June 10 in history: Color photography introduced, NASA launches Mars Exploration Rover and more

Mars&nbsp;has two&nbsp;''lumpy'' moons and their existence suggests that the red planet had rings&nbsp;around,&nbsp;like some of the larger planets in our solar system.

The findings were&nbsp;presented&nbsp;during the 236th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, which is being held virtually this week during the pandemic.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-seeking-volunteers-for-paid-isolation-during-fake-mars-mission-300990">NASA seeking volunteers for paid isolation during 'fake' Mars mission</a>

The two lumpy moons, Phobos and Deimos, were both discovered in 1877 and named after the sons of Ares from Greek mythology.

Mars is named after the Roman god of war, which is Ares in Greek. Phobos means fear or panic and Deimos means dread.

Scientists believed that they were asteroids captured by the planet's gravity for a very long time.&nbsp;Both appear to be&nbsp;similar in composition to blackish carbonaceous chondrite asteroids.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-origin-teenager-names-nasas-first-mars-helicopter-296108">Indian-origin teenager names NASA’s first Mars helicopter</a>

However,&nbsp;the recent research revealed that the moons are nearly in the same plane as the Martian equator. This suggests that they formed around the same time Mars did around 4.5 billion years ago.

Over time, Phobos&nbsp;will lose&nbsp;height as it interacts with Martian gravity and eventually, its orbit will be too low and Mars will essentially rip it into pieces that form a ring around the planet. It's estimated that this will happen within 50 million years.

Phobos, slightly larger than Deimos, is only about 3,700 miles above the Martian surface, no known moon in our solar system is closer to its planet.&nbsp;

Being so close, Phobos completes three orbits around Mars in one Earth day, while Deimos, which is more distant, takes about 30 Earth hours to complete an orbit.

The researchers believe that Phobos once had a grandparent 3 billion years ago that they called proto-Phobos — likely 20 times more massive as the small moon is now. Over the course of a few moon-ring cycles, it became Phobos — which would explain why some researchers believe it only formed about 200 million years ago.

A prominent ring around Mars would have pushed proto-Phobos outward, away from the planet. This would have also affected proto-Phobos' orbital resonance with Deimos and pushed it further from Mars as well.

The Japanese space agency, JAXA, plans to send a spacecraft to Phobos in 2024 to collect samples from the surface and return them to Earth. This may reveal more about the moon's past.

Mars has two ''lumpy'' moons and their existence suggests that the red planet had rings around, like some of the larger planets in our solar system. The findings were presented during the 236th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, which is being held virtually this week during the pandemic.

Mars has two ''lumpy'' moons and their existence suggests that the red planet had rings around, like some of the larger planets in our solar system. The findings were presented during the 236th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, which is being held virtually this week during the pandemic. Also read: NASA seeking volunteers for paid isolation during 'fake' Mars mission The two lumpy moons, Phobos and Deimos, were both discovered in 1877 and named after the sons of Ares from Greek mythology. Mars is named after the Roman god of war, which is Ares in Greek. Phobos means fear or panic and Deimos means dread. Scientists believed that they were asteroids captured by the planet's gravity for a very long time. Both appear to be similar in composition to blackish carbonaceous chondrite asteroids. Also read: Indian-origin teenager names NASA’s first Mars helicopter However, the recent research revealed that the moons are nearly in the same plane as the Martian equator. This suggests that they formed around the same time Mars did around 4.5 billion years ago. Over time, Phobos will lose height as it interacts with Martian gravity and eventually, its orbit will be too low and Mars will essentially rip it into pieces that form a ring around the planet. It's estimated that this will happen within 50 million years. Phobos, slightly larger than Deimos, is only about 3,700 miles above the Martian surface, no known moon in our solar system is closer to its planet. Being so close, Phobos completes three orbits around Mars in one Earth day, while Deimos, which is more distant, takes about 30 Earth hours to complete an orbit. The researchers believe that Phobos once had a grandparent 3 billion years ago that they called proto-Phobos — likely 20 times more massive as the small moon is now. Over the course of a few moon-ring cycles, it became Phobos — which would explain why some researchers believe it only formed about 200 million years ago. A prominent ring around Mars would have pushed proto-Phobos outward, away from the planet. This would have also affected proto-Phobos' orbital resonance with Deimos and pushed it further from Mars as well. The Japanese space agency, JAXA, plans to send a spacecraft to Phobos in 2024 to collect samples from the surface and return them to Earth. This may reveal more about the moon's past.

Mars' 'lumpy' moons suggests existence of ring around it

SpaceX delivered two astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA on Sunday, following up a historic liftoff with a smooth docking.

SpaceX, the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, launched two Americans into orbit from Florida on Saturday in a landmark mission marking the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/lets-light-this-candle-spacex-falcon-9-rocket-launched-in-florida-marking-a-historic-moment-302134">Have a look |&nbsp;Let’s light this candle: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched in Florida marking a historic moment</a>

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Centre at 3:22 p.m. EDT (1922 GMT), launching Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on a 19-hour ride aboard the company's newly designed Crew Dragon capsule bound for the International Space Station.

<img alt="NASA astronauts Hurley and Bob Behnken are a part of the extended stay at the International Space Station on the SpaceX Demo-2 mission." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1655b257-a798-4dad-86a7-3e8afef32a49" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%283%29_64.jpg" />

With the test pilots poised to take over manual control if necessary, the SpaceX Dragon capsule pulled up to the station and docked automatically, no assistance needed.

The docking occurred just 19 hours after the rocket blasted off.

A few hours before docking, the Dragon riders reported that the capsule was performing fine.

Minutes after launch, the first-stage booster rocket of the Falcon 9 separated from the upper second-stage rocket and flew itself back to Earth to descend safely onto a landing platform floating in the Atlantic.

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/2020/05/31/142548-untitled-design-2.jpg" />

High above the Earth, the Crew Dragon jettisoned moments later from the second-stage rocket, sending the capsule on its way to the space station.

The exhilarating spectacle of the rocket soaring flawlessly into the heavens came as a welcome triumph for a nation gripped by racially-charged civil unrest as well as ongoing fear and economic upheaval from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Falcon 9 took off from the same launch pad used by NASA's final space shuttle flight, piloted by Hurley, in 2011. Since then, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft.

NASA officials had held off on any celebrations until after Sunday morning's docking and possibly not until the two astronauts are back on Earth sometime this summer.

NASA has yet to decide how long Hurley and Behnken will spend at the space station, somewhere between one and four months.

The last time NASA launched astronauts into space aboard a brand new vehicle was 40 years ago at the start of the space shuttle programme.

(with inputs from Reuters)

SpaceX delivered two astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA on Sunday, following up a historic liftoff with a smooth docking. SpaceX, the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, launched two Americans into orbit from Florida on Saturday in a landmark mission marking the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years.

SpaceX delivered two astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA on Sunday, following up a historic liftoff with a smooth docking. SpaceX, the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, launched two Americans into orbit from Florida on Saturday in a landmark mission marking the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years. Have a look | Let’s light this candle: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched in Florida marking a historic moment A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Centre at 3:22 p.m. EDT (1922 GMT), launching Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on a 19-hour ride aboard the company's newly designed Crew Dragon capsule bound for the International Space Station. With the test pilots poised to take over manual control if necessary, the SpaceX Dragon capsule pulled up to the station and docked automatically, no assistance needed. The docking occurred just 19 hours after the rocket blasted off. A few hours before docking, the Dragon riders reported that the capsule was performing fine. Minutes after launch, the first-stage booster rocket of the Falcon 9 separated from the upper second-stage rocket and flew itself back to Earth to descend safely onto a landing platform floating in the Atlantic. High above the Earth, the Crew Dragon jettisoned moments later from the second-stage rocket, sending the capsule on its way to the space station. The exhilarating spectacle of the rocket soaring flawlessly into the heavens came as a welcome triumph for a nation gripped by racially-charged civil unrest as well as ongoing fear and economic upheaval from the coronavirus pandemic. The Falcon 9 took off from the same launch pad used by NASA's final space shuttle flight, piloted by Hurley, in 2011. Since then, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft. NASA officials had held off on any celebrations until after Sunday morning's docking and possibly not until the two astronauts are back on Earth sometime this summer. NASA has yet to decide how long Hurley and Behnken will spend at the space station, somewhere between one and four months. The last time NASA launched astronauts into space aboard a brand new vehicle was 40 years ago at the start of the space shuttle programme. (with inputs from Reuters)

SpaceX's astronaut-riding Dragon arrives at space station

The year 2020 has brought one big news after another -- all of them have jolted the humans in some way. From coronavirus to Australia bush fire to mass violent protests, the list seems to be growing, and NASA has announced a new addition.

According to NASA, five giant asteroids are heading towards the Earth in June, with one of them the size of a stadium.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/spacex-astronauts-land-safely-at-international-space-station-for-nasa-302267#falcon-9-launched-302258">Have a look:&nbsp;SpaceX astronauts land safely at International Space Station for NASA</a>

According to NASA's asteroid watch, the biggest asteroid headed towards the Earth is&nbsp;1,100 feet wide, which is roughly the size of a stadium, and will pass from 3.16 million miles away from Earth on June 06.

The asteroid projected to be&nbsp;3.85 million miles away from the Earth is nearly the size of an aeroplane and will pass the planet on June 04.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spacex-becomes-first-commercial-company-to-launch-nasa-astronauts-302454">Also read:&nbsp;SpaceX becomes first commercial company to launch NASA astronauts</a>

An asteroid the size of a house, 52 ft., will pass from 2.78 million miles away on June 05.&nbsp;

The last two, are also projected to be the size of aeroplanes and will pass from 3.70 million and 3.18 million miles away on June 06.

While these do not pose any threat to the Earth as of now, NASA is keeping a close tab on these asteroids, and has claimed to have plans ready to handle any situation.

&nbsp;

The year 2020 has brought one big news after another -- all of them have jolted the humans in some way. From coronavirus to Australia bush fire to mass violent protests, the list seems to be growing, and NASA has announced a new addition.

The year 2020 has brought one big news after another -- all of them have jolted the humans in some way. From coronavirus to Australia bush fire to mass violent protests, the list seems to be growing, and NASA has announced a new addition. According to NASA, five giant asteroids are heading towards the Earth in June, with one of them the size of a stadium. Have a look: SpaceX astronauts land safely at International Space Station for NASA According to NASA's asteroid watch, the biggest asteroid headed towards the Earth is 1,100 feet wide, which is roughly the size of a stadium, and will pass from 3.16 million miles away from Earth on June 06. The asteroid projected to be 3.85 million miles away from the Earth is nearly the size of an aeroplane and will pass the planet on June 04. Also read: SpaceX becomes first commercial company to launch NASA astronauts An asteroid the size of a house, 52 ft., will pass from 2.78 million miles away on June 05. The last two, are also projected to be the size of aeroplanes and will pass from 3.70 million and 3.18 million miles away on June 06. While these do not pose any threat to the Earth as of now, NASA is keeping a close tab on these asteroids, and has claimed to have plans ready to handle any situation.

