Feed aggregator

Astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission shared a striking image of Earth from deep space as they approached their planned flyby of the Moon, offering a rare glimpse of the planet as a thin crescent against the darkness.

The photo, released by NASA on Sunday, shows only a sliver of Earth illuminated through a window of the Orion spacecraft as the crew continues its historic journey beyond low-Earth orbit.

“One last look at Earth before we reach the Moon,” NASA said in a post on X.

“This view of the Earth was captured on April 5, the fourth day of the Artemis II mission, from inside the Orion spacecraft. The four astronauts will reach their closest approach of the Moon tomorrow, April 6.”

Mission Specialist Christina Koch said the astronauts found a creative way to celebrate while in orbit.

“We wanted to take a minute to commemorate the holiday that we have at this time of year, something that many religions and many cultures hold dear,” Koch said. “It’s a time of emotions such as joy, as well as solemness, honoring what’s going on both in our world and in our religious beliefs.”

The crew took time to recognize a milestone for Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, presenting him with a gold astronaut pin to mark his first spaceflight—a tradition within the astronaut corps.

“We wanted to kick off … by honoring our crewmate, Jeremy Hansen,” the crew said in a video shared by NASA Artemis on X. “We have a longstanding tradition in the astronaut office of the traditional astronaut pin. And when you fly in space, you change from silver to gold. So, we figured today was the perfect day to honor our friend, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, with his flown astro pin.”

Hansen expressed appreciation for the moment and those who made it possible.

“That’s humbling, took a lot of people to make this little representation that we have in the office, this tradition, come to reality for me,” he said. “So a lot of gratitude for all those people. This is a pretty special experience. Thanks for doing this guys.”

Meanwhile, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman pointed to the broader significance of the mission, crediting national leadership for its progress.

“I want to be incredibly clear, we would not be at this moment right now with Artemis II if it wasn’t for President Trump,” Isaacman said. “And we certainly would not have an achievable path now to get back to the lunar surface and build that enduring presence.”

“On my first day on the job during President Trump’s second term, he gave us a national space policy, a mandate to go to the moon with frequency, build the moon base, and do the other things like nuclear power and propulsion so someday American astronauts can plant the stars and stripes on Mars,” Isaacman added.

As the spacecraft approaches the far side of the Moon, mission controllers are preparing for a temporary communications blackout lasting about 40 minutes, during which Orion will lose direct contact with Earth.

Artemis flight director Judd Frieling expressed confidence in the mission’s trajectory despite the expected silence.

“Physics takes over and physics will absolutely get us back to the front side of the moon.”

During the journey, the astronauts are also expected to witness a total solar eclipse from their unique vantage point in space, allowing them to observe the sun’s corona in a way not visible from Earth.

Earlier in the mission, Commander Reid Wiseman shared another image of Earth from orbit, reflecting on the experience.

“There are no words,” Wiseman captioned the photo.

The Artemis II mission marks a major step in NASA’s return to the Moon, with the crew set to complete a close flyby before heading back to Earth.

Iranian state media released images and video on Sunday that it claims show the remains of several American aircraft destroyed by U.S. forces during the operation to extract a downed airman, saying the equipment was intentionally eliminated to keep it out of Iranian hands.

The footage, circulated by Iran’s Fars News agency, appears to depict the burned wreckage of two MC-130J transport planes—each valued at around $100 million—as well as four MH-6 Little Bird helicopters believed to have been used in the mission.

According to reports, the U.S. Air Force established a forward arming and refueling point (FARP) at an abandoned airstrip south of Isfahan, operating deep inside Iranian territory while searching for the stranded crew member whose aircraft was brought down on Friday.

Iranian officials have sought to portray the mission as unsuccessful, drawing comparisons to the failed Operation Eagle Claw during the 1979 hostage crisis, despite U.S. confirmation that the rescue concluded without American casualties.

“The so-called US military rescue operation, planned as a deception and escape mission at an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan under the pretext of recovering the pilot of a downed aircraft, was completely foiled,” Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari said in a statement Sunday.

Tehran has also asserted that the aircraft seen in the released images were shot down by Iranian missile systems.

