NASA called off a test flight on Monday of its largest-ever rocket in a setback to the ambitious program to send humans back to the Moon and eventually to Mars. NASA now says it will launch Artemis 1 mission on Friday.

NASA: Friday launch of Artemis 1 possible; launch signifies the Apollo mission's modern incarnation

NASA to launch Artemis 1 moon rocket and the mission will start on August 29th. NASA's eventual goal is to set up a colony on the moon and the moon mission is test for Mars exploration.

All eyes on NASA's moon rocket launch; Artemis 1 mission to launch on an uncrewed test flight

Humans are all set to aim for the moon again with the Artemis program. The program will also pave way for the humans to embark on manned Mars missions.

Artemis I Explained: NASA's first mission to land humans on the moon after 50 years

For the first time in India’s history, five women officers of the Indian Navy’s INAS 314 completed a maritime reconnaissance and surveillance mission onboard&nbsp;a Dornier 228 aircraft in the North Arabian Sea. These officers are based at the Naval Air Enclave in western Gujarat’s Porbandar city.

The aircraft was captained by the Mission Commander, Lieutenant Commander Aanchal Sharma, who had pilots — Lt Shivangi and Lt Apurva Gite — and tactical and sensor officers Lt Pooja Panda and Sub Lt Pooja Shekhawat in her team, according to the statement by the Indian Navy.

INAS 314 is a frontline Naval Air Squadron and operates the state-of-the-art Dornier 228 maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

In the run-up to the historical sortie, the women officers received months of ground training and comprehensive mission briefings.

Considering that this is a first-of-its-kind military flying mission, the Navy expects the achievement to pave the way for women officers in the aviation cadre to assume greater responsibility and aspire for more challenging roles.

“The Indian Navy has been a front-runner in driving transformation in the Armed Forces. Its impressive and pioneering women empowerment initiatives include induction of women pilots, selection of women Air Operations Officers into the helicopter stream and conducting an all-women sailing circumnavigation expedition across the globe in 2018,” it said in the press note.

“It perhaps marks a unique achievement for the Armed Forces that a crew of only women officers undertook an independent operational mission in a multi-crew maritime surveillance aircraft,” it added.

The 19-seater Dornier 228 was developed by the India state unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It is a highly versatile multi-purpose light transport aircraft.

It has been developed specifically to meet the manifold requirements of utility and commuter transport, third-level services and air-taxi operations, coast guard duties and maritime surveillance.

The&nbsp;Dornier 228 is based on German design and production of the 1980s-90s. &nbsp;In&nbsp;1983, HAL bought a production licence and manufactured at least 125 aircraft. In July 2017, 63 aircraft were still in airline service.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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For the first time in India’s history, five women officers of the Indian Navy’s INAS 314 completed a maritime reconnaissance and surveillance mission onboard a Dornier 228 aircraft in the North Arabian Sea.

For the first time in India’s history, five women officers of the Indian Navy’s INAS 314 completed a maritime reconnaissance and surveillance mission onboard a Dornier 228 aircraft in the North Arabian Sea. These officers are based at the Naval Air Enclave in western Gujarat’s Porbandar city. The aircraft was captained by the Mission Commander, Lieutenant Commander Aanchal Sharma, who had pilots — Lt Shivangi and Lt Apurva Gite — and tactical and sensor officers Lt Pooja Panda and Sub Lt Pooja Shekhawat in her team, according to the statement by the Indian Navy. INAS 314 is a frontline Naval Air Squadron and operates the state-of-the-art Dornier 228 maritime reconnaissance aircraft. In the run-up to the historical sortie, the women officers received months of ground training and comprehensive mission briefings. Considering that this is a first-of-its-kind military flying mission, the Navy expects the achievement to pave the way for women officers in the aviation cadre to assume greater responsibility and aspire for more challenging roles. “The Indian Navy has been a front-runner in driving transformation in the Armed Forces. Its impressive and pioneering women empowerment initiatives include induction of women pilots, selection of women Air Operations Officers into the helicopter stream and conducting an all-women sailing circumnavigation expedition across the globe in 2018,” it said in the press note. “It perhaps marks a unique achievement for the Armed Forces that a crew of only women officers undertook an independent operational mission in a multi-crew maritime surveillance aircraft,” it added. The 19-seater Dornier 228 was developed by the India state unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It is a highly versatile multi-purpose light transport aircraft. It has been developed specifically to meet the manifold requirements of utility and commuter transport, third-level services and air-taxi operations, coast guard duties and maritime surveillance. The Dornier 228 is based on German design and production of the 1980s-90s. In 1983, HAL bought a production licence and manufactured at least 125 aircraft. In July 2017, 63 aircraft were still in airline service. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

In a first, Indian Navy’s all-women aircrew conducts surveillance mission over Arabian Sea

In September, this year NASA will execute an exciting mission. It will try to change an asteroid's orbit to avoid potential collision. The name of this mission is DART.

'DART' Mission: NASA gears-up for first 'planetary defence' test

In Pics: Chinese three-person Shenzhou 14 mission arrives at Tiangong space station for six-month stay

In Pics: First private astronauts’ mission to ISS lifts off in US

History has been made today. For the first time, an all-private astronaut mission, Axiom Mission 1, has been sent to International Space Station (ISS). &nbsp;

The four-member crew, who were selected by Houston-based startup Axiom Space Inc, left for the space laboratory in a SpaceX rocket ship on Friday. It is the landmark debut spaceflight for the firm. &nbsp;&nbsp;

It is sending three customers, who have paid for the flight and an Axiom employee Michael López-Alegría to the ISS for an eight-day stay. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/methane-concentration-in-earths-atmosphere-witnessed-record-rise-in-2021-469382" hreflang="en">Methane concentration in Earth’s atmosphere witnessed record rise in 2021</a>

López-Alegría, who is also a former NASA astronaut, is leading the mission. While the other three are pilot Larry Connor and mission specialists, Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy. The four astronauts will stay and work on the flying outpost. &nbsp; &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Separation confirmed! <a href="https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Axiom_Space</a>'s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ax1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ax1</a> mission is now on its way in the <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> Dragon Endeavour. Next stop: the International <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a>. <a href="https://t.co/Q3uLLWy2B6">pic.twitter.com/Q3uLLWy2B6</a>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1512454300093538304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The flight, which is being hailed by several people as a new milestone in the commercialisation of low-Earth orbit, lifted off at 11:17 am EDT (1517 GMT) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. &nbsp;

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This takes commerce to a whole new level. <a href="https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Axiom_Space</a>'s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ax1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ax1</a> mission is on its way to the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a>'s Dragon Endeavour—a key step in our ongoing work to open opportunities for space travelers in low-Earth orbit. <a href="https://t.co/SZk7Tseykw">pic.twitter.com/SZk7Tseykw</a>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1512449836511121415?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Axiom’s live video webcast showed the SpaceX launch vehicle, which had a Falcon 9 rocket topped by its Crew Dragon capsule, soaring towards space over Florida's Atlantic coast. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Future of the aviation sector: First of its kind electric aircraft certified for training

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The cameras, which were inside the crew compartment, also showed footage of the four men moments before the rocket lifted off. &nbsp;

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LIVE: Axiom Mission 1 is lifting off from <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAKennedy</a> for eight days of science, outreach, and commercial activities on the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a>! 
 
