To prepare for the next mission to Mars in 2020, NASA has taken to the lava fields of Iceland to get its new robotic space explorer ready for the job. With its black basalt sand, wind-swept dunes and craggy peaks, the Lambahraun lava field at the foot of Iceland's second biggest glacier, Langjokull, was chosen as a stand-in for the Red Planet's surface.

To prepare for the next mission to Mars in 2020, NASA has taken to the lava fields of Iceland to get its new robotic space explorer ready for the job. With its black basalt sand, wind-swept dunes and craggy peaks, the Lambahraun lava field at the foot of Iceland's second biggest glacier, Langjokull, was chosen as a stand-in for the Red Planet's surface. For three weeks, 15 scientists and engineers sent by the US space agency descended on the site, 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the capital, Reykjavik, last month to develop a prototype. It will aim to continue the work of the "Curiosity" rover, which has been exploring Mars since 2012 in search of signs of ancient life and making preparations for human exploration. Experts say that Iceland, a volcanic island in the middle of the North Atlantic, is in many ways reminiscent of the fourth planet from the Sun. "It's a very good analogue for Mars exploration and learning how to drive Mars rovers," said Adam Deslauriers, manager of space and education, at Canada's Mission Control Space Services. The company has been commissioned by NASA to test a rover prototype as part of the SAND-E (Semi-Autonomous Navigation for Detrital Environments) project. 'Indestructible' The prototype is a small, electric vehicle with white panels and an orange chassis. It has a four-wheel-drive propelled by two motors and is powered by 12 small car batteries stacked inside. "This rover we have is indestructible," Deslauriers told AFP. "The rovers that we have on Mars and the Moon would be a lot more sensitive to the environment and conditions of Iceland. "A Moon rover is completely unprepared for rain," he added, just as a rain shower swept in. Equipped with sensors, a computer, a dual-lens camera and controlled remotely, the rover moves its approximately 570 kilograms (1,257 pounds) at a leisurely speed of about 20 centimetres (7.9 inches) per second. The speed needs to be slow to enable the rover to collect data and imagery properly, Mark Vandermeulen, a robotics engineer at Mission Control Space Services, said. The meagre pace on the lava field is still two to four times faster than the speed it will be driving at its extraterrestrial destination. Transmitting from Mars to Earth Utilising its sensors and camera, the rover gathers and classifies data from its environment and sends back the findings to the engineers' trailer. The engineers then package the data and forward it to a tent where the scientists are huddled, to simulate how the data would be sent from Mars to Earth. The rover exploring Iceland is just a prototype for the one that will be going to Mars next year. That one, which has yet to be named, will also be able to collect samples and store them in tubes to be brought back to Earth by future missions. As the prototype isn't capable of doing this, researchers walk to the area studied, armed with radiometers and other equipment, to collect all the data samples that the finished rover would be able to do. 'Similar to Mars' The sites are selected to study how the chemical composition and physical properties of the sand and rocks change as they move from the glacier to a nearby river. Before Mars became an inhospitable frozen desert with an average temperature of minus 63 degrees C (minus 81.4 degrees F), scientists believe that the planet shared many of the characteristics of the subarctic island. "The mineralogy in Iceland is very similar to what we would find on Mars," Ryan Ewing, associate professor of geology at Texas A&M University, said. In particular, Ewing referred to minerals such as olivine and pyroxenes, both dark so-called mafic rocks, which have also been found on Mars. "In addition to that, we don't have much vegetation, it's cold and we have some of the environments like sand dunes and rivers and glaciers that Mars has evidence of in the past," Ewing said. Iceland has previously been used as a training ground for NASA missions. During the Apollo mission years, 32 astronauts in the mid-1960s received geological training in the Askja lava fields and near the Krafla crater in the north of the country. The setting allows NASA to test equipment and procedures, as well as the people performing them, in extreme environments while remaining on terra firma. Mission Control says it is planning to return to Iceland next summer before the launch of the next Mars rover mission, scheduled between July 17 and August 5, 2020.

NASA descends on Icelandic lava field to prepare for Mars

August 12, 2019, marks the 100th birth anniversary of Vikram Sarabhai, father of the Indian space programme. At a time, when Chandrayaan-2 is in orbit, it becomes imperative to look back into the journey of this remarkable man and a towering intellectual.

Sarabhai’s unparalleled contribution as a scientist and as an institution builder is of great significance. Just as it is difficult to imagine the US space programme and its early success without Werhner Von Braun or the Soviets without Sergei Korolev, the Indian space programme cannot be evaluated without the contribution of Vikram Sarabhai.

As someone who believed that institution-building leads to great power status, Sarabhai was behind the successful establishment of institutions in fields as diverse as atomic energy, space sciences and management.

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) and ISRO, owe their existence to this one man.

Coming from an industrial family, Sarabhai was not the typical rags to riches story. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but aspired to see India as a developed nation. Coming from an affluent background helped him get in touch with India’s Who’s Who, including Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who came from a similar background.

The coming together of these two like-minded individuals, who shared similar views about nation-building, paved the way for India’s space programme.

Sarabhai successfully convinced the government of the importance of a space programme for a developing country like India after the USSR’s Sputnik launch. An elite background helped - he did not have to go through time delaying bureaucratic red tape and a vast gestation period, that became the bane of many fine scientific minds.

Sarabhai’s worldwide contacts with scientists, academicians, scholars and politicians made India’s prospects of developing its own space programme a distinct possibility. India was one of the few countries to have begun a space programme in 1963.

Sarabhai was a team leader. He rewarded those who worked hard under his watch. His informal style of working impressed and inspired people around him and he had the knack of recruiting talented people, many of whom went on to become pioneers in the field of space sciences and research.

Sarabhai was chairman of the Indian National Committee on Space Research (INCOSPAR) when it was constituted in 1962. He was also the chairman of the first UN Space Conference held at Vienna in 1968.

The father of India’s space programme famously said: “It is not accidental that on the soil of India, great space powers like the United States, the USSR and France are collaborating with us at the equatorial range near Thumba and even the United Nations sponsorship of this range is not merely a matter of form, but constitutes an umbrella under which regardless of political differences, nations can collaborate in the peaceful usage of outer space. In my opinion, space research is in relation to national capability, it generates self-confidence. The benefits of it (space research) far outweigh any other factor. “

Sarabhai was also founder of the first Experimental Satellite Earth Communication Station (ESECS) at Ahmedabad in 1967. Later, this became the main centre for all of India’s communication experiments.

On ESECS and India’s space journey, he once told an interviewer: “Yes, we set this up because about five years ago we realised that this was going to be one of the most important peaceful applications of outer space and would have a profound influence on the future development of communications and mass communications in this country”.

Vikram Sarabhai spearheaded the country’s space programme for nearly a decade. His death at the early age of 52, left a crisis in the space training for a brief period, as everyone was used to his towering presence.

Sarabhai’s contribution can never be equalled. Had he lived on for a decade or two more, there is not a shred of doubt that India’s space programme would have ascended to its great heights much before it actually did.

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-vikram-sarabhai-remembering-the-father-of-the-indian-space-programme-2781016">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

August 12, 2019, marks the 100th birth anniversary of Vikram Sarabhai, father of the Indian space programme. At a time, when Chandrayaan-2 is in orbit, it becomes imperative to look back into the journey of this remarkable man and a towering intellectual.