Five asteroids head towards Earth; one the size of stadium

SpaceX has made history with a manned mission to the International Space station. WION's Palki Sharma gets you a report on the many firsts this American aerospace giant has achieved through its latest mission.

Gravitas: SpaceX Space Station mission | New era in space exploration

Space X has made history with its arrival at the international space station. There are many firsts, it's the first commercially developed spacecraft to put Americans into the Earth's orbit, also, it's the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts in nearly a decade. Naturally, SpaceX founder Elon Musk is beaming with happiness.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk must have been a nervous man. He was at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

US President Donald Trump was there too. The privately-built SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stood upright. Ready for launch after two delays due to bad weather.

<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>

Come the time of reckoning, 3:22 eastern daylight time on May 30. The first commercially designed and built spacecraft took off in triumph and&nbsp;Elon Musk was overjoyed.&nbsp;

After a 19-hour journey, and a tense automatic docking sequence. The capsule attached itself to the international space station as&nbsp;the portal opened.

The two NASA astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were welcomed by the station's crew. This crewed mission has created history.

It's the first time a commercially developed spacecraft has put Americans in space. For all these years space was a hegemony of NASA in the US.

Now, Earth's orbit has welcomed a private player in SpaceX. Also, it's the first spaceflight with NASA astronauts that took-off from US soil in nine years.

Since 2011, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft.&nbsp;

Naturally, the US President was all praise&nbsp;for the successful all-American mission, he said: "We have created the envy of the world, and will soon be landing on mars and will soon have the greatest weapons ever imagined in history -- I've already seen designs, and even I can't believe it. The United States has regained our place of prestige as the world leader. As has often been stated, you can't be number one on earth if you are number two in space."

The last time NASA launched astronauts into space aboard a brand new vehicle was 40 years ago. That was at the start of the space shuttle program.

For Musk -- the launch represents another milestone. It is the first time a reusable rocket has been deployed for a space mission. This makes spaceflight less costly and more frequent.

This could pave the way for civilians -- to hop on a ride to space. &nbsp;For now, the two NASA astronauts have begun their month long stay in the orbital laboratory.

Space X has made history with its arrival at the international space station. There are many firsts, it's the first commercially developed spacecraft to put Americans into the Earth's orbit, also, it's the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts in nearly a decade.

Space X has made history with its arrival at the international space station. There are many firsts, it's the first commercially developed spacecraft to put Americans into the Earth's orbit, also, it's the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts in nearly a decade. Naturally, SpaceX founder Elon Musk is beaming with happiness. SpaceX founder Elon Musk must have been a nervous man. He was at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. US President Donald Trump was there too. The privately-built SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stood upright. Ready for launch after two delays due to bad weather. Come the time of reckoning, 3:22 eastern daylight time on May 30. The first commercially designed and built spacecraft took off in triumph and Elon Musk was overjoyed. After a 19-hour journey, and a tense automatic docking sequence. The capsule attached itself to the international space station as the portal opened. The two NASA astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were welcomed by the station's crew. This crewed mission has created history. It's the first time a commercially developed spacecraft has put Americans in space. For all these years space was a hegemony of NASA in the US. Now, Earth's orbit has welcomed a private player in SpaceX. Also, it's the first spaceflight with NASA astronauts that took-off from US soil in nine years. Since 2011, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft. Naturally, the US President was all praise for the successful all-American mission, he said: "We have created the envy of the world, and will soon be landing on mars and will soon have the greatest weapons ever imagined in history -- I've already seen designs, and even I can't believe it. The United States has regained our place of prestige as the world leader. As has often been stated, you can't be number one on earth if you are number two in space." The last time NASA launched astronauts into space aboard a brand new vehicle was 40 years ago. That was at the start of the space shuttle program. For Musk -- the launch represents another milestone. It is the first time a reusable rocket has been deployed for a space mission. This makes spaceflight less costly and more frequent. This could pave the way for civilians -- to hop on a ride to space. For now, the two NASA astronauts have begun their month long stay in the orbital laboratory.

SpaceX becomes first commercial company to launch NASA astronauts

After the launch of&nbsp;Crew Dragon, Donald Trump addressed the attendees in the room and said&nbsp;the United States had regained its place as the world’s leader in space, that US female astronauts will be the first to reach the moon, US&nbsp;astronauts would be the first ones to land on Mars soon. He also claimed that Washington would soon have “the greatest weapons ever imagined in history.”

As Donald Trump made the comment,&nbsp;Vladimir Ustimenko, spokesman for Roscosmos,&nbsp;Russia’s space agency, took to Twitter to describe Trump's comments as nothing but mere hysteria.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spacexs-astronaut-riding-dragon-arrives-at-space-station-302203">Also read:&nbsp;SpaceX's astronaut-riding Dragon arrives at space station</a>

"The hysteria that arose after the successful launch of the Crew Dragon ship is not very clear. What happened was to happen a long time ago. Now, not only Russians will fly to the ISS, but also Americans. So that's great!,"&nbsp; he tweeted.

"It is very important to have at least two possibilities to reach the station. After all, it’s not enough ... Everything happened in space, and you must have at least two transport systems capable of ensuring the presence of crews of different countries on board the ISS," he added.

Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin also took to Twitter to congratulate&nbsp;NASA chief Jim Bridenstine for the success. “Bravo! I know how anxious you were for this major event to become a success,” he wrote.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trampoline-is-working-musk-taunts-russian-space-agency-chief-302172">Also read:&nbsp;'Trampoline is working': Musk taunts Russian space agency chief</a>

Rogozin, however, joked and said he appreciated the joke made by Elon Musk, as a reply to&nbsp;his joke that he made in 2014 that the United States should try using a trampoline to get to the ISS. Elon Musk had replied to the 2014 joke by saying, "the trampoline is working”.

Ustimenko said Russia is&nbsp;planning to test two new rockets this year and will be&nbsp;resuming its lunar programme next years.

"This year we will test two new missiles, and next year we will resume our Lunar program. It will be interesting!," he confirmed through his tweet.

After the launch of Crew Dragon, Donald Trump addressed the attendees in the room and said the United States had regained its place as the world’s leader in space, that US female astronauts will be the first to reach the moon, US astronauts would be the first ones to land on Mars soon.

After the launch of Crew Dragon, Donald Trump addressed the attendees in the room and said the United States had regained its place as the world’s leader in space, that US female astronauts will be the first to reach the moon, US astronauts would be the first ones to land on Mars soon. He also claimed that Washington would soon have “the greatest weapons ever imagined in history.” As Donald Trump made the comment, Vladimir Ustimenko, spokesman for Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency, took to Twitter to describe Trump's comments as nothing but mere hysteria. Also read: SpaceX's astronaut-riding Dragon arrives at space station "The hysteria that arose after the successful launch of the Crew Dragon ship is not very clear. What happened was to happen a long time ago. Now, not only Russians will fly to the ISS, but also Americans. So that's great!," he tweeted. "It is very important to have at least two possibilities to reach the station. After all, it’s not enough ... Everything happened in space, and you must have at least two transport systems capable of ensuring the presence of crews of different countries on board the ISS," he added. Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin also took to Twitter to congratulate NASA chief Jim Bridenstine for the success. “Bravo! I know how anxious you were for this major event to become a success,” he wrote. Also read: 'Trampoline is working': Musk taunts Russian space agency chief Rogozin, however, joked and said he appreciated the joke made by Elon Musk, as a reply to his joke that he made in 2014 that the United States should try using a trampoline to get to the ISS. Elon Musk had replied to the 2014 joke by saying, "the trampoline is working”. Ustimenko said Russia is planning to test two new rockets this year and will be resuming its lunar programme next years. "This year we will test two new missiles, and next year we will resume our Lunar program. It will be interesting!," he confirmed through his tweet.

Trampoline is working, hysteria is not; Russian space agency taunts Donald Trump

NASA astronauts entered the International Space Station on Sunday after a landmark 19-hour journey on the first crewed US spacecraft in nearly a decade

NASA's 1st human spaceflight from US soil in a decade

Elon Musk's private rocket company SpaceX is set for a repeat attempt at launching two Americans into orbit&nbsp;from Florida for a mission that would mark the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years.

The mission's first launch try on Wednesday was called off with less than 17 minutes remaining on the countdown clock due to stormy weather around the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. The second try would be undertaken on Saturday (US time).

The forecast for Saturday is likewise precarious. Mission managers plan to make an earlier decision on weather hazards in a bid to avoid unnecessarily wearing out the crew with another suit-up and full day of launch preparations.

Barring weather or other unforeseen problems, the 24-storey-tall SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is due to lift off at 3:22 pm EDT, propelling astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken aloft on a 19-hour ride to the International Space Station.

They will be carried there inside the newly designed Crew Dragon capsule, making its first flight into orbit with humans aboard.

The launch pad is the same one used by NASA's final space shuttle flight, piloted by Hurley, in 2011. Since then, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft.

For Musk, the launch represents another milestone for the reusable rockets his company pioneered to make spaceflight less costly and frequent. And it would mark the first time that commercially developed space vehicles -- owned and operated by a private entity rather than NASA -- have carried Americans into orbit.

The last time NASA launched astronauts into space aboard a brand new vehicle was 40 years ago at the start of the shuttle programme.

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence visited the Kennedy Space Center three days ago for the first launch attempt. Trump said he plans to return for Saturday's retry.

If the mission is scrubbed again, the next launch window would be Sunday afternoon, with weather forecasts appearing somewhat more favourable for that day.

(with inputs from Reuters)

Elon Musk's private rocket company SpaceX is set for a repeat attempt at launching two Americans into orbit from Florida for a mission that would mark the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years.

Elon Musk's private rocket company SpaceX is set for a repeat attempt at launching two Americans into orbit from Florida for a mission that would mark the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years. The mission's first launch try on Wednesday was called off with less than 17 minutes remaining on the countdown clock due to stormy weather around the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. The second try would be undertaken on Saturday (US time). The forecast for Saturday is likewise precarious. Mission managers plan to make an earlier decision on weather hazards in a bid to avoid unnecessarily wearing out the crew with another suit-up and full day of launch preparations. Barring weather or other unforeseen problems, the 24-storey-tall SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is due to lift off at 3:22 pm EDT, propelling astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken aloft on a 19-hour ride to the International Space Station. They will be carried there inside the newly designed Crew Dragon capsule, making its first flight into orbit with humans aboard. The launch pad is the same one used by NASA's final space shuttle flight, piloted by Hurley, in 2011. Since then, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft. For Musk, the launch represents another milestone for the reusable rockets his company pioneered to make spaceflight less costly and frequent. And it would mark the first time that commercially developed space vehicles -- owned and operated by a private entity rather than NASA -- have carried Americans into orbit. The last time NASA launched astronauts into space aboard a brand new vehicle was 40 years ago at the start of the shuttle programme. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence visited the Kennedy Space Center three days ago for the first launch attempt. Trump said he plans to return for Saturday's retry. If the mission is scrubbed again, the next launch window would be Sunday afternoon, with weather forecasts appearing somewhat more favourable for that day. (with inputs from Reuters)

NASA, SpaceX to try again for landmark launch of two astronauts from Florida

SpaceX, the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, launched two Americans into orbit from Florida on Saturday in a landmark mission marking the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years.

