<p>March 8 will mark a monumental feat in humanity's quest towards outer space. Startup relativity Space will launch Terran 1 on Wednesday. Terran 1 is the world's first 3D-printed rocket. The launch is part of the startup's GLHF or 'Good Luck, Have Fun' mission. At 110 feet tall and 7.5 feet wide, the rocket weighs 9,280 kilogrammes. It is the world's largest 3D-printed object to attempt an orbital flight.</p>

<p>As per a Tomorrow's World Today report, the Terran 1 rocket will not be carrying any payloads on its maiden flight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While 3D printing has been used for rockets before, but never on such a massive scale.</p>

<p>However, NASA, under its Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) missions, has signed a contract with the startup to further down the line launch a satellite with the rocket.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/how-and-why-isro-is-disposing-off-a-defunct-indo-french-satellite-569090">How and why ISRO is disposing off a defunct Indo-French satellite</a></strong></p>

<p>NASA's VADR missions, according to the space agency, will help foster the US commercial launch market with new opportunities.</p>

<p>The GLHF mission will mark another achievement for the company; it will test Relativity Space's propriety 3D printing technology.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/space-wreck-heres-why-japan-was-forced-to-destroy-a-rocket-in-space-569386">Space wreck: Here's why Japan was forced to destroy a rocket in space</a></strong></p>

<p>The technology combines 3D metal printing, artificial intelligence and autonomous robotics to create rockets from raw material within 60 days.</p>

<p>Relativity Space is also working on another rocket; Terran R which is a fully reusable and entirely 3D-printed launch vehicle. The rocket will reportedly be able to handle payloads of up to 20 tonnes to lower Earth orbit. It may be launched from Cape Canaveral next year.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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March 8 will mark a monumental feat in humanity's quest towards outer space. Startup relativity Space will launch Terran 1 on Wednesday. Terran 1 is the world's first 3D-printed rocket.

March 8 will mark a monumental feat in humanity's quest towards outer space. Startup relativity Space will launch Terran 1 on Wednesday. Terran 1 is the world's first 3D-printed rocket. The launch is part of the startup's GLHF or 'Good Luck, Have Fun' mission. At 110 feet tall and 7.5 feet wide, the rocket weighs 9,280 kilogrammes. It is the world's largest 3D-printed object to attempt an orbital flight. As per a Tomorrow's World Today report, the Terran 1 rocket will not be carrying any payloads on its maiden flight. While 3D printing has been used for rockets before, but never on such a massive scale. However, NASA, under its Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) missions, has signed a contract with the startup to further down the line launch a satellite with the rocket. Also read | How and why ISRO is disposing off a defunct Indo-French satellite NASA's VADR missions, according to the space agency, will help foster the US commercial launch market with new opportunities. The GLHF mission will mark another achievement for the company; it will test Relativity Space's propriety 3D printing technology. Also read | Space wreck: Here's why Japan was forced to destroy a rocket in space The technology combines 3D metal printing, artificial intelligence and autonomous robotics to create rockets from raw material within 60 days. Relativity Space is also working on another rocket; Terran R which is a fully reusable and entirely 3D-printed launch vehicle. The rocket will reportedly be able to handle payloads of up to 20 tonnes to lower Earth orbit. It may be launched from Cape Canaveral next 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.

Humongous 9,280kg 3D-printed rocket to be launched into space tomorrow. Here's all you need to know

<p>Scientists have stressed there is a need to end a colonial approach to space exploration. They have said that human beings boldly going into space should echo the guiding principle of Captain James Kirk’s Star Trek crew by resisting the urge to interfere. According to a report by The Guardian on Saturday (March 4), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has made no secret of the desire to mine the moon for metals and China is also keen to extract lunar resources.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA has sped up its quest to beat China with regard to mining metals on the moon, in what is being seen as a space race between Washington and Beijing.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/moon-is-slowing-moving-away-from-earth-heres-why-566867">Moon is slowly moving away from Earth. Here’s why</a></strong></p>

<p>Dr Pamela Conrad of the Carnegie Institution of Science said that the focus should shift away from seeking to exploit discoveries. “If we were willing to seize that as not just a possibility, but an imperative then oddly enough, the Star Trek series and culture becomes a prime directive for how we could explore space: seeking not to interfere," Dr Conrad said on Saturday ahead of a panel event in Washington DC.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dr Conrad said that rather than setting out to own or take resources from space, human beings should endeavour to be “gentle explorers”. “Regardless of who or what is out there, that attitude of exploration being almost synonymous with exploitation gives one a different perspective as you approach to the task,” she said, The Guardian reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She added that if something that is not here on Earth is seen as a resource, just ripe to be exploited, then that perpetuates colonialism.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another scientist Dr Hilding Neilson said that in Canada, Indigenous people had rights and responsibilities to unceded and treaty land, with the absence of a height limit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dr Nielson said that such people had deep connections with bodies such as the moon. “Part of that connection is inherent to the culture and the way of living and way of knowing,” the scientist said, adding any damage to these bodies was a concern.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Those working on space missions, such as NASA's ''Artemis Program", should engage with Indigenous people in advance, the scientist added. He also stressed the need to move away from the rhetoric around building colonies on the moon or other planets.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Scientists have stressed there is a need to end a colonial approach to space exploration. They have said that human beings boldly going into space should echo the guiding principle of Captain James Kirk’s Star Trek crew by resisting the urge to interfere.

Scientists have stressed there is a need to end a colonial approach to space exploration. They have said that human beings boldly going into space should echo the guiding principle of Captain James Kirk’s Star Trek crew by resisting the urge to interfere. According to a report by The Guardian on Saturday (March 4), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has made no secret of the desire to mine the moon for metals and China is also keen to extract lunar resources. NASA has sped up its quest to beat China with regard to mining metals on the moon, in what is being seen as a space race between Washington and Beijing. ALSO READ | Moon is slowly moving away from Earth. Here’s why Dr Pamela Conrad of the Carnegie Institution of Science said that the focus should shift away from seeking to exploit discoveries. “If we were willing to seize that as not just a possibility, but an imperative then oddly enough, the Star Trek series and culture becomes a prime directive for how we could explore space: seeking not to interfere," Dr Conrad said on Saturday ahead of a panel event in Washington DC. Dr Conrad said that rather than setting out to own or take resources from space, human beings should endeavour to be “gentle explorers”. “Regardless of who or what is out there, that attitude of exploration being almost synonymous with exploitation gives one a different perspective as you approach to the task,” she said, The Guardian reported. She added that if something that is not here on Earth is seen as a resource, just ripe to be exploited, then that perpetuates colonialism. Another scientist Dr Hilding Neilson said that in Canada, Indigenous people had rights and responsibilities to unceded and treaty land, with the absence of a height limit. Dr Nielson said that such people had deep connections with bodies such as the moon. “Part of that connection is inherent to the culture and the way of living and way of knowing,” the scientist said, adding any damage to these bodies was a concern. Those working on space missions, such as NASA's ''Artemis Program", should engage with Indigenous people in advance, the scientist added. He also stressed the need to move away from the rhetoric around building colonies on the moon or other planets. (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.

Scientists say there is a need to end colonial approach to space exploration: Report

<p>Stars may appear to twinkle forever but like us, they have a finite lifespan. Stars of certain size put on quite a show before biting the dust. They bid adieu in a massive blast known as a supernova. These are some of the most violent and energetic events in space. Humanity has recorded such supernovas from even pre-historic periods.</p>

<p>But now, thanks to our superior tech and 'eyes in the sky,' we are&nbsp;able to click those that are not visible from Earth. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has clicked some such supernovas. NASA has posted these photos on Twitter.</p>

<p>"What do all these Hubble images have in common? They show the aftermath of stars that died in a bright, powerful explosion known as a supernova. In a supernova, a star’s contents fling out into space at speeds of up to 25,000 miles (15,000 to 40,000 km) per second!" says NASA in its tweet.</p>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What do all these Hubble images have in common?<br />
<br />
They show the aftermath of stars that died in a bright, powerful explosion known as a supernova.<br />
<br />
In a supernova, a star’s contents fling out into space at speeds of up to 25,000 miles (15,000 to 40,000 km) per second! <a href="https://t.co/KC5BHNeSZa">pic.twitter.com/KC5BHNeSZa</a></p>
— Hubble (@NASAHubble) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAHubble/status/1630280439330922497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>When a supernova takes place, it creates a shockwave. The remnants of a supernova, as seen in the NASA images, are detectable as expanding shell of gas and dust. When stars explode, they exude large amounts of elements in the interstellar medium.</p>

<p>Supernovas are major source of elements like oxygen and rubidium in the interstellar medium.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Stars may appear to twinkle forever but like us, they have a finite lifespan. Stars of certain size put on quite a show before biting the dust. They bid adieu in a massive blast known as a supernova.

Stars may appear to twinkle forever but like us, they have a finite lifespan. Stars of certain size put on quite a show before biting the dust. They bid adieu in a massive blast known as a supernova. These are some of the most violent and energetic events in space. Humanity has recorded such supernovas from even pre-historic periods. But now, thanks to our superior tech and 'eyes in the sky,' we are able to click those that are not visible from Earth. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has clicked some such supernovas. NASA has posted these photos on Twitter. "What do all these Hubble images have in common? They show the aftermath of stars that died in a bright, powerful explosion known as a supernova. In a supernova, a star’s contents fling out into space at speeds of up to 25,000 miles (15,000 to 40,000 km) per second!" says NASA in its tweet. What do all these Hubble images have in common? They show the aftermath of stars that died in a bright, powerful explosion known as a supernova. In a supernova, a star’s contents fling out into space at speeds of up to 25,000 miles (15,000 to 40,000 km) per second! pic.twitter.com/KC5BHNeSZa — Hubble (@NASAHubble) February 27, 2023 × When a supernova takes place, it creates a shockwave. The remnants of a supernova, as seen in the NASA images, are detectable as expanding shell of gas and dust. When stars explode, they exude large amounts of elements in the interstellar medium. Supernovas are major source of elements like oxygen and rubidium in the interstellar medium. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

NASA treats us with beautiful pictures of exploding stars

<p>SpaceX, the rocket company of Elon Musk, on Thursday launched a four-person crew on a mission to the International Space Station, starting their six-month stay in space.</p>

<p>The SpaceX launch vehicle, which is carrying NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, the United Arab Emirates Sultan Al-Neyadi and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Thursday at 12:34 am ET.</p>

<p>The Crew Dragon, which was carrying the astronauts, got detached from the rocket after it reached orbit, and as per estimates, it will spend about one day manoeuvring through space before it gets linked up with the space station. As per scientists, the capsule should dock at 1:17 a.m. ET Friday.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/space-elevator-musks-spacex-lift-buttons-to-connect-astronauts-from-earth-to-space-565791">Space Elevator | Musk’s SpaceX lift has button to take astronauts from Earth to space?</a></p>

<p>The launch of Crew Dragon on Thursday was the second attempt to blast off the mission, called Crew-6, into space. The first launch attempt failed on Monday.</p>

<p>During the live broadcast of the launch, officials stated that ground systems engineers had decided to call off the launch when less than three minutes were left on the clock.</p>

<p>The engineers stated that an issue was detected with a substance called triethylaluminum triethylboron, or TEA-TEB, which is a highly combustible fluid that is used to ignite the engines of Falcon 9 rocket at liftoff.</p>

<p>As per NASA, the problem started as the fluid moved from a holding tank on the ground into a “catch tank”. “After a thorough review of the data and ground system, NASA and SpaceX determined there was a reduced flow back to the ground TEA-TEB catch tank due to a clogged ground filter,” as per an update shared by NASA on its website early on Wednesday.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | SpaceX test fires powerful super heavy booster</strong></p>

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<p>“The clogged filter explained the aberration engineers had seen on launch day. SpaceX teams replaced the filter, purged the TEA-TEB line with nitrogen, and verified the lines are clean and ready for launch,” NASA stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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SpaceX, the rocket company of Elon Musk, on Thursday launched a four-person crew on a mission to the International Space Station, starting their six-month stay in space.

