TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
August 21, 2026
Time-Lapse of the Star S301 Orbiting the Black Hole in the Center of the Galaxy
What does it feel like to zoom around a spinning supermassive black hole? The featured video is an animation showing a time-lapse of 4 years of observations of the star S301 orbiting Sagittarius A, the 4-million-solar-mass black hole in the center of our Galaxy. S301 was discovered in 2023 with the Very Large Telescope Interferometer of the European Southern Observatory, located in the Atacama Desert in Chile. Astronomers recently found that S301 takes approximately 8.7 years to go around the black hole and reaches speeds of 25,000 km/s. It comes closer to the black hole than any other stars detected before, at a distance similar to that from Saturn to the Sun. Because it comes so close to Sagittarius A, S301 could be used to directly measure how fast the black hole spins and test Einstein's theory of general relativity. According to the theory, a spinning black hole drags the fabric of spacetime around itself, affecting the orbits of close-by objects.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1IEbB4aBsA
Noteworthy M8 Solar Flare from the Sun Eastern Limb (left side) NO AUDIO – dutchsinse and frens
8/20/2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQayPrQAAUM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8aBN_lDRJI (Solarham: M1.7 LDE and Energetic CME (8/21/2026))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrtvgwqcO8Q (Mr Weatherman: Tropical Waves to Watch…)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXsmGrmfEB4 (Accuweather: The Forecast Feed: Hurricane Moke to Approach Hawaii)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNBwBd6ZpTQ (Stefan Burns: The Situation Just Got A Lot More Intense…)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UGzqATulPA (On the Pulse with Silki: THE TIMING IS TERRIFYING — Peru Hit After 8.8 Megaquake Drill)
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solar
https://watchers.news/2026/08/20/solar-activity-reaches-moderate-levels-following-strong-m8-1-flare-from-active-region-4513/
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storms and floods
https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/arizona-severe-dust-storm-monsoon-phoenix-power-outage
https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/severe-weather-flooding-mid-atlantic-carolinas-east-coast-august-2026
https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/lightning-kills-man-in-virginia-amid-more-than-500-nearby-strikes/1925353
https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/weather/2026/08/21/flash-flood-new-york-brooklyn-storms/91400032007/
https://www.nj.com/hudson/2026/08/terrifying-flash-floods-trap-nearly-70-drivers-in-their-cars-as-jersey-city-streets-turn-into-rivers.html
https://www.wthr.com/article/weather/indiana-flooding/indiana-flooding-response-emergency-aid-nipsco-power-outages-fema-governor-mike-braun/531-401dc104-36e2-483b-b438-558628e6b2e6
https://www.wcsjnews.com/news/local/gov-pritzker-issues-state-disaster-proclamation-following-recent-severe-weather-across-illinois/article_ac80baa9-f28a-4057-8696-60883f66c60b.html
https://rollingout.com/2026/08/21/chicago-severe-storms-today-forecast/
https://ema.alabama.gov/15017/a-few-severe-storms-possible-friday/
https://www.scrippsnews.com/science-and-tech/natural-disasters/severe-storms-slam-northeast-triggering-flood-rescues-and-possible-tornadoes
https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/videos-torrential-storms-cause-flash-flooding-in-south-east-france/808931
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3364774/philippine-flood-control-scandal-resurfaces-after-latest-monsoon-deluge
https://ticotimes.net/2026/08/21/costa-rica-flooding-emergency-nine-areas
https://nz.news.yahoo.com/italy-spain-hit-flash-floods-152023397.html
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2289565/288-houses-damaged-in-zambales-amid-heavy-rains-flooding
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wildfires
https://news.am/en/news/1056852
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-forecasts/lightning-from-pacific-storm-could-spark-new-wildfires-across-the-northwest/1925002
https://yubanet.com/regional/wildfire-ready-coalition-of-nevada-county-urges-residents-to-follow-the-science-in-adopting-zone-0-rule/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-news/articles/2-florida-wildfires-burned-900-144111886.html
https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/2026/08/flames-from-above-drone-video-shows-2-growing-wildfires-in-umatilla-national-forest.html
https://chinookobserver.com/2026/08/20/major-wildfire-erupts-in-eastern-pacific-county/
https://www.fox13now.com/news/utah-wildfires/new-salt-wells-fire-growing-rapidly-in-box-elder-county
https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2026/aug/21/wildfires-in-union-and-ashley-counties-contained/
https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20260821-millions-in-france-report-eco-anxiety-after-summer-of-heat-and-wildfires
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hurricanes and frens
https://weather.com/2026/08/21/storms/hurricane/atlantic-hurricane-season-least-active-start-in-decades
