In a move towards inclusivity, the European Space Agency is named the first-ever 'Parastronaut', this is a major step towards allowing people with physical disabilities to work and live in space. The selected candidate will be part of a new generation of 17 recruits picked for astronaut training, however, he has to go through several tests.

British Paralympic sprinter John McFall named world's first 'Parastronaut' | WION

<p>The nearest black hole to Earth has been found by astronomers, and it is just 1,600 light-years away.&nbsp;Scientists revealed on Friday that this black hole is 10&nbsp;times as large as the Sun and&nbsp;compared to the previous record-holder, it is three times closer.</p>

<p>According to NASA, a black hole is a region in space&nbsp;where gravity is so strong that even light cannot escape. Because the substance is compressed into such a small area, the gravity is extremely intense.&nbsp;People cannot perceive black holes because no light can escape from them. They are undetectable. Specialized space telescopes aid in the discovery of black holes. The unique instruments can see how stars that are very near black holes behave differently from other stars.</p>

<p>The companion star, which circles the black hole at roughly the same distance as Earth orbits the Sun, was used to identify it.</p>

<p>Gaia, a satellite operated by the European Space Agency, was used to discover the black hole first, according to Kareem El-Badry of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/we-are-heading-to-a-future-with-more-rainbows-says-study-531140">We are heading to a future with more rainbows, but there's a catch</a></p>

<p>The International Gemini Observatory in Hawaii was contacted by El-Badry and his group to corroborate their findings, which were then reported in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.</p>

<p>How the system developed in the Milky Way is a mystery to the experts. It has the designation Gaia BH1 and is found in the serpent-bearer constellation Ophiuchus.</p>

<p><strong>Also WATCH |&nbsp;Cop27 Summit: US wants China back on negotiation table, ‘loss and damage payments’ to dominate</strong></p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The nearest black hole to Earth has been found by astronomers, and it is just 1,600 light-years away. Scientists revealed on Friday that this black hole is 10 times as large as the Sun and compared to the previous record-holder, it is three times closer.

The nearest black hole to Earth has been found by astronomers, and it is just 1,600 light-years away. Scientists revealed on Friday that this black hole is 10 times as large as the Sun and compared to the previous record-holder, it is three times closer. According to NASA, a black hole is a region in space where gravity is so strong that even light cannot escape. Because the substance is compressed into such a small area, the gravity is extremely intense. People cannot perceive black holes because no light can escape from them. They are undetectable. Specialized space telescopes aid in the discovery of black holes. The unique instruments can see how stars that are very near black holes behave differently from other stars. The companion star, which circles the black hole at roughly the same distance as Earth orbits the Sun, was used to identify it. Gaia, a satellite operated by the European Space Agency, was used to discover the black hole first, according to Kareem El-Badry of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Also read | We are heading to a future with more rainbows, but there's a catch The International Gemini Observatory in Hawaii was contacted by El-Badry and his group to corroborate their findings, which were then reported in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. How the system developed in the Milky Way is a mystery to the experts. It has the designation Gaia BH1 and is found in the serpent-bearer constellation Ophiuchus. Also WATCH | Cop27 Summit: US wants China back on negotiation table, ‘loss and damage payments’ to dominate (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Astronomers discover black hole, 10 times larger than the Sun, closest to Earth

<p>On Christmas Eve 2021, a meteor struck Mars, shaking the planet so intensely that NASA's InSight lander captured the tremblings.</p>

<p>Until NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a satellite orbiting the red planet, took pictures of the fresh impact crater, scientists had no idea where the earthquake originated. On Thursday, NASA made the discovery public.</p>

<p>"It was immediately clear that this is the biggest new crater we've ever seen," Ingrid Daubar, InSight impact science lead, said in a press briefing. "It's about 500 feet wide or about two city blocks across. And even though meteorites are hitting the planet all the time, this crater is more than 10 times larger than the typical new craters we see forming on Mars."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unusually-warm-autumn-in-spain-france-raises-climate-concerns-529058">Unusually warm autumn in Europe raises climate concerns; UN warns of 'irreversible' climate breakdown</a></p>

<p>A striking glow could be seen everywhere around the new crater: boulder-sized pieces of water ice that had been thrown up during the explosion from below the surface. NASA has never discovered water this close to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ancient-bacteria-shielded-from-harsh-space-radiation-might-be-sleeping-on-martian-surface-528845">Martian equator</a>. Scientists had only before observed water ice grouped close to the poles.</p>

<p>The finding is encouraging for NASA's goal of sending people to Mars in the future.</p>

<p>Their observations from those meteor hits, which were presented in two papers and published on Thursday in the journal Science, may help resolve a long-standing conundrum about the geography of Mars.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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On Christmas Eve 2021, a meteor struck Mars, shaking the planet so intensely that NASA's InSight lander captured the tremblings. Until NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a satellite orbiting the red planet, took pictures of the fresh impact crater, scientists had no idea where the earthquake originated.

On Christmas Eve 2021, a meteor struck Mars, shaking the planet so intensely that NASA's InSight lander captured the tremblings. Until NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a satellite orbiting the red planet, took pictures of the fresh impact crater, scientists had no idea where the earthquake originated. On Thursday, NASA made the discovery public. "It was immediately clear that this is the biggest new crater we've ever seen," Ingrid Daubar, InSight impact science lead, said in a press briefing. "It's about 500 feet wide or about two city blocks across. And even though meteorites are hitting the planet all the time, this crater is more than 10 times larger than the typical new craters we see forming on Mars." Also read | Unusually warm autumn in Europe raises climate concerns; UN warns of 'irreversible' climate breakdown A striking glow could be seen everywhere around the new crater: boulder-sized pieces of water ice that had been thrown up during the explosion from below the surface. NASA has never discovered water this close to the Martian equator. Scientists had only before observed water ice grouped close to the poles. The finding is encouraging for NASA's goal of sending people to Mars in the future. Their observations from those meteor hits, which were presented in two papers and published on Thursday in the journal Science, may help resolve a long-standing conundrum about the geography of Mars. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

NASA images prove a meteor crashed into Mars, triggered a massive quake

<p>Following a NASA launch on Wednesday, a US astronaut has become the first Native American woman in space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One of the four astronauts that took off from Florida at noon on their way to the International Space Station is Marine Colonel Nicole Mann, a 45-year-old (ISS). They were sent on a course to catch the orbiting outpost in around 29 hours by the SpaceX Falcon rocket.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Col. Mann expressed to the BBC her hope that the mission will serve as an example for future Native American generations. Young Native American youngsters will be inspired, in her words, "to follow their dreams and realise that some of those barriers that are there or used to be there are being broken down."</p>

<p>Col. Mann, a US Marine Corps pilot with a Wailacki Indian Tribe registration, has a wealth of expertise flying a variety of aircraft. She has been deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan and has received six medals for her service.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tribes have long complained of social prejudice that causes them to struggle economically and underfund their schools. The US National Centre for Education Statistics reports that in 2017, just 27 per cent&nbsp;of Native Americans received an associate's degree or above, compared to 54 per cent&nbsp;of white students.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/data-lab-indias-supreme-court-legalises-abortion-regardless-of-marital-status-522735">Data Lab | India’s Supreme Court gives nod to abortion, regardless of marital status</a></p>

<p>Col. Mann estimated that the team will conduct roughly 250 scientific experiments while on board the ISS. These involve planting tomatoes, aiding in the 3D printing of human cells, and perhaps going on space missions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Col. Mann told the BBC that she intended to carry a memento of her family's Native American ancestry despite being only permitted to bring a small number of personal belongings, such as her wedding ring and pictures.</p>

<p><em>(with inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Following a NASA launch on Wednesday, a US astronaut has become the first Native American woman in space. One of the four astronauts that took off from Florida at noon on their way to the International Space Station is Marine Colonel Nicole Mann, a 45-year-old (ISS).

Following a NASA launch on Wednesday, a US astronaut has become the first Native American woman in space. One of the four astronauts that took off from Florida at noon on their way to the International Space Station is Marine Colonel Nicole Mann, a 45-year-old (ISS). They were sent on a course to catch the orbiting outpost in around 29 hours by the SpaceX Falcon rocket. Col. Mann expressed to the BBC her hope that the mission will serve as an example for future Native American generations. Young Native American youngsters will be inspired, in her words, "to follow their dreams and realise that some of those barriers that are there or used to be there are being broken down." Col. Mann, a US Marine Corps pilot with a Wailacki Indian Tribe registration, has a wealth of expertise flying a variety of aircraft. She has been deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan and has received six medals for her service. Tribes have long complained of social prejudice that causes them to struggle economically and underfund their schools. The US National Centre for Education Statistics reports that in 2017, just 27 per cent of Native Americans received an associate's degree or above, compared to 54 per cent of white students. Also Read: Data Lab | India’s Supreme Court gives nod to abortion, regardless of marital status Col. Mann estimated that the team will conduct roughly 250 scientific experiments while on board the ISS. These involve planting tomatoes, aiding in the 3D printing of human cells, and perhaps going on space missions. Col. Mann told the BBC that she intended to carry a memento of her family's Native American ancestry despite being only permitted to bring a small number of personal belongings, such as her wedding ring and pictures. (with inputs from agencies)

US astronaut Nicole Mann becomes first Native American woman in space

WION spoke with Indian-origin woman astronaut Sirisha Bandla. Bandla shared on her flight to stardom. She is the third Indian-origin woman space traveller.