SpaceX, the rocket company of Elon Musk, on Thursday launched a four-person crew on a mission to the International Space Station, starting their six-month stay in space. The SpaceX launch vehicle, which is carrying NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, the United Arab Emirates Sultan Al-Neyadi and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Thursday at 12:34 am ET. The Crew Dragon, which was carrying the astronauts, got detached from the rocket after it reached orbit, and as per estimates, it will spend about one day manoeuvring through space before it gets linked up with the space station. As per scientists, the capsule should dock at 1:17 a.m. ET Friday. ALSO READ | Space Elevator | Musk’s SpaceX lift has button to take astronauts from Earth to space? The launch of Crew Dragon on Thursday was the second attempt to blast off the mission, called Crew-6, into space. The first launch attempt failed on Monday. During the live broadcast of the launch, officials stated that ground systems engineers had decided to call off the launch when less than three minutes were left on the clock. The engineers stated that an issue was detected with a substance called triethylaluminum triethylboron, or TEA-TEB, which is a highly combustible fluid that is used to ignite the engines of Falcon 9 rocket at liftoff. As per NASA, the problem started as the fluid moved from a holding tank on the ground into a “catch tank”. “After a thorough review of the data and ground system, NASA and SpaceX determined there was a reduced flow back to the ground TEA-TEB catch tank due to a clogged ground filter,” as per an update shared by NASA on its website early on Wednesday. WATCH | SpaceX test fires powerful super heavy booster “The clogged filter explained the aberration engineers had seen on launch day. SpaceX teams replaced the filter, purged the TEA-TEB line with nitrogen, and verified the lines are clean and ready for launch,” NASA stated. (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

SpaceX international crew blasts off for space station mission

<p>Scientists have found that Moon is slowly drifting away from Earth at a rate of 3.8 cm per year.</p>

<p>Experts at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) made the discovery thanks to Apollo-mission era reflective panels that were installed on the Moon in 1969. It allowed them to measure the distance between the panels and the Earth, according to reports.</p>

<p>Notably, this behaviour has already been predicted, but at the rate which it has been happening has left scientists startled.</p>

<p>According to experts, about 2.46 billion years ago, Moon was about 60,000 kilometres closer to Earth than it is now. This means that there was a time when Earth used to receive sunlight for about 17 hours a day.</p>

<h2><strong>Why has the Earth's spinning inner core slowed down compared to the surface?</strong></h2>

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<p>However, there is a scientific explanation to this phenomenon. It’s called “Milankovitch cycles".</p>

<p>According to NASA, "Milankovic cycles" are small changes that occur in the Earth's orbit around the Sun, changing the amount of sunlight the planet receives.</p>

<p>This in turn influences the kind of climate Earth has and can dictate periods of wet or dry weather.</p>

<p>Milankovitch cycles have previously been responsible for a period of greening in the Sahara desert and their forces have been known to impact the size of lakes on Earth. These cycles also determine the distance between the Moon and the Earth.</p>

<p>Though the effect of these cycles needs to be carefully studied, one of the notable effects it could have on Earth would be tidal changes.</p>

<p>As the Moon moves further away from Earth, the strength of this pull decreases, causing significant impact on shipping and fishing which rely on tidal patterns.</p>

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Scientists have found that Moon is slowly drifting away from Earth at a rate of 3.8 cm per year. Experts at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) made the discovery thanks to Apollo-mission era reflective panels that were installed on the Moon in 1969.

Scientists have found that Moon is slowly drifting away from Earth at a rate of 3.8 cm per year. Experts at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) made the discovery thanks to Apollo-mission era reflective panels that were installed on the Moon in 1969. It allowed them to measure the distance between the panels and the Earth, according to reports. Notably, this behaviour has already been predicted, but at the rate which it has been happening has left scientists startled. According to experts, about 2.46 billion years ago, Moon was about 60,000 kilometres closer to Earth than it is now. This means that there was a time when Earth used to receive sunlight for about 17 hours a day. Why has the Earth's spinning inner core slowed down compared to the surface? However, there is a scientific explanation to this phenomenon. It’s called “Milankovitch cycles". According to NASA, "Milankovic cycles" are small changes that occur in the Earth's orbit around the Sun, changing the amount of sunlight the planet receives. This in turn influences the kind of climate Earth has and can dictate periods of wet or dry weather. Milankovitch cycles have previously been responsible for a period of greening in the Sahara desert and their forces have been known to impact the size of lakes on Earth. These cycles also determine the distance between the Moon and the Earth. Though the effect of these cycles needs to be carefully studied, one of the notable effects it could have on Earth would be tidal changes. As the Moon moves further away from Earth, the strength of this pull decreases, causing significant impact on shipping and fishing which rely on tidal patterns. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Moon is slowly moving away from Earth. Here’s why

<p>For the first time, the US space agency NASA will name a woman as its 'science chief.' Nicola Fox, who heads the agency's heliophysics division will be designated as the chief this week, an official familiar with the announcement said.</p>

<p>Fox will be named as NASA's associate administrator for the agency's Science Mission Directorate. She will lead NASA's&nbsp;science directorate, a unit with almost $7 billion as its annual budget, and will be looking at some of the agency's best-known programmes from the robotic hunts for past life on planet Mars to exploring distant galaxies with the James Webb Space Telescope, Reuters reported.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/five-months-and-countingnasa-images-show-chinas-mars-rover-zhurong-hasnt-moved-565642"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Five months and counting...NASA images show China's Mars rover 'Zhurong' hasn't moved</strong></a></p>

<p>Before this, Fox earlier worked as the top scientist on the Parker Solar probe mission that studies the sun in depth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bill Nelson, NASA's Administrator made the announcement in an email to the agency workers on Monday, lauded Fox's past mission on Sun to better understand the sun and how the solar wind affects satellites and planets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"She has been instrumental in making this complex area accessible to the public. Her work already spans so many areas of importance to the agency."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-technology/watch-giant-portion-of-sun-breaks-off-nasa-captures-moments-in-incredible-pics-560774"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;WATCH | Giant portion of Sun 'breaks off', NASA captures moments in INCREDIBLE pics</strong></a></p>

<p>She will also oversee a NASA study group, formed in 2022, to help the US military detect and characterise UFOs, or what we call Unidentified Aerial Phenomena- mysterious objects that US White House and Pentagon officials claim to be a threat to the country's airspace.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fox will succeed Thomas Zurbuchen, a Swiss-Amercian astrophysicist who had the directorate since 2016 until his retirement in December 2022. Since then, Sandra Connelly, formerly Zurbuchen's deputy has been leading the directorate in an acting capacity.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(with inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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For the first time, the US space agency NASA will name a woman as its 'science chief.' Nicola Fox, who heads the agency's heliophysics division will be designated as the chief this week, an official familiar with the announcement said.

For the first time, the US space agency NASA will name a woman as its 'science chief.' Nicola Fox, who heads the agency's heliophysics division will be designated as the chief this week, an official familiar with the announcement said. Fox will be named as NASA's associate administrator for the agency's Science Mission Directorate. She will lead NASA's science directorate, a unit with almost $7 billion as its annual budget, and will be looking at some of the agency's best-known programmes from the robotic hunts for past life on planet Mars to exploring distant galaxies with the James Webb Space Telescope, Reuters reported. Also read | Five months and counting...NASA images show China's Mars rover 'Zhurong' hasn't moved Before this, Fox earlier worked as the top scientist on the Parker Solar probe mission that studies the sun in depth. Bill Nelson, NASA's Administrator made the announcement in an email to the agency workers on Monday, lauded Fox's past mission on Sun to better understand the sun and how the solar wind affects satellites and planets. "She has been instrumental in making this complex area accessible to the public. Her work already spans so many areas of importance to the agency." Also read | WATCH | Giant portion of Sun 'breaks off', NASA captures moments in INCREDIBLE pics She will also oversee a NASA study group, formed in 2022, to help the US military detect and characterise UFOs, or what we call Unidentified Aerial Phenomena- mysterious objects that US White House and Pentagon officials claim to be a threat to the country's airspace. Fox will succeed Thomas Zurbuchen, a Swiss-Amercian astrophysicist who had the directorate since 2016 until his retirement in December 2022. Since then, Sandra Connelly, formerly Zurbuchen's deputy has been leading the directorate in an acting capacity. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

In a first, NASA to name a woman as its science chief: Report

<p>Do you wish to experience hellscape? No, not your usual life but a real one. If you harbour such superhero aspirations then go to Venus. Earth's other neighbour. Mars is such a passe. NASA has been landing rovers there for years and years. Venus can be your next adventure.</p>

<p>So as you descend on Venus you'll first encounter a super thick atmosphere that'll make landing tricky. This atmosphere is made of Sulphuric acid (Yep!). This is a big 'nope' already. And as you come out of whatever remains of your spacecraft to take a walk, you temperature sensors will tell you that the outside temperature is just 455 degrees Celsius! This is enough to melt lead.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Logic other than the bad travel brochure above would tell you that almost all space-faring machinery we use would be useless on Venus and won't last long.</p>

<p>But an initial step to overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds has been taken. Good ol' NASA has joined hands with Advanced Thermal Batteries, Inc (ATB) and has made batteries capable of withstanding mind-melting temper(ature) of the planet a certain book claims women have come from.</p>

<p>Humanity has already navigated a craft to Venus. The Soviets did that but the craft lasted only for two hours on Venus.</p>

<p>But these new batteries may help us powering future spacecrafts to Venus without melting away.</p>

<p>These batteries have been made using specifically designed chemistry and structural materials. The batteries would last 120 earth days.</p>

<p>"This recent battery technology demonstration, with improved architecture and low self-discharge electrochemistry, is a huge accomplishment that many may have not thought possible," said Dr Kevin Wepasnick, ATB Project Engineer, in a NASA press release.</p>

<p>So would we see billionaire flocking to Venus anytime soon? Not till we invent some super-heavy duty air conditioners it would appear.&nbsp;</p>

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Do you wish to experience hellscape? No, not your usual life but a real one. If you harbour such superhero aspirations then go to Venus. Earth's other neighbour.

Do you wish to experience hellscape? No, not your usual life but a real one. If you harbour such superhero aspirations then go to Venus. Earth's other neighbour. Mars is such a passe. NASA has been landing rovers there for years and years. Venus can be your next adventure. So as you descend on Venus you'll first encounter a super thick atmosphere that'll make landing tricky. This atmosphere is made of Sulphuric acid (Yep!). This is a big 'nope' already. And as you come out of whatever remains of your spacecraft to take a walk, you temperature sensors will tell you that the outside temperature is just 455 degrees Celsius! This is enough to melt lead. Logic other than the bad travel brochure above would tell you that almost all space-faring machinery we use would be useless on Venus and won't last long. But an initial step to overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds has been taken. Good ol' NASA has joined hands with Advanced Thermal Batteries, Inc (ATB) and has made batteries capable of withstanding mind-melting temper(ature) of the planet a certain book claims women have come from. Humanity has already navigated a craft to Venus. The Soviets did that but the craft lasted only for two hours on Venus. But these new batteries may help us powering future spacecrafts to Venus without melting away. These batteries have been made using specifically designed chemistry and structural materials. The batteries would last 120 earth days. "This recent battery technology demonstration, with improved architecture and low self-discharge electrochemistry, is a huge accomplishment that many may have not thought possible," said Dr Kevin Wepasnick, ATB Project Engineer, in a NASA press release. So would we see billionaire flocking to Venus anytime soon? Not till we invent some super-heavy duty air conditioners it would appear. 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.

