Ingenuity’s Historic Mission and Crash Landing NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter, a trailblazer in extraterrestrial flight, may have crashed, but it is far from forgotten. After nearly three years on Mars, Ingenuity suffered rotor damage during its 72nd flight on 18 January 2024, ending its ability to fly. However, the team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) believes the helicopter can still contribute to scientific research as a stationary weather station. Ingenuity’s mission began as a test to prove powered flight was possible in Mars’ thin atmosphere. It far exceeded expectations, achieving 72 flights when only five were planned. Even after…
Author: Kanika Sharma
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James Webb Telescope Unveils Ancient Galaxy “Firefly Sparkle” NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has discovered a remarkable young galaxy named Firefly Sparkle, offering a rare glimpse into the universe’s early days. This newly spotted galaxy, with its gleaming star clusters resembling bioluminescent fireflies, provides insights into what our Milky Way may have looked like in its infancy. A Peek Into the Early Universe Firefly Sparkle dates back approximately 600 million years after the Big Bang, when the universe was just 5% of its current age. Researchers estimate its mass to be equivalent to 10 million suns. Surrounding it are two…
Tesla Resumes Search for Showroom Space in New Delhi Tesla has reignited efforts to establish a showroom in New Delhi, according to two sources, signalling a renewed interest in the Indian market. This follows the company’s earlier decision to pause its plans after shelving investment discussions earlier this year. Previous Investment Plans Put on Hold In April, Elon Musk had planned a visit to India, during which he was expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announce an investment of $2-3 billion. However, Musk cancelled the trip abruptly as Tesla faced declining sales and announced a 10% staff reduction…
Aditya-L1 Reveals Key Insights into Solar Activity with CME Observation Indian researchers using the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) onboard the Aditya-L1 mission have unveiled new insights into a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), a solar event with significant implications for space weather. This breakthrough comes as part of India’s first space-based solar mission, marking a significant achievement in understanding the Sun’s behaviour and its impact on Earth. Aditya-L1: India’s Pioneering Solar Mission Aditya-L1, launched on September 2, 2023, reached its designated halo orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point L1 on January 6, 2024. Positioned 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, this…
Apple Faces $1.2 Billion Lawsuit Over Alleged Failure to Curb Child Abuse Material Apple faces lawsuit as victims of child sexual abuse in the US are suing Apple for $1.2 billion in damages, claiming the company failed to prevent the distribution of illegal material on its platforms. Lawsuit Sparked by Disturbing Experiences The lawsuit is led by a 27-year-old woman who endured abuse as an infant, with photos of the crime being shared online by a family member. While the perpetrator was later convicted and imprisoned, the victim and her mother have continued to receive notifications from authorities about new…
Astronomers Detect Ultraviolet Emissions from Novae in Andromeda Galaxy For the first time, astronomers detect ultraviolet emissions from novae eruptions in the neighbouring Andromeda galaxy. These rare observations were made during the outburst phase of these transient stellar phenomena, marking a significant breakthrough in the study of interacting binary star systems. What are Novae? A nova is a dramatic astronomical event where a dim star temporarily brightens significantly before gradually fading over weeks or months. All novae involve white dwarfs in close binary systems with another star. In such systems, the white dwarf, a dense and earth-sized star, pulls material…
Elon Musk Donates $259 Million to Support Donald Trump’s Presidential Campaign New filings reveal that Elon Musk, one of the world’s richest individuals, spent over $259 million to back Donald Trump’s bid for the White House. The billionaire entrepreneur’s substantial contributions highlight his growing influence on US politics and the 2024 presidential race. Massive Contributions to Trump-Aligned PACs Musk donated $239 million to America PAC, a super political action committee (PAC) he established to boost voter turnout for Trump. Additionally, he contributed $20 million to RBG PAC in late October. This group sought to reassure voters that Trump would not…
Jared Isaacman Named as Trump’s Pick for NASA Administrator US President-elect Donald Trump names Jared Isaacman, a billionaire private astronaut and CEO of Shift4 Payments, as the new head of NASA. Isaacman, a business associate of Elon Musk and key customer of SpaceX, would lead the agency during a pivotal time for its Artemis Moon programme if confirmed by the Senate. A Billionaire Astronaut with Close SpaceX Ties Isaacman, 41, has already flown to space twice through SpaceX’s private astronaut missions under the Polaris programme, which he also funds. His selection signals a deeper alignment between NASA and SpaceX, Musk’s…
Airbus Cuts over 2,000 Jobs Airbus has announced plans to reduce 2,043 jobs in its Defence and Space division, equivalent to about 5% of the unit’s workforce. The job cuts aim to address challenges in the satellite market, largely due to stiff competition from US-based providers like Elon Musk’s Starlink. However, the number of job losses is lower than the initial 2,500 cuts the company warned about last October. Breakdown of Job Reductions at Airbus More than half of the job cuts—1,128 positions—will affect the Space Systems business. This follows significant losses in satellite operations, including €1.5 billion in writedowns…
Asteroid Lights Up Yakutia Sky with Fiery Display An asteroid lit up the sky over Russia’s remote Yakutia region early Wednesday morning, creating a fiery spectacle before likely disintegrating in the atmosphere. Officials confirmed that no damage occurred during the event. Authorities React Swiftly to Asteroid’s Descent Yakutia’s emergencies ministry reported that all relevant agencies were on alert as the asteroid approached. However, its descent caused no harm to the region. Residents in Olekminsk and Lensk districts witnessed a comet-like tail and a bright flash during the celestial display. Asteroid Details and Advance Prediction The European Space Agency (ESA) provided…