https://weather.com/2026/08/21/storms/hurricane/hawaii-tropical-storm-moke-forecast
https://www.nola.com/news/hurricane/hurricane-forecast-tropical-outlook/article_409f238c-80d2-4850-ba56-bae7204b7eaf.html
https://weather.com/2026/08/20/storms/hurricane/hurricane-season-maps-tracker-atlantic-pacific
https://gulfnews.com/world/europe/drought-floods-and-record-heat-what-el-nino-could-bring-next-1.500647749
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tornadoes
https://cedarnews.net/newstasks/946338/maps-show-every-confirmed-tornado-hit-us/
https://www.fox5ny.com/news/long-island-water-spout-tornado-storm-damage-atlantic-beach
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/state/new-york/new-york-city/2026/08/21/tornadoes-reported-in-new-york-city-following-strong-winds-heavy-rain-nyc-tornado/91401134007/
https://watchers.news/2026/08/21/dover-declares-state-of-emergency-after-tornadoes-and-severe-storms-strike-parts-of-pennsylvania-and-delaware/
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earthquakes
https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/242-earthquakes-reported-utah-cluster-milford/
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/science/999381/magnitude-5-1-earthquake-hits-jabonga-in-agusan-del-norte/story/
https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/08/21/55-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-off-japan039s-hachijo-island-shaking-felt-in-tokyo
https://watchers.news/2026/08/20/granada-seismic-sequence-exceeds-620-earthquakes-around-600-residents-evacuated-spain/
https://watchers.news/2026/08/20/strong-m6-7-earthquake-hits-ayacucho-peru/
https://pe.usembassy.gov/natural-disaster-alert-earthquake-in-ayacucho-region-u-s-embassy-lima-peru/
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/peru-earthquake-ayacucho-region-damage-1815602
https://www.telesurenglish.net/7-2-earthquake-shakes-peru-monitoring/
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volcanoes
https://pia.gov.ph/news/more-restive-mayon-volcano-seen-as-increased-sulfur-emissions-continue-on-4th-day/
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2289376/taal-volcano-logs-46-volcanic-earthquakes-up-from-14
https://www.nomadlawyer.org/indonesia-aviation-crisis-178-delays-17-cancellations-triple-volcano-eruptions-2026
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dailys
https://schumannresonance.today/
https://www.weather.gov/
https://www.weatherbug.com/news/Plethora-of-Severe-Threats-Target-Central-US-and-Carolinas
https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
https://www.tornadohq.com/
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes-volcanoes/news/327495/Volcano-earthquake-report-for-Friday-21-Aug-2026.html
https://www.spaceweather.gov/
https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=21&month=08&year=2026
I Found Clues About Where These FIREBALLS Are Coming From
Aug 20, 2026
Something unexpected is happening with recent fireball activity, and I found important clues about where some of these objects may be coming from.
In this investigation, I examine the March 17, 2026 Ohio fireball, the recovered Wadsworth meteorites, the New Zealand event, the Washington fireball, and evidence connecting certain meteoroids to asteroids and comet debris.
The Ohio object produced a brilliant daytime fireball, powerful sonic booms, and meteorites that were recovered across a narrow strewn field.
Scientists officially classified the Wadsworth meteorite as a rare monomict eucrite, part of the HED family of achondrites commonly associated with asteroid 4 Vesta. Hundreds of pieces were recovered, including a 509.9-gram main mass.
I will show the real fireball recordings, recovered meteorite photographs, trajectory information, scientific classifications, and the evidence researchers use to reconstruct where these objects traveled before reaching Earth.
Did these fireballs arrive randomly? Are some connected to asteroid fragments or comet debris? Is anything disturbing the asteroid belt? Let’s carefully separate confirmed evidence from speculation and follow the clues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE9mIpJttbQ
extra space objects
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwS6DkukI8U (Dobsonian Power: IMPRESSIVE SOLAR EXPLOSIONS AFFECTING THE EARTH NOW!)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/026/08/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-launches-the-golden-age-of-space-transportation/
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2090551289612538000
https://x.com/mkratsios47/status/2090547746918854746
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Launches the Golden Age of Space Transportation
Aug 20, 2026
RENEWING AMERICAN SPACE TRANSPORTATION LEADERSHIP:
Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum to reinvigorate America’s leadership in space transportation and enable over 1,000 launches and reentries on American soil annually by 2030.
The Memorandum repeals an outdated National Space Transportation Policy.
It replaces that policy with one that delivers a comprehensive America First approach to assuring reliable, affordable, modernized access to space transportation services that promote a vibrant, competitive, and resilient U.S. space transportation industrial base.
