TYB
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 Reaches Orbit, News Conference at 1:10 p.m. EDT
October 1, 2026 11:26AM
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov to the International Space Station has safely reached orbit, separated from the Falcon 9’s second stage, and the spacecraft’s nosecone has opened.
A postlaunch news conference will be held at approximately 1:10 p.m. EDT at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the following participants:
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
Dr. Lori Glaze, associate administrator, Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
Dana Weigel, manager, Low Earth Orbit Program, NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston
Mathieu Caron, director, Astronauts, Life Sciences, and Space Medicine, CSA
Julianna Scheiman, director, NASA Science and Dragon Programs, SpaceX
NASA will stream the postlaunch news conference on the agency’s YouTube channel.
Crew-13 will spend just under 8 hours in orbit phasing on its way to the space station, with docking to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module targeted for 7 p.m., making this the fastest launch-to-docking in the history of the International Space Station.
You can follow along with mission activities and get more information on the International Space Station blog. Learn more about commercial crew and space station activities by following @NASAKennedy and @Space_Station on X, as well as NASAKennedy and ISS on Facebook.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/10/01/nasas-spacex-crew-13-reaches-orbit-news-conference-at-1245-p-m-edt/
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/10/01/liftoff-nasas-spacex-crew-13-begins-journey-to-international-space-station/
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/10/01/falcon-9-first-stage-lands-second-stage-engine-shuts-down/
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/commercialcrew/2026/10/01/meet-the-crew-of-nasas-spacex-crew-13/
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/commercialcrew/2026/10/01/a-look-at-todays-launch-milestones-3/
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/commercialcrew/2026/10/01/live-broadcast-coverage-of-nasas-spacex-crew-13-mission-begins/
https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/nasa-launches-spacex-crew-13/685973
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZiUbT1-djA (NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 Launch)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSJVOZOUmek (NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 Postlaunch News Conference (Oct. 1, 2026))LIVE NOW
moar
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/09/30/station-prepares-to-welcome-crew-13-while-continuing-space-research/
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/commercialcrew/2026/10/01/crew-13-research-advances-health-food-and-deep-space-science/
NASA Awards Contract to Develop 5G Communications for Moon
Sep 30, 2026
NASA has awarded Modulate Space Corporation a contract to develop key elements of a 5G communications system for use on the lunar surface with built-in Wi-Fi 6, for NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
This accelerated effort is organized into two primary work areas that together will develop a scalable, standards-based communications capability designed to support future Moon Base surface operations.
The 5G System and Lunar Surface Communications Evaluation and Radio Propagation Measurements contract is a firm-fixed-price contract with a value of approximately $38 million.
The performance period for the 5G Network-in-a-Box Development and Lab Demonstration runs from Thursday, Oct. 1, through Jan. 31, 2028.
The performance period for the Lunar 5G and Wi-Fi Integrated Surface Network and Flight Demonstration on the Lunar Surface runs from Monday, Nov. 30, through Dec. 31, 2028.
Through these demonstrations, NASA will acquire technology development of hardware, firmware, and software needed to advance the integrated lunar communications system.
This effort will give NASA insight into the system architecture and operational performance while providing the flexibility needed to evolve the technology for future lunar surface communications.
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-awards-contract-to-develop-5g-communications-for-moon/
moar
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasas-webb-provides-crash-course-on-planet-shattering-collisions/
https://science.nasa.gov/asset/webb/composition-of-extreme-debris-disks-across-time/
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/an-agricultural-island-in-the-saskatchewan-river-delta/
https://science.nasa.gov/blog/curiosity-blog-sols-5016-5021-fantastic-minerals-and-how-to-detect-them/
NASA, International Partners Advance Work on Space Crops
Sep 30, 2026
NASA, CSA (Canadian Space Agency), and the German Aerospace Center signed a joint statement of intent to begin coordinated, preparatory work toward an Earth-based demonstrator to learn how to grow crops on the Moon, which will be essential to helping astronauts go farther and stay longer in space.
The Lunar Agriculture Module-Ground Test Demonstrator aims to develop the technologies needed to grow space crops and study how they perform under atmospheres and controlled environments similar to those expected during missions at Moon Base.
Through Moon Base, NASA and its partners will build the infrastructure to support an enduring human presence near the Moon's South Pole, advancing science and technology while preparing for future human missions to Mars.
Space crops will provide deep space crews with whole-food nutrition and increase dietary variety. They can also absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, and recycle water.
