<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>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/video-indian-american-scientist-swati-mohan-played-key-role-in-nasa-mars-rover-landing-364941/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<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>

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<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

<p>The&nbsp;Hubble&nbsp;Space Telescope, which has been peering into the universe for more than 30 years, has been down for the past few days, NASA said Friday.</p>

<p>The problem is a payload computer that stopped working last Sunday, the US space agency said.It insisted the telescope itself and scientific instruments that accompany it are "in good health."</p>

<p>"The payload computer's purpose is to control and coordinate the science instruments and monitor them for health and safety purposes," NASA said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hubble-space-telescope-beams-back-mesmerising-image-of-a-nebula-370330"><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;Hubble Space Telescope beams back mesmerising image of a nebula!</strong></a></p>

<p>An attempt to restart it on Monday failed. NASA said initial evidence pointed to a degrading computer memory module as the source of the computer problem.</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 />
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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>An attempt to switch to a backup memory module also failed.The technology for the payload computer dates back to the 1980s, and it was replaced during maintenance work in 2009.</p>

<p>Launched in 1990, the&nbsp;Hubble&nbsp;Space Telescope revolutionized the world of astronomy and changed our vision of the universe as it sent back images of the solar system, the Milky Way and distant galaxies.</p>

<p>A new and more powerful one, called the James Webb Space Telescope, is scheduled to be deployed late this year. It is designed to peer deeper into the cosmos than ever before.</p>


The Hubble Space Telescope, which has been peering into the universe for more than 30 years, has been down for the past few days, NASA said Friday. The problem is a payload computer that stopped working last Sunday, the US space agency said.

The Hubble Space Telescope, which has been peering into the universe for more than 30 years, has been down for the past few days, NASA said Friday. The problem is a payload computer that stopped working last Sunday, the US space agency said.It insisted the telescope itself and scientific instruments that accompany it are "in good health." "The payload computer's purpose is to control and coordinate the science instruments and monitor them for health and safety purposes," NASA said. Also Read | Hubble Space Telescope beams back mesmerising image of a nebula! An attempt to restart it on Monday failed. NASA said initial evidence pointed to a degrading computer memory module as the source of the computer problem. 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 × An attempt to switch to a backup memory module also failed.The technology for the payload computer dates back to the 1980s, and it was replaced during maintenance work in 2009. Launched in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope revolutionized the world of astronomy and changed our vision of the universe as it sent back images of the solar system, the Milky Way and distant galaxies. A new and more powerful one, called the James Webb Space Telescope, is scheduled to be deployed late this year. It is designed to peer deeper into the cosmos than ever before.

NASA reports trouble with Hubble Space Telescope

<p>Spacewalking astronauts ventured out on&nbsp;the International Space Station with powerful, new solar panels to handle the growing electrical demands from upcoming visitors.</p>

<p>It's the first of a series of spacewalks to equip the aging orbital outpost with smaller but stronger solar wings. The electrical boost is needed to accommodate the paying passengers expected to drop by, beginning with a Russian film crew this fall.</p>

<p>NASA put extra safety precautions in place as French astronaut Thomas Pesquet and US astronaut Shane Kimbrough worked on the station's primary power grid, to avoid an electrical shock.</p>

<p>The duo had to conduct the most hazardous parts of the spacewalk on the nighttime side of Earth, to prevent the station's old solar panels from soaking up sunlight and generating power. Metal surfaces on their spacesuits were covered to avoid any contact.</p>

<p>Launched by SpaceX earlier this month, the first of these new solar panels was going to be installed alongside the station's oldest electricity-producing wings, in continuous operation for more than 20 years.</p>

<p>The astronauts had to lug the folded-up solar wing which 10 feet long, by 4 feet wide, and 2 1/2 feet thick&nbsp;to the worksite on the far left end of the station.</p>

<p>Once anchored in place, the solar panel was designed to roll out like a red carpet. It was expected to take six minutes to extend to its full 63 feet in length.</p>

<p>Pesquet and Kimbrough will go back out Sunday to install a second solar panel. Four more will be launched to re-energise the space station.</p>

<p>NASA wants to keep the space station churning out science research through this decade, and space tourists will further tax the power system. A Russian movie director and actress are due to visit in October for filming, followed by wealthy entrepreneurs launching from Kazakhstan and Cape Canaveral as part of a push to open up the private space market.</p>

<p>NASA's space station program manager Joel Montalbano said these visitors will undergo a rigorous training before liftoff.</p>


Spacewalking astronauts ventured out on the International Space Station with powerful, new solar panels to handle the growing electrical demands from upcoming visitors.

Spacewalking astronauts ventured out on the International Space Station with powerful, new solar panels to handle the growing electrical demands from upcoming visitors. It's the first of a series of spacewalks to equip the aging orbital outpost with smaller but stronger solar wings. The electrical boost is needed to accommodate the paying passengers expected to drop by, beginning with a Russian film crew this fall. NASA put extra safety precautions in place as French astronaut Thomas Pesquet and US astronaut Shane Kimbrough worked on the station's primary power grid, to avoid an electrical shock. The duo had to conduct the most hazardous parts of the spacewalk on the nighttime side of Earth, to prevent the station's old solar panels from soaking up sunlight and generating power. Metal surfaces on their spacesuits were covered to avoid any contact. Launched by SpaceX earlier this month, the first of these new solar panels was going to be installed alongside the station's oldest electricity-producing wings, in continuous operation for more than 20 years. The astronauts had to lug the folded-up solar wing which 10 feet long, by 4 feet wide, and 2 1/2 feet thick to the worksite on the far left end of the station. Once anchored in place, the solar panel was designed to roll out like a red carpet. It was expected to take six minutes to extend to its full 63 feet in length. Pesquet and Kimbrough will go back out Sunday to install a second solar panel. Four more will be launched to re-energise the space station. NASA wants to keep the space station churning out science research through this decade, and space tourists will further tax the power system. A Russian movie director and actress are due to visit in October for filming, followed by wealthy entrepreneurs launching from Kazakhstan and Cape Canaveral as part of a push to open up the private space market. NASA's space station program manager Joel Montalbano said these visitors will undergo a rigorous training before liftoff.

