keneci Network
News • Comedy • Science & Tech
Israeli, Iranian Airstrike Exchanges Target Iran's Arak Nuclear Reactor, IDF Intelligence Facilities Near Soroka Medical Center
June 19, 2025
post photo preview

lsrael conducted airstrikes targeting Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor and other strategic locations in Iran, escalating the ongoing conflict. In response, Iran launched missile attacks, with one striking the Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel, which Iran says was intended to target nearby IDF intelligence facilities.

Israeli Airforce targeted the Arak facility, which has been a focal point of concern due to its potential to produce plutonium, a byproduct that could be used in nuclear weapons. Iranian state television reported that the facility had been evacuated before the attack and there was "no radiation danger whatsoever."

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the reactor was not operational and contained no nuclear material, so no radiological effects were anticipated 

Israeli airstrikes also targeted Tehran and other areas in Iran, including military and nuclear-related facilities. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have struck over 170 targets in three days, aiming to cripple Iran’s nuclear program and military infrastructure 

Iran launched a retaliatory ballistic missile that struck the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, Israel, causing extensive damage and injuring dozens. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard(IRGC) said the intended target was an Israeli military and intelligence headquarters near the hospital, not the medical facility itself.

The target was reportedly the Israeli army’s central command and intelligence base (IDF C4I) and a military intelligence camp located in the Gav-Yam technology park, adjacent to Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva.

Thousands of Israeli soldiers are based in that location, which also houses critical systems such as digital command infrastructure, cyber operations, and C4ISR systems.

Iran reportedly used missles with multiple warheads in the latest attck which can disrupt Israeli defense systems. According to senior Iranian Official Mohsen Rezaee, "In just the past 48 hours, you saw that we employed a new tactic, a combination of Fattah and Sejjil missiles and when these are used together, they truly create serious disruption in the enemy’s defense systems."

The Iranian warhead split into some 20 smaller munitions at an altitude of 7 kilometers, creating a larger blast radius on the ground of some 8 kilometers, according to the IDF.

Israel condemned the attack as a war crime, with Defense Minister Israel Katz vowing to hold Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accountable.

However critics point out that the IDF has attacked and destroyed over 36 medical facilities in Gaza since its devastating war with Hamas started, killing women and children.

Iranian missiles also hit a high-rise apartment building in Tel Aviv and other sites in Israel. At least 147 people were injured, with six in serious condition, according to Israeli officials. A total of 271 people were reportedly wounded in the Iranian missile attacks, with 71 sustaining minor injuries at the hospital site.

As the debate rages in the U.S. over American involvement in the war, President Trump is facing backlash from his MAGA supporters who oppose any direct U.S. military action against Iran. It's a reckless war initiated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah, they argue, and the Jewish state must finish what it started.

"Based on the fact that there is a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” Trump said in statement read to reporters at the White House Thursday, by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Trump reprtedly wants to strike Iran only if U.S. can destroy the Fordow enrichment facility with bunker-busting bombs. The Pentagon concluded earlier this year they don’t go deep enough, and totally destroying Fordow may requires a tactical nuclear weapon.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has reportedly been in regular contact with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

==================

 
 
UPDATE | Israeli Missile Strikes Target A Live TV Building, As Israel, Trump Warn Civilians In Tehran To 'Immediately Evacuate'

 

As the war enters the fifth day, Israeli airstrikes have hit Iran's state broadcaster during a live news broadcast, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

The Israeli Air Force has targeted multiple military and nuclear infrastructure sites in Iran, including facilities in Tehran, Isfahan, and Fordow, while Iran has retaliated with missile strikes against Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv and Haifa, killing at least eight people and injuring dozens more.

President Donald Trump, speaking from the G7 summit in Canada, urged Iran to come to the negotiation table, stating that a deal is possible but emphasizing that Iran must act quickly before the situation worsens.

The Israeli airstrike Monday, hit the headquarters of Iran’s state broadcaster (IRIB/IRINN) during a live broadcast, plunging the set into darkness and setting parts of the building on fire. The anchorwoman Sahar Emami was heard describing the sounds of bombing before the explosion hit the studio.

