<p>NASA and Boeing have joined forces to develop a groundbreaking wing design that aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in single-aisle passenger aircraft, which currently contribute to nearly half of the aviation industry's emissions, reported Daily Mail.</p>

<p>The innovative wing design, known as the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing, features a longer and thinner structure supported by struts. This design optimises gliding capabilities, enabling the aircraft to require less fuel for propulsion, ultimately resulting in improved efficiency and reduced emissions.</p>

<p>To bring this revolutionary concept to life, NASA and Boeing have committed a total of $1.15 billion to the project, with NASA contributing $425 million and Boeing and its industry partners investing $725 million. The endeavour has received special recognition from the US Air Force, granting the project X-plane status.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-nasa-videos-show-shocking-visualisation-of-global-carbon-emissions-606508">New NASA videos show shocking visualisation of global carbon emissions</a></p>

<h2><strong>New transonic truss-braced wing promises greener and more efficient flights</strong></h2>

<p>The X-66A, as the full-scale demonstrator will be named, holds the goal of driving the decarbonization of the aerospace industry and paving the way for greener, cleaner, and quieter aircraft. This ambitious endeavour aligns with the US Aviation Climate Action Plan, which aims for a carbon-neutral aviation industry.</p>

<p>The Transonic Truss-Braced Wing, when combined with advanced propulsion plans, cutting-edge materials, and electronic systems architecture, is projected to achieve a remarkable 30 per cent&nbsp;reduction in fuel consumption compared to today's best-in-class aircraft. Boeing estimates an even more impressive 60 per cent&nbsp;reduction in emissions and fuel costs when compared to aircraft manufactured in 2005.</p>

<p>"To reach our goal of net zero aviation emissions by 2050,"&nbsp;said&nbsp;Bob Pearce, associate administrator for NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate who spoke to Daily Mail.&nbsp;"We need transformative aircraft concepts like the ones we're flying on the X-66A."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-curiosity-mars-rover-sends-beautiful-postcard-from-red-planet-showing-different-times-of-day-605338">NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover sends beautiful postcard from red planet showing different times of day</a></p>

<h2><strong>Revolutionising the future of aviation</strong></h2>

<p>The X-66A, scheduled to fly in 2028, marks a significant milestone in NASA and Boeing's decade-long research and development journey. The collaboration, initially known as the Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research Program (SUGAR), has undergone extensive testing in wind tunnels and research centres, including NASA Ames Research Center.</p>

<p>Boeing plans to utilise the airframe of a McDonnell Douglas MD-90, a single-aisle passenger jet, for the X-66A demonstrator. Looking ahead, Boeing envisions introducing a fleet of aircraft featuring the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing by the mid-to-late 2030s, revolutionising the future of aviation.</p>

<p>While questions arise about the feasibility of the ambitious timeline, Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal emphasises the extensive research and collaboration with NASA that has laid the foundation for the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing design. The efforts of NASA, Boeing, and their partners hold the promise of greener skies and a sustainable aviation industry.</p>

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NASA and Boeing have joined forces to develop a groundbreaking wing design that aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in single-aisle passenger aircraft, which currently contribute to nearly half of the aviation industry's emissions, reported Daily Mail.

NASA and Boeing have joined forces to develop a groundbreaking wing design that aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in single-aisle passenger aircraft, which currently contribute to nearly half of the aviation industry's emissions, reported Daily Mail. The innovative wing design, known as the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing, features a longer and thinner structure supported by struts. This design optimises gliding capabilities, enabling the aircraft to require less fuel for propulsion, ultimately resulting in improved efficiency and reduced emissions. To bring this revolutionary concept to life, NASA and Boeing have committed a total of $1.15 billion to the project, with NASA contributing $425 million and Boeing and its industry partners investing $725 million. The endeavour has received special recognition from the US Air Force, granting the project X-plane status. Also read | New NASA videos show shocking visualisation of global carbon emissions New transonic truss-braced wing promises greener and more efficient flights The X-66A, as the full-scale demonstrator will be named, holds the goal of driving the decarbonization of the aerospace industry and paving the way for greener, cleaner, and quieter aircraft. This ambitious endeavour aligns with the US Aviation Climate Action Plan, which aims for a carbon-neutral aviation industry. The Transonic Truss-Braced Wing, when combined with advanced propulsion plans, cutting-edge materials, and electronic systems architecture, is projected to achieve a remarkable 30 per cent reduction in fuel consumption compared to today's best-in-class aircraft. Boeing estimates an even more impressive 60 per cent reduction in emissions and fuel costs when compared to aircraft manufactured in 2005. "To reach our goal of net zero aviation emissions by 2050," said Bob Pearce, associate administrator for NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate who spoke to Daily Mail. "We need transformative aircraft concepts like the ones we're flying on the X-66A." Also read | NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover sends beautiful postcard from red planet showing different times of day Revolutionising the future of aviation The X-66A, scheduled to fly in 2028, marks a significant milestone in NASA and Boeing's decade-long research and development journey. The collaboration, initially known as the Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research Program (SUGAR), has undergone extensive testing in wind tunnels and research centres, including NASA Ames Research Center. Boeing plans to utilise the airframe of a McDonnell Douglas MD-90, a single-aisle passenger jet, for the X-66A demonstrator. Looking ahead, Boeing envisions introducing a fleet of aircraft featuring the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing by the mid-to-late 2030s, revolutionising the future of aviation. While questions arise about the feasibility of the ambitious timeline, Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal emphasises the extensive research and collaboration with NASA that has laid the foundation for the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing design. The efforts of NASA, Boeing, and their partners hold the promise of greener skies and a sustainable aviation industry. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

NASA unveils plans for eco-friendly Boeing plane to cut air travel emissions by 30%

<p>Global warming is a reality. Human activity has been emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere for several centuries now. Carbon dioxide affects the radiation of heat back into space and contributes to global warming. We all know this. But it is also true that we need repeated reminders to remember this. In the absence of such periodic pokes, global warming and climate change remain just&nbsp;buzzwords.</p>

<p>New videos released by NASA can be the perfect reminder of why the planet's health needs to be at the top of our priority.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA has released three videos. In each of these videos, the carbon emission from different parts of our world is shown. In addition to carbon emissions, carbon absorption due to trees and oceans is shown as well. The videos show CO2 being released in the year 2021.</p>

<p>Carbon emissions due to the burning of fossil fuels are represented by the colour orange. Red represents the burning of biomass. Green denotes land ecosystems and blue stands for oceans. Blue dots show where carbon dioxide is being absorbed by oceans and green dots are representing CO2 absorption by trees.</p>

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<p>In this video showing North and South America, it is important to note the concentration of carbon emissions in North America, particularly in the Northeastern part of the US. These are the pollution hotspots. The pulsing green colour in South America represents the absorption of carbon dioxide by Amazon rainforests during daylight hours.</p>

<p>"New computer modelling techniques in NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office allow us to dissect our atmosphere and understand some of the major contributors to this runaway insulator," says NASA in the blog post.</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The second video shows Europe and Africa. The high concentration of carbon emissions from European countries and Saudi Arabia is evident. The green pulsing of the sub-Saharan region represents absorption of CO2 due to forests.</p>

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<p>Then the third video is about Asia and Australia. Carbon emissions from China are starkly visible. Australia in comparison, shows less emissions due to lesser population density in the country.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-flash-of-green-nasas-juno-spacecraft-captures-image-of-lightning-on-jupiter-606325">A flash of green: NASA's Juno spacecraft captures image of lightning on Jupiter</a></strong></p>

<p>Carbon dioxide forms just 0.04 per cent of Earth's atmosphere. This proportion may seem very low and fool anyone into thinking that carbon emissions are not a big deal. But the effects of global warming have started to become evident. Increased intensity of storms and increased instances of devastating wildfires are consequences of global warming, say experts.</p>

<p>Let us hope that NASA's visualisations raise greater awareness.&nbsp;</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>

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Global warming is a reality. Human activity has been emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere for several centuries now. Carbon dioxide affects the radiation of heat back into space and contributes to global warming.

Global warming is a reality. Human activity has been emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere for several centuries now. Carbon dioxide affects the radiation of heat back into space and contributes to global warming. We all know this. But it is also true that we need repeated reminders to remember this. In the absence of such periodic pokes, global warming and climate change remain just buzzwords. New videos released by NASA can be the perfect reminder of why the planet's health needs to be at the top of our priority. NASA has released three videos. In each of these videos, the carbon emission from different parts of our world is shown. In addition to carbon emissions, carbon absorption due to trees and oceans is shown as well. The videos show CO2 being released in the year 2021. Carbon emissions due to the burning of fossil fuels are represented by the colour orange. Red represents the burning of biomass. Green denotes land ecosystems and blue stands for oceans. Blue dots show where carbon dioxide is being absorbed by oceans and green dots are representing CO2 absorption by trees. × In this video showing North and South America, it is important to note the concentration of carbon emissions in North America, particularly in the Northeastern part of the US. These are the pollution hotspots. The pulsing green colour in South America represents the absorption of carbon dioxide by Amazon rainforests during daylight hours. "New computer modelling techniques in NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office allow us to dissect our atmosphere and understand some of the major contributors to this runaway insulator," says NASA in the blog post. × The second video shows Europe and Africa. The high concentration of carbon emissions from European countries and Saudi Arabia is evident. The green pulsing of the sub-Saharan region represents absorption of CO2 due to forests. × Then the third video is about Asia and Australia. Carbon emissions from China are starkly visible. Australia in comparison, shows less emissions due to lesser population density in the country. Also Read | A flash of green: NASA's Juno spacecraft captures image of lightning on Jupiter Carbon dioxide forms just 0.04 per cent of Earth's atmosphere. This proportion may seem very low and fool anyone into thinking that carbon emissions are not a big deal. But the effects of global warming have started to become evident. Increased intensity of storms and increased instances of devastating wildfires are consequences of global warming, say experts. Let us hope that NASA's visualisations raise greater awareness. 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 ×

New NASA videos show shocking visualisation of global carbon emissions

<p>After the installation of a major software update that enabled NASA's Curiosity Mars rover to drive faster and also reduced wear and tear on its wheels, the robot took stunning captures of the “Marker Band Valley” before leaving it behind.</p>

<p>The postcard, showcasing the picturesque landscape from the red planet, is an artistic representation of what Mars looks like at different times of the day.</p>

<p>In a news release, NASA said that the panoramas captured by the robot were taken with black-and-white navigation cameras on April 8, 2023.</p>

<p>The colours were further added to the black-and-white panoramas with blue being added to the parts of the postcard clicked in the morning and yellow to the ones clicked in the afternoon.</p>

<p>Further giving details of the postcard, NASA said that it shows several landmarks of Mars including "Marker Band Valley," where the rover discovered unexpected signs of an ancient lake and also two hills named "Bolivar" and "Deepdale".</p>

<p><img alt="Figure A is an annotated version of the postcard noting geographic features and elements of the rover." src="https://mars.nasa.gov/internal_resources/1627" /></p>

<p>“Anyone who’s been to a national park knows the scene looks different in the morning than it does in the afternoon,” said Curiosity engineer Doug Ellison of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, who planned and processed the images. “Capturing two times of the day provides dark shadows because the lighting is coming in from the left and the right, like you might have on a stage – but instead of stage lights, we’re relying on the Sun.”</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-share-of-photo-new-supernova-shining-brightly-in-pinwheel-galaxy-603496">Astronomers share photo of new supernova shining brightly in Pinwheel Galaxy</a></p>

<p>NASA further noted that the rover took the photos during winter time and that the shadows during that time of the year are deeper and darker as the dust levels in the Martian atmosphere are at their lowest.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Mars' shadows get sharper and deeper when there's low dust and softer when there's lots of dust," Ellison said.</p>

<h2><strong>New images of Mars raise questions over its redness</strong></h2>

<p>A new image of Mars is raising questions over its redness, and it looks like Mars isn't as red as we might have thought.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The new mosaic of Mars has been released to mark 20 years since the launch of the European Space Agency (ESA)'s Mars Express, which is a spacecraft that has been orbiting the planet for two decades.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mars Express's High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC)'s data was used to create the mosaic. The image reveals the planet's colour and composition in spectacular detail... not so red.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Say cheese! 📸 Over the past 20 years, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarsExpress?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarsExpress</a> has orbited Mars 24,510 times, during which our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HRSC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HRSC</a> has acquired 6916 images. 😲 We couldn’t quite fit all of them into this video, but you can find the best ones on our Flickr gallery: <a href="https://t.co/ey8vXRxlmM">https://t.co/ey8vXRxlmM</a> <a href="https://t.co/rFzxzqOUrT">pic.twitter.com/rFzxzqOUrT</a></p>
— DLR - English (@DLR_en) <a href="https://twitter.com/DLR_en/status/1664624837841518592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>On its website, ESA said that Mars appears in the night sky different from all the other gleaming dots in the darkness. Notably, the changing atmosphere of Mars has made it difficult to see all the colours on the planet from space in the past.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a post, ESA said that the "dust scatters and reflects light, causing colours to shift between images". The space agency said that when the mismatched pieces are put together, the result is usually patchy looking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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After the installation of a major software update that enabled NASA's Curiosity Mars rover to drive faster and also reduced wear and tear on its wheels, the robot took stunning captures of the “Marker Band Valley” before leaving it behind.

After the installation of a major software update that enabled NASA's Curiosity Mars rover to drive faster and also reduced wear and tear on its wheels, the robot took stunning captures of the “Marker Band Valley” before leaving it behind. The postcard, showcasing the picturesque landscape from the red planet, is an artistic representation of what Mars looks like at different times of the day. In a news release, NASA said that the panoramas captured by the robot were taken with black-and-white navigation cameras on April 8, 2023. The colours were further added to the black-and-white panoramas with blue being added to the parts of the postcard clicked in the morning and yellow to the ones clicked in the afternoon. Further giving details of the postcard, NASA said that it shows several landmarks of Mars including "Marker Band Valley," where the rover discovered unexpected signs of an ancient lake and also two hills named "Bolivar" and "Deepdale". “Anyone who’s been to a national park knows the scene looks different in the morning than it does in the afternoon,” said Curiosity engineer Doug Ellison of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, who planned and processed the images. “Capturing two times of the day provides dark shadows because the lighting is coming in from the left and the right, like you might have on a stage – but instead of stage lights, we’re relying on the Sun.” Also read: Astronomers share photo of new supernova shining brightly in Pinwheel Galaxy NASA further noted that the rover took the photos during winter time and that the shadows during that time of the year are deeper and darker as the dust levels in the Martian atmosphere are at their lowest. "Mars' shadows get sharper and deeper when there's low dust and softer when there's lots of dust," Ellison said. New images of Mars raise questions over its redness A new image of Mars is raising questions over its redness, and it looks like Mars isn't as red as we might have thought. The new mosaic of Mars has been released to mark 20 years since the launch of the European Space Agency (ESA)'s Mars Express, which is a spacecraft that has been orbiting the planet for two decades. Mars Express's High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC)'s data was used to create the mosaic. The image reveals the planet's colour and composition in spectacular detail... not so red. Say cheese! 📸 Over the past 20 years, #MarsExpress has orbited Mars 24,510 times, during which our #HRSC has acquired 6916 images. 😲 We couldn’t quite fit all of them into this video, but you can find the best ones on our Flickr gallery: https://t.co/ey8vXRxlmM pic.twitter.com/rFzxzqOUrT — DLR - English (@DLR_en) June 2, 2023 × On its website, ESA said that Mars appears in the night sky different from all the other gleaming dots in the darkness. Notably, the changing atmosphere of Mars has made it difficult to see all the colours on the planet from space in the past. In a post, ESA said that the "dust scatters and reflects light, causing colours to shift between images". The space agency said that when the mismatched pieces are put together, the result is usually patchy looking. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover sends beautiful postcard from red planet showing different times of day

<p>Humans, on their future long-range trips to space like one on Mars, would be required to cultivate some of the crops, which makes it essential to understand how plants grow in space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the wake of this growing need, NASA has been planting flower crops in space since 2015 when the Veggie system and its rooting "pillows", which contained zinnia seeds, were activated by NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren.</p>

<h2><strong>NASA shares photo of bloom&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Now, NASA posted a photo of the flower that bloomed in the zinnia plant which was sowed and grown in the International Space Station.</p>

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<p>Posting the image of the flower on social media platforms, the space agency NASA wrote, "This zinnia was grown in orbit as part of the veggie facility aboard the International Space Station. Scientists have been studying plants in space since the 1970s, but this particular experiment was started on the ISS in 2015 by NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren."</p>

<h2><strong>NASA's space garden</strong></h2>

<p>Emphasising the space garden's importance, NASA stated,&nbsp;"Our space garden isn't just for show: learning how plants develop in orbit will help us understand how to grow crops off the Earth, providing a valuable source of fresh food on long-term missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. @NASAAstronauts have also grown lettuce, tomatoes, and chile peppers on the ISS, among other vegetables—with plenty more plants to come."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-detects-brightest-gamma-ray-burst-of-all-time-its-70-times-brighter-than-previous-record-holder-603775">NASA detects brightest gamma-ray burst of all time, it's 70 times brighter than previous record holder</a></p>

<p>A spectacular space garden has been developed by the ISS, which demonstrates the possibility of growing foods outside of the limits of Earth.</p>

<p>Lettuce, tomatoes, and chile peppers have earlier been grown by the NASA astronauts on the ISS, along with other vegetables as plenty more plants are set to come.</p>

<h2><strong>Growing plants in microgravity</strong></h2>

<p>As per NASA, the challenging procedure of blooming the zinnias gave an exceptional opportunity for scientists back on Earth to get a better understanding of how people can grow plants in microgravity.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;NASA scientist admits that the Moon 'might already have life on it'</strong></p>

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<p>It also helped astronauts to practise doing what these people will be asked to do on their deep space mission - autonomous gardening.</p>

<p>The photograph left many science aficionados excited and they responded in huge numbers in the comment section.</p>

<p>"Two special things that come together are flowers and space. Thank you, NASA," stated a user.</p>

<p>"Unbelievable and beautiful," commented another user.</p>

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Humans, on their future long-range trips to space like one on Mars, would be required to cultivate some of the crops, which makes it essential to understand how plants grow in space.

