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Earth Intelligence

09 Mar 2025 — 7 min read

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Last week, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Valiant offloaded 12,470 pounds of cocaine, valued at over $141 million, at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach. The drug seizure was the result of six interdictions in the Caribbean Sea. These operations targeted drug smuggling routes commonly used by transnational criminal organizations attempting to transport narcotics into the United States and other nations. The interdictions were carried out in international waters, with intelligence and surveillance support provided by the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S). Once the smuggling vessels were located, U.S. Coast Guard personnel, in collaboration with allied forces, boarded and secured the vessels, seizing the illegal cargo and apprehending suspected traffickers for federal prosecution.

The success of these operations highlights the persistent presence of the U.S. Coast Guard and allied maritime forces in the Caribbean, working together to combat drug trafficking. Partner agencies, including the Royal Canadian Navy and Colombian maritime and air units, played a crucial role in intercepting drug shipments before they could reach their intended destinations. The Canadian Navy’s HMCS Harry DeWolf, in particular, assisted in one of the seizures, confiscating 750 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of $18.8 million. These interdictions not only prevent massive amounts of narcotics from entering the U.S. but also disrupt the financial networks of drug cartels.

Economics & Markets:

Yesterday’s commodity market:

Yesterday’s crypto market:

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

Recent reports, though currently unverified, claim that 80 to 100 Russian Special Forces operators were eliminated in Kursk Oblast, Western Russia, near the town of Sudzha. These forces attempted to infiltrate Ukrainian frontline positions using tunnels linked to an underground gas pipeline. The infiltration attempt reportedly followed a similar strategy used during the Battle of Avdiivka, where Russian forces successfully used covert tunnel operations to capture the city. However, unlike Avdiivka, this mission ended in failure, with the Russian troops being neutralized before they could achieve their objectives.

Sudzha is a strategic location near the Russia-Ukraine border, particularly because of its energy infrastructure, including a gas metering station that Ukraine temporarily captured in August 2024. The broader war has seen an evolving emphasis on unconventional warfare tactics, making reports like this plausible but requiring verification. Until further evidence emerges, this claim remains unconfirmed, but it highlights the continued intensity of operations along the border and the increasing reliance on specialized combat methods.

Environment & Weather:

Yesterday, March 8, 2025, multiple brush fires broke out along Long Island’s Sunrise Highway, forcing authorities to close the roadway in both directions at Exit 55 near Westhampton Beach. The fires, driven by strong winds and dry conditions, spread rapidly across the Pine Barrens region, an area highly prone to wildfires. Thick smoke significantly reduced visibility, creating hazardous conditions for motorists and prompting emergency evacuations in nearby communities. Officials issued warnings urging residents to stay indoors due to deteriorating air quality.

Over 40 fire departments, supported by National Guard helicopters, were deployed to contain the fast-moving flames. Firefighters worked throughout the day and into the evening to prevent the fire from spreading to residential areas, commercial properties, and critical infrastructure. Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency to allocate additional resources for firefighting efforts. By Saturday evening, officials reported that the fire was 50% contained, but emergency crews remained on high alert due to shifting winds and dry conditions that could cause flare-ups.

Argentina Floods:

Over the past few days, heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across Argentina, causing destruction and displacing thousands. In Bahía Blanca, a port city southwest of Buenos Aires, floodwaters have claimed at least ten lives and forced the evacuation of more than 1,300 residents. Homes, hospitals, and infrastructure have been inundated, leading authorities to cut power in affected areas as a precaution. Emergency teams continue to work around the clock, rescuing stranded individuals and assessing the extent of the damage as the flood crisis unfolds.

Tucumán, another heavily impacted region, has seen streets transformed into rivers, making travel nearly impossible and endangering communities. Experts point to a combination of extreme weather, poor drainage systems, and urban development issues as key factors worsening the flooding. This region, which frequently experiences heavy rainfall between January and April, remains highly vulnerable to these current conditions. The recent floods emphasize the pressing need for improved infrastructure and emergency response strategies to protect residents from the growing risks of severe weather.

Space:

On March 6, 2025, at 8:29 AM CST, Intuitive Machines’ Athena spacecraft landed on the Moon after. The landing, part of the company’s IM-2 mission, took place near the Moon’s south pole, a region of high interest due to its potential water ice deposits. However, the spacecraft did not land upright as intended. Instead, it came to rest on its side inside a crater, which blocked its solar panels from receiving sufficient sunlight. As a result, Athena lost power shortly after landing, cutting off communication and limiting the mission’s ability to carry out its scientific objectives.

The IM-2 mission, launched on February 27, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, aimed to test new technologies and conduct lunar research. One of its primary payloads was NASA’s PRIME-1 experiment, designed to search for water ice beneath the surface using the TRIDENT drill and MSolo mass spectrometer. It also carried the Micro-Nova hopper, a small drone intended to explore shadowed craters, and Nokia’s 4G LTE network, a test for future lunar communications. Despite the challenges with the landing, the mission provided valuable insights into the complexities of landing in the Moon’s polar regions. The data gathered will help improve future lunar exploration efforts and refine technology for upcoming missions.

History:

The history of rocket technology has been driven by warfare, exploration, and industry, shaping both military strategy and space travel. Rockets first appeared in 13th-century China as fire arrows used in battle, later influencing European and Middle Eastern warfare. However, rockets remained primitive and unreliable until the 19th and early 20th centuries, when scientists like Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Robert Goddard, and Hermann Oberth laid the foundations for modern rocketry. In 1926, Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket, proving that controlled flight beyond Earth’s atmosphere was possible.
During World War II, Nazi Germany developed the V-2 rocket, the first long-range ballistic missile, which became the basis for Cold War missile and space programs. After the war, the U.S. and Soviet Union took control of German rocket technology, leading to the Space Race—with the Soviets launching Sputnik in 1957 and the U.S. landing on the Moon in 1969 using the Saturn V rocket. Rockets also became key to global military strategy, enabling ICBMs, missile defense systems, and advanced military weapons.
Today, rockets are used for commercial space travel, military defense, and deep-space exploration. After the Cold War, companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and ULA dominated U.S. government launches, but private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin have changed the industry with reusable rockets. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy can land, refuel, and relaunch, drastically reducing costs and allowing multiple launches per week, making space travel more routine and accessible. While NASA once spent $2-4 billion per launch, SpaceX has lowered costs to around $60 million, paving the way for affordable, high-frequency space missions. Blue Origin is developing similar technology with New Shepard and New Glenn.
Meanwhile, rocket technology continues to advance for satellite communications, missiles, and interplanetary exploration. The next phase of rocketry will primarily focus on things like hypersonic missile technology and defenses and space exploration to advance Moon infrastructure, send astronauts to Mars, and establish a multi-planetary presence beyond Earth. Rocket technology was once thought to be just another tool for war, but now holds the key to unlocking unlimited resources amongst the stars.

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