Reports that an F-15 jet with two US crew members on board had been shot down over southern Iran first emerged on Friday. While the pilot was rescued after ejecting from the aircraft, the second crew member was missing. Read how the rescue operation unfolded. After announcing the airman's recovery, President Trump issued an expletive-laden threat to destroy Iran's power plants and bridges if it failed to meet a new deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran mocked his ultimatum, dismissing it as "helpless, nervous and stupid". Several Washington sources, who spoke to White House reporter Bernd Debusmann Jr, speculated that the fighter jet incident could potentially dissuade Trump from any ground operation in the country.

As the astronauts pass behind the Moon later on Monday, the radio and laser signals that allow the back-and-forth communication between the spacecraft and Earth will be blocked by the Moon itself. For about 40 minutes, the four astronauts will be alone. On Earth, the blackout will be a tense time for those with the job of maintaining contact with the spacecraft.