These capabilities will become increasingly important as human missions extend farther from our home planet.
https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/biological-physical-sciences/nasa-international-partners-advance-work-on-space-crops/
moar
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/star-trails/
https://science.nasa.gov/get-involved/citizen-science/help-overlap-zoo-reveal-cosmic-dust/
https://www.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4615452/315th-oss-airmen-recognized-for-artemis-ii-support/
https://x.com/NASAJPL/status/2105706401280716883
NASA Office of Inspector General
@NASAOIG
Happy birthday, NASA! 🎉
68 years ago today, the Agency officially commenced operations.
Since then, we’ve pushed the boundaries of human exploration, unveiled the mysteries of the cosmos, and inspired generations to dream big.
Here's to the next giant leap!
5:20 AM · Oct 1, 2026
https://x.com/NASAOIG/status/2105633889960206397
https://x.com/NASAhistory/status/2105651444778979692
https://x.com/airandspace/status/2105684616132616416
moar
https://x.com/NASAGoddard/status/2105659752503988568
https://x.com/NASA/status/2105369076662960310
NASA
@NASA
“Besides just being an orbiting laboratory, it’s also our technical proving ground.”
@NASAAdmin Jared Isaacman explains how missions aboard the @Space_Station, including the Crew-13 mission, are integral for testing technologies needed for future Artemis missions on the Moon.
7:15 AM · Oct 1, 2026
https://x.com/NASA/status/2105662944889675873
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2105684900405968934
https://x.com/mayemusk/status/2105708498701165022
https://x.com/astro_anil/status/2105695783806988430
https://x.com/Astro_Jessica/status/2105676569603666301
“Air & Scare” Event Returns to National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center Oct. 24
October 1, 2026
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will host its annual “Air & Scare” family day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at its Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
At this year’s event, visitors will explore the spooky side of air and space with candy stations and science activities for all ages inside the museum and outdoors. Attendees will be required to reserve free timed tickets for the outdoor portion of the event in advance.
Tickets are not required for the indoor Air & Scare activities or for touring the museum’s exhibits.
Visitors can expect spooky discoveries and science fun as aerospace comes alive in Halloween-themed activities designed with the whole family in mind. New this year, visitors will have the opportunity to take part in the Air & Scare Runway costume fashion show.
Other activities will include trick-or-treat stations with free candy and snacks; creepy crafts, spooky experiments, challenges and fun demonstrations; special story times and puppet shows for the youngest Halloween revelers; photo opportunities with Star Wars characters; and more.
The program will take place rain or shine. Some outdoor activities may be cancelled in the event of rain.
Free timed tickets are required for all attendees of the outdoor activities and can be reserved on the museum’s website starting Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. ET. Admission is free, but parking is $15 until 4 p.m.
Public transportation is also available via Metro’s Silver Line and the Fairfax Connector bus.
Attendees are encouraged to come in their favorite space or flight-themed costume, or costumes of any kind safe for trick-or-treating. Real and costume weapons are prohibited.
Halloween masks are prohibited inside the museum; visitors 15 years and younger may wear them at the outdoor portion of the event.
“Air & Scare” is made possible by Mars Wrigley Confectionery US LLC. For more information and highlights of activities, visit the museum’s website.
The National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Virginia, near Washington Dulles International Airport and is open every day except Dec. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Admission is free, timed-entry passes are not required for regular indoor visitation and parking is $15. The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., is located on Jefferson Drive between Fourth and Seventh streets S.W. and is open every day except Dec. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Admission is free, but timed-entry passes are required to visit.
https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/air-scare-event-returns-national-air-and-space-museums-udvar-hazy-center-oct-24
https://airandspace.si.edu/whats-on/events/air-scare-2026
SpaceX just launched the 1st US astronaut mission to embrace the 'unlucky' number 13 since the Apollo era
October 10. 2026
SpaceX just launched NASA's first mission numbered "13" in more than 50 years.
Crew-13, the 13th flight of the company's Crew Dragon capsule flying under the agency's commercial crew contract, lifted off at 11:10 a.m. EDT (1510 GMT) on Thursday (Oct. 1) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Commander Jessica Watkins and pilot Luke Delaney of NASA, mission specialist Joshua Kutryk with the Canadian Space Agency and mission specialist Sergey Teteryatnikov of Roscosmos are on their way to a rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station, beginning their planned five-and-a-half-month expedition.
Their time on the orbiting outpost will begin with a brief handover period with the outgoing Crew-12 astronauts, as would be expected for anyone familiar with the normal procession of numbers. But that was not always the case throughout NASA's history.
Triskaidekaphobia
NASA's first human space program to reach a 13th numbered flight was Apollo.
The April 1970 mission was planned to be the third time U.S. astronauts landed on the moon, but as now is famously known, Apollo 13 was derailed by an inflight explosion that made the flight's primary goal returning Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Dick Gordon safely to Earth.
Both before and after the flight, the crew had little concern about their mission being numbered 13. They were aware of the superstition — that "13" was an unlucky number — but if they paid any attention to it, it was to make a joke.
