It has been 7 years since NASA launched its mission to collect samples from asteroids. The long wait for NASA capsule carrying the largest soil sample from an asteroid.

NASA's first asteroid sample reaches earth

NASA spacecraft carrying asteroid sample touches down in Utah

<p>After seven years, a space voyage came to its climactic end on Sunday (September 24) as a NASA capsule made a safe landing in the Utah desert of the United States, carrying the largest sample ever collected from an asteroid in space.<br />
<br />
The capsule made a fiery final descent through the atmosphere of the Earth as expected with the samples collected from asteroid Bennu and parachuted into the&nbsp;Utah desert of the United States.<br />
<br />
"Touchdown of the Osiris-Rex sample return capsule. A journey of a billion miles to asteroid Bennu and back has come to an end," said a commentator on NASA's live video webcast of the landing.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/an-asteroid-will-make-a-close-encounter-with-earth-on-september-21-nasa-predicts-638611">Asteroid to make its first-ever close approach to Earth! NASA predicts</a></p>

<p>The sample, which was collected from asteroid Bennu in 2020, is estimated to contain some 250 grams (nine ounces) of material by the US space agency, which is more than two previous asteroid specimens which were brought back to the Earth by Japanese missions.<br />
<br />
Sharing the video of the landing, NASA wrote on X, “TOUCHDOWN! The #OSIRISREx sample capsule landed at the Utah Test and Training Range at 10:52am ET (1452 UTC) after a 3.86-billion mile journey. This marks the US's first sample return mission of its kind and will open a time capsule to the beginnings of our solar system.”</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">TOUCHDOWN! The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OSIRISREx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OSIRISREx</a> sample capsule landed at the Utah Test and Training Range at 10:52am ET (1452 UTC) after a 3.86-billion mile journey. This marks the US's first sample return mission of its kind and will open a time capsule to the beginnings of our solar system. <a href="https://t.co/N8fun14Plt">pic.twitter.com/N8fun14Plt</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1705959691287761289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Scientists have been hopeful about the sample and have said that it is likely to provide them with more information about the solar system and how Earth turned into a habitable place.<br />
<br />
The probe, which was launched in 2016, landed on the asteroid Bennu after four years and was able to collect around nine ounces (250 grams) of dust from the asteroid's rocky surface.<br />
<br />
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that even the small amount of sample should "help us better understand the types of asteroids that could threaten Earth" and cast light "on the earliest history of our solar system.”<br />
<br />
"This sample return is really historic. This is going to be the biggest sample we've brought back since the Apollo moon rocks were returned to Earth,” said NASA scientist Amy Simon, while speaking to AFP.</p>

<h2><strong>NASA to announce results of the test on October 11</strong></h2>

<p>The capsule was released by Osiris-Rex early on Sunday, from an altitude of more than 67,000 miles (108,000 kilometres), around four hours before its landing.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Asteroid dust on its way to Utah</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/asteroid-dust-on-its-way-to-utah-638989/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>After the tire-sized capsule touched down in Utah, it was placed in a net by a team in protective masks and gloves from where it was airlifted by helicopter to a temporary "clean room" nearby.</p>

<p>The sample will be sent to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on Monday. The box will be opened by the specialists in another "clean room."</p>

<p>The first results of the sample testing will be announced by NASA in a news conference on October 11.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for&nbsp;wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


After seven years, a space voyage came to its climactic end on Sunday (September 24) as a NASA capsule made a safe landing in the Utah desert of the United States, carrying the largest sample ever collected from an asteroid in space.

After seven years, a space voyage came to its climactic end on Sunday (September 24) as a NASA capsule made a safe landing in the Utah desert of the United States, carrying the largest sample ever collected from an asteroid in space. The capsule made a fiery final descent through the atmosphere of the Earth as expected with the samples collected from asteroid Bennu and parachuted into the Utah desert of the United States. "Touchdown of the Osiris-Rex sample return capsule. A journey of a billion miles to asteroid Bennu and back has come to an end," said a commentator on NASA's live video webcast of the landing. ALSO READ | Asteroid to make its first-ever close approach to Earth! NASA predicts The sample, which was collected from asteroid Bennu in 2020, is estimated to contain some 250 grams (nine ounces) of material by the US space agency, which is more than two previous asteroid specimens which were brought back to the Earth by Japanese missions. Sharing the video of the landing, NASA wrote on X, “TOUCHDOWN! The #OSIRISREx sample capsule landed at the Utah Test and Training Range at 10:52am ET (1452 UTC) after a 3.86-billion mile journey. This marks the US's first sample return mission of its kind and will open a time capsule to the beginnings of our solar system.” TOUCHDOWN! The #OSIRISREx sample capsule landed at the Utah Test and Training Range at 10:52am ET (1452 UTC) after a 3.86-billion mile journey. This marks the US's first sample return mission of its kind and will open a time capsule to the beginnings of our solar system. pic.twitter.com/N8fun14Plt — NASA (@NASA) September 24, 2023 × Scientists have been hopeful about the sample and have said that it is likely to provide them with more information about the solar system and how Earth turned into a habitable place. The probe, which was launched in 2016, landed on the asteroid Bennu after four years and was able to collect around nine ounces (250 grams) of dust from the asteroid's rocky surface. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that even the small amount of sample should "help us better understand the types of asteroids that could threaten Earth" and cast light "on the earliest history of our solar system.” "This sample return is really historic. This is going to be the biggest sample we've brought back since the Apollo moon rocks were returned to Earth,” said NASA scientist Amy Simon, while speaking to AFP. NASA to announce results of the test on October 11 The capsule was released by Osiris-Rex early on Sunday, from an altitude of more than 67,000 miles (108,000 kilometres), around four hours before its landing. WATCH | Asteroid dust on its way to Utah After the tire-sized capsule touched down in Utah, it was placed in a net by a team in protective masks and gloves from where it was airlifted by helicopter to a temporary "clean room" nearby. The sample will be sent to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on Monday. The box will be opened by the specialists in another "clean room." The first results of the sample testing will be announced by NASA in a news conference on October 11. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Watch | NASA spacecraft lands successfully in Utah with largest sample collected from asteroid Bennu

In the latest updates from the Chandrayaan-3 mission, ISRO tried to reach out to the Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover.

Chandrayaan-3 reawakening attempt follows long gap

In India, the 10-day-long festival marking the birth of the Hindu deity Lord Ganesha is being celebrated with a lot of pomp and splendour across the country.

Worshipper creates Chandrayaan-3 themed prayer set-up

<p>After a seven-year, seven-billion-km round trip to asteroid Bennu, NASA’s Osiris-Rex capsule will enter Earth’s atmosphere on Sunday (Sept 24).</p>

<p>The capsule is carrying precious dust from the asteroid, which scientists are eager to analyse to find whether or not life evolved on young Earth only after the bombardment of asteroids.</p>

<p>It will also help us find whether the water present on Bennu matches with that present on Earth, thus further solidifying the theory that the bombardment was necessary to provide volume for our oceans.</p>

<p>"When we get the 250g (9oz) of asteroid Bennu back on Earth, we'll be looking at material that existed before our planet, maybe even some grains that existed before our Solar System," Prof Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator on the mission, was quoted as saying by BBC.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;'Rock' music: Queen guitarist Brian May to co-author 3D 'asteroid atlas'</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rock-music-queen-guitarist-brian-may-to-co-author-3d-asteroid-atlas-619198/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"We're trying to piece together our beginnings. How did the Earth form and why is it a habitable world? Where did the oceans get their water; where did the air in our atmosphere come from; and most importantly, what is the source of the organic molecules that make up all life on Earth?," he said.</p>

<h2><strong>How the probe started?</strong></h2>

<p>The mission began in 2016 when NASA fired the Osiris-Rex capsule towards the asteroid. Almost four years after this, the probe scooped up a soil sample from Bennu in 2020.</p>

<p>Now, three years down the line, we are just hours away from getting our hands on the precious dust.</p>

<p>Dr Ashley King from London's Natural History Museum (NHM) is a part of the team tasked with conducting an initial analysis of the dust.</p>

<p>"Bringing back samples from an asteroid - we don't do that very often. So you want to do those first measurements, and you want to do them really well," he said, adding "It's incredibly exciting."</p>

<h2><strong>Origin of life</strong></h2>

<p>Prof Sara Russell of NHM was quoted by BBC as saying that the initial analyses on the soil sample will include “an inventory of all of the carbon-based molecules that it contains.”</p>

<p>"We know from looking at meteorites that asteroids are likely to contain a zoo of different organic molecules. But in meteorites, they're often very contaminated, and so this sample return gives us a chance to really find out what the pristine organic components of Bennu are," Russell added.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-plans-armageddon-style-mission-to-avert-possible-asteroid-collision-with-earth-637060"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;An asteroid might collide with Earth in the year 2182, and scientists are working to avoid it</strong></a></p>

<p>"We've actually never looked for the amino acids that are used in proteins in meteorites because of this contamination issue. So we think we're really going to advance our understanding of what we call the exogenous delivery hypothesis, the idea that these asteroids were the source of the building blocks of life," said another professor Lauretta.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


After a seven-year, seven-billion-km round trip to asteroid Bennu, NASA’s Osiris-Rex capsule will enter Earth’s atmosphere on Sunday (Sept 24). The capsule is carrying precious dust from the asteroid, which scientists are eager to analyse to find whether or not life evolved on young Earth only after the bombardment of asteroids.

After a seven-year, seven-billion-km round trip to asteroid Bennu, NASA’s Osiris-Rex capsule will enter Earth’s atmosphere on Sunday (Sept 24). The capsule is carrying precious dust from the asteroid, which scientists are eager to analyse to find whether or not life evolved on young Earth only after the bombardment of asteroids. It will also help us find whether the water present on Bennu matches with that present on Earth, thus further solidifying the theory that the bombardment was necessary to provide volume for our oceans. "When we get the 250g (9oz) of asteroid Bennu back on Earth, we'll be looking at material that existed before our planet, maybe even some grains that existed before our Solar System," Prof Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator on the mission, was quoted as saying by BBC. Watch: 'Rock' music: Queen guitarist Brian May to co-author 3D 'asteroid atlas' × "We're trying to piece together our beginnings. How did the Earth form and why is it a habitable world? Where did the oceans get their water; where did the air in our atmosphere come from; and most importantly, what is the source of the organic molecules that make up all life on Earth?," he said. How the probe started? The mission began in 2016 when NASA fired the Osiris-Rex capsule towards the asteroid. Almost four years after this, the probe scooped up a soil sample from Bennu in 2020. Now, three years down the line, we are just hours away from getting our hands on the precious dust. Dr Ashley King from London's Natural History Museum (NHM) is a part of the team tasked with conducting an initial analysis of the dust. "Bringing back samples from an asteroid - we don't do that very often. So you want to do those first measurements, and you want to do them really well," he said, adding "It's incredibly exciting." Origin of life Prof Sara Russell of NHM was quoted by BBC as saying that the initial analyses on the soil sample will include “an inventory of all of the carbon-based molecules that it contains.” "We know from looking at meteorites that asteroids are likely to contain a zoo of different organic molecules. But in meteorites, they're often very contaminated, and so this sample return gives us a chance to really find out what the pristine organic components of Bennu are," Russell added. Also read: An asteroid might collide with Earth in the year 2182, and scientists are working to avoid it "We've actually never looked for the amino acids that are used in proteins in meteorites because of this contamination issue. So we think we're really going to advance our understanding of what we call the exogenous delivery hypothesis, the idea that these asteroids were the source of the building blocks of life," said another professor Lauretta. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

NASA’s probe carrying dust from asteroid Bennu set to enter Earth’s orbit 

<p>As humanity ventures out to the vast cosmos outside our planet, the space-junk we leave behind is growing.</p>

<p>Satellites, spacecraft and other launches all leave behind some junk littering the Earth's orbit, increasing the risk of collisions. To lighten this space-junk load, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a rule.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Shedding the space-junk</strong></h2>

<p>The FAA has proposed that the amount of time a private rocket's upper stages stay in orbit should be limited.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/as-race-to-space-shoots-up-junk-in-earths-orbit-us-space-command-releases-responsible-space-behaviours-568413">As space race zooms junk in Earth’s orbit, US Space Command shares ‘responsible space behaviours’</a></strong></p>

<p>In a draft form released on Wednesday (September 20), the FAA, via its proposed rule, seeks "to limit the growth of new orbital debris and reduce the potential for collisions with spacecraft and satellites to promote a sustainable space environment."</p>

<h2><strong>Why is this important?</strong></h2>

<p>This junk can put space missions and satellite launches at significant risk. Upon launch, the space vehicles can potentially collide with the junk that is crowding the planet's orbit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement, the FAA said "If left unchecked, the accumulation of orbital debris will increase the risk of collisions and clutter orbits used for human spaceflight and for satellites providing communications, weather and global positioning system services."&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the FAA, as of July 2023, the Earth's orbit contains over 23,000 orbital objects of sizes 10 cm and above. Furthermore, there are around one-half million objects sized between 1 and 10 cm, over 100 million larger than 1mm.</p>

<h2><strong>How will FAA achieve this junk shedding?</strong></h2>

<p>The proposed rule provides commercial space operators with five options to choose from. These options relate to the disposal of the upper stages of launch vehicles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the FAA website, these include: conducting a controlled re-entry; moving the upper stage to a less congested storage or graveyard orbit; sending the upper stage to an Earth-escape orbit; the retrieval of the upper stage (called active debris removal) within five years; or performing an uncontrolled atmospheric disposal.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-perseverance-rovers-pictures-raise-question-can-humanity-be-trusted-with-other-planets-488883">NASA Perseverance rover's pictures raise question: Can humanity be trusted with other planets?</a></strong></p>

<p>Strictly limiting the uncontrolled reentry of the upper stages can take away the uncertainty of where it might land. This will help mitigate the risk to people on the ground and in flight, says FAA.</p>

<p>"Shortening the removal deadline would decrease the risk of orbital debris causing damage to spacecraft, which could create more debris, shorten another spacecraft’s mission or endanger the lives of human spaceflight participants," states the proposed rule, as reported by space.com.</p>

<p>"Given that the entire mission lifetime of upper stages and their components is quite short, and spent upper stages pose a significant risk of debris propagation the longer they are in orbit, it may be appropriate to have a shorter disposal timeline of 5 years or another time period less than 25 years," it notes.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


As humanity ventures out to the vast cosmos outside our planet, the space-junk we leave behind is growing. Satellites, spacecraft and other launches all leave behind some junk littering the Earth's orbit, increasing the risk of collisions.

