<p>We all have seen alien movies. The space-faring adventurers often encounter them somewhere in the universe. The first conversation is always gibberish, with strange noises made by the aliens that can sound anything between a frightening hum to some electronic buzz that resembles children's video games. Creative imagination runs wild when it comes to representing alien worlds.</p>

<p>But if a legit space noise sounded not far away from these seemingly imaginative works, it's often scary. NASA has released noises captured near Jupiter's moon Ganymede.</p>

<p>Ganymede is the largest moon in our solar system. It is so large that it size dwarfs Mercury, a full-fledged planet. Ganymede also has its own magnetic field, something that other moons in solar system can't boast of.</p>

<p>NASA's Juno spacecraft is in Jupiter's neighbourhood and making its observations. Earlier this year, Juno captured Ganymede's electromagnetic waves.</p>

<p>NASA has converted these waves into sound and has released what can be perhaps scientifically considered as sound of Ganymede. The eerie audio has been released. Check out</p>

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<p>Scientists believe that Ganymede has oceans below ice on its surface. They think that life may even exist in these alien waters. So was an alien heard calling out to humanity in the sound clip? Hear again and take a guess.</p>


We all have seen alien movies. The space-faring adventurers often encounter them somewhere in the universe. The first conversation is always gibberish, with strange noises made by the aliens that can sound anything between a frightening hum to some electronic buzz that resembles children's video games.

We all have seen alien movies. The space-faring adventurers often encounter them somewhere in the universe. The first conversation is always gibberish, with strange noises made by the aliens that can sound anything between a frightening hum to some electronic buzz that resembles children's video games. Creative imagination runs wild when it comes to representing alien worlds. But if a legit space noise sounded not far away from these seemingly imaginative works, it's often scary. NASA has released noises captured near Jupiter's moon Ganymede. Ganymede is the largest moon in our solar system. It is so large that it size dwarfs Mercury, a full-fledged planet. Ganymede also has its own magnetic field, something that other moons in solar system can't boast of. NASA's Juno spacecraft is in Jupiter's neighbourhood and making its observations. Earlier this year, Juno captured Ganymede's electromagnetic waves. NASA has converted these waves into sound and has released what can be perhaps scientifically considered as sound of Ganymede. The eerie audio has been released. Check out × Scientists believe that Ganymede has oceans below ice on its surface. They think that life may even exist in these alien waters. So was an alien heard calling out to humanity in the sound clip? Hear again and take a guess.

NASA releases eerie sounds captured near Jupiter's moon Ganymede

<p>In what can be considered as a Christmas present for the world, NASA is looking to launch its new space telescope on coming Friday, which also happens to be 'Christmas Eve'. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Friday, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that the agency will blast off the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope on December 24. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/long-extinct-volcano-on-mars-perseverance-rovers-new-discoveries-a-treasure-trove-for-future-scientists-437540" hreflang="en">'Long-extinct volcano on Mars?': Perseverance rover's new discoveries a treasure trove for future scientists</a></strong></p>

<p>In the endeavour, a European Ariane rocket will lift it from French Guiana. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Considered to be the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, the Webb was supposed to soar on Saturday. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This just in from the Kourou Spaceport: The team is still hard at work encapsulating the <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAWebb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAWebb</a> telescope for launch. We will keep you posted. <a href="https://t.co/9bBxoy6IJD">https://t.co/9bBxoy6IJD</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1471993888239988748?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>At first, the launch was jolted by a clamp during preparations, which led to a four-day delay and then a bad communication link on the rocket postponed it by another two days. &nbsp;</p>

<p>After a last round of testing, US and European space officials signed off on Friday on the date of launch. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientist-find-reason-why-solar-storms-decreased-in-last-decade-437485" hreflang="en">Scientist find reason why solar storms decreased in last decade</a></p>

<p>Liftoff has been scheduled for 7.20 am EST. Due to holidays, Nelson expects a small crowd at the launch site. "Since it's Christmas Eve, all the congressional delegations that were going down, all of that has evaporated," Nelson told The Associated Press. &nbsp;</p>

<p>On the mega project, NASA has partnered with the European and Canadian space agencies. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Nelson said, “There's so much riding on this." &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


In what can be considered as a Christmas present for the world, NASA is looking to launch its new space telescope on coming Friday, which also happens to be 'Christmas Eve'.

In what can be considered as a Christmas present for the world, NASA is looking to launch its new space telescope on coming Friday, which also happens to be 'Christmas Eve'. On Friday, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that the agency will blast off the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope on December 24. Also Read | 'Long-extinct volcano on Mars?': Perseverance rover's new discoveries a treasure trove for future scientists In the endeavour, a European Ariane rocket will lift it from French Guiana. Considered to be the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, the Webb was supposed to soar on Saturday. This just in from the Kourou Spaceport: The team is still hard at work encapsulating the @NASAWebb telescope for launch. We will keep you posted. https://t.co/9bBxoy6IJD — NASA (@NASA) December 18, 2021 × At first, the launch was jolted by a clamp during preparations, which led to a four-day delay and then a bad communication link on the rocket postponed it by another two days. After a last round of testing, US and European space officials signed off on Friday on the date of launch. Also Read: Scientist find reason why solar storms decreased in last decade Liftoff has been scheduled for 7.20 am EST. Due to holidays, Nelson expects a small crowd at the launch site. "Since it's Christmas Eve, all the congressional delegations that were going down, all of that has evaporated," Nelson told The Associated Press. On the mega project, NASA has partnered with the European and Canadian space agencies. Nelson said, “There's so much riding on this." (With inputs from agencies)

Finally, NASA to launch $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope on Christmas Eve

<p>NASA's Juno Mission has captured stunning images of Jupiter's moon Ganymede.</p>

<p>Juno’s Ganymede Flyby has released a 50-second animation that provides an auditory as well as a visual glimpse at data collected by the mission.</p>

<p>According to&nbsp;Scott Bolton, Juno's principal investigator at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, "This soundtrack is just wild enough to make you feel as if you were riding along as Juno sails past Ganymede for the first time in more than two decades."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-issue-dire-warning-about-suns-instability-after-eruption-of-dragon-star-437437" hreflang="en">Scientists issue dire warning about Sun's instability after eruption of 'Dragon' star</a></strong></p>

<p>"If you listen closely, you can hear the abrupt change to higher frequencies around the midpoint of the recording, which represents entry into a different region in Ganymede's magnetosphere."</p>

<p>"It is possible the change in the frequency shortly after closest approach is due to passing from the nightside to the dayside of Ganymede," said William Kurth, lead co-investigator of the Waves instrument, who is based at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, in a statement.</p>

<p>NASA’s Galileo spacecraft flew by Ganymede in the 1990s and confirmed the presence of an interior ocean, also finding evidence for salty water perhaps from the salt known as magnesium sulfate.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/too-many-launchings-federal-aviation-administration-to-stop-providing-commercial-astronaut-wings-436015" hreflang="en">'Too many launchings': Federal Aviation Administration to stop providing commercial astronaut wings</a></strong></p>

<p>Ganymede, which with its diameter of about 3,300 miles (5,300 km), is the largest moon in the solar system and is bigger than the planet Mercury.</p>

<p>Ganymede boasts a lot of water, perhaps 25 times the volume of Earth’s oceans. Its oceans are estimated to be about 500 miles (800 km) deep.</p>

<p>Ganymede is one of five moons in the solar system thought to have oceans hidden below icy surfaces. Two other moons, Europa and Callisto, orbit the big gas planet Jupiter. The moons Titan and Enceladus circle the ringed gas planet Saturn.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA's Juno Mission has captured stunning images of Jupiter's moon Ganymede. Juno’s Ganymede Flyby has released a 50-second animation that provides an auditory as well as a visual glimpse at data collected by the mission.

NASA's Juno Mission has captured stunning images of Jupiter's moon Ganymede. Juno’s Ganymede Flyby has released a 50-second animation that provides an auditory as well as a visual glimpse at data collected by the mission. According to Scott Bolton, Juno's principal investigator at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, "This soundtrack is just wild enough to make you feel as if you were riding along as Juno sails past Ganymede for the first time in more than two decades." Also read | Scientists issue dire warning about Sun's instability after eruption of 'Dragon' star "If you listen closely, you can hear the abrupt change to higher frequencies around the midpoint of the recording, which represents entry into a different region in Ganymede's magnetosphere." "It is possible the change in the frequency shortly after closest approach is due to passing from the nightside to the dayside of Ganymede," said William Kurth, lead co-investigator of the Waves instrument, who is based at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, in a statement. NASA’s Galileo spacecraft flew by Ganymede in the 1990s and confirmed the presence of an interior ocean, also finding evidence for salty water perhaps from the salt known as magnesium sulfate. Also read | 'Too many launchings': Federal Aviation Administration to stop providing commercial astronaut wings Ganymede, which with its diameter of about 3,300 miles (5,300 km), is the largest moon in the solar system and is bigger than the planet Mercury. Ganymede boasts a lot of water, perhaps 25 times the volume of Earth’s oceans. Its oceans are estimated to be about 500 miles (800 km) deep. Ganymede is one of five moons in the solar system thought to have oceans hidden below icy surfaces. Two other moons, Europa and Callisto, orbit the big gas planet Jupiter. The moons Titan and Enceladus circle the ringed gas planet Saturn. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's Juno captures breathtaking images of Jupiter's moon Ganymede

<p>Is there water on Mars? Is there life on Mars?</p>

<p>These and several other questions have intrigued space scientists and common people on Earth for a very long time. Meanwhile, scientific advancements related to Mars missions have divulged stunning information, decoding the Red Planet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest findings by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover revealed that the site where the explorer has been driving on since landing in February likely formed from red-hot magma.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA has noted that the crucial findings will help in accurately dating the critical events in the history of Jezero Crater, as well as the rest of the planet.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The bedrock of Mars's Jezero Crater, across which <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAPersevere?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAPersevere</a> has rolled for nearly 10 months, appears to have been formed from red-hot magma—possibly from a long-dormant Martian volcano: <a href="https://t.co/eZTESCE59P">https://t.co/eZTESCE59P</a> <a href="https://t.co/9FKcR6nXQd">pic.twitter.com/9FKcR6nXQd</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1471271652491157507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-issue-dire-warning-about-suns-instability-after-eruption-of-dragon-star-437437">Scientists issue dire warning about Sun's instability after eruption of 'Dragon' star</a></strong></p>

<p>Scientists who are studying the samples the latest findings said that the rocks in the crater have interacted with water multiple times over the aeons and that some contain organic molecules.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The findings were presented during a news briefing at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in New Orleans on Wednesday (December 15). Perseverance Project Scientist Ken Farley of Caltech in Pasadena said, "I was beginning to despair we would never find the answer."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"But then our PIXL instrument got a good look at the abraded patch of a rock from the area nicknamed 'South Séítah,' and it all became clear: The crystals within the rock provided the smoking gun," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/the-other-corona-know-about-the-suns-atmosphere-touched-by-a-man-made-probe-for-the-first-time-437155" hreflang="en">The other Corona: Know about the Sun's atmosphere 'touched' by a man-made probe for the first time</a></strong></p>

<p>"A good geology student will tell you that such a texture indicates the rock formed when crystals grew and settled in a slowly cooling magma – for example a thick lava flow, lava lake, or magma chamber,"&nbsp;said Farley.</p>

<p>"The rock was then altered by water several times, making it a treasure trove that will allow future scientists to date events in Jezero, better understand the period in which water was more common on its surface, and reveal the early history of the planet. Mars Sample Return is going to have great stuff to choose from!" he added.&nbsp;</p>

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<p><strong>How does Perseverance collect samples?</strong></p>

<p>Perseverance rover is on a multi-mission - Mars Sample Return - as it is collecting Martian rock samples in search of ancient microscopic life. The mission seeks to bring select tubes back to Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The samples will provide future scientists to study them with powerful lab equipment far too large to send to Mars.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To collect the sample, the drill at the end of Perseverance's robotic arm grind the rock surfaces to allow other instruments, such as Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) to study them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>PIXL uses X-ray fluorescence to map the elemental composition of rocks.</p>


Is there water on Mars? Is there life on Mars? These and several other questions have intrigued space scientists and common people on Earth for a very long time.