WION speaks to Indian-origin woman astronaut Sirisha Bandla

<p>Astronauts undergo rigorous training before travelling to space, but no amount of preparation can make them ready for the toll that the entire experience takes on their health. Researchers have found that astronauts lose a huge amount of bone mass when travelling in space and it takes more than a year for them to recover it after coming back from their missions. Dr Steven Boyd, of Canada’s University of Calgary and director of the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, also warned that the rate of bone mass loss can be a problematic for future missions to Mars due to the duration.</p>

<p>“Will it continue to get worse over time or not? We don’t know,"</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-looking-to-come-up-with-tiny-swimming-robots-to-search-for-alien-life-493397" hreflang="en">NASA looking to come up with tiny swimming robots to search for alien life</a></p>

<p>“It’s possible we hit a steady state after a while, or it’s possible that we continue to lose bone. But I can’t imagine that we’d continue to lose it until there’s nothing left,” Boyd told The Guardian.</p>

<p>The research scanned the wrists and ankles of astronauts during and after a stay at the International Space Station (ISS) and found that they lost around 1 to 2 per cent of bone density every month.</p>

<p>That is basically the same amount of bone density that people lose in almost decades. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-biggest-chocolate-plant-contaminated-with-salmonella-in-production-lot-493277" hreflang="en">World's biggest chocolate plant contaminated with Salmonella in production lot</a></p>

<p>“The longer you spend in space, the more bone you lose,” Boyd said.</p>

<p>Guillemette Gauquelin-Koch, the head of medicine research at France’s CNES space agency, explained that the weightlessness experienced in space is the reason behind the loss of bone density.</p>

<p>“Even with two hours of sport a day, it is like you are bedridden for the other 22 hours. It will not be easy for the crew to set foot on Martian soil when they arrive – it’s very disabling.”</p>


Astronauts undergo rigorous training before travelling to space, but no amount of preparation can make them ready for the toll that the entire experience takes on their health.

Astronauts undergo rigorous training before travelling to space, but no amount of preparation can make them ready for the toll that the entire experience takes on their health. Researchers have found that astronauts lose a huge amount of bone mass when travelling in space and it takes more than a year for them to recover it after coming back from their missions. Dr Steven Boyd, of Canada’s University of Calgary and director of the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, also warned that the rate of bone mass loss can be a problematic for future missions to Mars due to the duration. “Will it continue to get worse over time or not? We don’t know," Also read | NASA looking to come up with tiny swimming robots to search for alien life “It’s possible we hit a steady state after a while, or it’s possible that we continue to lose bone. But I can’t imagine that we’d continue to lose it until there’s nothing left,” Boyd told The Guardian. The research scanned the wrists and ankles of astronauts during and after a stay at the International Space Station (ISS) and found that they lost around 1 to 2 per cent of bone density every month. That is basically the same amount of bone density that people lose in almost decades. Also read | World's biggest chocolate plant contaminated with Salmonella in production lot “The longer you spend in space, the more bone you lose,” Boyd said. Guillemette Gauquelin-Koch, the head of medicine research at France’s CNES space agency, explained that the weightlessness experienced in space is the reason behind the loss of bone density. “Even with two hours of sport a day, it is like you are bedridden for the other 22 hours. It will not be easy for the crew to set foot on Martian soil when they arrive – it’s very disabling.”

Astronauts lose shocking amount of bone mass in space, study finds

<p>It's real fun to observe astronauts in space bouncing around in zero gravity. Though we theoretically know that space does not have gravity, actually seeing zero gravity in action is amusing nonetheless.</p>

<p>Like solids, liquids act strange in zero gravity. But it's a bit hard to imagine how that would come to be.</p>

<p>An astronaut has come to our rescue. Chris Hadfield, a Canadian astronaut who is aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has shown everyone what happens when you wring a wet cloth in zero gravity.</p>

<p>The astronaut first takes a washcloth, packed to the size of a hockey puck. He takes the cloth out and wets it in water.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This may sound simple but how he does that in zero gravity is a thing to behold. Once the washcloth is wet with water, Hadfield proceeds to wring it.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-hubble-telescope-clicks-crisp-image-of-a-sparkling-galaxy-491728">NASA's Hubble Telescope clicks crisp image of a sparkling galaxy</a></strong></p>

<p>Now, if we do this on Earth, the water will come out of the wash cloth and drip to the ground. But in space, where there is no gravity, the water simply forms a tube around the cloth and continues to cling to it. Even the water that 'falls' on Hadfield's hands forms an enveloping film around it.</p>

<p>Check out the video here</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>It's amazing to see how he does that. And its perhaps precisely why the highly amusing video has got more than 10 million views so far and more than 100,000 people have liked it.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


It's real fun to observe astronauts in space bouncing around in zero gravity. Though we theoretically know that space does not have gravity, actually seeing zero gravity in action is amusing nonetheless.

It's real fun to observe astronauts in space bouncing around in zero gravity. Though we theoretically know that space does not have gravity, actually seeing zero gravity in action is amusing nonetheless. Like solids, liquids act strange in zero gravity. But it's a bit hard to imagine how that would come to be. An astronaut has come to our rescue. Chris Hadfield, a Canadian astronaut who is aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has shown everyone what happens when you wring a wet cloth in zero gravity. The astronaut first takes a washcloth, packed to the size of a hockey puck. He takes the cloth out and wets it in water. This may sound simple but how he does that in zero gravity is a thing to behold. Once the washcloth is wet with water, Hadfield proceeds to wring it. Also Read | NASA's Hubble Telescope clicks crisp image of a sparkling galaxy Now, if we do this on Earth, the water will come out of the wash cloth and drip to the ground. But in space, where there is no gravity, the water simply forms a tube around the cloth and continues to cling to it. Even the water that 'falls' on Hadfield's hands forms an enveloping film around it. Check out the video here × It's amazing to see how he does that. And its perhaps precisely why the highly amusing video has got more than 10 million views so far and more than 100,000 people have liked it.

Astronaut shows what happens when you wring wet cloth in space

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully completed the booster rocket test. Now, it is being modified and tested to be safe and suitable for carrying humans to space, as part of India's Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight programme.

India: ISRO prepares to send Indian astronaut to space

<p>NASA's third long-duration astronaut team to International Space Station (ISS) departed from the ISS to come return to Earth on Thursday (May 5). These astronauts were on a six-month mission and were ferried to the ISS by SpaceX when their mission began.</p>

<p>The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying three US&nbsp;NASA astronauts and a German astronaut from the European Space Agency undocked from the ISS at 1:20 a.m. EDT (0520 GMT) to embark on a return flight expected to last about 23 hours.</p>

<p>Live video showed the capsule drifting away from the ISS.</p>

<p>Wearing helmeted white-and-black spacesuits, the four astronauts were seen strapped into the crew cabin shortly before the spacecraft separated from the space station, orbiting some 250 miles (400 km) above the Earth.</p>

<p>A series of several brief rocket thrusts then autonomously pushed the capsule safely clear of the ISS and lowered its orbit to line up the spacecraft for later atmospheric reentry and splashdown.</p>

<p>If all goes smoothly, the Crew Dragon craft, dubbed Endurance, will parachute into the sea off the coast of Florida at 12:43 a.m. EDT (0443 GMT) on Friday (May 6).</p>

<p>The Endurance crew, consisting of American astronauts Tom Marshburn, 61, Raja Chari, 44 and Kayla Barron, 34, along with ESA crewmate Matthias Maurer, 52, arrived at the space station on Nov. 11.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/moon-may-be-stealing-earths-water-for-itself-here-is-how-476307">Moon may be 'stealing' Earth's water for itself, here is how</a></strong></p>

<p>Their departure came about a week after they welcomed their replacement team aboard the station, also currently home to three Russian cosmonauts on a long-term mission. One of those cosmonauts, Oleg Artemyev, assumed command of the ISS from Marshburn in a handover before Thursday's undocking, NASA said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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NASA's third long-duration astronaut team to International Space Station (ISS) departed from the ISS to come return to Earth on Thursday (May 5). These astronauts were on a six-month mission and were ferried to the ISS by SpaceX when their mission began.

NASA's third long-duration astronaut team to International Space Station (ISS) departed from the ISS to come return to Earth on Thursday (May 5). These astronauts were on a six-month mission and were ferried to the ISS by SpaceX when their mission began. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying three US NASA astronauts and a German astronaut from the European Space Agency undocked from the ISS at 1:20 a.m. EDT (0520 GMT) to embark on a return flight expected to last about 23 hours. Live video showed the capsule drifting away from the ISS. Wearing helmeted white-and-black spacesuits, the four astronauts were seen strapped into the crew cabin shortly before the spacecraft separated from the space station, orbiting some 250 miles (400 km) above the Earth. A series of several brief rocket thrusts then autonomously pushed the capsule safely clear of the ISS and lowered its orbit to line up the spacecraft for later atmospheric reentry and splashdown. If all goes smoothly, the Crew Dragon craft, dubbed Endurance, will parachute into the sea off the coast of Florida at 12:43 a.m. EDT (0443 GMT) on Friday (May 6). The Endurance crew, consisting of American astronauts Tom Marshburn, 61, Raja Chari, 44 and Kayla Barron, 34, along with ESA crewmate Matthias Maurer, 52, arrived at the space station on Nov. 11. Also Read | Moon may be 'stealing' Earth's water for itself, here is how Their departure came about a week after they welcomed their replacement team aboard the station, also currently home to three Russian cosmonauts on a long-term mission. One of those cosmonauts, Oleg Artemyev, assumed command of the ISS from Marshburn in a handover before Thursday's undocking, NASA said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

NASA astronaut team departs ISS to come back to Earth

In Pics: SpaceX crew returns to Earth after six-month mission

<p>The act of sending an astronaut to space is considered to be a major achievement for any nation and United Arab Emirates (UAE) is all set to become the first Arab nation to achieve this feat.</p>

<p>The UAE will be sending their first astronaut on a 182-day mission to the International Space Station after reaching an agreement with Axiom Space. They will be provided a spot in the Crew-6 mission by Space X which is expected to take place from Florida’s Kennedy Space Station in 2023.</p>

<p>Overall, UAE will become the 11th nation in the world to send their astronaut to space.</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/troubled-by-pakistanis-crimes-turkey-stops-granting-residence-permits-to-them-474944" hreflang="en">Troubled by Pakistanis' crimes, Turkey stops residence permits to them</a></p>

<p>Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai tweeted on the occasion and said that he is proud of the Emirati youth.</p>

<p>"Emirati astronauts are fully prepared for this mission after undergoing extensive training in preparation for long-term missions in space. The training included spacewalks, working on the systems of the International Space Station, and other missions," Salem Al Marri, Director General of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, said according to a report on The Khaleej Times.</p>

<p>"Signing an agreement with Axiom Space is a significant development aimed at consolidating the collaboration with NASA for the 6-month mission aboard the ISS,” he added.</p>

<p>Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre also hailed the huge achievement and said that this mission will help in taking bigger strides in the future.</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-rulers-fire-50-qualified-university-professors-to-replace-them-with-clerics-taliban-members-474882">Taliban fire 50 university professors, to replace them with clerics</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;“The first long-term mission for Arab astronauts signifies the extraordinary progress made by the UAE National Space Programme. This momentous endeavour has been made possible as a result of the vision of the leadership of the UAE,” he said according to a report on The Khaleej Times.</p>

<p>“The six-month duration of the new UAE Astronaut Programme’s mission will allow for in-depth and advanced experiments to be undertaken in space. Long-duration missions have only been accomplished by a small number of countries. The UAE will now rise to the ranks of this elite group after having entered the sector merely decades ago," he added.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Shehbaz Sharif may seek a $7.4 bn Saudi aid package</strong></p>

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<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>


The act of sending an astronaut to space is considered to be a major achievement for any nation and United Arab Emirates (UAE) is all set to become the first Arab nation to achieve this feat.

