SOUTH POLE
Now you can apply to be an astronaut for just Rs 200, SERA invites application; Here's how to register and other details
The Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) has partnered with Blue Origin to offer Indian citizens a chance to experience space travel. The collaboration will enable six individuals from countries with limited space presence, including India, to join a future New Shepard mission. The program aims to democratize space access through public voting, with minimal physical requirements. Selected astronauts will undergo a three-day training at Blue Origin's Texas launch site. This initiative underscores India's growing role in space exploration.
More trouble for Sunita Williams as she has to stay longer in space; Here's why
Officials have repeatedly hinted that the Starliner, which faced issues with helium leaks and thruster outages heading to the International Space Station in early June, will be safe to bring astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore home.
China calls on scientists of all nations to study lunar samples, but notes obstacle with the US
China's space officials announced that scientists worldwide could apply to study lunar rock samples from the Chang'e 6 mission. Cooperation, however, excludes the U.S. due to the Wolf Amendment, which restricts direct bilateral collaboration with NASA. China welcomes international scientists but refrains from revealing specific sample details pending further announcements. Future plans include lunar and planetary exploration missions.
South Africa qualify for maiden T20 World Cup final with 9-wicket win over Afghanistan
The Proteas secured a convincing win in the T20 World Cup semifinal, led by standout performances from key players like Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram. This victory marked their qualification for the tournament final, a historic milestone for the team. The bowlers, including Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi, played crucial roles in dismantling Afghanistan's batting lineup, setting the stage for a dominant win. Overall, South Africa's exceptional teamwork and performance paved the way for their maiden appearance in the T20 World Cup final.
Summer Solstice 2024: Which day will be longest in 2024? Here is everything you need to know
Summer Solstice 2024: Solstices mark the changing of seasons with longest and shortest daylight hours. The June solstice signifies the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The solstices occur twice a year. In 2024, the June solstice falls on June 20 at 4:50 PM EDT, which corresponds to June 21 in India. This event marks the Sun's northernmost position in relation to Earth's equator, according to NASA.
Putin ratifies plan to jointly build lunar base with China
Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a plan to jointly build the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) with China. The ILRS will include sections on the lunar surface, lunar orbit, and Earth, built in two phases. The first phase aims to establish a basic station by 2035, with expansion completed by 2045. Twelve countries and international organizations have joined the initiative. The project follows Russia and China's 2021 agreement and involves ambitious lunar missions starting in 2026.
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China makes historic landing on far side of the moon
China landed the Chang'e-6 craft on the far side of the moon to retrieve rocks and soil, elevating its space power status in a global rush for lunar minerals.
Cyclone Remal claims six lives in West Bengal
Cyclone Remal has caused six deaths in Bangladesh, with three confirmed deaths so far. The 'Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal' has weakened into a 'Cyclonic Storm', with South 24 Parganas district being the most affected. The cyclone has caused significant disruptions in air, rail, and road transportation in Kolkata and other parts of southern Bengal. Over 300 houses have been damaged, 1,200 electric poles have been uprooted, and houses and farmlands have been flooded.
India seen as 'friendly, fair' as well as 'firm, fiery' nation that cares for its people: Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described India as both "friendly and fair" and "firm and fiery," emphasizing its commitment to citizen welfare and crisis management. Addressing students at Delhi University's Hansraj College, he underscored India's rescue efforts from conflict zones like Ukraine, emphasizing youth's pivotal role in shaping India's future.
China set to launch high-stakes mission to moon's 'hidden' side
China is set to launch a robotic spacecraft, Chang'e-6, in the coming days to collect soil and rocks from the moon's far side. This marks the first of three technically demanding missions to pave the way for an inaugural Chinese crewed landing and a base on the lunar south pole. Since the first Chang'e mission in 2007, China has made significant strides in lunar exploration, narrowing the technological gap with the United States and Russia.
'New India' invents Covid vaccines, lands near south pole of Moon: Jaishankar
Union Minister S Jaishankar highlights India's transformation towards self-reliance with the vision of "Atmanirbhar Bharat." Emphasizing the shift in mindset, he discusses India's response to global challenges through initiatives like Make in India, fostering creativity, innovation, and intellectual property rights. The minister asserts India's achievements in 5G, COVID vaccine production, and lunar exploration, highlighting the nation's rising trajectory in global innovation.
