Tensions between Russia and the United States are spilling over into the realm of space. WION's report explains how a Russian spacecraft tailed an American spy satellite in low earth orbit has ignited concerns over the militarisation of space.

US-Russia tensions escalate in Space | Russia denies US charge: No anti-satellite weapon in space

US-Russia tensions escalate in space

Russia's spacecraft tails US spy satellite

<p>Ed Dwight, a 90-year-old sculptor and former Air Force test pilot who was once denied the chance of going to space and becoming the first Black astronaut six decades ago, finally went to space, on Sunday (May 19).&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘A life-changing experience’</strong></h2>

<p>Dwight, 90, finally went to space around 60 years after he was denied the chance to be America’s first Black astronaut after flying on Jeff Bezos’ rocket with five others for roughly 10 minutes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 1961, when he was an Air Force pilot, Dwight was chosen by President John F Kennedy as a candidate for NASA’s early astronaut corps, but he wasn’t picked from the 1963 class.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, the American space agency didn’t select Black astronauts until 1978, and Guion Bluford became the first African American in space in 1983.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-is-gopi-thotakura-first-indian-space-tourist-to-fly-with-jeff-bezoss-blue-origin-710492">Who is Gopi Thotakura, first Indian ‘space tourist’ to fly with Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin?</a></strong></p>

<p>Jeff Bezos’ space company launched its NS-25 mission from west Texas at 10:37 am (local time) where Dwight, along with five other passengers, experienced a few minutes of weightlessness as it skimmed space on a roughly 10-minute flight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was “a life changing experience,” said the 90-year-old shortly after exiting the capsule, as quoted by the Associated Press.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I thought I really didn’t need this in my life,” Dwight. ”But, now, I need it in my life...I am ecstatic.”</p>

<p>While the now-retired US Air Force captain couldn't&nbsp;make history by becoming the first Black astronaut, after his flight on Sunday, he set another record and became the world’s oldest person in space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dwight broke the record set by William Shatner who flew on another Blue Origin flight in October 2021, as he is two months older than the ‘Star Trek’ actor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sunday’s flight was also Blue Origin’s first crew launch in nearly two years after the company had been grounded following an accident in 2022 involving its New Shepard rocket.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘No intention’</strong></h2>

<p>In an interview with National Geographic, Dwight last year said that he had “no intention of being an astronaut” and that it was the “last thing on my bucket list”.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/activists-launch-free-bella-campaign-to-save-lonely-beluga-whale-from-seoul-mall-723632">Activists launch ‘Free Bella’ campaign to save lonely beluga whale from Seoul mall</a></strong></p>

<p>Since retiring and entering private life in 1966, Dwight who is from Denver, Colorado, spent a decade as an entrepreneur before he became a sculptor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 90-year-old took the flight with four business entrepreneurs from the United States and France and a retired accountant.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While their ticket prices were not disclosed, according to AP, Dwight’s seat was sponsored in part by the nonprofit Space for Humanity.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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Ed Dwight, a 90-year-old sculptor and former Air Force test pilot who was once denied the chance of going to space and becoming the first Black astronaut six decades ago, finally went to space, on Sunday (May 19).

Ed Dwight, a 90-year-old sculptor and former Air Force test pilot who was once denied the chance of going to space and becoming the first Black astronaut six decades ago, finally went to space, on Sunday (May 19). ‘A life-changing experience’ Dwight, 90, finally went to space around 60 years after he was denied the chance to be America’s first Black astronaut after flying on Jeff Bezos’ rocket with five others for roughly 10 minutes. In 1961, when he was an Air Force pilot, Dwight was chosen by President John F Kennedy as a candidate for NASA’s early astronaut corps, but he wasn’t picked from the 1963 class. Notably, the American space agency didn’t select Black astronauts until 1978, and Guion Bluford became the first African American in space in 1983. Also Read | Who is Gopi Thotakura, first Indian ‘space tourist’ to fly with Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin? Jeff Bezos’ space company launched its NS-25 mission from west Texas at 10:37 am (local time) where Dwight, along with five other passengers, experienced a few minutes of weightlessness as it skimmed space on a roughly 10-minute flight. It was “a life changing experience,” said the 90-year-old shortly after exiting the capsule, as quoted by the Associated Press. “I thought I really didn’t need this in my life,” Dwight. ”But, now, I need it in my life...I am ecstatic.” While the now-retired US Air Force captain couldn't make history by becoming the first Black astronaut, after his flight on Sunday, he set another record and became the world’s oldest person in space. Dwight broke the record set by William Shatner who flew on another Blue Origin flight in October 2021, as he is two months older than the ‘Star Trek’ actor. Sunday’s flight was also Blue Origin’s first crew launch in nearly two years after the company had been grounded following an accident in 2022 involving its New Shepard rocket. ‘No intention’ In an interview with National Geographic, Dwight last year said that he had “no intention of being an astronaut” and that it was the “last thing on my bucket list”. Also Read | Activists launch ‘Free Bella’ campaign to save lonely beluga whale from Seoul mall Since retiring and entering private life in 1966, Dwight who is from Denver, Colorado, spent a decade as an entrepreneur before he became a sculptor. The 90-year-old took the flight with four business entrepreneurs from the United States and France and a retired accountant. While their ticket prices were not disclosed, according to AP, Dwight’s seat was sponsored in part by the nonprofit Space for Humanity. (With inputs from agencies)

Ed Dwight: First Black astronaut candidate becomes world’s oldest person to fly in space

<p>Russia accused the United States on Tuesday (May 21) of trying to deploy weapons in space, marking the latest escalation in their ongoing dispute. This accusation came a day after Washington blocked a Russian non-proliferation proposal at the United Nations.</p>

<p>The UN Security Council dismissed a Russian proposal aimed at addressing military activities in space, amid skepticism from other countries about Moscow's intentions following its veto of an American resolution in April concerning nuclear proliferation in outer space.</p>

<p>"They have once again demonstrated that their true priorities in the area of outer space are aimed not at keeping space free from weapons of any kind, but at placing weapons in space and turning it into an arena for military confrontation," Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.</p>

<p>In recent months, the two superpowers have repeatedly accused each other of attempting to militarise space.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch | Russia Claims Control of Ukrainian Stronghold in Luhansk</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-claims-control-of-ukrainian-stronghold-in-luhansk-in-live-discussion-723888/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2><strong>Clash over space weaponisation </strong></h2>

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<p>In February, Washington expressed concern about Russia's development of "anti-satellite capability" following reports from US media that intelligence agencies had warned allies of Russia's potential to launch a nuclear weapon into orbit.</p>

<p>Moscow dismissed these accusations as "malicious" and "unfounded," asserting that it does not possess such systems.</p>

<p>Since then, Russia has made similar accusations against the United States.</p>

<p>The two countries submitted competing non-proliferation proposals at the United Nations as part of their ongoing dispute.</p>

<p>Last month, Russia vetoed the US initiative, while the United States, Britain, and France blocked Moscow's proposal in a vote on Monday.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/russia-and-china-have-their-differences-but-putin-xi-are-not-talking-about-them-723027">Also read | Russia, China have their differences but Putin and Xi are not talking about them</a></p>

<p>Russia claimed the US initiative focused solely on nuclear weapons and argued that Washington was not genuinely interested in a comprehensive ban on space weapons.</p>

<p>US envoy Robert Wood criticised Russia's proposal, which called on all countries to "take urgent measures to prevent for all time the placement of weapons in outer space," labeling it as a distraction and accusing Moscow of "diplomatic gaslighting."</p>

<p>On Tuesday, Zakharova stated that Russia "will continue to make an unwavering contribution to keeping outer space free of weapons of any kind and preventing it from becoming another sphere of tension and armed confrontation."</p>

<p>Despite a slew of Western sanctions and strained relations amid Russia's offensive in Ukraine, space remains a rare area of cooperation between the two nations.</p>

<p>Both countries continue to transport each other's crew members to and from the International Space Station (ISS), where their astronauts work together.</p>
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Russia accused the United States on Tuesday (May 21) of trying to deploy weapons in space, marking the latest escalation in their ongoing dispute. This accusation came a day after Washington blocked a Russian non-proliferation proposal at the United Nations.

Russia accused the United States on Tuesday (May 21) of trying to deploy weapons in space, marking the latest escalation in their ongoing dispute. This accusation came a day after Washington blocked a Russian non-proliferation proposal at the United Nations. The UN Security Council dismissed a Russian proposal aimed at addressing military activities in space, amid skepticism from other countries about Moscow's intentions following its veto of an American resolution in April concerning nuclear proliferation in outer space. "They have once again demonstrated that their true priorities in the area of outer space are aimed not at keeping space free from weapons of any kind, but at placing weapons in space and turning it into an arena for military confrontation," Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement. In recent months, the two superpowers have repeatedly accused each other of attempting to militarise space. Also watch | Russia Claims Control of Ukrainian Stronghold in Luhansk Clash over space weaponisation In February, Washington expressed concern about Russia's development of "anti-satellite capability" following reports from US media that intelligence agencies had warned allies of Russia's potential to launch a nuclear weapon into orbit. Moscow dismissed these accusations as "malicious" and "unfounded," asserting that it does not possess such systems. Since then, Russia has made similar accusations against the United States. The two countries submitted competing non-proliferation proposals at the United Nations as part of their ongoing dispute. Last month, Russia vetoed the US initiative, while the United States, Britain, and France blocked Moscow's proposal in a vote on Monday. Also read | Russia, China have their differences but Putin and Xi are not talking about them Russia claimed the US initiative focused solely on nuclear weapons and argued that Washington was not genuinely interested in a comprehensive ban on space weapons. US envoy Robert Wood criticised Russia's proposal, which called on all countries to "take urgent measures to prevent for all time the placement of weapons in outer space," labeling it as a distraction and accusing Moscow of "diplomatic gaslighting." On Tuesday, Zakharova stated that Russia "will continue to make an unwavering contribution to keeping outer space free of weapons of any kind and preventing it from becoming another sphere of tension and armed confrontation." Despite a slew of Western sanctions and strained relations amid Russia's offensive in Ukraine, space remains a rare area of cooperation between the two nations. Both countries continue to transport each other's crew members to and from the International Space Station (ISS), where their astronauts work together. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia accuses US of planning to place weapons in space

The Sun's volatile activity peaked late Tuesday when the colossal sunspot AR3664 unleashed a massive solar flare, the most powerful eruption of the current solar cycle. Watch in for more details!