You will melt on Venus, but this battery won't

<p>February 10&nbsp;marked the second anniversary of China's ambitious Tianwen 1 mission — which also happens to be the nation's first interplanetary mission. Amid the celebration, one voice remained silent, that of China's Zhurong Mars rover, which was sent to the surface of the red planet as part of Beijing's Tianwen 1 mission. The Chinese rover has been in "hibernation" for months. It was supposed to wake up back in December of last year. However, almost two months later, its slumber still continues. Last month, a report expressed hope that Zhurong would come out of its sleep, but recent images from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show that it hasn't changed its position for five months.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;This study suggests ancient Mars was also hit by climate change</strong></p>

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<p>As per NASA, the rover hasn't moved since September 2022. The space agency's office at the University of Arizona which manages the HiRISE camera released a series of images, which show that Zhurong has not changed its position between September 8, 2022 and February 7,&nbsp;2023.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">HiPOD: Monitoring the Zhurong Rover<br />
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The Chinese Zhurong rover has been on Mars since 14 May 2021, and MRO/HiRISE has imaged it several times to track its progress and monitor the surface for changes.<br />
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For full cutout: <a href="https://t.co/WKCpyrbqI9">https://t.co/WKCpyrbqI9</a><br />
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NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mars?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mars</a> <a href="https://t.co/EzER3I5Q4Y">pic.twitter.com/EzER3I5Q4Y</a></p>
— HiRISE: Beautiful Mars (NASA) (@HiRISE) <a href="https://twitter.com/HiRISE/status/1628032187181281283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explained-zhurongs-slumber-continues-for-months-has-chinas-mars-rover-fallen-silent-forever-554018">Explained | Zhurong's slumber continues for months. Has China's Mars rover fallen 'silent' forever?</a></strong></p>

<p>The rover entered its hibernation mode way back on May 18,&nbsp;2022, to survive barren Mars' harsh winter months. During winter on the red planet, temperatures can fall down to minus 195 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 125 degrees Celsius).</p>

<p>As per Jia Yang, Tianwen 1 mission deputy chief designer, the rover would wake up when two conditions are met: it can generate energy greater than 140 watts and the planet’s temperature, or rather the region where the rover is, reaches the somewhat warmer, 5 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 15 degrees Celsius).</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/men-are-from-mars-women-are-from-venus-which-one-should-humans-visit-first-520603">'Men are from Mars, women are from Venus', which planet should humans visit first?</a></strong></p>

<p>However, it is possible that due to Mars' sand storms, Zhurong which uses solar arrays for energy might be unable to do so. Dust may be hindering the rover's arrays. Even if it never wakes up, the rover has already achieved significant things; it successfully completed one year of operations, for which it was also presented with the International Astronautical Federation's annual space achievement award in September 2022.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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February 10 marked the second anniversary of China's ambitious Tianwen 1 mission — which also happens to be the nation's first interplanetary mission. Amid the celebration, one voice remained silent, that of China's Zhurong Mars rover, which was sent to the surface of the red planet as part of Beijing's Tianwen 1 mission.

February 10 marked the second anniversary of China's ambitious Tianwen 1 mission — which also happens to be the nation's first interplanetary mission. Amid the celebration, one voice remained silent, that of China's Zhurong Mars rover, which was sent to the surface of the red planet as part of Beijing's Tianwen 1 mission. The Chinese rover has been in "hibernation" for months. It was supposed to wake up back in December of last year. However, almost two months later, its slumber still continues. Last month, a report expressed hope that Zhurong would come out of its sleep, but recent images from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show that it hasn't changed its position for five months. Watch | This study suggests ancient Mars was also hit by climate change As per NASA, the rover hasn't moved since September 2022. The space agency's office at the University of Arizona which manages the HiRISE camera released a series of images, which show that Zhurong has not changed its position between September 8, 2022 and February 7, 2023. HiPOD: Monitoring the Zhurong Rover The Chinese Zhurong rover has been on Mars since 14 May 2021, and MRO/HiRISE has imaged it several times to track its progress and monitor the surface for changes. For full cutout: https://t.co/WKCpyrbqI9 NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona#Mars pic.twitter.com/EzER3I5Q4Y — HiRISE: Beautiful Mars (NASA) (@HiRISE) February 21, 2023 × Also read | Explained | Zhurong's slumber continues for months. Has China's Mars rover fallen 'silent' forever? The rover entered its hibernation mode way back on May 18, 2022, to survive barren Mars' harsh winter months. During winter on the red planet, temperatures can fall down to minus 195 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 125 degrees Celsius). As per Jia Yang, Tianwen 1 mission deputy chief designer, the rover would wake up when two conditions are met: it can generate energy greater than 140 watts and the planet’s temperature, or rather the region where the rover is, reaches the somewhat warmer, 5 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 15 degrees Celsius). Also read | 'Men are from Mars, women are from Venus', which planet should humans visit first? However, it is possible that due to Mars' sand storms, Zhurong which uses solar arrays for energy might be unable to do so. Dust may be hindering the rover's arrays. Even if it never wakes up, the rover has already achieved significant things; it successfully completed one year of operations, for which it was also presented with the International Astronautical Federation's annual space achievement award in September 2022. (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.

Five months and counting...NASA images show China's Mars rover 'Zhurong' hasn't moved

<p>A door cam installed in the backyard of a person's house in Texas McAllen recorded the crashing of a part of a meteor.</p>

<p>In the footage of the door cam shared by Twitter user @disdikmark, a loud boom of the meteor crash can be heard in the backyard. As per reports, the object that caused the loud boom was a half-ton meteor (454 kg) which crashed in the area. The Twitter user, while posting the video, wrote in the caption, “You can hear the meteorite explosion."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">You can hear the meteorite explosion <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mcallen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mcallen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mission?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mission</a> <a href="https://t.co/W2Eb1Yci5o">pic.twitter.com/W2Eb1Yci5o</a></p>
— audeez (@disdikmark) <a href="https://twitter.com/disdikmark/status/1626084497740513280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>After the video was shared, NASA confirmed the crashing of a meteorite like an atmospheric fireball near McAllen, Texas around 5 pm EST on February 15. As per NASA experts, the object that fell was a meteoroid which roughly weighed 1,000 pounds and had a diameter of about two feet.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rare-meteorite-that-crashed-in-india-may-reveal-secrets-of-other-planets-562405">Rare meteorite that crashed in India may reveal secrets of other planets</a></p>

<p>"The meteor seen in the skies above McAllen is a reminder of the need for NASA and other organisations to increase our understanding and protection of Earth, to combine scientific and engineering expertise to advance human space exploration, to integrate terrestrial and planetary research for furthering our understanding of the solar system, and to promote successful space missions by mitigating risk,” the NASA added.</p>

<p>After the video of the meteor crashing was shared on Twitter, it received more than one lakh views. The clip has also received several likes and comments.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Meteor lights up the sky over English Channel</strong></p>

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<p>One user wrote, "Oh my goodness!!!! Hope everyone is ok!!! Thanks for sharing." "The birds. When wildlife flees, you know something bad is happening," said another.</p>

<p>A third user stated, "My parents live in mission on Bentsen road, mile 9, and my dad and brother were outside the house, and they heard like a thunder sound."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for 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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A door cam installed in the backyard of a person's house in Texas McAllen recorded the crashing of a part of a meteor. In the footage of the door cam shared by Twitter user @disdikmark, a loud boom of the meteor crash can be heard in the backyard.

A door cam installed in the backyard of a person's house in Texas McAllen recorded the crashing of a part of a meteor. In the footage of the door cam shared by Twitter user @disdikmark, a loud boom of the meteor crash can be heard in the backyard. As per reports, the object that caused the loud boom was a half-ton meteor (454 kg) which crashed in the area. The Twitter user, while posting the video, wrote in the caption, “You can hear the meteorite explosion." You can hear the meteorite explosion #Mcallen #Mission pic.twitter.com/W2Eb1Yci5o — audeez (@disdikmark) February 16, 2023 × After the video was shared, NASA confirmed the crashing of a meteorite like an atmospheric fireball near McAllen, Texas around 5 pm EST on February 15. As per NASA experts, the object that fell was a meteoroid which roughly weighed 1,000 pounds and had a diameter of about two feet. ALSO READ | Rare meteorite that crashed in India may reveal secrets of other planets "The meteor seen in the skies above McAllen is a reminder of the need for NASA and other organisations to increase our understanding and protection of Earth, to combine scientific and engineering expertise to advance human space exploration, to integrate terrestrial and planetary research for furthering our understanding of the solar system, and to promote successful space missions by mitigating risk,” the NASA added. After the video of the meteor crashing was shared on Twitter, it received more than one lakh views. The clip has also received several likes and comments. WATCH | Meteor lights up the sky over English Channel One user wrote, "Oh my goodness!!!! Hope everyone is ok!!! Thanks for sharing." "The birds. When wildlife flees, you know something bad is happening," said another. A third user stated, "My parents live in mission on Bentsen road, mile 9, and my dad and brother were outside the house, and they heard like a thunder sound." (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

WATCH | Door cam records crashing of half-ton meteor in Texas

Scientists with NASA announced they have discovered an Earth-sized planet that is likely rocky and could be habitable. The planet, named TOI 700 e, is slightly smaller than Earth and orbits a red dwarf star called TOI 700 about 102 light-years away.

NASA discovers new exoplanet TOI 700 e 102 light years away

NASA launched an uncrewed Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft to the ISS. The spacecraft was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Feb 24.

NASA launches uncrewed Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft

<p>NASA is gearing up to launch Israel's very first telescope mission. The Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite or the ULTRASAT will be launched into a geostationary orbit in early 2026.</p>

<p>“We are proud to join this partnership, an international effort that will help us better understand the mysteries of the hot, transient universe,” said Mark Clampin, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “ULTRASAT will give the global science community another important capability for making new observations in the nascent field of time domain and multimessenger astrophysics programs.”</p>

<p>ULTRASAT is an ultraviolet observatory with a large field of view. It is aimed to observe short-duration space events like supernova and merger of neutron stars. ULTRASAT's large field of view will allow it to quickly discover and capture ultraviolet light from such sources.</p>

<p>"Groundbreaking science calls for cutting-edge technology,” said Uri Oron, director of the Israel Space Agency in the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology. “Our requirements from ULTRASAT, such as a wide field of view, advanced ultraviolet sensitivity, and real-time data control and transfer are at the forefront of technological developments. Israel’s space industry can deliver these capabilities. The Israel Space Agency is proud of the cooperation with NASA as a direct example of the strong partnership between the agencies, and of the Israeli space industry's technological effort involved in the development of the telescope."</p>

<p>Oron was quoted by NASA.</p>

<p>As per agreement between NASA and Israel Space Agency, the former will provide launch service, Flight Payload Adapter and other launch-related services for ULTRASAT.</p>

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NASA is gearing up to launch Israel's very first telescope mission. The Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite or the ULTRASAT will be launched into a geostationary orbit in early 2026.