SpaceX, the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, launched two Americans into orbit from Florida on Saturday in a landmark mission marking the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center at 3:22 p.m. EDT (1922 GMT), launching Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on a 19-hour ride aboard the company's newly designed Crew Dragon capsule bound for the International Space Station. Just before liftoff, Hurley said, “SpaceX, we’re going for launch. Let’s light this candle,” paraphrasing the famous comment uttered on the launch pad in 1961 by Alan Shepard, the first American flown into space. Minutes after launch, the first-stage booster rocket of the Falcon 9 separated from the upper second-stage rocket and flew itself back to Earth to descend safely onto a landing platform floating in the Atlantic. High above the Earth, the Crew Dragon jettisoned moments later from the second-stage rocket, sending the capsule on its way to the space station. The exhilarating spectacle of the rocket soaring flawlessly into the heavens came as a welcome triumph for a nation gripped by racially-charged civil unrest as well as ongoing fear and economic upheaval from the coronavirus pandemic. The Falcon 9 took off from the same launch pad used by NASA's final space shuttle flight, piloted by Hurley, in 2011. Since then, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft. “It's incredible, the power, the technology,” said U.S. President Donald Trump, who was at Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in Florida for the launch. “That was a beautiful sight to see.” The mission's first launch attempt on Wednesday was called off with less than 17 minutes remaining on the countdown clock. Weather again threatened Saturday's launch, but cleared in time to proceed with the mission. Spaceflight milestones NASA chief Jim Bridenstine has said resuming launches of American astronauts on American-made rockets from US soil is the space agency's top priority. "I'm breathing a sigh of relief, but I will also tell you I'm not gonna celebrate until Bob and Doug are home safely." Bridenstine said. For Musk, the launch represents another milestone for the reusable rockets his company pioneered to make spaceflight less costly and more frequent. And it marks the first time commercially developed space vehicles - owned and operated by a private entity rather than NASA - have carried Americans into orbit. The last time NASA launched astronauts into space aboard a brand new vehicle was 40 years ago at the start of the space shuttle program. Musk, the South African-born high-tech entrepreneur who made his fortune in Silicon Valley, is also chief executive of electric carmaker and battery manufacturer Tesla Inc. He founded Hawthorne, California-based SpaceX, formally known as Space Exploration Technologies, in 2002. Hurley, 53, and Behnken, 49, NASA employees under contract to fly with SpaceX, are expected to remain at the space station for several weeks, assisting a short-handed crew aboard the orbital laboratory. Boeing Co, producing its own launch system in competition with SpaceX, is expected to fly its CST-100 Starliner vehicle with astronauts aboard for the first time next year. NASA has awarded nearly $8 billion combined to SpaceX and Boeing for development of their rival rockets. Trump also hailed the launch as a major advance toward the goal of eventually sending humans to Mars. He was joined at the viewing by Musk, as well as Vice President Mike Pence, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Florida congressman Matt Gaetz and Senator Rick Scott. Earlier on Saturday, the crew bid goodbye to their families. Prior to climbing into a specially designed Tesla automobile for the ride to the launch site, Behnken told his young son, "Be good for mom. Make her life easy.” During the drive, Behnken and Hurley passed former astronaut Garrett Reisman who held a sign saying, "Take me with you."

NASA resumes human spaceflight from US soil with historic SpaceX launch

In 2014, Russian space agency chief Dmitry Rogozin took a dig at NASA for the lack of US manned flight programme and said, they will "deliver its astronauts to the ISS by using a trampoline".

After six years, Elon Musk and NASA launched two Americans into orbit from Florida on Saturday in a landmark mission. To which Musk responded, "The trampoline is working." SpaceX CEO made this statement alongside NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine. Both men laughed after that. "It's an inside joke," Musk added.

After this launch, Musk's SpaceX became the first private rocket company to send humans into orbit. &nbsp;

Netizens began trolling Dmitry Rogozin for his remarks he made years ago and they compared it to the situation after launch.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Dmitry Rogozin in 2014: "US should use a trampoline to get into space" <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> 2020: "The trampoline is working 🤣" <a href="https://t.co/OKu4JF5i0M">pic.twitter.com/OKu4JF5i0M</a>
— Pranay Pathole (@PPathole) <a href="https://twitter.com/PPathole/status/1267000614002683906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“The trampoline is working” <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> joking about a 2014 zing from Roscosmos’ Dmitry Rogozin, “After analyzing the sanctions against our space industry, I suggest to the USA to bring their astronauts to the International Space Station using a trampoline” 😂
— Everyday Astronaut (@Erdayastronaut) <a href="https://twitter.com/Erdayastronaut/status/1266866641704534021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
How do you like it, Dmitry Rogozin?
— Донна Роза де Альвадорец (@deAlvadorec) <a href="https://twitter.com/deAlvadorec/status/1266653331080036352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

After the launch of Falcon 9, Rogozin remained conspicuously silent but his spokesman was forced to react.

"We don't really understand the hysteria sparked by the successful launch of a Crew Dragon spacecraft," spokesman Vladimir Ustimenko said on Twitter.&nbsp;

"What should have happened a long time ago happened," he added.

While Sergey Krikalev,&nbsp;&nbsp;Roscosmos executive director for crewed space programmes, congratulated US for the launch.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Roscosmos Executive Director on Crewed Space Programs Sergey Krikalev address on the successful Falcon 9 carrier rocket launch with Crew Dragon crewed spacecraft <a href="https://t.co/25pDIdIXLe">pic.twitter.com/25pDIdIXLe</a>
— РОСКОСМОС (@roscosmos) <a href="https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1266821703478411265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In 2014, Russian space agency chief Dmitry Rogozin took a dig at NASA for the lack of US manned flight programme and said, they will "deliver its astronauts to the ISS by using a trampoline".

In 2014, Russian space agency chief Dmitry Rogozin took a dig at NASA for the lack of US manned flight programme and said, they will "deliver its astronauts to the ISS by using a trampoline". After six years, Elon Musk and NASA launched two Americans into orbit from Florida on Saturday in a landmark mission. To which Musk responded, "The trampoline is working." SpaceX CEO made this statement alongside NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine. Both men laughed after that. "It's an inside joke," Musk added. After this launch, Musk's SpaceX became the first private rocket company to send humans into orbit. Netizens began trolling Dmitry Rogozin for his remarks he made years ago and they compared it to the situation after launch. Dmitry Rogozin in 2014: "US should use a trampoline to get into space" @elonmusk 2020: "The trampoline is working 🤣" pic.twitter.com/OKu4JF5i0M — Pranay Pathole (@PPathole) May 31, 2020 × “The trampoline is working” @elonmusk joking about a 2014 zing from Roscosmos’ Dmitry Rogozin, “After analyzing the sanctions against our space industry, I suggest to the USA to bring their astronauts to the International Space Station using a trampoline” 😂 — Everyday Astronaut (@Erdayastronaut) May 30, 2020 × How do you like it, Dmitry Rogozin? — Донна Роза де Альвадорец (@deAlvadorec) May 30, 2020 × After the launch of Falcon 9, Rogozin remained conspicuously silent but his spokesman was forced to react. "We don't really understand the hysteria sparked by the successful launch of a Crew Dragon spacecraft," spokesman Vladimir Ustimenko said on Twitter. "What should have happened a long time ago happened," he added. While Sergey Krikalev, Roscosmos executive director for crewed space programmes, congratulated US for the launch. Roscosmos Executive Director on Crewed Space Programs Sergey Krikalev address on the successful Falcon 9 carrier rocket launch with Crew Dragon crewed spacecraft pic.twitter.com/25pDIdIXLe — РОСКОСМОС (@roscosmos) May 30, 2020 ×

'Trampoline is working': Musk taunts Russian space agency chief

A prototype of SpaceX’s upcoming heavy-lift rocket, Starship, exploded on Friday during ground tests in south&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;as Elon Musk’s space company pursued an aggressive development schedule to fly the launch vehicle for the first time.

The testing explosion was unrelated to SpaceX’s upcoming launch of two Nasa astronauts from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center using a different rocket system, the Falcon 9 with the Crew Dragon capsule fixed on top.

<img alt="SpaceX" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6e7bf39c-1f85-4d95-907f-f05790c4ee61" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/3500%20%281%29.jpg" />

A prototype of SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft is seen in Boca Chia, Texas, in September. (Image courtesy: Reuters)

A prototype vanished in an explosive fireball at SpaceX’s Boca Chica test site on Friday, as seen in a livestream recorded by the website Nasa Spaceflight. There was no immediate indication of injuries.&nbsp;SpaceX&nbsp;did not&nbsp;respond to a request for comment.

Previously,&nbsp;SpaceX's historic launch to International Space Station was postponed on May 28 due to the bad weather. The decision was taken 20 minutes before the launch. &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spacexs-crewed-mission-postponed-as-historic-launch-hit-by-bad-weather-301435">SpaceX's crewed mission postponed as historic launch hit by bad weather</a>

Starship, a rocket standing 394 feet tall, is designed to carry humans and 100 tons of cargo to the moon and Mars. It is the space company’s planned next-generation fully reusable launch vehicle, the center of Musk’s ambitions to make human space travel affordable.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A Starship prototype just exploded in Boca Chica, Texas during static fire testing. SpaceX was granted an FAA license yesterday to conduct suborbital flights, not sure when those first test flights will happen. Video/live feed from <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASASpaceflight</a> <a href="https://t.co/dqnQv1lqBV">pic.twitter.com/dqnQv1lqBV</a>
— Joey Roulette (@joroulette) <a href="https://twitter.com/joroulette/status/1266444972573818881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The south Texas facility sits beside a small neighborhood that SpaceX has been trying to buy up for testing space, but some residents have pushed back on the company’s offers and have accused Musk’s attorneys of unrealistically low property appraisals.

SpaceX was among the three companies awarded a combined $1bn by Nasa last month to develop rocket systems capable of ferrying cargo and humans to the moon. SpaceX proposed Starship for the award.

The FAA granted the space company a license Thursday to begin Starship’s first suborbital flight tests, though it was unclear when those tests would occur.

A prototype of SpaceX’s upcoming heavy-lift rocket, Starship, exploded on Friday during ground tests in south Texas as Elon Musk’s space company pursued an aggressive development schedule to fly the launch vehicle for the first time.

