UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday, while addressing the United Nation General Assembly said that a 'malady of mistrust' is spreading in the world when people see their fundamental rights and freedoms curtailed, when they see corruption, when they see billionaires joyriding to space while millions go hungry on Earth, and when young people see no future at all.

The statement was made in reference to the private space trips by three billionaire entrepreneurs Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson as they are vying to usher in a new era of private commercial space travel.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-general-assembly-2021-alarm-to-wake-up-world-key-points-from-strong-speech-by-secretary-general-antonio-guterres-414680">Also read |&nbsp;UN General Assembly 2021 | Alarm to wake up world: Key points from strong speech by Secretary General Antonio Guterres</a>

Musk, Bezos and Branson have been investing billions of dollars into their space startups as they promised to ferry paying customers on rides to space.

Guterres also warned global leaders that the world has never been more threatened or more divided, and is facing the "greatest cascade" of crises, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, a global climate crisis, and unrest in Afghanistan and other countries as examples.

In his address to the General Debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Guterres stated that human rights are under attack, science is under attack, and economic lifelines for the most vulnerable are arriving too late and too little, if at all, and solidarity is lacking in action just when the world needs it most.&nbsp;

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday, while addressing the United Nation General Assembly said that a 'malady of mistrust' is spreading in the world when people see their fundamental rights and freedoms curtailed, when they see corruption, when they see billionaires joyriding to space while millions go hungry on Earth, and when young people see no future at all.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday, while addressing the United Nation General Assembly said that a 'malady of mistrust' is spreading in the world when people see their fundamental rights and freedoms curtailed, when they see corruption, when they see billionaires joyriding to space while millions go hungry on Earth, and when young people see no future at all. The statement was made in reference to the private space trips by three billionaire entrepreneurs Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson as they are vying to usher in a new era of private commercial space travel. Also read | UN General Assembly 2021 | Alarm to wake up world: Key points from strong speech by Secretary General Antonio Guterres Musk, Bezos and Branson have been investing billions of dollars into their space startups as they promised to ferry paying customers on rides to space. Guterres also warned global leaders that the world has never been more threatened or more divided, and is facing the "greatest cascade" of crises, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, a global climate crisis, and unrest in Afghanistan and other countries as examples. In his address to the General Debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Guterres stated that human rights are under attack, science is under attack, and economic lifelines for the most vulnerable are arriving too late and too little, if at all, and solidarity is lacking in action just when the world needs it most.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says a 'malady of mistrust' is spreading as he talks about private space ventures

Indian space entrepreneurs and experts pointed out the need for India’s space industry to tap into the global market, as well as form a common platform to exhibit their capabilities. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Supplying aerospace products, services or components to the global market is a crucial focus area for India, given the country’s existing capabilities and the growing global private space industry. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Experts also urged the Government of India to act as a catalyst and ensure that government contracts and financial grants were offered to India’s private sector, to enable further private investment and growth. &nbsp;&nbsp;

This discussion was helmed by Dr S&nbsp;Somanath, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (ISRO), which is India’s lead center for development of rockets and related technologies. &nbsp;&nbsp;

This exchange of ideas under the theme of ‘Increasing Global partnership in Space sector’ was held as a part of an ISRO-CII conference. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Setting the tone for the session, Dr Somanath mentioned that ISRO had signed about 260 agreements and MoUs with 60 nations and 5 multi-national entities, he added that India’s historical long-term cooperation in space domain had been with France, Japan, Russia, USA and Germany. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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Watch:&nbsp;SpaceX’s to send four people into space

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The senior ISRO scientist also touched upon how global partnerships were mutually beneficial, and how India had the potential to become a manufacturing hub for space technology, with Indian firms expanding to foreign markets and vice versa. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Speaking of some of India’s initiatives to help friendly-foreign countries, M Sanakaran, Director, UR Rao Satellite Centre, listed out India’s SAARC satellite for South Asian nations, UNNATI programme to train foreign scientists in building small satellites, among others. &nbsp;&nbsp;

On the way ahead, he said it was important to take space technology to friendly countries that didn’t have the means. He envisaged projects where the global space powers came together for the common good of humanity. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“A global constellation of satellites for data transfer or imaging on-demand, etc are viable projects and it can be done via a partnership of various companies with joint investment and each one reaping rewards in their respective sectors,” Sankaran said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Based on a study conducted by his organisation, Satsearch, Narayan Prasad, the COO highlighted that Indian industry (over 300 suppliers of ISRO) had developed tremendous manufacturing and infrastructure capabilities over the last four decades. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-capital-bans-storage-sale-use-of-firecrackers-during-diwali-over-pollution-concerns-413273" hreflang="en">Indian capital bans storage, sale, use of firecrackers during Diwali over pollution concerns</a>

Pointing out the current global commercial space market, he said that supply chains were getting globalised and companies looked at best cost to performance ratio.&nbsp; &nbsp;

He saw immense potential for Indian companies in this domain, provided, they are given the right amount of global exposure. He also spelt out the need for a common platform (similar to Europe’s ESA Star), where Indian suppliers could publicise their capabilities and offerings. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Shaju Stephen, the CMD of Aadyah aerospace pointed out that satellites (GPS data) was driving economic activity (Uber, E-com delivery services, mapping, other services) worth $5.7 trillion in the US, every year. &nbsp;&nbsp;

On India’s unique advantage, he said that less than 20 per cent of the 195 countries in the world had access to rocket and satellite technology and launch capability. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“India is sitting on a gold mine of expertise and talent, the global space economy is projected to be worth $3 trillion by 2040. We must adopt a Public-Private-Partnership model for building space infrastructure and also have space developers, who will fund such projects,” he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Drawing form how NASA funded and awarded crucial contracts to SpaceX, he said that ISRO had to be a catalyst for Indian government contracts and grants to go to the home-grown private sector. &nbsp;

Nitish Singh, Co-founder, Astrogate labs, spoke on the need to examine the possibility of international cooperation for critical technologies that are required to fulfill exploratory missions. &nbsp;&nbsp;

He also specified the need for a platform, in order to unite space agencies that have a certain requirement and also the service provider or company who can provide that technology, component or service.

Indian space entrepreneurs and experts pointed out the need for India’s space industry to tap into the global market, as well as form a common platform to exhibit their capabilities.

Indian space entrepreneurs and experts pointed out the need for India’s space industry to tap into the global market, as well as form a common platform to exhibit their capabilities. Supplying aerospace products, services or components to the global market is a crucial focus area for India, given the country’s existing capabilities and the growing global private space industry. Experts also urged the Government of India to act as a catalyst and ensure that government contracts and financial grants were offered to India’s private sector, to enable further private investment and growth. This discussion was helmed by Dr S Somanath, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (ISRO), which is India’s lead center for development of rockets and related technologies. This exchange of ideas under the theme of ‘Increasing Global partnership in Space sector’ was held as a part of an ISRO-CII conference. Setting the tone for the session, Dr Somanath mentioned that ISRO had signed about 260 agreements and MoUs with 60 nations and 5 multi-national entities, he added that India’s historical long-term cooperation in space domain had been with France, Japan, Russia, USA and Germany. Watch: SpaceX’s to send four people into space × The senior ISRO scientist also touched upon how global partnerships were mutually beneficial, and how India had the potential to become a manufacturing hub for space technology, with Indian firms expanding to foreign markets and vice versa. Speaking of some of India’s initiatives to help friendly-foreign countries, M Sanakaran, Director, UR Rao Satellite Centre, listed out India’s SAARC satellite for South Asian nations, UNNATI programme to train foreign scientists in building small satellites, among others. On the way ahead, he said it was important to take space technology to friendly countries that didn’t have the means. He envisaged projects where the global space powers came together for the common good of humanity. “A global constellation of satellites for data transfer or imaging on-demand, etc are viable projects and it can be done via a partnership of various companies with joint investment and each one reaping rewards in their respective sectors,” Sankaran said. Based on a study conducted by his organisation, Satsearch, Narayan Prasad, the COO highlighted that Indian industry (over 300 suppliers of ISRO) had developed tremendous manufacturing and infrastructure capabilities over the last four decades. Also Read: Indian capital bans storage, sale, use of firecrackers during Diwali over pollution concerns Pointing out the current global commercial space market, he said that supply chains were getting globalised and companies looked at best cost to performance ratio. He saw immense potential for Indian companies in this domain, provided, they are given the right amount of global exposure. He also spelt out the need for a common platform (similar to Europe’s ESA Star), where Indian suppliers could publicise their capabilities and offerings. Shaju Stephen, the CMD of Aadyah aerospace pointed out that satellites (GPS data) was driving economic activity (Uber, E-com delivery services, mapping, other services) worth $5.7 trillion in the US, every year. On India’s unique advantage, he said that less than 20 per cent of the 195 countries in the world had access to rocket and satellite technology and launch capability. “India is sitting on a gold mine of expertise and talent, the global space economy is projected to be worth $3 trillion by 2040. We must adopt a Public-Private-Partnership model for building space infrastructure and also have space developers, who will fund such projects,” he said. Drawing form how NASA funded and awarded crucial contracts to SpaceX, he said that ISRO had to be a catalyst for Indian government contracts and grants to go to the home-grown private sector. Nitish Singh, Co-founder, Astrogate labs, spoke on the need to examine the possibility of international cooperation for critical technologies that are required to fulfill exploratory missions. He also specified the need for a platform, in order to unite space agencies that have a certain requirement and also the service provider or company who can provide that technology, component or service.

Indian space industry must supply to global market, gain greater exposure, say experts

International Space Station (ISS) has come much 'closer' to Earth in a way considering how much we get to witness things using social media. Each bit of info brings wonder and amazement to us. Astronauts at the space station keep the buzz up by posting memserising pics often.

But did you know that ISS experiences sunrise and sunset every 45 minutes? Yep, that's a thing there and there's a reason for it.

The ISS completes one revolution of Earth in 90 minutes. And this makes it witness 16 sunsets and sunrises every day!

NASA explained this amazing bit in a tweet on Sunday (September 12). It was answering a question asked by a Twitter user who wondered whether astronauts feel any temperature difference.

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The spacewalkers experience a sunrise and sunset every 90 minutes and <a href="https://twitter.com/cquantumspin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cquantumspin</a> asks if they feel temperature differences in their suits. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AskNASA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AskNASA</a> | <a href="https://t.co/yuOTrYN8CV">https://t.co/yuOTrYN8CV</a> <a href="https://t.co/R8ZjQcpQyr">pic.twitter.com/R8ZjQcpQyr</a>
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1437096408927162371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The temperature difference in space is huge since there is no atmosphere to maintain a comfortable temperature. At sunrise, the temperature is 250 degrees Fahrenheit and at sunset, it is -250 Fahrenheit. But astronauts are safe because their spacesuits have provision to keep them cool and in top condition to carry out scientific experiments or conducting spacewalks.

International Space Station (ISS) has come much 'closer' to Earth in a way considering how much we get to witness things using social media. Each bit of info brings wonder and amazement to us.

International Space Station (ISS) has come much 'closer' to Earth in a way considering how much we get to witness things using social media. Each bit of info brings wonder and amazement to us. Astronauts at the space station keep the buzz up by posting memserising pics often. But did you know that ISS experiences sunrise and sunset every 45 minutes? Yep, that's a thing there and there's a reason for it. The ISS completes one revolution of Earth in 90 minutes. And this makes it witness 16 sunsets and sunrises every day! NASA explained this amazing bit in a tweet on Sunday (September 12). It was answering a question asked by a Twitter user who wondered whether astronauts feel any temperature difference. The spacewalkers experience a sunrise and sunset every 90 minutes and @cquantumspin asks if they feel temperature differences in their suits. #AskNASA | https://t.co/yuOTrYN8CV pic.twitter.com/R8ZjQcpQyr — International Space Station (@Space_Station) September 12, 2021 × The temperature difference in space is huge since there is no atmosphere to maintain a comfortable temperature. At sunrise, the temperature is 250 degrees Fahrenheit and at sunset, it is -250 Fahrenheit. But astronauts are safe because their spacesuits have provision to keep them cool and in top condition to carry out scientific experiments or conducting spacewalks.

At ISS, Sun rises and sets every 45 minutes, NASA tells why

The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter was formed amid formation of our solar system. Whatever material was left after formation of the Sun and the planets was scattered in form of asteroids. Many of them have an orbit that makes them zoom past Earth in close calls. And when one struck our planets millions of years ago it wiped dinosaurs off the face of the planet.

It is hence wise for us to keep a watch on these space rocks. Fortunately there are enough eyes world over in form of space agencies to keep a close watch.

Now, astronomers have suggested that an asteroid that has its own moons, may itself have given birth to its satellites. And the asteroid itself may have given birth to these moons according to two studies.

The name of this asteroid is Kleopatra and the two moons are called AlexHelios and CleoSelene. The moons have been named after children of Egyptian Queen Cleopatra.

The asteroid Kleopatra is also called "dog bone asteroid" because of its characteristic shape. The asteroid has two lobes connected by a long 'neck'.

Scientific community has known about the asteroid for decades but researchers recently obtained clearer images of Kleopatra using European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile.&nbsp;

They were thus able to determine dimensions of the asteroid. This allowed them to calculate volume.

Another team from Charles University in Chekia was working to ascertain orbits of moons of the asteroid. Orbits are constrained by gravitational fields a body moves through and this then correlates to mass in the system

Using newer methos and mathematical modelling the correct mass of Kleopatra was determined.

When we know mass and volume, we can determine density. The density of Kleopatra was found to be very low. This combined with the knowledge that the asteroid moves around itself at relatively fast speed it is logical to conclude that material must be able escaping its surface only to coalesce and form the moons

Both the studies have been published in journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter was formed amid formation of our solar system. Whatever material was left after formation of the Sun and the planets was scattered in form of asteroids.

