NASA has successfully completed the first medical evacuation from the Station, cutting the Crew-11 mission short by at least a month. The patient is back on terra firma and having their condition assessed in California. This leaves just three crew members on the ISS until NASA’s Crew-12 mission can launch in early February, though it’s possible that mission’s timeline will be moved up.
What We Know (And Don’t)
Belarusian state media have aired a report claiming the “liquidation of a large network of radio spies.” Details of the alleged KGB “operation” were presented by Raman Pratasevich, who recently began hosting a programme titled “Without Cover” on the STV television channel.
The broadcast said a network had been dismantled that allegedly “extracted state secrets from the airwaves.” According to Pratasevich, more than 50 people have been held liable, 500 pieces of radio equipment seized, and about 66,000 recordings of “intercepted communications” discovered.
Seven “key participants” have been taken into custody and charged under Article 356 of the Criminal Code on treason and Article 358 on espionage. They face life imprisonment or the death penalty.
It make you wonder if we're heading for another Carrington Event.
What was the Carrington Event you ask? Well...check out this great discussion by Rick Donaldson, N0NJY of Ham Radio for Preppers:
In the quiet predawn hours of September 1, 1859, the Sun unleashed a fury that reshaped the night sky into a canvas of apocalyptic splendor. A colossal coronal mass ejection (CME), observed by astronomer Richard Carrington, hurled a plasma storm toward Earth, compressing our planet’s magnetic shield and igniting auroras so vivid they bathed the tropics in crimson light. Telegraph operators across continents recoiled as their machines sparked wildly, igniting fires and transmitting phantom messages without batteries—the Sun’s invisible hand seizing control of humanity’s nascent electrical networks. In an era of horse-drawn carriages and candlelit homes, this Carrington Event was a mere spectacle, a curiosity etched in newspapers and diaries. Yet, it stands as a stark warning from history: a natural phenomenon capable of bridging the void of space to disrupt civilization’s fragile threads.
Fast-forward to our hyper-connected 2026 world, where satellites orbit like guardian angels, power grids pulse with the lifeblood of economies, and digital networks bind billions in instantaneous communion. Imagine a Carrington-scale CME striking today—its charged particles cascading through our atmosphere, inducing currents that overload transformers and plunge vast regions into darkness. GPS constellations would falter, stranding flights mid-air and halting financial markets mid-transaction; undersea cables might fry, severing the internet’s global spine and isolating societies in informational silos. Water systems, fuel pumps, and hospitals would grind to a halt, food supplies spoiling in unpowered warehouses as chaos ripples outward. Economic models from sources like the National Academies of Sciences estimate trillions in losses, with recovery spanning years amid geopolitical tensions and mass unrest.[1] This isn’t dystopian fiction; it’s a probabilistic peril, with solar cycles like our current one amplifying the risk, reminding us that our technological triumphs rest on a cosmic knife’s edge.
Researchers Erik Schmölter and Jens Berdermann of the German Aerospace Center analyzed more than 700 million ADS-B messages from 18,000 aircraft. ADS-B messages are short radio broadcasts sent by aircraft about once per second, reporting their GPS-derived positions. Air traffic controllers and nearby aircraft use them for real-time tracking. The superstorm caused significant position errors for days.
The problem was especially acute on May 11th when the sun hit Earth with an X5.8-class solar flare. Intense solar X-ray and radio emission caused direct interference with GPS signals on the sunlit side of Earth. As many as 53% of satellite-receiver links failed at latitudes south of ~50° N.
Fortunately, there were no mishaps. Aviation safety is built on layers, and ADS-B is only one of them. Conventional radar surveillance remained available around airports, and pilots retained full control of their aircraft. In most cases, they could simply look out the window and see exactly where they were. Stronger and longer storms could cause more problems, though.
Confused? So were the GPS receivers. Read the original study here.
On July 11, the 49-year-old woman and her 9-year-old son traveled from the Sacramento area to Camp Wolfeboro for an overnight camping trip, officials with the Calavera County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The mother and son were found about another mile from the second note.
The crew then used ham radio to report back to a command post.
“After broadcasting ’emergency traffic’ on the ham radio, their call was immediately answered by a retired El Dorado County Communications Supervisor who was a ham operator monitoring frequencies from his home,” officials said. “This ham operator then contacted the El Dorado 911 center, which provided the information to Calaveras Dispatch, and the SAR command post was notified.”
Read more here.
Jan 3, 2026: U.S. Delta Force raided Caracas in "Operation Absolute Resolve," snatching President Nicolás Maduro & wife Cilia Flores for NYC narco-terror trials—tied to 2020 cartel indictments & cocaine floods. Join Jason Johnston of Ham Radio 2.0 as he discusses whether ham radio possibly assisted in this operation.
NTP is one of the most interesting and important, but all too forgotten, protocols that makes the internet tick. Accurate clock synchronization is required for everything ranging from cryptography to business and science. NTP is closely tied around a handful of atomic clocks, some in orbit on GPS satellites, and some in laboratories. So the near-failure of one such atomic clock sparked a rather large, and nerdy, internet debate.
December 17, 2025 saw the Colorado front range experience a massive wind storm. The National Center for Atmospheric Reassure in Boulder recorded gusts in excess of 100 mph (about 85 knots or 160 kph). This storm was a real doozy, but gusts this strong are not unheard of in Boulder either. That is no small reason the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (now the National Laboratory of the Rockies) has a wind turbine testing facility in the neighborhood.
High winds and dry weather make for a particularly bad time.