The act of sending an astronaut to space is considered to be a major achievement for any nation and United Arab Emirates (UAE) is all set to become the first Arab nation to achieve this feat. The UAE will be sending their first astronaut on a 182-day mission to the International Space Station after reaching an agreement with Axiom Space. They will be provided a spot in the Crew-6 mission by Space X which is expected to take place from Florida’s Kennedy Space Station in 2023. Overall, UAE will become the 11th nation in the world to send their astronaut to space. Also read | Troubled by Pakistanis' crimes, Turkey stops residence permits to them Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai tweeted on the occasion and said that he is proud of the Emirati youth. "Emirati astronauts are fully prepared for this mission after undergoing extensive training in preparation for long-term missions in space. The training included spacewalks, working on the systems of the International Space Station, and other missions," Salem Al Marri, Director General of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, said according to a report on The Khaleej Times. "Signing an agreement with Axiom Space is a significant development aimed at consolidating the collaboration with NASA for the 6-month mission aboard the ISS,” he added. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre also hailed the huge achievement and said that this mission will help in taking bigger strides in the future. Also read | Taliban fire 50 university professors, to replace them with clerics “The first long-term mission for Arab astronauts signifies the extraordinary progress made by the UAE National Space Programme. This momentous endeavour has been made possible as a result of the vision of the leadership of the UAE,” he said according to a report on The Khaleej Times. “The six-month duration of the new UAE Astronaut Programme’s mission will allow for in-depth and advanced experiments to be undertaken in space. Long-duration missions have only been accomplished by a small number of countries. The UAE will now rise to the ranks of this elite group after having entered the sector merely decades ago," he added. WATCH | Shehbaz Sharif may seek a $7.4 bn Saudi aid package (With inputs from agencies)

UAE to send first Emirati astronaut for six-month mission to International Space Station

Two Russian astronauts ventured outside the International Space Station on April 18 for a spacewalk to install a control panel for a 37-foot-long robotic arm.

Russian astronauts take a spacewalk to install robotic arm controls on ISS

Three Chinese astronauts returned to earth on Saturday after 183 days in space, state television reported, completing the country's longest crewed space mission to date. Here are ten things you should know.

10 things about China's recent space mission

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="3">The human body must overcome many distinct difficulties in order to travel in space, including what amounts to brain rewiring.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="6">According to a study published Friday in the journal Frontiers in Neural Circuits, astronauts' brains were modified for months after they returned to Earth after spending nearly six months in space.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="7">Researchers completed diffusion MRI scans of 12 astronauts from the European Space Agency and Russia's Roscosmos, who spent an average of 172 days in space, before they departed, immediately after they returned, and, for some participants, a final scan seven months after they returned to Earth, using a brain imaging technique called fibre tractography.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/prepare-for-rigors-of-colonising-outer-space-or-astronauts-may-turn-cannibal-say-experts-441631"><strong>Watch | Prepare for rigors of colonising outer space or astronauts may turn cannibal, say experts</strong></a></p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="8">The corpus callosum, a portion of the brain that connects the organ's two hemispheres and serves as a "communication network," gets filled with fluid and grows as a result of spaceflight, but this is just a "real structural alteration," according to the researchers.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="9">Other effects of spaceflight on astronauts have been extensively researched.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="9"><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/wooden-satellite-in-space-by-2023-explore-ambitious-plans-of-japanese-researchers-441582" hreflang="en">‘Wooden’ satellite in space by 2023? Explore ambitious plans of Japanese researchers</a></strong></p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="10">The Human Research Program at NASA identified five primary dangers that astronauts might encounter if they spend a long time in space:</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="11">Isolation and confinement can affect their mood and potentially cause sleep disorders and stress, as well as a nutritional deficiency from a lack of fresh food; distance from Earth, which would require astronauts to handle any health emergencies on their own; the change in gravitational fields, which can affect the heart, bones, and muscles; and the hazardous environment in which a person could die.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="12">Muscle atrophy is also a significant issue: According to NASA, astronauts who spend five to eleven days in space lose 20% of their muscle mass.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="13"><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The human body must overcome many distinct difficulties in order to travel in space, including what amounts to brain rewiring. According to a study published Friday in the journal Frontiers in Neural Circuits, astronauts' brains were modified for months after they returned to Earth after spending nearly six months in space.

The human body must overcome many distinct difficulties in order to travel in space, including what amounts to brain rewiring. According to a study published Friday in the journal Frontiers in Neural Circuits, astronauts' brains were modified for months after they returned to Earth after spending nearly six months in space. Researchers completed diffusion MRI scans of 12 astronauts from the European Space Agency and Russia's Roscosmos, who spent an average of 172 days in space, before they departed, immediately after they returned, and, for some participants, a final scan seven months after they returned to Earth, using a brain imaging technique called fibre tractography. Watch | Prepare for rigors of colonising outer space or astronauts may turn cannibal, say experts The corpus callosum, a portion of the brain that connects the organ's two hemispheres and serves as a "communication network," gets filled with fluid and grows as a result of spaceflight, but this is just a "real structural alteration," according to the researchers. Other effects of spaceflight on astronauts have been extensively researched. Also Read: ‘Wooden’ satellite in space by 2023? Explore ambitious plans of Japanese researchers The Human Research Program at NASA identified five primary dangers that astronauts might encounter if they spend a long time in space: Isolation and confinement can affect their mood and potentially cause sleep disorders and stress, as well as a nutritional deficiency from a lack of fresh food; distance from Earth, which would require astronauts to handle any health emergencies on their own; the change in gravitational fields, which can affect the heart, bones, and muscles; and the hazardous environment in which a person could die. Muscle atrophy is also a significant issue: According to NASA, astronauts who spend five to eleven days in space lose 20% of their muscle mass. (With inputs from agencies)

Space travel rewires astronauts' brains due to low gravity: Study

<p>Be it on Earth or in space, hilarious moments can be created and shared anywhere. This holds true for a video recently shared on Twitter by a filmmaker, Todd Spence, where astronaut Scott Kelly, who was wearing a gorilla suit, chased colleague Tim Peake on the ISS.</p>

<p>To create the hilariously scary moment, astronaut Scott Kelly sneaked the suit into the ISS in 2016. It had reached the ISS through a resupply mission. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/look-up-before-its-too-late-witness-building-sized-asteroid-pass-near-earth-443787" hreflang="en">‘Look Up’ before it’s too late: Witness building-sized asteroid pass near Earth</a></strong></p>

<p>The 15-second clip, which has already got 3.7 million views, has re-emerged to remind of the amusing moment. &nbsp;</p>

<p>It shows Peake making all attempts to desperately float away from the primate. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Astronaut Mark Kelly once smuggled a full gorilla suit on board the International Space Station. He didn't tell anyone about it. One day, without anyone knowing, he put it on. (source: Reddit) <a href="https://t.co/v7aVunL7QF">pic.twitter.com/v7aVunL7QF</a></p>
— SPENCE, TODD (@Todd_Spence) <a href="https://twitter.com/Todd_Spence/status/1480256216618049537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>It is special as it is an epic prank for being&nbsp;pulled off in space. In this rare moment, the researchers at the station got some time off too, all thanks to astronaut Scott Kelly. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The American engineer Kelly dressed up and hid in a soft-side storage container that crewmate Tim Peake was busy opening. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-first-astronomers-watch-a-dying-star-explode-in-real-time-442861" hreflang="en">In a first, astronomers watch a dying star explode in real time</a></strong></p>

<p>Shortly after, the Peake could be seen moving away in fear to Scott's amusement. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The prank was done by Scott to celebrate his year in space mission. &nbsp;</p>

<p>At the time, he tweeted, "Needed a little humor to lighten up a #YearInSpace. Go big, or go home. I think I'll do both&nbsp;#SpaceApe." &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Be it on Earth or in space, hilarious moments can be created and shared anywhere. This holds true for a video recently shared on Twitter by a filmmaker, Todd Spence, where astronaut Scott Kelly, who was wearing a gorilla suit, chased colleague Tim Peake on the ISS.