As humanity ventures out to the vast cosmos outside our planet, the space-junk we leave behind is growing. Satellites, spacecraft and other launches all leave behind some junk littering the Earth's orbit, increasing the risk of collisions. To lighten this space-junk load, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a rule. Shedding the space-junk The FAA has proposed that the amount of time a private rocket's upper stages stay in orbit should be limited. Also read | As space race zooms junk in Earth’s orbit, US Space Command shares ‘responsible space behaviours’ In a draft form released on Wednesday (September 20), the FAA, via its proposed rule, seeks "to limit the growth of new orbital debris and reduce the potential for collisions with spacecraft and satellites to promote a sustainable space environment." Why is this important? This junk can put space missions and satellite launches at significant risk. Upon launch, the space vehicles can potentially collide with the junk that is crowding the planet's orbit. In a statement, the FAA said "If left unchecked, the accumulation of orbital debris will increase the risk of collisions and clutter orbits used for human spaceflight and for satellites providing communications, weather and global positioning system services." As per the FAA, as of July 2023, the Earth's orbit contains over 23,000 orbital objects of sizes 10 cm and above. Furthermore, there are around one-half million objects sized between 1 and 10 cm, over 100 million larger than 1mm. How will FAA achieve this junk shedding? The proposed rule provides commercial space operators with five options to choose from. These options relate to the disposal of the upper stages of launch vehicles. As per the FAA website, these include: conducting a controlled re-entry; moving the upper stage to a less congested storage or graveyard orbit; sending the upper stage to an Earth-escape orbit; the retrieval of the upper stage (called active debris removal) within five years; or performing an uncontrolled atmospheric disposal. Also read | NASA Perseverance rover's pictures raise question: Can humanity be trusted with other planets? Strictly limiting the uncontrolled reentry of the upper stages can take away the uncertainty of where it might land. This will help mitigate the risk to people on the ground and in flight, says FAA. "Shortening the removal deadline would decrease the risk of orbital debris causing damage to spacecraft, which could create more debris, shorten another spacecraft’s mission or endanger the lives of human spaceflight participants," states the proposed rule, as reported by space.com. "Given that the entire mission lifetime of upper stages and their components is quite short, and spent upper stages pose a significant risk of debris propagation the longer they are in orbit, it may be appropriate to have a shorter disposal timeline of 5 years or another time period less than 25 years," it notes. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US Federal Aviation Administration proposes revolutionary way to limit human litter in Earth's orbit

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidWbL8NhNaMa7B" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidWbL8NhNaMa7B" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>NASA has revealed that an asteroid will pass Earth at an extremely close distance on Friday, September 22. According to the details by NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), Asteroid 2023 RQ6 will make its first-ever approach to Earth on Friday.</p>

<p>Its orbit will bring the asteroid as close as 6.4 million kilometres near Earth. Although this distance might seem like a lot, it is short in astronomical sense. NASA has estimated its travelling speed as 33,912 kilometres per hour.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA has not classified the Asteroid 2023 RQ6 as a Potentially Hazardous Object because it will not impact Earth's surface despite a close call. The asteroid is approximately 75 feet wide. Thus, it is not huge enough to be classified as a Potentially Hazardous Object. It is as big as an aircraft in terms of size.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-new-virus-at-depths-of-pacific-ocean-638411" target="_blank">Scientists find new virus at depths of Pacific Ocean</a></p>

<p>Asteroid 2023 RQ6 belongs to the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids, named after the giant 1862 Apollo asteroid, discovered by German astronomer Kerl Reinmuth in the 1930s. They are Earth-crossing space rocks with semi-major axes bigger than Earth's.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Most asteroids found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter can be observed with the help of advanced ground and space-based telescopes. However, scientists at NASA have recently observed three elusive asteroids hiding behind the glare of the Sun.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/trending/whats-the-source-of-co2-on-jupiters-moon-europa-scientists-finally-have-answers-638377" target="_blank"><strong>&nbsp;</strong>What's the source of CO2 on Jupiter's moon Europa? Scientists finally have answers</a></p>

<p>According to the latest discovery made by NASA, one of these asteroids is a large object which can be potentially hazardous to Earth. A team used the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) mounted on Victor M. Blanco's 4-metre telescope in Chile to find and observe these asteroids. It is challenging to locate celestial objects in the region around the Sun, as astronomers have to deal with the Sun's glaze.</p>

<p>Besides Asteroid 2023 RQ6, Asteroid 2023 SJ made its closest approach to Earth on September 21. It has a width between 52 feet and 118 feet.</p>

<p>According to a recent report by the OSIRIS-REx science team, Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid, could drift into the planet's orbit and hit the planet by September 2182. NASA has been tracking Bennu, first discovered in 1999, for 25 years. Bennu passes near Earth every six years and has had three close encounters with Earth in 1999, 2005, and 2011.</p>

<p><em>(With input from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


NASA has revealed that an asteroid will pass Earth at an extremely close distance on Friday, September 22. According to the details by NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), Asteroid 2023 RQ6 will make its first-ever approach to Earth on Friday.

NASA has revealed that an asteroid will pass Earth at an extremely close distance on Friday, September 22. According to the details by NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), Asteroid 2023 RQ6 will make its first-ever approach to Earth on Friday. Its orbit will bring the asteroid as close as 6.4 million kilometres near Earth. Although this distance might seem like a lot, it is short in astronomical sense. NASA has estimated its travelling speed as 33,912 kilometres per hour. NASA has not classified the Asteroid 2023 RQ6 as a Potentially Hazardous Object because it will not impact Earth's surface despite a close call. The asteroid is approximately 75 feet wide. Thus, it is not huge enough to be classified as a Potentially Hazardous Object. It is as big as an aircraft in terms of size. ALSO READ | Scientists find new virus at depths of Pacific Ocean Asteroid 2023 RQ6 belongs to the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids, named after the giant 1862 Apollo asteroid, discovered by German astronomer Kerl Reinmuth in the 1930s. They are Earth-crossing space rocks with semi-major axes bigger than Earth's. Most asteroids found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter can be observed with the help of advanced ground and space-based telescopes. However, scientists at NASA have recently observed three elusive asteroids hiding behind the glare of the Sun. ALSO READ | What's the source of CO2 on Jupiter's moon Europa? Scientists finally have answers According to the latest discovery made by NASA, one of these asteroids is a large object which can be potentially hazardous to Earth. A team used the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) mounted on Victor M. Blanco's 4-metre telescope in Chile to find and observe these asteroids. It is challenging to locate celestial objects in the region around the Sun, as astronomers have to deal with the Sun's glaze. Besides Asteroid 2023 RQ6, Asteroid 2023 SJ made its closest approach to Earth on September 21. It has a width between 52 feet and 118 feet. According to a recent report by the OSIRIS-REx science team, Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid, could drift into the planet's orbit and hit the planet by September 2182. NASA has been tracking Bennu, first discovered in 1999, for 25 years. Bennu passes near Earth every six years and has had three close encounters with Earth in 1999, 2005, and 2011. (With input from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Asteroid to make its first-ever close approach to Earth! NASA predicts

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidBnrUfjfL2RYq" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>After three failed attempts, NASA's Curiosity rover has reached a ridge on Mars, believed to have been partly formed by a muddy landslide which occurred three billion years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A ridge is a narrow, long and elevated structural feature surrounded by steep sides. The Martian&nbsp;Ridge holds significance because it might contain some of the earliest evidence of liquid water on the red planet, as it was one of the last geographic features created in the area.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It's a thrill to be able to reach out and touch rocks, transported from places high up on Mount Sharp that we'll never be able to visit with Curiosity," said Ashwin Vasavada, Curosity's project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Curiosity rover took a month to climb the Gediz Vallis Ridge. It completed its most challenging climb yet after navigating through a sharp 23-degree incline, slippery sand and rocks around the size of its wheels.</p>

<p>After reaching the ridge in August, the rover spent 11 days capturing the rocks in the area, some of which were as large as cars.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/trending/once-extinct-scientists-one-step-closer-to-resurrecting-tasmanian-tiger-637805" target="_blank">Scientists one step closer to resurrecting Tasmanian tiger that went extinct 100 years ago</a></p>

<p>On August 19, the Curiosity rover clicked 136 pictures of the broader landscape on the ridge and stitched them into a 360-degree mosaic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Curiosity also captured a separate image in which the upper region of Mount Sharp is visible at a distance behind a prominent butte (flat-topped mountain) in the forepart.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ridge lies in Curiosity rover's way through the foothills of Mount Sharp, a sharp 3-mile-tall mountain once covered in lakes and streams.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Researchers who studied the composition of many dark rocks and boulders on the ridge found that these rocks originated somewhere on the mountain and skated down with the debris flow. These rocks might enable scientists to study higher mountain regions that Curiosity cannot reach.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Curiosity rover marked its 11th year on the Red Planet in August 2023. On its journey, Curiosity has been to incredible locations, like Gale Crater, an impact divot with a layered mountain at its centre.<br />
<br />
In the upcoming mission, it will attempt to search for a path up a channel above the ridge. Researchers might be able to understand how and where the water flowed down the mountains with its next task.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers have not found evidence that the red planet once supported life, they have helped disclose Mars' more hospital past.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


After three failed attempts, NASA's Curiosity rover has reached a ridge on Mars, believed to have been partly formed by a muddy landslide which occurred three billion years ago.

After three failed attempts, NASA's Curiosity rover has reached a ridge on Mars, believed to have been partly formed by a muddy landslide which occurred three billion years ago. A ridge is a narrow, long and elevated structural feature surrounded by steep sides. The Martian Ridge holds significance because it might contain some of the earliest evidence of liquid water on the red planet, as it was one of the last geographic features created in the area. "It's a thrill to be able to reach out and touch rocks, transported from places high up on Mount Sharp that we'll never be able to visit with Curiosity," said Ashwin Vasavada, Curosity's project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The Curiosity rover took a month to climb the Gediz Vallis Ridge. It completed its most challenging climb yet after navigating through a sharp 23-degree incline, slippery sand and rocks around the size of its wheels. After reaching the ridge in August, the rover spent 11 days capturing the rocks in the area, some of which were as large as cars. ALSO READ | Scientists one step closer to resurrecting Tasmanian tiger that went extinct 100 years ago On August 19, the Curiosity rover clicked 136 pictures of the broader landscape on the ridge and stitched them into a 360-degree mosaic. Curiosity also captured a separate image in which the upper region of Mount Sharp is visible at a distance behind a prominent butte (flat-topped mountain) in the forepart. The ridge lies in Curiosity rover's way through the foothills of Mount Sharp, a sharp 3-mile-tall mountain once covered in lakes and streams. Researchers who studied the composition of many dark rocks and boulders on the ridge found that these rocks originated somewhere on the mountain and skated down with the debris flow. These rocks might enable scientists to study higher mountain regions that Curiosity cannot reach. The Curiosity rover marked its 11th year on the Red Planet in August 2023. On its journey, Curiosity has been to incredible locations, like Gale Crater, an impact divot with a layered mountain at its centre. In the upcoming mission, it will attempt to search for a path up a channel above the ridge. Researchers might be able to understand how and where the water flowed down the mountains with its next task. Although NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers have not found evidence that the red planet once supported life, they have helped disclose Mars' more hospital past. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

NASA's Curiosity rover reaches Mars ridge to study red planet's watery past

<p>NASA's Parker Solar Probe has marked a historic milestone by becoming the first spacecraft to fly through a&nbsp;coronal mass ejection (CME) directly from the sun — a colossal eruption which expels billions of tonnes of plasma.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'Closest to the sun'</strong></h2>

<p>The audacious probe that was launched in August 2018 now holds the distinction of being the closest human-made craft to the sun.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per a Forbes report, NASA's Parker Solar Probe spent two days at a mere 5.7 million miles (9.2 million kilometres) from the sun's scorching surface.</p>

<p>To&nbsp;better understand the accomplishment, let's put it into context. Mercury, the nearest planet to the sun, is located roughly 23 million miles (37 million kilometres) from the blazing star. Our planet, Earth, is at a more comfortable distance, a staggering 93 million miles (150 million kilometres).</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/high-five-for-isros-slingshot-technique-as-aditya-l1-leaves-earth-orbit-for-its-destination-637459">High-five for ISRO's 'slingshot technique' as Aditya-L1 leaves Earth's orbit for its destination</a></strong></p>

<p>On 22 September 2022, the Solar Parker probe passed right through the CME. This feat was revealed in a paper published in the Astrophysical Journal.</p>

<p>You can watch the fascinating video of its journey here:</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Another first! Our Parker Solar Probe flew through an eruption from the Sun, and saw it “vacuuming up” space dust left over from the formation of the solar system. It's giving <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASun?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASASun</a> scientists a better look at space weather and its potential effects on Earth.… <a href="https://t.co/AcwLXOlI6m">pic.twitter.com/AcwLXOlI6m</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1703898589842313300?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>As per Nour Raouafu, a Parker Solar Probe project scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, "This is the closest to the sun we’ve ever observed a CME."</p>

