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.

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.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hubble-space-telescope-beams-back-mesmerising-image-of-a-nebula-370330">Also Read |&nbsp;Hubble Space Telescope beams back mesmerising image of a nebula!</a>

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.

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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. <a href="https://t.co/qEmIUQCtuX">https://t.co/qEmIUQCtuX</a>
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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&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.

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.

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

Spacewalking astronauts ventured out on&nbsp;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&nbsp;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.

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

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&nbsp;east and 2.65 degrees&nbsp;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'&nbsp;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)

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 

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.

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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>
— 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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&nbsp;

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.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/we-want-to-know-nasa-hops-on-curiosity-rover-for-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-389740">Also read | 'We want to know': NASA hops on curiosity rover to understand 'unidentified aerial phenomena'</a> 
 
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;

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".

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

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.

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.

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.&nbsp;

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;

Why squids that glow in the dark?

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!

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:&nbsp;<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>

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

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.

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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:&nbsp;<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>

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&nbsp;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:&nbsp;<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>

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'

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.

"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 |&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>

"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&nbsp;NASA's Discovery Program, and each is expected to launch in the 2028-2030 timeframe.

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>

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 |&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>

A descent sphere will plunge through the dense atmosphere which is laced with sulfuric acid clouds.&nbsp;

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 |&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>

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 |&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>

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&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.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-parker-solar-probe-sends-stunning-image-of-venus-and-its-terrain-367178">Also Read |&nbsp;NASA's Parker Solar Probe sends stunning image of Venus and its terrain</a>

"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;

"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 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.

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.&nbsp;

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

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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.

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

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.&nbsp;

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

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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. <a href="https://t.co/Gtgz9Iu822">https://t.co/Gtgz9Iu822</a> (1/4) <a href="https://t.co/iJOLmnXMVo">pic.twitter.com/iJOLmnXMVo</a>
— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarsCuriosity/status/1398336271106281472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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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.

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

Amid reports US officials spied on politicians in Europe with the covert help of Danish intelligence, 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".

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&nbsp;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)

 
&nbsp;

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

The&nbsp;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&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.

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&nbsp;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&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).

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.

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.

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

Canadian Industry Minister&nbsp;Francois-Philippe Champagne has announced that the country&nbsp;will land a robotic rover on the Moon by 2026.

Announcing that Ottawa plans to "dream big" as it advances its competitive stake in the growing global space market,&nbsp;Champagne said&nbsp;"As the whole world looks to the stars we are ready to make Canada a world leader in research, technology and innovation so that we can be there as well."

"Let's seize the moment. I don't think there's ever been a better time to be Canadian, and dream big."

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will partner with the United States' NASA on the mission, according to a statement.

Two Canadian companies will first be selected to develop concepts for the rover and&nbsp;science&nbsp;instruments for the mission.

The rover will be tasked with exploring a polar region of the Moon and carrying out scientific work, as well as taking images and collecting data on the surface.

In the meantime, a Canadian astronaut is set to take part in a lunar mission for the first time in 2023, as part of the NASA-led Artemis project, it was announced in December.

The mission, Artemis II, will see a crewed test flight sent into orbit but will not involve an actual landing on the Moon, according to the US space agency.

The following year, Artemis III aims to land astronauts, including the first woman, on the Moon. This will be the first landing since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Ottawa has invested Can$36.5 million (US$30 million) over the past year to advance lunar and space technologies including micro-rovers, and to build a third-generation robotic arm dubbed Canadarm3. Its predecessors were deployed on space shuttles and the International Space Station to stickhandle payloads.

A total of Can$2 billion has been earmarked for the Canadian space program over the next two decades.

The global space market, the government said, is expected to triple to Can$1.1 trillion. Canada currently has a 1.3 percent share of this market.

In a sign of the industry's global growth, an unmanned rover from the United Arab Emirates, a hitherto space minnow, will be transported to the Moon next year, lunar exploration firm iSpace announced in April.

(With inputs from agencies)

Canadian Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne has announced that the country will land a robotic rover on the Moon by 2026. Announcing that Ottawa plans to "dream big" as it advances its competitive stake in the growing global space market, Champagne said "As the whole world looks to the stars we are ready to make Canada a world leader in research, technology and innovation so that we can be there as well.

Canadian Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne has announced that the country will land a robotic rover on the Moon by 2026. Announcing that Ottawa plans to "dream big" as it advances its competitive stake in the growing global space market, Champagne said "As the whole world looks to the stars we are ready to make Canada a world leader in research, technology and innovation so that we can be there as well." "Let's seize the moment. I don't think there's ever been a better time to be Canadian, and dream big." The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will partner with the United States' NASA on the mission, according to a statement. Two Canadian companies will first be selected to develop concepts for the rover and science instruments for the mission. The rover will be tasked with exploring a polar region of the Moon and carrying out scientific work, as well as taking images and collecting data on the surface. In the meantime, a Canadian astronaut is set to take part in a lunar mission for the first time in 2023, as part of the NASA-led Artemis project, it was announced in December. The mission, Artemis II, will see a crewed test flight sent into orbit but will not involve an actual landing on the Moon, according to the US space agency. The following year, Artemis III aims to land astronauts, including the first woman, on the Moon. This will be the first landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. Ottawa has invested Can$36.5 million (US$30 million) over the past year to advance lunar and space technologies including micro-rovers, and to build a third-generation robotic arm dubbed Canadarm3. Its predecessors were deployed on space shuttles and the International Space Station to stickhandle payloads. A total of Can$2 billion has been earmarked for the Canadian space program over the next two decades. The global space market, the government said, is expected to triple to Can$1.1 trillion. Canada currently has a 1.3 percent share of this market. In a sign of the industry's global growth, an unmanned rover from the United Arab Emirates, a hitherto space minnow, will be transported to the Moon next year, lunar exploration firm iSpace announced in April. (With inputs from agencies)

'Dream big': Canada teams up with NASA to send rover to Moon

US&nbsp;firms General Motors (GM) and Lockheed Martin Corp will develop a vehicle to drive NASA astronauts around on the moon's surface, they said on Wednesday, competing for a space project that could also promote their brands on earth.

GM and Lockheed said they would collaborate to make a battery-powered, autonomous Lunar Terrain Vehicle for NASA's Artemis lunar landing program, which aims to return US&nbsp;astronauts to the moon as early as 2024.

NASA is expected to launch a competition to develop lunar vehicles in its Artemis moon landing program. The agency has outlined plans for a variety of lunar vehicles that can carry human explorers, haul commercial payloads or traverse remote regions of the moon on missions lasting as long as 100 days.

Elon Musk's rocket launch company, SpaceX, won a $2.9 billion contract last month to build the spacecraft to carry NASA astronauts to the moon. That award is being challenged by Jeff Bezos' BlueOrigin and defense contractor Dynetics Inc.

Lockheed and GM have a history in space. Lockheed has worked on NASA space projects for 50 years and GM helped develop the original NASA lunar rover, which ferried NASA astronauts on the surface of the moon in the early 1970s.

For GM, getting back into the space business offers a fresh way to compete with Musk's Tesla Inc and SpaceX for the attention of investors, customers and future employees.

Musk has used SpaceX to promote Tesla's electric vehicles, including launching a Tesla Roadster into deep space.

Lockheed and GM said their proposed lunar vehicle would use GM battery technology to travel "significantly farther distances" than the Apollo mission vehicles, which ventured just 4.7 miles from the landers.

One goal for the new vehicle is to allow for exploration of the Moon's dark, rugged south pole, and other areas humans have not gone before, GM and Lockheed said.

GM and Lockheed said their vehicle would be designed to provide "commercial payload services" and prepare for human landings.

US firms General Motors (GM) and Lockheed Martin Corp will develop a vehicle to drive NASA astronauts around on the moon's surface, they said on Wednesday, competing for a space project that could also promote their brands on earth.