Biggest Solar flare in 10 years hits Earth

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<p>With the help of the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists have spotted the most ancient collision of a black hole,&nbsp;likely to have&nbsp;taken place&nbsp;when the universe was only 740 million years old.</p>

<p>For the first time, astronomers have spotted such a merger&nbsp;which&nbsp;also appears to be the first one to have taken place in the&nbsp;history of the universe. It occurred in the galaxy system called ZS7.</p>

<p>Black holes are massive cosmic items spread across our universe&nbsp;and&nbsp;their gravitational fields are strong enough to stop even light from escaping their event horizons.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/parasite-black-holes-devouring-stars-from-inside-says-study-670146">Parasite black holes devouring stars from inside, says study</a></p>

<p>When two black holes merge, they sound dreadful&nbsp;and&nbsp;the process takes place slowly as they&nbsp;coalesce&nbsp;into a single object.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>One black hole was 50 million times the mass of the Sun:&nbsp;Scientists</strong></h2>

<p>In an ESA&nbsp;(European Space Agency) release,&nbsp;the&nbsp;study’s&nbsp;lead author and an astronomer at the&nbsp;University of Cambridge&nbsp;Hannah&nbsp;Ubler&nbsp;said,&nbsp;“Our findings suggest that merging is an important route through which black holes can rapidly grow, even at cosmic dawn."&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Together with other Webb findings of active, massive black holes in the distant Universe, our results also show that massive black holes have been shaping the evolution of galaxies from the very beginning,"&nbsp;she said.</p>

<p>The vision of the James Webb Telescope was so sharp that the team spatially separated the two black holes&nbsp;which&nbsp;helped them understand some of their physical characteristics.</p>

<p>It was found&nbsp;that one of the Black Holes was nearly 50 million times&nbsp;the mass of the Sun&nbsp;and&nbsp;the other was hidden&nbsp;in a dense cloud of gas.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gigantic sunspot wide enough to fill 15 worlds becomes visible&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gigantic-sunspot-wide-enough-to-fill-15-worlds-becomes-visible-trending-on-wion-720156/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The&nbsp;full paper of the team&nbsp;on&nbsp;the discovery&nbsp;was&nbsp;published&nbsp;in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.</p>

<p>The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA),&nbsp;which is&nbsp;a&nbsp;space-based gravitational wave observatory, was formally adopted by the ESA in January&nbsp;which&nbsp;paved the way for the eventual operation and launch of the spacecraft.</p>

<p>In the press release,&nbsp;LISA’s&nbsp;lead&nbsp;project scientist at the European Space Agency&nbsp; Nora&nbsp; Luetzgendorf&nbsp; said, “Webb’s&nbsp; results are telling us that lighter systems detectable by LISA should be far more frequent than previously assumed."</p>

<p>“It will most likely make us adjust our models for LISA rates in this mass range.&nbsp;This&nbsp;is just the tip of the iceberg,"&nbsp;she added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


With the help of the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists have spotted the most ancient collision of a black hole, likely to have taken place when the universe was only 740 million years old.

With the help of the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists have spotted the most ancient collision of a black hole, likely to have taken place when the universe was only 740 million years old. For the first time, astronomers have spotted such a merger which also appears to be the first one to have taken place in the history of the universe. It occurred in the galaxy system called ZS7. Black holes are massive cosmic items spread across our universe and their gravitational fields are strong enough to stop even light from escaping their event horizons. Also Read: Parasite black holes devouring stars from inside, says study When two black holes merge, they sound dreadful and the process takes place slowly as they coalesce into a single object. One black hole was 50 million times the mass of the Sun: Scientists In an ESA (European Space Agency) release, the study’s lead author and an astronomer at the University of Cambridge Hannah Ubler said, “Our findings suggest that merging is an important route through which black holes can rapidly grow, even at cosmic dawn." “Together with other Webb findings of active, massive black holes in the distant Universe, our results also show that massive black holes have been shaping the evolution of galaxies from the very beginning," she said. The vision of the James Webb Telescope was so sharp that the team spatially separated the two black holes which helped them understand some of their physical characteristics. It was found that one of the Black Holes was nearly 50 million times the mass of the Sun and the other was hidden in a dense cloud of gas. Watch: Gigantic sunspot wide enough to fill 15 worlds becomes visible The full paper of the team on the discovery was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), which is a space-based gravitational wave observatory, was formally adopted by the ESA in January which paved the way for the eventual operation and launch of the spacecraft. In the press release, LISA’s lead project scientist at the European Space Agency Nora Luetzgendorf said, “Webb’s results are telling us that lighter systems detectable by LISA should be far more frequent than previously assumed." “It will most likely make us adjust our models for LISA rates in this mass range. This is just the tip of the iceberg," she added. (With inputs from agencies)

Massive collision of black holes took place in ancient space. One had 50 million times mass of Sun

Sun has Unleashed a massive solar flare is one of the biggest the sun sports are also glowing and growing which experts say could unleash more such flares. Here's a report.

Sun leashes massive Solar flare

Astronauts in the Chinese Space Station could soon have a new robotic colleague onboard. Chinese researchers are developing three types of humanoid robots whose main objective will be to help astronauts with their daily tasks.

Robot astronaut heading to Chinese space station

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<p>A car-sized asteroid had a close shave with Earth on Tuesday morning (May 14), two days after the astronomers discovered it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The&nbsp;asteroid&nbsp;2024 JN16 was nearly the size of a car, less than 15 feet (4 metres) wide. The asteroid did not hit Earth, however, it came as close as 11,500 miles (18,500 kilometres) from the surface of our planet when it zipped by at 5:50 am EDT (0950 GMT) on Tuesday (May 14), as per The Virtual Telescope Project.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amateur astronomer&nbsp;Gennadiy Borisov&nbsp;discovered asteroid 2024 JN16&nbsp;two days ago with the use of the MARGO Observatory in Nauchnij, Crimea.&nbsp;The space rock is part of the Apollo asteroid group whose orbit intersects with Earth's orbit.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sun-releases-strongest-x-ray-flares-since-2005-scientists-warn-massive-sunspot-yet-to-burst-721537">Sun releases strongest X-ray flares since 2005, scientists warn massive sunspot yet to burst</a></p>

<p>The&nbsp;Chelyabinsk meteor, which was as big as a six-storey building and broke up&nbsp;into pieces over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk in 2013 leading to a blast stronger than a nuclear explosion, was a famous asteroid from this group.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Asteroid reaches inside the moon's orbit</strong></h2>

<p>The orbits of such cosmic objects increase the risk of them colliding with a planet or other asteroids. As per astronomers, such asteroids survive for fairly short periods like 10 million years in our&nbsp;solar system.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When it came close to Earth, 2024 JN16 was within the moon's orbit&nbsp;and half as distant as the geostationary satellites from Earth. These shells of geostationary satellites rotate at an altitude of 22,236 miles (35,785 km).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Asian continent bears brunt of heatwave</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/asian-continent-bears-brunt-of-heatwave-721664/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Since it came so close to Earth, the asteroid shined at magnitude 13 at its brightest and hence, was visible to telescopes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The asteroid is presently more than 186,400 miles (300,000 kilometres) from Earth and is located in the constellation Serpens. However, one can only see it using long-exposure photography.</p>

<p>More than 40 asteroids have been found by astronomers whose paths came closer to Earth than the moon's orbit, as per the&nbsp;Watchers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A car-sized asteroid had a close shave with Earth on Tuesday morning (May 14), two days after the astronomers discovered it. The asteroid 2024 JN16 was nearly the size of a car, less than 15 feet (4 metres) wide.

