Science

AI systems are being utilized to tackle both minor and major issues on both Earth and beyond. Rapid advances in artificial intelligence hold great potential to increase space travel prospects in great strides. From offering personal support to astronauts to assisting us in better understanding the Sun, here are several ways AI can aid in space travel. We’re still a considerable distance from a real-life R2D2, but AI-powered virtual assistants that can help astronauts are presently being developed. One recently created AI assistant can detect threats and dangers in extended space trips by monitoring changes in the spacecraft’s environment, such as rising carbon dioxide levels, etc. These mechanical helpers can notify the crew of sensor discrepancies and other concerns that need to be inspected. Similarly, a comparable AI helper known as Cimon reached the International Space Station in 2019 and will “live” there for 3 years.

Cimon will be put to the test to see if it can lessen the stress of astronauts by completing duties that are assigned to it. If you will, consider it an interstellar butler. Furthermore, NASA is creating Robonaut, an AI robot that will operate alongside astronauts in the harsh conditions of space, and even undertake tasks that are perhaps too risky for humans to complete. Studying the Sun is a particularly difficult task. According to NASA, solar telescopes deteriorate fast owing to strong levels of energy, and a “never-ending shower of solar particles.” Several researchers are employing artificial intelligence to advance solar studies. AI can assist scientists to guarantee that the data they need to study the Sun is still correct and allows them to readjust their telescopes regularly to preserve data quality. As a result, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory has been continuously monitoring the Sun since 2010, obtaining photographs spanning 10 wavelengths, every 12 seconds.

They use machine learning and artificial intelligence to evaluate how much deterioration is affecting the telescopes’ current photos, and how much calibration is required. This leads to a far better knowledge of our universe’s most crucial star. Exploring the great beyond necessitates preparing for a slew of unknowns. As astronauts go to places where few, if any, have gone before, they must rely on limited knowledge gained from previous research or space flights. This data may be sparse and difficult to get a hold of. AI is now being used by mission planning teams to make gathering knowledge together from previous excursions an easier process.

One AI helper is already in place to speed up the process of developing a preliminary mission concept. Daphne is also an intelligent helper used in the construction of Earth observation satellite systems. AI has an obvious potential to cut the number of man-hours necessary to construct a mission plan, as well as to swiftly gather knowledge and comments. Space, as it were, is running out of space. There are roughly 34,000 items larger than 10 cm in size that potentially endangers existing space infrastructures, triggering accidents or otherwise destabilizing space operations. Using “collision avoidance maneuver designs,” machine learning is assisting in avoiding potential collisions with space junk. The AI performs sophisticated calculations to determine the optimal course for a satellite or spacecraft to take in order to escape incoming debris. These models can assist in increasing safety as well as the maintaining of satellites in orbit for extended periods of time.

Satellites generate so much information that scientists and academics can’t possibly analyze all of it in real-time. AI can assist by creating reports that have a genuine influence on Earth’s life. For example, AI may utilize satellite data to predict heat retention of buildings or meteorological information to improve the ability to estimate wind speeds more accurately. AI can also assist scientists in determining when satellites need to be recalled for repair, detecting issues or malfunctioning, and forecasting overall performance. AI is expected to play a bigger role in the form of software rather than hardware, hence, unfortunately, a humanoid assistant from the movie Alien: Covenant is unlikely to be a reality any time soon.

With commercial space travel becoming a more common reality, companies are anticipated to employ AI systems for purposes such as customer service in outer space, passenger onboarding, etc. As with the development of most technologies, space exploration is also expected to play a catalyst in the advancement of artificial intelligence as well as machine learning. Space agencies around the world are increasingly taking assistance from private space firms for various tasks such as launches, spacecraft assembly & design, alternative fuel tech, space equipment, food technology, etc. As a consequence of private players collaborating with public agencies, there has been a significant increase in the rate of advancement of all facets of the space industry.

On Tuesday, Nasa has temporarily delayed a scheduled space mission for 2 astronauts, outside the International Space Station, fearing a “debris notice” that was issued to the orbiting research laboratory. Astronauts Thomas Marshburn, as well as Kayla, were scheduled to leave the space station to repair a failing antenna, despite what Nasa officials described as a slightly higher danger posed by junk from a Russian anti-satellite missile launch weeks earlier. However, approx. 5 hours before the spacewalk was scheduled to begin, Nasa announced on Twitter that the spacewalk had been postponed for the time being. NASA received a notification that the space station had been hit by debris.  Teams have chosen to postpone the Nov. 30 spacewalk, until additional information is available due to not being able to adequately analyze this danger as it may cause harm to the astronauts.