US firms General Motors (GM) and Lockheed Martin Corp will develop a vehicle to drive NASA astronauts around on the moon's surface, they said on Wednesday, competing for a space project that could also promote their brands on earth. GM and Lockheed said they would collaborate to make a battery-powered, autonomous Lunar Terrain Vehicle for NASA's Artemis lunar landing program, which aims to return US astronauts to the moon as early as 2024. NASA is expected to launch a competition to develop lunar vehicles in its Artemis moon landing program. The agency has outlined plans for a variety of lunar vehicles that can carry human explorers, haul commercial payloads or traverse remote regions of the moon on missions lasting as long as 100 days. Elon Musk's rocket launch company, SpaceX, won a $2.9 billion contract last month to build the spacecraft to carry NASA astronauts to the moon. That award is being challenged by Jeff Bezos' BlueOrigin and defense contractor Dynetics Inc. Lockheed and GM have a history in space. Lockheed has worked on NASA space projects for 50 years and GM helped develop the original NASA lunar rover, which ferried NASA astronauts on the surface of the moon in the early 1970s. For GM, getting back into the space business offers a fresh way to compete with Musk's Tesla Inc and SpaceX for the attention of investors, customers and future employees. Musk has used SpaceX to promote Tesla's electric vehicles, including launching a Tesla Roadster into deep space. Lockheed and GM said their proposed lunar vehicle would use GM battery technology to travel "significantly farther distances" than the Apollo mission vehicles, which ventured just 4.7 miles from the landers. One goal for the new vehicle is to allow for exploration of the Moon's dark, rugged south pole, and other areas humans have not gone before, GM and Lockheed said. GM and Lockheed said their vehicle would be designed to provide "commercial payload services" and prepare for human landings.

General Motors and Lockheed Martin Corp team up for NASA's lunar rover venture

Mars is the future of humanity, or so the route of space explorations currently being undertaken by agencies around the world would have you believe. As private players like SpaceX join the big leagues of space exploration, competition could trigger quick developments in the industry.&nbsp;

A scientist from Cornell University recently wrote for BBC on how humans may have accidentally taken life to Mars. The scientist wondered how humans may have&nbsp;carried microbes into space, which may have survived the trip to make their new home on the Red Planet.

According to Christopher Mason, any life consequentially discovered on Mars may have originated in NASA labs. Even then, the author noted how NASA follows on-site cleaning procedures and assembles spacecraft in specialised rooms.

NASA’s spacecraft including the Perseverance Rover are built in sterilised rooms and each component is cleaned before assembly. Mason says that this should theoretically ensure that no bacteria or organisms are able to survive the assembly process.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/mars-sucks-people-troll-elon-musks-idea-of-space-colonisation-379864" hreflang="en">'Mars sucks!' People troll Elon Musk's idea of space colonisation</a>

The filtration process, in addition provides an extra layer of protection so that only a “few hundred particles” may be able to contaminate each square foot. But, even that may not enough. Microbes, as Mason puts, have a tendency to survive in the least expected places. They are found inside our bodies and may sneak through the most sophisticated of cleaning processes in the world.

In the BBC piece, Mason referred to his theoretical research to show that microbes may become a problem during space missions, as they contain genes that may be able to resist radiation and cold environments. In fact, Mason offers an argument for natural selection, saying that the microbes that are able to survive the strictest cleaning processes may have a greater chance to survive the journey to Mars.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/eyeing-mars-elon-musk-wants-humans-to-be-multi-planet-species-379777" hreflang="en">Eyeing Mars, Elon Musk wants humans to be 'multi-planet species'</a>

“Forward contamination” may be inadvertent, Mason notes. This happens when travellers intentionally or unintentionally take something from one planet to another. He adds that a scientific point of view, this is undesirable and new organisms may wreak havoc if introduced in alien ecosystems.

Even then, not all of lost! If current signs of life did in fact originate on Earth and not Mars, scientists will be able to ascertain the same.

Mars is the future of humanity, or so the route of space explorations currently being undertaken by agencies around the world would have you believe. As private players like SpaceX join the big leagues of space exploration, competition could trigger quick developments in the industry.

Mars is the future of humanity, or so the route of space explorations currently being undertaken by agencies around the world would have you believe. As private players like SpaceX join the big leagues of space exploration, competition could trigger quick developments in the industry. A scientist from Cornell University recently wrote for BBC on how humans may have accidentally taken life to Mars. The scientist wondered how humans may have carried microbes into space, which may have survived the trip to make their new home on the Red Planet. According to Christopher Mason, any life consequentially discovered on Mars may have originated in NASA labs. Even then, the author noted how NASA follows on-site cleaning procedures and assembles spacecraft in specialised rooms. NASA’s spacecraft including the Perseverance Rover are built in sterilised rooms and each component is cleaned before assembly. Mason says that this should theoretically ensure that no bacteria or organisms are able to survive the assembly process. Also read: 'Mars sucks!' People troll Elon Musk's idea of space colonisation The filtration process, in addition provides an extra layer of protection so that only a “few hundred particles” may be able to contaminate each square foot. But, even that may not enough. Microbes, as Mason puts, have a tendency to survive in the least expected places. They are found inside our bodies and may sneak through the most sophisticated of cleaning processes in the world. In the BBC piece, Mason referred to his theoretical research to show that microbes may become a problem during space missions, as they contain genes that may be able to resist radiation and cold environments. In fact, Mason offers an argument for natural selection, saying that the microbes that are able to survive the strictest cleaning processes may have a greater chance to survive the journey to Mars. Also read: Eyeing Mars, Elon Musk wants humans to be 'multi-planet species' “Forward contamination” may be inadvertent, Mason notes. This happens when travellers intentionally or unintentionally take something from one planet to another. He adds that a scientific point of view, this is undesirable and new organisms may wreak havoc if introduced in alien ecosystems. Even then, not all of lost! If current signs of life did in fact originate on Earth and not Mars, scientists will be able to ascertain the same.

Did NASA accidentally create life on Mars? Here's how it may have happened

Russia&nbsp;said Thursday it would send an actress and a director to space to make the first feature film in the cosmos.

Moscow is seeking to boost its embattled space programme, which has stagnated since the Soviet Union under corruption and been overtaken by US tech billionaire Elon Musk's company SpaceX.

The Russian space agency announced the film project Thursday after NASA confirmed last year it was teaming up with US actor Tom Cruise to make a movie on the ISS.

The Russian "space drama", whose working title is "Challenge," will feature popular Russian actress&nbsp;Yulia Peresild, 36, and Klim Shipenko, a 37-year-old director and actor, Roscosmos said.

They will have to undergo training, including tests on a centrifuge and flights in zero gravity, starting no later than June 1.

The film is being co-produced by the flamboyant head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, and state-run network Channel One.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/japanese-billionaire-entrepreneur-yusaku-maezawa-to-travel-to-international-space-station-384793" hreflang="en">Japanese billionaire entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa to travel to International Space Station</a>

The space agency also announced plans to take Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to the ISS in December, resurecting its space tourism programme in the face of US competition.

Maezawa, 45, who made his fortune in online retail, said he planned to document the mission and share it with the world on his YouTube channel with over 700,000 subscribers.

Roscosmos said Maezawa would make the flight from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with production assistant Yozo Hirano aboard a Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft that is scheduled for December 8.

"I'm so curious 'What's life like in space?' So, I am planning to find out on my own and share with the world on my YouTube channel," Maezawa was quoted as saying by Roscosmos.

The eccentric billionaire has previously announced plans to take eight people with him on a 2023 mission around the moon aboard a Starship spacecraft built by Musk's SpaceX.

Maezawa and film producer Hirano will begin approximately three months of pre-flight training in June at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City outside of Moscow, Roscosmos added.

They have already passed the required medical examinations, it said.

Roscosmos said the flight will last 12 days and the crew will be led by Cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, who has already been on two missions to the ISS.

A total of eight private self-funded space travellers have visited the ISS and Maezawa will be the first from Japan.

His flight will also be the first time that two of the three spots on a Soyuz space rocket will be occupied by tourists.

"We are excited for Maezawa-san and we are honoured to have enabled this opportunity for him to fly to space," said Eric Anderson, CEO of Space Adventures, a private spaceflight company.