<p>"We've never seen an event of this magnitude at this distance," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>What exactly is a CME?</strong></h2>

<p>Coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are huge expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun. These are often formed in the wake of solar flares.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Both phenomena, as per Forbes, trace their origins to "the twisting and realignment" of the sun's magnetic field.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/experiments-on-astronaut-mice-prove-humanity-has-a-chance-to-land-on-mars-637493">Experiments on astronaut mice prove humanity has a chance to land on Mars</a></strong></p>

<p>When directed toward Earth, a CME can induce geomagnetic storms capable of reshaping our planet's magnetic field, and can create mesmerising auroras.</p>

<p>However, severe CMEs also have the potential to jeopardise satellites, disrupt communication systems, and unleash widespread power blackouts.</p>

<h2><strong>What did the Parker probe observe during its perilous journey?</strong></h2>

<p>During this momentous journey, the Parker probe detected particles hurtling at speeds of up to 840 miles (1,350 kilometres) per second, akin to the ferocity of the most potent solar storm ever recorded—the Carrington Event in 1859.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fortuitously, the CME that the Parker Solar Probe travelled through was on the sun's far side and not directed toward Earth. If it was directed at our planet, it would've caused quite a few potential disruptions that could incur economic losses, estimated at over $41.5 billion per day in the United States alone.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


NASA's Parker Solar Probe has marked a historic milestone by becoming the first spacecraft to fly through a coronal mass ejection (CME) directly from the sun — a colossal eruption which expels billions of tonnes of plasma.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has marked a historic milestone by becoming the first spacecraft to fly through a coronal mass ejection (CME) directly from the sun — a colossal eruption which expels billions of tonnes of plasma. 'Closest to the sun' The audacious probe that was launched in August 2018 now holds the distinction of being the closest human-made craft to the sun. As per a Forbes report, NASA's Parker Solar Probe spent two days at a mere 5.7 million miles (9.2 million kilometres) from the sun's scorching surface. To better understand the accomplishment, let's put it into context. Mercury, the nearest planet to the sun, is located roughly 23 million miles (37 million kilometres) from the blazing star. Our planet, Earth, is at a more comfortable distance, a staggering 93 million miles (150 million kilometres). Also read | High-five for ISRO's 'slingshot technique' as Aditya-L1 leaves Earth's orbit for its destination On 22 September 2022, the Solar Parker probe passed right through the CME. This feat was revealed in a paper published in the Astrophysical Journal. You can watch the fascinating video of its journey here: Another first! Our Parker Solar Probe flew through an eruption from the Sun, and saw it “vacuuming up” space dust left over from the formation of the solar system. It's giving @NASASun scientists a better look at space weather and its potential effects on Earth.… pic.twitter.com/AcwLXOlI6m — NASA (@NASA) September 18, 2023 × As per Nour Raouafu, a Parker Solar Probe project scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, "This is the closest to the sun we’ve ever observed a CME." "We've never seen an event of this magnitude at this distance," he added. What exactly is a CME? Coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are huge expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun. These are often formed in the wake of solar flares. Both phenomena, as per Forbes, trace their origins to "the twisting and realignment" of the sun's magnetic field. Also read | Experiments on astronaut mice prove humanity has a chance to land on Mars When directed toward Earth, a CME can induce geomagnetic storms capable of reshaping our planet's magnetic field, and can create mesmerising auroras. However, severe CMEs also have the potential to jeopardise satellites, disrupt communication systems, and unleash widespread power blackouts. What did the Parker probe observe during its perilous journey? During this momentous journey, the Parker probe detected particles hurtling at speeds of up to 840 miles (1,350 kilometres) per second, akin to the ferocity of the most potent solar storm ever recorded—the Carrington Event in 1859. Fortuitously, the CME that the Parker Solar Probe travelled through was on the sun's far side and not directed toward Earth. If it was directed at our planet, it would've caused quite a few potential disruptions that could incur economic losses, estimated at over $41.5 billion per day in the United States alone. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe gets 'closest' to Sun, spends two days in solar storm. Watch

<p>A recent study has suggested that a mysterious hidden force is generating water on the Moon. The study published in the journal <em>Nature</em> on September 14 says that waves of electrons, arriving indirectly from Earth and the Sun are contributing to the formation of frozen water on the lunar surface. These electrons hit the Moon as it passes in and out of Earth's magnetotail, which the planet leaves behind as it rushes through space.</p>

<p>"We find that the water abundance at lunar mid-latitudes substantially increases in the dusk and dawn magnetosheath when the solar wind flux increases, yet remains nearly constant across the central magnetotail," the study said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It added that within the magnetotail is a plasma sheet made up of highly charged electrons and ions, pulled from Earth's atmosphere and solar wind radiation from the Sun.</p>

<p>"We suggest that although we have confirmed the importance of the solar wind as a major source of fast water production on the Moon, hitherto unobserved properties of the plasma sheet properties may also play an important role," the study added.</p>

<p>According to a report by <em>Science Alert</em>, planetary scientist Shuai Li from the University of Hawai'i said that when the Moon is outside of the magnetotail, the lunar surface is bombarded with solar wind.</p>

<p>"Inside the magnetotail, there are almost no solar wind protons and water formation was expected to drop to nearly zero," Professor Li added.</p>

<p>However, citing analysis, the report said that this was not the case. Earlier studies pointed towards hydrogen ions from solar winds generating water on the Moon, but it seems this water is still forming when the lunar surface is protected from solar winds, inside the magnetotail.</p>

<p>"In the magnetotail, there may be additional formation processes or new sources of water not directly associated with the implantation of solar wind protons," Li further said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


A recent study has suggested that a mysterious hidden force is generating water on the Moon. The study published in the journal Nature on September 14 says that waves of electrons, arriving indirectly from Earth and the Sun are contributing to the formation of frozen water on the lunar surface.

A recent study has suggested that a mysterious hidden force is generating water on the Moon. The study published in the journal Nature on September 14 says that waves of electrons, arriving indirectly from Earth and the Sun are contributing to the formation of frozen water on the lunar surface. These electrons hit the Moon as it passes in and out of Earth's magnetotail, which the planet leaves behind as it rushes through space. "We find that the water abundance at lunar mid-latitudes substantially increases in the dusk and dawn magnetosheath when the solar wind flux increases, yet remains nearly constant across the central magnetotail," the study said. It added that within the magnetotail is a plasma sheet made up of highly charged electrons and ions, pulled from Earth's atmosphere and solar wind radiation from the Sun. "We suggest that although we have confirmed the importance of the solar wind as a major source of fast water production on the Moon, hitherto unobserved properties of the plasma sheet properties may also play an important role," the study added. According to a report by Science Alert, planetary scientist Shuai Li from the University of Hawai'i said that when the Moon is outside of the magnetotail, the lunar surface is bombarded with solar wind. "Inside the magnetotail, there are almost no solar wind protons and water formation was expected to drop to nearly zero," Professor Li added. However, citing analysis, the report said that this was not the case. Earlier studies pointed towards hydrogen ions from solar winds generating water on the Moon, but it seems this water is still forming when the lunar surface is protected from solar winds, inside the magnetotail. "In the magnetotail, there may be additional formation processes or new sources of water not directly associated with the implantation of solar wind protons," Li further said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

There's frozen water on the Moon and a mysterious hidden force is likely the reason

<p>NASA scientists have revealed that they are in the last leg of their mission to avert a possible asteroid hitting the Earth, 159 years from now. Experts believe that the asteroid, named Bennu could hit the Earth on 24 September 2182.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This catastrophic event, however, has a 1 in 2,700 possibility of striking&nbsp;Earth, but experts are taking no chances and are&nbsp;concerned about the slight&nbsp;probability. So much so, that, seven years ago, NASA launched a spacecraft to Bennu in order to collect samples in the hope of obtaining some data that can help in averting the catastrophe, if and when it happens.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sea-ice-around-antarctica-recedes-to-historically-low-levels-scientists-636821">Sea ice around Antarctica recedes to historically low levels: Scientists</a></p>

<h2><strong>Bennu asteroid</strong></h2>

<p>The asteroid was discovered back in 1999&nbsp;and passes close to Earth about every six years, as per NASA. The space rock is believed to be the same size as the Empire State Building with the force of 22 atom bombs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2020, NASA’s OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft descended on the surface of asteroid Bennu and collected rocky material&nbsp;from a sample site, named Nightingale during its Touch-and-Go (TAG) sample collection manoeuvre.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-james-webb-captures-rare-image-of-a-newborn-sun-like-star-636588">NASA's James Webb Telescope captures rare image of a newborn sun-like star</a></p>

<p>Scientists believe that Bennu, an ancient relic of our solar system, has seen more than 4.5 billion years of history.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Naming of asteroid Bennu</strong>- Its original designation was 1999 RQ36. It was in 2013&nbsp;that the name was changed to Bennu after a third-grade student named Michael Puzio won a contest to name the asteroid.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>NASA’s plan to avert Earth-asteroid Bennu collision</strong></h2>

<p>Rich Burns, project manager for OSIRIS-REx at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, told the Sunday Telegraph: “We are now in the final leg of this seven-year journey, and it feels very much like the last few miles of a marathon, with a confluence of emotions like pride and joy coexisting with a determined focus to complete the race well.”</p>

<p>But what is this plan that took NASA scientists seven years?</p>

<p>The asteroid samples from the OSIRIS-REx mission will reach Earth next week, entering the Earth’s atmosphere at around 3.42 pm BST Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/severe-covid-infection-linked-to-genes-inherited-from-neanderthal-ancestors-637046">Severe Covid infection linked to genes inherited from Neanderthal ancestors</a></p>

<p>A fridge-sized capsule containing the samples will be fired to Earth from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft once it reaches a distance of 63,000 miles from the planet. It will then travel towards Earth at a speed of nearly 28,000 mph and reach temperatures twice as hot as lava.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before touching down in the Utah desert, parachutes will be deployed to slow the capsule down to 11mph so it can land safely at the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range southwest of Salt Lake City.</p>

<p>In order to avoid contaminating the samples from Bennu, the recovery team must retrieve the capsule from the ground as quickly as possible.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/worlds-first-fox-dog-hybrid-has-passed-away-636592">World's first Fox-Dog hybrid has passed away</a></p>

<p>Findings from the mission might not only protect the planet from a catastrophic collision but also hold secrets about the origin of life on Earth.</p>

<p>The mission echoes the 1998 Bruce Willis film Armageddon. In the film, Willis stops an asteroid the size of Texas from hitting Earth by landing on it and splitting it in two with a nuclear bomb.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


NASA scientists have revealed that they are in the last leg of their mission to avert a possible asteroid hitting the Earth, 159 years from now. Experts believe that the asteroid, named Bennu could hit the Earth on 24 September 2182.

NASA scientists have revealed that they are in the last leg of their mission to avert a possible asteroid hitting the Earth, 159 years from now. Experts believe that the asteroid, named Bennu could hit the Earth on 24 September 2182. This catastrophic event, however, has a 1 in 2,700 possibility of striking Earth, but experts are taking no chances and are concerned about the slight probability. So much so, that, seven years ago, NASA launched a spacecraft to Bennu in order to collect samples in the hope of obtaining some data that can help in averting the catastrophe, if and when it happens. Also Read | Sea ice around Antarctica recedes to historically low levels: Scientists Bennu asteroid The asteroid was discovered back in 1999 and passes close to Earth about every six years, as per NASA. The space rock is believed to be the same size as the Empire State Building with the force of 22 atom bombs. In 2020, NASA’s OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft descended on the surface of asteroid Bennu and collected rocky material from a sample site, named Nightingale during its Touch-and-Go (TAG) sample collection manoeuvre. Also Read | NASA's James Webb Telescope captures rare image of a newborn sun-like star Scientists believe that Bennu, an ancient relic of our solar system, has seen more than 4.5 billion years of history. Naming of asteroid Bennu- Its original designation was 1999 RQ36. It was in 2013 that the name was changed to Bennu after a third-grade student named Michael Puzio won a contest to name the asteroid. NASA’s plan to avert Earth-asteroid Bennu collision Rich Burns, project manager for OSIRIS-REx at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, told the Sunday Telegraph: “We are now in the final leg of this seven-year journey, and it feels very much like the last few miles of a marathon, with a confluence of emotions like pride and joy coexisting with a determined focus to complete the race well.” But what is this plan that took NASA scientists seven years? The asteroid samples from the OSIRIS-REx mission will reach Earth next week, entering the Earth’s atmosphere at around 3.42 pm BST Sunday. Also Read | Severe Covid infection linked to genes inherited from Neanderthal ancestors A fridge-sized capsule containing the samples will be fired to Earth from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft once it reaches a distance of 63,000 miles from the planet. It will then travel towards Earth at a speed of nearly 28,000 mph and reach temperatures twice as hot as lava. Before touching down in the Utah desert, parachutes will be deployed to slow the capsule down to 11mph so it can land safely at the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range southwest of Salt Lake City. In order to avoid contaminating the samples from Bennu, the recovery team must retrieve the capsule from the ground as quickly as possible. Also Read | World's first Fox-Dog hybrid has passed away Findings from the mission might not only protect the planet from a catastrophic collision but also hold secrets about the origin of life on Earth. The mission echoes the 1998 Bruce Willis film Armageddon. In the film, Willis stops an asteroid the size of Texas from hitting Earth by landing on it and splitting it in two with a nuclear bomb. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