It was unclear how near the debris came to the space station, which is approximately orbiting 250 miles (402 kilometers) above the Earth, and whether it was connected to the Russian missile launch. Nasa TV had intended to broadcast live footage of the 6-hour spacewalk, which was set to begin at 7.10 Am., ET (12.10 GMT). Their mission was to repair a malfunctioning S-band radio communications antenna component that had been in place for more than 20 years, as well as replace it with a new one stored outside of the space station. The faulty antenna recently lost its ability to transmit messages to Earth. Even though other antennas on the space station can serve the same role, mission managers chose to install a replacement.

Marshburn was supposed to collaborate with Barron while placed at the end of a robotic arm, controlled from within the station by European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer, with assistance from American Crewmate Raja Chari. The 4 reached the space station on November 11 in a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, where they joined 2 Russian cosmonauts as well as a Nasa astronaut, who are now all currently on board. As per Nasa, 4 days later, a Russian anti-satellite missile test performed without notice caused a debris field in the Low-Earth Orbit, with all 7 members of the crew seeking refuge in their docked spacecraft to enable for a speedy escape, until the immediate threat had passed.

As per Dana Weigel, Nasa’s deputy manager for the International Space Station, the cloud of debris has subsequently dissipated. However, Weigel told reporters on Monday that residual shards posed a “slightly enhanced” background danger to the space station overall, as well as a 7% higher chance of spacewalker suits being perforated, compared to previous missile launch by Russia. She stated that Nasa has yet to completely calculate the increased risks presented by the more than 1,700 bigger debris shards it is monitoring all around the orbit of the station, however the 7% increase in danger to spacewalkers was “well within” variations previously found in “its natural surroundings.”

While NASA launched a mission that will deliberately crash into an asteroid, space enthusiast Elon Musk has something else in his mind. The SpaceX CEO sees NASA’s DART mission as an opportunity to avenge the extinction of dinosaurs from the Earth. Musk in a tweet to NASA said that the space agency will avenge an event that occurred million years. It is believed that an asteroid had hit the Earth causing the elimination of dinosaurs from the planet. Musk referred to this event to say that NASA’s spacecraft will avenge the wipeout of the creature. Past studies said that dinosaurs lived on the planet more than 65 million years ago. But dinosaurs became extinct because of the impact of asteroids hitting the Earth.

The DART is a planetary defense mission. The DART spacecraft will slam into an asteroid. It will demonstrate the asteroid-deflecting technology. The test is important as the technique could be used in the future to cut the risk of space rocks hitting the Earth. The impact generated by the spacecraft will change the motion and direction of the asteroid. According to NASA, the DART is the first such mission. It will showcase the kinetic impactor technique in space. The spacecraft will hit Didymos and its moonlet Dimorphos even as NASA said that the system poses no threat to Earth. As per the date set by NASA, the spacecraft will slam into Didymos and Dimorphos in September next year. The spacecraft is carrying an autonomous targeting system.

The asteroid that led to the disappearance of dinosaurs had originated from the outer half of the main asteroid belt in the solar system. The impact was such that it caused a massive global extinction event on the Earth. The object was approximately 9.6 km wide. When the space rock made sudden contact with Earth, it wiped out dinosaurs and more than 75 percent of animal species on the planet. NASA said that the main purpose of the DART mission is to make Earth ready to counter any threat that emerges from bodies from space.

Blue Origin, the rocket company of Jeff Bezos, is preparing for its third crewed flight to the edge of space. This crewed mission will carry six people, two more than that previous suborbital space flights. The third crewed flight is scheduled for December 9 launch. This time there will be two special guests along with four other paid customers. The special guests include Michael Strahan – the popular host of Good Morning America. Strahan will be joined by Laura Shepard Churchley. She is the eldest daughter of Alan Shepard. It must be noted that Shepard was the first American to fly to space. He first went on a suborbital flight in the year 1961. Later, he walked on the moon.

They will be joined by space industry executive and philanthropist Dylan Taylor. The other three members who will be aboard the capsule are investor Evan Dick along with Bess Ventures found Lane Bess and his son Cameron. Lane and Cameron will create history by becoming the first parent-child pair to reach space. Blue Origin is calling Churchley and Strahan ‘honorary guests.’ Though others appear to be paying for the trip, there is no detail about how much they have paid for the trip. Just like William Shatner who did not pay for the flight when New Shepard went to space for the second time. 90-year-old Shatner created a record after the trip by becoming the oldest person ever to reach space.