The Memorandum directs agencies to incentivize co-development of space transportation infrastructure with private sector partners, expedite permitting and environmental reviews, develop fair and transparent cost recovery policies for common space services and infrastructure, and develop range scheduling criteria and publish range schedules to maximize allocation of launch resources.
The Memorandum directs the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of the Interior, in coordination with the Secretary of War and the Administrator of NASA, to identify future additional space transportation infrastructure locations, including additional launch and reentry sites.
It also designates priority airspace for critical space launch corridors and integration of space transportation activities into air traffic control modernization efforts.
The Memorandum directs the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST) to coordinate interagency efforts to develop and implement a space transportation industrial base strategy that promotes and maintains America’s space transportation industry, streamlines procurement, implements relevant space security strategies, and ensures an appropriate workforce to accomplish these goals.
The Memorandum directs the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce to ensure U.S. space transportation market access to promote and enable U.S. space transportation capabilities and standards.
The Memorandum directs the Administrator of NASA to facilitate commercial transportation to and from the moon, to facilitate commercial robotic access to Mars, and to explore commercial avenues to send humans to and from Mars.
The Memorandum directs the Secretary of War to pursue, maximize, and explore in-space transportation services for existing and potential missions to support the in-space transportation industry.
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SECURING AMERICA’S NATIONAL AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS:
At a time when our adversaries are challenging American space superiority, President Trump is securing and defending our vital national and economic interests in, from, and to space while unlocking new commercial space opportunities.
By 2030, U.S. space transportation must expand to support more than 1,000 launches and reentries each year.
Protecting critical space assets and activities is essential for military readiness and for defending America’s economic dominance.
Growing a vibrant commercial space economy and space transportation capabilities through the power of American free enterprise will build prosperity and open new economic opportunities, such as high-paying aerospace manufacturing jobs here in America, and decrease the price for developing and deploying new space systems.
Novel in-space manufacturing and transportation capabilities will enable discovery and development of high-value materials and pharmaceuticals, unlock new space architectures, and sustain American technology leadership.
Enabling next-generation space capabilities will give Americans better positioning, navigation, and timing services for precision agriculture, more accurate weather forecasts for safe and predictable airline travel, and ubiquitous satellite-enabled communications for global broadband internet access.
Expanding human reach and American presence in space honors our pioneering legacy, ensures America remains at the forefront of space discovery and achievement, and drives innovation.
BUILDING AMERICAN STRENGTH AND DRIVING ACHIEVEMENT:
President Trump has demonstrated consistent leadership as a driving force for American strength and achievement in space.
President Trump spearheaded the establishment of the Space Force, the first new branch of the Armed Forces since the creation of the Air Force more than 70 years ago. The Space Force is critical to preparing the Department of War for evolving warfighting conditions and expanding our capabilities.
During his first term, President Trump issued seven groundbreaking Space Policy Directives that instructed NASA to return American astronauts to the Moon and beyond through the Artemis Program, reformed our Nation’s commercial space regulatory framework, established cybersecurity principles for space systems, and much more.
In April 2026, America sent astronauts on Artemis II to lunar orbit for the first time in over 50 years.
In August 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to enable competition in the commercial space industry, ensuring the United States maintains its leading role in the commercial use of space.
In December 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order that set a bold vision for an America First space policy, ensuring the United States leads the world in space exploration, security, and commerce.
In July 2026, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a significant proposed rulemaking to waive burdensome environmental reviews for launch infrastructure and enable a commercial space launch renaissance.
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Launch Dress Rehearsal Complete Ahead of NASA Roman Space Telescope Liftoff
August 20, 2026 5:22PM
The team preparing to launch NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope completed a mission dress rehearsal on Thursday from Florida’s space coast.
During the exercise, Roman teams ran through a full end-to-end simulation of launch-day operations leading up to liftoff.
They practiced powering up the spacecraft, simulated fueling operations for the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, conducted mock weather briefings, and practiced troubleshooting a variety of scenarios.
This rehearsal is a standard part of preparation and contributes to mission success, especially since NASA missions often involve unique requirements specific to a given spacecraft.
During the simulation, the team was on console at NASA and SpaceX facilities at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and at SpaceX facilities at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center, where they tested and demonstrated proficiency on everything from communications to mission systems.
Completing the rehearsal brings the team one step closer to sending Roman on its mission to address essential questions about dark energy, planets outside our solar system, and infrared astrophysics.
By conducting wide-field surveys, the telescope will explore the universe’s structure, evolution, and composition.