Is there water on Mars? Is there life on Mars? These and several other questions have intrigued space scientists and common people on Earth for a very long time. Meanwhile, scientific advancements related to Mars missions have divulged stunning information, decoding the Red Planet. The latest findings by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover revealed that the site where the explorer has been driving on since landing in February likely formed from red-hot magma. NASA has noted that the crucial findings will help in accurately dating the critical events in the history of Jezero Crater, as well as the rest of the planet. The bedrock of Mars's Jezero Crater, across which @NASAPersevere has rolled for nearly 10 months, appears to have been formed from red-hot magma—possibly from a long-dormant Martian volcano: https://t.co/eZTESCE59P pic.twitter.com/9FKcR6nXQd — NASA (@NASA) December 16, 2021 × ALSO READ | Scientists issue dire warning about Sun's instability after eruption of 'Dragon' star Scientists who are studying the samples the latest findings said that the rocks in the crater have interacted with water multiple times over the aeons and that some contain organic molecules. The findings were presented during a news briefing at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in New Orleans on Wednesday (December 15). Perseverance Project Scientist Ken Farley of Caltech in Pasadena said, "I was beginning to despair we would never find the answer." "But then our PIXL instrument got a good look at the abraded patch of a rock from the area nicknamed 'South Séítah,' and it all became clear: The crystals within the rock provided the smoking gun," he added. ALSO READ | The other Corona: Know about the Sun's atmosphere 'touched' by a man-made probe for the first time "A good geology student will tell you that such a texture indicates the rock formed when crystals grew and settled in a slowly cooling magma – for example a thick lava flow, lava lake, or magma chamber," said Farley. "The rock was then altered by water several times, making it a treasure trove that will allow future scientists to date events in Jezero, better understand the period in which water was more common on its surface, and reveal the early history of the planet. Mars Sample Return is going to have great stuff to choose from!" he added. × How does Perseverance collect samples? Perseverance rover is on a multi-mission - Mars Sample Return - as it is collecting Martian rock samples in search of ancient microscopic life. The mission seeks to bring select tubes back to Earth. The samples will provide future scientists to study them with powerful lab equipment far too large to send to Mars. To collect the sample, the drill at the end of Perseverance's robotic arm grind the rock surfaces to allow other instruments, such as Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) to study them. PIXL uses X-ray fluorescence to map the elemental composition of rocks.

'Long-extinct volcano on Mars?': Perseverance rover's new discoveries a treasure trove for future scientists

For the first time in human history, a spacecraft has made contact with the sun. NASA's Parker Solar Probe flew into the sun's atmosphere. Palki Sharma tells you how the probe is unlocking the secrets of the sun.

Gravitas: A NASA spacecraft has reached the sun

<p>A NASA spacecraft has officially "touched" the sun, falling through the corona, an unknown region of the solar atmosphere.</p>

<p>Scientists made the announcement at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union on Tuesday.</p>

<p>During the Parker Solar Probe's seventh close encounter to the sun in April, the spacecraft sailed through the corona.</p>

<p>The data took a few months to arrive, and then several more months to confirm, according to the scientists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When Parker first crossed the jagged, uneven boundary between the solar atmosphere and outgoing solar wind, it was 8 million miles (13 million kilometres) from the sun's centre.</p>

<p>According to scientists, the spacecraft dipped in and out of the corona at least three times, each time with a smooth transition.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>"The Parker Solar Probe "touching the Sun" is a monumental moment for solar science and a truly remarkable feat," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA Headquarters in Washington.</p>

<p>"Not only does this milestone provide us with deeper insights into our Sun's evolution and it's impacts on our solar system, but everything we learn about our own star also teaches us more about stars in the rest of the universe."<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/want-to-space-travel-nasa-awards-4156-million-for-new-space-hubs-where-people-can-visit-live-work-433693"><strong>Also read | Want to space travel? NASA awards $415.6 million for new space hubs where people can visit, live, work</strong></a></p>

<p>According to the statement issued by the NASA, Parker is finding new discoveries that other spacecraft couldn't observe because they were too far away, including from within the solar wind, which is the flow of particles from the Sun that can affect us on Earth.</p>

<p>Parker revealed in 2019 that magnetic zig-zag formations in the solar wind, known as switchbacks, are abundant near the Sun.</p>

<p>However, it remained a mystery as to how and where they formed.</p>

<p>Parker Solar Probe has now travelled close enough to identify one spot where they originate: the solar surface, after halving the distance to the Sun since then.</p>

<p>The first flyby into the corona – and the promise of many to come – will continue to deliver information on processes that are difficult to examine from afar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Until its grand finale orbit in 2025, Parker will continue to get closer to the sun and dive deeper into the corona.</p>

<p>The American Physical Society also published the latest findings.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A NASA spacecraft has officially "touched" the sun, falling through the corona, an unknown region of the solar atmosphere. Scientists made the announcement at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union on Tuesday.

A NASA spacecraft has officially "touched" the sun, falling through the corona, an unknown region of the solar atmosphere. Scientists made the announcement at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union on Tuesday. During the Parker Solar Probe's seventh close encounter to the sun in April, the spacecraft sailed through the corona. The data took a few months to arrive, and then several more months to confirm, according to the scientists. When Parker first crossed the jagged, uneven boundary between the solar atmosphere and outgoing solar wind, it was 8 million miles (13 million kilometres) from the sun's centre. According to scientists, the spacecraft dipped in and out of the corona at least three times, each time with a smooth transition. × "The Parker Solar Probe "touching the Sun" is a monumental moment for solar science and a truly remarkable feat," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Not only does this milestone provide us with deeper insights into our Sun's evolution and it's impacts on our solar system, but everything we learn about our own star also teaches us more about stars in the rest of the universe." Also read | Want to space travel? NASA awards $415.6 million for new space hubs where people can visit, live, work According to the statement issued by the NASA, Parker is finding new discoveries that other spacecraft couldn't observe because they were too far away, including from within the solar wind, which is the flow of particles from the Sun that can affect us on Earth. Parker revealed in 2019 that magnetic zig-zag formations in the solar wind, known as switchbacks, are abundant near the Sun. However, it remained a mystery as to how and where they formed. Parker Solar Probe has now travelled close enough to identify one spot where they originate: the solar surface, after halving the distance to the Sun since then. The first flyby into the corona – and the promise of many to come – will continue to deliver information on processes that are difficult to examine from afar. Until its grand finale orbit in 2025, Parker will continue to get closer to the sun and dive deeper into the corona. The American Physical Society also published the latest findings. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | NASA makes history as spacecraft ‘touches’ sun for first time ever

It was finished years late at a cost far higher than planned, but NASA's James Webb Space Telescope due for launch next week may usher in a new era in astronomy as it gathers information on the universe's earliest stages, star formation, and whether planets beyond our solar system may be suitable for life.

NASA's Webb Telescope promises 'amazing journey' for astronomy

Set to launch on December 22, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is the largest space observatory in history. It was finished years late at a cost far higher than planned.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope promises an 'amazing journey' for astronomy

<p>While the actual surface of the Sun will burn (evaporate actually) anything to a crisp with its thousands of degrees temperature, even a few million miles from the surface are way hotter than the hottest furnace. This had made approaching the Sun a giant problem because human spacecraft made of any known material was feared to promptly melt , making the mission &nbsp;useless. But NASA's Parker Solar Probe has opened a new frontier for science by entering Corona, the atmosphere of the Sun.</p>

<p><strong>What is Corona?</strong></p>

<p>Corona is the solar atmosphere. It is an envelope around the Sun in which the material given off by the Sun is more bound to the Sun. Outside the Corona, the solar material is sent in space in the form of Solar wind at high speeds. Scientists do not yet fully know the reason behind this disparity fully.</p>

<p><strong>Why do we study solar atmosphere?</strong></p>

<p>As much as it supports life on Earth, Sun in unforgiving to anything that is in its vicinity without proper protection. Solar material is constantly ejected from the Sun at extremely high speeds. This is called Solar Wind. It is capable of making million-dollar satellites a piece of junk. Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field shields all life on the surface but same isn't always true about satellites revolving around Earth.</p>

<p>We do not fully know why solar wind is sent out at very high speeds from Sun. It originates from Sun's atmosphere (the Corona). Understanding solar atmosphere may make us protect our spacecrafts and satellites better.<br />
When was Parker solar probe launched?</p>

<p>NASA launched Parker solar probe in August 2018. The probe went around the Sun several times, the orbit reducing each time. The end goal was to enter the corona. During its 8th revolution around the Sun in April 2021, Parker solar probe entered the Corona</p>

<p><strong>What did Parker solar probe find inside solar atmosphere?</strong></p>

<p><strong><img alt="Corona" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c43dffa1-7b43-4b93-a208-4f64e650f4e6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/corona.PNG" /></strong></p>

<p><em>(Solar particles inside corona (left) are more bound to the Sun. Outside Corona they are ejected as Solar Wind. Image: NASA)</em></p>

<p>The instruments of the probe found that as the craft entered Corona, there was marked difference in the extent to which solar material was projected out in space. Outside Corona, the material was more readily sent out. But inside it was more bound to the Sun. At this time, the probe was 8 million kms away from solar surface.</p>

<p>As the probe entered corona, it also found that magnetic field of the Sun grew much stronger.</p>

<p><strong>What now?</strong></p>

<p>Parker probe's achievements has been nothing short of a 'dream come true' in words of NASA scientists quoted by the agency in its reports. Mankind had dreamed of knowing more about the Sun for millennia at least. NASA publicly declared its ambition of sending a probe to the Sun in the 50s. Parker solar probe's achievement has been a result of decades of patient research and resolute, steady scientific progress towards the goal. Something that was unimaginable has been achieved.</p>

<p>Who knows? We may even develop technology that will allow us to venture even closer to our very own star.</p>


While the actual surface of the Sun will burn (evaporate actually) anything to a crisp with its thousands of degrees temperature, even a few million miles from the surface are way hotter than the hottest furnace.

While the actual surface of the Sun will burn (evaporate actually) anything to a crisp with its thousands of degrees temperature, even a few million miles from the surface are way hotter than the hottest furnace. This had made approaching the Sun a giant problem because human spacecraft made of any known material was feared to promptly melt , making the mission useless. But NASA's Parker Solar Probe has opened a new frontier for science by entering Corona, the atmosphere of the Sun. What is Corona? Corona is the solar atmosphere. It is an envelope around the Sun in which the material given off by the Sun is more bound to the Sun. Outside the Corona, the solar material is sent in space in the form of Solar wind at high speeds. Scientists do not yet fully know the reason behind this disparity fully. Why do we study solar atmosphere? As much as it supports life on Earth, Sun in unforgiving to anything that is in its vicinity without proper protection. Solar material is constantly ejected from the Sun at extremely high speeds. This is called Solar Wind. It is capable of making million-dollar satellites a piece of junk. Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field shields all life on the surface but same isn't always true about satellites revolving around Earth. We do not fully know why solar wind is sent out at very high speeds from Sun. It originates from Sun's atmosphere (the Corona). Understanding solar atmosphere may make us protect our spacecrafts and satellites better. When was Parker solar probe launched? NASA launched Parker solar probe in August 2018. The probe went around the Sun several times, the orbit reducing each time. The end goal was to enter the corona. During its 8th revolution around the Sun in April 2021, Parker solar probe entered the Corona What did Parker solar probe find inside solar atmosphere? (Solar particles inside corona (left) are more bound to the Sun. Outside Corona they are ejected as Solar Wind. Image: NASA) The instruments of the probe found that as the craft entered Corona, there was marked difference in the extent to which solar material was projected out in space. Outside Corona, the material was more readily sent out. But inside it was more bound to the Sun. At this time, the probe was 8 million kms away from solar surface. As the probe entered corona, it also found that magnetic field of the Sun grew much stronger. What now? Parker probe's achievements has been nothing short of a 'dream come true' in words of NASA scientists quoted by the agency in its reports. Mankind had dreamed of knowing more about the Sun for millennia at least. NASA publicly declared its ambition of sending a probe to the Sun in the 50s. Parker solar probe's achievement has been a result of decades of patient research and resolute, steady scientific progress towards the goal. Something that was unimaginable has been achieved. Who knows? We may even develop technology that will allow us to venture even closer to our very own star.

The other Corona: Know about the Sun's atmosphere 'touched' by a man-made probe for the first time

According to scientists from the US space agency, a NASA spacecraft has gone closer to the sun than ever before, entering its atmosphere known as the corona.