Astronauts spacewalk on International Space Station to boost its solar power

Are we alone in this universe? Are extraterrestrial beings visiting us in UFOs? NASA is investigating. Pentagon is set to release a report. How close are we to finding an answer?

Gravitas Plus: UFOs, Aliens & Science

<p>The remnants of China's biggest rocket crashed into the Indian Ocean near the Maldives on Sunday with no reports of damage, but Beijing was criticised by NASA for its failure to 'meet responsible standards' regarding its space debris.</p>

<p>The bulk of the out-of-control rocket, which had put into orbit the core module of China's planned space station on April 29, was mostly destroyed as it re-entered the atmosphere, China's state media reported.</p>

<p>The Long March-5B vehicle re-entered the atmosphere at 10:24 Beijing time on Sunday, the Chinese Manned Space Engineering office said.</p>

<p>It said debris from the 18-tonne rocket, one of the largest items in decades to have an undirected dive into the atmosphere, landed in the Indian Ocean at a point 72.47 degrees&nbsp;east and 2.65 degrees&nbsp;North. There were no reports of injuries or damage.</p>

<p>There have been intense speculation over where the rocket debris might land, and US officials and other experts warned its return risked potential casualties.</p>

<p>The hurtling debris of the rocket evoked sharp criticism from the US, NASA and international astrophysicists that Beijing has won a reckless gamble the uncontrolled fall of the rocket stroked fears that it may fall into inhabited areas.</p>

<p>The global anxiety over the debris was sparked by remnants of a similar Chinese rocket fell in Ivory Coast last year damaging several homes in villages.</p>

<p>It was the largest craft to crash to Earth since the US space laboratory, Skylab scattered debris over the southern Australian town of Esperance in 1979.</p>

<p>In a statement NASA Administrator Senator Bill Nelson criticised China, saying that it failed to meet responsible standards. "Spacefaring nations must minimise the risks to people and property on Earth of re-entries of space objects and maximise transparency regarding those operations."</p>

<p>US Space Command, meanwhile, simply said the rocket had 're-entered over the Arabian Peninsula'.<br />
It did not confirm the landing point reported by Chinese media, saying instead that it was 'unknown if the debris [had] impacted land or water'.</p>

<p>State-run Chinese media dismissed the criticism of debris falling in an 'uncontrolled' manner as 'purely false allegation'.</p>

<p>Despite clarification by China's space industry insiders and Foreign Ministry that the probability of the rocket remnants causing harm was extremely low, the Western media outlets and Pentagon, incessantly hyped that the debris was heading back to Earth in an 'uncontrolled'&nbsp;manner, state-run Global Times reported.</p>

<p>It is a 'purely false allegation', it quoted as Chinese analysts as saying.</p>

<p>The so-called "uncontrolled re-entry" of China's rocket debris is a groundless, false accusation, Song Zhongping, an aerospace expert told the Global Times on Sunday.</p>

<p>"It only refers to the loss of propulsion, but in no way means that China has lost track of its flying trajectory and real-time location," Song said.</p>

<p>It is 'completely normal' for rocket debris to return to Earth, and has been a common practice carried out by global participants in the aerospace field, including China, the Global Times report said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The remnants of China's biggest rocket crashed into the Indian Ocean near the Maldives on Sunday with no reports of damage, but Beijing was criticised by NASA for its failure to 'meet responsible standards' regarding its space debris.

The remnants of China's biggest rocket crashed into the Indian Ocean near the Maldives on Sunday with no reports of damage, but Beijing was criticised by NASA for its failure to 'meet responsible standards' regarding its space debris. The bulk of the out-of-control rocket, which had put into orbit the core module of China's planned space station on April 29, was mostly destroyed as it re-entered the atmosphere, China's state media reported. The Long March-5B vehicle re-entered the atmosphere at 10:24 Beijing time on Sunday, the Chinese Manned Space Engineering office said. It said debris from the 18-tonne rocket, one of the largest items in decades to have an undirected dive into the atmosphere, landed in the Indian Ocean at a point 72.47 degrees east and 2.65 degrees North. There were no reports of injuries or damage. There have been intense speculation over where the rocket debris might land, and US officials and other experts warned its return risked potential casualties. The hurtling debris of the rocket evoked sharp criticism from the US, NASA and international astrophysicists that Beijing has won a reckless gamble the uncontrolled fall of the rocket stroked fears that it may fall into inhabited areas. The global anxiety over the debris was sparked by remnants of a similar Chinese rocket fell in Ivory Coast last year damaging several homes in villages. It was the largest craft to crash to Earth since the US space laboratory, Skylab scattered debris over the southern Australian town of Esperance in 1979. In a statement NASA Administrator Senator Bill Nelson criticised China, saying that it failed to meet responsible standards. "Spacefaring nations must minimise the risks to people and property on Earth of re-entries of space objects and maximise transparency regarding those operations." US Space Command, meanwhile, simply said the rocket had 're-entered over the Arabian Peninsula'. It did not confirm the landing point reported by Chinese media, saying instead that it was 'unknown if the debris [had] impacted land or water'. State-run Chinese media dismissed the criticism of debris falling in an 'uncontrolled' manner as 'purely false allegation'. Despite clarification by China's space industry insiders and Foreign Ministry that the probability of the rocket remnants causing harm was extremely low, the Western media outlets and Pentagon, incessantly hyped that the debris was heading back to Earth in an 'uncontrolled' manner, state-run Global Times reported. It is a 'purely false allegation', it quoted as Chinese analysts as saying. The so-called "uncontrolled re-entry" of China's rocket debris is a groundless, false accusation, Song Zhongping, an aerospace expert told the Global Times on Sunday. "It only refers to the loss of propulsion, but in no way means that China has lost track of its flying trajectory and real-time location," Song said. It is 'completely normal' for rocket debris to return to Earth, and has been a common practice carried out by global participants in the aerospace field, including China, the Global Times report said. (With inputs from agencies)

