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Pentagon declassifies Apollo 12 audio of astronauts describing unexplained 'streaks of light' in space

Fri, 22 May 2026 13:32:28 -0400

The Pentagon’s latest batch of declassified UFO files includes audio from a 1969 Apollo 12 post-mission medical debrief in which astronauts described seeing "streaks of light" while trying to sleep in deep space.

The audio, released as part of the Department of War’s second tranche of records under its Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE), captures Apollo 12 crew members discussing flashes and streaks of light they saw in the darkened spacecraft.

"The streaks I saw were one that I saw on the horizontal," one crew member said, according to the transcript. "The horizontal streaks were always a little bit above the center."

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The Department of War said the release is a government-wide effort to identify, review, declassify and publicly release unresolved UAP-related records and historical documents. The first release was on May 8.

The Apollo 12 crew, which included Charles "Pete" Conrad, Richard Gordon and Alan Bean, launched in November 1969 on NASA’s second crewed moon landing mission.

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The newly released debrief audio offers an account of unexplained visual flashes seen by the astronauts.

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In the transcript, the astronauts describe watching for the flashes while lying awake in the spacecraft. One said the streaks appeared to be "roughly in the same place," while another said he saw them at about "30 degrees to horizontal."

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The crew and medical personnel also discussed whether the flashes were random or directional, and whether they appeared in one eye or both. One astronaut said he could usually tell which eye had registered the flash after waiting long enough to observe it.

The phenomenon was discussed in the debrief as possibly tied to cosmic rays or heavy particles passing through the eye.

DECLASSIFIED APOLLO MOON DOCS DESCRIBE UNEXPLAINED MYSTERIES, UFO LIGHTS 'LIKE THE FOURTH OF JULY'

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The Apollo 12 audio is one of several records included in the latest release.

Other files in the tranche include Cold War-era records on "green fireballs" near sensitive military and nuclear installations, Pantex imagery of an unidentified object, and a senior U.S. intelligence officer describing orange orbs during a helicopter mission.

The Department of War says the PURSUE archive contains unresolved cases, meaning the government has not made a definitive determination about the nature of the observed phenomena.

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The department said the materials are being released on a rolling basis as records are found, reviewed and declassified.

"The Department of War is in lockstep with President Trump to bring unprecedented transparency regarding our government’s understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it’s time the American people see it for themselves," Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said. "This release of declassified documents demonstrates the Trump Administration’s earnest commitment to unprecedented transparency."

ӣ��Ƶ Digital reached out to the Pentagon for comment.

Bryson DeChambeau thinks the original moon landing video is fake: 'I don't know about the footage'

Wed, 20 May 2026 20:22:06 -0400

Bryson DeChambeau is one of the world's best golfers, has a widely beloved and popular YouTube channel, and has been one of the most committed adopters of science and technology in the sport.

But an astronomer, he is not.

DeChambeau joined "The Katie Miller podcast" show this week, covering a wide variety of topics. He spoke about his aspirations of reaching the Golf Hall of Fame, dating, the mental side of golf, and his experiences playing with President Donald Trump.

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Oh, and his thoughts on whether we've been to the moon and conspiracy theories. That's where things went a bit, well, off the rails for DeChambeau.

While he didn't quite fully commit to saying we haven't been entirely, saying he trusts Elon Musk's word when it comes to the original Apollo mission in 1969, he did say he doesn't believe the famous footage of Neil Armstrong and other astronauts walking on the lunar surface is real.

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"Look, Elon says we’ve definitely gone [to the moon]," he said. "So I tend to go that route, because he’s the man that knows quite a bit about all that."

"I don't think the footage is real," he continued. "But I think we did go to the moon. I don't know about the footage. It's quite wild."

We did, in fact, go to the moon, and despite conspiracy theories to the contrary, the footage of the moon landing is also real. Maybe what DeChambeau is trying to say is that he believes we got to the moon eventually, even if it wasn't in 1969. But that's equally wrong.

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Bryson's become one of the most fascinating and interesting personalities in golf, and he's clearly a very smart guy who's taken his career to the next level by using data and information to maximize his abilities. But even he apparently can't escape the pull of moon landing conspiracies. Who knows, if Elon gets his way, maybe he'll be able to take a trip there himself one day soon.

Ancient artifacts found beneath Cape Canaveral Space Force Station as one mystery still stumps researchers

Fri, 15 May 2026 08:00:15 -0400

Florida students are uncovering remnants of the past in a place many associate with the future: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

University of Central Florida students and faculty are currently excavating the DeSoto site at Cape Canaveral, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

The site dates back to the Malabar II Period, which lasted from roughly 900 to 1565 A.D. It consists of black earth midden deposits — meaning it sits atop layers of ancient refuse.

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Middens "contain the garbage that people left behind after undertaking their daily tasks," said Sarah "Stacy" Barber, an anthropology professor at the University of Central Florida.

Barber told ӣ��Ƶ Digital that "obtaining and preparing food" was an important daily activity for the people who lived there.

"They didn’t farm, although research by Neil Duncan has shown that at least some people in the region had access to ground corn, which was being farmed by the Indigenous people of North Florida," she said.

Instead of farming, Native Americans in the area largely relied on local resources, though some people in the region had access to imported foods such as corn and beans.

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They also dined on seafood, including shark, fish, clams and other local species — remains of which have turned up in the midden.

"We have found the refuse of many dozens of meals," she said. "We know from our finds this year at DeSoto that turtles, shark, black drum, and coquina clams were on the menu."

Barber added, "So, ancient people fished the lagoon and the beachfront. Once we can add in the plant remains, which take longer to process in a lab, we’ll know whether these animals were supplemented with plant foods like acorns and greenbriar."

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The professor said there is even evidence of seasonings — suggesting ancient people "spiced up their food just like we do."

"We have made a number of really interesting finds this year," she said.

Those finds include the "complete vertebral column of a shark," which the Native Americans would have eaten, as well as "something that is either a fossil or a whale bone near the shark."

The anthropologist said the unidentified object "has really stumped us."

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"We look forward to figuring out what that is," she said.

Archaeologists have also found hundreds of pottery sherds, as well as "the remnants of at least one hearth where food was likely cooked."

Barber added that samples still need to be sent to an outside lab for radiocarbon dating.

At the site, archaeologists also found tools such as conch shell hammers and shark tooth knives used to prepare food.

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Researchers say the remains show that Indigenous people made deliberate choices about what they ate, with shark remains found at the site but little evidence that dolphins were hunted.

Finds suggest the Native Americans relied largely on local resources for centuries, while also having contact with other tribes.

"The Indigenous people of Cape Canaveral lived in relatively dense communities and relied 100% on locally obtained food," Barber said.

"They did it for thousands of years, and they didn’t put the kind of stress on the local environment that we have in far less time."

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Rather than living hand-to-mouth, Barber said the community was well-connected and far from isolated.

"Our sites show an abundance and diversity of food, time to produce pottery when needed, and the opportunity to either travel or interact with people in distant regions," she said.

"It was probably a comfortable, beachfront lifestyle."

Above all, Barber said the excavations show how the past and present can exist side by side.

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"There are few places in the world highlighting the role of the past in the present than somewhere like Cape Canaveral, where the future of space flight literally sits atop and among Native American landscapes," she said.

Declassified Apollo moon docs describe unexplained mysteries, UFO lights 'like the Fourth of July'

Fri, 08 May 2026 13:13:05 -0400

Declassified transcripts from two Apollo missions show astronauts repeatedly describing unexplained lights and objects while orbiting and walking on the moon.

The Pentagon on Friday released transcripts and photos from two NASA Apollo missions as part of a broader disclosure of dozens of photos and documents detailing UFO sightings it has documented since the 1950s.

The trove of documents reporting UFO and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) sightings comes in compliance with a directive from President Donald Trump aimed at increasing government transparency around reported UFO sightings, all of which remain unsolved. Tens of millions of documents are being combed through and will be released on a rolling basis.

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The documents include technical transcripts and photos from Apollo 12 in 1969 and Apollo 17 in 1972, capturing moments in which crews discussed strange flashes, moving lights and unidentified phenomena against the stark lunar horizon.

The release includes six photos taken by Apollo 12 mission astronauts on the moon's surface, revealing unidentified and oddly shaped lights appearing in the sky. In one of the photos, there are a total of five UFOs identified.

A four-page transcript from the mission unveils one of the astronauts' accounts of what he was witnessing, telling command about the lights he saw in the dark sky.

He described that the lights were "sailing off into space."

