<p>NASA's Perseverance drilled into the surface of&nbsp;Mars&nbsp;but failed in its initial attempt to&nbsp;collect&nbsp;rock&nbsp;samples that would be picked up by future missions for analysis by scientists on Earth.</p>

<p>The US&nbsp;space&nbsp;agency published images Friday of a small mound with a hole in its center next to the&nbsp;rover&nbsp;-- the first ever dug into the Red Planet by a robot.</p>

<p>But data sent to Earth by the&nbsp;rover&nbsp;after its first attempt to&nbsp;collect&nbsp;a sample and seal it in a tube indicated no&nbsp;rock&nbsp;had been gathered.</p>

<p>"While this is not the 'hole-in-one' we hoped for, there is always risk with breaking new ground," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for&nbsp;NASA's science mission directorate, in a statement.</p>

<p>"I'm confident we have the right team working this, and we will persevere toward a solution to ensure future success."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-model-this-is-how-the-sun-looked-like-in-its-youth-402732"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;NASA model: This is how the Sun looked like in its youth</strong></a></p>

<p>The drill hole is the first step of a&nbsp;sampling process&nbsp;that is expected to take about 11 days, with the aim of looking for signs of ancient microbial&nbsp;life&nbsp;that may have been preserved in ancient lakebed deposits.</p>

<p>Scientists also hope to better understand Martian geology.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mission took off from Florida a little over a year ago and Perseverance, which is the size of a large family car, landed on February 18 in the Jezero Crater.</p>

<p>Scientists believe the crater contained a deep lake 3.5 billion years ago, where the conditions may have been able to support extraterrestrial&nbsp;life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA&nbsp;plans a mission to bring around 30 samples back to Earth in the 2030s, to be analysed by instruments that are much more sophisticated than those that can be brought to&nbsp;Mars&nbsp;at present.&nbsp;</p>


NASA's Perseverance drilled into the surface of Mars but failed in its initial attempt to collect rock samples that would be picked up by future missions for analysis by scientists on Earth.

NASA's Perseverance drilled into the surface of Mars but failed in its initial attempt to collect rock samples that would be picked up by future missions for analysis by scientists on Earth. The US space agency published images Friday of a small mound with a hole in its center next to the rover -- the first ever dug into the Red Planet by a robot. But data sent to Earth by the rover after its first attempt to collect a sample and seal it in a tube indicated no rock had been gathered. "While this is not the 'hole-in-one' we hoped for, there is always risk with breaking new ground," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's science mission directorate, in a statement. "I'm confident we have the right team working this, and we will persevere toward a solution to ensure future success." Also read | NASA model: This is how the Sun looked like in its youth The drill hole is the first step of a sampling process that is expected to take about 11 days, with the aim of looking for signs of ancient microbial life that may have been preserved in ancient lakebed deposits. Scientists also hope to better understand Martian geology. The mission took off from Florida a little over a year ago and Perseverance, which is the size of a large family car, landed on February 18 in the Jezero Crater. Scientists believe the crater contained a deep lake 3.5 billion years ago, where the conditions may have been able to support extraterrestrial life. NASA plans a mission to bring around 30 samples back to Earth in the 2030s, to be analysed by instruments that are much more sophisticated than those that can be brought to Mars at present.

NASA Mars rover fails to collect rock in search of alien life

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="3">NASA said on Friday that it is seeking a few good men and women to assist in the advancement of its goal of transporting people to Mars by 2037.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="5">The US space agency is looking for ‘highly driven individuals' to take part in a year-long Mars surface simulation in which they would live in a 1,700-square-foot Mars Dune Alpha module 3D-printed by ICON.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="6">Three one-year Mars surface simulations located at NASA's Johnson Space Center are part of the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog series of missions.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="7">The analogues will fund research on strategies and technology for preventing and resolving potential issues on future human spaceflight trips to the Moon and Mars.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="8">"The analog is critical for testing solutions to meet the complex needs of living on the Martian surface," said Grace Douglas, lead scientist for NASA’s Advanced Food Technology research effort at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="9">"Simulations on Earth will help us understand and counter the physical and mental challenges astronauts will face before they go."</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="10">The program consists of three simulations, with the first starting in 2022, and each will see four crew members spend 365 days completely isolated in the mock habitats of the Red Planet.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="11">Applications are available now and will close on September 12, 2021.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="12">Participants must be between the ages of 30 and 55, hold a master's degree in a STEM discipline, and have at least two years of comparable work experience to be considered.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="13"><strong>Basic eligibility for this mission:</strong></p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="14">Be a US citizen or permanent resident</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="15">Be within the ages of 30-55</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="16">Possess a master's degree* in a STEM field, including engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics, from an accredited institution.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="17">Have at least two years of related professional experience in a STEM field or at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time on jet aircraft.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="18">Be able to pass the NASA long-duration flight astronaut physical.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="19"><strong>*The master's degree requirement can also be met by:</strong></p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="20">Two years (36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours) of work toward a doctoral program in a related science, technology, engineering, or math field.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="21">A completed Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="22">Completion (or current enrollment that will result in completion by June 2021) of a nationally recognized test pilot school program.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="23">*Participants with a Bachelor’s degree and other specific qualifications (e.g., relevant additional education, military, or at least 4 years of professional experience in a STEM field) may also be considered.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="24"><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA said on Friday that it is seeking a few good men and women to assist in the advancement of its goal of transporting people to Mars by 2037. The US space agency is looking for ‘highly driven individuals' to take part in a year-long Mars surface simulation in which they would live in a 1,700-square-foot Mars Dune Alpha module 3D-printed by ICON.

NASA said on Friday that it is seeking a few good men and women to assist in the advancement of its goal of transporting people to Mars by 2037. The US space agency is looking for ‘highly driven individuals' to take part in a year-long Mars surface simulation in which they would live in a 1,700-square-foot Mars Dune Alpha module 3D-printed by ICON. Three one-year Mars surface simulations located at NASA's Johnson Space Center are part of the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog series of missions. The analogues will fund research on strategies and technology for preventing and resolving potential issues on future human spaceflight trips to the Moon and Mars. "The analog is critical for testing solutions to meet the complex needs of living on the Martian surface," said Grace Douglas, lead scientist for NASA’s Advanced Food Technology research effort at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. "Simulations on Earth will help us understand and counter the physical and mental challenges astronauts will face before they go." The program consists of three simulations, with the first starting in 2022, and each will see four crew members spend 365 days completely isolated in the mock habitats of the Red Planet. Applications are available now and will close on September 12, 2021. Participants must be between the ages of 30 and 55, hold a master's degree in a STEM discipline, and have at least two years of comparable work experience to be considered. Basic eligibility for this mission: Be a US citizen or permanent resident Be within the ages of 30-55 Possess a master's degree* in a STEM field, including engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics, from an accredited institution. Have at least two years of related professional experience in a STEM field or at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time on jet aircraft. Be able to pass the NASA long-duration flight astronaut physical. *The master's degree requirement can also be met by: Two years (36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours) of work toward a doctoral program in a related science, technology, engineering, or math field. A completed Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. Completion (or current enrollment that will result in completion by June 2021) of a nationally recognized test pilot school program. *Participants with a Bachelor’s degree and other specific qualifications (e.g., relevant additional education, military, or at least 4 years of professional experience in a STEM field) may also be considered. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA is recruiting to send humans to Mars as soon as 2037

<p>Researchers for the first time have successfully observed a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-solve-mystery-behind-elusive-supernova-which-birthed-crab-nebula-394698"> supernova</a> in its initial phase while trawling through data from <strong>Nasa’s</strong> Kepler space telescope.</p>

<p>The telescope had recorded the event in 2017 as astrophysicists noted the light burst from a supernova as the <strong>star </strong>exploded.</p>

<p>The study was published in monthly notices of the royal astronomical society. The<strong> Kepler space telescope</strong> which recorded the celestial event is no longer in use. It reportedly took photos of the same part of the sky for 40 days at a stretch while almost accidentally recording the remarkable phenomena.</p>

<p>The light from the <strong>supernova</strong> takes several weeks even months to fade. The phenomena has&nbsp;been recorded through ancient times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The NASA telescope took pictures every half an hour allowing it to accurately take unique photos&nbsp;as the historic event unfolded without anyone noticing.&nbsp;The early explosion can be recorded only for a few days.</p>

<p>The supernova was recorded in real-time helping scientists to record the<strong> evolution </strong>of stars. Astromers say they now have a somewhat clearer picture of how stars collapse then earlier.</p>

<p>The supernova recorded by the Kepler telescope was a billion <strong>light-years </strong>away from the Earth.</p>

<p>The star was reportedly hundred times the size of the <strong>Sun</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The shock cooling light curve allows scientists to measure the<strong> light</strong> emitted by supernova over a period of time and it also gives information on its composition.</p>

<p>Reports say NASA's&nbsp;Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is likely to record more supernovae explosions as they occur.</p>

<p>(With inputs from Agencies)</p>


Researchers for the first time have successfully observed a supernova in its initial phase while trawling through data from Nasa’s Kepler space telescope. The telescope had recorded the event in 2017 as astrophysicists noted the light burst from a supernova as the star exploded.

Researchers for the first time have successfully observed a supernova in its initial phase while trawling through data from Nasa’s Kepler space telescope. The telescope had recorded the event in 2017 as astrophysicists noted the light burst from a supernova as the star exploded. The study was published in monthly notices of the royal astronomical society. The Kepler space telescope which recorded the celestial event is no longer in use. It reportedly took photos of the same part of the sky for 40 days at a stretch while almost accidentally recording the remarkable phenomena. The light from the supernova takes several weeks even months to fade. The phenomena has been recorded through ancient times. The NASA telescope took pictures every half an hour allowing it to accurately take unique photos as the historic event unfolded without anyone noticing. The early explosion can be recorded only for a few days. The supernova was recorded in real-time helping scientists to record the evolution of stars. Astromers say they now have a somewhat clearer picture of how stars collapse then earlier. The supernova recorded by the Kepler telescope was a billion light-years away from the Earth. The star was reportedly hundred times the size of the Sun. The shock cooling light curve allows scientists to measure the light emitted by supernova over a period of time and it also gives information on its composition. Reports say NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is likely to record more supernovae explosions as they occur. (With inputs from Agencies)

For first time, Kepler space telescope records initial phase of supernova explosion

<p>The International Space Station (ISS) did a 540-degree flip after jet thrusters of a newly arrived Russian research module inadvertently fired a few hours as per a new report.</p>

<p>Zebulon Scoville, the flight director who was in charge at NASA's mission control centre in Houston has revealed in a report by 'The&nbsp;New York Times' that the mishap more serious than earlier reported.</p>

<p>“We had two messages, just two lines of code, saying that something was wrong,” Scoville said adding that engineers first considered it to be a false message.</p>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Following this morning's docking of the Nauka module to the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a>, the module's thrusters started firing at 12:45pm ET inadvertently and unexpectedly, moving the station 45 degrees out of attitude. Recovery operations have regained attitude and the crew is in no danger: <a href="https://t.co/jFlDZD7ZHp">pic.twitter.com/jFlDZD7ZHp</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1420801401358364678?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>"And then I looked up at the video monitors and saw all the ice and thruster firings. This is no kidding. A real event. So let’s get to it. You get about half a breath of ‘Oh, geez, what now?’ and then you kind of push that down and just work the problem,” he told New York Times.</p>

<p>It&nbsp;began about three hours after the multipurpose Nauka module had latched onto the space station, as mission controllers in Moscow were performing some post-docking "reconfiguration" procedures, according to&nbsp;NASA.</p>

<p>The seven crew members aboard,&nbsp;two Russian cosmonauts, three&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;astronauts, a Japanese astronaut, and a European space agency astronaut from France, were never in any immediate danger, according to&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;and Russian state-owned news agency RIA.</p>

<p>The module's jets inexplicably restarted, causing the entire station to pitch out of its normal flight position some 250 miles above the Earth, leading the mission's flight director to declare a "spacecraft emergency," US&nbsp;space agency officials said.</p>

<p>An unexpected drift in the station's orientation was first detected by automated ground sensors, followed 15 minutes later by a "loss of attitude control" that lasted a little over 45 minutes, according to Joel Montalbano, manager of&nbsp;NASA's space station program.</p>

<p><strong>'Tug-of-war'</strong></p>

<p>Flight teams on the ground managed to restore the space station's orientation by activating thrusters on another module of the orbiting platform,&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;officials said.</p>

<p>In its broadcast coverage of the incident, RIA cited&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;specialists at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, as describing the struggle to regain control of the space station as a "tug of war" between the two modules.</p>

<p>At the height of the incident, the station was pitching out of alignment at the rate of about a half a degree per second, Montalbano said during a&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;conference call with reporters.</p>

<p>The Nauka engines were ultimately switched off, the space station was stabilized and its orientation was restored to where it had begun,&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;said.</p>

<p>Communication with the crew was lost for several minutes twice during the disruption, but "there was no immediate danger at any time to the crew," Montalbano said. He said "the crew really didn't feel any movement."</p>

<p>Had the situation become so dangerous as to require evacuation of personnel, the crew could have escaped in a SpaceX crew capsule still parked at the outpost and designed to serve as a "lifeboat" if necessary, said Steve Stich, manager of&nbsp;NASA's commercial crew program.</p>

<p>What caused the malfunction of the thrusters on the Nauka module, delivered by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, has yet to be determined,&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;officials said.</p>

<p>Montalbano said there was no immediate sign of any damage to the space station. The flight correction maneuvers used up more propellant reserves than desired, "but nothing I would worry about," he said.</p>

<p>After its launch last week from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, the module experienced a series of glitches that raised concern about whether the docking procedure would go smoothly.</p>

<p>Roscosmos attributed Thursday's post-docking issue to Nauka's engines having to work with residual fuel in the craft, TASS news agency reported.</p>

<p>"The process of transferring the Nauka module from flight mode to 'docked with ISS' mode is underway. Work is being carried out on the remaining fuel in the module," Roscosmos was cited by TASS as saying.</p>

<p>The Nauka module is designed to serve as a research lab, storage unit, and airlock that will upgrade Russia's capabilities aboard the ISS.</p>

<p>A live broadcast showed the module, named after the Russian word for "science," docking with the space station a few minutes later than scheduled.</p>

<p>"According to telemetry data and reports from the ISS crew, the onboard systems of the station and the Nauka module are operating normally," Roscosmos said in a statement.</p>

<p>"There is contact!!!" Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Roscosmos, wrote on Twitter moments after the docking.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The International Space Station (ISS) did a 540-degree flip after jet thrusters of a newly arrived Russian research module inadvertently fired a few hours as per a new report.