"I never thought of it in a superstitious sense, that we would have a problem on 13," said Haise, the mission's lunar module pilot, in a 50th anniversary interview with collectSPACE.com in 2020.
"I had no sense at all, nor do I relate to the launch time [13:13 CST] and all the other thirteens that people have tried to tie to things as being connected with the flight."
Jim Beggs reportedly felt differently. The NASA administrator when the agency reached its next 13th numbered mission in 1984, Beggs was against tempting fate.
"'There's not going to be [another] Apollo 13 or a Shuttle 13," he said, according to Bob Crippen, commander of the space shuttle's STS-41C mission, in a NASA oral history interview.
Giving in to triskaidekaphobia — the fear of the number 13 — Beggs ordered NASA to adopt a new but convoluted numbering system for all shuttle missions after STS-9.
"Hence, what would have been STS-13 became STS-41-C, where the '4' was the fiscal year [1984], the '1' was the launch site [Kennedy Space Center in Florida] and 'C' the order of launch [C was the third planned flight of the year]," said Crippen.
Beggs left office after the Challenger tragedy in 1986 and with him went the complex number and letter system. The first mission to return the space shuttle to flight — the 26th in the program's history — was designated STS-26.
It comes after 12
Before SpaceX's Crew-13, the closest NASA had come to having to consider the question was Expedition 13, the 13th crew to take up residency on the ISS. It was not, however, a solely American crew, with only a NASA astronaut, a Russian commander and German flight engineer aboard.
Other missions were not strictly the 13th, such as STS-113, which flew to the International Space Station in 2002, or were not American and so were not NASA's to decide. Russia's Soyuz TMA-13M and Soyuz MS-13 flew without so much as a black cat getting in their way.
As for Crew-13 astronauts, they seem be unfazed by reintroducing "13" to the order of U.S. missions, going so far as to style their official crew insignia after the emblem worn by the Apollo 13 astronauts.
"We took a lot of inspiration from the Apollo 13 crew as Crew-13," said Watkins, answering a question from the press gathered for their pre-launch arrival at the Kennedy Space Center.
"We have a couple of nods in terms of just the Roman numerals, the golden color [and] the dragon looking upward."
"We really wanted to honor their legacy, honor their resilience and their grit and bring a little bit of that with us on our crew," she said. "We stand on the shoulders of giants."
"We were joking a lot about being number 113," Ken Bowersox, STS-113 commander, told the press at the time. To play it safe, though, the crew's mission patch used the Roman numerals (CXIII) instead.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/spacex-just-launched-the-1st-us-astronaut-mission-to-embrace-the-unlucky-number-13-since-the-apollo-era
https://www.spacex.com/launches/crew13
moar SpaceX launches today
https://www.spacex.com/launches/transporter18
https://www.spacex.com/launches/nrol97
UnderSec sees Ramstein AB Airmen, Guardian readiness firsthand
Oct. 1, 2026
Under Secretary of the Air Force Matt Lohmeier visited with U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa and U.S. Space Forces in Europe and Space Forces Africa leadership, Airman and Guardians during an immersion visit at Ramstein Air Base, Sept. 24.
The visit, which included stops at the USAFE-AFAFRICA headquarters, SPACEFOREUR-AF headquarters, 86th Air Wing, 603rd Air Operations Center, and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, provided an opportunity for Lohmeier to meet with command leaders and subject matter experts, who offered insights on current and future missions, challenges and opportunities.
“It’s a true privilege to visit Ramstein and see firsthand all the critical missions they execute in support of our warfighters,” Lohmeier said.
“The motivation, service and expertise they display give me confidence our warfighters are ready to fight and win. We, as senior leaders, need to ensure they receive the most technologically advanced capabilities to execute their mission.”
He started the day off with a workout session with SPACEFOREUR-AF Guardians and leadership, reinforcing that maintaining physical standards helps ensure military members are resilient and ready for anything the service demands of them.
“Fitness is part of readiness, and leaders have to set that example,” Lohmeier said. “Whether you are at home station, deployed or on the road, taking care of yourself physically helps ensure you are prepared to lead and accomplish the mission.”
Then Lohmeier received briefings on command missions and current operations.
He spoke with U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds, USAFE-AFAFRICA commander, to discuss how the command defends the strategic approaches to the United States and generates airpower across two continents in support of U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command.
“It was extremely valuable to meet with General Hinds to discuss how USAFE-AFAFAFRICA protects the U.S. homeland with our allies and partners,” Lohmeier said.
“It is clear that our forces project combat-ready airpower in Europe, Africa and beyond, deter aggression, and are prepared to win decisively should deterrence fail.”