NASA is gearing up to launch Israel's very first telescope mission. The Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite or the ULTRASAT will be launched into a geostationary orbit in early 2026. “We are proud to join this partnership, an international effort that will help us better understand the mysteries of the hot, transient universe,” said Mark Clampin, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “ULTRASAT will give the global science community another important capability for making new observations in the nascent field of time domain and multimessenger astrophysics programs.” ULTRASAT is an ultraviolet observatory with a large field of view. It is aimed to observe short-duration space events like supernova and merger of neutron stars. ULTRASAT's large field of view will allow it to quickly discover and capture ultraviolet light from such sources. "Groundbreaking science calls for cutting-edge technology,” said Uri Oron, director of the Israel Space Agency in the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology. “Our requirements from ULTRASAT, such as a wide field of view, advanced ultraviolet sensitivity, and real-time data control and transfer are at the forefront of technological developments. Israel’s space industry can deliver these capabilities. The Israel Space Agency is proud of the cooperation with NASA as a direct example of the strong partnership between the agencies, and of the Israeli space industry's technological effort involved in the development of the telescope." Oron was quoted by NASA. As per agreement between NASA and Israel Space Agency, the former will provide launch service, Flight Payload Adapter and other launch-related services for ULTRASAT. 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 launch Israel's first space telescope

<p>Stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) last year because of a leak on their return capsule, three astronauts will return to Earth in September in a Soyuz MS-23 replacement capsule, Russia said on Tuesday (February 21). One of the three astronauts is NASA's Francisco Rubio. Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin, the other two, are Russian cosmonauts. They were due to end their mission in March. Two months ago, they were stuck when the cooling system of their Soyuz MS-22 capsule started leaking.&nbsp; "(Their return flight) is now scheduled to take place on Soyuz MS-23 in September 2023," Russian space agency Roscosmos said in its latest update.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: WION Fineprint | Russian Space Agency: Soyuz MS-22 radiator hit by micro meteoroid</strong></p>

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<p><strong>Soyuz MS-22 capsule coolant leak</strong><br />
The coolant leak on December 14 on Soyuz MS-22 was believed to have been caused by a micro meteoroid, Roscosmos and NASA earlier said. Joel Montalbano, NASA's space station program manager, insisted last month while talking to reporters: "We're not calling this a rescue Soyuz. I'm calling it a replacement Soyuz. This is the next Soyuz that was scheduled to fly in March. It will just fly a little early." The coolant leak was captured in a stunning video recorded by station cameras, which was shared widely. Docked to the ISS, Soyuz MS-22 was deemed unfit to bring back the three astronauts.</p>

<p>Last week, Russia delayed the launch of MS-23 return capsule, which was initially scheduled for February 20. The capsule launch has now been pushed to March. The delay is reportedly related to a leak on another Russian spacecraft docked with the ISS — the Progress-82 freighter, also known as Progress MS-21. It was launched in late October.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="http://wionews.com/science/a-tiny-meteorite-probably-struck-soyuz-causing-a-coolant-leak-russian-official-says-543545">A tiny meteorite probably struck Soyuz causing a coolant leak, Russian official says</a></strong></p>

<p>"A commission is working on the Progress MS-21 case. Until the cause of the emergency situation is determined, a decision was made to postpone the launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft in unmanned mode until March 2023," Roscosmos wrote in a Telegram post on February 13, space.com reported.</p>

<p><em>(With agency inputs) </em></p>

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Stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) last year because of a leak on their return capsule, three astronauts will return to Earth in September in a Soyuz MS-23 replacement capsule, Russia said on Tuesday (February 21).

Stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) last year because of a leak on their return capsule, three astronauts will return to Earth in September in a Soyuz MS-23 replacement capsule, Russia said on Tuesday (February 21). One of the three astronauts is NASA's Francisco Rubio. Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin, the other two, are Russian cosmonauts. They were due to end their mission in March. Two months ago, they were stuck when the cooling system of their Soyuz MS-22 capsule started leaking. "(Their return flight) is now scheduled to take place on Soyuz MS-23 in September 2023," Russian space agency Roscosmos said in its latest update. Watch: WION Fineprint | Russian Space Agency: Soyuz MS-22 radiator hit by micro meteoroid × Soyuz MS-22 capsule coolant leak The coolant leak on December 14 on Soyuz MS-22 was believed to have been caused by a micro meteoroid, Roscosmos and NASA earlier said. Joel Montalbano, NASA's space station program manager, insisted last month while talking to reporters: "We're not calling this a rescue Soyuz. I'm calling it a replacement Soyuz. This is the next Soyuz that was scheduled to fly in March. It will just fly a little early." The coolant leak was captured in a stunning video recorded by station cameras, which was shared widely. Docked to the ISS, Soyuz MS-22 was deemed unfit to bring back the three astronauts. Last week, Russia delayed the launch of MS-23 return capsule, which was initially scheduled for February 20. The capsule launch has now been pushed to March. The delay is reportedly related to a leak on another Russian spacecraft docked with the ISS — the Progress-82 freighter, also known as Progress MS-21. It was launched in late October. Also read: A tiny meteorite probably struck Soyuz causing a coolant leak, Russian official says "A commission is working on the Progress MS-21 case. Until the cause of the emergency situation is determined, a decision was made to postpone the launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft in unmanned mode until March 2023," Roscosmos wrote in a Telegram post on February 13, space.com reported. (With agency inputs) 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.

Soyuz MS-22 leak: 3 astronauts stranded on International Space Station last year will now return in September

<p>The long-dead presidents of the United States, or rather their hair, would soon go on a hair-raising journey into space. George Washington, John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan will undertake this journey. The announcement was made on Presidents' Day, which in the United States is celebrated on the third Monday of February. This year it was celebrated on February 20th. It was announced by Celestis, a Texas-based company that specialises in space burials.&nbsp;Celestis said that it will launch what it believes to be "authenticated DNA" of former presidents into space aboard a rocket later this year.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Age of space tourism has begun in 2021</strong></p>

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<p>The hair samples of the four former presidents, as per an AFP report, were donated by an anonymous donor. They came with certificates of authenticity.</p>

<p>As per Celestis, "these hair samples have been in a climate-controlled facility for several years in preparation for this mission."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/ai-comes-up-with-40000-toxic-chemicals-in-6-hours-scientists-warn-could-be-used-to-make-biological-weapons-561636">AI comes up with 40,000 toxic chemicals in 6 hours; scientists warn could be used to make biological weapons</a></strong></p>

<p>Hair samples of the former Presidents will be accompanied by the cremated remains of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the 1960s television series&nbsp;Star Trek and other cast members.</p>

<p>They will be transported aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) rocket that has been dubbed 'Enterprise'.</p>

<p>Enterprise also happens to be the name of the starship in the sci-fi show Star Trek.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-fossil-of-giant-150kg-penguin-that-walked-the-earth-57-million-years-ago-561978">Scientists discover fossil of giant 150kg penguin that walked the Earth 57 million years ago</a></strong></p>

<p>"By adding the DNA of these American icons to Enterprise, we establish a precursor for future human missions, and add to the historical record of human exploration of deep space," said Charles Chafer, Celestis CEO and co-founder.</p>

<p>The company doesn't just send the remains of celebrities into space, anyone can opt for a space burial. Celestial currently charges $4,995 to launch remains into Earth orbit, while a voyage into deep space beyond the Moon begins at $12,500.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The long-dead presidents of the United States, or rather their hair, would soon go on a hair-raising journey into space. George Washington, John F. Kennedy, Dwight D.

The long-dead presidents of the United States, or rather their hair, would soon go on a hair-raising journey into space. George Washington, John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan will undertake this journey. The announcement was made on Presidents' Day, which in the United States is celebrated on the third Monday of February. This year it was celebrated on February 20th. It was announced by Celestis, a Texas-based company that specialises in space burials. Celestis said that it will launch what it believes to be "authenticated DNA" of former presidents into space aboard a rocket later this year. Watch | Age of space tourism has begun in 2021 The hair samples of the four former presidents, as per an AFP report, were donated by an anonymous donor. They came with certificates of authenticity. As per Celestis, "these hair samples have been in a climate-controlled facility for several years in preparation for this mission." Also read | AI comes up with 40,000 toxic chemicals in 6 hours; scientists warn could be used to make biological weapons Hair samples of the former Presidents will be accompanied by the cremated remains of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the 1960s television series Star Trek and other cast members. They will be transported aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) rocket that has been dubbed 'Enterprise'. Enterprise also happens to be the name of the starship in the sci-fi show Star Trek. Also read | Scientists discover fossil of giant 150kg penguin that walked the Earth 57 million years ago "By adding the DNA of these American icons to Enterprise, we establish a precursor for future human missions, and add to the historical record of human exploration of deep space," said Charles Chafer, Celestis CEO and co-founder. The company doesn't just send the remains of celebrities into space, anyone can opt for a space burial. Celestial currently charges $4,995 to launch remains into Earth orbit, while a voyage into deep space beyond the Moon begins at $12,500. (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.

Hair now, gone to space tomorrow: Long-dead ex-US presidents' locks to be beamed up

<p>Scientists at the United States-based NASA have found “one of the most elongated asteroids” ever pictured by their planetary radar. The space agency said that the asteroid flew past Earth at a safe distance, earlier this month, but what caught their attention was the odd shape which they described as oblong. The asteroid was being closely tracked by the scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, US who made “invaluable observations to help determine its size, rotation, surface details, and, most notably, shape,” said the space agency in a press release.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The asteroid in question is called 2011 AG5 whose close approach on February 3 gave scientists the opportunity to get a detailed look at the celestial object first discovered in 2011. The asteroid is said to be 1600 feet long and about 500 feet wide and its dimensions are comparable to the Empire State Building. The celestial object was seen by the powerful 230-foot (70-metre) Goldstone Solar System Radar antenna dish at the Deep Space Network's facility near Barstow, California, revealing the dimensions of this extremely elongated asteroid, said NASA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The principal scientist at JPL who helped lead the observations, Lance Benner noted that there have been 1,040 near-Earth objects observed by planetary radar out of which 2011 AG5 has been “one of the most elongated we’ve seen”. The observations which took place at the end of last month and ended on February 4 also noted other details like a large, broad concavity in one of the asteroid’s two hemispheres and would appear as dark as charcoal if it were to be viewed by the human eye.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The observations also confirmed 2011 AG5 has a slow rotation rate, taking nine hours to fully rotate,” said NASA. The space agency also confirmed that since the radar provides precise distance measurements, they believe that asteroid 2011 AG5 orbits the Sun once every 621 days. Earth will not have a close encounter with it until 2040 and even then it will pass at a distance of about 670,000 miles (1.1 million kilometres), it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Interestingly, shortly after its discovery, 2011 AG5 became a poster-child asteroid when our analysis showed it had a small chance of a future impact,” said Paul Chodas, the director of NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at JPL. He added, “Continued observations of this object ruled out any chance of impact, and these new ranging measurements by the planetary radar team will further refine exactly where it will be far into the future.”<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Scientists at the United States-based NASA have found “one of the most elongated asteroids” ever pictured by their planetary radar. The space agency said that the asteroid flew past Earth at a safe distance, earlier this month, but what caught their attention was the odd shape which they described as oblong.