The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter was formed amid formation of our solar system. Whatever material was left after formation of the Sun and the planets was scattered in form of asteroids. Many of them have an orbit that makes them zoom past Earth in close calls. And when one struck our planets millions of years ago it wiped dinosaurs off the face of the planet. It is hence wise for us to keep a watch on these space rocks. Fortunately there are enough eyes world over in form of space agencies to keep a close watch. Now, astronomers have suggested that an asteroid that has its own moons, may itself have given birth to its satellites. And the asteroid itself may have given birth to these moons according to two studies. The name of this asteroid is Kleopatra and the two moons are called AlexHelios and CleoSelene. The moons have been named after children of Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. The asteroid Kleopatra is also called "dog bone asteroid" because of its characteristic shape. The asteroid has two lobes connected by a long 'neck'. Scientific community has known about the asteroid for decades but researchers recently obtained clearer images of Kleopatra using European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile. They were thus able to determine dimensions of the asteroid. This allowed them to calculate volume. Another team from Charles University in Chekia was working to ascertain orbits of moons of the asteroid. Orbits are constrained by gravitational fields a body moves through and this then correlates to mass in the system Using newer methos and mathematical modelling the correct mass of Kleopatra was determined. When we know mass and volume, we can determine density. The density of Kleopatra was found to be very low. This combined with the knowledge that the asteroid moves around itself at relatively fast speed it is logical to conclude that material must be able escaping its surface only to coalesce and form the moons Both the studies have been published in journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

This asteroid may have formed its own moons

Tesla and SpaceX owner, Elon Musk, is known for his interest in space and establishing human life on other planets of the solar system. Keeping the same in mind, the head of Russia’s space command has invited Musk to sit down with him for tea and discuss space.<o:p></o:p>

In his first interview with a western media house, Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin appreciated efforts of Elon Musk in the field of space.<o:p></o:p>

"I like what your people are doing – people who spend their own money on things useful for overall society,"&nbsp;Rogozin said.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/elon-musk-blasts-jeff-bezos-says-filing-lawsuits-against-spacex-is-his-full-time-job-410263">Elon Musk blasts Jeff Bezos, says filing lawsuits against SpaceX is his full time job</a></o:p>

He also said that as per him <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/elon-musk">Musk</a> "realizes many of the ideas and thoughts that we wanted to realize, but did not get to because, after the breakup of the Soviet Union, our space program halted for some time. We respect him as an organizer of the space industry, and as an inventor who is not afraid to take risks."<o:p></o:p>

It was not just appreciation, Rogozin went on to invite Musk to be a 'guest of my family' and discuss "exploring the universe, extraterrestrial life, and how we can use space to preserve life on Earth" over a cup of tea.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/smoke-detected-in-russian-module-on-international-space-station-report-411855">Smoke detected in Russian module on international space station: Report</a></o:p>

He also shared a story about his interview and added "I already set the teakettle on heat", to which Musk replied, "Thanks! What is your favorite tea?"

<o:p></o:p>

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Thanks! What is your favorite tea?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1435308889659039748?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Rogozin quickly attacked a picture of his favourite tea and replied, "Let's start with my grandmother's favorite Indian tea!"<o:p></o:p>

His recent appreciation for Musk is contrary to his thoughts about the American entrepreneur from a few years ago. Rogozin had earlier claimed that he was uninterested in knowing more about Musk’s reusable rocket technology and had declined to invite Musk for a chat. "He's a busy man, I'm a busy man, why should I invite him,"&nbsp;he had expressed.<o:p></o:p>

Tesla and SpaceX owner, Elon Musk, is known for his interest in space and establishing human life on other planets of the solar system. Keeping the same in mind, the head of Russia’s space command has invited Musk to sit down with him for tea and discuss space.

Tesla and SpaceX owner, Elon Musk, is known for his interest in space and establishing human life on other planets of the solar system. Keeping the same in mind, the head of Russia’s space command has invited Musk to sit down with him for tea and discuss space. In his first interview with a western media house, Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin appreciated efforts of Elon Musk in the field of space. "I like what your people are doing – people who spend their own money on things useful for overall society," Rogozin said. Also read | Elon Musk blasts Jeff Bezos, says filing lawsuits against SpaceX is his full time job He also said that as per him Musk "realizes many of the ideas and thoughts that we wanted to realize, but did not get to because, after the breakup of the Soviet Union, our space program halted for some time. We respect him as an organizer of the space industry, and as an inventor who is not afraid to take risks." It was not just appreciation, Rogozin went on to invite Musk to be a 'guest of my family' and discuss "exploring the universe, extraterrestrial life, and how we can use space to preserve life on Earth" over a cup of tea. Also read | Smoke detected in Russian module on international space station: Report He also shared a story about his interview and added "I already set the teakettle on heat", to which Musk replied, "Thanks! What is your favorite tea?" Thanks! What is your favorite tea? — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 7, 2021 × Rogozin quickly attacked a picture of his favourite tea and replied, "Let's start with my grandmother's favorite Indian tea!" His recent appreciation for Musk is contrary to his thoughts about the American entrepreneur from a few years ago. Rogozin had earlier claimed that he was uninterested in knowing more about Musk’s reusable rocket technology and had declined to invite Musk for a chat. "He's a busy man, I'm a busy man, why should I invite him," he had expressed.

Russian space agency chief invites Elon Musk for tea and space talks

Leave Earth and its protective atmosphere along with its magnetic field and you will get bombarded with all sorts of cosmic raditions. These radiations are deadly and high exposure may even cause death. These radiations are a big factor that needs to be considered while designing spacecraft fit for human travel.

Mars is widely considered to be the next frontier after Moon as far as human space travel is concerned. But Martian surface is bombarded by cosmic and solar radiation as well. An astronaut may have to face these deadly rays while on the red planet.

But now we may have found a way to protect the astronauts by making use of geology of the Martian surface.&nbsp;

A new study has shed light on this. The study makes use of data from Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity. When MSL Curiosity landed on the surface of the Mars. It had an instrument called Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on board.&nbsp;

MSL studied the Murray Buttes region on Mars. Curiosity was to study the geology of Mars there. However, there was another observation that was important. A drop in the amount of radiation was seen. The drop was about by 5 per cent.

Though the drop in radiation is not absolutely significant, this has opened the possibility of exploring geological features on the surface of Mars that possibly may shelter astronauts.

Leave Earth and its protective atmosphere along with its magnetic field and you will get bombarded with all sorts of cosmic raditions. These radiations are deadly and high exposure may even cause death.

Leave Earth and its protective atmosphere along with its magnetic field and you will get bombarded with all sorts of cosmic raditions. These radiations are deadly and high exposure may even cause death. These radiations are a big factor that needs to be considered while designing spacecraft fit for human travel. Mars is widely considered to be the next frontier after Moon as far as human space travel is concerned. But Martian surface is bombarded by cosmic and solar radiation as well. An astronaut may have to face these deadly rays while on the red planet. But now we may have found a way to protect the astronauts by making use of geology of the Martian surface. A new study has shed light on this. The study makes use of data from Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity. When MSL Curiosity landed on the surface of the Mars. It had an instrument called Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on board. MSL studied the Murray Buttes region on Mars. Curiosity was to study the geology of Mars there. However, there was another observation that was important. A drop in the amount of radiation was seen. The drop was about by 5 per cent. Though the drop in radiation is not absolutely significant, this has opened the possibility of exploring geological features on the surface of Mars that possibly may shelter astronauts.

There may be a way to protect astronauts from radiation on Martian surface

The Astronomers at the Carnegie Institution for Science (CIS) announced the discovery of the fastest orbiting asteroid ever spotted in the solar system.

Dubbed as “2021 PH27”, the space rock, which is 1 kilometre in diameter, completes its orbit in just 113 Earth days.

That’s the shortest orbital period of any known solar system object except the Mercury&nbsp;planet, which takes only 88 days to orbit around the sun, the scientists noted.

“Though telescope time for astronomers is very precious, the international nature and love of the unknown make astronomers very willing to override their own science and observations to follow up new, interesting discoveries like this,” research leader Scott Sheppard, an astronomer at the CIS, said in a statement.&nbsp;

The work was reported to the Minor Planet Centre, an official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union.

According to the scientists, the space rock also gets extremely close to the sun, reaching a proximity of about 20 million kilometres. In comparison, Mercury gets as close as 46 million kilometres (apporx).

Such a close proximity means that asteroid’s surface at times burns up to 500 degrees Celsius.

However, the scientists cautioned that the orbit is not stable. They said the asteroid will likely collide with the sun, Mercury or Venus a few million years from now, if it’s not altered from its current path by a gravitational interaction first.

2021 PH27 was first detected on August 13 by the astronomers using the Dark Energy Camera (DEC), a powerful multipurpose instrument which uses the images taken in the near-ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared&nbsp;to measure the expansion of the universe.

It is mounted on the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile.&nbsp;

The team was able to pin down the asteroid’s orbit over the next few days due to the observations by the DEC and the Magellan Telescopes at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile.

The Astronomers at the Carnegie Institution for Science (CIS) announced the discovery of the fastest orbiting asteroid ever spotted in the solar system. Dubbed as “2021 PH27”, the space rock, which is 1 kilometre in diameter, completes its orbit in just 113 Earth days.

The Astronomers at the Carnegie Institution for Science (CIS) announced the discovery of the fastest orbiting asteroid ever spotted in the solar system. Dubbed as “2021 PH27”, the space rock, which is 1 kilometre in diameter, completes its orbit in just 113 Earth days. That’s the shortest orbital period of any known solar system object except the Mercury planet, which takes only 88 days to orbit around the sun, the scientists noted. “Though telescope time for astronomers is very precious, the international nature and love of the unknown make astronomers very willing to override their own science and observations to follow up new, interesting discoveries like this,” research leader Scott Sheppard, an astronomer at the CIS, said in a statement. The work was reported to the Minor Planet Centre, an official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union. According to the scientists, the space rock also gets extremely close to the sun, reaching a proximity of about 20 million kilometres. In comparison, Mercury gets as close as 46 million kilometres (apporx). Such a close proximity means that asteroid’s surface at times burns up to 500 degrees Celsius. However, the scientists cautioned that the orbit is not stable. They said the asteroid will likely collide with the sun, Mercury or Venus a few million years from now, if it’s not altered from its current path by a gravitational interaction first. 2021 PH27 was first detected on August 13 by the astronomers using the Dark Energy Camera (DEC), a powerful multipurpose instrument which uses the images taken in the near-ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared to measure the expansion of the universe. It is mounted on the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. The team was able to pin down the asteroid’s orbit over the next few days due to the observations by the DEC and the Magellan Telescopes at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile.

US astronomers discover “fastest orbiting asteroid” in solar system

Asteroids are serious business (ask Dinosaurs. They aren't here but). One nudge and things on Earth will literally shake to the worst extent possible. Imagine what a full-blown collision might do.

To avoid this not-so-neat fate, NASA keeps an eye on asteroids that are zooming past or hurtling towards the Earth.

And a 'potentially hazardous' asteroid is going to come in our neighbourhood in space.&nbsp;

Name's 2016 AJ193, cruising speed is 94,208 km per hour. The asteroid is just 1.4 kilometre wide but due to its huge speed, it packs a serious punch.

But we need not prepare for end of mankind just yet. The asteroid is going to drive by at a distance nine times that between Earth and the Moon. This will happen on August 21

But the huge distance doesn't make it too far to observe. Astronomers will be able to look at the asteroid through telescopes.

Much better than looking at an asteroid slated to hit Earth right?

Asteroids are serious business (ask Dinosaurs. They aren't here but). One nudge and things on Earth will literally shake to the worst extent possible. Imagine what a full-blown collision might do.

Asteroids are serious business (ask Dinosaurs. They aren't here but). One nudge and things on Earth will literally shake to the worst extent possible. Imagine what a full-blown collision might do. To avoid this not-so-neat fate, NASA keeps an eye on asteroids that are zooming past or hurtling towards the Earth. And a 'potentially hazardous' asteroid is going to come in our neighbourhood in space. Name's 2016 AJ193, cruising speed is 94,208 km per hour. The asteroid is just 1.4 kilometre wide but due to its huge speed, it packs a serious punch. But we need not prepare for end of mankind just yet. The asteroid is going to drive by at a distance nine times that between Earth and the Moon. This will happen on August 21 But the huge distance doesn't make it too far to observe. Astronomers will be able to look at the asteroid through telescopes. Much better than looking at an asteroid slated to hit Earth right?

Asteroid termed 'potentially hazardous' by NASA is coming near Earth

The European Space Agency on July 30 launched the world's first commercial fully re-programmable satellite. Named Eutelsat Quantum, the world's first commercial fully re-programmable satellite lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EutelsatQuantum?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EutelsatQuantum</a>, the first commercial fully flexible software-defined satellite in the world, was launched this evening, 30 July 2021 👉 <a href="https://t.co/pawRsN5Juk">https://t.co/pawRsN5Juk</a> <a href="https://t.co/WwC5lcBRZd">pic.twitter.com/WwC5lcBRZd</a>
— ESA (@esa) <a href="https://twitter.com/esa/status/1421232465595731969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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In an official press release, the space agency wrote, "Eutelsat Quantum, developed under an ESA partnership project with satellite operator Eutelsat and prime manufacturer Airbus, is the first commercial fully flexible software-defined satellite in the world".&nbsp;

It further read, "Because it can be reprogrammed in orbit, it can respond to changing demands for data transmission and secure communications during its 15-year lifetime. Its beams can be redirected to move in almost real-time to provide information to passengers onboard moving ships or planes."

The Eutelsat Quantum can respond to changing demands for data transmission and secure communications during its lifetime of 15-years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/us-agency-denies-blue-origin-protest-over-nasa-lunar-lander-contract-401844">Also read |&nbsp;US agency denies Blue Origin protest over NASA lunar lander contract</a>

The beams of Eutelsat Quantum can be redirected to move in almost real-time to provide information to passengers onboard moving ships or planes.&nbsp;

Also, the beams can be easily adjusted to give more information when demand increases.&nbsp;

The satellite can detect and characterise any rogue emissions, enabling it to respond dynamically to accidental interference.

Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA Director of Space Transportation in the press release said, “Every launch is exciting. Ariane 5 is the pride of Europe and continues to be the cornerstone of Europe’s access to space". Neuenschwander added that Eutelsat Quantum is the result of an "ESA–industry partnership that brings a world first to telecommunications."