August 12, 2019, marks the 100th birth anniversary of Vikram Sarabhai, father of the Indian space programme. At a time, when Chandrayaan-2 is in orbit, it becomes imperative to look back into the journey of this remarkable man and a towering intellectual. Sarabhai’s unparalleled contribution as a scientist and as an institution builder is of great significance. Just as it is difficult to imagine the US space programme and its early success without Werhner Von Braun or the Soviets without Sergei Korolev, the Indian space programme cannot be evaluated without the contribution of Vikram Sarabhai. As someone who believed that institution-building leads to great power status, Sarabhai was behind the successful establishment of institutions in fields as diverse as atomic energy, space sciences and management. The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) and ISRO, owe their existence to this one man. Coming from an industrial family, Sarabhai was not the typical rags to riches story. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but aspired to see India as a developed nation. Coming from an affluent background helped him get in touch with India’s Who’s Who, including Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who came from a similar background. The coming together of these two like-minded individuals, who shared similar views about nation-building, paved the way for India’s space programme. Sarabhai successfully convinced the government of the importance of a space programme for a developing country like India after the USSR’s Sputnik launch. An elite background helped - he did not have to go through time delaying bureaucratic red tape and a vast gestation period, that became the bane of many fine scientific minds. Sarabhai’s worldwide contacts with scientists, academicians, scholars and politicians made India’s prospects of developing its own space programme a distinct possibility. India was one of the few countries to have begun a space programme in 1963. Sarabhai was a team leader. He rewarded those who worked hard under his watch. His informal style of working impressed and inspired people around him and he had the knack of recruiting talented people, many of whom went on to become pioneers in the field of space sciences and research. Sarabhai was chairman of the Indian National Committee on Space Research (INCOSPAR) when it was constituted in 1962. He was also the chairman of the first UN Space Conference held at Vienna in 1968. The father of India’s space programme famously said: “It is not accidental that on the soil of India, great space powers like the United States, the USSR and France are collaborating with us at the equatorial range near Thumba and even the United Nations sponsorship of this range is not merely a matter of form, but constitutes an umbrella under which regardless of political differences, nations can collaborate in the peaceful usage of outer space. In my opinion, space research is in relation to national capability, it generates self-confidence. The benefits of it (space research) far outweigh any other factor. “ Sarabhai was also founder of the first Experimental Satellite Earth Communication Station (ESECS) at Ahmedabad in 1967. Later, this became the main centre for all of India’s communication experiments. On ESECS and India’s space journey, he once told an interviewer: “Yes, we set this up because about five years ago we realised that this was going to be one of the most important peaceful applications of outer space and would have a profound influence on the future development of communications and mass communications in this country”. Vikram Sarabhai spearheaded the country’s space programme for nearly a decade. His death at the early age of 52, left a crisis in the space training for a brief period, as everyone was used to his towering presence. Sarabhai’s contribution can never be equalled. Had he lived on for a decade or two more, there is not a shred of doubt that India’s space programme would have ascended to its great heights much before it actually did. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Vikram Sarabhai: Remembering the Father of the Indian space programme

Elon Musk's<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spacex-launches-falcon-heavy-rocket-with-24-satellites-230260"> SpaceX</a> is expanding its facilities in Florida to make room for the space company's forthcoming super heavy-lift launch vehicle dubbed Starship, according to a draft of the plans seen by Reuters on Friday.

Starship, a 384-foot (117-meter) reusable two-stage rocket taller than the Statue of Liberty, is a central piece of Musk's interplanetary space travel ambitions as well as US space agency NASA's goal to send humans to the moon again by 2024.

The Starship rocket is expected to launch up to 24 times a year from SpaceX's current flagship launchpad 39A, the draft of the company's environmental assessment said. SpaceX did not specify in the report when it would reach that cadence, but Musk said in September 2018 he wanted to be conducting orbital flights with Starship in two to three years.

SpaceX's launchpad 39A would support NASA's future moon missions from the same Kennedy Space Centre site used for the Apollo lunar missions a half-century ago.

"They're moving very fast," said Dale Ketcham, vice president of government relations at Space Florida, the state's commercial space development agency. "This is actually getting closer to what Elon got into this business for, to begin with. This is a fundamental infrastructure to get to Mars, the early stages of it."

SpaceX has also suffered a number of programme delays and mishaps over the years on its various space endeavours. In April, one of the company's Crew Dragon capsules exploded on a test stand, raising fresh scheduling doubts over a flagship NASA astronaut taxi programme.

Dozens of US-based space companies have been scrambling to heed NASA's goal of sending humans back to the lunar surface by 2024, an accelerated timeline set by Vice President Mike Pence in March.

Separately, Boeing Co is developing NASA's colossal Space Launch System to anchor the agency's moon-to-Mars Artemis programme, though it is years behind schedule.

SpaceX said in its draft environmental assessment that Starship will make return landings on the Air Force landing pad currently used for the company's Falcon 9 boosters.

The company is also considering a plan to install another landing site at the 39A pad. The first booster stage will land on SpaceX's unmanned barge some 300 miles (482.8 km) off Florida's coast, the draft said.

This week, NASA said it plans to work with SpaceX to figure out how to land rockets on the lunar surface and develop a refuelling station for deeper space exploration.

"Orbital refilling is vital to humanity's future in space," Musk tweeted on Thursday. "More likely spacecraft to spacecraft (as aircraft do aerial refuelling), than a dedicated depot, at least at first.

Elon Musk's SpaceX is expanding its facilities in Florida to make room for the space company's forthcoming super heavy-lift launch vehicle dubbed Starship, according to a draft of the plans seen by Reuters on Friday.

Elon Musk's SpaceX is expanding its facilities in Florida to make room for the space company's forthcoming super heavy-lift launch vehicle dubbed Starship, according to a draft of the plans seen by Reuters on Friday. Starship, a 384-foot (117-meter) reusable two-stage rocket taller than the Statue of Liberty, is a central piece of Musk's interplanetary space travel ambitions as well as US space agency NASA's goal to send humans to the moon again by 2024. The Starship rocket is expected to launch up to 24 times a year from SpaceX's current flagship launchpad 39A, the draft of the company's environmental assessment said. SpaceX did not specify in the report when it would reach that cadence, but Musk said in September 2018 he wanted to be conducting orbital flights with Starship in two to three years. SpaceX's launchpad 39A would support NASA's future moon missions from the same Kennedy Space Centre site used for the Apollo lunar missions a half-century ago. "They're moving very fast," said Dale Ketcham, vice president of government relations at Space Florida, the state's commercial space development agency. "This is actually getting closer to what Elon got into this business for, to begin with. This is a fundamental infrastructure to get to Mars, the early stages of it." SpaceX has also suffered a number of programme delays and mishaps over the years on its various space endeavours. In April, one of the company's Crew Dragon capsules exploded on a test stand, raising fresh scheduling doubts over a flagship NASA astronaut taxi programme. Dozens of US-based space companies have been scrambling to heed NASA's goal of sending humans back to the lunar surface by 2024, an accelerated timeline set by Vice President Mike Pence in March. Separately, Boeing Co is developing NASA's colossal Space Launch System to anchor the agency's moon-to-Mars Artemis programme, though it is years behind schedule. SpaceX said in its draft environmental assessment that Starship will make return landings on the Air Force landing pad currently used for the company's Falcon 9 boosters. The company is also considering a plan to install another landing site at the 39A pad. The first booster stage will land on SpaceX's unmanned barge some 300 miles (482.8 km) off Florida's coast, the draft said. This week, NASA said it plans to work with SpaceX to figure out how to land rockets on the lunar surface and develop a refuelling station for deeper space exploration. "Orbital refilling is vital to humanity's future in space," Musk tweeted on Thursday. "More likely spacecraft to spacecraft (as aircraft do aerial refuelling), than a dedicated depot, at least at first.