A car-sized asteroid had a close shave with Earth on Tuesday morning (May 14), two days after the astronomers discovered it. The asteroid 2024 JN16 was nearly the size of a car, less than 15 feet (4 metres) wide. The asteroid did not hit Earth, however, it came as close as 11,500 miles (18,500 kilometres) from the surface of our planet when it zipped by at 5:50 am EDT (0950 GMT) on Tuesday (May 14), as per The Virtual Telescope Project. Amateur astronomer Gennadiy Borisov discovered asteroid 2024 JN16 two days ago with the use of the MARGO Observatory in Nauchnij, Crimea. The space rock is part of the Apollo asteroid group whose orbit intersects with Earth's orbit. Also Read: Sun releases strongest X-ray flares since 2005, scientists warn massive sunspot yet to burst The Chelyabinsk meteor, which was as big as a six-storey building and broke up into pieces over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk in 2013 leading to a blast stronger than a nuclear explosion, was a famous asteroid from this group. Asteroid reaches inside the moon's orbit The orbits of such cosmic objects increase the risk of them colliding with a planet or other asteroids. As per astronomers, such asteroids survive for fairly short periods like 10 million years in our solar system. When it came close to Earth, 2024 JN16 was within the moon's orbit and half as distant as the geostationary satellites from Earth. These shells of geostationary satellites rotate at an altitude of 22,236 miles (35,785 km). Watch: Asian continent bears brunt of heatwave Since it came so close to Earth, the asteroid shined at magnitude 13 at its brightest and hence, was visible to telescopes. The asteroid is presently more than 186,400 miles (300,000 kilometres) from Earth and is located in the constellation Serpens. However, one can only see it using long-exposure photography. More than 40 asteroids have been found by astronomers whose paths came closer to Earth than the moon's orbit, as per the Watchers. (With inputs from agencies)

Asteroid flies by Earth at an eerily close distance nearer than the moon

<p>In about five years, on April 13, 2029, the near-Earth asteroid Apophis, popularly named 'God of Destruction', will make a historically close approach to Earth, passing just 30,000 miles (around 48,280 kilometres) away.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Named after the Egyptian god of chaos, the asteroid, which is approximately 1,000 feet (around 305 metres) wide, will be so close that it will be visible to the naked eye. This 'close call' will provide a unique scientific opportunity that NASA researchers are eager to seize.</p>

<h2><strong>NASA to take advantage of the dangerous asteroid</strong></h2>

<p>On the day Apophis comes close to our planet, NASA's OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft will be in a position to study the 'God of Destruction'.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musk-claims-aliens-have-never-visited-earth-and-heres-the-proof-719996">Elon Musk cites simple proof to assert his belief that aliens don't exist</a></strong></p>

<p>Not only this, but there might also be a host of little satellites from the "NEAlight" project. A team at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg initiated this project under the guidance of space engineer Hakan Kayal.</p>

<p>These three satellites aim to gather vital data which could enhance our understanding of the solar system and aid in developing strategies for planetary defence.</p>

<h2><strong>'God of Destruction' Apophis</strong></h2>

<p>Apophis has been a significant subject of study since its discovery in 2004 due to its size and the potential proximity of its orbit to Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/heartbreaking-reality-over-321000-children-left-orphaned-due-to-americas-drug-epidemic-between-2011-2021-719636">Heartbreaking! Over 321,000 children lost a parent to America's drug epidemic between 2011-2021</a></strong></p>

<p>It featured prominently on risk lists — European Space Agency's (ESA's) and NASA's Sentry Risk Table for 17 years — for potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) until 2021, when observations confirmed that it poses no threat of collision with Earth for at least the next hundred years.</p>

<p>Despite the absence of an immediate threat, the 2029 encounter with Apophis presents a valuable chance to analyse a primordial object that has witnessed the solar system's history since its formation about 4.6 billion years ago.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In about five years, on April 13, 2029, the near-Earth asteroid Apophis, popularly named 'God of Destruction', will make a historically close approach to Earth, passing just 30,000 miles (around 48,280 kilometres) away.

In about five years, on April 13, 2029, the near-Earth asteroid Apophis, popularly named 'God of Destruction', will make a historically close approach to Earth, passing just 30,000 miles (around 48,280 kilometres) away. Named after the Egyptian god of chaos, the asteroid, which is approximately 1,000 feet (around 305 metres) wide, will be so close that it will be visible to the naked eye. This 'close call' will provide a unique scientific opportunity that NASA researchers are eager to seize. NASA to take advantage of the dangerous asteroid On the day Apophis comes close to our planet, NASA's OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft will be in a position to study the 'God of Destruction'. Also read | Elon Musk cites simple proof to assert his belief that aliens don't exist Not only this, but there might also be a host of little satellites from the "NEAlight" project. A team at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg initiated this project under the guidance of space engineer Hakan Kayal. These three satellites aim to gather vital data which could enhance our understanding of the solar system and aid in developing strategies for planetary defence. 'God of Destruction' Apophis Apophis has been a significant subject of study since its discovery in 2004 due to its size and the potential proximity of its orbit to Earth. Also read | Heartbreaking! Over 321,000 children lost a parent to America's drug epidemic between 2011-2021 It featured prominently on risk lists — European Space Agency's (ESA's) and NASA's Sentry Risk Table for 17 years — for potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) until 2021, when observations confirmed that it poses no threat of collision with Earth for at least the next hundred years. Despite the absence of an immediate threat, the 2029 encounter with Apophis presents a valuable chance to analyse a primordial object that has witnessed the solar system's history since its formation about 4.6 billion years ago. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA will do THIS when 'God of Destruction' asteroid Apophis comes near Earth in 2029

NASA's next-generation rocket that blasted off last month from New Zealand is now ready to test an 860 Square ft solar sail from within a microwave-sized Cube. The advanced solar sail boom could of course allow the Rockets to launch into space without fuel.

NASA to test 860 square foot Solar Sail to utilize sunlight to power deep space exploration

<p>A scent would have lingered in the air at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre in Virginia if the world's first space-baked cookie that made its debut on Wednesday (May 8) was not enclosed in a case. Crafted from a recipe similar to the DoubleTree by Hilton chocolate chip treats, this cosmic confection has defied the odds by maintaining its aroma even after nearly four and a half years in space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While lamenting the inability to experience its aroma,&nbsp;Jennifer Levasseur, curator at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, shared, "I can tell you it does still smell like a baked cookie."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/boeing-starliners-launch-may-end-up-in-something-catastrophic-warns-nasa-contractor-719915">NASA contractor warns of 'disaster on launchpad' during second Starliner launch attempt</a></p>

<p>Preserving the cookie without compromising its quality proved to be a delicate task.</p>

<p>Encased in a nitrogen-filled enclosure, the cookie remained shielded from moisture and potential degradation, ensuring its longevity.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-tiny-section-of-human-brain-reveals-astounding-57000-cells-150mn-neural-connections-719907">A tiny section of human brain reveals astounding 57,000 cells, 150mn neural connections</a></p>

<p>Levasseur explained, "Because it's in this special enclosure, nobody can smell the cookie now, which is probably for the cookie's benefit because if you were able to smell it that would mean that there might potentially be oxygen penetrating it, and then we'd be going in a direction we don't want to go."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Cookie's journey&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The cookie's journey began in 2019 with a collaborative effort between Nanoracks (now part of Voyager Space), Hilton, and Zero-G Kitchen to develop an oven suitable for microgravity environments.</p>

<p>After numerous attempts, astronauts finally achieved the perfect cookie texture aboard the International Space Station.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/everest-faces-the-challenge-of-overcrowding-commercialisation-hits-mount-everest-hard-719927">Everest faces the challenge of overcrowding, commercialisation hits Mount Everest hard</a></strong></p>

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<p>Returning to Earth in early 2020, the cookie underwent careful preservation procedures before finding its current home at the Smithsonian.</p>

<p>"We needed to defrost it," said Levasseur.</p>

<p>"So the conservation team did some experiments ahead of time, re-making the recipe and then testing for how long they would need to desiccate it and under what conditions would we need to store it so that we would never have to worry about mold becoming an issue."</p>

<p>"It will reside next to other items related to food consumption inside our recreation of the [International Space Station's] Destiny laboratory module," Levasseur added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A scent would have lingered in the air at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre in Virginia if the world's first space-baked cookie that made its debut on Wednesday (May 8) was not enclosed in a case.

A scent would have lingered in the air at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre in Virginia if the world's first space-baked cookie that made its debut on Wednesday (May 8) was not enclosed in a case. Crafted from a recipe similar to the DoubleTree by Hilton chocolate chip treats, this cosmic confection has defied the odds by maintaining its aroma even after nearly four and a half years in space. While lamenting the inability to experience its aroma, Jennifer Levasseur, curator at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, shared, "I can tell you it does still smell like a baked cookie." Also Read | NASA contractor warns of 'disaster on launchpad' during second Starliner launch attempt Preserving the cookie without compromising its quality proved to be a delicate task. Encased in a nitrogen-filled enclosure, the cookie remained shielded from moisture and potential degradation, ensuring its longevity. Also Read | A tiny section of human brain reveals astounding 57,000 cells, 150mn neural connections Levasseur explained, "Because it's in this special enclosure, nobody can smell the cookie now, which is probably for the cookie's benefit because if you were able to smell it that would mean that there might potentially be oxygen penetrating it, and then we'd be going in a direction we don't want to go." Cookie's journey The cookie's journey began in 2019 with a collaborative effort between Nanoracks (now part of Voyager Space), Hilton, and Zero-G Kitchen to develop an oven suitable for microgravity environments. After numerous attempts, astronauts finally achieved the perfect cookie texture aboard the International Space Station. Watch | Everest faces the challenge of overcrowding, commercialisation hits Mount Everest hard × Returning to Earth in early 2020, the cookie underwent careful preservation procedures before finding its current home at the Smithsonian. "We needed to defrost it," said Levasseur. "So the conservation team did some experiments ahead of time, re-making the recipe and then testing for how long they would need to desiccate it and under what conditions would we need to store it so that we would never have to worry about mold becoming an issue." "It will reside next to other items related to food consumption inside our recreation of the [International Space Station's] Destiny laboratory module," Levasseur added. (With inputs from agencies)