A prototype of SpaceX’s upcoming heavy-lift rocket, Starship, exploded on Friday during ground tests in south Texas as Elon Musk’s space company pursued an aggressive development schedule to fly the launch vehicle for the first time. The testing explosion was unrelated to SpaceX’s upcoming launch of two Nasa astronauts from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center using a different rocket system, the Falcon 9 with the Crew Dragon capsule fixed on top. A prototype of SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft is seen in Boca Chia, Texas, in September. (Image courtesy: Reuters) A prototype vanished in an explosive fireball at SpaceX’s Boca Chica test site on Friday, as seen in a livestream recorded by the website Nasa Spaceflight. There was no immediate indication of injuries. SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment. Previously, SpaceX's historic launch to International Space Station was postponed on May 28 due to the bad weather. The decision was taken 20 minutes before the launch. Also read: SpaceX's crewed mission postponed as historic launch hit by bad weather Starship, a rocket standing 394 feet tall, is designed to carry humans and 100 tons of cargo to the moon and Mars. It is the space company’s planned next-generation fully reusable launch vehicle, the center of Musk’s ambitions to make human space travel affordable. A Starship prototype just exploded in Boca Chica, Texas during static fire testing. SpaceX was granted an FAA license yesterday to conduct suborbital flights, not sure when those first test flights will happen. Video/live feed from @NASASpaceflight pic.twitter.com/dqnQv1lqBV — Joey Roulette (@joroulette) May 29, 2020 × The south Texas facility sits beside a small neighborhood that SpaceX has been trying to buy up for testing space, but some residents have pushed back on the company’s offers and have accused Musk’s attorneys of unrealistically low property appraisals. SpaceX was among the three companies awarded a combined $1bn by Nasa last month to develop rocket systems capable of ferrying cargo and humans to the moon. SpaceX proposed Starship for the award. The FAA granted the space company a license Thursday to begin Starship’s first suborbital flight tests, though it was unclear when those tests would occur.

SpaceX's Starship rocket prototype explodes during test

SpaceX's historic launch to International Space Station was postponed due to the bad weather. The decision was taken 20 minutes before the launch. &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-and-spacex-brace-themselves-for-a-historic-launch-301086">NASA and SpaceX brace themselves for a historic launch!</a>

The NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were strapped in their Crew Dragon capsule and the launchpad platform retracted and rocket fueling underway when launch director Mike Taylor announced, "Unfortunately, we are not going to launch today."&nbsp;

According to officials, lightning and other factors were the reasons for the cancelled launch.&nbsp;

SpaceX will try to re-launch Falcon 9 on Saturday. If they get successful they not only launch the first crewed mission from US soil in almost a decade but also become the privately-owned company to achieve this feat.&nbsp;

Earlier, the manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, Kathy Lueders, mission team concluded the launch readiness review for the upcoming mission.

US President Donald Trump, who had come to witness the launch, had to head back to the White House after the launch was called off.&nbsp;

The rocket was set to be launched on &nbsp;4:33 pm (2033 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A. Neil Armstrong and his Apollo 11 crewmates lifted off from the same spot on their historic journey to the Moon.

The mission is taking place amid coronavirus pandemic so the crew has been quarantined for the past two weeks.&nbsp;

SpaceX's historic launch to International Space Station was postponed due to the bad weather. The decision was taken 20 minutes before the launch. Also read: NASA and SpaceX brace themselves for a historic launch!

SpaceX's historic launch to International Space Station was postponed due to the bad weather. The decision was taken 20 minutes before the launch. Also read: NASA and SpaceX brace themselves for a historic launch! The NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were strapped in their Crew Dragon capsule and the launchpad platform retracted and rocket fueling underway when launch director Mike Taylor announced, "Unfortunately, we are not going to launch today." According to officials, lightning and other factors were the reasons for the cancelled launch. SpaceX will try to re-launch Falcon 9 on Saturday. If they get successful they not only launch the first crewed mission from US soil in almost a decade but also become the privately-owned company to achieve this feat. Earlier, the manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, Kathy Lueders, mission team concluded the launch readiness review for the upcoming mission. US President Donald Trump, who had come to witness the launch, had to head back to the White House after the launch was called off. The rocket was set to be launched on 4:33 pm (2033 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A. Neil Armstrong and his Apollo 11 crewmates lifted off from the same spot on their historic journey to the Moon. The mission is taking place amid coronavirus pandemic so the crew has been quarantined for the past two weeks.

SpaceX's crewed mission postponed as historic launch hit by bad weather

America's international space organization NASA has revealed new information on how planets were formed.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-expecting-applications-to-further-expeditions-to-the-moon-mars-and-beyond-280296">Also Read:&nbsp;Need some space? NASA has got the job for you</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/record-breaking-us-astronaut-christina-koch-returns-to-earth-after-328-days-279063">NASA</a> said a spacecraft flew past the Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth in January last year which showed "icy remnants of solar system formation in the vast region beyond the orbit of Neptune."

“Arrokoth is the most distant, most primitive and most pristine object ever explored by spacecraft, so we knew it would have a unique story to tell,” NASA's Alan Stern said, adding," It’s teaching us how planetesimals formed, and we believe the result marks a significant advance in understanding overall planetesimal and planet formation.”

Remarkably, NASA showed a doughnut-shaped image as&nbsp;Arrokoth had two connected lobes, a smooth surface and a uniform composition, indicating it was likely pristine.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/science-trending-nasa-telescope-nasa-bids-farewell-to-iconic-spitzer-space-telescope-277732">Also Read: NASA bids farewell to iconic Spitzer Space Telescope&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;

“This is truly an exciting find for what is already a very successful and history-making mission,” said Lori Glaze, director of NASA's Planetary Science Division.

After New Horizons spacecraft took the pictures, NASA scientists brought out a picture to show Arrokoth would have formed. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“Just as fossils tell us how species evolved on Earth, planetesimals tell us how planets formed in space,” said William McKinnon, a New Horizons co-investigator, adding,"Arrokoth looks the way it does not because it formed through violent collisions, but in more of an intricate dance, in which its component objects slowly orbited each other before coming together."

"The uniform colour and composition of Arrokoth’s surface shows the KBO formed from nearby material, as local cloud collapse models predict, rather than a mishmash of matter from more separated parts of the nebula,"&nbsp;the space agency said.

NASA said the Arrokoth's smooth surface indicated it was well preserved since the end of the planet formation era. The agency informed that New Horizons continues to carry out more observations of additional Kuiper Belt objects and is now 7.1 billion kilometres&nbsp;from Earth and speeding deeper into the Kuiper Belt at nearly 50,400 kilometres per hour.

America's international space organization NASA has revealed new information on how planets were formed. Also Read: Need some space? NASA has got the job for you NASA said a spacecraft flew past the Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth in January last year which showed "icy remnants of solar system formation in the vast region beyond the orbit of Neptune.

America's international space organization NASA has revealed new information on how planets were formed. Also Read: Need some space? NASA has got the job for you NASA said a spacecraft flew past the Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth in January last year which showed "icy remnants of solar system formation in the vast region beyond the orbit of Neptune." “Arrokoth is the most distant, most primitive and most pristine object ever explored by spacecraft, so we knew it would have a unique story to tell,” NASA's Alan Stern said, adding," It’s teaching us how planetesimals formed, and we believe the result marks a significant advance in understanding overall planetesimal and planet formation.” Remarkably, NASA showed a doughnut-shaped image as Arrokoth had two connected lobes, a smooth surface and a uniform composition, indicating it was likely pristine. Also Read: NASA bids farewell to iconic Spitzer Space Telescope “This is truly an exciting find for what is already a very successful and history-making mission,” said Lori Glaze, director of NASA's Planetary Science Division. After New Horizons spacecraft took the pictures, NASA scientists brought out a picture to show Arrokoth would have formed. “Just as fossils tell us how species evolved on Earth, planetesimals tell us how planets formed in space,” said William McKinnon, a New Horizons co-investigator, adding,"Arrokoth looks the way it does not because it formed through violent collisions, but in more of an intricate dance, in which its component objects slowly orbited each other before coming together." "The uniform colour and composition of Arrokoth’s surface shows the KBO formed from nearby material, as local cloud collapse models predict, rather than a mishmash of matter from more separated parts of the nebula," the space agency said. NASA said the Arrokoth's smooth surface indicated it was well preserved since the end of the planet formation era. The agency informed that New Horizons continues to carry out more observations of additional Kuiper Belt objects and is now 7.1 billion kilometres from Earth and speeding deeper into the Kuiper Belt at nearly 50,400 kilometres per hour.

Doughnut in space: NASA unveils most distant object ever visited

SpaceX on Wednesday is set to launch two American astronauts, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, to the International Space Station (ISS) in a mission called Demo-2.

This would be the first crewed space flight from US soil in nine years and a crucial step towards ending American dependence on Russian rockets.

ISS is currently housing two Russians and one other American.&nbsp;

The Takeoff:&nbsp;

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule carrying astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken and its Falcon 9 rocket is due to lift off at 4:33 PM&nbsp;EDT (2033 GMT) on Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Pad 39A is the same launchpad that was used by NASA’s last space shuttle mission in 2011. 
 
<img alt="NASA" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="84859c95-ecb1-4417-8bc9-9d79729e863d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/NASA.jpg" />

NASA will have input throughout the countdown, but in the end, it will be SpaceX giving the final go&nbsp;with NASA's concurrence. NASA will stream the launch live on its website, YouTube and other platforms. 
 
Crew Dragon will catch up with the station on Thursday at an altitude of 400 kilometers.

What is SpaceX?

SpaceX is the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. The launch represents another milestone for the reusable rockets his company pioneered to make spaceflight less costly and frequent.&nbsp;

SpaceX made history in 2012 when it became the first private entity to dock a cargo capsule to the ISS. If Crew Dragon mission, baptized Demo-2, is successful SpaceX will be the first private company ever to deliver astronauts to the ISS.

Who are the Astronauts?

Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley are the astronauts who will be aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule when it launches on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Hurley, 53, and Behnken, 49, NASA employees under contract to fly with SpaceX, are expected to remain at the space station for several months, assisting a short-handed crew aboard the orbital laboratory.

Behnken and Hurley have been in strict quarantine since May 13 because of the coronavirus pandemic, but they said their actual isolation began as far back as mid-March. 
 
<img alt="Astraunauts" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0892fb1e-71a6-4deb-9bef-7f3ecc4ba509" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Astraunauts.jpg" />

Behnken and Hurley have been training for five years on the Crew Dragon capsule, which features touchscreens as opposed to the switches and buttons of the Apollo capsules of the 1960s.

At the end of the mission, Crew Dragon will splashdown in the ocean like the Apollo capsules did. 
 
President Trump&nbsp;to Attend the Launch

President Donald Trump will become&nbsp;the third US leader to watch the take-off of a human space flight in person, after Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton.&nbsp;

President Trump is&nbsp;trying to reaffirm American domination of space. He has ordered NASA to return to the moon by 2024 and to prepare missions to Mars,&nbsp;an unlikely timetable but one that has given the storied space agency a boost. 
 
Vice President Mike Pence, who is chairman of the National Space Council, also plans to attend Wednesday's launch.&nbsp;

Why Is The Mission Important to NASA and the US?