It has cooperated with Roscosmos since the first space tourist flight in 2001.&nbsp;

Maezawa will be the first space tourist to travel to the ISS since 2009 when Canadian Guy Laliberte, co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, travelled to the station.

According to Forbes magazine, space tourists could pay anywhere between $20 million and $35 million per person for 8-12 days in space.&nbsp;The cost of Maezawa's flight has not been disclosed.

The resumption of tourist flights comes after Roscosmos lost its monopoly on ferrying crews to the ISS when a reusable SpaceX rocket last year successfully delivered NASA astronauts to space.

Russia's space industry has suffered a number of setbacks in recent years, from corruption scandals to lost spacecraft to an aborted take-off during a manned mission in 2018.

Russia's ageing Soyuz rockets are reliable and allow Moscow to remain relevant in the modern space industry, but the country is struggling to innovate and keep up with other key players.&nbsp;

Russia&nbsp;launched the first artificial satellite on October 4, 1957. The Soviets maintained their lead in the initial years of the race.&nbsp;

They boasted the first manned flight to space by Gagarin on April 12, 1961, the first spacewalk four years later by Alexei Leonov and the first lunar probe in 1966. But the United States beat them to the moon with the first manned landing in 1969.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia said Thursday it would send an actress and a director to space to make the first feature film in the cosmos. Moscow is seeking to boost its embattled space programme, which has stagnated since the Soviet Union under corruption and been overtaken by US tech billionaire Elon Musk's company SpaceX.

Russia said Thursday it would send an actress and a director to space to make the first feature film in the cosmos. Moscow is seeking to boost its embattled space programme, which has stagnated since the Soviet Union under corruption and been overtaken by US tech billionaire Elon Musk's company SpaceX. The Russian space agency announced the film project Thursday after NASA confirmed last year it was teaming up with US actor Tom Cruise to make a movie on the ISS. The Russian "space drama", whose working title is "Challenge," will feature popular Russian actress Yulia Peresild, 36, and Klim Shipenko, a 37-year-old director and actor, Roscosmos said. They will have to undergo training, including tests on a centrifuge and flights in zero gravity, starting no later than June 1. The film is being co-produced by the flamboyant head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, and state-run network Channel One. Also read| Japanese billionaire entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa to travel to International Space Station The space agency also announced plans to take Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to the ISS in December, resurecting its space tourism programme in the face of US competition. Maezawa, 45, who made his fortune in online retail, said he planned to document the mission and share it with the world on his YouTube channel with over 700,000 subscribers. Roscosmos said Maezawa would make the flight from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with production assistant Yozo Hirano aboard a Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft that is scheduled for December 8. "I'm so curious 'What's life like in space?' So, I am planning to find out on my own and share with the world on my YouTube channel," Maezawa was quoted as saying by Roscosmos. The eccentric billionaire has previously announced plans to take eight people with him on a 2023 mission around the moon aboard a Starship spacecraft built by Musk's SpaceX. Maezawa and film producer Hirano will begin approximately three months of pre-flight training in June at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City outside of Moscow, Roscosmos added. They have already passed the required medical examinations, it said. Roscosmos said the flight will last 12 days and the crew will be led by Cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, who has already been on two missions to the ISS. A total of eight private self-funded space travellers have visited the ISS and Maezawa will be the first from Japan. His flight will also be the first time that two of the three spots on a Soyuz space rocket will be occupied by tourists. "We are excited for Maezawa-san and we are honoured to have enabled this opportunity for him to fly to space," said Eric Anderson, CEO of Space Adventures, a private spaceflight company. It has cooperated with Roscosmos since the first space tourist flight in 2001. Maezawa will be the first space tourist to travel to the ISS since 2009 when Canadian Guy Laliberte, co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, travelled to the station. According to Forbes magazine, space tourists could pay anywhere between $20 million and $35 million per person for 8-12 days in space. The cost of Maezawa's flight has not been disclosed. The resumption of tourist flights comes after Roscosmos lost its monopoly on ferrying crews to the ISS when a reusable SpaceX rocket last year successfully delivered NASA astronauts to space. Russia's space industry has suffered a number of setbacks in recent years, from corruption scandals to lost spacecraft to an aborted take-off during a manned mission in 2018. Russia's ageing Soyuz rockets are reliable and allow Moscow to remain relevant in the modern space industry, but the country is struggling to innovate and keep up with other key players. Russia launched the first artificial satellite on October 4, 1957. The Soviets maintained their lead in the initial years of the race. They boasted the first manned flight to space by Gagarin on April 12, 1961, the first spacewalk four years later by Alexei Leonov and the first lunar probe in 1966. But the United States beat them to the moon with the first manned landing in 1969. (With inputs from agencies)

Roscosmos to send film crew to space for first feature film

The world's largest and most powerful&nbsp;space&nbsp;telescope&nbsp;unfolded its&nbsp;giant&nbsp;golden mirror for the last time on Earth on Tuesday, a&nbsp;key&nbsp;milestone before the $10 billion observatory is launched later this year.

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.

"It's like building 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," said Scott Willoughby of lead contractor Northrop Grumman.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-shares-image-of-nearly-5-billion-year-old-asteroid-crossing-the-earth-384509">NASA shares image of nearly 5-billion-year-old asteroid crossing the Earth</a>

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.

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&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.

Together, the mirrors will function as one massive reflector, to enable the&nbsp;telescope&nbsp;to peer deeper into the cosmos than ever before.

Time machine

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.

To do this, they need to detect infrared. The current premier&nbsp;space&nbsp;telescope, Hubble, only has limited infrared capacity.

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.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/perseverance-rover-captures-sound-of-ingenuity-flying-on-mars-383610">Perseverance rover captures sound of Ingenuity flying on Mars</a>

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.

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.

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.

"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.

The world's largest and most powerful space telescope unfolded its giant golden mirror for the last time on Earth on Tuesday, a key milestone before the $10 billion observatory is launched later this year.

The world's largest and most powerful space telescope unfolded its giant golden mirror for the last time on Earth on Tuesday, a key milestone before the $10 billion observatory is launched later this year. 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. "It's like building 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," said Scott Willoughby of lead contractor Northrop Grumman. Also read | NASA shares image of nearly 5-billion-year-old asteroid crossing the Earth 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. 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. Also read | Perseverance rover captures sound of Ingenuity flying on Mars 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.

NASA's giant Webb telescope succeeds in key pre-launch test

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shared a stunning image of a&nbsp;4.5-billion-year-old asteroid crossing the Earth.

The image of&nbsp;asteroid Bennu has been taken by the Osiris Rex spacecraft which is&nbsp;on its way back to Earth with a sample of rocks and dust from the ancient cosmic object.

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The spacecraft found traces of hydrogen and oxygen molecules - part of the recipe for water and thus the potential for life - embedded in the asteroid's rocky surface, said Dante Lauretta, the OSIRIS-REx mission's principal investigator, in 2018.

The trip back to Earth will take about two years. The spacecraft will then eject a capsule containing the asteroid samples, which NASA says will land in a remote area of Utah.

NASA says samples will be distributed to research laboratories worldwide, but 75 per cent&nbsp;of the samples will be preserved at the Johnson Space Center in Houston for future generations to study with technologies not yet created.

The roughly $800 million, minivan-sized OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin, launched in 2016 to grab and return the first US&nbsp;sample of pristine asteroid materials. Japan is the only other country to have accomplished such a feat.

Asteroids are among the leftover debris from the solar system's formation some 4.5 billion years ago. A sample could hold clues to the origins of life on Earth, scientists say.