Scientists at the United States-based NASA have found “one of the most elongated asteroids” ever pictured by their planetary radar. The space agency said that the asteroid flew past Earth at a safe distance, earlier this month, but what caught their attention was the odd shape which they described as oblong. The asteroid was being closely tracked by the scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, US who made “invaluable observations to help determine its size, rotation, surface details, and, most notably, shape,” said the space agency in a press release. The asteroid in question is called 2011 AG5 whose close approach on February 3 gave scientists the opportunity to get a detailed look at the celestial object first discovered in 2011. The asteroid is said to be 1600 feet long and about 500 feet wide and its dimensions are comparable to the Empire State Building. The celestial object was seen by the powerful 230-foot (70-metre) Goldstone Solar System Radar antenna dish at the Deep Space Network's facility near Barstow, California, revealing the dimensions of this extremely elongated asteroid, said NASA. The principal scientist at JPL who helped lead the observations, Lance Benner noted that there have been 1,040 near-Earth objects observed by planetary radar out of which 2011 AG5 has been “one of the most elongated we’ve seen”. The observations which took place at the end of last month and ended on February 4 also noted other details like a large, broad concavity in one of the asteroid’s two hemispheres and would appear as dark as charcoal if it were to be viewed by the human eye. “The observations also confirmed 2011 AG5 has a slow rotation rate, taking nine hours to fully rotate,” said NASA. The space agency also confirmed that since the radar provides precise distance measurements, they believe that asteroid 2011 AG5 orbits the Sun once every 621 days. Earth will not have a close encounter with it until 2040 and even then it will pass at a distance of about 670,000 miles (1.1 million kilometres), it added. “Interestingly, shortly after its discovery, 2011 AG5 became a poster-child asteroid when our analysis showed it had a small chance of a future impact,” said Paul Chodas, the director of NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at JPL. He added, “Continued observations of this object ruled out any chance of impact, and these new ranging measurements by the planetary radar team will further refine exactly where it will be far into the future.” 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 team spots a 1600-foot oddly shaped asteroid as big as Empire State Building

Europe on the moon! The lunar aspiration could soon become a reality, courtesy of the Americans, Europe is planning on playing a key role in NASA's Orion spacecraft program. This will give European astronauts a chance to walk on the moon for the first time in years.

Europe shoots the moon! US join hands with Europe for Space mission

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<p>With earthquakes ravaging Turkey and Syria earlier this week, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been working to share aerial views and data from space in ways that could aid relief and recovery workers in the region, and also improve its ability to model and predict such events. According to a statement on Saturday (February 11), NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said, "NASA’s hearts and minds are with those impacted by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria."</p>

<p>“NASA is our eyes in the sky, and our teams of experts are working hard to provide valuable information from our Earth-observing fleet to first responders on the ground,” Nelson added.</p>

<p><strong>Proxy maps</strong></p>

<p>The statement went on to say that one of the key capabilities of the American space agency is an expert with synthetic aperture radar, or SAR,&nbsp;which is used to measure how the ground moves and built landscape changes after this type of event (in this case, an earthquake).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-syria-earthquake-toll-crosses-28000-as-un-relief-chief-predicts-deaths-to-top-50000-561042">Turkey earthquake: Contractors detained over collapsed buildings; UN says toll may reach 50,000</a></strong></p>

<p>"Scenes collected before and after the earthquake were used by a team of scientists from the Earth Observatory of Singapore and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California to create something called a damage proxy map for Turkey. These maps compare before and after radar images of a given event to see how the landscape has changed," the statement added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Such maps are made available to several organisations such as the World Bank, the Miyamoto Global Disaster Relief, the US State Department and the California Seismic Safety Commission. NASA said on Saturday that its members provide observations and maps via the Disaster Mapping Portal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lori Schultz, who is NASA's coordinator for this earthquake, said that the space agency takes seriously its obligation to support open science, and make information widely accessible.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We don’t know everyone who is using this information or how, but we are fortunate to have heard back from a few groups. For instance, the World Central Kitchen – which is providing food to those who’ve been displaced – have let us know they make use of it," Schultz said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from assessing the damage, NASA is also using space- and ground-based observations to improve its ability to understand related events that cascade from the original natural disaster.</p>

<p>"By making use of data from the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition programme, which acquires observations from commercial satellites to help with NASA’s research goals, as well as from NOAA and international space agencies in Europe and Japan, scientists can spot areas that might be prone to increased landslide risks. Other satellites, such as Suomi-NPP and its nighttime lights observations can show the location of power outages," Saturday's statement said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>A new tool to assess the aftermath of an earthquake</strong></p>

<p>NASA is hoping to add a new tool to assess the aftermath of an earthquake. It said on Saturday that Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) was launched to the International Space Station in July 2022. "As part of its observations of the composition of the material in Earth’s atmosphere, it can assess methane emissions," NASA said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The EMIT's observations, times and locations are dictated by the station’s orbit. However, when passing over an earthquake site, measurements of increased or new emissions could point to events not otherwise easily spotted from space.</p>

<p><strong>Turkey-Syria quake: Death toll passes 33,000</strong></p>

<p>More than 33,000 people have died due to the earthquakes, and the United Nations expects the toll to at rise to 50,000. The UN also warned that at least 870,000 people urgently need hot meals across&nbsp;Turkey&nbsp;and Syria.</p>

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With earthquakes ravaging Turkey and Syria earlier this week, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been working to share aerial views and data from space in ways that could aid relief and recovery workers in the region, and also improve its ability to model and predict such events.

With earthquakes ravaging Turkey and Syria earlier this week, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been working to share aerial views and data from space in ways that could aid relief and recovery workers in the region, and also improve its ability to model and predict such events. According to a statement on Saturday (February 11), NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said, "NASA’s hearts and minds are with those impacted by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria." “NASA is our eyes in the sky, and our teams of experts are working hard to provide valuable information from our Earth-observing fleet to first responders on the ground,” Nelson added. Proxy maps The statement went on to say that one of the key capabilities of the American space agency is an expert with synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, which is used to measure how the ground moves and built landscape changes after this type of event (in this case, an earthquake). ALSO READ | Turkey earthquake: Contractors detained over collapsed buildings; UN says toll may reach 50,000 "Scenes collected before and after the earthquake were used by a team of scientists from the Earth Observatory of Singapore and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California to create something called a damage proxy map for Turkey. These maps compare before and after radar images of a given event to see how the landscape has changed," the statement added. Such maps are made available to several organisations such as the World Bank, the Miyamoto Global Disaster Relief, the US State Department and the California Seismic Safety Commission. NASA said on Saturday that its members provide observations and maps via the Disaster Mapping Portal. Lori Schultz, who is NASA's coordinator for this earthquake, said that the space agency takes seriously its obligation to support open science, and make information widely accessible. "We don’t know everyone who is using this information or how, but we are fortunate to have heard back from a few groups. For instance, the World Central Kitchen – which is providing food to those who’ve been displaced – have let us know they make use of it," Schultz said. Apart from assessing the damage, NASA is also using space- and ground-based observations to improve its ability to understand related events that cascade from the original natural disaster. "By making use of data from the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition programme, which acquires observations from commercial satellites to help with NASA’s research goals, as well as from NOAA and international space agencies in Europe and Japan, scientists can spot areas that might be prone to increased landslide risks. Other satellites, such as Suomi-NPP and its nighttime lights observations can show the location of power outages," Saturday's statement said. A new tool to assess the aftermath of an earthquake NASA is hoping to add a new tool to assess the aftermath of an earthquake. It said on Saturday that Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) was launched to the International Space Station in July 2022. "As part of its observations of the composition of the material in Earth’s atmosphere, it can assess methane emissions," NASA said. The EMIT's observations, times and locations are dictated by the station’s orbit. However, when passing over an earthquake site, measurements of increased or new emissions could point to events not otherwise easily spotted from space. Turkey-Syria quake: Death toll passes 33,000 More than 33,000 people have died due to the earthquakes, and the United Nations expects the toll to at rise to 50,000. The UN also warned that at least 870,000 people urgently need hot meals across Turkey and Syria. 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.

Turkey-Syria earthquake: Aerial shots from NASA satellites help in response, relief

The Indian Space Agency ISRO and the American Space Agency NASA are working on a Satellite Mission. The idea was born in 2014 and is now close to attaining fusion.

NISAR: First ever NASA-ISRO satellite mission

<p>Astronomers and scientists have learned a lot about the cosmos. All thanks to many technological advancements. In the latest shocking video, NASA has captured an unprecedented event that has baffled scientists where a portion of the sun's northern pole "breaks off."&nbsp;</p>

<p>An enormous filament of electrified gas can be seen rushing out from the sun in the popular video before breaking and spinning around in a massive polar vortex. Although solar filaments have been observed before, this is the first time one has been observed spinning through the area. Why the filament in the new sighting swirled around the sun as opposed to flying off into space is still a mystery to scientists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-roars-back-at-china-and-north-korea-launches-test-icbm-560758">US roars back at China and North Korea, conducts test launch of ICBM</a></p>

<p>Although surprised, astronomers think that the emergence is connected to the sun's magnetic field's regular reversal.</p>

<p>A video was shared on Twitter by space weather specialist Tamitha Skov, who gave credit for its capture to NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. Tamitha wrote, "Talk about Polar Vortex! Material from a northern prominence just broke away from the main filament &amp; is now circulating in a massive polar vortex around the north pole of our Star. Implications for understanding the Sun's atmospheric dynamics above 55° here cannot be overstated!"&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-journalist-who-rescued-minor-domestic-help-in-gurgaon-relives-horror-of-abuse-560714">Exclusive: Journalist who rescued minor domestic help in India's Gurgaon relives horror of abuse</a></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Talk about Polar Vortex! Material from a northern prominence just broke away from the main filament &amp; is now circulating in a massive polar vortex around the north pole of our Star. Implications for understanding the Sun's atmospheric dynamics above 55° here cannot be overstated! <a href="https://t.co/1SKhunaXvP">pic.twitter.com/1SKhunaXvP</a></p>
— Dr. Tamitha Skov (@TamithaSkov) <a href="https://twitter.com/TamithaSkov/status/1621276153075109888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>This most recent development is of more worry to scientists since the Sun continues to produce solar flares, also known as prominences, which can occasionally obstruct communication on Earth. According to NASA, solar filaments are energetic particle clouds that float above the sun and are magnetically bonded together. These resemble long, suspended threads dangling from the sun's surface.</p>

<p>Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-did-turkiye-misuse-earthquake-tax-560763">Gravitas: Did Turkiye misuse Earthquake tax?</a></p>

<p>A prominence like the one shared by Skov may be observed precisely at latitude 55 once every 11 years. The National Center for Atmospheric Research's deputy director and solar physicist Scott McIntosh told Space.com, "Once every solar cycle, it forms at the 55-degree latitude and it starts to march up to the solar poles. It's very curious. There is a big 'why' question around it. Why does it only move toward the pole one time and then disappears and then comes back, magically, three or four years later in exactly the same region?"</p>

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Astronomers and scientists have learned a lot about the cosmos. All thanks to many technological advancements. In the latest shocking video, NASA has captured an unprecedented event that has baffled scientists where a portion of the sun's northern pole "breaks off.