The European Space Agency on July 30 launched the world's first commercial fully re-programmable satellite. Named Eutelsat Quantum, the world's first commercial fully re-programmable satellite lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

The European Space Agency on July 30 launched the world's first commercial fully re-programmable satellite. Named Eutelsat Quantum, the world's first commercial fully re-programmable satellite lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. #EutelsatQuantum, the first commercial fully flexible software-defined satellite in the world, was launched this evening, 30 July 2021 👉 https://t.co/pawRsN5Juk pic.twitter.com/WwC5lcBRZd — ESA (@esa) July 30, 2021 × In an official press release, the space agency wrote, "Eutelsat Quantum, developed under an ESA partnership project with satellite operator Eutelsat and prime manufacturer Airbus, is the first commercial fully flexible software-defined satellite in the world". It further read, "Because it can be reprogrammed in orbit, it can respond to changing demands for data transmission and secure communications during its 15-year lifetime. Its beams can be redirected to move in almost real-time to provide information to passengers onboard moving ships or planes." The Eutelsat Quantum can respond to changing demands for data transmission and secure communications during its lifetime of 15-years. Also read | US agency denies Blue Origin protest over NASA lunar lander contract The beams of Eutelsat Quantum can be redirected to move in almost real-time to provide information to passengers onboard moving ships or planes. Also, the beams can be easily adjusted to give more information when demand increases. The satellite can detect and characterise any rogue emissions, enabling it to respond dynamically to accidental interference. Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA Director of Space Transportation in the press release said, “Every launch is exciting. Ariane 5 is the pride of Europe and continues to be the cornerstone of Europe’s access to space". Neuenschwander added that Eutelsat Quantum is the result of an "ESA–industry partnership that brings a world first to telecommunications."

World's first commercial re-programmable satellite blasts into space

The Hubble Space Telescope recently discovered water vapour around Jupiter's moon Ganymede &nbsp;- the largest moon in our solar system.

The water vapour is formed around the icy surface of the moon through the process of sublimation in which the vapour turns into gaseous form from solid. To detect this water vapour, astronomers used a combination of fresh observations and archival content from the Hubble Telescope, in a study published on Monday in the journal Nature Astronomy.

Ganymede is the ninth-largest object in our solar system and contains more water than all of of the oceans on Earth. According to previous research, Jupiter's moon is 2.4 times smaller than Earth. Jupiter moon's is a cold body, with temperatures that can drop as low as -184 degree Celsius (300 degrees Fahrenheit). The surface of the moon is made up of frozen water ice shell.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-vital-signs-are-worsening-due-to-climate-change-scientists-warn-401135" hreflang="en">Earth's 'vital signs' are worsening due to climate change, scientists warn</a>

At least 161 kilometres (100 miles) below the moon's crust lies a salty ocean. Earlier, researchers were convinced that the ocean couldn't have evaporated from the ice shell to create vapour.

The moon is named after an ancient Greek divine hero and is also the only moon to possess a magnetic field, which produces auroras on the moon's north and south poles. The first ultraviolet images of Ganymede were captured by the Hubble in 1998 which revealed these auroras. The same telescope was used in 1996 with no clear indications about the peculiar features of the moon.

Ganymede doesn't have a persistent temperature across the day and it changes significantly over the duration of the day - during noon, the moon's equator becomes warm enough for&nbsp;the ice to sublimate or to essentially release water molecules in small amounts.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-to-search-for-signs-of-extraterrestrial-technology-401116" hreflang="en">Scientists to search for signs of extraterrestrial technology</a>

This helped scientists understand the differences in two sets of images taken by the Hubble Telescope. NASA's Juno mission recently released the first close-up images taken in the last two decades.

The Hubble Space Telescope recently discovered water vapour around Jupiter's moon Ganymede - the largest moon in our solar system. The water vapour is formed around the icy surface of the moon through the process of sublimation in which the vapour turns into gaseous form from solid.

The Hubble Space Telescope recently discovered water vapour around Jupiter's moon Ganymede - the largest moon in our solar system. The water vapour is formed around the icy surface of the moon through the process of sublimation in which the vapour turns into gaseous form from solid. To detect this water vapour, astronomers used a combination of fresh observations and archival content from the Hubble Telescope, in a study published on Monday in the journal Nature Astronomy. Ganymede is the ninth-largest object in our solar system and contains more water than all of of the oceans on Earth. According to previous research, Jupiter's moon is 2.4 times smaller than Earth. Jupiter moon's is a cold body, with temperatures that can drop as low as -184 degree Celsius (300 degrees Fahrenheit). The surface of the moon is made up of frozen water ice shell. Also read: Earth's 'vital signs' are worsening due to climate change, scientists warn At least 161 kilometres (100 miles) below the moon's crust lies a salty ocean. Earlier, researchers were convinced that the ocean couldn't have evaporated from the ice shell to create vapour. The moon is named after an ancient Greek divine hero and is also the only moon to possess a magnetic field, which produces auroras on the moon's north and south poles. The first ultraviolet images of Ganymede were captured by the Hubble in 1998 which revealed these auroras. The same telescope was used in 1996 with no clear indications about the peculiar features of the moon. Ganymede doesn't have a persistent temperature across the day and it changes significantly over the duration of the day - during noon, the moon's equator becomes warm enough for the ice to sublimate or to essentially release water molecules in small amounts. Also read: Scientists to search for signs of extraterrestrial technology This helped scientists understand the differences in two sets of images taken by the Hubble Telescope. NASA's Juno mission recently released the first close-up images taken in the last two decades.

Hubble discovers water vapour around Jupiter's Ganymede, largest moon in our solar system

We have heard of billionaires heading to space. But UAE's Nora Al-Matrooshi is shattering the glass ceiling in space! The first Arab woman astronaut speaks exclusively to WION.

UAE's first female astronaut Nora Al-Matrooshi speaks to WION

Astronomers have just detected a disk of dust forming around a planet outside our solar system for the first time.

The disk was detected by astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) in Heidelberg. The images were taken by the Atacama Large Millimetre/Submillimetre Array (ALMA) in partnership with the European Southern Observatory (ESO).&nbsp;

This revelation sheds light on how moons and planets are formed in planetary systems that are still in their formative stage. For long, scientists have attempted to fully understand how natural satellites of planets are formed, including the Earth's Moon.

To better understand the process, scientists want to observe the creation of satellites like moon around planets situated outside our solar system, i.e., exoplanets. The exoplanet in question&nbsp;resembles the characteristics of Jupiter and is capable of producing multiple moons.

Myriam Benisty, a researcher at the University of Grenoble in France and the University of Chile and also the lead of the study claims that the research "presents a clear detection of a disk in which satellites could be forming”. The study was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.&nbsp;

"We obtained our ALMA observations at such excellent resolution that we could identify without a doubt that the disk is associated with the planet, and we are able to constrain its size for the first time,” Max Planck Institute for Astronomy quoted Benisty as&nbsp;saying.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-solves-40-year-old-mystery-of-jupiters-x-ray-auroras-400739" hreflang="en">NASA solves 40-year-old mystery of Jupiter's X-Ray Auroras</a>

The disk is referred to as a "circumplanetary disk" and surrounds the exoplanet labelled "PDS 70c". The planet bears resemblance to Jupiter and orbits a star situated 400 light-years away.

Earlier, astronomers posited that a moon-forming disk surrounded the planet, but its detection was only confirmed in the study published on July 22, 2021. Scientists claim that the disk has the same distance as Earth does from Sun. The disk accounts for a lot of&nbsp;mass, which could&nbsp;create at least three satellites the size of Earth's&nbsp;Moon!

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/marsquakes-reveal-secrets-of-mars-interior-400155" hreflang="en">Marsquakes reveal secrets of Mars' interior</a>

Astronomers have just detected a disk of dust forming around a planet outside our solar system for the first time. The disk was detected by astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) in Heidelberg.

Astronomers have just detected a disk of dust forming around a planet outside our solar system for the first time. The disk was detected by astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) in Heidelberg. The images were taken by the Atacama Large Millimetre/Submillimetre Array (ALMA) in partnership with the European Southern Observatory (ESO). This revelation sheds light on how moons and planets are formed in planetary systems that are still in their formative stage. For long, scientists have attempted to fully understand how natural satellites of planets are formed, including the Earth's Moon. To better understand the process, scientists want to observe the creation of satellites like moon around planets situated outside our solar system, i.e., exoplanets. The exoplanet in question resembles the characteristics of Jupiter and is capable of producing multiple moons. Myriam Benisty, a researcher at the University of Grenoble in France and the University of Chile and also the lead of the study claims that the research "presents a clear detection of a disk in which satellites could be forming”. The study was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. "We obtained our ALMA observations at such excellent resolution that we could identify without a doubt that the disk is associated with the planet, and we are able to constrain its size for the first time,” Max Planck Institute for Astronomy quoted Benisty as saying. Also read: NASA solves 40-year-old mystery of Jupiter's X-Ray Auroras The disk is referred to as a "circumplanetary disk" and surrounds the exoplanet labelled "PDS 70c". The planet bears resemblance to Jupiter and orbits a star situated 400 light-years away. Earlier, astronomers posited that a moon-forming disk surrounded the planet, but its detection was only confirmed in the study published on July 22, 2021. Scientists claim that the disk has the same distance as Earth does from Sun. The disk accounts for a lot of mass, which could create at least three satellites the size of Earth's Moon! Also read: Marsquakes reveal secrets of Mars' interior

Astronomers detect first proof of 'moon-forming' ring around far-off exoplanet

For the first time, scientists have clearly identified a ring of gas and dust circling a planet outside our solar system -- a discovery that could help reveal how planets and moons are formed, a study showed Thursday.

The disc surrounds an exoplanet dubbed PDS 70c, one of two gas giants similar in size and mass to Jupiter that orbit the star PDS 70, nearly 400 light years from our solar system.

Astronomers from the European Southern Observatory discovered PDS 70c in 2019 using their Very Large Telescope. &nbsp;

Those observations combined with high-resolution images from the ALMA telescope, also in Chile, allowed them to conclude that PDS 70c's disk holds material that will allow moons to form around the planet, said the study, published in&nbsp;The&nbsp;Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Astronomers have known since 2006 that the star PDS 70 is surrounded by a very large ring of material but limitations on the observational equipment only allowed them to guess at the presence of a planet between the star and the ring.&nbsp;

"Our ALMA observations were obtained at such exquisite resolution that we could clearly identify that the disc is associated with the planet, and we are able to constrain its size for the first time,"&nbsp;the study's lead author Myriam Benisty said in a press release.

Both planets discovered in the system hold major interest for researchers because they belong to a young star system.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-hubble-space-telescope-captures-images-of-two-unusual-galaxies-399481">Also read |&nbsp;NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captures images of two unusual galaxies</a>

The star PDS 70 is 5.4 million years old -- a spring chicken compared to our Sun, which has been around for 4.6 billion years.

Miriam Keppler, a researcher at the Max Planck institute and study co-author, discovered PDS 70b in 2018.

"More than 4,000 exoplanets" -- planets outside our solar system -- "have been found until now, but all of them were detected in mature systems," she said in the press release.

"PDS 70b and PDS 70c, which form a system reminiscent of the Jupiter-Saturn pair, are the only two exoplanets detected so far that are still in the process of being formed."

The material surrounding PDS 70c is enough to form our&nbsp;moon&nbsp;three times over. Jupiter, which is a much older planet, has four moons and dozens of smaller satellites.

For the first time, scientists have clearly identified a ring of gas and dust circling a planet outside our solar system -- a discovery that could help reveal how planets and moons are formed, a study showed Thursday.

For the first time, scientists have clearly identified a ring of gas and dust circling a planet outside our solar system -- a discovery that could help reveal how planets and moons are formed, a study showed Thursday. The disc surrounds an exoplanet dubbed PDS 70c, one of two gas giants similar in size and mass to Jupiter that orbit the star PDS 70, nearly 400 light years from our solar system. Astronomers from the European Southern Observatory discovered PDS 70c in 2019 using their Very Large Telescope. Those observations combined with high-resolution images from the ALMA telescope, also in Chile, allowed them to conclude that PDS 70c's disk holds material that will allow moons to form around the planet, said the study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. Astronomers have known since 2006 that the star PDS 70 is surrounded by a very large ring of material but limitations on the observational equipment only allowed them to guess at the presence of a planet between the star and the ring. "Our ALMA observations were obtained at such exquisite resolution that we could clearly identify that the disc is associated with the planet, and we are able to constrain its size for the first time," the study's lead author Myriam Benisty said in a press release. Both planets discovered in the system hold major interest for researchers because they belong to a young star system. Also read | NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captures images of two unusual galaxies The star PDS 70 is 5.4 million years old -- a spring chicken compared to our Sun, which has been around for 4.6 billion years. Miriam Keppler, a researcher at the Max Planck institute and study co-author, discovered PDS 70b in 2018. "More than 4,000 exoplanets" -- planets outside our solar system -- "have been found until now, but all of them were detected in mature systems," she said in the press release. "PDS 70b and PDS 70c, which form a system reminiscent of the Jupiter-Saturn pair, are the only two exoplanets detected so far that are still in the process of being formed." The material surrounding PDS 70c is enough to form our moon three times over. Jupiter, which is a much older planet, has four moons and dozens of smaller satellites.

Researchers detect first 'moon-forming' disc surrounding exoplanet

The&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;Mars rover is preparing to collect its first rock sample from the site of an ancient lake bed, as its mission to search for signs of past life begins in earnest, NASA said Wednesday.

The milestone is expected to take place within two weeks in a scientifically interesting region of the Jezero Crater called the "Cratered Floor Fractured Rough."&nbsp;

"When Neil Armstrong took the first sample from the Sea of Tranquility 52 years ago, he began a process that would rewrite what humanity knew about the Moon," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters.&nbsp;

"I have every expectation that&nbsp;Perseverance's first sample from Jezero Crater, and those that come after, will do the same for Mars."