NASA and SpaceX are targeting launch no earlier than 7:26 a.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 30, from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy.
https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/roman/2026/08/20/launch-dress-rehearsal-complete-ahead-of-nasa-roman-space-telescope-liftoff/
moar
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/08/20/spacewalk-preps-continue-to-finish-antenna-installation-job-next-week/
https://www.nasa.gov/smallspacecraft/what-is-sspicy/
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/aqua/aqua-photo-gallery/
https://goodereader.com/blog/e-book-news/nasa-is-giving-away-a-bunch-of-free-e-books
https://www.dailymail.com/sciencetech/article-16067531/nasa-charles-buhler-florida-ufo.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGq6xtIh4a0 (Danny Jones: The Air Force Knows What the Orbs Are and Isn't Worried | Charles Buhler)
moar
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/europes-scorching-summer/
https://www.wdel.com/news/nasa-hired-artists-to-document-the-space-race/article_64b708bc-f077-4ff0-9d95-0cc73a71a6c5.html#/questions
https://x.com/NASA/status/2090487779268407625
https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/imvi/issm/workshops/issm-workshop-2016/
https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/imvi/issm/workshops/issm-workshop-2025/
UFO 'that looked like a giant nuclear weapon' stalked me before disappearing into sea, says NASA scientist
10:30 EDT, 21 August 2026 | Updated: 11:48 EDT, 21 August 2026
A NASA engineer has detailed a frightening experience involving glowing orbs over Florida and what the US military did when they intercepted the UFOs.
Dr Charles Buhler, a physicist at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, claimed that in 2014 he and his wife were at Cocoa Beach when they spotted a strange orb appear in the sky, which lit up like a 'nuclear bomb went off,' three miles away.
'It looked like a giant nuclear weapon. It wasn't a mushroom cloud with it, but it was just the brightness of it,' Buhler told podcast host Danny Jones.
'And we were like, "This is weird." So the helicopter hung over for a few minutes and then just went back and the light was still there.'
The incident got even stranger after Buhler said a military helicopter from Patrick Air Force Base flew out to examine the UFO and then simply flew off without taking action.
Buhler said: 'They're like, "Okay, they know what it's not. It's not the Russians. It's not the Chinese. So, okay, it's not them. We'll be fine. Let's go back." That's my guess. They know what it's not.'
However, Buhler claimed the glowing orb began moving toward him after the military left the area, coming within 200 feet of the shore, following the scientist and then breaking into five or six separate basketball-sized orbs.
The objects were allegedly seen rotating like a wheel, with half of them going underwater while the other half stayed visible from the beach.
Despite similar sightings being recently released in the Pentagon's UFO disclosure files, and thousands of other orb encounters reported to civilian-run websites, the US government and NASA have maintained that there is no physical proof that UFOs or extraterrestrials exist.
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Buhler claimed the orb appeared around 10pm ET along the eastern coast of Florida, noting that countless people likely saw the craft from the nearby buildings and condos facing the Atlantic.
The scientist initially thought the object was a boat on the water before it pulsed with a light that illuminated the entire area and was too bright to be a standard signal flare.
'Then it gets real bright… It got so bright it lit up the whole beach as far as I can see. It made shadows of us against the buildings behind us,' Buhler said on the Danny Jones Podcast on August 14.
That was when one or two aircraft reportedly took off from the nearby military base and were seen hovering over the pulsating orb in the Atlantic.
Despite all of this taking place near a populated beach community and a major Air Force facility, Buhler said he could not find a single mention or report of the incident the following day.
However, his experience with the orbs is reportedly a well-known phenomenon in the area, with tour groups actively seeking them out and attempting to summon the orbs through psychic communication.
'Cape Canaveral is a huge port, and there's a lot of sightings off of cruise ships of these same red what you saw, what I saw, things following the cruise ships like dolphins do,' Buhler said.
'People have that on video. No one knows what the heck it is. I don't think anyone knows what it is.'
While Buhler believed the orb UFOs were attempting to communicate in a friendly manner, he said the experience on Cocoa Beach quickly turned scary.
Within 15 minutes of the Air Force helicopters leaving the UFO, Buhler claimed the glowing orb began moving closer to the shore, getting within one mile of the beach and appearing to head directly toward the scientist and his wife.
At roughly a third of a mile out, Buhler said the object split into five or six smaller lights which moved to where the waves were breaking, just 200 feet offshore, and began spinning in and out of the water.
'They went and rotated, these five lights, five or six lights… Went like bicycle spokes into the water, halfway out of the water, halfway into the water, and they just kept doing this,' Buhler described. 'It was like the freakiest, I don't know what the hell it was.'