Space cookie still smells fresh after four years. Know how

<p>What will happen to the many languages around the world if humans cease to exist tomorrow? Quite predictably, our languages and their cultural value will also be wiped off the face of this planet. But what about another planet? Maybe we can preserve our linguistic treasures elsewhere in space.</p>

<p>The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is teaming up with a Japanese lunar exploration company to do just that.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/advances-in-artificial-intelligence-mean-deadbots-can-haunt-users-warn-ai-experts-heres-what-it-means-719542">Advances in artificial intelligence mean 'deadbots' can 'haunt' the living, warn experts. Here's what it means</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Languages, other worlds and the end of humanity</strong></h2>

<p>As per Space.com, Japanese lunar exploration firm ispace is working to put human presence into space and on the moon. In collaboration with UNESCO, the company is planning to send to the lunar surface an important part of humanity: 275 languages and other cultural artefacts.</p>

<p>If you're wondering how this will happen, the answer is 'Memory Disk'.</p>

<p>Similar to the time capsules many of us remember preserving our memories in, the two organisations will send the languages and artefacts to the moon aboard ispace's upcoming Hakuto-R Mission 2.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/have-we-already-lost-the-battle-april-continues-damning-11-month-trend-emerges-as-hottest-since-1940-719261">Have we 'already lost climate battle'?: April continues damning 11-month trend, emerges as hottest since 1940</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Hakuto-R Mission 2</strong></h2>

<p>The upcoming Hakuto-R Mission 2 will send a robotic lander to the surface of the Moon. It will also deliver to Earth's natural satellite a memory disk that seeks to keep humanity alive in case something threatens humanity's existence on our planet.</p>

<p>"UNESCO is committed to preserving the linguistic diversity that represents human cultures from any crisis that threatens their destruction in the future, and preservation on the lunar surface is one means to preserve cultures," says ispace in a release posted on its website.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To fulfil this mission, the memory disk will contain the UNESCO Constitution's Preamble, which expresses "the importance of preserving world unity, linguistic diversity, and cultures". This preamble will be translated into 275 languages.</p>

<p>Hakuto-R Mission 2 is slated to be sent to the Moon sometime in 2024. However, this is only true if the current timelines hold.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


What will happen to the many languages around the world if humans cease to exist tomorrow? Quite predictably, our languages and their cultural value will also be wiped off the face of this planet.

What will happen to the many languages around the world if humans cease to exist tomorrow? Quite predictably, our languages and their cultural value will also be wiped off the face of this planet. But what about another planet? Maybe we can preserve our linguistic treasures elsewhere in space. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is teaming up with a Japanese lunar exploration company to do just that. Also read | Advances in artificial intelligence mean 'deadbots' can 'haunt' the living, warn experts. Here's what it means Languages, other worlds and the end of humanity As per Space.com, Japanese lunar exploration firm ispace is working to put human presence into space and on the moon. In collaboration with UNESCO, the company is planning to send to the lunar surface an important part of humanity: 275 languages and other cultural artefacts. If you're wondering how this will happen, the answer is 'Memory Disk'. Similar to the time capsules many of us remember preserving our memories in, the two organisations will send the languages and artefacts to the moon aboard ispace's upcoming Hakuto-R Mission 2. Also read | Have we 'already lost climate battle'?: April continues damning 11-month trend, emerges as hottest since 1940 Hakuto-R Mission 2 The upcoming Hakuto-R Mission 2 will send a robotic lander to the surface of the Moon. It will also deliver to Earth's natural satellite a memory disk that seeks to keep humanity alive in case something threatens humanity's existence on our planet. "UNESCO is committed to preserving the linguistic diversity that represents human cultures from any crisis that threatens their destruction in the future, and preservation on the lunar surface is one means to preserve cultures," says ispace in a release posted on its website. To fulfil this mission, the memory disk will contain the UNESCO Constitution's Preamble, which expresses "the importance of preserving world unity, linguistic diversity, and cultures". This preamble will be translated into 275 languages. Hakuto-R Mission 2 is slated to be sent to the Moon sometime in 2024. However, this is only true if the current timelines hold. (With inputs from agencies)

What if humanity ends on Earth? Scientists plan to preserve 275 languages on the Moon

<p>Chang'e-6, China's latest mission to the Moon, seems to be carrying a secret rover.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the successful launch of the spacecraft on Friday (May 3), the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) released new photos of the lander, and internet sleuths were quick to spot a small grey object with wheels strapped to the side. The object looks like a mini rover. Its purpose?&nbsp;Unknown.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/warren-buffett-likens-ai-to-nuclear-weapons-warns-genie-part-way-out-of-the-bottle-718910">Warren Buffett likens AI to nuclear weapons, warns 'genie part way out of the bottle'</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>'Previously undisclosed mini rover'</strong></h2>

<p>Taking to X, previously Twitter, Andrew Jones, a journalist closely tracking China's space programme, wrote in a post, "Yeah, okay. That looks like a previously undisclosed mini rover on the side of the Chang'e-6 lander".</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Yeah, okay. That looks like a previously undisclosed mini rover on the side of the Chang'e-6 lander lol. Via CAST: <a href="https://t.co/gS0Jy5L9hw">https://t.co/gS0Jy5L9hw</a> <a href="https://t.co/9vvTnribpl">pic.twitter.com/9vvTnribpl</a></p>
— Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) <a href="https://twitter.com/AJ_FI/status/1786353438806217036?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>What will the mini rover do? No one knows yet.</p>

<p>As per a Live Science report, a translated statement from the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics revealed that the small robot has an infrared imaging spectrometer. Its purpose, however, remains unclear. But, given its small size and the conditions it will face on the Moon, SpaceNews predicts that whatever the mission, it will fall short.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ancient-fossil-shows-birds-are-officially-dinosaurs-718968">Ancient fossil shows birds are officially dinosaurs</a></strong></p>

<p>"Given the diminutive size of the vehicle and short lifetime of the mission lander, it is likely the rover will have limited operational time and objectives."</p>

<h2><strong>Previous sneaky space missions by China</strong></h2>

<p>According to SpaceNews, this is not the first time China has sneaked undisclosed payloads onto its spacecraft.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previously, in 2021, during China's Tianwen-1 mission to Mars, the nation's spacecraft ejected a disposable spacecraft that took pictures of Tianwen-1 on its way to the red planet.</p>

<p>The Tianwen-1 orbiter was also equipped with another detachable camera that took selfies while in orbit around Mars.</p>

<p>Further, the Zhurong rover, that was&nbsp;part of the Tianwen-1 mission, also dropped a camera on&nbsp;the red planet.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Chang'e-6, China's latest mission to the Moon, seems to be carrying a secret rover. After the successful launch of the spacecraft on Friday (May 3), the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) released new photos of the lander, and internet sleuths were quick to spot a small grey object with wheels strapped to the side.

Chang'e-6, China's latest mission to the Moon, seems to be carrying a secret rover. After the successful launch of the spacecraft on Friday (May 3), the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) released new photos of the lander, and internet sleuths were quick to spot a small grey object with wheels strapped to the side. The object looks like a mini rover. Its purpose? Unknown. Also read | Warren Buffett likens AI to nuclear weapons, warns 'genie part way out of the bottle' 'Previously undisclosed mini rover' Taking to X, previously Twitter, Andrew Jones, a journalist closely tracking China's space programme, wrote in a post, "Yeah, okay. That looks like a previously undisclosed mini rover on the side of the Chang'e-6 lander". Yeah, okay. That looks like a previously undisclosed mini rover on the side of the Chang'e-6 lander lol. Via CAST: https://t.co/gS0Jy5L9hw pic.twitter.com/9vvTnribpl — Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) May 3, 2024 × What will the mini rover do? No one knows yet. As per a Live Science report, a translated statement from the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics revealed that the small robot has an infrared imaging spectrometer. Its purpose, however, remains unclear. But, given its small size and the conditions it will face on the Moon, SpaceNews predicts that whatever the mission, it will fall short. Also read | Ancient fossil shows birds are officially dinosaurs "Given the diminutive size of the vehicle and short lifetime of the mission lander, it is likely the rover will have limited operational time and objectives." Previous sneaky space missions by China According to SpaceNews, this is not the first time China has sneaked undisclosed payloads onto its spacecraft. Previously, in 2021, during China's Tianwen-1 mission to Mars, the nation's spacecraft ejected a disposable spacecraft that took pictures of Tianwen-1 on its way to the red planet. The Tianwen-1 orbiter was also equipped with another detachable camera that took selfies while in orbit around Mars. Further, the Zhurong rover, that was part of the Tianwen-1 mission, also dropped a camera on the red planet. (With inputs from agencies)

Has China sent a secret rover to Moon? Internet sleuths spot small device piggybacking Chang'e-6

<p>Have you ever wondered what our fiery sun would look like close up? Don't worry, you won't have to make the perilous journey to the star to see that, as the European Space Agency (ESA) has recently shared a captivating and mind-boggling close-up of the Sun's surface.</p>