Perseverance&nbsp;landed on the Red Planet on February 18, and over the summer moved about a kilometre to the south of its landing site, project scientist Ken Farley told reporters.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-hubble-space-telescope-captures-images-of-two-unusual-galaxies-399481">Also read |&nbsp;NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captures images of two unusual galaxies</a>

"Now we're looking at environments that are much further in the past -- billions of years in the past," he said in a briefing.

The team believes the crater was once home to an ancient lake that filled and drew down multiple times, potentially creating the conditions necessary for life.&nbsp;

Analysing samples will reveal clues about the rocks' chemical and mineral composition -- revealing things like whether they were formed by volcanoes or are sedimentary in origin.

In addition to filling gaps in scientists' geologic understanding of the region, the rover will also scour for possible signs of ancient microbes.

First,&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;will deploy its 7-foot (two-meter) long robotic arm to determine precisely where to take its sample.&nbsp;

The rover will then use an abrasion tool to scrape off the rock's top layer, exposing unweathered surfaces.&nbsp;

These will be analysed by&nbsp;Perseverance's turret-mounted scientific instruments to determine chemical and mineral composition, and look for organic matter.

One of the instruments, called SuperCam, will fire a laser at the rock and then take readings of the resulting plume.

Farley said that a small cliff that harboured fine-layered rocks might have been formed from lake muds, and "those are very good places to look for biosignatures," though it will be a few more months before&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;reaches that outcrop.

Each rock&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;analyses will have an untouched geologic "twin" which the rover will scoop up, seal and store under its belly.&nbsp;

Eventually, NASA is planning a return mission with the European Space Agency to collect the stored samples and return them for lab analysis on Earth, sometime in the 2030s.

Only then will scientists be able to say with greater confidence whether they truly found signs of ancient life forms.

The Perseverance Mars rover is preparing to collect its first rock sample from the site of an ancient lake bed, as its mission to search for signs of past life begins in earnest, NASA said Wednesday.

The Perseverance Mars rover is preparing to collect its first rock sample from the site of an ancient lake bed, as its mission to search for signs of past life begins in earnest, NASA said Wednesday. The milestone is expected to take place within two weeks in a scientifically interesting region of the Jezero Crater called the "Cratered Floor Fractured Rough." "When Neil Armstrong took the first sample from the Sea of Tranquility 52 years ago, he began a process that would rewrite what humanity knew about the Moon," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters. "I have every expectation that Perseverance's first sample from Jezero Crater, and those that come after, will do the same for Mars." Perseverance landed on the Red Planet on February 18, and over the summer moved about a kilometre to the south of its landing site, project scientist Ken Farley told reporters. Also read | NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captures images of two unusual galaxies "Now we're looking at environments that are much further in the past -- billions of years in the past," he said in a briefing. The team believes the crater was once home to an ancient lake that filled and drew down multiple times, potentially creating the conditions necessary for life. Analysing samples will reveal clues about the rocks' chemical and mineral composition -- revealing things like whether they were formed by volcanoes or are sedimentary in origin. In addition to filling gaps in scientists' geologic understanding of the region, the rover will also scour for possible signs of ancient microbes. First, Perseverance will deploy its 7-foot (two-meter) long robotic arm to determine precisely where to take its sample. The rover will then use an abrasion tool to scrape off the rock's top layer, exposing unweathered surfaces. These will be analysed by Perseverance's turret-mounted scientific instruments to determine chemical and mineral composition, and look for organic matter. One of the instruments, called SuperCam, will fire a laser at the rock and then take readings of the resulting plume. Farley said that a small cliff that harboured fine-layered rocks might have been formed from lake muds, and "those are very good places to look for biosignatures," though it will be a few more months before Perseverance reaches that outcrop. Each rock Perseverance analyses will have an untouched geologic "twin" which the rover will scoop up, seal and store under its belly. Eventually, NASA is planning a return mission with the European Space Agency to collect the stored samples and return them for lab analysis on Earth, sometime in the 2030s. Only then will scientists be able to say with greater confidence whether they truly found signs of ancient life forms.

NASA rover Perseverance preparing to take first Mars rock samples

Jeff Bezos completes pilot space flight aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard

After years of waiting, Richard Branson's journey to&nbsp;space&nbsp;this month on a Virgin Galactic vessel was supposed to be a triumphant homecoming. Instead, the jaunt attracted significant criticism -- about its carbon footprint.

With Jeff Bezos set to launch on a Blue Origin rocket on July 20, and Elon Musk's SpaceX planning an all-civilian orbital mission in September, the nascent&nbsp;space&nbsp;tourism&nbsp;industry finds itself facing tough questions about its&nbsp;environmental&nbsp;impact.

Right now, rocket launches as a whole don't happen often enough to pollute significantly.

"The carbon dioxide emissions are totally negligible compared to other human activities or even commercial aviation,"&nbsp;NASA's chief climate advisor Gavin Schmidt told AFP.&nbsp;

But some scientists are worried about the potential for longer term harm as the industry is poised for major growth, particularly impacts to the ozone layer in the still poorly understood upper atmosphere.

Virgin Galactic, which came under fire in op-eds on CNN and Forbes, as well as on social media, for sending its billionaire founder to&nbsp;space&nbsp;for a few minutes in a fossil fuel-guzzling spaceship, says its carbon emissions are about equivalent to a business-class ticket from London to New York.

The company "has already taken steps to offset the carbon emissions from its test flights and is examining opportunities to offset the carbon emissions for future customer flights, and reduce our supply chain's carbon footprint," it said in a statement to AFP.

But while transatlantic flights carry hundreds of people, Virgin's emissions work out to around 4.5 tonnes per passenger in a six-passenger flight, according to an analysis published by French astrophysicist Roland Lehoucq and colleagues in The Conversation.

That's roughly equivalent to driving a typical car around the Earth, and more than twice the individual annual carbon budget recommended to meet the objectives of the Paris climate accord.

"The issue here is really one of the disproportionate impacts," Darin Toohey, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Colorado, Boulder told AFP.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dreamers-programme-deemed-unlawful-by-us-federal-judge-biden-says-deeply-disappointed-398708">Also read |&nbsp;'Dreamers' programme deemed unlawful by US Federal Judge, Biden says 'deeply disappointed'</a>

"I actually grew up on the&nbsp;space&nbsp;program and that got me into science.... but if someone offered me a free ride, I would be very nervous taking it because I would know that my own footprint is way larger than it should be," he said.

Cleaner fuels possible&nbsp;

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo uses a type of synthetic rubber as fuel and burns it in nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas.

The fuel pumps black carbon into the upper stratosphere, 30-50 kilometres (18 to 30 miles) high.&nbsp;

Once there, these particles can have multiple impacts, from reflecting sunlight and causing a nuclear winter effect, to accelerating chemical reactions that deplete the ozone layer, which is vital to protecting people from harmful radiation.

"We could be at a dangerous point," said Toohey, who wants more scientific investigations into these effects before the launches become more frequent.

Virgin has said it wants to conduct 400 flights a year.

Compared to Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo spaceplanes, Blue Origin's are much cleaner, according to a recent paper by scientist Martin Ross of Aerospace, which Bezos' company plugged on Twitter.

That's because it burns liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, which combusts as water vapor.

Ross' paper found Blue Origin's vertical launch reusable rocket causes a hundred times less ozone loss and 750 times less climate forcing magnitude than Virgin's, according to ballpark calculations.

But that doesn't mean it's totally clean.&nbsp;

"It takes electricity to make liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen," Ross told AFP.

"You could go back and calculate how much electricity was used to make the propellant," he said. "It depends how far back in the supply chain you look."

&nbsp;Space&nbsp;shaming?

The impact of suborbital launches such as those by Virgin and Blue Origin pale in comparison to the impact of rockets that achieve orbit.

When SpaceX puts four private citizens into&nbsp;space&nbsp;in September, it will use its Falcon 9 rocket, which calculations show puts out the equivalent of 395 transatlantic flights-worth of carbon emissions.

"We are living in the era of climate change and starting an activity that increases emissions as part of a&nbsp;tourism&nbsp;activity is not good timing," Annette Toivonen, author of the book "Sustainable&nbsp;Space&nbsp;Tourism," told AFP.

The world is far more aware of the climate crisis now than when these companies were founded in the early 2000s and that could encourage businesses to look at ways to minimize pollution through cleaner technologies to get ahead of the problem.

"Who would want to be a&nbsp;space&nbsp;tourist if you can't tell people you were a&nbsp;space&nbsp;tourist?" argued Toivonen, who lectures at Finland's Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences.

After years of waiting, Richard Branson's journey to space this month on a Virgin Galactic vessel was supposed to be a triumphant homecoming. Instead, the jaunt attracted significant criticism -- about its carbon footprint.

After years of waiting, Richard Branson's journey to space this month on a Virgin Galactic vessel was supposed to be a triumphant homecoming. Instead, the jaunt attracted significant criticism -- about its carbon footprint. With Jeff Bezos set to launch on a Blue Origin rocket on July 20, and Elon Musk's SpaceX planning an all-civilian orbital mission in September, the nascent space tourism industry finds itself facing tough questions about its environmental impact. Right now, rocket launches as a whole don't happen often enough to pollute significantly. "The carbon dioxide emissions are totally negligible compared to other human activities or even commercial aviation," NASA's chief climate advisor Gavin Schmidt told AFP. But some scientists are worried about the potential for longer term harm as the industry is poised for major growth, particularly impacts to the ozone layer in the still poorly understood upper atmosphere. Virgin Galactic, which came under fire in op-eds on CNN and Forbes, as well as on social media, for sending its billionaire founder to space for a few minutes in a fossil fuel-guzzling spaceship, says its carbon emissions are about equivalent to a business-class ticket from London to New York. The company "has already taken steps to offset the carbon emissions from its test flights and is examining opportunities to offset the carbon emissions for future customer flights, and reduce our supply chain's carbon footprint," it said in a statement to AFP. But while transatlantic flights carry hundreds of people, Virgin's emissions work out to around 4.5 tonnes per passenger in a six-passenger flight, according to an analysis published by French astrophysicist Roland Lehoucq and colleagues in The Conversation. That's roughly equivalent to driving a typical car around the Earth, and more than twice the individual annual carbon budget recommended to meet the objectives of the Paris climate accord. "The issue here is really one of the disproportionate impacts," Darin Toohey, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Colorado, Boulder told AFP. Also read | 'Dreamers' programme deemed unlawful by US Federal Judge, Biden says 'deeply disappointed' "I actually grew up on the space program and that got me into science.... but if someone offered me a free ride, I would be very nervous taking it because I would know that my own footprint is way larger than it should be," he said. Cleaner fuels possible Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo uses a type of synthetic rubber as fuel and burns it in nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas. The fuel pumps black carbon into the upper stratosphere, 30-50 kilometres (18 to 30 miles) high. Once there, these particles can have multiple impacts, from reflecting sunlight and causing a nuclear winter effect, to accelerating chemical reactions that deplete the ozone layer, which is vital to protecting people from harmful radiation. "We could be at a dangerous point," said Toohey, who wants more scientific investigations into these effects before the launches become more frequent. Virgin has said it wants to conduct 400 flights a year. Compared to Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo spaceplanes, Blue Origin's are much cleaner, according to a recent paper by scientist Martin Ross of Aerospace, which Bezos' company plugged on Twitter. That's because it burns liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, which combusts as water vapor. Ross' paper found Blue Origin's vertical launch reusable rocket causes a hundred times less ozone loss and 750 times less climate forcing magnitude than Virgin's, according to ballpark calculations. But that doesn't mean it's totally clean. "It takes electricity to make liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen," Ross told AFP. "You could go back and calculate how much electricity was used to make the propellant," he said. "It depends how far back in the supply chain you look." Space shaming? The impact of suborbital launches such as those by Virgin and Blue Origin pale in comparison to the impact of rockets that achieve orbit. When SpaceX puts four private citizens into space in September, it will use its Falcon 9 rocket, which calculations show puts out the equivalent of 395 transatlantic flights-worth of carbon emissions. "We are living in the era of climate change and starting an activity that increases emissions as part of a tourism activity is not good timing," Annette Toivonen, author of the book "Sustainable Space Tourism," told AFP. The world is far more aware of the climate crisis now than when these companies were founded in the early 2000s and that could encourage businesses to look at ways to minimize pollution through cleaner technologies to get ahead of the problem. "Who would want to be a space tourist if you can't tell people you were a space tourist?" argued Toivonen, who lectures at Finland's Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences.

Environmental concerns grow as space tourism lifts off

Jeff Bezos, the richest person in the world, is set to join the astronaut club Tuesday on the first crewed launch by Blue Origin, another key moment in a big month for the fledgling space tourism industry.

The mission comes days after Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson crossed the final frontier, narrowly besting the Amazon magnate in their battle of the billionaires.

Blue Origin's sights are, however, set higher: both literally in terms of the altitude to which its reusable New Shepard craft will ascend compared to Virgin's spaceplane, but also in its future ambitions.

Bezos founded Blue Origin back in 2000, with the goal of one-day building floating space colonies with artificial gravity where millions of people will work and live.

Today, the company is developing a heavy-lift orbital rocket called New Glenn and also a Moon lander it is hoping to contract to NASA under the Artemis program.

"They've had 15 successful New Shepard uncrewed flights and we've been waiting years to see when they're going to start flying people," Laura Forczyk, founder of space consulting firm Astralytical, told AFP, calling it an "exciting time" for enthusiasts.

New Shepard will blast off at 8:00 am Central Time (1300 GMT) on July 20 from a remote facility in the west Texas desert called Launch Site One, some 25 miles (40 kilometres) north of the nearest town, Van Horn.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dreamers-programme-deemed-unlawful-by-us-federal-judge-biden-says-deeply-disappointed-398708">Also read |&nbsp;'Dreamers' programme deemed unlawful by US Federal Judge, Biden says 'deeply disappointed'</a>

The event will be live-streamed on BlueOrigin.com beginning an hour and a half before.

Richest, oldest and youngest

Joining Bezos on the fully autonomous flight will be barrier-breaking female aviator Wally Funk, who at 82 is set to be the oldest ever astronaut, Dutch teenager Oliver Daemen, the company's first paying customer, who will become the youngest astronaut.