The International Space Station (ISS) did a 540-degree flip after jet thrusters of a newly arrived Russian research module inadvertently fired a few hours as per a new report. Zebulon Scoville, the flight director who was in charge at NASA's mission control centre in Houston has revealed in a report by 'The New York Times' that the mishap more serious than earlier reported. “We had two messages, just two lines of code, saying that something was wrong,” Scoville said adding that engineers first considered it to be a false message. Following this morning's docking of the Nauka module to the @Space_Station, the module's thrusters started firing at 12:45pm ET inadvertently and unexpectedly, moving the station 45 degrees out of attitude. Recovery operations have regained attitude and the crew is in no danger: pic.twitter.com/jFlDZD7ZHp — NASA (@NASA) July 29, 2021 × "And then I looked up at the video monitors and saw all the ice and thruster firings. This is no kidding. A real event. So let’s get to it. You get about half a breath of ‘Oh, geez, what now?’ and then you kind of push that down and just work the problem,” he told New York Times. It began about three hours after the multipurpose Nauka module had latched onto the space station, as mission controllers in Moscow were performing some post-docking "reconfiguration" procedures, according to NASA. The seven crew members aboard, two Russian cosmonauts, three NASA astronauts, a Japanese astronaut, and a European space agency astronaut from France, were never in any immediate danger, according to NASA and Russian state-owned news agency RIA. The module's jets inexplicably restarted, causing the entire station to pitch out of its normal flight position some 250 miles above the Earth, leading the mission's flight director to declare a "spacecraft emergency," US space agency officials said. An unexpected drift in the station's orientation was first detected by automated ground sensors, followed 15 minutes later by a "loss of attitude control" that lasted a little over 45 minutes, according to Joel Montalbano, manager of NASA's space station program. 'Tug-of-war' Flight teams on the ground managed to restore the space station's orientation by activating thrusters on another module of the orbiting platform, NASA officials said. In its broadcast coverage of the incident, RIA cited NASA specialists at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, as describing the struggle to regain control of the space station as a "tug of war" between the two modules. At the height of the incident, the station was pitching out of alignment at the rate of about a half a degree per second, Montalbano said during a NASA conference call with reporters. The Nauka engines were ultimately switched off, the space station was stabilized and its orientation was restored to where it had begun, NASA said. Communication with the crew was lost for several minutes twice during the disruption, but "there was no immediate danger at any time to the crew," Montalbano said. He said "the crew really didn't feel any movement." Had the situation become so dangerous as to require evacuation of personnel, the crew could have escaped in a SpaceX crew capsule still parked at the outpost and designed to serve as a "lifeboat" if necessary, said Steve Stich, manager of NASA's commercial crew program. What caused the malfunction of the thrusters on the Nauka module, delivered by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, has yet to be determined, NASA officials said. Montalbano said there was no immediate sign of any damage to the space station. The flight correction maneuvers used up more propellant reserves than desired, "but nothing I would worry about," he said. After its launch last week from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, the module experienced a series of glitches that raised concern about whether the docking procedure would go smoothly. Roscosmos attributed Thursday's post-docking issue to Nauka's engines having to work with residual fuel in the craft, TASS news agency reported. "The process of transferring the Nauka module from flight mode to 'docked with ISS' mode is underway. Work is being carried out on the remaining fuel in the module," Roscosmos was cited by TASS as saying. The Nauka module is designed to serve as a research lab, storage unit, and airlock that will upgrade Russia's capabilities aboard the ISS. A live broadcast showed the module, named after the Russian word for "science," docking with the space station a few minutes later than scheduled. "According to telemetry data and reports from the ISS crew, the onboard systems of the station and the Nauka module are operating normally," Roscosmos said in a statement. "There is contact!!!" Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Roscosmos, wrote on Twitter moments after the docking. (With inputs from agencies)

International Space Station did 540-degree flip, turned upside down: Mishap more serious than earlier reported

<p>NASA researchers have revealed a nearby star which closely resembles the young <strong>Sun</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The new study aims to find out the details about the Sun and about the development of life on <strong>Earth</strong>.</p>

<p>"At 4.65 billion years old, our Sun is a middle-aged star,"<strong> NASA</strong> said as curious scientists seek to find out how the Sun in its younger days supported life on Earth.</p>

<p>The author of the study, Vladimir Airapetian, senior astrophysicist in the Heliophysics Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland said he was trying to "reconstruct <strong>baby photos</strong>" of the Sun with the new star which has similar characteristics to the Sun.</p>

<p>NASA said the new stars emit<strong>&nbsp;stellar winds</strong> made of superhot gas known as plasma. The US space agency said the most energetic plasma can shoot off away from the outermost and hottest part of a star’s atmosphere in an eruption with steam rising towards nearby planets as stellar wind.</p>

<p>The space agency said younger <strong>stars</strong> generate hotter stellar winds leading to more "powerful plasma eruptions" than older stars which can affect the atmosphere of nearby planets impacting it&nbsp;at any stage.</p>

<p>NASA scientists said that the Sun in its youth rotated three times faster and had a stronger <strong>magnetic field</strong>&nbsp;also released more energy including radiation and particles. The particles are now sometimes visible near the planet’s poles as aurora, or the Northern and <strong>Southern Lights</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The scientists are seeking to uncover the mystery behind the <strong>Sun's youth</strong> although they agree it is a complicated process which will involve several years as new tools and ways of thinking need&nbsp;to be put in place to seek answers.</p>

<p>Scientists say the complicating factors in the study of the young Sun includes distance since it is still&nbsp;not possible to directly observe the stellar wind of other stars in the <strong>galaxy</strong> since it is too far away.</p>

<p>The study, therefore, relies on <strong>"scientific modelling"</strong> based on predictions on existing scientific data.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previous studies have drawn on data gathered by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and <strong>Hubble Space Telescope</strong> (HST) to identify Kappa 1 Ceti as a young solar proxy, it said.</p>

<p>(With inputs from Agencies)</p>


NASA researchers have revealed a nearby star which closely resembles the young Sun. The new study aims to find out the details about the Sun and about the development of life on Earth.

NASA researchers have revealed a nearby star which closely resembles the young Sun. The new study aims to find out the details about the Sun and about the development of life on Earth. "At 4.65 billion years old, our Sun is a middle-aged star," NASA said as curious scientists seek to find out how the Sun in its younger days supported life on Earth. The author of the study, Vladimir Airapetian, senior astrophysicist in the Heliophysics Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland said he was trying to "reconstruct baby photos" of the Sun with the new star which has similar characteristics to the Sun. NASA said the new stars emit stellar winds made of superhot gas known as plasma. The US space agency said the most energetic plasma can shoot off away from the outermost and hottest part of a star’s atmosphere in an eruption with steam rising towards nearby planets as stellar wind. The space agency said younger stars generate hotter stellar winds leading to more "powerful plasma eruptions" than older stars which can affect the atmosphere of nearby planets impacting it at any stage. NASA scientists said that the Sun in its youth rotated three times faster and had a stronger magnetic field also released more energy including radiation and particles. The particles are now sometimes visible near the planet’s poles as aurora, or the Northern and Southern Lights. The scientists are seeking to uncover the mystery behind the Sun's youth although they agree it is a complicated process which will involve several years as new tools and ways of thinking need to be put in place to seek answers. Scientists say the complicating factors in the study of the young Sun includes distance since it is still not possible to directly observe the stellar wind of other stars in the galaxy since it is too far away. The study, therefore, relies on "scientific modelling" based on predictions on existing scientific data. Previous studies have drawn on data gathered by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to identify Kappa 1 Ceti as a young solar proxy, it said. (With inputs from Agencies)

NASA model: This is how the Sun looked like in its youth

<p>Boeing delayed an uncrewed flight of its Starliner capsule to the International Space Station (ISS)&nbsp;over a propulsion issue, pushing back by at least a day a key test it last attempted in 2019.</p>

<p>Boeing&nbsp;engineers ruled out "a number of potential causes, including software," but were still working to understand the source of "unexpected valve position indications" in the propulsion system,&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;said in a statement.</p>

<p>"Additional time is needed to complete the assessment,"&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;said, adding that it would also not proceed with the next potential launch window on Wednesday.</p>

<p><strong>Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/all-is-well-says-moscow-after-space-station-thrown-off-course-by-nauka-module-401759" hreflang="en">'All is well', says Moscow after space station thrown off course by Nauka module</a></strong></p>

<p>The test flight was supposed to take place Friday but had to be rescheduled after a new Russian&nbsp;science&nbsp;module inadvertently fired its thrusters following docking with the ISS, pushing the orbital outpost off kilter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After NASA ended the Space Shuttle programme in 2011, it gave both Boeing and SpaceX multi-billion dollar contracts to provide its astronauts with taxi services to the space station and end US reliance on Russian rockets for the journey.</p>

<p>SpaceX's program has moved forward faster, having now undertaken three crewed missions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Boeing's program is lagging behind, and needs to complete a successful uncrewed mission before it can carry astronauts.</p>

<p>During an initial uncrewed test flight in December 2019, the Starliner capsule experienced software glitches that caused problems with the way it fired its thrusters.</p>

<p>As a result, Starliner did not have enough fuel to reach the ISS and had to return to Earth prematurely, and a subsequent investigation showed it almost experienced a dire flight anomaly while reentering the atmosphere.</p>

<p>NASA later called the mission a "high visibility close call," a rare designation reserved for near-catastrophes.</p>

<p>Steve Stich, manager of NASA's commercial crew program, told reporters last week he had confidence this time around.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We want it to go well, we expect it to go well, and we've done all the preparations we can possibly do," he said.</p>

<p>"Starliner is a great vehicle, but we know how hard it is, and it's a test flight as well and I fully expect we'll learn something on this test flight."</p>

<p>When it flies, the spacecraft will carry more than 400 pounds (180 kilogrammes) of cargo and crew supplies to the ISS and will return more than 550 pounds of cargo, including air tanks, when it lands in the western US desert at the end of its mission.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Boeing delayed an uncrewed flight of its Starliner capsule to the International Space Station (ISS) over a propulsion issue, pushing back by at least a day a key test it last attempted in 2019.

Boeing delayed an uncrewed flight of its Starliner capsule to the International Space Station (ISS) over a propulsion issue, pushing back by at least a day a key test it last attempted in 2019. Boeing engineers ruled out "a number of potential causes, including software," but were still working to understand the source of "unexpected valve position indications" in the propulsion system, Boeing said in a statement. "Additional time is needed to complete the assessment," Boeing said, adding that it would also not proceed with the next potential launch window on Wednesday. Also read| 'All is well', says Moscow after space station thrown off course by Nauka module The test flight was supposed to take place Friday but had to be rescheduled after a new Russian science module inadvertently fired its thrusters following docking with the ISS, pushing the orbital outpost off kilter. After NASA ended the Space Shuttle programme in 2011, it gave both Boeing and SpaceX multi-billion dollar contracts to provide its astronauts with taxi services to the space station and end US reliance on Russian rockets for the journey. SpaceX's program has moved forward faster, having now undertaken three crewed missions. Boeing's program is lagging behind, and needs to complete a successful uncrewed mission before it can carry astronauts. During an initial uncrewed test flight in December 2019, the Starliner capsule experienced software glitches that caused problems with the way it fired its thrusters. As a result, Starliner did not have enough fuel to reach the ISS and had to return to Earth prematurely, and a subsequent investigation showed it almost experienced a dire flight anomaly while reentering the atmosphere. NASA later called the mission a "high visibility close call," a rare designation reserved for near-catastrophes. Steve Stich, manager of NASA's commercial crew program, told reporters last week he had confidence this time around. "We want it to go well, we expect it to go well, and we've done all the preparations we can possibly do," he said. "Starliner is a great vehicle, but we know how hard it is, and it's a test flight as well and I fully expect we'll learn something on this test flight." When it flies, the spacecraft will carry more than 400 pounds (180 kilogrammes) of cargo and crew supplies to the ISS and will return more than 550 pounds of cargo, including air tanks, when it lands in the western US desert at the end of its mission. (With inputs from agencies)

Boeing postpones Starliner launch to International Space Station after new glitch

<p><em>You've got mail!</em></p>

<p>Yes. United State's space organisation NASA has a mail from us. Travelling light years, galloping over miles of the outer world, the space agency has delivered for us the perfect dose of beauty and intrigue.</p>

<p>The mail is from Mars, a planet that has long been a source of fascination for humankind, steeped in mystery and intrigue. From the ancient Egyptians to modern-day children, Mars has remained an enticing and enigmatically magical planet that we know little about.</p>

<p>However, today this is changing. One of the&nbsp;nearest neighbours of our sun, today the red planet has been the subject of extensive exploration, and our rovers roam the surface of the planet every night.</p>

<p>Every day we are learning something new about the planet, but today we are not going to learn anything. It's Sunday, so instead of putting anything heavy on our minds, we're gonna sit back and admire the beauty of the desolate planet that is Mars.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here's the post by NASA.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The post is captioned "You’ve got mail 💌 from Mars. Our&nbsp;@NASAJPL&nbsp;Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter recently released new images showing off the many different features of the Red Planet!".</p>

<p>Showcasing three stunning pictures, this post from NASA shows us geological formations on the planet that ancient Egyptians liked to call&nbsp;&nbsp;"Horus of the Horizon".</p>


You've got mail! Yes. United State's space organisation NASA has a mail from us. Travelling light years, galloping over miles of the outer world, the space agency has delivered for us the perfect dose of beauty and intrigue.

You've got mail! Yes. United State's space organisation NASA has a mail from us. Travelling light years, galloping over miles of the outer world, the space agency has delivered for us the perfect dose of beauty and intrigue. The mail is from Mars, a planet that has long been a source of fascination for humankind, steeped in mystery and intrigue. From the ancient Egyptians to modern-day children, Mars has remained an enticing and enigmatically magical planet that we know little about. However, today this is changing. One of the nearest neighbours of our sun, today the red planet has been the subject of extensive exploration, and our rovers roam the surface of the planet every night. Every day we are learning something new about the planet, but today we are not going to learn anything. It's Sunday, so instead of putting anything heavy on our minds, we're gonna sit back and admire the beauty of the desolate planet that is Mars. Here's the post by NASA. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × The post is captioned "You’ve got mail 💌 from Mars. Our @NASAJPL Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter recently released new images showing off the many different features of the Red Planet!". Showcasing three stunning pictures, this post from NASA shows us geological formations on the planet that ancient Egyptians liked to call "Horus of the Horizon".

You've got mail from Mars. Open for magic and wonder

<p>A US&nbsp;agency on Friday rejected a protest by Blue Origin and defense contractor Dynetics Inc over NASA`s decision to pick a single lunar lander provider.<br />
<br />
The companies challenged the $2.9 billion award to SpaceX for the lander, arguing NASA was required to make multiple awards.</p>

<p>The US&nbsp;Government Accountability Office (GAO) said it "denied the protest arguments that NASA acted improperly in making a single award to SpaceX."<br />
<br />
Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, did not immediately comment. It had contended NASA gave SpaceX an unfair advantage by letting it revise its pricing. Dynetics, a unit of Leidos Holdings, also did not immediately comment.<br />
<br />
On Monday, Bezos offered to cover up to $2 billion in NASA costs if the US&nbsp;space agency awarded Blue Origin a contract to make a spacecraft designed to land astronauts back on the moon.<br />
<br />
In April, NASA awarded rival billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk`s SpaceX a deal to build a spacecraft to bring astronauts to the lunar surface as early as 2024.<br />
<br />
In a letter to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Bezos said Blue Origin would waive payments up to $2 billion, and pay for an orbital mission to vet its technology. In exchange, Blue Origin would accept a firm, fixed-priced contract, and cover any system development cost overruns.<br />
<br />
"Without competition, NASA`s short-term and long-term lunar ambitions will be delayed, will ultimately cost more, and won`t serve the national interest," Bezos added.<br />
<br />
Before choosing SpaceX, NASA sought proposals for a spacecraft that would carry astronauts to the lunar surface under its Artemis program to return humans to the moon for the first time since 1972.<br />
<br />
Bezos` offer came six days after he flew alongside three crewmates to the edge of space aboard Blue Origin`s rocket-and-capsule New Shepard.<br />
<br />
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio)<br />
&nbsp;</p>


A US agency on Friday rejected a protest by Blue Origin and defense contractor Dynetics Inc over NASA`s decision to pick a single lunar lander provider. The companies challenged the $2.