<h2><strong>Mind-boggling video</strong></h2>

<p>The video was captured by the Solar Orbiter's Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI), and it offers an unprecedented close-up look at the dynamic activities on the Sun's surface.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Recorded on September 27, 2023, this footage provides a detailed glimpse into the complex solar phenomena that play a crucial role in influencing space weather.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-unveil-what-75000-year-old-neanderthal-woman-shanidar-zs-looked-like-717254">Scientists unveil what 75,000 year-old Neanderthal woman 'Shanidar Z' looked like</a></strong></p>

<p>"At the time, the spacecraft was at roughly a third of the Earth’s distance from the Sun, heading for a closest approach of 43 million km on 7 October," revealed ESA.</p>

<p>The spacecraft is scheduled for an even closer approach to the Sun in October, promising more detailed observations of our nearest star.</p>

<p>Take a look here:</p>

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<p>The video, which is nearly a minute long, showcases various solar features in extraordinary detail. It shows delicate, feathery structures resembling hair, which are actually streams of plasma tracing the magnetic field lines from the Sun's lower atmosphere into the hotter outer corona.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These visuals not only highlight the beauty of our star, but also the powerful forces at play.</p>

<p>"The brightest regions are around one million degrees Celsius, while cooler material looks dark as it absorbs radiation," explains the ESA.</p>

<p>Among the phenomena displayed are coronal moss, spicules, and coronal rain—each contributing uniquely to the Sun’s ecosystem.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/massive-near-x-class-solar-flares-led-to-radio-blackouts-across-the-pacific-717462">Massive, near X-class, solar flares led to radio blackouts across the Pacific</a></strong></p>

<p>Coronal moss also appears in the left corner of the footage as intricate, lace-like patterns.</p>

<p>"It usually appears around the base of large coronal loops that are too hot or too tenuous to be seen with the chosen instrument settings."</p>

<p>Spicules 'spires of gas', on the other hand, are depicted as towering spires of gas that extend approximately 10,000 km (6,214 miles) above the Sun’s chromosphere, resembling jets shooting from the solar surface. Coronal rain features in the video as high-density plasma clumps that descend back to the Sun, driven by gravity.</p>

<p>A particularly striking moment occurs around the 20-second mark, where a "small" eruption unfolds in the centre of the view. However, ESA warns, "Don’t be fooled by the use of 'small' here: this eruption is bigger than Earth!"&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Have you ever wondered what our fiery sun would look like close up? Don't worry, you won't have to make the perilous journey to the star to see that, as the European Space Agency (ESA) has recently shared a captivating and mind-boggling close-up of the Sun's surface.

Have you ever wondered what our fiery sun would look like close up? Don't worry, you won't have to make the perilous journey to the star to see that, as the European Space Agency (ESA) has recently shared a captivating and mind-boggling close-up of the Sun's surface. Mind-boggling video The video was captured by the Solar Orbiter's Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI), and it offers an unprecedented close-up look at the dynamic activities on the Sun's surface. Recorded on September 27, 2023, this footage provides a detailed glimpse into the complex solar phenomena that play a crucial role in influencing space weather. Also read | Scientists unveil what 75,000 year-old Neanderthal woman 'Shanidar Z' looked like "At the time, the spacecraft was at roughly a third of the Earth’s distance from the Sun, heading for a closest approach of 43 million km on 7 October," revealed ESA. The spacecraft is scheduled for an even closer approach to the Sun in October, promising more detailed observations of our nearest star. Take a look here: × The video, which is nearly a minute long, showcases various solar features in extraordinary detail. It shows delicate, feathery structures resembling hair, which are actually streams of plasma tracing the magnetic field lines from the Sun's lower atmosphere into the hotter outer corona. These visuals not only highlight the beauty of our star, but also the powerful forces at play. "The brightest regions are around one million degrees Celsius, while cooler material looks dark as it absorbs radiation," explains the ESA. Among the phenomena displayed are coronal moss, spicules, and coronal rain—each contributing uniquely to the Sun’s ecosystem. Also read | Massive, near X-class, solar flares led to radio blackouts across the Pacific Coronal moss also appears in the left corner of the footage as intricate, lace-like patterns. "It usually appears around the base of large coronal loops that are too hot or too tenuous to be seen with the chosen instrument settings." Spicules 'spires of gas', on the other hand, are depicted as towering spires of gas that extend approximately 10,000 km (6,214 miles) above the Sun’s chromosphere, resembling jets shooting from the solar surface. Coronal rain features in the video as high-density plasma clumps that descend back to the Sun, driven by gravity. A particularly striking moment occurs around the 20-second mark, where a "small" eruption unfolds in the centre of the view. However, ESA warns, "Don’t be fooled by the use of 'small' here: this eruption is bigger than Earth!" (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Scientists manage to capture Sun's closest video yet; ESA cautions 'don't be fooled' because...

Are the Aliens trying to communicate with us? If they do how would they talk to us? Well, they could be sending messages that would be captured by big radio antennas but recently something amazing has happened. Watch to know more.

Laser message strikes Earth from 226 kilometers away | Mysterious transmissions strike Earth

<p>Do you think losing your keys for days is bad? Scientists lost a whole satellite for an entire 25 years.&nbsp;The satellite has now been spotted, but the story of the S73-7 satellite is like a cosmic mystery novel. Here's all you need to know.</p>

<h2><strong>Lost in Space</strong></h2>

<p>Imagine a satellite launched in 1974, only to vanish in the 1990s, lost in the sea of space debris orbiting Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For decades, the satellite remained invisible to tracking systems, until this week…when it suddenly reappeared on radar screens, all thanks to the efforts of the Space Force's 18th Space Defence Squadron.</p>

<p>On X, formerly Twitter, Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, announced, "The S73-7 satellite has been rediscovered after being untracked for 25 years."&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The S73-7 satellite has been rediscovered after being untracked for 25 years. New TLEs for object 7244 started appearing on Apr 25. Congrats to whichever <a href="https://twitter.com/18thSDS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@18thSDS</a> analyst made the identification. <a href="https://t.co/YJOow5o4ND">pic.twitter.com/YJOow5o4ND</a></p>
— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) <a href="https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1784809456548663518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>How can anyone lose a satellite?</strong></h2>

<p>The satellite, officially known as the Infra-Red Calibration Balloon, was part of the United States Air Force's Space Test Program.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Launched on April 10, 1974, the satellite's mission was to inflate in orbit and serve as a&nbsp;calibration target for remote sensing instruments.&nbsp;However, a deployment failure set it adrift in space, its whereabouts unknown.</p>

<p>As per Gizmodo, often, defunct satellites or debris can go missing for years in the increasingly crowded Earth orbit.</p>

<p>Jonathan McDowell, in a conversation with the publication, revealed that S73-7 had been tracked in the 1970s, before vanishing in the 1990s once again.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The satellite possibly has a "very low radar cross-section," said McDowell, adding "And maybe the thing that they’re tracking is a dispenser or a piece of the balloon that didn't deploy right, so it’s not metal and doesn’t show up well on radar."</p>

<p>As per the report, on Earth, there are ground-based radar and optical seasons that any time are tracking more than 20,000 objects in orbit. This is tricky business, as the majority of these objects don't transmit their identities. Instead, tracking relies on matching orbits, a task made harder in geostationary orbits where tracking gaps exist.</p>

<p>"There's actually a hole in the tracking…If you hug the equator, you can hide from the tracking," explained McDowell.</p>

<p>"It's basically like air traffic control. All this stuff is whizzing around and if you're going to try flying through that, you want to know where the hazards are."</p>

<p>This rediscovery highlights the challenges of tracking the 27,000 objects in Earth's orbit, ranging from operational satellites to debris.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Do you think losing your keys for days is bad? Scientists lost a whole satellite for an entire 25 years. The satellite has now been spotted, but the story of the S73-7 satellite is like a cosmic mystery novel.

Do you think losing your keys for days is bad? Scientists lost a whole satellite for an entire 25 years. The satellite has now been spotted, but the story of the S73-7 satellite is like a cosmic mystery novel. Here's all you need to know. Lost in Space Imagine a satellite launched in 1974, only to vanish in the 1990s, lost in the sea of space debris orbiting Earth. For decades, the satellite remained invisible to tracking systems, until this week…when it suddenly reappeared on radar screens, all thanks to the efforts of the Space Force's 18th Space Defence Squadron. On X, formerly Twitter, Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, announced, "The S73-7 satellite has been rediscovered after being untracked for 25 years." The S73-7 satellite has been rediscovered after being untracked for 25 years. New TLEs for object 7244 started appearing on Apr 25. Congrats to whichever @18thSDS analyst made the identification. pic.twitter.com/YJOow5o4ND — Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) April 29, 2024 × How can anyone lose a satellite? The satellite, officially known as the Infra-Red Calibration Balloon, was part of the United States Air Force's Space Test Program. Launched on April 10, 1974, the satellite's mission was to inflate in orbit and serve as a calibration target for remote sensing instruments. However, a deployment failure set it adrift in space, its whereabouts unknown. As per Gizmodo, often, defunct satellites or debris can go missing for years in the increasingly crowded Earth orbit. Jonathan McDowell, in a conversation with the publication, revealed that S73-7 had been tracked in the 1970s, before vanishing in the 1990s once again. The satellite possibly has a "very low radar cross-section," said McDowell, adding "And maybe the thing that they’re tracking is a dispenser or a piece of the balloon that didn't deploy right, so it’s not metal and doesn’t show up well on radar." As per the report, on Earth, there are ground-based radar and optical seasons that any time are tracking more than 20,000 objects in orbit. This is tricky business, as the majority of these objects don't transmit their identities. Instead, tracking relies on matching orbits, a task made harder in geostationary orbits where tracking gaps exist. "There's actually a hole in the tracking…If you hug the equator, you can hide from the tracking," explained McDowell. "It's basically like air traffic control. All this stuff is whizzing around and if you're going to try flying through that, you want to know where the hazards are." This rediscovery highlights the challenges of tracking the 27,000 objects in Earth's orbit, ranging from operational satellites to debris. (With inputs from agencies)

'Lost in space': Satellite missing since 1990s located in Earth's orbit. How can someone lose a satellite?