'Moving fast': Elon Musk's SpaceX eyes Florida for launch site for Mars rocket

The asteroid, labelled 2019 OK, is about the size of a large airplane. Had it hit, it could have wiped out an entire city.

A giant asteroid just whizzed past Earth, and no one had a clue!

A SpaceX rocket successfully launched on Thursday (July 25) en route to the International Space Station with the company's Dragon spacecraft. According to NASA, it was a "great launch" with clear weather. The Dragon will dock at the International Space Station to deliver supplies. The docking is expected on Saturday (July 27). The supplies include scientific equipment and a new docking adapter.

Successful launch for SpaceX rocket en route to International Space Station for resupply mission

On the occasion of 50th anniversary of the Apollo-11 moon landing, NASA's astronauts are ready to blast off to the International Space Station yet again. Watch this video to know more.

NASA to blast off on 50th anniversary of Apollo 11

NASA aims to build on moon as a way station for Mars

As the world prepares to mark fifty years since the day American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon, Reuters journalist Manuel Carrillo recalls his assignment covering the launch of Apollo 11 on July 16, 1969. A young Carrillo was working for Mexico's Excelsior Newspaper at the time and was sent to cover the historic event. On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, rocketing astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins into space. Four days later, on July 20, 1969, Armstrong and Aldrin landed Apollo 11's module, the Eagle, on the moon and stepped onto the lunar surface.

Like 'science fiction': Mexican journalist remembers Apollo 11

As the United States races to put humans back on the moon for the first time in nearly 50 years, a NASA-funded lab in Colorado aims to launch robots there first to build telescopes that will look far into our galaxy and remotely operated by astronauts.

NASA lab aims to put robots on moon before humans go

NASA lab wants to put robots on the moon

Chandrayaan-2: ISRO gears up to launch second sojourn to the moon

As Barbie turned 60 this year, it decided to take its doll-manufacturing business a notch higher and launching <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/astronaut-football-player-barbie-turns-60-with-career-dolls-and-role-models-202121">a new range of dolls</a>, including career women and role models, to inspire young girls.&nbsp;

In a bid to encourage girls to consider careers in the space industry, Barbie's new doll dons the avatar of Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.

Cristoforetti Barbie has been manufactured in collaboration with toy-making giant Mattel and the European Space Agency.

Cristoforetti was the first Italian woman in space, she hoped the collaboration ''will help young girls and boys to dream about their future without limits," news agency Reuters reported.

The partnership is part of Barbie's ongoing Dream Gap Project, which the brand says is aimed at challenging young girls' beliefs about their possible futures.

To mark the 60th anniversary of the global doll-manufacturing giant, Mattel in March unveiled new-look, high-achieving Barbies that included an astronaut, a football player and a news anchor.

A series of successful women have also had dolls made in their image to mark six decades of Barbie, news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

<a href="http://wionew.com/sports/now-a-barbie-doll-named-after-indian-gymnast-dipa-karmakar-202588">Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar</a> was among the twenty female icons chosen by &nbsp;Mattel for a special edition Barbie dolls to celebrate the 60th birthday of the iconic character.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

As Barbie turned 60 this year, it decided to take its doll-manufacturing business a notch higher and launching a new range of dolls, including career women and role models, to inspire young girls.

As Barbie turned 60 this year, it decided to take its doll-manufacturing business a notch higher and launching a new range of dolls, including career women and role models, to inspire young girls. In a bid to encourage girls to consider careers in the space industry, Barbie's new doll dons the avatar of Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. Cristoforetti Barbie has been manufactured in collaboration with toy-making giant Mattel and the European Space Agency. Cristoforetti was the first Italian woman in space, she hoped the collaboration ''will help young girls and boys to dream about their future without limits," news agency Reuters reported. The partnership is part of Barbie's ongoing Dream Gap Project, which the brand says is aimed at challenging young girls' beliefs about their possible futures. To mark the 60th anniversary of the global doll-manufacturing giant, Mattel in March unveiled new-look, high-achieving Barbies that included an astronaut, a football player and a news anchor. A series of successful women have also had dolls made in their image to mark six decades of Barbie, news agency AFP reported. Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar was among the twenty female icons chosen by Mattel for a special edition Barbie dolls to celebrate the 60th birthday of the iconic character. (With inputs from agencies)

In a bid to encourage girls to think big, Barbie introduces doll on first Italian woman in space

Saturday marks 50 years since the historic first moon landing of 1969. On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, rocketing astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins into space. Four days later, on July 20, 1969, Armstrong and Aldrin landed Apollo 11's module, the Eagle, on the moon and stepped onto the lunar surface.

Timeline of space exploration 1969 - 2001

NASA's Apollo-era Mission Control in Houston has been restored to the way it looked 50 years ago when two men walked on the moon, with only a few exceptions. It gets the stamp of approval from retired flight director Gene Kranz, a man for whom failure - or even a minor oversight - is never an option. Seated at the console where he ruled over Apollo 11, Apollo 13 and so many other astronaut missions, Kranz pointed out that a phone was missing behind him. And he said the air vents used to be black from all the smoke, not sparkly clean like they are now.

Mission Control restored 50 years after Apollo 11

A one-time NASA intern who bought a truckload of videotapes to resell them may end up a millionaire next month when Sotheby`s auctions what it says is the only surviving original recording of man`s first steps on the moon 50 years ago.&nbsp;

In the years after the July 20, 1969 moon landing during the Apollo 11 mission, NASA was recording over its tapes or selling them to cut costs, said Gary George, who was a college student when he bought more than 1,100 reels of NASA videotape for about $218 at a government surplus auction in 1976.

"I had no idea there was anything of value on them," said George, a 65-year-old retired mechanical engineer from Las Vegas, told Reuters in a telephone interview. "I was selling them to TV stations just to record over."

But three of the tapes turned out to be invaluable. One of them captures the images of the first steps on the moon by astronaut Neil Armstrong, along with his famous words, "That`s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."&nbsp;

The recordings also show astronaut Buzz Aldrin bounding around in minimal lunar gravity, as well as their call with then US President Richard Nixon, the men planting the American flag on the lunar surface, collecting soil and rock samples and much more, said Sotheby`s spokeswoman Hallie Freer.&nbsp;

The tapes are expected to sell for as much as $2 million when they hit the New York auction block on July 20, Freer said. She declined to disclose the exact financial terms between Sotheby`s and the seller.&nbsp;

Collectors pay huge sums for space exploration artefacts. Sotheby’s in 2017 sold a zippered bag stamped with the words “Lunar Sample Return” laced with moon dust which was used by Armstrong on that 1969 mission, for $1.8 million.

After buying the tapes, George sold about eight reels to television stations for $50 each. It was not until he was packing his station wagon with tapes to donate to a church for a tax write-off that his father spotted the three tapes labeled "Apollo 11 EVA," an acronym for extra vehicular activity, NASA jargon for the moon landing.

"He was really into the space program and he said, `I think I’d hang onto those. They might be valuable someday,`" George recalled. "So, for that very reason, I pulled them out and hauled them around the country for the next 43 years. That’s how come they survived."&nbsp;

NASA admitted in 2006 that no one could find the original video recordings of the historic moon landing. The US space agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the upcoming auction.

In 2008, George was vacationing with a NASA friend who told him he was tasked with locating the lost videotapes.&nbsp;

He said, ‘It seems we’ve lost our original tapes of the Apollo 11 EVA,`” George told Reuters.

"Quite frankly, I was sitting at the table drinking a beer and I said, &nbsp;`Well damn, I have those," he recalled.&nbsp;

At the time, George did not have the proper equipment to view the tapes, and still did not known exactly what was on them. But after opening talks with NASA to turn them over, George said he visited a video studio in California where he watched them for the first time.

The sound and images were transmitted by a camera deployed by Armstrong that remains on the moon`s surface to this day.&nbsp;

A one-time NASA intern who bought a truckload of videotapes to resell them may end up a millionaire next month when Sotheby`s auctions what it says is the only surviving original recording of man`s first steps on the moon 50 years ago.

A one-time NASA intern who bought a truckload of videotapes to resell them may end up a millionaire next month when Sotheby`s auctions what it says is the only surviving original recording of man`s first steps on the moon 50 years ago. In the years after the July 20, 1969 moon landing during the Apollo 11 mission, NASA was recording over its tapes or selling them to cut costs, said Gary George, who was a college student when he bought more than 1,100 reels of NASA videotape for about $218 at a government surplus auction in 1976. "I had no idea there was anything of value on them," said George, a 65-year-old retired mechanical engineer from Las Vegas, told Reuters in a telephone interview. "I was selling them to TV stations just to record over." But three of the tapes turned out to be invaluable. One of them captures the images of the first steps on the moon by astronaut Neil Armstrong, along with his famous words, "That`s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." The recordings also show astronaut Buzz Aldrin bounding around in minimal lunar gravity, as well as their call with then US President Richard Nixon, the men planting the American flag on the lunar surface, collecting soil and rock samples and much more, said Sotheby`s spokeswoman Hallie Freer. The tapes are expected to sell for as much as $2 million when they hit the New York auction block on July 20, Freer said. She declined to disclose the exact financial terms between Sotheby`s and the seller. Collectors pay huge sums for space exploration artefacts. Sotheby’s in 2017 sold a zippered bag stamped with the words “Lunar Sample Return” laced with moon dust which was used by Armstrong on that 1969 mission, for $1.8 million. After buying the tapes, George sold about eight reels to television stations for $50 each. It was not until he was packing his station wagon with tapes to donate to a church for a tax write-off that his father spotted the three tapes labeled "Apollo 11 EVA," an acronym for extra vehicular activity, NASA jargon for the moon landing. "He was really into the space program and he said, `I think I’d hang onto those. They might be valuable someday,`" George recalled. "So, for that very reason, I pulled them out and hauled them around the country for the next 43 years. That’s how come they survived." NASA admitted in 2006 that no one could find the original video recordings of the historic moon landing. The US space agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the upcoming auction. In 2008, George was vacationing with a NASA friend who told him he was tasked with locating the lost videotapes. He said, ‘It seems we’ve lost our original tapes of the Apollo 11 EVA,`” George told Reuters. "Quite frankly, I was sitting at the table drinking a beer and I said, `Well damn, I have those," he recalled. At the time, George did not have the proper equipment to view the tapes, and still did not known exactly what was on them. But after opening talks with NASA to turn them over, George said he visited a video studio in California where he watched them for the first time. The sound and images were transmitted by a camera deployed by Armstrong that remains on the moon`s surface to this day.

Sotheby's to auction rare videotape of Neil Armstrong's first steps on moon

Three crew members safely returned to Earth on Tuesday after spending more than six months aboard the International Space Station.

Behind the wheel, a year on: Saudi women savour new freedom

A hacker used a tiny Raspberry Pi computer to infiltrate NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory network, stealing sensitive data and forcing the temporary disconnection of space-flight systems, the agency has revealed.

The April 2018 attack went undetected for nearly a year, according to an audit report issued on June 18, and an investigation is still underway to find the culprit.

A Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized device sold for about $35 that plugs into home televisions and is used mainly to teach coding to children and promote computing in developing countries.

Prior to detection, the attacker was able to exfiltrate 23 files amounting to approximately 500 megabytes of data, the report from NASA's Office of Inspector General said.

These included two restricted files from the Mars Science Laboratory mission, which handles the Curiosity Rover, and information relating to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations which restrict the export of US defence and military technologies.

"More importantly, the attacker successfully accessed two of the three primary JPL networks," the report said.

"Officials were concerned the cyberattackers could move laterally from the gateway into their mission systems, potentially gaining access and initiating malicious signals to human space flight missions that use those systems."

NASA came to question the integrity of its Deep Space Network data "and temporarily disconnected several space flight-related systems from the JPL network."

The breach came about as a result of a system administrator failing to update the database that determines which devices have access to the network. As a result, new devices could be added without proper vetting.

In response to the attack, the JPL "installed additional monitoring agents on its firewalls" and was reviewing network access agreements with its external partners, the report said.

A hacker used a tiny Raspberry Pi computer to infiltrate NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory network, stealing sensitive data and forcing the temporary disconnection of space-flight systems, the agency has revealed.

A hacker used a tiny Raspberry Pi computer to infiltrate NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory network, stealing sensitive data and forcing the temporary disconnection of space-flight systems, the agency has revealed. The April 2018 attack went undetected for nearly a year, according to an audit report issued on June 18, and an investigation is still underway to find the culprit. A Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized device sold for about $35 that plugs into home televisions and is used mainly to teach coding to children and promote computing in developing countries. Prior to detection, the attacker was able to exfiltrate 23 files amounting to approximately 500 megabytes of data, the report from NASA's Office of Inspector General said. These included two restricted files from the Mars Science Laboratory mission, which handles the Curiosity Rover, and information relating to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations which restrict the export of US defence and military technologies. "More importantly, the attacker successfully accessed two of the three primary JPL networks," the report said. "Officials were concerned the cyberattackers could move laterally from the gateway into their mission systems, potentially gaining access and initiating malicious signals to human space flight missions that use those systems." NASA came to question the integrity of its Deep Space Network data "and temporarily disconnected several space flight-related systems from the JPL network." The breach came about as a result of a system administrator failing to update the database that determines which devices have access to the network. As a result, new devices could be added without proper vetting. In response to the attack, the JPL "installed additional monitoring agents on its firewalls" and was reviewing network access agreements with its external partners, the report said.

Hacker used $35 computer to steal restricted NASA data

Secretary of state Mike Pompeo's visit to UAE was mainly focused on maritime security and countering Iran. watch the full video to know more.

Mike Pompeo talks to UAE leader about countering Iran

SpaceX launched its Falcon Heavy rocket on Tuesday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying 24 experimental satellites in what Elon Musk's rocket company called one of the most difficult launches it has attempted.

The craft blasted off to cheers from onlookers at 2:30 a.m. (0630 GMT) after a three-hour delay from the original launch time late Monday.

The boosters separated safely as the craft began its six-hour mission to deploy the satellites.

The two-side booster rockets returned safely to Earth, landing on adjacent Air Force landing pads, but the rocket's centre booster missed its mark, crashing in the Atlantic ocean.

Musk, who predicted trouble with landing the centre booster on SpaceX's drone ship in the Atlantic, said on Twitter early Tuesday, "It was a long shot."

The mission, dubbed Space Test Program 2 (STP-2), is the third for the Falcon Heavy rocket, which SpaceX describes as the most powerful launch system in the world.

It was commissioned by the U.S. Department of Defense, the key contractor for commercial space companies such as SpaceX.

The company is putting satellites into orbit for agencies including NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), defence department laboratories, universities and a non-profit organisation, SpaceX said.

The mission is one of the most challenging in SpaceX history, with four separate upper-stage engine burns and three separate orbits to deploy satellites, the company said on its website.

Solar sail

The payloads on the satellites Falcon Heavy is putting into orbit include an atomic clock NASA is testing for space navigation, another testing new telescope technologies, and a solar sail project part-funded by the Planetary Society, a non-profit organisation headed by Bill Nye, "The Science Guy" on television presentations.

The LightSail is a crowdfunded project that aims to become the first spacecraft in earth orbit propelled solely by sunlight, the society, which has championed solar propulsion for decades, says on its website.

Falcon Heavy is the most powerful operational rocket in the world "by a factor of two," SpaceX says on its website. It has the ability to lift into orbit nearly 64 metric tons (141,000 pounds) - more than a 737 jetliner loaded with passengers, crew, luggage and fuel.

Only the Saturn V moon rocket, last flown in 1973 from the same launch pad, delivered more payload to orbit, it says.

SpaceX launched its Falcon Heavy rocket on Tuesday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying 24 experimental satellites in what Elon Musk's rocket company called one of the most difficult launches it has attempted.

SpaceX launched its Falcon Heavy rocket on Tuesday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying 24 experimental satellites in what Elon Musk's rocket company called one of the most difficult launches it has attempted. The craft blasted off to cheers from onlookers at 2:30 a.m. (0630 GMT) after a three-hour delay from the original launch time late Monday. The boosters separated safely as the craft began its six-hour mission to deploy the satellites. The two-side booster rockets returned safely to Earth, landing on adjacent Air Force landing pads, but the rocket's centre booster missed its mark, crashing in the Atlantic ocean. Musk, who predicted trouble with landing the centre booster on SpaceX's drone ship in the Atlantic, said on Twitter early Tuesday, "It was a long shot." The mission, dubbed Space Test Program 2 (STP-2), is the third for the Falcon Heavy rocket, which SpaceX describes as the most powerful launch system in the world. It was commissioned by the U.S. Department of Defense, the key contractor for commercial space companies such as SpaceX. The company is putting satellites into orbit for agencies including NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), defence department laboratories, universities and a non-profit organisation, SpaceX said. The mission is one of the most challenging in SpaceX history, with four separate upper-stage engine burns and three separate orbits to deploy satellites, the company said on its website. Solar sail The payloads on the satellites Falcon Heavy is putting into orbit include an atomic clock NASA is testing for space navigation, another testing new telescope technologies, and a solar sail project part-funded by the Planetary Society, a non-profit organisation headed by Bill Nye, "The Science Guy" on television presentations. The LightSail is a crowdfunded project that aims to become the first spacecraft in earth orbit propelled solely by sunlight, the society, which has championed solar propulsion for decades, says on its website. Falcon Heavy is the most powerful operational rocket in the world "by a factor of two," SpaceX says on its website. It has the ability to lift into orbit nearly 64 metric tons (141,000 pounds) - more than a 737 jetliner loaded with passengers, crew, luggage and fuel. Only the Saturn V moon rocket, last flown in 1973 from the same launch pad, delivered more payload to orbit, it says.

SpaceX launches Falcon Heavy rocket with 24 satellites

NASA has announced that it will be taking women to the moon in a new mission called Artemis, goddess of the hunt as well as the moon and Apollo's twin sister. Speaking at the 2019 Paris Air Show, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said NASA would "to retire the risk, prove the technology and we are going to take it out to Mars".

NASA Administrator Makes Announcement To Take Women On Moon This Time

US President Donald Trump on Friday criticised&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasa-releases-images-of-power-situation-after-fani-217238">NASA</a>&nbsp;for aiming to put astronauts back on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moon-is-steadily-shrinking-causing-wrinkling-on-its-surface-and-quakes-study-218513">moon</a> by 2024 and urged the space agency to focus instead on "much bigger" initiatives like going to Mars, undercutting his previous support for the lunar initiative.

"For all of the money we are spending,&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;should NOT be talking about going to the Moon - We did that 50 years ago," the president wrote on Twitter. "They should be focused on the much bigger things we are doing, including Mars (of which the Moon is a part), Defence and Science!"

Trump's statement, tweeted from Air Force One as he returned from Europe, appeared at odds with his administration's recent push to return humans to the lunar surface by 2024 "by any means necessary," five years sooner than the previous goal of 2028.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-to-open-international-space-station-to-tourists-from-2020-225333">NASA to open International Space Station to tourists from 2020</a>

NASA&nbsp;plans to build a space outpost in lunar orbit that can relay astronauts to the lunar surface by 2024, part of a broader initiative to use the moon as a staging ground for eventual missions to Mars.&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;administrator Jim Bridenstine said Trump was only reaffirmingNASA's space plan.

"As @POTUS said, @NASA&nbsp;is using the Moon to send humans to Mars!,” he said on Friday in a tweet referring to the President of the United States. The accelerated timetable to land humans on the moon by 2024 ran into early trouble when the Trump administration asked a sceptical Congress in May to increase&nbsp;NASA's 2020 budget proposal by $1.6 billion as a “down payment” to accommodate the accelerated goal.

The accelerated timetable for going to the moon was a key recommendation in March of the new National Space Council led by Vice President Mike Pence.

Watch: The Moon is shrinking due to earthquakes, claims study

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'Sustainable human presence'

NASA's website on Friday said the Artemis program would send "the first woman and the next man to the Moon by 2024 and develop a sustainable human presence on the Moon by 2028." The program takes its name from the twin sister of Apollo and the goddess of the moon in Greek mythology.

NASA's Apollo program landed the first men on the moon 50 years ago on July 20.

The&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;website also provided details on the space agency's plans for making the moon a jumping off point for future missions to Mars and a place to test equipment and technology for other forays out into the solar system.

Trump's comments about the US&nbsp;manned space program reflect his desire to champion a bold new national objective as he mounts a re-election bid, while also seeking to counter the potential space weaponry capabilities of Russia and China.

Private companies are also joining the race to the moon.

Billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos last month unveiled a mock-up of a lunar lander being built by his Blue Origin rocket company and touted his moon goals as part of a strategy aimed at capitalizing on the Trump administration’s push to establish a lunar outpost in just five years.

US President Donald Trump on Friday criticised NASA for aiming to put astronauts back on the moon by 2024 and urged the space agency to focus instead on "much bigger" initiatives like going to Mars, undercutting his previous support for the lunar initiative.

US President Donald Trump on Friday criticised NASA for aiming to put astronauts back on the moon by 2024 and urged the space agency to focus instead on "much bigger" initiatives like going to Mars, undercutting his previous support for the lunar initiative. "For all of the money we are spending, NASA should NOT be talking about going to the Moon - We did that 50 years ago," the president wrote on Twitter. "They should be focused on the much bigger things we are doing, including Mars (of which the Moon is a part), Defence and Science!" Trump's statement, tweeted from Air Force One as he returned from Europe, appeared at odds with his administration's recent push to return humans to the lunar surface by 2024 "by any means necessary," five years sooner than the previous goal of 2028. Also read: NASA to open International Space Station to tourists from 2020 NASA plans to build a space outpost in lunar orbit that can relay astronauts to the lunar surface by 2024, part of a broader initiative to use the moon as a staging ground for eventual missions to Mars. NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said Trump was only reaffirmingNASA's space plan. "As @POTUS said, @NASA is using the Moon to send humans to Mars!,” he said on Friday in a tweet referring to the President of the United States. The accelerated timetable to land humans on the moon by 2024 ran into early trouble when the Trump administration asked a sceptical Congress in May to increase NASA's 2020 budget proposal by $1.6 billion as a “down payment” to accommodate the accelerated goal. The accelerated timetable for going to the moon was a key recommendation in March of the new National Space Council led by Vice President Mike Pence. Watch: The Moon is shrinking due to earthquakes, claims study × 'Sustainable human presence' NASA's website on Friday said the Artemis program would send "the first woman and the next man to the Moon by 2024 and develop a sustainable human presence on the Moon by 2028." The program takes its name from the twin sister of Apollo and the goddess of the moon in Greek mythology. NASA's Apollo program landed the first men on the moon 50 years ago on July 20. The NASA website also provided details on the space agency's plans for making the moon a jumping off point for future missions to Mars and a place to test equipment and technology for other forays out into the solar system. Trump's comments about the US manned space program reflect his desire to champion a bold new national objective as he mounts a re-election bid, while also seeking to counter the potential space weaponry capabilities of Russia and China. Private companies are also joining the race to the moon. Billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos last month unveiled a mock-up of a lunar lander being built by his Blue Origin rocket company and touted his moon goals as part of a strategy aimed at capitalizing on the Trump administration’s push to establish a lunar outpost in just five years.