Launch is scheduled for 11:17am ET (15:17 UTC)—join us, <a href="https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Axiom_Space</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> for live <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ax1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ax1</a> coverage. <a href="https://t.co/xU6PuWRCqI">https://t.co/xU6PuWRCqI</a>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1512434866566086662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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According to the plan, the team will arrive at the space station on Saturday. After around 20-hour-plus flight, the Crew Dragon, which is autonomously operated, will dock with the orbiting outpost around 400 km above the Earth. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The team is carrying equipment and supplies for 26 science and technology experiments, which will be conducted before they head home. &nbsp; &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

History has been made today. For the first time, an all-private astronaut mission, Axiom Mission 1, has been sent to International Space Station (ISS). The four-member crew, who were selected by Houston-based startup Axiom Space Inc, left for the space laboratory in a SpaceX rocket ship on Friday.

History has been made today. For the first time, an all-private astronaut mission, Axiom Mission 1, has been sent to International Space Station (ISS). The four-member crew, who were selected by Houston-based startup Axiom Space Inc, left for the space laboratory in a SpaceX rocket ship on Friday. It is the landmark debut spaceflight for the firm. It is sending three customers, who have paid for the flight and an Axiom employee Michael López-Alegría to the ISS for an eight-day stay. Also Read: Methane concentration in Earth’s atmosphere witnessed record rise in 2021 López-Alegría, who is also a former NASA astronaut, is leading the mission. While the other three are pilot Larry Connor and mission specialists, Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy. The four astronauts will stay and work on the flying outpost. Separation confirmed! @Axiom_Space's #Ax1 mission is now on its way in the @SpaceX Dragon Endeavour. Next stop: the International @Space_Station. pic.twitter.com/Q3uLLWy2B6 — NASA (@NASA) April 8, 2022 × The flight, which is being hailed by several people as a new milestone in the commercialisation of low-Earth orbit, lifted off at 11:17 am EDT (1517 GMT) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This takes commerce to a whole new level. @Axiom_Space's #Ax1 mission is on its way to the @Space_Station in @SpaceX's Dragon Endeavour—a key step in our ongoing work to open opportunities for space travelers in low-Earth orbit. pic.twitter.com/SZk7Tseykw — NASA (@NASA) April 8, 2022 × Axiom’s live video webcast showed the SpaceX launch vehicle, which had a Falcon 9 rocket topped by its Crew Dragon capsule, soaring towards space over Florida's Atlantic coast. Watch: Future of the aviation sector: First of its kind electric aircraft certified for training × The cameras, which were inside the crew compartment, also showed footage of the four men moments before the rocket lifted off. LIVE: Axiom Mission 1 is lifting off from @NASAKennedy for eight days of science, outreach, and commercial activities on the @Space_Station! Launch is scheduled for 11:17am ET (15:17 UTC)—join us, @Axiom_Space, and @SpaceX for live #Ax1 coverage. https://t.co/xU6PuWRCqI — NASA (@NASA) April 8, 2022 × According to the plan, the team will arrive at the space station on Saturday. After around 20-hour-plus flight, the Crew Dragon, which is autonomously operated, will dock with the orbiting outpost around 400 km above the Earth. The team is carrying equipment and supplies for 26 science and technology experiments, which will be conducted before they head home. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | Scripting history: For first time, all-private astronaut mission to ISS soars in space  

Axiom Mission 1, which is also being dubbed as the first private astronauts’ crew heading towards International Space Station (ISS), will launch on Friday (April 8), a Space.com report said. &nbsp;

In this mission, which is also called Ax-1, four astronauts will stay and work on the flying outpost. &nbsp;

Ax-1, which is a SpaceX flight, has been organised by Houston company Axiom Space. It is sending three customers, who have paid for the flight and an Axiom employee Michael López-Alegría to the ISS for an eight-day stay. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/after-blood-presence-of-microplastics-unearthed-in-human-lungs-by-scientists-468917" hreflang="en">After blood, presence of microplastics detected in human lungs</a>

López-Alegría, who is also a former NASA astronaut, is leading the mission. While the other three are pilot Larry Connor and mission specialists, Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy. &nbsp;

What’s special about this mission is that it is taking private astronauts to the ISS for the first time. Till now, ISS has only housed astronauts, cosmonauts and tourists. &nbsp;&nbsp;

NASA seems to have been pushing for commercialisation of the flying laboratory lately. &nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Study: Eating more Avocados improves heart health

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The Ax-1 mission will be launched at 11:17 am EDT from NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. It will also use a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule. This mission will lift off from KSC's Pad 39A. &nbsp;

The team is carrying equipment and supplies for 26 science and technology experiments, which will be conducted before they head home. &nbsp;

“The goal for the Ax-1 crew is to set a standard for all future private astronaut missions in terms of our preparation and professionalism," López-Alegría said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Axiom Mission 1, which is also being dubbed as the first private astronauts’ crew heading towards International Space Station (ISS), will launch on Friday (April 8), a Space.

Axiom Mission 1, which is also being dubbed as the first private astronauts’ crew heading towards International Space Station (ISS), will launch on Friday (April 8), a Space.com report said. In this mission, which is also called Ax-1, four astronauts will stay and work on the flying outpost. Ax-1, which is a SpaceX flight, has been organised by Houston company Axiom Space. It is sending three customers, who have paid for the flight and an Axiom employee Michael López-Alegría to the ISS for an eight-day stay. Also Read: After blood, presence of microplastics detected in human lungs López-Alegría, who is also a former NASA astronaut, is leading the mission. While the other three are pilot Larry Connor and mission specialists, Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy. What’s special about this mission is that it is taking private astronauts to the ISS for the first time. Till now, ISS has only housed astronauts, cosmonauts and tourists. NASA seems to have been pushing for commercialisation of the flying laboratory lately. Watch | Study: Eating more Avocados improves heart health × The Ax-1 mission will be launched at 11:17 am EDT from NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. It will also use a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule. This mission will lift off from KSC's Pad 39A. The team is carrying equipment and supplies for 26 science and technology experiments, which will be conducted before they head home. “The goal for the Ax-1 crew is to set a standard for all future private astronaut missions in terms of our preparation and professionalism," López-Alegría said. (With inputs from agencies)

A new beginning? First private astronauts’ mission to ISS set for launch on April 8  

Pics: From Kuwait airlift in 1990 to operation Ganga in 2022, here are a few evacuation missions by India

The top priority of Dr S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of India's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is to implement the important missions scheduled for the year 2022.&nbsp;

This includes the culmination of rocket launch missions and a few technology demonstrations and crucial tests.&nbsp;

VSSC is the lead centre for the development of rockets and launch vehicle technology of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).&nbsp;

Dr Nair is also the Director, Human Spaceflight Centre, which is responsible for India's ambitious 'Gaganyaan' mission to send astronauts to space, on board an indigenous rocket in a crew module (habitat for astronauts).&nbsp;

WION spoke to Dr Unnikrishnan Nair to understand his vision for VSSC and the important developments that are underway.

Among the crucial requirements of a Human Spaceflight mission, is the ability to detach at will the crew module that sits atop the rocket and carry it to safety, in case of a failure or mission abort.&nbsp;

The ability to save the habitat that contains the astronauts has to be done under two scenarios - at the launch pad, in case an issue is detected with the rocket, or in-flight if there is a risk in going ahead with the mission. While ISRO had conducted the former (Pad abort test) once, the agency is presently working on demonstrating the ability to successfully detach the crew module, while the rocket is in-flight.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-coast-guard-inducts-made-in-india-choppers-for-maritime-security-of-west-coast-452113">Also read |&nbsp;Indian Coast Guard inducts made-in-India choppers for maritime security of west coast</a>

"We have realised a multi-purpose rocket known as 'TV' (Test Vehicle) to accomplish various demonstrations. This vehicle will be powered by the engine of a liquid fuel strap-on motor used on the GSLV Mk 2 rocket, which is ISRO's trusted and reliable Vikas engine. During the test, it can carry the crew module to the required altitude depending upon mission requirements. Once the rocket and crew module separate, the crew module will be on its own and deploy parachutes to slowly splash land on water" Dr Nair explained.