Rounding out the four-member crew is Jeff Bezos' brother Mark, a financier who directs the Bezos Family Foundation and works as a volunteer firefighter.

The pair are best friends, and Jeff shared the moment he asked his younger sibling to join him in a viral video on Instagram last month.

Notably absent is the mysterious winner of a $28 million auction for a seat, who had "scheduling conflicts" and will take part in a future flight, and has asked to remain anonymous, the company said.

After lift-off, New Shepard will accelerate towards space at speeds exceeding Mach 3 using a liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine with no carbon emissions.

The capsule soon separates from its booster, and the astronauts unbuckle and begin to experience weightlessness.

The crew will spend a few minutes beyond the Karman line -- the internationally recognized boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space, at 62 miles altitude (100 kilometres), as the spacecraft peaks at 65 miles high (106 kilometres).

They will be able to admire the curvature of the planet -- and the inky black of the rest of the universe -- from large windows that comprise a third of the cabin's surface area.

The booster returns autonomously to a landing pad just north of its launch site, while the capsule freefalls back to Earth before deploying three giant parachutes, and finally a thruster, to land gently in the west Texas desert.

Bigger prizes

Beyond the first flight, relatively little is known about Blue Origin's future tourism plans.&nbsp;

The company has a history of secrecy, its existence only becoming public knowledge three years after its creation. It then pursued a policy of "self-imposed silence" until 2015.

Unlike Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin hasn't officially started selling tickets -- Daemen won his spot through the auction process. The company wants two more flights this year, then "many more" in 2022, it told AFP.

Forczyk, the analyst, said it will all depend on the level of demand that is generated by these early flights, and how well the industry recovers from accidents "which there inevitably will be, because spaceflight is inherently risky."

Elon Musk's SpaceX will enter the fray in September with an all-civilian orbital expedition on its Crew Dragon and is tying up with another company, Axiom, for visits to the International Space Station.

Beyond tourism, Blue Origin would like to supplant SpaceX is NASA's leading private sector partner, and sees New Shepard as "sort of the stepping stone and also the way to make money along the way for the greater ambition," said Forczyk.

Jeff Bezos, the richest person in the world, is set to join the astronaut club Tuesday on the first crewed launch by Blue Origin, another key moment in a big month for the fledgling space tourism industry.

Jeff Bezos, the richest person in the world, is set to join the astronaut club Tuesday on the first crewed launch by Blue Origin, another key moment in a big month for the fledgling space tourism industry. The mission comes days after Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson crossed the final frontier, narrowly besting the Amazon magnate in their battle of the billionaires. Blue Origin's sights are, however, set higher: both literally in terms of the altitude to which its reusable New Shepard craft will ascend compared to Virgin's spaceplane, but also in its future ambitions. Bezos founded Blue Origin back in 2000, with the goal of one-day building floating space colonies with artificial gravity where millions of people will work and live. Today, the company is developing a heavy-lift orbital rocket called New Glenn and also a Moon lander it is hoping to contract to NASA under the Artemis program. "They've had 15 successful New Shepard uncrewed flights and we've been waiting years to see when they're going to start flying people," Laura Forczyk, founder of space consulting firm Astralytical, told AFP, calling it an "exciting time" for enthusiasts. New Shepard will blast off at 8:00 am Central Time (1300 GMT) on July 20 from a remote facility in the west Texas desert called Launch Site One, some 25 miles (40 kilometres) north of the nearest town, Van Horn. Also read | 'Dreamers' programme deemed unlawful by US Federal Judge, Biden says 'deeply disappointed' The event will be live-streamed on BlueOrigin.com beginning an hour and a half before. Richest, oldest and youngest Joining Bezos on the fully autonomous flight will be barrier-breaking female aviator Wally Funk, who at 82 is set to be the oldest ever astronaut, Dutch teenager Oliver Daemen, the company's first paying customer, who will become the youngest astronaut. Rounding out the four-member crew is Jeff Bezos' brother Mark, a financier who directs the Bezos Family Foundation and works as a volunteer firefighter. The pair are best friends, and Jeff shared the moment he asked his younger sibling to join him in a viral video on Instagram last month. Notably absent is the mysterious winner of a $28 million auction for a seat, who had "scheduling conflicts" and will take part in a future flight, and has asked to remain anonymous, the company said. After lift-off, New Shepard will accelerate towards space at speeds exceeding Mach 3 using a liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine with no carbon emissions. The capsule soon separates from its booster, and the astronauts unbuckle and begin to experience weightlessness. The crew will spend a few minutes beyond the Karman line -- the internationally recognized boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space, at 62 miles altitude (100 kilometres), as the spacecraft peaks at 65 miles high (106 kilometres). They will be able to admire the curvature of the planet -- and the inky black of the rest of the universe -- from large windows that comprise a third of the cabin's surface area. The booster returns autonomously to a landing pad just north of its launch site, while the capsule freefalls back to Earth before deploying three giant parachutes, and finally a thruster, to land gently in the west Texas desert. Bigger prizes Beyond the first flight, relatively little is known about Blue Origin's future tourism plans. The company has a history of secrecy, its existence only becoming public knowledge three years after its creation. It then pursued a policy of "self-imposed silence" until 2015. Unlike Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin hasn't officially started selling tickets -- Daemen won his spot through the auction process. The company wants two more flights this year, then "many more" in 2022, it told AFP. Forczyk, the analyst, said it will all depend on the level of demand that is generated by these early flights, and how well the industry recovers from accidents "which there inevitably will be, because spaceflight is inherently risky." Elon Musk's SpaceX will enter the fray in September with an all-civilian orbital expedition on its Crew Dragon and is tying up with another company, Axiom, for visits to the International Space Station. Beyond tourism, Blue Origin would like to supplant SpaceX is NASA's leading private sector partner, and sees New Shepard as "sort of the stepping stone and also the way to make money along the way for the greater ambition," said Forczyk.

Earth's richest man Bezos to blast off into space

Trust NASA to post something scientific and beautiful. The pics and videos are sure to go viral and they actually do. NASA's spacecrafts have literally travelled outside our Solar System and several are examining the celestial bodies inside our Solar System.

While us mortals don't usually get to see the cool pics and videos right when they are taken, NASA posts the images on its social handles and they get thousands of hits.

The video in discussion today has been captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft which is currently near the largest planet in our Solar System, Jupiter.

We see close-up images of planets and satellite close to Earth many times. Think Moon and Mars. But when a spacecraft goes as far as Jupiter, Saturn and beyond, the images often compel the planets to spill hidden secrets.

Juno spacecraft has been sending images back to Earth since 2016. This time, it gives us front-row access to Jupiter's moon Ganymede! It is the satellite of Jupiter on which ice changes directly from solid to gas.

The video shows Ganymede's cratered surface. Largest and brightest craters are easily seen. The video lasts for several seconds but it reported took June more than 12 hours to capture it in its entirety.

Check out the video

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Now isn't that mesmerising? 
&nbsp;

Trust NASA to post something scientific and beautiful. The pics and videos are sure to go viral and they actually do. NASA's spacecrafts have literally travelled outside our Solar System and several are examining the celestial bodies inside our Solar System.

Trust NASA to post something scientific and beautiful. The pics and videos are sure to go viral and they actually do. NASA's spacecrafts have literally travelled outside our Solar System and several are examining the celestial bodies inside our Solar System. While us mortals don't usually get to see the cool pics and videos right when they are taken, NASA posts the images on its social handles and they get thousands of hits. The video in discussion today has been captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft which is currently near the largest planet in our Solar System, Jupiter. We see close-up images of planets and satellite close to Earth many times. Think Moon and Mars. But when a spacecraft goes as far as Jupiter, Saturn and beyond, the images often compel the planets to spill hidden secrets. Juno spacecraft has been sending images back to Earth since 2016. This time, it gives us front-row access to Jupiter's moon Ganymede! It is the satellite of Jupiter on which ice changes directly from solid to gas. The video shows Ganymede's cratered surface. Largest and brightest craters are easily seen. The video lasts for several seconds but it reported took June more than 12 hours to capture it in its entirety. Check out the video × Now isn't that mesmerising?

NASA posts mesmerising video of Jupiter's moon

The Indian Space Research Organisation&nbsp;(ISRO) has got back on track after the impact of the pandemic. The state-run space agency is gearing up for two upcoming launches, one in August and another in September.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre&nbsp;(SDSC) website, the GSLV launch is scheduled for August and PSLV is scheduled for September. However, the dates have not been specified&nbsp;as&nbsp;yet.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The GSLV rocket would be carrying India’s GISAT-1, an earth observation satellite that is meant to be placed in Geostationary orbit&nbsp;(36,000 kms from earth). This orbit is typically meant for communication satellites that have to cover a large swathe of land.

A satellite in geostationary orbit would be in sync with the rotation cycle of the earth&nbsp;(24 hours) and it would appear to be stationary when seen from the earth, thus giving it the name. It is said that three aptly positioned Geostationary satellites can cover pretty much the all of Earth.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/isro-moves-one-step-ahead-in-converting-cargo-carrier-gslv-rocket-into-human-carrier-398249">ISRO moves one step ahead in converting ‘cargo-carrier’ GSLV rocket into human-carrier</a>

According to ISRO, GISAT-1 is meant to provide near&nbsp;real-time imaging of large region of interest at frequent intervals, quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic events and also obtain spectral signatures for agriculture, forestry, mineralogy, disaster warning, cloud properties, snow,&nbsp;glaciers and oceanography.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Asked&nbsp;over&nbsp;report&nbsp;of&nbsp;a news agency regarding the GISAT-1 launch being scheduled for 5:43&nbsp;am on August 12, Dr Sivan told WION that&nbsp;August 12 was more of an internal deadline and not an official launch date. He also added that activities for the launch have started and are underway.&nbsp;

The PSLV rocket, which is&nbsp;scheduled for September launch,&nbsp;is expected to carry a satellite dubbed as EOS-4 or Earth Observation Satellite 4.&nbsp;

The GSLV and PSLV launches would be India’s second and third launched for the year, respectively. It was in February that a PSLV,&nbsp;on a commercial flight,&nbsp;launched Amazonia-1, a Brazilian Earth Observation Satellite and 18 smaller satellites.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gisat-1-indias-eye-in-the-sky-likely-to-be-launched-in-august-says-isro-chairman-dr-k-sivan-398427">GISAT-1: India’s 'Eye in the Sky’ likely to be launched in August, says ISRO chairman Dr K Sivan</a>

During the downtime owing to pandemic lockdowns across India, ISRO had been contributing to the nation’s COVID-19 fight. ISRO had ramped up manufacturing of liquid oxygen&nbsp;(cryogenic rocket fuel) to support hospitals.

ISRO centers also had repurposed their gas storage tanks to store liquid oxygen, thus using them as large depots to support the medical requirements. The&nbsp;organisation&nbsp;had also developed various models of indigenous, low-cost medical ventilators. These models were then handed over to Indian industry for mass manufacture.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ISRO is also working on conducting human-rating tests on its heavy lifter rocket,&nbsp;the GSLV Mk 3. Repeated tests of the rocket’s various&nbsp;engines, which are&nbsp;solid fueled, liquid fueled and cryogenic,&nbsp;are being done to ensure that the rocket,&nbsp;which ferries satellites can be reliable enough to carry Indian astronauts to low Earth orbit.&nbsp;Gaganyaan&nbsp;or Human Spaceflight&nbsp;programme&nbsp;is India’s most ambitious mission yet.&nbsp;

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has got back on track after the impact of the pandemic. The state-run space agency is gearing up for two upcoming launches, one in August and another in September.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has got back on track after the impact of the pandemic. The state-run space agency is gearing up for two upcoming launches, one in August and another in September. According to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) website, the GSLV launch is scheduled for August and PSLV is scheduled for September. However, the dates have not been specified as yet. The GSLV rocket would be carrying India’s GISAT-1, an earth observation satellite that is meant to be placed in Geostationary orbit (36,000 kms from earth). This orbit is typically meant for communication satellites that have to cover a large swathe of land. A satellite in geostationary orbit would be in sync with the rotation cycle of the earth (24 hours) and it would appear to be stationary when seen from the earth, thus giving it the name. It is said that three aptly positioned Geostationary satellites can cover pretty much the all of Earth. Also Read | ISRO moves one step ahead in converting ‘cargo-carrier’ GSLV rocket into human-carrier According to ISRO, GISAT-1 is meant to provide near real-time imaging of large region of interest at frequent intervals, quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic events and also obtain spectral signatures for agriculture, forestry, mineralogy, disaster warning, cloud properties, snow, glaciers and oceanography. Asked over report of a news agency regarding the GISAT-1 launch being scheduled for 5:43 am on August 12, Dr Sivan told WION that August 12 was more of an internal deadline and not an official launch date. He also added that activities for the launch have started and are underway. The PSLV rocket, which is scheduled for September launch, is expected to carry a satellite dubbed as EOS-4 or Earth Observation Satellite 4. The GSLV and PSLV launches would be India’s second and third launched for the year, respectively. It was in February that a PSLV, on a commercial flight, launched Amazonia-1, a Brazilian Earth Observation Satellite and 18 smaller satellites. Also Read | GISAT-1: India’s 'Eye in the Sky’ likely to be launched in August, says ISRO chairman Dr K Sivan During the downtime owing to pandemic lockdowns across India, ISRO had been contributing to the nation’s COVID-19 fight. ISRO had ramped up manufacturing of liquid oxygen (cryogenic rocket fuel) to support hospitals. ISRO centers also had repurposed their gas storage tanks to store liquid oxygen, thus using them as large depots to support the medical requirements. The organisation had also developed various models of indigenous, low-cost medical ventilators. These models were then handed over to Indian industry for mass manufacture. ISRO is also working on conducting human-rating tests on its heavy lifter rocket, the GSLV Mk 3. Repeated tests of the rocket’s various engines, which are solid fueled, liquid fueled and cryogenic, are being done to ensure that the rocket, which ferries satellites can be reliable enough to carry Indian astronauts to low Earth orbit. Gaganyaan or Human Spaceflight programme is India’s most ambitious mission yet.

