NASA has awarded nearly $1.5 million each to seven companies for studies aimed at exploring more cost-effective methods for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission. The&nbsp; program, which has encountered challenges due to its high cost is currently estimated at $11 billion and involves a&nbsp;plan requiring multiple launches to Mars.

Given the high costs and complexities, NASA is seeking simpler and more affordable methods through studies submitted by industry and academic groups. These studies are aimed at optimising the MSR architecture to reduce risks, expedite the timeline, and lower costs.

MSR, a multi-mission campaign with the ambitious goal of collecting samples from the surface of Mars and returning them to Earth, is a collaborative effort between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).

The selected companies, including Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Quantum Space, and Northrop Grumman, will each conduct ten three-month-long studies to develop innovative approaches.

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The mission, in its original form, would place a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) on the Martian surface to retrieve samples collected by the Perseverance rover. These samples would then be launched into orbit by the MAV, where a spacecraft would collect them and return them to Earth.

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NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, along with Johns Hopkins' Applied Physics Laboratory, is also contributing to these studies. NASA is planning to review all findings to consider possible modifications or improvements to the MSR mission plan.

<h2>Looking into innovative ideas</h2>

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that the mission will be "critical to carry it out more quickly, with less risk, and at a lower cost." He added, "I'm excited to see the vision that these companies, centres, and partners present as we look for fresh, exciting, and innovative ideas to uncover great cosmic secrets from the Red Planet."

Watch | Energy drinks linked to sudden cardiac arrests, says new study | Gravitas

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The Mars Sample Return mission is part of NASA's broader effort to understand Mars' early history and the formation and evolution of habitable worlds, including Earth.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA has awarded nearly $1.5 million each to seven companies for studies aimed at exploring more cost-effective methods for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission.

NASA has awarded nearly $1.5 million each to seven companies for studies aimed at exploring more cost-effective methods for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission. The program, which has encountered challenges due to its high cost is currently estimated at $11 billion and involves a plan requiring multiple launches to Mars. Given the high costs and complexities, NASA is seeking simpler and more affordable methods through studies submitted by industry and academic groups. These studies are aimed at optimising the MSR architecture to reduce risks, expedite the timeline, and lower costs. MSR, a multi-mission campaign with the ambitious goal of collecting samples from the surface of Mars and returning them to Earth, is a collaborative effort between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). The selected companies, including Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Quantum Space, and Northrop Grumman, will each conduct ten three-month-long studies to develop innovative approaches. Also Read | Washington, Vancouver Island as epicentres of future Cascadian earthquakes: Study The mission, in its original form, would place a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) on the Martian surface to retrieve samples collected by the Perseverance rover. These samples would then be launched into orbit by the MAV, where a spacecraft would collect them and return them to Earth. Also Read | Scientists find remains of smallest known great ape in Germany NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, along with Johns Hopkins' Applied Physics Laboratory, is also contributing to these studies. NASA is planning to review all findings to consider possible modifications or improvements to the MSR mission plan. Looking into innovative ideas NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that the mission will be "critical to carry it out more quickly, with less risk, and at a lower cost." He added, "I'm excited to see the vision that these companies, centres, and partners present as we look for fresh, exciting, and innovative ideas to uncover great cosmic secrets from the Red Planet." Watch | Energy drinks linked to sudden cardiac arrests, says new study | Gravitas × The Mars Sample Return mission is part of NASA's broader effort to understand Mars' early history and the formation and evolution of habitable worlds, including Earth. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA awards over $10mn grants to explore innovative Mars sample return methods

As he praised the months-long counteroffensive against the Russian soldiers in the country's southeast, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced fresh aid for Ukraine totaling more than $1 billion during a visit to Kyiv. This aid includes around $665 million in new military and civilian security assistance.

Russia-Ukraine War: US grants $1 BN military, humanitarian aid to Ukraine

By Siddhant Sibbal

Pakistan's ruling PML(N) has presented its last budget with CPEC, terror and Afghanistan making their way into the papers. But where Pakistan is involved, so is geopolitics. &nbsp;

As always, Pakistan increased its defence budget. The Pakistani defence budget has been proposed at Pakistani Rs 1,100 billion for FY 2018-2019 as against the revised budget of Rs 999 billion for 2017-18.&nbsp;

And its no longer 3 A’s — Allah, America and the Army — but ACC — Allah, China and CPEC.