Be it on Earth or in space, hilarious moments can be created and shared anywhere. This holds true for a video recently shared on Twitter by a filmmaker, Todd Spence, where astronaut Scott Kelly, who was wearing a gorilla suit, chased colleague Tim Peake on the ISS. To create the hilariously scary moment, astronaut Scott Kelly sneaked the suit into the ISS in 2016. It had reached the ISS through a resupply mission. Also Read | ‘Look Up’ before it’s too late: Witness building-sized asteroid pass near Earth The 15-second clip, which has already got 3.7 million views, has re-emerged to remind of the amusing moment. It shows Peake making all attempts to desperately float away from the primate. Astronaut Mark Kelly once smuggled a full gorilla suit on board the International Space Station. He didn't tell anyone about it. One day, without anyone knowing, he put it on. (source: Reddit) pic.twitter.com/v7aVunL7QF — SPENCE, TODD (@Todd_Spence) January 9, 2022 × It is special as it is an epic prank for being pulled off in space. In this rare moment, the researchers at the station got some time off too, all thanks to astronaut Scott Kelly. The American engineer Kelly dressed up and hid in a soft-side storage container that crewmate Tim Peake was busy opening. Also Read: In a first, astronomers watch a dying star explode in real time Shortly after, the Peake could be seen moving away in fear to Scott's amusement. The prank was done by Scott to celebrate his year in space mission. At the time, he tweeted, "Needed a little humor to lighten up a #YearInSpace. Go big, or go home. I think I'll do both #SpaceApe." (With inputs from agencies)

Gorilla in space? Filmmaker shares clip where astronaut chases colleague in primate suit at ISS

<p>NASA is gearing up to announce names of candidates who will become astronauts taking part in new space missions. These missions include NASA's return to Moon and more space missions to Mars. It is expected that NASA will make announcement on fresh batch of its candidates tonight at 11 pm (IST).</p>

<p>NASA said that the selected candidates will join NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Nasa Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, Johnson Center Director Vanessa Wyche, and Flight Operations Director Norm Knight on the stage.</p>

<p>Just getting included in this list would not guarantee a space travel for these men and women. The chosen candidates will have to complete a rigorous training program that will go on for two years.</p>

<p>"The astronaut candidates will report to Nasa Johnson in January to begin their training in spacecraft systems, spacewalking skills, teamwork, and other necessary skills," the agency said in a statement ahead of the announcement</p>

<p>Will there be a face with Indian-heritage?</p>

<p>Astronauts who were either born in India or were of Indian heritage have often been selected in NASA's successive batches of astronauts. These names include Kalpana Chawla, Sunita Williams and most recent Raja Chari</p>

<p>NASA has been tightlipped about new batch of astronaut candidates so far.</p>


NASA is gearing up to announce names of candidates who will become astronauts taking part in new space missions. These missions include NASA's return to Moon and more space missions to Mars.

NASA is gearing up to announce names of candidates who will become astronauts taking part in new space missions. These missions include NASA's return to Moon and more space missions to Mars. It is expected that NASA will make announcement on fresh batch of its candidates tonight at 11 pm (IST). NASA said that the selected candidates will join NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Nasa Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, Johnson Center Director Vanessa Wyche, and Flight Operations Director Norm Knight on the stage. Just getting included in this list would not guarantee a space travel for these men and women. The chosen candidates will have to complete a rigorous training program that will go on for two years. "The astronaut candidates will report to Nasa Johnson in January to begin their training in spacecraft systems, spacewalking skills, teamwork, and other necessary skills," the agency said in a statement ahead of the announcement Will there be a face with Indian-heritage? Astronauts who were either born in India or were of Indian heritage have often been selected in NASA's successive batches of astronauts. These names include Kalpana Chawla, Sunita Williams and most recent Raja Chari NASA has been tightlipped about new batch of astronaut candidates so far.

NASA to announce fresh names for its astronaut programme soon

<p>NASA announced its fresh class of trainee astronauts on Tuesday. Anil Menon, a US fighter pilot born to parents from India and Ukraine has been named in the newest list.</p>

<p>Anil Menon (45), a lieutenant colonel in US Air Force was first direct responder during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, 2015 earthquake in Nepal and 2011 Reno Air Show accident.</p>

<p>Menon was previously a first flight surgeon with SpaceX. He had a stint with NASA before that.</p>

<p>There are 10 astronaut trainees including Menon in NASA's newest list. The list includes a firefighter turned Harvard professor, a former member of the national cycle team and a pilot who led the first-ever all-woman F-22 formation in combat.</p>

<p>NASA's latest list includes 10 names including that of Menon. The list includes a firefighter turned Harvard professor, a former member of the national cycle team and others.</p>

<p>"We're going back to the Moon, and we're continuing on to Mars -- and so today we welcome 10 new explorers," NASA administrator Bill Nelson said at an event to welcome the recruits.</p>

<p>"Alone, each candidate has 'the right stuff,' but together they represent the creed of our country: E pluribus unum – out of many, one," he added.</p>

<p>The 10 candidates have been shortlisted from 12,000 applicants. Inclusion in this list however, does not guarantee that each of them would get to become an astronaut. All of them will now undergo a rigorous training program that will go on for two years. All of the trainees will learn how to operate and maintain the International Space Station, train for spacewalks, develop robotics skills, safely operate a T-38 training jet, and learn Russian to communicate with their counterparts.</p>

<p>After they graduate, they could be assigned to missions aboard the ISS or deeper into space, including NASA's planned return to the Moon later this decade under the Artemis mission, which will include the first woman and person of color to set foot on lunar soil.</p>

<p>The field was open to US citizens who hold a master's degree in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field -- the first time such a requirement was added -- and passed an online test. The master's degree requirement could also be met by a medical degree or completion of a test pilot program.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA announced its fresh class of trainee astronauts on Tuesday. Anil Menon, a US fighter pilot born to parents from India and Ukraine has been named in the newest list.

NASA announced its fresh class of trainee astronauts on Tuesday. Anil Menon, a US fighter pilot born to parents from India and Ukraine has been named in the newest list. Anil Menon (45), a lieutenant colonel in US Air Force was first direct responder during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, 2015 earthquake in Nepal and 2011 Reno Air Show accident. Menon was previously a first flight surgeon with SpaceX. He had a stint with NASA before that. There are 10 astronaut trainees including Menon in NASA's newest list. The list includes a firefighter turned Harvard professor, a former member of the national cycle team and a pilot who led the first-ever all-woman F-22 formation in combat. NASA's latest list includes 10 names including that of Menon. The list includes a firefighter turned Harvard professor, a former member of the national cycle team and others. "We're going back to the Moon, and we're continuing on to Mars -- and so today we welcome 10 new explorers," NASA administrator Bill Nelson said at an event to welcome the recruits. "Alone, each candidate has 'the right stuff,' but together they represent the creed of our country: E pluribus unum – out of many, one," he added. The 10 candidates have been shortlisted from 12,000 applicants. Inclusion in this list however, does not guarantee that each of them would get to become an astronaut. All of them will now undergo a rigorous training program that will go on for two years. All of the trainees will learn how to operate and maintain the International Space Station, train for spacewalks, develop robotics skills, safely operate a T-38 training jet, and learn Russian to communicate with their counterparts. After they graduate, they could be assigned to missions aboard the ISS or deeper into space, including NASA's planned return to the Moon later this decade under the Artemis mission, which will include the first woman and person of color to set foot on lunar soil. The field was open to US citizens who hold a master's degree in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field -- the first time such a requirement was added -- and passed an online test. The master's degree requirement could also be met by a medical degree or completion of a test pilot program. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian-origin Anil Menon named in NASA's newest astronaut class

<p>US-Russia spat seems to have reached space now. In a new development, Russian space agency Roscosmos has threatened to sue a NASA astronaut. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The agency claims the astronaut drilled a two-mm hole in a Soyuz MS-09 vehicle, which was docked with the International Space Station (ISS) in 2018. &nbsp;</p>

<p>After completing its investigation recently, the agency deemed the action as a sabotage. It cited Serena Auñón-Chancellor, an ISS crew member during the incident, as the culprit. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-nasa-mission-to-test-out-armageddon-scenario-blasts-off-431550" hreflang="en">Watch | NASA mission to test out Armageddon scenario blasts off</a></strong></p>

<p>As the allegations were handed over to law enforcement of the Russia, Roscosmos announced the possibility of criminal charges. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the hope of returning home early, Auñón-Chancellor purposefully made the hole, reported the Izvestia newspaper while citing sources on Friday. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Auñón-Chancellor seems to have wanted to leave due to a blood clot or a fight with her boyfriend onboard the ISS, Russian news outlet said citing sources. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-postpones-iss-spacewalk-because-of-space-debris-433087" hreflang="en">NASA postpones ISS spacewalk because of space debris</a></strong></p>

<p>When Auñón-Chancellor was in space, she got married to Jeff Chancellor. The couple is still married to this day. It is unclear who is the 'boyfriend' as stated by sources. &nbsp;</p>

<p>After a pressure drop was identified due to an air leak, the hole was spotted on August 30, 2018. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


US-Russia spat seems to have reached space now. In a new development, Russian space agency Roscosmos has threatened to sue a NASA astronaut. The agency claims the astronaut drilled a two-mm hole in a Soyuz MS-09 vehicle, which was docked with the International Space Station (ISS) in 2018.