Sideways moon landing cuts mission short, private lunar lander expected to cease operations Tuesday
Intuitive Machines' lunar lander, Odysseus, will cease operations after landing sideways near the south pole of the moon. It landed in a degraded crater close to an area of interest. Communication with Earth was hampered due to the landing position.
Private US spacecraft topples to its side during lunar landing, some antennas covered up, the company says
A private U.S. lunar lander, Odysseus, tipped over during touchdown near the moon's south pole, ending up on its side and hampering communications. Despite the mishap, the lander, sponsored by NASA, is thought to be within a few miles of its intended landing site. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will attempt to locate it. This marks the first private moon landing, with NASA experiments onboard. The lander's mission is expected to last about a week on the moon.
Commercial US spaceship lands on Moon, a first for private industry
Intuitive Machines successfully landed its spacecraft, Odysseus, on the Moon's Malapert A. The mission aims to explore the lunar south pole, study environmental conditions, harvest ice for drinking water and rocket fuel, and contribute to the development of a wider lunar economy.
US heads back to the Moon -- with a commercial spaceship
Intuitive Machines, a Houston-based company, attempts to land its hexagon-shaped robot Odysseus on the lunar south pole using NASA-funded commercial landers. The mission supports NASA's Artemis program, aims to stimulate a wider lunar economy, and follows a previous moon shot failure.
View: Get a PPPiece of innovation action
India achieved a significant milestone with the successful landing of the Vikram lander near the lunar south pole last year, showcasing its capabilities in space exploration. However, despite such achievements, India ranks relatively low at 40th on the Global Innovation Index, with research and development (R&D) expenditures stagnating at around 0.6% of GDP.
Japan hopes to join an elite club by landing on the moon: A closer look
Japan hopes to make the world's first "pinpoint landing" on the moon early Saturday, joining a modern push for lunar contact with roots in the Cold War-era space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Japan's attempt to bring down its lander at a precise location follows the April failure of a Japanese company's spacecraft that apparently crashed while attempting to land on the moon.
Chandrayaan-3 lander serves as location marker on moon's south pole
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander is serving as a location marker near the lunar south pole. The US space agency NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) detected signals reflected by the Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) on the lander using the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA).
Top Chinese scientist now claims India moon landing nowhere near south pole
China's top scientist, Ouyang Ziyuan, has disputed India's claim of landing its Chandrayaan-3 rover near the lunar south pole, stating that the landing site was nowhere close to the pole. Ouyang said the Chandrayaan-3 was 619 kilometers away from the polar region. China's space program, according to Pang Zhihao, a Beijing-based senior space expert, has better technology and has been capable of sending orbiters and landers directly into Earth-Moon transfer orbit since 2010.
India's moon rover completes its walk, scientists analysing data looking for signs of frozen water
India's moon rover, part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, has completed its tasks and entered sleep mode after exploring the lunar surface near the south pole. The rover's data has been transmitted to Earth and the battery is fully charged for the next sunrise on September 22, 2023. The mission aims to search for signs of frozen water and other elements on the moon.
Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover confirms presence of sulphur on the Moon, again!
In a fresh experiment, another instrument onboard the Pragyan rover of Chandrayaan-3 confirmed the presence of sulphur in the lunar South Pole region. The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) onboard the rover detected Sulphur, as well as other minor elements, ISRO posted on X.
Exploring the moon's south pole: A quest for ice
Chandrayaan-3's landing site is in the moon's south polar region at about 70 degrees south latitude, or about 370 miles from the south pole. That latitude is about as far south as the edge of Antarctica is on Earth. The landing site lies on a plateau south of the Manzinus crater and to the west of the Boguslawsky crater. That is roughly in the same neighborhood as where India's Chandrayaan-2 mission crashed in 2019, and where Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft, which crashed Saturday, was to set down.
Why are space agencies racing to the moon's south pole?
India's space agency is aiming to land a spacecraft on the south pole of the moon, with the goal of advancing India's space ambitions and gaining knowledge about lunar water ice. The presence of water on the moon is seen as crucial for future moon colonies, lunar mining, and potential missions to Mars. Scientists initially speculated about the existence of water on the moon in the 1960s, and subsequent missions and probes have detected water ice on the moon's surface and below its surface. The south pole is particularly challenging due to its craters and deep trenches.
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