Humans, on their future long-range trips to space like one on Mars, would be required to cultivate some of the crops, which makes it essential to understand how plants grow in space. In the wake of this growing need, NASA has been planting flower crops in space since 2015 when the Veggie system and its rooting "pillows", which contained zinnia seeds, were activated by NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren. NASA shares photo of bloom Now, NASA posted a photo of the flower that bloomed in the zinnia plant which was sowed and grown in the International Space Station. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × Posting the image of the flower on social media platforms, the space agency NASA wrote, "This zinnia was grown in orbit as part of the veggie facility aboard the International Space Station. Scientists have been studying plants in space since the 1970s, but this particular experiment was started on the ISS in 2015 by NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren." NASA's space garden Emphasising the space garden's importance, NASA stated, "Our space garden isn't just for show: learning how plants develop in orbit will help us understand how to grow crops off the Earth, providing a valuable source of fresh food on long-term missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. @NASAAstronauts have also grown lettuce, tomatoes, and chile peppers on the ISS, among other vegetables—with plenty more plants to come." ALSO READ | NASA detects brightest gamma-ray burst of all time, it's 70 times brighter than previous record holder A spectacular space garden has been developed by the ISS, which demonstrates the possibility of growing foods outside of the limits of Earth. Lettuce, tomatoes, and chile peppers have earlier been grown by the NASA astronauts on the ISS, along with other vegetables as plenty more plants are set to come. Growing plants in microgravity As per NASA, the challenging procedure of blooming the zinnias gave an exceptional opportunity for scientists back on Earth to get a better understanding of how people can grow plants in microgravity. WATCH | NASA scientist admits that the Moon 'might already have life on it' It also helped astronauts to practise doing what these people will be asked to do on their deep space mission - autonomous gardening. The photograph left many science aficionados excited and they responded in huge numbers in the comment section. "Two special things that come together are flowers and space. Thank you, NASA," stated a user. "Unbelievable and beautiful," commented another user. 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 grows flower in space, shares image of bloom on social media

<p>Humans are curious to find life outside planet Earth and they launch new programmes and missions for the same. The long hunt for extraterrestrials in our solar system just got a massive boost as according to scientists, a Moon of Saturn has everything needed for life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists discovered that phosphorus, a key building block of life, lies in the ocean beneath the icy surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus.</p>

<p>They used data collected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Cassini mission and found that phosphorus was locked inside salt-rich ice grains ejected into space from Enceladus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study was published on Wednesday (June 14) in the journal Nature, and a report was also published on the official website of NASA. Notably, Cassini started exploring Saturn and its rings and moons in 2004, it was burned up in the planet's atmosphere when its mission ended in 2017.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Enceladus is the sixth-largest moon of Saturn and is mostly covered by fresh, clean ice, which makes it one of the most reflective bodies of the solar system.&nbsp;The outer surface is said to be wrapped in an ice crust, but the inner one is an ocean. Some scientists have claimed that the ocean could be a home for alien life making the moon most likely hope for finding nearby extraterrestrial life.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/aliens-mystery-deepens-after-police-fit-surveillance-cameras-to-track-ufo-claim-604535">'Aliens' mystery deepens after police fit surveillance cameras to track UFO claim</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>As mentioned, Enceladus has a subsurface ocean, and water from that ocean erupts through the cracks of icy crust surface as geysers at its south pole. It created a plume, which eventually feeds Saturn’s E ring with icy particles. The E ring is a faint ring outside of the brighter main rings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA said that Cassini flew through the plume and E ring numerous times and scientists found that Enceladus' ice grains contain a rich array of minerals and organic compounds linked to life as we know it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Christopher Glein of the Southwest Research Institute, one of the paper's co-authors, said: "This is a stunning discovery for astrobiology. We have found abundant phosphorus in plume ice samples spraying out of the subsurface ocean."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas Plus: Is America hiding Alien technology?&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alien-connection-of-vatican-pentagon-whistleblower-says-church-involved-in-first-ever-ufo-crash-604514">Alien connection of Vatican? Pentagon whistleblower says Church involved in first-ever UFO crash</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<h2><strong>Why is phosphorus key element for life?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>NASA said in its report that phosphorus, which is the least abundant of the essential elements necessary for biological processes, hadn't been detected until now.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is a building block for DNA, which forms chromosomes and carries genetic information and is present in the bones of mammals, cell membranes, and ocean-dwelling plankton. According to NASA's report, phosphorus is also a fundamental part of energy-carrying molecules present in all life on Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by NASA, Frank Postberg, a planetary scientist at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, said, "We previously found that Enceladus' ocean is rich in a variety of organic compounds."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Postberg, who led the new study, further said, "But now, this new result reveals the clear chemical signature of substantial amounts of phosphorus salts inside icy particles ejected into space by the small moon's plume. It's the first time this essential element has been discovered in an ocean beyond Earth."&nbsp;<br />
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Humans are curious to find life outside planet Earth and they launch new programmes and missions for the same. The long hunt for extraterrestrials in our solar system just got a massive boost as according to scientists, a Moon of Saturn has everything needed for life.

Humans are curious to find life outside planet Earth and they launch new programmes and missions for the same. The long hunt for extraterrestrials in our solar system just got a massive boost as according to scientists, a Moon of Saturn has everything needed for life. Scientists discovered that phosphorus, a key building block of life, lies in the ocean beneath the icy surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus. They used data collected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Cassini mission and found that phosphorus was locked inside salt-rich ice grains ejected into space from Enceladus. The study was published on Wednesday (June 14) in the journal Nature, and a report was also published on the official website of NASA. Notably, Cassini started exploring Saturn and its rings and moons in 2004, it was burned up in the planet's atmosphere when its mission ended in 2017. Enceladus is the sixth-largest moon of Saturn and is mostly covered by fresh, clean ice, which makes it one of the most reflective bodies of the solar system. The outer surface is said to be wrapped in an ice crust, but the inner one is an ocean. Some scientists have claimed that the ocean could be a home for alien life making the moon most likely hope for finding nearby extraterrestrial life. Also read: 'Aliens' mystery deepens after police fit surveillance cameras to track UFO claim As mentioned, Enceladus has a subsurface ocean, and water from that ocean erupts through the cracks of icy crust surface as geysers at its south pole. It created a plume, which eventually feeds Saturn’s E ring with icy particles. The E ring is a faint ring outside of the brighter main rings. NASA said that Cassini flew through the plume and E ring numerous times and scientists found that Enceladus' ice grains contain a rich array of minerals and organic compounds linked to life as we know it. Christopher Glein of the Southwest Research Institute, one of the paper's co-authors, said: "This is a stunning discovery for astrobiology. We have found abundant phosphorus in plume ice samples spraying out of the subsurface ocean." Watch: Gravitas Plus: Is America hiding Alien technology? × Also read: Alien connection of Vatican? Pentagon whistleblower says Church involved in first-ever UFO crash Why is phosphorus key element for life? NASA said in its report that phosphorus, which is the least abundant of the essential elements necessary for biological processes, hadn't been detected until now. It is a building block for DNA, which forms chromosomes and carries genetic information and is present in the bones of mammals, cell membranes, and ocean-dwelling plankton. According to NASA's report, phosphorus is also a fundamental part of energy-carrying molecules present in all life on Earth. As quoted by NASA, Frank Postberg, a planetary scientist at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, said, "We previously found that Enceladus' ocean is rich in a variety of organic compounds." Postberg, who led the new study, further said, "But now, this new result reveals the clear chemical signature of substantial amounts of phosphorus salts inside icy particles ejected into space by the small moon's plume. It's the first time this essential element has been discovered in an ocean beyond Earth." 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.

‘Stunning discovery’ says life possible on Saturn’s moon. Hunt for extraterrestrials gets major boost

<p>A team at the US Geological Survey's (USGS) Astrogeology Science Centre generated a map of planet Mars using the treasure trove of data which was collected by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The newly-generated map of Mars will make viewing the Martian landscape more easier than before, allowing people to navigate through it even on their smartphones.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The new map, which has been compiled with the help of cloud computing and supercomputers, will be providing people with a high-resolution, three-dimensional experience of the otherworldly terrain of planet Mars.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Map contains 4,800 digital terrain models, 155,000 images</strong></h2>

<p>A team at the US Geological Survey's (USGS) Astrogeology Science Centre processed the map which consists of around 4,800 digital terrain models (DTMs) and has more than 155,000 images of the red Martian surface.</p>

<p>"Now anyone on the planet with a smartphone can search, use and marvel at these data," stated team leader Jay Laura, of the Astrogeology Science Centre (ASC), in a statement.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/its-not-so-red-never-before-seen-images-of-mars-are-absolutely-stunning-603664">It's not so red. Never-before-seen images of Mars are absolutely stunning</a></p>

<p>"These data are important because they democratise the availability of high-quality Mars topographic data," added Laura. "Getting consistent, well-aligned results is not easy. We felt it was important to generate and release these products so that others could freely access the data. When these data are highly accessible, anyone can contribute to scientific discovery," he stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The team has used the data on Martian topography collected by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's (MRO) Context Camera. The MRO Context Camera can capture images with a resolution of around six&nbsp;metres&nbsp;per pixel and can cover an area of around 18.5 miles (30 kilometres) wide and 100 miles (160 km) long.</p>

<p>The team then produced the DTMs by overlapping two images of a similar area, which were then processed using a supercomputer to create a detailed 3D view.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The process is similar to how visual data collected by both our eyes is processed by the brain to generate our sense of depth perception and create a 3D picture of our surroundings," team members stated. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Maps of Mars free, accessible to general public</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking about the data used to create maps, Laura said, "These data are ripe for discovery and use by machines and humans. This data release means that the HiRISE data set can now be seamlessly leveraged by machine-learning scientists."</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Study: Mars' crust made of HEAVY ARMOUR. Will this tough exterior pose a threat?</strong></p>

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<p>Amazon's Open Data Registry is hosting the data which is free for anyone to use. To ensure that the data is easy to find and download for the general public, search tools for users have been released by the USGS.</p>

<p>"With data releases like this, USGS is taking the lead to develop and release analysis-ready planetary science data," Laura stated.</p>

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A team at the US Geological Survey's (USGS) Astrogeology Science Centre generated a map of planet Mars using the treasure trove of data which was collected by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

A team at the US Geological Survey's (USGS) Astrogeology Science Centre generated a map of planet Mars using the treasure trove of data which was collected by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The newly-generated map of Mars will make viewing the Martian landscape more easier than before, allowing people to navigate through it even on their smartphones. The new map, which has been compiled with the help of cloud computing and supercomputers, will be providing people with a high-resolution, three-dimensional experience of the otherworldly terrain of planet Mars. Map contains 4,800 digital terrain models, 155,000 images A team at the US Geological Survey's (USGS) Astrogeology Science Centre processed the map which consists of around 4,800 digital terrain models (DTMs) and has more than 155,000 images of the red Martian surface. "Now anyone on the planet with a smartphone can search, use and marvel at these data," stated team leader Jay Laura, of the Astrogeology Science Centre (ASC), in a statement. ALSO READ | It's not so red. Never-before-seen images of Mars are absolutely stunning "These data are important because they democratise the availability of high-quality Mars topographic data," added Laura. "Getting consistent, well-aligned results is not easy. We felt it was important to generate and release these products so that others could freely access the data. When these data are highly accessible, anyone can contribute to scientific discovery," he stated. The team has used the data on Martian topography collected by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's (MRO) Context Camera. The MRO Context Camera can capture images with a resolution of around six metres per pixel and can cover an area of around 18.5 miles (30 kilometres) wide and 100 miles (160 km) long. The team then produced the DTMs by overlapping two images of a similar area, which were then processed using a supercomputer to create a detailed 3D view. "The process is similar to how visual data collected by both our eyes is processed by the brain to generate our sense of depth perception and create a 3D picture of our surroundings," team members stated. Maps of Mars free, accessible to general public Speaking about the data used to create maps, Laura said, "These data are ripe for discovery and use by machines and humans. This data release means that the HiRISE data set can now be seamlessly leveraged by machine-learning scientists." WATCH | Study: Mars' crust made of HEAVY ARMOUR. Will this tough exterior pose a threat? Amazon's Open Data Registry is hosting the data which is free for anyone to use. To ensure that the data is easy to find and download for the general public, search tools for users have been released by the USGS. "With data releases like this, USGS is taking the lead to develop and release analysis-ready planetary science data," Laura stated. 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

Martian landscape on smartphone? New map of Mars created from data collected by NASA

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidKf1mQF1h0MaH" /><meta charset="utf-8" />The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has detected the brightest gamma-ray&nbsp;burst of all time. In a statement issued last Thursday (June 8),&nbsp;NASA said, "When scientists detected the gamma-ray burst known as GRB 221009A on Oct. 9, 2022, they dubbed it the brightest of all time, or BOAT." Citing follow-up studies, NASA said the GRB 221009A is 70 times brighter and far more energetic than the previous record holder.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While scientists don’t yet understand why, they received a tantalizing clue from NASA’s NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array) observatory. According to a study published in the journal Science Advances, scientists used NuSTAR observations of the event to show how the collapsing star ejected a jet of material that had a shape not previously observed among gamma-ray burst jets, as well as other unique characteristics.</p>

<p>The source of these distinctions may be the progenitor star, the study said, adding it is also possible that an entirely different mechanism launches the very brightest jets into space.</p>

<h2><strong>'Event so much brighter than any gamma-ray&nbsp;burst'</strong></h2>

<p>Brendan O’Connor, the lead author of the study said the October 9, 2022 event was so much brighter and more energetic than any gamma-ray burst seen before. “Then, when we analyzed the NuSTAR data, we realized that it also has this unique jet structure. And that was really exciting because we have no way of studying the star that produced this event; it’s gone now. But we now have some data giving us clues about how it exploded,” O'Connor, an astronomer at George Washington University, added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What are gamma rays?</strong></h2>

<p>Gamma rays are high-energy photons that are produced by some of the most violent events in the universe. They are the most energetic form of light in the universe yet invisible to the human eye. All known gamma-ray bursts have originated in galaxies outside our Milky Way but are bright enough to be spotted billions of light-years away, as per NASA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Some blink into existence and last less than two seconds, while so-called long gamma-ray bursts typically radiate gamma rays for a minute or more. These objects can radiate other wavelengths for weeks," the American space agency added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Details about the GRB 221009A</strong></h2>

<p>NASA said in the statement that the GRB 221009A- a long gamma-ray burst- was so bright that it effectively blinded most gamma-ray instruments in space. American scientists were able to reconstruct the event with data from NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope to determine its actual brightness.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Similar to other gamma-ray bursts, GRB 221009A had a jet that erupted from the collapsing star like it was shot into space from a fire hose, with gamma rays radiating from the hot gas and particles at the jet’s core," the statement said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, GRB 221009A's jet stood out in a few ways. NASA said that in just about every previously observed gamma-ray burst, the jet remained remarkably compact and there was little to no stray light or material outside the narrow beam. The jet had a narrow core with wider, sloping sides.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The jet from the BOAT was unique in one important way- the energy of the material in GRB 221009A also varied, meaning that instead of all the material in the jet having the same energy, the energy of the material changed with distance from the jet’s core, NASA further said and highlighted this had never been observed in a long gamma-ray burst jet earlier.&nbsp;</p>

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has detected the brightest gamma-ray burst of all time. In a statement issued last Thursday (June 8), NASA said, "When scientists detected the gamma-ray burst known as GRB 221009A on Oct.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has detected the brightest gamma-ray burst of all time. In a statement issued last Thursday (June 8), NASA said, "When scientists detected the gamma-ray burst known as GRB 221009A on Oct. 9, 2022, they dubbed it the brightest of all time, or BOAT." Citing follow-up studies, NASA said the GRB 221009A is 70 times brighter and far more energetic than the previous record holder. While scientists don’t yet understand why, they received a tantalizing clue from NASA’s NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array) observatory. According to a study published in the journal Science Advances, scientists used NuSTAR observations of the event to show how the collapsing star ejected a jet of material that had a shape not previously observed among gamma-ray burst jets, as well as other unique characteristics. The source of these distinctions may be the progenitor star, the study said, adding it is also possible that an entirely different mechanism launches the very brightest jets into space. 'Event so much brighter than any gamma-ray burst' Brendan O’Connor, the lead author of the study said the October 9, 2022 event was so much brighter and more energetic than any gamma-ray burst seen before. “Then, when we analyzed the NuSTAR data, we realized that it also has this unique jet structure. And that was really exciting because we have no way of studying the star that produced this event; it’s gone now. But we now have some data giving us clues about how it exploded,” O'Connor, an astronomer at George Washington University, added. What are gamma rays? Gamma rays are high-energy photons that are produced by some of the most violent events in the universe. They are the most energetic form of light in the universe yet invisible to the human eye. All known gamma-ray bursts have originated in galaxies outside our Milky Way but are bright enough to be spotted billions of light-years away, as per NASA. "Some blink into existence and last less than two seconds, while so-called long gamma-ray bursts typically radiate gamma rays for a minute or more. These objects can radiate other wavelengths for weeks," the American space agency added. Details about the GRB 221009A NASA said in the statement that the GRB 221009A- a long gamma-ray burst- was so bright that it effectively blinded most gamma-ray instruments in space. American scientists were able to reconstruct the event with data from NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope to determine its actual brightness. "Similar to other gamma-ray bursts, GRB 221009A had a jet that erupted from the collapsing star like it was shot into space from a fire hose, with gamma rays radiating from the hot gas and particles at the jet’s core," the statement said. However, GRB 221009A's jet stood out in a few ways. NASA said that in just about every previously observed gamma-ray burst, the jet remained remarkably compact and there was little to no stray light or material outside the narrow beam. The jet had a narrow core with wider, sloping sides. The jet from the BOAT was unique in one important way- the energy of the material in GRB 221009A also varied, meaning that instead of all the material in the jet having the same energy, the energy of the material changed with distance from the jet’s core, NASA further said and highlighted this had never been observed in a long gamma-ray burst jet earlier. 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 detects brightest gamma-ray burst of all time, it's 70 times brighter than previous record holder