NASA probe enters solar atmosphere for the first time

<p>Solar eclipse is a treat to the senses. It's amazing to see a day give way to a sudden night and the ever-shining disc of the Sun getting obscured by the Moon. Those observing can see stars twinkling right in front of them in a black sky which, by logic, should have been lit by bright sunshine.</p>

<p>But not everyone is lucky to have seen a total eclipse. You have to be in the right place at the right time to witness this natural wonder. There may be thousand who wouldn't have seen total, or even a partial solar eclipse.</p>

<p>But witnessing a solar eclipse from space is a privilege affrded to even fewer people.</p>

<p>NASA has come to aid of those who can't become an astronaut overnight in order to see an eclipse from space.</p>

<p>In its Instagram post, NASA has posted an image taken from space during the recent total eclipse which was visible only from Antarctica.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Have you ever seen a total solar eclipse? How about seeing a total solar eclipse FROM SPACE?" asks NASA at the outset. The image shows the familiar blue orb of our planet. But what's different than usual is a black spot right over Antarctica in the south. That is Moon's shadow as it passes between the Sun and Earth, therby treating the regions under that shadow to a beautiful solar eclipse.</p>

<p>"Our robotic and human explorers are here to help. On Dec. 4, 2021, the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft captured the Moon's shadow as it passed over Antarctica, home to penguins and a handful of scientists. Shaped like a cone extending into space, the shadow has a circular cross-section most easily seen during a solar eclipse. People in parts of Namibia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the Falkland Islands were treated to a partial eclipse," says NASA in Instagram post.</p>

<p>Check it out below</p>

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<p>As it can be seen. Netizens have loved the pic and it has been 'liked' by nearly a million people.</p>


Solar eclipse is a treat to the senses. It's amazing to see a day give way to a sudden night and the ever-shining disc of the Sun getting obscured by the Moon. Those observing can see stars twinkling right in front of them in a black sky which, by logic, should have been lit by bright sunshine.

Solar eclipse is a treat to the senses. It's amazing to see a day give way to a sudden night and the ever-shining disc of the Sun getting obscured by the Moon. Those observing can see stars twinkling right in front of them in a black sky which, by logic, should have been lit by bright sunshine. But not everyone is lucky to have seen a total eclipse. You have to be in the right place at the right time to witness this natural wonder. There may be thousand who wouldn't have seen total, or even a partial solar eclipse. But witnessing a solar eclipse from space is a privilege affrded to even fewer people. NASA has come to aid of those who can't become an astronaut overnight in order to see an eclipse from space. In its Instagram post, NASA has posted an image taken from space during the recent total eclipse which was visible only from Antarctica. "Have you ever seen a total solar eclipse? How about seeing a total solar eclipse FROM SPACE?" asks NASA at the outset. The image shows the familiar blue orb of our planet. But what's different than usual is a black spot right over Antarctica in the south. That is Moon's shadow as it passes between the Sun and Earth, therby treating the regions under that shadow to a beautiful solar eclipse. "Our robotic and human explorers are here to help. On Dec. 4, 2021, the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft captured the Moon's shadow as it passed over Antarctica, home to penguins and a handful of scientists. Shaped like a cone extending into space, the shadow has a circular cross-section most easily seen during a solar eclipse. People in parts of Namibia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the Falkland Islands were treated to a partial eclipse," says NASA in Instagram post. Check it out below View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × As it can be seen. Netizens have loved the pic and it has been 'liked' by nearly a million people.

NASA depicts solar eclipse from space in a brilliant photo

<p>NASA is gearing up to announce names of candidates who will become astronauts taking part in new space missions. These missions include NASA's return to Moon and more space missions to Mars. It is expected that NASA will make announcement on fresh batch of its candidates tonight at 11 pm (IST).</p>

<p>NASA said that the selected candidates will join NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Nasa Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, Johnson Center Director Vanessa Wyche, and Flight Operations Director Norm Knight on the stage.</p>

<p>Just getting included in this list would not guarantee a space travel for these men and women. The chosen candidates will have to complete a rigorous training program that will go on for two years.</p>

<p>"The astronaut candidates will report to Nasa Johnson in January to begin their training in spacecraft systems, spacewalking skills, teamwork, and other necessary skills," the agency said in a statement ahead of the announcement</p>

<p>Will there be a face with Indian-heritage?</p>

<p>Astronauts who were either born in India or were of Indian heritage have often been selected in NASA's successive batches of astronauts. These names include Kalpana Chawla, Sunita Williams and most recent Raja Chari</p>

<p>NASA has been tightlipped about new batch of astronaut candidates so far.</p>


NASA is gearing up to announce names of candidates who will become astronauts taking part in new space missions. These missions include NASA's return to Moon and more space missions to Mars.

NASA is gearing up to announce names of candidates who will become astronauts taking part in new space missions. These missions include NASA's return to Moon and more space missions to Mars. It is expected that NASA will make announcement on fresh batch of its candidates tonight at 11 pm (IST). NASA said that the selected candidates will join NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Nasa Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, Johnson Center Director Vanessa Wyche, and Flight Operations Director Norm Knight on the stage. Just getting included in this list would not guarantee a space travel for these men and women. The chosen candidates will have to complete a rigorous training program that will go on for two years. "The astronaut candidates will report to Nasa Johnson in January to begin their training in spacecraft systems, spacewalking skills, teamwork, and other necessary skills," the agency said in a statement ahead of the announcement Will there be a face with Indian-heritage? Astronauts who were either born in India or were of Indian heritage have often been selected in NASA's successive batches of astronauts. These names include Kalpana Chawla, Sunita Williams and most recent Raja Chari NASA has been tightlipped about new batch of astronaut candidates so far.

NASA to announce fresh names for its astronaut programme soon

<p>NASA announced its fresh class of trainee astronauts on Tuesday. Anil Menon, a US fighter pilot born to parents from India and Ukraine has been named in the newest list.</p>

<p>Anil Menon (45), a lieutenant colonel in US Air Force was first direct responder during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, 2015 earthquake in Nepal and 2011 Reno Air Show accident.</p>

<p>Menon was previously a first flight surgeon with SpaceX. He had a stint with NASA before that.</p>

<p>There are 10 astronaut trainees including Menon in NASA's newest list. The list includes a firefighter turned Harvard professor, a former member of the national cycle team and a pilot who led the first-ever all-woman F-22 formation in combat.</p>

<p>NASA's latest list includes 10 names including that of Menon. The list includes a firefighter turned Harvard professor, a former member of the national cycle team and others.</p>

<p>"We're going back to the Moon, and we're continuing on to Mars -- and so today we welcome 10 new explorers," NASA administrator Bill Nelson said at an event to welcome the recruits.</p>

<p>"Alone, each candidate has 'the right stuff,' but together they represent the creed of our country: E pluribus unum – out of many, one," he added.</p>

<p>The 10 candidates have been shortlisted from 12,000 applicants. Inclusion in this list however, does not guarantee that each of them would get to become an astronaut. All of them will now undergo a rigorous training program that will go on for two years. All of the trainees will learn how to operate and maintain the International Space Station, train for spacewalks, develop robotics skills, safely operate a T-38 training jet, and learn Russian to communicate with their counterparts.</p>

<p>After they graduate, they could be assigned to missions aboard the ISS or deeper into space, including NASA's planned return to the Moon later this decade under the Artemis mission, which will include the first woman and person of color to set foot on lunar soil.</p>

<p>The field was open to US citizens who hold a master's degree in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field -- the first time such a requirement was added -- and passed an online test. The master's degree requirement could also be met by a medical degree or completion of a test pilot program.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA announced its fresh class of trainee astronauts on Tuesday. Anil Menon, a US fighter pilot born to parents from India and Ukraine has been named in the newest list.

NASA announced its fresh class of trainee astronauts on Tuesday. Anil Menon, a US fighter pilot born to parents from India and Ukraine has been named in the newest list. Anil Menon (45), a lieutenant colonel in US Air Force was first direct responder during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, 2015 earthquake in Nepal and 2011 Reno Air Show accident. Menon was previously a first flight surgeon with SpaceX. He had a stint with NASA before that. There are 10 astronaut trainees including Menon in NASA's newest list. The list includes a firefighter turned Harvard professor, a former member of the national cycle team and a pilot who led the first-ever all-woman F-22 formation in combat. NASA's latest list includes 10 names including that of Menon. The list includes a firefighter turned Harvard professor, a former member of the national cycle team and others. "We're going back to the Moon, and we're continuing on to Mars -- and so today we welcome 10 new explorers," NASA administrator Bill Nelson said at an event to welcome the recruits. "Alone, each candidate has 'the right stuff,' but together they represent the creed of our country: E pluribus unum – out of many, one," he added. The 10 candidates have been shortlisted from 12,000 applicants. Inclusion in this list however, does not guarantee that each of them would get to become an astronaut. All of them will now undergo a rigorous training program that will go on for two years. All of the trainees will learn how to operate and maintain the International Space Station, train for spacewalks, develop robotics skills, safely operate a T-38 training jet, and learn Russian to communicate with their counterparts. After they graduate, they could be assigned to missions aboard the ISS or deeper into space, including NASA's planned return to the Moon later this decade under the Artemis mission, which will include the first woman and person of color to set foot on lunar soil. The field was open to US citizens who hold a master's degree in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field -- the first time such a requirement was added -- and passed an online test. The master's degree requirement could also be met by a medical degree or completion of a test pilot program. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian-origin Anil Menon named in NASA's newest astronaut class

<p>Russian space agency Roscosmos has said that the International Space Station (ISS) had to swerve to dodge a fragment of a US rocket.</p>

<p>According to state news agency TASS, Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin said ''The ISS avoided a conjunction with the US space debris, the Pegasus carrier rocket remnants.''</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-russia-destroys-satellite-releases-big-cloud-of-space-junk-429873/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Thrusters of Progress MS-18 space freighter helped in the readjustment of the station's orbit.</p>

<p>It was dropped by 310 metres (339 yards) for nearly three minutes to avoid a close encounter.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/european-space-agency-detects-closest-pair-of-supermassive-black-holes-433356" hreflang="en">European Space Agency detects closest pair of supermassive black holes</a></strong></p>

<p>Due to the debris risk, NASA astronauts Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron had to cancel their spacewalk at the ISS.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">NASA received a debris notification for the space station. Due to the lack of opportunity to properly assess the risk it could pose to the astronauts, teams have decided to delay the Nov. 30 spacewalk until more information is available. <a href="https://t.co/HJCXFWBd3Y">https://t.co/HJCXFWBd3Y</a> <a href="https://t.co/swj5hqusSo">pic.twitter.com/swj5hqusSo</a></p>
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1465561652754063363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>Earlier, Russia destroyed one of its own satellites during a missile test, generating a cloud of debris that NASA said had "increased the risk to the station."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/incredible-milestone-astronomers-identify-over-360-previous-unknown-exoplanets-432362" hreflang="en">'Incredible milestone': Astronomers identify over 360 previous unknown exoplanets</a></strong></p>

<p>The debris cloud forced the seven crew on the ISS to temporarily take shelter in their return ships.</p>

<p>Ever since the incident took place, calls to monitor and regulate space debris, or space junk, have grown.</p>

<p>Space debris consists of discarded launch vehicles or parts of a spacecraft that float around in space and risk colliding with satellites or the ISS.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Russian space agency Roscosmos has said that the International Space Station (ISS) had to swerve to dodge a fragment of a US rocket. According to state news agency TASS, Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin said ''The ISS avoided a conjunction with the US space debris, the Pegasus carrier rocket remnants.

Russian space agency Roscosmos has said that the International Space Station (ISS) had to swerve to dodge a fragment of a US rocket. According to state news agency TASS, Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin said ''The ISS avoided a conjunction with the US space debris, the Pegasus carrier rocket remnants.'' Thrusters of Progress MS-18 space freighter helped in the readjustment of the station's orbit. It was dropped by 310 metres (339 yards) for nearly three minutes to avoid a close encounter. Also read | European Space Agency detects closest pair of supermassive black holes Due to the debris risk, NASA astronauts Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron had to cancel their spacewalk at the ISS. NASA received a debris notification for the space station. Due to the lack of opportunity to properly assess the risk it could pose to the astronauts, teams have decided to delay the Nov. 30 spacewalk until more information is available. https://t.co/HJCXFWBd3Y pic.twitter.com/swj5hqusSo — International Space Station (@Space_Station) November 30, 2021 × Earlier, Russia destroyed one of its own satellites during a missile test, generating a cloud of debris that NASA said had "increased the risk to the station." Also read | 'Incredible milestone': Astronomers identify over 360 previous unknown exoplanets The debris cloud forced the seven crew on the ISS to temporarily take shelter in their return ships. Ever since the incident took place, calls to monitor and regulate space debris, or space junk, have grown. Space debris consists of discarded launch vehicles or parts of a spacecraft that float around in space and risk colliding with satellites or the ISS. (With inputs from agencies)

Roscosmos says International Space Station swerves to dodge fragment of US rocket

<p>NASA awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to three companies to develop commercial space stations that will eventually replace the International Space Station, which is set to retire around the end of this decade.</p>

<p>For the development of their orbital outposts, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, the aerospace company Nanoracks and Northrop Grumman won contracts worth $130 million, $160 million and $125.6 million, respectively.</p>

<p>An earlier $140 million contract was awarded to a fourth company, Axiom Space.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/all-aboard-these-companies-are-building-spacecraft-to-send-people-to-space-377036">All aboard! These companies are building spacecraft to send people to space</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>In order to cut costs and focus on its ambitious goals, the US space agency has increasingly turned to private industry to develop hardware it once made itself. NASA's goals include building habitats on the Moon and preparing for a crewed mission to Mars.</p>