He then detailed how when he and his wife started sprinting away, the lights followed while continuing the spinning motion.
Buhler claimed the whole episode lasted nearly 45 minutes.
Feeling scared, and drawing on things he had read about extraterrestrials as a child, Buhler said he closed his eyes and tried to tell the orbs to go away with his mind.
Shortly after, the lights sank into the water and did not return. 'It wouldn't have gone away if I didn't tell it to. I don't think it would have gone away unless I told it to. It was completely gone after that,' Buhler said.
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NASA, Space Systems Command product support managers meet to discuss logistics
Aug. 20, 2026
Four members of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Logistics Management Division joined Space Systems Command’s (SSC) product support managers (PSMs) during a two-day forum at SSC headquarters Aug. 5-6.
The forum brought together SSC PSMs and other officials from the command’s S4 Installations, Logistics and Product Support directorate to discuss current efforts, issues and updates. The forum included presentations and a tour of SpaceX’s Hawthorne facility.
Working with NASA logistic officials isn’t new for SSC. Last year, officials from NASA, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the National Reconnaissance Office and U.S. Space Force headquarters met to discuss ways to increase domestic production of hydrazine fuel, used as spacecraft monopropellant.
“That kind of collaboration is where we in the space community can really help each other in different areas,” said Brad Leonard, director of SSC S4.
“Together we can discuss what we see coming down in the next five, 10 years. What should we be planning for? This forum sets us up for aligned development, growth and speed.”
Taylor McQuain, Integrated Logistics Support program manager for NASA, gave a presentation on the second day explaining how NASA organizes logistics.
Accompanying McQuain were Isabelle Di Grazia, NASA project support integrator at the NASA Ames Research Center; Anna Warner, project support manager for Airborne Science Program, and Ricardo Montenegro, deputy chief of logistics for NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Logistics is a language, and the more both NASA and SSC understand the terms their counterparts use, the easier it is to call someone and begin solving common problems, McQuain said.
“We know that this next year is going to be difficult for NASA and for the Department of War in general, just with the challenges we’ve faced with critical minerals and the shortages and certain bans from certain countries,” McQuain said.
“We’re already seeing some challenges in various programs across NASA.”
McQuain referenced sharing resources as one way to collaborate, “Do we have assets collecting dust that you guys desperately need?” “Do you have warehouses with assets that we are trying to source?”
When the joint NASA and German Space Agency project, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) was discontinued in 2022, NASA logistics officials were tasked with disposing of the project’s assets, including the Boeing 747SP jetliner that carried the instruments, which went to the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Ariz.
However, NASA’s SOFIA Closeout Team at Armstrong Flight Research Center was able to reutilize and/or sell 80 percent of the spare parts for the platform creating massive savings for the taxpayer.
As SSC pivots from large defense “primes” to working with smaller commercial space vendors, that presents its own set of challenges including trying to grow the industrial base for not just terrestrial uses, but also on-orbit logistics.
“Logistics determines mission outcomes,” Leonard explained. “As SSC fields capabilities, we have to make sure we have the right logistics structures in place, the supply chain, the transportation – to help our Combat Forces Command teammates in the fight.”
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4578424/nasa-space-systems-command-product-support-managers-meet-to-discuss-logistics
extra Space Force
https://x.com/USSpaceForce/status/2090496654180761668
https://www.ussf-cfc.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/3878190/mission-delta-31-pnt-scn-integrated-mission-delta
Trump and fam space news
Trump to honor Artemis II crew with nation's top space medal
Fri, August 21, 2026 at 10:06 AM PDT
President Trump plans to award the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the crew of NASA's Artemis II mission, CBS News has learned.
A White House official confirmed the award will be presented Friday, Aug. 28, at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, became the first humans to travel around the moon in more than a half-century during a 10-day mission.
They splashed down safely to end the record-breaking flight on April 10.
Only 30 astronauts have received the medal, including Neil Armstrong and John Glenn, according to NASA. Astronauts killed in the Apollo 1 fire and the space shuttle Challenger and Columbia disasters received the medal posthumously.
The last astronauts awarded the medal were Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, who in 2020 became the first to launch to orbit on a commercial spacecraft. President Joe Biden awarded them the medal in 2023.
Despite its name, the medal is awarded by the president based on recommendations from the NASA administrator.
Congress has authorized the president to present, in the name of Congress, a medal to any astronaut who has "distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of the Nation and of mankind," according to NASA.