Debris from China's biggest rocket crashes into Indian Ocean; NASA criticises Beijing's handling 

<p>The first close-ups of Jupiter’s largest moon have been provided by NASA’s Juno spacecraft for the first time in two decades.<br />
<br />
The images have been taken from Jupiter orbiter’s JunoCam imager and from its Stellar Reference Unit star camera.<br />
<br />
They show the surface in remarkable detail, including craters, clearly making a distinction in dark and bright terrain, and long structural features that can be linked to tectonic faults.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hello, old friend. Yesterday our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JunoMission?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JunoMission</a> made the first close flyby of Jupiter’s giant moon Ganymede in more than 20 years, and the first two images have been received on Earth. 📸 More to come. See details at: <a href="https://t.co/zIVMO6waKH">https://t.co/zIVMO6waKH</a> <a href="https://t.co/2RiW3iSmIp">pic.twitter.com/2RiW3iSmIp</a></p>
— NASA Solar System (@NASASolarSystem) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASolarSystem/status/1402317321947926538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Juno Principal Investigator Scott Bolton of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio said, “This is the closest any spacecraft has come to this mammoth moon in a generation”. He added, “We are going to take our time before we draw any scientific conclusions, but until then we can simply marvel at this celestial wonder”.<br />
<br />
The spacecraft’s JunoCam visible-light imager used its green filter and captured almost an entire side of the water-ice-encrusted moon. Later, the imaging experts will be able to provide a colour portrait of Ganymede.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/we-want-to-know-nasa-hops-on-curiosity-rover-for-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-389740"><strong>Also read | 'We want to know': NASA hops on curiosity rover to understand 'unidentified aerial phenomena'</strong></a><br />
<br />
This will be done when versions of the same image will come down incorporating the camera’s red and blue filters. The image resolution is about 0.6 miles per pixel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Heidi Becker, Juno’s radiation monitoring lead at JPL said, “The conditions in which we collected the dark side image of Ganymede were ideal for a low-light camera like our Stellar Reference Unit. So this is a different part of the surface than seen by JunoCam in direct sunlight. It will be fun to see what the two teams can piece together".</p>


The first close-ups of Jupiter’s largest moon have been provided by NASA’s Juno spacecraft for the first time in two decades. The images have been taken from Jupiter orbiter’s JunoCam imager and from its Stellar Reference Unit star camera.

The first close-ups of Jupiter’s largest moon have been provided by NASA’s Juno spacecraft for the first time in two decades. The images have been taken from Jupiter orbiter’s JunoCam imager and from its Stellar Reference Unit star camera. They show the surface in remarkable detail, including craters, clearly making a distinction in dark and bright terrain, and long structural features that can be linked to tectonic faults. Hello, old friend. Yesterday our #JunoMission made the first close flyby of Jupiter’s giant moon Ganymede in more than 20 years, and the first two images have been received on Earth. 📸 More to come. See details at: https://t.co/zIVMO6waKH pic.twitter.com/2RiW3iSmIp — NASA Solar System (@NASASolarSystem) June 8, 2021 × Juno Principal Investigator Scott Bolton of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio said, “This is the closest any spacecraft has come to this mammoth moon in a generation”. He added, “We are going to take our time before we draw any scientific conclusions, but until then we can simply marvel at this celestial wonder”. The spacecraft’s JunoCam visible-light imager used its green filter and captured almost an entire side of the water-ice-encrusted moon. Later, the imaging experts will be able to provide a colour portrait of Ganymede. Also read | 'We want to know': NASA hops on curiosity rover to understand 'unidentified aerial phenomena' This will be done when versions of the same image will come down incorporating the camera’s red and blue filters. The image resolution is about 0.6 miles per pixel. Heidi Becker, Juno’s radiation monitoring lead at JPL said, “The conditions in which we collected the dark side image of Ganymede were ideal for a low-light camera like our Stellar Reference Unit. So this is a different part of the surface than seen by JunoCam in direct sunlight. It will be fun to see what the two teams can piece together".

NASA’s Juno provides close-ups of Jupiter’s largest moon for the first time in decades

<p>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration&nbsp;(NASA)&nbsp;attempted&nbsp;another uncanny space experiment by&nbsp;sending creatures from Earth into space. With&nbsp;5,000 tardigrades and 128 glow-in-the-dark baby squids now in&nbsp;space, the agency hopes to better understand the cosmic secrets of life in space.</p>

<p>The creatures were dispatched to the International Space Station (ISS) as&nbsp;part of SpaceX’s 22nd cargo mission to the station. The tardigrades and baby squids were&nbsp;onboard a Falcon 9 rocket, taking off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.</p>

<p><strong>What's so special about tardigrades?</strong></p>

<p>Scientists hope to find answers to life in space through this experiment. Tardigrades are small creatures - only a millimetre long! Besides being tiny, the creatures are masters of survival in extremely tough conditions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even in the face of extreme radiation and pressure - the kind that would crush most living beings, the creatures can survive! Owing to this&nbsp;survival superpower, the creatures could help scientists pursue&nbsp;highly useful research&nbsp;aboard the space station. Scientists will attempt to decipher specific genes that allow the creature to survive in extreme natural surroundings.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Why squids that glow in the dark?</strong></p>