 
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor 
CPEC found mention seven times in Pakistan Finance Minister Miftah Ismail's speech.&nbsp;

Lauding CPEC, Ismail said, “Vision of Mian Nawaz Sharif, CPEC initiative has become a global brand of Pakistan. &nbsp;As part of CPEC, our government initiated road projects that would link north of Pakistan with Gwadar. Trans-Pakistan corridor of motorways and special economic zones are designed to provide jobs, enhance manufacturing base, and increase prosperity and growth.”&nbsp;

He said that as part of CPEC, the Pakistani government has also finalised its plan to increase by three times the speed of trains on Main Line-I from Peshawar to Karachi.

 
Chinese loans replace US aid 
China has already overtaken, by millions of Pakistani rupees, the US when it comes to loans granted to Pakistan, and this year it will grant even more. In FY 2018-2019, China will be giving loans and grants to Pakistan amounting to Pakistani Rs 98,395.783 million.&nbsp;

Of this, Rs 96,895.738 million will be in the form of loans while Rs 1,500 million will be in the form of grants. The US will be providing just Rs 13,523 million but all of it will be a grant. Clearly. most of the Chinese money being pumped into Pakistan is in the form of loans, the rates of interest on which are not known and nor are the tenures.&nbsp;

China however is well known for its loans ensnaring countries in debt traps.&nbsp;

South Asia has a lot of examples. The most famous one being Sri Lanka's Hambantota port of which China has been granted a 99-year lease.

China’s foreign investment has been called predatory and many in Pakistan itself believe that CPEC could turn Pakistan into a Chinese colony.

<img alt="23.JPG" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="685" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/23.JPG" width="610" />

(The loans and grants provided to Pakistan.)

&nbsp;

The AIIB link 
Interestingly, the China-led AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) is also giving loans to Islamabad.&nbsp;

India, with a 7.6% share, is the second largest shareholder in the bank.&nbsp;

AIIB will be giving Pakistan loans totalling up to Rs 13,189 million. It’s a substantial increase from the Rs 5,289.609 given in FY 2017-2018. The new AIIB loan will be given for rehabilitation of the existing carriageway between the DI Khan-Saraigumble section, the Rajanpur-DG. Khan section, and Sehan-Ratodero.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Gwadar: China’s helping hand to the port 
China and Pakistan's love child remains Gwadar.&nbsp;

Pakistan has been granted a Rs 200 million loan for fresh water supply and distribution at Gwadar, and a Rs 100 million loan for the upgradation of an existing 50-bed hospital to 300 beds at the port.&nbsp;

China has also made a Rs 1,000 million grant for the construction of the new Gwadar international airport.

 
China to help in Pakistan's space projects 
Beijing will also be helping Pakistan in its space projects.&nbsp;

According to the Estimates of Foreign Assistance 2018-19, China will help Pakistan build a remote sensing satellite by giving it a loan of Rs 1,116 million space centres in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi with a Rs 700 million loan and a multi-mission satellite (PAK SAT MM1) with a loan of Rs 850 million.&nbsp;

India had approached Pakistan to be a part of the South Asian satellite project, which Islamabad declined. All the other South Asian countries are part of the New Delhi-led project.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

$126.79 billion: Cost of terror since 2001 
The Pakistani economic survey has a special header “Annex-IV: Impact of War in Afghanistan and Ensuing Terrorism on Pakistan's Economy”.&nbsp;

The two pages talk of what Pakistan has been cribbing about for the last 20 years. That they are victims of terror, but without mentioning how they have provided safe haven to terrorists. According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan, in the last 17 years, the direct and indirect cost incurred by Pakistan due to incidents of terrorism totalled up to US$ 126.79 billion 10,762.64 billion in Pakistani rupees.

<img alt="1.JPG" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="480" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/1.JPG" width="806" />

(The cost of terror paid by Pakistan.)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Afghan refugees are a burden: Economic Survey of Pakistan 
The Pakistani economic survey says the country “continues to be a target of terrorism, including state-sponsored terrorism from its immediate neighbours”. It goes on to say Afghan refugees are a burden on the Pakistani economy. The survey said: “Hosting of millions of Afghan refugees not only burdened Pakistan’s economy but also put additional stress on its internal security situation. Pakistan continued to face terrorist attacks from terrorist hide-outs in Afghanistan.”

&nbsp;

Footnote 
Nothing of course can happen without a bit of drama in Pakistan.&nbsp;

The Pakistani Finance minister Miftah Ismail was sworn in just a few hours ahead of the budget. A miffed opposition walked out. It may be recalled that Ishaq Dar was the Finance Minister until he voluntarily stepped down after a corruption case against him.