According to him, the Test Vehicle can be modified to demonstrate the possibility of vertical landing.&nbsp;

Besides this, the test vehicle will also be used to carry ISRO's air-breathing technology demonstrator, which aims to use atmospheric oxygen (as oxidiser) to burn the fuel it carries, rather than carrying an oxidiser on board.&nbsp;

Using air-breathing propulsion and re-using the rocket is widely regarded as a means to reduce the launch cost as compared to conventional rockets that fall back into the sea and are unusable after a single flight.

In the first half of this year, ISRO will also be testing the final landing phase of its Re-usable launch vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD), which is similar to a winged rocket, that can be launched vertically and can land like an aircraft.&nbsp;

To test the landing phase of this vehicle, the prototype will be carried to an altitude of 2-3 km by helicopter, following which it will be released.

Another important technology is the 'Inflatable aerodynamic decelerator', a mechanism that can be used to slow down the re-entry vehicles or rocket stages that are re-entering the earth's atmosphere.&nbsp;

Meant to promote the reusability of rockets, this concept involves using a compact inflatable mechanism that remains closed during launch and will open up (inflate) while the rocket is re-entering, thus slowing it down.&nbsp;

"It is similar to how a parachute works, but parachutes are meant for subsonic speeds (slower than the speed of sound) and lower altitudes. This concept can be used for operating at hypersonic or supersonic speeds. This can also be applied for slowing down while attempting landing on planets like Mars," Dr Unnikrishnan elaborated.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-army-teams-mobilised-to-rescue-trekker-stuck-in-crevice-for-30-hours-451577">Also read |&nbsp;India: Army teams mobilised to rescue trekker stuck in crevice for 30 hours</a>

Queried on the progress of the Gaganyaan mission, Dr Nair who is also the Director, Human Spaceflight Centre said that the propulsion stages of the service module (the component that will propel the crew module in space) is undergoing testing, the crew training is progressing and that parachutes would be tested during the in-flight abort test.&nbsp;

Notably, Gaganyaan will have two unmanned flights, before the actual mission that aims to ferry Indian astronauts to space, facilitate in-orbit experiments and return by splashing down in the ocean.

An alumnus of Kerala University (B.Tech in Mech Engineering), IISc, Bengaluru (ME in Aerospace engineering) and IIT-Madras (PhD in Mechanical Engineering), Dr Unnikrishnan Nair took charge as Director, VSSC, earlier this week.&nbsp;

He had started his career in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, in 1985.&nbsp;

During his initial tenure at VSSC, he has made significant contributions to launch vehicle mechanisms, acoustic protection systems and payload fairing areas.

He was associated with Human Spaceflight Programme since its inception as the Project Director for technology development activities.

He had also served as Programme Director of Advanced Space Transportation System, leading all advanced projects like Human Spaceflight, Air Breathing Propulsion and Reusable Launch Vehicle Development.

The top priority of Dr S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of India's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is to implement the important missions scheduled for the year 2022.

The top priority of Dr S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of India's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is to implement the important missions scheduled for the year 2022. This includes the culmination of rocket launch missions and a few technology demonstrations and crucial tests. VSSC is the lead centre for the development of rockets and launch vehicle technology of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Dr Nair is also the Director, Human Spaceflight Centre, which is responsible for India's ambitious 'Gaganyaan' mission to send astronauts to space, on board an indigenous rocket in a crew module (habitat for astronauts). WION spoke to Dr Unnikrishnan Nair to understand his vision for VSSC and the important developments that are underway. Among the crucial requirements of a Human Spaceflight mission, is the ability to detach at will the crew module that sits atop the rocket and carry it to safety, in case of a failure or mission abort. The ability to save the habitat that contains the astronauts has to be done under two scenarios - at the launch pad, in case an issue is detected with the rocket, or in-flight if there is a risk in going ahead with the mission. While ISRO had conducted the former (Pad abort test) once, the agency is presently working on demonstrating the ability to successfully detach the crew module, while the rocket is in-flight. Also read | Indian Coast Guard inducts made-in-India choppers for maritime security of west coast "We have realised a multi-purpose rocket known as 'TV' (Test Vehicle) to accomplish various demonstrations. This vehicle will be powered by the engine of a liquid fuel strap-on motor used on the GSLV Mk 2 rocket, which is ISRO's trusted and reliable Vikas engine. During the test, it can carry the crew module to the required altitude depending upon mission requirements. Once the rocket and crew module separate, the crew module will be on its own and deploy parachutes to slowly splash land on water" Dr Nair explained. According to him, the Test Vehicle can be modified to demonstrate the possibility of vertical landing. Besides this, the test vehicle will also be used to carry ISRO's air-breathing technology demonstrator, which aims to use atmospheric oxygen (as oxidiser) to burn the fuel it carries, rather than carrying an oxidiser on board. Using air-breathing propulsion and re-using the rocket is widely regarded as a means to reduce the launch cost as compared to conventional rockets that fall back into the sea and are unusable after a single flight. In the first half of this year, ISRO will also be testing the final landing phase of its Re-usable launch vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD), which is similar to a winged rocket, that can be launched vertically and can land like an aircraft. To test the landing phase of this vehicle, the prototype will be carried to an altitude of 2-3 km by helicopter, following which it will be released. Another important technology is the 'Inflatable aerodynamic decelerator', a mechanism that can be used to slow down the re-entry vehicles or rocket stages that are re-entering the earth's atmosphere. Meant to promote the reusability of rockets, this concept involves using a compact inflatable mechanism that remains closed during launch and will open up (inflate) while the rocket is re-entering, thus slowing it down. "It is similar to how a parachute works, but parachutes are meant for subsonic speeds (slower than the speed of sound) and lower altitudes. This concept can be used for operating at hypersonic or supersonic speeds. This can also be applied for slowing down while attempting landing on planets like Mars," Dr Unnikrishnan elaborated. Also read | India: Army teams mobilised to rescue trekker stuck in crevice for 30 hours Queried on the progress of the Gaganyaan mission, Dr Nair who is also the Director, Human Spaceflight Centre said that the propulsion stages of the service module (the component that will propel the crew module in space) is undergoing testing, the crew training is progressing and that parachutes would be tested during the in-flight abort test. Notably, Gaganyaan will have two unmanned flights, before the actual mission that aims to ferry Indian astronauts to space, facilitate in-orbit experiments and return by splashing down in the ocean. An alumnus of Kerala University (B.Tech in Mech Engineering), IISc, Bengaluru (ME in Aerospace engineering) and IIT-Madras (PhD in Mechanical Engineering), Dr Unnikrishnan Nair took charge as Director, VSSC, earlier this week. He had started his career in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, in 1985. During his initial tenure at VSSC, he has made significant contributions to launch vehicle mechanisms, acoustic protection systems and payload fairing areas. He was associated with Human Spaceflight Programme since its inception as the Project Director for technology development activities. He had also served as Programme Director of Advanced Space Transportation System, leading all advanced projects like Human Spaceflight, Air Breathing Propulsion and Reusable Launch Vehicle Development.

Exclusive: 'Priority to implement important missions, as planned' ISRO, VSSC Director, Dr S Unnikrishnan

In an effort to understand the dynamics of the sun and the constantly changing space environment, NASA has announced two new science missions. This comes just a day after the space agency announced the latest observations done by the Parker Solar probe on its way to the sun.&nbsp;

Named as Multi-slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) and HelioSwarm, the missions aim at studying the sun’s corona and also measuring the magnetic field of the solar wind.