US-Russia spat seems to have reached space now. In a new development, Russian space agency Roscosmos has threatened to sue a NASA astronaut. The agency claims the astronaut drilled a two-mm hole in a Soyuz MS-09 vehicle, which was docked with the International Space Station (ISS) in 2018. After completing its investigation recently, the agency deemed the action as a sabotage. It cited Serena Auñón-Chancellor, an ISS crew member during the incident, as the culprit. Also Read: Watch | NASA mission to test out Armageddon scenario blasts off As the allegations were handed over to law enforcement of the Russia, Roscosmos announced the possibility of criminal charges. With the hope of returning home early, Auñón-Chancellor purposefully made the hole, reported the Izvestia newspaper while citing sources on Friday. Auñón-Chancellor seems to have wanted to leave due to a blood clot or a fight with her boyfriend onboard the ISS, Russian news outlet said citing sources. Also Read: NASA postpones ISS spacewalk because of space debris When Auñón-Chancellor was in space, she got married to Jeff Chancellor. The couple is still married to this day. It is unclear who is the 'boyfriend' as stated by sources. After a pressure drop was identified due to an air leak, the hole was spotted on August 30, 2018. (With inputs from agencies)

Love gone sour? Russia sues Austronaut who drilled spacecraft to reportedly be separate from partner

<p>Snoopy, the iconic character from creator Charles M Schulz’s comic strip 'Peanuts', seems to be flying aboard National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Artemis mission to visit moon early next year. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AstronautSnoopy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AstronautSnoopy</a> is no stranger to space. The Peanuts character skimmed the lunar surface as the name of the Apollo 10 lunar module &amp; even caught a ride on the space shuttle.<br />
<br />
Now Snoopy is going to the Moon as a zero gravity indicator aboard <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Artemis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Artemis</a> I: <a href="https://t.co/wUHfUgYWYm">https://t.co/wUHfUgYWYm</a> <a href="https://t.co/t8DFQq6gHi">pic.twitter.com/t8DFQq6gHi</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1459181106016698373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>In a tweet, NASA said, “AstronautSnoopy is no stranger to space. The Peanuts character skimmed the lunar surface as the name of the Apollo 10 lunar module &amp; even caught a ride on the space shuttle. Now Snoopy is going to the Moon as a zero-gravity indicator aboard Artemis.” &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/astronomers-identify-moons-small-chunk-tracking-earths-orbit-around-sun-428748" hreflang="en">Astronomers identify moon’s small chunk tracking Earth’s orbit around Sun</a></strong></p>

<p>The Snoopy’s iconic form will be flying aboard the shuttle in NASA’s first lunar mission in several decades as a micro-gravity indicator. &nbsp;</p>

<p>When the spacecraft leaves Earth’s gravitational field and enters the microgravity of space, the Snoopy plush dressed in NASA's Orion Crew Survival System pressure suit will begin to float aboard Artemis 1 Orion. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-releases-breathtaking-video-of-davinci-mission-to-venus-428811" hreflang="en">NASA releases breathtaking video of DAVINCI mission to Venus</a></strong></p>

<p>For future manned missions, there will be a manikin and two "phantom" human torsos along with Snoopy, who will collect data for the flight to the moon. &nbsp;</p>

<p>“Zero gravity indicators are small items carried aboard spacecraft that provide a visual indicator when a spacecraft has reached the weightlessness of microgravity. Without astronauts aboard Orion, Snoopy will help share the journey with the world as he rides along in the cabin with a manikin and two other “passengers,” NASA added. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Snoopy, the iconic character from creator Charles M Schulz’s comic strip 'Peanuts', seems to be flying aboard National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Artemis mission to visit moon early next year.

Snoopy, the iconic character from creator Charles M Schulz’s comic strip 'Peanuts', seems to be flying aboard National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Artemis mission to visit moon early next year. #AstronautSnoopy is no stranger to space. The Peanuts character skimmed the lunar surface as the name of the Apollo 10 lunar module & even caught a ride on the space shuttle. Now Snoopy is going to the Moon as a zero gravity indicator aboard #Artemis I: https://t.co/wUHfUgYWYm pic.twitter.com/t8DFQq6gHi — NASA (@NASA) November 12, 2021 × In a tweet, NASA said, “AstronautSnoopy is no stranger to space. The Peanuts character skimmed the lunar surface as the name of the Apollo 10 lunar module & even caught a ride on the space shuttle. Now Snoopy is going to the Moon as a zero-gravity indicator aboard Artemis.” Also Read: Astronomers identify moon’s small chunk tracking Earth’s orbit around Sun The Snoopy’s iconic form will be flying aboard the shuttle in NASA’s first lunar mission in several decades as a micro-gravity indicator. When the spacecraft leaves Earth’s gravitational field and enters the microgravity of space, the Snoopy plush dressed in NASA's Orion Crew Survival System pressure suit will begin to float aboard Artemis 1 Orion. Also Read: NASA releases breathtaking video of DAVINCI mission to Venus For future manned missions, there will be a manikin and two "phantom" human torsos along with Snoopy, who will collect data for the flight to the moon. “Zero gravity indicators are small items carried aboard spacecraft that provide a visual indicator when a spacecraft has reached the weightlessness of microgravity. Without astronauts aboard Orion, Snoopy will help share the journey with the world as he rides along in the cabin with a manikin and two other “passengers,” NASA added. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Astronaut’ Snoopy to visit moon aboard NASA’s Artemis mission as zero-gravity indicator in 2022

<p>Four astronauts on Thursday have arrived at the International Space Station as they docked their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule with the orbiting laboratory, kicking off a 6-month long mission. Out of these four scientists, three come from NASA and one comes from the European Space Agency.</p>

<p>Known as Crew-3, the mission is a part of NASA's multibillion-dollar partnership with Elon Musk's space company. This was signed after the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011, with an aim of restoring US capacity to carry out human spaceflight.</p>

<p>The crew consists of three Americans, including flight commander Raja Chari, mission pilot Tom Marshburn, and mission specialist Kayla Barron, and German astronaut Matthias Maurer. “Floating in space and shining like a diamond," said astronaut Matthias Maurer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We're all very thrilled, very excited.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-spacex-capsule-with-four-iss-astronauts-wearing-adult-diapers-splashes-down-off-florida-427872"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Watch | SpaceX capsule with four ISS astronauts, wearing adult diapers, splashes down off Florida</strong></a></p>

<p>The crew will be hosting up to two groups of visiting tourists. Russia will launch the first bunch in December and SpaceX will be launching the second in February.</p>

<p>The flight was initially planned for October 31. However, it had to be postponed. First because of the weather, then a "minor medical issue" affecting one of the crew. NASA did not say who it was but said it was not COVID-related.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Watch Falcon 9 launch Dragon with four astronauts on board to the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@space_station</a> → <a href="https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK">https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK</a> <a href="https://t.co/6UDoESJHyW">https://t.co/6UDoESJHyW</a></p>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1458551869505040388?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>The mission includes an experiment to grow plants in space without soil or other growth media. Another experiment will include building optical fibres in microgravity.</p>

<p>The astronauts will also be conducting spacewalks to complete an upgrade of the station's solar panels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, four astronauts from the Crew-2 mission, which has been in orbit since spring, splashed down off the coast of Pensacola in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday night.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following a dramatic re-entry fall through Earth's atmosphere, the Dragon vehicle, named Endeavour, parachuted into the sea as planned at around 10:30 p.m. EST on Monday (0330 GMT Tuesday).</p>

<p>The astronauts had to wear adult diapers on their return journey, after a leak was discovered in the SpaceX-made capsule's toilet.</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>


Four astronauts on Thursday have arrived at the International Space Station as they docked their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule with the orbiting laboratory, kicking off a 6-month long mission.

Four astronauts on Thursday have arrived at the International Space Station as they docked their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule with the orbiting laboratory, kicking off a 6-month long mission. Out of these four scientists, three come from NASA and one comes from the European Space Agency. Known as Crew-3, the mission is a part of NASA's multibillion-dollar partnership with Elon Musk's space company. This was signed after the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011, with an aim of restoring US capacity to carry out human spaceflight. The crew consists of three Americans, including flight commander Raja Chari, mission pilot Tom Marshburn, and mission specialist Kayla Barron, and German astronaut Matthias Maurer. “Floating in space and shining like a diamond," said astronaut Matthias Maurer. “We're all very thrilled, very excited.” Also read | Watch | SpaceX capsule with four ISS astronauts, wearing adult diapers, splashes down off Florida The crew will be hosting up to two groups of visiting tourists. Russia will launch the first bunch in December and SpaceX will be launching the second in February. The flight was initially planned for October 31. However, it had to be postponed. First because of the weather, then a "minor medical issue" affecting one of the crew. NASA did not say who it was but said it was not COVID-related. Watch Falcon 9 launch Dragon with four astronauts on board to the @space_station → https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK https://t.co/6UDoESJHyW — SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 10, 2021 × The mission includes an experiment to grow plants in space without soil or other growth media. Another experiment will include building optical fibres in microgravity. The astronauts will also be conducting spacewalks to complete an upgrade of the station's solar panels. Meanwhile, four astronauts from the Crew-2 mission, which has been in orbit since spring, splashed down off the coast of Pensacola in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday night. Following a dramatic re-entry fall through Earth's atmosphere, the Dragon vehicle, named Endeavour, parachuted into the sea as planned at around 10:30 p.m. EST on Monday (0330 GMT Tuesday). The astronauts had to wear adult diapers on their return journey, after a leak was discovered in the SpaceX-made capsule's toilet. (With inputs from agencies)

SpaceX capsule with crew of four welcomed aboard International Space Station

Four astronauts who arrived at the International Space Station in April for a long-duration science mission began their return voyage to Earth as their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule separated from the orbiting laboratory for a flight home.

SpaceX capsule with four astronauts returns to earth

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="3">Four astronauts from the Crew-2 mission, which has been in orbit since spring, splashed down off the coast of Pensacola in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday night.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="5">Following a dramatic re-entry fall through Earth's atmosphere, the Dragon vehicle, named Endeavour, parachuted into the sea as planned at around 10:30 p.m. EST on Monday (0330 GMT Tuesday).</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="5">The astronauts had to wear adult diapers on their return journey, after a leak was discovered in the SpaceX-made capsule's toilet.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="6">The spacecraft started its eight-hour return journey earlier in the day with a 90-minute fly-around of the space station, during which the crew took a series of survey images of the orbiting outpost, which was circling the globe at a height of 250 miles (400 kilometres).&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">And… splashdown! 🌊<br />
<br />
The <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> Crew Dragon Endeavour has splashed down off the coast of Florida at 10:33pm ET (03:33 UTC), returning the Crew-2 astronauts back to Earth after more than six months aboard the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a>: <a href="https://t.co/yZkjL27Cd8">pic.twitter.com/yZkjL27Cd8</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1457914787409666051?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, as well as Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and French astronaut Thomas Pesquet, are now waiting to be picked up.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">LIVE NOW: Crew-2 is almost home!<br />
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The <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> Crew Dragon Endeavour is preparing to return to Earth off the coast of Florida with four astronauts aboard. Splashdown is targeted for 10:33pm ET (03:33 UTC). <a href="https://t.co/YHlXODQZhN">https://t.co/YHlXODQZhN</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1457894983462162437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Coast Guard is assisting, and a 10-mile zone has been established to keep vessels away from the splashdown zone.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="9">The removal of their SpaceX spacecraft from the International Space Station has also cleared the way for the launch of its four successors as soon as Wednesday night.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Boats with spotlights are seen on the Gulf of Mexico as they approach the <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> Crew Dragon Endeavour and prepare to recover the Crew-2 astronauts. <a href="https://t.co/GTVLCfpasH">pic.twitter.com/GTVLCfpasH</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1457917214175203328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>The newbies were supposed to launch first, but NASA changed the sequence due to severe weather and an unnamed medical problem of one of the astronauts.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="11"><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Four astronauts from the Crew-2 mission, which has been in orbit since spring, splashed down off the coast of Pensacola in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday night. Following a dramatic re-entry fall through Earth's atmosphere, the Dragon vehicle, named Endeavour, parachuted into the sea as planned at around 10:30 p.