An asteroid might collide with Earth in the year 2182, and scientists are working to avoid it

<p>The summer of 2023 has been deemed the hottest period on Earth since at least 1880 amid scorching heat waves experienced in Asia, Europe, North America and elsewhere, confirmed NASA while referring to the time when global record-keeping of temperatures started.<br />
<br />
The record-setting heat of 2023 is a result of global warming which has been compounded with a climate pattern called El Nino, as per the space agency.<br />
<br />
In a statement, NASA said that August was 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 degrees Celsius) warmer compared to an average summer, as a record 57 million people living in the southern and southwest US battled a heat wave of the most severe category.<br />
<br />
The combined temperatures in June, July and August were 0.41 degrees Fahrenheit (0.23 degrees Celsius) warmer compared to all previous summers, as per the latest report.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/colourful-and-noisy-climate-protests-sweep-across-uk-636710">Colourful and noisy climate protests sweep across UK</a></p>

<p>In another conference of NASA held last month on the climate emergency, July was confirmed by the scientists to be the hottest on record, as the previous five hottest Julys were recorded in the past five years.<br />
<br />
"Just look around you and you'll see what's happened," said NASA administrator Bill Nelson, during the conference.<br />
<br />
"We have record flooding in Vermont. We have record heat in Phoenix and in Miami. We have major parts of the country that have been blanketed by wildfire smoke and, of course, what we are watching in real-time is the disaster that has occurred in Hawaii with wildfires,” he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Biggest impacts of climate change from&nbsp;February till April</strong></h2>

<p>The searing heat of July contributed directly to the deadliest wildfire season on record for both Hawaii and Canada, as the Mediterranean, which included Greece and Italy, saw severe rainfall and flash floods, said scientists.<br />
<br />
The record heat has been attributed in part to El Nino which repeatedly takes place every two to seven years when winds over the Pacific Ocean break their routine pattern and move towards the US west coast.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;G20 host India proposes 'global biofuel alliance' | WION Climate Tracker</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/g20-host-india-proposes-global-biofuel-alliance-wion-climate-tracker-633641/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>As a result, the US and Canada witnessed much warmer conditions than usual. "Exceptionally high sea surface temperatures, fueled in part by the return of El Niño, were largely responsible for the summer's record warmth," said Josh Willis, who is an oceanographer and climate scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, in a statement.<br />
<br />
As per the predictions of his team, the biggest impacts from this climate pattern will be seen from February till April next year.</p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for&nbsp;wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


The summer of 2023 has been deemed the hottest period on Earth since at least 1880 amid scorching heat waves experienced in Asia, Europe, North America and elsewhere, confirmed NASA while referring to the time when global record-keeping of temperatures started.

The summer of 2023 has been deemed the hottest period on Earth since at least 1880 amid scorching heat waves experienced in Asia, Europe, North America and elsewhere, confirmed NASA while referring to the time when global record-keeping of temperatures started. The record-setting heat of 2023 is a result of global warming which has been compounded with a climate pattern called El Nino, as per the space agency. In a statement, NASA said that August was 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 degrees Celsius) warmer compared to an average summer, as a record 57 million people living in the southern and southwest US battled a heat wave of the most severe category. The combined temperatures in June, July and August were 0.41 degrees Fahrenheit (0.23 degrees Celsius) warmer compared to all previous summers, as per the latest report. ALSO READ | Colourful and noisy climate protests sweep across UK In another conference of NASA held last month on the climate emergency, July was confirmed by the scientists to be the hottest on record, as the previous five hottest Julys were recorded in the past five years. "Just look around you and you'll see what's happened," said NASA administrator Bill Nelson, during the conference. "We have record flooding in Vermont. We have record heat in Phoenix and in Miami. We have major parts of the country that have been blanketed by wildfire smoke and, of course, what we are watching in real-time is the disaster that has occurred in Hawaii with wildfires,” he added. Biggest impacts of climate change from February till April The searing heat of July contributed directly to the deadliest wildfire season on record for both Hawaii and Canada, as the Mediterranean, which included Greece and Italy, saw severe rainfall and flash floods, said scientists. The record heat has been attributed in part to El Nino which repeatedly takes place every two to seven years when winds over the Pacific Ocean break their routine pattern and move towards the US west coast. WATCH | G20 host India proposes 'global biofuel alliance' | WION Climate Tracker As a result, the US and Canada witnessed much warmer conditions than usual. "Exceptionally high sea surface temperatures, fueled in part by the return of El Niño, were largely responsible for the summer's record warmth," said Josh Willis, who is an oceanographer and climate scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, in a statement. As per the predictions of his team, the biggest impacts from this climate pattern will be seen from February till April next year. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Summer 2023 was hottest on record since 1880, confirms NASA

A new NASA device the size of a microwave oven is capable of plucking oxygen out of thin Martian air. The breakthrough was achieved via an instrument on NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover. The experiment produced enough oxygen for a small dog to breathe for about 10 hours.

Oxygen on Mars: Paving the way to sustaining life on the planet

<p>NASA's most powerful telescope the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured a young star's supersonic outflow, which gave a glimpse of how our Sun would have appeared thousands of years ago.<br />
<br />
The rare image has captured jets of star matter which can be seen blasting from a very young star's poles and speeding into space at supersonic speeds. The bright regions surrounding the newborn stars are called Herbig-Haro objects.<br />
<br />
This specific Herbig-Haro object captured in the image is called Herbig-Haro (HH) 211 and is at a distance of approximately 1,000 light-years away from Earth, currently in the constellation Perseus.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-study-team-rules-out-extraterrestrial-origin-of-ufo-uap-in-report-635998">NASA study rules out extra-terrestrial origin of UFOs, unnamed new chief to lead further research</a></p>

<p>Posting the image, NASA wrote, ''If we could take a baby picture of our Sun, it might look something like this. Seen in this @NASAWebb image is a newborn star with supersonic jets of gas spewing from its poles. It's only a few tens of thousands of years old here, but when it grows up, it'll be much like our Sun.''</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxLMG7GOn2u/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxLMG7GOn2u/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxLMG7GOn2u/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxLMG7GOn2u/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by NASA Webb Telescope (@nasawebb)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>A Herbig-Haro takes place when ''formed when stellar winds or jets of gas spewing from these newborn stars form shock waves colliding with nearby gas and dust at high speeds,'' explained NASA.</p>

<h2><strong>Tens of thousands of years old young star</strong></h2>

<p>The young star has been identified as a Class 0 protostar which is only a few tens of thousands of years old and has a mass that is just 8 per cent of the sun. However, the star is projected to grow eventually into a star like the sun.<br />
<br />
Excited molecules like silicon monoxide, molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide emit infrared light which allows Webb to map out the structure of the outflows. The surroundings of the young star have been captured in unprecedented detail in the newly-released image.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas | 'Aliens are out there': NASA chief's admission as hunt begins for extraterrestrial life</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-aliens-are-out-there-nasa-chiefs-admission-as-hunt-begins-for-extraterrestrial-life-636438/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"Earlier observations of HH 211 with ground-based telescopes revealed giant bow shocks moving away from us (north-west) and moving towards us (south-east) and cavity-like structures in shocked hydrogen and carbon monoxide respectively, as well as a knotty and wiggling bipolar jet in silicon monoxide. Researchers have used Webb's new observations to determine that the object's outflow is relatively slow in comparison to more evolved protostars with similar types of outflows," stated NASA.<br />
<br />
The Webb telescope, which came into existence in 2021 and started collecting data in 2022, reshaped the early universe's understanding while capturing stunning images of the cosmos.<br />
<br />
Since the telescope began operation, it revealed the existence of many of the earliest-known black holes and galaxies and shared a huge amount of unprecedented data. Webb also emerged as around 100 times more powerful compared to the Hubble telescope.</p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for&nbsp;wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


NASA's most powerful telescope the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured a young star's supersonic outflow, which gave a glimpse of how our Sun would have appeared thousands of years ago.

NASA's most powerful telescope the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured a young star's supersonic outflow, which gave a glimpse of how our Sun would have appeared thousands of years ago. The rare image has captured jets of star matter which can be seen blasting from a very young star's poles and speeding into space at supersonic speeds. The bright regions surrounding the newborn stars are called Herbig-Haro objects. This specific Herbig-Haro object captured in the image is called Herbig-Haro (HH) 211 and is at a distance of approximately 1,000 light-years away from Earth, currently in the constellation Perseus. ALSO READ | NASA study rules out extra-terrestrial origin of UFOs, unnamed new chief to lead further research Posting the image, NASA wrote, ''If we could take a baby picture of our Sun, it might look something like this. Seen in this @NASAWebb image is a newborn star with supersonic jets of gas spewing from its poles. It's only a few tens of thousands of years old here, but when it grows up, it'll be much like our Sun.'' View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA Webb Telescope (@nasawebb) × A Herbig-Haro takes place when ''formed when stellar winds or jets of gas spewing from these newborn stars form shock waves colliding with nearby gas and dust at high speeds,'' explained NASA. Tens of thousands of years old young star The young star has been identified as a Class 0 protostar which is only a few tens of thousands of years old and has a mass that is just 8 per cent of the sun. However, the star is projected to grow eventually into a star like the sun. Excited molecules like silicon monoxide, molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide emit infrared light which allows Webb to map out the structure of the outflows. The surroundings of the young star have been captured in unprecedented detail in the newly-released image. WATCH | Gravitas | 'Aliens are out there': NASA chief's admission as hunt begins for extraterrestrial life "Earlier observations of HH 211 with ground-based telescopes revealed giant bow shocks moving away from us (north-west) and moving towards us (south-east) and cavity-like structures in shocked hydrogen and carbon monoxide respectively, as well as a knotty and wiggling bipolar jet in silicon monoxide. Researchers have used Webb's new observations to determine that the object's outflow is relatively slow in comparison to more evolved protostars with similar types of outflows," stated NASA. The Webb telescope, which came into existence in 2021 and started collecting data in 2022, reshaped the early universe's understanding while capturing stunning images of the cosmos. Since the telescope began operation, it revealed the existence of many of the earliest-known black holes and galaxies and shared a huge amount of unprecedented data. Webb also emerged as around 100 times more powerful compared to the Hubble telescope. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NASA's James Webb Telescope captures rare image of a newborn sun-like star

Peru's alien corpses seem to have jolted NASA into action, breathing new life into the age-old question: "Are we alone in this vast universe?" The Chief of the U.S. space agency, Bill Nelson, has shattered the silence, boldly declaring that aliens are not just science fiction; they are real and waiting to be discovered. NASA has officially launched a mission to find these extraterrestrial beings, injecting new purpose into the quest for life beyond Earth.

Gravitas | 'Aliens are out there': NASA chief's admission as hunt begins for extraterrestrial life

Mexican lawmakers heard testimony that we are not alone in the universe. The fossilised bodies presented in glass cases by journalist and UFO scientist Jaime Maussan at Mexico's parliament are said to be 1,000 years old. The hearing marked the Latin American country's first congressional event on UFOs. However several similar claims of Jaime Maussan have been debunked in the past. Watch the story to know the truth.

Aliens in Mexico? Sensational claim on aliens

Mexican lawmakers heard testimony that we are not alone in the universe. The fossilised bodies presented in glass cases by journalist and UFO scientist Jaime Maussan at Mexico's parliament are said to be 1,000 years old. The hearing marked the Latin American country's first congressional event on UFOs. However several similar claims of Jaime Maussan have been debunked in the past. Watch the story to know the truth. To know more, the Executive Board member of the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies, Robert Powell.

NASA widens search for alien life, will utilise AI to hunt aliens

<p>Bill Nelson, Administrator of&nbsp;NASA, said on Thursday (September 14) that the space agency's independent study team set up to look into UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) or UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomena), as they are lately being called, did not find evidence that they&nbsp;had&nbsp;any extraterrestrial origin. The report by the team which was set up last year has now been made public on the NASA website.</p>

<p>Nelson, however, said that the finding does not mean that the space agency is denying the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the universe. He even said that personally he believes that extraterrestrial life existed somewhere in the universe which has 'billions of galaxies'.</p>

<p>Though NASA said there was no extra-terrestrial explanation for the UAPs, the agency is naming a new director of research to look more into the UAPs. The study panel has urged that US increase its efforts to look into what are more commonly called, UFOs.</p>

<p>NASA said the new director of UAP research will handle "centralised communications, resources and data analytical capabilities to establish a robust database for the evaluation of future UAP."</p>

<p><strong>Watch | NASA to test two-way, end-to-end laser relay system from International Space Station</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasa-to-test-two-way-end-to-end-laser-relay-system-from-international-space-station-631270/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The space agency however, did not immediately reveal who would be appointed director of UAP research.</p>

<p>The NASA panel which prepared the report that has now been made public, comprised experts from various scientific fields ranging from physics to astrobiology.</p>

<p>"NASA has a variety of existing and planned Earth-&nbsp;and space-observing assets, together with an extensive archive of historic and current data sets, which should be directly leveraged to understand UAP," the report said.</p>

<p>"Although NASA's fleet of Earth-observing satellites typically lack the spatial resolution to detect relatively small objects such as UAP, their state-of-the-art sensors can be directly utilised to probe the state of the local earth, oceanic, and atmospheric conditions that are spatially and temporally coincident with UAPs initially detected via other methods. Thus, NASA's assets can play a vital role by directly determining whether specific environmental factors are associated with certain reported UAP behaviors or occurrences," the report said.</p>

<p>The new report has called UAPs "one of our planet's greatest mysteries."</p>

<p>"Observations of objects in our skies that cannot be identified as balloons, aircraft or natural known phenomena have been spotted worldwide, yet there are limited high-quality observations. The nature of science is to explore the unknown, and data is the language scientists use to discover our universe's secrets," the report stated.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/six-out-of-9-planetary-boundaries-breached-earth-increasingly-becoming-inhabitable-for-humans-scientists-635963">Six out of 9 planetary boundaries breached, Earth increasingly becoming uninhabitable for humans: Scientists</a></strong></p>

<p>"Despite numerous accounts and visuals, the absence of consistent, detailed, and curated observations means we do not presently have the body of data needed to make definitive, scientific conclusions about UAP," it added.</p>

<p>The issue of UFOs and UFO sightings has been a topic of popular fascination and even conspiracy theories. The tightlipped response from the US government in past has fuelled wild theories that the government even has aliens in captivity.</p>

<p>In past few years however, the US government has made several disclosures about UFOs, or UAPs as it regards them now.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><em>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>

<p><strong><em>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</em></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Bill Nelson, Administrator of NASA, said on Thursday (September 14) that the space agency's independent study team set up to look into UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) or UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomena), as they are lately being called, did not find evidence that they had any extraterrestrial origin.