(With inputs from agencies)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shared a stunning image of a 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid crossing the Earth. The image of asteroid Bennu has been taken by the Osiris Rex spacecraft which is on its way back to Earth with a sample of rocks and dust from the ancient cosmic object.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shared a stunning image of a 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid crossing the Earth. The image of asteroid Bennu has been taken by the Osiris Rex spacecraft which is on its way back to Earth with a sample of rocks and dust from the ancient cosmic object. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) The spacecraft found traces of hydrogen and oxygen molecules - part of the recipe for water and thus the potential for life - embedded in the asteroid's rocky surface, said Dante Lauretta, the OSIRIS-REx mission's principal investigator, in 2018. The trip back to Earth will take about two years. The spacecraft will then eject a capsule containing the asteroid samples, which NASA says will land in a remote area of Utah. NASA says samples will be distributed to research laboratories worldwide, but 75 per cent of the samples will be preserved at the Johnson Space Center in Houston for future generations to study with technologies not yet created. The roughly $800 million, minivan-sized OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin, launched in 2016 to grab and return the first US sample of pristine asteroid materials. Japan is the only other country to have accomplished such a feat. Asteroids are among the leftover debris from the solar system's formation some 4.5 billion years ago. A sample could hold clues to the origins of life on Earth, scientists say. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA shares image of nearly 5-billion-year-old asteroid crossing the Earth

The US space probe&nbsp;Osiris-Rex&nbsp;on Monday left the orbit of the asteroid Bennu, from which it collected dust samples last year, to begin its long journey back to Earth.

The probe still has a vast distance to cover before it lands in the Utah desert on September 24, 2023.&nbsp;

Osiris-Rex&nbsp;is 'now moving away over 600 miles an hour from Bennu, on its way home,'&nbsp;Dante Lauretta, head of the mission, said on NASA's video broadcast of the event.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="US tracking out-of-control wreckage of Chinese rocket falling back to Earth">US tracking out-of-control wreckage of Chinese rocket falling back to Earth</a>

The spacecraft's thrusters were engaged without incident for seven minutes to put the probe on the correct trajectory home, a journey of 1.4 billion miles (2.3 billion kilometers).

It is carrying more than 60 grams of dust and fragments from the asteroid, the largest sample collected by NASA since the Moon rocks brought back by the Apollo missions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="'I felt really heavy': Astronauts describe returning to Earth on SpaceX capsule">'I felt really heavy': Astronauts describe returning to Earth on SpaceX capsule</a>

To achieve this goal, the US space agency launched a high-risk operation in October 2020: the probe came into contact with the asteroid for a few seconds, and a blast of compressed nitrogen was emitted to raise the dust sample which was then captured.&nbsp;

The surprise for NASA was the probe's arm sank several centimeters into the surface of the asteroid, showing the scientists that 'the surfaces of these rubble pile asteroids are very loosely consolidated,'&nbsp;said Lauretta.&nbsp;

The whole mission almost came to nought when NASA realised a few days later that the valve of the collection compartment was failing to close, letting fragments escape into space.

But the precious cargo was finally secured after being transferred to a capsule fixed in the spacecraft's center.&nbsp;

In two and a half years, that capsule will be released a few hours before entry into the Earth's atmosphere, and will be slowed down by a parachute system for its landing.

The samples will then be transported to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, but 75 percent will be kept intact to be studied by future generations, who will have advanced technologies that have not yet been created, the agency said.

The analysis should help scientists better understand the formation of the solar system and the development of Earth as a habitable planet.

The US space probe Osiris-Rex on Monday left the orbit of the asteroid Bennu, from which it collected dust samples last year, to begin its long journey back to Earth.

The US space probe Osiris-Rex on Monday left the orbit of the asteroid Bennu, from which it collected dust samples last year, to begin its long journey back to Earth. The probe still has a vast distance to cover before it lands in the Utah desert on September 24, 2023. Osiris-Rex is 'now moving away over 600 miles an hour from Bennu, on its way home,' Dante Lauretta, head of the mission, said on NASA's video broadcast of the event. Also read | US tracking out-of-control wreckage of Chinese rocket falling back to Earth The spacecraft's thrusters were engaged without incident for seven minutes to put the probe on the correct trajectory home, a journey of 1.4 billion miles (2.3 billion kilometers). It is carrying more than 60 grams of dust and fragments from the asteroid, the largest sample collected by NASA since the Moon rocks brought back by the Apollo missions. Also read | 'I felt really heavy': Astronauts describe returning to Earth on SpaceX capsule To achieve this goal, the US space agency launched a high-risk operation in October 2020: the probe came into contact with the asteroid for a few seconds, and a blast of compressed nitrogen was emitted to raise the dust sample which was then captured. The surprise for NASA was the probe's arm sank several centimeters into the surface of the asteroid, showing the scientists that 'the surfaces of these rubble pile asteroids are very loosely consolidated,' said Lauretta. The whole mission almost came to nought when NASA realised a few days later that the valve of the collection compartment was failing to close, letting fragments escape into space. But the precious cargo was finally secured after being transferred to a capsule fixed in the spacecraft's center. In two and a half years, that capsule will be released a few hours before entry into the Earth's atmosphere, and will be slowed down by a parachute system for its landing. The samples will then be transported to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, but 75 percent will be kept intact to be studied by future generations, who will have advanced technologies that have not yet been created, the agency said. The analysis should help scientists better understand the formation of the solar system and the development of Earth as a habitable planet.

US space probe Osiris-Rex heads home with dust from asteroid Bennu

NASA chief has criticised China for "failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris" after parts of its biggest rocket landed in the Indian Ocean on Sunday.&nbsp;

"Spacefaring nations must minimise the risks to people and property on Earth of re-entries of space objects and maximise transparency regarding those operations," Bill Nelson, NASA administrator, was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chinese-rocket-segment-disintegrates-over-indian-ocean-383776">Chinese rocket segment disintegrates over Indian Ocean</a>

"It is clear that China is failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris."

He also urged China and other spacefacing nations, organisations to act "responsibly" and "transparently" for safe, stable and sustainable space activities.

Debris from the Long March 5B has raised global concerns since it took off from China's Hainan island on April 29.&nbsp;

The Chinese space agency on Sunday confirmed that the wreckage of the rocket re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and dropped into the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;

Experts have predicted that there are more chances of the debris landing on water as 70 per cent of our planet is covered by it, but the uncontrolled descent also raised concerns that it could lead to loss of lives and property.&nbsp;

Earlier, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also slammed China for being negligent in allowing rocking to fall out of orbit.&nbsp;

NASA chief has criticised China for "failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris" after parts of its biggest rocket landed in the Indian Ocean on Sunday.

NASA chief has criticised China for "failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris" after parts of its biggest rocket landed in the Indian Ocean on Sunday. "Spacefaring nations must minimise the risks to people and property on Earth of re-entries of space objects and maximise transparency regarding those operations," Bill Nelson, NASA administrator, was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters. Also read | Chinese rocket segment disintegrates over Indian Ocean "It is clear that China is failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris." He also urged China and other spacefacing nations, organisations to act "responsibly" and "transparently" for safe, stable and sustainable space activities. Debris from the Long March 5B has raised global concerns since it took off from China's Hainan island on April 29. The Chinese space agency on Sunday confirmed that the wreckage of the rocket re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and dropped into the Indian Ocean. Experts have predicted that there are more chances of the debris landing on water as 70 per cent of our planet is covered by it, but the uncontrolled descent also raised concerns that it could lead to loss of lives and property. Earlier, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also slammed China for being negligent in allowing rocking to fall out of orbit.

NASA chief slams China for 'failing to meet responsible standards' over rocket debris fall

A large segment of a Chinese rocket re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and disintegrated over the Indian Ocean on Sunday, the Chinese space agency said, following fevered speculation over where the 18-tonne object would come down.

Officials in Beijing had said there was little risk from the freefalling segment of the Long March-5B rocket, which had launched the first module of China's new space station into Earth orbit on April 29.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="Chinese rocket to tumble back to Earth in uncontrolled re-entry">Chinese rocket to tumble back to Earth in uncontrolled re-entry</a>

"After monitoring and analysis, at 10:24 (0224 GMT) on May 9, 2021, the last-stage wreckage of the Long March 5B Yao-2 launch vehicle has reentered the atmosphere," the China Manned Space Engineering Office said in a statement, providing coordinates for a point in the Indian Ocean near the Maldives.