U.S. officials said the F-15E pilot, a colonel, successfully ejected from the aircraft on Friday and landed in a wooded section of the Zagros Mountains.

After reaching the ground, he moved deeper into the mountainous terrain on foot, activated his emergency locator beacon, and managed to avoid capture for roughly 36 hours before being recovered early Sunday.

Reports indicate that at least nine Iranian personnel were killed during a prolonged firefight lasting several hours as U.S. forces carried out the extraction, after which the officer was transported to a base in Kuwait to receive medical care.

{Matzav.com}

A U.S. Air Force colonel who was shot down over Iran managed to survive severe injuries and evade capture for more than a day, trekking up a steep mountain and hiding while enemy forces searched for him before a high-risk rescue operation brought him to safety.

The officer, whose identity has not been released, endured roughly 36 hours in the rugged Zagros Mountains after his F-15E was downed Friday in hostile territory, remaining concealed while Iranian forces and bounty hunters combed the area.

Despite being wounded, the airman climbed approximately 7,000 feet—more than 1.3 miles in elevation—and took refuge in a narrow crevice, avoiding detection even as search efforts intensified around him, according to The New York Times.

“Thousands of these savages were hunting him down,” President Trump told Axios of the harrowing situation.

Armed with only a handgun, the officer waited for help while transmitting an emergency signal from his position early Sunday, CBS News reported.

Initially, U.S. officials feared the signal might have been part of a trap designed to draw American forces into danger.

Before being rescued, the colonel transmitted a brief and unusual message over the radio, according to a U.S. defense official: “God is good.”

“What he said on the radio sounded like something a Muslim would say,” Trump told Axios, referencing the Islamic phrase “Allahu Akbar,” or “God is Great.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later echoed the same words, posting “God is good” on X following the successful recovery.

The pilot of the aircraft had already been extracted shortly after the jet was brought down, leaving the weapons systems officer alone behind enemy lines.

While the full extent of the colonel’s injuries has not been publicly detailed, officials have described them as serious.

Using intelligence resources, including CIA assistance, U.S. forces were able to pinpoint the officer’s exact location and verify that he was still alive, according to The New York Times.

As part of the effort, the CIA reportedly executed a deception plan by circulating false information indicating that the airman had already been rescued and was being transported out of Iran.

When the rescue operation was launched, it involved a large daytime deployment of aircraft, with MQ-9 Reaper drones establishing a defensive perimeter and targeting hostile forces that approached within two miles of the officer’s position, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Roughly 100 special operations personnel took part in the mission, led by SEAL Team 6, with additional support from Delta Force and Army Rangers, the Times reported.

During the operation, U.S. commandos also clashed with local tribal fighters in the area while securing the extraction.

The mission encountered complications when two aircraft positioned near Isfahan became immobilized, forcing additional planes to be sent in to evacuate personnel and destroy the stranded equipment to prevent it from being captured.

After being rescued, the injured officer was flown to Kuwait for further medical treatment.

President Trump, who publicly confirmed the successful mission, said he will hold a briefing with military officials at the White House on Monday afternoon to discuss the operation.

Signs of growing unease are emerging inside Iran’s leadership, with reports pointing to mounting distrust and internal friction as President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign intensifies.

According to senior Iran analyst Dror Balazada, the current strategy coming from Washington is having a destabilizing psychological impact on key figures in Tehran, creating suspicion and division at the highest levels of the regime.

One of the central concerns reportedly involves senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps figure Ahmad Vahidi, who has been unsettled by Trump’s public assertions that he is communicating directly with Iranian commanders. In response, Vahidi is said to have issued strict internal instructions limiting authorized communication channels, designating only parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to relay messages through Pakistan.

At the same time, suspicion within the regime is reportedly turning toward former foreign minister Javad Zarif and elements of the reformist camp, amid fears that unauthorized backchannel communications may be taking place without official approval.

Zarif, according to the report, is advocating for a sweeping diplomatic arrangement with the United States. The proposal is said to include limits on Iran’s nuclear activity, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, full restoration of diplomatic ties with Washington, and the lifting of all sanctions in exchange for a firm commitment to halt military strikes.