Latest news with #shielding
UPI
21-05-2025
- Science
- UPI
SpaceX Dragon to depart ISS with scientific research samples
The SpaceX Dragon is docked at the International Space Station and is scheduled to depart on Thursday while carrying scientific experiments and other cargo back to Earth. Photo Courtesy of NASA May 21 (UPI) -- The SpaceX Dragon will return to Earth on Friday with important scientific experiments from the International Space Station that could affect future space-based endeavors. NASA has scheduled a 12:05 p.m. EDT departure of the SpaceX Dragon from the ISS on Thursday for its return voyage to Earth. The spacecraft will contain tons of scientific samples from experiments done on the ISS and hardware, which several ISS crewmembers have been loading on the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Nearly 6,700 pounds of science experiments, supplies, equipment and food will return to Earth from the ISS, according to NASA. Among experiments returning to Earth is the Multipurpose International Space Station Experiment that exposed different materials to space to determine its effect on them. Space-exposed materials include radiation-detection and shielding materials, solar sails and reflective coatings, ceramic composites for re-entry spacecraft studies and resins that might be used in heat shields. Samples also were retrieved from the exterior of the ISS to see how they responded to ultraviolet radiation, atomic oxygen, charged particles, thermal recycling and other factors. Equipment being returned to Earth includes Astrobee-REACCH robots that successfully demonstrated grasping and relocating capabilities to capture space objects of differing shapes and surface materials by using their tentacle-like arms and adhesive pads. The robots could be used to capture and relocate debris and other objects in orbit and extend the lifespan of satellites. The Dragon has been docked at the ISS for the past 30 days and is slated to begin its departure procedure at 11:45 A.M. EDT, which will be streamed live by NASA. Officials at the SpaceX Mission Control center in Hawthorne, Calif., will remotely control the spacecraft until its splashdown off the coast of California on Friday. The SpaceX Dragon's splashdown will not be streamed, but NASA will post updates on its space station blog. SpaceX launched the Dragon spacecraft using a Falcon 9 rocket on April 21 from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission is NASA's 32nd commercial resupply mission that was conducted by SpaceX.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge Arrested by Trump Administration Fights Back With Trump's Own Immunity Case
A Milwaukee judge who was arrested for allegedly shielding an undocumented immigrant from ICE arrest has argued that she can't be prosecuted based on the same case that granted President Donald Trump broad immunity for 'official' acts. The FBI arrested Hannah Dugan last month after she allegedly told agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement that they needed a warrant to arrest an undocumented immigrant who had appeared in her courtroom on a misdemeanor charge. FBI Director Kash Patel accused Dugan in a social media post of 'intentionally misdirecting federal agents away' from the man, a Mexican immigrant named Eduardo Flores Ruiz who was nevertheless arrested outside the courthouse. Dugan was indicted on Tuesday for allegedly concealing a person from arrest and obstruction. A day later, her lawyers argued in a motion to dismiss the case that Dugan is 'no ordinary criminal defendant.' The motion argued that the problems with the prosecution were 'legion,' including the fact that they allegedly violated the U.S. Constitution's fundamental principle of federalism. But 'most immediately, the government cannot prosecute Judge Dugan because she is entitled to judicial immunity for her official acts,' it said. As evidence, the motion cited the 2024 Supreme Court case Trump v. United States in which the court ruled the president had absolute immunity for 'official acts.' The 6-3 ruling involved Trump's criminal prosecution over his attempts to overturn former President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. It didn't provide a standard for what counts as an 'official act' or determine whether any of Trump's individual actions fell within that category, saying only that the lower courts needed to consider the case in light of the sweeping immunity afforded to the president. Dugan's motion argued that the same standard should apply not just to the president, but to judges. 'Immunity is not a defense to the prosecution to be determined later by a jury or court; it is an absolute bar to the prosecution at the outset,' the motion said. The motion denied that Dugan had directed the defendant to leave through the jury door so he could evade ICE agents, but even if she had, 'Judges are empowered to maintain control over their courtrooms specifically and the courthouse generally,' according to the motion. It also cited other evidence showing that judges have enjoyed immunity for official acts dating back to the 17th century in England, and carrying on through U.S. common law. Dugan is scheduled to appear in federal court on Thursday, The New York Times reported. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has temporarily removed her from the bench while the case against her is in progress. Earlier this month, more than 150 former state and federal judges signed a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi saying Dugan's arrest was an attempt to 'intimidate and threaten the judiciary,' and a 'cynical effort' that undermined the rule of law. MAGA diehards, meanwhile, have said they hope the judge's arrest is just the first of many.