'They should be focused on much bigger things!' Trump criticises NASA moon mission

NASA said Friday it will open up the International Space Station to business ventures including space tourism -- with stays priced at $35,000 a night -- as it seeks to financially disengage from the orbiting research lab.

"NASA is opening the International Space Station to commercial opportunities and marketing these opportunities as we've never done before," NASA chief financial officer Jeff DeWit said in New York.

There will be up to two short private astronaut missions per year, said Robyn Gatens, deputy director of the ISS.

The missions will be for stays of up to 30 days. As many as a dozen private astronauts could visit the ISS per year, NASA said.

These travellers would be ferried to the orbiter exclusively by the two companies currently developing transport vehicles for NASA: SpaceX, with its Crew Dragon capsule, and Boeing, which is building one called Starliner.

These companies would choose the clients and bill for the trip to the ISS, which will be the most expensive part of the adventure: around $58 million for a round trip ticket.

That is the average rate the companies will bill NASA for taking the space adventurers up to the ISS.

But the tourists will also pay NASA for their stay in space, for food, water and use of the life support system on the orbiter.

That will run about $35,000 per night per astronaut, said DeWit.

The space station does not belong to NASA. It was built along with Russia starting in 1998, and other countries participate in the mission and send up astronauts.

But the US has paid for and controls most of the modules that make up the orbiter.

The new space tourists to the ISS will not be the first: US businessman Dennis Tito had that honour in 2001. He paid Russia around $20 million for the trip. 
 
&nbsp;

NASA said Friday it will open up the International Space Station to business ventures including space tourism -- with stays priced at $35,000 a night -- as it seeks to financially disengage from the orbiting research lab.

NASA said Friday it will open up the International Space Station to business ventures including space tourism -- with stays priced at $35,000 a night -- as it seeks to financially disengage from the orbiting research lab. "NASA is opening the International Space Station to commercial opportunities and marketing these opportunities as we've never done before," NASA chief financial officer Jeff DeWit said in New York. There will be up to two short private astronaut missions per year, said Robyn Gatens, deputy director of the ISS. The missions will be for stays of up to 30 days. As many as a dozen private astronauts could visit the ISS per year, NASA said. These travellers would be ferried to the orbiter exclusively by the two companies currently developing transport vehicles for NASA: SpaceX, with its Crew Dragon capsule, and Boeing, which is building one called Starliner. These companies would choose the clients and bill for the trip to the ISS, which will be the most expensive part of the adventure: around $58 million for a round trip ticket. That is the average rate the companies will bill NASA for taking the space adventurers up to the ISS. But the tourists will also pay NASA for their stay in space, for food, water and use of the life support system on the orbiter. That will run about $35,000 per night per astronaut, said DeWit. The space station does not belong to NASA. It was built along with Russia starting in 1998, and other countries participate in the mission and send up astronauts. But the US has paid for and controls most of the modules that make up the orbiter. The new space tourists to the ISS will not be the first: US businessman Dennis Tito had that honour in 2001. He paid Russia around $20 million for the trip.

NASA to open International Space Station to tourists from 2020

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-astronaut-christina-koch-to-set-record-longest-spaceflight-by-a-woman-211272">NASA on Thursday unveiled</a> the calendar for the "Artemis" program that will return astronauts to the Moon for the first time in half a century, including eight scheduled launches and a mini-station in lunar orbit by 2024.

The original lunar missions were named for Apollo -- Artemis was his twin sister in Greek mythology, and the goddess of hunting, wilderness and the Moon.

Administrator Jim Bridenstine confirmed that Artemis 1 will be an uncrewed mission around the Moon planned for 2020.

Next will come Artemis 2, which will orbit Earth's satellite with a crew around 2022; followed finally by Artemis 3 that will put astronauts on lunar soil in 2024, including the first woman.

The three will be launched into space by the biggest rocket of all time, the Boeing-led Space Launch System (SLS), which is currently under development but has seen numerous delays and has been criticized in some quarters as a bloated jobs program.

Affixed to its summit will be the Orion capsule, for which Lockheed Martin is the primary contractor.

In addition to these missions, which will be all NASA's efforts, there will be five launches carrying the building blocks of the lunar mini-station "Gateway" which will serve as a staging point for the Moon landing.

These will be carried out between 2022 and 2024 by private space companies, which NASA will pay for their services.

The orbital station will initially consist of a simple power and propulsion element and a small habitat module. In 2024, astronauts will stop there en route to the Moon. They will then descend to the surface on a lander.

A part of the lander will remain on the Moon while the other part will take off and allow the astronauts to return to their station, where they will board the Orion capsule and return to Earth.

Bridenstine said Thursday that NASA had chosen private firm Maxar to build the station's first module, the power and propulsion element, which would rely on huge solar panels.

In the coming months, NASA will have to decide on who will build the lander. Aerospace giants such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin are vying for the contract as are new players like Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.

"We're not owning the hardware, we're buying the service," said Bridenstine of the lander. "The goal here is speed. 2024 is right around the corner." He added: "Our goal is ultimately to move on to Mars and not get stuck on the surface of the Moon."&nbsp;

NASA on Thursday unveiled the calendar for the "Artemis" program that will return astronauts to the Moon for the first time in half a century, including eight scheduled launches and a mini-station in lunar orbit by 2024.

NASA on Thursday unveiled the calendar for the "Artemis" program that will return astronauts to the Moon for the first time in half a century, including eight scheduled launches and a mini-station in lunar orbit by 2024. The original lunar missions were named for Apollo -- Artemis was his twin sister in Greek mythology, and the goddess of hunting, wilderness and the Moon. Administrator Jim Bridenstine confirmed that Artemis 1 will be an uncrewed mission around the Moon planned for 2020. Next will come Artemis 2, which will orbit Earth's satellite with a crew around 2022; followed finally by Artemis 3 that will put astronauts on lunar soil in 2024, including the first woman. The three will be launched into space by the biggest rocket of all time, the Boeing-led Space Launch System (SLS), which is currently under development but has seen numerous delays and has been criticized in some quarters as a bloated jobs program. Affixed to its summit will be the Orion capsule, for which Lockheed Martin is the primary contractor. In addition to these missions, which will be all NASA's efforts, there will be five launches carrying the building blocks of the lunar mini-station "Gateway" which will serve as a staging point for the Moon landing. These will be carried out between 2022 and 2024 by private space companies, which NASA will pay for their services. The orbital station will initially consist of a simple power and propulsion element and a small habitat module. In 2024, astronauts will stop there en route to the Moon. They will then descend to the surface on a lander. A part of the lander will remain on the Moon while the other part will take off and allow the astronauts to return to their station, where they will board the Orion capsule and return to Earth. Bridenstine said Thursday that NASA had chosen private firm Maxar to build the station's first module, the power and propulsion element, which would rely on huge solar panels. In the coming months, NASA will have to decide on who will build the lander. Aerospace giants such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin are vying for the contract as are new players like Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. "We're not owning the hardware, we're buying the service," said Bridenstine of the lander. "The goal here is speed. 2024 is right around the corner." He added: "Our goal is ultimately to move on to Mars and not get stuck on the surface of the Moon."

NASA unveils schedule for 'Artemis' 2024 Moon mission

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chandrayaan-2-modules-getting-ready-for-launch-in-july-isro-215126&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiizpqzqZ3iAhWLQY8KHbIlADsQFjAAegQIBBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1v-mBKK7Z6P4RJkCsLoaJ5">India's second Moon mission</a> that is planned for a July launch will have 13 payloads and one passive experiment from American space agency NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said Wednesday.

"Thirteen Indian payloads (8 on the orbiter, 3 on lander and 2 on rover) and one passive experiment from NASA," ISRO said in a mission update but did not specify them or their objective.

The spacecraft with a mass of 3.8 tonnes has three modules--Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) and Rover (Pragyan).

All the modules are getting ready for <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ex-isro-chief-says-chandrayaan-2-will-look-for-specific-minerals-on-moons-surface-215526&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiizpqzqZ3iAhWLQY8KHbIlADsQFjABegQIDhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0pwwVwLdLstj7VXAJs2cAU">Chandrayaan-2</a> launch during the window of July 9 to July 16, 2019, with an expected Moon landing on September 6, the space agency had said earlier this month.

The orbiter will orbit 100 km from the lunar surface, while Lander (Vikram) will do the soft landing near the south pole of the moon, and Rover (Pragyan) will conduct in-situ experiments.

The orbiter and lander modules will be interfaced mechanically and stacked together as an integrated module and accommodated inside the GSLV MK-III launch vehicle, ISRO has said, adding the rover is housed inside the lander.

After launching into earth-bound orbit by GSLV MK-III, the integrated module will reach Moon orbit using orbiter propulsion module, and subsequently, the lender will separate from the orbiter and soft land at the predetermined site close to the lunar South Pole.

Further, the rover will roll out for carrying out scientific experiments on the lunar surface, ISRO has said, noting that instruments are also mounted on lander and orbiter for carrying out scientific experiments.

ISRO Chairman K Sivan had said in January, "We are going to land at a place where nobody else has gone-the Moon's the South Pole... It is unexplored region."

Chandrayaan-2 mission is an advanced version of the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission about 10 years ago.

Chandrayaan-1 had 11 payloads- five from India, three from Europe, 2 from USA and 1 from Bulgaria, and the mission had the credit for the discovery of water on the lunar surface.

The 1.4-tonne spacecraft was launched using PSLV and the orbiter had orbited 100 km from the lunar surface.

India's second Moon mission that is planned for a July launch will have 13 payloads and one passive experiment from American space agency NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said Wednesday.

India's second Moon mission that is planned for a July launch will have 13 payloads and one passive experiment from American space agency NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said Wednesday. "Thirteen Indian payloads (8 on the orbiter, 3 on lander and 2 on rover) and one passive experiment from NASA," ISRO said in a mission update but did not specify them or their objective. The spacecraft with a mass of 3.8 tonnes has three modules--Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) and Rover (Pragyan). All the modules are getting ready for Chandrayaan-2 launch during the window of July 9 to July 16, 2019, with an expected Moon landing on September 6, the space agency had said earlier this month. The orbiter will orbit 100 km from the lunar surface, while Lander (Vikram) will do the soft landing near the south pole of the moon, and Rover (Pragyan) will conduct in-situ experiments. The orbiter and lander modules will be interfaced mechanically and stacked together as an integrated module and accommodated inside the GSLV MK-III launch vehicle, ISRO has said, adding the rover is housed inside the lander. After launching into earth-bound orbit by GSLV MK-III, the integrated module will reach Moon orbit using orbiter propulsion module, and subsequently, the lender will separate from the orbiter and soft land at the predetermined site close to the lunar South Pole. Further, the rover will roll out for carrying out scientific experiments on the lunar surface, ISRO has said, noting that instruments are also mounted on lander and orbiter for carrying out scientific experiments. ISRO Chairman K Sivan had said in January, "We are going to land at a place where nobody else has gone-the Moon's the South Pole... It is unexplored region." Chandrayaan-2 mission is an advanced version of the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission about 10 years ago. Chandrayaan-1 had 11 payloads- five from India, three from Europe, 2 from USA and 1 from Bulgaria, and the mission had the credit for the discovery of water on the lunar surface. The 1.4-tonne spacecraft was launched using PSLV and the orbiter had orbited 100 km from the lunar surface.

Chandrayaan-2 will have 13 payloads, one passive experiment from NASA: ISRO

The Moon is steadily shrinking, causing wrinkling on its surface and quakes, according to an analysis of imagery captured by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) published Monday.

A survey of more than 12,000 images revealed that lunar basin Mare Frigoris near the Moon's north pole -- one of many vast basins long assumed to be dead sites from a geological point of view -- has been cracking and shifting.

Unlike our planet, the Moon doesn't have tectonic plates; instead, its tectonic activity occurs as it slowly loses heat from when it was formed 4.5 billion years ago.

This, in turn, causes its surface to wrinkle, similar to a grape that shrivels into a raisin.

Since the moon's crust is brittle, these forces cause its surface to break as the interior shrinks, resulting in so-called thrust faults, where one section of the crust is pushed up over an adjacent section.

As a result, the Moon has become about 150 feet (50 meters) "skinnier" over the past several hundred million years.

The Apollo astronauts first began measuring seismic activity on the Moon in the 1960s and 1970s, finding the vast majority have occurred deep in the body's interior while a smaller number were on its surface.

The analysis was published in Nature Geoscience and examined the shallow moonquakes recorded by the Apollo missions, establishing links between them and very young surface features.

"It's quite likely that the faults are still active today," said Nicholas Schmerr, an assistant professor of geology at the University of Maryland who co-authored the study.&nbsp;

"You don't often get to see active tectonics anywhere but Earth, so it's very exciting to think these faults may still be producing moonquakes."

The Moon is steadily shrinking, causing wrinkling on its surface and quakes, according to an analysis of imagery captured by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) published Monday.

The Moon is steadily shrinking, causing wrinkling on its surface and quakes, according to an analysis of imagery captured by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) published Monday. A survey of more than 12,000 images revealed that lunar basin Mare Frigoris near the Moon's north pole -- one of many vast basins long assumed to be dead sites from a geological point of view -- has been cracking and shifting. Unlike our planet, the Moon doesn't have tectonic plates; instead, its tectonic activity occurs as it slowly loses heat from when it was formed 4.5 billion years ago. This, in turn, causes its surface to wrinkle, similar to a grape that shrivels into a raisin. Since the moon's crust is brittle, these forces cause its surface to break as the interior shrinks, resulting in so-called thrust faults, where one section of the crust is pushed up over an adjacent section. As a result, the Moon has become about 150 feet (50 meters) "skinnier" over the past several hundred million years. The Apollo astronauts first began measuring seismic activity on the Moon in the 1960s and 1970s, finding the vast majority have occurred deep in the body's interior while a smaller number were on its surface. The analysis was published in Nature Geoscience and examined the shallow moonquakes recorded by the Apollo missions, establishing links between them and very young surface features. "It's quite likely that the faults are still active today," said Nicholas Schmerr, an assistant professor of geology at the University of Maryland who co-authored the study. "You don't often get to see active tectonics anywhere but Earth, so it's very exciting to think these faults may still be producing moonquakes."