Thomas Zurbuchen, Nasa's associate administrator for science, in a statement, said, "MUSE and HelioSwarm will provide new and deeper insight into the solar atmosphere and space weather. These missions not only extend the science of our other heliophysics missions — but they also provide a unique perspective and a novel approach to understanding the mysteries of our star."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-releases-pictures-of-venuss-surface-taken-by-parker-solar-probe-in-new-light-452308">Also read |&nbsp;NASA releases pictures of Venus’s surface taken by Parker Solar Probe in new light</a>

The MUSE mission will be led by Bart DePontieu of the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center (LMATC) in California.&nbsp;

The HelioSwarm mission, on the other hand, will be conducted under the banner of Harlan Spence from the University of New Hampshire.&nbsp;

Peg Luce, deputy director of the Heliophysics Division, in a statement, said, "The technical innovation of HelioSwarm’s small satellites operating together as a constellation provides the unique ability to investigate turbulence and its evolution in the solar wind."

Both the missions have combined funding of $442 million.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In an effort to understand the dynamics of the sun and the constantly changing space environment, NASA has announced two new science missions. This comes just a day after the space agency announced the latest observations done by the Parker Solar probe on its way to the sun.

In an effort to understand the dynamics of the sun and the constantly changing space environment, NASA has announced two new science missions. This comes just a day after the space agency announced the latest observations done by the Parker Solar probe on its way to the sun. Named as Multi-slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) and HelioSwarm, the missions aim at studying the sun’s corona and also measuring the magnetic field of the solar wind. Thomas Zurbuchen, Nasa's associate administrator for science, in a statement, said, "MUSE and HelioSwarm will provide new and deeper insight into the solar atmosphere and space weather. These missions not only extend the science of our other heliophysics missions — but they also provide a unique perspective and a novel approach to understanding the mysteries of our star." Also read | NASA releases pictures of Venus’s surface taken by Parker Solar Probe in new light The MUSE mission will be led by Bart DePontieu of the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center (LMATC) in California. The HelioSwarm mission, on the other hand, will be conducted under the banner of Harlan Spence from the University of New Hampshire. Peg Luce, deputy director of the Heliophysics Division, in a statement, said, "The technical innovation of HelioSwarm’s small satellites operating together as a constellation provides the unique ability to investigate turbulence and its evolution in the solar wind." Both the missions have combined funding of $442 million. (With inputs from agencies)

To unfold solar mysteries, NASA announces two new missions

France and its European partners are pushing to adapt the Mali mission as ties with the military fray further. This comes after the military expelled the contingent of Danish troops.

France & its European partners are pushing to adapt the Mali mission as ties with the military fray

A government minister in Madagascar has said he swam for 12 hours to safety after his helicopter crashed at sea during a rescue mission. Two other security officials travelling with him in the helicopter also survived the crash.

'My time to die has not come yet,' Madagascar minister swims for 12 hours, survives helicopter crash

NASA released its first digital, interactive graphic novel Saturday to commemorate National Comic Book Day. "First Woman: NASA’s Promise for Humanity" envisions the story of Callie Rodriguez, the first woman to explore the Moon.

NASA wants to send a woman on Moon by 2024, Elon Musk sparks new race with his Mars mission

For Japanese fashion magnate Yusaku Maezawa, training in zero gravity ahead of his planned trip to space later this year was not always easy.

"I've been alive for 45 years and have not experienced anything like that. I felt awkward at first," he said via a translator at a news conference, where he appeared alongside his assistant and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/lucy-in-the-sky-nasa-space-mission-lifts-off-will-study-jupiters-trojan-asteroids-421268">&nbsp;'Lucy in the sky': NASA space mission lifts off, will study Jupiter's Trojan asteroids</a>

"I couldn't control the movement of my arms and legs. But when I got used to it a little bit, it was very pleasant," he added at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center outside Moscow.

Misurkin will accompany the space tourist during a 12-day-long trip on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, which is expected to start on December&nbsp;8.

Maezawa plans to become the first Japanese space tourist to visit the International Space Station.&nbsp;

He said he was having to train for months before the flight, and that he did not feel fear or anxiety so far.

"Our inspiration is growing," he said.

For Japanese fashion magnate Yusaku Maezawa, training in zero gravity ahead of his planned trip to space later this year was not always easy. "I've been alive for 45 years and have not experienced anything like that.

For Japanese fashion magnate Yusaku Maezawa, training in zero gravity ahead of his planned trip to space later this year was not always easy. "I've been alive for 45 years and have not experienced anything like that. I felt awkward at first," he said via a translator at a news conference, where he appeared alongside his assistant and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin. Also Read | 'Lucy in the sky': NASA space mission lifts off, will study Jupiter's Trojan asteroids "I couldn't control the movement of my arms and legs. But when I got used to it a little bit, it was very pleasant," he added at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center outside Moscow. Misurkin will accompany the space tourist during a 12-day-long trip on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, which is expected to start on December 8. Maezawa plans to become the first Japanese space tourist to visit the International Space Station. He said he was having to train for months before the flight, and that he did not feel fear or anxiety so far. "Our inspiration is growing," he said.

Japanese billionaire gets ready for December space mission

China will send three astronauts to its new space station this week, officials confirmed Thursday, in what will be Beijing's longest crewed mission to date.

The three will blast off at 12:23 am on Saturday from the launch centre in northwestern China's Gobi desert, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said at a press conference Thursday.

They will spend six months at the Tiangong space station's core module, Tianhe.

Their mission, twice as long as its record-holding predecessor,&nbsp;aims to test "critical technologies" for assembling Tiangong, CMSA deputy director Lin Xiqiang said.

The mission will also include "two to three" spacewalks to install components needed for future construction work, Lin said.

The three "taikonauts", as China&nbsp;calls its astronauts include commander Zhai Zhigang, 55, a former People's Liberation Army (PLA) fighter pilot who in 2008 performed the first spacewalk by a Chinese astronaut.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-lucy-mission-to-begin-voyage-to-trojan-asteroids-420877">Also read |&nbsp;NASA's Lucy mission to begin voyage to Trojan asteroids</a>

Zhai said the main challenges for the astronauts will include "more complex" spacewalks than previous missions and the extra physical and mental pressure of living in space for a longer period.

But the crew "had the confidence and ability" to achieve their objectives and "live up to the great trust placed in us by the motherland and the people," he added at a separate press conference Thursday.

Another crew member, Wang Yaping, 41, will become the first woman astronaut to visit the nation's space station.&nbsp;

She previously became China's second woman in space in 2013.

The other team member is former PLA pilot Ye Guangfu, 41.

The trio were previously the backup crew for the successful Shenzhou-12 mission that concluded last month when the astronauts returned safely to Earth in a landing capsule.

The astronauts spent three months on the Tiangong station, which has separate living modules for each of them as well as a shared bathroom, dining area, and a communication centre to send emails and allow video calls with ground control.

The Long March-2F rocket that will carry the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft into space was moved to the launch pad last Thursday, Chinese state media reported.

It is currently taking on propellant before Saturday's launch, Lin said.

China's heavily promoted space programme has already seen the country land a rover on Mars and send probes to the moon.

Beijing's desire for a human outpost of its own in Earth's orbit was fuelled by a US ban on its astronauts on the International Space Station.

China will send three astronauts to its new space station this week, officials confirmed Thursday, in what will be Beijing's longest crewed mission to date. The three will blast off at 12:23 am on Saturday from the launch centre in northwestern China's Gobi desert, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said at a press conference Thursday.