He also joined Airman and Guardians for a working lunch at the installation dining facility where he heard directly about their mission challenges and successes, offering ongoing leadership support as they work to maintain readiness and a focus on warrior culture.
The visit continued with a tour of the Air Defense Operations Center, a first-of-its-kind facility in the Air Force to become operational. The ADOC is designed to detect and counter emerging aerial threats to help subject matter experts build an approach that is catered to those threats and host nation considerations throughout Europe.
Lohmeier finished the visit by meeting with U.S. Space Force Brig. Gen. Christopher Fernengel, SPACEFOREUR-AF commander, to discuss joint warfighting initiatives and integration with other combatant command components.
As a rapidly changing warfighting environment unfolds, a shared understanding and collaboration of how space capabilities are planned and employed is critical to the success of the joint force.
Lohmeier’s visit is a part of a larger European area of responsibility immersion to engage with Airmen and Guardians throughout the theater. He also recognized multiple members with coining ceremonies for their exemplary service.
“Readiness starts with our people,” Lohmeier said. “The professionalism and commitment to readiness from the Airmen and Guardians I met at Ramstein today are exactly what our Air Force needs as we prepare to defeat the threats in theater.”
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4616154/undersec-sees-ramstein-ab-airmen-guardian-readiness-firsthand/
moar Space Force
https://x.com/USSpaceForce/status/2105715684864856254
https://x.com/SpaceForceCSO/status/2105481103847174308
https://x.com/USSpaceForce/status/2105662833811763670
Tiny thrusters 3D-printed in space
01/10/2026
The fifth metal sample 3D-printed on the International Space Station (ISS) has made its way to Earth. Made by ESA’s Metal 3D Printer onboard the station’s Columbus module, it was retrieved in July by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and contains the first thrusters created in space.
Only a few months after being launched to the ISS in January 2024, the printer produced its very first complete sample, the first metal part ever created in space.
ESA’s material scientists at ESTEC, the agency’s technical heart in the Netherlands, then examined and tested it to investigate how microgravity affected its printing process.
They used their findings to improve the printing procedure for the two bigger parts of the fifth sample. The two smaller parts have been designed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and take the form of tiny thrusters – satellite parts used for propulsion.
Florian Merz, research associate and test engineer at DLR, explains the next steps: “We have designed two versions of the thruster: one manufactured as closely as possible to the desired shape, and one with thicker walls that allow for post-processing to refine the thruster’s inner diameter.
“At our vacuum test bench in Lampoldshausen, Germany, we will assess the functionality and performance of the thrusters in hot-fire tests under representative operating conditions, demonstrating that space-manufactured components can achieve the precision required for propulsion and withstand relevant temperatures and pressures.”
Sonja Steinbach, DLR’s project manager, adds: “By comparing the space-manufactured thrusters with equivalent components produced on Earth, we can investigate how microgravity influences the manufacturing process and how these effects translate into the performance of the finished components. The results will help us further optimise metal 3D printing for future in-space manufacturing.”
“Even though we have already received four samples from the ISS at ESTEC, the thrill of opening these very special packages remains the same,” comments Rob Postema, ESA’s technical officer of the project.
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2026/10/Tiny_thrusters_3D-printed_in_space
moar ESA
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/EarthCARE/EarthCARE_s_view_of_volcanic_plume_boosts_air_safety
https://www.pokemon.com/us/news/pick-up-out-of-this-world-products-from-the-pokemon-center-esa-collaboration
https://x.com/esa/status/2105677307705016414
https://x.com/Soph_astro/status/2105702161040507076
NordSpace Live Stream – Terra Nova Satellite Launch
October 1, 2026
Terra Nova, NordSpace’s first pathfinder satellite, is headed to orbit in a few weeks after successful build, test and integration between NordSpace’s SSL ahead of launch from Vandenberg SFB!
Terra Nova represents far more than a satellite for NordSpace. It is the embodiment of our sovereign end-to-end space missions vision for Canada.
It allows us to walk in the shoes of our future launch customers, unlock new business opportunities for scale and resilience, and build unified hardware, software and procedures with TRL-9 flight heritage that will power everything from our rockets to satellites.
🌎 Mission: This self-funded dual-use defence and commercial demonstration satellite will test capabilities ranging from Space Domain Awareness (SDA) to wildfire monitoring. Missions designed to protect Canadian sovereignty and save lives.
🛰️ Technology: Terra Nova will demonstrate four critical technologies we're developing in-house: our scalable Athena spacecraft bus, our Zephyr-EP electric propulsion thruster, our Chronos edge-AI camera system powered by an onboard NVIDIA GPU, and our Sentinel mission control software platform.
Sentinel will power all missions at NordSpace including launch. The satellite was built and tested in our Space Systems Lab (SSL) including thermal, vacuum and vibration in-house.