Listeners at various locations in NYC, tuning in with complex crystal sets and early valve receivers, heard the faint, crackling sounds of opera over the air. It was a glimpse into the future of broadcasting.
From those early spark-gap and valve experiments to the sophisticated SDR transceivers on our desks today, the magic of wireless remains the same.
Many are unaware of the depth of the diplomatic and human contribution made by amateur radio operators worldwide. As early as the 1960s and 1970s, rare moments of openness were recorded. At a time when Israeli amateur radio operators were legally prohibited from communicating with Arab countries, one voice nonetheless broke through: that of a Jordanian radio amateur bearing the unique call sign JY1, King Hussein.
The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.
A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the basement radio shack with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning, turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it.
I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whoever he was talking with something about "a thousand marbles".
I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say. "Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital".
He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities".
And that's when he began to explain his theory of a thousand marbles.
Congratulations to the Massachusetts State Police 92nd Recruit Training Troop which graduated on January 7.
Stay safe out there!
Louise and Eric Reiss, along with some other scientists, worked with Saint Louis University and the Washington School of Dental Medicine to collect and study children’s discarded teeth. They were looking for strontium-90, a nasty byproduct of above-ground nuclear testing. Strontium is similar enough to calcium that consuming it in water and dairy products will leave the material in your bones, including your teeth.
Regular readers of this blog (if indeed there are any!) know of my devotion to St. Maximilian Kolbe, the Patron Saint of Amateur Radio as well as the heroic saint who died in Auschwitz on August 14 1941. (The info panels on the right side of the blog include a discussion titled "Who is St. Max, SP3RN?")
Today is St. Maximilian's birthday. The video below does a good job, I think, of portraying St. Max's heroic life. Happy birthday, St. Max!
On December 21, 1988, the small Scottish town of Lockerbie became the site of an international tragedy when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded, scattering debris and claiming 270 lives. The immediate aftermath plunged the area into disarray, overwhelming local infrastructure and conventional communication systems.
In the face of unprecedented destruction, a unique group emerged to bridge the communication gap. Amateur radio operators, often called “hams,” swiftly mobilized, transforming their hobby into an indispensable emergency service, connecting first responders and coordinating relief efforts when other means failed.
One month to go. Artemis II is scheduled to launch on February 6, marking mankind's return to lunar orbit.
When group members were asked why they celebrated the day, they all shared similar sentiments. They agreed it was important to remember the birth of human speech translated into radio and the beginning of a new era of communication that shaped the world for generations — all from this small island in Southern Maryland.
Members were also asked what attracted them to the hobby of operating a radio. Dennis, a retired bus mechanic, said, “I just love to tinker. It’s fun,” adding that he found it to be a practical skill in emergencies. Others were drawn to the technology itself.
A dazzling quartet will rise together: the near-full Moon, bright Jupiter, and the famous twin stars, Castor and Pollux. A near full moon will glide past Jupiter and the Gemini twins, Castor and Pollux. This celestial lineup rises in the east shortly after sunset.
It is a beautiful celestial alignment you don't want to miss! ✨
Clear skies to everyone!
The peak nights: January 2–3, 2026 with up to 100 meteors per hour!
The Quadrantids are known for explosive fireballs typically brighter, bolder, and faster than usual meteors.
WHERE AND WHEN TO WATCH:
Best after midnight until dawn. Face northeast near the constellation Boötes. Escape city lights for darkest skies.
Let your eyes adjust 20–30 mins and don’t blink!
Whether you're a skywatcher, stargazer, or simply want a magical night under the stars, this is the one to see.
Tip: Use a wide-angle lens and long exposure to catch fireballs streaking across the sky.
An escalating standoff between the United States and Venezuela has led both countries’ militaries to jam satellite navigation signals in the Caribbean to guard against a potential attack, data show, putting air and sea traffic in the region at greater risk of a collision or accident.
At least some of the U.S. warships that have deployed to the Caribbean in recent months have been jamming GPS signals in their vicinity, according to an analysis of data provided by Stanford University and a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters.
The Trump administration says the warships, which include the Navy’s most modern aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford, are targeting drug trafficking to the United States orchestrated by the Venezuelan government.
The world transitioning from one quarter century to the next on New Year’s Day 2026 may be a nice bit of trivia in itself.
As the clock chimes midnight on January 1, 2026, exactly 9131 days will have passed since the beginning of the century on January 1, 2001.
But strictly speaking, that’s not quite true for some island dwellers in the South Pacific Ocean. A lot has changed in the world of time and date in the past 25 years, and that includes Samoa and Tokelau redrawing the International Date Line. In 2011, the Pacific islands switched from the east of the line to the west, effectively skipping December 30.
In the same way, they will have one day less overall this century. This means that, based on the number of hours, they will reach the quarter-century mark at 18:00:00 local time on January 1.Of course, the same could be said about people who have moved to a different time zone since 2001. But who’s splitting hairs? Well, if you insist: if we’re counting seconds, we don’t yet know when the quarter-way point of the century will fall.
Jeff Sherman of NIST posted the following information on December 19 about an apparent equipment failure at NIST's Boulder, Colorado campus:
In short, the atomic ensemble time scale at our Boulder campus has failed due to a prolonged utility power outage. One impact is that the Boulder Internet Time Services no longer have an accurate time reference. [empasis added] At time of writing the Boulder servers are still available due a standby power generator, but I will attempt to disable them to avoid disseminating incorrect time.
The affected servers are:
