, Iran maintains it controls Hormuz

August 13, 2026

Kusra residents vow to stay despite extremist settler violence • US, Israel deny agreement on foreign forces for Hezbollah disarmament • Hamas plans to run in upcoming Palestinian elections

August 13, 8:22 PM

Israeli officials stunned by Iran’s rapid military recovery after 2026 war - exclusive

Officials, both from IDF and Mossad, shocked by speed of Iranian post-war recovery • IDF seeing stunningly speedy turnaround in many areas, including the ballistic missile threat

Israeli defense officials have been shocked by the speed of Iran’s recovery following the early 2026 war, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

This includes both IDF and Mossad officials, though the military was the lead evaluator of targeting and the harm from the targeting of the Islamic Republic’s defense sector.

Numerous foreign media reports have poked holes in specific aspects of Israel’s narrative of military success setting back Iran’s military industrial complex by years already dating back to March of this year, but for months, apolitical IDF expert officials held the line that the damage was so extensive that even if some specific claims were off, Israel’s general narrative of setting Iran back years held.

August 13, 7:09 PM

UK condemns Houthi attacks, calls for halt to Iranian support

The United Kingdom condemned the Houthi drone and missile strikes against Saudi Arabia, attacks on international shipping, and violations of Yemeni airspace by Iranian aircraft, in a statement at the UN Security Council Meeting on Thursday.

The UK also called for Iran to cease its support for the Houthis.

"We urge the Houthis to focus on efforts to achieve peace and alleviate the suffering of Yemenis, rather than seeking to embroil Yemen in a wider regional conflict," the UK ambassador said.

August 13, 6:57 PM

US military loses 25 percent of Reaper drone fleet - report

The United States military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, roughly 25 percent of its fleet in the war with Iran, the Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing three US officials familiar with the matter.

The drones, which are used to conduct surveillance and targeted strikes, cost between $30 million and $50 million, the Washington Post wrote.

According to the report, a fourth US official said that while some lost Reaper drones were shot down, an unspecified number crashed after their operators' communications link to the drones failed.

August 13, 6:44 PM

US preparing to replace USS Abraham Lincoln with USS George Washington - report

The United States is preparing the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East as part of a scheduled rotation plan, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing multiple US officials familiar with the matter.

Last week, Navy Times reported that Cao said that the US Navy is preparing the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group to relieve Lincoln, but could not provide a timeline due to “operational security.”

1/2

>>24931564

August 13, 6:31 PM

US can keep naval blockade on Iranian ports "indefinitely," Pentagon chief says

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that the United States military can keep a blockade on Iranian ports for as long as needed.

"Indefinitely, the United States Navy can maintain a blockade like that because we'll rotate ships in and out, as we have, and we'll continue to," Hegseth told reporters.

August 13, 6:25 PM

Yemen's Houthis say they attacked Saudi Aramco refinery in Jazan with two drones

Yemen's Houthis said they attacked an Aramco refinery in Saudi Arabia's Jazan with two drones on Thursday, the Iran-backed terror group's Saba news agency reported.

A Houthi military source said the attack was in response to what the group described as Saudi violations of Yemeni airspace and sovereignty in Saada and Hajjah provinces.

There was no immediate comment on the report from Saudi Arabia.

August 13, 6:14 PM

IDF uncovers large weapons cache in booby-trapped structure in Lebanon security zone

Israeli forces in Lebanon located and neutralized a booby-trapped structure near the village of Mansouri on Wednesday, the military said in a Thursday statement.

This building, the IDF said, was used for Hezbollah terrorist activity and was located near the village of Mansouri in one of the pilot security zones.

Soldiers found RPG rockets and additional unspecified weapons in the building.

August 13, 3:36 PM

IAF strikes terror cell in Khan Yunis, continues countering threats despite July deal

The IDF has curbed its operations in line with US instructions since the July deal took effect.

The air force on Thursday attacked a Gazan terror cell in Khan Yunis, the second "attack of choice" in two days after a pause in such attacks since a new US-Hamas deal in late July.