China will send three astronauts to its new space station this week, officials confirmed Thursday, in what will be Beijing's longest crewed mission to date. The three will blast off at 12:23 am on Saturday from the launch centre in northwestern China's Gobi desert, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said at a press conference Thursday. They will spend six months at the Tiangong space station's core module, Tianhe. Their mission, twice as long as its record-holding predecessor, aims to test "critical technologies" for assembling Tiangong, CMSA deputy director Lin Xiqiang said. The mission will also include "two to three" spacewalks to install components needed for future construction work, Lin said. The three "taikonauts", as China calls its astronauts include commander Zhai Zhigang, 55, a former People's Liberation Army (PLA) fighter pilot who in 2008 performed the first spacewalk by a Chinese astronaut. Also read | NASA's Lucy mission to begin voyage to Trojan asteroids Zhai said the main challenges for the astronauts will include "more complex" spacewalks than previous missions and the extra physical and mental pressure of living in space for a longer period. But the crew "had the confidence and ability" to achieve their objectives and "live up to the great trust placed in us by the motherland and the people," he added at a separate press conference Thursday. Another crew member, Wang Yaping, 41, will become the first woman astronaut to visit the nation's space station. She previously became China's second woman in space in 2013. The other team member is former PLA pilot Ye Guangfu, 41. The trio were previously the backup crew for the successful Shenzhou-12 mission that concluded last month when the astronauts returned safely to Earth in a landing capsule. The astronauts spent three months on the Tiangong station, which has separate living modules for each of them as well as a shared bathroom, dining area, and a communication centre to send emails and allow video calls with ground control. The Long March-2F rocket that will carry the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft into space was moved to the launch pad last Thursday, Chinese state media reported. It is currently taking on propellant before Saturday's launch, Lin said. China's heavily promoted space programme has already seen the country land a rover on Mars and send probes to the moon. Beijing's desire for a human outpost of its own in Earth's orbit was fuelled by a US ban on its astronauts on the International Space Station.

China to launch latest crewed space mission Saturday morning

SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission is now officially a success. The four SpaceX tourists landed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida Saturday evening after spending three days in space, successfully concluding the first orbital mission in history with no professional astronauts on board.

The SpaceX Dragon capsule's heat shield allowed it to withstand the descent before it was slowed down by four large parachutes and then splashed into the ocean just after 7:00 pm.

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"That was a heck of a ride for us, and we're just getting started," said billionaire captain Jared Isaacman, who financed the trip.

The stated goal of the mission, called Inspiration4, was to encourage the democratisation of space by proving that the cosmos are accessible to crews that have neither been handpicked nor in training for years.

The Dragon capsule travelled farther than the International Space Station (ISS) at an orbit of about 575 kilometres (357 miles) high, and circled the globe more than 15 times each day.

This marked the debut flight of SpaceX owner Elon Musk's new orbital tourism business, and a leap ahead of competitors likewise offering rides on rocket ships to customers willing to pay a small fortune for the exhilaration - and bragging rights - of spaceflight.

Isaacman has paid an undisclosed sum to fellow billionaire Musk to send himself and his three crewmates aloft. Time magazine has put the ticket price for all four seats at $200 million.

Inspiration4 aimed for an orbital altitude of 360 miles (575 km) above Earth, higher than the International Space Station or Hubble Space Telescope, and the farthest any human will have flown from Earth since the end of NASA's Apollo moon program in 1972, according to SpaceX.

SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission is now officially a success. The four SpaceX tourists landed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida Saturday evening after spending three days in space, successfully concluding the first orbital mission in history with no professional astronauts on board.

SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission is now officially a success. The four SpaceX tourists landed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida Saturday evening after spending three days in space, successfully concluding the first orbital mission in history with no professional astronauts on board. The SpaceX Dragon capsule's heat shield allowed it to withstand the descent before it was slowed down by four large parachutes and then splashed into the ocean just after 7:00 pm. Splashdown! Welcome back to planet Earth, @Inspiration4x! pic.twitter.com/94yLjMBqWt — SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 18, 2021 × "That was a heck of a ride for us, and we're just getting started," said billionaire captain Jared Isaacman, who financed the trip. The stated goal of the mission, called Inspiration4, was to encourage the democratisation of space by proving that the cosmos are accessible to crews that have neither been handpicked nor in training for years. The Dragon capsule travelled farther than the International Space Station (ISS) at an orbit of about 575 kilometres (357 miles) high, and circled the globe more than 15 times each day. This marked the debut flight of SpaceX owner Elon Musk's new orbital tourism business, and a leap ahead of competitors likewise offering rides on rocket ships to customers willing to pay a small fortune for the exhilaration - and bragging rights - of spaceflight. Isaacman has paid an undisclosed sum to fellow billionaire Musk to send himself and his three crewmates aloft. Time magazine has put the ticket price for all four seats at $200 million. Inspiration4 aimed for an orbital altitude of 360 miles (575 km) above Earth, higher than the International Space Station or Hubble Space Telescope, and the farthest any human will have flown from Earth since the end of NASA's Apollo moon program in 1972, according to SpaceX.

SpaceX's first all-civilian orbital mission returns to Earth

An Indonesian fisherman recently found what is believed to be a Chinese submarine drone in waters on a strategic maritime route from the South China Sea to Australia.

According to Indonesian media, the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) was found on December 20 near Selayar Island in South Sulawesi. It was later handed over to police and then transferred to the Indonesian military.

Observers have said the drone appears to be a Chinese Sea Wing (or Haiyi) UUV. The underwater glider is publically described as collecting data including seawater temperature, salinity, turbidity and oxygen levels.

China has been accused of expansionist activities in the disputed South China Sea and has conducted widespread oceanographic research in regions believed to be militarily significant.

A security analyst has said the drone was most likely mapping future submarine routes, given it was found far from Chinese waters and in a significant maritime route between China and Australia’s northernmost city of Darwin.

A different variant of the Sea Wing UUV was discovered by Indonesian fishers in March 2019 in the Riau Islands nearer the South China Sea, and another in January this year in East Java.&nbsp;

Also, in December 2016, a Chinese navy ship found and seized a US underwater drone in international waters near its coastline that the US navy was in the process of recovering.

In February 2020 China’s ministry of natural resources said China had deployed 12 Sea Wing UUVs in the Indian Ocean for scientific research.

(with inputs)

An Indonesian fisherman recently found what is believed to be a Chinese submarine drone in waters on a strategic maritime route from the South China Sea to Australia.

An Indonesian fisherman recently found what is believed to be a Chinese submarine drone in waters on a strategic maritime route from the South China Sea to Australia. According to Indonesian media, the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) was found on December 20 near Selayar Island in South Sulawesi. It was later handed over to police and then transferred to the Indonesian military. Observers have said the drone appears to be a Chinese Sea Wing (or Haiyi) UUV. The underwater glider is publically described as collecting data including seawater temperature, salinity, turbidity and oxygen levels. China has been accused of expansionist activities in the disputed South China Sea and has conducted widespread oceanographic research in regions believed to be militarily significant. A security analyst has said the drone was most likely mapping future submarine routes, given it was found far from Chinese waters and in a significant maritime route between China and Australia’s northernmost city of Darwin. A different variant of the Sea Wing UUV was discovered by Indonesian fishers in March 2019 in the Riau Islands nearer the South China Sea, and another in January this year in East Java. Also, in December 2016, a Chinese navy ship found and seized a US underwater drone in international waters near its coastline that the US navy was in the process of recovering. In February 2020 China’s ministry of natural resources said China had deployed 12 Sea Wing UUVs in the Indian Ocean for scientific research. (with inputs)

Indonesian fisherman finds Chinese drone submarine on possible mission

Boeing's new&nbsp;Starliner&nbsp;spacecraft will return to&nbsp;Earth&nbsp;on Sunday, six days&nbsp;early,&nbsp;after&nbsp;a clock problem prevented a rendezvous with the International Space Station, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chandrayaan-2-nasa-satellite-finds-indias-vikram-moon-lander-releases-images-of-impact-site-265811">NASA</a> and the aerospace giant confirmed Saturday.