A US agency on Friday rejected a protest by Blue Origin and defense contractor Dynetics Inc over NASA`s decision to pick a single lunar lander provider. The companies challenged the $2.9 billion award to SpaceX for the lander, arguing NASA was required to make multiple awards. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) said it "denied the protest arguments that NASA acted improperly in making a single award to SpaceX." Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, did not immediately comment. It had contended NASA gave SpaceX an unfair advantage by letting it revise its pricing. Dynetics, a unit of Leidos Holdings, also did not immediately comment. On Monday, Bezos offered to cover up to $2 billion in NASA costs if the US space agency awarded Blue Origin a contract to make a spacecraft designed to land astronauts back on the moon. In April, NASA awarded rival billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk`s SpaceX a deal to build a spacecraft to bring astronauts to the lunar surface as early as 2024. In a letter to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Bezos said Blue Origin would waive payments up to $2 billion, and pay for an orbital mission to vet its technology. In exchange, Blue Origin would accept a firm, fixed-priced contract, and cover any system development cost overruns. "Without competition, NASA`s short-term and long-term lunar ambitions will be delayed, will ultimately cost more, and won`t serve the national interest," Bezos added. Before choosing SpaceX, NASA sought proposals for a spacecraft that would carry astronauts to the lunar surface under its Artemis program to return humans to the moon for the first time since 1972. Bezos` offer came six days after he flew alongside three crewmates to the edge of space aboard Blue Origin`s rocket-and-capsule New Shepard. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio)

US agency denies Blue Origin protest over NASA lunar lander contract

<p>Russia said on Friday that all was well with the International Space Station and its seven-member crew after its newly-docked Nauka research module briefly threw the ISS out of control a day earlier.</p>

<p>According to NASA, the mishap began about three hours after the Nauka module, named after the Russian word for 'science', had latched onto the space station, as mission controllers in&nbsp;Moscow&nbsp;were performing post-docking "reconfiguration" procedures.</p>

<p>Nauka's jet thrusters inadvertently fired, causing the station to pitch out of position 250 miles above the Earth, leading the mission's flight director to declare a "spacecraft emergency," US&nbsp;space agency officials said.</p>

<p>The crew - two Russian cosmonauts, three NASA astronauts, a Japanese astronaut and a European space agency astronaut from France - were never in any immediate danger, according to NASA and Russia.</p>

<p>Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky told his followers on Twitter not to worry.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dear friends, I’m reading your numerous comments. Don’t worry! Our work at the International <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a> to integrate the newly arrived <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nauka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Nauka</a> module continues!<br />
<br />
Tonight we are going to open the hatches. Will keep you posted! <a href="https://t.co/N7ub8U3YhQ">pic.twitter.com/N7ub8U3YhQ</a></p>
— Oleg Novitskiy (@novitskiy_iss) <a href="https://twitter.com/novitskiy_iss/status/1421010859376119809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>On Friday, Roscosmos, Russia's space agency, said work to integrate Nauka with the ISS was underway and Russian cosmonauts would later open the module's hatch to try to access it.</p>

<p>It said checks on Nauka's engines were being completed remotely by Russian specialists to ensure everyone's safety, that the ISS was on its normal flight trajectory, and that the docking had been successful in so far as the seal between the new module and the rest of the ISS was hermetic.</p>

<p>It did not say what had prompted Nauka's engines to unexpectedly roar into life.</p>

<p>Dmitry Rogozin, head of Roscosmos, retweeted Novitsky. He had hailed Nauka's docking with the ISS as "a very difficult and important victory for us" and warmly accepted congratulations on Twitter from space entrepreneur Elon Musk.</p>

<p>Rogozin also spoke of plans to launch another Russian module to the ISS in November.</p>

<p>Roscosmos has suffered a series of mishaps and corruption scandals, including during the construction of the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the country's far east where contractors were accused of embezzling state funds.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Russia said on Friday that all was well with the International Space Station and its seven-member crew after its newly-docked Nauka research module briefly threw the ISS out of control a day earlier.

Russia said on Friday that all was well with the International Space Station and its seven-member crew after its newly-docked Nauka research module briefly threw the ISS out of control a day earlier. According to NASA, the mishap began about three hours after the Nauka module, named after the Russian word for 'science', had latched onto the space station, as mission controllers in Moscow were performing post-docking "reconfiguration" procedures. Nauka's jet thrusters inadvertently fired, causing the station to pitch out of position 250 miles above the Earth, leading the mission's flight director to declare a "spacecraft emergency," US space agency officials said. The crew - two Russian cosmonauts, three NASA astronauts, a Japanese astronaut and a European space agency astronaut from France - were never in any immediate danger, according to NASA and Russia. Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky told his followers on Twitter not to worry. Dear friends, I’m reading your numerous comments. Don’t worry! Our work at the International @Space_Station to integrate the newly arrived #Nauka module continues! Tonight we are going to open the hatches. Will keep you posted! pic.twitter.com/N7ub8U3YhQ — Oleg Novitskiy (@novitskiy_iss) July 30, 2021 × On Friday, Roscosmos, Russia's space agency, said work to integrate Nauka with the ISS was underway and Russian cosmonauts would later open the module's hatch to try to access it. It said checks on Nauka's engines were being completed remotely by Russian specialists to ensure everyone's safety, that the ISS was on its normal flight trajectory, and that the docking had been successful in so far as the seal between the new module and the rest of the ISS was hermetic. It did not say what had prompted Nauka's engines to unexpectedly roar into life. Dmitry Rogozin, head of Roscosmos, retweeted Novitsky. He had hailed Nauka's docking with the ISS as "a very difficult and important victory for us" and warmly accepted congratulations on Twitter from space entrepreneur Elon Musk. Rogozin also spoke of plans to launch another Russian module to the ISS in November. Roscosmos has suffered a series of mishaps and corruption scandals, including during the construction of the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the country's far east where contractors were accused of embezzling state funds. (With inputs from agencies)

'All is well', says Moscow after space station thrown off course by Nauka module

<p>The&nbsp;International&nbsp;Space&nbsp;Station&nbsp;(ISS) was&nbsp;thrown&nbsp;briefly&nbsp;out&nbsp;of&nbsp;control&nbsp;on Thursday when jet thrusters of a newly arrived&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;research&nbsp;module&nbsp;inadvertently fired a few hours after it was docked to the orbiting&nbsp;outpost,&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;officials said.</p>

<p>The seven crew members aboard - two&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;cosmonauts, three&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;astronauts, a Japanese astronaut and a European&nbsp;space&nbsp;agency astronaut from France - were never in any immediate danger, according to&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;and&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;state-owned news agency RIA.</p>

<p>But the malfunction prompted&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;to postpone until at least Aug. 3 its planned launch of Boeing's new CST-100 Starliner capsule on a highly anticipated uncrewed test flight to the&nbsp;space&nbsp;station. The Starliner had been set to blast off atop an Atlas V rocket on Friday from the Kennedy&nbsp;Space&nbsp;Center in Florida.</p>

<p>Thursday's mishap began about&nbsp;three hours after the multipurpose Nauka&nbsp;module&nbsp;had latched onto the&nbsp;space&nbsp;station, as mission&nbsp;controllers in Moscow were performing some post-docking "reconfiguration" procedures, according to&nbsp;NASA.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;module's jets inexplicably restarted, causing the entire&nbsp;station&nbsp;to pitch&nbsp;out&nbsp;of its normal flight position some 250 miles above the Earth, leading the mission's flight director to declare a "spacecraft emergency," US&nbsp;space&nbsp;agency officials said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/boeings-starliner-crewed-mission-all-set-for-test-flight-to-international-space-station-401577"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Boeing's Starliner crewed mission all set for test flight to International Space Station</strong></a></p>

<p>An unexpected drift in the&nbsp;station's orientation was first detected by automated ground sensors, followed 15 minutes later by a "loss of attitude&nbsp;control" that lasted a little over 45 minutes, according to Joel Montalbano, manager of&nbsp;NASA's&nbsp;space&nbsp;station&nbsp;program.</p>

<p><strong>Tug of war</strong></p>

<p>Flight teams on the ground managed to restore the&nbsp;space&nbsp;station's orientation by activating thrusters on another&nbsp;module&nbsp;of the orbiting platform,&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;officials said.</p>

<p>In its broadcast coverage of the incident, RIA cited&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;specialists at the Johnson&nbsp;Space&nbsp;Center in Houston, Texas, as describing the struggle to regain&nbsp;control&nbsp;of the&nbsp;space&nbsp;station&nbsp;as a "tug of war" between the two&nbsp;modules.</p>

<p>At the height of the incident, the&nbsp;station&nbsp;was pitching&nbsp;out&nbsp;of alignment at the rate of about&nbsp;a half a degree per second, Montalbano said during a&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;conference call with reporters.</p>

<p>The Nauka engines were ultimately switched off, the&nbsp;space&nbsp;station&nbsp;was stabilized and its orientation was restored to where it had begun,&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;said.</p>

<p>Communication with the crew was lost for several minutes twice during the disruption, but "there was no immediate danger at any time to the crew," Montalbano said. He said "the crew really didn't feel any movement."</p>

<p>Had the situation become so dangerous as to require evacuation of personnel, the crew could have escaped in a&nbsp;SpaceX crew capsule still parked at the&nbsp;outpost and designed to serve as a "lifeboat" if necessary, said Steve Stich, manager of&nbsp;NASA's commercial crew program.</p>

<p>What caused the malfunction of the thrusters on the Nauka&nbsp;module, delivered by the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;space&nbsp;agency Roscosmos, has yet to be determined,&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;officials said.</p>

<p>Montalbano said there was no immediate sign of any damage to the&nbsp;space&nbsp;station. The flight correction maneuvers used up more propellant reserves than desired, "but nothing I would worry about," he said.</p>

<p>After its launch last week from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, the&nbsp;module&nbsp;experienced a series of glitches that raised concern about&nbsp;whether the docking procedure would go smoothly.</p>

<p>Roscosmos attributed Thursday's post-docking issue to Nauka's engines having to work with residual fuel in the craft, TASS news agency reported.</p>

<p>"The process of transferring the Nauka&nbsp;module&nbsp;from flight mode to 'docked with ISS' mode is underway. Work is being carried&nbsp;out&nbsp;on the remaining fuel in the&nbsp;module," Roscosmos was cited by TASS as saying.</p>

<p>The Nauka&nbsp;module&nbsp;is designed to serve as a research lab, storage unit and airlock that will upgrade Russia's capabilities aboard the ISS.</p>

<p>A live broadcast showed the&nbsp;module, named after the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;word for "science," docking with the&nbsp;space&nbsp;station&nbsp;a few minutes later than scheduled.</p>

<p>"According to telemetry data and reports from the ISS crew, the onboard systems of the&nbsp;station&nbsp;and the Nauka&nbsp;module&nbsp;are operating normally," Roscosmos said in a statement.</p>

<p>"There is contact!!!" Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Roscosmos, wrote on Twitter moments after the docking.</p>


The International Space Station (ISS) was thrown briefly out of control on Thursday when jet thrusters of a newly arrived Russian research module inadvertently fired a few hours after it was docked to the orbiting outpost, NASA officials said.

The International Space Station (ISS) was thrown briefly out of control on Thursday when jet thrusters of a newly arrived Russian research module inadvertently fired a few hours after it was docked to the orbiting outpost, NASA officials said. The seven crew members aboard - two Russian cosmonauts, three NASA astronauts, a Japanese astronaut and a European space agency astronaut from France - were never in any immediate danger, according to NASA and Russian state-owned news agency RIA. But the malfunction prompted NASA to postpone until at least Aug. 3 its planned launch of Boeing's new CST-100 Starliner capsule on a highly anticipated uncrewed test flight to the space station. The Starliner had been set to blast off atop an Atlas V rocket on Friday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Thursday's mishap began about three hours after the multipurpose Nauka module had latched onto the space station, as mission controllers in Moscow were performing some post-docking "reconfiguration" procedures, according to NASA. The module's jets inexplicably restarted, causing the entire station to pitch out of its normal flight position some 250 miles above the Earth, leading the mission's flight director to declare a "spacecraft emergency," US space agency officials said. Also read | Boeing's Starliner crewed mission all set for test flight to International Space Station An unexpected drift in the station's orientation was first detected by automated ground sensors, followed 15 minutes later by a "loss of attitude control" that lasted a little over 45 minutes, according to Joel Montalbano, manager of NASA's space station program. Tug of war Flight teams on the ground managed to restore the space station's orientation by activating thrusters on another module of the orbiting platform, NASA officials said. In its broadcast coverage of the incident, RIA cited NASA specialists at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, as describing the struggle to regain control of the space station as a "tug of war" between the two modules. At the height of the incident, the station was pitching out of alignment at the rate of about a half a degree per second, Montalbano said during a NASA conference call with reporters. The Nauka engines were ultimately switched off, the space station was stabilized and its orientation was restored to where it had begun, NASA said. Communication with the crew was lost for several minutes twice during the disruption, but "there was no immediate danger at any time to the crew," Montalbano said. He said "the crew really didn't feel any movement." Had the situation become so dangerous as to require evacuation of personnel, the crew could have escaped in a SpaceX crew capsule still parked at the outpost and designed to serve as a "lifeboat" if necessary, said Steve Stich, manager of NASA's commercial crew program. What caused the malfunction of the thrusters on the Nauka module, delivered by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, has yet to be determined, NASA officials said. Montalbano said there was no immediate sign of any damage to the space station. The flight correction maneuvers used up more propellant reserves than desired, "but nothing I would worry about," he said. After its launch last week from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, the module experienced a series of glitches that raised concern about whether the docking procedure would go smoothly. Roscosmos attributed Thursday's post-docking issue to Nauka's engines having to work with residual fuel in the craft, TASS news agency reported. "The process of transferring the Nauka module from flight mode to 'docked with ISS' mode is underway. Work is being carried out on the remaining fuel in the module," Roscosmos was cited by TASS as saying. The Nauka module is designed to serve as a research lab, storage unit and airlock that will upgrade Russia's capabilities aboard the ISS. A live broadcast showed the module, named after the Russian word for "science," docking with the space station a few minutes later than scheduled. "According to telemetry data and reports from the ISS crew, the onboard systems of the station and the Nauka module are operating normally," Roscosmos said in a statement. "There is contact!!!" Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Roscosmos, wrote on Twitter moments after the docking.