<p>"We are partnering with US companies to develop the space destinations where people can visit, live, and work, enabling NASA to continue forging a path in space for the benefit of humanity while fostering commercial activity in space," said NASA chief Bill Nelson in a statement.</p>

<p>"These awards will help ensure the United States has a continuous human presence" in low Earth orbit, said Phil McAlister, NASA's director of commercial spaceflight. "A gap would be bad."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/want-to-become-a-space-tourist-here-is-all-you-need-to-do-399437">Want to become a space tourist? Here is all you need to do</a></strong></p>

<p>The companies have not given an estimate of how much the space stations will cost to develop, but they have unveiled their plans.</p>

<p>However, McCalister said NASA would not contribute more than 40 per cent of the funding to the projects.</p>

<p>"The sum invested today by NASA to launch this program is small compared to the money that will be required," said Brent Sherwood, Blue Origin's senior vice president of advanced development programs.</p>

<p>As part of a collaboration with Sierra Space, Blue Origin is creating Orbital Reef, which will eventually house 10 people. Microgravity research and manufacturing will be carried out in the "mixed-use business park in space".</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/jeff-bezos-firm-blue-origin-unveils-plan-to-build-commercial-space-station-424048"><strong>Jeff Bezos firm Blue Origin unveils plan to build commercial space station</strong></a></p>

<p>Developed with Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin, Nanoracks' space station will be called "Starlab."</p>

<p>Nanoracks aims to be operational in 2027 and will include a biology lab, plant habitation lab, a physical science and materials research lab, and an open workbench area.</p>

<p>Northrop Grumman, which developed a cargo delivery system called Cygnus, currently supports the International Space Station by making deliveries. It plans to build its own station module by module. This will ensure that science, tourism, and industrial experimentation will all be included.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Blue Origin unveils plans for Orbital Reef, a 'business park' in outer space</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/blue-origin-unveils-plans-for-orbital-reef-a-business-park-in-outer-space-424062/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Twenty-one years have passed since the first long-term residents were welcomed to the space station. It has become a symbol of international cooperation, particularly between the US and Russia.</p>

<p>As of now, the International Space Station is rated safe until 2028, and new administrator Nelson has stated that he hopes it will last until 2030, by which time NASA wants the commercial sector to take the lead and replace it.</p>


NASA awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to three companies to develop commercial space stations that will eventually replace the International Space Station, which is set to retire around the end of this decade.

NASA awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to three companies to develop commercial space stations that will eventually replace the International Space Station, which is set to retire around the end of this decade. For the development of their orbital outposts, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, the aerospace company Nanoracks and Northrop Grumman won contracts worth $130 million, $160 million and $125.6 million, respectively. An earlier $140 million contract was awarded to a fourth company, Axiom Space. Also read | All aboard! These companies are building spacecraft to send people to space In order to cut costs and focus on its ambitious goals, the US space agency has increasingly turned to private industry to develop hardware it once made itself. NASA's goals include building habitats on the Moon and preparing for a crewed mission to Mars. "We are partnering with US companies to develop the space destinations where people can visit, live, and work, enabling NASA to continue forging a path in space for the benefit of humanity while fostering commercial activity in space," said NASA chief Bill Nelson in a statement. "These awards will help ensure the United States has a continuous human presence" in low Earth orbit, said Phil McAlister, NASA's director of commercial spaceflight. "A gap would be bad." Also read | Want to become a space tourist? Here is all you need to do The companies have not given an estimate of how much the space stations will cost to develop, but they have unveiled their plans. However, McCalister said NASA would not contribute more than 40 per cent of the funding to the projects. "The sum invested today by NASA to launch this program is small compared to the money that will be required," said Brent Sherwood, Blue Origin's senior vice president of advanced development programs. As part of a collaboration with Sierra Space, Blue Origin is creating Orbital Reef, which will eventually house 10 people. Microgravity research and manufacturing will be carried out in the "mixed-use business park in space". Also read | Jeff Bezos firm Blue Origin unveils plan to build commercial space station Developed with Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin, Nanoracks' space station will be called "Starlab." Nanoracks aims to be operational in 2027 and will include a biology lab, plant habitation lab, a physical science and materials research lab, and an open workbench area. Northrop Grumman, which developed a cargo delivery system called Cygnus, currently supports the International Space Station by making deliveries. It plans to build its own station module by module. This will ensure that science, tourism, and industrial experimentation will all be included. Watch | Blue Origin unveils plans for Orbital Reef, a 'business park' in outer space Twenty-one years have passed since the first long-term residents were welcomed to the space station. It has become a symbol of international cooperation, particularly between the US and Russia. As of now, the International Space Station is rated safe until 2028, and new administrator Nelson has stated that he hopes it will last until 2030, by which time NASA wants the commercial sector to take the lead and replace it.

Want to space travel? NASA awards $415.6 million for new space hubs where people can visit, live, work

<p>US-Russia spat seems to have reached space now. In a new development, Russian space agency Roscosmos has threatened to sue a NASA astronaut. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The agency claims the astronaut drilled a two-mm hole in a Soyuz MS-09 vehicle, which was docked with the International Space Station (ISS) in 2018. &nbsp;</p>

<p>After completing its investigation recently, the agency deemed the action as a sabotage. It cited Serena Auñón-Chancellor, an ISS crew member during the incident, as the culprit. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-nasa-mission-to-test-out-armageddon-scenario-blasts-off-431550" hreflang="en">Watch | NASA mission to test out Armageddon scenario blasts off</a></strong></p>

<p>As the allegations were handed over to law enforcement of the Russia, Roscosmos announced the possibility of criminal charges. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the hope of returning home early, Auñón-Chancellor purposefully made the hole, reported the Izvestia newspaper while citing sources on Friday. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Auñón-Chancellor seems to have wanted to leave due to a blood clot or a fight with her boyfriend onboard the ISS, Russian news outlet said citing sources. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-postpones-iss-spacewalk-because-of-space-debris-433087" hreflang="en">NASA postpones ISS spacewalk because of space debris</a></strong></p>

<p>When Auñón-Chancellor was in space, she got married to Jeff Chancellor. The couple is still married to this day. It is unclear who is the 'boyfriend' as stated by sources. &nbsp;</p>

<p>After a pressure drop was identified due to an air leak, the hole was spotted on August 30, 2018. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


US-Russia spat seems to have reached space now. In a new development, Russian space agency Roscosmos has threatened to sue a NASA astronaut. The agency claims the astronaut drilled a two-mm hole in a Soyuz MS-09 vehicle, which was docked with the International Space Station (ISS) in 2018.

US-Russia spat seems to have reached space now. In a new development, Russian space agency Roscosmos has threatened to sue a NASA astronaut. The agency claims the astronaut drilled a two-mm hole in a Soyuz MS-09 vehicle, which was docked with the International Space Station (ISS) in 2018. After completing its investigation recently, the agency deemed the action as a sabotage. It cited Serena Auñón-Chancellor, an ISS crew member during the incident, as the culprit. Also Read: Watch | NASA mission to test out Armageddon scenario blasts off As the allegations were handed over to law enforcement of the Russia, Roscosmos announced the possibility of criminal charges. With the hope of returning home early, Auñón-Chancellor purposefully made the hole, reported the Izvestia newspaper while citing sources on Friday. Auñón-Chancellor seems to have wanted to leave due to a blood clot or a fight with her boyfriend onboard the ISS, Russian news outlet said citing sources. Also Read: NASA postpones ISS spacewalk because of space debris When Auñón-Chancellor was in space, she got married to Jeff Chancellor. The couple is still married to this day. It is unclear who is the 'boyfriend' as stated by sources. After a pressure drop was identified due to an air leak, the hole was spotted on August 30, 2018. (With inputs from agencies)

Love gone sour? Russia sues Austronaut who drilled spacecraft to reportedly be separate from partner

<p>According to a statement released on November 19 by the US Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the lab is collaborating with NASA to establish a "durable, high-power, sun-independent" fission reactor on the moon within the next 10 years.</p>

<p>The two organisations are presently soliciting ideas from outside partners to help them get this ambitious initiative off the ground, with a deadline of February 19, 2022.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-aims-to-replace-iss-with-one-or-more-commercial-space-station-by-2030-433367"><strong>Also read | NASA aims to replace ISS with one or more commercial space station by 2030</strong></a></p>

<p>According to agency experts, this hypothetical reactor would contribute to transforming the moon into an interplanetary base for human space exploration, including future manned journeys to Mars.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A call for reactor concepts is open until mid-February on behalf of NASA and a DOE contractor.</p>

<p>The request comes in the wake of a re-energized lunar programme.</p>

<p>As part of the Artemis missions, humans will return to the lunar surface for the first time in over 50 years.</p>

<p>As human ambitions expand beyond the earth, so do ideas for human infrastructure beyond our pale blue dot.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA is interested in a nuclear fission reactor as a power source.</p>

<p>Nuclear fission releases energy as a consequence of dividing a heavy atomic nucleus into lighter nuclei.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


According to a statement released on November 19 by the US Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the lab is collaborating with NASA to establish a "durable, high-power, sun-independent" fission reactor on the moon within the next 10 years.

According to a statement released on November 19 by the US Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the lab is collaborating with NASA to establish a "durable, high-power, sun-independent" fission reactor on the moon within the next 10 years. The two organisations are presently soliciting ideas from outside partners to help them get this ambitious initiative off the ground, with a deadline of February 19, 2022. Also read | NASA aims to replace ISS with one or more commercial space station by 2030 According to agency experts, this hypothetical reactor would contribute to transforming the moon into an interplanetary base for human space exploration, including future manned journeys to Mars. A call for reactor concepts is open until mid-February on behalf of NASA and a DOE contractor. The request comes in the wake of a re-energized lunar programme. As part of the Artemis missions, humans will return to the lunar surface for the first time in over 50 years. As human ambitions expand beyond the earth, so do ideas for human infrastructure beyond our pale blue dot. NASA is interested in a nuclear fission reactor as a power source. Nuclear fission releases energy as a consequence of dividing a heavy atomic nucleus into lighter nuclei. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA wants you to help in establishing a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030

<p>The US space agency is planning to replace the International Space Station (ISS) with one or more commercial space stations by 2030.</p>

<p>NASA's auditing body, the Office of Audits, has produced a report detailing the agency's commitment to replace the orbiting lab with commercial space stations.</p>

<p>Astronauts have lived and worked onboard the ISS orbiting roughly 250 miles above the Earth's surface for more than 20 years.</p>

<p>"The ISS costs about $3 billion a year, roughly a third of NASA's annual human space flight budget, and while current plans call for the Station's retirement in 2024, an extension to 2030 is likely," the US space agency said in the audit report.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-bigger-than-eiffel-tower-to-enter-earths-orbit-soon-433338">Asteroid bigger than Eiffel Tower to enter Earth's orbit soon</a></strong></p>

<p>Anticipating its retirement, NASA has committed to replacing the ISS with one or more commercially owned and operated space destinations.</p>

<p>"In the fiscal year (FY) that ended September 30, 2021, Congress authorised $17 million to that end -- a fraction of the $150 million the Agency said it needed. NASA's plans for long-term, deep space human exploration missions depend on continuous access to a research laboratory in low-Earth orbit," it added.</p>

<p>The Artemis mission, aimed at returning humans to the Moon and ultimately landing astronauts on Mars, is not feasible without continued human health research and technology demonstrations being conducted on the ISS and its eventual replacement.</p>

<p>"As long as humans intend to travel in space, NASA expects research and testing will be needed in the microgravity environment of low-Earth orbit," the audio report mentioned.</p>

<p>While overall ISS operations and maintenance costs remained steady at about $1.1 billion a year from FY2016 through FY2020, systems maintenance and upgrade costs trended upward 35 per cent in the same 5-year period, rising to approximately $169 million in FY2020 due primarily to upgrades.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, NASA and Roscosmos are investigating the cause and long-term impacts of cracks and leaks that were recently discovered in the Station's Service Module Transfer Tunnel, which connects the Service Module to one of eight docking ports on the Station.</p>

<p>"Causes being explored include structural fatigue, internal damage, external damage, and material defects. Notably, based on the models NASA used to assess the structure, the cracks should not have occurred, suggesting the possibility of an earlier-than-projected obsolescence for at least one element of the Station," the US space agency noted.</p>


The US space agency is planning to replace the International Space Station (ISS) with one or more commercial space stations by 2030. NASA's auditing body, the Office of Audits, has produced a report detailing the agency's commitment to replace the orbiting lab with commercial space stations.