<p>James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) may be all that's bling right now but Hubble Space Telescope is like that dependable team player who does perfect work silently. It has been doing that for decades now and it never fails to amaze even when JWST tends to steal more limelight these days.</p>

<p>The Hubble space telescope has now clicked a beautiful galaxy, a 'jellyfish' galaxy. It is, like any other galaxy, a huge light-year-spanning, star-forming, behemoth. But when looked upon from our home planet, it looks like a cute jellyfish swirling around in nothingness of space.</p>

<p>The image has been posted by NASA on its 'nasahubble' Instagram page.</p>

<p>The 'jellyfish' galaxy is actually named J0206. It is a whopping 700 million lightyears away from Earth and is located in the Aquarius constellation. The tentacles of this galaxy are long tendrils that are following the galaxy's star-forming disc.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Galaxies in galaxy clusters are separated by an 'intra-cluster medium'. This medium is superheated plasma. As galaxies move through this intra-cluster medium, the plasma strips gas away from the galaxy forming the long 'tentacles' as we see in the image.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-detects-brightest-gamma-ray-burst-of-all-time-its-70-times-brighter-than-previous-record-holder-603775">NASA detects brightest gamma-ray burst of all time, it's 70 times brighter than previous record holder</a></strong></p>

<p>"...A spiral galaxy that is tilted partially toward us. Its inner disk is bright and colorful, with bluish and reddish spots of star formation throughout the arms. An outer disk of pale, dim dust surrounds it. It has many arms, which are being pulled away from the disk, down and to the right. They stretch into long, faint trails that cross the image. The background is dark and mostly empty, with three bright stars," reads part of the Instagram post.</p>

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<p>Like any other image clicked by Hubble, this one has proven to be popular. By the time of publishing this story, the image had been liked by more than 50,000 people.</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>

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James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) may be all that's bling right now but Hubble Space Telescope is like that dependable team player who does perfect work silently.

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) may be all that's bling right now but Hubble Space Telescope is like that dependable team player who does perfect work silently. It has been doing that for decades now and it never fails to amaze even when JWST tends to steal more limelight these days. The Hubble space telescope has now clicked a beautiful galaxy, a 'jellyfish' galaxy. It is, like any other galaxy, a huge light-year-spanning, star-forming, behemoth. But when looked upon from our home planet, it looks like a cute jellyfish swirling around in nothingness of space. The image has been posted by NASA on its 'nasahubble' Instagram page. The 'jellyfish' galaxy is actually named J0206. It is a whopping 700 million lightyears away from Earth and is located in the Aquarius constellation. The tentacles of this galaxy are long tendrils that are following the galaxy's star-forming disc. Galaxies in galaxy clusters are separated by an 'intra-cluster medium'. This medium is superheated plasma. As galaxies move through this intra-cluster medium, the plasma strips gas away from the galaxy forming the long 'tentacles' as we see in the image. Also Read | NASA detects brightest gamma-ray burst of all time, it's 70 times brighter than previous record holder "...A spiral galaxy that is tilted partially toward us. Its inner disk is bright and colorful, with bluish and reddish spots of star formation throughout the arms. An outer disk of pale, dim dust surrounds it. It has many arms, which are being pulled away from the disk, down and to the right. They stretch into long, faint trails that cross the image. The background is dark and mostly empty, with three bright stars," reads part of the Instagram post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hubble Space Telescope (@nasahubble) × Like any other image clicked by Hubble, this one has proven to be popular. By the time of publishing this story, the image had been liked by more than 50,000 people. 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 Hubble telescope clicks a beautiful 'jellyfish' galaxy

Compared to Earth, the moon is a barren land. It is devoid of flowing water, wispy clouds and any signs of life. However, a scientist from NASA thinks that there's more to the moon than just a barren land. NASA planetary scientist Prabal Saxena has proposed that the lunar South pole may harbour conditions suitable for microbial life.

NASA scientist admits that the Moon 'might already have life on it'

Internet rules the world. It is as essential as bread butter to human beings today. People cannot think about even a couple of hours without the internet. Imagine days and years without it. Scientists have warned about the potential impact of an upcoming solar storm. It is commonly referred to as an "internet apocalypse" & could strike Earth within the next decade.

How NASA plans to use Parker Solar Probe to avert the 'internet apocalypse'

Jointly developed by scientists from the US and India, the much-awaited NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, or NISAR, has landed in India. The mega scientific payload was being integrated at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.

WION exclusive: ISRO to launch joint Indo-US space mission in early 2024

NASA says that a 1500-feet-wide asteroid will pass by earth on June 12. Should people be concerned? How fast is this asteroid? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: NASA says 1500-feet-wide asteroid about to pass by Earth

<p>The United States House of Representatives is planning to conduct an investigation into allegations that the US government is harbouring unidentified flying objects (UFOs). This comes as recently, David Grusch, a former intelligence official, claimed that the US has "intact and partially intact" alien vehicles. The whistleblower claimed that the US government is hiding the truth about these alien vehicles from Congress and the people.</p>

<p>As per a report by The Guardian, James Comer, the Republican Chair of the House Oversight Committee, announced that a hearing will be held to examine these claims.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>When will the hearing take place, who will lead the investigation?</strong></h2>

<p>The exact date of the hearing has not been determined yet, but it is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Republican members of Congress, Tim Burchett and Anna Paulina Luna, will lead the oversight committee investigation, reports The Guardian.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explained-us-intelligence-officer-turns-whistleblower-reveals-american-govt-has-ufos-alien-vehicles-601082">Explained: US intelligence officer turns whistleblower, reveals American govt has UFOs, alien vehicles</a></strong></p>

<ul>
</ul>

<p>Luna took to Twitter to announce the news.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJamesComer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepJamesComer</a> ! Very happy to announce <a href="https://twitter.com/RepTimBurchett?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepTimBurchett</a> and myself will be working with the <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOPoversight</a> team to lead out the investigation into UAPs (UFOs). <a href="https://t.co/OzEPo2vhk3">pic.twitter.com/OzEPo2vhk3</a></p>
— Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina) <a href="https://twitter.com/realannapaulina/status/1666282068928524290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>As per Burchett's office, he is collaborating closely with the committee leaders to prepare for the hearing.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Will the whistleblower testify?</strong></h2>

<p>The witness list has not been finalised, so it remains unclear whether the whistleblower Grusch will testify before the oversight committee.</p>

<p>"Congressman Burchett’s office is working through logistics, including a witness list of the most credible witnesses and sources who would be able to speak openly at an unclassified hearing," stated a spokesperson.</p>

<h2><strong>Why was there a need for an oversight committee to look into the US government's work related to UFOs?</strong></h2>

<p>In a statement, Austin Hacker, a spokesperson for the committee, said that the oversight committee's interest in the subject stems from the recent claims made by a whistleblower and other reports on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) or UFOs.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ex-us-air-force-captain-reveals-aliens-assailed-nuclear-missile-base-claims-govt-hid-ufo-attack-from-public-593073">Ex-US Air Force captain reveals aliens assailed nuclear missile base; claims govt hid UFO attack from public</a></strong></p>

<p>"In addition to recent claims by a whistleblower, reports continue to surface regarding unidentified aerial phenomena. The House oversight committee is following these UAP reports and is in the early stages of planning a hearing."</p>

<p>"Americans, who continue to fund this federal government work, expect transparency and meaningful oversight from Congress," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>What does the investigation hope to accomplish?</strong></h2>

<p>The upcoming hearing by the House oversight committee seeks to shed light on the claims made by Grusch and delve into the broader issue of UAPs.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Whistleblower David Grusch's claims about the government and UFOs</strong></h2>

<p>Grusch, who worked in US intelligence for 14 years and analysed unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAP) — the official name for UFOs, claimed that the US government has been collecting UFOs for decades. Talking to Debrief, he alleged that the information about these alien vehicles has been withheld from Congress.</p>

<p>As per the report by journalists Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal — who were behind exposing the existence of a secret Pentagon program that investigated UFOs — Grusch said that the non-human vehicles in government possession "includes intact and partially intact vehicles."</p>

<p>"We are not talking about prosaic origins or identities."</p>

<p>He claimed that after analysing these vehicles, he concluded that the material was "of exotic origin" belonging to "non-human intelligence, whether extraterrestrial or unknown origin."</p>

<p>Gursch's claims were backed by Jonathan Grey, a current US intelligence official at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (Nasic).</p>

<p>"The non-human intelligence phenomenon is real. We are not alone," he said.</p>

<p>"Retrievals of this kind are not limited to the United States. This is a global phenomenon, and yet a global solution continues to elude us."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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The United States House of Representatives is planning to conduct an investigation into allegations that the US government is harbouring unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

The United States House of Representatives is planning to conduct an investigation into allegations that the US government is harbouring unidentified flying objects (UFOs). This comes as recently, David Grusch, a former intelligence official, claimed that the US has "intact and partially intact" alien vehicles. The whistleblower claimed that the US government is hiding the truth about these alien vehicles from Congress and the people. As per a report by The Guardian, James Comer, the Republican Chair of the House Oversight Committee, announced that a hearing will be held to examine these claims. When will the hearing take place, who will lead the investigation? The exact date of the hearing has not been determined yet, but it is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Republican members of Congress, Tim Burchett and Anna Paulina Luna, will lead the oversight committee investigation, reports The Guardian. Also read | Explained: US intelligence officer turns whistleblower, reveals American govt has UFOs, alien vehicles Luna took to Twitter to announce the news. Thank you @RepJamesComer ! Very happy to announce @RepTimBurchett and myself will be working with the @GOPoversight team to lead out the investigation into UAPs (UFOs). pic.twitter.com/OzEPo2vhk3 — Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina) June 7, 2023 × As per Burchett's office, he is collaborating closely with the committee leaders to prepare for the hearing. Will the whistleblower testify? The witness list has not been finalised, so it remains unclear whether the whistleblower Grusch will testify before the oversight committee. "Congressman Burchett’s office is working through logistics, including a witness list of the most credible witnesses and sources who would be able to speak openly at an unclassified hearing," stated a spokesperson. Why was there a need for an oversight committee to look into the US government's work related to UFOs? In a statement, Austin Hacker, a spokesperson for the committee, said that the oversight committee's interest in the subject stems from the recent claims made by a whistleblower and other reports on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) or UFOs. Also read | Ex-US Air Force captain reveals aliens assailed nuclear missile base; claims govt hid UFO attack from public "In addition to recent claims by a whistleblower, reports continue to surface regarding unidentified aerial phenomena. The House oversight committee is following these UAP reports and is in the early stages of planning a hearing." "Americans, who continue to fund this federal government work, expect transparency and meaningful oversight from Congress," he added. What does the investigation hope to accomplish? The upcoming hearing by the House oversight committee seeks to shed light on the claims made by Grusch and delve into the broader issue of UAPs. Whistleblower David Grusch's claims about the government and UFOs Grusch, who worked in US intelligence for 14 years and analysed unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAP) — the official name for UFOs, claimed that the US government has been collecting UFOs for decades. Talking to Debrief, he alleged that the information about these alien vehicles has been withheld from Congress. As per the report by journalists Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal — who were behind exposing the existence of a secret Pentagon program that investigated UFOs — Grusch said that the non-human vehicles in government possession "includes intact and partially intact vehicles." "We are not talking about prosaic origins or identities." He claimed that after analysing these vehicles, he concluded that the material was "of exotic origin" belonging to "non-human intelligence, whether extraterrestrial or unknown origin." Gursch's claims were backed by Jonathan Grey, a current US intelligence official at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (Nasic). "The non-human intelligence phenomenon is real. We are not alone," he said. "Retrievals of this kind are not limited to the United States. This is a global phenomenon, and yet a global solution continues to elude us." (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 House of Representatives launches probe into whistleblower claims of government's UFO cover-up

<p>A former United States intelligence official turned whistleblower has revealed shocking classified information about the government's secret, covert programmes that have reportedly retrieved UFOs (unidentified flying objects) that are not of human origins. The whistleblower's mind-blowing revelations have been&nbsp;brought to light by&nbsp;a report published on the website 'The Debrief'. Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal — who were part of the team that in 2017 disclosed the existence of a secret Pentagon program investigating UFOs (or UAPs — unidentified anomalous phenomena as they are now officially called) are behind the report. Here's all you need to know.</p>

<h2><strong>Who is the whistleblower? Can he be trusted?</strong></h2>

<p>David Charles Grusch, who happens to be a decorated former combat officer who has fought in Afghanistan and has previously worked for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), has come forward as a whistleblower.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Grusch's revelations about the US and UFOs</strong></h2>

<p>The former US intelligence officer claim&nbsp;to have provided Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General with classified information regarding covert programmes that involve the retrieval of intact and partially intact vehicles of non-human origin aka UFOs.</p>

<p>Grusch alleges that this vital information has been illegally withheld from Congress. He has also filed a complaint stating that he faced illegal retaliation for his confidential disclosures.</p>

<p>His attorney, Charles McCullough III, a former Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, has filed a complaint on his behalf, stating that UAP-related classified information has been purposefully withheld from Congress by elements within the intelligence community.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The complaint has been deemed credible and urgent by the Intelligence Community Inspector General and has reportedly prompted a whistleblower reprisal investigation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reportedly, beginning in 2022, Grusch has provided hours of recorded classified information to Congress, but physical materials related to the wreckage or non-human objects have not been provided.</p>

<p>"The existence of complex historical programs involving the coordinated retrieval and study of exotic materials, dating back to the early 20th century, should no longer remain a secret," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The majority of retrieved, foreign exotic materials have a prosaic terrestrial explanation and origin – but not all, and any number higher than zero in this category represents an undeniably significant statistical percentage."</p>

<h2><strong>Others supporting Grusch's claims</strong></h2>

<p>Jonathan Grey, an intelligence officer specializing in UAP analysis at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, has publicly acknowledged the reality of non-human intelligence and the global nature of the phenomenon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The non-human intelligence phenomenon is real. We are not alone."</p>

<p>He also emphasised the need for a global solution to the enigma that has perplexed military and civilian observers for decades.</p>

<p>"Retrievals of this kind are not limited to the United States. This is a global phenomenon, and yet a global solution continues to elude us."</p>

<p>"It is no longer necessary to continue to deny that these advanced technologies derived from non-human intelligence exist at all or to deny that these technologies have landed, crashed, or fallen into the hands of human beings," said Grey.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The disclosures by Grusch and other witnesses have ignited a growing desire within the government to uncover the truth about these covert programs and their national security implications.</p>

<p>Christopher Mellon, a US Intelligence Community veteran has expressed his concerns about the leadership of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office, which was established by Congress to investigate UAP and related phenomena.</p>

<p>"A number of well-placed current and former officials have shared detailed information with me regarding this alleged program, including insights into the history, governing documents and the location where a craft was allegedly abandoned and recovered," he said.</p>

<p>"However, it is a delicate matter getting this potentially explosive information into the right hands for validation. This is made harder by the fact that, rightly or wrongly, a number of potential sources do not trust the leadership of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office established by Congress."</p>

<p>Various sources have vouched for Grusch's credibility and the sensitivity of the information he possesses. The Air Force, which has been less forthcoming than other agencies about UAP, has seen insiders like Grey come forward to support the claims made by Grusch.</p>

<h2><strong>How can humanity benefit from these UFOs?</strong></h2>

<p>As per Dr Garry Nolan, a Professor in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University and a renowned inventor and entrepreneur with more than three hundred published papers, analysis of even small samples of these purported alien materials could potentially lead to inconceivable benefits for humanity.</p>

<p>"Human civilization was utterly transformed by something as small as a grain of silicon or germanium—creating the underpinning of the integrated circuits that underly computation and now even artificial intelligence," said Nolan.</p>

<p>"What might be represented here could be hundreds of technology revolutions ahead of us. It could be more transformative for humanity than what the microprocessor accomplished. Imagine what we could do with even a grain of knowledge about how they operate," he added.</p>

<p>The disclosures made by Grusch and corroborated by other intelligence officials have brought to light the existence of covert programs involving the retrieval of non-human vehicles. The revelations have sparked a renewed interest in uncovering the truth about these phenomena and their implications for national security and the future of humanity.</p>


A former United States intelligence official turned whistleblower has revealed shocking classified information about the government's secret, covert programmes that have reportedly retrieved UFOs (unidentified flying objects) that are not of human origins.