Astronomers and scientists have learned a lot about the cosmos. All thanks to many technological advancements. In the latest shocking video, NASA has captured an unprecedented event that has baffled scientists where a portion of the sun's northern pole "breaks off." An enormous filament of electrified gas can be seen rushing out from the sun in the popular video before breaking and spinning around in a massive polar vortex. Although solar filaments have been observed before, this is the first time one has been observed spinning through the area. Why the filament in the new sighting swirled around the sun as opposed to flying off into space is still a mystery to scientists. Also Read | US roars back at China and North Korea, conducts test launch of ICBM Although surprised, astronomers think that the emergence is connected to the sun's magnetic field's regular reversal. A video was shared on Twitter by space weather specialist Tamitha Skov, who gave credit for its capture to NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. Tamitha wrote, "Talk about Polar Vortex! Material from a northern prominence just broke away from the main filament & is now circulating in a massive polar vortex around the north pole of our Star. Implications for understanding the Sun's atmospheric dynamics above 55° here cannot be overstated!" Also Read | Exclusive: Journalist who rescued minor domestic help in India's Gurgaon relives horror of abuse Talk about Polar Vortex! Material from a northern prominence just broke away from the main filament & is now circulating in a massive polar vortex around the north pole of our Star. Implications for understanding the Sun's atmospheric dynamics above 55° here cannot be overstated! pic.twitter.com/1SKhunaXvP — Dr. Tamitha Skov (@TamithaSkov) February 2, 2023 × This most recent development is of more worry to scientists since the Sun continues to produce solar flares, also known as prominences, which can occasionally obstruct communication on Earth. According to NASA, solar filaments are energetic particle clouds that float above the sun and are magnetically bonded together. These resemble long, suspended threads dangling from the sun's surface. Watch | Gravitas: Did Turkiye misuse Earthquake tax? A prominence like the one shared by Skov may be observed precisely at latitude 55 once every 11 years. The National Center for Atmospheric Research's deputy director and solar physicist Scott McIntosh told Space.com, "Once every solar cycle, it forms at the 55-degree latitude and it starts to march up to the solar poles. It's very curious. There is a big 'why' question around it. Why does it only move toward the pole one time and then disappears and then comes back, magically, three or four years later in exactly the same region?" 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.

WATCH | Giant portion of Sun 'breaks off', NASA captures moments in INCREDIBLE pics

SpaceX engineers in Texas cranked up the world's most powerful rocket, firing 31 methane-burning Raptor engines in the company's gargantuan Super Heavy booster for a seven-second test run to help clear the way for an unpiloted maiden flight as early as next month.

SpaceX test fires powerful super heavy booster

Earth observation satellite jointly developed by NASA and ISRO is all set to be shipped to India this month. India-NASA had joined hands in 2014 to build the 2,800 kilogram satellite 'NISAR', that will likely be launched from India early 2024.

NASA-ISRO satellite 'NISAR' to map earth's surface

<p>The Curiosity rover of NASA discovered wave-rippled rocks on planet Mars, which is evidence of the presence of an ancient lake, in a comparatively dry area, said the US space agency on Wednesday.&nbsp;"This is the best evidence of water and waves that we've seen in the entire mission," stated Ashwin Vasavada, who works as Curiosity's project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.</p>

<p>The rover, which has been exploring Mars since 2012, sent stunning pictures of rocks' surfaces covered with rippled patterns which seemed to have been created by the waves of a shallow lake almost billions of years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-webb-gets-photobombed-by-a-colosseum-sized-asteroid-559500/amp">NASA's Webb gets 'photobombed' by a Colosseum-sized asteroid</a></p>

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<p>The evidence that once parts of Mars were covered by lakes was previously discovered by Curiosity in the salty minerals that it left behind when the area dried up.</p>

<p>However, the scientists at NASA were surprised to discover such stark evidence of the presence of water in the Gale Crater, which is now being explored by the rover.</p>

<p>"We've climbed through many lake deposits during our mission but have never seen wave ripples this clearly. This was especially surprising because the area we're in probably formed at a time when Mars was becoming more dry," said Vasavada, in a statement.</p>

<p>The foothills of a three-mile (five-kilometre) tall mountain, which is called Mount Sharp, are being explored by the Curiosity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA stated that debris was also spotted by the rover in the valley, which the wet landslides on Mount Sharp had washed down.</p>

<p>"This landslide debris is probably the most recent evidence of water that we'll ever see. It will allow us to study layers higher up on Mount Sharp that we can't reach," Vasavada said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | NASA's Dart mission: The world's first planetary defence</strong></p>

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<p>NASA stated that a sort of "Martian timeline" has been provided by Mount Sharp to scientists with the presence of the oldest layers at the bottom and the youngest at the top.</p>

<p>This allows them to "study how Mars evolved from a planet that was more Earth-like in its ancient past, with a warmer climate and plentiful water, to the freezing desert it is today," it stated.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The Curiosity rover of NASA discovered wave-rippled rocks on planet Mars, which is evidence of the presence of an ancient lake, in a comparatively dry area, said the US space agency on Wednesday.

The Curiosity rover of NASA discovered wave-rippled rocks on planet Mars, which is evidence of the presence of an ancient lake, in a comparatively dry area, said the US space agency on Wednesday. "This is the best evidence of water and waves that we've seen in the entire mission," stated Ashwin Vasavada, who works as Curiosity's project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. The rover, which has been exploring Mars since 2012, sent stunning pictures of rocks' surfaces covered with rippled patterns which seemed to have been created by the waves of a shallow lake almost billions of years ago. ALSO READ | NASA's Webb gets 'photobombed' by a Colosseum-sized asteroid The evidence that once parts of Mars were covered by lakes was previously discovered by Curiosity in the salty minerals that it left behind when the area dried up. However, the scientists at NASA were surprised to discover such stark evidence of the presence of water in the Gale Crater, which is now being explored by the rover. "We've climbed through many lake deposits during our mission but have never seen wave ripples this clearly. This was especially surprising because the area we're in probably formed at a time when Mars was becoming more dry," said Vasavada, in a statement. The foothills of a three-mile (five-kilometre) tall mountain, which is called Mount Sharp, are being explored by the Curiosity. NASA stated that debris was also spotted by the rover in the valley, which the wet landslides on Mount Sharp had washed down. "This landslide debris is probably the most recent evidence of water that we'll ever see. It will allow us to study layers higher up on Mount Sharp that we can't reach," Vasavada said. WATCH | NASA's Dart mission: The world's first planetary defence NASA stated that a sort of "Martian timeline" has been provided by Mount Sharp to scientists with the presence of the oldest layers at the bottom and the youngest at the top. This allows them to "study how Mars evolved from a planet that was more Earth-like in its ancient past, with a warmer climate and plentiful water, to the freezing desert it is today," it stated. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

NASA's Curiosity rover discovers wave-rippled rocks on Mars

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<p>An asteroid, previously unknown and roughly the size of Rome's Colosseum has been detected by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. It is the smallest cosmic object that Webb has discovered to date.</p>

<p>NASA took to its social media handles to inform about the discovery saying the asteroid had photobombed the Webb telescope.</p>

<p>The asteroid is between 300 to 650 feet (100 to 200 meters) in length and was discovered by European astronomers using Webb's Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI). It was Webb's insane capability that a roughly 100-metre object at a distance of more than 100 million kilometres could be detected.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This is a fantastic result which highlights the capabilities of MIRI to serendipitously detect a previously undetectable size of asteroid in the main belt. Repeats of these observations are in the process of being scheduled, and we are fully expecting new asteroid interlopers in those images," said Thomas Müller, an astronomer at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-nasa-crashes-a-spacecraft-into-an-asteroid-520288"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;WION Fineprint | NASA crashes a spacecraft into an asteroid</strong></a></p>

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<p>The scientists informed that the main objective of the mission could not be achieved. However, after analysing the data, they "serendipitously detected" the new asteroid.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Our results show that even ‘failed’ Webb observations can be scientifically useful, if you have the right mindset and a little bit of luck," added Müller.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-alert-a-stadium-sized-space-rock-is-hurtling-towards-earth-365317" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Asteroid alert: A 'stadium sized' space rock is hurtling towards Earth</strong></a></p>

<p>The asteroid has been found in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The belt was first discovered by astronomers in 1998.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Teeny tiny photobomb! 📸<br />
<br />
Scientists found a surprise while looking through test data from Webb’s MIRI instrument. Webb serendipitously captured an asteroid (illustrated here) just 100-200 meters in length — likely its smallest object seen yet: <a href="https://t.co/3wuGJXhQpP">https://t.co/3wuGJXhQpP</a> <a href="https://t.co/JoBJE19lud">pic.twitter.com/JoBJE19lud</a></p>
— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1622612790350385153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The premier space agency added that more observations were required to better characterize the asteroid's nature and properties.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/an-asteroid-bigger-than-statue-of-unity-to-hurtle-dangerously-close-to-earth-503543" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: An asteroid bigger than Statue of Unity to hurtle dangerously close to Earth</strong></a></p>

<p>To this date, astronomers across the world have managed to determine the exact location of over 1.1 million asteroids. However, akin to the new asteroid discovered by Webb, many remain unknown. Webb's infrared telescope, the most powerful in the world could help find the location of the remaining.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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An asteroid, previously unknown and roughly the size of Rome's Colosseum has been detected by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. It is the smallest cosmic object that Webb has discovered to date.

An asteroid, previously unknown and roughly the size of Rome's Colosseum has been detected by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. It is the smallest cosmic object that Webb has discovered to date. NASA took to its social media handles to inform about the discovery saying the asteroid had photobombed the Webb telescope. The asteroid is between 300 to 650 feet (100 to 200 meters) in length and was discovered by European astronomers using Webb's Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI). It was Webb's insane capability that a roughly 100-metre object at a distance of more than 100 million kilometres could be detected. “This is a fantastic result which highlights the capabilities of MIRI to serendipitously detect a previously undetectable size of asteroid in the main belt. Repeats of these observations are in the process of being scheduled, and we are fully expecting new asteroid interlopers in those images," said Thomas Müller, an astronomer at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany. WATCH | WION Fineprint | NASA crashes a spacecraft into an asteroid × The scientists informed that the main objective of the mission could not be achieved. However, after analysing the data, they "serendipitously detected" the new asteroid. “Our results show that even ‘failed’ Webb observations can be scientifically useful, if you have the right mindset and a little bit of luck," added Müller. Read more: Asteroid alert: A 'stadium sized' space rock is hurtling towards Earth The asteroid has been found in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The belt was first discovered by astronomers in 1998. Teeny tiny photobomb! 📸 Scientists found a surprise while looking through test data from Webb’s MIRI instrument. Webb serendipitously captured an asteroid (illustrated here) just 100-200 meters in length — likely its smallest object seen yet: https://t.co/3wuGJXhQpP pic.twitter.com/JoBJE19lud — NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) February 6, 2023 × The premier space agency added that more observations were required to better characterize the asteroid's nature and properties. Read more: An asteroid bigger than Statue of Unity to hurtle dangerously close to Earth To this date, astronomers across the world have managed to determine the exact location of over 1.1 million asteroids. However, akin to the new asteroid discovered by Webb, many remain unknown. Webb's infrared telescope, the most powerful in the world could help find the location of the remaining. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

NASA's Webb gets 'photobombed' by a Colosseum-sized asteroid

<p>Two broken coconuts lay in the frame, as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) received a jar of peanuts from a top NASA official, at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in United States.</p>

<p>While the small jar of peanuts and coconuts in the photograph has gotten netizens going nuts, it is actually the sophisticated, space-grade science equipment (model of which is seen in the cover photograph) placed to the rear of the dignitaries, that must hog all the limelight.</p>