International Space Station thrown out of control by misfire of Russian module - NASA

<p>Boeing's unmanned Starliner crew capsule is all set for its&nbsp;test flight&nbsp;on Friday, July 30, before attempting to launch astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).</p>

<p>The space agency's new administrator, Bill Nelson, Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, and Associate Administrator Bob Cabana held a briefing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center ahead of the launch.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happening now: Ahead of the July 30 launch of <a href="https://twitter.com/BoeingSpace?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BoeingSpace</a>'s Orbital Flight Test-2, <a href="https://twitter.com/Commercial_Crew?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Commercial_Crew</a> astronauts and mission experts discuss the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Starliner?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Starliner</a> flight with virtual social guests: <a href="https://t.co/qTsZ3f8a3C">https://t.co/qTsZ3f8a3C</a></p>
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<p>All three NASA administrators are former astronauts. They spoke about the significance of the upcoming launch and the future of the space program.</p>

<p>NASA and Boeing are targeting launch at 2:53 p.m. EDT with a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.</p>

<p>NASA says the five-to-10-day flight test will help prove the Starliner system is ready to carry astronauts to the space station later this year.</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>Boeing is eager for another shot at proving its crew capsule after technical failures put the aerospace juggernaut behind Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX, which successfully returned its rival crew capsule from the ISS earlier this month.</p>

<p>During Boeing’s first uncrewed test, in December 2019, a series of software glitches and an issue with the spacecraft’s automated timer resulted in Starliner failing to dock at the space station and returning to Earth a week early.</p>

<p>In February, a NASA safety review panel found Boeing had narrowly missed a “catastrophic failure” in the botched test, and recommended examining the company’s software verification process before letting it fly humans to space.</p>

<p>Earlier this month, Boeing watched from the sidelines as SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico after a two-month voyage to the International Space Station,&nbsp;NASA’s first crewed mission from home soil in nine years.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Boeing's unmanned Starliner crew capsule is all set for its test flight on Friday, July 30, before attempting to launch astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

Boeing's unmanned Starliner crew capsule is all set for its test flight on Friday, July 30, before attempting to launch astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The space agency's new administrator, Bill Nelson, Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, and Associate Administrator Bob Cabana held a briefing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center ahead of the launch. Happening now: Ahead of the July 30 launch of @BoeingSpace's Orbital Flight Test-2, @Commercial_Crew astronauts and mission experts discuss the #Starliner flight with virtual social guests: https://t.co/qTsZ3f8a3C — NASA (@NASA) July 29, 2021 × All three NASA administrators are former astronauts. They spoke about the significance of the upcoming launch and the future of the space program. NASA and Boeing are targeting launch at 2:53 p.m. EDT with a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. NASA says the five-to-10-day flight test will help prove the Starliner system is ready to carry astronauts to the space station later this year. Also see| Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk? Boeing is eager for another shot at proving its crew capsule after technical failures put the aerospace juggernaut behind Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX, which successfully returned its rival crew capsule from the ISS earlier this month. During Boeing’s first uncrewed test, in December 2019, a series of software glitches and an issue with the spacecraft’s automated timer resulted in Starliner failing to dock at the space station and returning to Earth a week early. In February, a NASA safety review panel found Boeing had narrowly missed a “catastrophic failure” in the botched test, and recommended examining the company’s software verification process before letting it fly humans to space. Earlier this month, Boeing watched from the sidelines as SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico after a two-month voyage to the International Space Station, NASA’s first crewed mission from home soil in nine years. (With inputs from agencies)

Boeing's Starliner crewed mission all set for test flight to International Space Station

<p>Interplanetary missions have always been about ensuring the highest degree of safety for the traveling spacecraft, but NASA’s Perseverance Rover Mission or Mars 2020 was vastly different, recalls NASA’s Dr Swati Mohan.</p>

<p>In her experience, working amid the deadly and devastating COVID-19 pandemic meant ensuring the utmost safety of every team member, over and above that of the Mars Probe. This is significant given that the launch of the rocket and the Mars landing which happened in July 2020 and February 2021 respectively happened during peak pandemic spread in the USA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking at an event organised by the US Consulate General in India, Dr.&nbsp;Swati Mohan, Guidance, Navigation, and Control Systems Engineering Group Supervisor, NASA’s Jet&nbsp;Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) touched upon her Indian roots, family, and her foray into Aerospace Engineering.</p>

<p>She made headlines around the world for her pivotal role in landing the US&nbsp;space agency’s historic Perseverance rover on the Martian surface on February 18, this year.</p>

<p>Born in Karnataka, India, Swati moved to the US at a very young age and aspired to be a doctor. Growing up, she was fascinated by Star Trek, reading books on space, Big Bang, and the pictures from the Hubble Space telescope. However, all of it remained a hobby and not a serious career choice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Her time at High school proved crucial in helping her realize that she was good at physics and that biology as a subject, didn’t come naturally to her. “I couldn’t stand the smell of dissections or have stable hands to perform it” she recalls.</p>

<p>Eventually, her passion and aptitude for Physics led her to Internships at multiple American Space facilities and also a degree at Cornell University.</p>

<p>Making a mention of her family, she spoke about her Indian roots and her parents’ who also worked in Science and Engineering related jobs and remained a huge support. On the crucial Mars 2020 Mission, she recollects that her husband, a doctor, equally shared the responsibility back at home.</p>

<p>“Both of us have demanding careers and shift work. Amid the pandemic, he headed for the COVID ward and I headed for the NASA Mission Control” she said, adding that here in-laws too were very supportive.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Regarding the challenges faced during the mission, she touched upon how there was an earthquake at their Control Center at NASA JPL, just 15 minutes prior to the spacecraft launch.</p>

<p>“We are flying a critical mission, but still the safety of our spacecraft was not solely the number one priority. We had to balance the risk level and protect the people who are working with us(during a pandemic). It meant having less people in Mission control” she replied to a query.</p>

<p>Regarding her encounters with racism in the US, she said that some comments by people who didn’t try to understand Indian culture caused her difficulty. She added that, though her organization(JPL) was very diverse, she faced challenges as a woman in a male-dominated STEM(Science, Tech, Engineering, Math) field.</p>

<p>According to Dr. Swati, an unexpected development at the time of Mars landing was that the spacecraft had not selected the safest of the four prospective landing spots. Instead, it had selected the one that was a grade above in terms of risk. Despite what she described as the “7 minutes of terror”(the Mars landing), their craft made a successful landing, after slowing down from nearly&nbsp;5.4Km/sec to 80m/s.</p>

<p>All of this and the successful landing and further Mars exploration was made possible, thanks to the reduction of landing speed caused by the heat-shield, supersonic parachute and on-board engines, she explains.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dr. Swati who was recently congratulated by US President Joseph Biden, encouraged students and budding aerospace engineers to “Actively do your best, Create the opportunity, perform additional research, take up internships, network with people and use each opportunity to figure out the next”.&nbsp;</p>


Interplanetary missions have always been about ensuring the highest degree of safety for the traveling spacecraft, but NASA’s Perseverance Rover Mission or Mars 2020 was vastly different, recalls NASA’s Dr Swati Mohan.

Interplanetary missions have always been about ensuring the highest degree of safety for the traveling spacecraft, but NASA’s Perseverance Rover Mission or Mars 2020 was vastly different, recalls NASA’s Dr Swati Mohan. In her experience, working amid the deadly and devastating COVID-19 pandemic meant ensuring the utmost safety of every team member, over and above that of the Mars Probe. This is significant given that the launch of the rocket and the Mars landing which happened in July 2020 and February 2021 respectively happened during peak pandemic spread in the USA. Speaking at an event organised by the US Consulate General in India, Dr. Swati Mohan, Guidance, Navigation, and Control Systems Engineering Group Supervisor, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) touched upon her Indian roots, family, and her foray into Aerospace Engineering. She made headlines around the world for her pivotal role in landing the US space agency’s historic Perseverance rover on the Martian surface on February 18, this year. Born in Karnataka, India, Swati moved to the US at a very young age and aspired to be a doctor. Growing up, she was fascinated by Star Trek, reading books on space, Big Bang, and the pictures from the Hubble Space telescope. However, all of it remained a hobby and not a serious career choice. Her time at High school proved crucial in helping her realize that she was good at physics and that biology as a subject, didn’t come naturally to her. “I couldn’t stand the smell of dissections or have stable hands to perform it” she recalls. Eventually, her passion and aptitude for Physics led her to Internships at multiple American Space facilities and also a degree at Cornell University. Making a mention of her family, she spoke about her Indian roots and her parents’ who also worked in Science and Engineering related jobs and remained a huge support. On the crucial Mars 2020 Mission, she recollects that her husband, a doctor, equally shared the responsibility back at home. “Both of us have demanding careers and shift work. Amid the pandemic, he headed for the COVID ward and I headed for the NASA Mission Control” she said, adding that here in-laws too were very supportive. Regarding the challenges faced during the mission, she touched upon how there was an earthquake at their Control Center at NASA JPL, just 15 minutes prior to the spacecraft launch. “We are flying a critical mission, but still the safety of our spacecraft was not solely the number one priority. We had to balance the risk level and protect the people who are working with us(during a pandemic). It meant having less people in Mission control” she replied to a query. Regarding her encounters with racism in the US, she said that some comments by people who didn’t try to understand Indian culture caused her difficulty. She added that, though her organization(JPL) was very diverse, she faced challenges as a woman in a male-dominated STEM(Science, Tech, Engineering, Math) field. According to Dr. Swati, an unexpected development at the time of Mars landing was that the spacecraft had not selected the safest of the four prospective landing spots. Instead, it had selected the one that was a grade above in terms of risk. Despite what she described as the “7 minutes of terror”(the Mars landing), their craft made a successful landing, after slowing down from nearly 5.4Km/sec to 80m/s. All of this and the successful landing and further Mars exploration was made possible, thanks to the reduction of landing speed caused by the heat-shield, supersonic parachute and on-board engines, she explains. Dr. Swati who was recently congratulated by US President Joseph Biden, encouraged students and budding aerospace engineers to “Actively do your best, Create the opportunity, perform additional research, take up internships, network with people and use each opportunity to figure out the next”.

Focussed on spacecraft and human safety amid COVID-19, recalls NASA’s Dr. Swati Mohan of Mars Mission

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="3">Nicole Oliviera, a seven-year-old Brazilian girl who found seven asteroids, has been named the world's youngest astronomer.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="5">Nicole's fascination with space and astronomy began when she was just two years old.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="6">She took part in the ‘Asteroid Hunt' citizen science programme, which is run by the International Astronomical Search Collaboration and includes NASA.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="7">Oliviera's passion for astronomy developed by leaps and bounds, according to R7, a Brazilian news agency.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="8">She asked her mother for a star when she was two years old.</p>

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<p>She made do with a toy star at the time, but it wasn't until later that she discovered what her kid really needed.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="10">Oliveira was recently asked to speak at the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation's 1st International Seminar on Astronomy and Aeronautics.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="11">Oliveira is used to presenting lectures in schools in her hometown of Maceió, despite her age.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="12">They invited her after learning that Oliveria is the youngest member of the Alagoas Astronomical Studies Center, Centro de Estudos Astronômico de Alagoas (CEAAL).&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="13"><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Nicole Oliviera, a seven-year-old Brazilian girl who found seven asteroids, has been named the world's youngest astronomer. Nicole's fascination with space and astronomy began when she was just two years old.

Nicole Oliviera, a seven-year-old Brazilian girl who found seven asteroids, has been named the world's youngest astronomer. Nicole's fascination with space and astronomy began when she was just two years old. She took part in the ‘Asteroid Hunt' citizen science programme, which is run by the International Astronomical Search Collaboration and includes NASA. Oliviera's passion for astronomy developed by leaps and bounds, according to R7, a Brazilian news agency. She asked her mother for a star when she was two years old. × She made do with a toy star at the time, but it wasn't until later that she discovered what her kid really needed. Oliveira was recently asked to speak at the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation's 1st International Seminar on Astronomy and Aeronautics. Oliveira is used to presenting lectures in schools in her hometown of Maceió, despite her age. They invited her after learning that Oliveria is the youngest member of the Alagoas Astronomical Studies Center, Centro de Estudos Astronômico de Alagoas (CEAAL). (With inputs from agencies)

World's youngest astronomer: This seven-year old girl discovered seven asteroids for NASA

<p>If you go to Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden), you would be able to see the mesmerising beauty of Auroras. The beatiful phenomenon attracts thousands of tourists to this region.</p>

<p>Jupiter has Auroras too! The super-huge gas planet exhibits Auroras near both its poles. But there's more.</p>

<p>Jupiter's Auroras emit X-rays. For decades, scientists were puzzled about the reason behind these X-Ray emissions from the visual treat. NASA has solved that mystery now.</p>

<p>The National Aeronautics and Space Association (NASA) has posted an image on Instagram and made it known to the world that another of Jupiter's mysteries has been solved.</p>

<p>The image posted by NASA shows the gas planet in all its glory! The mega-storms on the planet are plainly visible. But what's more interesting is the purple hue of Auroras seen at both poles of the planet.</p>

<p>Scientists knew that Auroras are caused by ions crashing into Jupiter's atmosphere but now they know how the X-Ray causing ions enter the atmosphere of the planet.</p>

<p>NASA says that ions responsible for X-ray emissions are 'surfing' the electromagnetic waves in Jupiter's magnetic field to enter the planet's atmosphere.</p>

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<p>To come to the conclusion, NASA combined data from its Juno mission and European Space Agency's XMM-Newton mission.</p>

<p>The expanse is revealing it secrets one-by-one after all!</p>


If you go to Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden), you would be able to see the mesmerising beauty of Auroras. The beatiful phenomenon attracts thousands of tourists to this region.

If you go to Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden), you would be able to see the mesmerising beauty of Auroras. The beatiful phenomenon attracts thousands of tourists to this region. Jupiter has Auroras too! The super-huge gas planet exhibits Auroras near both its poles. But there's more. Jupiter's Auroras emit X-rays. For decades, scientists were puzzled about the reason behind these X-Ray emissions from the visual treat. NASA has solved that mystery now. The National Aeronautics and Space Association (NASA) has posted an image on Instagram and made it known to the world that another of Jupiter's mysteries has been solved. The image posted by NASA shows the gas planet in all its glory! The mega-storms on the planet are plainly visible. But what's more interesting is the purple hue of Auroras seen at both poles of the planet. Scientists knew that Auroras are caused by ions crashing into Jupiter's atmosphere but now they know how the X-Ray causing ions enter the atmosphere of the planet. NASA says that ions responsible for X-ray emissions are 'surfing' the electromagnetic waves in Jupiter's magnetic field to enter the planet's atmosphere. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × To come to the conclusion, NASA combined data from its Juno mission and European Space Agency's XMM-Newton mission. The expanse is revealing it secrets one-by-one after all!