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UPDATE Our latest prediction for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LongMarch5B?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LongMarch5B</a> CZ-5B rocket body reentry is 🚀 09 MAY 2021 03:02 UTC ± 2 hours along the ground track shown here. 1/ <a href="https://t.co/JeIKVUd1fk">pic.twitter.com/JeIKVUd1fk</a>
— The Aerospace Corporation (@AerospaceCorp) <a href="https://twitter.com/AerospaceCorp/status/1391160460150382598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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It added that most of the segment disintegrated and was destroyed during re-entry.

Monitoring service Space-Track, which uses US military data, also confirmed the re-entry.&nbsp;"Everyone else following the #LongMarch5B re-entry can relax. The rocket is down," it tweeted.

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Everyone else following the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LongMarch5B?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LongMarch5B</a> re-entry can relax. The rocket is down. You can see all relevant information and updates here on Twitter/Facebook, so there is no need to keep visiting the space-track dot org website.
— Space-Track (@SpaceTrackOrg) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceTrackOrg/status/1391230551181316100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The segment's descent matched predictions by some experts that any debris would have splashed down into the ocean, given that 70 percent of the planet is covered by water.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="US tracking out-of-control wreckage of Chinese rocket falling back to Earth">US tracking out-of-control wreckage of Chinese rocket falling back to Earth</a>

But the uncontrolled re-entry of such a large object had sparked concerns about possible damage and casualties, despite there being a low statistical chance.

American and European space authorities were among those tracking its orbits and trying to determine when and where it may come down.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had said the US military had no plans to shoot it down, but suggested that China had been negligent in letting it fall out of orbit.

Last year, debris from another Long March rocket fell on villages in the Ivory Coast, causing structural damage but no injuries or deaths.

"An ocean reentry was always statistically the most likely," Harvard-based astronomer Jonathan McDowell tweeted.

"It appears China won its gamble (unless we get news of debris in the Maldives). But it was still reckless."

McDowell had said earlier that China should redesign the Long March-5B to avoid such scenarios.

A large segment of a Chinese rocket re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and disintegrated over the Indian Ocean on Sunday, the Chinese space agency said, following fevered speculation over where the 18-tonne object would come down.

A large segment of a Chinese rocket re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and disintegrated over the Indian Ocean on Sunday, the Chinese space agency said, following fevered speculation over where the 18-tonne object would come down. Officials in Beijing had said there was little risk from the freefalling segment of the Long March-5B rocket, which had launched the first module of China's new space station into Earth orbit on April 29. Also read | Chinese rocket to tumble back to Earth in uncontrolled re-entry "After monitoring and analysis, at 10:24 (0224 GMT) on May 9, 2021, the last-stage wreckage of the Long March 5B Yao-2 launch vehicle has reentered the atmosphere," the China Manned Space Engineering Office said in a statement, providing coordinates for a point in the Indian Ocean near the Maldives. UPDATE Our latest prediction for #LongMarch5B CZ-5B rocket body reentry is 🚀 09 MAY 2021 03:02 UTC ± 2 hours along the ground track shown here. 1/ pic.twitter.com/JeIKVUd1fk — The Aerospace Corporation (@AerospaceCorp) May 8, 2021 × It added that most of the segment disintegrated and was destroyed during re-entry. Monitoring service Space-Track, which uses US military data, also confirmed the re-entry. "Everyone else following the #LongMarch5B re-entry can relax. The rocket is down," it tweeted. Everyone else following the #LongMarch5B re-entry can relax. The rocket is down. You can see all relevant information and updates here on Twitter/Facebook, so there is no need to keep visiting the space-track dot org website. — Space-Track (@SpaceTrackOrg) May 9, 2021 × The segment's descent matched predictions by some experts that any debris would have splashed down into the ocean, given that 70 percent of the planet is covered by water. Also read | US tracking out-of-control wreckage of Chinese rocket falling back to Earth But the uncontrolled re-entry of such a large object had sparked concerns about possible damage and casualties, despite there being a low statistical chance. American and European space authorities were among those tracking its orbits and trying to determine when and where it may come down. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had said the US military had no plans to shoot it down, but suggested that China had been negligent in letting it fall out of orbit. Last year, debris from another Long March rocket fell on villages in the Ivory Coast, causing structural damage but no injuries or deaths. "An ocean reentry was always statistically the most likely," Harvard-based astronomer Jonathan McDowell tweeted. "It appears China won its gamble (unless we get news of debris in the Maldives). But it was still reckless." McDowell had said earlier that China should redesign the Long March-5B to avoid such scenarios.

Chinese rocket segment disintegrates over Indian Ocean

NASA's new administrator is big on tackling climate and diversifying the agency's workforce, but hedging on whether the US can put astronauts on the moon by 2024.&nbsp;

In his first interview since becoming NASA's top official this week, former Sen Bill Nelson said on Friday that tracking climate change is a top issue.&nbsp;

He also wants to diversify the space agency's workforce so it reflects America. &nbsp;

As for landing astronauts on the moon, Nelson said the goal remains 2024, a deadline set by the Trump administration. But he cautions space is hard and he needs more time to review the matter, especially with a contract protest over the lunar lander for astronauts.&nbsp;

"We all know that space is hard," he said, noting there are often delays developing new technologies.&nbsp;

"But the goal is 2024.?&nbsp;

His underlying vision for NASA 'to explore the heavens with humans and machines'.&nbsp;

Nelson said he did not seek the NASA administrator job and had recommended three women to lead the space agency.&nbsp;

He said he told the Biden administration he would accept the nomination only if one of the women could serve as his deputy selected for the job: former space shuttle commander Pam Melroy.&nbsp;

Nelson, 78, is NASA's 14th administrator, the third to fly in space and the first to grow up in the shadow of rockets.&nbsp;

He was sworn in on Monday by Vice President Kamala Harris, who will head the National Space Council.&nbsp;

In a show of bipartisan space support, the two previous administrators took part in the ceremony, representing the Obama and Trump administrations.&nbsp;

Nelson steps into NASA's top job after 44 years of public service, 42 of them in an elected public office.&nbsp;

Nelson grew up near Cape Canaveral, graduating from high school a year before Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space 60 years ago this week.&nbsp;

He went on to law school and served in the US Army Reserve during the Vietnam War.&nbsp;

After a few terms in the Florida legislature, Nelson, a Democrat, won election to Congress, first in the House and then the Senate, before a 2018 defeat ended his political career.&nbsp;

It was while Nelson was a congressman that he rocketed into orbit aboard space shuttle Columbia in January 1986, just two weeks before Challenger's astronauts perished during liftoff. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA's new administrator is big on tackling climate and diversifying the agency's workforce, but hedging on whether the US can put astronauts on the moon by 2024.

NASA's new administrator is big on tackling climate and diversifying the agency's workforce, but hedging on whether the US can put astronauts on the moon by 2024. In his first interview since becoming NASA's top official this week, former Sen Bill Nelson said on Friday that tracking climate change is a top issue. He also wants to diversify the space agency's workforce so it reflects America. As for landing astronauts on the moon, Nelson said the goal remains 2024, a deadline set by the Trump administration. But he cautions space is hard and he needs more time to review the matter, especially with a contract protest over the lunar lander for astronauts. "We all know that space is hard," he said, noting there are often delays developing new technologies. "But the goal is 2024.? His underlying vision for NASA 'to explore the heavens with humans and machines'. Nelson said he did not seek the NASA administrator job and had recommended three women to lead the space agency. He said he told the Biden administration he would accept the nomination only if one of the women could serve as his deputy selected for the job: former space shuttle commander Pam Melroy. Nelson, 78, is NASA's 14th administrator, the third to fly in space and the first to grow up in the shadow of rockets. He was sworn in on Monday by Vice President Kamala Harris, who will head the National Space Council. In a show of bipartisan space support, the two previous administrators took part in the ceremony, representing the Obama and Trump administrations. Nelson steps into NASA's top job after 44 years of public service, 42 of them in an elected public office. Nelson grew up near Cape Canaveral, graduating from high school a year before Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space 60 years ago this week. He went on to law school and served in the US Army Reserve during the Vietnam War. After a few terms in the Florida legislature, Nelson, a Democrat, won election to Congress, first in the House and then the Senate, before a 2018 defeat ended his political career. It was while Nelson was a congressman that he rocketed into orbit aboard space shuttle Columbia in January 1986, just two weeks before Challenger's astronauts perished during liftoff. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's new chief big on climate, hedges on 2024 moon landing 

The debris of China's Long March 5B rocket, which last week launched the core module of the country's space station, is set to re-enter the earth's atmosphere this weekend, raising concerns where it could fall and the potential damage it could cause.