The US space agency is planning to replace the International Space Station (ISS) with one or more commercial space stations by 2030. NASA's auditing body, the Office of Audits, has produced a report detailing the agency's commitment to replace the orbiting lab with commercial space stations. Astronauts have lived and worked onboard the ISS orbiting roughly 250 miles above the Earth's surface for more than 20 years. "The ISS costs about $3 billion a year, roughly a third of NASA's annual human space flight budget, and while current plans call for the Station's retirement in 2024, an extension to 2030 is likely," the US space agency said in the audit report. Also Read | Asteroid bigger than Eiffel Tower to enter Earth's orbit soon Anticipating its retirement, NASA has committed to replacing the ISS with one or more commercially owned and operated space destinations. "In the fiscal year (FY) that ended September 30, 2021, Congress authorised $17 million to that end -- a fraction of the $150 million the Agency said it needed. NASA's plans for long-term, deep space human exploration missions depend on continuous access to a research laboratory in low-Earth orbit," it added. The Artemis mission, aimed at returning humans to the Moon and ultimately landing astronauts on Mars, is not feasible without continued human health research and technology demonstrations being conducted on the ISS and its eventual replacement. "As long as humans intend to travel in space, NASA expects research and testing will be needed in the microgravity environment of low-Earth orbit," the audio report mentioned. While overall ISS operations and maintenance costs remained steady at about $1.1 billion a year from FY2016 through FY2020, systems maintenance and upgrade costs trended upward 35 per cent in the same 5-year period, rising to approximately $169 million in FY2020 due primarily to upgrades. Meanwhile, NASA and Roscosmos are investigating the cause and long-term impacts of cracks and leaks that were recently discovered in the Station's Service Module Transfer Tunnel, which connects the Service Module to one of eight docking ports on the Station. "Causes being explored include structural fatigue, internal damage, external damage, and material defects. Notably, based on the models NASA used to assess the structure, the cracks should not have occurred, suggesting the possibility of an earlier-than-projected obsolescence for at least one element of the Station," the US space agency noted.

NASA aims to replace ISS with one or more commercial space station by 2030

<p>NASA has done it again! The space agency on the forefront of space research has wowed everyone with another of its mesmerising post that unravels wonders of space.</p>

<p>Space is beautiful as much as it is mysterious. We may not have been able to fathom all corners of the space (if there are such corners at all) But what we have been able to spot never ceases to amaze us. The pristine beauty and the magnificence of whatever we are able to see get us transfixed each time.</p>

<p>NASA has posted a video of a 'cosmic reef'. This cosmic reef resembles the reefs we have underwater here on Earth. And at the very beginning of its post, NASA asks us to guess whether the video is 'interstellar or underwater'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Underwater or interstellar? Nicknamed the “Cosmic Reef” for its undersea world resemblance, this massive star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud is located 163,000 light-years away. This region features a giant red nebula, NGC 2014, and a smaller blue nebula, NGC 2020, housed in a bustling stellar birthplace..." says NASA in its post on Instragram.</p>

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<p>Like always, the post has wowed the online public. At the time of publishing this story, the video had been liked by more than 80 thousand people.</p>


NASA has done it again! The space agency on the forefront of space research has wowed everyone with another of its mesmerising post that unravels wonders of space.

NASA has done it again! The space agency on the forefront of space research has wowed everyone with another of its mesmerising post that unravels wonders of space. Space is beautiful as much as it is mysterious. We may not have been able to fathom all corners of the space (if there are such corners at all) But what we have been able to spot never ceases to amaze us. The pristine beauty and the magnificence of whatever we are able to see get us transfixed each time. NASA has posted a video of a 'cosmic reef'. This cosmic reef resembles the reefs we have underwater here on Earth. And at the very beginning of its post, NASA asks us to guess whether the video is 'interstellar or underwater'. "Underwater or interstellar? Nicknamed the “Cosmic Reef” for its undersea world resemblance, this massive star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud is located 163,000 light-years away. This region features a giant red nebula, NGC 2014, and a smaller blue nebula, NGC 2020, housed in a bustling stellar birthplace..." says NASA in its post on Instragram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hubble Space Telescope (@nasahubble) × Like always, the post has wowed the online public. At the time of publishing this story, the video had been liked by more than 80 thousand people.

Interstellar or underwater? NASA shares brilliant video of a cosmic reef

<p>National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Tuesday postponed a spacewalk outside International Space Station (ISS) due to space debris. Two of its astronauts, Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron were to undertake the spacewalk. It was to go on for more than six hours to replace a faulty communication antenna.</p>

<p>"NASA received a debris notification for the space station," the space agency tweeted.</p>

<p>"Due to the lack of opportunity to properly assess the risk it could pose to the astronauts, teams have decided to delay the Nov. 30 spacewalk until more information is available."</p>

<p>Russia destroyed one of its own satellites during a missile test early in November. This generated a cloud of debris that NASA said "increased the risk to the station."</p>

<p>The debris cloud forced the seven crew on the ISS to temporarily take shelter in their return ships. NASA said the biggest risk had been in the first 24 hours after the test.</p>

<p>It was not clear if NASA's postponement of Tuesday's spacewalk was due to debris from the Russian space missile test.</p>

<p>The Russians have rejected US accusations that their test had endangered the space station.</p>

<p>US officials said they were not informed in advance of the anti-satellite missile test -- only the fourth ever to hit a spacecraft from the ground -- which generated more than 1,500 pieces of trackable orbital debris. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The spacewalk had been due to be Barron's debut walk, and the fifth for Marshburn.</p>

<p>The pair arrived at the ISS on November 11 aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance with NASA's Crew-3 mission for a six-month stay.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Tuesday postponed a spacewalk outside International Space Station (ISS) due to space debris. Two of its astronauts, Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron were to undertake the spacewalk.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Tuesday postponed a spacewalk outside International Space Station (ISS) due to space debris. Two of its astronauts, Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron were to undertake the spacewalk. It was to go on for more than six hours to replace a faulty communication antenna. "NASA received a debris notification for the space station," the space agency tweeted. "Due to the lack of opportunity to properly assess the risk it could pose to the astronauts, teams have decided to delay the Nov. 30 spacewalk until more information is available." Russia destroyed one of its own satellites during a missile test early in November. This generated a cloud of debris that NASA said "increased the risk to the station." The debris cloud forced the seven crew on the ISS to temporarily take shelter in their return ships. NASA said the biggest risk had been in the first 24 hours after the test. It was not clear if NASA's postponement of Tuesday's spacewalk was due to debris from the Russian space missile test. The Russians have rejected US accusations that their test had endangered the space station. US officials said they were not informed in advance of the anti-satellite missile test -- only the fourth ever to hit a spacecraft from the ground -- which generated more than 1,500 pieces of trackable orbital debris. The spacewalk had been due to be Barron's debut walk, and the fifth for Marshburn. The pair arrived at the ISS on November 11 aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance with NASA's Crew-3 mission for a six-month stay. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA postpones ISS spacewalk because of space debris

<p>SpaceX founder Elon Musk has asked NASA to ''avenge the dinosaurs'' in its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission.</p>

<p>It comes after the US space agency did a test run should humanity ever need to stop a giant space rock from wiping out life on Earth.</p>

<p>The mission aims to deliberately smash a spacecraft into an asteroid in a demonstration of the world's first planetary defense system.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-nasa-mission-to-test-out-armageddon-scenario-blasts-off-431550" hreflang="en">Watch | NASA mission to test out Armageddon scenario blasts off</a></strong></p>

<p>Its target is an asteroid "moonlet" the size of a football stadium that orbits a chunk of rock five times larger in a binary asteroid system named Didymos, the Greek word for twin.</p>

<p>The impact should take place in the fall of 2022 when the binary asteroid system is 6.8 million miles (11 million kilometers) from Earth, almost the nearest point they ever get.</p>

<p>According to Matthew Stuttard, head of R&amp;D for Airbus Defence and Space Ltd in the Space Systems division, ''hitting an asteroid dead on with a direct hit is something that has never been done before, so it would be a first human achievement.''</p>

<p><strong>Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-winning-space-tourism-race-between-bezos-branson-and-musk-396420" hreflang="en">Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk?</a></strong></p>

<p>"You need a fantastic guidance and navigation system because you're travelling so fast and the asteroid is travelling so fast towards you... It's a very small target, even though it's the size of a pyramid, it's a very small target in the vastness of space to go and rendezvous with and to hit dead on."</p>

<p>The SpaceX rocket carrying DART mission's spacecraft had lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Tuesday.</p>

<p>DART is the latest of several NASA missions of recent years to explore and interact with asteroids, primordial rocky remnants from the solar system's formation 4.6 billion years ago.</p>

<p>There are 10,000 known near-Earth asteroids 460 feet in size or greater, but none has a significant chance to hit in the next 100 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


SpaceX founder Elon Musk has asked NASA to ''avenge the dinosaurs'' in its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission. It comes after the US space agency did a test run should humanity ever need to stop a giant space rock from wiping out life on Earth.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk has asked NASA to ''avenge the dinosaurs'' in its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission. It comes after the US space agency did a test run should humanity ever need to stop a giant space rock from wiping out life on Earth. The mission aims to deliberately smash a spacecraft into an asteroid in a demonstration of the world's first planetary defense system. Also read | Watch | NASA mission to test out Armageddon scenario blasts off Its target is an asteroid "moonlet" the size of a football stadium that orbits a chunk of rock five times larger in a binary asteroid system named Didymos, the Greek word for twin. The impact should take place in the fall of 2022 when the binary asteroid system is 6.8 million miles (11 million kilometers) from Earth, almost the nearest point they ever get. According to Matthew Stuttard, head of R&D for Airbus Defence and Space Ltd in the Space Systems division, ''hitting an asteroid dead on with a direct hit is something that has never been done before, so it would be a first human achievement.'' Also see | Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk? "You need a fantastic guidance and navigation system because you're travelling so fast and the asteroid is travelling so fast towards you... It's a very small target, even though it's the size of a pyramid, it's a very small target in the vastness of space to go and rendezvous with and to hit dead on." The SpaceX rocket carrying DART mission's spacecraft had lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Tuesday. DART is the latest of several NASA missions of recent years to explore and interact with asteroids, primordial rocky remnants from the solar system's formation 4.6 billion years ago. There are 10,000 known near-Earth asteroids 460 feet in size or greater, but none has a significant chance to hit in the next 100 years. (With inputs from agencies)

SpaceX founder Elon Musk asks NASA to 'avenge the dinosaurs' in its DART mission

<p>There are great benefits here on earth as a result of space exploration activities and continued human presence in Low Earth Orbit, according to Colonel Pam Melroy, NASA’s deputy administrator.</p>

<p>“Climate change is an existential crisis, the best place to monitor earth, is from space… There are a lot of problems to solve… We go to space to benefit life on earth and those who spend their effort on it, see a direct line of sight.”</p>

<p>The top American official was in discussion with heads of space agencies from the Quad countries (Japan, Australia, India, US), hosted as part of the Sydney Dialogue, by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Traditionally government agencies carried out space activities, but there has been increased activity in low earth orbit (LEO) in the last decade. In the midst of this, ordinary people and astronauts are going to space. Increasing access to space can create new services on earth and improve life here” agrees Dr. Hiroshi Yamakawa, President, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA).</p>

<p>On the need for greater collaboration between Quad countries, he added that the Future Lunar exploration has to be a joint effort, as there exists the possibility of having a manned space station in the vicinity of the moon, which can enable sustained exploration in the region and also on the Lunar surface. The Japanese Space agency head emphasised&nbsp;the need for multi-national missions to Mars that would be led by Quad countries, owing to the high costs of manned missions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite being a recent entrant, the Australian Space Agency hopes to build upon its long legacy of having performed and facilitated deep space communications, remote operations and space medicine, life sciences, to further their spacefaring ambitions.</p>

<p>It is noteworthy that, unlike the other three Quad countries, Australia doesn’t yet have a standalone, independent space-faring programme and that they work with other agencies and countries to jointly perform missions.</p>

<p>However, the Australian Space Agency wants to grow big and grow quick. “We are looking to nurture and foster industry, by investing on R&amp;D , by offering grants, special programmes, working with other space agencies and instilling confidence abut there being a market” says Enrico Palermo, Head, Australian Space Agency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Asked about Australia having its own human spaceflight programme, Palermo expressed optimism and said that they would have a shot eventually, considering the increasing easy accessibility to space and rapid miniaturisation of technological and aerospace components.</p>

<p>Elaborating on Australia’s geographic advantages, open ranges, experience in space medicine and life sciences, deep space communication networks, he said that Australia would end up in a position to have an Astronaut programme.</p>

<p>He also made a mention of Australia’s communication and tracking support being offered to India’s Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight programme and NASA’s Artemis, Manned Lunar exploration programme.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“NASA is an engine to drive commercial development and space exploration is the fuel for this engine… Pushing ourselves to do something super challenging is the fuel,” said&nbsp;Melroy, a former NASA astronaut.</p>

<p>According to her, NASA would be a facilitator that would provide funding, strike partnerships, open doors and nurture private players to go forward in the exploration of deep space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Sustained presence in Low Earth Orbit had helped us understand and develop more efficient combustion engines, key processes in the human body, insights for medicine development etc.” she said, regarding some of the breakthroughs facilitated by astronauts’ presence in the International Space station labs.</p>

<p>On NASA’s future plans, Melroy said, "we intend to handoff LEO (500-200km orbit) to commercial partners, so that we can put more investment into expanding out into the solar system.</p>

<p>“If we continue to do everything on our own, it would be very tough to find the resources for it” she said on the importance of having private companies undertaking important spacefaring and support missions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is significant to note that the Indian government had announced reforms in the country’s space sector, in 2020, to enable private players to perform end-to-end spacefaring activities including designing, owning, building of rockets, satellites, launching of rockets and spacecrafts, providing support and ground services.</p>

<p>The Indian space sector has been dominated by the state-run ISRO since the very inception of India’s space programme, while private companies were only vendors and suppliers of components and services.</p>

<p>However, the latest reforms in India are aimed at opening up this lucrative industry, that is estimated to be worth $440 billion&nbsp;worldwide.&nbsp;</p>


There are great benefits here on earth as a result of space exploration activities and continued human presence in Low Earth Orbit, according to Colonel Pam Melroy, NASA’s deputy administrator.