The United States believes Russia could be planning to weaponize space. A Congressional hearing discussed this possibility, it was based on us intelligence reports that Russia is planning to arm a satellite with a possible nuclear weapon. Watch in for more details!

US warns Russia could be preparing to weaponise space

<p>Asteroids are thought to have been the cause of demise of the mighty dinosaurs, and many theories suggest they would probably be the reason for humanity's downfall too. However, a groundbreaking algorithm has helped asteroid hunters identify a whopping 27,500 overlooked near-Earth objects, make or break information that could potentially help us avoid the doom.</p>

<h2><strong>The THOR-like technology</strong></h2>

<p>Known as Tracklet-less Heliocentric Orbit Recovery (THOR), the technology is revolutionising the way astronomers detect near-Earth asteroids, potentially enhancing our planetary defence capabilities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>THOR, which was developed by researchers at the University of Washington and the Asteroid Institute, THOR employs a novel approach by sifting through archival space photographs to identify celestial bodies.</p>

<p>Using the vast digital archives of the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab), which contains millions of space images, and the help of Google Cloud technology, THOR processed the images in just five weeks, demonstrating its efficiency and scalability.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/cosmic-rush-hour-traffic-jams-in-space-can-cause-black-holes-to-collide-716627">Cosmic vicious cycle: Black holes are crashing into each other due to 'traffic jams' in space</a></strong></p>

<p>This innovative method has led to the identification of the over 27,500 previously unnoticed near-Earth objects. This, as per the New York Post, surpasses the total number discovered by all global telescopes last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Among these are 100 asteroids that traverse within Earth's orbit, with the majority located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.</p>

<p>As per the New York Post, while none of the identified objects were on collision course with earth, this proves vital data that could one day prevent potential cosmic threats.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/fastest-spinning-asteroid-recently-hit-earths-atmosphere-and-crashed-in-berlin-716624">Fastest-spinning asteroid&nbsp;recently hit Earth’s atmosphere and crashed in Berlin</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>'Sea change' in how astronomical research can be conducted</strong></h2>

<p>Unlike traditional observation techniques that track objects across multiple images over time, THOR connects isolated points of light from different images, inferring that they represent the same object. This approach, and the results as per Ed Lu, executive director of the Asteroid Institute, represent "a sea change" in how astronomical research can be conducted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As Matthew Holman, dynamicist and search algorithm expert at the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard &amp; Smithsonian in Cambridge, Massachusetts, said in a 2022 press release, a comprehensive map of the solar system can give "astronomers critical insights both for science and planetary defence."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Asteroids are thought to have been the cause of demise of the mighty dinosaurs, and many theories suggest they would probably be the reason for humanity's downfall too.

Asteroids are thought to have been the cause of demise of the mighty dinosaurs, and many theories suggest they would probably be the reason for humanity's downfall too. However, a groundbreaking algorithm has helped asteroid hunters identify a whopping 27,500 overlooked near-Earth objects, make or break information that could potentially help us avoid the doom. The THOR-like technology Known as Tracklet-less Heliocentric Orbit Recovery (THOR), the technology is revolutionising the way astronomers detect near-Earth asteroids, potentially enhancing our planetary defence capabilities. THOR, which was developed by researchers at the University of Washington and the Asteroid Institute, THOR employs a novel approach by sifting through archival space photographs to identify celestial bodies. Using the vast digital archives of the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab), which contains millions of space images, and the help of Google Cloud technology, THOR processed the images in just five weeks, demonstrating its efficiency and scalability. Also read | Cosmic vicious cycle: Black holes are crashing into each other due to 'traffic jams' in space This innovative method has led to the identification of the over 27,500 previously unnoticed near-Earth objects. This, as per the New York Post, surpasses the total number discovered by all global telescopes last year. Among these are 100 asteroids that traverse within Earth's orbit, with the majority located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. As per the New York Post, while none of the identified objects were on collision course with earth, this proves vital data that could one day prevent potential cosmic threats. Also read | Fastest-spinning asteroid recently hit Earth’s atmosphere and crashed in Berlin 'Sea change' in how astronomical research can be conducted Unlike traditional observation techniques that track objects across multiple images over time, THOR connects isolated points of light from different images, inferring that they represent the same object. This approach, and the results as per Ed Lu, executive director of the Asteroid Institute, represent "a sea change" in how astronomical research can be conducted. As Matthew Holman, dynamicist and search algorithm expert at the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard & Smithsonian in Cambridge, Massachusetts, said in a 2022 press release, a comprehensive map of the solar system can give "astronomers critical insights both for science and planetary defence." (With inputs from agencies)

Over 27,500 previously unnoticed asteroids near Earth identified. Were they a threat?

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<p>"Traffic jams" caused by supermassive black holes in space might be causing collisions in other black holes.</p>

<p>According to a new study published in the&nbsp;<em>Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,&nbsp;</em>the environment around a supermassive black hole is ideal for facilitating the growth of other black holes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Supermassive black holes are giant voids in the heart of all large galaxies. They swirl around disks of matter, stars and their systems, and interestingly, other black holes, including the smaller, stellar mass ones. The swirly behaviour around supermassive black holes can lead to a cosmic "traffic jam," which is integral in slowing down the orbits of stellar-mass black holes. When no longer moving from place to place, these black holes can collide, merging into one enormous black hole.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moreover, the process repeats due to the immense gravitational influence of the supermassive black holes, resulting in even more black-hole collisions that create larger and larger stellar-mass black holes over time.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/james-webb-captures-stunning-horsehead-nebula-as-youve-never-seen-it-before-716413">James Webb captures stunning Horsehead Nebula as ‘you’ve never seen it before...’</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Furthermore, an accretion disk, made of gas and dust, surrounds the supermassive black hole and gradually feeds it. These accretion disks glow brightly, creating an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) caused by the powerful tidal force generated by the supermassive black hole.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists from Monash University conducted the research where they looked at the dynamics found in accretion disks and their embedded black holes. According to the study, when stellar-mass black holes interact with the gas in the accretion disk, they can migrate through the disk, resulting in several such black holes accumulating in regions called "migration traps." Here, the probability of two stellar-mass black holes colliding and merging due to traffic jams is higher than anywhere else in the surrounding galaxy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study's lead author, Evgeni Grishin, said, "We looked at how many and where we'd have these busy intersections. Thermal effects play a crucial role in this process, influencing the location and stability of migration traps. One implication is that we don't see migration traps occurring in active galaxies with large luminosity."</p>

<p>The findings give an understanding of how mergers between stellar-mass black holes proceed. They could also help advance gravitational wave astronomy in the future as these mergers create a burst of tiny ripples in spacetime known as gravitational waves.</p>

<p>"We're thrilled with the results, and we are one step closer to discovering where and how black holes merge in galactic nuclei. The future of gravitational wave astronomy and active galactic nuclei research is exceptionally promising," Grishin stated. "Despite these significant findings, much about the physics of black holes and their surrounding environments remains unknown," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


"Traffic jams" caused by supermassive black holes in space might be causing collisions in other black holes. According to a new study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the environment around a supermassive black hole is ideal for facilitating the growth of other black holes.

"Traffic jams" caused by supermassive black holes in space might be causing collisions in other black holes. According to a new study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the environment around a supermassive black hole is ideal for facilitating the growth of other black holes. Supermassive black holes are giant voids in the heart of all large galaxies. They swirl around disks of matter, stars and their systems, and interestingly, other black holes, including the smaller, stellar mass ones. The swirly behaviour around supermassive black holes can lead to a cosmic "traffic jam," which is integral in slowing down the orbits of stellar-mass black holes. When no longer moving from place to place, these black holes can collide, merging into one enormous black hole. Moreover, the process repeats due to the immense gravitational influence of the supermassive black holes, resulting in even more black-hole collisions that create larger and larger stellar-mass black holes over time. ALSO READ | James Webb captures stunning Horsehead Nebula as ‘you’ve never seen it before...’ Furthermore, an accretion disk, made of gas and dust, surrounds the supermassive black hole and gradually feeds it. These accretion disks glow brightly, creating an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) caused by the powerful tidal force generated by the supermassive black hole. Scientists from Monash University conducted the research where they looked at the dynamics found in accretion disks and their embedded black holes. According to the study, when stellar-mass black holes interact with the gas in the accretion disk, they can migrate through the disk, resulting in several such black holes accumulating in regions called "migration traps." Here, the probability of two stellar-mass black holes colliding and merging due to traffic jams is higher than anywhere else in the surrounding galaxy. The study's lead author, Evgeni Grishin, said, "We looked at how many and where we'd have these busy intersections. Thermal effects play a crucial role in this process, influencing the location and stability of migration traps. One implication is that we don't see migration traps occurring in active galaxies with large luminosity." The findings give an understanding of how mergers between stellar-mass black holes proceed. They could also help advance gravitational wave astronomy in the future as these mergers create a burst of tiny ripples in spacetime known as gravitational waves. "We're thrilled with the results, and we are one step closer to discovering where and how black holes merge in galactic nuclei. The future of gravitational wave astronomy and active galactic nuclei research is exceptionally promising," Grishin stated. "Despite these significant findings, much about the physics of black holes and their surrounding environments remains unknown," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Cosmic vicious cycle: Black holes are crashing into each other due to 'traffic jams' in space

China plans to land astronauts on the moon before 2030 and add a fourth module to its space station. China and the US are eyeing the same landing sites in the lunar south pole. Watch in for more details!