The company said in a statement that the flight will move Blue Origin closer to its vision of people living in space and working for the benefit of Earth. This is going to be New Shepard’s third human flight in 2021. Blue Origin said that the flight will the sixth under the program this year and 19th in its history. Blue Origin is moving closer to launching a regular commercial space tourism service. The company has said that scientists and students will have access to the service to carry our experiment and microgravity conditions. By offering a free trip to space, the company is getting plenty of publicity for the service it is planning to launch. Blue Origin is competing with companies like Virgin Galactic for short trips. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is looking to launch a similar commercial service but for longer orbital flights. SpaceX had a successful test mission in September this year by putting four civilians into space. The civilian crew was in space for three days.

Russia has defended its anti-satellite test. The country was facing flak for its test. The test created space debris. Russia has now said that its test poses no threat to the International Space Station. It said that the ISS is intact and doing science experiments. According to NASA, the test created debris and therefore increased the risk of hitting ISS and other satellites. Russia had on November 15 launched a direct-ascent anti-satellite. The satellite collided with a defunct satellite in low Earth orbit. The collision generated debris. NASA said that more than 1,500 pieces of orbital debris. Besides, it also generated thousands of small pieces of debris. It is said that the debris can threaten the ISS and other space activities.

The collision forced the ISS control team to wake up the ISS crew soon after the collision. They were notified about the satellite breakup in space. The astronauts aboard the laboratory were asked to take safety measures to protect themselves in any adverse situation. The crew took shelter in Soyuz and Dragon vehicles. The vehicles are currently docked at the ISS. They remained inside the vehicles for around two hours. The rotating laboratory passed through a field of debris that was created by Russia’s satellite breakup. Seven astronauts and cosmonauts are currently present on the ISS. Defending the test, Russia’s Ministry of Defence said that fragments pose no threat to the ISS and other space activities.

Russia said that the debris generated from the collision has moved away from the orbit of the space station. The ISS orbits around the Earth at an altitude of 400 km. According to LeoLabs, the altitude of debris is estimated to be 440 to 520 km. LeoLabs is a space debris tracker agency. NASA condemned Russia’s actions. It described the test as dangerous and irresponsible behavior. Russia is also a partner on the ISS. However, Russia has said that it will exit the program soon. The country has plans to set up a new space station. It will be called Russian Orbital Service Station. The construction is likely to begin in 2025. The country said that the proposed space station will feature next-generation modules.

The long-awaited visit of the first female, as well as an individual of color on the lunar surface, will have to be postponed. The latest arrival of NASA boots on the surface of the moon through the Artemis mission will not take effect in 2024 as projected due to delays resulting from disputes with Blue Origin, as well as numerous considerations, including the pandemic, stated NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Tuesday. “We’ve lost about 7 months in this lawsuit, and that has certainly postponed the first human landing to no sooner than 2025,” Nelson stated at a news conference.

And, according to Nelson, the China space program is growing competent in putting taikonauts on the lunar surface considerably sooner than initially anticipated, but he did not specify the original forecast. Additionally, it’s very probable that China may arrive on the lunar surface before the US astronauts return. “We’re up against a very ambitious and good Chinese space program,” he explained. “This has occurred in the past 5 years, and we’ve seen them do quite a few things.” They have announced that they will go to the moon’s southern pole.

NASA and I think the US government, feel that America should be the first to return to the lunar surface after more than a half-century’s absence. We will be as proactive as we can be while being safe as well as technically viable to beat our opponents with footprints on the lunar surface.” The Blue Origin lawsuit stems from a decision made by NASA earlier this year. Elon Musk as well as Jeff Bezos both want their firms to be at the heart of NASA’s ambitions to return people to the lunar surface. However, NASA only has funding for one of these, and it chose Musk’s SpaceX to create the manned landing spacecraft mechanism.

Blue Origin, Bezos’ space endeavor, has been fighting that selection ever since, claiming that NASA unlawfully favored SpaceX and that the space program would be served better by financing both SpaceX as well as Blue Origin’s ambitions to create moon-landing spacecraft. The Court of Federal Claims decided in favor of NASA on Friday, which implies that the Artemis program may continue. During the dispute, NASA was prohibited by law from communicating with SpaceX about their construction of a human landing mechanism for Artemis astronauts. Nevertheless, SpaceX has proceeded to build the probe without receiving any funding from NASA.

“However, our crew still requires time to sort through the intricacies,” Nelson explained. And, there is still much work to be done. Other problems contributing to the 2025 postponement include a shortage of funding for the construction of a human landing system, as well as “the Trump administration’s aim of 2024 human landing was not anchored in technological viability,” according to Nelson.

Campaigners headed by Global Witness, a human rights organization, evaluated the UN’s participation list, which was made public at the outset of the summit. They discovered that 503 representatives had ties to the fossil fuel industry who were granted accreditation for the climate conference. These delegates are reported to lobby for the petroleum & oil sectors, and protesters believe they should be barred from attending. “The fossil fuel sector has spent years rejecting and postponing serious action around the climate crisis, which is why this is such a significant concern,” Global Witness Murray Worthy warns. “Their involvement is one of the primary reasons that 25 years of UN climate discussions have failed to result in meaningful reductions in global emissions.”