<p>Seen towards the rear of the frame is a model of the crucial component of the first-ever India-US joint satellite mission known as NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar(NISAR). The equipment was being accorded a ceremonial send-off from NASA"s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, by following the Indian tradition of breaking coconuts during an auspicious event and the NASA-JPL tradition of sharing "lucky peanuts" during a high-profile mission.</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. Since early 2021, engineers and technicians at JPL have been integrating and testing NISAR’s two radar systems – the L-band SAR provided by JPL and the S-band SAR built by ISRO.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Awesome animation by <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAJPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAJPL</a>, offers a glimpse into the impending(2024) launch of the 1st-ever<a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isro</a> collaborative satellite NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NISAR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NISAR</a> ,meant for imaging the earth every 12days &amp; helping predict disasters, track climate change etc<br />
🇮🇳🇺🇸🚀 <a href="https://t.co/boeeuq2NYb">pic.twitter.com/boeeuq2NYb</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1621888435140304896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>JPL, which is managed for NASA by Caltech in Pasadena, leads the U.S. component of the project and is providing the mission’s L-band SAR. NASA is also providing the radar reflector antenna, the deployable boom, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder, and a payload data subsystem. ISRO is providing the spacecraft bus, the S-band SAR, the launch vehicle, and associated launch services and satellite mission operations.</p>

<p>NISAR will gather radar data with a drum-shaped reflector antenna almost 40 feet (12 meters) in diameter. It will use a signal-processing technique called interferometric synthetic aperture radar, or InSAR, to observe changes on Earth, that can be used to predict natural disasters, track climate change.</p>

<p>"The observations NISAR makes will help researchers measure the ways in which Earth is constantly changing by detecting both subtle and dramatic movements. Slow-moving variations of a land surface can precede earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions, and data about such movement could help communities prepare for natural hazards. Measurements of melting sea ice and ice sheets will improve understanding of the pace and impacts of climate change, including sea level rise" said NASA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Over the course of its three-year prime mission, the satellite will observe nearly the entire planet every 12 days, making observations day and night, in all weather conditions. “Today we come one step closer to fulfilling the immense scientific potential NASA and ISRO envisioned for NISAR when we joined forces more than eight years ago,” Chairman, ISRO, Somanath said. JPL Director, Laurie Leshin said, "By delivering measurements at unprecedented precision, NISAR’s promise is new understanding and positive impact in communities. Our collaboration with ISRO exemplifies what’s possible when we tackle complex challenges together."</p>

<p>Later this month, NASA-JPL will move the SUV-size satellite payload into a special cargo container for a 9,000-mile (14,000-kilometer) flight to India’s U R Rao Satellite Centre in the city of Bengaluru. There it will be merged with the spacecraft bus(satellite structure) in preparation for a 2024 launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh state.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Two broken coconuts lay in the frame, as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) received a jar of peanuts from a top NASA official, at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in United States.

Two broken coconuts lay in the frame, as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) received a jar of peanuts from a top NASA official, at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in United States. While the small jar of peanuts and coconuts in the photograph has gotten netizens going nuts, it is actually the sophisticated, space-grade science equipment (model of which is seen in the cover photograph) placed to the rear of the dignitaries, that must hog all the limelight. Seen towards the rear of the frame is a model of the crucial component of the first-ever India-US joint satellite mission known as NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar(NISAR). The equipment was being accorded a ceremonial send-off from NASA"s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, by following the Indian tradition of breaking coconuts during an auspicious event and the NASA-JPL tradition of sharing "lucky peanuts" during a high-profile mission. 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. Since early 2021, engineers and technicians at JPL have been integrating and testing NISAR’s two radar systems – the L-band SAR provided by JPL and the S-band SAR built by ISRO. Awesome animation by @NASAJPL, offers a glimpse into the impending(2024) launch of the 1st-ever@NASA - @isro collaborative satellite NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar #NISAR ,meant for imaging the earth every 12days & helping predict disasters, track climate change etc 🇮🇳🇺🇸🚀 pic.twitter.com/boeeuq2NYb — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) February 4, 2023 × JPL, which is managed for NASA by Caltech in Pasadena, leads the U.S. component of the project and is providing the mission’s L-band SAR. NASA is also providing the radar reflector antenna, the deployable boom, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder, and a payload data subsystem. ISRO is providing the spacecraft bus, the S-band SAR, the launch vehicle, and associated launch services and satellite mission operations. NISAR will gather radar data with a drum-shaped reflector antenna almost 40 feet (12 meters) in diameter. It will use a signal-processing technique called interferometric synthetic aperture radar, or InSAR, to observe changes on Earth, that can be used to predict natural disasters, track climate change. "The observations NISAR makes will help researchers measure the ways in which Earth is constantly changing by detecting both subtle and dramatic movements. Slow-moving variations of a land surface can precede earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions, and data about such movement could help communities prepare for natural hazards. Measurements of melting sea ice and ice sheets will improve understanding of the pace and impacts of climate change, including sea level rise" said NASA. Over the course of its three-year prime mission, the satellite will observe nearly the entire planet every 12 days, making observations day and night, in all weather conditions. “Today we come one step closer to fulfilling the immense scientific potential NASA and ISRO envisioned for NISAR when we joined forces more than eight years ago,” Chairman, ISRO, Somanath said. JPL Director, Laurie Leshin said, "By delivering measurements at unprecedented precision, NISAR’s promise is new understanding and positive impact in communities. Our collaboration with ISRO exemplifies what’s possible when we tackle complex challenges together." Later this month, NASA-JPL will move the SUV-size satellite payload into a special cargo container for a 9,000-mile (14,000-kilometer) flight to India’s U R Rao Satellite Centre in the city of Bengaluru. There it will be merged with the spacecraft bus(satellite structure) in preparation for a 2024 launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh state. 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.

Coconuts broken, lucky peanuts shared; NASA-ISRO Satellite 'NISAR' getting ready for 2024 launch

Earth observation satellite jointly developed by NASA and ISRO is all set to be shipped to India later this month. India-NASA had joined hands in 2014 to build the 2,800 kilogram satellite 'NISAR', that will likely be launched from India in September.

NASA-ISRO satellite ready: India, US' 'Nisar' to be shipped to Bengaluru for its launch

The future Israeli lunar mission Beresheet 2, which is anticipated to launch in 2025, will confirm Israel's desire to visit the moon, according to an agreement reached on Wednesday between the Israeli Space Agency and NASA. Three spacecraft make up the mission: an orbital vehicle that will stay in orbit and two landers that will touch down on the moon.

NASA and Israel Space agency to collaborate on Spaceil Beresheet 2

<p>The internet is abuzz with mentions of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) a.k.a., the green comet, which on Wednesday could be seen with the naked eye.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per NASA, the comet paid our planet a visit after a good 50,000 years. It was a rare feast for stargazers and astronomers alike as people around the globe witnessed the astronomical event.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;WION Fineprint: Rare Green comet visible from Earth after 50,000 years</strong></p>

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<p>It was a one-in-a-million sight — in a very literal sense — as estimates say that the next possible sighting won't happen for millions of years.</p>

<p>The comet passed just 26 million miles (or 42 million kilometres) from Earth.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/james-webb-space-telescope-found-water-ice-in-the-rings-of-a-distant-asteroid-557416">James Webb Space Telescope found water ice in the rings of a distant asteroid</a></strong></p>

<p>For those of us who were otherwise occupied or plain lazy to go out and try to spot the comet, some stargazers have&nbsp;managed to capture videos and images of the amazing sight. These captures are all over social media.</p>

<p>Let's take a look at a few of them:</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">c/2022 e3 (ZTF), which has not been seen since the Homo Sapiens, will be at its highest point 58° N @ 9:46pm (EST) and will disappear 30° N @ 5:46am. Have a look because you’ll never see this again! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreenComet?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GreenComet</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Space</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CometC2022E3?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CometC2022E3</a> <a href="https://t.co/hsRk3A2rn7">pic.twitter.com/hsRk3A2rn7</a></p>
— johnnymorleyy (@johnnymorleyy) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnnymorleyy/status/1620832595520147457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Green comet will be seen after 50,000 Years. So many humans have come to this world and gone during this time. And it will continue for billions of years.</p>
— KRK (@kamaalrkhan) <a href="https://twitter.com/kamaalrkhan/status/1620831050145435667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I ran out at 3:30 am to grab a couple images of comet c/2022 e3 (ztf) or the "green comet" you may have seen or heard about recently. Today is it's closest approach to Earth but still 26 MILLION miles away. It's still very very dim, and you'll need binoculars to find it. <a href="https://t.co/k6SCVtZkMt">pic.twitter.com/k6SCVtZkMt</a></p>
— Tyler Leavitt of tslclick (@tslclick) <a href="https://twitter.com/tslclick/status/1620832130514444290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">LETS FUCKING GO THE WEATHER IS CLEAR TONIGHT AND I HAVE A RIDE IM GONNA GO SEE THE GREEN COMET 💥💥💥</p>
— jack! || c0mms open (@ahdkshaX) <a href="https://twitter.com/ahdkshaX/status/1620829946825555968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Green comet visible for the 1st time in 50,000 years later today. The comet was last seen during the Stone Age. It allegedly left to buy a pack of cigarettes <a href="https://t.co/lbz4iBrw00">pic.twitter.com/lbz4iBrw00</a></p>
— Def Noodles (@defnoodles) <a href="https://twitter.com/defnoodles/status/1620832695881461763?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I found you 🔭 ☄️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CometaZTF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CometaZTF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cometaverde?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cometaverde</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/greencomet?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#greencomet</a> <a href="https://t.co/AxXpro2Wbp">pic.twitter.com/AxXpro2Wbp</a></p>
— XavØ (@Javick01) <a href="https://twitter.com/Javick01/status/1620715483766071296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Did anybody see that green comet?</p>
— Janak Dave (@JanakYDave) <a href="https://twitter.com/JanakYDave/status/1620829250399113218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tried to photograph the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/greencomet?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#greencomet</a> at 4am. A bit cloudy on Denton Rd. but cold and clear at Lake Desolation. No luck seeing it even w/binoculars so pointed camera where it was supposed to be. Think this tiny pale fuzz is it so a visual bust compared to Neowise in 2020, right. <a href="https://t.co/qSc0HnzV0e">pic.twitter.com/qSc0HnzV0e</a></p>
— Ed Burke (@EdBurkeToga) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdBurkeToga/status/1620827225439490049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Is anyone seeing the Green Comet??</p>
— Dr Whale (@dr_whale) <a href="https://twitter.com/dr_whale/status/1620828542258008066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to NASA's Paul Chodas, While plenty of comets have graced the sky over the past year, "this one seems probably a little bit bigger and therefore a little bit brighter and it’s coming a little bit closer to the Earth’s orbit".</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/green-comet-2023-check-date-time-and-location-know-when-and-how-to-view-the-rare-shooting-star-557606">Green Comet 2023: Check date, visible time and location; know when and how to view the rare shooting star</a></strong></p>

<p>The comet owes its green colour to its chemical composition which as per reports is a result of a clash between sunlight and carbon-based molecules in the comet's coma.</p>

<p>A comet's coma refers to the cloud of gases that surrounds the nucleus of a comet.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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The internet is abuzz with mentions of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) a.k.a., the green comet, which on Wednesday could be seen with the naked eye. As per NASA, the comet paid our planet a visit after a good 50,000 years.