Indian space agency ISRO gearing up for two launches: GSLV Mk2-GISAT in August, PSLV in September  

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin said on Thursday that an 18-year-old paying customer will fly to space in the company's maiden crewed mission on July 20. This is will make the person youngest ever astronaut.

Oliver Daemen, who graduated from high school in 2020 and holds a private pilot's license, is not the winner of a $28 million auction, who has asked to remain anonymous and will fly on a future mission, the company said.

"This marks the beginning of commercial operations for New Shepard, and Oliver represents a new generation of people who will help us build a road to space," said Bob Smith, CEO of Blue Origin.

Flying on New Shepard will fulfill a lifelong dream for Daemen, who has been fascinated by space, the Moon, and rockets since he was four, a statement said.

Daemen plans to attend University of Utrecht in Netherlands. He plans to study Physics and innovation management this September.

Daemen joins Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, Jeff's brother Mark, and Wally Funk aboard the first human flight involving the New Shepard spaceship.

At 18-years-old and 82-years-young, Daemen and Funk will be the youngest and oldest astronauts to travel to space.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin said on Thursday that an 18-year-old paying customer will fly to space in the company's maiden crewed mission on July 20. This is will make the person youngest ever astronaut.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin said on Thursday that an 18-year-old paying customer will fly to space in the company's maiden crewed mission on July 20. This is will make the person youngest ever astronaut. Oliver Daemen, who graduated from high school in 2020 and holds a private pilot's license, is not the winner of a $28 million auction, who has asked to remain anonymous and will fly on a future mission, the company said. "This marks the beginning of commercial operations for New Shepard, and Oliver represents a new generation of people who will help us build a road to space," said Bob Smith, CEO of Blue Origin. Flying on New Shepard will fulfill a lifelong dream for Daemen, who has been fascinated by space, the Moon, and rockets since he was four, a statement said. Daemen plans to attend University of Utrecht in Netherlands. He plans to study Physics and innovation management this September. Daemen joins Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, Jeff's brother Mark, and Wally Funk aboard the first human flight involving the New Shepard spaceship. At 18-years-old and 82-years-young, Daemen and Funk will be the youngest and oldest astronauts to travel to space. (With inputs from agencies)

Blue Origin to fly 18-year-old to space with Bezos

The 70-year-old billionaire Richard Branson is now an astronaut, but did he travel into space?

Experts have doubts.&nbsp;

On Sunday morning, he launched into space in a fully crewed Virgin Galactic aircraft, at least nine days before rival space mogul Jeff Bezos aims to reach the edge of space with a Blue Origin spacecraft.&nbsp;

However, several experts, including scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson, a student of Carl Sagan, dispute that he has flown to space.&nbsp;

Richard Branson did not go on space flight, said astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium deGrasse in an interview with CNN.&nbsp; 
 
“First of all, it was suborbital. NASA did it 60 years ago with Alan Shepard, took off from Cape Canaveral and landed in the ocean. If you don't go fast enough to reach orbit you will fall and return to Earth, ” explained deGrasse.

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“It's okay if you want to call it 'space' because average humans haven't gotten there before and it's a first for you. That's why it takes eight minutes to get into orbit and three days to reach the moon. That is space travel. So I don't see it as 'oh, let's go into space. No. What you are going to have is a nice view of the Earth ”, he explained.

The Kármán line: Space border

The Kármán line, which is 100 kilometres above mean sea level, is the most frequently accepted space border.

However, in the United States, the cutoff point is set at 80 kilometres.

Branson's Virgin Galactic mission achieved an altitude of 86 kilometres, while Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin flight is projected to reach a height of approximately 106 kilometres.&nbsp;

Whether or not Branson has technically been to space, his achievement ushering in a new age in space tourism.

Jeff Bezos of Amazon is set to accomplish the same with a ship from his business Blue Origin in less than a week.&nbsp;

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From the beginning, New Shepard was designed to fly above the Kármán line so none of our astronauts have an asterisk next to their name. For 96% of the world’s population, space begins 100 km up at the internationally recognized Kármán line. <a href="https://t.co/QRoufBIrUJ">pic.twitter.com/QRoufBIrUJ</a>
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1413521627116032001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Virgin Galactic admits it ‘faked’ video of Branson’s pre-launch bike ride

Meanwhile, Branson's company Virgin Galactic has admitted that its billionaire founder&nbsp;did not ride his bicycle to the launch site of his space journey on the day of the trip last Sunday, as was represented in a widely circulated video included in the company's webcast of the event.&nbsp;

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It’s a beautiful day to go to space. We’ve arrived at <a href="https://twitter.com/Spaceport_NM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Spaceport_NM</a>. Get ready to watch LIVE at 7:30 am PT | 10:30 am ET | 3:30 pm BST <a href="https://t.co/PcvGTmA661">https://t.co/PcvGTmA661</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unity22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unity22</a> <a href="https://t.co/4KjGPpjz0M">pic.twitter.com/4KjGPpjz0M</a>
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) <a href="https://twitter.com/richardbranson/status/1414205913200746498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Branson was seen riding his bike, flanked by two SUVs, toward New Mexico's state-owned Spaceport America near the town of Truth or Consequences, and handing his bike helmet to an employee upon arrival.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The 70-year-old billionaire Richard Branson is now an astronaut, but did he travel into space? Experts have doubts. On Sunday morning, he launched into space in a fully crewed Virgin Galactic aircraft, at least nine days before rival space mogul Jeff Bezos aims to reach the edge of space with a Blue Origin spacecraft.

The 70-year-old billionaire Richard Branson is now an astronaut, but did he travel into space? Experts have doubts. On Sunday morning, he launched into space in a fully crewed Virgin Galactic aircraft, at least nine days before rival space mogul Jeff Bezos aims to reach the edge of space with a Blue Origin spacecraft. However, several experts, including scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson, a student of Carl Sagan, dispute that he has flown to space. Richard Branson did not go on space flight, said astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium deGrasse in an interview with CNN. “First of all, it was suborbital. NASA did it 60 years ago with Alan Shepard, took off from Cape Canaveral and landed in the ocean. If you don't go fast enough to reach orbit you will fall and return to Earth, ” explained deGrasse. × “It's okay if you want to call it 'space' because average humans haven't gotten there before and it's a first for you. That's why it takes eight minutes to get into orbit and three days to reach the moon. That is space travel. So I don't see it as 'oh, let's go into space. No. What you are going to have is a nice view of the Earth ”, he explained. The Kármán line: Space border The Kármán line, which is 100 kilometres above mean sea level, is the most frequently accepted space border. However, in the United States, the cutoff point is set at 80 kilometres. Branson's Virgin Galactic mission achieved an altitude of 86 kilometres, while Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin flight is projected to reach a height of approximately 106 kilometres. Whether or not Branson has technically been to space, his achievement ushering in a new age in space tourism. Jeff Bezos of Amazon is set to accomplish the same with a ship from his business Blue Origin in less than a week. From the beginning, New Shepard was designed to fly above the Kármán line so none of our astronauts have an asterisk next to their name. For 96% of the world’s population, space begins 100 km up at the internationally recognized Kármán line. pic.twitter.com/QRoufBIrUJ — Blue Origin (@blueorigin) July 9, 2021 × Virgin Galactic admits it ‘faked’ video of Branson’s pre-launch bike ride Meanwhile, Branson's company Virgin Galactic has admitted that its billionaire founder did not ride his bicycle to the launch site of his space journey on the day of the trip last Sunday, as was represented in a widely circulated video included in the company's webcast of the event. It’s a beautiful day to go to space. We’ve arrived at @Spaceport_NM. Get ready to watch LIVE at 7:30 am PT | 10:30 am ET | 3:30 pm BST https://t.co/PcvGTmA661 #Unity22 pic.twitter.com/4KjGPpjz0M — Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 11, 2021 × Branson was seen riding his bike, flanked by two SUVs, toward New Mexico's state-owned Spaceport America near the town of Truth or Consequences, and handing his bike helmet to an employee upon arrival. (With inputs from agencies)

A misleading bike ride video, space vs edge of space questions: Did Branson lie about some aspects of his trip?

British billionaire Richard Branson has accomplished a milestone for his 17-year-old venture. In his boldest adventure yet, Branson reached space aboard on his own Virgin Galactic rocket plane and safely returned as well.

Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic's successful space flight

After a successful trip to space, Richard Branson has urged young people to achieve their dreams and aim for the stars, quite literally.

Giving out the message of never giving up, Branson told youngsters in a tweet, "To the next generation of dreamers: if we can do this, just imagine what you can do". Branson said he had always wanted to fly high and his dream has come true as he became one of the first humans to travel on commercial spaceflight.

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I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I'm an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth. To the next generation of dreamers: if we can do this, just imagine what you can do <a href="https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX">https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unity22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unity22</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/virgingalactic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@virgingalactic</a> <a href="https://t.co/03EJmKiH8V">pic.twitter.com/03EJmKiH8V</a>
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) <a href="https://twitter.com/richardbranson/status/1414289206717865984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-richard-bransons-spaceflight-touches-down-after-successful-trip-to-space-397445">Richard Branson's spaceflight touches down after successful trip to space</a>

"I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I'm an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth," he said in a live feed video.

Branson believes space is 'for all humanity' and has thus teamed up with Omaze to give interested candidates a chance to travel to space. Interested people can now fill in their details on Omaze.com/space.

"Every charitable donation goes to support Space For Humanity and you’ll be entered into the Omaze sweepstake for the chance to win two seats aboard one of the first commercial Virgin Galactic space flights," Branson announced.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/aim-for-stars-richard-bransons-journey-from-record-store-to-space-trip-397420">&nbsp;‘Aim for stars’: Richard Branson's journey from record store to space trip</a>

His announcement has come after he took off for space aboard the Virgin Galactic vessel, which is the company's first fully-crewed spaceflight, from Spaceport, New Mexico at around 8:40 am Mountain Time (1440 GMT).

Branson now aims to conduct at least 400 flights to space every year. For his spacious programme, nearly 600 tickets have already been sold to people from 60 different countries. These tickets, ranging from $200,000 to $250,000 have been sold to several Hollywood celebrities too, who have not been named yet.

After a successful trip to space, Richard Branson has urged young people to achieve their dreams and aim for the stars, quite literally. Giving out the message of never giving up, Branson told youngsters in a tweet, "To the next generation of dreamers: if we can do this, just imagine what you can do".

After a successful trip to space, Richard Branson has urged young people to achieve their dreams and aim for the stars, quite literally. Giving out the message of never giving up, Branson told youngsters in a tweet, "To the next generation of dreamers: if we can do this, just imagine what you can do". Branson said he had always wanted to fly high and his dream has come true as he became one of the first humans to travel on commercial spaceflight. I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I'm an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth. To the next generation of dreamers: if we can do this, just imagine what you can do https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX #Unity22 @virgingalactic pic.twitter.com/03EJmKiH8V — Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 11, 2021 × Also read | Richard Branson's spaceflight touches down after successful trip to space "I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I'm an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth," he said in a live feed video. Branson believes space is 'for all humanity' and has thus teamed up with Omaze to give interested candidates a chance to travel to space. Interested people can now fill in their details on Omaze.com/space. "Every charitable donation goes to support Space For Humanity and you’ll be entered into the Omaze sweepstake for the chance to win two seats aboard one of the first commercial Virgin Galactic space flights," Branson announced. Also read | ‘Aim for stars’: Richard Branson's journey from record store to space trip His announcement has come after he took off for space aboard the Virgin Galactic vessel, which is the company's first fully-crewed spaceflight, from Spaceport, New Mexico at around 8:40 am Mountain Time (1440 GMT). Branson now aims to conduct at least 400 flights to space every year. For his spacious programme, nearly 600 tickets have already been sold to people from 60 different countries. These tickets, ranging from $200,000 to $250,000 have been sold to several Hollywood celebrities too, who have not been named yet.

'Generation of dreamers': Richard Branson leaves message for youngsters after space trip

A massive solar storm is on its way to the Earth. When it hits, it's likely to interrupt phone and GPS communications.&nbsp;

According to a report from Spaceweather.com, the storm, which might interrupt telecommunications, could produce wind rates of up to 600 km per second.&nbsp;

Solar storms can heat the Earth's outer atmosphere, which can have a direct impact on satellites.

This can cause GPS navigation, cell phone signal, and satellite TV to be disrupted.

Scientists studying the phenomenon have discovered that they appear in an 11-year cycle and can assault the globe many times per day at their height.

Scientists predict that solar storms will peak around 2024, based on present activity on the Sun.&nbsp;

A large solar storm above Quebec in 1989, for example, produced a major blackout, and multiple ejections colliding into the Earth's magnetic field were reported in May this year.

Solar storms are known to disrupt satellites and electronic communications, as well as creating a spectacular display in the sky, which can be seen in places around the Arctic Circle.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A massive solar storm is on its way to the Earth. When it hits, it's likely to interrupt phone and GPS communications. According to a report from Spaceweather.com, the storm, which might interrupt telecommunications, could produce wind rates of up to 600 km per second.

A massive solar storm is on its way to the Earth. When it hits, it's likely to interrupt phone and GPS communications. According to a report from Spaceweather.com, the storm, which might interrupt telecommunications, could produce wind rates of up to 600 km per second. Solar storms can heat the Earth's outer atmosphere, which can have a direct impact on satellites. This can cause GPS navigation, cell phone signal, and satellite TV to be disrupted. Scientists studying the phenomenon have discovered that they appear in an 11-year cycle and can assault the globe many times per day at their height. Scientists predict that solar storms will peak around 2024, based on present activity on the Sun. A large solar storm above Quebec in 1989, for example, produced a major blackout, and multiple ejections colliding into the Earth's magnetic field were reported in May this year. Solar storms are known to disrupt satellites and electronic communications, as well as creating a spectacular display in the sky, which can be seen in places around the Arctic Circle. (With inputs from agencies)

Phone and GPS signals may be disrupted as high-speed solar storm heading towards Earth

He's always dreamed of it, and in 2004 founded his own company to make it happen.&nbsp;

On Sunday, billionaire Richard&nbsp;Branson&nbsp;will take off from a base in New Mexico aboard a Virgin Galactic vessel bound for the edge of space.