The COP was attended by around 40,000 individuals. The United Kingdom, which is holding the conference in Glasgow, has 230 registered delegates. A fossil fuel lobbyist is defined by Global Witness, Corporate Accountability, and others who analyzed somebody, as a representative of a trade organization, delegation, or a body that promotes the objectives of petroleum & energy firms. At the summit, they recognized 503 individuals who were employed by or linked to these organizations. They also discovered that advocates for fossil fuels are members of 2 country delegations, Canada as well as Russia. The fossil fuel lobby at the COP is greater than the 8 delegations from the nations most affected by global warming over the last 2 decades combined.

At the COP, around 100 fossil fuel firms were present, as 30 trade groups and membership organizations. By a factor of two, fossil fuel lobbyists outnumber the UNFCCC’s recognized indigenous group, the LCIPP. The International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) was one of the largest organizations they discovered, with 103 representatives in attendance, including 3 from the petroleum & energy major British Petroleum. As per Global Witness, the IETA is supported by several big oil firms that encourage offsetting as well as carbon trading as a means of continuing to produce petroleum and gasoline. “This is an organization with a large number of oil & coal businesses as members.”

Its purpose is controlled by fossil fuel firms and supports the interests of fossil fuel corporations,” according to Mr. Worthy. “What we are witnessing is the promotion of phony solutions that look to be climate movement but maintain the status quo, preventing us from adopting clear, easy steps to keep fossil fuels underground that we understand are the true solutions to the climate issue.” According to the IETA, it exists to determine the most effective market-based ways of reducing emissions. Members include fossil fuel firms, as well as a variety of other organizations. “We have legal firms, project developers, and the people who deploy cleaner energy on the ground all across the world.

“We’re not coming to a halt today and tomorrow, and there will be no emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels.” “There is a transition process going on, and carbon markets are the best way to ensure that transition occurs.” Campaigners say that the World Health Organization did not take tobacco prohibition seriously until all business representatives were barred from attending WHO conferences. They want petroleum & energy corporations to be treated the same way at the COP. “Despite publicly admitting to increasing their production of fossil gas, companies such as Shell and BP are involved in these negotiations,” stated Pascoe Sabido of the Corporate Europe Observatory.

The Chandrayaan-2 recently had a close shave. The lunar orbiter avoided a possible collision with NASA’s counterpart. Chandrayaan-2 is India’s second lunar exploration mission. India’s space agency said that the orbiter avoided the collision with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. This was for the first time in the history of Moon exploration when two orbiters came so close. The agency said that an evasive measure was carried out. This helped in avoiding the collision. The two were predicted to come very close near the North pole in lunar orbit on October 20. As per the calculations, the closest approach distance between the two spacecraft would have been around three km.

The space agencies of both countries decided to move away from the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter well before the two spacecraft came close to each other. Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter was moved away on October 18. This ensured large radial separation between the two spacecraft at the closest conjunction in the lunar orbit. The agency said after the maneuver there will be no close conjunctions further between the two spacecraft. Chandrayaan-2 and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter orbit the Moon in a nearly polar orbit. Therefore, the two come close to each other near the Lunar poles. While Chandrayaan-2 is circling the Moon since 2019, NASA’s orbit has been going around the moon since 2009.

Such maneuvers for satellites in Earth orbit are common. This is important to avoid collisions between operational satellites and space debris. Such maneuvers have been becoming frequent. Satellites face threats from space junks that block the routes of satellites. Space debris in recent times has increased at an alarming rate and could be riskier for operational spacecraft. Recently, the International Space Station faced the risk of being hit by space junks created by Russia’s satellite breakup. Back in 2020, earth observation satellites of India and Russia had a near miss. They had come as close as 224 meters in outer space. Space agencies regularly monitor for close approaches. This was the first time when India’s space agency experienced such close conjunction and performed a collision-avoidance maneuver.

NASA’s solar probe has a guest on its way to the Sun. The Parker Solar Probe was hit by solar dust and debris. According to NASA, the Parker probe will help in a better understanding of the Sun. The probe was launched in 2018. It travels through the atmosphere of the Sun to move closer to the surface. The spacecraft is facing an immense amount of solar radiation conditions. NASA said that the Parker probe is the closest-ever object to be sent to the Sun. Scientists said that they examined the collisions between the Parker and solar dust. They said that as the probe passed through the zodiacal cloud, thousands of tiny dust grains at hypervelocity bombarded the spacecraft. The grains were around 2 to 20 microns in diameter.