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"I was thinking they're dropping off from my water boiler, but it looks like some of those things are escaping the moon. They really haul out of here and just press off at the stars."

The astronaut described that the lights were "pulsing every second." Command suggested that the phenomenon was likely electromagnetic interference, which can occur by both man-made and natural sources.

A 16-page transcript from the Apollo 17 mission detailed how the astronauts saw lights from their window which resembled "Fourth of July."

"They're very jagged, angular fragments that are tumbling," one of the astronauts described.

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Another astronaut recounted how when he was trying to sleep he saw bright "peripheral horizon-type things" which made it difficult to sleep.

"The last one I remember before falling asleep — was the fact that there was a very bright spot that flashed right between my eyes like a very bright headlight — like a train coming at you, only with a flash," the astronaut said.

More UAP files were made available at WAR.GOV/UFO.

ӣ��Ƶ' Peter Doocy and ӣ��Ƶ Digital's Robert McGreevy contributed to this report.

Eiffel Tower-sized asteroid Apophis to pass closer to Earth than many satellites in 2029, NASA says

Mon, 04 May 2026 17:13:03 -0400

A large asteroid about the size of the Eiffel Tower is expected to come unusually close to Earth in 2029, but there is no risk of impact, scientists said.

The asteroid, named Apophis, will pass around 20,000 miles from Earth's surface on April 13, 2029—closer than many satellites in orbit, according to NASA. Apophis is classified as "potentially hazardous" and is made of leftover "raw material" that was never part of a planet or moon.

"When it was discovered in 2004, it appeared Apophis might impact Earth in either 2029, 2036, or 2068," NASA said. "Since then, astronomers have closely watched Apophis using optical telescopes and ground-based radar, allowing its orbit to become better understood. Based on this data, NASA is now confident that there is no risk of Apophis impacting Earth for at least 100 years."

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Apophis was discovered on June 19, 2004, by astronomers Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi at Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona.

They could only see the asteroid for two days because of technical and weather problems. In December 2004, another team of astronomers in Australia was able to observe the asteroid, NASA said.

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Observatories around the world and in space will observe Apophis’ historic close approach to better understand its physical properties. In anticipation of the event, NASA has redirected a spacecraft to rendezvous with Apophis shortly after its 2029 Earth close-approach. After successfully completing its mission to gather a sample of asteroid Bennu and bringing it to Earth in September 2023, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx was sent to study Apophis.

The spacecraft was renamed OSIRIS-APophis EXplorer (OSIRIS-APEX), and it’s on its way to meet up with its new target. The European Space Agency (ESA) is also sending a spacecraft to study the asteroid.

Apophis is expected to be visible to observers in the Eastern Hemisphere, weather permitting, without a telescope or binoculars.

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"The most important thing happening in this event is that Apophis will be pulled, twisted, stretched, and squeezed by the gravity of Earth as it goes by, in a way that happens only during a very close encounter," NASA said. "The overall pull will change Apophis’s orbit around the Sun, making the orbit slightly larger and giving it a longer orbital period."

Artemis crew says they wanted to 'connect with humanity,' show what can be done when they put their mind to it

Fri, 01 May 2026 01:38:14 -0400

The Artemis II crew, following their return to Earth after a historic 10-day lunar flyby, spoke with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, describing the mission as a "glorious" experience.

The crew — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen — returned to Earth on April 10, splashing down off the coast of San Diego after their journey around the moon during which they set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans in space, surpassing the mark set by Apollo 13 in 1970.

Waltz gifted the crew "MUNGA," or "Make the U.N. Great Again," hats, inspired by President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan.

The crew was asked by Waltz what they thought as they looked back at Earth from space.

ARTEMIS II PILOT VICTOR GLOVER PRAISES GOD AFTER RETURN, SAYS MISSION WAS 'TOO BIG TO BE IN ONE BODY'

"As a crew, we wanted to go for all and by all," Wiseman said at U.N. headquarters in New York. "And we wanted to set the stage for Artemis III. We wanted to get this space agency in this world ready for Artemis III and IV. But in the end, we really wanted to connect with humanity. We wanted humanity to just pause for a second and see that this world can still do something exceptionally well when they put their mind to it."

Artemis III is expected to launch next year, and Artemis IV is targeted for the following year.

"You asked how it felt, and it wasn't one feeling for the entire mission," Glover told Waltz. "What we saw out the window was changing, and that is one of the unique things … I always felt the urge to just be grateful for what we were seeing, and to be grateful for what we were eventually going back to. And the other thing was just how blessed we are to have this."

Koch said that when she looked back at Earth, the surrounding darkness made the planet feel "even more special than it's ever been."

"Instead of this absolute background that just exists everywhere for us, because that's all we've had, it makes the lines that we redraw on it seem big and important," she said. "You realize that actually, there's nothing absolute or guaranteed about this, and that actually, there is such thing as a global scale. And this is the first time I've said that at the U.N., but the truth is that the global scale is our world. And what we do with it is our choice."

Hansen described the experience of seeing the vastness of space and feeling both small as an individual and empowered by what humanity can accomplish together.

"It was like this weird thing where, like stars, some stars look closer in our galaxy than others. And it just kept catching my eye, and it just kept making me feel really tiny, really small as an individual. But then, at the same time, I was out there experiencing it, and it made me feel very powerful as a human race. What we can do together, the fact that we were out there and something that has been really heartwarming since we got back to Earth and started to see how many people stopped to watch the mission and resonate with it," he said.

Glover also recalled the many emotions tied to the mission, including the "glorious moment" of returning to Earth.

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During the visit to the U.N., NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wanted to take a moment to appreciate how far they had come, noting that it was not long ago that Trump established the Artemis program that led to the Artemis II mission.

"In fact, in just 2020, President Trump established the Artemis Accords. Now, the initial framework was an agreement of principles between the United States and seven other like-minded countries on the responsible exploration of space," he said.

The crew's visit to the U.N. comes after they met with Trump at the White House on Wednesday. Trump had also spoken to the crew as they were orbiting the moon in early April.

Runway-to-Space Challenge brings spaceflight closer

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:00:50 -0400

For years, getting anything into space has been slow and expensive. You prepare for months, sometimes years, and you often get one shot to run your experiment. If something does not work, you wait again. That model is starting to change.

A new U.S. competition called the Runway-to-Space Spaceplane Challenge is opening the door to a different way of doing space research. Instead of relying on traditional rocket launches, teams will be able to fly payloads on a reusable spaceplane that takes off and lands on a runway. It sounds simple, but it could reshape how innovation happens.

SPACE CAPSULE MARKS MILESTONE FOR BRINGING CARGO BACK FROM ORBIT

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How the Runway-to-Space Challenge changes space testing

The program is built around the Aurora spaceplane from Dawn Aerospace, operating out of the Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport. This vehicle can reach the edge of space, traveling at speeds above Mach 3.5 and climbing to altitudes of about 62 miles. During each flight, payloads can experience a short window of microgravity that lasts just over two minutes.

On its own, that may sound similar to other suborbital missions. What makes this different is how often it can fly. The Aurora is designed for rapid turnaround, which means it can land, be prepared again and return to flight much faster than a traditional launch system. That shift removes one of the biggest bottlenecks in space research.

A closer look at how this spaceplane works

The Aurora spaceplane has already completed more than 60 missions, with a focus on making access to the edge of space more routine and scalable.

"Meaningful access to microgravity typically means going to orbit, which is expensive, slow, and often out of reach for early-stage ideas," said Stefan Powell, CEO of Dawn Aerospace. "Aurora changes that by giving teams a fast, lower-cost way to access microgravity and iterate within months. It's not a substitute for long-duration missions, but it enables experiments that would otherwise never leave the ground, turning ideas that might never have flown into viable missions that can ultimately progress to orbit."

That idea of faster iteration is what makes this program stand out. It gives researchers a way to test concepts, adjust them and return to flight without long delays.

Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine also sees the bigger picture.

"This competition is about capturing the imagination of scientists, engineers and researchers, while also enabling a new way of working, where research can move faster, iterate more frequently, and strengthen U.S. leadership in space-enabled science and industry."

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Why spaceflight is starting to look more like aviation

Think about how commercial aviation works. Planes land, refuel and take off again in a matter of hours. That same rhythm is now being applied to space access. Instead of designing a perfect experiment for a single launch, researchers can test, adjust and fly again. That creates a more flexible process where ideas can evolve in real time.

This matters because many early-stage concepts never make it to space. The cost and complexity are simply too high. With a reusable system, smaller teams have a better chance to test bold ideas without waiting years between attempts. It does not replace long missions in orbit, but it fills a gap that has existed for decades.