A former United States intelligence official turned whistleblower has revealed shocking classified information about the government's secret, covert programmes that have reportedly retrieved UFOs (unidentified flying objects) that are not of human origins. The whistleblower's mind-blowing revelations have been brought to light by a report published on the website 'The Debrief'. Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal — who were part of the team that in 2017 disclosed the existence of a secret Pentagon program investigating UFOs (or UAPs — unidentified anomalous phenomena as they are now officially called) are behind the report. Here's all you need to know. Who is the whistleblower? Can he be trusted? David Charles Grusch, who happens to be a decorated former combat officer who has fought in Afghanistan and has previously worked for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), has come forward as a whistleblower. Grusch's revelations about the US and UFOs The former US intelligence officer claim to have provided Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General with classified information regarding covert programmes that involve the retrieval of intact and partially intact vehicles of non-human origin aka UFOs. Grusch alleges that this vital information has been illegally withheld from Congress. He has also filed a complaint stating that he faced illegal retaliation for his confidential disclosures. His attorney, Charles McCullough III, a former Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, has filed a complaint on his behalf, stating that UAP-related classified information has been purposefully withheld from Congress by elements within the intelligence community. The complaint has been deemed credible and urgent by the Intelligence Community Inspector General and has reportedly prompted a whistleblower reprisal investigation. Reportedly, beginning in 2022, Grusch has provided hours of recorded classified information to Congress, but physical materials related to the wreckage or non-human objects have not been provided. "The existence of complex historical programs involving the coordinated retrieval and study of exotic materials, dating back to the early 20th century, should no longer remain a secret," he said. "The majority of retrieved, foreign exotic materials have a prosaic terrestrial explanation and origin – but not all, and any number higher than zero in this category represents an undeniably significant statistical percentage." Others supporting Grusch's claims Jonathan Grey, an intelligence officer specializing in UAP analysis at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, has publicly acknowledged the reality of non-human intelligence and the global nature of the phenomenon. "The non-human intelligence phenomenon is real. We are not alone." He also emphasised the need for a global solution to the enigma that has perplexed military and civilian observers for decades. "Retrievals of this kind are not limited to the United States. This is a global phenomenon, and yet a global solution continues to elude us." "It is no longer necessary to continue to deny that these advanced technologies derived from non-human intelligence exist at all or to deny that these technologies have landed, crashed, or fallen into the hands of human beings," said Grey. The disclosures by Grusch and other witnesses have ignited a growing desire within the government to uncover the truth about these covert programs and their national security implications. Christopher Mellon, a US Intelligence Community veteran has expressed his concerns about the leadership of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office, which was established by Congress to investigate UAP and related phenomena. "A number of well-placed current and former officials have shared detailed information with me regarding this alleged program, including insights into the history, governing documents and the location where a craft was allegedly abandoned and recovered," he said. "However, it is a delicate matter getting this potentially explosive information into the right hands for validation. This is made harder by the fact that, rightly or wrongly, a number of potential sources do not trust the leadership of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office established by Congress." Various sources have vouched for Grusch's credibility and the sensitivity of the information he possesses. The Air Force, which has been less forthcoming than other agencies about UAP, has seen insiders like Grey come forward to support the claims made by Grusch. How can humanity benefit from these UFOs? As per Dr Garry Nolan, a Professor in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University and a renowned inventor and entrepreneur with more than three hundred published papers, analysis of even small samples of these purported alien materials could potentially lead to inconceivable benefits for humanity. "Human civilization was utterly transformed by something as small as a grain of silicon or germanium—creating the underpinning of the integrated circuits that underly computation and now even artificial intelligence," said Nolan. "What might be represented here could be hundreds of technology revolutions ahead of us. It could be more transformative for humanity than what the microprocessor accomplished. Imagine what we could do with even a grain of knowledge about how they operate," he added. The disclosures made by Grusch and corroborated by other intelligence officials have brought to light the existence of covert programs involving the retrieval of non-human vehicles. The revelations have sparked a renewed interest in uncovering the truth about these phenomena and their implications for national security and the future of humanity.

Explained: US intelligence officer turns whistleblower, reveals American govt has UFOs, alien vehicles

<p>NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has shared a mesmerising and never-before-seen&nbsp;picture&nbsp;showing more than 45,000 galaxies in one frame. The picture was of a portion of the sky known as GOODS-Sout.&nbsp;</p>

<p>James Webb Space Telescope captured the image as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey programme.</p>

<p>As per the space agency, around 32 days of the telescope time will be devoted to the JADES programme to uncover and characterise distant and faint galaxies as astronomers make efforts to understand how the first stars and galaxies were formed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although the data is still pouring in, hundreds of galaxies have already been discovered that existed when the universe had not completed 600 million years. Galaxies, which were sparkling along with a number of young, hot stars, have also been identified by the team.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasas-ufo-panel-to-explain-mysterious-sightings-for-first-time-ever-598843">NASA's 'UFO panel' to explain mysterious sightings for first time ever</a></p>

<p>Co-lead of the JADES programme and professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson Marcia Rieke said, "With JADES, we want to answer a lot of questions, like: How did the earliest galaxies assemble themselves? How fast did they form stars? Why do some galaxies stop forming stars?"</p>

<p>The part of the sky was previously observed by the Hubble telescope.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">You're looking at 45,000+ galaxies.<br />
<br />
This image was taken as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) — a massive science program that’s revolutionizing what we know about galaxies in the early universe: <a href="https://t.co/5gqntO0C4S">https://t.co/5gqntO0C4S</a><br />
<br />
Here are the highlights ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/8VqYlmvtDK">pic.twitter.com/8VqYlmvtDK</a></p>
— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1665755317198544897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 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>

<h2><strong>Investigation into galaxies that existed 500 to 850 million years after the big bang&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>University of Texas' Ryan Endsley headed the investigation into galaxies which existed 500 to 850 million years after the big bang occurred.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"For hundreds of millions of years after the big bang, the universe was filled with a gaseous fog that made it opaque to energetic light. By one billion years after the big bang, the fog had cleared and the universe became transparent, a process known as reionisation. Scientists have debated whether active, supermassive black holes or galaxies full of hot, young stars were the primary cause of reionisation," the space agency explained.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The researchers found evidence of young galaxies going through rapid star formation interspersed with short periods where fewer stars formed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;NASA mission to Saturn's moon Titan may unravel secrets behind origin of life</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasa-mission-to-saturns-moon-titan-may-unravel-secrets-behind-origin-of-life-574725/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“Almost every single galaxy that we are finding shows these unusually strong emission line signatures indicating intense recent star formation. These early galaxies were very good at creating hot, massive stars,” stated Ryan Endsley of the University of Texas, who headed the investigation.</p>

<p>“Previously, the earliest galaxies we could see just looked like little smudges. And yet those smudges represent millions or even billions of stars at the beginning of the universe. Now, we can see that some of them are actually extended objects with visible structures. We can see groupings of stars being born only a few hundred million years after the beginning of time,” stated Kevin Hainline of the University of Arizona, in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We're finding star formation in the early universe is much more complicated than we thought," Rieke stated.&nbsp;</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>

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<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 James Webb Space Telescope has shared a mesmerising and never-before-seen picture showing more than 45,000 galaxies in one frame. The picture was of a portion of the sky known as GOODS-Sout.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has shared a mesmerising and never-before-seen picture showing more than 45,000 galaxies in one frame. The picture was of a portion of the sky known as GOODS-Sout. James Webb Space Telescope captured the image as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey programme. As per the space agency, around 32 days of the telescope time will be devoted to the JADES programme to uncover and characterise distant and faint galaxies as astronomers make efforts to understand how the first stars and galaxies were formed. Although the data is still pouring in, hundreds of galaxies have already been discovered that existed when the universe had not completed 600 million years. Galaxies, which were sparkling along with a number of young, hot stars, have also been identified by the team. ALSO READ | NASA's 'UFO panel' to explain mysterious sightings for first time ever Co-lead of the JADES programme and professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson Marcia Rieke said, "With JADES, we want to answer a lot of questions, like: How did the earliest galaxies assemble themselves? How fast did they form stars? Why do some galaxies stop forming stars?" The part of the sky was previously observed by the Hubble telescope. You're looking at 45,000+ galaxies. This image was taken as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) — a massive science program that’s revolutionizing what we know about galaxies in the early universe: https://t.co/5gqntO0C4S Here are the highlights ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/8VqYlmvtDK — NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) June 5, 2023 × Investigation into galaxies that existed 500 to 850 million years after the big bang University of Texas' Ryan Endsley headed the investigation into galaxies which existed 500 to 850 million years after the big bang occurred. "For hundreds of millions of years after the big bang, the universe was filled with a gaseous fog that made it opaque to energetic light. By one billion years after the big bang, the fog had cleared and the universe became transparent, a process known as reionisation. Scientists have debated whether active, supermassive black holes or galaxies full of hot, young stars were the primary cause of reionisation," the space agency explained. The researchers found evidence of young galaxies going through rapid star formation interspersed with short periods where fewer stars formed. WATCH | NASA mission to Saturn's moon Titan may unravel secrets behind origin of life “Almost every single galaxy that we are finding shows these unusually strong emission line signatures indicating intense recent star formation. These early galaxies were very good at creating hot, massive stars,” stated Ryan Endsley of the University of Texas, who headed the investigation. “Previously, the earliest galaxies we could see just looked like little smudges. And yet those smudges represent millions or even billions of stars at the beginning of the universe. Now, we can see that some of them are actually extended objects with visible structures. We can see groupings of stars being born only a few hundred million years after the beginning of time,” stated Kevin Hainline of the University of Arizona, in a statement. "We're finding star formation in the early universe is much more complicated than we thought," Rieke stated. 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 James Webb captures more than 45,000 galaxies in one frame as it traces the birth of the universe

<p>A panel of NASA, which is studying what has been termed by the government as "unidentified aerial phenomena," commonly called as UFOs, held its first public meeting on Wednesday to discuss their findings since the panel was established last year.<br />
<br />
The 16-member panel, which includes experts from fields ranging from astrobiology to physics, was established last June to study unclassified UFO sightings, which have been referred to as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) or the sightings "that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena from a scientific perspective".<br />
<br />
"If I were to summarise in one line what I feel we've learned, it's we need high-quality data," stated panel chair David Spergel in his opening remarks.<br />
<br />
NASA stated that the four-hour public session held at the agency's headquarters on Wednesday was focused on holding "final deliberations" before a report is published by the team, which Spergel confirmed will be released by late July.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasas-ufo-panel-to-explain-mysterious-sightings-for-first-time-ever-598843">NASA's 'UFO panel' to explain mysterious sightings for first time ever</a></p>

<h2><strong>Explained and mysterious sightings</strong></h2>

<p>"We have 50 to 100-ish new reports each month," stated Sean Kirkpatrick, director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). He added that only 2 per cent to 5 per cent of the sightings collected in the database are "possibly really anomalous”.<br />
<br />
During the public meeting, a video taken by a naval aircraft was shared which showed a series of dots slowly moving across the night sky in the United States. The object was not intercepted by the military plane and it later turned out to be a commercial aircraft which was flying towards a major airport.<br />
<br />
However, some sightings remain more mysterious. A report published by Pentagon in 2021 had stated that out of 144 sightings noted by military pilots since 2004, one remained unexplained. Officials have not rejected the possibility of objects being extra-terrestrial.<br />
<br />
The head of the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office stated said that they cannot rule out the existence of intelligent alien life but that no sighting till now has been observed which can be considered as evidence of extraterrestrial origins.</p>

<h2><strong>Privacy limits investigations of NASA</strong></h2>

<p>Kirkpatrick further stated that privacy concerns have been limiting the investigations carried out by the agency. "We can point the largest collection apparatus in the entire globe at any point we want," he stated.</p>

<p>"A lot of what we have is around the continental United States. Most people...don't like it when we point our entire collection apparatus at your backyard,” he added.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;NASA launches uncrewed Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasa-launches-uncrewed-roscosmos-soyuz-spacecraft-565556/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2><strong>Harassment and stigma hamper research</strong></h2>

<p>Senior research official at NASA's science unit Dan Evans said that the team has "several months of work ahead of them”, and further added that the members of the panel have faced harassment and online abuse since they started their work.</p>

<p>"Harassment only leads to further stigmatisation of the UAP field, significantly hindering the scientific process and discouraging others to study this important subject matter," said NASA's science chief Nicola Fox.</p>

<main>
<section>
<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><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<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>
</section>
</main>


A panel of NASA, which is studying what has been termed by the government as "unidentified aerial phenomena," commonly called as UFOs, held its first public meeting on Wednesday to discuss their findings since the panel was established last year.

A panel of NASA, which is studying what has been termed by the government as "unidentified aerial phenomena," commonly called as UFOs, held its first public meeting on Wednesday to discuss their findings since the panel was established last year. The 16-member panel, which includes experts from fields ranging from astrobiology to physics, was established last June to study unclassified UFO sightings, which have been referred to as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) or the sightings "that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena from a scientific perspective". "If I were to summarise in one line what I feel we've learned, it's we need high-quality data," stated panel chair David Spergel in his opening remarks. NASA stated that the four-hour public session held at the agency's headquarters on Wednesday was focused on holding "final deliberations" before a report is published by the team, which Spergel confirmed will be released by late July. ALSO READ | NASA's 'UFO panel' to explain mysterious sightings for first time ever Explained and mysterious sightings "We have 50 to 100-ish new reports each month," stated Sean Kirkpatrick, director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). He added that only 2 per cent to 5 per cent of the sightings collected in the database are "possibly really anomalous”. During the public meeting, a video taken by a naval aircraft was shared which showed a series of dots slowly moving across the night sky in the United States. The object was not intercepted by the military plane and it later turned out to be a commercial aircraft which was flying towards a major airport. However, some sightings remain more mysterious. A report published by Pentagon in 2021 had stated that out of 144 sightings noted by military pilots since 2004, one remained unexplained. Officials have not rejected the possibility of objects being extra-terrestrial. The head of the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office stated said that they cannot rule out the existence of intelligent alien life but that no sighting till now has been observed which can be considered as evidence of extraterrestrial origins. Privacy limits investigations of NASA Kirkpatrick further stated that privacy concerns have been limiting the investigations carried out by the agency. "We can point the largest collection apparatus in the entire globe at any point we want," he stated. "A lot of what we have is around the continental United States. Most people...don't like it when we point our entire collection apparatus at your backyard,” he added. WATCH | NASA launches uncrewed Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft Harassment and stigma hamper research Senior research official at NASA's science unit Dan Evans said that the team has "several months of work ahead of them”, and further added that the members of the panel have faced harassment and online abuse since they started their work. "Harassment only leads to further stigmatisation of the UAP field, significantly hindering the scientific process and discouraging others to study this important subject matter," said NASA's science chief Nicola Fox. (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

Can explain many sightings but some remain mystery, says NASA's 'UFO' panel

The world is witnessing a new emerging threat. There is an upsurge in peculiar sightings reported over the skies. Commonly knowns as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO), these objects may pose a threat. Could these unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) be satellites deployed by foreign governments? Or falling space junk or maybe even floating speciality balloons or purposely faked UFOs?

'UFO Panel' by NASA explains mysterious sightings for the first time

<p>A NASA panel investigating the "unidentified aerial phenomena" will soon hold its first public meeting on Wednesday, May 23. A report on such reported phenomena related to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) is expected to be presented in the coming weeks.</p>

<h2><strong>NASA's 'UFO panel': Who are they?</strong></h2>

<p>It is a 16-member body consisting of experts from fields such as physics and astrobiology. It was formed in June 2022 to examine the unclassified UFO sightings and related data collected from the US federal government and commercial sectors.</p>

<p>The focus of Wednesday's four-hour public session "is to hold final deliberations before the agency's independent study team publishes a report this summer," NASA said while&nbsp;announcing the meeting.</p>

<h2><strong>NASA report on UFO sightings: What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>This is the first inquiry of its kind ever conducted by the US space agency on the subject that has stoked widespread curiosity worldwide.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The NASA study is separate from a newly formalised Pentagon-based investigation of unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAPs, documented in recent years by members of the US military.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/us-senate-committee-to-hold-open-hearing-on-ufos-on-april-19-582131">US Senate Committee to hold open hearing next week on UFO sightings</a></strong></p>

<p>These efforts reflect a turning point for the government after decades of dodging the sightings of&nbsp;unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, dating back to the 1940s.</p>

<p>The term UFOs, long associated with notions of flying saucers and aliens, has been replaced in the US government's&nbsp;purview by the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP).</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;NASA forms team to study unexplained UFO sightings</strong></p>

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<p>"There is no evidence UAPs are extraterrestrial in origin," NASA had said while announcing the panel's formation in June 2022.</p>

<p>But while announcing Wednesday's meeting, NASA said that it defines the&nbsp;UAPs "as observations of events in the sky that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena from a scientific perspective."</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Reuters reported the head of the Pentagon's newly formed All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) as saying that&nbsp;the existence of intelligent alien life has not been ruled out.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A NASA panel investigating the "unidentified aerial phenomena" will soon hold its first public meeting on Wednesday, May 23. A report on such reported phenomena related to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) is expected to be presented in the coming weeks.