The zodiacal cloud is very thick. The dust cloud is like a pancake in shape. It is mainly composed of dust grains that are shed from space rocks. The cloud extends throughout the solar system. The impact of dust grains on the spacecraft made the surface hot. The surface temperature of the spacecraft first vaporized most of the dust grains. It was followed by an ionization process. This leads to plasma explosions lasting for nanoseconds and creating clouds of debris. The debris expands away gradually from the spacecraft. NASA said that the findings can provide new insights into weather around the Sun. The impacts can pose a threat to the spacecraft’s safety and affect its lifespan majorly.

The pictures were taken by Parker’s navigational and scientific cameras. Images show metallic flakes and paint chips knocking loose when hit by solar dust. NASA said that debris also scattered sunlight into the cameras. This prevented the probe temporarily from determining how it was oriented. The Parker probe has completed nine full orbits of the Sun since its launch in 2018. The prime mission will end in 2025. By that time, the spacecraft will complete at least 24 orbits of the Sun. It uses Venus’ gravity during flybys to bring its orbit closer to the Sun. It is currently flying into Corona which is the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere. NASA said that the probe will revolutionize the understanding of the solar wind. It will also help in enhancing the ability to forecast changes in Earth’s weather.

NASA’s mission to land humans on the Moon has suffered a setback. The space agency has delayed the mission by a year. The agency said that it was forced to push back its goal to land humans on the lunar surface from 2024 to 2025. NASA wanted to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon in 2024. The latest decision to delay the landing is believed to be influenced by the legal challenges that the agency is faced with and several other factors. Accordingly, the crewed lunar landing as a part of the Artemis program will now take place in 2025. The agency was embroiled in a controversy over selecting lunar lander prototypes. The prototype aims to demonstrate a modern lunar lander system for NASA’s Artemis program.

NASA had planned to select two lunar lander prototypes for the mission. However, it picked only one. This led to a controversy over its selection procedure. Private aerospace company Blue Origin filed a lawsuit against the agency’s selection criteria. NASA had picked SpaceX’s prototype over Blue Origin’s. The decision was taken after Congress decided to cut the agency’s funding. Blue Origin in April petitioned the Government Accountability Office. NASA was then forced to put the SpaceX contract on hold. The GAO later squashed Blue Origin’s challenge as it noted that NASA followed all the procedures during the selection, and it holds the right regarding the awarding of the contract.

Blue Origin then filed a lawsuit against the space agency. However, the company lost out on its lawsuit and NASA’s selection of SpaceX was upheld. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that the human lunar landing is not possible before 2025 because of the lawsuit and other factors. He said that the agency has resumed conversations with SpaceX on taking the contract forward. Before NASA lands humans on the Moon, it will launch two flight tests. While Artemis-I will be an uncrewed mission and Artemis-II will be a crewed flight. According to Nelson, the agency is planning around 10 landings on the Moon. It wants to set up a base on the Moon that will pave the way for a crewed mission to Mars.

Private aerospace company SpaceX has completed the second full astronaut mission for NASA. Four NASA, ESA, and JAXA astronauts have returned to Earth from the International Space Station. They flew back aboard the Crew Dragon spaceship. The capsule landed off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The four astronauts returned home after spending 200 days at the rotating laboratory. They returned eight hours after leaving the ISS. The return has now paved the way for SpaceX to launch the next four astronauts to the ISS. The four returned astronauts are Thomas Pesquet of ESA, Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough of NASA, and Akihiko Hoshide of JAXA.

SpaceX launched the Crew-2 in April. The four astronauts conducted spacewalks, undertook maintenance activities, and performed science experiments at the ISS. They also grew hot chilis during their stay in space. The Crew-3 mission will be launched with four astronauts from NASA and ESA. The three are Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron. The ESA astronaut is Matthias Maurer. Their mission was originally slated to launch on Halloween. But the launch was delayed by NASA due to weather. The space agency also said that one of the astronauts faced some minor medical issues just before the launch. It didn’t disclose more about the medical issue.

According to NASA, the Crew-3 astronauts are under quarantine at Kennedy Space Center. It said that the Crew Dragon spaceship and Falcon 9 rocket are in good condition. The Crew-3 astronauts will spend six months at the space station. They will likely return in April next year. This will be the fourth flight of a Crew Dragon spaceship with astronauts and the third crew rotation mission. NASA said that the four astronauts will conduct many additional experiments at the ISS. They will push the effort to test exploration risks in space. They will also demonstrate technology for deep space exploration. NASA specified that experiments would include human research and rodent research on the space station. The mission is also crucial for the testing of new upgrades to the ISS’ Environmental Control and Life Support System.