The Briton is hoping to finally get the nascent space tourism industry off the ground -- but also go one up on Jeff Bezos by winning the race to be the first person to cross the final frontier in a ship built by their own company.

The Amazon founder's great rival, SpaceX boss Elon Musk, announced on Twitter he'd be there to witness it.&nbsp;

"Will see you there to wish you the best," he wrote to&nbsp;Branson.&nbsp;

Hours later, Bezos chimed in with a message of support, but only after his own company, Blue Origin, had posted a viral tweet&nbsp;drawing an unfavourable comparison between its space offerings and Virgin Galactic's.

Several tourists journeyed to the International Space Station in the 2000s but onboard Russian rockets.

Branson's official role is to evaluate the private astronaut experience to enhance the journey for future clients.

The spaceflight should take place shortly after 7:00 am Mountain Time (1300 GMT), with a live stream provided by Virgin Galactic on its website.

A massive carrier plane will take off from a horizontal runway, flown by two pilots, gaining altitude for about an hour.

Below this plane hangs the spaceship VSS Unity -- a SpaceShipTwo-class suborbital rocket-powered spaceplane -- with two more pilots and four passengers:&nbsp;Branson&nbsp;and three Virgin employees.

After climbing to 50,000 feet (15 kilometres), VSS Unity, which is about the size of a private jet, will be dropped and then ignites its rocket-powered engine to ascend at Mach 3 beyond the 50 miles (80 kilometres) of altitude considered the edge of space by US agencies.

Once the rocket engine is cut off, passengers can unbuckle and experience a few minutes of weightlessness, while admiring the curvature of Earth from the ship's 17 windows.

After peaking at around 55 miles of altitude, the ship re-enters the thick part of the atmosphere and glides back to the runway.

Space base

Branson, who founded the Virgin Group -- which today has interests in everything from commercial aviation to fitness centres -- is known for his appetite for adventure and has set world records in hot air ballooning and boating.

"As a child, I wanted to go to space," the brash 70-year-old wrote a few days ahead of his trip.&nbsp;

"When that did not look likely for my generation, I registered the name&nbsp;Virgin Galactic&nbsp;with the notion of creating a company that could make it happen."

A dream that almost came to an end in 2014 when an in-flight accident of a Virgin Galactic vessel caused the death of a pilot, considerably delaying the program.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/i-wont-be-going-to-his-funeral-richard-bransons-wife-expresses-nervousness-about-his-spaceflight-397046">Also read |&nbsp;'I won't be going to his funeral': Richard Branson's wife expresses nervousness about his spaceflight</a>

Since then, VSS Unity has successfully reached space three times, in 2018, 2019 -- which included the first crew member who wasn't a pilot, and finally May this year.

Sunday's spaceflight takes off from Spaceport America, a huge base built in the Jornada del Muerto&nbsp;desert, around 20 miles southeast of the nearest dwelling, Truth or Consequences.

Financed largely by the state of New Mexico, Virgin Galactic is the principal tenant.

The base includes a runway more than two miles long and a building with spaces dedicated to flight operations, as well as a reception centre for future customers.

Paying passengers in 2022?

After Sunday, Virgin Galactic plans two further flights, then the start of regular commercial operations from early 2022. The ultimate goal is to conduct 400 flights per year.

Some 600 tickets have already been sold to people from 60 different countries -- including Hollywood celebrities -- for prices ranging from $200,000 to $250,000.

And though, according to&nbsp;Branson, "space belongs to us all," the opportunity, for now, remains the preserve of the privileged.&nbsp;

"When we return, I will announce something very exciting to give more people the chance to become an astronaut," he promised.

The competition in the space tourism sector, whose imminent rise has been announced for years, has come to a head this month.

Bezos, the richest man in the world, &nbsp;is due to fly on July 20 on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket.

Blue Origin posted an infographic Friday boasting the ways in which thee&nbsp;experience it offers is superior.

The principal point: New Shepard climbs up to more than 60 miles in altitude, thus exceeding what is called the Karman line, the frontier of space according to the international convention.

"None of our astronauts have an asterisk next to their name," the company bragged.

He's always dreamed of it, and in 2004 founded his own company to make it happen. On Sunday, billionaire Richard Branson will take off from a base in New Mexico aboard a Virgin Galactic vessel bound for the edge of space.

He's always dreamed of it, and in 2004 founded his own company to make it happen. On Sunday, billionaire Richard Branson will take off from a base in New Mexico aboard a Virgin Galactic vessel bound for the edge of space. The Briton is hoping to finally get the nascent space tourism industry off the ground -- but also go one up on Jeff Bezos by winning the race to be the first person to cross the final frontier in a ship built by their own company. The Amazon founder's great rival, SpaceX boss Elon Musk, announced on Twitter he'd be there to witness it. "Will see you there to wish you the best," he wrote to Branson. Hours later, Bezos chimed in with a message of support, but only after his own company, Blue Origin, had posted a viral tweet drawing an unfavourable comparison between its space offerings and Virgin Galactic's. Several tourists journeyed to the International Space Station in the 2000s but onboard Russian rockets. Branson's official role is to evaluate the private astronaut experience to enhance the journey for future clients. The spaceflight should take place shortly after 7:00 am Mountain Time (1300 GMT), with a live stream provided by Virgin Galactic on its website. A massive carrier plane will take off from a horizontal runway, flown by two pilots, gaining altitude for about an hour. Below this plane hangs the spaceship VSS Unity -- a SpaceShipTwo-class suborbital rocket-powered spaceplane -- with two more pilots and four passengers: Branson and three Virgin employees. After climbing to 50,000 feet (15 kilometres), VSS Unity, which is about the size of a private jet, will be dropped and then ignites its rocket-powered engine to ascend at Mach 3 beyond the 50 miles (80 kilometres) of altitude considered the edge of space by US agencies. Once the rocket engine is cut off, passengers can unbuckle and experience a few minutes of weightlessness, while admiring the curvature of Earth from the ship's 17 windows. After peaking at around 55 miles of altitude, the ship re-enters the thick part of the atmosphere and glides back to the runway. Space base Branson, who founded the Virgin Group -- which today has interests in everything from commercial aviation to fitness centres -- is known for his appetite for adventure and has set world records in hot air ballooning and boating. "As a child, I wanted to go to space," the brash 70-year-old wrote a few days ahead of his trip. "When that did not look likely for my generation, I registered the name Virgin Galactic with the notion of creating a company that could make it happen." A dream that almost came to an end in 2014 when an in-flight accident of a Virgin Galactic vessel caused the death of a pilot, considerably delaying the program. Also read | 'I won't be going to his funeral': Richard Branson's wife expresses nervousness about his spaceflight Since then, VSS Unity has successfully reached space three times, in 2018, 2019 -- which included the first crew member who wasn't a pilot, and finally May this year. Sunday's spaceflight takes off from Spaceport America, a huge base built in the Jornada del Muerto desert, around 20 miles southeast of the nearest dwelling, Truth or Consequences. Financed largely by the state of New Mexico, Virgin Galactic is the principal tenant. The base includes a runway more than two miles long and a building with spaces dedicated to flight operations, as well as a reception centre for future customers. Paying passengers in 2022? After Sunday, Virgin Galactic plans two further flights, then the start of regular commercial operations from early 2022. The ultimate goal is to conduct 400 flights per year. Some 600 tickets have already been sold to people from 60 different countries -- including Hollywood celebrities -- for prices ranging from $200,000 to $250,000. And though, according to Branson, "space belongs to us all," the opportunity, for now, remains the preserve of the privileged. "When we return, I will announce something very exciting to give more people the chance to become an astronaut," he promised. The competition in the space tourism sector, whose imminent rise has been announced for years, has come to a head this month. Bezos, the richest man in the world, is due to fly on July 20 on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket. Blue Origin posted an infographic Friday boasting the ways in which thee experience it offers is superior. The principal point: New Shepard climbs up to more than 60 miles in altitude, thus exceeding what is called the Karman line, the frontier of space according to the international convention. "None of our astronauts have an asterisk next to their name," the company bragged.

17 years after founding Virgin Galactic, Branson bound for space

In Pics | Richard Branson all set for Virgin Galactic spaceflight

The universe comes off as a vast and immeasurable entity whose depths are imperceptible to Earthlings. But in the pursuit of simplifying all that surrounds us, scientists have made great strides in understanding the space we inhabit.

Now, Japanese astronomers have developed an astounding technique to measure the universe. Using artificial intelligence, scientists were able to remove noise in astronomical data which is&nbsp;caused by random variations in the shapes of galaxies.

What did the scientists do?

Scientists used supercomputer simulations and tested large mock data before performing the same on real data from space. After extensive testing, scientists used the tool on data derived from Japan’s Subaru Telescope.&nbsp;

To their surprise, it worked! The results that followed remained largely in sync with&nbsp;the currently accepted models of the universe. If employed on a bigger scale, the tool could help scientists analyse expansive data from astronomical surveys.

Current methods cannot effectively get rid of the noise which pervades all data from space. To avoid interference from noise data, the team used the world’s most advanced astronomy supercomputer called “ATERUI II”.&nbsp;

Using real data from the Subaru Telescope, they generated 25,000 mock galaxy catalogues.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explosion-on-sun-equivalent-to-millions-of-hydrogen-bombs-causes-biggest-solar-flare-in-4-years-396003" hreflang="en">Explosion on Sun equivalent to millions of hydrogen bombs causes biggest solar flare in 4 years</a>

What's causing data distortion?

All data from space can be distorted by the gravity of what’s in the foreground eclipsing its background. This is called gravitational lensing. Measurements of such lensing is used to better understand the universe. Essentially, a galaxy directly visible to us could be manipulating data about what lies behind it.

But it’s difficult to differentiate oddly-looking galaxies from distorting ones that manipulate data. It’s called “shape noise” and regularly gets in the way of understanding the universe.

Based on these understandings, scientists added noise to the artificial data sets and trained AI to recover lensing data from the mock data. The AI was able to highlight previously unobservable details from this data.

Building on this, scientists used the AI model on the real world, covering 21 square degrees of the sky. They found that the details registered about the foreground were actually consistent with existing knowledge about the cosmos.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/orphan-cloud-bigger-than-milky-way-found-in-no-galaxys-land-by-scientists-395982" hreflang="en">'Orphan cloud' bigger than Milky Way found in 'no-galaxy's land' by scientists</a>

The research was published in the April issue&nbsp;of Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

The universe comes off as a vast and immeasurable entity whose depths are imperceptible to Earthlings. But in the pursuit of simplifying all that surrounds us, scientists have made great strides in understanding the space we inhabit.

The universe comes off as a vast and immeasurable entity whose depths are imperceptible to Earthlings. But in the pursuit of simplifying all that surrounds us, scientists have made great strides in understanding the space we inhabit. Now, Japanese astronomers have developed an astounding technique to measure the universe. Using artificial intelligence, scientists were able to remove noise in astronomical data which is caused by random variations in the shapes of galaxies. What did the scientists do? Scientists used supercomputer simulations and tested large mock data before performing the same on real data from space. After extensive testing, scientists used the tool on data derived from Japan’s Subaru Telescope. To their surprise, it worked! The results that followed remained largely in sync with the currently accepted models of the universe. If employed on a bigger scale, the tool could help scientists analyse expansive data from astronomical surveys. Current methods cannot effectively get rid of the noise which pervades all data from space. To avoid interference from noise data, the team used the world’s most advanced astronomy supercomputer called “ATERUI II”. Using real data from the Subaru Telescope, they generated 25,000 mock galaxy catalogues. Also read: Explosion on Sun equivalent to millions of hydrogen bombs causes biggest solar flare in 4 years What's causing data distortion? All data from space can be distorted by the gravity of what’s in the foreground eclipsing its background. This is called gravitational lensing. Measurements of such lensing is used to better understand the universe. Essentially, a galaxy directly visible to us could be manipulating data about what lies behind it. But it’s difficult to differentiate oddly-looking galaxies from distorting ones that manipulate data. It’s called “shape noise” and regularly gets in the way of understanding the universe. Based on these understandings, scientists added noise to the artificial data sets and trained AI to recover lensing data from the mock data. The AI was able to highlight previously unobservable details from this data. Building on this, scientists used the AI model on the real world, covering 21 square degrees of the sky. They found that the details registered about the foreground were actually consistent with existing knowledge about the cosmos. Also read: 'Orphan cloud' bigger than Milky Way found in 'no-galaxy's land' by scientists The research was published in the April issue of Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Astronomers use artificial intelligence to reveal the true shape of universe

Scientists have found evidence of a large cloud clustered in-between two galaxies in space.&nbsp;The cloud is made up of hot, glowing, and energised gases and has remained in its current form for hundreds of millions of years. But how did this happen?&nbsp;

Scientists believe that the cloud may have been flushed out of a galaxy in the cluster.&nbsp;What surprises observers the most is that the cloud has remained intact over the long years instead of dissipating.

This knowledge could assist scientists in understanding galaxy clusters and their characteristics better!

Physicist Ming Sun from the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) believes this is as exciting as it is surprising. Sun headed the team that found the giant cloud in the region known as “no-man’s land” for galaxies. “The cloud is not associated with any galaxy and is in a ‘no-galaxy's land”, Sun was quoted on the university website as saying.

The “orphan cloud” was discovered in Abell 1367, also known as the Leo Cluster. A1367 is home to 70 galaxies and is situated 300 million light years from Earth. The cloud was spotted using technology from the European Space Agency (ESA). X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) is Europe’s flagship X-ray telescope.

In addition, the cloud was observed using European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope/Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (VLT/MUSE) and Japan's flagship optical telescope,&nbsp;Subaru.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-rockets-team-up-with-satellites-to-study-electric-generator-395696" hreflang="en">NASA rockets team up with satellites to study electric generator</a>

According to Ming Sun, the cloud was found in a cluster of galaxies where thousands of galaxies are held together by hot gases with temperatures as hot as 100,000,000 degree Kelvin.