Bill Nelson, Administrator of NASA, said on Thursday (September 14) that the space agency's independent study team set up to look into UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) or UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomena), as they are lately being called, did not find evidence that they had any extraterrestrial origin. The report by the team which was set up last year has now been made public on the NASA website. Nelson, however, said that the finding does not mean that the space agency is denying the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the universe. He even said that personally he believes that extraterrestrial life existed somewhere in the universe which has 'billions of galaxies'. Though NASA said there was no extra-terrestrial explanation for the UAPs, the agency is naming a new director of research to look more into the UAPs. The study panel has urged that US increase its efforts to look into what are more commonly called, UFOs. NASA said the new director of UAP research will handle "centralised communications, resources and data analytical capabilities to establish a robust database for the evaluation of future UAP." Watch | NASA to test two-way, end-to-end laser relay system from International Space Station × The space agency however, did not immediately reveal who would be appointed director of UAP research. The NASA panel which prepared the report that has now been made public, comprised experts from various scientific fields ranging from physics to astrobiology. "NASA has a variety of existing and planned Earth- and space-observing assets, together with an extensive archive of historic and current data sets, which should be directly leveraged to understand UAP," the report said. "Although NASA's fleet of Earth-observing satellites typically lack the spatial resolution to detect relatively small objects such as UAP, their state-of-the-art sensors can be directly utilised to probe the state of the local earth, oceanic, and atmospheric conditions that are spatially and temporally coincident with UAPs initially detected via other methods. Thus, NASA's assets can play a vital role by directly determining whether specific environmental factors are associated with certain reported UAP behaviors or occurrences," the report said. The new report has called UAPs "one of our planet's greatest mysteries." "Observations of objects in our skies that cannot be identified as balloons, aircraft or natural known phenomena have been spotted worldwide, yet there are limited high-quality observations. The nature of science is to explore the unknown, and data is the language scientists use to discover our universe's secrets," the report stated. Also Read | Six out of 9 planetary boundaries breached, Earth increasingly becoming uninhabitable for humans: Scientists "Despite numerous accounts and visuals, the absence of consistent, detailed, and curated observations means we do not presently have the body of data needed to make definitive, scientific conclusions about UAP," it added. The issue of UFOs and UFO sightings has been a topic of popular fascination and even conspiracy theories. The tightlipped response from the US government in past has fuelled wild theories that the government even has aliens in captivity. In past few years however, the US government has made several disclosures about UFOs, or UAPs as it regards them now. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

NASA study rules out extra-terrestrial origin of UFOs, unnamed new chief to lead further research

<p>UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects), or UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) as they are now known, have for decades been a subject of curiosity for humans. Do aliens exist? Are the frequent alien vehicle "sightings" real or not? These questions have long been a head-scratcher.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Thursday (September 14th), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) may provide us with answers to these questions.</p>

<p>Here's all you need to know.</p>

<h2><strong>A report unveiled</strong></h2>

<p>Back in 2022, NASA commissioned a study team to investigate reports of UAPs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the space agency's website, the study team was commissioned "to examine UAP from a scientific perspective and create a roadmap for how to use data and the tools of science to move our understanding of UAP forward."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chandrayaan-3-landing-site-shiv-shakti-captured-by-south-koreas-dnauri-lunar-orbiter-635725">Chandrayaan-3 landing site 'Shiv Shakti' captured by South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter</a></strong></p>

<p>In a statement released&nbsp;last year before the commencement of the study, NASA's Thomas Zurbuchen had stated: "We have the tools and team who can help us improve our understanding of the unknown. That's the very definition of what science is. That's what we do."</p>

<p>The highly anticipated findings of the team of 16 community experts with expertise in diverse areas on matters relevant to potential methods of study for unidentified anomalous phenomena will be unveiled on Thursday (September 14th) at 10 am EDT (14:00 pm GMT or 19:30 pm IST).</p>

<p>The report will be live-streamed across various NASA channels, including its official app, website, television and social media. You can join the telecast here:</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/idJKLP5hcuQ?si=waMqDxz9alXLsYim" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Why is this important?</strong></h2>

<p>Apart from the curiosity humanity maintains about life "out there," the importance of this report stems from the fact that UAPs aren't that well-documented.</p>

<p>This limited availability of well-documented observations of UAPs — which are usually defined as objects in the sky that do not align with known natural phenomena or conventional aircraft, and may or may not have extraterrestrial origins — makes it extremely challenging to draw scientific conclusions about their origin or nature.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/archaeologists-angry-over-ancient-human-relative-remains-sent-to-edge-of-outer-space-report-635530">Some fossils of ancient human relatives have been sent to outer space &amp; archaeologists are not happy</a></strong></p>

<p>With these report's&nbsp;findings that do not merely rely on "grainy footage of UAPs," humanity should have a better understanding that can help guide our future analysis of extraterrestrial objects.</p>

<p>In an update meeting held in May, Daniel Evans, the NASA official in charge of the study, said: "The primary objective of this incredible team of experts is not to go back and look at grainy footage of UAPs but rather to give us a roadmap to guide us for future analysis."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects), or UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) as they are now known, have for decades been a subject of curiosity for humans. Do aliens exist?

UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects), or UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) as they are now known, have for decades been a subject of curiosity for humans. Do aliens exist? Are the frequent alien vehicle "sightings" real or not? These questions have long been a head-scratcher. On Thursday (September 14th), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) may provide us with answers to these questions. Here's all you need to know. A report unveiled Back in 2022, NASA commissioned a study team to investigate reports of UAPs. As per the space agency's website, the study team was commissioned "to examine UAP from a scientific perspective and create a roadmap for how to use data and the tools of science to move our understanding of UAP forward." Also read | Chandrayaan-3 landing site 'Shiv Shakti' captured by South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter In a statement released last year before the commencement of the study, NASA's Thomas Zurbuchen had stated: "We have the tools and team who can help us improve our understanding of the unknown. That's the very definition of what science is. That's what we do." The highly anticipated findings of the team of 16 community experts with expertise in diverse areas on matters relevant to potential methods of study for unidentified anomalous phenomena will be unveiled on Thursday (September 14th) at 10 am EDT (14:00 pm GMT or 19:30 pm IST). The report will be live-streamed across various NASA channels, including its official app, website, television and social media. You can join the telecast here: × Why is this important? Apart from the curiosity humanity maintains about life "out there," the importance of this report stems from the fact that UAPs aren't that well-documented. This limited availability of well-documented observations of UAPs — which are usually defined as objects in the sky that do not align with known natural phenomena or conventional aircraft, and may or may not have extraterrestrial origins — makes it extremely challenging to draw scientific conclusions about their origin or nature. Also read | Some fossils of ancient human relatives have been sent to outer space & archaeologists are not happy With these report's findings that do not merely rely on "grainy footage of UAPs," humanity should have a better understanding that can help guide our future analysis of extraterrestrial objects. In an update meeting held in May, Daniel Evans, the NASA official in charge of the study, said: "The primary objective of this incredible team of experts is not to go back and look at grainy footage of UAPs but rather to give us a roadmap to guide us for future analysis." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

The truth about UFOs: NASA to unveil important report on UAPs. Here's how you can watch it live

NASA names a new director of research into UFOs, what the U.S. government calls unidentified anomalous phenomenon or UAP. The U.S. space agency's chief says an expert panel that urged more fact-finding on the matter found no evidence of an extraterrestrial origin for these objects. NASA announced that it will use artificial intelligence and machine learning to widen its search for intelligent life beyond our planet.

NASA reveals long-awaited findings of UFO report | Latest News | WION

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidyMa2J2v3Yev2" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidyMa2J2v3Yev2" /><meta charset="utf-8" />Almost a year has passed since NASA intentionally crashed a $300 million spacecraft into an asteroid. However, now, the asteroid is behaving unexpectedly.</p>

<p>NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was a one-of-a-kind stunt. They slammed a spacecraft into the space rock Dimporphos at 14,000 miles per hour on September 26, 2022.</p>

<p>Dimorphos orbits another asteroid called Didymos. While neither object threatened Earth, the DART demonstrated that NASA could nudge an asteroid and alter its trajectory. The action might come in handy if a planetary defence scenario ever materialises.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The tiny but mighty DART craft shortened Dimorphos' orbital period by about 33 minutes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, according to a new research, Dimorphos' orbiting time has decreased by another full minute compared to NASA's numbers,&nbsp;<em>New Scientist</em>&nbsp;reported. A high school teacher and his students conducted the research from September to November 2022. The study said the asteroid's orbital period, initially 11 hours 55 minutes, has decreased by 34 minutes.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="www.wionews.com/science/swiss-researchers-engineer-bacteria-to-generate-electricity-using-wastewater-635881" target="_blank">Swiss researchers engineer bacteria to generate electricity using wastewater</a></p>

<p>Jonathan Swift, a math and science teacher at the Thacher School who participated in the research, said, "That was inconsistent at an uncomfortable level." He said, "We tried our best to find the crack in what we had done, but we couldn't find anything." His team presented their findings at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in New Mexico in June, receiving positive responses.</p>

<p>However, Dimorphos' unexpected behaviour is not a cause for alarm, as the asteroid still poses no threat to Earth. But it could teach scientists more about asteroid deflection.&nbsp;</p>

<p>No other mission before DART had ever conducted a planetary defence test. Thus, Dimorphos is the only real-world example to learn from.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists do not have the accurate reason behind Dimorphos' unexpected behaviour. But there are some theories.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One theory suggests that Dimorphos was once tidally locked to Didymos, meaning, like Earth's moon, the same side of the satellite always faced its host. However, the DART mission might have changed its alignment, causing Dimorphos to tumble around as the system's tidal forces changed its orbit. If this theory is true, Dimorphos will likely settle back into a tidally locked state over time, a DART team member said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If the new study is accurate, it won't be the first unintended consequence of NASA's DART mission. Researchers have been learning more about the effects of the spacecraft's crash at Dimorphos over the past year.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Almost a year has passed since NASA intentionally crashed a $300 million spacecraft into an asteroid. However, now, the asteroid is behaving unexpectedly. NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was a one-of-a-kind stunt.

Almost a year has passed since NASA intentionally crashed a $300 million spacecraft into an asteroid. However, now, the asteroid is behaving unexpectedly. NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was a one-of-a-kind stunt. They slammed a spacecraft into the space rock Dimporphos at 14,000 miles per hour on September 26, 2022. Dimorphos orbits another asteroid called Didymos. While neither object threatened Earth, the DART demonstrated that NASA could nudge an asteroid and alter its trajectory. The action might come in handy if a planetary defence scenario ever materialises. The tiny but mighty DART craft shortened Dimorphos' orbital period by about 33 minutes. However, according to a new research, Dimorphos' orbiting time has decreased by another full minute compared to NASA's numbers, New Scientist reported. A high school teacher and his students conducted the research from September to November 2022. The study said the asteroid's orbital period, initially 11 hours 55 minutes, has decreased by 34 minutes. ALSO READ | Swiss researchers engineer bacteria to generate electricity using wastewater Jonathan Swift, a math and science teacher at the Thacher School who participated in the research, said, "That was inconsistent at an uncomfortable level." He said, "We tried our best to find the crack in what we had done, but we couldn't find anything." His team presented their findings at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in New Mexico in June, receiving positive responses. However, Dimorphos' unexpected behaviour is not a cause for alarm, as the asteroid still poses no threat to Earth. But it could teach scientists more about asteroid deflection. No other mission before DART had ever conducted a planetary defence test. Thus, Dimorphos is the only real-world example to learn from. Scientists do not have the accurate reason behind Dimorphos' unexpected behaviour. But there are some theories. One theory suggests that Dimorphos was once tidally locked to Didymos, meaning, like Earth's moon, the same side of the satellite always faced its host. However, the DART mission might have changed its alignment, causing Dimorphos to tumble around as the system's tidal forces changed its orbit. If this theory is true, Dimorphos will likely settle back into a tidally locked state over time, a DART team member said. If the new study is accurate, it won't be the first unintended consequence of NASA's DART mission. Researchers have been learning more about the effects of the spacecraft's crash at Dimorphos over the past year. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

NASA hit this asteroid months back and now something weird is happening

<p>NASA’s Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) study team will share its findings on unidentified flying objects on Thursday (September 14). The independent team commissioned in 2022, consists&nbsp;of 16 experts from different fields for examining UAPs from a scientific perspective and developing potential methods for future study.</p>

<p>UAPs are also largely referred to as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chandrayaan-3-landing-site-shiv-shakti-captured-by-south-koreas-dnauri-lunar-orbiter-635725">Chandrayaan-3 landing site 'Shiv Shakti' clicked by South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter</a></p>