🚀 End-to-End: While we're building Canada's first commercial orbital launch vehicles (Tundra and Tempest, light and medium-lift) and the Atlantic Spaceport Complex (ASX), Terra Nova demonstrates that we can deliver on every phase of the space mission lifecycle: design, manufacturing, launch, on-orbit operations, and data services.
🇨🇦 Canada: Seeing our inaugural satellite come together marks a pivotal and proud moment for NordSpace and Canada's space future.
We are working to scale to larger and more capable buses including Athena+ and our new Aquila platform, and launch them on Canadian-made rockets from a Canadian-owned spaceport. That’s real sovereign launch.
The most successful space launch companies, from SpaceX to Rocket Lab, understand that vertical integration isn't optional, it's critical.
By operating our own hardware in orbit, launched from our rockets, using our own infrastructure, we develop a cost and control structure that is unmatched while building a company that is sovereign itself for a sovereign Canada.
Building spacecraft in parallel with launch vehicles ensures we can support customers throughout the entire mission lifecycle while unlocking new business opportunities and accelerating our path to becoming a true end-to-end space missions company.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLD3zer20D8
https://www.nordspace.com/
Kiev reaping huge profits on EU arms supplies – Russian intel
1 Oct, 2026 15:28 | Updated 1 Oct, 2026 16:30
Weapons are being marked up threefold to generate kickbacks for officials, the SVR has said
Ukrainian officials are making so much money from EU-funded arms supplies that they have a financial stake in prolonging the conflict with Russia, Moscow’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has claimed.
Handguns purchased for Ukraine are being marked up threefold, with hundreds of thousands of euros from each shipment siphoned off to people close to the leadership of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), the agency said on Thursday.
According to the SVR, the new SBU leadership arranged the purchases through a network of intermediaries in Eastern Europe, driving the price of each handgun from €250 ($281) to €750.
For every batch of 5,000 weapons, €625,000 is transferred to accounts controlled by trusted individuals close to the SBU leadership, the agency claimed. Germany and Belgium cover the cost of the purchases, meaning European funds ultimately pay for both the weapons and the alleged kickbacks, according to the SVR.
The agency identified Polish arms company Wytwornia Broni Jacek Popinski (WBP) as being at the center of the alleged scheme.
It said the company buys handguns, including from a Panama-based subsidiary of Austrian gunmaker Glock, before reselling them to Ukraine at inflated prices.
The SVR suggested that the sums involved in more expensive military procurement could be considerably larger, particularly for scarce components used in air-defense missile systems.
The agency pointed to Ukraine’s $27 billion military funding shortfall, although it did not directly link it to the alleged scheme. Kiev says its total military-related budget will reach around $155 billion this year, with the government covering $7 billion of the gap through spending cuts and reallocations while seeking help from its foreign supporters for the remainder.
Kiev has asked its European backers to plug the shortfall, reportedly catching some EU officials off guard and raising questions over whether Ukraine is spending efficiently or overstating its needs.
Last month, EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said there were “open questions” requiring a “detailed assessment.”
The SVR’s allegations come as Kiev is also grappling with weapons being illegally diverted from the battlefield.
Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation recently said it had broken up an organized group accused of moving arms from combat zones to western regions for sale to criminal networks.
Investigators seized more than 17,000 rounds of ammunition, grenades, anti-tank grenade launchers, mines and other weapons worth over 4.5 million hryvnia ($100,000). The weapons were subsequently handed over to the notorious neo-Nazi unit, the Azov Corps.
https://www.rt.com/russia/646552-ukraine-corruption-eu-arms-svr/
moar RT
https://www.rt.com/russia/646556-vladimir-putin-valdai-speech/
https://www.rt.com/russia/646551-russia-colonel-kursk-border-defense-corruption/
https://www.rt.com/news/646530-nato-no-proof-russia-attack/
https://www.rt.com/pop-culture/646565-kanye-concert-st-petersburg-zakharova/
Russian drone strikes Kyiv nuclear institute housing research reactor
October 1, 2026 5:13 pm
A Russian drone struck the grounds of the Institute for Nuclear Research in Kyiv on Sept. 30, where a research nuclear reactor is located, Ukraine's State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate said on Telegram on Oct. 1.
The strike, which occurred at around 6:18 p.m. local time, sparked a fire that was quickly extinguished. No one was injured in the attack, according to the statement.
The VVR-M research reactor itself and systems important for its safety were not damaged, according to the regulator. Radiation levels remained within the normal background range of 0.16-0.20 microsieverts per hour.
The reactor has been shut down since February 2022, when its core was fully unloaded to reduce radiation risks following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. It is currently used only for maintenance of safety-related systems.
The institute is part of Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences and conducts research in nuclear physics, atomic energy, and radioecology.