How the US is pushing faster space innovation

The challenge is being led by the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority, which is working to expand the state's role in the growing space economy. There is real investment behind that effort. The spaceport is undergoing major upgrades to support more advanced operations, including new infrastructure designed specifically for spaceplane missions.

Programs like this reflect a broader push to speed up space research and make it more responsive. When teams can test ideas more frequently, progress tends to follow. The timeline reflects that long view. Applications open in April 2026 and close in September, with flights expected to begin in 2027. That gives teams time to prepare payloads while the supporting infrastructure continues to expand.

Runway-to-Space Challenge details and how to apply

If you are wondering who can actually take part, the program is structured to center on Oklahoma institutions while still allowing broader collaboration. Applications must be led by an Oklahoma-based university or research institution, though out-of-state partners can join as collaborators. The application window opens April 16, 2026, and closes Sept. 25, 2026, at 5 p.m. CT.

Selected teams will be able to fly payloads weighing up to 33 pounds. Each mission can reach altitudes of about 62 miles, exceed Mach 3.5 and provide up to 127 seconds of microgravity. Flights are expected to begin in mid- to late 2027, giving teams about a year to prepare.

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What this means to you

Even if you are not working in aerospace, this shift could still affect you. When access to space becomes faster and more flexible, innovation tends to accelerate. Research that once took years can move forward in shorter cycles. That can influence everything from materials science to weather forecasting.

It also signals a broader change. Space is moving away from rare, high-stakes missions and toward a model that supports routine experimentation. That usually leads to more competition and more rapid breakthroughs. Over time, those breakthroughs often show up in everyday technology, even if the connection is not always obvious.

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Kurt's key takeaways

Spaceflight has always pushed the limits of what is possible, but the process has remained slow for a long time. The Runway-to-Space Challenge points to a future where reaching the edge of space becomes more practical and repeatable. That alone could unlock ideas that have been sitting on the sidelines. If space starts to operate more like aviation, the pace of discovery could change in ways that ripple far beyond the aerospace industry.

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If spaceflight becomes routine enough for constant testing, how quickly should we expect new technologies to move from experiments to everyday life? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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NASA nuclear engineer found dead in burned Tesla after vanishing from his Alabama home last year

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:39:34 -0400

A NASA nuclear scientist died after a fiery crash in a rural Alabama town last year, which at the time caused suspicion among family members.

Joshua LeBlanc, 29, died in a fiery crash in his Tesla on July 22, 2025. The crash happened in Huntsville, Alabama where his Tesla was found burned beyond recognition at about 2:45 in the afternoon, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency told ӣ��Ƶ Digital. The vehicle collided with a guardrail, then several trees, before the vehicle burst into flames.

At 4:32 a.m. on the same day, LeBlanc's family reported him missing, according to KLFY. He uncharacteristically failed to show up to his job as an aerospace technologies electrical engineer at NASA, where he worked on nuclear propulsion projects.

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His body was also burned beyond recognition, and police confirmed his identity three days later after his body was transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

At the time, his family told KLFY that they feared he had been abducted and that he had left his phone and wallet in his home at the time of the disappearance.

Police tracked LeBlanc down using the data from his Tesla Sentry Mode, and found that his vehicle sat at the airport in Huntsville for four hours on the morning of his death. His family said his trip west was not part of his plan for the day, and that uncharacteristically, he was not communicating with them.

A LinkedIn page for LeBlanc says he worked at NASA for about five-and-a-half years, and that he was a team lead for NASA’s Space Nuclear Propulsion (SNP) Instrumentation and Control (I&C) Maturation. NASA SNP technology "would enable faster and more robust transportation for crew and cargo missions to Mars and science missions to the outer solar system," according to the government agency's website.

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LeBlanc was later a team lead on NASA's Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operation (DRACO), a nuclear thermal propulsion engine.

At least 12 other people, the vast majority involved in nuclear science and space research, have died or gone missing since 2022, some under mysterious circumstances.

Monica Reza, 60; Melissa Casias, 53; Anthony Chavez, 79; Steven Garcia, 48; and retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, 68, were all reported missing throughout 2023 to 2026, with each of their disappearances considered suspicious.

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Michael David Hicks, 59; Frank Maiwald, 61; Nuno Loureiro, 47; Jason Thomas, 45; Amy Eskridge, 34; and Carl Grillmair, 47, all died between 2022 and 2026.

Hicks, Maiwald and Reza were all connected to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The deaths and disappearances have not been officially connected in any way, but they have caught the attention of the White House.

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"I hope it's random, but we're going to know in the next week and a half," Trump told reporters last week. "I just left a meeting on that subject."

In a statement to ӣ��Ƶ Digital, the FBI confirmed the agency is working alongside other federal authorities in the investigation into the 11 missing and deceased scientists.

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"The FBI is spearheading the effort to look for connections into the missing and deceased scientists," the agency said. "We are working with the Department of Energy, Department of War, and with our state and local law enforcement partners to find answers."

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The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, which investigated LeBlanc's death, shared a press release from July of last year reiterating details of the crash.

ӣ��Ƶ' Julia Bonavita contributed to this report.

Aerospace defense engineer, military veteran killed in plane crash with family

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:06:28 -0400

A decorated veteran pilot, aerospace engineer and defense researcher was killed in a plane crash in South Carolina last week, raising questions about whether the incident is related to the deaths and disappearances of 11 scientists tied to nuclear and space research.

James "Tony" Moffatt, 60, was flying with his wife Leasa, 61, and sons Andrew, 30, and William, 28, when the plane crashed in a wooded area near the runway at Union County Airport in South Carolina on Friday, the Union County Coroner's Office said.

The family from Huntsville, Alabama, was traveling from the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina to Huntsville, officials said, and had stopped in Union County, South Carolina to refuel.

The Union County Sheriff's Office said the crash occurred around 6:30 p.m. The family was flying a Mooney M20 single-engine aircraft, the National Transportation Safety Board said.

NASA COORDINATING WITH RELEVANT AGENCIES IN MISSING SCIENTIST PROBE

Authorities have not yet released a cause of the crash as the NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration investigate the incident.

Moffatt is the latest scientist with ties to aerospace research and NASA to make headlines, with the deaths and disappearances of 11 individuals with similar backgrounds raising concerns.

His son, Andrew Moffatt, was also an up-and-coming researcher at the time of his death. The 30-year-old was a research engineer and scientist at the University of Alabama in Huntsville's Research and Engineering Support Center, according to UAH.

The elder Moffatt earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech in 1988 and previously studied as an experimental test pilot in the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Following his 21-year military career, Moffatt worked as a payload and flight crew support specialist at NASA’s Johnson Space Center Astronaut Office, where he participated in 14 Space Shuttle ISS construction missions.

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After retiring from the Army in 2008, Moffatt founded aerospace consulting firm Moffatt Systems Inc., and later served as a principal research engineer at the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Research Center.

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He also worked on the Army's Degraded Visual Environment Mitigation program and the Next Generation Unmanned Aircraft System technology demonstration.

Moffatt’s experience draws parallels with several of the scientists who have either died or been reported missing since 2022.

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Michael David Hicks, 59; Frank Maiwald, 61; Nuno Loureiro, 47; Jason Thomas, 45; Amy Eskridge, 34; and Carl Grillmair, 47, all died between 2022 and 2026.

Both Reza and Eskridge shared similarities with Moffatt relating to their NASA-based research, with Reza disappearing when she was the director of materials processing at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

Additionally, several of the scientists worked within defense labs – mirroring Moffatt’s experience as the founder of aerospace consulting firm Moffatt Systems Inc.

Moffatt’s two sons were also ingrained in similar scientific fields at the time of their deaths.

Andrew Moffatt served as a research engineer and scientist at UAH's Research and Engineering Support Center.

"Andrew was a well-rounded and fine young man, and his spirit made every day an enjoyable day," Jerry Hendrix, executive director of RSESC, said in a statement. "We will never forget his smile, inviting personality and his encouragement. He will be missed."

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William Moffatt worked in the information technology industry, and recently earned his Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate certification and held CompTIA Security+ and Linux+ credentials, according to his LinkedIn.

The disappearances and deaths of the 11 scientists have gained the attention of politicians in Washington, with House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., warning that "something sinister" could be involved.

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"We've put a notice out to the Department of War, the FBI, NASA, and the Department of Energy. We want to know everything they know about what happened with these scientists, because those four agencies were predominantly the ones these 11 individuals were affiliated with," he said during an appearance on "Fox & Friends Weekend." "We want to try to piece this together."