Scientists are studying how the Milky Way was evolved. In a bid to further advance the study, NASA has selected a proposal for a new space telescope. The observatory will allow scientists to study star birth, death, and chemical elements among others. The US space agency said that the new telescope will be called the Compton Spectrometer and Imager. It is a gamma-ray telescope. Astronomers hope that the instrument will provide a breakthrough in the study of the recent history of the Milky Way evolution. As per the proposal, the telescope will be launched in 2025. NASA said that it will a part of the agency’s latest small astrophysics mission.

According to NASA, its Astrophysics Explorers Program in 2019 had received 18 proposals for a new telescope. The agency, however, selected only four proposals. The proposals were then taken into consideration for advanced studies. Scientists and engineers undertook an exercise to review the studies in detail. Based on their submission, the agency selected COSI. It means that NASA has paved the way for the work on the development of the telescope to continue. The agency expects that the new telescope will be able to answer questions related to the evolution of chemical elements in the galaxy. Chemical elements are critically crucial to the formation of planets including the Earth.

The telescope will study gamma rays emanating from radioactive atoms. These atoms were produced when massive stars exploded. The telescope will map where these chemical elements were formed. It will also collect data about the mysterious origin of positrons. NASA said that the mission will cost USD 145 million. This excludes that cost for the launch. The agency will select a launch provider later. The team behind the new telescope spent decades in finding a technology to better understand the Milky Way’s evolution. NASA had in 1991 launched the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. This was NASA’s one of four Great Observatories that it launched to explore the sky.

For many decades, scientists have been saying that humans are almost 99.9 percent identical to each other and it is just that 0.1 percent that makes the difference. They have said that only a 0.1 percent difference is responsible for people’s unique looks and the difference in their susceptibility or resistance to diseases. As per the experts, gathering more information about these special genes can help develop new drugs and treatments. A team of experts from the Academy of Athens has been searching for people across the world who might be resistant to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Experts have said that some people’s genes might hold the keys for better treatment of COVID19. The lead researcher of the study Evangelos Andreakos has said that the start of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on a global scale has offered yet another description of scientific diversity in people during the course of infection that ranges from asymptomatic infections to fatal infection. He has said that the understanding of the pathophysiology of life-altering COVID19 infection has grown further since the first case has come to light in December 2019. But, experts still do not know much about the human genetics and immunological source of innate resistance to the virus. The lead author has said that although scientists have not been able to find much detail about inborn resistance, however, that does not imply that it does not exist.

The authors of the study have said that they have seen that at times, the whole family tests positive for COVID19 but a member of the family turns negative for the virus. They have said that there have been multiple reports of people who have somehow have been able to avoid the virus despite being exposed to the virus multiple times. Experts who have been involved in the new study have done another study last year that has shown that people who have blood type O have appeared to be slightly resistant to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and severe disease. There have been other studies that have analyzed proteins such as the ACE2 receptor or TMEM41B that the virus needs either to enter human cells or replicate itself inside the human cell. The authors of the study have proposed a strategy to identify, engage, and genetically test those individuals who might be naturally defiant to the virus. They have said that experts need to ponder on uninfected household contacts of people who have been diagnosed with symptomatic infection. Then the focus will shift to those people who have been exposed to an index case without wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for at least one hour per day within the first 3 to 5 days of disease symptoms emerging. Four weeks after the exposure, these people need to be screened for negative PCR tests and negative blood work. This screening needs to be done to analyze T cells to verify that these people have not been infected with the virus in the past.

The authors of the study have said that they have already enrolled nearly 400 participants who have met their criteria for being enrolled in a resistance study cohort. They have said that they are still looking for more participants. People from across the world can enroll in the study after meeting the criteria for the study. Health experts who have been involved in the study have said that antiviral treatments, COVID19 shots, and a better understanding of the pathogen, life has returned to normal in some parts of the world, however, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is going to remain with people for a long time. The lead author of the study, Evangelos Andreakos has said that finding those people who are blessed with some genetic benefits to be spared by the virus can be a boon for many people across the world, who are more vulnerable to the virus. It will be helpful as new variants of the virus might emerge as the virus continues to affect more people and spread across communities. The perspective of the authors has been released in a journal known as Nature Immunology. Many people across the world have already received an online link to participate in the study; however, first, they will need to fulfill the criteria proposed by the health experts.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) revealed intentions to conduct an ambitious expedition to an asteroid belt by 2028 today (Oct. 5). It will be the UAE’s second interplanetary mission; the first, the Emirates Mars Mission, sent an orbiter named “Hope” to Mars in July 2020. Hope is still actively functional, and the upcoming asteroid expedition will build on its accomplishments, according to UAE authorities.