Israel confirmed that its strikes targeted key nuclear and military facilities, including Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, aiming to set back Iran’s nuclear program by what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as “a very long time.” The Israeli military also issued evacuation warnings for areas near weapons production facilities in Tehran.

An Iranian missile strike hit an oil refinery in Haifa Bay, killing three employees and causing significant damage. The refinery was shut down following the attack. Missiles and drones struck Tel Aviv and Haifa early Monday, killing at least eight people and injuring nearly 100. A school in Bnei Brak was also hit, prompting emergency responses.

Iran reported at least 224 deaths and over 1,200 injuries, while Israel reported between 18 and 24 deaths and over 390 injuries. Both sides have issued evacuation orders for civilian areas near military targets.

President Trump urged Iran to negotiate, stating that a deal is likely but warning that “Iran is foolish not to sign.” In a Truth Social post, he also advised all civilians in Tehran to “immediately evacuate,” triggering panic online and in Iran.

Many critics including prominent MAGA supporters of the president on social media slammed him for the recklessly threatening and insensitive post.

Thousands of Tehran residents fled the capital overnight, with roads leading north to the Caspian Sea jammed with evacuees. Fuel rationing and ATM withdrawal limits were reported as panic spread.

Russia, China and some other countries have advised their citizens to leave Israel.

The U.S. has moved an aircraft carrier and additional military assets to the Middle East in response to the conflict. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the deployment of more defensive capabilities to the region, though specific details were not disclosed.

Trump's handling of the conflict has divided opinion within the MAGA movement, with majority of his supporters adamantly opposed to U.S. involvement in the war especially given that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated the war while the U.S. was conducting negotiations with Iran.

An Israeli Cabinet member Gila Gamliel on Monday arrogantly said: “We categorically demand that the United States join the war against Iran." Netanyahu told US TV

The Trump administration has denied direct involvement in Israel’s strikes but provided limited support after the president was reportedly convinced of the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program.

The U.S. has reportedly proposed nuclear and ceasefire talks this week, to the Iranians.

===================

 
 
UPDATE | Israel, Iran Exchange Missile, Drone Barrage As War Between Both Nations Intensifies

 

Iran launched a large-scale retaliatory barrage of ballistic missiles late Saturday and into early Sunday, targeting Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and other parts of central Israel, striking residential buildings and infrastructure. This follows Israeli Air Force (IAF) strikes on Iranian targets, including nuclear facilities, military installations, and an oil refinery in the South Pars gas field.

Iran fired approximately 200 ballistic missiles in multiple waves, with some penetrating Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system and hitting densely populated areas such as Tel Aviv, Rishon Lezion, and Ramat Gan.

At least three people were killed and over 200 injured in the attacks, with significant damage reported to residential buildings and public infrastructure. Sirens were heard across northern and central Israel, including in Haifa, prompting civilians to seek shelter as defensive systems attempted to intercept incoming missiles.

Videos online showed explosions and fires in Tel Aviv, with air raid sirens forcing residents into shelters. At least one residential building in Ramat Gan was heavily damaged, with reports of burned-out cars and structural destruction. Missile also reportedly hit Weizmann Institute of Science, a major Israeli research center in Rehovot.

Missiles were intercepted over Jerusalem, with explosions lighting up the sky. No direct hits were reported in Jerusalem, but sirens disrupted normal life.

Iranian missiles reportedly struck an oil refinery in the Haifa Bay area, causing structural damage and fires, though no immediate casualties were confirmed at the refinery. Air raid sirens were also reported in the northern city.

Strikes also hit residential areas in central Israel, with one missile impact site stretching half a block in a city near Tel Aviv (exact location withheld by Israeli military).

Israeli officials confirmed that the IAF conducted extensive strikes on Iranian targets, including the Khondab heavy water reactor, and an oil refinery in Iran’s South Pars gas field, marking the first known Israeli strike on Iran’s oil and gas industry.