China aims to land astronauts on the moon by 2030

China plans to put a person on the moon before 2030

<p>Decades can sometimes pass in the blink of an eye, or about 20 seconds. NASA has released two dramatic time-lapses of two of the most famous objects in the sky, compressing 20 years into just 20 seconds.</p>

<p>The time-lapses are of Cassiopeia A and the Crab Nebula, both leftovers of massive stars going supernova in our galaxy.</p>

<h2><strong>'Grab your popcorn' for the mesmerising time-lapse videos</strong></h2>

<p>NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory recorded the mesmerising time-lapse videos. Posting them on social media, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) wrote: "Grab your popcorn".</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hubble-space-telescope-temporarily-goes-off-duty-as-key-device-provides-faulty-reading-715992">Hubble space telescope temporarily goes off duty as key device provides faulty&nbsp;reading</a></strong></p>

<p>Watch the gorgeous videos here:</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Grab your popcorn 🍿 <a href="https://twitter.com/chandraxray?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chandraxray</a> has released new timelapses of the Crab Nebula and Cassiopeia A!<br />
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Each video includes X-ray data collected by Chandra over about two decades, showing dramatic changes from these two supernova remnants.<br />
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READ MORE &gt;&gt; <a href="https://t.co/jeEbIVKjHn">https://t.co/jeEbIVKjHn</a> <a href="https://t.co/Np7MsTZD1B">pic.twitter.com/Np7MsTZD1B</a></p>
— NASA Marshall (@NASA_Marshall) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA_Marshall/status/1783197244528681102?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Crab Nebula, as per NASA, was born from a supernova seen by Chinese astronomers and witnessed globally nearly a thousand years ago in 1054.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"At its centre is a neutron star, a super-dense star produced by the supernova. As it rotates at about 30 times per second, its beam of radiation passes over the Earth every orbit, like a cosmic lighthouse," explains NASA.</p>

<p><strong>Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/vampire-facials-lead-to-women-catching-hiv-cdc-reports-cases-of-transmission-via-cosmetic-procedures-715134">'Vampire facials' lead to women catching HIV; CDC reports cases of transmission via cosmetic procedures</a></strong></p>

<p>Chandra has been closely monitoring them from 2000 to 2022. This ongoing study is set to continue later this year.</p>

<p>On the other hand, Cassiopeia A (Cas A) is a younger supernova remnant, estimated to have exploded about 340 years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chandra has been observing it for years. The time-lapse features data from 2000 to 2019. Chandra's discovery of a neutron star at the heart of Cassiopeia A shortly after its 1999 launch has been crucial in deepening our understanding of how stars explode and form neutron stars or pulsars.</p>

<h2><strong>Scientists race to save Chandra</strong></h2>

<p>These gorgeous time-lapses come as the craft which was launched in 1999 becomes the subject of pay cuts that X-ray astronomers in the US contend would effectively mean the end of the mission.</p>

<p>NASA claims that the craft "has been degrading over its mission lifetime to the extent that several systems require active management…increasing management costs beyond what NASA can afford." However, researchers contend that Chandra "has plenty of life left in it."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Decades can sometimes pass in the blink of an eye, or about 20 seconds. NASA has released two dramatic time-lapses of two of the most famous objects in the sky, compressing 20 years into just 20 seconds.

Decades can sometimes pass in the blink of an eye, or about 20 seconds. NASA has released two dramatic time-lapses of two of the most famous objects in the sky, compressing 20 years into just 20 seconds. The time-lapses are of Cassiopeia A and the Crab Nebula, both leftovers of massive stars going supernova in our galaxy. 'Grab your popcorn' for the mesmerising time-lapse videos NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory recorded the mesmerising time-lapse videos. Posting them on social media, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) wrote: "Grab your popcorn". Also read | Hubble space telescope temporarily goes off duty as key device provides faulty reading Watch the gorgeous videos here: Grab your popcorn 🍿 @chandraxray has released new timelapses of the Crab Nebula and Cassiopeia A! Each video includes X-ray data collected by Chandra over about two decades, showing dramatic changes from these two supernova remnants. READ MORE >> https://t.co/jeEbIVKjHn pic.twitter.com/Np7MsTZD1B — NASA Marshall (@NASA_Marshall) April 24, 2024 × The Crab Nebula, as per NASA, was born from a supernova seen by Chinese astronomers and witnessed globally nearly a thousand years ago in 1054. "At its centre is a neutron star, a super-dense star produced by the supernova. As it rotates at about 30 times per second, its beam of radiation passes over the Earth every orbit, like a cosmic lighthouse," explains NASA. Also read | 'Vampire facials' lead to women catching HIV; CDC reports cases of transmission via cosmetic procedures Chandra has been closely monitoring them from 2000 to 2022. This ongoing study is set to continue later this year. On the other hand, Cassiopeia A (Cas A) is a younger supernova remnant, estimated to have exploded about 340 years ago. Chandra has been observing it for years. The time-lapse features data from 2000 to 2019. Chandra's discovery of a neutron star at the heart of Cassiopeia A shortly after its 1999 launch has been crucial in deepening our understanding of how stars explode and form neutron stars or pulsars. Scientists race to save Chandra These gorgeous time-lapses come as the craft which was launched in 1999 becomes the subject of pay cuts that X-ray astronomers in the US contend would effectively mean the end of the mission. NASA claims that the craft "has been degrading over its mission lifetime to the extent that several systems require active management…increasing management costs beyond what NASA can afford." However, researchers contend that Chandra "has plenty of life left in it." (With inputs from agencies)

'Grab your popcorn', NASA just released mesmerising Nebula timelapses captured by Chandra observatory

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is all set for her third space mission.She will embark on her third space mission with NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station. The mission is scheduled for liftoff on May 6.

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams set for third space mission

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<p>A normal flight journey turned into a baffling experience for a passenger after she captured a video of a flying disk that appeared&nbsp;like a UFO&nbsp;above New York through the airplane window.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The incident led the federal aviation officials on a fact-finding mission Thursday (April 25).</p>

<p>The passenger, identified as Michelle Reyes, was aboard a commercial airline flight above LaGuardia Airport on March 25, when the incident happened. The woman suddenly saw a mysterious “flying cylinder” in the sky out of her plane window and captured video footage.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Passenger Records UFO Fly Over NYC<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NYC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFOSightings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFOSightings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ufotwitter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ufotwitter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Alien?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Alien</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AlienX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AlienX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UAP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UAP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UAPs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UAPs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFOS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFOS</a> <a href="https://t.co/pbUmaHo0fE">pic.twitter.com/pbUmaHo0fE</a></p>
— North X (@__NorthX) <a href="https://twitter.com/__NorthX/status/1783747052305838531?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Speaking to NewsNation on Wednesday (April 24), the woman said, “The first thing I did was email the FAA to let them know what I saw. Maybe it was a safety hazard, but unfortunately, I haven’t heard back from them, they didn’t acknowledge my email.”</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/aliens-may-be-travelling-from-one-planet-to-another-via-meteorites-study-713790">Aliens may be travelling from one planet to another via meteorites: Study</a></p>

<p>She added that another person, who was along with her on the flight, also noticed the mysterious object and&nbsp;was&nbsp;stunned. “It’s a little nerve-wracking that someone else saw what I saw,” she added.</p>

<h2><strong>Mysterious object can be a 'potential hazard': State director&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>State director of the Mutual UFO Network in Ohio Thomas Wertman also reviewed the footage and said that the object was seen travelling at roughly 2,500 feet and was “relatively close” to the aeroplane when it was preparing for landing.</p>

<p>The altitude, shape and location of the object - which was close to the path of a major commercial flight — possibly rule out that it could be a military-operated aircraft, drone and a news helicopter, said Wertman.</p>

<p>“Drones aren’t supposed to fly at that altitude at least legally. If it were something related to [military] defence or law enforcement,&nbsp;you normally wouldn’t see it so close to a major flight lane," he said.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;UFO: Ex-US Navy Admiral leads search for underwater alien, 'seen unidentified craft under water'</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ufo-ex-us-navy-admiral-leads-search-for-underwater-alien-seen-unidentified-craft-under-water-706259/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“That could be a potential hazard,” Wertman said, who has been studying the skies&nbsp;for years to hunt for evidence of interplanetary visitors.</p>

<p>He found the object's unusual round shape “intriguing”&nbsp;since it debunked the theory that it may be a second plane, which may have been captured at an odd angle.</p>

<p>“It does not appear to be a commercial aircraft because I don’t see features like wings or a tail,” he stated.</p>

<p>He said that the aeroplane, from which it was shot, was roughly&nbsp;15 minutes away from LaGuardia Airport when the video was captured.</p>

<p>The footage certainly “doesn’t appear to be doctored,” he added. “It’s a very intriguing image. It needs more research," Wertman&nbsp;said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A normal flight journey turned into a baffling experience for a passenger after she captured a video of a flying disk that appeared like a UFO above New York through the airplane window.