"The drone strike on the territory of the Institute for Nuclear Research was an attack on a peaceful nuclear facility used exclusively for scientific and research purposes," the regulator said.
The strike on the Kyiv institute is the latest incident to put a Ukrainian nuclear facility at risk.
Russian attacks have repeatedly threatened the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the infrastructure supplying it with electricity. The latest such incident occurred in June 2026, when Russian drone strikes damaged a spent nuclear fuel storage facility at Chornobyl.
The attack came amid a sharp increase in Russian strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in recent weeks. Russia has intensified its use of drones around the clock, striking residential buildings, businesses, transport infrastructure, and other civilian sites.
Two Russian drones also struck Kyiv's Southern Bridge on Oct. 1 as cars and a metro train were crossing it.
A day earlier, Russia launched its first mass attack on Kyiv's energy infrastructure since the previous heating season, causing emergency power outages in the capital and other regions.
https://kyivindependent.com/russian-drone-strikes-kyiv-nuclear-institute-housing-research-reactor/
moar Russia and Ukraine
https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/ukraine-strikes-deep-into-russia-hitting-drone-base-oil-facility-and-military-logistics-23019
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/85832
https://tvpworld.com/95696022/zelenskyy-calls-russian-scumbags-after-drone-hits-school
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/09/30/8055879/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-10-01/live-updates-910250
other Israel
https://danielgordis.substack.com/p/from-operation-wrath-of-god-to-nili
https://www.jfeed.com/news-israel/tm884z
https://www.jfeed.com/news-israel/tm8r9o
https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/idf-press-releases-israel-at-war/october-26-pr/idf-response-to-the-film-naza/
Live Updates: US deploys third aircraft carrier to Middle East, as Saudis give Yemen $60 million to fight Houthis
October 1, 2026
IRGC says it killed 'six terrorists' caught with explosives in Iran • Herzog condemns settler violence • Shin Bet heads to Dubai after hijacking attempt
October 1, 9:03 PM
Trump claims he got rid of Iran nuclear threat in single night
US President Donald Trump claimed in a Thursday social media post that his administration defeated the nuclear threat posed by Iran in a single night.
"I stated, numerous times, that it would take 4-6 weeks to get rid of THE IRAN NUCLEAR THREAT, and I did it in one night! The rest of the time is just to make sure it stays that way," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
October 1, 8:28 PM
'It's possible': Omani flydubai pilot could be linked to Iran's IRGC, Trump suggests
However, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that the working assumption remains unchanged despite Trump's comments, insisting that the co-pilot acted as a "lone wolf."
US President Donald Trump said that "It's possible" there was a link between the Omani flydubai pilot and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps when talking to reporters on the White House's South Lawn on Thursday.
"I'd say that, from what I hear, the answer is yes, but we are still looking into it," Trump said when asked if he had been briefed on a possible link.
"So, is it possible this guy was planted there by the IRGC, or became radicalized some other way, and then tried to crash the plane?" a reporter asked.
"It's possible, yes," Trump replied.
October 1, 8:26 PM
US waives human rights conditions on $320 million in military aid to Egypt over Iran war role
Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that the military aid was necessary for "counterterrorism, border security, or nonproliferation programs."
The US State Department has waived human rights conditions for more than $300 million of military aid to Egypt in light of Cairo's "helpful role" since the launch of the US war with Iran, according to a letter to US lawmakers obtained by Reuters.
Egypt began receiving significant US support after signing a peace treaty with Israel in 1979 and has received about $1.3 billion a year in US military aid since the late 1980s.
A portion of that aid is subject to human rights and democracy-related conditions which can be waived on national-security grounds. The withholding of funds, including under former US President Joe Biden, has caused friction between Cairo and Washington in the past.
October 1, 7:42 PM
Saudi-led coalition says Houthis targeted power station in Medina
A Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said the terror group had targeted a power distribution station in Medina on Tuesday, putting one transformer out of service but without affecting the electricity network.
There was no immediate comment from the Houthis to the coalition's Thursday statement.
October 1, 6:13 PM
IDF kills two October 7 terrorists in Gaza strikes, including Be'eri hostage abductor
The Hamas terrorists infiltrated on October 7 and kidnapped Sharon Hertzman-Avigdori, Noam Avigdori, Adi Shoham, Nave Shoham, Yahel Shoham, and Shoshan Haran to the Gaza Strip.
The IDF killed two terrorists during strikes on Gaza on Tuesday, one of whom abducted seven hostages on October 7th from Kibbutz Be'eri.
The military announced on Thursday that it killed Muhammad Jamal Mahmoud Abu Al-Shaar in a strike on Gaza City, as well as Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist Musab Abd al-Jalil Saqib Balbisi in a strike on Jabalya.