The Pentagon said on Tuesday that it was tracking a large Chinese rocket that is out of control and set to re-enter earth's atmosphere this weekend.

The Chinese Long March 5B rocket is expected to enter earth's atmosphere "around May 8," the report quoted a statement from Defence Department spokesperson Mike Howard, who said the US Space Command is tracking the rocket's trajectory.

The rocket's "exact entry point into the earth's atmosphere" can't be pinpointed until within hours of re-entry, Howard said, but the 18th Space Control Squadron will provide daily updates on the rocket's location through the Space Track website.

The rocket was used by China to launch part of its space station on Thursday. While most space debris objects may burn up in the atmosphere, the rocket's size, 22 tonnes, has prompted concern that large parts could re-enter and cause damage if they hit inhabited areas.

Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Astrophysics Centre at Harvard University said, "I don't think people should take precautions. The risk that there will be some damage or that it would hit someone is pretty small -- not negligible, it could happen -- but the risk that it will hit you is incredibly tiny. And so I would not lose one second of sleep over this on a personal threat basis," he said.

Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted him as saying that ''we don't know where&nbsp;the re-entry would take place. (It would be) at worst like a small plane crash but stretched out in a line over hundreds of kilometres.''

The debris is ''under close watch''&nbsp;and is likely to fall back to earth in international waters, the Post quoted a source with knowledge of China's space programme.

It was uncertain how many fragments would remain after re-entry, he said, ''but enough to cause damage.''

Industry news site SpaceNews said the ''more likely possibility''&nbsp;was that the core stage would fall in an uninhabited area or in an ocean. 
Song Zhongping, a former instructor of the Chinese military's rocket corps, said the debris would fall in a safe place such as international waters or an uninhabited part of the country.

Last year, the re-entry debris from the first Long March 5B flight fell on the Ivory Coast 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, the Post report said.

China is expected to carry out more launches in its space station programme in the coming weeks as it aims to complete the space station project next year.

Once finished, the structure will have a mass of about 100 tonnes, about a quarter of the size of the International Space Station, (ISS), which is 15 years old and expected to be decommissioned in the coming years.

After that, the Tiangong is expected to be the only space station operating in near-earth orbit by the end of the decade.

(With inputs from agencies)

The debris of China's Long March 5B rocket, which last week launched the core module of the country's space station, is set to re-enter the earth's atmosphere this weekend, raising concerns where it could fall and the potential damage it could cause.

The debris of China's Long March 5B rocket, which last week launched the core module of the country's space station, is set to re-enter the earth's atmosphere this weekend, raising concerns where it could fall and the potential damage it could cause. The Pentagon said on Tuesday that it was tracking a large Chinese rocket that is out of control and set to re-enter earth's atmosphere this weekend. The Chinese Long March 5B rocket is expected to enter earth's atmosphere "around May 8," the report quoted a statement from Defence Department spokesperson Mike Howard, who said the US Space Command is tracking the rocket's trajectory. The rocket's "exact entry point into the earth's atmosphere" can't be pinpointed until within hours of re-entry, Howard said, but the 18th Space Control Squadron will provide daily updates on the rocket's location through the Space Track website. The rocket was used by China to launch part of its space station on Thursday. While most space debris objects may burn up in the atmosphere, the rocket's size, 22 tonnes, has prompted concern that large parts could re-enter and cause damage if they hit inhabited areas. Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Astrophysics Centre at Harvard University said, "I don't think people should take precautions. The risk that there will be some damage or that it would hit someone is pretty small -- not negligible, it could happen -- but the risk that it will hit you is incredibly tiny. And so I would not lose one second of sleep over this on a personal threat basis," he said. Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted him as saying that ''we don't know where the re-entry would take place. (It would be) at worst like a small plane crash but stretched out in a line over hundreds of kilometres.'' The debris is ''under close watch'' and is likely to fall back to earth in international waters, the Post quoted a source with knowledge of China's space programme. It was uncertain how many fragments would remain after re-entry, he said, ''but enough to cause damage.'' Industry news site SpaceNews said the ''more likely possibility'' was that the core stage would fall in an uninhabited area or in an ocean. Song Zhongping, a former instructor of the Chinese military's rocket corps, said the debris would fall in a safe place such as international waters or an uninhabited part of the country. Last year, the re-entry debris from the first Long March 5B flight fell on the Ivory Coast 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, the Post report said. China is expected to carry out more launches in its space station programme in the coming weeks as it aims to complete the space station project next year. Once finished, the structure will have a mass of about 100 tonnes, about a quarter of the size of the International Space Station, (ISS), which is 15 years old and expected to be decommissioned in the coming years. After that, the Tiangong is expected to be the only space station operating in near-earth orbit by the end of the decade. (With inputs from agencies)

US tracking out-of-control wreckage of Chinese rocket falling back to Earth

It's a clash of the tech titans. Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos were competing for the same contract. NASA gave it to SpaceX. Now Bezos is challenging NASA's decision. WION's Palki tells you how two billionaires are battling to dictate humanity's future in space.

Gravitas: Two billionaires battle to dictate the future of Space

Boasting azure waters and white sands, a Turkish lake that NASA thinks hides secrets about Mars threatens to become too popular for its own good.

Lake Salda gained international renown when US scientists began poking around in preparation for the Perseverance rover mission, which has been beaming back videos from the Red Planet since February.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory even posted a picture of the pristine lake on its site before touchdown, saying it might resemble what an "aqueous" Mars looked like billions of years ago.

Now, the 4,370-hectare (16.9-square mile) lake in Turkey's southwest has been picked by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as part of a project to create more green spaces for public use.

The news spells disaster for local activists and lawyers, who fear that the twin blows of NASA and Erdogan's interest could open the floodgates to tourists.

Splashing around in its waters, the sea of humanity could destroy the very ecosystem that made the lake special in the first place, campaigners warn.

"The future of the lake is at risk if millions of people come," said Lake Salda Preservation Association head Gazi Osman Sakar.

The lake is most famous for the White Islands area with the brilliant sands, as well as endemic flora and fauna such as the Salda seaweed fish.

There are also minerals of different origin. NASA thinks one of them, hydromagnesite, is similar to the carbonate minerals detected at Jezero Crater -- a former lake on Mars that the rover is now exploring.

The hydromagnesite sediments along Lake Salda's shoreline "are thought to have eroded from large mounds called 'microbialites',&nbsp;rocks formed with the help of microbes," NASA said.

This all folds into the mystery about possible life on Mars, in some microbial form a very long time ago.

There are many tectonic lakes like Salda across the world.

But what makes Salda unique, geology engineer Servet Cevni said, is the lake's transformation into a closed ecosystem with its own living mechanism.

"Because it's alive, it's so sensitive to outside interventions," Cevni said.

Yet that intervention is already on its way in the form of nine small buildings that have appeared near a planned People's Garden by the lake.

Sakar said some of the white sand has already been moved from the White Islands area to another called People's Beach for road construction.

"The project should be cancelled," Sakar said. "The lake cannot be protected while it's used."

Swimming is forbidden at the White Islands but people are still able to take a dip in other parts.

Sakar's association wants the lake off limits entirely for swimming to preserve its ecosystem. Instead, he proposes creating observation posts for visitors to see the lake.

"If single-cell organisms die, Salda is finished," the engineer Cevni agreed. "Those White Islands won't be renewed, that white structure won't come together."&nbsp;

The damage thus far can be recovered in 150 to 200 years if people do not destroy it further, Cevni said, adding: "If we do, it won't ever recover."