<p>Scientists also&nbsp;sent&nbsp;a species of baby squid known as bobtail (Euprymna scolopes) to the International Space Station. These have a special characteristic - the ability to glow in the dark!</p>

<p>Measuring just 3 millimetres long, the squids glow in the dark owing to an organ which produces light from within, receiving assistance from bioluminescent bacteria to glow when the lights go out. The most astonishing thing about this phenomena is that it’s not inbuilt - the bacteria that light the squids up are accumulated from the ocean over time.</p>

<p>Researchers inserted the bacteria into baby squids before they took off for space travels. By sending these two creatures in space, scientists hope to understand how microbes in space interact with animal tissue from Earth.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/bacteria-can-survive-cosmic-trip-international-space-station-study-323505" hreflang="en">Bacteria can survive cosmic trip: International Space Station study</a></p>


The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) attempted another uncanny space experiment by sending creatures from Earth into space. With 5,000 tardigrades and 128 glow-in-the-dark baby squids now in space, the agency hopes to better understand the cosmic secrets of life in space.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) attempted another uncanny space experiment by sending creatures from Earth into space. With 5,000 tardigrades and 128 glow-in-the-dark baby squids now in space, the agency hopes to better understand the cosmic secrets of life in space. The creatures were dispatched to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of SpaceX’s 22nd cargo mission to the station. The tardigrades and baby squids were onboard a Falcon 9 rocket, taking off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. What's so special about tardigrades? Scientists hope to find answers to life in space through this experiment. Tardigrades are small creatures - only a millimetre long! Besides being tiny, the creatures are masters of survival in extremely tough conditions. Even in the face of extreme radiation and pressure - the kind that would crush most living beings, the creatures can survive! Owing to this survival superpower, the creatures could help scientists pursue highly useful research aboard the space station. Scientists will attempt to decipher specific genes that allow the creature to survive in extreme natural surroundings. Why squids that glow in the dark? Scientists also sent a species of baby squid known as bobtail (Euprymna scolopes) to the International Space Station. These have a special characteristic - the ability to glow in the dark! Measuring just 3 millimetres long, the squids glow in the dark owing to an organ which produces light from within, receiving assistance from bioluminescent bacteria to glow when the lights go out. The most astonishing thing about this phenomena is that it’s not inbuilt - the bacteria that light the squids up are accumulated from the ocean over time. Researchers inserted the bacteria into baby squids before they took off for space travels. By sending these two creatures in space, scientists hope to understand how microbes in space interact with animal tissue from Earth. Also read: Bacteria can survive cosmic trip: International Space Station study

Why NASA recently sent bioluminescent baby squids, tardigrades into space

<p>Long thought to be an imagined offspring of science fiction novels and movies, UFOs are now the quintessential conspiracy theory favourite in the post-Covid era, especially in light of the recent revelations by United States.</p>

<p>Recently, officials in the US submitted a long-drawn report on UFOs spotted by government agencies to the Congress, which analysts believe does not not offer conclusive evidence. This came in after a series of leaked clips captured by military units across the States depicting strange objects flying at record speeds.</p>

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<p>Now, NASA has hopped on to the curiosity rover for UFOs. Bill Nelson, the chief of NASA has officially urged researchers to study and analyse the UFO sightings reported by US Navy pilots over the least 20 years.</p>

<p>During a conversation with CNN, Nelson said that he has urged scientists at NASA to look at UFOs from a “scientific standpoint” in order to “determine what these objects are”.</p>

<p>“The bottom line is… We want to know”, he told CNN. Pilot reports of strange UFO sightings were published in 2017 when Navy pilots claimed to have seen sophisticated aircraft performing maneuvres beyond the capabilities of tech available to humans.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://13.235.153.162/trending/no-evidence-mystery-ufos-seen-by-us-navy-are-alien-spacecraft-report-389432" hreflang="en">No evidence mystery UFOs seen by US Navy are alien spacecraft: Report</a></p>

<p>Soon, all hell broke loose! It was revealed that the US Department of Defense created the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) in 2007 to probe sightings of UFOs or UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena).</p>

<p>By 2012, AATIP was phased out. But the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) was set up in 2020, with the goal to “is to detect, analyze and catalog UAPs that could potentially pose a threat to US&nbsp;national security”.</p>

<p>Even though the fresh detailed report on UAPs isn't out yet, the New York Times seems to have seen some of it, for it announced that the US has found no evidence of alien technology, but hasn't ruled out the possibility either! Essentially, aliens may be visiting our planet on their sophisticated aircraft, but we simply don't know yet.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/leaked-radar-video-shows-ufos-swarming-us-navy-ship-off-california-coast-388185" hreflang="en">Leaked radar video shows UFOs swarming US Navy ship off California coast</a></p>


Long thought to be an imagined offspring of science fiction novels and movies, UFOs are now the quintessential conspiracy theory favourite in the post-Covid era, especially in light of the recent revelations by United States.