A successful mission would achieve NASA's&nbsp;top priority&nbsp;of resuming launches of “American astronauts on American rockets from American soil.”&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="US" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f95b5023-8bd2-457d-9146-dfee1579dff5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/America.jpg" />

Mission's success is a point of national pride for the United States, which has depended on Russian rockets to reach space since its last crewed flight in 2011. If all goes well, the Crew Dragon could then begin regular flights from the United States to the ISS. 
 
Public-Private Partnership

The mission would also mark the first time that commercially developed space vehicles, owned and operated by a private entity rather than NASA, have carried Americans into orbit.

NASA has awarded contracts worth 3.1 billion dollars to SpaceX and 4.9 billion dollars to Boeing in a bid to give the US independent access to space once again.

SpaceX and Boeing are being called upon to carry out six crewed voyages each to the ISS over the next few years. 
 
(With inputs from Reuters and AFP)

SpaceX on Wednesday is set to launch two American astronauts, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, to the International Space Station (ISS) in a mission called Demo-2. This would be the first crewed space flight from US soil in nine years and a crucial step towards ending American dependence on Russian rockets.

SpaceX on Wednesday is set to launch two American astronauts, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, to the International Space Station (ISS) in a mission called Demo-2. This would be the first crewed space flight from US soil in nine years and a crucial step towards ending American dependence on Russian rockets. ISS is currently housing two Russians and one other American. The Takeoff: SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule carrying astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken and its Falcon 9 rocket is due to lift off at 4:33 PM EDT (2033 GMT) on Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Pad 39A is the same launchpad that was used by NASA’s last space shuttle mission in 2011. NASA will have input throughout the countdown, but in the end, it will be SpaceX giving the final go with NASA's concurrence. NASA will stream the launch live on its website, YouTube and other platforms. Crew Dragon will catch up with the station on Thursday at an altitude of 400 kilometers. What is SpaceX? SpaceX is the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. The launch represents another milestone for the reusable rockets his company pioneered to make spaceflight less costly and frequent. SpaceX made history in 2012 when it became the first private entity to dock a cargo capsule to the ISS. If Crew Dragon mission, baptized Demo-2, is successful SpaceX will be the first private company ever to deliver astronauts to the ISS. Who are the Astronauts? Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley are the astronauts who will be aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule when it launches on Wednesday. Hurley, 53, and Behnken, 49, NASA employees under contract to fly with SpaceX, are expected to remain at the space station for several months, assisting a short-handed crew aboard the orbital laboratory. Behnken and Hurley have been in strict quarantine since May 13 because of the coronavirus pandemic, but they said their actual isolation began as far back as mid-March. Behnken and Hurley have been training for five years on the Crew Dragon capsule, which features touchscreens as opposed to the switches and buttons of the Apollo capsules of the 1960s. At the end of the mission, Crew Dragon will splashdown in the ocean like the Apollo capsules did. President Trump to Attend the Launch President Donald Trump will become the third US leader to watch the take-off of a human space flight in person, after Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. President Trump is trying to reaffirm American domination of space. He has ordered NASA to return to the moon by 2024 and to prepare missions to Mars, an unlikely timetable but one that has given the storied space agency a boost. Vice President Mike Pence, who is chairman of the National Space Council, also plans to attend Wednesday's launch. Why Is The Mission Important to NASA and the US? A successful mission would achieve NASA's top priority of resuming launches of “American astronauts on American rockets from American soil.” Mission's success is a point of national pride for the United States, which has depended on Russian rockets to reach space since its last crewed flight in 2011. If all goes well, the Crew Dragon could then begin regular flights from the United States to the ISS. Public-Private Partnership The mission would also mark the first time that commercially developed space vehicles, owned and operated by a private entity rather than NASA, have carried Americans into orbit. NASA has awarded contracts worth 3.1 billion dollars to SpaceX and 4.9 billion dollars to Boeing in a bid to give the US independent access to space once again. SpaceX and Boeing are being called upon to carry out six crewed voyages each to the ISS over the next few years. (With inputs from Reuters and AFP)

SpaceX set for historic launch with NASA's astronauts on board: All you need to know

SpaceX, the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, was set to launch two Americans into orbit on Wednesday from Florida on a mission that would mark the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was due to lift off from the Kennedy Space Center at 4:33 p.m. EDT (2033 GMT), launching Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on a 19-hour ride aboard the company's newly designed Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station.

They were to blast off from the same launch pad used by NASA's final space shuttle flight, piloted by Hurley, in 2011. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were scheduled to visit Florida's Cape Canaveral to view the launch in person.

Prospects for an on-time liftoff hinged on the weather, with forecasters late on Monday citing a 40% chance that storms over eastern Florida could force a postponement. If that happens, the next launch window would be Saturday afternoon.

A successful mission would achieve NASA's top priority, as articulated by agency chief Jim Bridenstine, of resuming launches of "American astronauts on American rockets from American soil." Over the past nine years, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft.

For Musk, Thursday's launch represents another milestone for the reusable rockets his company pioneered to make spaceflight less costly and frequent. It would also mark the first time that commercially developed space vehicles - owned and operated by a private entity rather than NASA - have carried Americans into orbit.

The last time NASA launched astronauts into space aboard a brand new vehicle was 40 years ago at the start of the shuttle program. 
Musk, the South African-born high-tech entrepreneur who made his fortune in Silicon Valley, is also the CEO of electric carmaker and battery manufacturer Tesla Inc.

Hurley, 53, and Behnken, 49, NASA employees under contract to fly with SpaceX, are expected to remain at the space station for several weeks, assisting a short-handed crew aboard the orbital laboratory.

Aerospace giant Boeing Co, producing its own space launch vehicles in competition with SpaceX for NASA business, is expected to launch its CST-100 Starliner vehicle with astronauts aboard for the first time next year.

NASA has awarded nearly $8 billion to SpaceX and Boeing combined for development of the rival space launch systems. 
Bridenstine declared the manned SpaceX flight a "go" last week after NASA and the company convened for final engineering checks.

The Hawthorne, California-based rocket company, founded by Musk in 2002 and formerly known as Space Exploration Technologies, has never previously flown humans into orbit, only cargo.

SpaceX successfully tested Crew Dragon without astronauts last year in its first orbital mission to the space station, but that vehicle was destroyed the following month during a ground test when a valve for its in-flight abort system failed, causing an explosion. The ensuing nine-month investigation ended in January.

SpaceX, the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, was set to launch two Americans into orbit on Wednesday from Florida on a mission that would mark the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years.

SpaceX, the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, was set to launch two Americans into orbit on Wednesday from Florida on a mission that would mark the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was due to lift off from the Kennedy Space Center at 4:33 p.m. EDT (2033 GMT), launching Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on a 19-hour ride aboard the company's newly designed Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station. They were to blast off from the same launch pad used by NASA's final space shuttle flight, piloted by Hurley, in 2011. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were scheduled to visit Florida's Cape Canaveral to view the launch in person. Prospects for an on-time liftoff hinged on the weather, with forecasters late on Monday citing a 40% chance that storms over eastern Florida could force a postponement. If that happens, the next launch window would be Saturday afternoon. A successful mission would achieve NASA's top priority, as articulated by agency chief Jim Bridenstine, of resuming launches of "American astronauts on American rockets from American soil." Over the past nine years, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft. For Musk, Thursday's launch represents another milestone for the reusable rockets his company pioneered to make spaceflight less costly and frequent. It would also mark the first time that commercially developed space vehicles - owned and operated by a private entity rather than NASA - have carried Americans into orbit. The last time NASA launched astronauts into space aboard a brand new vehicle was 40 years ago at the start of the shuttle program. Musk, the South African-born high-tech entrepreneur who made his fortune in Silicon Valley, is also the CEO of electric carmaker and battery manufacturer Tesla Inc. Hurley, 53, and Behnken, 49, NASA employees under contract to fly with SpaceX, are expected to remain at the space station for several weeks, assisting a short-handed crew aboard the orbital laboratory. Aerospace giant Boeing Co, producing its own space launch vehicles in competition with SpaceX for NASA business, is expected to launch its CST-100 Starliner vehicle with astronauts aboard for the first time next year. NASA has awarded nearly $8 billion to SpaceX and Boeing combined for development of the rival space launch systems. Bridenstine declared the manned SpaceX flight a "go" last week after NASA and the company convened for final engineering checks. The Hawthorne, California-based rocket company, founded by Musk in 2002 and formerly known as Space Exploration Technologies, has never previously flown humans into orbit, only cargo. SpaceX successfully tested Crew Dragon without astronauts last year in its first orbital mission to the space station, but that vehicle was destroyed the following month during a ground test when a valve for its in-flight abort system failed, causing an explosion. The ensuing nine-month investigation ended in January.

NASA set to resume human spaceflight from US soil with historic SpaceX launch

Space X's Crew Dragon spacecraft is set to launch on Wednesday and will hover its course to the International Space Station (ISS). The rocket will host two NASA astronauts.&nbsp;

It will be the first since 2011 that the American astronauts on an American rocket will launch on American soil. The mission will be called Demo-2.&nbsp;

According to the manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, Kathy Lueders, mission team concluded the launch readiness review for the upcoming mission.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
SpaceX and <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a> completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities with <a href="https://twitter.com/AstroBehnken?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AstroBehnken</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Astro_Doug?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Astro_Doug</a> ahead of Crew Demo-2 <a href="https://t.co/n3B2BBBmnq">pic.twitter.com/n3B2BBBmnq</a>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1264332725844013056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon will lift off from Launch Complex 39A – the same place Saturn V launched humanity to the Moon and from where the first and final Space Shuttle missions lifted off <a href="https://t.co/wOSsbCRqi7">pic.twitter.com/wOSsbCRqi7</a>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1265060787288043520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Both NASA and SpaceX have shown a green signal for the launch.&nbsp;

Launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft will take place on Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump will watch American astronauts blast into orbit from the Kennedy Space Center for the first time in more than a decade, next week.

This means he would be on the Florida coast on Wednesday to watch the event unfold. The USP of this event, however, is that Elon Musk's SpaceX is the conductor and NASA the customer as businesses begin chauffeuring astronauts to the International Space Station.

Vice President Mike Pence, who is chairman of the National Space Council, also plans to attend Wednesday's launch.&nbsp;

NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will arrive at the ISS, 24 hours after the launch.&nbsp;

Pictures of them in the spacesuit was posted by SpaceX on Instagram. Suit's sleek design left the netizens in awe.&nbsp;

Space X's Crew Dragon spacecraft is set to launch on Wednesday and will hover its course to the International Space Station (ISS). The rocket will host two NASA astronauts.