<h2><strong>NASA’s UFO study team to announce results on Sept. 14.&nbsp;Here’s how to watch it live</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The briefing, scheduled for 10:00 am EDT (7:30 pm IST) at NASA's headquarters in Washington, will be led by a panel including NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Nicola Fox, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate, Dan Evans, assistant deputy associate administrator for research, and David Spergel, president of the Simons Foundation and chair of NASA’s UAP independent study team.</p>

<p>The team once held a public meeting on May 31. During that meeting, the group of experts discussed ways through which&nbsp;better data could&nbsp;be collected to help unravel the mystery surrounding UAPs or UFOs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/lead-poisoning-has-far-greater-impact-on-global-health-than-previously-though-study-635776">Lead poisoning has far greater impact on global health than previously thought: Study</a></p>

<p>The dearth of data on UAPs is&nbsp;in part due to the fact that the capabilities of many of the advanced sensors operated by the US government and military remain classified.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch the UFOs&nbsp;study report live here at 10:00 am EDT (7:30 pm IST):&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/idJKLP5hcuQ?si=YSxqFGKV6-X3qQea" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Why this study is important?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Despite the lack of definitive data, NASA's Dan Evans stressed in the May 31 meeting that studying a topic such as UAP fits within the agency's scientific purview. "First and foremost, it provides an opportunity for us to expand our understanding of the world around us," Evans said. "This work is in our DNA."</p>

<p>The topic of UAP/UFOs has been frequently discussed by the federal government in recent years. In July, two former US&nbsp;military aviators gave testimony concerning encounters with bizarre objects that occurred in controlled US&nbsp;airspace.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/swiss-researchers-engineer-bacteria-to-generate-electricity-using-wastewater-635881">Swiss researchers engineer bacteria to generate electricity using wastewater</a></p>

<p>The study is not intended to answer all the questions. The researchers are focused on how civilian and&nbsp;government data, commercial data, and other sources could be organised and analysed in the future to shed more light on obscure sights in the sky.</p>

<p>One of NASA's missions is to ensure the safety of aircraft, so this study aligns with that, as well as with the interests of national security in the study of UAPs.</p>

<p>The research will report on which scientific methods should be applied, what else NASA should collect to understand UAP, and what are the fundamental physical constraints on UAP's origins and nature.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


NASA’s Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) study team will share its findings on unidentified flying objects on Thursday (September 14). The independent team commissioned in 2022, consists of 16 experts from different fields for examining UAPs from a scientific perspective and developing potential methods for future study.

NASA’s Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) study team will share its findings on unidentified flying objects on Thursday (September 14). The independent team commissioned in 2022, consists of 16 experts from different fields for examining UAPs from a scientific perspective and developing potential methods for future study. UAPs are also largely referred to as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). Also Read | Chandrayaan-3 landing site 'Shiv Shakti' clicked by South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter NASA’s UFO study team to announce results on Sept. 14. Here’s how to watch it live The briefing, scheduled for 10:00 am EDT (7:30 pm IST) at NASA's headquarters in Washington, will be led by a panel including NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Nicola Fox, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate, Dan Evans, assistant deputy associate administrator for research, and David Spergel, president of the Simons Foundation and chair of NASA’s UAP independent study team. The team once held a public meeting on May 31. During that meeting, the group of experts discussed ways through which better data could be collected to help unravel the mystery surrounding UAPs or UFOs. Also Read | Lead poisoning has far greater impact on global health than previously thought: Study The dearth of data on UAPs is in part due to the fact that the capabilities of many of the advanced sensors operated by the US government and military remain classified. Watch the UFOs study report live here at 10:00 am EDT (7:30 pm IST): × Why this study is important? Despite the lack of definitive data, NASA's Dan Evans stressed in the May 31 meeting that studying a topic such as UAP fits within the agency's scientific purview. "First and foremost, it provides an opportunity for us to expand our understanding of the world around us," Evans said. "This work is in our DNA." The topic of UAP/UFOs has been frequently discussed by the federal government in recent years. In July, two former US military aviators gave testimony concerning encounters with bizarre objects that occurred in controlled US airspace. Also Read | Swiss researchers engineer bacteria to generate electricity using wastewater The study is not intended to answer all the questions. The researchers are focused on how civilian and government data, commercial data, and other sources could be organised and analysed in the future to shed more light on obscure sights in the sky. One of NASA's missions is to ensure the safety of aircraft, so this study aligns with that, as well as with the interests of national security in the study of UAPs. The research will report on which scientific methods should be applied, what else NASA should collect to understand UAP, and what are the fundamental physical constraints on UAP's origins and nature. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NASA's UFO study team to reveal its findings on Thursday. Here's how to watch live

<p>Terraforming Mars has been a dream of scientists and artists alike. Our next door neighbour in the Solar System is postulated to have harboured life millions of years ago but today it is a barren wasteland. Mars has atmosphere yes, but the oxygen levels are not enough for a human to survive. Hauling Oxygen from Earth would be extremely expensive endeavour. Hence, the emphasis over years has been to find a reliable technique to produce oxygen on Mars in situ, that is, on the planet itself using resources available there.</p>

<p>NASA's Perseverance rover has been roaming on the surface of Mars since 2021. It has now successfully completed its oxygen-producing MOXIE mission.</p>

<p>It is a device tagging along the Perseverance rover. The operations of MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment) are now concluding as the device has successfully produced oxygen for 16th and final time aboard Perseverance. The instrument, made by its creators at &nbsp;Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has far exceeded their initial expectations.</p>

<p>“MOXIE’s impressive performance shows that it is feasible to extract oxygen from Mars’ atmosphere – oxygen that could help supply breathable air or rocket propellant to future astronauts,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy as quoted by SciTechDaily.</p>

<p>“Developing technologies that let us use resources on the Moon and Mars is critical to build a long-term lunar presence, create a robust lunar economy, and allow us to support an initial human exploration campaign to Mars.”</p>

<p>Since Perseverance landed on Mars in the year 2021, MOXIE has generated 122 grammes of oxygen. This is equivalent to what a small dog breathes in about 10 hours. This was twice the initial goal NASA had in mind. And the oxygen was of 98 per cent purity.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-capture-dramatic-event-of-star-being-repeatedly-shredded-consumed-by-black-hole-633486">Astronomers capture dramatic event of star being ‘repeatedly shredded, consumed’ by black hole</a></strong></p>

<p>On August 7, when MOXIE made the oxygen for the final time as part of its mission, it made 9.8 grammes of it.</p>

<p>“We’re proud to have supported a breakthrough technology like MOXIE that could turn local resources into useful products for future exploration missions,” said Trudy Kortes, director of technology demonstrations, Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) at NASA Headquarters in Washington she was quoted by SciTechDaily.</p>

<p>“By proving this technology in real-world conditions, we’ve come one step closer to a future in which astronauts ‘live off the land’ on the Red Planet.”</p>

<p>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Terraforming Mars has been a dream of scientists and artists alike. Our next door neighbour in the Solar System is postulated to have harboured life millions of years ago but today it is a barren wasteland.

Terraforming Mars has been a dream of scientists and artists alike. Our next door neighbour in the Solar System is postulated to have harboured life millions of years ago but today it is a barren wasteland. Mars has atmosphere yes, but the oxygen levels are not enough for a human to survive. Hauling Oxygen from Earth would be extremely expensive endeavour. Hence, the emphasis over years has been to find a reliable technique to produce oxygen on Mars in situ, that is, on the planet itself using resources available there. NASA's Perseverance rover has been roaming on the surface of Mars since 2021. It has now successfully completed its oxygen-producing MOXIE mission. It is a device tagging along the Perseverance rover. The operations of MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment) are now concluding as the device has successfully produced oxygen for 16th and final time aboard Perseverance. The instrument, made by its creators at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has far exceeded their initial expectations. “MOXIE’s impressive performance shows that it is feasible to extract oxygen from Mars’ atmosphere – oxygen that could help supply breathable air or rocket propellant to future astronauts,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy as quoted by SciTechDaily. “Developing technologies that let us use resources on the Moon and Mars is critical to build a long-term lunar presence, create a robust lunar economy, and allow us to support an initial human exploration campaign to Mars.” Since Perseverance landed on Mars in the year 2021, MOXIE has generated 122 grammes of oxygen. This is equivalent to what a small dog breathes in about 10 hours. This was twice the initial goal NASA had in mind. And the oxygen was of 98 per cent purity. Also Read | Astronomers capture dramatic event of star being ‘repeatedly shredded, consumed’ by black hole On August 7, when MOXIE made the oxygen for the final time as part of its mission, it made 9.8 grammes of it. “We’re proud to have supported a breakthrough technology like MOXIE that could turn local resources into useful products for future exploration missions,” said Trudy Kortes, director of technology demonstrations, Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) at NASA Headquarters in Washington she was quoted by SciTechDaily. “By proving this technology in real-world conditions, we’ve come one step closer to a future in which astronauts ‘live off the land’ on the Red Planet.” You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

NASA's Perseverance successfully completes oxygen-making MOXIE mission on Mars

<p>A day after the US First Lady Jill Biden tested positive for Covid, President Joe Biden tested negative for the virus&nbsp;— meaning that Biden will be able to visit&nbsp;India as per schedule on September 7 for G20 summit. India's lunar glory's photographic symbolism continues to elevate its scientific legend after NASA orbiter spotted Vikram Lander about 600km from Moon's south pole.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In other news, pop star Joe Jonas and <em>Game of Thrones </em>fame Sophie Turner&nbsp;— whom Indians identify as their homegrown international star Priyanka Chopra's sister-in-law or&nbsp;<em>jethaani</em> — have filed for divorce.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Click on the headlines to read more:</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-tests-covid-negative-all-set-to-visit-india-for-g20-632768"><strong>US President Joe Biden tests Covid negative, all set to visit India on Sept 7 for G20 Summit</strong></a></p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/09/06/377799-biden-2.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>US President Joe Biden will be travelling to India for the upcoming G20 Summit in the capital New Delhi as he has tested negative for COVID-19, the White House has confirmed.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-shares-image-of-indias-vikram-lander-on-moon-spotted-by-its-lunar-orbiter-632774"><strong>NASA shares image of India's Vikram lander on Moon spotted by its lunar orbiter</strong></a><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/09/06/377804-untitled-design-2023-09-06t094818722.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission is as significant as it is beloved by over a billion Indians after its Vikram lander achieved a successful Moon landing near the lunar south pole on August 23.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Most of the world celebrated as India became the first nation to achieve a successful soft landing near the moon's south pole. Now a NASA spacecraft in lunar orbit captured a captivating top-down view of Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-first-california-lawmakers-outlaw-caste-discrimination-632760"><strong>In a first, California lawmakers outlaw caste discrimination</strong></a></p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/09/06/377795-caste.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>California lawmakers have passed a bill that outlaws caste-based discrimination in the state. If the legislation becomes law, then it will become the first US state to enforce such a rule that has traditionally existed in South Asian communities.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-cleared-of-wrongful-rape-conviction-after-47-years-man-hugs-judge-cries-im-free-632763"><strong>Watch | Cleared of wrongful rape conviction after 47 years, man hugs judge, cries 'I'm free'</strong></a></p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/09/06/377796-copy-of-untitled.png?imwidth=1920" /><br />
Receiving the gift of a lifetime on his birthday, 72-year-old&nbsp;Leonard Mack, a South Carolina resident was finally exonerated on Monday (September 5) after being wrongfully convicted of raping a Westchester County teenage girl, nearly five decades ago.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/fact-check-did-mh370-crash-in-cambodian-jungle-as-viral-reports-claim-632745"><strong>Fact check: Did MH370 crash in Cambodian jungle as viral reports claim?</strong></a></p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/06/336941-untitled-design-2023-03-06t102301300.png?imwidth=1920" /><br />
<br />
A latest conspiracy theory about the disappearance of MH370 has claimed that the Malaysian Airlines-operated plane has been found in the dense forests of Cambodia. Over the weekend, British tabloids&nbsp;published a video producer's claims&nbsp;that he found a plane in the Pursat Province of the East Asian nation while scanning through satellite imagery on Google Maps.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-joe-jonas-and-sophie-turner-officially-file-for-divorce-ending-four-year-marriage-632740"><strong>Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner officially file for divorce, ending four-year marriage</strong></a></p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/09/06/377785-joe-jonas-sophie-turner.png?imwidth=1920" /><br />
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner have officially filed for divorce after four years of marriage. The news came as a shock to many fans who had followed the couple's journey from their initial meeting through social media to the birth of their two daughters. According to documents obtained by People, the divorce filing states that "the marriage between the parties is irretrievably broken," marking the end of a four-year union that had captured the public's attention. It appears that they have a prenuptial agreement in place, which could potentially simplify the division of assets and property.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-colombo-to-remain-host-for-remaining-super-four-games-and-final-as-scheduled-632766"><strong>Asia Cup: Colombo to remain host for remaining Super Four games and final as scheduled</strong></a><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/01/15/233822-jay-shah.jpg?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>The five matches of Super Four stage of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 will be hosted in Colombo as originally scheduled. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), however, seems to be miffed with the decision and the manner in which the decision was taken by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The PCB, nonetheless, has agreed to the decision.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


A day after the US First Lady Jill Biden tested positive for Covid, President Joe Biden tested negative for the virus — meaning that Biden will be able to visit India as per schedule on September 7 for G20 summit.