Editor's note: The location of the award ceremony has been updated based on new information from the White House.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/trump-honor-artemis-ii-crew-164059483.html
https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2026/08/21/eric-trump-backed-space-eyes-to-appoint-ex-delta-force-officer-and-ex-banker-sources-say
little bit moar Space Force
Vandenberg Airman Leadership School Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Aug. 20, 2026
U.S. Space Force Col. James T. Horne III, Space Launch Delta 30 commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Shannan Sanchez, SLD 30 senior enlisted leader, cut a ribbon during a ceremony for Vandenberg’s Airman Leadership School at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, Aug. 20, 2026.
The ceremony for the Chief Master Sgt. Arthur Hicks Airman Leadership School commemorates the reopening of the schoolhouse following an extended construction period.
Commissioning in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a lieutenant in 1941 and beginning his career as an aircraft mechanic at the Alabama Tuskegee Institute, Hicks was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military pilots and support personnel in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Airman Leadership School is designed to be an entry level leadership enhancement course to prepare Airmen and Guardians for positions of greater responsibility by strengthening their ability to lead, follow and manage while also gaining a broader understanding of the military profession and their role within the Air Force and Space Force.
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4579406/vandenberg-airman-leadership-school-ribbon-cutting-ceremony/
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4579862/immersive-course-jumpstarts-readiness-of-new-to-role-civilian-acquisition-progr
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4578439/participants-in-space-systems-commands-product-support-managers-forum-pose-in-f
Starlink Mission
August 21, 2026
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is targeting the launch of 27 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about 10 minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX.
This will be the ninth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-105 and seven Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-15-20
Starlink Mission
August 21, 2026
On Friday, August 21 at 11:04 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched 29 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
This was the 30th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER-B, USSF-124, BlueBird 1-5, Nusantara Lima (PSN N5), Starfall Demo, and now 24 Starlink missions.
Following stage separation, the first stage landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-10-39
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-starlink-launch-group-10-39-falcon-9-asog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXMbCrnxOpI
extra SpaceX
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-fires-up-starship-ahead-of-megarockets-1st-orbital-flight-video
Betelgeuse is not alone
21 Aug 2026
Astronomers have found the best evidence yet for a companion star to Betelgeuse, the brightest star in the constellation Orion.
Based on data obtained by the SPHERE instrument on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, they say this companion may be responsible for the red supergiant star’s periodic changes in brightness, which have puzzled scientists for decades.
Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star located about 548 light-years away. As the 10th brightest star in the night sky, it is generally visible even in locations with substantial light pollution.
However, its brightness varies over a period of roughly 420 days, superimposed on a longer 2200-day modulation.
For decades, astronomers have suspected that some of these variations could be caused by a companion star that modifies the distribution of cosmic dust that Betelgeuse produces and expels.
These changes in cosmic dust would, in turn, change the amount of its light that reaches us here on Earth.
A few years ago, two studies (published in The Astrophysical Journal in 2024 and 2025, but available as preprints beforehand) predicted that in December 2024, this companion star would be at its greatest distance (maximum elongation) from Betelgeuse, making it easier to detect.
To take advantage of this opportunity, researchers led by Miguel Montargès of the Observatoire de Paris – PSL, France, requested observing time on the VLT.
Although the same studies predicted that the companion would not be massive enough to be detectable with current instrumentation, Montargès and colleagues nevertheless hoped to place upper limits on its stellar parameters.
A difficult analysis
The astronomers used the SPHERE instrument on the VLT to image light from the region where the companion was expected to be, followed by advanced post-processing techniques originally developed to search for exoplanets.
Betelgeuse’s brightness and large angular size made this analysis difficult, explains Montargès, but he and his colleagues were nevertheless able to gather enough data to identify a “Betelbuddy” with a confidence of 6σ.
As Montargès points out, this is better than the previous upper limit of 1.5σ reported by astronomers at NOIRlab in 2025, and above the usual 5σ threshold that constitutes an “observation” or “discovery”.
Despite this, the astronomers say that before they can be certain that they have really detected a companion that it is indeed gravitationally bound to Betelgeuse, they will need to perform additional observations next year.
At that point, they will attempt to confirm the companion’s presence by observing it half a period after the initial detection, on the other side of the red supergiant.
“We will then continue observing it to get a precise characterization of its orbit (semi-major axis, eccentricity and inclination, among other parameters),” Montargès says. “These will be required to understand the past and future evolution of the system.”
What happens next
As a mature supergiant star, Betelgeuse is expected to undergo a supernova explosion at some point. The presence of a companion star could affect how this process plays out, and even dictate when the eventual explosion occurs.