IAF strike also targeted the command headquarters of Iran’s Ministry of Defense and the SPND building, according to IRGC's Tasnim. Iran’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND) is the direct successor organization to Iran’s pre-2004 nuclear weapons program, also referred to as the Amad Project, according to the US State Department.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed a “severe punishment” for Israel’s actions, while Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that “Tehran will burn” if Iran continues missile attacks on Israeli civilians.

Israel has reportedly asked the U.S. to join the war against Iran, as Israeli citizens panic over the unprecedented damage to the homeland inflicted by Iranian missile and drone barrage.

Some citizens told local far-left Haaretz newspaper that only intervention by the U..S. will save them from the catastrophe caused by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reckless decision to order air strikes on Iran Friday.

However the potential U.S. involvement in the war is very unpopular among President Trump's MAGA supporters, with many prominent American conservative commentators and influencers openly calling out the president for being "complicit" in the war, after his "no new wars" promise to voters during last year's presidential campaign.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly offered to mediate between Israel and Iran, following calls with both leaders.

==================

Israeli air strikes and ground intelligence operations targeted key nuclear and military sites across Iran Friday, including the nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow near Qom, in an operation dubbed "Rising Lion." The strikes began around 0000 UTC, with explosions reported in Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz, and Kermanshah.

The strikes, confirmed by the Israeli military, were aimed at disrupting Iran's nuclear infrastructure and ballistic missile capabilities. Among the casualties were several high-ranking officials, including General Gholam Ali Rashid, the deputy chief of the general staff of the armed forces, and senior nuclear scientist Fereydoun Abbasi Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, was also killed in the attack.

Iranian state media reported strikes on residential neighborhoods in Tehran, including upscale areas like Qeytariyeh and Niavaran, resulting in civilian casualties, including women and children. There are reports that several Israeli aircraft including an F-35 fighter jet were shot down by Iranian air defense system.

The Israeli strikes also targeted military bases, missile depots, ballistic missile factories, and an underground command center in Tehran, where senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials were meeting.

The Natanz uranium enrichment facility, a critical component of Iran’s nuclear program, was significantly damaged. Other nuclear sites at Khondab, Khorramabad, and Arak (heavy water production) were also hit.

“In the past 24 hours, we have taken out top military commanders, senior nuclear scientists, the Islamic regime's most significant enrichment facility and a large portion of its ballistic missile arsenal," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message. "More is on the way... The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker.”

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched a large-scale aerial campaign, deploying 200 fighter jets to strike over 100 targets across Iran. The operation was described as a preemptive strike to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The operation involved multiple waves of air strikes, supported by intelligence from the Mossad and Israeli military intelligence. Drones and weapons smuggled into Iran were used to target key personnel and infrastructure.

The Mossad — Israel's equivalent of the CIA — released footage of its operatives carrying out covert operations inside Iran ahead of Israel's historic strike. This is a rare look at the agency's activities, which are mostly secret.

According to a senior Israeli security official, the Mossad took several steps inside Iran to prepare for Israel's preemptive attack. The agency set up a secret explosive drone base inside Iran prior to the attack. Once the strikes started, the drones were activated to destroy surface-to-surface missiles that Israel said posed a threat to its civilians.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Israel to prepare for a "bitter and painful fate." Iran also vowed to respond, accusing the US of complicity in the strikes. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the country would continue to enrich uranium and rebuild any damaged facilities.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the attack a “declaration of war” and accused the United States of coordinating with Israel, holding Washington responsible for the consequences.

Iran has started its retaliatory waves of drone and missile strikes against Israel Friday, hitting many targets including near Israel's Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv. Some of the drones and missiles are being intercepted by Israeli defense systems. Jordanian and Iraqi authorities have also reported intercepting drones and missiles in their airspace.

In a statement, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp, IRGC said: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

"And those who have wronged will know to what [kind of] return they will be returned.

