Private Astronauts to Attempt First Commercial Spacewalk A group of private astronauts will perform the first privately conducted spacewalk on Thursday. The spacewalk will be from a SpaceX capsule and will test a new line of spacesuits. Crew Members and the Polaris Dawn Mission This historic event is part of the Polaris Dawn mission, which launched from Florida on Tuesday. The crew consists of a billionaire entrepreneur, a former military pilot, and two SpaceX engineers. They have been orbiting Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule since the pre-dawn launch. Jared Isaacman, 41, is leading the mission. He is the founder…
Author: Kanika Sharma
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SpaceX Launches Polaris Dawn Mission, Aiming for First Private Spacewalk SpaceX launches Polaris Dawn. Early on Tuesday, four private astronauts blasted off aboard a modified SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, marking the beginning of the Polaris Dawn mission. This five-day mission will test new spacesuit designs and attempt the first-ever private spacewalk. Crew Dragon’s Riskiest Private Mission The crew consists of a billionaire entrepreneur, a retired military pilot, and two SpaceX employees. They launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:23 a.m. EST (0923 GMT) after a two-hour delay due to unfavourable weather. Shortly after liftoff, the Falcon 9…
Global Summit in South Korea Unveils AI Governance Blueprint for Military Use A global summit held in South Korea on Tuesday revealed a new “AI Governance Blueprint” to guide the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in military settings. The document, which builds on previous efforts, offers more practical guidelines than last year’s version, though it remains legally non-binding. A Push for Action-Oriented Guidelines The Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) summit in Seoul, the second of its kind, follows a similar event in Amsterdam in 2022. At that time, around 60 countries supported a “call to action” that…
Australia Plans Social Media Age Limit Amid Health Concerns Australia is considering a minimum age limit for social media use, citing growing concerns about the impact on children’s mental and physical health. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government plans to trial age verification before implementing new laws later this year. Proposed Age Limit Although the specific age has not been set, Albanese suggested the limit would likely fall between 14 and 16 years old. He expressed his desire to see children spend more time engaging in outdoor activities rather than being glued to their screens. “I want to see kids off…
Historic NASA Orion Capsule Arrives at University of North Dakota A significant piece of NASA’s space exploration history has found a new home at the University of North Dakota (UND). The NASA Orion Capsule, a Max Launch Abort System (MLAS) test vehicle, a mock spacecraft used to test astronaut safety systems, has arrived at UND for educational purposes. NASA Orion Capsule: Journey to UND The Orion MLAS capsule, which was part of a critical 2009 test to explore emergency escape methods for astronauts, completed a 30-state road trip from NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia to its new location in…
Dutch Research Project Explores AI Solutions for Dementia Care A new Dutch research project is set to develop “appropriate, warm, and smart care technology” for people with dementia, focusing on the use of AI in health care to meet the specific needs of those affected by the condition. Growing Dementia Crisis As the global population ages, the number of people with dementia is expected to triple over the next 30 years. The Netherlands, like many countries, is seeking innovative solutions to improve elderly care. In response, the Dutch Research Council (NWO) has allocated €3 million (approximately $3.2 million) to investigate…
ESA Prepares for Cluster Satellite Reentry Observation On 8 September 2024, the European Space Agency (ESA) will oversee the reentry of one of its Cluster satellites, named Salsa, into Earth’s atmosphere. This event marks the first in a series of reentries for the Cluster mission, a quartet of identical satellites launched to study Earth’s magnetosphere. As the satellite makes its fiery descent over a remote part of the South Pacific Ocean, scientists aboard a small plane will attempt to observe and collect critical data on how satellites break apart during reentry. Understanding Reentry Science In nearly seven decades of space…
FAA Grounds SpaceX’s Falcon 9 After Failed Landing Attempt Falcon 9 Grounded Following Landing Mishap The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Wednesday that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has been grounded after a failed landing during a routine Starlink mission. This marks the second grounding of the rocket this year. The Falcon 9 had successfully launched a batch of Starlink internet satellites into orbit early Wednesday morning from Florida. However, the rocket’s reusable first-stage booster, which was supposed to land on a sea-faring barge, toppled into the ocean following a fiery touchdown, as shown in a live stream by…
Canada to Impose Tariffs on Chinese Electric Vehicles and Metals Canada Introduces 100% Tariff on Chinese Electric Vehicles Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that Canada will impose a 100% tariff on the import of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). This move aligns Canada with similar actions taken by the United States and the European Union to counter China’s trade practices. Trudeau made the announcement during a press conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, highlighting the importance of this decision in maintaining fair trade. Additional Tariffs on Chinese Steel and Aluminum In addition to the EV tariffs, Canada will also implement…
ISRO Releases New Images Ahead of India’s National Space Day In anticipation of India’s first National Space Day, which also commemorates the landing anniversary of Chandrayaan-3, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has unveiled new images captured by the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover. These images offer a unique glimpse into the mission’s key moments, including Pragyan’s initial steps on the lunar surface. #ISRO is set to reveal the thousands of images captured by the Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover on #Chandrayaan3’s landing anniversary, i.e. tomorrow!! 📸 🌖 Here’s a sneak peek at some of those images: [1/3] Images taken…