“It is clear to me that this companion detection will now trigger a wave of new studies on the evolutionary status of Betelgeuse,” Montargès says. “Depending on past, present and future interactions between the two stars, the supernova could possibly be advanced or delayed.
“Betelgeuse is a star that has been observed throughout history,” Montargès continues. “It was even depicted in prehistoric paintings, yet we are discovering one of its fundamental characteristics only now.”
And that is not all: “30% of red supergiants in our galaxy show the type of light variations that led to the discovery of Betelgeuse’s companion,” he tells Physics World.
“We may have opened a new avenue to find such binary systems, when the primary star is an evolved star like Betelgeuse.”
https://physicsworld.com/a/betelgeuse-is-not-alone/
https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2026/07/aa61023-26/aa61023-26.html
extra general space
https://spacedaily.com/t-neptune-inner-moons-clay-exposed-interiors-triton/
https://news.ufl.edu/2026/08/astraeus-ribbon-cutting/
https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/scientists-finally-know-why-astronauts-struggle-to-poop-in-space-and-reveal-a-hidden-risk-of-long-haul-spaceflight
https://www.space.com/stargazing/my-favorite-thing-in-the-night-sky-appears-on-aug-28-and-it-proves-earth-is-a-sphere
Sophie Adenot’s second spacewalk, just one week after her first
21/08/2026
Just one week after making her spacewalking debut, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot is heading back outside the International Space Station.
Together with NASA astronaut Anil Menon, Sophie will exit the Station from the Quest airlock at approximately 13:35 BST/14:35 CEST to install a Space-to-Ground antenna (SGANT) – a critical communications system used to transmit data and enable high-speed communication between Mission Control in Houston and the Space Station.
Anil and Sophie are expected to spend about six and a half hours outside the orbital complex, installing and connecting the antenna to restore full redundancy to the Station.
Join the livestream coverage on ESA WebTV and ESA’s YouTube channel at 12:00 BST/13:00 CEST.
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/08/Sophie_Adenot_s_second_spacewalk_just_one_week_after_her_first
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Watch_Sophie_Adenot_s_second_spacewalk_live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuqkBh8oNGc
extra ESA
https://x.com/Soph_astro/status/2090490071698837806
https://x.com/Soph_astro/status/2090803401428787694
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Sentinel-1_captures_major_ice_loss_from_Greenland_glacier
https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Week_in_images/Week_in_images_17-21_August_2026
Russia conducts missile test near Kuril Islands after Japanese protest
21 Aug, 2026 06:37 | Updated 21 Aug, 2026 07:40
The drills come a week after Tokyo criticized President Vladimir Putin’s first ever-visit to the archipelago
The Russian Navy has carried out a successful missile test near the country’s Kuril Islands, the Pacific Fleet has said.
The test comes a week after Japan vigorously protested Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first-ever visit to the archipelago, which is partially claimed by Tokyo.
The missile test, which took place near the southern Kurils, involved the Varyag guided missile cruiser, the Omsk nuclear-powered submarine, and a ground-based Bastion surface-to-ship missile system, the Russian Pacific Fleet said in a statement on Thursday.
They fired several types of munitions at a target simulating enemy vessels at a distance of around 300 km (186 miles), with targeting data provided by naval aviation, the fleet said.
Objective control data confirmed the destruction of all targets, it stressed.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reacted to the drills by telling reporters that Tokyo “cannot tolerate moves [by Russia] to strengthen military power on the four Northern Islands because they go against our country’s stance [on the territories].”
Kyodo news earlier reported that Japan had lodged a protest with Russia after Moscow notified it of the upcoming missile test last week.
On Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Tokyo’s ambassador to Moscow to express a strong protest over “anti-Russian statements” by the Japanese leadership.
After Putin traveled to Iturup, the largest of the Kuril Islands, on August 13, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the trip “absolutely unacceptable” and said it “hurts the feelings of the Japanese people.”
Motegi also issued a statement, claiming that the four southernmost islands of the archipelago “are an inherent part of Japan’s territory both historically and under international law.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it informed the Japanese envoy that “Russia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over the southern Kuril Islands are inviolable.
These territories were transferred to our country following World War II, as enshrined in the relevant agreements of the Allied Powers and the UN Charter.”
“Any attempts by the Japanese side to directly or indirectly call this obvious reality into question are categorically unacceptable and illegitimate,” it added.
Moscow “reserves the right to take appropriate countermeasures” in response to Japan’s adherence to Western sanctions against Russia and its support for Ukraine, the ministry warned.
The Kuril Islands, stretching from Kamchatka to Japan’s Hokkaido, came under Soviet control following Tokyo’s defeat in World War II and were subsequently incorporated into the USSR.