On Monday, NASA announced it would work alongside other federal agencies to investigate the incidents.

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"NASA is coordinating and cooperating with the relevant agencies in relation to the missing scientists," NASA spokesperson Bethany Stephens wrote on X. "At this time, nothing related to NASA indicates a national security threat. The agency is committed to transparency and will provide more information as it becomes available."

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has also vowed to look into the various occurrences.

In a statement to ӣ��Ƶ Digital, the FBI confirmed the agency is working alongside other federal authorities in the investigation into the 11 missing and deceased scientists.

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"The FBI is spearheading the effort to look for connections into the missing and deceased scientists," the FBI said. "We are working with the Department of Energy, Department of War, and with our state and state and local law enforcement partners to find answers."

"I hope it's random, but we're going to know in the next week and a half," Trump told reporters last week. "I just left a meeting on that subject."

The White House, U.S. Army and NASA did not immediately respond to ӣ��Ƶ Digital’s request for comment regarding whether Moffatt’s death is being investigated alongside the 11 scientists’ deaths and disappearances. The Pentagon referred all questions to the U.S. Army and FBI.

ӣ��Ƶ Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

NASA shuts off Voyager 1 instrument to save power 15B miles from Earth

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:11:26 -0400

NASA shut down one of Voyager 1’s science instruments to conserve dwindling power and keep the nearly 49-year-old spacecraft operating as it continues its journey through interstellar space more than 15 billion miles from Earth.

Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California sent commands Friday to turn off Voyager 1’s Low-Energy Charged Particles (LECP) experiment, a long-running instrument that has operated almost continuously since the spacecraft launched in 1977.

The move comes as the nuclear-powered probe loses about 4 watts of power each year, and mission managers work to stretch its remaining lifespan.

"While shutting down a science instrument is not anybody’s preference, it is the best option available," Kareem Badaruddin, Voyager mission manager at JPL, said in a statement. "Voyager 1 still has two remaining operating science instruments — one that listens to plasma waves and one that measures magnetic fields. They are still working great, sending back data from a region of space no other human-made craft has ever explored."

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The shutdown underscores the increasingly delicate balancing act facing the Voyager team as both spacecraft age far beyond their original mission plans.

Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, are powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators that convert heat from decaying plutonium into electricity. After nearly five decades in space, engineers have had to steadily power down heaters and instruments while making sure the spacecraft do not get so cold that key systems, including fuel lines, are put at risk.

"The team remains focused on keeping both Voyagers going for as long as possible," Badaruddin added.

SNUB OF MUSK'S NASA NOMINEE ALLY PRECEDED SUDDEN 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' CRITICISM, TRUMP FEUD

The pressure to act intensified after Voyager 1 experienced an unexpected drop in power during a routine roll maneuver Feb. 27, according to NASA.

Engineers feared that any further decline could trigger the spacecraft’s undervoltage fault protection system, which is designed to automatically shut down components to protect the probe. Recovering from such a fault can be lengthy and carries added risk, prompting the team to move before the spacecraft did it on its own.

The two Voyager probes remain the only spacecraft far enough from Earth to collect data on "detecting pressure fronts and regions of varying particle density in the space beyond our heliosphere," according to NASA.

IS THIS SPACE CAPSULE HOW WE WILL LIVE AND WORK IN ORBIT IN THE FUTURE?

"Engineers are confident that shutting down the LECP will give Voyager 1 about a year of breathing room," a NASA press release said. "They are using the time to finalize a more ambitious energy-saving fix for both Voyagers they call 'the Big Bang,' which is designed to further extend Voyager operations."

"The idea is to swap out a group of powered devices all at once — hence the nickname — turning some things off and replacing them with lower-power alternatives to keep the spacecraft warm enough to continue gathering science data," the release continued.

The decision to turn off LECP was not made suddenly. NASA said mission science and engineering teams had years ago agreed on the order in which spacecraft systems would be shut down as available power declined. Of the 10 original instrument sets carried by the twin probes, seven have now been switched off. Voyager 2’s LECP instrument was shut down in March 2025.

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Because Voyager 1 is now more than 15 billion miles from Earth, commands take roughly 23 hours to arrive. The shutdown sequence itself takes more than three hours to complete. One part of the LECP system — a small motor that rotates the sensor so it can scan in all directions — will remain powered because it uses only about half a watt. Engineers hope that could leave open the possibility of restarting the instrument in the future if more power becomes available.

We flew to space for America — now we're defending democracy at home

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:00:51 -0400

The Artemis II astronauts who recently traveled around the moon reminded us that watching humans rocket into space creates a profoundly shared sense of connection, unity and hope. Between the two of us, we’ve flown millions of miles through space. In each of those missions, we proudly represented our country, worked together to achieve a common goal and carried a responsibility to speak up if we spotted a concern.

We are former NASA astronauts, and we swore an oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution. We love this country, and we believe deeply in the American values that have guided our nation for nearly 250 years. On Tuesday, April 21, we launch a new patriotic mission: to protect the Constitution and the rule of law, and to elevate leaders who are committed to getting things done and preserving American democracy for the long term.

With help and support from over 100 fellow former NASA astronauts, we’ve created Astronauts for America to promote the democratic values that make self-government possible. Our members are Republicans, Democrats and Independents from every corner of the country and from all walks of life. Collectively, we bring a deep sense of duty, not ideology, to this work.

NASA'S ARTEMIS FOLLOW-UP MISSION 'RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER' AFTER SUCCESSFUL LUNAR FLIGHT

Steve served our nation for over 30 years in the U.S. Air Force and at NASA as a pilot and astronaut. Garrett spent 95 days on the International Space Station and worked at SpaceX for more than a decade, most recently as a senior advisor and director of space operations. We both joined NASA because it represents the pinnacle of American possibility and achievement — using science, ingenuity and teamwork to explore the outer reaches of our world.

We’re not the kind of guys who do a lot of politicking. Spaceflight is about commitment to the mission and working toward a common goal. Despite all the time we’ve spent together over the years, politics never entered the conversation. Only recently did we learn that one of us is a registered Republican and one of us is a registered Democrat.

NASA CHIEF JARED ISAACMAN SAYS ARTEMIS II WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE 'IF IT WASN'T FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP'

From space, you can clearly see that what unites us is far more important than what divides us. But over the past few decades, partisan polarization has driven a weakening of our democracy and an erosion of our constitutional norms, including respect for the rule of law and limits on government power. Too often, evidence and expertise are dismissed by those seeking to score political points. And when democratic systems fail, it sparks a domino effect: civil rights diminish, science suffers and national security is compromised.

Strengthening our democracy requires continued work and effort from all of us. As an organization, Astronauts for America aims to restore respect for the Constitution by working across our differences and prioritizing truth and integrity in leadership. We will team up with voters and support elected officials who govern with fealty to the Constitution and who, like us, prioritize data and evidence. We will elevate leaders who work across differences to get things done. And we will hold policymakers accountable when they ignore the rule of law.

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To our fellow Americans, we say: Democracy is not a spectator sport. Let’s stand against divisiveness, polarization and any attack on our American values. Let’s look this kind of evil in the face and remember our collective responsibility to defend the Constitution and the democratic values that make the U.S. the greatest country in the world. Stand up for every kid in America who shouldn’t fear violence or ostracism when they voice a dissenting opinion, and every kid who dreams of representing America in space or realizing his or her own version of the American dream.

Everyone who serves in the armed forces or straps into a rocket wonders how they’ll react when tested. Will they rise to the occasion or falter and wilt in the face of fear? We all hope and pray that we will be our best selves in that moment, and that our colleagues will have our backs.

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We are in a challenging moment now. But we have seen — up close and from space — what is possible when Americans come together to put our country first.

Garrett Reisman is a former NASA astronaut and co-chair of Astronauts for America.

Elon Musk fulfills teen's last wish in touching X post after she was too weak to take his call

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 21:54:34 -0400

A 15-year-old cancer patient who dreamed of meeting Elon Musk left behind a handwritten list of questions for the tech billionaire before she died — and days later, he answered every one, honoring her final wish in a moment now touching millions online.

Conservative commentator Glenn Beck took to X on Thursday to share the heartbreaking story of Liv Perrotto, who passed away before she could fulfill her biggest dream of meeting Musk.

According to Beck, Perrotto had the opportunity to speak with the Tesla CEO just days before her death, but she was too exhausted and asked him to call back later.