Abu Al-Shaar was a cell commander in Hamas's military wing, the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades. He infiltrated Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7 and kidnapped Sharon Hertzman-Avigdori, Noam Avigdori, Adi Shoham, Nave Shoham, Yahel Shoham, and Shoshan Haran to the Gaza Strip.
All of the aformentioned former hostages were released in November 2023.
Balbisi also infiltrated southern Israel during the October 7 massacre, the IDF stated. He was a commander in PIJ's military wing.
The military said that both of them were responsible for planning terror attacks against Israeli citizens.
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October 1, 6:12 PM
USS Roosevelt, Marines set to deploy to Mid. East ahead of midterm elections, US official to 'Post'
The move means that, until the US midterm elections, President Donald Trump will have significantly greater military capabilities and a wider range of options for potential action against Iran.
The Trump administration has decided to deploy a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East, along with a second Marine division, a US official told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt and an additional division of US Marines will deploy to US Central Command's area of operations.
The move means that, until the US midterm elections, US President Donald Trump will have significantly greater military capabilities and a wider range of options for potential action against Iran.
This is a developing story.
October 1, 5:56 PM
IRGC kills six 'terrorists' discovered with explosive packages in southeastern Iran - report
Human rights group Haalvsh, which monitors Sistan-Baluchistan, said fighting between military and security forces and armed individuals had started on Thursday morning.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards killed six members of a "terrorist" group on Thursday, the IRNA state news agency reported, in a region often hit by clashes between the security forces and armed groups, including Sunni militants and separatists.
The killings occurred in Zahedan, the capital of the impoverished Sistan-Baluchistan province in southeastern Iran, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan and is a major drug trafficking route.
The IRNA report said security forces had discovered and confiscated explosive packages. It did not identify the six people killed and gave no further information on the incident.
Tehran accuses some armed groups of ties to foreign powers and involvement in cross-border smuggling.
Human rights group Haalvsh, which monitors Sistan-Baluchistan, said fighting between military and security forces and armed individuals had started on Thursday morning.
October 1, 4:32 PM
Saudi Arabia provides Yemen government with nearly $60 million in budget support, ambassador says
Saudi Arabia has provided the Yemeni government with a new tranche of budget support worth more than 224 million Saudi riyals ($59.66 million), Mohamed Al Jabir, the Saudi ambassador to Yemen, said in a post on X on Thursday.
The funding comes amid escalating hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi terrorists, who have stepped up attacks on Saudi cities and energy infrastructure.
Al Jabir said the funding was provided at the direction of the Saudi leadership and in response to a request from the Yemeni government, amid what he described as "terrorist attacks by the Houthis" on the resources, property and interests of the Yemeni people.
The grant, provided through the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen, aims to support government cash flows, fiscal policy, and Yemenis' purchasing power, he added.
October 1, 2:46 PM
IDF due to strike Lebanon, military says
The IDF warned communities in northern Israel that it would be striking Lebanon over the next few hours on Thursday.
As such, the military said, explosion sounds may be heard in northern communities such as Kiryat Shmona.
October 1, 2:23 PM
Pakistani defense company, CEO, among entities sanctioned by US over alleged support to Iran regime
The Treasury alleged that Tajammal and Cavalier Group acted as third-party intermediaries for MODAFL and that Tajammal used his contacts to assist Iran in procuring and distributing weapons.
The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned 10 individuals and entities across multiple jurisdictions for allegedly procuring weapons and weapons components for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).
MODAFL is responsible for weapons research, production, and acquisition for Iran’s armed forces and also oversees organizations involved in the development of Iran’s ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, the Treasury said.
Among those sanctioned is a prominent Pakistani businessman Wasim Pasha Tajammal, along with three of his companies.
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Bring "them" out and let them do it.
Five killed, 47 injured in drone strike on Sudan university dormitory in El Obeid
Thursday, October 1, 2026
A drone strike on a university dormitory in Sudan’s Kordofan region on Thursday killed five civilians and injured 47 others on Thursday, a local medical aid group has reported.
The strike, the Sudan Doctors Network says, hit a dormitory at Kordofan University in El Obeid on October 1, with the network attributing responsibility to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
“According to preliminary information, the attack resulted in the deaths of five civilians and injuries to 47 others, marking yet another incident in a continuing pattern of violations targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure across the country,” the group said in a statement.
It similarly condemned the strike and called on the United Nations (UN) and humanitarian agencies to denounce attacks on civilian facilities, support the medical response for those injured and push for accountability for those responsible.
“Targeting student residences and educational institutions constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and places civilian lives at serious risk,” the group said.
The attack comes days after North Kordofan authorities accused the RSF of carrying out drone strikes on civilian facilities in El Obeid.