The uncrewed&nbsp;Starliner&nbsp;capsule is now scheduled to land Sunday at 05:47 am at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

The capsule is currently in a low, 250-kilometre&nbsp;orbit.&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;engineers are programming it to re-enter the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean.&nbsp;

Parachutes will slow its descent, and huge airbags will be deployed to cushion its desert landing.

Starliner's&nbsp;failure&nbsp;was the latest serious setback for&nbsp;Boeing, which is still reeling from two fatal crashes of its 737 Max airliner. The crashes, in October 2018 in Indonesia and in March 2019 in Ethiopia, claimed a total of 346 lives.

The aerospace company plans to suspend production of the plane in January.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas -&nbsp;NASA To Welcome Supersonic Commercial Travel

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Too much propellant burned

The&nbsp;Starliner&nbsp;capsule was launched Friday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, but shortly&nbsp;after&nbsp;separating from its Atlas V launch rocket its thrusters failed to activate as planned, preventing it from reaching an orbit high enough to meet up with the ISS.

The space station orbits at an altitude of about 400 kilometres above sea level.&nbsp;

After&nbsp;calculating that the craft had burned too much propellant for several minutes -- owing to a clock problem --&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;and NASA determined that the&nbsp;Starliner&nbsp;would have to return to&nbsp;Earth&nbsp;without fulfilling its planned&nbsp;mission.

Jim Chilton, senior vice president of&nbsp;Boeing's space and launch division, told reporters that "we started the clock at the wrong time."

The craft, assuming it was at a different stage of its flight, burned much more propellant than it should have.

NASA finds a bright side

The flight,&nbsp;carrying only a dummy into space,&nbsp;was meant to be a final dress rehearsal before a crewed flight.&nbsp;

But NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine insisted that the&nbsp;mission&nbsp;was not a complete&nbsp;failure.

"The NASA team and the&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;team have been working&nbsp;hand in glove to accomplish as many of the test objectives as we can," he said.

Thus,&nbsp;Starliner&nbsp;was able to establish a communications link with the ISS, and to test in space its docking mechanism as well as its solar panels, batteries, thrusters and heat regulation system.

Chilton said the vehicle's status is "really excellent."

But a major test awaits:&nbsp;Starliner's landing Sunday in the New Mexico desert,&nbsp;one of the most dangerous phases for any space&nbsp;mission, particularly when the vehicle is designed to transport astronauts.

Starliner&nbsp;is set to re-enter the atmosphere at 25 times the speed of sound. Its thermal shield will have to resist the intense heat created by friction with the atmosphere, and its three parachutes will have to deploy correctly.&nbsp;

In a test in November only two parachutes opened, although they proved sufficient for the landing.

"The entry, descent and landing is not for the faint of heart," Chilton said.&nbsp;

NASA will have to decide whether to carry out another test flight or to trust that the vehicle is safe to carry astronauts.&nbsp;

Starliner's first crewed flight had been scheduled for&nbsp;early&nbsp;2020 -- no specific date has been announced -- a much-anticipated development ever since NASA sent up its last space shuttle in 2011. &nbsp;

Another vehicle, the Crew Dragon, has been developed by SpaceX corporation for NASA. It is expected to be ready for launch in the next several months.

NASA has committed to pay $8 billion to&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;and SpaceX, which in return are to deliver six trips carrying four astronauts each from now to 2024.

Boeing's new Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth on Sunday, six days early, after a clock problem prevented a rendezvous with the International Space Station, NASA and the aerospace giant confirmed Saturday.

Boeing's new Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth on Sunday, six days early, after a clock problem prevented a rendezvous with the International Space Station, NASA and the aerospace giant confirmed Saturday. The uncrewed Starliner capsule is now scheduled to land Sunday at 05:47 am at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The capsule is currently in a low, 250-kilometre orbit. Boeing engineers are programming it to re-enter the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. Parachutes will slow its descent, and huge airbags will be deployed to cushion its desert landing. Starliner's failure was the latest serious setback for Boeing, which is still reeling from two fatal crashes of its 737 Max airliner. The crashes, in October 2018 in Indonesia and in March 2019 in Ethiopia, claimed a total of 346 lives. The aerospace company plans to suspend production of the plane in January. Watch: Gravitas - NASA To Welcome Supersonic Commercial Travel Too much propellant burned The Starliner capsule was launched Friday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, but shortly after separating from its Atlas V launch rocket its thrusters failed to activate as planned, preventing it from reaching an orbit high enough to meet up with the ISS. The space station orbits at an altitude of about 400 kilometres above sea level. After calculating that the craft had burned too much propellant for several minutes -- owing to a clock problem -- Boeing and NASA determined that the Starliner would have to return to Earth without fulfilling its planned mission. Jim Chilton, senior vice president of Boeing's space and launch division, told reporters that "we started the clock at the wrong time." The craft, assuming it was at a different stage of its flight, burned much more propellant than it should have. NASA finds a bright side The flight, carrying only a dummy into space, was meant to be a final dress rehearsal before a crewed flight. But NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine insisted that the mission was not a complete failure. "The NASA team and the Boeing team have been working hand in glove to accomplish as many of the test objectives as we can," he said. Thus, Starliner was able to establish a communications link with the ISS, and to test in space its docking mechanism as well as its solar panels, batteries, thrusters and heat regulation system. Chilton said the vehicle's status is "really excellent." But a major test awaits: Starliner's landing Sunday in the New Mexico desert, one of the most dangerous phases for any space mission, particularly when the vehicle is designed to transport astronauts. Starliner is set to re-enter the atmosphere at 25 times the speed of sound. Its thermal shield will have to resist the intense heat created by friction with the atmosphere, and its three parachutes will have to deploy correctly. In a test in November only two parachutes opened, although they proved sufficient for the landing. "The entry, descent and landing is not for the faint of heart," Chilton said. NASA will have to decide whether to carry out another test flight or to trust that the vehicle is safe to carry astronauts. Starliner's first crewed flight had been scheduled for early 2020 -- no specific date has been announced -- a much-anticipated development ever since NASA sent up its last space shuttle in 2011. Another vehicle, the Crew Dragon, has been developed by SpaceX corporation for NASA. It is expected to be ready for launch in the next several months. NASA has committed to pay $8 billion to Boeing and SpaceX, which in return are to deliver six trips carrying four astronauts each from now to 2024.

Boeing Starliner returning to Earth early after mission failure

Two members of Cuba's UN mission have been ordered to leave the United States over an alleged threat to US national security, triggering a sharp denial from Havana.

"We take any &amp; all attempts against the National Security of the US&nbsp;seriously," US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Thursday on Twitter.

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After 2 members of Cuba’s UN mission engaged in activities harmful to U.S. national security, we asked them to leave the U.S. Members of Cuba’s UN mission are also restricted to stay in Manhattan. We take any &amp; all attempts against the National Security of the U.S. seriously.
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In a statement, she said the State Department had told the Cuban foreign ministry that the United States "requires the imminent departure" of the two members of Cuba's UN mission.

Ortagus said that the pair had been "abusing their privileges of residence" and attempting to "conduct influence operations against the United States."

"We&nbsp;will continue to investigate any additional personnel who may be manipulating their privileges of residence," she added.

The State Department spokeswoman also said the movement of all members of Cuba's UN mission would be restricted to Manhattan, where UN headquarters is located.

Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez moved quickly to slam the expulsions.

"We categorically reject the unjustified expulsion of two officials of the Permanent Mission of Cuba at the UN and the tightening of restrictions on movement for diplomats and their families," Rodriguez said on Twitter.

