European Scientists Attempt First-Ever Double Slingshot Maneuver to Propel JUICE Probe Towards Jupiter European scientists are preparing for a groundbreaking mission, aiming to perform a first-of-its-kind double slingshot manoeuvre using the Moon and Earth to guide the JUICE probe towards Jupiter. This crucial step in orbital navigation could determine the success of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ambitious eight-year journey to the gas giant and its icy moons. The Double Slingshot: A Risky but Crucial Move The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) probe, launched just over a year ago, is on its way back towards Earth. The…
Author: Arushi Pandey
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NASA Updates on Boeing Crew Flight Test and Astronaut Safety NASA’s human spaceflight management team provided an update on 14 August regarding the ongoing Boeing Crew Flight Test at the International Space Station (ISS). Key members of the NASA team, including Ken Bowersox, the Associate Administrator for Space Operations, discussed the crucial role safety plays in all aspects of NASA’s missions, emphasising that it remains a core value guiding decision-making processes. Evaluating the Crew Flight Test The update highlighted various aspects of the Boeing Crew Flight Test as NASA and Boeing continue to assess the data from the recent Starliner…
Google Unveils New Pixel Smartphones with Enhanced AI Features On Tuesday, 13 August, Alphabet’s Google introduced a new lineup of Pixel smartphones, integrating advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology into its hardware. This launch represents a strategic move by Google to embed AI deeper into its devices, enhancing user experience and keeping pace with rapid developments in the tech industry. AI-Powered Features in the Latest Pixel Smartphones The event, held at Alphabet’s Bay View campus in Mountain View, California, marked a departure from Google’s usual tradition of unveiling new Pixel models in the autumn. The highlight of the announcement was the…
Biden to Announce $150 Million Boost for Advanced Cancer Surgery Technology On Tuesday, President Joe Biden is set to announce a new allocation of $150 million in federal funding to develop advanced technologies aimed at improving cancer surgery outcomes. The announcement will be made during Biden’s visit to New Orleans and represents the latest step in the administration’s “Cancer Moonshot” initiative, a program led by the President and First Lady Jill Biden. The initiative’s ambitious goal is to reduce the US cancer death rate by at least 50% by 2047. Advancing Surgical Precision in Cancer Treatment Each year, nearly two…
Expanding Horizons in Construction: ICON’s Vulcan 3D Printer Like any desktop 3D printer, ICON’s Vulcan printer constructs objects layer by layer. However, this is no ordinary printer. The Vulcan is over 45 feet wide, weighs 4.75 tons, and prints residential homes. This summer, the robotic printer is completing the final homes of a 100-house project in Wolf Ranch, a community in Georgetown, Texas, roughly 30 miles from Austin. Building the World’s Largest 3D-Printed Community ICON has named Wolf Ranch the world’s largest 3D-printed community. The company began printing the walls of these homes in November 2022. According to ICON, 3D…
NASA Delays SpaceX Crew Launch to Analyse Boeing Starliner Issues NASA announced on Tuesday that it has delayed the planned SpaceX launch of astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) by a month. This decision allows more time for analysing issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, currently docked at the ISS. New Launch Date for SpaceX Crew Dragon The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft was initially set to launch four astronauts to the ISS on August 18. However, NASA has rescheduled this mission, named Crew-9, to no earlier than September 24. The agency explained that this adjustment provides mission managers with additional…
Chinese Lunar Probe Discovers Molecular Water in Moon Soil Chinese scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the soil samples brought back by their lunar probe: water in its molecular form, H2O, along with minerals. This marks the first time molecular water has been found in physical samples from the moon, particularly from a region previously thought incapable of supporting water in this form. A Historic Find on the Moon The discovery of water on the moon is not entirely new. NASA and Indian spacecraft have previously detected what they believed to be water on the moon’s surface. Additionally, Chinese…
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Mission: A New Chapter in Space Exploration In February 2025, four crew members will embark on a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission. This mission continues the collaboration between NASA and SpaceX under the Commercial Crew Program, marking the 10th crew rotation to the station. Meet the Crew Commander Anne McClain NASA astronaut Anne McClain, a US Army colonel, is set for her second spaceflight. Selected by NASA in 2013, McClain has an impressive background in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, international security, and strategic studies. With over 2,300…
Valencia Laboratory Battles Mosquito-Borne Diseases with Innovative Technique A laboratory in Spain is taking a novel approach to combat the spread of dengue fever and other diseases. The lab, located in Valencia, is breeding and sterilising thousands of tiger mosquitoes in an effort to curb their population. As climate change facilitates the spread of this invasive species across Europe, the initiative aims to reduce the incidence of mosquito-borne illnesses. Innovative Sterilisation Process The Biological Pest Control Centre, funded by the regional government, uses an electron accelerator to sterilise approximately 45,000 male mosquitoes weekly. These sterilised males are then released to…
NASA’s DART Mission Reveals Insights into Binary Asteroid Systems In 2022, NASA’s DART mission conducted a significant planetary defence test by colliding with the asteroid Dimorphos. Before impact, DART captured high-resolution images of Dimorphos and its larger companion, Didymos. These images have provided valuable information about the formation and history of these two asteroids and binary asteroid systems in general. Formation and History of Didymos and Dimorphos The analysis of Didymos and Dimorphos revealed crucial insights into their formation. Scientists believe Didymos formed about 12.5 million years ago, likely originating in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It…