Long thought to be an imagined offspring of science fiction novels and movies, UFOs are now the quintessential conspiracy theory favourite in the post-Covid era, especially in light of the recent revelations by United States. Recently, officials in the US submitted a long-drawn report on UFOs spotted by government agencies to the Congress, which analysts believe does not not offer conclusive evidence. This came in after a series of leaked clips captured by military units across the States depicting strange objects flying at record speeds. Now, NASA has hopped on to the curiosity rover for UFOs. Bill Nelson, the chief of NASA has officially urged researchers to study and analyse the UFO sightings reported by US Navy pilots over the least 20 years. During a conversation with CNN, Nelson said that he has urged scientists at NASA to look at UFOs from a “scientific standpoint” in order to “determine what these objects are”. “The bottom line is… We want to know”, he told CNN. Pilot reports of strange UFO sightings were published in 2017 when Navy pilots claimed to have seen sophisticated aircraft performing maneuvres beyond the capabilities of tech available to humans. Also read: No evidence mystery UFOs seen by US Navy are alien spacecraft: Report Soon, all hell broke loose! It was revealed that the US Department of Defense created the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) in 2007 to probe sightings of UFOs or UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena). By 2012, AATIP was phased out. But the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) was set up in 2020, with the goal to “is to detect, analyze and catalog UAPs that could potentially pose a threat to US national security”. Even though the fresh detailed report on UAPs isn't out yet, the New York Times seems to have seen some of it, for it announced that the US has found no evidence of alien technology, but hasn't ruled out the possibility either! Essentially, aliens may be visiting our planet on their sophisticated aircraft, but we simply don't know yet. Also read: Leaked radar video shows UFOs swarming US Navy ship off California coast

'We want to know': NASA hops on curiosity rover to understand 'unidentified aerial phenomena'

<p>NASA&nbsp;announced two new missions to Venus on Wednesday that will launch at the end of the decade and are aimed at learning how Earth's nearest planetary neighbor became a hellscape while our own thrived.</p>

<p>"These two sister missions both aim to understand how Venus became an inferno-like world, capable of melting lead at the surface," said Bill Nelson, the agency's newly-confirmed administrator.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/why-nasa-is-sending-bioluminescent-baby-squids-tardigrades-into-space-on-june-3-389016">Why NASA is sending bioluminescent baby squids, tardigrades into space on June 3</a></strong></p>

<p>"They will offer the entire science community the chance to investigate a planet we haven't been to in more than 30 years."</p>

<p>The missions have been awarded about $500 million under&nbsp;NASA's Discovery Program, and each is expected to launch in the 2028-2030 timeframe.</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>Both missions were picked from a competitive, peer-reviewed process based on their scientific value and feasibility of their plans.</p>

<p>DAVINCI+, which stands for Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging, will gather more detail on the composition of Venus' primarily carbon dioxide atmosphere, to learn how it formed and evolved.</p>

<p>The mission also seeks to determine whether the planet once had an ocean.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-piece-of-space-debris-recently-damaged-the-international-space-station-388585">A piece of space debris recently damaged the International Space Station</a></strong></p>

<p>A descent sphere will plunge through the dense atmosphere which is laced with sulfuric acid clouds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It will precisely measure the levels of noble gases and other elements to learn what gave rise to the runaway greenhouse effect we see today.</p>

<p>DAVINCI+ will also beam back the first high resolution images of the planet's "tesserae," geological features roughly comparable with Earth's continents whose existence suggests Venus has plate tectonics.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-proposed-venus-mission-attracts-international-payload-proposals-344846">India's proposed Venus mission attracts international payload proposals</a></strong></p>

<p>The results could reshape scientists' understanding of terrestrial planet formation.</p>

<p>The other mission is called VERITAS, an acronym for Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy.</p>

<p>This will aim to map the Venusian surface from orbit and delve into the planet's geologic history.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-venus-a-russian-planet-the-countrys-space-agency-chief-seems-to-think-so-327958">Is Venus a 'Russian planet'? The country's space agency chief seems to think so!</a></strong></p>

<p>Using a form of radar that is used to create three-dimensional constructions, it will chart surface elevations and confirm whether volcanoes and earthquakes are still happening on the planet.</p>

<p>It will also use infrared scanning to determine rock type, which is largely unknown, and whether active volcanoes are releasing water vapor into the atmosphere.</p>

<p>While the mission is&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;led, the German Aerospace Center will provide the infrared mapper, while the Italian&nbsp;Space&nbsp;Agency and France's Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales will contribute to the radar and other parts of the mission.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-parker-solar-probe-sends-stunning-image-of-venus-and-its-terrain-367178"><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;NASA's Parker Solar Probe sends stunning image of Venus and its terrain</strong></a></p>

<p>"It is astounding how little we know about Venus, but the combined results of these missions will tell us about the planet from the clouds in its sky through the volcanoes on its surface all the way down to its very core," said Tom Wagner,&nbsp;NASA's Discovery Program scientist.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It will be as if we have rediscovered the planet."</p>

<p>NASA's last Venus orbiter was Magellan, which arrived in 1990, but other vessels have made fly-bys since then.</p>


NASA announced two new missions to Venus on Wednesday that will launch at the end of the decade and are aimed at learning how Earth's nearest planetary neighbor became a hellscape while our own thrived.