A NASA panel investigating the "unidentified aerial phenomena" will soon hold its first public meeting on Wednesday, May 23. A report on such reported phenomena related to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) is expected to be presented in the coming weeks. NASA's 'UFO panel': Who are they? It is a 16-member body consisting of experts from fields such as physics and astrobiology. It was formed in June 2022 to examine the unclassified UFO sightings and related data collected from the US federal government and commercial sectors. The focus of Wednesday's four-hour public session "is to hold final deliberations before the agency's independent study team publishes a report this summer," NASA said while announcing the meeting. NASA report on UFO sightings: What does it mean? This is the first inquiry of its kind ever conducted by the US space agency on the subject that has stoked widespread curiosity worldwide. The NASA study is separate from a newly formalised Pentagon-based investigation of unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAPs, documented in recent years by members of the US military. ALSO READ | US Senate Committee to hold open hearing next week on UFO sightings These efforts reflect a turning point for the government after decades of dodging the sightings of unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, dating back to the 1940s. The term UFOs, long associated with notions of flying saucers and aliens, has been replaced in the US government's purview by the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). ALSO WATCH | NASA forms team to study unexplained UFO sightings × "There is no evidence UAPs are extraterrestrial in origin," NASA had said while announcing the panel's formation in June 2022. But while announcing Wednesday's meeting, NASA said that it defines the UAPs "as observations of events in the sky that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena from a scientific perspective." Meanwhile, Reuters reported the head of the Pentagon's newly formed All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) as saying that the existence of intelligent alien life has not been ruled out. (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 panel' to explain mysterious sightings for first time ever

<p>Springing back with a successful launch of the GSLV rocket, after a failed launch of the same rocket nearly 22months ago(GSLV-F10 on August 12th, 2021), ISRO officials expressed confidence that the GSLV rocket will launch the NASA-ISRO joint mission NISAR in 2024. Launched from the second launchpad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota at 10:42 am, the 51.7meter tall vehicle carried the 2,232kg NVS-01 next-generation navigation satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit(GTO).</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mysterious-venice-canal-stuns-locals-as-patch-takes-on-fluorescent-green-hue-597632">Mysterious! Venice canal stuns locals as patch takes on fluorescent green hue</a></p>

<p>In the coming days, the satellite will be using its onboard propulsion systems to loft the satellite into the intended final orbit. The NVS-01 satellite has both civilian and military applications. It is notable that Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and top Indian Navy officials witnessed the launch from the Mission Control Centre at Sriharikota.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indianairforce?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#indianairforce</a> chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari &amp; senior Navy official at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> Mission Control Centre, Satish Dhawan <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Space</a> Centre in Sriharikota<br />
<br />
Chairman <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isro</a> seen exchanging greetings with them<br />
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Presence of Service Chief indicates the strategic importance! <a href="https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IAF_MCC</a> <a href="https://t.co/4BoehHu0XN">pic.twitter.com/4BoehHu0XN</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1663060660174069760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>"The NVS-01 Satellite has been placed in the precise orbit by the GSLV-F12 vehicle today, after the debacle we had faced in the GSLV-F10 mission(in August 2021) and the Cryogenic(third stage) did not ignite" Chairman ISRO, Dr. S.Somanath said.</p>

<p>He added that several corrections and modifications had been made to ensure the increased reliability of the GSLV rocket. He added that the GSLV rocket&nbsp;would be used in the coming months to place in orbit a weather satellite and a NASA-ISRO joint satellite.</p>

<p>NP Giri, Mission Director, GSLV-F12/NVS-01 said that the use of a 4-meter Ogive-shaped payload fairing(nose cone) in this mission has ensured that the rocket can accommodate and launch larger-sized satellites. Further, he expressed confidence that the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite(NISAR) would be launched by the same vehicle, next year.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-secures-approval-for-second-hydropower-project-in-nepal-strengthening-bilateral-energy-cooperation-597637">India secures approval for second hydropower project in Nepal, strengthening bilateral energy cooperation</a></p>

<p>NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory being jointly developed by the American and Indian Space agencies. It is meant to carry L and S dual-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), a highly powerful, all-weather, day and night mean of imaging from space, that can help researchers and scientists observe changes in Earth’s land and ice surfaces down to fractions of an inch. The NISAR satellite is undergoing testing at integration at ISRO's UR Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Reporting the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GSLVF12?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GSLVF12</a> 🚀🚀🇮🇳🚀🚀lift-off as it happens, from Satish Dhawan <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> centre, Sriharikota…<br />
<br />
10 mins into flight, so far so good… <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isro</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tech</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rocket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rocket</a> <a href="https://t.co/IcRlSytrgD">pic.twitter.com/IcRlSytrgD</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1663053271102287872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>KVS Bhaskar, the Satellite Director for this mission said that this was a satellite launch that everyone in the domain of navigation was looking forward to, as it also operates in L1 band frequency, which is interoperable with International operators (GPS, Glonass, Galileo, and BeiDou) and also contains an indigenously developed atomic clock.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NVS-01 is the first in the series of second-generation navigation satellites built by ISRO's UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru. At present, India uses its Navigation with Indian Constellation(NavIC) series of satellites for civilian and defence navigation, positioning, and timing services in the Indian mainland and even 1500 km beyond India's borders.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Turkey Elections 2023: Erdogan back for another five years</strong></p>

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<p>"NVS series of satellites will sustain and augment the NavIC with enhanced features. This series incorporates L1 band signals additionally to widen the services. For the first time, an indigenous atomic clock will be flown in NVS-01" ISRO said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Atomic clocks are highly precise timekeeping instruments that are placed within satellites. They offer measurements of time that are precise down to a billionth of a second(nanosecond). Such precision is crucial because they help in offering accurate positioning services. While using satellite-based positioning and navigation services, our position(of the GPS receiver) is determined with respect to its distance from multiple satellites.</p>

<p>When such a calculation happens, the distance value is obtained by multiplying the time(taken for a signal to travel) and the speed of the signal(almost similar to the speed of light). In such cases, (when large values are being multiplied) even a variation of a billionth of a second can lead to an inaccurate distance value(by a few meters or tens of meters). Hence it is necessary to have atomic clocks that can work for several years without even nanosecond-level errors in timekeeping.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, the NavIC series of satellites were known as IRNSS(Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System). It provides two types of services- Standard Positioning Service (SPS) which is provided to all the users and Restricted Service (RS), which is an encrypted service provided only to the authorised users.</p>

<p>According to ISRO, some of the applications of the IRNSS/NavIC system are Terrestrial, Aerial, and Marine Navigation, Disaster Management, Vehicle tracking, and fleet management, Precise Timing, etc. According to ISRO, NavIC SPS signals are interoperable with other global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals such as - GPS, Glonass, Galileo, and BeiDou.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ISRO's current series of NavIC satellites were placed in orbit in a phased manner between the years 2013 and 2018 using PSLV rockets. All satellites in the first-generation NavIC series weighed 1,425kg and carried foreign-origin atomic clocks. All IRNSS/NavIC series satellites carried two types of payloads – navigation payload and ranging payload.</p>

<p>The navigation payload of transmits signals for the determination of position, velocity, and time. Rubidium atomic clocks are part of the navigation payload of the satellite. The ranging payload of these satellites consists of a C-band transponder which facilitates accurate determination of the range of the satellite.</p>

<p>Speaking to reporters prior to the launch day, Chairman ISRO, Dr.S. Somanath said that only four of the existing fleet of seven NavIC satellites were operational now. Instead of replacing the three defunct satellites of the old generation, ISRO is launching a fleet of five next-gen NavIC satellites, of which NVS-01 would be the first, he added.</p>

<p>The rationale behind launching a new fleet of five satellites is the fact that the existing constellation would be defunct in a few years(owing to the completion of mission life). Hence, it would not be prudent to replace the old fleet. It is expected that two next-gen NavIC satellites will be launched every year.&nbsp;</p>

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Springing back with a successful launch of the GSLV rocket, after a failed launch of the same rocket nearly 22months ago(GSLV-F10 on August 12th, 2021), ISRO officials expressed confidence that the GSLV rocket will launch the NASA-ISRO joint mission NISAR in 2024.

Springing back with a successful launch of the GSLV rocket, after a failed launch of the same rocket nearly 22months ago(GSLV-F10 on August 12th, 2021), ISRO officials expressed confidence that the GSLV rocket will launch the NASA-ISRO joint mission NISAR in 2024. Launched from the second launchpad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota at 10:42 am, the 51.7meter tall vehicle carried the 2,232kg NVS-01 next-generation navigation satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit(GTO). Also Read | Mysterious! Venice canal stuns locals as patch takes on fluorescent green hue In the coming days, the satellite will be using its onboard propulsion systems to loft the satellite into the intended final orbit. The NVS-01 satellite has both civilian and military applications. It is notable that Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and top Indian Navy officials witnessed the launch from the Mission Control Centre at Sriharikota. #indianairforce chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari & senior Navy official at the #isro Mission Control Centre, Satish Dhawan #Space Centre in Sriharikota Chairman @isro seen exchanging greetings with them Presence of Service Chief indicates the strategic importance! @IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/4BoehHu0XN — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) May 29, 2023 × "The NVS-01 Satellite has been placed in the precise orbit by the GSLV-F12 vehicle today, after the debacle we had faced in the GSLV-F10 mission(in August 2021) and the Cryogenic(third stage) did not ignite" Chairman ISRO, Dr. S.Somanath said. He added that several corrections and modifications had been made to ensure the increased reliability of the GSLV rocket. He added that the GSLV rocket would be used in the coming months to place in orbit a weather satellite and a NASA-ISRO joint satellite. NP Giri, Mission Director, GSLV-F12/NVS-01 said that the use of a 4-meter Ogive-shaped payload fairing(nose cone) in this mission has ensured that the rocket can accommodate and launch larger-sized satellites. Further, he expressed confidence that the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite(NISAR) would be launched by the same vehicle, next year. Also Read | India secures approval for second hydropower project in Nepal, strengthening bilateral energy cooperation NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory being jointly developed by the American and Indian Space agencies. It is meant to carry L and S dual-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), a highly powerful, all-weather, day and night mean of imaging from space, that can help researchers and scientists observe changes in Earth’s land and ice surfaces down to fractions of an inch. The NISAR satellite is undergoing testing at integration at ISRO's UR Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru. Reporting the #isro #GSLVF12 🚀🚀🇮🇳🚀🚀lift-off as it happens, from Satish Dhawan #space centre, Sriharikota… 10 mins into flight, so far so good… @isro#india #tech #rocket pic.twitter.com/IcRlSytrgD — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) May 29, 2023 × KVS Bhaskar, the Satellite Director for this mission said that this was a satellite launch that everyone in the domain of navigation was looking forward to, as it also operates in L1 band frequency, which is interoperable with International operators (GPS, Glonass, Galileo, and BeiDou) and also contains an indigenously developed atomic clock. NVS-01 is the first in the series of second-generation navigation satellites built by ISRO's UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru. At present, India uses its Navigation with Indian Constellation(NavIC) series of satellites for civilian and defence navigation, positioning, and timing services in the Indian mainland and even 1500 km beyond India's borders. Watch | Turkey Elections 2023: Erdogan back for another five years × "NVS series of satellites will sustain and augment the NavIC with enhanced features. This series incorporates L1 band signals additionally to widen the services. For the first time, an indigenous atomic clock will be flown in NVS-01" ISRO said. Atomic clocks are highly precise timekeeping instruments that are placed within satellites. They offer measurements of time that are precise down to a billionth of a second(nanosecond). Such precision is crucial because they help in offering accurate positioning services. While using satellite-based positioning and navigation services, our position(of the GPS receiver) is determined with respect to its distance from multiple satellites. When such a calculation happens, the distance value is obtained by multiplying the time(taken for a signal to travel) and the speed of the signal(almost similar to the speed of light). In such cases, (when large values are being multiplied) even a variation of a billionth of a second can lead to an inaccurate distance value(by a few meters or tens of meters). Hence it is necessary to have atomic clocks that can work for several years without even nanosecond-level errors in timekeeping. Earlier, the NavIC series of satellites were known as IRNSS(Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System). It provides two types of services- Standard Positioning Service (SPS) which is provided to all the users and Restricted Service (RS), which is an encrypted service provided only to the authorised users. According to ISRO, some of the applications of the IRNSS/NavIC system are Terrestrial, Aerial, and Marine Navigation, Disaster Management, Vehicle tracking, and fleet management, Precise Timing, etc. According to ISRO, NavIC SPS signals are interoperable with other global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals such as - GPS, Glonass, Galileo, and BeiDou. ISRO's current series of NavIC satellites were placed in orbit in a phased manner between the years 2013 and 2018 using PSLV rockets. All satellites in the first-generation NavIC series weighed 1,425kg and carried foreign-origin atomic clocks. All IRNSS/NavIC series satellites carried two types of payloads – navigation payload and ranging payload. The navigation payload of transmits signals for the determination of position, velocity, and time. Rubidium atomic clocks are part of the navigation payload of the satellite. The ranging payload of these satellites consists of a C-band transponder which facilitates accurate determination of the range of the satellite. Speaking to reporters prior to the launch day, Chairman ISRO, Dr.S. Somanath said that only four of the existing fleet of seven NavIC satellites were operational now. Instead of replacing the three defunct satellites of the old generation, ISRO is launching a fleet of five next-gen NavIC satellites, of which NVS-01 would be the first, he added. The rationale behind launching a new fleet of five satellites is the fact that the existing constellation would be defunct in a few years(owing to the completion of mission life). Hence, it would not be prudent to replace the old fleet. It is expected that two next-gen NavIC satellites will be launched every year. 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. ×

Confident that GSLV will launch NASA-ISRO satellite NISAR next year: ISRO on GSLV-F12 success

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms- The clips showed the Kensington neighbourhood — regarded as the ‘ground zero’ for the city’s drug crisis —purportedly filled with zombie-like addicts, who can be seen passed out on the streets. The clip was first shared by a user on TokTok, and then on Twitter. The video highlights the alarming drug situation facing the US due to the overuse of Xylazine drug or “tranq”—otherwise also known as the ‘zombie drug’.

Shocking footage shows devastating impact of ‘zombie drug’ epidemic

<p>Space is astounding. Every day, scientists make amazing, momentous discoveries that leave us the ones stuck on Earth a little more in awe. One such latest discovery has been made on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has glimpsed the moon spraying a "huge plume" of watery vapour far into space. Researchers believe that this plume very likely contains chemical components necessary for life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The eruption was detected by the James Webb Space Telescope in November 2022 and was presented at a conference at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore on May 17.</p>

<p>As per Nature.com, Sara Faggi, a planetary astronomer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said the plume is "immense".&nbsp;</p>

<p>She said that a comprehensive research paper on this significant event is currently pending.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Is this the first time scientists spotted these water spouts?</strong></h2>

<p>This may come as a surprise, but this isn't actually the first time scientists have seen Enceladus spouting water into space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the JWST's wider perspective and higher sensitivity have added to the amazement. It revealed that the jets of vapour extend much deeper into space than previously thought, surpassing the moon's own span multiple times. Enceladus has a diameter of approximately 313 miles (504 kilometres).</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-first-nasa-finds-strong-cyclone-swirling-on-north-pole-of-uranus-597230">In a first, NASA finds strong cyclone swirling on north pole of Uranus</a></strong></p>

<h2>When did scientists first observe Enceladus' watery eruptions?</h2>

<p>As per Space.com, the original discovery of Enceladus' watery eruptions dates back to 2005 when NASA's Cassini spacecraft observed icy particles being propelled through large cracks on the moon's surface known as "tiger stripes."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The intensity of these blasts is so powerful that the ejected material forms one of Saturn's rings.</p>

<h2>What is so special about water being spouted into space?</h2>

<p>Analysis of the jets revealed the presence of methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia—organic molecules that contain the necessary building blocks for life.</p>

<p>In fact, researchers proposed in a study published last year in The Planetary Science Journal that some of these gases might be produced by life itself, emanating from deep within Enceladus.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/stars-to-become-invisible-in-two-decades-due-to-light-pollution-warn-scientists-597456">Stars to become invisible in two decades due to light pollution, warn scientists</a></strong></p>

<p>Additionally, the water on Enceladus supports the possibility of life. While the moon is covered in a thick layer of water ice, measurements of its rotation indicate the presence of a vast hidden ocean beneath the frozen surface.</p>

<p>Scientists believe that the water jets detected by the JWST and Cassini originate from hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. This hypothesis is supported by the presence of silica in the vapour plumes — a common component of planetary crusts.</p>

<h2><strong>Missions to find alien life on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus</strong></h2>

<p>To gain confirmation of the alien life and more, NASA scientists are currently discussing future missions to Enceladus to search for signs of life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One proposed mission is the Enceladus Orbilander, which would orbit the moon for about six months, traversing through its watery plumes and collecting samples. The spacecraft would then transform into a lander and descend onto the icy moon's surface, equipped with instruments to weigh, and analyse molecules, and even a DNA sequencer and microscope. Cameras, radio sounders, and lasers would remotely explore the moon's surface.</p>

<p>Another mission concept involves deploying an autonomous "snake robot" called the Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor into the submerged depths of Enceladus. This robot, equipped with cameras and lidar, would navigate the unknown environment of Enceladus' ocean floor in search of signs of life.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Space is astounding. Every day, scientists make amazing, momentous discoveries that leave us the ones stuck on Earth a little more in awe. One such latest discovery has been made on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus.