Moon is steadily shrinking, causing wrinkling on its surface and quakes: Study

The Trump administration isn't convinced the $10.7 billion set aside for space exploration in the proposed 2020 budget is enough to help put astronauts on the Moon by 2024.

Trump administration proposes another $1.6 billion for Moon efforts

The Moon is steadily shrinking, causing wrinkling on its surface and earthquakes, according to an analysis of imagery captured by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) published Monday.

The Moon is shrinking due to earthquakes, claims study

DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy has said that most of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/a-sat-india-chose-much-lower-orbit-to-avoid-debris-threat-to-global-space-assets-says-drdo-208471">debris generated from the anti-satellite test</a> conducted by India in March have decayed and rest of it will dissipate in a "short period of time".

He said this in response to a question after delivering a talk on 'Technology for National Security' on Friday at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), a city-based think tank.

"As I had mentioned on April 6, the debris were to decay in a few weeks time. As per the information that we have already got, most of the debris has decayed. And, whatever, couple of pieces are there, they will be decaying in a short period of time," Reddy said.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation chief said the continuous information being received is monitored and "I don't think there are any issues".

"It is extremely difficult to predict as to how many days it would take...But, as I had said that day, that they would decay in a few weeks, and the majority of them have decayed," he added.

On April 6 at a press conference at DRDO Bhawan here, Reddy had said India chose a much lower orbit of less than 300 km during 'Mission Shakti' for "capability demonstration" and to avoid threat of debris to global space assets.

His remark had come days after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) raised concerns about the spread of debris from India's anti-satellite test conducted on March 27.

India's Ministry of External Affairs, too, has said the test was done in the lower atmosphere to ensure that there is no space debris.

On another question on leakage of defence know how-related data, he said, "We haven't seen cases as such, but we are careful".

"There are no serious issues as such, but of late, because of the apprehensions of cyber attacks and cyber-related issues, we are sensitising people in the industry and also in our own laboratories on it," he said.&nbsp;

DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy has said that most of the debris generated from the anti-satellite test conducted by India in March have decayed and rest of it will dissipate in a "short period of time".

DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy has said that most of the debris generated from the anti-satellite test conducted by India in March have decayed and rest of it will dissipate in a "short period of time". He said this in response to a question after delivering a talk on 'Technology for National Security' on Friday at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), a city-based think tank. "As I had mentioned on April 6, the debris were to decay in a few weeks time. As per the information that we have already got, most of the debris has decayed. And, whatever, couple of pieces are there, they will be decaying in a short period of time," Reddy said. The Defence Research and Development Organisation chief said the continuous information being received is monitored and "I don't think there are any issues". "It is extremely difficult to predict as to how many days it would take...But, as I had said that day, that they would decay in a few weeks, and the majority of them have decayed," he added. On April 6 at a press conference at DRDO Bhawan here, Reddy had said India chose a much lower orbit of less than 300 km during 'Mission Shakti' for "capability demonstration" and to avoid threat of debris to global space assets. His remark had come days after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) raised concerns about the spread of debris from India's anti-satellite test conducted on March 27. India's Ministry of External Affairs, too, has said the test was done in the lower atmosphere to ensure that there is no space debris. On another question on leakage of defence know how-related data, he said, "We haven't seen cases as such, but we are careful". "There are no serious issues as such, but of late, because of the apprehensions of cyber attacks and cyber-related issues, we are sensitising people in the industry and also in our own laboratories on it," he said.

Most of debris generated from India's anti-satellite test has decayed: Reddy

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United States space agency NASA on Thursday released images showing the severe impact of the power outage caused by&nbsp;Cyclone Fani, worst to hit in a decade,&nbsp;which struck eastern India earlier this month.

One of the worst-hit states was Odisha which is still reeling under the aftereffects of the cyclone Fani. The cyclone forced&nbsp;evacuation of a million people. The power supply was snapped due to the uprooting of electricity poles, damage to substations and transmission lines&nbsp;plunging parts of Odisha intro darkness for several days.&nbsp;

The images released on Thursday by NASA showed data visualisations of the scale of destruction caused to the state due to the storm.

The images show city lighting on April 30 (before the storm) and on May 5, two days after Fani made landfall in Odisha.

<img alt="NASA image showing cyclone Fani damage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="11bddf62-73b2-450c-8485-d6123e4e29a0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/bhubaneswar_blm_2019125.png" />

<img alt="NASA images" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f4ad789d-46d7-4d3e-9381-34908b0ed893" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%284%29_2.jpg" />

(Image courtesy: NASA earth observatory)

According to the report on NASA's earth observatory site, images have been made from data acquired by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite.&nbsp;

"VIIRS has a "day-night band" that detects light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared, including reflected moonlight, light from fires and oil wells, lightning, and emissions from cities or other human activity," the report read.

"A team of scientists from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and Marshall Space Flight Center processed and corrected the raw VIIRS data to filter out stray light from natural sources (for example, moonlight) and from atmospheric interference, such as dust, haze, and thin clouds."

According to latest report on restoration work in Odisha, the situation in 8 out of total 9 affected districts has improved and power and telecom services are gradually picking up in the worst affected areas of Puri and Bhubaneswar, government informed after review meeting with National Crisis Management Committee.

Telephone services in Puri have started functioning while&nbsp;BSNL and other Telecom Service Providers have also improved their mobile services.

The banking services have also resumed in Puri. Non-availability of power and telecom connectivity was hampering the functioning of some ATMs.

(With inputs from agencies)

United States space agency NASA on Thursday released images showing the severe impact of the power outage caused by Cyclone Fani, worst to hit in a decade, which struck eastern India earlier this month.

United States space agency NASA on Thursday released images showing the severe impact of the power outage caused by Cyclone Fani, worst to hit in a decade, which struck eastern India earlier this month. One of the worst-hit states was Odisha which is still reeling under the aftereffects of the cyclone Fani. The cyclone forced evacuation of a million people. The power supply was snapped due to the uprooting of electricity poles, damage to substations and transmission lines plunging parts of Odisha intro darkness for several days. The images released on Thursday by NASA showed data visualisations of the scale of destruction caused to the state due to the storm. The images show city lighting on April 30 (before the storm) and on May 5, two days after Fani made landfall in Odisha. (Image courtesy: NASA earth observatory) According to the report on NASA's earth observatory site, images have been made from data acquired by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite. "VIIRS has a "day-night band" that detects light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared, including reflected moonlight, light from fires and oil wells, lightning, and emissions from cities or other human activity," the report read. "A team of scientists from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and Marshall Space Flight Center processed and corrected the raw VIIRS data to filter out stray light from natural sources (for example, moonlight) and from atmospheric interference, such as dust, haze, and thin clouds." According to latest report on restoration work in Odisha, the situation in 8 out of total 9 affected districts has improved and power and telecom services are gradually picking up in the worst affected areas of Puri and Bhubaneswar, government informed after review meeting with National Crisis Management Committee. Telephone services in Puri have started functioning while BSNL and other Telecom Service Providers have also improved their mobile services. The banking services have also resumed in Puri. Non-availability of power and telecom connectivity was hampering the functioning of some ATMs. (With inputs from agencies)

Cyclone Fani: NASA shares before-after photos of power outage caused by storm in Odisha

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