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I strongly reject unjustified expulsion of 2 officials from Permanent Mission of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cuba?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cuba</a> to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UN</a> &amp; increased restrictions of movement imposed on our diplomats &amp; their families. Allegations that they engaged in actions incompatible with their diplomatic status is a gross slander.
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Cuba and the United States have a history of conducting tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats, and relations have worsened since President Donald Trump took office.

The United States recalled most of its diplomats from Cuba in September 2017 and Trump expelled 15 Cuban diplomats the following month.

The latest expulsions came as the United Nations holds its 74th General Assembly in New York.

"Given that the situation is ongoing, we will not comment further at this stage other than to confirm that we will closely follow this matter," the United Nations said in a statement.

Two members of Cuba's UN mission have been ordered to leave the United States over an alleged threat to US national security, triggering a sharp denial from Havana.

Two members of Cuba's UN mission have been ordered to leave the United States over an alleged threat to US national security, triggering a sharp denial from Havana. "We take any & all attempts against the National Security of the US seriously," US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Thursday on Twitter. After 2 members of Cuba’s UN mission engaged in activities harmful to U.S. national security, we asked them to leave the U.S. Members of Cuba’s UN mission are also restricted to stay in Manhattan. We take any & all attempts against the National Security of the U.S. seriously. — Morgan Ortagus (@statedeptspox) September 19, 2019 × In a statement, she said the State Department had told the Cuban foreign ministry that the United States "requires the imminent departure" of the two members of Cuba's UN mission. Ortagus said that the pair had been "abusing their privileges of residence" and attempting to "conduct influence operations against the United States." "We will continue to investigate any additional personnel who may be manipulating their privileges of residence," she added. The State Department spokeswoman also said the movement of all members of Cuba's UN mission would be restricted to Manhattan, where UN headquarters is located. Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez moved quickly to slam the expulsions. "We categorically reject the unjustified expulsion of two officials of the Permanent Mission of Cuba at the UN and the tightening of restrictions on movement for diplomats and their families," Rodriguez said on Twitter. I strongly reject unjustified expulsion of 2 officials from Permanent Mission of #Cuba to the #UN & increased restrictions of movement imposed on our diplomats & their families. Allegations that they engaged in actions incompatible with their diplomatic status is a gross slander. — Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) September 19, 2019 × Cuba and the United States have a history of conducting tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats, and relations have worsened since President Donald Trump took office. The United States recalled most of its diplomats from Cuba in September 2017 and Trump expelled 15 Cuban diplomats the following month. The latest expulsions came as the United Nations holds its 74th General Assembly in New York. "Given that the situation is ongoing, we will not comment further at this stage other than to confirm that we will closely follow this matter," the United Nations said in a statement.

Two members of Cuba's UN mission ordered to leave US

US, Italian and Russian astronauts blasted into space Saturday, headed for the International Space Station, in a launch coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing.

Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, NASA's Andrew Morgan and Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency set off on a six-hour journey to the orbiting science lab from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1628 GMT.

A NASA TV commentator hailed a "textbook launch" minutes after blastoff in "sweltering" weather in Baikonur, where daytime temperatures reached 43 degrees Celsius on Saturday.&nbsp;

The blast coincides with the date that NASA's Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon in 1969, marking a defining moment in the so-called "space race" with the Soviet Union.&nbsp;

Of the trio launching from the Kazakh steppe, only 53-year-old Skvortsov had been born at the time of the Moon landing.

A veteran of two ISS missions, Skvortsov is the flight commander for the six-hour journey from Baikonur to the ISS.

Morgan, 43, is flying for the first time.&nbsp;

"The absolute hardest part: saying good-bye and watching them walk away," wrote the father-of-four in a Saturday tweet featuring a picture of his wife and children.

Parmitano's only previous stint at the ISS lasted 166 days and saw him become the first Italian to carry out a spacewalk.&nbsp;

"L-2 h 30 min: One more look at my planet… it’s time to climb aboard our rocket. Next stop @Space_Station," the Italian tweeted.&nbsp;

Skvortsov, Morgan and Parmitano all come from military backgrounds and posed together in uniform in the build up to the launch.&nbsp;

Speaking during a pre-launch press-conference on Friday Skvortsov joked that "two colonels will be taking orders from a colonel" when Parmitano becomes commander of the space station mid-way through his mission -- a reference to the military rank the three share.

The International Space Station -- a rare example of cooperation between Russia and the West -- has been orbiting Earth at about 28,000 kilometres per hour (17,000 miles per hour) since 1998.

US, Italian and Russian astronauts blasted into space Saturday, headed for the International Space Station, in a launch coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing.

US, Italian and Russian astronauts blasted into space Saturday, headed for the International Space Station, in a launch coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, NASA's Andrew Morgan and Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency set off on a six-hour journey to the orbiting science lab from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1628 GMT. A NASA TV commentator hailed a "textbook launch" minutes after blastoff in "sweltering" weather in Baikonur, where daytime temperatures reached 43 degrees Celsius on Saturday. The blast coincides with the date that NASA's Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon in 1969, marking a defining moment in the so-called "space race" with the Soviet Union. Of the trio launching from the Kazakh steppe, only 53-year-old Skvortsov had been born at the time of the Moon landing. A veteran of two ISS missions, Skvortsov is the flight commander for the six-hour journey from Baikonur to the ISS. Morgan, 43, is flying for the first time. "The absolute hardest part: saying good-bye and watching them walk away," wrote the father-of-four in a Saturday tweet featuring a picture of his wife and children. Parmitano's only previous stint at the ISS lasted 166 days and saw him become the first Italian to carry out a spacewalk. "L-2 h 30 min: One more look at my planet… it’s time to climb aboard our rocket. Next stop @Space_Station," the Italian tweeted. Skvortsov, Morgan and Parmitano all come from military backgrounds and posed together in uniform in the build up to the launch. Speaking during a pre-launch press-conference on Friday Skvortsov joked that "two colonels will be taking orders from a colonel" when Parmitano becomes commander of the space station mid-way through his mission -- a reference to the military rank the three share. The International Space Station -- a rare example of cooperation between Russia and the West -- has been orbiting Earth at about 28,000 kilometres per hour (17,000 miles per hour) since 1998.

American, Italian, Russian blast off for International Space Station

NATO has expelled seven diplomats from Russia's mission to the alliance and blocked the appointment of three others over the nerve agent attack in Britain this month, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday.

Stoltenberg said he had also cut the maximum size of the Russian mission to 20 people from 30, in the latest move by the alliance to reduce what was once one of the biggest national delegations at NATO.

"It sends a very clear message to Russia that it has costs," Stoltenberg said of the March 4 attack on a former Russian double agent and his daughter, which the West blames on Moscow although the Kremlin denies this.

Governments across Europe, the United States and beyond announced plans on Monday to expel more than 100 Russian diplomats in retaliation for the attack.

Stoltenberg said that three Russian diplomats seeking to come to Brussels have been denied accreditation, taking the reduction at the mission to 10,

However, Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, stressed that the alliance would still seek regular talks with Moscow via the NATO-Russia Council, a special forum that groups NATO envoys and Moscow's ambassador to the alliance.

The Russian mission is in the same compound as NATO headquarters in Brussels but Russian diplomats faced sharp limits to their access after Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. They mostly work now from Russian diplomatic premises in central Brussels.

In protest at the Crimean annexation, NATO decided to curtail access to the headquarters for all Russian accredited NATO diplomats barring the Russian ambassador, the deputy head of mission and two support staff.

NATO is awaiting a new Russian ambassador following the departure of Alexander Grushko, who was appointed deputy Russian foreign minister for European relations in January.