NASA solves 40-year-old mystery of Jupiter's X-Ray Auroras

<p>NASA&nbsp;on Friday said it had selected&nbsp;SpaceX&nbsp;to launch a planned voyage to&nbsp;Jupiter's icy&nbsp;moon&nbsp;Europa, a huge win for Elon Musk's company as it sets its sights deeper into the solar system.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;Europa&nbsp;Clipper&nbsp;mission&nbsp;will launch in October 2024 on a Falcon Heavy rocket from the Kennedy&nbsp;Space&nbsp;Center in Florida, with the total contract worth $178 million.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;mission&nbsp;was previously supposed to take off on&nbsp;NASA's own&nbsp;Space&nbsp;Launch System (SLS) rocket, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns, with critics calling it a "jobs program" for the state of Alabama where much of the development work is taking place.</p>

<p>While SLS isn't yet operational, Falcon Heavy has deployed on both commercial and government missions since its maiden flight in 2018 when it carried Musk's own Tesla Roadster into&nbsp;space.</p>

<p>It generates more than five million pounds of thrust (22 million Newtons) at liftoff, equal to approximately eighteen 747 aircraft.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;Europa&nbsp;clipper orbiter will make about 40 to 50 close passes over&nbsp;Europa&nbsp;to determine whether the icy&nbsp;moon&nbsp;could harbor conditions suitable for life.</p>

<p>Its payload will include cameras and spectrometers to produce high-resolution images and compositional maps of the surface and atmosphere, as well as radar to penetrate the ice layer to search for liquid water below.</p>


NASA on Friday said it had selected SpaceX to launch a planned voyage to Jupiter's icy moon Europa, a huge win for Elon Musk's company as it sets its sights deeper into the solar system.

NASA on Friday said it had selected SpaceX to launch a planned voyage to Jupiter's icy moon Europa, a huge win for Elon Musk's company as it sets its sights deeper into the solar system. The Europa Clipper mission will launch in October 2024 on a Falcon Heavy rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the total contract worth $178 million. The mission was previously supposed to take off on NASA's own Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns, with critics calling it a "jobs program" for the state of Alabama where much of the development work is taking place. While SLS isn't yet operational, Falcon Heavy has deployed on both commercial and government missions since its maiden flight in 2018 when it carried Musk's own Tesla Roadster into space. It generates more than five million pounds of thrust (22 million Newtons) at liftoff, equal to approximately eighteen 747 aircraft. The Europa clipper orbiter will make about 40 to 50 close passes over Europa to determine whether the icy moon could harbor conditions suitable for life. Its payload will include cameras and spectrometers to produce high-resolution images and compositional maps of the surface and atmosphere, as well as radar to penetrate the ice layer to search for liquid water below.

NASA selects SpaceX for mission to Jupiter moon Europa

<p>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has said that&nbsp;the&nbsp;Hubble&nbsp;Space Telescope returned to full science operations&nbsp;and captured images of two unusual galaxies.</p>

<p>The telescope's operations had been suspended for a month following a computer anomaly.&nbsp;When the main computer failed to receive a signal from the payload computer, it automatically placed Hubble’s science instruments into safe mode.</p>

<p>NASA released&nbsp;Hubble's images of a pair of interacting galaxies in the southern hemisphere, named ARP-MADORE2115-273 and ARP-MADORE0002-503.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/marsquakes-reveal-secrets-of-mars-interior-400155">Marsquakes reveal secrets of Mars' interior</a></strong></p>

<p>While the former&nbsp;is a rarely observed example of a pair of interacting galaxies in the southern hemisphere. The latter&nbsp;is a large spiral galaxy with unusual, extended spiral arms. While most disk galaxies have an even number of spiral arms, this one has three.</p>

<p>These snapshots, from a program led by Julianne Dalcanton of the University of Washington in Seattle, feature a galaxy with unusual extended spiral arms and the first high-resolution glimpse at an intriguing pair of colliding galaxies.</p>

<p>Other initial targets for Hubble included globular star clusters and aurorae on the giant planet Jupiter.</p>

<p>Hubble has taken more than 600,000 observations, bringing its lifetime total to more than 1.5 million.</p>

<p>“I’m thrilled to see that Hubble has its eye back on the universe, once again capturing the kind of images that have intrigued and inspired us for decades,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.</p>

<p>“This is a moment to celebrate the success of a team truly dedicated to the mission. Through their efforts, Hubble will continue its 32nd year of discovery, and we will continue to learn from the observatory’s transformational vision,” he added.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;Hubble&nbsp;was launched in 1990 and has become a crucial tool in space exploration, observing stars and galaxies from its orbit 350 miles (563 km) above Earth.</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>


The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has said that the Hubble Space Telescope returned to full science operations and captured images of two unusual galaxies.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has said that the Hubble Space Telescope returned to full science operations and captured images of two unusual galaxies. The telescope's operations had been suspended for a month following a computer anomaly. When the main computer failed to receive a signal from the payload computer, it automatically placed Hubble’s science instruments into safe mode. NASA released Hubble's images of a pair of interacting galaxies in the southern hemisphere, named ARP-MADORE2115-273 and ARP-MADORE0002-503. Also Read | Marsquakes reveal secrets of Mars' interior While the former is a rarely observed example of a pair of interacting galaxies in the southern hemisphere. The latter is a large spiral galaxy with unusual, extended spiral arms. While most disk galaxies have an even number of spiral arms, this one has three. These snapshots, from a program led by Julianne Dalcanton of the University of Washington in Seattle, feature a galaxy with unusual extended spiral arms and the first high-resolution glimpse at an intriguing pair of colliding galaxies. Other initial targets for Hubble included globular star clusters and aurorae on the giant planet Jupiter. Hubble has taken more than 600,000 observations, bringing its lifetime total to more than 1.5 million. “I’m thrilled to see that Hubble has its eye back on the universe, once again capturing the kind of images that have intrigued and inspired us for decades,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “This is a moment to celebrate the success of a team truly dedicated to the mission. Through their efforts, Hubble will continue its 32nd year of discovery, and we will continue to learn from the observatory’s transformational vision,” he added. The Hubble was launched in 1990 and has become a crucial tool in space exploration, observing stars and galaxies from its orbit 350 miles (563 km) above Earth. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captures images of two unusual galaxies

<p>NASA's Landsat 8 satellite has captured mesmerising images of&nbsp;phytoplanktons,&nbsp;the base component of the marine food chain.</p>

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<p>Microscopic ocean plants called&nbsp;phytoplankton&nbsp;gobble up CO2 and drag it to the bottom of the ocean when they die.</p>

<p>Their colony size is limited by a lack of natural iron, but experiments have shown that sowing the ocean with iron sulphate powder creates large blooms.</p>

<p>Plankton include microscopic plants and animals, fish larvae, bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that drift in the oceans.</p>

<p>By removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it into organic carbon via photosynthesis, plankton provide a buffer against the increased carbon dioxide being generated by the burning of fossil fuels.</p>

<p>New research led by NASA researchers has found populations of the microscopic marine plants, phytoplankton, have decreased in the Northern Hemisphere.</p>

<p>An analysis using a NASA model in combination with ocean satellite data between 1998 and 2012, showed a 1 per cent&nbsp;decrease of phytoplankton per year.</p>


NASA's Landsat 8 satellite has captured mesmerising images of phytoplanktons, the base component of the marine food chain. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) Microscopic ocean plants called phytoplankton gobble up CO2 and drag it to the bottom of the ocean when they die.

NASA's Landsat 8 satellite has captured mesmerising images of phytoplanktons, the base component of the marine food chain. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) Microscopic ocean plants called phytoplankton gobble up CO2 and drag it to the bottom of the ocean when they die. Their colony size is limited by a lack of natural iron, but experiments have shown that sowing the ocean with iron sulphate powder creates large blooms. Plankton include microscopic plants and animals, fish larvae, bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that drift in the oceans. By removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it into organic carbon via photosynthesis, plankton provide a buffer against the increased carbon dioxide being generated by the burning of fossil fuels. New research led by NASA researchers has found populations of the microscopic marine plants, phytoplankton, have decreased in the Northern Hemisphere. An analysis using a NASA model in combination with ocean satellite data between 1998 and 2012, showed a 1 per cent decrease of phytoplankton per year.

'Summer is in full bloom': NASA shares satellite images of phytoplanktons

<p>The&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;Mars rover is preparing to collect its first rock sample from the site of an ancient lake bed, as its mission to search for signs of past life begins in earnest, NASA said Wednesday.</p>

<p>The milestone is expected to take place within two weeks in a scientifically interesting region of the Jezero Crater called the "Cratered Floor Fractured Rough."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"When Neil Armstrong took the first sample from the Sea of Tranquility 52 years ago, he began a process that would rewrite what humanity knew about the Moon," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I have every expectation that&nbsp;Perseverance's first sample from Jezero Crater, and those that come after, will do the same for Mars."</p>

<p>Perseverance&nbsp;landed on the Red Planet on February 18, and over the summer moved about a kilometre to the south of its landing site, project scientist Ken Farley told reporters.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-hubble-space-telescope-captures-images-of-two-unusual-galaxies-399481"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captures images of two unusual galaxies</strong></a></p>

<p>"Now we're looking at environments that are much further in the past -- billions of years in the past," he said in a briefing.</p>

<p>The team believes the crater was once home to an ancient lake that filled and drew down multiple times, potentially creating the conditions necessary for life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Analysing samples will reveal clues about the rocks' chemical and mineral composition -- revealing things like whether they were formed by volcanoes or are sedimentary in origin.</p>

<p>In addition to filling gaps in scientists' geologic understanding of the region, the rover will also scour for possible signs of ancient microbes.</p>

<p>First,&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;will deploy its 7-foot (two-meter) long robotic arm to determine precisely where to take its sample.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The rover will then use an abrasion tool to scrape off the rock's top layer, exposing unweathered surfaces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These will be analysed by&nbsp;Perseverance's turret-mounted scientific instruments to determine chemical and mineral composition, and look for organic matter.</p>

<p>One of the instruments, called SuperCam, will fire a laser at the rock and then take readings of the resulting plume.</p>

<p>Farley said that a small cliff that harboured fine-layered rocks might have been formed from lake muds, and "those are very good places to look for biosignatures," though it will be a few more months before&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;reaches that outcrop.</p>

<p>Each rock&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;analyses will have an untouched geologic "twin" which the rover will scoop up, seal and store under its belly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Eventually, NASA is planning a return mission with the European Space Agency to collect the stored samples and return them for lab analysis on Earth, sometime in the 2030s.</p>

<p>Only then will scientists be able to say with greater confidence whether they truly found signs of ancient life forms.</p>


The Perseverance Mars rover is preparing to collect its first rock sample from the site of an ancient lake bed, as its mission to search for signs of past life begins in earnest, NASA said Wednesday.

The Perseverance Mars rover is preparing to collect its first rock sample from the site of an ancient lake bed, as its mission to search for signs of past life begins in earnest, NASA said Wednesday. The milestone is expected to take place within two weeks in a scientifically interesting region of the Jezero Crater called the "Cratered Floor Fractured Rough." "When Neil Armstrong took the first sample from the Sea of Tranquility 52 years ago, he began a process that would rewrite what humanity knew about the Moon," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters. "I have every expectation that Perseverance's first sample from Jezero Crater, and those that come after, will do the same for Mars." Perseverance landed on the Red Planet on February 18, and over the summer moved about a kilometre to the south of its landing site, project scientist Ken Farley told reporters. Also read | NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captures images of two unusual galaxies "Now we're looking at environments that are much further in the past -- billions of years in the past," he said in a briefing. The team believes the crater was once home to an ancient lake that filled and drew down multiple times, potentially creating the conditions necessary for life. Analysing samples will reveal clues about the rocks' chemical and mineral composition -- revealing things like whether they were formed by volcanoes or are sedimentary in origin. In addition to filling gaps in scientists' geologic understanding of the region, the rover will also scour for possible signs of ancient microbes. First, Perseverance will deploy its 7-foot (two-meter) long robotic arm to determine precisely where to take its sample. The rover will then use an abrasion tool to scrape off the rock's top layer, exposing unweathered surfaces. These will be analysed by Perseverance's turret-mounted scientific instruments to determine chemical and mineral composition, and look for organic matter. One of the instruments, called SuperCam, will fire a laser at the rock and then take readings of the resulting plume. Farley said that a small cliff that harboured fine-layered rocks might have been formed from lake muds, and "those are very good places to look for biosignatures," though it will be a few more months before Perseverance reaches that outcrop. Each rock Perseverance analyses will have an untouched geologic "twin" which the rover will scoop up, seal and store under its belly. Eventually, NASA is planning a return mission with the European Space Agency to collect the stored samples and return them for lab analysis on Earth, sometime in the 2030s. Only then will scientists be able to say with greater confidence whether they truly found signs of ancient life forms.

NASA rover Perseverance preparing to take first Mars rock samples

<p>Aviator <strong>Wally Funk</strong>, 82, accompanied Amazon founder <strong>Jeff Bezos</strong> on the first crewed spaceflight of <strong>Blue Origin</strong>&nbsp;on July 21 and became the oldest woman to fly to space.Funk was the first woman trained to fly to space during&nbsp;1960-1961 in the <strong>Mercury 13</strong> program. On July 20, she became the oldest person ever to go to space.</p>

<p>"I can hardly wait," Funk said in a video posted on <strong>Bezos</strong> Instagram account. "I would say, "Honey, that was the best thing that ever happened to me!," Funk said in the video as she hugged Bezos.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiny-little-fragile-thing-bezos-returns-to-earth-awestruck-ready-for-another-flight-399312">Bezos returns to Earth 'awestruck', ready for another space flight</a></strong></p>

<p>"They told me that I had done better and completed the work faster than any of the guys," Funk says, adding, "So I got ahold of <strong>NASA</strong>, four times. I said I want to become an astronaut, but nobody would take me. I didn't think that I would ever get to go up."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Funk said people told her "Wally, you're a girl, you can't do that."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I said guess what, doesn't matter what you are, you can still do it if you want to do it."</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/jeff-bezos-completes-pilot-space-flight-aboard-blue-origins-new-shepard-399280">In pics |&nbsp;Jeff Bezos completes his space voyage aboard New Shepard</a></strong></p>

<p>While many women from her age gave up on the dream of ever travelling to the space, Wally fulfilled her life-long dream and described it as the best day of her life. "I'm going. That is my quest. ... I love flying, that's my job, that's what I love. And I'm not a quitter," she said before the launch.</p>

<p>An unnamed winner of the online auction was scheduled to accompany Bezos brothers and Funk, but a last-minute 'scheduling issue' took the opportunity away from him and he said he will be encashing his ticket on the next flight. In place of him, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen took the opportunity and became the youngest person to fly to space.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unionise-amazon-twitter-is-full-of-jokes-after-jeff-bezos-returns-from-space-trip-399266" hreflang="en">'Unionise Amazon': Twitter is full of jokes after Jeff Bezos returns from space trip</a></strong></p>

<p>New Shephard has taken several uncrewed test runs earlier. However, this was it's first all-crew flight.</p>

<p>Blue Origin's latest voyage into space comes as it faces stiff competition from Elon Musk's <strong>SpaceX</strong> and <strong>Virgin Galactic's</strong> founder British billionaire Richard Branson.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from Agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Aviator Wally Funk, 82, accompanied Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on the first crewed spaceflight of Blue Origin on July 21 and became the oldest woman to fly to space.