Space is astounding. Every day, scientists make amazing, momentous discoveries that leave us the ones stuck on Earth a little more in awe. One such latest discovery has been made on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has glimpsed the moon spraying a "huge plume" of watery vapour far into space. Researchers believe that this plume very likely contains chemical components necessary for life. The eruption was detected by the James Webb Space Telescope in November 2022 and was presented at a conference at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore on May 17. As per Nature.com, Sara Faggi, a planetary astronomer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said the plume is "immense". She said that a comprehensive research paper on this significant event is currently pending. Is this the first time scientists spotted these water spouts? This may come as a surprise, but this isn't actually the first time scientists have seen Enceladus spouting water into space. However, the JWST's wider perspective and higher sensitivity have added to the amazement. It revealed that the jets of vapour extend much deeper into space than previously thought, surpassing the moon's own span multiple times. Enceladus has a diameter of approximately 313 miles (504 kilometres). Also read | In a first, NASA finds strong cyclone swirling on north pole of Uranus When did scientists first observe Enceladus' watery eruptions? As per Space.com, the original discovery of Enceladus' watery eruptions dates back to 2005 when NASA's Cassini spacecraft observed icy particles being propelled through large cracks on the moon's surface known as "tiger stripes." The intensity of these blasts is so powerful that the ejected material forms one of Saturn's rings. What is so special about water being spouted into space? Analysis of the jets revealed the presence of methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia—organic molecules that contain the necessary building blocks for life. In fact, researchers proposed in a study published last year in The Planetary Science Journal that some of these gases might be produced by life itself, emanating from deep within Enceladus. Also read | Stars to become invisible in two decades due to light pollution, warn scientists Additionally, the water on Enceladus supports the possibility of life. While the moon is covered in a thick layer of water ice, measurements of its rotation indicate the presence of a vast hidden ocean beneath the frozen surface. Scientists believe that the water jets detected by the JWST and Cassini originate from hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. This hypothesis is supported by the presence of silica in the vapour plumes — a common component of planetary crusts. Missions to find alien life on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus To gain confirmation of the alien life and more, NASA scientists are currently discussing future missions to Enceladus to search for signs of life. One proposed mission is the Enceladus Orbilander, which would orbit the moon for about six months, traversing through its watery plumes and collecting samples. The spacecraft would then transform into a lander and descend onto the icy moon's surface, equipped with instruments to weigh, and analyse molecules, and even a DNA sequencer and microscope. Cameras, radio sounders, and lasers would remotely explore the moon's surface. Another mission concept involves deploying an autonomous "snake robot" called the Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor into the submerged depths of Enceladus. This robot, equipped with cameras and lidar, would navigate the unknown environment of Enceladus' ocean floor in search of signs of life. (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 James Webb Telescope spots Saturn's moon blasting 'huge plumes' of life-containing water into space

<p>NASA scientists have found a vortex of relatively warm air swirling over the north pole in Uranus, providing strong evidence for the first time on the existence of a cyclone.</p>

<p>The unique phenomenon was observed from a telescope located in New Mexico, which provided a deeper understanding of the planet’s atmosphere, including the discovery of the polar cyclone whose centre measures a quarter of Earth's diameter.</p>

<p>The scientists used microwave observations to spot the first polar cyclone on Uranus.</p>

<p>With the help of the Very Large Array radio telescope, scientists were able to look past Uranus’s clouds.</p>

<p>This helped them determine that the air at the north pole was quite warm and dry—which NASA believes—are the common traits of a strong cyclone. The observations were collected in 2015, 2021, and 2022.</p>

<p>The discovery has changed the understanding of Uranus that was initially seemed to be atmospherically inert when NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft flew past the giant ice-laden planet in January 1986.</p>

<p>“While the general makeup of its atmosphere and interior are similar to Neptune - as far as we know - Uranus has some pretty unique features," said planetary scientist Alex Akins of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, lead author of the research published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.</p>

<p>"It spins on its side. And even then, its magnetic field is still misaligned with its rotational axis. The atmospheric circulation and internal heat release appear weaker than Neptune, but there are still a range of dynamical features and storms that have been observed," Akins added.</p>

<h2><strong>Uranus’ vortex different from Earth’s</strong></h2>

<p>However, unlike Earth's cyclones, the polar vortex swarming over Uranus is not formed of water vapour but of ices of methane, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, the scientists noted.</p>

<p>Nor does the storm drift, instead remaining rooted to the pole. Little else is known about it at this time.</p>

<p>Most of the planets in our solar system have shown signs of a swirling vortex at the poles, irrespective of whether they are composed of rock or gas</p>

<p>They have been previously observed on Venus, Earth,&nbsp;Mars,&nbsp;Jupiter,&nbsp;Saturn, Uranus (at its south pole) and Neptune.</p>

<p>It is believed that high-altitude atmospheric jet streams are responsible for the formation of these vortices, although the details differ on each planet.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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NASA scientists have found a vortex of relatively warm air swirling over the north pole in Uranus, providing strong evidence for the first time on the existence of a cyclone.

NASA scientists have found a vortex of relatively warm air swirling over the north pole in Uranus, providing strong evidence for the first time on the existence of a cyclone. The unique phenomenon was observed from a telescope located in New Mexico, which provided a deeper understanding of the planet’s atmosphere, including the discovery of the polar cyclone whose centre measures a quarter of Earth's diameter. The scientists used microwave observations to spot the first polar cyclone on Uranus. With the help of the Very Large Array radio telescope, scientists were able to look past Uranus’s clouds. This helped them determine that the air at the north pole was quite warm and dry—which NASA believes—are the common traits of a strong cyclone. The observations were collected in 2015, 2021, and 2022. The discovery has changed the understanding of Uranus that was initially seemed to be atmospherically inert when NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft flew past the giant ice-laden planet in January 1986. “While the general makeup of its atmosphere and interior are similar to Neptune - as far as we know - Uranus has some pretty unique features," said planetary scientist Alex Akins of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, lead author of the research published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. "It spins on its side. And even then, its magnetic field is still misaligned with its rotational axis. The atmospheric circulation and internal heat release appear weaker than Neptune, but there are still a range of dynamical features and storms that have been observed," Akins added. Uranus’ vortex different from Earth’s However, unlike Earth's cyclones, the polar vortex swarming over Uranus is not formed of water vapour but of ices of methane, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, the scientists noted. Nor does the storm drift, instead remaining rooted to the pole. Little else is known about it at this time. Most of the planets in our solar system have shown signs of a swirling vortex at the poles, irrespective of whether they are composed of rock or gas They have been previously observed on Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus (at its south pole) and Neptune. It is believed that high-altitude atmospheric jet streams are responsible for the formation of these vortices, although the details differ on each planet. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

In a first, NASA finds strong cyclone swirling on north pole of Uranus

<p>NASA's spacecraft Juno has found in its recent probe that the lightning in Jupiter is very similar to that of Earth. The brownish ammonia clouds that cover Jupitar are similar to the clouds that blanket Earth in their composition. Both are made of water.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And the way lightning is generally within clouds on Earth, &nbsp;a similar eerie sight was spotted by multiple spacecraft which visited the largest planet of the solar system, including Juno.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The data collected by Juno is giving fresh information on the similar processes through which lightning occurs on Jupiter and Earth, even though the two planets have dramatic differences between the two planets, as per scientists.</p>

<p>"Lightning is an electric discharge which is initiated inside thunderclouds. The ice and water particles inside the cloud get charged by collisions and form layers of particles with the charge of the same polarity," stated planetary scientist Ivana Kolmasova of the Czech Academy of Sciences' Institute of Atmospheric Physics in Prague, who is also the lead author of the study which was published in the journal Nature Communications this week.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-spot-jupiters-12-new-moons-in-latest-discovery-making-it-the-planet-with-highest-number-of-moons-558779">Astronomers spot 12 new moons of Jupiter, taking total to 92, surpassing Saturn in lunar tally</a></p>

<p>"By this process, a huge electric field is established and the discharge can be initiated. This explanation is somewhat simplified because scientists are still not completely sure what is exactly happening inside thunderclouds," Kolmasova further explained.</p>

<p>The occurrence of lightning on Jupiter was confirmed after telltale radio emissions at audible frequencies were recorded by NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft in 1979 after it ventured through the solar system.</p>

<h2><strong>Lightning in planets of solar system</strong></h2>

<p>Lightning has been observed on other gas planets of the solar system - Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Scientists have some evidence of lightning in the clouds of the planet Venus, however, it is still an issue of debate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Various studies have detailed similarities in the lightning processes on Earth and Jupiter. For instance, &nbsp;lightning rates on both planets are similar although the distribution of lightning on the giant planet differs from that of Earth.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: "Juice" mission to study Jupiter's icy moons</strong></p>

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<p>"On Earth, the tropical regions are the most active ones. The majority of Jovian lightning occurs in mid-latitudes and also in polar regions. We have nearly no lightning activity close to the poles on the Earth. It means that conditions for the formation of Jovian and terrestrial thunderclouds are probably very different," stated Kolmasova.</p>

<p>"There were some attempts to compare the power of lightning based on optical measurements and it was concluded that lightning on Jupiter might be comparable with the strongest terrestrial lightning," he added while emphasising that more analysis is planned.</p>

<p>Jupiter is primarily composed of hydrogen and helium along with traces of other gases. &nbsp;</p>

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NASA's spacecraft Juno has found in its recent probe that the lightning in Jupiter is very similar to that of Earth. The brownish ammonia clouds that cover Jupitar are similar to the clouds that blanket Earth in their composition.

NASA's spacecraft Juno has found in its recent probe that the lightning in Jupiter is very similar to that of Earth. The brownish ammonia clouds that cover Jupitar are similar to the clouds that blanket Earth in their composition. Both are made of water. And the way lightning is generally within clouds on Earth, a similar eerie sight was spotted by multiple spacecraft which visited the largest planet of the solar system, including Juno. The data collected by Juno is giving fresh information on the similar processes through which lightning occurs on Jupiter and Earth, even though the two planets have dramatic differences between the two planets, as per scientists. "Lightning is an electric discharge which is initiated inside thunderclouds. The ice and water particles inside the cloud get charged by collisions and form layers of particles with the charge of the same polarity," stated planetary scientist Ivana Kolmasova of the Czech Academy of Sciences' Institute of Atmospheric Physics in Prague, who is also the lead author of the study which was published in the journal Nature Communications this week. ALSO READ | Astronomers spot 12 new moons of Jupiter, taking total to 92, surpassing Saturn in lunar tally "By this process, a huge electric field is established and the discharge can be initiated. This explanation is somewhat simplified because scientists are still not completely sure what is exactly happening inside thunderclouds," Kolmasova further explained. The occurrence of lightning on Jupiter was confirmed after telltale radio emissions at audible frequencies were recorded by NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft in 1979 after it ventured through the solar system. Lightning in planets of solar system Lightning has been observed on other gas planets of the solar system - Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Scientists have some evidence of lightning in the clouds of the planet Venus, however, it is still an issue of debate. Various studies have detailed similarities in the lightning processes on Earth and Jupiter. For instance, lightning rates on both planets are similar although the distribution of lightning on the giant planet differs from that of Earth. WATCH | Gravitas: "Juice" mission to study Jupiter's icy moons "On Earth, the tropical regions are the most active ones. The majority of Jovian lightning occurs in mid-latitudes and also in polar regions. We have nearly no lightning activity close to the poles on the Earth. It means that conditions for the formation of Jovian and terrestrial thunderclouds are probably very different," stated Kolmasova. "There were some attempts to compare the power of lightning based on optical measurements and it was concluded that lightning on Jupiter might be comparable with the strongest terrestrial lightning," he added while emphasising that more analysis is planned. Jupiter is primarily composed of hydrogen and helium along with traces of other gases. 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 spacecraft discovers how Jupiter's lightning shares similarity with Earth's

<p>Blue Origin has won a $3.4 billion contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop a spacecraft to transport astronauts to and from the moon's surface.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US space agency's announcement on Friday (May 19) came as a breakthrough for the company, founded by Jeff Bezos, two years after Elon Musk's SpaceX was awarded the same contract to ferry astronauts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said, "Today we are excited to announce Blue Origin will build a human landing system as NASA’s second provider to deliver Artemis astronauts to the lunar surface."</p>

<p>"We are in a golden age of human spaceflight, which is made possible by NASA’s commercial and international partnerships. Together, we are making an investment in the infrastructure that will pave the way to land the first astronauts on Mars," Nelson added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bezos said on Twitter that he was "honored to be on this journey with @NASA to land astronauts on the Moon - this time to stay."&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Honored to be on this journey with <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a> to land astronauts on the Moon — this time to stay. Together, we’ll be solving the boil-off problem and making LOX-LH2 a storable propellant combination, pushing forward the state of the art for all deep space missions. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Artemis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Artemis</a>… <a href="https://t.co/Y0zDhnp1qX">pic.twitter.com/Y0zDhnp1qX</a></p>
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffBezos/status/1659576309432090625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Blue Origin intends to build its 52-foot tall Blue Moon lander in collaboration with Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co, Draper Software, and Astrobotic Robotics.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The aerospace and space exploration company was chosen by NASA over a rival offer led by Leidos Inc-owned defence contractor Dynetics, which also included Northrop Grumman Corp.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA's choice of Bezos and Blue Origin gives it a second option for sending people to the moon through its Artemis programme.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previously, NASA gave SpaceX $3 billion in 2021 to develop the Starship spacecraft, which is expected to put astronauts on the moon's surface for the first time since the final Apollo mission in 1972.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why another human landing system partner?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>While announcing the contract at NASA's headquarters, the administrator Bill Nelson said at an event, "I've said it before: we want more competition, we want two landers, and that's better."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It means that you have reliability, you have backups," he added. NASA has said that adding another human landing system partner will increase competition, and reduce costs to taxpayers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA has chosen Blue Origin of Kent, Washington, to create a human landing system for the agency's Artemis V mission to the moon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The space agency will explore more of the moon than ever before with Artemis, making more scientific discoveries and preparing for future astronaut expeditions to Mars.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports have mentioned that Blue Origin plans to use its New Glenn rocket, which has never flown before, to launch both its lander and this refuelling shuttle.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Artemis 4 is scheduled for 2028, and Artemis 5 a year later will both land on the moon, but will first pass through a new space station in lunar orbit, called Gateway, which has yet to be constructed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Blue Origin has won a $3.4 billion contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop a spacecraft to transport astronauts to and from the moon's surface.

Blue Origin has won a $3.4 billion contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop a spacecraft to transport astronauts to and from the moon's surface. The US space agency's announcement on Friday (May 19) came as a breakthrough for the company, founded by Jeff Bezos, two years after Elon Musk's SpaceX was awarded the same contract to ferry astronauts. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said, "Today we are excited to announce Blue Origin will build a human landing system as NASA’s second provider to deliver Artemis astronauts to the lunar surface." "We are in a golden age of human spaceflight, which is made possible by NASA’s commercial and international partnerships. Together, we are making an investment in the infrastructure that will pave the way to land the first astronauts on Mars," Nelson added. Bezos said on Twitter that he was "honored to be on this journey with @NASA to land astronauts on the Moon - this time to stay." Honored to be on this journey with @NASA to land astronauts on the Moon — this time to stay. Together, we’ll be solving the boil-off problem and making LOX-LH2 a storable propellant combination, pushing forward the state of the art for all deep space missions. #Artemis… pic.twitter.com/Y0zDhnp1qX — Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) May 19, 2023 × Blue Origin intends to build its 52-foot tall Blue Moon lander in collaboration with Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co, Draper Software, and Astrobotic Robotics. The aerospace and space exploration company was chosen by NASA over a rival offer led by Leidos Inc-owned defence contractor Dynetics, which also included Northrop Grumman Corp. NASA's choice of Bezos and Blue Origin gives it a second option for sending people to the moon through its Artemis programme. Previously, NASA gave SpaceX $3 billion in 2021 to develop the Starship spacecraft, which is expected to put astronauts on the moon's surface for the first time since the final Apollo mission in 1972. Why another human landing system partner? While announcing the contract at NASA's headquarters, the administrator Bill Nelson said at an event, "I've said it before: we want more competition, we want two landers, and that's better." "It means that you have reliability, you have backups," he added. NASA has said that adding another human landing system partner will increase competition, and reduce costs to taxpayers. NASA has chosen Blue Origin of Kent, Washington, to create a human landing system for the agency's Artemis V mission to the moon. The space agency will explore more of the moon than ever before with Artemis, making more scientific discoveries and preparing for future astronaut expeditions to Mars. Reports have mentioned that Blue Origin plans to use its New Glenn rocket, which has never flown before, to launch both its lander and this refuelling shuttle. Artemis 4 is scheduled for 2028, and Artemis 5 a year later will both land on the moon, but will first pass through a new space station in lunar orbit, called Gateway, which has yet to be constructed. (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.

Jeff Bezos honoured as NASA taps Blue Origin to build moon lander

<p>An Earth-sized exoplanet, which is orbiting a star in a galaxy next to the Milky Way, has provided scientists with the best evidence to date of the existence of active volcanoes beyond our solar system.<br />
<br />
The observations made by the scientists suggest the existence of a rocky and rugged world, the surface of which witnesses constant eruptions.<br />
<br />
On Wednesday, scientists said that the planet, the third planet which was found orbiting a particular dim star, is most likely covered with active volcanoes, which is similar to Jupiter's moon Io.<br />
<br />
Io is our solar system's most volcanically active body. In the solar system, Venus and Earth are volcanically active, as are a few moons of Jupiter. The volcanism of the planet was not observed directly but rather inferred because of its gravitational interaction with the largest of the two planets, which were also orbiting the dim star.</p>

<p>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-nasa-shares-video-of-earth-from-a-whole-different-angle-leaves-netizens-mesmerised-585235">Watch | NASA shares video of Earth from 'a whole different angle', leaves netizens mesmerised</a></p>

<p>The larger planet's gravitational tug may flex and squeeze the newly identified planet, because of which its interior may be heating up and causing volcanic activity on the surface, similar to Io, said the researchers. Planets that exist outside our solar system are called exoplanets.</p>

<h2><strong>Exoplanet may have deserts and icy glaciers on two sides: Scientists</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking about the alien planet, University of Kansas astronomy professor Ian Crossfield said, "There is not yet any direct observational evidence of exoplanet volcanism, but this planet is a particularly likely candidate.”<br />
<br />
Crossfield is one of the co-authors of the research which has been published in the journal Nature. The planet does not rotate because of which one side perpetually remains in daylight and the other in complete darkness.<br />
<br />
"On the dayside, it is too hot for liquid water, so it is likely very dry and hot - likely a desert. On the night side, there is possibly a large icy glacier," stated co-author of the research Bjorn Benneke, who is also the head of the astronomy group at the University of Montreal.<br />
<br />
"The most interesting region is near the terminator region where the day and nightside meet. Here, water from the nightside glacier can melt and possibly form liquid surface water. In addition, there is likely volcanism all around the planet, even under the ice on the nightside and possibly under the water near the terminator," Benneke stated.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Dead NASA satellite expected to crash back to Earth</strong></p>

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<p><br />
The planet has been found in the Milky Way about 86 light-years away from our solar system. It was spotted in the direction of the constellation Crater.<br />
<br />
"I imagine a rugged, young surface for the planet after many millions of years of constant volcanic activity. Since the gravitational effects don't care about day and night side, I also suspect the volcanic activity to be evenly spread over the planetary surface," stated the University of California, Riverside planetary astrophysicist and study co-author Stephen Kane.<br />
<br />
"Since the planet is so volcanically active, it is still contributing gases to the atmosphere from the interior. As such, the planet probably still has an atmosphere. The planet is unlikely to be habitable, however, since the total amount of energy makes for a quite hostile environment. Who knows? Life may find a way," he added.</p>

<main>
<section>
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An Earth-sized exoplanet, which is orbiting a star in a galaxy next to the Milky Way, has provided scientists with the best evidence to date of the existence of active volcanoes beyond our solar system.