Space X's Crew Dragon spacecraft is set to launch on Wednesday and will hover its course to the International Space Station (ISS). The rocket will host two NASA astronauts. It will be the first since 2011 that the American astronauts on an American rocket will launch on American soil. The mission will be called Demo-2. According to the manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, Kathy Lueders, mission team concluded the launch readiness review for the upcoming mission. SpaceX and @NASA completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities with @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug ahead of Crew Demo-2 pic.twitter.com/n3B2BBBmnq — SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 23, 2020 × Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon will lift off from Launch Complex 39A – the same place Saturn V launched humanity to the Moon and from where the first and final Space Shuttle missions lifted off pic.twitter.com/wOSsbCRqi7 — SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 25, 2020 × Both NASA and SpaceX have shown a green signal for the launch. Launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft will take place on Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center. President Donald Trump will watch American astronauts blast into orbit from the Kennedy Space Center for the first time in more than a decade, next week. This means he would be on the Florida coast on Wednesday to watch the event unfold. The USP of this event, however, is that Elon Musk's SpaceX is the conductor and NASA the customer as businesses begin chauffeuring astronauts to the International Space Station. Vice President Mike Pence, who is chairman of the National Space Council, also plans to attend Wednesday's launch. NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will arrive at the ISS, 24 hours after the launch. Pictures of them in the spacesuit was posted by SpaceX on Instagram. Suit's sleek design left the netizens in awe.

NASA and SpaceX brace themselves for a historic launch!

NASA is inviting applications for a programme where it'll pay volunteers for spending eight months in isolation.

A six-member crew will be kept in an environment designed to mimic the conditions of potential future Moon and Mars missions, in Russia's capital Moscow.

<img alt="NASA" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5fddff6c-644b-45e0-ac21-8f7d599d9b2d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/200521153053-02-nasa-isolation-mission-exlarge-169.jpg" /> 
The mission facility in Moscow

NASA is looking for healthy individuals between the ages of 30 and 55 who are fluent in both English and Russian.

They must also have a M.S., PhD., M.D. or have completed military officer training. NASA will consider other participants with a bachelor's degree and other qualifications such as military or professional experience.

Participants will be compensated, and there are varying levels of pay depending on whether you're associated with NASA.

It aims to learn about the physiological and psychological effects of isolation and confinement on humans during long-duration missions.

This study builds on a four-month study&nbsp;conducted in 2019.

The SIRIUS-19 analog mission had six participants, two Americans and four Russians, isolated in a metal habitat that acted as their spacecraft, lunar lander and home.

NASA hopes to better understand how long spaceflight journeys and extended exposure to isolation and confinement will affect astronauts on upcoming Artemis missions and eventual trips to Mars.

Artemis is NASA's program to land humans back on the Moon by 2024 in preparation for an eventual trip to Mars.

<ul data-layout="list-hierarchical-xs">
</ul>

NASA is inviting applications for a programme where it'll pay volunteers for spending eight months in isolation. A six-member crew will be kept in an environment designed to mimic the conditions of potential future Moon and Mars missions, in Russia's capital Moscow.

NASA is inviting applications for a programme where it'll pay volunteers for spending eight months in isolation. A six-member crew will be kept in an environment designed to mimic the conditions of potential future Moon and Mars missions, in Russia's capital Moscow. The mission facility in Moscow NASA is looking for healthy individuals between the ages of 30 and 55 who are fluent in both English and Russian. They must also have a M.S., PhD., M.D. or have completed military officer training. NASA will consider other participants with a bachelor's degree and other qualifications such as military or professional experience. Participants will be compensated, and there are varying levels of pay depending on whether you're associated with NASA. It aims to learn about the physiological and psychological effects of isolation and confinement on humans during long-duration missions. This study builds on a four-month study conducted in 2019. The SIRIUS-19 analog mission had six participants, two Americans and four Russians, isolated in a metal habitat that acted as their spacecraft, lunar lander and home. NASA hopes to better understand how long spaceflight journeys and extended exposure to isolation and confinement will affect astronauts on upcoming Artemis missions and eventual trips to Mars. Artemis is NASA's program to land humans back on the Moon by 2024 in preparation for an eventual trip to Mars.

NASA seeking volunteers for paid isolation during 'fake' Mars mission

Images taken by an European observatory claim to show a new planet being formed. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay gets you a report on this historic development.

Gravitas: Is a new planet on its way?

Astronomers&nbsp;have&nbsp;discovered a&nbsp;''first-of-its-kind''&nbsp;object&nbsp;near Jupiter's&nbsp;orbit, which appears to be&nbsp;a&nbsp;cross between an&nbsp;asteroid&nbsp;and&nbsp;a comet.

The Institute for Astronomy at the&nbsp;University of Hawaii's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) has revealed that a new asteroid with a comet-like-tail has been discovered moving in the same orbit travelled by Jupiter around the sun.

These are known as active asteroids and initially appear to be asteroids but later develop activity, such as tails, that are features of comets.

These are usually called Trojan asteroids but it is the first one of its kind to be seen with a comet-like-tail.

The Trojan asteroid was first spotted in June 2019 and dubbed 2019 LD2.

Trojan asteroids follow the same orbit as a planet, but stay either around 60 degrees ahead or 60 degrees behind along the orbit. Earth has at least one Trojan asteroid, and Neptune has dozens. Jupiter has hundreds of thousands.

The Jupiter Trojan asteroids orbit the Sun in two huge swarms, one swarm orbiting ahead of the planet (where 2019 LD2 was found) and one swarm orbiting behind it.

The Trojan asteroids have been captured into these orbits by Jupiter's strong gravity.&nbsp;2019 LD2 is ''first-of-its-kind''&nbsp;because&nbsp;most Jupiter Trojans were captured billions of years ago.

ATLAS is a NASA-funded project using wide-field telescopes to rapidly scan the sky for asteroids that might pose an impact threat to Earth.

&nbsp;

Astronomers have discovered a ''first-of-its-kind'' object near Jupiter's orbit, which appears to be a cross between an asteroid and a comet. The Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) has revealed that a new asteroid with a comet-like-tail has been discovered moving in the same orbit travelled by Jupiter around the sun.

Astronomers have discovered a ''first-of-its-kind'' object near Jupiter's orbit, which appears to be a cross between an asteroid and a comet. The Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) has revealed that a new asteroid with a comet-like-tail has been discovered moving in the same orbit travelled by Jupiter around the sun. These are known as active asteroids and initially appear to be asteroids but later develop activity, such as tails, that are features of comets. These are usually called Trojan asteroids but it is the first one of its kind to be seen with a comet-like-tail. The Trojan asteroid was first spotted in June 2019 and dubbed 2019 LD2. Trojan asteroids follow the same orbit as a planet, but stay either around 60 degrees ahead or 60 degrees behind along the orbit. Earth has at least one Trojan asteroid, and Neptune has dozens. Jupiter has hundreds of thousands. The Jupiter Trojan asteroids orbit the Sun in two huge swarms, one swarm orbiting ahead of the planet (where 2019 LD2 was found) and one swarm orbiting behind it. The Trojan asteroids have been captured into these orbits by Jupiter's strong gravity. 2019 LD2 is ''first-of-its-kind'' because most Jupiter Trojans were captured billions of years ago. ATLAS is a NASA-funded project using wide-field telescopes to rapidly scan the sky for asteroids that might pose an impact threat to Earth.

'First-of-its-kind' asteroid spotted near Jupiter by astronomers

President Donald Trump will watch American astronauts blast into orbit from the Kennedy Space Center for the first time in more than a decade, next week.

This means he would be on the Florida coast on Wednesday to watch the event unfold.

It will be the first time since the space shuttle programme ended in 2011 that US astronauts will launch into space aboard an American rocket from American soil.

The USP of this event, however, is that Elon Musk's SpaceX is the conductor and NASA the customer as businesses begin chauffeuring astronauts to the International Space Station.

Vice President Mike Pence, who is chairman of the National Space Council, also plans to attend Wednesday's launch.&nbsp;

The NASA/SpaceX Commercial Crew flight test launch will carry NASA's newest test pilots, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

They're scheduled to blast off from launch pad 39A, the same one the Apollo astronauts used to get to the moon.

(with inputs from agencies)

President Donald Trump will watch American astronauts blast into orbit from the Kennedy Space Center for the first time in more than a decade, next week. This means he would be on the Florida coast on Wednesday to watch the event unfold.

President Donald Trump will watch American astronauts blast into orbit from the Kennedy Space Center for the first time in more than a decade, next week. This means he would be on the Florida coast on Wednesday to watch the event unfold. It will be the first time since the space shuttle programme ended in 2011 that US astronauts will launch into space aboard an American rocket from American soil. The USP of this event, however, is that Elon Musk's SpaceX is the conductor and NASA the customer as businesses begin chauffeuring astronauts to the International Space Station. Vice President Mike Pence, who is chairman of the National Space Council, also plans to attend Wednesday's launch. The NASA/SpaceX Commercial Crew flight test launch will carry NASA's newest test pilots, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. They're scheduled to blast off from launch pad 39A, the same one the Apollo astronauts used to get to the moon. (with inputs from agencies)

Trump to attend NASA astronaut launch in Florida on Wednesday

The head of&nbsp;NASA's human space flight resigned a week before the first manned launch on US soil in almost a decade, citing a "mistake" reported to be over the rush to land on the Moon by 2024.

Saying he took risks for which he must now bear the consequences, Douglas Loverro announced his resignation just six months after joining the space agency to lead the Trump administration's&nbsp;Artemis&nbsp;programme.

Loverro began serving in his role as the head of NASA's human spaceflight programs in December, replacing William Gerstenmaier, who served in the role for more than a decade. In his nearly 700-word note, Loverro told NASA workers only that leaders are "called on to take risks" and added that, "I took such a risk earlier in the year because I judged it necessary to fulfill our mission."

"Now, over the balance of time, it is clear that I made a mistake in that choice for which I alone must bear the consequences," Loverro wrote. "And therefore, it is with a very, very heavy heart that I write to you today to let you know that I have resigned from NASA effective May 18th, 2020."

Nasa indicated on Tuesday the launch would proceed according to that schedule.&nbsp;A vital launch readiness review is planned for later this week.

According to statement released by the space agency, ''Next week will mark the beginning of a new era in human spaceflight with the launch of Nasa astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International&nbsp;Space&nbsp;Station.''

<img alt="Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="53cf0fc3-1612-4e09-8dd0-a8001088d5d8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/3000.jpg" /> 
Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley

''This test flight will be a historic and momentous occasion that will see the return of human spaceflight to our country, and the incredible dedication by the men and women of Nasa is what has made this mission possible.''

NASA's deputy associate administrator and a former astronaut, will&nbsp;take Loverro's place until a permanent replacement is found.

Next week,&nbsp;Elon Musk’s&nbsp;SpaceX&nbsp;is due to put two US astronauts on a much-anticipated test&nbsp;flight&nbsp;of the company’s Dragon capsule to the International Space Station from Florida.

The head of NASA's human space flight resigned a week before the first manned launch on US soil in almost a decade, citing a "mistake" reported to be over the rush to land on the Moon by 2024.