Aviator Wally Funk, 82, accompanied Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on the first crewed spaceflight of Blue Origin on July 21 and became the oldest woman to fly to space.Funk was the first woman trained to fly to space during 1960-1961 in the Mercury 13 program. On July 20, she became the oldest person ever to go to space. "I can hardly wait," Funk said in a video posted on Bezos Instagram account. "I would say, "Honey, that was the best thing that ever happened to me!," Funk said in the video as she hugged Bezos. Also read | Bezos returns to Earth 'awestruck', ready for another space flight "They told me that I had done better and completed the work faster than any of the guys," Funk says, adding, "So I got ahold of NASA, four times. I said I want to become an astronaut, but nobody would take me. I didn't think that I would ever get to go up." Funk said people told her "Wally, you're a girl, you can't do that." "I said guess what, doesn't matter what you are, you can still do it if you want to do it." In pics | Jeff Bezos completes his space voyage aboard New Shepard While many women from her age gave up on the dream of ever travelling to the space, Wally fulfilled her life-long dream and described it as the best day of her life. "I'm going. That is my quest. ... I love flying, that's my job, that's what I love. And I'm not a quitter," she said before the launch. An unnamed winner of the online auction was scheduled to accompany Bezos brothers and Funk, but a last-minute 'scheduling issue' took the opportunity away from him and he said he will be encashing his ticket on the next flight. In place of him, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen took the opportunity and became the youngest person to fly to space. Also read | 'Unionise Amazon': Twitter is full of jokes after Jeff Bezos returns from space trip New Shephard has taken several uncrewed test runs earlier. However, this was it's first all-crew flight. Blue Origin's latest voyage into space comes as it faces stiff competition from Elon Musk's SpaceX and Virgin Galactic's founder British billionaire Richard Branson. (With inputs from Agencies)

Veteran pilot Wally Funk, 82, becomes oldest woman to go to space

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{962c958e-5589-4ead-973a-6889a6f0b4e6}{34}" paraid="1803600273" >According to a NASA study, there may be a&nbsp;surge in high-tide floods in the&nbsp;mid-2030s. It has looked to warn&nbsp;coastal communities in the&nbsp;world. This seems to be triggered by the moon’s wobble.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{902a407e-4413-4ee3-b5b5-fb31acd0814e}{204}" paraid="1966241985" >The study says the increase in the&nbsp;flooding&nbsp;will start&nbsp;after a lunar cycle will amplify rising sea levels caused by the climate crisis.&nbsp;The&nbsp;study has been&nbsp;led by the members of the NASA Sea Level Change Science Team from the University of Hawaii.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{aaf25956-1912-4e06-8d3c-4cea3bd0b85f}{201}" paraid="486521682" >As the&nbsp;long-term geological processes are leading to rise in&nbsp;far northern coastlines’&nbsp;land areas, these&nbsp;will get at least another decade's respite&nbsp;before flooding begins.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{f19c9060-f2ba-4660-a857-31d2a9196ceb}{110}" paraid="1675886766" >Published in the journal ‘Nature Climate Change’, the study is the first to take into account all known oceanic and astronomical causes for floods, NASA said&nbsp;in a news release.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{339bca31-87eb-43e5-8d3e-dfa76176eb39}{225}" paraid="719229857" >In 2019, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported over 600 high-tide floods.&nbsp;As per this study,&nbsp;these floods will sometimes occur in clusters lasting for over a month or longer in the 2030s. It would depend on the positions of the Moon, Earth and Sun. Some cities may&nbsp;witness&nbsp;floods every day.&nbsp;</p>


According to a NASA study, there may be a surge in high-tide floods in the mid-2030s. It has looked to warn coastal communities in the world. This seems to be triggered by the moon’s wobble.

According to a NASA study, there may be a surge in high-tide floods in the mid-2030s. It has looked to warn coastal communities in the world. This seems to be triggered by the moon’s wobble. The study says the increase in the flooding will start after a lunar cycle will amplify rising sea levels caused by the climate crisis. The study has been led by the members of the NASA Sea Level Change Science Team from the University of Hawaii. As the long-term geological processes are leading to rise in far northern coastlines’ land areas, these will get at least another decade's respite before flooding begins. Published in the journal ‘Nature Climate Change’, the study is the first to take into account all known oceanic and astronomical causes for floods, NASA said in a news release. In 2019, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported over 600 high-tide floods. As per this study, these floods will sometimes occur in clusters lasting for over a month or longer in the 2030s. It would depend on the positions of the Moon, Earth and Sun. Some cities may witness floods every day.

NASA study says Moon wobble may trigger surge in coastal flooding in 2030s

<p>Trust NASA to post something scientific and beautiful. The pics and videos are sure to go viral and they actually do. NASA's spacecrafts have literally travelled outside our Solar System and several are examining the celestial bodies inside our Solar System.</p>

<p>While us mortals don't usually get to see the cool pics and videos right when they are taken, NASA posts the images on its social handles and they get thousands of hits.</p>

<p>The video in discussion today has been captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft which is currently near the largest planet in our Solar System, Jupiter.</p>

<p>We see close-up images of planets and satellite close to Earth many times. Think Moon and Mars. But when a spacecraft goes as far as Jupiter, Saturn and beyond, the images often compel the planets to spill hidden secrets.</p>

<p>Juno spacecraft has been sending images back to Earth since 2016. This time, it gives us front-row access to Jupiter's moon Ganymede! It is the satellite of Jupiter on which ice changes directly from solid to gas.</p>

<p>The video shows Ganymede's cratered surface. Largest and brightest craters are easily seen. The video lasts for several seconds but it reported took June more than 12 hours to capture it in its entirety.</p>

<p>Check out the video</p>

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<p>Now isn't that mesmerising?<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Trust NASA to post something scientific and beautiful. The pics and videos are sure to go viral and they actually do. NASA's spacecrafts have literally travelled outside our Solar System and several are examining the celestial bodies inside our Solar System.

Trust NASA to post something scientific and beautiful. The pics and videos are sure to go viral and they actually do. NASA's spacecrafts have literally travelled outside our Solar System and several are examining the celestial bodies inside our Solar System. While us mortals don't usually get to see the cool pics and videos right when they are taken, NASA posts the images on its social handles and they get thousands of hits. The video in discussion today has been captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft which is currently near the largest planet in our Solar System, Jupiter. We see close-up images of planets and satellite close to Earth many times. Think Moon and Mars. But when a spacecraft goes as far as Jupiter, Saturn and beyond, the images often compel the planets to spill hidden secrets. Juno spacecraft has been sending images back to Earth since 2016. This time, it gives us front-row access to Jupiter's moon Ganymede! It is the satellite of Jupiter on which ice changes directly from solid to gas. The video shows Ganymede's cratered surface. Largest and brightest craters are easily seen. The video lasts for several seconds but it reported took June more than 12 hours to capture it in its entirety. Check out the video × Now isn't that mesmerising?

NASA posts mesmerising video of Jupiter's moon

<p>Blue Origin and&nbsp;General Electric Hitachi Nuclear Energy have been roped in by NASA&nbsp;to develop&nbsp;nuclear-powered spacecraft that can travel faster and&nbsp;farther,&nbsp;to Mars and beyond.</p>

<p>The Department of Energy's&nbsp;Idaho National Laboratory (INL)&nbsp;is collaborating with&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;to advance space nuclear technologies.</p>

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<p>NASA’s prototype power system uses a uranium-235 reactor core roughly the size of a paper towel roll.</p>

<p>The US government team has selected three reactor design concept proposals for a nuclear thermal propulsion system.</p>

<p>The reactor is a critical component of a nuclear thermal engine, which would utilise high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel.</p>

<p>The contracts, worth $5 million will&nbsp;fund the development of various design strategies for the specified performance requirements that could aid in deep space exploration.</p>

<p>Nuclear propulsion provides greater propellant efficiency as compared with chemical rockets. It’s a potential technology for crew and cargo missions to Mars and science missions to the outer solar system, enabling faster and more robust missions in many cases.</p>

<p>According to&nbsp;Jim Reuter, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, ''By working together, across government and with industry, the United States is advancing space nuclear propulsion.''</p>

<p>''These design contracts are an important step towards tangible reactor hardware that could one day propel new missions and exciting discoveries,'' he added.</p>

<p>In 2018, Nasa and the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) demonstrated a new nuclear reactor power system that could enable long-duration crewed missions to the Moon and Mars called the Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY) experiment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kilopower is a small, lightweight fission power system capable of providing up to 10 KW.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The technology could power habitats and life-support systems, enable astronauts to mine resources, recharge rovers and run processing equipment to transform resources such as ice on the planet into oxygen, water and fuel.</p>

<p>It could also potentially augment electrically powered spacecraft propulsion systems on missions to the outer planets.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Blue Origin and General Electric Hitachi Nuclear Energy have been roped in by NASA to develop nuclear-powered spacecraft that can travel faster and farther, to Mars and beyond.

Blue Origin and General Electric Hitachi Nuclear Energy have been roped in by NASA to develop nuclear-powered spacecraft that can travel faster and farther, to Mars and beyond. The Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is collaborating with NASA to advance space nuclear technologies. NASA’s prototype power system uses a uranium-235 reactor core roughly the size of a paper towel roll. The US government team has selected three reactor design concept proposals for a nuclear thermal propulsion system. The reactor is a critical component of a nuclear thermal engine, which would utilise high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel. The contracts, worth $5 million will fund the development of various design strategies for the specified performance requirements that could aid in deep space exploration. Nuclear propulsion provides greater propellant efficiency as compared with chemical rockets. It’s a potential technology for crew and cargo missions to Mars and science missions to the outer solar system, enabling faster and more robust missions in many cases. According to Jim Reuter, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, ''By working together, across government and with industry, the United States is advancing space nuclear propulsion.'' ''These design contracts are an important step towards tangible reactor hardware that could one day propel new missions and exciting discoveries,'' he added. In 2018, Nasa and the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) demonstrated a new nuclear reactor power system that could enable long-duration crewed missions to the Moon and Mars called the Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY) experiment. Kilopower is a small, lightweight fission power system capable of providing up to 10 KW. The technology could power habitats and life-support systems, enable astronauts to mine resources, recharge rovers and run processing equipment to transform resources such as ice on the planet into oxygen, water and fuel. It could also potentially augment electrically powered spacecraft propulsion systems on missions to the outer planets. (With inputs from agencies)

Nuclear-powered spacecrafts are on the way: Blue Origin, General Electric roped in by NASA

<p>NASA's official Instagram account published a photo of Mars Moon 'Phobos,' which resembles a potato.</p>

<p>"This is an image of Phobos, the largest of Mars' two raggedy moons, as seen by our Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft's @UAHiRISE camera," NASA stated.</p>

<p>"Scientists have calculated that tiny Phobos is nearing Mars at a rate of 1.8 meters (6 feet) every century, meaning it will either crash into the planet in 50 million years or break up into a ring of debris," NASA posted on the Instagram.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The photograph was obtained from a height of 6,800 kilometres (4,225 miles).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The innermost and bigger of Mars' two natural satellites, Phobos is larger than Deimos.</p>

<p>Asaph Hall, an American astronomer, discovered both moons in 1877.</p>

<p>Phobos is named after the Greek god Phobos, who is the twin brother of Deimos and the son of Ares (Mars) and Aphrodite (Venus).</p>

<p>Phobos was a god who represented terror and panic (cf. phobia).&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA's official Instagram account published a photo of Mars Moon 'Phobos,' which resembles a potato. "This is an image of Phobos, the largest of Mars' two raggedy moons, as seen by our Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft's @UAHiRISE camera," NASA stated.

NASA's official Instagram account published a photo of Mars Moon 'Phobos,' which resembles a potato. "This is an image of Phobos, the largest of Mars' two raggedy moons, as seen by our Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft's @UAHiRISE camera," NASA stated. "Scientists have calculated that tiny Phobos is nearing Mars at a rate of 1.8 meters (6 feet) every century, meaning it will either crash into the planet in 50 million years or break up into a ring of debris," NASA posted on the Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × The photograph was obtained from a height of 6,800 kilometres (4,225 miles). The innermost and bigger of Mars' two natural satellites, Phobos is larger than Deimos. Asaph Hall, an American astronomer, discovered both moons in 1877. Phobos is named after the Greek god Phobos, who is the twin brother of Deimos and the son of Ares (Mars) and Aphrodite (Venus). Phobos was a god who represented terror and panic (cf. phobia). (With inputs from agencies)

Mars' moon or potato? NASA shares image of ‘Phobos’, the largest of Mars' two raggedy moons

<p>The Hubble Space Telescope is damaged, and NASA is scrambling to figure out what's wrong with the workhorse observatory's most significant problem in almost a decade.</p>

<p>Astronomers were using the 31-year-old Hubble telescope to study pulsing stars 200 million miles away when it suddenly stopped working on June 13.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-reports-trouble-with-hubble-space-telescope-392571">NASA reports trouble with Hubble Space Telescope</a></strong></p>

<p>After one of its onboard computers malfunctioned on June 13, the Hubble Space Telescope was put into safe mode, with science operations shut off.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-technology/nasas-giant-webb-telescope-succeeds-in-key-pre-launch-test-384613">NASA's giant Webb telescope succeeds in key pre-launch test</a></strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p>"NASA completed a review to assess all factors and minimise risks related to Hubble’s possible switch to backup hardware, which may occur later this week. Investigation into the cause of the payload computer issue is ongoing," NASA&nbsp;said.</p>

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<p>The agency's initial findings pointed to a degrading computer memory module as the source of the computer halt. When the operations team attempted to switch to a backup memory module, however, the command to initiate the backup module failed to complete.<br />
<br />
The main computer then automatically placed all science instruments in a safe mode configuration. Control centre personnel at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland restarted the payload computer on Monday, June 14, but it soon experienced the same problem, the space agency said.<br />
<br />
Hundreds of astronomy projects had to be placed on pause or cancelled due to the failure of the orbiting telescope, which NASA is trying to figure out what went wrong.</p>

<p>Efforts to comprehend galaxies, comets, stars, exoplanets, and the entire cosmos are at stake.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Hubble Space Telescope is damaged, and NASA is scrambling to figure out what's wrong with the workhorse observatory's most significant problem in almost a decade.