There are great benefits here on earth as a result of space exploration activities and continued human presence in Low Earth Orbit, according to Colonel Pam Melroy, NASA’s deputy administrator. “Climate change is an existential crisis, the best place to monitor earth, is from space… There are a lot of problems to solve… We go to space to benefit life on earth and those who spend their effort on it, see a direct line of sight.” The top American official was in discussion with heads of space agencies from the Quad countries (Japan, Australia, India, US), hosted as part of the Sydney Dialogue, by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. “Traditionally government agencies carried out space activities, but there has been increased activity in low earth orbit (LEO) in the last decade. In the midst of this, ordinary people and astronauts are going to space. Increasing access to space can create new services on earth and improve life here” agrees Dr. Hiroshi Yamakawa, President, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA). On the need for greater collaboration between Quad countries, he added that the Future Lunar exploration has to be a joint effort, as there exists the possibility of having a manned space station in the vicinity of the moon, which can enable sustained exploration in the region and also on the Lunar surface. The Japanese Space agency head emphasised the need for multi-national missions to Mars that would be led by Quad countries, owing to the high costs of manned missions. Despite being a recent entrant, the Australian Space Agency hopes to build upon its long legacy of having performed and facilitated deep space communications, remote operations and space medicine, life sciences, to further their spacefaring ambitions. It is noteworthy that, unlike the other three Quad countries, Australia doesn’t yet have a standalone, independent space-faring programme and that they work with other agencies and countries to jointly perform missions. However, the Australian Space Agency wants to grow big and grow quick. “We are looking to nurture and foster industry, by investing on R&D , by offering grants, special programmes, working with other space agencies and instilling confidence abut there being a market” says Enrico Palermo, Head, Australian Space Agency. Asked about Australia having its own human spaceflight programme, Palermo expressed optimism and said that they would have a shot eventually, considering the increasing easy accessibility to space and rapid miniaturisation of technological and aerospace components. Elaborating on Australia’s geographic advantages, open ranges, experience in space medicine and life sciences, deep space communication networks, he said that Australia would end up in a position to have an Astronaut programme. He also made a mention of Australia’s communication and tracking support being offered to India’s Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight programme and NASA’s Artemis, Manned Lunar exploration programme. “NASA is an engine to drive commercial development and space exploration is the fuel for this engine… Pushing ourselves to do something super challenging is the fuel,” said Melroy, a former NASA astronaut. According to her, NASA would be a facilitator that would provide funding, strike partnerships, open doors and nurture private players to go forward in the exploration of deep space. “Sustained presence in Low Earth Orbit had helped us understand and develop more efficient combustion engines, key processes in the human body, insights for medicine development etc.” she said, regarding some of the breakthroughs facilitated by astronauts’ presence in the International Space station labs. On NASA’s future plans, Melroy said, "we intend to handoff LEO (500-200km orbit) to commercial partners, so that we can put more investment into expanding out into the solar system. “If we continue to do everything on our own, it would be very tough to find the resources for it” she said on the importance of having private companies undertaking important spacefaring and support missions. It is significant to note that the Indian government had announced reforms in the country’s space sector, in 2020, to enable private players to perform end-to-end spacefaring activities including designing, owning, building of rockets, satellites, launching of rockets and spacecrafts, providing support and ground services. The Indian space sector has been dominated by the state-run ISRO since the very inception of India’s space programme, while private companies were only vendors and suppliers of components and services. However, the latest reforms in India are aimed at opening up this lucrative industry, that is estimated to be worth $440 billion worldwide.

“We go to space to benefit life on earth”, says NASA deputy administrator at Quad space officials' meet

<p>The world is witnessing a space race of sorts again with entry of private companies in the domain previously exclusive to government space agencies. Questions are often raised about whether we need to spend billions on space when we have pressing issues here on Earth. But it has been seen the technological and scientific frontiers heralded by space exploration has often led to advancement of science and tech on Earth.</p>

<p>"There’s great benefits here on earth as a result of space exploration activities and continued human presence in Low Earth Orbit," says Colonel Pam Melroy, a former NASA Astronaut who is currently NASA’s deputy administrator.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Climate change is an existential crisis, the best place to monitor earth, is from space… There are a lot of problems to solve… We go to space to benefit life on Earth and those who spend their effort on it see a direct line of sight.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>The top American official was in discussion with heads of space agencies from the Quad countries (Japan, Australia, India, US), hosted as part of the Sydney Dialogue, by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Traditionally government agencies carried out space activities, but there has been increased activity in low earth orbit (LEO) in the last decade. In the midst of this, ordinary people and astronauts are going to space. Increasing access to space can create new services on Earth and improve life here,” agrees Dr Hiroshi Yamakawa, president, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA).&nbsp;</p>

<p>On the need for greater collaboration between Quad countries, he added that the future lunar exploration has to be a joint effort, as there exists the possibility of having a manned space station in the vicinity of the Moon, which can enable sustained exploration in the region and also on the lunar surface. The Japanese space agency head emphasised the need for multi-national missions to Mars that would be led by Quad countries, owing to the high costs of manned missions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite being a recent entrant, the Australian Space Agency hopes to build upon its long legacy of having performed and facilitated deep space communications, remote operations and space medicine, life sciences, to further its spacefaring ambitions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is noteworthy that, unlike the other Quad countries, Australia doesn’t yet have a standalone, independent space-faring programme and that they work with other agencies and countries to jointly perform missions. However, the Australian Space Agency wants to grow big and grow quick.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We are looking to nurture and foster industry, by investing on R&amp;D, by offering grants, special programmes, working with other space agencies and instilling confidence about there being a market” says Enrico Palermo, Head, Australian Space Agency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Asked about Australia having its own human spaceflight programme, Palermo expressed optimism and said that they would have a shot eventually, considering the increasing easy access to space and rapid miniaturization of technological, aerospace components. Elaborating on Australia’s geographic advantages, open ranges, experience in space medicine and life sciences, deep space communication networks, he said that Australia would end up in a position to have an astronaut programme. He also made a mention of Australia’s communication and tracking support being offered to India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme and NASA’s Artemis, manned lunar exploration programme.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“NASA is an engine to drive commercial development and space exploration is the fuel for this engine… Pushing ourselves to do something super challenging is the fuel..” Says the former NASA Astronaut. According to her, NASA would be a facilitator that would provide funding, strike partnerships, open doors and nurture private players to go forward in the exploration of deep space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Sustained presence in low Earth orbit had helped us understand and develop more efficient combustion engines, key processes in the human body, insights for medicine development etc.” she said.</p>

<p>On NASA’s future plans, Melroy said that the agency intends to handoff LEO (500-200 km orbits) to commercial partners, so that it can put more investment into expanding out into the solar system.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“If we continue to do everything on our own, it would be very tough to find the resources for it” she said on the importance of having private companies undertaking important spacefaring and support missions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is significant to note that the Indian government had announced reforms in the country’s space sector, in 2020, to enable private players to perform end-to-end spacefaring activities including designing, owning, building rockets, satellites, launching rockets and spacecrafts, providing support and ground services etc. The Indian Space sector has been dominated by the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation, since the very inception of India’s space programme, while private companies were only vendors and suppliers of components and services. However, the latest reforms in India are aimed at opening up this lucrative industry, which is estimated to be worth $440 billion worldwide.&nbsp;</p>


The world is witnessing a space race of sorts again with entry of private companies in the domain previously exclusive to government space agencies. Questions are often raised about whether we need to spend billions on space when we have pressing issues here on Earth.

The world is witnessing a space race of sorts again with entry of private companies in the domain previously exclusive to government space agencies. Questions are often raised about whether we need to spend billions on space when we have pressing issues here on Earth. But it has been seen the technological and scientific frontiers heralded by space exploration has often led to advancement of science and tech on Earth. "There’s great benefits here on earth as a result of space exploration activities and continued human presence in Low Earth Orbit," says Colonel Pam Melroy, a former NASA Astronaut who is currently NASA’s deputy administrator. “Climate change is an existential crisis, the best place to monitor earth, is from space… There are a lot of problems to solve… We go to space to benefit life on Earth and those who spend their effort on it see a direct line of sight.” The top American official was in discussion with heads of space agencies from the Quad countries (Japan, Australia, India, US), hosted as part of the Sydney Dialogue, by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. “Traditionally government agencies carried out space activities, but there has been increased activity in low earth orbit (LEO) in the last decade. In the midst of this, ordinary people and astronauts are going to space. Increasing access to space can create new services on Earth and improve life here,” agrees Dr Hiroshi Yamakawa, president, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA). On the need for greater collaboration between Quad countries, he added that the future lunar exploration has to be a joint effort, as there exists the possibility of having a manned space station in the vicinity of the Moon, which can enable sustained exploration in the region and also on the lunar surface. The Japanese space agency head emphasised the need for multi-national missions to Mars that would be led by Quad countries, owing to the high costs of manned missions. Despite being a recent entrant, the Australian Space Agency hopes to build upon its long legacy of having performed and facilitated deep space communications, remote operations and space medicine, life sciences, to further its spacefaring ambitions. It is noteworthy that, unlike the other Quad countries, Australia doesn’t yet have a standalone, independent space-faring programme and that they work with other agencies and countries to jointly perform missions. However, the Australian Space Agency wants to grow big and grow quick. “We are looking to nurture and foster industry, by investing on R&D, by offering grants, special programmes, working with other space agencies and instilling confidence about there being a market” says Enrico Palermo, Head, Australian Space Agency. Asked about Australia having its own human spaceflight programme, Palermo expressed optimism and said that they would have a shot eventually, considering the increasing easy access to space and rapid miniaturization of technological, aerospace components. Elaborating on Australia’s geographic advantages, open ranges, experience in space medicine and life sciences, deep space communication networks, he said that Australia would end up in a position to have an astronaut programme. He also made a mention of Australia’s communication and tracking support being offered to India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme and NASA’s Artemis, manned lunar exploration programme. “NASA is an engine to drive commercial development and space exploration is the fuel for this engine… Pushing ourselves to do something super challenging is the fuel..” Says the former NASA Astronaut. According to her, NASA would be a facilitator that would provide funding, strike partnerships, open doors and nurture private players to go forward in the exploration of deep space. “Sustained presence in low Earth orbit had helped us understand and develop more efficient combustion engines, key processes in the human body, insights for medicine development etc.” she said. On NASA’s future plans, Melroy said that the agency intends to handoff LEO (500-200 km orbits) to commercial partners, so that it can put more investment into expanding out into the solar system. “If we continue to do everything on our own, it would be very tough to find the resources for it” she said on the importance of having private companies undertaking important spacefaring and support missions. It is significant to note that the Indian government had announced reforms in the country’s space sector, in 2020, to enable private players to perform end-to-end spacefaring activities including designing, owning, building rockets, satellites, launching rockets and spacecrafts, providing support and ground services etc. The Indian Space sector has been dominated by the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation, since the very inception of India’s space programme, while private companies were only vendors and suppliers of components and services. However, the latest reforms in India are aimed at opening up this lucrative industry, which is estimated to be worth $440 billion worldwide.

Being in space has given us better science and tech on Earth, say top officials of Quad space agencies

DART spacecraft soared into the night sky at 10:21 p.m. Pacific time on Tuesday from Vandenberg U.S. Space Force Base.