Four astronauts from the Crew-2 mission, which has been in orbit since spring, splashed down off the coast of Pensacola in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday night. Following a dramatic re-entry fall through Earth's atmosphere, the Dragon vehicle, named Endeavour, parachuted into the sea as planned at around 10:30 p.m. EST on Monday (0330 GMT Tuesday). The astronauts had to wear adult diapers on their return journey, after a leak was discovered in the SpaceX-made capsule's toilet. The spacecraft started its eight-hour return journey earlier in the day with a 90-minute fly-around of the space station, during which the crew took a series of survey images of the orbiting outpost, which was circling the globe at a height of 250 miles (400 kilometres). And… splashdown! 🌊 The @SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour has splashed down off the coast of Florida at 10:33pm ET (03:33 UTC), returning the Crew-2 astronauts back to Earth after more than six months aboard the @Space_Station: pic.twitter.com/yZkjL27Cd8 — NASA (@NASA) November 9, 2021 × NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, as well as Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and French astronaut Thomas Pesquet, are now waiting to be picked up. LIVE NOW: Crew-2 is almost home! The @SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour is preparing to return to Earth off the coast of Florida with four astronauts aboard. Splashdown is targeted for 10:33pm ET (03:33 UTC). https://t.co/YHlXODQZhN — NASA (@NASA) November 9, 2021 × The Coast Guard is assisting, and a 10-mile zone has been established to keep vessels away from the splashdown zone. The removal of their SpaceX spacecraft from the International Space Station has also cleared the way for the launch of its four successors as soon as Wednesday night. Boats with spotlights are seen on the Gulf of Mexico as they approach the @SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour and prepare to recover the Crew-2 astronauts. pic.twitter.com/GTVLCfpasH — NASA (@NASA) November 9, 2021 × The newbies were supposed to launch first, but NASA changed the sequence due to severe weather and an unnamed medical problem of one of the astronauts. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | SpaceX capsule with four ISS astronauts, wearing adult diapers, splashes down off Florida

<p>Four astronauts are scheduled to return to Earth from the International Space Station early Monday after spending more than six months in space, NASA announced.</p>

<p>The four members of the Crew-2 mission, including a French and a Japanese astronaut, will therefore return to Earth before the arrival of a replacement crew, whose take-off was delayed several times due to unfavourable weather conditions.</p>

<p>NASA said in a statement late Friday that Crew-2 members are due to return to Earth "no earlier than 7:14 am EST Monday, November&nbsp;8, with a splashdown off the coast of Florida."</p>

<p>"As we're preparing to leave, it's kind of a bittersweet feeling, we might never come back to see the ISS, and it's really a magical place," French astronaut Thomas Pesquet said earlier Friday during a press conference from the space station.</p>

<p>"I'm very thankful that people dreamt the ISS some time ago and then went ahead and worked hard to make it happen and to build it for the benefit of everyone," Pesquet added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-chinas-greyzone-warfare-is-designed-to-subdue-the-enemy-427343"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;How China's 'greyzone warfare' is designed to subdue the enemy</strong></a></p>

<p>Endeavour, the Crew Dragon spacecraft, is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station at 1805 GMT Sunday to begin the journey home.</p>

<p>Once detached from the ISS, the capsule will begin a journey of several hours, the duration of which can vary greatly depending on the trajectory, and will then land off the coast of Florida.</p>

<p>A backup undocking and splashdown opportunity is available Monday, if weather conditions are not favourable, NASA said.</p>

<p>The two missions are being carried out by NASA in collaboration with SpaceX, which now provides regular launches to the ISS from the United States.</p>

<p>Crew-3 is scheduled to take off for the ISS aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where astronauts have been in quarantine for days.</p>

<p>US astronaut Megan McArthur was confident that not getting the replacement crew to ISS before the current crew departs was just a temporary setback.</p>

<p>"Of course that's not optimal," McArthur told reporters during the Friday press conference. "But we are prepared to manage that. Spaceflight is full of lots of little challenges."</p>


Four astronauts are scheduled to return to Earth from the International Space Station early Monday after spending more than six months in space, NASA announced. The four members of the Crew-2 mission, including a French and a Japanese astronaut, will therefore return to Earth before the arrival of a replacement crew, whose take-off was delayed several times due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Four astronauts are scheduled to return to Earth from the International Space Station early Monday after spending more than six months in space, NASA announced. The four members of the Crew-2 mission, including a French and a Japanese astronaut, will therefore return to Earth before the arrival of a replacement crew, whose take-off was delayed several times due to unfavourable weather conditions. NASA said in a statement late Friday that Crew-2 members are due to return to Earth "no earlier than 7:14 am EST Monday, November 8, with a splashdown off the coast of Florida." "As we're preparing to leave, it's kind of a bittersweet feeling, we might never come back to see the ISS, and it's really a magical place," French astronaut Thomas Pesquet said earlier Friday during a press conference from the space station. "I'm very thankful that people dreamt the ISS some time ago and then went ahead and worked hard to make it happen and to build it for the benefit of everyone," Pesquet added. Also read | How China's 'greyzone warfare' is designed to subdue the enemy Endeavour, the Crew Dragon spacecraft, is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station at 1805 GMT Sunday to begin the journey home. Once detached from the ISS, the capsule will begin a journey of several hours, the duration of which can vary greatly depending on the trajectory, and will then land off the coast of Florida. A backup undocking and splashdown opportunity is available Monday, if weather conditions are not favourable, NASA said. The two missions are being carried out by NASA in collaboration with SpaceX, which now provides regular launches to the ISS from the United States. Crew-3 is scheduled to take off for the ISS aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where astronauts have been in quarantine for days. US astronaut Megan McArthur was confident that not getting the replacement crew to ISS before the current crew departs was just a temporary setback. "Of course that's not optimal," McArthur told reporters during the Friday press conference. "But we are prepared to manage that. Spaceflight is full of lots of little challenges."

Astronauts to return from space station next week, says NASA

<p>In a rare health-related pause, NASA has delayed a SpaceX rocket launch of four astronauts to the international space station (ISS). &nbsp;</p>

<p>This is the second postponement of the mission in a week. The agency cited an unspecified medical issue with one of the crew member as the reason behind this decision. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/during-halloween-weekend-solar-flare-helps-northern-lights-become-visible-to-us-425602" hreflang="en">During Halloween weekend, solar flare helps northern lights become visible to US</a></strong></p>

<p>On Monday, the space agency described it as a “minor medical issue” that was “not a medical emergency and not related to Covid”. It declined to elaborate on the nature of the issue or say which astronaut was involved. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Originally set for Sunday, the launch has been postponed until Wednesday because of unsuitable weather conditions and then had been rescheduled for Saturday night, said NASA. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/opinion-would-russia-or-china-help-us-if-we-were-invaded-by-space-aliens-425862" hreflang="en">Opinion: Would Russia or China help us if we were invaded by space aliens?</a></strong></p>

<p>The SpaceX-built vehicle is set to fly this weekend. It consists of a Crew Dragon capsule and a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket. It is now set for liftoff at 11.36 pm on Saturday from NASA’s Kennedy space centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. &nbsp;</p>

<p>If everything goes smoothly, the three US astronauts and their European Space Agency (ESA) crewmate will reach 22 hours later and dock with the space station 400km (250 miles) above the Earth to begin a six-month science mission. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


In a rare health-related pause, NASA has delayed a SpaceX rocket launch of four astronauts to the international space station (ISS). This is the second postponement of the mission in a week.

In a rare health-related pause, NASA has delayed a SpaceX rocket launch of four astronauts to the international space station (ISS). This is the second postponement of the mission in a week. The agency cited an unspecified medical issue with one of the crew member as the reason behind this decision. Also Read: During Halloween weekend, solar flare helps northern lights become visible to US On Monday, the space agency described it as a “minor medical issue” that was “not a medical emergency and not related to Covid”. It declined to elaborate on the nature of the issue or say which astronaut was involved. Originally set for Sunday, the launch has been postponed until Wednesday because of unsuitable weather conditions and then had been rescheduled for Saturday night, said NASA. Also Read: Opinion: Would Russia or China help us if we were invaded by space aliens? The SpaceX-built vehicle is set to fly this weekend. It consists of a Crew Dragon capsule and a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket. It is now set for liftoff at 11.36 pm on Saturday from NASA’s Kennedy space centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. If everything goes smoothly, the three US astronauts and their European Space Agency (ESA) crewmate will reach 22 hours later and dock with the space station 400km (250 miles) above the Earth to begin a six-month science mission. (With inputs from agencies)

After ‘medical issue’ with astronaut, NASA delays SpaceX rocket launch to ISS

<p>Col. Wang Yaping is a pilot in the People’s Liberation Army’s Air Force. She is a space veteran, now making her second trip into orbit. She is set in the coming weeks to be the first Chinese woman to walk in space as China’s space station glides around Earth at 17,100 mph.</p>