The Hubble Space Telescope is damaged, and NASA is scrambling to figure out what's wrong with the workhorse observatory's most significant problem in almost a decade. Astronomers were using the 31-year-old Hubble telescope to study pulsing stars 200 million miles away when it suddenly stopped working on June 13. Also read | NASA reports trouble with Hubble Space Telescope After one of its onboard computers malfunctioned on June 13, the Hubble Space Telescope was put into safe mode, with science operations shut off. Also read | NASA's giant Webb telescope succeeds in key pre-launch test "NASA completed a review to assess all factors and minimise risks related to Hubble’s possible switch to backup hardware, which may occur later this week. Investigation into the cause of the payload computer issue is ongoing," NASA said. × The agency's initial findings pointed to a degrading computer memory module as the source of the computer halt. When the operations team attempted to switch to a backup memory module, however, the command to initiate the backup module failed to complete. The main computer then automatically placed all science instruments in a safe mode configuration. Control centre personnel at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland restarted the payload computer on Monday, June 14, but it soon experienced the same problem, the space agency said. Hundreds of astronomy projects had to be placed on pause or cancelled due to the failure of the orbiting telescope, which NASA is trying to figure out what went wrong. Efforts to comprehend galaxies, comets, stars, exoplanets, and the entire cosmos are at stake. (With inputs from agencies)

Down for a month: NASA faces Hubble Space Telescope's most serious glitch in years

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{9f305696-b42e-48dc-809d-0f5147ac445c}{177}" paraid="2062832888" >Inviting applications for new interns, NASA recently shared some images of its former interns on Twitter. The idea seemed to be to showcase the diversity of people serving at the US space agency.</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{9f305696-b42e-48dc-809d-0f5147ac445c}{177}" paraid="2062832888" >Among the pictures of four interns was one of an Indian American girl, sitting on a desk wearing a sweater sporting NASA logo and with Hindu god sculptures and posters in the background.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{369ea575-8c78-4721-9542-9751b9568b1c}{118}" paraid="1451845069" >What followed was widespread trolling of her faith, with some asking how the US space agency, a scientific organisation, could allow somebody who believes in God. Some comments bordered on Hinduphobia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some users&nbsp;criticised&nbsp;the presence of the&nbsp;idols at the workspace of the Indian-origin intern, while others questioned NASA for putting up a stereotypical image of an Indian girl.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{e2960a94-e248-4727-ad2c-0eed8cd3edf0}{169}" paraid="776750558" >But the trolling has now backfired on the pundits, with supporters saying they were completely okay with the fact that&nbsp;the Indian NASA intern had Hindu idols beside her.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{369ea575-8c78-4721-9542-9751b9568b1c}{118}" paraid="1451845069" >One user wrote on Twitter: "All those mocking her : Hijab, polygamy, child marriages, Niqab, prayers on road, etc are supposed to be respected under the concept of 'choice' and 'pluralism' but a Hindu lady practicing her faith has to be ridiculed. Carry on! Your bigotry will make her faith more stronger."</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{369ea575-8c78-4721-9542-9751b9568b1c}{118}" paraid="1451845069" >"So many people exposing their casual bigotry &amp; racism.... while dissing on a minority Girl.. all because she's proud of her roots,” said another.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Today's the day: applications for fall NASA internships are due!<br />
<br />
Are you ready? Visit <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAInterns?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAInterns</a> and apply at: <a href="https://t.co/s69uwyR1LJ">https://t.co/s69uwyR1LJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/CVwFJGYbms">pic.twitter.com/CVwFJGYbms</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1413591798061076484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>The girl was shown in the picture sitting with a laptop&nbsp;and&nbsp;idols of Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati and others in the background, a typical scene from many Indian households.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Inviting applications for new interns, NASA recently shared some images of its former interns on Twitter. The idea seemed to be to showcase the diversity of people serving at the US space agency.

Inviting applications for new interns, NASA recently shared some images of its former interns on Twitter. The idea seemed to be to showcase the diversity of people serving at the US space agency. Among the pictures of four interns was one of an Indian American girl, sitting on a desk wearing a sweater sporting NASA logo and with Hindu god sculptures and posters in the background. What followed was widespread trolling of her faith, with some asking how the US space agency, a scientific organisation, could allow somebody who believes in God. Some comments bordered on Hinduphobia. Some users criticised the presence of the idols at the workspace of the Indian-origin intern, while others questioned NASA for putting up a stereotypical image of an Indian girl. But the trolling has now backfired on the pundits, with supporters saying they were completely okay with the fact that the Indian NASA intern had Hindu idols beside her. One user wrote on Twitter: "All those mocking her : Hijab, polygamy, child marriages, Niqab, prayers on road, etc are supposed to be respected under the concept of 'choice' and 'pluralism' but a Hindu lady practicing her faith has to be ridiculed. Carry on! Your bigotry will make her faith more stronger." "So many people exposing their casual bigotry & racism.... while dissing on a minority Girl.. all because she's proud of her roots,” said another. Today's the day: applications for fall NASA internships are due! Are you ready? Visit @NASAInterns and apply at: https://t.co/s69uwyR1LJ pic.twitter.com/CVwFJGYbms — NASA (@NASA) July 9, 2021 × The girl was shown in the picture sitting with a laptop and idols of Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati and others in the background, a typical scene from many Indian households.

Trolled for her Hindu faith, NASA intern finds strong support online 

<p>NASA's golden-mirrored James Webb Space Telescope has passed a key review this week, a&nbsp;key&nbsp;milestone before the $10 billion observatory is launched later this year.</p>

<p>The telescope, which has been peering into the universe for more than 30 years, had&nbsp;been down for a&nbsp;few days last month.</p>

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<p>NASA said initial evidence pointed to a degrading computer memory module as the source of the computer problem.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The technology for the payload computer dates back to the 1980s, and it was replaced during maintenance work in 2009.</p>

<p>The James&nbsp;Webb&nbsp;Space&nbsp;Telescope's 21 feet 4 inches (6.5 meters) mirror was commanded to fully expand and lock itself into place,&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;said, a final&nbsp;test&nbsp;to ensure it will survive its million-mile (1.6 million kilometers) journey and is ready to discover the origins of the Universe.</p>

<p>Scott Willoughby, the&nbsp;lead contractor Northrop Grumman, had defined building it as a ''Swiss watch at 40-feet-tall... and getting it ready for this journey that we take into the vacuum at minus 400 degrees Fahrenheit (-240 Celsius), four times further than the Moon."</p>

<p>He was speaking at the company's spaceport in Redondo Beach, California, from where the&nbsp;telescope&nbsp;will be shipped to French Guiana to be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket, with&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;targeting October 31 for liftoff.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">NASA continues to work to resolve an issue with the payload computer on the Hubble Space Telescope, which halted on June 13.<br />
<br />
Launched in 1990, Hubble has contributed greatly to our understanding of the universe over the past 30 years. <a href="https://t.co/qEmIUQCtuX">https://t.co/qEmIUQCtuX</a></p>
— Hubble (@NASAHubble) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAHubble/status/1405939940471492619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>Webb's primary mirror is made of 18 hexagonal segments coated with an ultra-thin layer of gold to improve its reflection of infrared light.</p>

<p>It will fly to&nbsp;space&nbsp;folded like a piece of origami artwork, which allows it to fit inside a 16-foot (5-meter) rocket fairing, and will then use 132 individual actuators and motors to bend each mirror into a specific position.</p>

<p>Together, the mirrors will function as one massive reflector, to enable the&nbsp;telescope&nbsp;to peer deeper into the cosmos than ever before.</p>

<p><strong>Time machine</strong></p>

<p>Scientists want to use the&nbsp;telescope&nbsp;to look back in time over 13.5 billion years ago and see for the first time the first stars and galaxies that formed, a few hundred million years after the Big Bang.</p>

<p>To do this, they need to detect infrared. The current premier&nbsp;space&nbsp;telescope, Hubble, only has limited infrared capacity.</p>

<p>This is&nbsp;key&nbsp;because, by the time the light from the first objects reaches our telescopes, it has been shifted towards the red end of the electromagnetic spectrum as a result of the Universe extending the&nbsp;space&nbsp;between objects as it expands.</p>

<p>Another&nbsp;key&nbsp;area will be the discovery of alien worlds. The first planets to orbit other stars were detected in the 1990s and there are now more than 4,000 exoplanets that have been confirmed.</p>

<p>Webb&nbsp;"has instrumentation that will propel this new and exciting field into its next epic of discovery," said Eric Smith, James&nbsp;Webb&nbsp;telescope&nbsp;program scientist.</p>

<p>Scientists from 44 countries will be able to make use of the&nbsp;telescope, with proposals including using the infrared capabilities to penetrate the supermassive black holes at the centre of galaxies, including our own.</p>

<p>"The discovery capability of&nbsp;Webb&nbsp;is limited only by our own imaginations, and scientists around the world will soon be using this general-purpose observatory to take us places we haven't dreamed of going before," said Smith.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA's golden-mirrored James Webb Space Telescope has passed a key review this week, a key milestone before the $10 billion observatory is launched later this year.

NASA's golden-mirrored James Webb Space Telescope has passed a key review this week, a key milestone before the $10 billion observatory is launched later this year. The telescope, which has been peering into the universe for more than 30 years, had been down for a few days last month. NASA said initial evidence pointed to a degrading computer memory module as the source of the computer problem. The technology for the payload computer dates back to the 1980s, and it was replaced during maintenance work in 2009. The James Webb Space Telescope's 21 feet 4 inches (6.5 meters) mirror was commanded to fully expand and lock itself into place, NASA said, a final test to ensure it will survive its million-mile (1.6 million kilometers) journey and is ready to discover the origins of the Universe. Scott Willoughby, the lead contractor Northrop Grumman, had defined building it as a ''Swiss watch at 40-feet-tall... and getting it ready for this journey that we take into the vacuum at minus 400 degrees Fahrenheit (-240 Celsius), four times further than the Moon." He was speaking at the company's spaceport in Redondo Beach, California, from where the telescope will be shipped to French Guiana to be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket, with NASA targeting October 31 for liftoff. NASA continues to work to resolve an issue with the payload computer on the Hubble Space Telescope, which halted on June 13. Launched in 1990, Hubble has contributed greatly to our understanding of the universe over the past 30 years. https://t.co/qEmIUQCtuX — Hubble (@NASAHubble) June 18, 2021 × Webb's primary mirror is made of 18 hexagonal segments coated with an ultra-thin layer of gold to improve its reflection of infrared light. It will fly to space folded like a piece of origami artwork, which allows it to fit inside a 16-foot (5-meter) rocket fairing, and will then use 132 individual actuators and motors to bend each mirror into a specific position. Together, the mirrors will function as one massive reflector, to enable the telescope to peer deeper into the cosmos than ever before. Time machine Scientists want to use the telescope to look back in time over 13.5 billion years ago and see for the first time the first stars and galaxies that formed, a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. To do this, they need to detect infrared. The current premier space telescope, Hubble, only has limited infrared capacity. This is key because, by the time the light from the first objects reaches our telescopes, it has been shifted towards the red end of the electromagnetic spectrum as a result of the Universe extending the space between objects as it expands. Another key area will be the discovery of alien worlds. The first planets to orbit other stars were detected in the 1990s and there are now more than 4,000 exoplanets that have been confirmed. Webb "has instrumentation that will propel this new and exciting field into its next epic of discovery," said Eric Smith, James Webb telescope program scientist. Scientists from 44 countries will be able to make use of the telescope, with proposals including using the infrared capabilities to penetrate the supermassive black holes at the centre of galaxies, including our own. "The discovery capability of Webb is limited only by our own imaginations, and scientists around the world will soon be using this general-purpose observatory to take us places we haven't dreamed of going before," said Smith. (With inputs from agencies)

James Webb Space Telescope passes key review ahead of fall launch

<p>NASA will be launching two sounding rockets under its Dynamo-2 mission to team up with a satellite. This will help in studying the giant electric current in Earth’s ionosphere.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scheduled to be launched on separate days, the two rockets will team up with Nasa’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite to advance the understanding of the atmospheric dynamo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scott England, a space physicist at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and collaborator for the upcoming Dynamo-2 campaign, said, "It’s a really tricky part of space to get measurements, because the air is much too thin for an aircraft, and yet it's still too dense to fly most spacecraft". He added, "So one way of making these measurements is to fly a rocket through it".</p>

<p><img alt="NASA" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="324de7a9-9b62-4aa0-a9c5-201e4cc571ec" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Screenshot%202021-07-04%20at%201.08.00%20PM.png" /></p>

<p><strong><em>Illustration of NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON. ICON explores Earth’s upper atmosphere and ionosphere, a region influenced by both terrestrial weather and changes in near-Earth space. Image Credits: NASA</em></strong></p>

<p>As per NASA, the atmospheric dynamo is a pattern of electrical current that swirls in continent-sized circuits high above our heads.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As it is driven by the Sun, it migrates across the planet, centered wherever the Sun is directly overhead.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Most measurements of the dynamo come from magnetometers on the ground. This monitors how the current disturbs Earth’s magnetic field.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ground-based measurements have their advantages, including how they can monitor one location for long periods of time, for instance.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippine-military-plane-carrying-92-people-crashes-40-rescued-17-dead-395665"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Philippine military plane carrying 92 people crashes; 40 rescued, 17 dead</strong></a></p>

<p>The Dynamo-2 rockets will launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia between July 6-20. The two rockets will not be launched on the same day.</p>

<p>As per NASA, the launch window on July 6 runs from 12:15 p.m. to&nbsp;2 p.m. EDT. On July 7-13, the launch window runs from 10 a.m. to&nbsp;2 p.m. EDT and from 8 a.m. to noon EDT on July 14-20.</p>

<p>Live coverage of the launches will begin 20 minutes before the opening of the launch window on the Wallops Youtube Site. The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will not be open for this mission. The launches may be visible in the mid-Atlantic region.</p>

<p>Takumi Abe, space physicist at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, and collaborator for the Dynamo missions, said, "While ground-based methods can provide large-scale, integrated measurements, sounding rockets give us local, fine-scale data on the ionospheric current. That's when we use sounding rockets – when we'd like to see the small-scale physics".</p>


NASA will be launching two sounding rockets under its Dynamo-2 mission to team up with a satellite. This will help in studying the giant electric current in Earth’s ionosphere.

NASA will be launching two sounding rockets under its Dynamo-2 mission to team up with a satellite. This will help in studying the giant electric current in Earth’s ionosphere. Scheduled to be launched on separate days, the two rockets will team up with Nasa’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite to advance the understanding of the atmospheric dynamo. Scott England, a space physicist at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and collaborator for the upcoming Dynamo-2 campaign, said, "It’s a really tricky part of space to get measurements, because the air is much too thin for an aircraft, and yet it's still too dense to fly most spacecraft". He added, "So one way of making these measurements is to fly a rocket through it". Illustration of NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON. ICON explores Earth’s upper atmosphere and ionosphere, a region influenced by both terrestrial weather and changes in near-Earth space. Image Credits: NASA As per NASA, the atmospheric dynamo is a pattern of electrical current that swirls in continent-sized circuits high above our heads. As it is driven by the Sun, it migrates across the planet, centered wherever the Sun is directly overhead. Most measurements of the dynamo come from magnetometers on the ground. This monitors how the current disturbs Earth’s magnetic field. Ground-based measurements have their advantages, including how they can monitor one location for long periods of time, for instance. Also read | Philippine military plane carrying 92 people crashes; 40 rescued, 17 dead The Dynamo-2 rockets will launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia between July 6-20. The two rockets will not be launched on the same day. As per NASA, the launch window on July 6 runs from 12:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. EDT. On July 7-13, the launch window runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT and from 8 a.m. to noon EDT on July 14-20. Live coverage of the launches will begin 20 minutes before the opening of the launch window on the Wallops Youtube Site. The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will not be open for this mission. The launches may be visible in the mid-Atlantic region. Takumi Abe, space physicist at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, and collaborator for the Dynamo missions, said, "While ground-based methods can provide large-scale, integrated measurements, sounding rockets give us local, fine-scale data on the ionospheric current. That's when we use sounding rockets – when we'd like to see the small-scale physics".