China has already overtaken, by millions of Pakistani rupees, the US when it comes to loans granted to Pakistan, and this year it will grant even more

By Siddhant Sibbal Pakistan's ruling PML(N) has presented its last budget with CPEC, terror and Afghanistan making their way into the papers. But where Pakistan is involved, so is geopolitics. As always, Pakistan increased its defence budget. The Pakistani defence budget has been proposed at Pakistani Rs 1,100 billion for FY 2018-2019 as against the revised budget of Rs 999 billion for 2017-18. And its no longer 3 A’s — Allah, America and the Army — but ACC — Allah, China and CPEC. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC found mention seven times in Pakistan Finance Minister Miftah Ismail's speech. Lauding CPEC, Ismail said, “Vision of Mian Nawaz Sharif, CPEC initiative has become a global brand of Pakistan. As part of CPEC, our government initiated road projects that would link north of Pakistan with Gwadar. Trans-Pakistan corridor of motorways and special economic zones are designed to provide jobs, enhance manufacturing base, and increase prosperity and growth.” He said that as part of CPEC, the Pakistani government has also finalised its plan to increase by three times the speed of trains on Main Line-I from Peshawar to Karachi. Chinese loans replace US aid China has already overtaken, by millions of Pakistani rupees, the US when it comes to loans granted to Pakistan, and this year it will grant even more. In FY 2018-2019, China will be giving loans and grants to Pakistan amounting to Pakistani Rs 98,395.783 million. Of this, Rs 96,895.738 million will be in the form of loans while Rs 1,500 million will be in the form of grants. The US will be providing just Rs 13,523 million but all of it will be a grant. Clearly. most of the Chinese money being pumped into Pakistan is in the form of loans, the rates of interest on which are not known and nor are the tenures. China however is well known for its loans ensnaring countries in debt traps. South Asia has a lot of examples. The most famous one being Sri Lanka's Hambantota port of which China has been granted a 99-year lease. China’s foreign investment has been called predatory and many in Pakistan itself believe that CPEC could turn Pakistan into a Chinese colony. (The loans and grants provided to Pakistan.) The AIIB link Interestingly, the China-led AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) is also giving loans to Islamabad. India, with a 7.6% share, is the second largest shareholder in the bank. AIIB will be giving Pakistan loans totalling up to Rs 13,189 million. It’s a substantial increase from the Rs 5,289.609 given in FY 2017-2018. The new AIIB loan will be given for rehabilitation of the existing carriageway between the DI Khan-Saraigumble section, the Rajanpur-DG. Khan section, and Sehan-Ratodero. Gwadar: China’s helping hand to the port China and Pakistan's love child remains Gwadar. Pakistan has been granted a Rs 200 million loan for fresh water supply and distribution at Gwadar, and a Rs 100 million loan for the upgradation of an existing 50-bed hospital to 300 beds at the port. China has also made a Rs 1,000 million grant for the construction of the new Gwadar international airport. China to help in Pakistan's space projects Beijing will also be helping Pakistan in its space projects. According to the Estimates of Foreign Assistance 2018-19, China will help Pakistan build a remote sensing satellite by giving it a loan of Rs 1,116 million space centres in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi with a Rs 700 million loan and a multi-mission satellite (PAK SAT MM1) with a loan of Rs 850 million. India had approached Pakistan to be a part of the South Asian satellite project, which Islamabad declined. All the other South Asian countries are part of the New Delhi-led project. $126.79 billion: Cost of terror since 2001 The Pakistani economic survey has a special header “Annex-IV: Impact of War in Afghanistan and Ensuing Terrorism on Pakistan's Economy”. The two pages talk of what Pakistan has been cribbing about for the last 20 years. That they are victims of terror, but without mentioning how they have provided safe haven to terrorists. According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan, in the last 17 years, the direct and indirect cost incurred by Pakistan due to incidents of terrorism totalled up to US$ 126.79 billion 10,762.64 billion in Pakistani rupees. (The cost of terror paid by Pakistan.) Afghan refugees are a burden: Economic Survey of Pakistan The Pakistani economic survey says the country “continues to be a target of terrorism, including state-sponsored terrorism from its immediate neighbours”. It goes on to say Afghan refugees are a burden on the Pakistani economy. The survey said: “Hosting of millions of Afghan refugees not only burdened Pakistan’s economy but also put additional stress on its internal security situation. Pakistan continued to face terrorist attacks from terrorist hide-outs in Afghanistan.” Footnote Nothing of course can happen without a bit of drama in Pakistan. The Pakistani Finance minister Miftah Ismail was sworn in just a few hours ahead of the budget. A miffed opposition walked out. It may be recalled that Ishaq Dar was the Finance Minister until he voluntarily stepped down after a corruption case against him.

China is Pakistan's new paymaster: A closer look at the Pakistani budget

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