“Our aim is clear: to stimulate the growth of creativity and knowledge-based companies in the Emirates,” said the chair of the UAE Space Agency, Sarah Al Amiri, in an email today. “This cannot be accomplished by remaining stagnant; it takes leaps in vision, belief, and the pursuing of missions,” Al Amiri stated. “We began on the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM), a 6-year endeavor that was 5 times more sophisticated and difficult than the Earth-observation satellites we were constructing.”

If all goes as planned, the asteroid expedition, the name of which has yet to be disclosed, would launch at a later date. It will travel past Earth and Venus in 2029 and 2028, respectively, before reaching the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars in 2030. Throughout the course of its journey, the probe will investigate seven distinct asteroids up close, culminating in a landing on an asteroid in 2033. The UAE will collaborate on the asteroid expedition with Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, which is also a major collaborator on the Hope Mars mission. According to UAE authorities, the research aims of the asteroid expedition, as well as the equipment it will carry, will be disclosed in mid-2022.

The asteroid mission is a component of the UAE’s deliberate venture into space, which includes the anticipated delivery of the Rashid moon rover to the surface of the moon in 2022. The country believes that such initiatives would assist to develop a technological interest among its citizens as well as improve and diversify its economy, which has traditionally been largely reliant on oil exports. “Today, we are engaged in future generations,” stated Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president & prime minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, one of the nation’s 7 emirates, in the same announcement. “With each new step forward in space, we generate chances for young individuals on Earth.”

Boeing Starliner will not lift off from the ground in 2021. NASA has announced to postpone the launch of the astronaut taxi. It said that the Orbital Flight-Test 2 will be launched next year. The reason behind the delay is an unresolved issue. The spacecraft has some issues in its valve that are yet to be fixed. The agency said that the team behind Orbital Flight-Test 2 is working to fix the issue and prepare for the launch. The team is looking for launch opportunities. The spacecraft will probably be launched in the first half of the next year. The spacecraft was originally slated for a launch in August this year. But the issue in its valve delayed the launch.

Starliner program executive John Vollmer said that the safety of the spacecraft, crew, and employees is paramount for the team working to resolve the issue. John said that the team is taking appropriate time and following the procedure to resolve the issue in the system. The uncrewed test flight was touted to be a crucial mission by NASA and Boeing to the International Space Station. Engineers during preflight checks spotted 13 stuck valves in the service module of the spacecraft. This forced to nix the liftoff plan. The test flight is a part of Boeing’s contract with the space agency’s Commercial Crew Program. The aerospace company will fly operational missions for NASA to and from the ISS.

The contract has suffered a series of setbacks since the signing of the contract in 2014. This prevented Starliner’s test flight to ISS. A test flight is necessary before putting astronauts on board. The test flights allow engineers to iron out possible difficulties astronauts may face. Boeing’s first orbital flight was launched in 2019. It was an uncrewed flight. The mission did not go as planned. Boeing was then required to make a fresh attempt. However, the second test flight has could not be launched because of software checks and other issues.

Volcanoes were common on Moon. Much of its history saw volcanically active. It is believed that the first such activity occurred more than 4 billion years ago. Scientists are of the view that magma still is available under its surface. However, Moon has today no active volcanoes. According to the sample brought back by Chang’e-5, scientists have managed to get an insight into such eruptions on the Earth’s lone natural satellite. The Chang’e-5 probe brought back the first sample in more than 40 years. It was the fifth mission by China under its Lunar Exploration Program. It was China’s first mission to return a sample from Moon. The spacecraft brought samples back in December last year. The samples weighed 1,731 grams.

The samples included lava that was emitted during volcanic activity on Moon. The lava is said to be around two billion years old. A study conducted by scientists revealed that volcanism is younger than what NASA or the Soviet Union found in the 1960s and 70s. NASA and the Soviet Union (now dissolved) in the past launched several missions to Moon. The mission brought back lunar samples. The Apollo program by NASA saw the first manned lunar mission in the late 1960s. Scientists now said that the samples brought back by the Chang’e-5 probe are from the youngest lava from the Moon. They are hopeful that a detailed study of the samples will fill a gap in the Moon’s geology. Also, it will help in understanding the history and evolution of other bodies in the solar system.

The success of Chang’e-5 probe helped China to become the third country in the world to return samples from Moon. Before this, the United States and the Soviet Union held this record. Chang’e-5 was also the first sample-return mission since 1976. The Luna mission by the Soviet Union had last brought lunar samples back to Earth. Chang’e-5 landed on the Moon at the Oceanus Procellarum region on December 1. It examined its surroundings for two days and gathered samples with the help of instruments like spectrometer, scoop, drill, and more. It survived extreme temperatures of over 100 degrees Celsius. This was the first mission to land at Oceanus Procellarum.