IDF sources told The Jerusalem Post that the cell was not extremely senior, but was in the process of planning and shortly carrying out an operation against the IDF.

According to those sources, since the US-Hamas deal, the IDF has halted attacks on Hamas members who were involved in the October 7 invasion and on other strategic Hamas assets or leaders, but it is still carrying out attacks against operatives who it knows are moving toward an attack.

August 13, 3:21 PM

Intelligence failure cause US miscalculation on Hormuz, Iran FM says

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that the United States had "long miscalculated due to intelligence failures," including regarding the Strait of Hormuz, in a post on X/Twitter on Thursday.

"Worse than fake news is fake intelligence. Be careful," he wrote.

The U.S. has long miscalculated due to intelligence failures. Case in point: The war on Iran. Now, an even bigger miscalculation on the Strait of Hormuz.

August 13, 1:55 PM

USS Abraham Lincoln conditions under scrutiny after reports sailors attempted to jump overboard

US Senator Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) has demanded a formal inquiry into the conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in a letter sent Wednesday to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao.

Blumenthal, who himself served in the US Marine Corps Reserve, sent the letter following reports of several US Navy service members stationed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln attempting to jump overboard as the aircraft carrier enters its ninth month of deployment at sea.

Two American newspapers that cover matters related to the US military, Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, originally reported on the matter earlier this week.

The carrier has spent nearly 250 consecutive days at sea without making land since its departure from San Diego in November 2025. It was originally deployed for duty in the South China Sea before being rerouted to the Middle East ahead of the outbreak of Operations Epic Fury in February 2026.

2/2

Houthis claim drone strike on Saudi refinery

13 August 2026 17:06 BST

Yemen's Houthis on Thursday claimed a drone attack on an Aramco refinery in southern Saudi Arabia, the group's affiliated news agency Saba reported.

"A military source confirmed that the Yemeni Armed Forces targeted an Aramco refinery in the Jizan region using two drones, achieving a precise hit by the grace of God," Saba reported, referring to Houthi forces.

The agency reported that the source said the strike was a response to a Saudi "violation of Yemeni airspace and the country's sovereignty in the Saada and Hajjah governorates".

The source said the Houthis would "respond decisively to any violation of the country's sovereignty or any act of aggression targeting the nation", according to Saba.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/houthis-claim-drone-strike-saudi-refinery

CENTCOM Launches First-Ever Multinational Attack Drone Task Force

Aug. 13, 2026

TAMPA, Fla. — On Aug. 13, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced efforts to establish the first-ever multi-domain, multinational attack drone task force.

The unit, called Task Force Falcon Strike, will employ one-way attack drones consisting of unmanned systems from above, on, and below the sea operated by military support staff from the United States and regional partners.

Falcon Strike’s launch occurs nine months after CENTCOM established Task Force Scorpion Strike, the U.S. military's first dedicated one-way attack drone squadron in the Middle East.

Scorpion Strike rapidly achieved key operational milestones, including the first-ever launch of an aerial attack drone from a U.S. Navy warship last December.

The squadron also employed one-way unmanned aerial systems during Operation Epic Fury and during strikes on Iranian port facilities in July using unmanned attack vessels at sea.

“Task Force Falcon Strike will expand on Scorpion Strike’s success given the tremendous innovation happening among our regional allies and partners,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander.

“Integrating and deploying our new capabilities together will help us rapidly realize the new possibilities that are on the horizon.”

CENTCOM has initiated the process of consulting with and officially inviting regional partners. As regional partners formally join, Task Force Falcon Strike will scale attack drone capabilities across the Middle East into a unified multi-domain, multinational deterrent.

“The United States military has a lot of strong partnerships and friends in the region,” said Cooper. “We are collectively stronger when we integrate and deploy new capabilities together.”

Personnel from U.S. Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT), which launched Scorpion Strike, will lead Falcon Strike’s staff of U.S. and regional representatives.

Headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, SOCCENT plans and conducts special operations across CENTCOM’s 21-country area of responsibility in the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia.

https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PUBLIC-RELEASES/Article/4573159/centcom-launches-first-ever-multinational-attack-drone-task-force/