A day after the US First Lady Jill Biden tested positive for Covid, President Joe Biden tested negative for the virus — meaning that Biden will be able to visit India as per schedule on September 7 for G20 summit. India's lunar glory's photographic symbolism continues to elevate its scientific legend after NASA orbiter spotted Vikram Lander about 600km from Moon's south pole. In other news, pop star Joe Jonas and Game of Thrones fame Sophie Turner — whom Indians identify as their homegrown international star Priyanka Chopra's sister-in-law or jethaani — have filed for divorce. Click on the headlines to read more: US President Joe Biden tests Covid negative, all set to visit India on Sept 7 for G20 Summit US President Joe Biden will be travelling to India for the upcoming G20 Summit in the capital New Delhi as he has tested negative for COVID-19, the White House has confirmed. NASA shares image of India's Vikram lander on Moon spotted by its lunar orbiter India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission is as significant as it is beloved by over a billion Indians after its Vikram lander achieved a successful Moon landing near the lunar south pole on August 23. Most of the world celebrated as India became the first nation to achieve a successful soft landing near the moon's south pole. Now a NASA spacecraft in lunar orbit captured a captivating top-down view of Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander. In a first, California lawmakers outlaw caste discrimination California lawmakers have passed a bill that outlaws caste-based discrimination in the state. If the legislation becomes law, then it will become the first US state to enforce such a rule that has traditionally existed in South Asian communities. Watch | Cleared of wrongful rape conviction after 47 years, man hugs judge, cries 'I'm free' Receiving the gift of a lifetime on his birthday, 72-year-old Leonard Mack, a South Carolina resident was finally exonerated on Monday (September 5) after being wrongfully convicted of raping a Westchester County teenage girl, nearly five decades ago. Fact check: Did MH370 crash in Cambodian jungle as viral reports claim? A latest conspiracy theory about the disappearance of MH370 has claimed that the Malaysian Airlines-operated plane has been found in the dense forests of Cambodia. Over the weekend, British tabloids published a video producer's claims that he found a plane in the Pursat Province of the East Asian nation while scanning through satellite imagery on Google Maps. Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner officially file for divorce, ending four-year marriage Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner have officially filed for divorce after four years of marriage. The news came as a shock to many fans who had followed the couple's journey from their initial meeting through social media to the birth of their two daughters. According to documents obtained by People, the divorce filing states that "the marriage between the parties is irretrievably broken," marking the end of a four-year union that had captured the public's attention. It appears that they have a prenuptial agreement in place, which could potentially simplify the division of assets and property. Asia Cup: Colombo to remain host for remaining Super Four games and final as scheduled The five matches of Super Four stage of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 will be hosted in Colombo as originally scheduled. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), however, seems to be miffed with the decision and the manner in which the decision was taken by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The PCB, nonetheless, has agreed to the decision. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Morning brief: Biden all-cleared to visit India for G20, NASA shares image of Vikram lander, and more

<p>India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission is as significant as it is beloved by over a billion Indians after its Vikram lander achieved a successful Moon landing near the lunar south pole on August 23.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Most of the world celebrated as India became the first nation to achieve a successful soft landing near the moon's south pole. Now a NASA spacecraft in lunar orbit captured a captivating top-down view of Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander.</p>

<p>Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander touched down on August 23, and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) flew over the landing site four days later, providing a distant view with its LRO Camera.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA released the image, with the lander appearing small against the moon's textured landscape, yet the mission's impact is evident.</p>

<p>NASA marked the landing site with a white square, and within it, one can spot Vikram represented by a dark shadow surrounded by lighter material, created by the rocket plume interacting with lunar soil during landing.<img alt="The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter imaged the Chandrayaan-3 landing site on the Moon’s surface " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c0c67876-f251-48f0-9e68-33ec3e604914" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-09-06T094059.926.png" /></p>

<p><em>The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter imaged the Chandrayaan-3 landing site on the Moon’s surface | NASA Artemis</em><br />
<br />
Chandrayaan-3 mission achieved its primary objective by demonstrating a safe and soft lunar landing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mission's predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, crashed during its landing attempt in 2019, witnessed by LRO, which captured the debris field. This stands in contrast to the new image of the intact Chandrayaan-3 lander.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, it’s bedtime for Chandrayaan-3's&nbsp;rover Pragyan&nbsp;after a ten-day exploration spree on the lunar surface and completing all its assignments.<br />
<br />
<strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Chandrayaan 3: Vikram lander exceeds Chandrayaan-3 mission goals, with a hop</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chandrayaan-3-vikram-lander-exceeds-chandrayaan-3-mission-goals-with-a-hop-632227/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"Chandrayaan-3 Mission: The Rover completed its assignments. It is now safely parked and set into Sleep mode. APXS and LIBS payloads are turned off. Data from these payloads is transmitted to the Earth via the Lander," India's space agency posted on X last week.</p>

<h2><b>Chandrayaan-3: ISRO's next focus</b></h2>

<p>ISRO’s next focus will be to revive the mission once the next lunar day begins on September 22.<br />
<br />
Its battery is fully charged and its solar panels are aligned in a way to help it receive solar light.</p>

<p>“Currently, the battery is fully charged. The solar panel is oriented to receive the light at the next sunrise expected on September 22, 2023. The receiver is kept on. Hoping for a successful awakening for another set of assignments! Else, it will forever stay there as India’s lunar ambassador,” the ISRO posted.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission is as significant as it is beloved by over a billion Indians after its Vikram lander achieved a successful Moon landing near the lunar south pole on August 23.

India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission is as significant as it is beloved by over a billion Indians after its Vikram lander achieved a successful Moon landing near the lunar south pole on August 23. Most of the world celebrated as India became the first nation to achieve a successful soft landing near the moon's south pole. Now a NASA spacecraft in lunar orbit captured a captivating top-down view of Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander. Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander touched down on August 23, and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) flew over the landing site four days later, providing a distant view with its LRO Camera. NASA released the image, with the lander appearing small against the moon's textured landscape, yet the mission's impact is evident. NASA marked the landing site with a white square, and within it, one can spot Vikram represented by a dark shadow surrounded by lighter material, created by the rocket plume interacting with lunar soil during landing. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter imaged the Chandrayaan-3 landing site on the Moon’s surface | NASA Artemis Chandrayaan-3 mission achieved its primary objective by demonstrating a safe and soft lunar landing. The mission's predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, crashed during its landing attempt in 2019, witnessed by LRO, which captured the debris field. This stands in contrast to the new image of the intact Chandrayaan-3 lander. Meanwhile, it’s bedtime for Chandrayaan-3's rover Pragyan after a ten-day exploration spree on the lunar surface and completing all its assignments. Also watch | Chandrayaan 3: Vikram lander exceeds Chandrayaan-3 mission goals, with a hop × "Chandrayaan-3 Mission: The Rover completed its assignments. It is now safely parked and set into Sleep mode. APXS and LIBS payloads are turned off. Data from these payloads is transmitted to the Earth via the Lander," India's space agency posted on X last week. Chandrayaan-3: ISRO's next focus ISRO’s next focus will be to revive the mission once the next lunar day begins on September 22. Its battery is fully charged and its solar panels are aligned in a way to help it receive solar light. “Currently, the battery is fully charged. The solar panel is oriented to receive the light at the next sunrise expected on September 22, 2023. The receiver is kept on. Hoping for a successful awakening for another set of assignments! Else, it will forever stay there as India’s lunar ambassador,” the ISRO posted. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NASA shares image of India's Vikram lander on Moon spotted by its lunar orbiter

<p>Four astronauts are en route to return from the International Space Station (ISS) after concluding their six-month stay. They are headed for a splashdown off the coast of Florida. The splashdown is taking place just days after Hurricane Idalia ravaged some parts of the state.</p>

<p>The astronauts are members of the Crew-6 mission. It was run jointly by NASA and SpaceX. The astronauts boarded the Crew Dragon capsule on Sunday (September 3). The capsule departed the space station at 7:05 ET. It is expected that the space capsule will take one day to manoeuvre around Earth and then head to the landing site. The splashdown is scheduled to take place at 12:17 am ET on September 4.</p>

<p>NASA has been keeping an eye on the impact of Hurricane Idalia. The hurricane made landfall on Wednesday morning on Florida's Gulf Coast. It caused damage in Florida before it tore through southern Georgia and the Carolinas.</p>

<p>Those aboard the Crew Dragon capsule are -&nbsp;NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen &amp; Warren "Woody" Hoburg, along with UAE astronaut Sultan Alneyadi and Russian Cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.</p>

<p>The group of astronauts spent six months on board the ISS.&nbsp;The Crew-6 astronauts handed over operations to Crew-7 astronauts who arrived at ISS on Sunday.</p>

<p>“We got a lot done during our mission,” Hoburg said during a remote news conference on August 23. “We had two visiting SpaceX cargo vehicles — the CRS-27 and 28 missions with lots of science on board. And we, as a crew, conducted a total of three spacewalks.”</p>

<p>“It’s been a big adventure and a lot of fun,”</p>

<p>Hoburg was quoted by CNN.</p>

<p>Crew-6 hailed Frank Rubio, the NASA astronaut who is on his way to breaking the record for the longest time a US astronaut has spent in microgravity. He has spent nearly 350 days at the ISS. The current record of 355 days is held by NASA's Mark Vande Hei.</p>

<p>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Four astronauts are en route to return from the International Space Station (ISS) after concluding their six-month stay. They are headed for a splashdown off the coast of Florida.

Four astronauts are en route to return from the International Space Station (ISS) after concluding their six-month stay. They are headed for a splashdown off the coast of Florida. The splashdown is taking place just days after Hurricane Idalia ravaged some parts of the state. The astronauts are members of the Crew-6 mission. It was run jointly by NASA and SpaceX. The astronauts boarded the Crew Dragon capsule on Sunday (September 3). The capsule departed the space station at 7:05 ET. It is expected that the space capsule will take one day to manoeuvre around Earth and then head to the landing site. The splashdown is scheduled to take place at 12:17 am ET on September 4. NASA has been keeping an eye on the impact of Hurricane Idalia. The hurricane made landfall on Wednesday morning on Florida's Gulf Coast. It caused damage in Florida before it tore through southern Georgia and the Carolinas. Those aboard the Crew Dragon capsule are - NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen & Warren "Woody" Hoburg, along with UAE astronaut Sultan Alneyadi and Russian Cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The group of astronauts spent six months on board the ISS. The Crew-6 astronauts handed over operations to Crew-7 astronauts who arrived at ISS on Sunday. “We got a lot done during our mission,” Hoburg said during a remote news conference on August 23. “We had two visiting SpaceX cargo vehicles — the CRS-27 and 28 missions with lots of science on board. And we, as a crew, conducted a total of three spacewalks.” “It’s been a big adventure and a lot of fun,” Hoburg was quoted by CNN. Crew-6 hailed Frank Rubio, the NASA astronaut who is on his way to breaking the record for the longest time a US astronaut has spent in microgravity. He has spent nearly 350 days at the ISS. The current record of 355 days is held by NASA's Mark Vande Hei. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Crew-6 leaves ISS for Earth, to splash down near hurricane-hit Florida

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidW3nxm0a4UHTg" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, his crewmates from NASA, Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev returned to Earth in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Monday, September 4.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The splashdown happened in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, at 08:17 am (UAE time). Al Neyadi's mission has become the longest in Arab history, as Crew-6 spent 186 days in space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohemed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stated on X (formerly Twitter), "Al Neyadi, the people of the UAE are immensely proud of you and the entire team for achieving major advances in space exploration. You carried the dreams of a nation to new frontiers, and we celebrate your pioneering journey and safe return."</p>

<p>Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi appeared from the Dragon spacecraft one hour after the splashdown.</p>

<p>Many people witnessed AlNeyadi and his colleagues slide out of the capsule. He received people's support and greeted the gathering with a smile and thumbs up. However, his initial steps were unsteady as the astronaut needed time to readjust to gravity, especially after the six-month mission. Later, recovery personnel carried him and the crew to the medical bay on a rolling chair.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/science/bedtime-for-pragyan-rover-as-sun-sets-on-moon-here-are-its-remarkable-findings-631874" target="_blank">Bedtime for Pragyan rover as Sun sets on Moon, here are its remarkable findings</a></p>

<p>Al Neyadi said he couldn't wait to rejoin friends and family and enjoy "a hot cup of coffee." Crew-6 commander Stephen Bowen, a former submariner, told CBS News that he looked forward to witnessing "the nice ocean air and peaceful calm seas. That'll be nice to get back to." Pilot Woody Hobury said he was looking forward to a "real shower."</p>

<p>On March 2, Crew-6 was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. They spent 185 days and 22 hours in space, orbiting the Earth 2,976 times and travelling 78.9 million miles. Throughout their mission, the Crew-6 astronauts welcomed seven visiting vehicles. They also carried out three spacewalks. Al Neyadi joined Bowen for a third excursion to retrieve a failed antenna package and do other maintenance.</p>

<p>Station commander Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitri Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio were launched to the station last September and will return to Earth 12 days later. Crew-7 members, launched on August 26, will replace Bowen and company. The squad includes Crew-7 commander Jasmin Moghbeli, European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, his crewmates from NASA, Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev returned to Earth in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Monday, September 4.