The Lake Salda Preservation Association has seen its legal bid to cancel the green spaces project rejected in court.

Sakar is appealing the ruling and also campaigning for UNESCO to put Salda on the world heritage list.

"Salda is dying," Sakar said.

But campaigners are not the only ones expressing concern.

Aysel Cig, a goat-herder who lives in a village close to the lake, said things were more pleasant before Salda gained its fame.

"Our lake, our village was much cleaner three, five years ago," she said.

But besides dirt and foreign organisms, tourists also bring cash, which the locals around Lake Salda welcome.

Suleyman Kilickan, 60, worked in a cafe with plenty of outdoor seating by the lake that employed 30 people before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Interest in the lake rose considerably with the NASA mission, Kilickan said, noting that most of his visitors were foreigners who appeared to be respectful of the lake.

"If there's tourism, there's life," Kilickan said.

"I would encourage tourism," he said, emphasising the importance of ensuring visitors act responsibly.

The environment ministry said last month it would limit the number of visitors to the White Islands area to 570,000 a year.

Nearly 1.5 million people visited the lake in 2019, and 800,000 came last year during lulls in coronavirus restrictions.

But Nazli Oral Erkan, of the Burdur Bar Association's Environment Committee, said the proposed cap was not enough to protect the lake.

"Salda is like a natural museum," she said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Boasting azure waters and white sands, a Turkish lake that NASA thinks hides secrets about Mars threatens to become too popular for its own good. Lake Salda gained international renown when US scientists began poking around in preparation for the Perseverance rover mission, which has been beaming back videos from the Red Planet since February.

Boasting azure waters and white sands, a Turkish lake that NASA thinks hides secrets about Mars threatens to become too popular for its own good. Lake Salda gained international renown when US scientists began poking around in preparation for the Perseverance rover mission, which has been beaming back videos from the Red Planet since February. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory even posted a picture of the pristine lake on its site before touchdown, saying it might resemble what an "aqueous" Mars looked like billions of years ago. Now, the 4,370-hectare (16.9-square mile) lake in Turkey's southwest has been picked by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as part of a project to create more green spaces for public use. The news spells disaster for local activists and lawyers, who fear that the twin blows of NASA and Erdogan's interest could open the floodgates to tourists. Splashing around in its waters, the sea of humanity could destroy the very ecosystem that made the lake special in the first place, campaigners warn. "The future of the lake is at risk if millions of people come," said Lake Salda Preservation Association head Gazi Osman Sakar. The lake is most famous for the White Islands area with the brilliant sands, as well as endemic flora and fauna such as the Salda seaweed fish. There are also minerals of different origin. NASA thinks one of them, hydromagnesite, is similar to the carbonate minerals detected at Jezero Crater -- a former lake on Mars that the rover is now exploring. The hydromagnesite sediments along Lake Salda's shoreline "are thought to have eroded from large mounds called 'microbialites', rocks formed with the help of microbes," NASA said. This all folds into the mystery about possible life on Mars, in some microbial form a very long time ago. There are many tectonic lakes like Salda across the world. But what makes Salda unique, geology engineer Servet Cevni said, is the lake's transformation into a closed ecosystem with its own living mechanism. "Because it's alive, it's so sensitive to outside interventions," Cevni said. Yet that intervention is already on its way in the form of nine small buildings that have appeared near a planned People's Garden by the lake. Sakar said some of the white sand has already been moved from the White Islands area to another called People's Beach for road construction. "The project should be cancelled," Sakar said. "The lake cannot be protected while it's used." Swimming is forbidden at the White Islands but people are still able to take a dip in other parts. Sakar's association wants the lake off limits entirely for swimming to preserve its ecosystem. Instead, he proposes creating observation posts for visitors to see the lake. "If single-cell organisms die, Salda is finished," the engineer Cevni agreed. "Those White Islands won't be renewed, that white structure won't come together." The damage thus far can be recovered in 150 to 200 years if people do not destroy it further, Cevni said, adding: "If we do, it won't ever recover." The Lake Salda Preservation Association has seen its legal bid to cancel the green spaces project rejected in court. Sakar is appealing the ruling and also campaigning for UNESCO to put Salda on the world heritage list. "Salda is dying," Sakar said. But campaigners are not the only ones expressing concern. Aysel Cig, a goat-herder who lives in a village close to the lake, said things were more pleasant before Salda gained its fame. "Our lake, our village was much cleaner three, five years ago," she said. But besides dirt and foreign organisms, tourists also bring cash, which the locals around Lake Salda welcome. Suleyman Kilickan, 60, worked in a cafe with plenty of outdoor seating by the lake that employed 30 people before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Interest in the lake rose considerably with the NASA mission, Kilickan said, noting that most of his visitors were foreigners who appeared to be respectful of the lake. "If there's tourism, there's life," Kilickan said. "I would encourage tourism," he said, emphasising the importance of ensuring visitors act responsibly. The environment ministry said last month it would limit the number of visitors to the White Islands area to 570,000 a year. Nearly 1.5 million people visited the lake in 2019, and 800,000 came last year during lulls in coronavirus restrictions. But Nazli Oral Erkan, of the Burdur Bar Association's Environment Committee, said the proposed cap was not enough to protect the lake. "Salda is like a natural museum," she said. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkish lake with likely clues to Mars gains unwanted fame

NASA announced this month that Musk's SpaceX was the sole winner in the competition, beating Blue Origin and a third company, Dynetics of Huntsville, Alabama, a defense contractor.

Jeff Bezos' Blue origin challenges NASA over SpaceX

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, the space rocket company, is now formally challenging the $2.9 billion moon lander contract which was recently awarded to its rival&nbsp;SpaceX by NASA.

On Monday, Blue Origin said it had filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office, accusing the space agency of making tweaks for contract bidders at the last minute.

"NASA has executed a flawed acquisition for the Human Landing System programme and moved the goalposts at the last minute",&nbsp;Reuters cited Blue&nbsp;Origin&nbsp;as saying in a statement.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-spacex-space-station-mission-new-era-in-space-exploration-302493/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Their decision eliminates opportunities for competition, significantly narrows the supply base, and not only delays, but also endangers America's return to the moon. Because of that, we've filed a protest with the GAO”, it added.

While Elon Musk’s SpaceX made the bid alone, Bezos’ Blue Origin made the bid in partnership with Lockheed Martin Corp, Northrop Grumman Corp and Draper.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/astronauts-arrive-at-space-station-aboard-spacex-endeavour-379931" hreflang="en">Astronauts arrive at space station aboard SpaceX Endeavour</a>

The world’s first and third richest people respectively, Bezos and Musk have been competing to be at the helm of man’s return to moon for the first time since 1972.

The contract will see NASA’s first commercial human lander, constituent of its Artemis programme. NASA says that the lander will carry in it two American astronauts to the moon’s surface.

"We should accomplish the next landing as soon as possible… If they hit their milestones, we have a shot at 2024," Steve Jurczyk, NASA's acting administrator said during the announcement made virtually on April 17.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/mars-sucks-people-troll-elon-musks-idea-of-space-colonisation-379864" hreflang="en">'Mars sucks!' People troll Elon Musk's idea of space colonisation</a>

Apollo landings from 1969-1972 mark the only human visits to the moon’s surface. Now, NASA is relying on private companies to send astronauts to the moon to complete its space ambition projects.

But before humans make the journey, SpaceX will be required to conduct a test flight of the lander to the moon.

(With inputs from agencies)

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, the space rocket company, is now formally challenging the $2.9 billion moon lander contract which was recently awarded to its rival SpaceX by NASA.