The internet is abuzz with mentions of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) a.k.a., the green comet, which on Wednesday could be seen with the naked eye. As per NASA, the comet paid our planet a visit after a good 50,000 years. It was a rare feast for stargazers and astronomers alike as people around the globe witnessed the astronomical event. Watch | WION Fineprint: Rare Green comet visible from Earth after 50,000 years It was a one-in-a-million sight — in a very literal sense — as estimates say that the next possible sighting won't happen for millions of years. The comet passed just 26 million miles (or 42 million kilometres) from Earth. Also read | James Webb Space Telescope found water ice in the rings of a distant asteroid For those of us who were otherwise occupied or plain lazy to go out and try to spot the comet, some stargazers have managed to capture videos and images of the amazing sight. These captures are all over social media. Let's take a look at a few of them: c/2022 e3 (ZTF), which has not been seen since the Homo Sapiens, will be at its highest point 58° N @ 9:46pm (EST) and will disappear 30° N @ 5:46am. Have a look because you’ll never see this again! #GreenComet #Space #CometC2022E3 pic.twitter.com/hsRk3A2rn7 — johnnymorleyy (@johnnymorleyy) February 1, 2023 × Green comet will be seen after 50,000 Years. So many humans have come to this world and gone during this time. And it will continue for billions of years. — KRK (@kamaalrkhan) February 1, 2023 × I ran out at 3:30 am to grab a couple images of comet c/2022 e3 (ztf) or the "green comet" you may have seen or heard about recently. Today is it's closest approach to Earth but still 26 MILLION miles away. It's still very very dim, and you'll need binoculars to find it. pic.twitter.com/k6SCVtZkMt — Tyler Leavitt of tslclick (@tslclick) February 1, 2023 × LETS FUCKING GO THE WEATHER IS CLEAR TONIGHT AND I HAVE A RIDE IM GONNA GO SEE THE GREEN COMET 💥💥💥 — jack! || c0mms open (@ahdkshaX) February 1, 2023 × Green comet visible for the 1st time in 50,000 years later today. The comet was last seen during the Stone Age. It allegedly left to buy a pack of cigarettes pic.twitter.com/lbz4iBrw00 — Def Noodles (@defnoodles) February 1, 2023 × I found you 🔭 ☄️ #CometaZTF #cometaverde #greencomet pic.twitter.com/AxXpro2Wbp — XavØ (@Javick01) February 1, 2023 × Did anybody see that green comet? — Janak Dave (@JanakYDave) February 1, 2023 × Tried to photograph the #greencomet at 4am. A bit cloudy on Denton Rd. but cold and clear at Lake Desolation. No luck seeing it even w/binoculars so pointed camera where it was supposed to be. Think this tiny pale fuzz is it so a visual bust compared to Neowise in 2020, right. pic.twitter.com/qSc0HnzV0e — Ed Burke (@EdBurkeToga) February 1, 2023 × Is anyone seeing the Green Comet?? — Dr Whale (@dr_whale) February 1, 2023 × According to NASA's Paul Chodas, While plenty of comets have graced the sky over the past year, "this one seems probably a little bit bigger and therefore a little bit brighter and it’s coming a little bit closer to the Earth’s orbit". Also read | Green Comet 2023: Check date, visible time and location; know when and how to view the rare shooting star The comet owes its green colour to its chemical composition which as per reports is a result of a clash between sunlight and carbon-based molecules in the comet's coma. A comet's coma refers to the cloud of gases that surrounds the nucleus of a comet. (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.

For those who missed the green comet, here are breathtaking videos, images of the rare astronomical sight

<p>A bizarre blue 'mysterious flying spiral' was captured in the Hawaiian sky by a Japanese telescope camera. The spiral appeared to be otherworldly at the first glance, but there's more to it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Subaru-Asahi Star Camera captured the eerie video, which disappeared within seconds. It was seen over Maunakea, Hawaii on January 18 at 7:24am (EST).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/delivery-truck-size-asteroid-to-pass-near-earth-in-one-of-the-closest-encounters-ever-556229">Truck-sized asteroid to pass near Earth in one of the closest encounters ever</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Social media users were intrigued by the video and sought the reason behind the stunning spiral formation. Some users didn't leave the fun opportunity to make "alien" and "spaceship" jokes. One Twitter user even wrote, "Andromeda has arrived 4 billion years early!!"&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">On Jan 18, 2023 (HST), the Subaru-Asahi Star Camera captured a mysterious flying spiral over Maunakea, Hawai`i. The spiral seems to be related to the SpaceX company's launch of a new satellite.<br />
Watch the video:<a href="https://t.co/851Gz7VojV">https://t.co/851Gz7VojV</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SubaruTelescope?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SubaruTelescope</a> <a href="https://t.co/Np58fxpX9e">pic.twitter.com/Np58fxpX9e</a></p>
— Subaru Telescope Eng (@SubaruTel_Eng) <a href="https://twitter.com/SubaruTel_Eng/status/1616178989118144512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>What was that exactly?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>However, the spiral seems to be related to the SpaceX company's launch of a new satellite. Reports mentioned that SpaceX launched a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) into space for the US Space Force on January 18.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports have mentioned that such spirals have been seen in the past as well. It mostly appears as the upper stage of Falcon 9 dumps excess fuel when it falls into the ocean.</p>

<p>On Thursday (January 26), SpaceX launched 56 Starlink satellites into orbit, and minutes later the booster landed on a drone ship stationed in the Atlantic.&nbsp;</p>

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A bizarre blue 'mysterious flying spiral' was captured in the Hawaiian sky by a Japanese telescope camera. The spiral appeared to be otherworldly at the first glance, but there's more to it.

A bizarre blue 'mysterious flying spiral' was captured in the Hawaiian sky by a Japanese telescope camera. The spiral appeared to be otherworldly at the first glance, but there's more to it. The Subaru-Asahi Star Camera captured the eerie video, which disappeared within seconds. It was seen over Maunakea, Hawaii on January 18 at 7:24am (EST). ALSO READ | Truck-sized asteroid to pass near Earth in one of the closest encounters ever Social media users were intrigued by the video and sought the reason behind the stunning spiral formation. Some users didn't leave the fun opportunity to make "alien" and "spaceship" jokes. One Twitter user even wrote, "Andromeda has arrived 4 billion years early!!" On Jan 18, 2023 (HST), the Subaru-Asahi Star Camera captured a mysterious flying spiral over Maunakea, Hawai`i. The spiral seems to be related to the SpaceX company's launch of a new satellite. Watch the video:https://t.co/851Gz7VojV#SubaruTelescope pic.twitter.com/Np58fxpX9e — Subaru Telescope Eng (@SubaruTel_Eng) January 19, 2023 × × What was that exactly? However, the spiral seems to be related to the SpaceX company's launch of a new satellite. Reports mentioned that SpaceX launched a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) into space for the US Space Force on January 18. Reports have mentioned that such spirals have been seen in the past as well. It mostly appears as the upper stage of Falcon 9 dumps excess fuel when it falls into the ocean. On Thursday (January 26), SpaceX launched 56 Starlink satellites into orbit, and minutes later the booster landed on a drone ship stationed in the Atlantic. 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.

WATCH | 'Mysterious' flying spiral in Hawaii sky baffles people. It's not what you think!

NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a research arm of the US Department of Defense, have unveiled plans to test nuclear-powered rockets that would one day fly humans to Mars.

Is NASA planning to test a nuclear-powered rocket engine?

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that it was collaborating with the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) to build and demonstrate in space a nuclear thermal rocket engine. Neha Khanna tells you more in this report.

WION Fineprint: NASA announces plans for a nuclear rocket

<p>NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a research arm of the US Department of Defense, have unveiled plans to test nuclear-powered rockets that would one day fly humans to Mars.</p>

<p>Announcing the ambitious plans on Tuesday, the space agency said that it will partner with DARPA on the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations, or DRACO, programme. It is slated to happen by 2027.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;NASA's Mars Perseverance rover finds samples of Microbial life on mars</strong></p>

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<p>"NASA will work with our long-term partner, DARPA, to develop and demonstrate advanced nuclear thermal propulsion technology as soon as 2027," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson as he announced the mission.</p>

<p>"With the help of this new technology, astronauts could journey to and from deep space faster than ever—a major capability to prepare for crewed missions to Mars," he explained.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The nuclear thermal rocket, as per the NASA website, will allow for a " faster transit time" and will also reduce the risk for astronauts.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/india-based-telescope-detects-faint-radio-signal-from-an-extremely-distant-galaxy-553716">India-based telescope detects faint radio signal from an extremely distant galaxy</a></strong></p>

<p>Reducing transit time is fundamental to human missions to the red planet. This is because a longer transit time means more supplies and more robust systems.</p>

<p>The current technology allows for the 225 million-kilometre average distance journey from Earth to Mars to be completed in about seven months. While the estimated time using a nuclear thermal rocket engine is not known, as per the NASA Administrator, it would allow astronauts to undertake the "journey to and from deep space faster than ever".</p>

<p>Before this, NASA had last tested a nuclear thermal rocket engine in the mid-19th century, some 50 years back.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rare-and-exciting-find-international-team-of-researchers-discover-8kg-meteorite-in-antarctica-555001">'Rare and exciting' find: International team of researchers discover meteorite weighing 8 kg in Antarctica</a></strong></p>

<p>"Congratulations to both NASA and DARPA on this exciting investment, as we ignite the future, together," said Nelson.</p>

<p>The engine would rely on a nuclear reactor and will use atomic fission to heat up the propellant, which will provide thrust to the rocket. This as per NASA will be around three times more efficient than the chemical propulsion technology currently in use.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a research arm of the US Department of Defense, have unveiled plans to test nuclear-powered rockets that would one day fly humans to Mars. Announcing the ambitious plans on Tuesday, the space agency said that it will partner with DARPA on the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations, or DRACO, programme. It is slated to happen by 2027. Watch | NASA's Mars Perseverance rover finds samples of Microbial life on mars "NASA will work with our long-term partner, DARPA, to develop and demonstrate advanced nuclear thermal propulsion technology as soon as 2027," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson as he announced the mission. "With the help of this new technology, astronauts could journey to and from deep space faster than ever—a major capability to prepare for crewed missions to Mars," he explained. The nuclear thermal rocket, as per the NASA website, will allow for a " faster transit time" and will also reduce the risk for astronauts. Also read | India-based telescope detects faint radio signal from an extremely distant galaxy Reducing transit time is fundamental to human missions to the red planet. This is because a longer transit time means more supplies and more robust systems. The current technology allows for the 225 million-kilometre average distance journey from Earth to Mars to be completed in about seven months. While the estimated time using a nuclear thermal rocket engine is not known, as per the NASA Administrator, it would allow astronauts to undertake the "journey to and from deep space faster than ever". Before this, NASA had last tested a nuclear thermal rocket engine in the mid-19th century, some 50 years back. Also read | 'Rare and exciting' find: International team of researchers discover meteorite weighing 8 kg in Antarctica "Congratulations to both NASA and DARPA on this exciting investment, as we ignite the future, together," said Nelson. The engine would rely on a nuclear reactor and will use atomic fission to heat up the propellant, which will provide thrust to the rocket. This as per NASA will be around three times more efficient than the chemical propulsion technology currently in use. (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 to test 'DRACO', a nuclear power rocket engine that'll send humans to Mars ‘faster than ever'

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