Although she died before their encounter, she left behind a handwritten list of eight questions on her nightstand, which her mother, Rebecca, shared with Beck in hopes that Musk would finally answer them.

DAD LOSES CUSTODY OF AUTISTIC SON AFTER FIGHTING SEX CHANGE, GETS SUPPORT FROM ELON MUSK

Beck posted photos of the teen and her notepad, which featured a playful mix of business and pop-culture questions.

Perrotto asked if Musk planned to make his own phone, expand the Tesla Diner or add new games to Tesla updates.

She was also curious about his favorite anime, travels to Japan, if he knew the virtual pop star Hatsune Miku, and whether the Grok AI virtual companion "Ani" was inspired by fictional character "Misa" from the manga series "Death Note."

MUSK, XAI TOUT NEWEST GROK UPDATE AS ONLY 'NON-WOKE' PLATFORM: 'DOESN'T EQUIVOCATE'

For her final question, Perrotto asked if "Asteroid," a Shiba Inu zero-gravity indicator — a plush toy used to signal the onset of microgravity — that she designed for the Polaris Dawn space mission, could become the official mascot for SpaceX.

The post garnered nearly 2 million views on the social media platform, with tens of thousands of likes.

On Thursday afternoon, Musk fulfilled the late teen's wish by replying directly to the post, answering all eight questions in order.

Musk revealed that he is not making his own phone, but confirmed his plans to expand the Tesla Diner and introduce new games.

He shared that his favorite anime is "Your Name," a Japanese romantic fantasy film, and noted that he has been to Japan "several times" — highlighting Kyoto and the teamLab art collective as his favorite places to visit.

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With a simple "OK" and a smiley face, Musk agreed to name her plushie the space company's official mascot, turning her final question into a lasting tribute that honored her imagination.

Rebecca responded to Musk's answers with a tear-jerking, "I wish she was here to see this."

11th scientist death emerges in string of missing, dead officials with access to US secrets

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:37:20 -0400

The 2022 death of Amy Eskridge, a Huntsville, Alabama–based researcher, has now resurfaced online as the 11th case in a growing list of scientists who have died or disappeared under unusual circumstances.

Her death has drawn renewed attention after at least 10 other recent cases involving individuals tied to U.S. military, nuclear and aerospace research have prompted questions about whether any pattern exists.

President Donald Trump said Thursday he had "just left a meeting" on the issue and vowed answers within days, calling the situation "pretty serious."

"I hope it’s random, but we’re going to know in the next week and a half," Trump told reporters.

WHO WAS NUNO LOUREIRO? MIT PROFESSOR GUNNED DOWN IN APARTMENT NEAR UNIVERSITY

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X Friday that the White House's investigation will leave "no stone unturned."

"In light of the recent and legitimate questions about these troubling cases and President Trump’s commitment to the truth, the White House is actively working with all relevant agencies and the FBI to holistically review all of the cases together and identify any potential commonalities that may exist," Leavitt said.

"No stone will be unturned in this effort, and the White House will provide updates when we have them."

While officials have not confirmed any connection between the cases, the overlap in timing and the individuals’ ties to advanced research fields has fueled growing public attention and speculation.

Eskridge died June 11, 2022, in Huntsville, Alabama, at the age of 34, according to obituary records. Her death has been reported as a self-inflicted gunshot wound, though limited official details have been publicly released.

MISSING GENERAL, SCIENTIST DEATHS TIED TO SECRET US WORK PROMPT WHITE HOUSE PROBE

Eskridge co-founded the Institute for Exotic Science and described her work as focused on experimental propulsion concepts, including what she referred to as "antigravity" research.

"We discovered antigravity, and our lives went to (expletive) and people started sabotaging us," she said in a 2020 interview with Youtuber Jeremy Rys. "It’s harassment, threats. It’s awful.

"If you stick your neck out in public, at least someone notices if your head gets chopped off," Eskridge added. "If you stick your neck out in private, they will bury you. They will burn down your house while you’re sleeping in your bed, and it won’t even make the news."

In the same interview, she described what she characterized as escalating pressure surrounding her work.

"I have to publish because it’s only going to get worse until I publish," she said, adding that the situation was "getting more and more aggressive."

In presentations and interviews, Eskridge also suggested that researchers working on unconventional technologies could face pressure to move their work out of the public domain, describing what she saw as a pattern in which scientists who reported breakthroughs would "disappear" from public work or stop publishing.

Eskridge’s death is being cited alongside cases involving retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William "Neil" McCasland, NASA scientist Monica Jacinto Reza, contractor Steven Garcia, astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, Massachusetts Institute of Technology physicist Nuno Loureiro, NASA engineer Frank Maiwald, Los Alamos–linked employees Melissa Casias and Anthony Chavez, NASA researcher Michael David Hicks and pharmaceutical scientist Jason Thomas.

The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) told ӣ��Ƶ Digital it is investigating the deaths and disappearances.

"NNSA is aware of reports related to employees of our labs, plants and sites and is looking into the matter," a statement from the department said.

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At the same time, there is no publicly available evidence linking Eskridge’s death to those cases, and authorities have not indicated any connection between her work and the circumstances of her death.

Her case has also become the subject of speculation in online and alternative technology communities, where some commentators have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding her death. Those claims, however, remain unverified and are not supported by official findings.

US general warns Russia may be developing nuclear anti-satellite weapon in orbit

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:58:35 -0400

The head of U.S. Space Command said the U.S. is "very concerned" that Russia may be developing a nuclear weapon in space to target satellites, warning such a move could disrupt global communications, GPS systems and daily life on Earth.

Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, the commander of U.S. Space Command, made the remarks during an appearance on The General & The Journalist, a weekly podcast by The Times.

"Russia remains a very historic and sophisticated space power. Yes, they have been hurt by economic sanctions, but they continue to invest in counter-space weapons, with the most concerning reports being that they are potentially thinking about placing on orbit a nuclear ASAT weapon," he added. "That would violate the Outer Space Treaty that they're a party to, and it would hold at risk everyone's satellites in low Earth orbit, and that would be an outcome that we just couldn't tolerate."

Whiting noted that space is considered a global commons, with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty — signed by nearly every nation, including all major space powers — prohibiting claims of sovereignty.

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He said that differs from earlier eras when explorers would plant flags to claim land for a king or country.

Whiting stopped short of confirming the underlying intelligence, but emphasized the seriousness of the concern.

"I won’t speak about our intelligence sources and methods, but obviously it’s a report that we’re very concerned about," he said.

PUTIN PUTS 'NUCLEAR TRIAD' ON FAST TRACK, ZELENSKYY CLAIMS ‘WORLD WAR 3’ UNDERWAY

ӣ��Ƶ Digital has reached out to the Pentagon for further comment on the matter.

A nuclear detonation in low Earth orbit — which spans roughly 100 to 1,200 miles above Earth — could have devastating consequences for both military and civilian infrastructure, according to Whiting.

"All of low Earth orbit would be at risk, and you know, that's over 10,000 satellites today with these new proliferated low earth orbit constellations like Starlink," he said.

RUSSIA, CHINA SQUEEZE US ARCTIC DEFENSE ZONE AS TRUMP EYES GREENLAND

Such an event could cripple satellite networks that underpin GPS, communications, financial systems and global internet access.

Whiting noted that most people do not realize how dependent modern life is on space-based systems.

"The average citizen around the world probably doesn’t think about how space enables their life every day, but if they carry a smartphone in their pocket, they are leveraging space multiple times a day," he said.

US COMMANDER SAYS RUSSIA AND CHINA'S ARCTIC PATROLS ARE 'NOT FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES'

He suggested Russia may view space-based attacks as a way to offset what it sees as U.S. and NATO advantages in conventional warfare.

"From a Russian perspective, they look at the United States, they look at NATO and they see a conventional overmatch there of conventional arms," Whiting said. "They believe that novel ways of trying to undermine the United States and NATO, such as by neutralizing our space capabilities, helps them to level the battlefield."

Whiting also pointed to ongoing Russian activity targeting satellite systems, including widespread interference in Europe.

‘THEY WERE SPYING’: SULLIVAN SOUNDS ALARM ON JOINT RUSSIA-CHINA MOVES IN US ARCTIC ZONE

"Clearly across Europe, we have seen sustained satellite communication jamming and GPS jamming," he said.

He warned that such actions are already having real-world consequences, particularly for civilian aviation.

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"The real problem with that GPS jamming, for example, is it’s being done in a way that’s affecting civil aviation in Eastern Europe and across Southern Europe," Whiting said.