An Earth-sized exoplanet, which is orbiting a star in a galaxy next to the Milky Way, has provided scientists with the best evidence to date of the existence of active volcanoes beyond our solar system. The observations made by the scientists suggest the existence of a rocky and rugged world, the surface of which witnesses constant eruptions. On Wednesday, scientists said that the planet, the third planet which was found orbiting a particular dim star, is most likely covered with active volcanoes, which is similar to Jupiter's moon Io. Io is our solar system's most volcanically active body. In the solar system, Venus and Earth are volcanically active, as are a few moons of Jupiter. The volcanism of the planet was not observed directly but rather inferred because of its gravitational interaction with the largest of the two planets, which were also orbiting the dim star. ALSO READ | Watch | NASA shares video of Earth from 'a whole different angle', leaves netizens mesmerised The larger planet's gravitational tug may flex and squeeze the newly identified planet, because of which its interior may be heating up and causing volcanic activity on the surface, similar to Io, said the researchers. Planets that exist outside our solar system are called exoplanets. Exoplanet may have deserts and icy glaciers on two sides: Scientists Speaking about the alien planet, University of Kansas astronomy professor Ian Crossfield said, "There is not yet any direct observational evidence of exoplanet volcanism, but this planet is a particularly likely candidate.” Crossfield is one of the co-authors of the research which has been published in the journal Nature. The planet does not rotate because of which one side perpetually remains in daylight and the other in complete darkness. "On the dayside, it is too hot for liquid water, so it is likely very dry and hot - likely a desert. On the night side, there is possibly a large icy glacier," stated co-author of the research Bjorn Benneke, who is also the head of the astronomy group at the University of Montreal. "The most interesting region is near the terminator region where the day and nightside meet. Here, water from the nightside glacier can melt and possibly form liquid surface water. In addition, there is likely volcanism all around the planet, even under the ice on the nightside and possibly under the water near the terminator," Benneke stated. WATCH | Dead NASA satellite expected to crash back to Earth The planet has been found in the Milky Way about 86 light-years away from our solar system. It was spotted in the direction of the constellation Crater. "I imagine a rugged, young surface for the planet after many millions of years of constant volcanic activity. Since the gravitational effects don't care about day and night side, I also suspect the volcanic activity to be evenly spread over the planetary surface," stated the University of California, Riverside planetary astrophysicist and study co-author Stephen Kane. "Since the planet is so volcanically active, it is still contributing gases to the atmosphere from the interior. As such, the planet probably still has an atmosphere. The planet is unlikely to be habitable, however, since the total amount of energy makes for a quite hostile environment. Who knows? Life may find a way," he added. 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 TESS, Spitzer discover Earth-like exoplanet covered with active volcanoes

<p>Space is not all crash, boom, bang. Yes, it started its life after The Big Bang (the OG. Not the sitcom), and collisions, explosions and crashes form large part of its daily schedule, the serenity of it reflected in a quiet night sky cannot be denied. So, what if we told you that a 'space symphony has been created inspired and illustrated by NASA's latest mind-boggling images?</p>

<p>The world premiere outside Washington last week of "Cosmic Cycles" showcased vivid imagery compiled by the US space agency alongside the first-ever public performance of the music.</p>

<p>Henry Dehlinger, the symphony American composer, described the music as "almost like a total artwork".</p>

<p>"It's not just music, it's not just visuals -- it's not a score for a film either," the 56-year-old told AFP before the concert.<br />
<br />
"It's more of an immersive experience that encapsulates both visuals and sound."</p>

<h2><strong>Not the first time</strong></h2>

<p>A similar attempt was made almost a century ago by Gustav Holst, an English composer. He wrote his famous ode to "The planets".</p>

<p>However, much of the astronomy was in theoretical stage at that time.</p>

<p>Much has happened since then. Humans reached the Moon, our rovers reached Mars and telescopes have become breathtakingly powerful to scan the farthest reaches of space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The images from that research, compiled by NASA producers into seven short films, served as the inspiration for Dehlinger.</p>

<p>"I had to almost pinch myself and remind myself that this isn't pretend -- this is the real deal. Not science fiction, it's the actual science," he said.</p>

<p>Piotr Gajewski, music director and conductor of the National Philharmonic, told AFP that the idea for the project came after previous work with NASA on visuals to go with a double-billing of Claude Debussy's "La Mer" ("The Sea") and Holst's "The Planets."</p>

<p>For their next collaboration, 64-year-old Gajewski said he suggested to NASA "that we turn the tables on them."</p>

<p>"Rather than them getting a piece of music and putting pictures to it, that they start by putting short videos together... of their very, very best work."</p>

<p>Wade Sisler, executive producer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said the challenge was worth the effort.</p>

<p>"It's a journey unlike one that I have ever helped anyone take," Sisler, 64, told AFP.</p>

<h2><strong>The symphony&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>It is a seven-part piece. It begins at the heart of our solar system -- the Sun -- there are shots of its swirling and gurgling surface along with explosion of particles out to the planets.</p>

<p>Next two movements home-in on Earth, our own planet. It is global perspective that involves Earth photos taken by astronauts.</p>

<p>Apart from photos and videos, interspersed throughout the seven films are a "mesmerizing collection of data visualizations" created by NASA, Sisler explained.</p>

<p>Data on ocean currents, for example, "look like Van Gogh paintings when you put them in motion. The colours are beautiful, you see patterns that you never realised before."</p>

<p>A fourth segment on the Moon is followed by profiles of each planet -- including a focus on images of the Martian surface taken by NASA Rovers.</p>

<p>Jupiter, a "regal subject" according to Dehlinger, is introduced by roaring chimes and horns.</p>

<p>The symphony does attempt to keep itself up-to-date as it takes a detailed look at recent experiments on asteroids before a big finale of black holes, nebulae and other phenomenon in the galaxy.</p>

<p>In addition to two performances at venues outside Washington, NASA has released the videos to its YouTube page with a synthesized version of Dehlinger's soundtrack.<br />
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Space is not all crash, boom, bang. Yes, it started its life after The Big Bang (the OG. Not the sitcom), and collisions, explosions and crashes form large part of its daily schedule, the serenity of it reflected in a quiet night sky cannot be denied.

Space is not all crash, boom, bang. Yes, it started its life after The Big Bang (the OG. Not the sitcom), and collisions, explosions and crashes form large part of its daily schedule, the serenity of it reflected in a quiet night sky cannot be denied. So, what if we told you that a 'space symphony has been created inspired and illustrated by NASA's latest mind-boggling images? The world premiere outside Washington last week of "Cosmic Cycles" showcased vivid imagery compiled by the US space agency alongside the first-ever public performance of the music. Henry Dehlinger, the symphony American composer, described the music as "almost like a total artwork". "It's not just music, it's not just visuals -- it's not a score for a film either," the 56-year-old told AFP before the concert. "It's more of an immersive experience that encapsulates both visuals and sound." Not the first time A similar attempt was made almost a century ago by Gustav Holst, an English composer. He wrote his famous ode to "The planets". However, much of the astronomy was in theoretical stage at that time. Much has happened since then. Humans reached the Moon, our rovers reached Mars and telescopes have become breathtakingly powerful to scan the farthest reaches of space. The images from that research, compiled by NASA producers into seven short films, served as the inspiration for Dehlinger. "I had to almost pinch myself and remind myself that this isn't pretend -- this is the real deal. Not science fiction, it's the actual science," he said. Piotr Gajewski, music director and conductor of the National Philharmonic, told AFP that the idea for the project came after previous work with NASA on visuals to go with a double-billing of Claude Debussy's "La Mer" ("The Sea") and Holst's "The Planets." For their next collaboration, 64-year-old Gajewski said he suggested to NASA "that we turn the tables on them." "Rather than them getting a piece of music and putting pictures to it, that they start by putting short videos together... of their very, very best work." Wade Sisler, executive producer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said the challenge was worth the effort. "It's a journey unlike one that I have ever helped anyone take," Sisler, 64, told AFP. The symphony It is a seven-part piece. It begins at the heart of our solar system -- the Sun -- there are shots of its swirling and gurgling surface along with explosion of particles out to the planets. Next two movements home-in on Earth, our own planet. It is global perspective that involves Earth photos taken by astronauts. Apart from photos and videos, interspersed throughout the seven films are a "mesmerizing collection of data visualizations" created by NASA, Sisler explained. Data on ocean currents, for example, "look like Van Gogh paintings when you put them in motion. The colours are beautiful, you see patterns that you never realised before." A fourth segment on the Moon is followed by profiles of each planet -- including a focus on images of the Martian surface taken by NASA Rovers. Jupiter, a "regal subject" according to Dehlinger, is introduced by roaring chimes and horns. The symphony does attempt to keep itself up-to-date as it takes a detailed look at recent experiments on asteroids before a big finale of black holes, nebulae and other phenomenon in the galaxy. In addition to two performances at venues outside Washington, NASA has released the videos to its YouTube page with a synthesized version of Dehlinger's soundtrack. 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.

‘Cosmic Cycles’: An immersive fusion of NASA’s captivating space imagery, and music

<p>Astronomers have observed a rare comet in our solar system, using the James Webb Space Telescope as they stumbled upon a new cosmic mystery while making a long-sought scientific breakthrough.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists have been studying the origins of Earth's abundant water and according to new observation, the chemical compound was discovered for the first time in a main belt comet&nbsp;or a com(et located in the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The astronomers used various observing methods for 15 years before making the finding.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They have detected gas - especially water vapour - near a comet in the main asteroid belt for the first time using Webb's NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph).</p>

<p>It indicates that water ice from the primordial solar system can be retained in that region.&nbsp;But they came across a mystery as well, as unlike other comets, Comet 238P/Read had no detectable carbon dioxide.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by NASA, Stefanie Milam, who is Webb's deputy project scientist for planetary science and a co-author on the study reporting the finding, said: "Our water-soaked world, teeming with life and unique in the universe as far as we know, is something of a mystery – we're not sure how all this water got here."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Understanding the history of water distribution in the solar system will help us to understand other planetary systems, and if they could be on their way to hosting an Earth-like planet," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Will exploding stars trigger an extinction-level event on Earth?&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>Comet Read is a main belt comet, which is an object that lives in the main asteroid belt but has a halo, or coma, and tail like a comet. Comet Read was one of the first three comets used to establish the category of main belt comets, which is a relatively new classification.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previously, it was believed that the comets live in the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud, beyond Neptune's orbit, where their ices might be kept away from the Sun.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Missing carbon dioxide is a mystery</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, the absence of carbon dioxide came as a bigger surprise as it typically accounts for around 10 per cent of the volatile material in a comet that can be easily vaporised by the Sun's radiation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists think that the Comet Read may have possessed carbon dioxide when it formed, but it has since lost it due to heated temperatures.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by NASA, astronomer Michael Kelley of the University of Maryland, lead author of the study, said: "Being in the asteroid belt for a long time could do it – carbon dioxide vaporizes more easily than water ice, and could percolate out over billions of years."&nbsp;</p>

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Astronomers have observed a rare comet in our solar system, using the James Webb Space Telescope as they stumbled upon a new cosmic mystery while making a long-sought scientific breakthrough.

Astronomers have observed a rare comet in our solar system, using the James Webb Space Telescope as they stumbled upon a new cosmic mystery while making a long-sought scientific breakthrough. Scientists have been studying the origins of Earth's abundant water and according to new observation, the chemical compound was discovered for the first time in a main belt comet or a com(et located in the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter). The astronomers used various observing methods for 15 years before making the finding. They have detected gas - especially water vapour - near a comet in the main asteroid belt for the first time using Webb's NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph). It indicates that water ice from the primordial solar system can be retained in that region. But they came across a mystery as well, as unlike other comets, Comet 238P/Read had no detectable carbon dioxide. As quoted by NASA, Stefanie Milam, who is Webb's deputy project scientist for planetary science and a co-author on the study reporting the finding, said: "Our water-soaked world, teeming with life and unique in the universe as far as we know, is something of a mystery – we're not sure how all this water got here." "Understanding the history of water distribution in the solar system will help us to understand other planetary systems, and if they could be on their way to hosting an Earth-like planet," she added. WATCH | Will exploding stars trigger an extinction-level event on Earth? × Comet Read is a main belt comet, which is an object that lives in the main asteroid belt but has a halo, or coma, and tail like a comet. Comet Read was one of the first three comets used to establish the category of main belt comets, which is a relatively new classification. Previously, it was believed that the comets live in the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud, beyond Neptune's orbit, where their ices might be kept away from the Sun. Missing carbon dioxide is a mystery Meanwhile, the absence of carbon dioxide came as a bigger surprise as it typically accounts for around 10 per cent of the volatile material in a comet that can be easily vaporised by the Sun's radiation. Scientists think that the Comet Read may have possessed carbon dioxide when it formed, but it has since lost it due to heated temperatures. As quoted by NASA, astronomer Michael Kelley of the University of Maryland, lead author of the study, said: "Being in the asteroid belt for a long time could do it – carbon dioxide vaporizes more easily than water ice, and could percolate out over billions of years." 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.

Water and a new mystery in main-belt comet stun astronomers

<p>All of us know about the asteroid belt in our Solar System. The asteroid belt is a collection of millions of space rocks, some of which are still a mystery to us. It is also said that asteroids are mini-planets which couldn't make the cut to join the elite league of main planets in our solar system. Who knows what mysteries lie&nbsp;hidden in the asteroid belt!</p>

<p>Now, James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has snapped a picture of a solar system. To the surprise of scientists, the solar system shows the presence of three asteroid belts. Two are in the inner system, while the third is farther out. With this pic, JWST has clicked the first asteroid belt ever seen outside our solar system.</p>

<p><img alt="asteroid belts" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="60f1fac9-08ed-4ec6-9f91-1cf08a5abcde" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Fomalhut%20rings.jpg" /></p>

<p><em>(Image: NASA)</em></p>

<p>The solar system is being formed around the young star Fomalhaut. It is 25 light-years away from us. Though this distance appears huge, it is nothing when compared on a cosmic scale. The three asteroid belts are extending out to 14 billion miles (23 billion kilometres) around the star. This is 150 times the distance between Earth and the Sun.</p>

<p>Hubble Space Telescope, JWST's predecessor, had clicked the outer asteroid belt before. But JWST's powerful ability to take images in Infrared light has meant that we can now glean deeper into the Fomalhaut solar system.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Where Webb really excels is that we're able to physically resolve the thermal glow from dust in those inner regions. So you can see inner belts that we could never see before," Schuyler Wolff, an astronomer at the University of Arizona who worked on the research, said, as quoted on the NASA website.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fomalhaut can be located by the naked eye as it is the brightest star in the southern constellation Piscis Austrinus.</p>

<p>According to NASA, the asteroid belts around Fomalhaut are likely to have been carved out of gravitational fields of planets we haven't yet been able to see.</p>

<p>Asteroid belts are often affected by the gravity of planets in a particular star system. For example, the massive gravitational force exerted by Jupiter, the biggest planet in our solar system, keeps the asteroids in their particular orbit and largely locked in space.</p>

<p>“The belts around Fomalhaut are kind of a mystery novel: Where are the planets?” said George Rieke, another team member and US science lead for Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), which made these observations. “I think it's not a very big leap to say there's probably a really interesting planetary system around the star.”</p>

<p>“We definitely didn't expect the more complex structure with the second intermediate belt and then the broader asteroid belt,” added Wolff. “That structure is very exciting because any time an astronomer sees a gap and rings in a disk, they say, ‘There could be an embedded planet shaping the rings!’”</p>

<p>Rieke was quoted by NASA.</p>

<p>The results of the research by the team have been published in the journal Nature Astronomy.</p>

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All of us know about the asteroid belt in our Solar System. The asteroid belt is a collection of millions of space rocks, some of which are still a mystery to us.