NASA rockets team up with satellites to study electric generator

<p>A recent study in the journal 'Nature Astronomy' claims that based upon the analysis of the clays found in one of the craters, it is possible that parts of Mars have been habitable for thousands or even a million years.</p>

<p>The Curiosity rover, during its exploration of the Gale Crater on Mars, used its onboard drill in 2016 to obtain these samples from the Martian surface.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mysterious-methane-detections-on-mars-baffle-nasa-scientists-395116">Mysterious methane detections on Mars baffle NASA scientists</a></strong></p>

<p>Researchers used the rover's onboard instruments to analyze the sample's X-rays and found a material consistent with so-called glauconitic clays, which indicate that for a period of time, the crater might have&nbsp;been habitable.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The site was thought to have contained an ancient lake some 10 billion years ago. Researchers believe that this lake which existed for up to 10 million years existed when Mars' atmosphere was thicker so liquid water could exist on the surface.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, researchers were uncertain whether this lake would have had the right conditions neutral acidity and moderate temperature, conditions required for life to flourish.</p>

<p>Nevertheless, the presence of glauconitic clays remains is encouraging. They suggest that stable conditions could have existed on Mars for around a million years, with temperatures in the range of -3 to 15°C and water with a neutral pH.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-curiosity-rover-clicks-rare-shiny-clouds-on-mars-388591">NASA's Curiosity Rover clicks rare shiny clouds on Mars</a></strong></p>

<p>The study's lead author, Elisabeth Losa-Adams says that the presence of this clay mineral can be used as "a proxy" for stable conditions needed for life, as only such favourable conditions can give way to the formation of Glauconitic clay.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The presence of Gauconitic clays present a new potential insight as to how Gale Crater lake evolved, she added.</p>

<p>However, these glauconitic clays aren't evidence of life as such, only of habitability. Another NASA Mars Rover, Perseverance which is currently exploring the Jezero crater, is tasked with finding evidence of life on the Red Planet.&nbsp;</p>


A recent study in the journal 'Nature Astronomy' claims that based upon the analysis of the clays found in one of the craters, it is possible that parts of Mars have been habitable for thousands or even a million years.

A recent study in the journal 'Nature Astronomy' claims that based upon the analysis of the clays found in one of the craters, it is possible that parts of Mars have been habitable for thousands or even a million years. The Curiosity rover, during its exploration of the Gale Crater on Mars, used its onboard drill in 2016 to obtain these samples from the Martian surface. Also read | Mysterious methane detections on Mars baffle NASA scientists Researchers used the rover's onboard instruments to analyze the sample's X-rays and found a material consistent with so-called glauconitic clays, which indicate that for a period of time, the crater might have been habitable. The site was thought to have contained an ancient lake some 10 billion years ago. Researchers believe that this lake which existed for up to 10 million years existed when Mars' atmosphere was thicker so liquid water could exist on the surface. However, researchers were uncertain whether this lake would have had the right conditions neutral acidity and moderate temperature, conditions required for life to flourish. Nevertheless, the presence of glauconitic clays remains is encouraging. They suggest that stable conditions could have existed on Mars for around a million years, with temperatures in the range of -3 to 15°C and water with a neutral pH. Also read | NASA's Curiosity Rover clicks rare shiny clouds on Mars The study's lead author, Elisabeth Losa-Adams says that the presence of this clay mineral can be used as "a proxy" for stable conditions needed for life, as only such favourable conditions can give way to the formation of Glauconitic clay. The presence of Gauconitic clays present a new potential insight as to how Gale Crater lake evolved, she added. However, these glauconitic clays aren't evidence of life as such, only of habitability. Another NASA Mars Rover, Perseverance which is currently exploring the Jezero crater, is tasked with finding evidence of life on the Red Planet.

Presence of clay on Mars points to the planet being habitable once: Study

<p>Methane in the Martian atmosphere and organic chemicals in its soil are the latest tantalising findings of NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover as it hunts for clues about the possibility of extraterrestrial life.</p>

<p>NASA scientists said Curiosity found periodic bursts of methane, a gas that is strongly tied to life on Earth, in the atmosphere around its landing site in the red planet’s Gale Crater.</p>

<p>The rover also has found organic chemicals in the Martian soil, the scientists said at a webcast press conference at the American Geophyscial Union conference in San Francisco.</p>

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<p>NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California issued a press release saying the rover measured “a tenfold spike” in methane in the atmosphere around it, and detected other organic molecules in a sample collected by a robotic drill.</p>

<p>“There are many possible sources, biological or non-biological, such as interaction of water and rock,” Sushil Atreya of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, a member of the Curiosity rover science team, said in the press release.</p>

<p>The latest findings combine more than two years of data collected by the rover since its sky-crane landing inside Gale Crater in August 2012.</p>

<p>Last week, scientists said they had determined that billions of years ago, a lake filled the 96-mile- (154-km) wide crater being explored by Curiosity. This finding was another hint that Mars, the planet most like Earth in the solar system, was once suitable for microbial life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shortly after landing, Curiosity found that Mars once had the chemical ingredients and the environmental conditions needed to support microbial life, fulfilling the primary goal of its mission.</p>

<p>The rover, which has traveled around 5 miles (8 km) since landing on Mars, has been exploring an area known as Mount Sharp where rocks have been found containing water-deposited sediments, to learn if the life-friendly environments actually existed long enough for life to evolve.</p>

<p>“We will keep working on the puzzles these findings present,” said John Grotzinger, Curiosity project scientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.</p>

<p>Curiosity participating scientist Roger Summons of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said: “The challenge now is to find other rocks on Mount Sharp that might have different and more extensive inventories of organic compounds.”</p>


Methane in the Martian atmosphere and organic chemicals in its soil are the latest tantalising findings of NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover as it hunts for clues about the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

Methane in the Martian atmosphere and organic chemicals in its soil are the latest tantalising findings of NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover as it hunts for clues about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. NASA scientists said Curiosity found periodic bursts of methane, a gas that is strongly tied to life on Earth, in the atmosphere around its landing site in the red planet’s Gale Crater. The rover also has found organic chemicals in the Martian soil, the scientists said at a webcast press conference at the American Geophyscial Union conference in San Francisco. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California issued a press release saying the rover measured “a tenfold spike” in methane in the atmosphere around it, and detected other organic molecules in a sample collected by a robotic drill. “There are many possible sources, biological or non-biological, such as interaction of water and rock,” Sushil Atreya of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, a member of the Curiosity rover science team, said in the press release. The latest findings combine more than two years of data collected by the rover since its sky-crane landing inside Gale Crater in August 2012. Last week, scientists said they had determined that billions of years ago, a lake filled the 96-mile- (154-km) wide crater being explored by Curiosity. This finding was another hint that Mars, the planet most like Earth in the solar system, was once suitable for microbial life. Shortly after landing, Curiosity found that Mars once had the chemical ingredients and the environmental conditions needed to support microbial life, fulfilling the primary goal of its mission. The rover, which has traveled around 5 miles (8 km) since landing on Mars, has been exploring an area known as Mount Sharp where rocks have been found containing water-deposited sediments, to learn if the life-friendly environments actually existed long enough for life to evolve. “We will keep working on the puzzles these findings present,” said John Grotzinger, Curiosity project scientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Curiosity participating scientist Roger Summons of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said: “The challenge now is to find other rocks on Mount Sharp that might have different and more extensive inventories of organic compounds.”

Mysterious methane detections on Mars baffle NASA scientists

<p>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is known to push the boundaries of space exploration and research. Now, the agency has upped its game to provide a pleasant experience for astronauts who surrender themselves to solve the universe’s mysteries.</p>

<p>Life in space is extremely difficult for humans. At the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts spend a long time acclimatising to changes in terms of the basic physical laws that define our lives - including gravity.</p>

<p>Now, to make laundry easy aboard the station, the space agency is collaborating with Procter and Gamble. NASA wants to find a permanent solution to the laundry loophole. To achieve this, the company will undertake a series of experiments using specially designed detergents.</p>

<p>Procter and Gamble announced on Tuesday that it would collaborate with NASA on the experiment.</p>

<p><strong>What do astronauts do for laundry aboard&nbsp;ISS?</strong></p>

<p>Water is an essential resource, especially on the space station where the supply is limited. Due to this, there are no provisions for laundry aboard the station and astronauts simply jettison their used clothes.</p>

<p>In the absence of laundry mechanisms, NASA sends 72 kilograms (160 pounds) of clothing per crew member to the station every year. With private players eyeing farther off planets like Mars, astronauts need a long-term sustainable solution to washing clothes.</p>

<p>The pilot tests of “NASA Tide” will assess the effects of micro-gravity and radiation and are set to take place on a cargo flight to the ISS next year. Eventually, the testing will happen at the space station itself. Most of the equipment to carry out the tests is already available on the ISS, but P&amp;G will send some paraphernalia for image analysis to the station.</p>

<p>That’s not it! At the same time, identical experiments will take place on Earth. Scientists will use the same material to study the differences and similarities.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/heres-how-you-can-watch-the-luminous-strawberry-supermoon-this-thursday-393290" hreflang="en">Here's how you can watch the luminous 'Strawberry Supermoon' this Thursday</a></p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-first-new-3d-map-reveals-details-about-the-edge-of-our-solar-system-393123" hreflang="en">In a first, new 3D map reveals details about the edge of our solar system</a></p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/we-finally-know-what-causes-mesmerising-auroras-in-polar-night-skies-393085" hreflang="en">We finally know what causes mesmerising auroras in polar night skies!</a></p>


The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is known to push the boundaries of space exploration and research. Now, the agency has upped its game to provide a pleasant experience for astronauts who surrender themselves to solve the universe’s mysteries.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is known to push the boundaries of space exploration and research. Now, the agency has upped its game to provide a pleasant experience for astronauts who surrender themselves to solve the universe’s mysteries. Life in space is extremely difficult for humans. At the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts spend a long time acclimatising to changes in terms of the basic physical laws that define our lives - including gravity. Now, to make laundry easy aboard the station, the space agency is collaborating with Procter and Gamble. NASA wants to find a permanent solution to the laundry loophole. To achieve this, the company will undertake a series of experiments using specially designed detergents. Procter and Gamble announced on Tuesday that it would collaborate with NASA on the experiment. What do astronauts do for laundry aboard ISS? Water is an essential resource, especially on the space station where the supply is limited. Due to this, there are no provisions for laundry aboard the station and astronauts simply jettison their used clothes. In the absence of laundry mechanisms, NASA sends 72 kilograms (160 pounds) of clothing per crew member to the station every year. With private players eyeing farther off planets like Mars, astronauts need a long-term sustainable solution to washing clothes. The pilot tests of “NASA Tide” will assess the effects of micro-gravity and radiation and are set to take place on a cargo flight to the ISS next year. Eventually, the testing will happen at the space station itself. Most of the equipment to carry out the tests is already available on the ISS, but P&G will send some paraphernalia for image analysis to the station. That’s not it! At the same time, identical experiments will take place on Earth. Scientists will use the same material to study the differences and similarities. Also read: Here's how you can watch the luminous 'Strawberry Supermoon' this Thursday Also read: In a first, new 3D map reveals details about the edge of our solar system Also read: We finally know what causes mesmerising auroras in polar night skies!

How NASA's plans to send detergent to ISS could change space exploration

<p>US Space agency NASA continues to work on the payload computer on the Hubble Space Telescope, which halted probably due to a degrading memory module.<br />
<br />
Hubble, which has been watching the universe over the past 30 years, faced trouble with its payload computer on June 13. An attempt to restart the computer failed on June 14, NASA said.<br />
<br />
"NASA continues to work on resolving an issue with the payload computer on the Hubble Space Telescope. The operations team will be running tests and collecting more information on the system to further isolate the problem. The science instruments will remain in a safe mode state until the issue is resolved. The telescope itself and science instruments remain in good health," the space agency said in a statement.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-reports-trouble-with-hubble-space-telescope-392571">NASA reports trouble with Hubble Space Telescope</a></strong><br />
<br />
The agency's initial findings pointed to a degrading computer memory module as the source of the computer halt. When the operations team attempted to switch to a backup memory module, however, the command to initiate the backup module failed to complete.<br />
<br />
Another attempt was conducted on both modules to obtain more diagnostic information while again trying to bring those memory modules online. However, those attempts were not successful, NASA said.<br />
<br />
The payload computer is a NASA Standard Spacecraft Computer-1 (NSSC-1) system built in the 1980s that is located on the Science Instrument Command and Data Handling unit. The computer's purpose is to control and coordinate the science instruments and monitor them for health and safety purposes.<br />
<br />
It is fully redundant in that a second computer, along with its associated hardware, exists in orbit that can be switched over to in the event of a problem. Both computers can access and use any of four independent memory modules, which each contain 64K of Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) memory. The payload computer uses only one memory module operationally at a time, with the other three serving as backups.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-technology/nasas-giant-webb-telescope-succeeds-in-key-pre-launch-test-384613">NASA's giant Webb telescope succeeds in key pre-launch test</a></strong>&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The purpose of the payload computer is to control and coordinate the science instruments onboard the spacecraft. After the halt occurred on Sunday, the main computer stopped receiving a "keep-alive" signal, which is a standard handshake between the payload and main spacecraft computers to indicate all is well.<br />
<br />
The main computer then automatically placed all science instruments in a safe mode configuration. Control centre personnel at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland restarted the payload computer on Monday, June 14, but it soon experienced the same problem, the space agency said.</p>


US Space agency NASA continues to work on the payload computer on the Hubble Space Telescope, which halted probably due to a degrading memory module. Hubble, which has been watching the universe over the past 30 years, faced trouble with its payload computer on June 13.

US Space agency NASA continues to work on the payload computer on the Hubble Space Telescope, which halted probably due to a degrading memory module. Hubble, which has been watching the universe over the past 30 years, faced trouble with its payload computer on June 13. An attempt to restart the computer failed on June 14, NASA said. "NASA continues to work on resolving an issue with the payload computer on the Hubble Space Telescope. The operations team will be running tests and collecting more information on the system to further isolate the problem. The science instruments will remain in a safe mode state until the issue is resolved. The telescope itself and science instruments remain in good health," the space agency said in a statement. Also read | NASA reports trouble with Hubble Space Telescope The agency's initial findings pointed to a degrading computer memory module as the source of the computer halt. When the operations team attempted to switch to a backup memory module, however, the command to initiate the backup module failed to complete. Another attempt was conducted on both modules to obtain more diagnostic information while again trying to bring those memory modules online. However, those attempts were not successful, NASA said. The payload computer is a NASA Standard Spacecraft Computer-1 (NSSC-1) system built in the 1980s that is located on the Science Instrument Command and Data Handling unit. The computer's purpose is to control and coordinate the science instruments and monitor them for health and safety purposes. It is fully redundant in that a second computer, along with its associated hardware, exists in orbit that can be switched over to in the event of a problem. Both computers can access and use any of four independent memory modules, which each contain 64K of Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) memory. The payload computer uses only one memory module operationally at a time, with the other three serving as backups. Also read | NASA's giant Webb telescope succeeds in key pre-launch test The purpose of the payload computer is to control and coordinate the science instruments onboard the spacecraft. After the halt occurred on Sunday, the main computer stopped receiving a "keep-alive" signal, which is a standard handshake between the payload and main spacecraft computers to indicate all is well. The main computer then automatically placed all science instruments in a safe mode configuration. Control centre personnel at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland restarted the payload computer on Monday, June 14, but it soon experienced the same problem, the space agency said.

Hubble telescope on halt after trouble with payload computer: NASA

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