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, his crewmates from NASA, Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev returned to Earth in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Monday, September 4. The splashdown happened in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, at 08:17 am (UAE time). Al Neyadi's mission has become the longest in Arab history, as Crew-6 spent 186 days in space. The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohemed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stated on X (formerly Twitter), "Al Neyadi, the people of the UAE are immensely proud of you and the entire team for achieving major advances in space exploration. You carried the dreams of a nation to new frontiers, and we celebrate your pioneering journey and safe return." Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi appeared from the Dragon spacecraft one hour after the splashdown. Many people witnessed AlNeyadi and his colleagues slide out of the capsule. He received people's support and greeted the gathering with a smile and thumbs up. However, his initial steps were unsteady as the astronaut needed time to readjust to gravity, especially after the six-month mission. Later, recovery personnel carried him and the crew to the medical bay on a rolling chair. ALSO READ | Bedtime for Pragyan rover as Sun sets on Moon, here are its remarkable findings Al Neyadi said he couldn't wait to rejoin friends and family and enjoy "a hot cup of coffee." Crew-6 commander Stephen Bowen, a former submariner, told CBS News that he looked forward to witnessing "the nice ocean air and peaceful calm seas. That'll be nice to get back to." Pilot Woody Hobury said he was looking forward to a "real shower." On March 2, Crew-6 was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. They spent 185 days and 22 hours in space, orbiting the Earth 2,976 times and travelling 78.9 million miles. Throughout their mission, the Crew-6 astronauts welcomed seven visiting vehicles. They also carried out three spacewalks. Al Neyadi joined Bowen for a third excursion to retrieve a failed antenna package and do other maintenance. Station commander Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitri Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio were launched to the station last September and will return to Earth 12 days later. Crew-7 members, launched on August 26, will replace Bowen and company. The squad includes Crew-7 commander Jasmin Moghbeli, European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi & three space station fliers return to Earth after six-month voyage

<p>Saturn is often called the majestic planet of our Solar System as it has the most prominent rings visible from even an amateur telescope from the surface of the Earth. The planet has captivated us for centuries and has come to assume many identities in myths and legends across the world. NASA had launched the Cassini probe in the year 1997 to study the planet up close. The probe reached Saturn in the year 2004 and clicked some truly brilliant pictures as it did several flybys.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA has now revisited one of these pictures. On its Instagram feed, NASA has posted the iconic image of Saturn taken by the Cassini probe, and Earth is photobombing along with the Moon, Mars and Venus!</p>

<p>When the Cassini spacecraft captured this image, it was a whopping 1.2 billion kilometres (746,000 miles) away from Earth. NASA says that this image of the ringed planet was taken using red, green and blue filters in order to catch the natural-colour view of Saturn.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The photobombers, namely the Earth, the Moon along with Venus and Mars are visible as mere dots of light.</p>

<p>NASA's repost of the iconic image has come just when Saturn is visible each day in the sky at the time of sunset. The planet will be visible this way until February 2024. It will be visible as a bright yellowish "star" on southwestern horizon.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwsWM-guxtm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwsWM-guxtm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwsWM-guxtm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwsWM-guxtm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by NASA (@nasa)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. It is the second-largest planet in our Solar System. Contrary to common belief, the ring around Saturn is not a single structure but it is made up of thousands of ringlets made of chunks of ice and rock. It's a massive ball made mainly of hydrogen and helium just like Jupiter, the largest planet in our Solar System.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-isros-vikram-lander-makes-soft-landing-on-moon-again-exceeds-mission-objectives-632122"><strong>Watch: ISRO's Vikram lander makes soft landing on Moon again, 'exceeds mission objectives'</strong></a></p>

<p>Fun thing about Saturn is its density is less than that of water. So if the planet is put in a giant tub filled with water, it will actually float! Finding such a big tub would definitely be a problem as Saturn is more than nine times larger than Earth.</p>

<p>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Saturn is often called the majestic planet of our Solar System as it has the most prominent rings visible from even an amateur telescope from the surface of the Earth.

Saturn is often called the majestic planet of our Solar System as it has the most prominent rings visible from even an amateur telescope from the surface of the Earth. The planet has captivated us for centuries and has come to assume many identities in myths and legends across the world. NASA had launched the Cassini probe in the year 1997 to study the planet up close. The probe reached Saturn in the year 2004 and clicked some truly brilliant pictures as it did several flybys. NASA has now revisited one of these pictures. On its Instagram feed, NASA has posted the iconic image of Saturn taken by the Cassini probe, and Earth is photobombing along with the Moon, Mars and Venus! When the Cassini spacecraft captured this image, it was a whopping 1.2 billion kilometres (746,000 miles) away from Earth. NASA says that this image of the ringed planet was taken using red, green and blue filters in order to catch the natural-colour view of Saturn. The photobombers, namely the Earth, the Moon along with Venus and Mars are visible as mere dots of light. NASA's repost of the iconic image has come just when Saturn is visible each day in the sky at the time of sunset. The planet will be visible this way until February 2024. It will be visible as a bright yellowish "star" on southwestern horizon. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. It is the second-largest planet in our Solar System. Contrary to common belief, the ring around Saturn is not a single structure but it is made up of thousands of ringlets made of chunks of ice and rock. It's a massive ball made mainly of hydrogen and helium just like Jupiter, the largest planet in our Solar System. Watch: ISRO's Vikram lander makes soft landing on Moon again, 'exceeds mission objectives' Fun thing about Saturn is its density is less than that of water. So if the planet is put in a giant tub filled with water, it will actually float! Finding such a big tub would definitely be a problem as Saturn is more than nine times larger than Earth. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

NASA revisits iconic Saturn pic, and Earth is photobombing

<p>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is working on its final preparations for the landing on Earth of a precious asteroid sample next month. NASA teams with the OSIRIS-REx mission completed a vital test on Wednesday (August 30) by collecting a mock capsule that had fallen to Earth in the desert west of Salt Lake City at the Utah Test and Training Range of the US Department of Defence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The process was part of the mission's final major test prior to the arrival of the actual capsule on September 24. The final preparations were a significant test before the actual capsule with its sample of the asteroid Bennu, acquired in space over three years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nicola Fox, who is the associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, said: "We are now mere weeks away from receiving a piece of solar system history on Earth, and this successful drop test ensures we're ready."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-believe-an-earth-like-planet-might-hiding-in-our-solar-system-631433">Scientists believe an Earth-like planet might hiding in our solar system</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Fox said, "Pristine material from asteroid Bennu will help shed light on the formation of our solar system 4.5 billion years ago, and perhaps even on how life on Earth began."&nbsp;</p>

<p>This drop test comes after a number of practice runs earlier this spring and summer, including capsule retrieval, spacecraft engineering operations and sample preservation processes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The OSIRIS-REx crew is now getting ready for the actual delivery with less than four weeks till the spacecraft's arrival.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/global-heating-worsening-the-dangers-of-high-altitude-mountaineering-warn-experts-631416">Global heating worsening the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering, warn experts</a></strong></p>

<p>Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator for OSIRIS-REx at the University of Arizona, Tucson, said: "I am immensely proud of the efforts our team has poured into this endeavor. Just as our meticulous planning and rehearsal prepared us to collect a sample from Bennu, we have honed our skills for sample recovery."&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA said that an estimated 8.8 ounces of rocky material were taken on board the capsule in 2020 from the surface of the asteroid Bennu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the coming years, the sample will be examined by researchers to learn more about the formation of our solar system, our planet, and the genesis of the organic materials that may have given rise to life on Earth. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Rich Burns, the project manager for OSIRIS-REx at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said: "We are now in the final leg of this seven-year journey, and it feels very much like the last few miles of a marathon, with a confluence of emotions like pride and joy coexisting with a determined focus to complete the race well."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is working on its final preparations for the landing on Earth of a precious asteroid sample next month. NASA teams with the OSIRIS-REx mission completed a vital test on Wednesday (August 30) by collecting a mock capsule that had fallen to Earth in the desert west of Salt Lake City at the Utah Test and Training Range of the US Department of Defence.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is working on its final preparations for the landing on Earth of a precious asteroid sample next month. NASA teams with the OSIRIS-REx mission completed a vital test on Wednesday (August 30) by collecting a mock capsule that had fallen to Earth in the desert west of Salt Lake City at the Utah Test and Training Range of the US Department of Defence. The process was part of the mission's final major test prior to the arrival of the actual capsule on September 24. The final preparations were a significant test before the actual capsule with its sample of the asteroid Bennu, acquired in space over three years ago. Nicola Fox, who is the associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, said: "We are now mere weeks away from receiving a piece of solar system history on Earth, and this successful drop test ensures we're ready." Also read: Scientists believe an Earth-like planet might hiding in our solar system Fox said, "Pristine material from asteroid Bennu will help shed light on the formation of our solar system 4.5 billion years ago, and perhaps even on how life on Earth began." This drop test comes after a number of practice runs earlier this spring and summer, including capsule retrieval, spacecraft engineering operations and sample preservation processes. The OSIRIS-REx crew is now getting ready for the actual delivery with less than four weeks till the spacecraft's arrival. Also read: Global heating worsening the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering, warn experts Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator for OSIRIS-REx at the University of Arizona, Tucson, said: "I am immensely proud of the efforts our team has poured into this endeavor. Just as our meticulous planning and rehearsal prepared us to collect a sample from Bennu, we have honed our skills for sample recovery." NASA said that an estimated 8.8 ounces of rocky material were taken on board the capsule in 2020 from the surface of the asteroid Bennu. In the coming years, the sample will be examined by researchers to learn more about the formation of our solar system, our planet, and the genesis of the organic materials that may have given rise to life on Earth. Rich Burns, the project manager for OSIRIS-REx at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said: "We are now in the final leg of this seven-year journey, and it feels very much like the last few miles of a marathon, with a confluence of emotions like pride and joy coexisting with a determined focus to complete the race well." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NASA making final preparations for asteroid sample delivery by spacecraft this month

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidzQMK0RSYQLGX" /><meta charset="utf-8" />Nearly two weeks after Russia's Luna-25 lunar probe crashed into the Moon, US space agency NASA has released an image that shows the likely final resting place of the mission.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA released a statement on Thursday (August 31) saying its sharp-eyed Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) had likely found the crash site last week. Using the estimated impact site data provided by Russia's space agency Roscosmos, NASA said LRO's handlers went looking for Luna-25's grave.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Using the probe's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC), the team managed to image the suspected crash site on August 24. After comparing the new image with a previous photo of the same region captured by LROC in June 2022, the team was able to make the discovery.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-luna-25-probe-crashes-on-moon-627203" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Luna-25 crashes into moon; Russia’s lunar mission ends</strong></a></p>

<p>The before and after photos showed a bright, fresh crater on the moon that had developed in the past 14 months.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Since this new crater is close to the Luna-25 estimated impact point, the LRO team concludes it is likely to be from that mission, rather than a natural impactor," NASA said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the agency, the new crater is about 10 metres in diameter and is located at 57.865 degrees south latitude and 61.360 degrees east longitude at an elevation of about minus 360 meters.</p>

<p>Notably, LRO is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland since being launched in June 2009.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/luna-25-russian-lunar-mission-comes-to-an-end-spacecraft-moved-to-an-unpredictable-orbit-627257"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Luna 25: Russian lunar mission comes to an end: Spacecraft moved to an unpredictable orbit</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/luna-25-russian-lunar-mission-comes-to-an-end-spacecraft-moved-to-an-unpredictable-orbit-627257/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>What happened to Luna-25?</strong></h2>

<p>Luna-25, the first Russian Moon mission in nearly 50 years, crashed into the lunar surface after it spun into an uncontrolled orbit. According to Roscosmos, a day prior to the crash, the probe reported an "emergency" while performing a routine manoeuvre.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"During the operation, an emergency situation occurred on board the automatic station, which did not allow the manoeuvre to be performed with the specified parameters," Roscosmos stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The lunar probe was expected to remain on the lunar surface for an entire year to perform critical scientific tasks of collecting samples and conducting soil analysis. The lander had as many as eight different science instruments on it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Luna-25 was launched on August 10 from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, in Russia's Far East region and reached the lunar orbit six days later. The probe was due to touch down near the lunar South Pole on August 20.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Nearly two weeks after Russia's Luna-25 lunar probe crashed into the Moon, US space agency NASA has released an image that shows the likely final resting place of the mission.

Nearly two weeks after Russia's Luna-25 lunar probe crashed into the Moon, US space agency NASA has released an image that shows the likely final resting place of the mission. NASA released a statement on Thursday (August 31) saying its sharp-eyed Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) had likely found the crash site last week. Using the estimated impact site data provided by Russia's space agency Roscosmos, NASA said LRO's handlers went looking for Luna-25's grave. Using the probe's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC), the team managed to image the suspected crash site on August 24. After comparing the new image with a previous photo of the same region captured by LROC in June 2022, the team was able to make the discovery. Also read | Luna-25 crashes into moon; Russia’s lunar mission ends The before and after photos showed a bright, fresh crater on the moon that had developed in the past 14 months. "Since this new crater is close to the Luna-25 estimated impact point, the LRO team concludes it is likely to be from that mission, rather than a natural impactor," NASA said in a statement. According to the agency, the new crater is about 10 metres in diameter and is located at 57.865 degrees south latitude and 61.360 degrees east longitude at an elevation of about minus 360 meters. Notably, LRO is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland since being launched in June 2009. Watch | Luna 25: Russian lunar mission comes to an end: Spacecraft moved to an unpredictable orbit × What happened to Luna-25? Luna-25, the first Russian Moon mission in nearly 50 years, crashed into the lunar surface after it spun into an uncontrolled orbit. According to Roscosmos, a day prior to the crash, the probe reported an "emergency" while performing a routine manoeuvre. "During the operation, an emergency situation occurred on board the automatic station, which did not allow the manoeuvre to be performed with the specified parameters," Roscosmos stated. The lunar probe was expected to remain on the lunar surface for an entire year to perform critical scientific tasks of collecting samples and conducting soil analysis. The lander had as many as eight different science instruments on it. Luna-25 was launched on August 10 from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, in Russia's Far East region and reached the lunar orbit six days later. The probe was due to touch down near the lunar South Pole on August 20. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Final resting place of Russia's Luna-25 lunar probe likely spotted. See photos

nasa

Nasa, News on Nasa, stories on Nasa, articles on Nasa, Nasa stories at Wion, Nasa news, Nasa latest news