"When we put at risk civilian airliners full of citizens just trying to go on business or holiday, that’s incredibly problematic," he added. "We do not want to see this normalization of trying to interfere with other satellites."

Trump swings for moon with nuclear reactor plans as China, Russia team up in space race

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:57:06 -0400

A memo released by the Trump administration on Tuesday detailed a goal of having a nuclear reactor on the moon’s surface by 2030, a move that furthers the United States’ quest for supremacy in space over China and Russia.

In the six-page document, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy wrote that incorporating nuclear energy in space will be essential to advancing U.S. efforts in "space exploration, commerce, and defense applications."

"Nuclear power in space will give us the sustained electricity, heating, and propulsion essential to a permanent presence on the Moon, Mars, and beyond," the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy wrote on X.

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NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman celebrated the memo, which outlined how nuclear reactors will be crucial for eventual deep-space exploration to Mars.

"The time has come for America to get underway on nuclear power in space," Isaacman wrote on X.

The memo cited President Donald Trump’s December 2025 executive order titled "Ensuring American Space Superiority."

TRUMP WANTS A MOON LANDING BY 2028, SO WHY IS NASA ALREADY HEDGING?

It was signed just months after then-acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said on "Sean Hannity" that he wanted the U.S. to build a nuclear reactor on the moon before China does.

Last May, China and Russia agreed to work together to build a nuclear reactor on the moon’s surface by 2036.

The Department of War, Department of Energy, NASA and the Office of Science and Technology Policy have all been tasked with meeting the White House’s goals of deploying nuclear reactors on the moon’s surface and in the moon’s orbit.

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The memo outlines the Trump administration’s plan to deploy mid-power nuclear reactors in the moon’s orbit by 2028. Each nuclear power reactor will be designed to provide 20 kilowatts of energy, roughly the same amount used by an average American household.

The reactors will be designed to generate power for at least three years in orbit, and lunar surface-based nuclear reactors will provide energy for at least five years.

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The memo’s publication comes just two weeks after NASA launched Artemis II, the first lunar flyby in more than 50 years. The mission was designed to test the Orion spacecraft’s deep-space navigation, manual piloting capabilities and life-support systems.

ӣ��Ƶ Digital reached out to the White House and NASA for comment.

New Artemis II video shows moment Navy medical team opened hatch, welcomed astronauts

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:58:00 -0400

New video shows the moment that the Artemis II astronauts were welcomed back to Earth as a Navy medical team opened the hatch to their Orion module after the crew splashed down safely in the Pacific following their historic journey around the moon.

Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen returned from their 10-day lunar mission on Friday, flying farther from Earth than any human has before.

On Monday, Wiseman shared new video on X showing the perspective of a Navy medical team opening the module’s hatch in the waters off the coast of San Diego.

"Jesse, Steve, Laddy, and Vlad…. such an incredible feeling to welcome you aboard Integrity after a nearly 700,000-mile journey. Forever thankful for your service to our crew and the nation," Wiseman wrote in the X post.

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After opening the hatch, the Navy team is heard greeting the returning astronauts. Two members of the team are seen entering the module and exchanging fist bumps with the Artemis II crew.

After being helped out of the Orion crew module, the four astronauts were taken aboard the USS John P. Murtha for medical evaluation after the mission.

The Orion spacecraft traveled 252,000 miles from Earth in its journey.

ARTEMIS II ASTRONAUTS NEARLY HALFWAY TO THE MOON AS NASA SHARES STUNNING PHOTOS FROM ORION SPACECRAFT

The spacecraft reentered the Earth’s atmosphere Friday at around 25,000 mph, slowing to about 20 mph using an 11-parachute sequence before landing in the ocean about 60 miles off the coast at 5:07 p.m. local time.

During its reentry, the temperatures outside the spacecraft reached as high as 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

In the next high-stakes mission set to launch next year, Artemis III astronauts will remain in Earth’s orbit and practice docking their Orion capsule with a commercial lunar lander, a critical step before any return to the moon.

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The Artemis IV is planned to follow in 2028, a mission that could carry astronauts in the first planned moon landing of the program.

ӣ��Ƶ Digital’s Brie Stimson contributed to this report.

WATCH: Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch reunites with dog after 10 days in space

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:19:37 -0400

A heartfelt video shows Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch reuniting with her dog after returning from a historic 10-day mission in space.

The video captures the dog eagerly anticipating Koch’s arrival, barking as she opens the door and embraces her pet.

The emotional reunion came just days after Artemis II splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, following the mission around the moon.

The crew — three Americans and one Canadian — became the first humans to travel to the moon since NASA’s Apollo era more than a half-century ago.

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The astronauts received a thunderous welcome home Saturday at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Mission Control after their splashdown the evening prior.

After reuniting with their spouses and children, Mission Specialist Koch, Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen took the stage inside the hangar, surrounded by space center workers and invited guests.

During Artemis II’s mission, the astronauts traveled deeper into space than the moon explorers of decades past and captured views of the lunar far side never seen by human eyes. A total solar eclipse added to the spectacle.

PETER NAVARRO: TRUMP'S ARTEMIS VISION IS NOW FLYING — AND CHINA IS PAYING ATTENTION

At the mission’s farthest point, the crew reached approximately 252,756 miles from Earth before looping behind the moon, surpassing Apollo 13’s distance record.

The mission also revealed a new perspective of Earth through an "Earthset" image, showing the planet setting behind the moon’s gray, cratered surface — echoing the iconic 1968 "Earthrise" photo taken during Apollo 8.

"Honestly, what struck me wasn’t necessarily just Earth — it was all the blackness around it. Earth was just this lifeboat hanging undisturbed in the universe," Koch said. "Planet Earth, you are a crew."

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Wiseman, Glover, Koch and Hansen are the first humans to travel to the moon since Apollo 17 concluded NASA’s initial era of lunar exploration in 1972. A total of 24 astronauts journeyed to the moon during Apollo, including 12 who walked on its surface.

NASA has emphasized the importance of Artemis II’s success as it prepares for future missions. The agency is targeting Artemis III, which is expected to involve crewed operations with a lunar lander, followed by Artemis IV — a planned mission aiming to return astronauts to the moon’s surface near the lunar south pole, later this decade.

NASA's Artemis follow-up mission 'right around the corner' after successful lunar flight

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 14:02:39 -0400

The world may still be captivated by the breathtaking views, record-setting distance and emotional homecoming of Artemis II, but for NASA, the next chapter is already in motion.

Entry flight director Rick Henfling alluded to Artemis III being in the space agency’s sights after the Artemis II crew safely splashed down in the Pacific on Saturday.

"The next mission’s right around the corner," Henfling said.

ARTEMIS II ASTRONAUTS SPLASHDOWN AFTER FIRST MOON MISSION IN MORE THAN 50 YEARS

Elon Musk’s Starship and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Moon landers are both competing to prove their company’s lander will be ready first.

The billionaires are also vying for the opportunity to carry Artemis IV astronauts during the first planned moon landing of the program in 2028.

ARTEMIS II ASTRONAUTS SHOW OFF APOLLO 18 FLAG FROM SPACE

NASA has already positioned key hardware for the docking test at Kennedy Space Center, while SpaceX prepares another Starship test flight and Blue Origin pushes toward its own lunar landing demonstration later this year.

The long-term goal is far bigger than a single landing. NASA and its partners are targeting the moon’s south pole, believed to have vast reserves of ice that could provide water and fuel for a future base — a project expected to cost $20 billion to $30 billion.

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NASA is expected to announce the Artemis III crew soon. The mission is designed to mirror Apollo-era testing, reducing risk before sending astronauts back to the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Artemis II pilot Victor Glover praises God after return, says mission was 'too big to be in one body'

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:53:07 -0400

Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover on Saturday used a public appearance to praise God and talk about how he felt a deep sense of gratitude following the crew's monumental return from space.

Glover and his fellow astronauts spoke in Houston, Texas, about the experience of traveling to the far side of the moon, farther from Earth than any in human mission.

"I wanted to thank God in public," Victor Glover said. "And I want to thank God again, because even bigger than my challenge trying to describe what we went through, the gratitude of seeing what we saw, doing what we did and being with who I was with... it’s too big to just be in one body."

The appearance marked the crew's first official public remarks after the mission, which carried astronauts more than 200,000 miles from Earth before returning safely. Crew members described both the technical demands of the mission and the personal impact of the journey.

"I have not processed what we just did, and I’m afraid to start even trying," Glover said.

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"I wanted to thank our families for everything, and I want to thank our leadership. We are fortunate to be in this agency at this time together."

Commander Reid Wiseman spoke about the bond formed among the crew during the mission.

"We are bonded forever and no one down here is ever going to know what the four of us just went through," Wiseman said. "And it was the most special thing that will ever happen in my life."

ARTEMIS II ASTRONAUTS FACE TOILET TROUBLE AS THEY HEAD TOWARD THE MOON

Wiseman also addressed the experience of being far from Earth and the impact on the astronauts' families.

"No one knows what the families went through," he said. "This was not easy, being 200,000+ miles away from home."

Mission specialist Christina Koch described how her understanding of teamwork evolved during the mission.

ARTEMIS II PILOT VICTOR GLOVER’S DAUGHTER STEALS SPOTLIGHT IN VIRAL TRIBUTE: 'FIRST DAUGHTER OF THE MOON'

"A crew is people, that is in it all the time, no matter what, that is willing to sacrifice silently for each other," Koch said. "A crew is inescapably, beautifully, dutifully linked."

"Earth was just this lifeboat, hanging undisturbingly in the universe… Planet Earth, you are a crew," Koch said.

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen highlighted the human experience of the mission and the support behind it.

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"It’s the human experience that is extraordinary for us," Hansen said.

"Gratitude for my family, gratitude for NASA, gratitude for the teams. I don’t think people will really ever fully comprehend how well supported and trained we were," Hansen said.

Last week, Glover drew praise on social media after he said his involvement in the Artemis II mission should be seen as part of "human history," not a racial milestone, and conservatives circulated clips of his remarks prior to the crew's launch Wednesday.

He made the remarks during a March 29 press event ahead of NASA’s Artemis II mission, which is returning astronauts to lunar orbit for the first time in decades. The mission has been noted for its historic crew composition, including the first woman and first Black astronaut assigned to a lunar mission.

Glover acknowledged the significance of representation while pointing to a broader aspiration beyond it.

"It's about human history. It's the story of humanity — not Black history, not women's history — but that it becomes human history."

NASA chief declares America 'absolutely back' in space race, says US will beat China to the moon

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 09:50:03 -0400

A top NASA official declared America is "absolutely back" in the space race, as the U.S. races to beat China to the moon under an aggressive push from President Donald Trump to build a lunar base and eventually plant Old Glory on Mars.

"We are absolutely on an achievable path now," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Saturday.

"There is no question... President Trump gave us the Artemis program that's currently underway right now during his first term... he gave us the resources to actually execute on an achievable plan through the Working Family Tax Cut Act and the mandate not just to go back to the moon with the national space policy, but to go back, to stay, to build the moon base," he added.

Isaacman told "Saturday in America" host Kayleigh McEnany that the president has repeatedly told him that NASA should "figure out what we need to do to go to Mars."

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"That's exactly why you build the moon base to master the skills that we can send American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on Mars someday," he added.

Isaacman said the U.S. is now on a clear trajectory to return astronauts to the lunar surface and stay there.

"We are getting underway building the moon base essentially right now," he said, noting that Americans will be able to follow along as early as 2027, when NASA begins a near-monthly cadence of robotic missions to the moon’s South Pole.

NASA RETURNS HUMANS TO DEEP SPACE AFTER OVER 50 YEARS WITH FEBRUARY ARTEMIS II MOON MISSION

Those missions will lay the groundwork for a sustained American presence beyond Earth, as NASA also builds toward its long-term goal of sending astronauts to Mars.

"[We're going to be] test[ing] out mobility, crewed mobility, uncrewed mobility, power, navigation and the In-Situ resource manufacturing, which is going be paramount for future missions to Mars."

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The aggressive timeline comes as China has signaled ambitions to land astronauts on the moon by 2030, setting up a new space race between the world’s two superpowers.

ӣ��Ƶ' Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.

Artemis II crew reflects emotionally on lunar mission after safe return: 'Bonded forever'

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:50:13 -0400

A day after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the San Diego coast following a historic 10-day mission around the moon, the Artemis II crew took the stage at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, Texas, emotionally reflecting on their time in space and safe return.

"It’s a special thing to be human, and it’s a special thing to be on planet Earth," commander Reid Wiseman said, adding he and his three crew mates are now "bonded forever" before they all hugged.

"Welcome home Artemis II," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said before introducing crew members Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen.

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"There is no doubt there is a price to pay when it comes to exploring the cosmos, but there is also a return, a return in the jobs that creates the technologies that improve life here on earth and the inspiration that sparks all those who choose to follow and to people all around the world who look up and dream about what is possible. The long wait is over," Isaacman said.

"After a brief 53-year intermission, the show goes on, and NASA is back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon and bringing them home safely."

Wiseman, who spoke first, joked he had "absolutely no idea what to say."

"Twenty-four hours ago, the Earth was that big out the window, and we were doing Mach 39, and here we are back at Ellington at home," he said.

Glover said he still hadn’t processed everything, thanking God "because, even bigger than my challenge trying to describe what we went through, the gratitude of seeing what we saw doing what we did and being with who I was with, it's too big to just be in one body."

Koch reflected that the "start and the end" of the mission were "human moments on Earth."

"Ten days ago, this journey started with our mission manager, Sean Duvall, knocking on my door in crew quarters and whispering, ‘Christina, We're go for launch. Get up!’ And it ended last night when my nurse on the ship put me to bed and said, ‘Ma'am, can I get a hug?’"

FIRST-EVER PHOTO OF EARTH FROM MOON'S FAR SIDE UNVEILED AS ARTEMIS II BEGINS JOURNEY HOME, TRUMP WEIGHS IN

She also said she had a new understanding of the meaning of the word "crew" since their mission.

"A crew is people or, you know, a group that is in it all the time, no matter what that is, stroking together every minute with the same purpose that is willing to sacrifice silently for each other," she said.

"That gives grace, that holds accountable. A crew has the same cares and the same needs, and a crew is inescapably, beautifully, dutifully linked. So, when we saw tiny Earth, people asked our crew what impressions we had, and, honestly, what struck me wasn't necessarily just Earth. It was all the blackness around it."

She also now thinks of Earth as a "lifeboat" in a universe of blackness.

"Planet Earth, you are a crew," she added.

Hansen expressed his gratitude to all the people who supported the crew and its mission.

"And I don't think people will really ever fully comprehend how well supported and trained we were. It is almost unbelievable," Hanson said.

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"What you saw was a group of people who loved contributing, having meaningful contribution and extracting joy out of that," Hanson added with his arms around his crew members.

"I would suggest to you that when you look up here, you're not looking at us. We are a mirror reflecting you. And if you like what you see, then just look a little deeper. This is you."

PETER NAVARRO: Trump's Artemis vision is now flying — and China is paying attention

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:00:46 -0400

Now that Artemis II has completed its lunar flyby and returned to Earth, Artemis is no longer a concept or a promise. It is a working American deep space architecture.

In a single mission, the Artemis II crew executed manual piloting and proximity operations, while the Orion spacecraft operated at lunar distance and proved the life support, propulsion, power, thermal, navigation and reentry systems that generated the operational data NASA says will shape the missions that follow.

As we celebrate this achievement, it is worth remembering how this mission began — and why it matters.

ARTEMIS II NEARS END OF HISTORIC MISSION WITH SPLASHDOWN OFF CALIFORNIA COAST

Early in his first term, Donald Trump saw what no president since Richard Nixon had seen clearly enough: returning to the Moon is not some relic of the last century’s glory days. It is the strategic high ground of this one.

The triumph of Artemis II began on Dec. 11, 2017, with the signing of Space Policy Directive-1. It redirected NASA away from two dead ends.

The first was the Obama-era asteroid pathway, in which NASA planned to retrieve a boulder from a near-Earth asteroid, place it in lunar orbit and send astronauts there as a steppingstone to Mars. It was the kind of fool’s errand only Washington could love — expensive, convoluted and utterly lacking the geopolitical clarity of a return to the moon.

The second was America’s long low-Earth-orbit holding pattern. Years of useful work aboard the International Space Station, to be sure, but no serious strategy for pushing outward into deep space and reclaiming leadership beyond it.

In the Trump doctrine, the moon is not just a destination. It is the next great platform of national power — a logistics hub, a science outpost, a proving ground for deep-space industry and a potential source of water ice for drinking water, oxygen and rocket fuel.

It is also where the technologies of in-space manufacturing, power generation, navigation, extraction and transport will be tested and refined and where military advantage, industrial capacity, technological leadership and geopolitical influence all converge.