NASA launches DART mission to test asteroid defense concept

NASA has sent a spacecraft to space that will crash into an asteroid. Why? NASA is undertaking some target practice to avoid Armageddon in the future. Palki Sharma tells you all you need to know.

Gravitas: NASA wants to crash a spacecraft to save earth from Armageddon

<p>Do you think dinosaurs ever stood a chance against the asteroid that wiped off the mighty creatures? If they were sentient beings and could have protected themselves. Does humanity stand a chance when it comes to something like that...an asteroid so massive it can wipe out the entire planet?</p>

<p>The answer is yes, we actually might. Scientists at NASA are planning a mission to deliberately crash a spacecraft into an asteroid -- as a test run, in case a giant space rock is heading towards us to wipe out life on Earth one day.</p>

<p>Just to be clear, the asteroids in question pose no threat to our planet.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-avert-armageddon-nasa-to-collide-spacecraft-into-asteroid-to-alter-its-orbit-431319">To avert Armageddon, NASA to collide spacecraft into asteroid to alter its orbit</a></strong></p>

<p>DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) is not science fiction, but a real proof-of-concept experiment launching Tuesday night at 10:21 pm Pacific Time (0621 GMT Wednesday) on a SpaceX rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.</p>

<p>"All systems and weather are looking good for tonight's Falcon 9 launch," Elon Musk's company tweeted.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">All systems and weather are looking good for tonight’s Falcon 9 launch of <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a>’s DART into an asteroid-intercepting interplanetary trajectory → <a href="https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK">https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK</a> <a href="https://t.co/BBrMndhpkQ">pic.twitter.com/BBrMndhpkQ</a></p>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1463211847281090560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p>This mission will slightly alter Dimorphos' trajectory, a "moonlet" that is about 525 feet (160 meters) wide and circles a much larger asteroid known as Didymos (2,500 feet in diameter). The two, orbit the Sun together.</p>

<p>The impact will likely occur in the fall of 2022 when the binary asteroid system will be 6.8 million miles away (11 million kilometres), which is the nearest they will ever be to Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"What we're trying to learn is how to deflect a threat," NASA's top scientist Thomas Zuburchen said of the $330 million project, the first of its kind.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hubble-telescope-captures-violent-process-of-star-formation-431507" hreflang="en">Hubble telescope captures violent process of star formation</a></strong></p>

<p>While the asteroids in question pose no threat to Earth, nevertheless, they belong to a class of bodies known as Near-Earth Objects (NEO), asteroids and comets that approach within 30 million miles of our planet.</p>

<p>Specifically, NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office is more interested in space objects larger than 460 feet in size, which can destroy entire cities and regions with more energy than an average nuclear bomb.</p>

<p>At present, there are 10,000 near-Earth asteroids larger than 460 feet, but none has a significant chance of hitting the Earth within a century.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, one major caveat: It is important to note that scientists believe there are still 15,000 more such objects just waiting to be found.</p>

<p>While planetary scientists can simulate miniature impacts in laboratories and use the results to generate sophisticated models about how to divert an asteroid, models are never as effective as real-world experiments.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/strange-rock-thought-to-be-gold-turns-out-far-more-valuable-431237" hreflang="en">Strange rock thought to be gold turns out far more valuable</a></strong></p>

<p>Didymos-Dimorphos is considered an "ideal natural laboratory," since Earth-based telescopes can easily measure the brightness variation of the pair and calculate how long it takes the moonlet to orbit its big brother.</p>

<p>And since the current orbit period is known, the change in this period will reveal the impact's effect, which is scheduled between September 26 and October 1, 2022.</p>

<p>DART investigation team leader Andy Rivkin said the current orbital period is 11 hours 55 minutes, but the kick is expected to shave around 10 minutes off that time.</p>

<p>In addition, since these asteroids do not intersect our planet's orbit, they are considered to be safer to study.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;A giant asteroid just whizzed past Earth, and no one had a clue!</strong></p>

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<p>To put it into perspective, the DART probe, which is a box as big as a large fridge with solar panels the size of limousines on either side, will crash into Dimorphos at approximately 15,000 miles an hour.</p>

<p><strong>What else can be done to protect the Earth from space objects?</strong></p>

<p>While the so-called "kinetic impactor" method isn't the only way to divert an asteroid, it is the only one that can be deployed today.</p>

<p>Another possibility includes flying a spacecraft nearby to produce a small gravitational force.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A third option is to explode a nuclear device close by, but not on the object, as in the movies Armageddon and Deep Impact. However, this would likely create even more hazardous objects.</p>


Do you think dinosaurs ever stood a chance against the asteroid that wiped off the mighty creatures? If they were sentient beings and could have protected themselves.

Do you think dinosaurs ever stood a chance against the asteroid that wiped off the mighty creatures? If they were sentient beings and could have protected themselves. Does humanity stand a chance when it comes to something like that...an asteroid so massive it can wipe out the entire planet? The answer is yes, we actually might. Scientists at NASA are planning a mission to deliberately crash a spacecraft into an asteroid -- as a test run, in case a giant space rock is heading towards us to wipe out life on Earth one day. Just to be clear, the asteroids in question pose no threat to our planet. Also read | To avert Armageddon, NASA to collide spacecraft into asteroid to alter its orbit DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) is not science fiction, but a real proof-of-concept experiment launching Tuesday night at 10:21 pm Pacific Time (0621 GMT Wednesday) on a SpaceX rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. "All systems and weather are looking good for tonight's Falcon 9 launch," Elon Musk's company tweeted. All systems and weather are looking good for tonight’s Falcon 9 launch of @NASA’s DART into an asteroid-intercepting interplanetary trajectory → https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK pic.twitter.com/BBrMndhpkQ — SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 23, 2021 × This mission will slightly alter Dimorphos' trajectory, a "moonlet" that is about 525 feet (160 meters) wide and circles a much larger asteroid known as Didymos (2,500 feet in diameter). The two, orbit the Sun together. The impact will likely occur in the fall of 2022 when the binary asteroid system will be 6.8 million miles away (11 million kilometres), which is the nearest they will ever be to Earth. "What we're trying to learn is how to deflect a threat," NASA's top scientist Thomas Zuburchen said of the $330 million project, the first of its kind. Also read | Hubble telescope captures violent process of star formation While the asteroids in question pose no threat to Earth, nevertheless, they belong to a class of bodies known as Near-Earth Objects (NEO), asteroids and comets that approach within 30 million miles of our planet. Specifically, NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office is more interested in space objects larger than 460 feet in size, which can destroy entire cities and regions with more energy than an average nuclear bomb. At present, there are 10,000 near-Earth asteroids larger than 460 feet, but none has a significant chance of hitting the Earth within a century. However, one major caveat: It is important to note that scientists believe there are still 15,000 more such objects just waiting to be found. While planetary scientists can simulate miniature impacts in laboratories and use the results to generate sophisticated models about how to divert an asteroid, models are never as effective as real-world experiments. Also read: Strange rock thought to be gold turns out far more valuable Didymos-Dimorphos is considered an "ideal natural laboratory," since Earth-based telescopes can easily measure the brightness variation of the pair and calculate how long it takes the moonlet to orbit its big brother. And since the current orbit period is known, the change in this period will reveal the impact's effect, which is scheduled between September 26 and October 1, 2022. DART investigation team leader Andy Rivkin said the current orbital period is 11 hours 55 minutes, but the kick is expected to shave around 10 minutes off that time. In addition, since these asteroids do not intersect our planet's orbit, they are considered to be safer to study. Watch | A giant asteroid just whizzed past Earth, and no one had a clue! To put it into perspective, the DART probe, which is a box as big as a large fridge with solar panels the size of limousines on either side, will crash into Dimorphos at approximately 15,000 miles an hour. What else can be done to protect the Earth from space objects? While the so-called "kinetic impactor" method isn't the only way to divert an asteroid, it is the only one that can be deployed today. Another possibility includes flying a spacecraft nearby to produce a small gravitational force. A third option is to explode a nuclear device close by, but not on the object, as in the movies Armageddon and Deep Impact. However, this would likely create even more hazardous objects.

NASA, SpaceX to launch spacecraft today and kick an asteroid off course. Are we in danger?

<p>A NASA mission to deliberately smash a spacecraft into an asteroid to see if its course can be altered blasted off Tuesday from California.</p>

<p>The SpaceX rocket carrying the experiment lifted off at 10:21 pm Pacific Time (0621 GMT Wednesday) from Vandenberg Space Force Base, NASA TV's live stream showed. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-spacex-to-launch-spacecraft-today-and-kick-an-asteroid-off-course-are-we-in-danger-431513">NASA, SpaceX to launch spacecraft today and kick an asteroid off course. Are we in danger?</a></strong></p>

<p>After the launch, taking to Twitter NASA announced "Asteroid Dimorphos: we're coming for you!"</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Asteroid Dimorphos: we're coming for you!<br />
<br />
Riding a <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> Falcon 9 rocket, our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DARTMission?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DARTMission</a> blasted off at 1:21am EST (06:21 UTC), launching the world's first mission to test asteroid-deflecting technology. <a href="https://t.co/FRj1hMyzgH">pic.twitter.com/FRj1hMyzgH</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1463392778398973953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>SpaceX also tweeted a live feed of the launch:</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Watch Falcon 9 launch <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a>’s DART mission – humanity’s first planetary defense test to redirect an asteroid <a href="https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK">https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK</a> <a href="https://t.co/XMKYOGAjbB">https://t.co/XMKYOGAjbB</a></p>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1463388253625589765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>The DART mission is a planetary defence-driven test of technologies to prevent an impact of an asteroid on Earth. In this demonstration, a kinetic impactor technique will be used to change the motion of an asteroid in space for the first time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Under the leadership of APL, the program is managed by NASA's Solar System Exploration Program at Marshall Space Flight Center for NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office, as well as the Science Mission Directorate's Planetary Science Division.</p>

<p>The DART spacecraft was designed to impact an asteroid as a test of the technology. It must be noted that the asteroid being impacted is not a threat to Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Watch the spacecraft's journey here:</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">On our way!<br />
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55 minutes into its flight, the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DARTMission?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DARTMission</a> spacecraft has separated from the <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> Falcon 9 second stage, and will soon begin to orient itself toward the Sun. <a href="https://t.co/hI6NoQ11zw">pic.twitter.com/hI6NoQ11zw</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1463407550087503875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>However, if an Earth-threatening asteroid is discovered in the future, NASA believes this asteroid system is a great place to test whether intentionally crashing into an asteroid can change its trajectory.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-avert-armageddon-nasa-to-collide-spacecraft-into-asteroid-to-alter-its-orbit-431319">To avert Armageddon, NASA to collide spacecraft into asteroid to alter its orbit</a></strong></p>

<p>The spacecraft contains sophisticated navigation and imaging instruments, including the Italian Space Agency's Light Italian CubeSat for Imaging of Asteroids (LICIACube), which will monitor the crash and its after-effects.</p>

<p>"The CubeSat is going to give us, we hope, the shot, the most spectacular image of DART's impact and the ejecta plume coming off the asteroid. That will be a truly historic, spectacular image," said Tom Statler, DART program scientist.</p>

<p>The DART probe, which is a box as big as a large fridge with solar panels the size of limousines on either side, will crash into Dimorphos at approximately 15,000 miles an hour.</p>

<p>DART investigation team leader Andy Rivkin said the current orbital period is 11 hours 55 minutes, but the kick is expected to shave around 10 minutes off that time.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hubble-telescope-captures-violent-process-of-star-formation-431507" hreflang="en">Hubble telescope captures violent process of star formation</a></strong></p>

<p>Because the moonlet's internal composition and porosity are unknown, it is unclear how much energy will be transferred by the impact.</p>

<p>Apparently, the more debris generated, the greater the force exerted on Dimorphos.</p>

<p>"Every time we show up at an asteroid, we find stuff we don't expect," said Rivkin.</p>

<p>There are 10,000 known near-Earth asteroids 460 feet in size or greater.&nbsp;Despite the fact that no known asteroid larger than 140 meters could potentially strike Earth for the next 100 years, only about 40 per cent of all asteroids have been discovered and/or identified&nbsp;as of October 2021.</p>

<p>Scientists estimate that a 460-foot asteroid strikes the Earth every 20,000 years, and asteroids wider than six miles, like the one which caused the extinction of most life on Earth (including dinosaurs) 66 million years ago, occur every 100-200 million years.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A NASA mission to deliberately smash a spacecraft into an asteroid to see if its course can be altered blasted off Tuesday from California. The SpaceX rocket carrying the experiment lifted off at 10:21 pm Pacific Time (0621 GMT Wednesday) from Vandenberg Space Force Base, NASA TV's live stream showed.