<p>And yet, as she began a six-month mission last week at the core of China’s ambitious space program, official and news media attention fixated as much on the comparative physiology of men and women, menstruation cycles, and the 5-year-old daughter she has left behind, as they did on her accomplishments. (No one asked about the children of her two male colleagues.)</p>

<p>Shortly before the launch, Pang Zhihao, an official with the China National Space Administration, let it be known that a cargo capsule had supplied the orbiting space station with sanitary napkins and cosmetics.</p>

<p>“Female astronauts may be in better condition after putting on makeup,” he said in remarks shown on CCTV, the state television network.</p>

<p>At 41, Wang is a model of gender equality in a country where Mao Zedong famously said that “women hold up half the sky,” and the object of an undercurrent of sexism and condescension that courses through Chinese society, business and politics.</p>

<p>In China today, it is rare for women outside the entertainment industry to reach such public prominence as Wang. When they do manage to break barriers, their accomplishments are often viewed through the prism of gender.</p>

<p>In a short television report showing her training for the upcoming spacewalk, Wang exuded confidence, saying she hoped the mission aboard the new space station, called Tiangong, would be “more brilliant because of me.” She also hinted at the hurdles she had to overcome.</p>

<p>“For me, being an astronaut is not a profession, but a career, and it is such a career that I have an ardent love for,” she said. “This love is enough for me to overcome all difficulties, to overcome all barriers and even to sacrifice my own life.”</p>

<p>Online debates have erupted over whether women and men are fit for the same physical tasks.</p>

<p>“Most girls cannot do hard work or sweaty labor,” one user wrote on Weibo, China’s version of Twitter. “Women must face up to this characteristic of their gender.” Others suggested she should have cut her hair or wondered how she would wash it.</p>


Col. Wang Yaping is a pilot in the People’s Liberation Army’s Air Force. She is a space veteran, now making her second trip into orbit. She is set in the coming weeks to be the first Chinese woman to walk in space as China’s space station glides around Earth at 17,100 mph.

Col. Wang Yaping is a pilot in the People’s Liberation Army’s Air Force. She is a space veteran, now making her second trip into orbit. She is set in the coming weeks to be the first Chinese woman to walk in space as China’s space station glides around Earth at 17,100 mph. And yet, as she began a six-month mission last week at the core of China’s ambitious space program, official and news media attention fixated as much on the comparative physiology of men and women, menstruation cycles, and the 5-year-old daughter she has left behind, as they did on her accomplishments. (No one asked about the children of her two male colleagues.) Shortly before the launch, Pang Zhihao, an official with the China National Space Administration, let it be known that a cargo capsule had supplied the orbiting space station with sanitary napkins and cosmetics. “Female astronauts may be in better condition after putting on makeup,” he said in remarks shown on CCTV, the state television network. At 41, Wang is a model of gender equality in a country where Mao Zedong famously said that “women hold up half the sky,” and the object of an undercurrent of sexism and condescension that courses through Chinese society, business and politics. In China today, it is rare for women outside the entertainment industry to reach such public prominence as Wang. When they do manage to break barriers, their accomplishments are often viewed through the prism of gender. In a short television report showing her training for the upcoming spacewalk, Wang exuded confidence, saying she hoped the mission aboard the new space station, called Tiangong, would be “more brilliant because of me.” She also hinted at the hurdles she had to overcome. “For me, being an astronaut is not a profession, but a career, and it is such a career that I have an ardent love for,” she said. “This love is enough for me to overcome all difficulties, to overcome all barriers and even to sacrifice my own life.” Online debates have erupted over whether women and men are fit for the same physical tasks. “Most girls cannot do hard work or sweaty labor,” one user wrote on Weibo, China’s version of Twitter. “Women must face up to this characteristic of their gender.” Others suggested she should have cut her hair or wondered how she would wash it.

She is breaking glass ceilings in space, but facing sexism on Earth

<p>Astronaut Thomas Pesquet has a fanbase of his own! The European Space Agency astronaut is perched on the International Space Station (ISS). And from there, he clicks beautiful pics of Earth and space. His posts on his Instagram account reveal wonders of our own planet and space alike.</p>

<p>On October 8, Pesquet posted an image in which part of night side of Earth was visible. The land could be seen lit up with cities and roads and more. While this alone very much made for a beautiful image, a certain detail in the photo was unmissable.</p>

<p>Prominent among the yellow lights was a blue glow just near the centre of the image. It resembled movie depiction of a blast taking place. The bluish hue appears mysterious and certainly piques interest.</p>

<p>Pesquet explains in his post that the blue glow is of a '...thunder strike with a ‘transient luminous event’...' The phenomenon, he says has taken place in upper atmosphere.</p>

<p>"A single frame from a timelapse over Europe, showing a thunder strike with a ‘transient luminous event’ in the upper atmosphere!! This is a very rare occurrence and we have a facility outside Europe's Columbus laboratory dedicated to observing these flashes of light. The Space Station is extremely well suited for this observatory as it flies over the equator where there are more thunderstorms. What is fascinating about this lightning is that just a few decades ago they had been observed anecdotally by pilots and scientists were not convinced they actually existed. Fast forward a few years and we can confirm elves, and sprites are very real and could be influencing our climate too! My friend Andreas Mogensen has a large part to play in this story, he was the first to capture them from space (in only ten days on the Space Station he did all this, legend!) proving the worth of having a facility to monitor the flashes!" says Pesquet in his Instagram post.</p>

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<p>Like any other Instagram post of Pesquet, this one has mesmerised thousands. The image has got more than 40,000 likes.</p>


Astronaut Thomas Pesquet has a fanbase of his own! The European Space Agency astronaut is perched on the International Space Station (ISS). And from there, he clicks beautiful pics of Earth and space.

Astronaut Thomas Pesquet has a fanbase of his own! The European Space Agency astronaut is perched on the International Space Station (ISS). And from there, he clicks beautiful pics of Earth and space. His posts on his Instagram account reveal wonders of our own planet and space alike. On October 8, Pesquet posted an image in which part of night side of Earth was visible. The land could be seen lit up with cities and roads and more. While this alone very much made for a beautiful image, a certain detail in the photo was unmissable. Prominent among the yellow lights was a blue glow just near the centre of the image. It resembled movie depiction of a blast taking place. The bluish hue appears mysterious and certainly piques interest. Pesquet explains in his post that the blue glow is of a '...thunder strike with a ‘transient luminous event’...' The phenomenon, he says has taken place in upper atmosphere. "A single frame from a timelapse over Europe, showing a thunder strike with a ‘transient luminous event’ in the upper atmosphere!! This is a very rare occurrence and we have a facility outside Europe's Columbus laboratory dedicated to observing these flashes of light. The Space Station is extremely well suited for this observatory as it flies over the equator where there are more thunderstorms. What is fascinating about this lightning is that just a few decades ago they had been observed anecdotally by pilots and scientists were not convinced they actually existed. Fast forward a few years and we can confirm elves, and sprites are very real and could be influencing our climate too! My friend Andreas Mogensen has a large part to play in this story, he was the first to capture them from space (in only ten days on the Space Station he did all this, legend!) proving the worth of having a facility to monitor the flashes!" says Pesquet in his Instagram post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Thomas Pesquet (@thom_astro) × Like any other Instagram post of Pesquet, this one has mesmerised thousands. The image has got more than 40,000 likes.

Astronaut's photo from space reveals a strange blue glow on Earth

<p>You may have seen aurora&nbsp;in person if you ever happened to go to Scandinavian countries or far in the southern hemisphere. The photos are aplenty. It's possible for most of us to witness them once in life, at least dream of it. But watching the mesmerising play of aurora from above it is a fortune only astronauts may have.</p>

<p>And in times of social media, it has become possible for them to share the wonderful experience with all of us. Thomas Pesquet, the European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut has done just the same from his perch on International Space Station (ISS). He has posted a picture of aurora, not with sky in its background but Earth! This adds another one to what is a soothing play of colours.</p>

<p>In Pesquet's photo, the blue Earth appears bathed in colour green. The waves dance, rise up and reach the horizon where they change colour to red.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-posts-image-of-hand-of-god-netizens-are-awestruck-416265">NASA posts image of 'Hand of God', netizens are awestruck</a></strong></p>

<p>"Another aurora but this one is special as it is so bright. It is the full Moon lighting up the shadow side of Earth almost like daylight." writes Pesquet in his post on Instagram.</p>

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<p>He hasn't mentioned exact location of the aurora or whether it was Aurora Borealis or Aurora Australis (aurora visible in southern hemisphere). But such details don't matter while we look at the picture.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-super-huge-comet-is-hurtling-through-space-towards-solar-system-asteroids-black-hole-416501">A super-huge comet is hurtling through space towards solar system</a></strong></p>

<p>Aurora is formed due to interaction between solar particles and particles of Earth's atmosphere. When particles from the Sun interact with Earth's magnetic field, they get channelled to the poles and there they interact with the atmosphere. The result? A soft dance of colours which is a sight to behold!</p>


You may have seen aurora in person if you ever happened to go to Scandinavian countries or far in the southern hemisphere. The photos are aplenty. It's possible for most of us to witness them once in life, at least dream of it.

You may have seen aurora in person if you ever happened to go to Scandinavian countries or far in the southern hemisphere. The photos are aplenty. It's possible for most of us to witness them once in life, at least dream of it. But watching the mesmerising play of aurora from above it is a fortune only astronauts may have. And in times of social media, it has become possible for them to share the wonderful experience with all of us. Thomas Pesquet, the European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut has done just the same from his perch on International Space Station (ISS). He has posted a picture of aurora, not with sky in its background but Earth! This adds another one to what is a soothing play of colours. In Pesquet's photo, the blue Earth appears bathed in colour green. The waves dance, rise up and reach the horizon where they change colour to red. Also Read | NASA posts image of 'Hand of God', netizens are awestruck "Another aurora but this one is special as it is so bright. It is the full Moon lighting up the shadow side of Earth almost like daylight." writes Pesquet in his post on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Thomas Pesquet (@thom_astro) × He hasn't mentioned exact location of the aurora or whether it was Aurora Borealis or Aurora Australis (aurora visible in southern hemisphere). But such details don't matter while we look at the picture. Also Read | A super-huge comet is hurtling through space towards solar system Aurora is formed due to interaction between solar particles and particles of Earth's atmosphere. When particles from the Sun interact with Earth's magnetic field, they get channelled to the poles and there they interact with the atmosphere. The result? A soft dance of colours which is a sight to behold!