On Monday, Sudanese authorities said drones targeted the Sports City and Shikan University College, in the latest strikes reported in the city.
The latest attack is part of a wider increase in drone strikes across Sudan.
Last month, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) said both the RSF and Sudanese army were using long-range drones more frequently, with strikes hitting civilian areas far from active fighting.
“Civilians have been harmed in their homes, schools, hospitals, markets, displacement sites and places of refuge,” the UN Human Rights Office said in a statement then.
In El Obeid, the strikes have also damaged facilities that residents rely on. According to the UN, attacks around the city have affected electricity and fuel supplies, disrupting water, healthcare and transport.
The strikes have also increased in the wider Kordofan region, where fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese army has intensified as both sides battle for control of key towns and roads.
According to OHCHR, the number of people killed in drone strikes in Sudan has risen sharply this year, with the agency recording at least 1,120 civilian deaths from drone attacks across Sudan between January and June.
The fatalities make up 80 per cent of all civilian deaths it documented during the period.
https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/regional/407193/five-killed-47-injured-in-drone-strike-on-sudan-university-dormitory-in-el-obeid
Explosions Heard In Ethiopia’s Capital As Opposition Group Claims Drone Strikes On Military Headquarters
October 1, 2026
Explosions were heard overnight in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, amid renewed fighting between government forces and an opposition alliance in the country’s northern regions.
Three diplomatic sources told Reuters on Thursday that explosions were heard in the capital, raising concerns that the conflict could spread beyond the northern regions.
A source linked to the opposition alliance claimed the group carried out several drone strikes in Addis Ababa, including attacks targeting the military headquarters.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the claim, while witnesses reported no visible damage around the military base.
If confirmed, the strikes would be the first known drone attacks on Addis Ababa by anti-government forces.
Spokespersons for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office, the federal government and the Ethiopian National Defence Force did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The National Intelligence and Security Service announced on Wednesday that it had banned drone flights over Addis Ababa and surrounding areas for security reasons.
Opposition forces were not previously known to operate armed drones, although there have been indications that some groups may have acquired the capability.
The latest fighting began last week and represents the biggest escalation in Ethiopia since the end of the 2020-2022 civil war, which killed hundreds of thousands of people.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front, alongside six other armed groups, has formed an alliance seeking to overthrow Abiy’s government.
Federal forces have been advancing in southern Tigray towards the regional capital, Mekelle, while opposition forces have captured towns in neighbouring Afar.
The pro-government Tigray Peace Forces militia said on Wednesday that it had captured Korem, about 100 kilometres south of Mekelle, alongside Ethiopian military forces.
In Afar, fighting has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, according to Valerie Browning, founder of the Afar Pastoralist Development Association.
An Afar government official also told Reuters on Thursday that federal and regional forces had recaptured Erebti and Abaala, near the Tigray border.
Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield claims.
The renewed conflict has raised concerns about further instability in the Horn of Africa, which is already affected by Sudan’s civil war, tensions over Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea and spillover from conflicts in the Middle East.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting the opposition alliance, allegations the three countries deny.
Afar chief administrator Haji Awol Arba also told Al Jazeera that Eritrean soldiers had crossed into Afar to support the alliance’s offensive. Eritrea’s information minister did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy has said the country intends to secure access to the sea through peaceful means.
https://saharareporters.com/2026/10/01/explosions-heard-ethiopias-capital-opposition-group-claims-drone-strikes-military
‘Capturing Bigfoot’ Trailer – New Documentary Unearths the True Story Behind the Famous Bigfoot Footage
October 1, 2026
In 1967, fifty-nine seconds of footage was captured in Northern California, and it became the single most infamous piece of cryptozoological footage in the history of the field.
We’re of course referring to the famous Patterson-Gimlin footage, which allegedly captures a real-life Bigfoot in the wild. But is it legit? Completely fake? We may finally have those answers.
Available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video and in select theaters beginning October 20 is the brand new documentary Capturing Bigfoot, and the official trailer has arrived this week.
October 20, we must note, is National Bigfoot Day. And there’s a reason for that…
On October 20, 1967, Roger Patterson captured 60 seconds of film showing a creature walking through the Northern California woods – footage that became the most analyzed and debated in history.
Fifty-seven years later, a reel of 16mm film discovered in a safe changes everything.
Director Marq Evans’s Capturing Bigfoot reveals the untold story behind the world’s greatest mystery, told for the first time by Patterson’s own son and the people who were there.
The filmmakers preview, “This is a story about family, legacy, broken friendships, and belief itself.”
https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3970132/capturing-bigfoot-trailer-new-documentary-unearths-the-true-story-behind-the-famous-bigfoot-footage/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDlKqjOfuZw