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2025 10 01 12 07 16

FBI Releases LAX “Jetpack” Case Files; Pilot Interview Contradicts Jetpack Description

A screengrab from a video posted Dec. 23, 2020, which shows an object flying through the air off the coast of California. Sling Pilot Academy/YouTube
The FBI has released a detailed set of investigative files on the so-called “Jetpack Man” sightings near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The release on October 1, 2025, followed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by The Black Vault first filed August 3, 2021 and resubmitted November 27, 2021 after an initial denial. The Bureau originally withheld all the records under FOIA exemption (b)(7)(A) for ongoing investigations but reversed its position with the second request after nearly four years.
When the sightings first made headlines in 2020 and 2021, they were widely portrayed as encounters with a person flying a jetpack near commercial aircraft. Yet the FBI’s files show that at least one pilot later walked back that description. In one case, the China Airlines captain who initially thought he saw a “jetpack” told investigators on reflection that “he did not believe it resembled the shape and size of a human” and noted that “there were no propellers or jet propulsion devices attached to the object.”
The records released mark the first “interim” disclosure for this case which remains open, indicating that additional material may still be forthcoming. For this release, 250 pages were reviewed, bit only 130 were released. It is unclear what is in the 120 pages completely withheld.Continue scrolling for more…

How the Investigation Began

The FBI’s first reference to the case appears in an internal summary of the August 30, 2020 incident, when pilots on American Airlines flight 1997 reported seeing “a person with a jet pack flying approximately 300 yards to the left of them” as they descended to land at LAX at about 3,000 feet. According to the records, “approximately one minute later, JetBlue flight 23 was approaching LAX and a pilot possibly saw the same person flying with the jet pack”.
The Bureau’s records show the FBI’s Los Angeles Resident Agency opened a file (164B-LA-3313857) on September 1, 2020 to investigate the sightings.
October 2020: Pilot Describes Object in Detail
A year later, on October 14, 2020, a China Airlines captain flying from Taipei to Los Angeles told FBI agents he saw an object at 6,000–6,500 feet over Culver City during descent. The pilot described it as moving horizontally and only visible for two seconds:
“He called out the sighting to the co-pilots… The object was approximately 100-200 meters away from the left wing tip when it went past the plane”.
At first, the October 14, 2020, sighting was linked to the idea of a jetpack or “fly suit.” But after an FBI interview, the China Airlines captain made a crucial clarification. He told investigators that, on reflection, “he did not believe it resembled the shape and size of a human.” He added that there were “no propellers or jet propulsion devices attached to the object.”
This reversal is noteworthy. The incident was widely described in headlines as another “jetpack man” encounter, yet the pilot himself cast doubt on that very interpretation. If the object did not look like a human, and carried no visible propulsion system, it leaves open the possibility that it was not a balloon, not a drone, and not a man in flight gear. The FBI documents stop short of offering an alternative explanation, but the pilot’s testimony underscores the unresolved nature of what was seen that night.
Social Media Tips and Public Leads
The files show that tips poured in through the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center (NTOC). One December 2020 e-tip accused a Los Angeles graffiti “tagger” of being the jetpack flyer, alleging he had “posted about this on social media — knowing the FBI was looking into this” and that he “clearly has no remorse… and finds it funny that he has got away with it so far”.

The tipster urged the FBI to “find out his real name, his cell phone, IG use location… and charge him appropriately” because “he is scaring people by being able to operate a jetpack”. No evidence in the released files confirms that lead produced results.
May 2021: Cessna Pilot Reports Jetpack-Like Figure Near Van Nuys
On May 9, 2021, a student pilot in a Cessna 172 with an instructor at Van Nuys Airport reported seeing “what appeared to be a person on a jetpack” for about six seconds at 2,400 feet, 400–500 feet from the plane:
“The person was going the opposite direction from the plane… standing up straight… wearing black and red clothing”.
The pilot compared the sighting to a prior photo and video and said it was “exactly the same” in shape and build, but with different colors.
July 2021: Cargo Pilot Describes “Reddish” Object
The July 28, 2021 incident involved a Kalitta Air cargo flight on final approach to LAX. The captain told the FBI he saw an “unidentified object” at 5,000 feet, initially thinking it was “a guy with a jet pack” but later noting it was “larger than a balloon and smaller than a helicopter or small airplane”.

He described the object as “reddish in color and 5 to 7 feet tall, similar to the height of a person” and said he observed it for seven to eight seconds, first trying to determine if it posed a collision risk before attempting to identify it. He was later sent a photo and video of a similar object but said “the color was wrong” — the comparison image showed black and white, not red.
(See other documents at: Jetpack Man Sighting over Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), July 28, 2021)
August 2021: Drone Sighting Tip

In November 2021, an individual reported seeing a man at San Pedro’s Lookout Point Park flying “a fast, advanced looking drone that landed on his arm like a hawk” and speculated it could be connected to the jetpack sightings.
No Definitive Conclusion in FBI Files
The released records contain no definitive identification of the object or person. Instead, they show a mix of pilot testimony, public tips, and FBI investigative activity, including interviews with flight instructors, pilots, and possible industry contacts.
One record shows agents retrieved at least one CD containing “video recording” evidence in December 2020 but the contents were not included in the FOIA release.
The FBI’s decision to initially withhold the records for years under exemption (b)(7)(A) signals how seriously the Bureau took the reports and their investigation. Yet the eventual release leaves the mystery unresolved. Pilots repeatedly described objects that appeared humanoid at altitudes and distances difficult for current consumer jetpacks, and the files reveal the Bureau explored but did not prove links to drones or social media personalities.
What the files do show, for the first time in an official release, is how pilots, airline crews, and tipsters perceived the incidents, and how the FBI documented them in its case file. The records also confirm that federal authorities obtained at least some video evidence but have not released it publicly.
Future releases will be highlighted on The Black Vault, and linked below, when available.
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Document Archive
FBI Release Package #1 – October 1, 2025 – [147 Pages, 4MB]

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1 HACKER AT COMPUTER

Inside a scammer’s day and how they target you

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
You’re sipping your morning coffee when your phone rings. It’s a number you don’t recognize. On the other end is someone claiming to be from your bank, asking you to “confirm a recent charge.” Sound familiar?Scammers don’t operate on luck. They don’t just throw darts at the phone book and hope to hit a target. Their calls, texts and emails are carefully planned. They already know things about you before they ever reach out, enough to make their pitch sound convincing.So, what does a scammer’s day actually look like? Let’s step into their shoes for a moment.Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM/NEWSLETTER STOP DATA BROKERS FROM SELLING YOUR INFORMATION ONLINE Hacker looking up the information stolen from an unsuspecting victim. (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)Step 1: Morning scroll: Where scammers find your dataScammers don’t need to hack into top-secret databases. They start their day by tapping into data broker sites, those shady online directories that trade your personal information like baseball cards.Here’s what they can instantly see about you (yes, you):Full name and ageCurrent and past addressesPhone numbers (landline and mobile)Relatives’ namesProperty records and estimated home value.Some sites even list email addresses, voter registrations and criminal histories (whether accurate or not.) Imagine starting your morning with a full profile of someone, where they live, who their spouse is and what car they drive. For scammers, this is their to-do list.Step 2: Building the perfect scam storyWith your profile in hand, scammers craft a story that sounds tailor-made just for you.If you’ve recently moved (public real estate records show this), they’ll call pretending to be from a “utilities department” asking for deposits.If you’re retired, they might pose as Medicare reps offering “free benefits.”If you’ve recently lost a loved one (obituaries are public), they’ll offer fake “bereavement services.”Scammers don’t invent details; they borrow them from your life. That’s why their calls are so believable.HOW SCAMMERS TARGET YOU EVEN WITHOUT SOCIAL MEDIA A man receiving a fake scam phone call. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)Step 3: Dialing for dollarsOnce the story is ready, it’s time to call, text, or email. Scammers often use auto-dialing software, blasting out thousands of calls a day. They acquire your personal and contact details from various data brokers. Imagine hundreds of scammers scraping the same databases and finding your profile. That’s why you get repeated calls. That’s why the scammer “knows” who you are when you pick up. And even if you hang up or reject the call without picking up, they log your number as “active.” Which means you’ve just made their list for the next round of calls. Step 4: Afternoon profit: Cashing in on stolen trustScammers don’t actually need every target to fall for the trick. They only need a small percentage. Here’s what happens when someone gives in:Banking info stolen: Fake “fraud department” calls trick people into reading out card numbers.Identity theft: A scammer collects your Social Security number and date of birth, then opens accounts in your name.Wire transfers: Many victims are convinced to “verify funds” by wiring money, which is gone forever.It’s a numbers game, and personal data tilts the odds heavily in the scammers’ favor. Step 5: Evening: Expanding the listAt the end of the day, scammers aren’t done. They feed the information they’ve gathered back into the data cycle:New phone numbers? Added to calling lists.Addresses confirmed during a call? Updated in their files.Relatives mentioned? Added as next targets.And the cycle continues tomorrow, with an even bigger pool of potential victims. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)Why removing your data makes scams harderNow, imagine if scammers couldn’t find your data online in the first place.No name connected to your phone number.No recent address tied to your age and relatives.No property value or real estate history to suggest you’re “cash-rich.”Scammers would have no storyline, no details to exploit and, most importantly, no way to personalize their attack. When you remove your data from people-search sites and data broker databases, you don’t just “clean up the internet.” You slam the door shut on scammers’ playbooks. You could spend hours (or days) going site by site, filling out opt-out forms, sending emails and keeping track of who complied. The problem? Data brokers don’t stop. New ones pop up every week, and old ones often sneak your data back in.That’s where a data removal service comes in. While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice.  They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy.  These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites.  It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet.  By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com/DeleteGet a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com/FreeScanCLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPKurt’s key takeawaysScammers don’t stumble on your phone number by accident. They map out your life, one data point at a time. That’s why protecting your information online is the single most powerful step you can take to cut down on scam calls, phishing emails and identity theft risks. Remember: every piece of personal data you remove is one less tool in a scammer’s kit.What’s the most convincing scam attempt you’ve ever received? Let us know in the comments below. Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/ContactSign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM/NEWSLETTERCopyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.

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flytrex uber eats drone

Uber Eats takes flight with drone deliveries

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Uber Eats is getting ready to deliver your dinner from the sky. The company announced it’s partnering with Flytrex, a drone delivery startup, to begin rolling out test markets in the U.S. by the end of this year.While Uber hasn’t named the first cities yet, Flytrex is already active in Texas and North Carolina, so it’s likely those areas will see the first flights. This move marks Uber’s first investment in drone technology and a big step into the growing autonomous delivery industry.Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM/NEWSLETTER ROBOTS ARE TAKING OVER UBER EATS DELIVERIES. IS YOUR CITY NEXT? Drone startup Flytrex and Uber Eats partner up to make food delivery faster than ever before. (Uber Eats/Flytrex)Why drones are becoming the future of deliveryDrone deliveries are moving from futuristic concepts to everyday life. Companies like Google-owned Wing and Zipline already partner with Walmart, DoorDash and even hospitals to deliver goods and medical supplies. Amazon is also testing its Prime Air drones to shorten delivery times.Flytrex, based in Tel Aviv, Israel, has already logged more than 200,000 successful deliveries across the U.S. Its drones are FAA-certified to fly beyond visual line of sight, giving them the ability to scale delivery services while meeting strict safety standards.AMERICA’S SKIES ARE WIDE OPEN TO NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS, DRONE EXPERT WARNS: ‘WE HAVE NO AWARENESS’ Uber Eats and Flytrex say that the new partnership will bring faster and more sustainable delivery. (Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Images)What Uber says about drone deliveriesUber sees this as the next stage in logistics. Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s president of autonomous mobility and delivery, said the partnership is about speed and sustainability. “With Flytrex, we’re entering the next chapter—bringing the speed and sustainability of drone delivery to the Uber Eats platform, at scale, for the first time.” he added.Flytrex executive chairman Noam Bardin echoed that vision, calling drones the “future of food delivery-fast, affordable, and hands-free.”CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Uber eats and Flytrex are rolling out testing by the end of 2025. (Flytrex)What this means for youFor customers, this could mean receiving meals, snacks or essentials in just minutes, instead of waiting half an hour or more. Drone delivery also has the potential to reduce traffic congestion, cut emissions and lower costs compared to traditional courier services.The catch? Availability will be limited at first, likely in suburban test markets where air traffic is easier to manage. But if all goes well, Uber Eats could expand drone deliveries to more cities in the coming years. Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com/QuizKurt’s key takeawaysUber’s partnership with Flytrex signals how quickly food delivery is evolving. From car couriers to bikes to sidewalk robots and now drones, Uber is aiming to build the most flexible delivery network in the world. The real question is how soon this futuristic service will become part of everyday life—and whether drones will change how we think about the speed and convenience of food delivery.Would you be up for a drone delivering your next meal, or do you still prefer a human courier dropping it off at your door?  Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/ContactSign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM/NEWSLETTERCopyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.

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gravitational waves 16

October’s Night Sky Notes: Let’s Go, LIGO!

by Kat Troche of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

September 2025 marks ten years since the first direct detection of gravitational waves as predicted by Albert Einstein’s 1916 theory of General Relativity. These invisible ripples in space were first directly detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). Traveling at the speed of light (~186,000 miles per second), these waves stretch and squeeze the fabric of space itself, changing the distance between objects as they pass.

Waves In Space

Gravitational waves are created when massive objects accelerate in space, especially in violent events. LIGO detected the first gravitational waves when two black holes, orbiting one another, finally merged, creating ripples in space-time. But these waves are not exclusive to black holes. If a star were to go supernova, it could produce the same effect. Neutron stars can also create these waves for various reasons. While these waves are invisible to the human eye, this animation from NASA’s Science Visualization Studio shows the merger of two black holes and the waves they create in the process.

How It Works

A gravitational wave observatory, like LIGO, is built with two tunnels, each approximately 2.5 miles long, arranged in an “L” shape. At the end of each tunnel, a highly polished 40 kg mirror (about 16 inches across) is mounted; this will reflect the laser beam that is sent from the observatory. A laser beam is sent from the observatory room and split into two, with equal parts traveling down each tunnel, bouncing off the mirrors at the end. When the beams return, they are recombined. If the arm lengths are perfectly equal, the light waves cancel out in just the right way, producing darkness at the detector. But if a gravitational wave passes, it slightly stretches one arm while squeezing the other, so the returning beams no longer cancel perfectly, creating a flicker of light that reveals the wave’s presence.

The actual detection happens at the point of recombination, when even a minuscule stretching of one arm and squeezing of the other changes how long it takes the laser beams to return. This difference produces a measurable shift in the interference pattern. To be certain that the signal is real and not local noise, both LIGO observatories — one in Washington State (LIGO Hanford) and the other in Louisiana (LIGO Livingston) — must record the same pattern within milliseconds. When they do, it’s confirmation of a gravitational wave rippling through Earth. We don’t feel these waves as they pass through our planet, but we now have a method of detecting them!

Get Involved

With the help of two additional gravitational-wave observatories, VIRGO and KAGRA, there have been 300 black hole mergers detected in the past decade; some of which are confirmed, while others await further study.

While the average person may not have a laser interferometer lying around in the backyard, you can help with two projects geared toward detecting gravitational waves and the black holes that contribute to them:

Black Hole Hunters: Using data from the TESS satellite, you would study graphs of how the brightness of stars changes over time, looking for an effect called gravitational microlensing. This lensing effect can indicate that a massive object has passed in front of a star, such as a black hole.

Gravity Spy: You can help LIGO scientists with their gravitational wave research by looking for glitches that may mimic gravitational waves. By sorting out the mimics, we can train algorithms on how to detect the real thing.

You can also use gelatin, magnetic marbles, and a small mirror for a more hands-on demonstration on how gravitational waves move through space-time with JPL’s Dropping In With Gravitational Waves activity!

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Botober 2025

Botober 2025: Terrible recipes from a tiny neural net

After seeing generated text evolve from the days of tiny neural networks to today’s ChatGPT-style large language models, I have to conclude: there’s something special about the tiny guys.Maybe it’s the way the tiny neural networks string together text letter by letter just based on what you’ve given it, rather than drawing from prior internet training. It’s not secretly drawing on some dark corner of the internet, it’s just mashing together statistically likely letter combinations.So, when someone asked me for a list of October art prompts, like I’ve made in the past (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), my instinct was not to reach for the most capable language model currently in existence, but for the tiniest one I’ve ever worked with. I installed a version of char-rnn, originally introduced by Andrej Karpathy in 2015, and updated by my friend Dylan Hudson to work with modern libraries. For training data, I gave it a set of about 800 vintage jello recipes submitted by users in 2020.Char-rnn’s recipes are even less comprehensible than GPT-2’s were in 2020. For example, this recipe for “One Banana Salad” which you’ll note contains zero bananas.One Banana Salad2 small chow cooked cream cheese1/2 teaspoon salt1 tablespoon lemon juice1 teaspoon salt1 cup boiling water_ cup mayonnaise1 cup mayonnaise, chopped1 tablespoon gelatine2 tbsp salt1/4 cup chopped pimiento1 cup sour cream1 tbsp, onion salt1 cup drained rind-chopped cream cheese4 hours or until dissolved (ibening in the chicken stand the chopped chicken breass cucumber in saucepan. Serve with stewess 1 dip each salad dly white olives, and the chopped water and 1 1/2 cups.I generated a bunch of recipes and chose my favorite ingredients and cooking directions for use in the art prompts. Are all of them possible to art? No idea. Are these the worst October drawing prompts released this year? Probably!If you draw any of them, tag them with #botober2025 so I can see how it turned out!Bonus content for supporters: a list of rejected drawing prompts, and a couple more recipes.

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escapade1

NASA, Blue Origin Invite Media to Attend Mars Mission Launch

NASA and Blue Origin are reopening media accreditation for the launch of the agency’s ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) mission. The twin ESCAPADE spacecraft will study the solar wind’s interaction with Mars, providing insight into the planet’s real-time response to space weather and how solar activity drives atmospheric escape. This will be the second launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.
Media interested in covering ESCAPADE launch activities must apply for media credentials. Media who previously applied for media credentials for the ESCAPADE launch do not need to reapply.
U.S. media and U.S. citizens representing international media must apply by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, Oct. 13. Media accreditation requests should be submitted online to: https://media.ksc.nasa.gov.
A copy of NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online. For questions about accreditation, please email: ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. For other mission questions, please contact NASA Kennedy’s newsroom: 321-867-2468.
Blue Origin is targeting later this fall for the launch of New Glenn’s second mission (NG-2) from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Accredited media will have the opportunity to participate in prelaunch media activities and cover the launch. Once a specific launch date is targeted, NASA and Blue Origin will communicate additional details regarding the media event schedule.
NASA will post updates on launch preparations for the twin Martian orbiters on the ESCAPADE blog.
The ESCAPADE mission is part of the NASA Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration program and is funded by the agency’s Heliophysics Division. The mission is led by the University of California, Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory, and Rocket Lab designed the spacecraft. The agency’s Launch Services Program, based at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, secured launch services under the VADR (Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare) contract.
To learn more about ESCAPADE, visit:
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/escapade
-end-
Abbey InterranteHeadquarters, Washington301-201-0124abbey.a.interrante@nasa.gov
Leejay LockhartKennedy Space Center, Florida321-747-8310leejay.lockhart@nasa.gov

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iac3

NASA, International Partners Deepen Commitment to Artemis Accords

NASA, along with leaders from global space agencies and government representatives worldwide, convened on Monday to further the implementation of the Artemis Accords — practical principles designed to guide the responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The meeting was held during the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) taking place in Sydney. In opening remarks, acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy highlighted the five-year anniversary of the Artemis Accords next month.
“When President Trump launched the Artemis Accords in his first term, he made sure American values would lead the way – bringing together a coalition of nations to set the rules of the road in space and ensure exploration remains peaceful. After five years, the coalition is stronger than ever. This is critical as we seek to beat China to the Moon, not just to leave footprints, but this time to stay,” said Duffy.
The United States, led by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, signed the accords on Oct. 13, 2020, with seven other founding nations. The accords were created in response to the growing global interest in lunar activities by governments and private companies. They now comprise 56 country signatories — nearly 30% of the world’s countries.
The event was co-chaired by NASA, the Australian Space Agency, and the UAE Space Agency. Dozens of nations were represented, creating the foundation for future space exploration for the Golden Age of exploration and innovation.
“Australia is a proud founding signatory of the Artemis Accords and is focused on supporting new signatories in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Head of Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo. “The purpose of the accords is as important — if not more important — as it was when first established. This annual gathering of principals at IAC 2025 is a key opportunity to reaffirm our collective commitment to exploring the Moon, Mars and beyond in a peaceful, safe, and sustainable way.”
During the meeting, leaders discussed recommendations for non-interference in each other’s space activities including transparency on expected launch dates, general nature of activities, and landing locations. They also discussed orbital debris mitigation and disposal management, interoperability of systems for safer and more efficient operations, and the release of scientific data.
In May 2025, the United Arab Emirates hosted an Artemis Accords workshop focused on topics, such as non-interference and space object registration and reporting beyond Earth orbit.
“Through our active participation in the Artemis Accords and by organizing specialised workshops, we aim to reinforce the principles of transparency, sustainability, and innovation in space activities. We are committed to strengthening international partnerships and facilitating the exchange of expertise, thereby contributing to the development of a robust global framework for safe and responsible space exploration, while opening new frontiers for scientific research,” said UAE Minister of Sports and Chairman of UAE Space Agency Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi. “This reflects the UAE’s unwavering commitment to enhancing international cooperation in space exploration and promoting the peaceful use of space.”
More countries are expected to sign the Artemis Accords in the months and years ahead, as NASA continues its work to establish a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space.
Learn more about the Artemis Accords at:
https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-accords
-end-
Bethany Stevens / Elizabeth ShawHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov / elizabeth.a.shaw@nasa.gov

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Supermoon20infographic

What’s Up: October 2025 Skywatching Tips from NASA

[embedded content]

A supermoon takes over the sky, the Draconid meteor shower peeks through, and the Orionid meteor shower shines bright.

Oct. 6: The October supermoon

Oct. 6-10: The Draconid meteor shower

Oct. 21: The Orionid meteor shower peaks (full duration Sept. 26 – Nov. 22)

What’s Up for October? A Supermoon takes over, the Draconid meteor shower peeks through, and the Orionid meteors sparkle across the night sky.

The evening of October 6, look up and be amazed as the full moon is bigger and brighter because – it’s a supermoon!

This evening, the moon could appear to be about 30% brighter and up to 14% larger than a typical full moon. But why?

Supermoons happen when a new moon or a full moon coincides with “perigee,” which is when the moon is at its closest to Earth all month.

So this is an exceptionally close full moon! Which explains its spectacular appearance.

And what timing – while the supermoon appears on October 6th, just a couple of days before on October 4th is “International Observe the Moon Night”!

It’s an annual, worldwide event when Moon enthusiasts come together to enjoy our natural satellite.You can attend or host a moon-viewing party, or simply observe the Moon from wherever you are.

So look up, and celebrate the moon along with people all around the world!

The supermoon will light up the sky on October 6th, but if you luck into some dark sky between October 6th and 10th, you might witness the first of two October meteor showers – the Draconids!

The Draconid meteor shower comes from debris trailing the comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner burning up in Earth’s atmosphere

These meteors originate from nearby the head of the constellation Draco the dragon in the northern sky and the shower can produce up to 10 meteors per hour!

The Draconids peak around October 8th, but if you don’t see any, you can always blame the bright supermoon and wait a few weeks until the next meteor shower – the Orionids!

The Orionid meteor shower, peaking October 21, is set to put on a spectacular show, shooting about 20 meteors per hour across the night sky. 

This meteor shower happens when Earth travels through the debris trailing behind Halley’s Comet and it burns up in our atmosphere.

The full duration of the meteor shower stretches from September 26 to November 22, but your best bet to see meteors is on October 21 before midnight until around 2 am.

This is because, not only is this night the shower’s peak, it is also the October new moon, meaning the moon will be between the Earth and the Sun, making it dark and invisible to us.

With a moonless sky, you’re much more likely to catch a fireball careening through the night.

So find a dark location after the sun has set, look to the southeast sky (if you’re in the northern hemisphere) and the northeast (if you’re in the southern hemisphere) and enjoy!

Orionid meteors appear to come from the direction of the Orion constellation but you might catch them all across the sky.

Here are the phases of the Moon for October.

You can stay up to date on all of NASA’s missions exploring the solar system and beyond at science.nasa.gov.

I’m Chelsea Gohd from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and that’s What’s Up for this month.

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