All of us know about the asteroid belt in our Solar System. The asteroid belt is a collection of millions of space rocks, some of which are still a mystery to us. It is also said that asteroids are mini-planets which couldn't make the cut to join the elite league of main planets in our solar system. Who knows what mysteries lie hidden in the asteroid belt! Now, James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has snapped a picture of a solar system. To the surprise of scientists, the solar system shows the presence of three asteroid belts. Two are in the inner system, while the third is farther out. With this pic, JWST has clicked the first asteroid belt ever seen outside our solar system. (Image: NASA) The solar system is being formed around the young star Fomalhaut. It is 25 light-years away from us. Though this distance appears huge, it is nothing when compared on a cosmic scale. The three asteroid belts are extending out to 14 billion miles (23 billion kilometres) around the star. This is 150 times the distance between Earth and the Sun. Hubble Space Telescope, JWST's predecessor, had clicked the outer asteroid belt before. But JWST's powerful ability to take images in Infrared light has meant that we can now glean deeper into the Fomalhaut solar system. "Where Webb really excels is that we're able to physically resolve the thermal glow from dust in those inner regions. So you can see inner belts that we could never see before," Schuyler Wolff, an astronomer at the University of Arizona who worked on the research, said, as quoted on the NASA website. Fomalhaut can be located by the naked eye as it is the brightest star in the southern constellation Piscis Austrinus. According to NASA, the asteroid belts around Fomalhaut are likely to have been carved out of gravitational fields of planets we haven't yet been able to see. Asteroid belts are often affected by the gravity of planets in a particular star system. For example, the massive gravitational force exerted by Jupiter, the biggest planet in our solar system, keeps the asteroids in their particular orbit and largely locked in space. “The belts around Fomalhaut are kind of a mystery novel: Where are the planets?” said George Rieke, another team member and US science lead for Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), which made these observations. “I think it's not a very big leap to say there's probably a really interesting planetary system around the star.” “We definitely didn't expect the more complex structure with the second intermediate belt and then the broader asteroid belt,” added Wolff. “That structure is very exciting because any time an astronomer sees a gap and rings in a disk, they say, ‘There could be an embedded planet shaping the rings!’” Rieke was quoted by NASA. The results of the research by the team have been published in the journal Nature Astronomy. 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 James Webb telescope clicks first asteroid belt ever seen outside solar system

<p>Saturn's rings are mad beautiful. And the fact that they can be observed with basic stargazing equipment has meant that astronomers even in the medieval times were able to observe them with not-so-advanced technology of the times. But there's more to Saturn than just rings. The most unique planet in our solar system has a large number of satellites one of which, has long piqued scientific interest for search for extraterrestrial life.</p>

<p>Enceladus, one of Saturn's satellites is unique in a way that it has an icy surface. The laws of physics say that where there is ice, there are very high chances of water underneath. And where there is water, there is life, at least as per our most conventional scientific understanding.</p>

<p>Drilling ice on earth is challenging enough, how to do that on a surface that's literally millions of kilometres away? NASA has a unique solution.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The space agency is planning to send a snake-like robot to check out surface of Enceladus.</p>

<p>The snake-robot has a long winding name. Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS). It is being developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).</p>

<p>According to JPL , EELS is a "snake-like, self-propelled robot". It is made of segments with "first-of-a-kind rotating propulsion units". These will help it to grip surfaces and even move underwater.</p>

<p>This robotic snake is 16-foot long and weighs 220 pounds. At its head, EELS has machinery that'll help it map Enceladus in 3D. It'll send real time images. The body of EELS will have a payload that'll enable scientists to measure the sub-surface pressure.</p>

<p>JPL is currently testing the robot. As per media reports, the robot underwent testing at Athabasca Glacier in Canada's Jasper National Park.</p>

<p>"We are early in the project, but it is achievable in our lifetime," EELS Deputy Project Manager Rachel Etheredge said last year, as quoted by CBS News. "...It's an ambitious collaboration, and we're motived by the shared excitement we have for this concept, and the potential science we could gather with EELS."</p>

<p>"The EELS system is a mobile instrument platform conceived to explore internal terrain structures, assess habitability and ultimately search for evidence of life," NASA says of its development. "It is designed to be adaptable to traverse ocean-world-inspired terrain, fluidised media, enclosed labyrinthian environments and liquids."</p>

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Saturn's rings are mad beautiful. And the fact that they can be observed with basic stargazing equipment has meant that astronomers even in the medieval times were able to observe them with not-so-advanced technology of the times.

Saturn's rings are mad beautiful. And the fact that they can be observed with basic stargazing equipment has meant that astronomers even in the medieval times were able to observe them with not-so-advanced technology of the times. But there's more to Saturn than just rings. The most unique planet in our solar system has a large number of satellites one of which, has long piqued scientific interest for search for extraterrestrial life. Enceladus, one of Saturn's satellites is unique in a way that it has an icy surface. The laws of physics say that where there is ice, there are very high chances of water underneath. And where there is water, there is life, at least as per our most conventional scientific understanding. Drilling ice on earth is challenging enough, how to do that on a surface that's literally millions of kilometres away? NASA has a unique solution. The space agency is planning to send a snake-like robot to check out surface of Enceladus. The snake-robot has a long winding name. Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS). It is being developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). According to JPL , EELS is a "snake-like, self-propelled robot". It is made of segments with "first-of-a-kind rotating propulsion units". These will help it to grip surfaces and even move underwater. This robotic snake is 16-foot long and weighs 220 pounds. At its head, EELS has machinery that'll help it map Enceladus in 3D. It'll send real time images. The body of EELS will have a payload that'll enable scientists to measure the sub-surface pressure. JPL is currently testing the robot. As per media reports, the robot underwent testing at Athabasca Glacier in Canada's Jasper National Park. "We are early in the project, but it is achievable in our lifetime," EELS Deputy Project Manager Rachel Etheredge said last year, as quoted by CBS News. "...It's an ambitious collaboration, and we're motived by the shared excitement we have for this concept, and the potential science we could gather with EELS." "The EELS system is a mobile instrument platform conceived to explore internal terrain structures, assess habitability and ultimately search for evidence of life," NASA says of its development. "It is designed to be adaptable to traverse ocean-world-inspired terrain, fluidised media, enclosed labyrinthian environments and liquids." 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 to send 'snake-robot' to find alien life on Saturn's icy moon

<p>Space is a dream for many, the prospect of travelling to the stars is a fantasy. When you imagine that amazing journey what comes to your mind? A high-tech rocket, and you strapped into a huge space suit? Not to burst your bubble, but a French startup called Space Perspective is developing a luxury tourism experience that will take passengers to the edge of space aboard a giant balloon.</p>

<p>As per space.com, the France-based startup called Zephalto has partnered with the French space agency the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), for this "high-altitude stratospheric balloon flights."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The huge balloon would reportedly be filled with hydrogen or helium and will ascend around 25 kilometres (or 15.5 miles) high into the atmosphere and will offer passengers a "unique view" of the world below.</p>

<p>As per a Bloomberg report, while the flights are scheduled to begin by 2025, the company has started booking reservations for an $11,000 (€120,000) deposit.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alien-transmission-likely-to-happen-in-60-years-claim-scientists-589815">Alien transmission likely to happen in next 60 years, claim scientists</a></strong></p>

<p>The balloon has enough space to carry six passengers and two pilots and will liftoff from the French spaceport as per space.com.</p>

<p>However, the company hopes to expand its access worldwide and is planning to expand its access worldwide by establishing spaceports on different continents.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The company reportedly is aiming to make its space tourism experience available to a wider audience and become a global player in the industry and even has a global map on its website featuring "next opening" pins for its spaceports located in populated areas around the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The company plans to offer the experience at $132,000 per person (or €120,000), to "eat lunch at the edge of space," wherein it will offer passengers "fine French cuisine," which means it'll offer a "Michelin-star calibre dining experience with a window-seat view of the cosmos."</p>

<p>On top of that, there will be wi-fi which the passengers can use to post their space pics before even landing on the Earth.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/just-three-planets-down-from-earth-this-icy-alien-planets-moons-may-be-hiding-oceans-of-salty-water-589855">Just three planets down from Earth, this icy alien planet's moons may be hiding oceans of salty water</a></strong></p>

<p>The flight will consist of three parts, with the first part being a one-and-a-half-hour ascent to an altitude of 25 kilometres. The second part of the flight will be three hours long and will include wining, dining, and sightseeing for passengers to enjoy the breathtaking view. The final part of the flight will be an hour-and-a-half-long descent back to Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Space Perspective believes that its experience will appeal to wealthy travellers who are looking for a unique and unforgettable adventure. The company sees its balloon-based approach as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to rocket-based space tourism.</p>

<p>To ensure the safety of its passengers, Space Perspective is working closely with regulatory agencies and aerospace experts to design and test the spacecraft and its systems. The company's management team includes experienced professionals from the aerospace industry, including former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly.</p>

<p>Space Perspective faces competition from other companies, such as Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, that are also developing space tourism experiences. However, the company believes that its balloon-based approach and focus on luxury will set it apart in the market.</p>

<p>Zephalto has conducted three piloted test flights of its stratospheric balloon as part of its development process. However, none of these test flights have&nbsp;reached the altitude that the company plans to take regular passengers. Before the company can begin operating commercially, it needs to obtain certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as a commercial airliner. But once it receives certification, the company plans to operate up to 60 flights per year.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Space is a dream for many, the prospect of travelling to the stars is a fantasy. When you imagine that amazing journey what comes to your mind? A high-tech rocket, and you strapped into a huge space suit?

Space is a dream for many, the prospect of travelling to the stars is a fantasy. When you imagine that amazing journey what comes to your mind? A high-tech rocket, and you strapped into a huge space suit? Not to burst your bubble, but a French startup called Space Perspective is developing a luxury tourism experience that will take passengers to the edge of space aboard a giant balloon. As per space.com, the France-based startup called Zephalto has partnered with the French space agency the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), for this "high-altitude stratospheric balloon flights." The huge balloon would reportedly be filled with hydrogen or helium and will ascend around 25 kilometres (or 15.5 miles) high into the atmosphere and will offer passengers a "unique view" of the world below. As per a Bloomberg report, while the flights are scheduled to begin by 2025, the company has started booking reservations for an $11,000 (€120,000) deposit. Also read | Alien transmission likely to happen in next 60 years, claim scientists The balloon has enough space to carry six passengers and two pilots and will liftoff from the French spaceport as per space.com. However, the company hopes to expand its access worldwide and is planning to expand its access worldwide by establishing spaceports on different continents. The company reportedly is aiming to make its space tourism experience available to a wider audience and become a global player in the industry and even has a global map on its website featuring "next opening" pins for its spaceports located in populated areas around the world. The company plans to offer the experience at $132,000 per person (or €120,000), to "eat lunch at the edge of space," wherein it will offer passengers "fine French cuisine," which means it'll offer a "Michelin-star calibre dining experience with a window-seat view of the cosmos." On top of that, there will be wi-fi which the passengers can use to post their space pics before even landing on the Earth. Also read | Just three planets down from Earth, this icy alien planet's moons may be hiding oceans of salty water The flight will consist of three parts, with the first part being a one-and-a-half-hour ascent to an altitude of 25 kilometres. The second part of the flight will be three hours long and will include wining, dining, and sightseeing for passengers to enjoy the breathtaking view. The final part of the flight will be an hour-and-a-half-long descent back to Earth. Space Perspective believes that its experience will appeal to wealthy travellers who are looking for a unique and unforgettable adventure. The company sees its balloon-based approach as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to rocket-based space tourism. To ensure the safety of its passengers, Space Perspective is working closely with regulatory agencies and aerospace experts to design and test the spacecraft and its systems. The company's management team includes experienced professionals from the aerospace industry, including former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly. Space Perspective faces competition from other companies, such as Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, that are also developing space tourism experiences. However, the company believes that its balloon-based approach and focus on luxury will set it apart in the market. Zephalto has conducted three piloted test flights of its stratospheric balloon as part of its development process. However, none of these test flights have reached the altitude that the company plans to take regular passengers. Before the company can begin operating commercially, it needs to obtain certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as a commercial airliner. But once it receives certification, the company plans to operate up to 60 flights per year. (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.

French startup will take people to space in a balloon. Here's how

<p>Uranus — the seventh planet from Sun — has not just one, two or three moons, but a total of 27 moons. New research suggests&nbsp;that four of its moons&nbsp;may be hiding oceans beneath their icy exteriors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These four moons, namely Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, and Titania, are over 1500 km in diameter and have been studied extensively by scientists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, a fresh look at 40-year-old data sent to Earth by NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft indicates that the four moons may have oceans buried kilometres deep under their surface.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sun-like-star-swallows-entire-planet-gives-glimpse-of-earths-fate-to-astronomers-589358">Sun-like star swallows entire planet, gives glimpse of Earth’s fate to astronomers</a></strong></p>

<p>Of these, Titania and Oberon, which orbit the farthest from Uranus, may have oceans buried some 50 kilometres (30 metres) deep. Oceans on Ariel and Umbriel, on the other hand, may be closer to the surface at 30 kilometres (19 miles) deep.</p>

<p>These astonishing findings were shared in a new study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research in December 2022.</p>

<p>Talking to Space.com, Julie Castillo-Rogez, a planetary scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California and the lead author of this study said: "Finding oceans in the Uranian moons would increase the prospect that [...] ocean worlds are frequent in our solar system, and maybe — by extension — in other solar systems."</p>

<p>The new research can help explain how even in the frigid outer reaches of the solar system, persistent internal heat and a few chemicals can make the Uranian&nbsp;moons watery worlds.</p>

<p>As per the researchers, early in their histories, Uranus' five largest moons — namely Titania, Oberon, Ariel, Umbriel and Miranda — had substantial oceans that ran deep, ranging from 100 km to 150 km (62 miles to 90 miles).</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/saturns-vanishing-rings-further-its-cosmic-identity-crisis-589384">Saturn’s mesmerising rings vanishing, further aggravate its cosmic identity crisis</a></strong></p>

<p>"If the moons had benefited from long-term heating from their planet, then they could have maintained a thick ocean," said Castillo-Rogez.</p>

<p>Europa, a moon of Jupiter, and Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, both have significant subsurface oceans. The gravitational pull of their respective host planets causes these moons to experience deformation in their interiors and icy crusts, a phenomenon known as tidal flexing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This process generates heat, which as per scientists, may be responsible for maintaining the subsurface water on these moons in a liquid, potentially life-supporting state.</p>

<p>However, Uranus has weaker tidal forces than Jupiter or Saturn, which means that the oceans on its four largest moons are "mostly frozen by now," according to Castillo-Rogez.</p>

<p>To gain a better understanding of the evolution of Uranus's largest moons, her team created a model using data collected from NASA missions that investigated other celestial bodies with subsurface oceans. The team examined findings from the Cassini mission, which studied Saturn's moon Enceladus, the Dawn mission, which explored the dwarf planet Ceres, and the New Horizons mission, which flew by Pluto and its largest moon Charon in 2015.&nbsp;</p>

<p>By analysing data from these missions, the team was able to construct a model of how the moons of Uranus may have formed and evolved over time.</p>

<p>The model created by the team reveals&nbsp;that the Uranian moons likely hold "thin oceans with high salt concentrations". This is likely due to limited internal heat left over from their births and considerable ammonia. The chemical is antifreeze in nature which helps keep water in its liquid form even in very low temperatures.</p>

<p>The researchers also suggest that the subsurface oceans could be habitable environments for microbial life that are adapted to living in extreme environments. They estimate that oceans would contain around 150 grams of salt per litre.&nbsp;Earth's Great Salt Lake in Utah has twice the salt volume but still boasts of life in and around it.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Uranus — the seventh planet from Sun — has not just one, two or three moons, but a total of 27 moons. New research suggests that four of its moons may be hiding oceans beneath their icy exteriors.

Uranus — the seventh planet from Sun — has not just one, two or three moons, but a total of 27 moons. New research suggests that four of its moons may be hiding oceans beneath their icy exteriors. These four moons, namely Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, and Titania, are over 1500 km in diameter and have been studied extensively by scientists. However, a fresh look at 40-year-old data sent to Earth by NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft indicates that the four moons may have oceans buried kilometres deep under their surface. Also read | Sun-like star swallows entire planet, gives glimpse of Earth’s fate to astronomers Of these, Titania and Oberon, which orbit the farthest from Uranus, may have oceans buried some 50 kilometres (30 metres) deep. Oceans on Ariel and Umbriel, on the other hand, may be closer to the surface at 30 kilometres (19 miles) deep. These astonishing findings were shared in a new study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research in December 2022. Talking to Space.com, Julie Castillo-Rogez, a planetary scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California and the lead author of this study said: "Finding oceans in the Uranian moons would increase the prospect that [...] ocean worlds are frequent in our solar system, and maybe — by extension — in other solar systems." The new research can help explain how even in the frigid outer reaches of the solar system, persistent internal heat and a few chemicals can make the Uranian moons watery worlds. As per the researchers, early in their histories, Uranus' five largest moons — namely Titania, Oberon, Ariel, Umbriel and Miranda — had substantial oceans that ran deep, ranging from 100 km to 150 km (62 miles to 90 miles). Also read | Saturn’s mesmerising rings vanishing, further aggravate its cosmic identity crisis "If the moons had benefited from long-term heating from their planet, then they could have maintained a thick ocean," said Castillo-Rogez. Europa, a moon of Jupiter, and Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, both have significant subsurface oceans. The gravitational pull of their respective host planets causes these moons to experience deformation in their interiors and icy crusts, a phenomenon known as tidal flexing. This process generates heat, which as per scientists, may be responsible for maintaining the subsurface water on these moons in a liquid, potentially life-supporting state. However, Uranus has weaker tidal forces than Jupiter or Saturn, which means that the oceans on its four largest moons are "mostly frozen by now," according to Castillo-Rogez. To gain a better understanding of the evolution of Uranus's largest moons, her team created a model using data collected from NASA missions that investigated other celestial bodies with subsurface oceans. The team examined findings from the Cassini mission, which studied Saturn's moon Enceladus, the Dawn mission, which explored the dwarf planet Ceres, and the New Horizons mission, which flew by Pluto and its largest moon Charon in 2015. By analysing data from these missions, the team was able to construct a model of how the moons of Uranus may have formed and evolved over time. The model created by the team reveals that the Uranian moons likely hold "thin oceans with high salt concentrations". This is likely due to limited internal heat left over from their births and considerable ammonia. The chemical is antifreeze in nature which helps keep water in its liquid form even in very low temperatures. The researchers also suggest that the subsurface oceans could be habitable environments for microbial life that are adapted to living in extreme environments. They estimate that oceans would contain around 150 grams of salt per litre. Earth's Great Salt Lake in Utah has twice the salt volume but still boasts of life in and around it. (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.

Just three planets down from Earth, this icy alien planet's moons may be hiding oceans of salty water

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