The head of NASA's human space flight resigned a week before the first manned launch on US soil in almost a decade, citing a "mistake" reported to be over the rush to land on the Moon by 2024. Saying he took risks for which he must now bear the consequences, Douglas Loverro announced his resignation just six months after joining the space agency to lead the Trump administration's Artemis programme. Loverro began serving in his role as the head of NASA's human spaceflight programs in December, replacing William Gerstenmaier, who served in the role for more than a decade. In his nearly 700-word note, Loverro told NASA workers only that leaders are "called on to take risks" and added that, "I took such a risk earlier in the year because I judged it necessary to fulfill our mission." "Now, over the balance of time, it is clear that I made a mistake in that choice for which I alone must bear the consequences," Loverro wrote. "And therefore, it is with a very, very heavy heart that I write to you today to let you know that I have resigned from NASA effective May 18th, 2020." Nasa indicated on Tuesday the launch would proceed according to that schedule. A vital launch readiness review is planned for later this week. According to statement released by the space agency, ''Next week will mark the beginning of a new era in human spaceflight with the launch of Nasa astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station.'' Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley ''This test flight will be a historic and momentous occasion that will see the return of human spaceflight to our country, and the incredible dedication by the men and women of Nasa is what has made this mission possible.'' NASA's deputy associate administrator and a former astronaut, will take Loverro's place until a permanent replacement is found. Next week, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is due to put two US astronauts on a much-anticipated test flight of the company’s Dragon capsule to the International Space Station from Florida.

NASA human spaceflight chief resigns ahead of launch due to 'mistake'

A group of NASA scientists has detected evidence of a parallel universe -- where the rules of physics must be the opposite of our own.

In what may be called a rejig from sci-fi TV shows and comics of the early 1960s, a cosmic ray detection experiment has found particles that could be from a parallel realm that also was born in the Big Bang, the Daily Star reported.

The experts, in an experiment being carried out in Antarctica, used a giant balloon to carry NASA’s Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna, or ANITA, high above Antarctica, where there would be no radio noise to distort its findings.

A constant “wind” of high-energy particles, however, constantly arrived on Earth from outer space.

The high-energy particles can only be detected coming “down” from space, but the team’s ANITA detected heavier particles, so-called tau neutrinos, which come “up” out of the Earth.

The finding implies that these particles are actually traveling backward in time, suggesting evidence of a parallel universe.

Not everyone, however, was comfortable with the hypothesis.

"The simplest explanation for the phenomenon is that at the moment of the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago, two universes were formed — ours and one that from our perspective is running in reverse with time going backwar," the report said.

And if there are any inhabitants of a possible parallel universe, they’d consider this universe the backward one.

A group of NASA scientists has detected evidence of a parallel universe -- where the rules of physics must be the opposite of our own. In what may be called a rejig from sci-fi TV shows and comics of the early 1960s, a cosmic ray detection experiment has found particles that could be from a parallel realm that also was born in the Big Bang, the Daily Star reported.

A group of NASA scientists has detected evidence of a parallel universe -- where the rules of physics must be the opposite of our own. In what may be called a rejig from sci-fi TV shows and comics of the early 1960s, a cosmic ray detection experiment has found particles that could be from a parallel realm that also was born in the Big Bang, the Daily Star reported. The experts, in an experiment being carried out in Antarctica, used a giant balloon to carry NASA’s Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna, or ANITA, high above Antarctica, where there would be no radio noise to distort its findings. A constant “wind” of high-energy particles, however, constantly arrived on Earth from outer space. The high-energy particles can only be detected coming “down” from space, but the team’s ANITA detected heavier particles, so-called tau neutrinos, which come “up” out of the Earth. The finding implies that these particles are actually traveling backward in time, suggesting evidence of a parallel universe. Not everyone, however, was comfortable with the hypothesis. "The simplest explanation for the phenomenon is that at the moment of the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago, two universes were formed — ours and one that from our perspective is running in reverse with time going backwar," the report said. And if there are any inhabitants of a possible parallel universe, they’d consider this universe the backward one.

NASA finds evidence of parallel universe where time runs backward

The world is fighting the coronavirus, scrambling to save lives. But the US is thinking out of the box. Also read: Amid coronavirus pandemic, China eyes moon trip with successful rocket launch It is busy trying to mine the moon.

The world is fighting the coronavirus, scrambling to save lives. But the US is thinking out of the box. Also read: Amid coronavirus pandemic, China eyes moon trip with successful rocket launch It is busy trying to mine the moon. The White House is preparing the Artemis accords. In other words, a blueprint for mining the moon. Trump wants to divide the moon among countries and firms and allow them to mine the moon and use whatever resources they find. Is this even legal? No. International laws do not allow territorial claims on the moon. But the United States does not seem to care. In 2015, it granted companies the right to resources they mine in outer space. And now--- in middle of the pandemic-- the Trump administration is finishing some hush-hush paperwork. The Artemis accords is named after NASA's new Artemis space program. One which calls for putting humans on the moon by 2024 and this is the plan of action. US officials plan to negotiate the accords in the coming months. On the negotiating table will be some 'like-minded' countries. Canada, Japan, the UAE will be among them and Russia has been kept out. Why? Because the Pentagon says Moscow is making threatening satellite manoeuvres. Surprising-- given Russia is one of NASA's major partners! Why should the world care about these accords? One, because the moon is increasingly being viewed as a strategic asset. Two, the moon is extremely valuable for scientific research. Three, the moon is critical for all mars-missions. Four, space is the new warzone. And the moon is no one's land to sell, lease or rent. China is not happy with the Artemis accords! This is the colonisation of the moon, they say. Washington is claiming sovereignty over the moon. Too bad, China thought it was the only country exploiting the pandemic.

Trump led United States to secretly draft 'Artemis Accords' pact for moon mining

The White House is preparing the Artemis accords. In other words, a blueprint for mining the moon. Trump wants to divide the moon among countries and firms and allow them to mine the moon and use whatever resources they find.

United States drafts 'Artemis Accords' pact for moon mining

The Trump administration is drafting a legal blueprint for mining on the moon under a new US-sponsored international agreement called the 'Artemis Accords', according to people familiar with the proposed pact.

The agreement would be the latest effort to cultivate allies around NASA's plan to put humans and space stations on the moon within the next decade, and comes as the civilian space agency plays a growing role in implementing American foreign policy.

The draft pact has not been formally shared with US&nbsp;allies yet.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bezoss-blue-origin-and-musks-spacex-to-collaborate-in-building-nasas-lunar-lander-296099">Bezos's Blue Origin and Musk's SpaceX to collaborate in building NASA's lunar lander</a>

The trump administration and other space-faring countries see the moon as a key strategic asset in outer space.

The moon also has value for long-term scientific research that could enable future missions to Mar,&nbsp;activities that fall under a regime of international space law widely viewed as outdated.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/nasa-picks-masten-space-systems-to-deliver-cargo-to-moons-south-pole-in-2022-291531">NASA picks Masten Space Systems to deliver cargo to Moon's South Pole in 2022</a>

The artemis accords, named after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's new Artemis Moon Program, propose "safety zones" that would surround future moon bases to prevent damage or interference from rival countries or companies operating in close proximity.

The pact also aims to provide a framework under international law for companies to own the resources they mine, the sources said.

In the coming weeks, US&nbsp;officials plan to formally negotiate the accords with space partners such as Canada, Japan, and European countries, as well as the United Arab emirates, opening talks with countries the Trump administration sees as having "like-minded" interests in lunar mining.

Russia, a major partner with nasa on the international space station, won't be an early partner in these accords, the sources said, as the pentagon increasingly views moscow as hostile for making ''threatening''&nbsp;satellite maneuvers toward US&nbsp;spy satellites in earth orbit.

The Trump administration is drafting a legal blueprint for mining on the moon under a new US-sponsored international agreement called the 'Artemis Accords', according to people familiar with the proposed pact.

The Trump administration is drafting a legal blueprint for mining on the moon under a new US-sponsored international agreement called the 'Artemis Accords', according to people familiar with the proposed pact. The agreement would be the latest effort to cultivate allies around NASA's plan to put humans and space stations on the moon within the next decade, and comes as the civilian space agency plays a growing role in implementing American foreign policy. The draft pact has not been formally shared with US allies yet. Also read: Bezos's Blue Origin and Musk's SpaceX to collaborate in building NASA's lunar lander The trump administration and other space-faring countries see the moon as a key strategic asset in outer space. The moon also has value for long-term scientific research that could enable future missions to Mar, activities that fall under a regime of international space law widely viewed as outdated. Also read: NASA picks Masten Space Systems to deliver cargo to Moon's South Pole in 2022 The artemis accords, named after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's new Artemis Moon Program, propose "safety zones" that would surround future moon bases to prevent damage or interference from rival countries or companies operating in close proximity. The pact also aims to provide a framework under international law for companies to own the resources they mine, the sources said. In the coming weeks, US officials plan to formally negotiate the accords with space partners such as Canada, Japan, and European countries, as well as the United Arab emirates, opening talks with countries the Trump administration sees as having "like-minded" interests in lunar mining. Russia, a major partner with nasa on the international space station, won't be an early partner in these accords, the sources said, as the pentagon increasingly views moscow as hostile for making ''threatening'' satellite maneuvers toward US spy satellites in earth orbit.

Trump administration drafting 'Artemis Accords' pact for moon mining: Sources

May 7 in history: First inaugural ball for George Washington and much more

Vaneeza Rupani, a 17-year-old from Alabama, United States, has named NASA’s first helicopter for Mars “Ingenuity”. 
 
The teenager had suggested the name in NASA’s “Name the Rover” essay contest which had received over 28,000 entries.

According to NASA’s website, Rupani’s submission read -&nbsp; "The ingenuity and brilliance of people working hard to overcome challenges of interplanetary travel are what allow us to experience wonders of space exploration”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/nasa-to-launch-uss-first-crewed-spaceflight-in-almost-a-decade-on-may-27-293290" hreflang="en">NASA to launch US's first crewed spaceflight in almost a decade on May 27</a>

NASA’s Mars Helicopter will become the first aircraft to attempt powered flight on another planet.

Rupani currently studies at the Tuscaloosa County High School in Alabama, and submitted one of the 28,000 essays received in connection with the helicopter.

The rover was also named employing similar tactics. A seventh grade student Alexander Mather’s essay won the contest, after which the Mars rover was officially named “Perseverance”.

NASA’s website claims that Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, made the choice for the rover's name, and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine chose the name for the helicopter.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6i-UOl9yTJE" width="560"></iframe>

"Ingenuity encapsulates the values that our helicopter tech demo will showcase for everyone when it takes off next year as the first aircraft on another planet’s surface," said Bridenstine.

"I am proud that NASA’s Mars Helicopter will be named by Vaneeza Rupani of Northport, Alabama," said Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/need-some-space-nasa-has-got-the-job-for-you-280296" hreflang="en">Need some space? NASA has got the job for you</a>

"This is a unique privilege. Ms&nbsp;Rupani’s essay on why she chose the name 'Ingenuity' highlights her creativity, originality, and intelligence. Her grasp on the importance of exploration is extraordinary, and I am confident that she has a bright future ahead. Congratulations to Ms. Rupani on being selected for this prestigious honor."