A new study has said that massive floods on Mars played a crucial role in shaping the landscape. Past studies have said that water was in the liquid state on Mars before the planet dried up. The planet hosted lakes similar to Earth’s. The University of Texas researchers said that water overflowed crater lakes on Mars. This overflowing of water designed the landscape the way it appears today. Water carved deep chasms on the surface. This landscape-changing activity happened persistently on the Red Planet for a long time. Overflowing of water even eroded sediment in Lake Superior and Lake Ontario.

Researchers said that such flooding was more common on Red Planet than previously assumed. It has even more craters than Earth. It means that the Red Planet was very wet and crater lakes were very common. Researchers said that the Martian lakes breached the crater walls due to the overflowing of water. This caused floods on the surface. The surrounding landscapes were flooded. The study included more than 260 craters lakes that breached their wall. Researchers then linked the data of valleys connected to a crater breach. They found that valleys were formed away from craters while craters took shape when lakes were flooded. Researchers said that the findings give hope to human efforts to find a source of water on Mars.

Water is an essential element for life to habitat. The findings are also an indication that the Red Planet hosted life. Scientists are already searching for possible signs of microbial life on the planet. Mars today has no water in the liquid form on its surface. Studies of Martian meteorites almost four decades ago established that Earth’s neighbor was once water-rich. But the planet was dried up due to continuous climate change. The Martian atmosphere is very thin today and most composed of CO2. NASA’s missions have sent several photos of Martian landscapes. These images have been marked by river valleys and flood channels.

NASA has achieved a major milestone in its journey towards launching a lunar mission. The agency has completed the rocket engine test series. It said that the rocket engine test series was successful. NASA will be launching a crewed mission to the Moon and then to Mars. According to a statement by the US space agency, the RS-25 single-engine Retrofit-2 test series was conducted on September 30. This takes the agency one ahead to develop engines for the Artemis program. NASA expects that the testing of engine parts is crucial in meeting the accuracy. It will help in advancing manufacturing techniques. This will lead to a reduction in the cost of the engine by around 30 percent. Besides, this will provide greater reliability and enhance the overall performance.

NASA said that operators fired the engine during the test for more than eight minutes. This is the same time that is required during the launch. It said that the test series provides valuable data related to the rocket. The information is used to make changes in engines needed for attaining greater results. The agency said that operators collected hot fire data and verified the capabilities of the engine. They also evaluated components to gauge the operational risk. The rocket engine test series was delayed by the agency due to Hurricane Ida in the last week of August.

The US space agency is planning to return humans to the Moon after five decades. It is building SLS which is touted to be the most powerful rocket in the world. It has four RS-25 engines. Besides, it carries boosters. The boosters provide thrust to the SLS at launch. When the four engines are fired together, they generate 1.6 million pounds of thrust at the launch. The agency wants to land the first woman and the next man on Moon by 2024. They will spend around 7 seven days on Moon, performing scientific experiments to prepare for future human missions to Mars.

The European Space Agency has announced that its spacecraft has made a flyby of Mercury. Mercury is the first planet from Sun in the ascending order. It is also the smallest one in the entire solar system. The ESA said that BepiColombo’s flyby was successful. BepiColombo is slated to have six encounters with the planet. This was the first flyby. BepiColombo is a joint mission by the ESA and Japan. It is designed to study Mercury’s magnetosphere, magnetic field, and surface structure. The mission was launched in 2018. BepiColombo performed the flyby from an altitude of 200 km above the planet’s surface. It will enter into Mercury’s orbit and start circling the planet in December 2025.

BepiColombo captured images and science data of Mercury during the flyby. Although it is difficult to click high-resolution pictures during flybys, scientists expect that it will give the first taste of the main mission. The ESA said that BepiColombo sent an image that shows the planet’s northern hemisphere. The region is flooded by lavas. It said that the Lermontov crater could also be seen in the picture. It appears bright. The crater contains volatile elements that are escaping to outer space. Scientists have also spotted a vent. They said that volcanic explosions occurred at the vent. The agency said that BepiColombo will begin a science mission and study the planet’s features after it enters orbit.

Many of the images sent by BepiColombo are overexposed. It is believed that Mercury’s surface is heavily cratered. The surface appears quite similar to the Moon of Earth. Scientists believe that mapping Mercury’s surface and studying its composition allows them to decode the planet’s formation and understand its evolution. BepiColombo has two orbiters. The first one is Mercury Planetary Orbiter and the second is Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter. The spacecraft in total will make nine planetary flybys including the six of Venus before orbital insertion. It will make one flyby of Earth and two of Venus. This will help the spacecraft to steer into the orbit of Mercury.