"Following the aggression and aggressive operations launched by the terrorist oppressive Zionist regime and child killer this morning against areas in Islamic Iran, and the martyrdom of a constellation of senior commanders of the armed forces, prominent scientists, and innocent citizens, especially the oppressed children, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as the defensive and offensive arm of the Iranian nation, relying on divine power and the wise guidance of the Supreme Leader of the Armed Forces (Supreme Defender), and in response to and with unified support from the noble Iranian people, launched its crushing and precise response against dozens of targets and military centers and air bases of the usurping Zionist regime in the occupied territories.

"Operation True Promise 3 has begun, with the slogan "O Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him)" at the beginning of the night of Eid al-Ghadir.

"The noble Iranian people will be informed of the details of this operation in a subsequent statement.”

Senior U.S. officials reportedly said that American forces are assisting Israel to shoot down Iranian missiles.

"There are hundreds of thousands of American citizens and other American assets in Israel and the U.S. is working to protect them," the official said in a statement.

There are reportedly two U.S. Navy destroyers, the USS Sullivans and USS Arleigh Burke, in the Eastern Mediterranean. Officials say that the U.S. Army assisting in shooting down incoming Iranian missiles with Patriot Pac-3 missiles and with Thaad.

The US denied involvement in the strikes, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizing that the US was not involved and urging Iran not to target American interests.

However, President Donald Trump acknowledged that the US had prior knowledge of the operation, and has reportedly reached out to the Iranian leadership to return to the negotiating table for nuclear talks which is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

Russian representative at the UN Security Council calaimed that there was “likely coordination between Israel and British special services” in the attacks on Iran. “Immediately after the Israeli strikes, they sheltered the Israeli aviation which participated in the strikes in their bases in Cyprus," the official said.

There have been reports of nuclear leaks in Iran, however the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) claimed that radiation levels at Natanz remained unchanged

community logo
Join the keneci Network Community
To read more articles like this, sign up and join my community today
0
What else you may like…
Videos
Posts
Articles
SpaceX Starlink Internet Satellites

With Starlink internet, data is continuously being sent between a ground dish and a Starlink satellite orbiting 550km above. Furthermore, the Starlink satellite zooms across the sky at 27,000 km/hr! MORE VIDEOS ON KENECI NETWORK RUMBLE CHANNEL: https://rumble.com/c/Keneci

00:28:08
Elon Musk, DOGE Speak On Waste And Fraud

US Department of Government Efficiency Services (USDS) led by Elon Musk speak on the "mind-boggling" fraud and waste in UInited States federal government

00:00:45
January 17, 2025
SpaceX Launches Starship 7th Test Flight

SpaceX successfully executed its second-ever “chopsticks” catch of a Super Heavy booster (or Booster 14) using the “Mechazilla” launch tower on Thursday(Jan. 16), during the seventh uncrewed test flight of the company's 123-meter Starship rocket. However, the megarocket's upper stage(or Ship 33) was lost approximately 8.5 minutes into the flight in a “rapid unscheduled disassembly(RUD)” or explosion

00:10:30
Welcome to Keneci Network!

Join the conversations!

December 09, 2025
Bitcoin White Paper By Satoshi Nakamoto

Bitcoin white paper

Bitcoin_White_Paper.pdf
September 17, 2024
Charges Against Sean 'Diddy' Combs In Grand Jury Indictment

The rapper was charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution in the indictment unsealed Tuesday(Sept. 17)

Combs-Indictment-24-Cr.-542.pdf
post photo preview
SpaceX Crew-13 Mission Astronauts Arrive At The ISS, In Fastest US Spaceflight To The Orbital Station

SpaceX Crew-13 mission's Crew Dragon Grace successfully docked to the forward-facing port of the International Space Station (ISS)'s Harmony module, at 2305 UTC on Thursday (Oct. 1), completing the fastest U.S. spaceflight to the station in history. Grace, launched from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 1510 UTC, reached the ISS in just 7 hours and 55 minutes, breaking the previous record by approximately five hours.