Following the end of the Cold War, NATO sought closer ties with Russia and included Russian personnel in its campaign in the Balkans in the 1990s.

But since Crimea, NATO has suspended all practical military and civilian cooperation with Russia, although it maintains political dialogue and has tried to restart military channels of communication, mainly to discuss the crisis in Ukraine.

Stoltenberg said he had also cut the maximum size of the Russian mission to 20 people from 30, in the latest move by the alliance to reduce what was once one of the biggest national delegations at NATO

NATO has expelled seven diplomats from Russia's mission to the alliance and blocked the appointment of three others over the nerve agent attack in Britain this month, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday. Stoltenberg said he had also cut the maximum size of the Russian mission to 20 people from 30, in the latest move by the alliance to reduce what was once one of the biggest national delegations at NATO. "It sends a very clear message to Russia that it has costs," Stoltenberg said of the March 4 attack on a former Russian double agent and his daughter, which the West blames on Moscow although the Kremlin denies this. Governments across Europe, the United States and beyond announced plans on Monday to expel more than 100 Russian diplomats in retaliation for the attack. Stoltenberg said that three Russian diplomats seeking to come to Brussels have been denied accreditation, taking the reduction at the mission to 10, However, Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, stressed that the alliance would still seek regular talks with Moscow via the NATO-Russia Council, a special forum that groups NATO envoys and Moscow's ambassador to the alliance. The Russian mission is in the same compound as NATO headquarters in Brussels but Russian diplomats faced sharp limits to their access after Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. They mostly work now from Russian diplomatic premises in central Brussels. In protest at the Crimean annexation, NATO decided to curtail access to the headquarters for all Russian accredited NATO diplomats barring the Russian ambassador, the deputy head of mission and two support staff. NATO is awaiting a new Russian ambassador following the departure of Alexander Grushko, who was appointed deputy Russian foreign minister for European relations in January. Following the end of the Cold War, NATO sought closer ties with Russia and included Russian personnel in its campaign in the Balkans in the 1990s. But since Crimea, NATO has suspended all practical military and civilian cooperation with Russia, although it maintains political dialogue and has tried to restart military channels of communication, mainly to discuss the crisis in Ukraine.

NATO expels seven Russian diplomats, limits size of mission

Paintings and photographs capturing legendary British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott`s tragic race to the South Pole have been reunited for the first time in more than a century at a London gallery. 
 
Photographer Herbert Ponting and watercolourist Edward Wilson dreamed of holding a joint exhibition to show their images of the beautiful but brutal Antarctic landscape, but Wilson`s death on the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition made it impossible. 
 
&quot;Visions of the Great White South&quot;, which opened at London`s Bonhams gallery this week, finally realises the pair`s vision, and also showcases recently unearthed photographs taken by Scott himself.&nbsp; 
 
Scott remains an iconic figure in Britain and his failed mission to be the first to reach the South Pole, resulting in the death of himself and four colleagues in 1912, &nbsp;holds a unique place in national folklore. 
 
&quot;He`s one of those great British heroes,&quot; exhibition curator Charlotte Connelly told AFP on Wednesday. 
 
&quot;He was held up at the time as a hero for all the people going off to the First World War: he made the ultimate sacrifice for his nation. 
&quot;But also Antarctica is an amazing, remote place that very few people get to go to and I think that still holds sway.&quot; 
 
Wilson captured the colours, otherworldly mirages and spirit-crushing scale of the ice sheet in a series of watercolours, whose impressionistic style reflected the climatic constraints. 
 
With paint freezing in the sub-zero temperatures, the naturalist and artist sketched the scene and made a note of the colours, before filling in with watercolours at base camp.Ponting`s photographs open a window into the everyday grind of survival in freezing conditions, and recreate in great detail the constantly changing icy landscapes, sculpted by ferocious weather.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Some of the images are really haunting,&quot; said Connelly. 
 
&quot;One of Scott`s images is a bit overexposed and it looks like the men and their ponies are walking off into nothing, which I think is very touching.&quot; 
 
One image shows footprints and sled trails disappearing into the horizon, another captures the men straining to pull their cargo through soft snow while the most spectacular illustrate the huge ice features, some perfectly geometric and others resembling frozen waves.&nbsp; 
 
Captain Lawrence Oates, who Scott famously recorded in his diary as saying &quot;I am just going outside and may be some time&quot; before walking to his death, is also shown boiling dog food on a blubber stove. 
 
Ponting`s negatives have recently been blown up using cutting-edge technology to make them of exhibition quality, while Scott`s negatives were only discovered in 2014. 
 
The Terra Nova expedition,named after the boat which carried the men -- was a scientific mission to Antarctica that took place between 1910 and 1913. 
 
Scott also wanted to become the first to reach the South Pole, but on arriving on January 17, 1912, found out Norwegian Roald Amundsen had beaten him by 34 days. 
 
Scott`s entire party that reached the pole died of exhaustion and exposure on the return journey. Some of their bodies were found eight months later, along with journals and photographs. 
 
The free exhibition will run until August 19. 
 
(AFP)

Wilson captured the colours, otherworldly mirages and spirit-crushing scale of the ice sheet in a series of watercolours

Paintings and photographs capturing legendary British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott`s tragic race to the South Pole have been reunited for the first time in more than a century at a London gallery. Photographer Herbert Ponting and watercolourist Edward Wilson dreamed of holding a joint exhibition to show their images of the beautiful but brutal Antarctic landscape, but Wilson`s death on the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition made it impossible. "Visions of the Great White South", which opened at London`s Bonhams gallery this week, finally realises the pair`s vision, and also showcases recently unearthed photographs taken by Scott himself. Scott remains an iconic figure in Britain and his failed mission to be the first to reach the South Pole, resulting in the death of himself and four colleagues in 1912, holds a unique place in national folklore. "He`s one of those great British heroes," exhibition curator Charlotte Connelly told AFP on Wednesday. "He was held up at the time as a hero for all the people going off to the First World War: he made the ultimate sacrifice for his nation. "But also Antarctica is an amazing, remote place that very few people get to go to and I think that still holds sway." Wilson captured the colours, otherworldly mirages and spirit-crushing scale of the ice sheet in a series of watercolours, whose impressionistic style reflected the climatic constraints. With paint freezing in the sub-zero temperatures, the naturalist and artist sketched the scene and made a note of the colours, before filling in with watercolours at base camp.Ponting`s photographs open a window into the everyday grind of survival in freezing conditions, and recreate in great detail the constantly changing icy landscapes, sculpted by ferocious weather. "Some of the images are really haunting," said Connelly. "One of Scott`s images is a bit overexposed and it looks like the men and their ponies are walking off into nothing, which I think is very touching." One image shows footprints and sled trails disappearing into the horizon, another captures the men straining to pull their cargo through soft snow while the most spectacular illustrate the huge ice features, some perfectly geometric and others resembling frozen waves. Captain Lawrence Oates, who Scott famously recorded in his diary as saying "I am just going outside and may be some time" before walking to his death, is also shown boiling dog food on a blubber stove. Ponting`s negatives have recently been blown up using cutting-edge technology to make them of exhibition quality, while Scott`s negatives were only discovered in 2014. The Terra Nova expedition,named after the boat which carried the men -- was a scientific mission to Antarctica that took place between 1910 and 1913. Scott also wanted to become the first to reach the South Pole, but on arriving on January 17, 1912, found out Norwegian Roald Amundsen had beaten him by 34 days. Scott`s entire party that reached the pole died of exhaustion and exposure on the return journey. Some of their bodies were found eight months later, along with journals and photographs. The free exhibition will run until August 19. (AFP)

Paintings and photos of tragic Scott pole mission reunited

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