Astronaut posts breathtaking photo of aurora taken from above Earth

<p>Medical issue with one of its astronauts has forced NASA to delay the spacewalk at the International Space Station. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The postponement was announced by the officials on Monday, just less than 24 hours before Mark Vande Hei was supposed to float outside. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/asteroid-termed-potentially-hazardous-by-nasa-is-coming-near-earth-407273"><strong>Asteroid termed 'potentially hazardous' by NASA is coming near Earth</strong></a></p>

<p>The officials said, Vande Hei was dealing with “a minor medical issue”. They noted, it was not an emergency, but did not provide any further details. &nbsp;</p>

<p>54-year-old Vande Hei, who is a retired army colonel, has been at the space station since April. He is expected to remain there until next spring for a one-year mission. This is Vande Hei’s second stay at the station. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ex-nasa-scientists-earth-saving-idea-involves-stealing-energy-from-jupiter-407863">Ex-NASA scientist's Earth-saving idea involves stealing energy from Jupiter</a></strong></p>

<p>On Tuesday, Vande Hei and Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide were supposed to venture out to install a bracket for new solar wings. NASA said the work can wait. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The spacewalk will now be rescheduled after this weekend’s planned supply run by SpaceX and a September series of spacewalks on the Russian side of the orbiting lab, according to NASA.&nbsp;</p>


Medical issue with one of its astronauts has forced NASA to delay the spacewalk at the International Space Station. The postponement was announced by the officials on Monday, just less than 24 hours before Mark Vande Hei was supposed to float outside.

Medical issue with one of its astronauts has forced NASA to delay the spacewalk at the International Space Station. The postponement was announced by the officials on Monday, just less than 24 hours before Mark Vande Hei was supposed to float outside. Also Read: Asteroid termed 'potentially hazardous' by NASA is coming near Earth The officials said, Vande Hei was dealing with “a minor medical issue”. They noted, it was not an emergency, but did not provide any further details. 54-year-old Vande Hei, who is a retired army colonel, has been at the space station since April. He is expected to remain there until next spring for a one-year mission. This is Vande Hei’s second stay at the station. Also Read: Ex-NASA scientist's Earth-saving idea involves stealing energy from Jupiter On Tuesday, Vande Hei and Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide were supposed to venture out to install a bracket for new solar wings. NASA said the work can wait. The spacewalk will now be rescheduled after this weekend’s planned supply run by SpaceX and a September series of spacewalks on the Russian side of the orbiting lab, according to NASA.

Astronaut’s medical issue makes NASA delay spacewalk at ISS  

We have heard of billionaires heading to space. But UAE's Nora Al-Matrooshi is shattering the glass ceiling in space! The first Arab woman astronaut speaks exclusively to WION.

UAE's first female astronaut Nora Al-Matrooshi speaks to WION

In Pics | Chinese astronauts conduct first spacewalk

<p>Chinese astronauts successfully performed the country's first tandem spacewalk on Sunday, working for seven hours on the outside of the new Tiangong station in orbit around Earth.</p>

<p>Tiangong's construction is a major step in China's ambitious space programme, which has seen the nation land a rover on Mars and send probes to the Moon.</p>

<p>Three astronauts blasted off last month to become the station's first crew, where they are to remain for three months in China's longest crewed mission to date.</p>

<p>On Sunday morning, two of them exited the station for around seven hours of work in the first spacewalk at Tiangong, the China Manned Space Agency said.</p>

<p>"The safe return of astronauts Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo to the Tianhe core module marks the complete success of the first spacewalk in our country's space station construction," the space agency said.</p>

<p>Their tasks involved elevating a panoramic camera outside the Tianhe core module, as well as testing the station's robotic arm which will be used to transfer future modules around the station, state media said.</p>

<p>The astronauts installed foot stops on the robotic arm and, with its support, carried out other assembly work, added the space agency.</p>

<p>In a video clip of Liu leaving the cabin, he exclaimed: "Wow, it's too beautiful out here."</p>

<p>Television footage showed the astronauts preparing for the spacewalk by donning gear and conducting health checks while exercising.</p>

<p>Liu and Tang were later shown opening the hatch and exiting the module separately, wearing newly developed suits said to weigh some 130 kilograms.</p>

<p>They were supported from inside the station by the mission commander Nie Haisheng, a decorated air force pilot who is on his third space mission.</p>

<p>This was the first of two spacewalks planned for the mission, both expected to last six or seven hours.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippine-military-plane-carrying-92-people-crashes-40-rescued-17-dead-395665"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Philippine military plane carrying 92 people crashes; 40 rescued, 17 dead</strong></a></p>

<p>It was also the first time since 2008 that Chinese astronauts went outside their spacecraft. Back then, Zhai Zhigang made China the third country to complete a spacewalk after the Soviet Union and the United States.</p>

<p>This is China's first crewed mission in nearly five years, and a matter of huge prestige as the country marks the 100th anniversary of the ruling Communist Party this month with a massive propaganda campaign.</p>

<p>To prepare, the crew underwent more than 6,000 hours of training.</p>

<p>The Chinese space agency is planning a total of 11 launches through to the&nbsp;end of next year, including three more crewed missions. They will deliver two lab modules to expand the station, along with supplies and astronauts.</p>

<p><strong>'Beyond words'</strong></p>

<p>On Sunday, state television showed footage of the astronauts' daily lives on Tiangong, including setting up an exercise bike and working out on a treadmill.</p>

<p>One crew member was shown eating with chopsticks, while another did a handstand and somersault after mealtime.</p>

<p>The mission attracted a flurry of discussion online, with a hashtag about the spacewalk garnering 200 million views on China's Twitter-like platform Weibo.</p>

<p>One user wrote: "How much I'm moved by each step of achievement is beyond words."</p>

<p>President Xi Jinping has said the construction of China's first space station is opening "new horizons" in humanity's bid to explore the cosmos.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-orders-investigation-into-ransomware-attack-that-targetted-1000-businesses-395642"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Joe Biden orders investigation into ransomware attack that targetted 1,000 businesses</strong></a></p>

<p>China's ambition to build an orbiting outpost of its own was fuelled in part by a US ban on its astronauts on the International Space Station, a collaboration between the United States, Russia, Canada, Europe and Japan.</p>

<p>The ISS is due for retirement after 2024, although NASA has said it could potentially remain functional beyond 2028.</p>

<p>Tiangong is expected to have a lifespan of at least 10 years, and China has said it would be open to international collaboration on the station.</p>


Chinese astronauts successfully performed the country's first tandem spacewalk on Sunday, working for seven hours on the outside of the new Tiangong station in orbit around Earth.

Chinese astronauts successfully performed the country's first tandem spacewalk on Sunday, working for seven hours on the outside of the new Tiangong station in orbit around Earth. Tiangong's construction is a major step in China's ambitious space programme, which has seen the nation land a rover on Mars and send probes to the Moon. Three astronauts blasted off last month to become the station's first crew, where they are to remain for three months in China's longest crewed mission to date. On Sunday morning, two of them exited the station for around seven hours of work in the first spacewalk at Tiangong, the China Manned Space Agency said. "The safe return of astronauts Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo to the Tianhe core module marks the complete success of the first spacewalk in our country's space station construction," the space agency said. Their tasks involved elevating a panoramic camera outside the Tianhe core module, as well as testing the station's robotic arm which will be used to transfer future modules around the station, state media said. The astronauts installed foot stops on the robotic arm and, with its support, carried out other assembly work, added the space agency. In a video clip of Liu leaving the cabin, he exclaimed: "Wow, it's too beautiful out here." Television footage showed the astronauts preparing for the spacewalk by donning gear and conducting health checks while exercising. Liu and Tang were later shown opening the hatch and exiting the module separately, wearing newly developed suits said to weigh some 130 kilograms. They were supported from inside the station by the mission commander Nie Haisheng, a decorated air force pilot who is on his third space mission. This was the first of two spacewalks planned for the mission, both expected to last six or seven hours. Also read | Philippine military plane carrying 92 people crashes; 40 rescued, 17 dead It was also the first time since 2008 that Chinese astronauts went outside their spacecraft. Back then, Zhai Zhigang made China the third country to complete a spacewalk after the Soviet Union and the United States. This is China's first crewed mission in nearly five years, and a matter of huge prestige as the country marks the 100th anniversary of the ruling Communist Party this month with a massive propaganda campaign. To prepare, the crew underwent more than 6,000 hours of training. The Chinese space agency is planning a total of 11 launches through to the end of next year, including three more crewed missions. They will deliver two lab modules to expand the station, along with supplies and astronauts. 'Beyond words' On Sunday, state television showed footage of the astronauts' daily lives on Tiangong, including setting up an exercise bike and working out on a treadmill. One crew member was shown eating with chopsticks, while another did a handstand and somersault after mealtime. The mission attracted a flurry of discussion online, with a hashtag about the spacewalk garnering 200 million views on China's Twitter-like platform Weibo. One user wrote: "How much I'm moved by each step of achievement is beyond words." President Xi Jinping has said the construction of China's first space station is opening "new horizons" in humanity's bid to explore the cosmos. Also read | Joe Biden orders investigation into ransomware attack that targetted 1,000 businesses China's ambition to build an orbiting outpost of its own was fuelled in part by a US ban on its astronauts on the International Space Station, a collaboration between the United States, Russia, Canada, Europe and Japan. The ISS is due for retirement after 2024, although NASA has said it could potentially remain functional beyond 2028. Tiangong is expected to have a lifespan of at least 10 years, and China has said it would be open to international collaboration on the station.

Astronauts complete first spacewalk at China's new Tiangong station

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