NASA announced two new missions to Venus on Wednesday that will launch at the end of the decade and are aimed at learning how Earth's nearest planetary neighbor became a hellscape while our own thrived. "These two sister missions both aim to understand how Venus became an inferno-like world, capable of melting lead at the surface," said Bill Nelson, the agency's newly-confirmed administrator. Also Read | Why NASA is sending bioluminescent baby squids, tardigrades into space on June 3 "They will offer the entire science community the chance to investigate a planet we haven't been to in more than 30 years." The missions have been awarded about $500 million under NASA's Discovery Program, and each is expected to launch in the 2028-2030 timeframe. Also Read | NASA's Curiosity Rover clicks rare shiny clouds on Mars Both missions were picked from a competitive, peer-reviewed process based on their scientific value and feasibility of their plans. DAVINCI+, which stands for Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging, will gather more detail on the composition of Venus' primarily carbon dioxide atmosphere, to learn how it formed and evolved. The mission also seeks to determine whether the planet once had an ocean. Also Read | A piece of space debris recently damaged the International Space Station A descent sphere will plunge through the dense atmosphere which is laced with sulfuric acid clouds. It will precisely measure the levels of noble gases and other elements to learn what gave rise to the runaway greenhouse effect we see today. DAVINCI+ will also beam back the first high resolution images of the planet's "tesserae," geological features roughly comparable with Earth's continents whose existence suggests Venus has plate tectonics. Also Read | India's proposed Venus mission attracts international payload proposals The results could reshape scientists' understanding of terrestrial planet formation. The other mission is called VERITAS, an acronym for Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy. This will aim to map the Venusian surface from orbit and delve into the planet's geologic history. Also Read | Is Venus a 'Russian planet'? The country's space agency chief seems to think so! Using a form of radar that is used to create three-dimensional constructions, it will chart surface elevations and confirm whether volcanoes and earthquakes are still happening on the planet. It will also use infrared scanning to determine rock type, which is largely unknown, and whether active volcanoes are releasing water vapor into the atmosphere. While the mission is NASA led, the German Aerospace Center will provide the infrared mapper, while the Italian Space Agency and France's Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales will contribute to the radar and other parts of the mission. Also Read | NASA's Parker Solar Probe sends stunning image of Venus and its terrain "It is astounding how little we know about Venus, but the combined results of these missions will tell us about the planet from the clouds in its sky through the volcanoes on its surface all the way down to its very core," said Tom Wagner, NASA's Discovery Program scientist. "It will be as if we have rediscovered the planet." NASA's last Venus orbiter was Magellan, which arrived in 1990, but other vessels have made fly-bys since then.

NASA announces two new missions to Venus

NASA has announced two new missions. NASA is sending two new missions to Venus in order to examine the planet's atmosphere and geological features.

<p>The universe is made up of fascinating structures. Stars, planets galaxies and so on. These mesmerising structures have captivated our imagination for millennia. But nebulas, the places where stars are actually born have their own fanbase among the Astro-fanatics.</p>

<p>One of the latest images posted by NASA has again drawn everyone's attention to these stellar factories.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA has posted image of Serpens (the serpent) on its Instagram page and it's sight to behold. NASA's Chandra X-Ray observatory has captured an image that shows thousands of spots of light, each representing an illuminated celestial body. In the middle of it all is 'the Serpent'.</p>

<p>The structure gets the name because its middle resembles coils of a snake and on closer observation, we can even see 'head' and 'tail' of the snake.</p>

<p>What's more, we can also see stars that are actually forming inside the Serpens!.</p>

<p>"#Today Chandra is gazing at a galaxy in Serpens, the Serpent. Nearby in the sky the Serpens Cloud Core sparkles with the light of a multitude of stellar hatchlings in the early stages of star development. Located just 750 light years from Earth, this is one of the youngest collections of stars seen in our #galaxy," says NASA in the post</p>

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<p>Trust NASA to post pics that go viral. At the time of publishing this story, the photo had been liked by more than 16,000 users.</p>


The universe is made up of fascinating structures. Stars, planets galaxies and so on. These mesmerising structures have captivated our imagination for millennia.

The universe is made up of fascinating structures. Stars, planets galaxies and so on. These mesmerising structures have captivated our imagination for millennia. But nebulas, the places where stars are actually born have their own fanbase among the Astro-fanatics. One of the latest images posted by NASA has again drawn everyone's attention to these stellar factories. NASA has posted image of Serpens (the serpent) on its Instagram page and it's sight to behold. NASA's Chandra X-Ray observatory has captured an image that shows thousands of spots of light, each representing an illuminated celestial body. In the middle of it all is 'the Serpent'. The structure gets the name because its middle resembles coils of a snake and on closer observation, we can even see 'head' and 'tail' of the snake. What's more, we can also see stars that are actually forming inside the Serpens!. "#Today Chandra is gazing at a galaxy in Serpens, the Serpent. Nearby in the sky the Serpens Cloud Core sparkles with the light of a multitude of stellar hatchlings in the early stages of star development. Located just 750 light years from Earth, this is one of the youngest collections of stars seen in our #galaxy," says NASA in the post View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA Chandra X-ray Observatory (@nasachandraxray) × Trust NASA to post pics that go viral. At the time of publishing this story, the photo had been liked by more than 16,000 users.

NASA posts photo of serpent-shaped cloud that forms stars

<p>Clouds are an everyday matter here on Earth. There are times we glance at the sky and imagine all sorts of shapes in those ever-changing patterns of vapour. But most of the time we are too busy in our daily lives to even take a second to look up and marvel the beauty of the sky.</p>

<p>We don't realise how lucky we are because our planet has clouds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But now NASA's Curiosity rover has captured some brilliant images and videos of clouds in the Martian sky!</p>

<p>Mars has an atmosphere yes. But it is too thin and dry to enable cloud formation on regular basis. And that's why formation of clouds in Martian atmosphere is a rare thing itself.</p>

<p>"Sometimes you just need to stop and watch the clouds roll by... on Mars. Cloudy days are rare here because the atmosphere is so thin and dry, but I've been keeping my cameras peeled and wanted to share some recent pictures with you," tweeted the rover's official Twitter handle, thus starting an incredible thread. Check this out</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sometimes you just need to stop and watch the clouds roll by... on Mars.<br />
<br />
Cloudy days are rare here because the atmosphere is so thin and dry, but I've been keeping my cameras peeled and wanted to share some recent pictures with you. <a href="https://t.co/Gtgz9Iu822">https://t.co/Gtgz9Iu822</a> (1/4) <a href="https://t.co/iJOLmnXMVo">pic.twitter.com/iJOLmnXMVo</a></p>
— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarsCuriosity/status/1398336271106281472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>Thousands of likes on the post is enough to say that people have found the images and videos in the thread above absolutely mesmerising!</p>

<p>There are many many comments and Curiosity Rover's handle took time to answer some of the questions and reply to some of the comments.</p>

<p>"Sometimes I forget there's a little robot rolling around alone on Mars," tweeted a user.</p>

<p>The rover said, "I'm alone here in Gale Crater, but I'm not lonely. I get to talk to all my friends and teammates back on Earth through the Deep Space Network..."</p>

<p>Mars has long captivated human imagination. Across millennia, the red planet has gone from being a mythical God of War to a probable place to find life.</p>

<p>And from what Curiosity rover has captured, the planet still has some secrets up its sleeve.</p>


Clouds are an everyday matter here on Earth. There are times we glance at the sky and imagine all sorts of shapes in those ever-changing patterns of vapour. But most of the time we are too busy in our daily lives to even take a second to look up and marvel the beauty of the sky.