Belfast Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Trump reportedly set to accept jet from Qatar's ruling family
ABC News reported that Mr Trump will use the plane as a new version of Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office in January 2029, when ownership will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his yet-to-be-built presidential library. The gift is expected to be announced when Mr Trump visits Qatar as part of a trip that also includes stops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the first extended foreign travel of his second term. Administration officials, anticipating questions about the president accepting such a large gift from a foreign government, have prepared an analysis arguing that doing so would be legal, according to ABC. The Constitution's Emoluments Clause, Article I, Section 9, Clause 8, bars anyone holding government office from accepting any present, emolument, office or title from any 'King, Prince, or foreign State,' without congressional consent. Mr Trump intends to convert the Qatari aircraft into a plane he can fly on as president, with the Air Force planning to add secure communications and other classified elements to it. But it will still have more limited capabilities than the existing planes that were built to serve as Air Force One, as well as two other aircraft currently under construction, according to a former US official who was briefed about the plane and spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not yet been made public. The existing planes used as Air Force One are heavily modified with survivability capabilities for the president for a range of contingencies, including radiation shielding and anti-missile technology. They also include a variety of communications systems to allow the president to remain in contact with the military and issue orders from anywhere in the world. The official told The Associated Press that it would be possible to quickly add some counter-measures and communications systems to the Qatari plane, but that it would be less capable than the existing Air Force One aircraft or long-delayed replacements. Neither the Qatari plane nor the upcoming VC-25B aircraft will have the air-to-air refuelling capabilities of the current VC-25A aircraft, which is the one the president currently flies on, the official said. Air Force One is a modified Boeing 747. Two exist and the president flies on both, which are more than 30 years old. Boeing has the contract to produce updated versions, but delivery has been delayed while the company has lost billions of dollars on the project. Delivery has been pushed to some time in 2027 for the first plane and in 2028 — Mr Trump's final full year in office — for the second. ABC said the new plane is similar to a 13-year-old Boeing aircraft Mr Trump toured in February, while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport and he was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club. Mr Trump's family business, the Trump Organisation, which is now largely run by his sons, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump, has vast and growing interests in the Middle East. That includes a new deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar, partnering with Qatari Diar, a real estate company backed by that country's sovereign wealth fund. Administration officials have brushed off concerns about the president's policy interests blurring with family's business profits. They note that Mr Trump's assets are in a trust managed by his children and that a voluntary ethics agreement released by the Trump Organisation in January bars the company from striking deals directly with foreign governments. But that same agreement allows deals with private companies abroad. That is a departure from Mr Trump's first term, when the organisation released an ethics pact prohibiting both foreign government and foreign company deals. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, when asked on Friday if the president during his upcoming trip might meet with people ties to his family's business, said it was 'ridiculous' to suggest Mr Trump 'is doing anything for his own benefit'.
Rhyl Journal
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Trump reportedly set to accept jet from Qatar's royal family
ABC News reported that Mr Trump will use the plane as a new version of Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office in January 2029, when ownership will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his yet-to-be-built presidential library. The gift is expected to be announced when Mr Trump visits Qatar as part of a trip that also includes stops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the first extended foreign travel of his second term. Administration officials, anticipating questions about the president accepting such a large gift from a foreign government, have prepared an analysis arguing that doing so would be legal, according to ABC. The Constitution's Emoluments Clause, Article I, Section 9, Clause 8, bars anyone holding government office from accepting any present, emolument, office or title from any 'King, Prince, or foreign State,' without congressional consent. Mr Trump intends to convert the Qatari aircraft into a plane he can fly on as president, with the Air Force planning to add secure communications and other classified elements to it. But it will still have more limited capabilities than the existing planes that were built to serve as Air Force One, as well as two other aircraft currently under construction, according to a former US official who was briefed about the plane and spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not yet been made public. The existing planes used as Air Force One are heavily modified with survivability capabilities for the president for a range of contingencies, including radiation shielding and anti-missile technology. They also include a variety of communications systems to allow the president to remain in contact with the military and issue orders from anywhere in the world. The official told The Associated Press that it would be possible to quickly add some counter-measures and communications systems to the Qatari plane, but that it would be less capable than the existing Air Force One aircraft or long-delayed replacements. Neither the Qatari plane nor the upcoming VC-25B aircraft will have the air-to-air refuelling capabilities of the current VC-25A aircraft, which is the one the president currently flies on, the official said. Air Force One is a modified Boeing 747. Two exist and the president flies on both, which are more than 30 years old. Boeing has the contract to produce updated versions, but delivery has been delayed while the company has lost billions of dollars on the project. Delivery has been pushed to some time in 2027 for the first plane and in 2028 — Mr Trump's final full year in office — for the second. ABC said the new plane is similar to a 13-year-old Boeing aircraft Mr Trump toured in February, while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport and he was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club. Mr Trump's family business, the Trump Organisation, which is now largely run by his sons, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump, has vast and growing interests in the Middle East. That includes a new deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar, partnering with Qatari Diar, a real estate company backed by that country's sovereign wealth fund. Administration officials have brushed off concerns about the president's policy interests blurring with family's business profits. They note that Mr Trump's assets are in a trust managed by his children and that a voluntary ethics agreement released by the Trump Organisation in January bars the company from striking deals directly with foreign governments. But that same agreement allows deals with private companies abroad. That is a departure from Mr Trump's first term, when the organisation released an ethics pact prohibiting both foreign government and foreign company deals. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, when asked on Friday if the president during his upcoming trip might meet with people ties to his family's business, said it was 'ridiculous' to suggest Mr Trump 'is doing anything for his own benefit'.
Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Trump may accept jet from Qatar's ruling family. What he'll likely use it for
President Donald Trump reportedly is set to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from the ruling family of Qatar during his trip to the Middle East this coming week, and US officials could convert the plane into a potential presidential aircraft. ABC News reported that Trump will use the plane as a new version of Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office in January 2029, when ownership will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his yet-to-be-built presidential library. The gift is expected to be announced when Trump visits Qatar as part of a trip that also includes stops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the first extended foreign travel of his second term. The Qatari government did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday night. Administration officials, anticipating questions about the president accepting such a large gift from a foreign government, have prepared an analysis arguing that doing so would be legal, according to ABC. The Constitution's Emoluments Clause, Article I, Section 9, Clause 8, bars anyone holding government office from accepting any present, emolument, office or title from any 'King, Prince, or foreign State,' without congressional consent. Trump intends to convert the Qatari aircraft into a plane he can fly on as president, with the Air Force planning to add secure communications and other classified elements to it. But it will still have more limited capabilities than the existing planes that were built to serve as Air Force One, as well as two other aircraft currently under construction, according to a former US official who was briefed about the plane and spoke Sunday on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not yet been made public. The existing planes used as Air Force One are heavily modified with survivability capabilities for the president for a range of contingencies, including radiation shielding and antimissile technology. They also include a variety of communications systems to allow the president to remain in contact with the military and issue orders from anywhere in the world. The official told The Associated Press that it would be possible to quickly add some countermeasures and communications systems to the Qatari plane, but that it would be less capable than the existing Air Force One aircraft or long-delayed replacements. Neither the Qatari plane nor the upcoming VC-25B aircraft will have the air-to-air refuelling capabilities of the current VC-25A aircraft, which is the one the president currently flies on, the official said. Air Force One is a modified Boeing 747. Two exist and the president flies on both, which are more than 30 years old. Boeing Inc. has the contract to produce updated versions, but delivery has been delayed while the company has lost billions of dollars on the project. Delivery has been pushed to some time in 2027 for the first plane and in 2028 — Trump's final full year in office — for the second. ABC said the new plane is similar to a 13-year-old Boeing aircraft Trump toured in February, while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport and he was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club. Trump's family business, the Trump Organization, which is now largely run by his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, has vast and growing interests in the Middle East. That includes a new deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar, partnering with Qatari Diar, a real estate company backed by that country's sovereign wealth fund. Qatar, which is ruled by the Al Thani family, is home to the state-owned airline Qatar Airways. The country also has worked to have a close relationship to Trump after he apparently backed a boycott of Doha by four Arab nations in his first term. Trump later in his term applauded Qatar. Administration officials have brushed off concerns about the president's policy interests blurring with family's business profits. They note that Trump's assets are in a trust managed by his children and that a voluntary ethics agreement released by the Trump Organization in January bars the company from striking deals directly with foreign governments. But that same agreement allows deals with private companies abroad. That is a departure from Trump's first term, when the organization released an ethics pact prohibiting both foreign government and foreign company deals. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, when asked Friday if the president during his upcoming trip might meet with people ties to his family's business, said it was 'ridiculous' to suggest Trump 'is doing anything for his own benefit.'
