China’s Shenzhou-20 Mission: Pioneering Space Medicine Research At the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China, final preparations for the Shenzhou-20 mission were in full swing. Researchers carefully packed cell samples, ensuring their safe delivery for an extraordinary mission into space. Swift Preparations to Protect Vital Samples To preserve the cells’ integrity, scientists rehearsed the entire loading process beforehand. During the real event, the cells were loaded just six and a half hours before launch. This tight schedule aimed to maintain the best possible conditions for the samples. Li Yinghui, a key researcher, explained, “We loaded the cells at the…
Author: Aishwarya Parikh
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Former U.S. Cyber Chief Warns Trump’s Cyber Purges Endanger Digital Security U.S. President Donald Trump’s cyber policies involve actions against top cybersecurity officials have put America’s digital defences at risk, according to a former head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Trump recently fired the two top leaders at the National Security Agency (NSA) and ordered an investigation into Christopher Krebs, a former CISA head. These actions are part of a wider trend that “risks hollowing out – and worse, politicising – the U.S. federal cyber ecosystem when we can least afford it,” said Jen Easterly. Easterly, who…
Shenzhou-20 Crew Enters China’s Space Station China’s Shenzhou-20 astronauts entered the Tiangong space station early Friday and began a new crew handover with the Shenzhou-19 team already on board. This marks the start of a new phase in China’s space mission operations. Mission commander Chen Dong, along with astronauts Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, joined the orbiting lab after a fast automated docking with the station’s Tianhe core module. The docking occurred at 23:49 on Thursday, Beijing Time. Crews Meet and Begin Work At 01:17 on Friday, the Shenzhou-19 crew opened the hatch to welcome the new arrivals. The moment…
China Prepares to Launch Shenzhou-20 Mission to Space Station China is preparing to launch its latest manned space mission, Shenzhou-20, on Thursday at 5:17 p.m. local time (0917 GMT). The mission will send three astronauts to the Chinese space station, according to state media. Mission to Replace Shenzhou-19 Crew The Shenzhou-20 mission will focus on completing the crew rotation with the current Shenzhou-19 team. That crew is set to return to Earth on April 29, landing at the Dongfeng site. Officials shared these details during a press conference broadcast by China Central Television (CCTV). This rotation marks a key milestone…
UK Scientists Test Space Bioreactors to Feed Future Mars Missions Feeding astronauts on a journey to Mars presents one of space exploration’s toughest challenges. With missions lasting years and every kilogram of cargo costing up to $20,000, scientists in the UK believe growing food, fuel, and even medicine during spaceflight could be the solution. Cultivated Cells Could Replace Costly Cargo “Astronauts consume between 0.5 and 1.5 kilograms of food per day. At around $10,000 per meal in launch costs, we must find sustainable alternatives,” said Dr Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro, Director of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at Imperial College London.…
India Imposes 12% Safeguard Duty on Steel Imports to Protect Local Industry India, the world’s second-largest producer of crude steel, has imposed a temporary 12% safeguard duty on select steel import to curb rising shipments, mainly from China. The move, announced by the Ministry of Finance on Monday, aims to support domestic manufacturers impacted by the influx of cheaper foreign steel. Duty to Be in Effect for 200 Days The newly introduced tariff will be enforced for 200 days starting Monday, unless revoked or amended earlier. This marks a significant shift in New Delhi’s trade strategy and follows similar actions…
Crewed missions and a space station on the horizon Department of Space of India has outlined an ambitious roadmap for the next two decades. The country plans to send its first astronaut into space in 2025, build its own space station by 2035, and land an Indian on the Moon by 2045. Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of Science and Technology, described these as “cornerstone projects” for India’s growing space programme. The Bhartiya Antariksh Station, first announced in 2019, is expected to host astronauts from India for up to 20 days in orbit at around 400 km above Earth. Chandrayaan-3 reveals…
Vietnam’s Security Ministry to Take Control of Major Internet Provider Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security is set to acquire a majority stake in FPT Telecom, one of the country’s largest internet providers, as part of broader efforts to enhance national cybersecurity. This move underscores the ministry’s growing influence in Vietnam’s digital infrastructure. Strategic Shift Towards State Control According to a document reviewed by Reuters, the ministry plans to take over the 50.17% stake currently held by the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC). SCIC is a state-owned holding company responsible for managing government investments. The document indicates that the stake will…
Attorney General Says Musk’s Legal Action Lacks Public Benefit The California attorney general’s office has declined to support Elon Musk’s lawsuit against artificial intelligence firm OpenAI. In a letter released on Tuesday, the office said Musk had not shown how the case serves the public interest of the state. Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, is currently locked in a dispute with fellow co-founder and OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman. The legal battle revolves around OpenAI’s proposed structural shift, which includes removing the nonprofit board’s control in favour of equity-driven investor interests. The attorney general’s letter, dated Monday, stated that Musk’s claims…
Zuckerberg Defends Meta in Landmark Meta VS FTC Antitrust Trial Over Instagram and WhatsApp Acquisitions Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court on Monday, 14 April, to defend his company against a significant antitrust lawsuit. The trial (meta VS FTC), held in Washington, challenges Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, which US regulators argue were aimed at eliminating competition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TriaXu8J2MQ Meta VS FTC: Push to Restructure Meta’s Holdings The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is urging the court to force Meta to sell either or both platforms. This move aligns with former President Donald Trump’s pledge to take action against…