That is exactly why Communist China is openly targeting a crewed lunar landing by 2030 and an International Lunar Research Station with Russia by 2035. This is a contest for position. The nation that gets there first will shape far more than headlines. It will shape the future balance of power.

The genius of Artemis is that it is not a purely governmental effort. It is a public-private partnership designed to harness exactly what America does best: entrepreneurial innovation, private-sector speed and allied cooperation.

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NASA provides the anchor mission and strategic architecture. The broader design relies on commercial firms and friendly nations, and SpaceX and Blue Origin are central to the landing architecture.

In the first space race, Apollo demonstrated to the world that America could outbuild, outthink and outlast its authoritarian rival. It also accelerated key technologies — microelectronics, computing, materials science, telecommunications, precision manufacturing, propulsion and guidance systems — strengthened our defense industrial base and renewed confidence in the nation’s capacity to build and win.

In this second contest, Artemis is teaching us something essential about the nature of deep space exploration. Human beings still matter.

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NASA did not send four passengers around the moon. It sent trained observers — the eyes of our lunar scientists on Earth. During the far-side flyby, the crew photographed and described impact craters, ancient lava flows, cracks and ridges and subtle differences in color, brightness and texture that help scientists read the moon’s geologic history.

Artemis II proved something larger than engineering as well. It reminded the world that America can still do difficult things in full public view. Fox’s own coverage gravitated to the defining images of the mission — Earthset, the far-side blackout and Trump’s call hailing the crew as "modern-day pioneers."

Artemis is not just exploration. It is strategic theater, alliance management and rule-setting in real time. In that sense, it is Trumpian.

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The mission also underscored a harder truth: serious space programs are built on mastery of the unglamorous. Coverage lingered on the blackout behind the moon. But a permanent lunar presence will depend less on spectacle than on whether America can master sanitation, stowage, cabin atmosphere, suit operations, radiation sheltering, emergency procedures, precise communications, reentry and recovery.

Great powers do not stay on the moon by getting the photo. They stay there by making the plumbing, the procedures and the ride home work.

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What’s next? Bank the data, incorporate the lessons of the flight and move fast. Fly Artemis III in 2027 as the Earth-orbit systems test for the commercial landers and the new lunar suits. Then use Artemis IV in 2028 to put Americans back on the lunar surface. After that, keep a real cadence — at least one surface mission every year and eventually faster if the architecture holds and reusable commercial hardware matures as planned.

What Washington must supply is speed, money and resolve. Because if America treats Artemis like just another program to be managed, we may yet live to see a red moon rising.

Peter Navarro is co-author with Greg Autry of "Red Moon Rising."

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Artemis II astronauts splash down after first moon mission in more than 50 years

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:10:04 -0400

The four Artemis II astronauts splashed down off the coast of San Diego Friday evening following a 10-day mission that marked the first manned moon mission in more than 50 years at 5:07 p.m. Pacific Time.

The crew launched from the Kennedy Space Center April 1 and traveled around the moon, 252,000 miles from Earth, flying farther from Earth than any previous mission.

After NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman landed on the USS John P. Murtha ahead of the splashdown, he shared a massage for those helping with the recovery of the astronauts.

"I have no doubt that you're all going to execute this flawlessly as we get these astronauts who will just complete an absolute historic mission, traveling further into space than any humans have gone before," he said.

ARTEMIS II NEARS END OF HISTORIC MISSION WITH SPLASHDOWN OFF CALIFORNIA COAST

"For the first time, we've gone into the lunar environment in more than half a century," he added. "We are back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon again."

Isaacman added that once Artemis III launches in 2028 for the first moon landing in decades, NASA plans to stay and build a moon base.

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After being helped out of the Orion crew module, the four astronauts — Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen were taken aboard the USS John P. Murtha for medical evaluation after the mission.

The Orion spacecraft reentered the Earth’s atmosphere Friday at around 25,000 mph, slowing to about 20 mph using an 11-parachute sequence before landing in the ocean about 60 miles off the coast at 5:07 p.m. local time.

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During its reentry, the temperatures outside the spacecraft got as high as 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Astronauts last went to the moon in December 1972 for the Apollo 17 mission, three years after humans first landed on the moon in the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.

Artemis II nears end of historic mission with splashdown off California coast

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:01:51 -0400

The Artemis II mission to the moon is nearing completion, but first comes a safe splashdown off the San Diego coast.

The Orion spacecraft, carrying four astronauts, is expected to return Friday, with the U.S. Navy helping recover the capsule and crew from the Pacific Ocean.

San Diego, a city with deep Navy roots, is playing a central role in that effort. Several bases in the area are helping lead the recovery, bringing a sense of pride and excitement to the community.

Locals and visitors from across the country are expected to gather along the coastline and at museums throughout the area to witness the crew’s homecoming.

ARTEMIS II ASTRONAUTS SHOW OFF APOLLO 18 FLAG FROM SPACE

"We’re back in the game of deep space," said Jim Kidrick, president and CEO of the San Diego Air and Space Museum. "You go back to General Patton, World War II, you know, Americans love a winner… and will not tolerate a loser."

The mission marks the latest chapter in space exploration, wrapping up, at least for now, off the Southern California coast.

The astronauts aboard Orion are on their way home after traveling around the moon, reaching more than 252,000 miles from Earth.

"I think people have been rejuvenated by one word that’s going on in space today, and that’s the moon," Kidrick added.

ARTEMIS II PILOT VICTOR GLOVER’S DAUGHTER STEALS SPOTLIGHT WITH TRIBUTE

At the museum, the story of the Apollo program is once again front and center, as attention shifts back to deep space more than 50 years later.

"There are so many…historic moments that have happened. So it’s kind of cool to just be a part of one of them," said Abigail Lawrence, who is visiting from Utah.

Others visiting San Diego for the splashdown shared similar excitement.

"You know what? What could be better than coming back to San Diego? I don’t know, I can’t think of anything. Anything," said Sheila Haas.

San Diego-based sailors are also on the front lines, working with NASA to recover the Orion capsule from the Pacific and bring it aboard USS John P. Murtha, a Navy landing platform dock (LPD).

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"I’m just happy to see that the Navy is able to use an LPD for such a peaceful mission," said Navy veteran David Haas. "The LPD are good all around ships for all sorts of things. And so it just makes me happy."

After re-entry, Navy recovery teams will secure the spacecraft and help the crew out safely.

"Our Navy certainly, with the NASA rescue team, all making sure that those astronauts finish up that mission wonderfully well and very safely," Kidrick said.

Back at the Air and Space Museum, thousands of eyes are expected to be on the sky Friday evening, with a sense of hope that a new generation will continue the push into deep space.

"We can help inspire, educate, get them excited… those young boys and girls who are really going to be those next generations," Kidrick said. "There can’t just be one greatest generation… The generations that follow you are gonna have a wonderful future because somebody will land on Mars."

For Artemis II to land off the San Diego coast, there cannot be any rain or thunderstorms within 35 miles of the splashdown zone.

Forecasters are currently monitoring a storm in the Pacific, but so far, conditions for Friday appear to be on track.

Artemis II pilot Victor Glover’s daughter steals spotlight in viral tribute: 'First daughter of the moon'

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:04:55 -0400

As Artemis II races toward a historic return from the moon, it’s a daughter’s joyful, offbeat tribute to astronaut Victor Glover that’s capturing the internet’s heart.

Glover's daughter went viral on social media this week after posting a video playfully dancing while wearing a shirt donning a picture of her father in a space suit.

"When your dad successfully pilots Artemis II halfway to the moon ... & u forget the dance," Glover's daughter, Maya, wrote in an Instagram post.

The video amassed a staggering 21.9 million views on TikTok and Instagram as of Thursday afternoon, with companies including Walmart and Spotify weighing in on her parent's impressive feat.

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"This quite literally makes you generationally iconic," Instagram's official account commented on the post.

Walmart added, "'yeah my dad is out of this world.'"

"First daughter of the moon," Starbucks commented.

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Coach replied, "He's an icon."

Victor Glover is the first Black astronaut to travel beyond low Earth orbit and journey to the vicinity of the moon.

In a separate post, the California Polytechnic State University student shared a series of NASA-related photos from her childhood.

"The kid that built rockets in the garage wearing her dads aviator helmet just watched her dad launch to the moon on the most powerful rocket humans have ever built for all mankind," she wrote in the post. "We love you dad."

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Following a successful 10-day mission, Orion is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean Friday night.

Re-entry remains a large hurdle, with dangers arising from the 25,000 mph high-speed return to Earth.

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