NASA’s Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity, is set to arrive on Mars&nbsp;on February&nbsp;18, 2021. Its mission is&nbsp;to demonstrate the first powered flight on another world.

Vaneeza Rupani, a 17-year-old from Alabama, United States, has named NASA’s first helicopter for Mars “Ingenuity”. The teenager had suggested the name in NASA’s “Name the Rover” essay contest which had received over 28,000 entries.

Vaneeza Rupani, a 17-year-old from Alabama, United States, has named NASA’s first helicopter for Mars “Ingenuity”. The teenager had suggested the name in NASA’s “Name the Rover” essay contest which had received over 28,000 entries. According to NASA’s website, Rupani’s submission read - "The ingenuity and brilliance of people working hard to overcome challenges of interplanetary travel are what allow us to experience wonders of space exploration”. Also read: NASA to launch US's first crewed spaceflight in almost a decade on May 27 NASA’s Mars Helicopter will become the first aircraft to attempt powered flight on another planet. Rupani currently studies at the Tuscaloosa County High School in Alabama, and submitted one of the 28,000 essays received in connection with the helicopter. The rover was also named employing similar tactics. A seventh grade student Alexander Mather’s essay won the contest, after which the Mars rover was officially named “Perseverance”. NASA’s website claims that Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, made the choice for the rover's name, and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine chose the name for the helicopter. "Ingenuity encapsulates the values that our helicopter tech demo will showcase for everyone when it takes off next year as the first aircraft on another planet’s surface," said Bridenstine. "I am proud that NASA’s Mars Helicopter will be named by Vaneeza Rupani of Northport, Alabama," said Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama. Also read: Need some space? NASA has got the job for you "This is a unique privilege. Ms Rupani’s essay on why she chose the name 'Ingenuity' highlights her creativity, originality, and intelligence. Her grasp on the importance of exploration is extraordinary, and I am confident that she has a bright future ahead. Congratulations to Ms. Rupani on being selected for this prestigious honor." NASA’s Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity, is set to arrive on Mars on February 18, 2021. Its mission is to demonstrate the first powered flight on another world.

Indian-origin teenager names NASA’s first Mars helicopter

NASA has selected three private space companies to develop human landers for Artemis moon missions.

The three companies include Amazon’s CEO, Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin, Elon Musk’s SpaceX; and Dynetics, based in Huntsville, Alabama.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dlHJAKIaALg" width="560"></iframe>

The contract of the three companies is collectively worth $967 million.&nbsp;Out of this $579 million has been allocated to Blue Origin, $135 million to&nbsp;SpaceX&nbsp;and $253 million to Dynetics respectively.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moon-rock-for-sale-one-of-the-largest-lunar-meteorite-to-be-auctioned-for-25-million-295819">Moon rock for sale!: One of the largest lunar meteorite to be auctioned for $2.5 million</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
SpaceX has been selected to develop a lunar optimized Starship to transport crew between lunar orbit and the surface of the Moon as part of <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a>’s Artemis program! <a href="https://t.co/FRmwWisKfH">https://t.co/FRmwWisKfH</a> <a href="https://t.co/z1bkUrQMK8">pic.twitter.com/z1bkUrQMK8</a>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1255907211533901825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Two other companies that put in bids, Boeing and Vivace, were edged out.

The lunar landers will carry the astronauts from lunar orbit to the Moon’s surface and back again.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstone said&nbsp;"this is the first time since the Apollo era that NASA has direct funding for a human landing system, and now we have companies on contract to do the work for the Artemis program."

The three companies are now in competition with each other to see who can develop their proposals into workable landers.&nbsp;

With Artemis, NASA has promised that the first woman will step foot on the lunar surface and there's&nbsp;already speculation&nbsp;on which of the space agency's veteran female astronauts might be the one.

The landings will be the first time astronauts have walked on the moon since the Apollo moon landings of the late 60s and early 70s.

NASA has selected three private space companies to develop human landers for Artemis moon missions. The three companies include Amazon’s CEO, Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin, Elon Musk’s SpaceX; and Dynetics, based in Huntsville, Alabama.

NASA has selected three private space companies to develop human landers for Artemis moon missions. The three companies include Amazon’s CEO, Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin, Elon Musk’s SpaceX; and Dynetics, based in Huntsville, Alabama. The contract of the three companies is collectively worth $967 million. Out of this $579 million has been allocated to Blue Origin, $135 million to SpaceX and $253 million to Dynetics respectively. Also read: Moon rock for sale!: One of the largest lunar meteorite to be auctioned for $2.5 million SpaceX has been selected to develop a lunar optimized Starship to transport crew between lunar orbit and the surface of the Moon as part of @NASA’s Artemis program! https://t.co/FRmwWisKfH pic.twitter.com/z1bkUrQMK8 — SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 30, 2020 × Two other companies that put in bids, Boeing and Vivace, were edged out. The lunar landers will carry the astronauts from lunar orbit to the Moon’s surface and back again. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstone said "this is the first time since the Apollo era that NASA has direct funding for a human landing system, and now we have companies on contract to do the work for the Artemis program." The three companies are now in competition with each other to see who can develop their proposals into workable landers. With Artemis, NASA has promised that the first woman will step foot on the lunar surface and there's already speculation on which of the space agency's veteran female astronauts might be the one. The landings will be the first time astronauts have walked on the moon since the Apollo moon landings of the late 60s and early 70s.

Bezos's Blue Origin and Musk's SpaceX to collaborate in building NASA's lunar lander

A large near-Earth asteroid will safely pass by our planet on Wednesday morning, providing astronomers with an exceptional opportunity to study the 1.5-mile-wide (2-kilometer-wide) object in great detail.

The asteroid, called 1998 OR2, will make its closest approach at 5:55 a.m. EDT (2:55 a.m. PDT).

While this is known as a "close approach" by astronomers, it's still very far away: The asteroid will get no closer than about 3.9 million miles (6.3 million kilometers), passing more than 16 times farther away than the Moon.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
LIVE NOW: Ask us anything about asteroid 1998 OR2, interstellar comet Borisov and comet ATLAS. Asteroid 1998 OR2 will safely fly by Earth on April 29. 
 
Join <a href="https://twitter.com/AsteroidWatch?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AsteroidWatch</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlanetaryDefense?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlanetaryDefense</a> experts on <a href="https://twitter.com/reddit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@reddit</a> to ask questions about comets and asteroids: <a href="https://t.co/PEPWiVc1OY">https://t.co/PEPWiVc1OY</a> <a href="https://t.co/OQyqeGRS2w">pic.twitter.com/OQyqeGRS2w</a>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1255225026648903682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Asteroid 1998 OR2 was discovered by the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking program at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in July 1998, and for the past two decades, astronomers have tracked it.

As a result, we understand its orbital trajectory very precisely, and we can say with confidence that this asteroid poses no possibility of impact for at least the next 200 years.

Its next close approach to Earth will occur in 2079 when it will pass by closer -- only about four times the lunar distance.

Despite this, 1998 OR2 is still categorized as a large "potentially hazardous asteroid" because, over the course of millennia, very slight changes in the asteroid's orbit may cause it to present more of a hazard to Earth than it does now.

This is one of the reasons why tracking this asteroid during its close approach -- using telescopes and especially ground-based radar -- is important, as observations such as these will enable an even better long-term assessment of the hazard presented by this asteroid.

Close approaches by large asteroids like 1998 OR2 are quite rare.

The previous close approach by a large asteroid was made by asteroid Florence in September 2017. That 3-mile-wide (5-kilometer-wide) object zoomed past Earth at 18 lunar distances.

On average, we expect asteroids of this size to fly by our planet this close roughly once every five years.

Since they are bigger, asteroids of this size reflect much more light than smaller asteroids and are therefore easier to detect with telescopes.

Almost all near-Earth asteroids (about 98%) of the size of 1998 OR2 or larger have already been discovered, tracked and cataloged.

It is extremely unlikely there could be an impact over the next century by one of these large asteroids, but efforts to discover all asteroids that could pose an impact hazard to Earth continue.

A large near-Earth asteroid will safely pass by our planet on Wednesday morning, providing astronomers with an exceptional opportunity to study the 1.5-mile-wide (2-kilometer-wide) object in great detail.

A large near-Earth asteroid will safely pass by our planet on Wednesday morning, providing astronomers with an exceptional opportunity to study the 1.5-mile-wide (2-kilometer-wide) object in great detail. The asteroid, called 1998 OR2, will make its closest approach at 5:55 a.m. EDT (2:55 a.m. PDT). While this is known as a "close approach" by astronomers, it's still very far away: The asteroid will get no closer than about 3.9 million miles (6.3 million kilometers), passing more than 16 times farther away than the Moon. LIVE NOW: Ask us anything about asteroid 1998 OR2, interstellar comet Borisov and comet ATLAS. Asteroid 1998 OR2 will safely fly by Earth on April 29. Join @AsteroidWatch #PlanetaryDefense experts on @reddit to ask questions about comets and asteroids: https://t.co/PEPWiVc1OY pic.twitter.com/OQyqeGRS2w — NASA (@NASA) April 28, 2020 × Asteroid 1998 OR2 was discovered by the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking program at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in July 1998, and for the past two decades, astronomers have tracked it. As a result, we understand its orbital trajectory very precisely, and we can say with confidence that this asteroid poses no possibility of impact for at least the next 200 years. Its next close approach to Earth will occur in 2079 when it will pass by closer -- only about four times the lunar distance. Despite this, 1998 OR2 is still categorized as a large "potentially hazardous asteroid" because, over the course of millennia, very slight changes in the asteroid's orbit may cause it to present more of a hazard to Earth than it does now. This is one of the reasons why tracking this asteroid during its close approach -- using telescopes and especially ground-based radar -- is important, as observations such as these will enable an even better long-term assessment of the hazard presented by this asteroid. Close approaches by large asteroids like 1998 OR2 are quite rare. The previous close approach by a large asteroid was made by asteroid Florence in September 2017. That 3-mile-wide (5-kilometer-wide) object zoomed past Earth at 18 lunar distances. On average, we expect asteroids of this size to fly by our planet this close roughly once every five years. Since they are bigger, asteroids of this size reflect much more light than smaller asteroids and are therefore easier to detect with telescopes. Almost all near-Earth asteroids (about 98%) of the size of 1998 OR2 or larger have already been discovered, tracked and cataloged. It is extremely unlikely there could be an impact over the next century by one of these large asteroids, but efforts to discover all asteroids that could pose an impact hazard to Earth continue.

Asteroid 1998 OR2 to safely fly past earth this week

NASA designs ventilator for COVID-19 patients just in 37 days but still waiting for approval from Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

NASA designs ventilator for COVID-19 patients just in 37 days, waiting for approval from FDA

nasa

Nasa, News on Nasa, stories on Nasa, articles on Nasa, Nasa stories at Wion, Nasa news, Nasa latest news