The Japanese authorities, however, continue to claim the islands of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai – which they call the “Northern Territories.”
The dispute has been the main obstacle to Moscow and Tokyo signing a formal peace treaty in the eight decades since the conflict.
https://www.rt.com/news/644470-kuril-island-missile-japan/
moar RT
https://www.rt.com/russia/644456-fsb-foreign-national-terrorism/
https://www.rt.com/russia/644497-ukraine-budanov-corruption-scandal/
https://www.rt.com/russia/644484-ukrainian-volunteer-brigade-donbass/
https://www.rt.com/news/644479-poland-warsaw-uprising-porn-content-creator/
Russia-Ukraine war: North Korea deploys 400-strong drone unit to aid Putin — Report
Updated 21 Aug 2026, 11:00 PM IST
A senior Ukrainian intelligence official warned that the latest wave of North Korean troops in Russia includes a dedicated drone unit capable of striking targets directly inside Ukraine, according to a new CNN report.
CNN, citing Major General Vadym Skibitskiy, Deputy Head of Ukrainian Defence Intelligence, reported that there are already 8,500 North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia.
This growing deployment signals a major expansion of the military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, building on the mutual defence pact the two nations signed two years ago.
The current North Korean forces are primarily concentrated in Russia’s Kursk region. Key operational details outlined in the report include:
A 400-strong drone unit, utilising experience from previous deployments, is expected to conduct both surveillance and offensive operations within Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin may request up to 50,000 additional troops during a scheduled meeting with Kim Jong Un this September.
An estimated 25,000 North Korean soldiers have rotated through the Russian military to date, with initial deployments experiencing significant casualties due to mass-rush tactics.
Despite the buildup, Skibitskiy noted that North Korean troops are expected to reinforce rear positions rather than fight directly on Ukrainian soil, thereby freeing up Russian forces for frontline assaults.
Meanwhile, Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, strongly denied the claims of a massive upcoming troop surge, labelling it a “groundless self-fabricated scenario.”
Geopolitical pressures
This deepening alliance comes at a critical moment for Kyiv, which is currently facing a severe shortage of air defence systems. The partnership is also raising red flags across the NATO alliance.
These concerns have been further amplified following President Donald Trump’s recent announcement to scale down joint US-South Korea military exercises in an effort to avoid antagonising the North Korean leader.
Munitions and technology exchange
Beyond providing manpower, Pyongyang is actively bolstering Russia’s munitions stockpile and missile capabilities. CNN highlighted several key facets of this technological exchange:
North Korea supplied at least 150 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles before August of last year, with another 120 promised.
Roughly 40 of these new missiles have been delivered, and Ukraine suspects two were used in a July 30 strike in Radushne that killed four children.
Around 90 North Korean personnel are currently stationed in Voronezh to assist with launches, using the conflict to refine their targeting and payload capabilities.
In exchange for this support, North Korea has requested Russia's advanced S400 air defence system and has already received a Pantsir-1 surface-to-air missile launcher.
Russian general Lyamin takes charge of new drone warfare branch
Colonel-General Denis Lyamin has assumed the duties of head of Russia's Unmanned Systems Forces, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday.
On August 5, Putin appointed Lyamin to lead the newly established branch of the military responsible for drone warfare.
The Defence Ministry said on Friday that Defence Minister Andrei Belousov had signed the relevant order, formally installing Lyamin in the post.
https://www.livemint.com/news/world/russiaukraine-war-north-korea-deploys-400-strong-drone-unit-to-aid-putin-report-11787331856334.html
other Russia and Ukraine
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Ukrainian-Drone-Attack-Hits-Lukoil-Refinery-Deep-in-Russia.html
https://ua.news/en/war-vs-rf/zsu-urazili-bazu-rosiiskikh-bezpilotnikiv-i-punkti-upravlinnia-v-krimu
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/21/2-killed-in-crimea-as-ukrainian-drones-strike-industrial-site-in-perm-region-a93546
https://www.firstpost.com/world/ukraine-planned-1000-ai-drones-to-cripple-moscow-airports-as-russia-pounds-kyiv-14039932.html
https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/russian-drone-strike-hits-kryvyi-rihs-largest-shopping-complex-killing-5-injuring-more-than-50-21892
https://news.liga.net/en/war/news/the-ukrainian-armed-forces-have-put-the-first-ukrainian-jet-powered-drone-interceptor-into-service
https://www.irishtimes.com/world/europe/2026/08/21/ukraine-seeks-musks-go-ahead-to-use-starlink-equipped-drones-inside-russia/