A normal flight journey turned into a baffling experience for a passenger after she captured a video of a flying disk that appeared like a UFO above New York through the airplane window. The incident led the federal aviation officials on a fact-finding mission Thursday (April 25). The passenger, identified as Michelle Reyes, was aboard a commercial airline flight above LaGuardia Airport on March 25, when the incident happened. The woman suddenly saw a mysterious “flying cylinder” in the sky out of her plane window and captured video footage. Passenger Records UFO Fly Over NYC#NYC #NY #UFO #UFOSightings #ufotwitter #Alien #AlienX #UAP #UAPs #UFOS pic.twitter.com/pbUmaHo0fE — North X (@__NorthX) April 26, 2024 × Speaking to NewsNation on Wednesday (April 24), the woman said, “The first thing I did was email the FAA to let them know what I saw. Maybe it was a safety hazard, but unfortunately, I haven’t heard back from them, they didn’t acknowledge my email.” Also Read: Aliens may be travelling from one planet to another via meteorites: Study She added that another person, who was along with her on the flight, also noticed the mysterious object and was stunned. “It’s a little nerve-wracking that someone else saw what I saw,” she added. Mysterious object can be a 'potential hazard': State director State director of the Mutual UFO Network in Ohio Thomas Wertman also reviewed the footage and said that the object was seen travelling at roughly 2,500 feet and was “relatively close” to the aeroplane when it was preparing for landing. The altitude, shape and location of the object - which was close to the path of a major commercial flight — possibly rule out that it could be a military-operated aircraft, drone and a news helicopter, said Wertman. “Drones aren’t supposed to fly at that altitude at least legally. If it were something related to [military] defence or law enforcement, you normally wouldn’t see it so close to a major flight lane," he said. Watch: UFO: Ex-US Navy Admiral leads search for underwater alien, 'seen unidentified craft under water' “That could be a potential hazard,” Wertman said, who has been studying the skies for years to hunt for evidence of interplanetary visitors. He found the object's unusual round shape “intriguing” since it debunked the theory that it may be a second plane, which may have been captured at an odd angle. “It does not appear to be a commercial aircraft because I don’t see features like wings or a tail,” he stated. He said that the aeroplane, from which it was shot, was roughly 15 minutes away from LaGuardia Airport when the video was captured. The footage certainly “doesn’t appear to be doctored,” he added. “It’s a very intriguing image. It needs more research," Wertman said. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Baffled passenger captures 'possible' UFO flying above Big Apple from flight

A UNSC draft resolution calling on countries to prevent an arms race in outer space has been vetoed by Russia. While the US has questioned this move accusing Moscow of hiding something Russia has retaliated asking why only nukes and why should not all forms of Weaponry be banned in Space.

Russia vetoes US-led UNSC resolution on space nukes

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<p>Russia vetoed a resolution sponsored by the United States and Japan over the nuclear arms race in space at the United Nations on Wednesday (April 24).</p>

<p>The resolution&nbsp;was aimed&nbsp;at preventing a dangerous nuclear arms race in outer space&nbsp;which&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;called&nbsp;“a dirty spectacle"&nbsp;which is cherry-picking weapons of mass destruction among all other weapons which&nbsp;should also be banned.</p>

<p>In the 15-member Security Council, 13 member countries voted in favour, China abstained from voting&nbsp;and&nbsp;Russia opposed the resolution.</p>

<p>The resolution is likely to have appealed to all the countries not to develop and deploy nuclear arms or any weapons of mass destruction in space, which is banned&nbsp;under a 1967 international treaty which includes the US and Russia.&nbsp;The nations would also have been asked&nbsp;to agree to the requirement to verify compliance.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-claims-to-have-attacked-two-russian-oil-depots-714600">Ukraine claims to have attacked two Russian oil depots</a></p>

<h2><strong>Russia's&nbsp;veto raises concern over&nbsp;Moscow's&nbsp;chances of developing nuclear arms for&nbsp;space</strong></h2>

<p>Reacting to Russian&nbsp;President Vladimir&nbsp;Putin's&nbsp;decision to use a veto against the resolution, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield questioned Moscow over blocking the&nbsp;resolution&nbsp;if it is not interested in deploying nuclear weapons in space.</p>

<p>“Today’s&nbsp;veto begs the question: Why? Why, if you&nbsp;are following&nbsp;the rules, would you not support a resolution that reaffirms them? What could you possibly be hiding?&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;baffling. And&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;a shame,"&nbsp;she said.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, echoing&nbsp;Thomas-Greenfield's&nbsp;remarks, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said,&nbsp;“The United States assesses that Russia is developing a new satellite carrying a nuclear device.”&nbsp;Sullivan said that if Putin did not intend to deploy nuclear weapons in space,&nbsp;“Russia would not have vetoed this resolution.”</p>

<p>Russia’s&nbsp;UN&nbsp;Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called the resolution&nbsp;“absolutely absurd and&nbsp;politicised,”&nbsp;and stated that it did not&nbsp;go ahead in banning&nbsp;every type of weapon in space.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war | US official: Long-range missile secretly shipped to Kyiv</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-us-official-long-range-missile-secretly-shipped-to-kyiv-714712/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2><strong>Russia, China propose&nbsp;amendment</strong></h2>

<p>Later, Russia and China proposed an amendment in the draft in which they appealed to all the countries, especially those that had&nbsp;major&nbsp;space capabilities,&nbsp;“to prevent for all time the placement of weapons in outer space, and the threat of use of force in outer spaces.”</p>

<p>Seven countries voted in favour of the amendment and&nbsp;7&nbsp;against it&nbsp;and&nbsp;one abstained&nbsp;and&nbsp;the amendment was defeated since it failed to get the minimum 9&nbsp;“yes”&nbsp;votes needed for adoption.</p>

<p>The amendment&nbsp;was opposed&nbsp;by the United States&nbsp;and&nbsp;after&nbsp;the voting, Nebenzia, while addressing the US ambassador, said,&nbsp;“We want a ban on the placement of weapons of any kind in outer space, not just WMDs (weapons of mass destruction). But you&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;want that. And let me ask you that very same question. Why?”</p>

<p>He stated that much of the actions of the United States and Japan became clear&nbsp;“if we recall that the US&nbsp;and their allies announced some time ago plans to place weapons … in outer space.”&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Russia vetoed a resolution sponsored by the United States and Japan over the nuclear arms race in space at the United Nations on Wednesday (April 24). The resolution was aimed at preventing a dangerous nuclear arms race in outer space which Russia called “a dirty spectacle" which is cherry-picking weapons of mass destruction among all other weapons which should also be banned.

Russia vetoed a resolution sponsored by the United States and Japan over the nuclear arms race in space at the United Nations on Wednesday (April 24). The resolution was aimed at preventing a dangerous nuclear arms race in outer space which Russia called “a dirty spectacle" which is cherry-picking weapons of mass destruction among all other weapons which should also be banned. In the 15-member Security Council, 13 member countries voted in favour, China abstained from voting and Russia opposed the resolution. The resolution is likely to have appealed to all the countries not to develop and deploy nuclear arms or any weapons of mass destruction in space, which is banned under a 1967 international treaty which includes the US and Russia. The nations would also have been asked to agree to the requirement to verify compliance. Also Read: Ukraine claims to have attacked two Russian oil depots Russia's veto raises concern over Moscow's chances of developing nuclear arms for space Reacting to Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to use a veto against the resolution, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield questioned Moscow over blocking the resolution if it is not interested in deploying nuclear weapons in space. “Today’s veto begs the question: Why? Why, if you are following the rules, would you not support a resolution that reaffirms them? What could you possibly be hiding? It’s baffling. And it’s a shame," she said. Meanwhile, echoing Thomas-Greenfield's remarks, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, “The United States assesses that Russia is developing a new satellite carrying a nuclear device.” Sullivan said that if Putin did not intend to deploy nuclear weapons in space, “Russia would not have vetoed this resolution.” Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called the resolution “absolutely absurd and politicised,” and stated that it did not go ahead in banning every type of weapon in space. Watch: Russia-Ukraine war | US official: Long-range missile secretly shipped to Kyiv Russia, China propose amendment Later, Russia and China proposed an amendment in the draft in which they appealed to all the countries, especially those that had major space capabilities, “to prevent for all time the placement of weapons in outer space, and the threat of use of force in outer spaces.” Seven countries voted in favour of the amendment and 7 against it and one abstained and the amendment was defeated since it failed to get the minimum 9 “yes” votes needed for adoption. The amendment was opposed by the United States and after the voting, Nebenzia, while addressing the US ambassador, said, “We want a ban on the placement of weapons of any kind in outer space, not just WMDs (weapons of mass destruction). But you don’t want that. And let me ask you that very same question. Why?” He stated that much of the actions of the United States and Japan became clear “if we recall that the US and their allies announced some time ago plans to place weapons … in outer space.” (With inputs from agencies)

Russia vetoes UN resolution on nuclear arms race in space, US questions Moscow's intention

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