Clouds are an everyday matter here on Earth. There are times we glance at the sky and imagine all sorts of shapes in those ever-changing patterns of vapour. But most of the time we are too busy in our daily lives to even take a second to look up and marvel the beauty of the sky. We don't realise how lucky we are because our planet has clouds. But now NASA's Curiosity rover has captured some brilliant images and videos of clouds in the Martian sky! Mars has an atmosphere yes. But it is too thin and dry to enable cloud formation on regular basis. And that's why formation of clouds in Martian atmosphere is a rare thing itself. "Sometimes you just need to stop and watch the clouds roll by... on Mars. Cloudy days are rare here because the atmosphere is so thin and dry, but I've been keeping my cameras peeled and wanted to share some recent pictures with you," tweeted the rover's official Twitter handle, thus starting an incredible thread. Check this out Sometimes you just need to stop and watch the clouds roll by... on Mars. Cloudy days are rare here because the atmosphere is so thin and dry, but I've been keeping my cameras peeled and wanted to share some recent pictures with you. https://t.co/Gtgz9Iu822 (1/4) pic.twitter.com/iJOLmnXMVo — Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) May 28, 2021 × Thousands of likes on the post is enough to say that people have found the images and videos in the thread above absolutely mesmerising! There are many many comments and Curiosity Rover's handle took time to answer some of the questions and reply to some of the comments. "Sometimes I forget there's a little robot rolling around alone on Mars," tweeted a user. The rover said, "I'm alone here in Gale Crater, but I'm not lonely. I get to talk to all my friends and teammates back on Earth through the Deep Space Network..." Mars has long captivated human imagination. Across millennia, the red planet has gone from being a mythical God of War to a probable place to find life. And from what Curiosity rover has captured, the planet still has some secrets up its sleeve.

NASA's Curiosity Rover clicks rare shiny clouds on Mars

<p>Amid reports US officials spied on politicians in Europe with the covert help of <strong>Danish intelligence</strong>, France said the allegations&nbsp;were&nbsp; "extremely serious" and&nbsp;it will find out whether "our partners in the EU, the Danes, have committed errors".</p>

<p>Media reports on Sunday had said that US intelligence agencies had spied on European politicians including German Chancellor <strong>Angela Merkel</strong> from 2012 to 2014 with the help of Danish intelligence by tapping into phone conversations and reportedly had access to text messages.</p>

<p><strong>Europe</strong> minister Clement Beaune told a local channel that there needed to "trust" between allies and "minimal cooperation" concluding that the "potential facts are serious".</p>

<p>Danish state broadcaster DR had reported that the US <strong>National Security Agency(NSA) </strong>had a partnership with Denmark's foreign intelligence unit with which it spied on politicians in Europe.</p>

<p>The NSA allegedly used Danish information cables to spy on the politicians including former German opposition leader Peer Steinbrück and former German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.</p>

<p>The NSA had reportedly developed software called&nbsp;<strong>Xkeyscore</strong> with which it intercepted calls and texts of top officials in Europe.</p>

<p>Swedish defence minister has demanded an inquiry into the spying incident and the Norwegian defence minister Frank Bakke-Jensen said they took the allegations seriously.</p>

<p>According to the report, under "Operation Dunhammer" the US gathered information on officials from Sweden and Norway as well, including intelligence about French officials.</p>

<p>At around the same time, in 2013, whistleblower <strong>Edward Snowden</strong> had leaked NSA files and had escaped from the United States as the Obama administration launched an investigation. He was later given asylum in Putin's Russia.</p>

<p>The documents posted by Snowden at the time had revealed that the US government was spying on its own citizens and had in fact tapped phones of politicians including German Chancellor Angela Merkel.</p>

<p><em>(With Agency inputs)</em></p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Amid reports US officials spied on politicians in Europe with the covert help of Danish intelligence, France said the allegations were "extremely serious" and it will find out whether "our partners in the EU, the Danes, have committed errors".

Amid reports US officials spied on politicians in Europe with the covert help of Danish intelligence, France said the allegations were "extremely serious" and it will find out whether "our partners in the EU, the Danes, have committed errors". Media reports on Sunday had said that US intelligence agencies had spied on European politicians including German Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2012 to 2014 with the help of Danish intelligence by tapping into phone conversations and reportedly had access to text messages. Europe minister Clement Beaune told a local channel that there needed to "trust" between allies and "minimal cooperation" concluding that the "potential facts are serious". Danish state broadcaster DR had reported that the US National Security Agency(NSA) had a partnership with Denmark's foreign intelligence unit with which it spied on politicians in Europe. The NSA allegedly used Danish information cables to spy on the politicians including former German opposition leader Peer Steinbrück and former German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The NSA had reportedly developed software called Xkeyscore with which it intercepted calls and texts of top officials in Europe. Swedish defence minister has demanded an inquiry into the spying incident and the Norwegian defence minister Frank Bakke-Jensen said they took the allegations seriously. According to the report, under "Operation Dunhammer" the US gathered information on officials from Sweden and Norway as well, including intelligence about French officials. At around the same time, in 2013, whistleblower Edward Snowden had leaked NSA files and had escaped from the United States as the Obama administration launched an investigation. He was later given asylum in Putin's Russia. The documents posted by Snowden at the time had revealed that the US government was spying on its own citizens and had in fact tapped phones of politicians including German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (With Agency inputs)