The previous record was 12 hours and 33 minutes, set in November 2024 by SpaceX's Dragon cargo capsule during the robotic CRS-31 resupply flight. The fastest that astronauts had made the trip in a U.S. vehicle was 14 hours and 43 minutes, which was achieved by the Crew-11 mission in August 2025.

"We got lucky this time," Julianna Scheiman, director of NASA science and Dragon programs at SpaceX, said during Crew-13's post-launch press conference today.

"The space station was in an opportune spot in space, and the orbital mechanics, the physics of it all, worked out for it to be the shortest launch-to-docking time we've had to date," she said, adding that "this is close to the fastest it could be."

Crew-13 didn't set the overall speed record to the ISS, however — not even close. In May 2020, a Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying three astronauts reached the orbiting lab just 3 hours and 3 minutes after lifting off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz caught up to the ISS after just two orbits of Earth.

The Soyuz isn't faster or more powerful than a cargo or crew-carrying Dragon capsule. Rather, the difference in chase-down times comes down primarily to choices made by mission controllers; Russia tends to target more aggressive "fast-track" trajectories.

Crew-13 mission crew consists of mission Commander and NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins, mission pilot and NASA astronaut Luke Delaney, mission pilot and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. They joined the Expedition 75 core crew and the departing SpaceX Crew-12 astronauts, temporarily raising the orbital station's population to 11.

Crew-13 astronauts' mission includes conducting scientific research on stem-cell derived tissues for Parkinson’s and heart disease, testing zero-g crop production, and performing routine station maintenance.

The new crew will relieve the four astronauts of Crew-12 mission, which launched in mid-February. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, the ESA's Sophie Adenot and cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, will return to Earth in their Crew Dragon capsule this month, according to NASA officials.

Read full Article
post photo preview
Transporter-18: SpaceX Launches Google AI Satellite, 129 Payloads In Rideshare Mission

SpaceX Falcon 9 launched its Transporter-18 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 1832 UTC on Thursday (Oct. 1), deploying 130 payloads into a sun-synchronous orbit. The mission’s primary payload was a prototype satellite for Google’s Project Suncatcher, designed to test the resilience of Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) against space radiation and thermal challenges.

About 8 minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9's first stage booster, B1082 came back to Vandenberg for a landing, completing its 25th flight to date. Meanwhile the rocket's upper stage powered its way to low Earth orbit (LEO), where it deployed the 130 payloads over a roughly 11-minute window starting about 54.5 minutes after liftoff, and bringing the total count for SpaceX’s Rideshare program to over 1,800 payloads.

The highest-profile payload on Transporter-18, is a pathfinder spacecraft for Project Suncatcher, the AI constellation that Google plans to build and operate in LEO, which explores scalable machine learning infrastructure.

This satellite will help the project team determine how TPUs — Google chips that are core Suncatcher hardware — perform in the space environment. Of particular importance are how the TPUs withstand space radiation, and how efficiently the heat they generate is dissipated.

Another company with AI data center ambitions flew on Transporter-18 as well: Cowboy Space put its Reason-1 satellite on the Falcon 9.

"Its job is to prove out power beaming: using a high-power laser to transfer energy from low Earth orbit to a receiver on the ground," Cowboy Space said of Reason-1 in a Sept. 28 X post. "If you want to build data centers in space, you have to master the optical systems between orbit and Earth. This is where that journey begins."

Transporter-18 also launched Starfish Space's first Otter servicing satellite.

"This is a big moment for Starfish Space," the Washington-based company said via X on Sept. 24. "We've spent years developing, iterating, and proving out the key technologies required for affordable, available satellite servicing. Now we’re launching Otters, putting our satellite servicing vehicles to work for customers in orbit."

The rest of the 130 payloads were a diverse lot, consisting of "cubesats, microsats, hosted payloads and two spacecraft with reentry vehicles and four orbital transfer vehicles carrying 41 of those payloads to be deployed at a later time," SpaceX wrote in its Transporter-18 mission description. The manifest included Carbon Mapper’s Tanager-2 satellites for methane monitoring, and spacecraft from Varda Space Industries featuring reentry vehicles.