Using temperatures and velocity, the scientists concluded that the cloud in fact originated from a galaxy. It is unusual for the cloud to survive for thousands of millions of years without a galaxy to support. Scientists believe it is being held together by the magnetic field of the cloud.

This could help astronomers understand why some orphan clouds manage to stay afloat after being expelled from a galaxy.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/presence-of-clay-on-mars-points-to-the-planet-being-habitable-once-study-395442" hreflang="en">Presence of clay on Mars points to the planet being habitable once: Study</a>

The image may be found<a href="https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/505/4/4702/6290511"> here</a>

Scientists have found evidence of a large cloud clustered in-between two galaxies in space. The cloud is made up of hot, glowing, and energised gases and has remained in its current form for hundreds of millions of years.

Scientists have found evidence of a large cloud clustered in-between two galaxies in space. The cloud is made up of hot, glowing, and energised gases and has remained in its current form for hundreds of millions of years. But how did this happen? Scientists believe that the cloud may have been flushed out of a galaxy in the cluster. What surprises observers the most is that the cloud has remained intact over the long years instead of dissipating. This knowledge could assist scientists in understanding galaxy clusters and their characteristics better! Physicist Ming Sun from the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) believes this is as exciting as it is surprising. Sun headed the team that found the giant cloud in the region known as “no-man’s land” for galaxies. “The cloud is not associated with any galaxy and is in a ‘no-galaxy's land”, Sun was quoted on the university website as saying. The “orphan cloud” was discovered in Abell 1367, also known as the Leo Cluster. A1367 is home to 70 galaxies and is situated 300 million light years from Earth. The cloud was spotted using technology from the European Space Agency (ESA). X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) is Europe’s flagship X-ray telescope. In addition, the cloud was observed using European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope/Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (VLT/MUSE) and Japan's flagship optical telescope, Subaru. Also read: NASA rockets team up with satellites to study electric generator According to Ming Sun, the cloud was found in a cluster of galaxies where thousands of galaxies are held together by hot gases with temperatures as hot as 100,000,000 degree Kelvin. Using temperatures and velocity, the scientists concluded that the cloud in fact originated from a galaxy. It is unusual for the cloud to survive for thousands of millions of years without a galaxy to support. Scientists believe it is being held together by the magnetic field of the cloud. This could help astronomers understand why some orphan clouds manage to stay afloat after being expelled from a galaxy. Also read: Presence of clay on Mars points to the planet being habitable once: Study The image may be found here

'Orphan cloud' bigger than Milky Way found in 'no-galaxy's land' by scientists

Years after Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams,&nbsp;a third woman of Indian origin,&nbsp;Sirisha Bandla, is all set to fly into space aboard ‘VSS Unity’ of Virgin Galactic, which is scheduled to fly off on July 11 from New Mexico.

The 34-year-old aeronautical engineer will be flying off into space with five other members in her team. Her role will be that of a researcher experience. The founder of Virgin Galactic Richard Branson will also be a part of the team.

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Our first fully crewed rocket powered test flight is planned to take place on July 11th with two pilots and four mission specialists including <a href="https://twitter.com/richardbranson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RichardBranson</a> onboard. 
 
If we were flying your crew, who’d be floating in zero gravity next to you? Tag your astronauts! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unity22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unity22</a> <a href="https://t.co/3FTCls7A4W">pic.twitter.com/3FTCls7A4W</a>
— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) <a href="https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1410974708087103490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"I am so incredibly honored to be a part of the amazing crew of #Unity22, and to be a part of a company whose mission is to make space available to all," Sirisha Bandla said on Twitter.

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Join us July 11th for our first fully crewed rocket powered test flight, and the beginning of a new space age. 
The countdown begins. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unity22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unity22</a> 
<a href="https://t.co/5UalYT7Hjb">https://t.co/5UalYT7Hjb</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/richardbranson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RichardBranson</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZL9xbCeWQX">pic.twitter.com/ZL9xbCeWQX</a>
— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) <a href="https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1410727434530422784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Born in Andhra Pradesh, Bandla grew up in Houston, Texas and started working with Virgin Galactic&nbsp;in 2015. Before that, she used to work in space policy at the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) and as an aerospace engineer in Texas.

She has graduated in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University and also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Georgetown University.

Bandla is the second Indian-born woman in space and fourth in general to travel to space.

Years after Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams, a third woman of Indian origin, Sirisha Bandla, is all set to fly into space aboard ‘VSS Unity’ of Virgin Galactic, which is scheduled to fly off on July 11 from New Mexico.

Years after Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams, a third woman of Indian origin, Sirisha Bandla, is all set to fly into space aboard ‘VSS Unity’ of Virgin Galactic, which is scheduled to fly off on July 11 from New Mexico. The 34-year-old aeronautical engineer will be flying off into space with five other members in her team. Her role will be that of a researcher experience. The founder of Virgin Galactic Richard Branson will also be a part of the team. Our first fully crewed rocket powered test flight is planned to take place on July 11th with two pilots and four mission specialists including @RichardBranson onboard. If we were flying your crew, who’d be floating in zero gravity next to you? Tag your astronauts! #Unity22 pic.twitter.com/3FTCls7A4W — Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) July 2, 2021 × "I am so incredibly honored to be a part of the amazing crew of #Unity22, and to be a part of a company whose mission is to make space available to all," Sirisha Bandla said on Twitter. Join us July 11th for our first fully crewed rocket powered test flight, and the beginning of a new space age. The countdown begins. #Unity22 https://t.co/5UalYT7Hjb. @RichardBranson pic.twitter.com/ZL9xbCeWQX — Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) July 1, 2021 × Born in Andhra Pradesh, Bandla grew up in Houston, Texas and started working with Virgin Galactic in 2015. Before that, she used to work in space policy at the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) and as an aerospace engineer in Texas. She has graduated in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University and also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Georgetown University. Bandla is the second Indian-born woman in space and fourth in general to travel to space.

Third Indian-origin woman, Sirisha Bandla, set to fly to space

Supernovas are highly violent cosmic events that mark the end of a star’s life cycle. Now, astronomers have solved the mystery behind&nbsp;an elusive&nbsp;kind of supernova, which may be able to explain the birth of hypnotising “Crab Nebula”.

The supernova in question may have illuminated the night sky on Earth about 1,000 years ago, a new study claims.

What are supernovas?

When a star dies, they run out of fuel and collapse onto themselves, causing a large and violent explosion capable of changing the anatomy of any celestial system. These explosions are extremely bright and are capable of being seen from halfway across the universe.

Till now, scientists knew about two kinds of supernovas. One usually takes place in large stars that are over 10 times the mas of our sun. Their collapse begins in the core, when their fuel burns out. This leads to the destruction of its outer layers, leaving behind a neutron star or a black hole.

The other kind of supernova takes place in stars that are less than eight times the mass of sun which burn out over time and leave behind an ashy body called a white dwarf.&nbsp; These dwarves can pull fuel from other stars towards themselves, which triggers an explosion.

How was Crab Nebula formed?

Stars between the 8-10 solar masses would theoretically explode in a different manner, in a process called “electron-capture”&nbsp;which causes electrons to fuse with atomic nuclei. In usual circumstances, these&nbsp;repel each other. This triggers an explosion around the star’s surrounding layers and leaves behind a neutron star, around the size of our sun.

A supernova in 1054 AD, as recorded in Chinese and Japanese documents details a bright light which was seen during the daytime on Earth for at least 23 days, and for two years in the nighttime. What remained was the Crab Nebula, and “electron-capture” may be attributed to it.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-administrator-bill-nelson-hints-at-possibility-of-alien-life-in-new-interview-394678" hreflang="en">NASA administrator Bill Nelson hints at possibility of alien life in new interview</a>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-with-help-from-a-cosmic-hand-scientists-capture-death-of-a-star-394431" hreflang="en">Watch | With help from a 'cosmic hand', scientists capture death of a star</a>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/european-space-agency-to-hire-first-differently-abled-astronaut-more-women-in-step-towards-inclusivity-394001" hreflang="en">European Space Agency to hire first differently abled astronaut, more women in step towards inclusivity</a>

Supernovas are highly violent cosmic events that mark the end of a star’s life cycle. Now, astronomers have solved the mystery behind an elusive kind of supernova, which may be able to explain the birth of hypnotising “Crab Nebula”.

Supernovas are highly violent cosmic events that mark the end of a star’s life cycle. Now, astronomers have solved the mystery behind an elusive kind of supernova, which may be able to explain the birth of hypnotising “Crab Nebula”. The supernova in question may have illuminated the night sky on Earth about 1,000 years ago, a new study claims. What are supernovas? When a star dies, they run out of fuel and collapse onto themselves, causing a large and violent explosion capable of changing the anatomy of any celestial system. These explosions are extremely bright and are capable of being seen from halfway across the universe. Till now, scientists knew about two kinds of supernovas. One usually takes place in large stars that are over 10 times the mas of our sun. Their collapse begins in the core, when their fuel burns out. This leads to the destruction of its outer layers, leaving behind a neutron star or a black hole. The other kind of supernova takes place in stars that are less than eight times the mass of sun which burn out over time and leave behind an ashy body called a white dwarf. These dwarves can pull fuel from other stars towards themselves, which triggers an explosion. How was Crab Nebula formed? Stars between the 8-10 solar masses would theoretically explode in a different manner, in a process called “electron-capture” which causes electrons to fuse with atomic nuclei. In usual circumstances, these repel each other. This triggers an explosion around the star’s surrounding layers and leaves behind a neutron star, around the size of our sun. A supernova in 1054 AD, as recorded in Chinese and Japanese documents details a bright light which was seen during the daytime on Earth for at least 23 days, and for two years in the nighttime. What remained was the Crab Nebula, and “electron-capture” may be attributed to it. Also read: NASA administrator Bill Nelson hints at possibility of alien life in new interview Also read: Watch | With help from a 'cosmic hand', scientists capture death of a star Also read: European Space Agency to hire first differently abled astronaut, more women in step towards inclusivity

Scientists solve mystery behind elusive supernova which birthed Crab Nebula

NASA's&nbsp;administrator and former US senator Bill Nelson recently opined on the ongoing debacle about the existence of aliens, propelled partly by the intelligence&nbsp;reports released by US authorities on UFO sightings.

“The report basically says what we thought. We don’t know the answer to what those Navy pilots saw but they know that they know something”, Nelson told CNN this week.

“They tracked it and locked their radar on to it. It moved quickly from one location to another”, he added.

The classified report mentions Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) but fails to identify the objects and is largely inconclusive. “The report tells us that there have been 140 of these sightings”, Nelson said while adding that NASA scientists are currently assessing the footage from a scientific point of view.&nbsp;

“My feeling is that there is clearly something there. It may not be an extraterrestrial [object]”, he added while suggesting that these aircraft could belong to the adversaries of US, which he called extremely concerning.&nbsp;

The NASA administrator talked about the agency’s ongoing programmes that focus on finding extraterrestrial life, while suggesting that they could find no technology linking the objects to alien life.

“People are hungry to know”, Nelson said while referring to the Navy videos which caused a fury on social media and ignited global interest in aliens potentially lurking in the shadows.&nbsp;

“Are we alone? Personally, I don’t think we are”, Nelson said while stressing on the vastness of the universe.&nbsp;

On the possibility of alien life elsewhere in the universe, Nelson spoke about recent evidence of conditions necessary for life to persist. “We are already finding examples of other planets around other suns”, he said.

Speaking briefly about the upcoming November launch of the James Webb Telescope, Nelson said that the tech “will peek back in time… almost to the beginning”, which could answer a lot of questions about the formation of our solar system and perhaps the universe itself.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-with-help-from-a-cosmic-hand-scientists-capture-death-of-a-star-394431" hreflang="en">Watch | With help from a 'cosmic hand', scientists capture death of a star</a>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/china-releases-video-of-zhurong-mars-rover-394304" hreflang="en">China releases video of Zhurong Mars rover</a>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/how-nasas-plans-to-send-detergent-to-iss-could-change-space-exploration-393320" hreflang="en">How NASA's plans to send detergent to ISS could change space exploration</a>

NASA's administrator and former US senator Bill Nelson recently opined on the ongoing debacle about the existence of aliens, propelled partly by the intelligence reports released by US authorities on UFO sightings.

NASA's administrator and former US senator Bill Nelson recently opined on the ongoing debacle about the existence of aliens, propelled partly by the intelligence reports released by US authorities on UFO sightings. “The report basically says what we thought. We don’t know the answer to what those Navy pilots saw but they know that they know something”, Nelson told CNN this week. “They tracked it and locked their radar on to it. It moved quickly from one location to another”, he added. The classified report mentions Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) but fails to identify the objects and is largely inconclusive. “The report tells us that there have been 140 of these sightings”, Nelson said while adding that NASA scientists are currently assessing the footage from a scientific point of view. “My feeling is that there is clearly something there. It may not be an extraterrestrial [object]”, he added while suggesting that these aircraft could belong to the adversaries of US, which he called extremely concerning. The NASA administrator talked about the agency’s ongoing programmes that focus on finding extraterrestrial life, while suggesting that they could find no technology linking the objects to alien life. “People are hungry to know”, Nelson said while referring to the Navy videos which caused a fury on social media and ignited global interest in aliens potentially lurking in the shadows. “Are we alone? Personally, I don’t think we are”, Nelson said while stressing on the vastness of the universe. On the possibility of alien life elsewhere in the universe, Nelson spoke about recent evidence of conditions necessary for life to persist. “We are already finding examples of other planets around other suns”, he said. Speaking briefly about the upcoming November launch of the James Webb Telescope, Nelson said that the tech “will peek back in time… almost to the beginning”, which could answer a lot of questions about the formation of our solar system and perhaps the universe itself. Also read: Watch | With help from a 'cosmic hand', scientists capture death of a star Also read: China releases video of Zhurong Mars rover Also read: How NASA's plans to send detergent to ISS could change space exploration

NASA administrator Bill Nelson hints at possibility of alien life in new interview

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