A NASA mission to deliberately smash a spacecraft into an asteroid to see if its course can be altered blasted off Tuesday from California. The SpaceX rocket carrying the experiment lifted off at 10:21 pm Pacific Time (0621 GMT Wednesday) from Vandenberg Space Force Base, NASA TV's live stream showed. Also read | NASA, SpaceX to launch spacecraft today and kick an asteroid off course. Are we in danger? After the launch, taking to Twitter NASA announced "Asteroid Dimorphos: we're coming for you!" Asteroid Dimorphos: we're coming for you! Riding a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, our #DARTMission blasted off at 1:21am EST (06:21 UTC), launching the world's first mission to test asteroid-deflecting technology. pic.twitter.com/FRj1hMyzgH — NASA (@NASA) November 24, 2021 × SpaceX also tweeted a live feed of the launch: Watch Falcon 9 launch @NASA’s DART mission – humanity’s first planetary defense test to redirect an asteroid https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK https://t.co/XMKYOGAjbB — SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 24, 2021 × The DART mission is a planetary defence-driven test of technologies to prevent an impact of an asteroid on Earth. In this demonstration, a kinetic impactor technique will be used to change the motion of an asteroid in space for the first time. Under the leadership of APL, the program is managed by NASA's Solar System Exploration Program at Marshall Space Flight Center for NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office, as well as the Science Mission Directorate's Planetary Science Division. The DART spacecraft was designed to impact an asteroid as a test of the technology. It must be noted that the asteroid being impacted is not a threat to Earth. Watch the spacecraft's journey here: On our way! 55 minutes into its flight, the #DARTMission spacecraft has separated from the @SpaceX Falcon 9 second stage, and will soon begin to orient itself toward the Sun. pic.twitter.com/hI6NoQ11zw — NASA (@NASA) November 24, 2021 × However, if an Earth-threatening asteroid is discovered in the future, NASA believes this asteroid system is a great place to test whether intentionally crashing into an asteroid can change its trajectory. Also read | To avert Armageddon, NASA to collide spacecraft into asteroid to alter its orbit The spacecraft contains sophisticated navigation and imaging instruments, including the Italian Space Agency's Light Italian CubeSat for Imaging of Asteroids (LICIACube), which will monitor the crash and its after-effects. "The CubeSat is going to give us, we hope, the shot, the most spectacular image of DART's impact and the ejecta plume coming off the asteroid. That will be a truly historic, spectacular image," said Tom Statler, DART program scientist. The DART probe, which is a box as big as a large fridge with solar panels the size of limousines on either side, will crash into Dimorphos at approximately 15,000 miles an hour. DART investigation team leader Andy Rivkin said the current orbital period is 11 hours 55 minutes, but the kick is expected to shave around 10 minutes off that time. Also read | Hubble telescope captures violent process of star formation Because the moonlet's internal composition and porosity are unknown, it is unclear how much energy will be transferred by the impact. Apparently, the more debris generated, the greater the force exerted on Dimorphos. "Every time we show up at an asteroid, we find stuff we don't expect," said Rivkin. There are 10,000 known near-Earth asteroids 460 feet in size or greater. Despite the fact that no known asteroid larger than 140 meters could potentially strike Earth for the next 100 years, only about 40 per cent of all asteroids have been discovered and/or identified as of October 2021. Scientists estimate that a 460-foot asteroid strikes the Earth every 20,000 years, and asteroids wider than six miles, like the one which caused the extinction of most life on Earth (including dinosaurs) 66 million years ago, occur every 100-200 million years. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | NASA mission to test out Armageddon scenario blasts off

NASA spacecraft to crash into Asteroid, mission might save planet Earth

<p>In what can be called the first case of humanity’s interference in the gravitational dance of the solar system, NASA is going to launch a mission to deliberately collide a spacecraft into an asteroid in order to alter its orbit. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The agency will carry out the mission on Wednesday. The aim of the mission is to test drive a planetary defence system, which can prevent from extinction. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/indian-astronomers-discover-stars-hotter-than-sun-430818" hreflang="en">Indian astronomers discover stars hotter than Sun</a></strong></p>

<p>It will provide the first real data about what it is needed to deflect an Armageddon-inducing asteroid away from Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission is the first attempt to test if such asteroid deflection is a realistic strategy. It will look into the possibility that whether a spacecraft can autonomously navigate to a target asteroid and intentionally collide with it along with measuring the amount of deflection. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The 610 kg DART spacecraft will blast off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Wednesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/strange-rock-thought-to-be-gold-turns-out-far-more-valuable-431237" hreflang="en">Strange rock thought to be gold turns out far more valuable</a></strong></p>

<p>Its target is the Didymos system, a harmless pair of asteroids, which consists of a 163-metre “moonlet” asteroid called Dimorphos orbiting a larger 780-metre asteroid called Didymos. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jay Tate, director, National Near Earth Objects Information Centre in Knighton in Powys, Wales, said, “This is the first step to actually try a way of preventing near-Earth object impact. If it works, it would be a big deal, because it would prove that we have the technical capability of protecting ourselves.” &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In what can be called the first case of humanity’s interference in the gravitational dance of the solar system, NASA is going to launch a mission to deliberately collide a spacecraft into an asteroid in order to alter its orbit.

In what can be called the first case of humanity’s interference in the gravitational dance of the solar system, NASA is going to launch a mission to deliberately collide a spacecraft into an asteroid in order to alter its orbit. The agency will carry out the mission on Wednesday. The aim of the mission is to test drive a planetary defence system, which can prevent from extinction. Also Read: Indian astronomers discover stars hotter than Sun It will provide the first real data about what it is needed to deflect an Armageddon-inducing asteroid away from Earth. The NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission is the first attempt to test if such asteroid deflection is a realistic strategy. It will look into the possibility that whether a spacecraft can autonomously navigate to a target asteroid and intentionally collide with it along with measuring the amount of deflection. The 610 kg DART spacecraft will blast off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Wednesday. Also Read: Strange rock thought to be gold turns out far more valuable Its target is the Didymos system, a harmless pair of asteroids, which consists of a 163-metre “moonlet” asteroid called Dimorphos orbiting a larger 780-metre asteroid called Didymos. Jay Tate, director, National Near Earth Objects Information Centre in Knighton in Powys, Wales, said, “This is the first step to actually try a way of preventing near-Earth object impact. If it works, it would be a big deal, because it would prove that we have the technical capability of protecting ourselves.” (With inputs from agencies)

To avert Armageddon, NASA to collide spacecraft into asteroid to alter its orbit

<p>NASA's Mars rover is investigating an undisturbed ancient time capsule on the Red planet.</p>

<p>Known as the Jezero crater, it was the site of a lake 3.7 billion years ago. The long-gone river once fed a lake, depositing sediment in a fan-shaped delta visible from space.&nbsp;The ancient river has bolstered the search of signs of life on Mars.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-shares-perseverance-rovers-breathtaking-recording-of-ingenuity-flight-on-mars-430781">NASA shares Perseverance rover's breathtaking recording of Ingenuity flight on Mars</a></strong></p>

<p>NASA's Perseverance rover has released images from Mars that reveal how water helped shape the Red Planet's landscape billions of years ago.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-offer-hint-on-how-suns-death-might-unfold-428057" hreflang="en">Astronomers offer hint on how Sun's death might unfold</a></strong></p>

<p>It had taken a break from solar conjunction which refers to a period when the sun is between the Earth and Mars.</p>

<p>NASA astrobiologist Amy Williams and her team in Florida found similarities between features of the cliffs seen from the crater floor and patterns in Earth's river deltas.</p>

<p>The shape of the bottom three layers showed a presence and steady flow of water early on, indicating Mars was "warm and humid enough to support a hydrologic cycle."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-element-is-found-in-both-our-teeth-and-in-a-galaxy-which-is-12-billion-light-years-away-426901">Also read |&nbsp;This element is found in both our teeth and in a galaxy which is 12 billion light years away</a></strong></p>

<p>The top and most recent layers feature boulders measuring more than a metre in diameter scattered about, probably carried there by violent flooding.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But it is the fine-grained sediment of the base layer that will likely be the target of sampling for signs of long-extinct life,&nbsp;if it existed,&nbsp;on Mars.</p>

<p>The findings will help researchers figure out where to send the rover for soil and rocks that may contain precious "biosignatures" of putative Martian life forms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"From orbital images, we knew it had to be water that formed the delta," Williams said in a press release.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"But having these images is like reading a book instead of just looking at the cover."</p>

<p>Finding out whether life may have existed on Mars is the main mission of Perseverence, a project that took decades and cost billions of dollars to develop.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA's Mars rover is investigating an undisturbed ancient time capsule on the Red planet. Known as the Jezero crater, it was the site of a lake 3.7 billion years ago.

NASA's Mars rover is investigating an undisturbed ancient time capsule on the Red planet. Known as the Jezero crater, it was the site of a lake 3.7 billion years ago. The long-gone river once fed a lake, depositing sediment in a fan-shaped delta visible from space. The ancient river has bolstered the search of signs of life on Mars. Also Read | NASA shares Perseverance rover's breathtaking recording of Ingenuity flight on Mars NASA's Perseverance rover has released images from Mars that reveal how water helped shape the Red Planet's landscape billions of years ago. Also read | Astronomers offer hint on how Sun's death might unfold It had taken a break from solar conjunction which refers to a period when the sun is between the Earth and Mars. NASA astrobiologist Amy Williams and her team in Florida found similarities between features of the cliffs seen from the crater floor and patterns in Earth's river deltas. The shape of the bottom three layers showed a presence and steady flow of water early on, indicating Mars was "warm and humid enough to support a hydrologic cycle." Also read | This element is found in both our teeth and in a galaxy which is 12 billion light years away The top and most recent layers feature boulders measuring more than a metre in diameter scattered about, probably carried there by violent flooding. But it is the fine-grained sediment of the base layer that will likely be the target of sampling for signs of long-extinct life, if it existed, on Mars. The findings will help researchers figure out where to send the rover for soil and rocks that may contain precious "biosignatures" of putative Martian life forms. "From orbital images, we knew it had to be water that formed the delta," Williams said in a press release. "But having these images is like reading a book instead of just looking at the cover." Finding out whether life may have existed on Mars is the main mission of Perseverence, a project that took decades and cost billions of dollars to develop. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's Mars rover probing undisturbed ancient time capsule on Red planet

<p>NASA's Ingenuity helicopter has already earned its place in history by being first man-made craft to fly successfully on the surface of another planet. Till now we only knew this through news shared by NASA which got confirmation of the flight from the telemetry data. But now, Perseverance rover has recorded the magnificent flight of the helicopter. And NASA has shared the video with everyone online.</p>

<p>Recently, Ingenuity made its 13th flight. In the videos released by NASA, the rotocraft can be seen to fly nearly 700 feet horizontally at a height of about 26 feet from the martian surface. Perseverance used its Mastcam-Z to record the flight from 1000 feet away. The flight took place on September 4.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Check out the video</p>

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<p>NASA scientists recently made changes in Ingenuity's program to make it move a little faster. This was done to compensate for Martian atmosphere which is thinner than that of Earth. Ingenuity's navigation system is automated and uses Artificial Intelligence to make adjustment with respect to variables like wind speed and pressure changes.</p>

<p>Ingenuity took images of some interesting rock structures during its 13th flight. Ingenuity helicopter and its flight was initially meant to be just a technology demonstration. But after its brilliant success, its mission has been expanded to include study of martian rock deposits.</p>


NASA's Ingenuity helicopter has already earned its place in history by being first man-made craft to fly successfully on the surface of another planet. Till now we only knew this through news shared by NASA which got confirmation of the flight from the telemetry data.

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter has already earned its place in history by being first man-made craft to fly successfully on the surface of another planet. Till now we only knew this through news shared by NASA which got confirmation of the flight from the telemetry data. But now, Perseverance rover has recorded the magnificent flight of the helicopter. And NASA has shared the video with everyone online. Recently, Ingenuity made its 13th flight. In the videos released by NASA, the rotocraft can be seen to fly nearly 700 feet horizontally at a height of about 26 feet from the martian surface. Perseverance used its Mastcam-Z to record the flight from 1000 feet away. The flight took place on September 4. Check out the video × NASA scientists recently made changes in Ingenuity's program to make it move a little faster. This was done to compensate for Martian atmosphere which is thinner than that of Earth. Ingenuity's navigation system is automated and uses Artificial Intelligence to make adjustment with respect to variables like wind speed and pressure changes. Ingenuity took images of some interesting rock structures during its 13th flight. Ingenuity helicopter and its flight was initially meant to be just a technology demonstration. But after its brilliant success, its mission has been expanded to include study of martian rock deposits.

NASA shares Perseverance rover's breathtaking recording of Ingenuity flight on Mars

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