Science News Updates

“Developing technologies that let us use resources on the Moon and Mars is critical to build a long-term lunar presence, create a robust lunar economy, and allow us to support an initial human exploration campaign to Mars," NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy.

India's Aditya-L1 spacecraft has captured a selfie and stunning images of Earth and the Moon from space as it loops around the planet ahead of leaving for its destination, Lagrange Point 1.

The study, published in the Astronomical Journal, comes amidst ongoing debate on the existence of a so-called ‘Planet Nine’, after Pluto was declared a dwarf planet 2006.

Indian space agency in the wee hours of Tuesday said it had successfully manoeuvred its space based solar observatory Aditya-L1 to a new orbit.

"Vikram will fall asleep next to Pragyan (moon rover) once the solar power is depleted and the battery is drained. Hoping for their awakening, around September 22, 2023," ISRO added.

'Pragyaan' and 'Vikram', respectively were functioning well and they would be put to "sleep" soon to withstand the night on the Moon.

Soon after orbiting the Aditya-L1 spacecraft in the intended intermediate orbit by the Polar Satellite LaunchVehicle-C57 (PSLV-C57) Somanath said the rover Prayan has moved 100 metres away from the lander.

The lastest is Niger Shaji, Project Director for Aditya-L1 mission, India’s mission to the Sun.

The PSLV-XL variant rocket carries the 1,480.7 kg Aditya-L1 spacecraft as its sole passenger that will study the solar activities.

During the countdown process, the fuelling of the rocket -- liquid fuel -- will be done as well as checking of its systems.

OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer), the first US mission to collect a sample from an asteroid, will return to Earth on September 24 with material from asteroid Bennu. It is carrying an estimated 8.8 ounces of rocky material collected from the surface of the asteroid Bennu in 2020. 

For many kids in India, the moon is usually referred to Chandamama as their mothers show it to them while feeding them.

Swati Varshney is one of the three candidates selected by the Hera Project of Rising United that seeks to empower women in science and technology, the organisation has announced.

According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the preparations for the Aditya-L1 mission is progressing well.

It also said the instrument also detected aluminium, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, manganese, silicon and oxygen, as expected.