Extremely serious, says France amid US NSA-Denmark spying row

<p>The&nbsp;Ingenuity Mars helicopter survived a mishap during its sixth flight on NASA's Perseverance Mission.</p>

<p>For NASA, the challenge was powering an aircraft in the ultra-thin air of Mars, whose atmosphere is just 1 per cent&nbsp;as dense as Earth's, making it especially difficult to generate aerodynamic lift. To compensate engineers equipped Ingenuity with rotor blades that are larger and spin far more rapidly than would be needed on Earth.</p>

<p>Ingenuity was commanded to climb to an altitude of 33 feet (10 meters) before translating 492 feet (150 meters) to the southwest at a ground speed of 9 mph (4 meters per second). At that point, it was to translate 49 feet (15 meters) to the south while taking images toward the west, then fly another 164 feet (50 meters) northeast and land.</p>

<p>Telemetry from Flight Six shows that the first 150-meter leg of the flight went off without a hitch. But toward the end of that leg, something happened: Ingenuity began adjusting its velocity and tilting back and forth in an oscillating pattern. This behavior persisted throughout the rest of the flight. Prior to landing safely, onboard sensors indicated the rotorcraft encountered roll and pitch excursions of more than 20 degrees, large control inputs, and spikes in power consumption.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-11">Except for a computer software glitch that has twice delayed Ingenuity flights, the rotorcraft&nbsp;operated flawlessly, meeting all technical objectives in its first three flights on Mars, said MiMi Aung, Ingenuity project manager at JPL.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-4">Data returned from Ingenuity&nbsp;showed that it covered a round-trip distance of 872 feet (266 meters) - roughly the length of three American football fields - at a speed of almost 8 miles per hour (3.5 meters per second).</p>

<p>The miniature helicopter hitched a ride to Mars strapped to the belly of the NASA science rover Perseverance, a six-wheeled astrobiology lab that landed on February&nbsp;18 in a vast basin called Jezero Crater after a nearly seven-month journey through space.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-13">On its latest jaunt, Ingenuity snapped 60 black-and-white images and several color photos of the Martian surface while buzzing over the planet's reddish-orange landscape.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-14">The pictures will be fashioned into three-dimensional digital elevation maps for use in selecting a suitable new takeoff and landing zone for later flights.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-15">Similar tracking operations could also be used to help mission managers conduct low-altitude science observations of sites not easily reached by a rover, and to scout for preferred rover routes to various surface destinations.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-17">Meanwhile, JPL will continue preparing Perseverance for its primary mission, a search for traces of fossilized microorganisms in Jezero Crater. Scientists expect to begin collecting Martian rock samples there in July.</p>


The Ingenuity Mars helicopter survived a mishap during its sixth flight on NASA's Perseverance Mission. For NASA, the challenge was powering an aircraft in the ultra-thin air of Mars, whose atmosphere is just 1 per cent as dense as Earth's, making it especially difficult to generate aerodynamic lift.

The Ingenuity Mars helicopter survived a mishap during its sixth flight on NASA's Perseverance Mission. For NASA, the challenge was powering an aircraft in the ultra-thin air of Mars, whose atmosphere is just 1 per cent as dense as Earth's, making it especially difficult to generate aerodynamic lift. To compensate engineers equipped Ingenuity with rotor blades that are larger and spin far more rapidly than would be needed on Earth. Ingenuity was commanded to climb to an altitude of 33 feet (10 meters) before translating 492 feet (150 meters) to the southwest at a ground speed of 9 mph (4 meters per second). At that point, it was to translate 49 feet (15 meters) to the south while taking images toward the west, then fly another 164 feet (50 meters) northeast and land. Telemetry from Flight Six shows that the first 150-meter leg of the flight went off without a hitch. But toward the end of that leg, something happened: Ingenuity began adjusting its velocity and tilting back and forth in an oscillating pattern. This behavior persisted throughout the rest of the flight. Prior to landing safely, onboard sensors indicated the rotorcraft encountered roll and pitch excursions of more than 20 degrees, large control inputs, and spikes in power consumption. Except for a computer software glitch that has twice delayed Ingenuity flights, the rotorcraft operated flawlessly, meeting all technical objectives in its first three flights on Mars, said MiMi Aung, Ingenuity project manager at JPL. Data returned from Ingenuity showed that it covered a round-trip distance of 872 feet (266 meters) - roughly the length of three American football fields - at a speed of almost 8 miles per hour (3.5 meters per second). The miniature helicopter hitched a ride to Mars strapped to the belly of the NASA science rover Perseverance, a six-wheeled astrobiology lab that landed on February 18 in a vast basin called Jezero Crater after a nearly seven-month journey through space. On its latest jaunt, Ingenuity snapped 60 black-and-white images and several color photos of the Martian surface while buzzing over the planet's reddish-orange landscape. The pictures will be fashioned into three-dimensional digital elevation maps for use in selecting a suitable new takeoff and landing zone for later flights. Similar tracking operations could also be used to help mission managers conduct low-altitude science observations of sites not easily reached by a rover, and to scout for preferred rover routes to various surface destinations. Meanwhile, JPL will continue preparing Perseverance for its primary mission, a search for traces of fossilized microorganisms in Jezero Crater. Scientists expect to begin collecting Martian rock samples there in July.

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter survives unexpected flight anomaly on Mars

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