Transporter-18 was part of a very busy day for SpaceX. The company also launched the Crew-13 astronaut mission for NASA earlier, and it aims to launch the NROL-97 flight for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office later.

Read full Article
post photo preview
Crew-13: SpaceX Launces Astronauts On Fastest Dragon Flight To The ISS

SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Dragon 'Grace' Spacecraft on SpaceX Falcon 9 launched Crew Dragon 'Grace' on the Crew-13 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, at 1510 UTC on Thursday (Oct. 1) carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov to the International Space Station (ISS). This will be the fastest Crew Dragon flight ever to the orbiting lab, expected to dock with the ISS in about 8 hours.

As planned, about 2.5 minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9's first stage booster, B1101, separated from the second stage which in short succession, began executing its orbital insertion burn. B1101 performed a simultaneous boostback burn to reset its trajectory for a return and touchdown at landing zone(LZ-40). An entry and landing burn followed, with a successful touchdown about 7 minutes and 40 seconds after liftoff. This was the third launch and recovery of B1101.

Their trip to LEO took less than 10 minutes. 

Meanwhile the Falcon 9 second-stage engine burn ended about a minute later, wrapping up an orbital insertion maneuver that lasted roughly six minutes. The trip to low earth orbit(LEO) took less than 10 minutes from liftoff. Crew Dragon Grace was released another minute afterward to begin its 8-hour journey to the ISS.

"Thanks for an amazing ride," Mission Commander Watkins told Mission Control shortly after that milestone was reached.

"They say that courage is grace under pressure, and the incredible teams that got us to orbit today truly embody that," she added. "Thank you for your hard work, perseverance, and courageous commitment to ensuring Grace was ready and safe to fly. We carry with us on this journey all of you who have supported us along the way, and we hope to make you proud."

Watkins became the first NASA astronaut to fly twice aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, having previously served on Crew-4 in 2022. Mission pilots Luke Delaney, Joshua Kutryk, and Sergey Teteryatnikov are making their first spaceflights.

Typical Crew Dragon missions take 15 to 24 hours to catch up to the space station. For comparison, Russian launch profiles deliver the Soyuz crew capsule to the ISS anywhere between three hours to two days after liftoff. Grace will only have about 7 hours, 50 minutes on orbit before docking with the ISS, setting a new speed record for an American spacecraft.

"We got lucky this time," Julianna Scheiman, director of NASA science and dragon programs at SpaceX, said in the post-launch briefing. "The space station was in an opportune spot in space, and the orbital mechanics, the physics of it all, worked out for it to be the the shortest launch to docking time we've had to date."

The crew will join the ISS for a six-month mission as part of Expedition 75, conducting scientific research, technology demonstrations, and station maintenance. Many of their research will focus on astronaut health and the long-term effects of microgravity on the human body. Other experiments on the Crew-13 docket include studies into stem-cell derived tissues to treat Parkinson's and heart disease, as well as the harvesting of produce in zero-g.

"It was an incredible launch," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said. "This is an absolutely great start to Crew 13. We will be watching very closely, cheering them on throughout their great expedition."

The astronauts' time aboard the ISS is expected to wrap up sometime next year, around February or March, when SpaceX launches NASA's Crew-14 astronauts to replace them. Similarly, Crew-13 will relieve the four Crew-12 astronauts. Crew-13's arrival will signal the beginning of departure preparations for the members of Crew-12, who launched to the ISS about 7.5 months ago — a slightly longer stay than originally anticipated.

Crew-12 was expected to return to Earth last month, but a delay in Crew-13 extended their mission by a few weeks. An oxidizer leak in Grace's propulsion system was discovered in August, prompting NASA and SpaceX to allot more time for prelaunch checkouts and tests.

Grace is the fifth and final Crew Dragon built by SpaceX; it previously flew the private Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) in summer 2025.

Read full Article
See More
Available on mobile and TV devices
google store google store app store app store
google store google store app tv store app tv store amazon store amazon store roku store roku store
Powered by Locals