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, the space rocket company, is now formally challenging the $2.9 billion moon lander contract which was recently awarded to its rival SpaceX by NASA. On Monday, Blue Origin said it had filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office, accusing the space agency of making tweaks for contract bidders at the last minute. "NASA has executed a flawed acquisition for the Human Landing System programme and moved the goalposts at the last minute", Reuters cited Blue Origin as saying in a statement. "Their decision eliminates opportunities for competition, significantly narrows the supply base, and not only delays, but also endangers America's return to the moon. Because of that, we've filed a protest with the GAO”, it added. While Elon Musk’s SpaceX made the bid alone, Bezos’ Blue Origin made the bid in partnership with Lockheed Martin Corp, Northrop Grumman Corp and Draper. Also read: Astronauts arrive at space station aboard SpaceX Endeavour The world’s first and third richest people respectively, Bezos and Musk have been competing to be at the helm of man’s return to moon for the first time since 1972. The contract will see NASA’s first commercial human lander, constituent of its Artemis programme. NASA says that the lander will carry in it two American astronauts to the moon’s surface. "We should accomplish the next landing as soon as possible… If they hit their milestones, we have a shot at 2024," Steve Jurczyk, NASA's acting administrator said during the announcement made virtually on April 17. Also read: 'Mars sucks!' People troll Elon Musk's idea of space colonisation Apollo landings from 1969-1972 mark the only human visits to the moon’s surface. Now, NASA is relying on private companies to send astronauts to the moon to complete its space ambition projects. But before humans make the journey, SpaceX will be required to conduct a test flight of the lander to the moon. (With inputs from agencies)

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin protests NASA's moon lander contract with Elon Musk's SpaceX

NASA's mini helicopter Ingenuity on Sunday successfully completed its third flight on Mars, moving farther and faster than ever before, with a peak speed of 6.6 feet (two meteres) per second.

After two initial flights during which the craft hovered above the Red Planet's surface, the helicopter on this third flight covered 64 feet (50 metres) of distance, reaching the speed of 6.6 feet per second (two metres per second), or four miles per hour in this latest flight.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/what-is-the-significance-of-nasa-ingenuity-helicopters-successful-flight-over-mars-378800/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Today's flight was what we planned for, and yet it was nothing short of amazing," said Dave Lavery, the Ingenuity project's program executive.

The Perseverance rover, which carried the four-pound (1.8 kg) rotorcraft to Mars, filmed the 80-second third flight. NASA said Sunday that video clips would be sent to Earth in the coming days.

The lateral flight was a test for the helicopter's autonomous navigation system, which completes the route according to information received beforehand.

"If Ingenuity flies too fast, the flight algorithm can't track surface features," NASA explained in a statement about the flight.

Ingenuity's flights are challenging because of conditions vastly different from Earth's, foremost among them a rarefied atmosphere that has less than one percent the density of our own.

This means that Ingenuity's rotors, which span four feet, have to spin at 2,400 revolutions per minute to achieve lift, about five times more than a helicopter on Earth.

NASA announced it is now preparing for a fourth flight. Each flight is planned to be of increasing difficulty in order to push Ingenuity to its limits.

The Ingenuity experiment will end in one month in order to let Perseverance return to its main task: searching for signs of past microbial life on Mars.

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA's mini helicopter Ingenuity on Sunday successfully completed its third flight on Mars, moving farther and faster than ever before, with a peak speed of 6.6 feet (two meteres) per second.

NASA's mini helicopter Ingenuity on Sunday successfully completed its third flight on Mars, moving farther and faster than ever before, with a peak speed of 6.6 feet (two meteres) per second. After two initial flights during which the craft hovered above the Red Planet's surface, the helicopter on this third flight covered 64 feet (50 metres) of distance, reaching the speed of 6.6 feet per second (two metres per second), or four miles per hour in this latest flight. "Today's flight was what we planned for, and yet it was nothing short of amazing," said Dave Lavery, the Ingenuity project's program executive. The Perseverance rover, which carried the four-pound (1.8 kg) rotorcraft to Mars, filmed the 80-second third flight. NASA said Sunday that video clips would be sent to Earth in the coming days. The lateral flight was a test for the helicopter's autonomous navigation system, which completes the route according to information received beforehand. "If Ingenuity flies too fast, the flight algorithm can't track surface features," NASA explained in a statement about the flight. Ingenuity's flights are challenging because of conditions vastly different from Earth's, foremost among them a rarefied atmosphere that has less than one percent the density of our own. This means that Ingenuity's rotors, which span four feet, have to spin at 2,400 revolutions per minute to achieve lift, about five times more than a helicopter on Earth. NASA announced it is now preparing for a fourth flight. Each flight is planned to be of increasing difficulty in order to push Ingenuity to its limits. The Ingenuity experiment will end in one month in order to let Perseverance return to its main task: searching for signs of past microbial life on Mars. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter flies faster, farther on third flight

On Sunday, NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter flew for the third time, making records in terms of speed and the distance it covered.

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter flew on Mars for the third time

A four-astronaut team arrived at the International Space Station on Saturday aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Endeavour, NASA said, after becoming the first crew ever to be propelled into orbit by a rocket booster recycled from a previous spaceflight.

The Endeavour capsule, also making its second flight, was launched into space on Friday atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. SpaceX is the Elon Musk's commercial rocket company.

The Endeavour docked to the space station complex at 5:08 a.m. EDT (0908 GMT) while the spacecraft were flying 264 miles (425 km) above the Indian Ocean, NASA said in an update.

Have a look |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/nasa-and-spacex-launch-a-new-four-astronaut-team-to-international-space-station-379500">NASA and SpaceX launch a new four-astronaut team to International Space Station</a>

On board were two NASA astronauts - mission commander Shane Kimbrough, 53, and pilot Megan McArthur, 49 - along with Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, 52, and fellow mission specialist Thomas Pesquet, 43, a French engineer from the European Space Agency.

The mission marks the second "operational" space station team launched by NASA aboard a Crew Dragon capsule since human spaceflights resumed from American soil last year, following a nine-year hiatus at the end of the U.S. space shuttle program in 2011.

It is also the third crewed flight launched into orbit in 11 months under NASA's fledgling public-private partnership with SpaceX, the rocket company founded in 2002 by Musk, who is also CEO of electric car maker Tesla Inc.

The mission's Falcon 9 rocket blasted off with the same first-stage booster that lofted a crew into orbit five months ago, marking the first time a previously flown booster has ever been re-used in a crewed launch.

Reusable booster vehicles, designed to fly themselves back to Earth and land safely rather than fall into the sea after launch, are at the heart of a re-usable rocket strategy that SpaceX helped pioneer to make spaceflight more economical.

A four-astronaut team arrived at the International Space Station on Saturday aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Endeavour, NASA said, after becoming the first crew ever to be propelled into orbit by a rocket booster recycled from a previous spaceflight.

A four-astronaut team arrived at the International Space Station on Saturday aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Endeavour, NASA said, after becoming the first crew ever to be propelled into orbit by a rocket booster recycled from a previous spaceflight. The Endeavour capsule, also making its second flight, was launched into space on Friday atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. SpaceX is the Elon Musk's commercial rocket company. The Endeavour docked to the space station complex at 5:08 a.m. EDT (0908 GMT) while the spacecraft were flying 264 miles (425 km) above the Indian Ocean, NASA said in an update. Have a look | NASA and SpaceX launch a new four-astronaut team to International Space Station On board were two NASA astronauts - mission commander Shane Kimbrough, 53, and pilot Megan McArthur, 49 - along with Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, 52, and fellow mission specialist Thomas Pesquet, 43, a French engineer from the European Space Agency. The mission marks the second "operational" space station team launched by NASA aboard a Crew Dragon capsule since human spaceflights resumed from American soil last year, following a nine-year hiatus at the end of the U.S. space shuttle program in 2011. It is also the third crewed flight launched into orbit in 11 months under NASA's fledgling public-private partnership with SpaceX, the rocket company founded in 2002 by Musk, who is also CEO of electric car maker Tesla Inc. The mission's Falcon 9 rocket blasted off with the same first-stage booster that lofted a crew into orbit five months ago, marking the first time a previously flown booster has ever been re-used in a crewed launch. Reusable booster vehicles, designed to fly themselves back to Earth and land safely rather than fall into the sea after launch, are at the heart of a re-usable rocket strategy that SpaceX helped pioneer to make spaceflight more economical.

Astronauts arrive at space station aboard SpaceX Endeavour

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