India Expands Space Program, Greenlights Chandrayaan-4 Moon Sample Return Mission India has given the go-ahead for several major space projects, including the ambitious Chandrayaan-4 mission aimed at returning samples from the Moon. Approved by the Union Cabinet under Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sept. 18, the Chandrayaan-4 mission will employ two LVM-3 rockets to launch distinct spacecraft stacks consisting of propulsion, lander, and ascent modules, as well as transfer and reentry systems. The mission has been granted a substantial budget of approximately 21 billion rupees (around $253 million). This complex mission will equip India with critical technologies essential for its…
Author: Kanika Sharma
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Boeing Considers Selling Key Space Assets Amid Ongoing Challenges Boeing, the US aerospace giant, may sell parts of its space business, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal on Friday. Sources familiar with the matter suggest the company’s decision stems from financial and operational challenges within its space division. Space Operations on the Table for Sale The assets Boeing is reportedly considering for sale include its Starliner space vehicle and other services related to the International Space Station (ISS). However, the potential sale excludes the division that builds NASA’s Space Launch System. Boeing’s Starliner program has faced persistent…
ESA Unveils Plan to Support Space Industry Amid Job Cuts and Delays The European Space Agency (ESA) announced new measures on Thursday aimed at speeding up payments to the space industry, while implementing stricter oversight to address delays and cost overruns. This comes as the industry faces increasing job cuts, with Airbus recently announcing significant layoffs in its satellite division. Accelerating Payments to Boost Profitability ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher revealed the new support strategy after a council meeting with representatives from the 22-nation agency. The announcement followed news from Airbus, which disclosed plans to cut 2,500 jobs, mainly in…
TSMC warns US of Potential Huawei Attempt to Bypass US Chip Restrictions TSMC warns US about a potential effort by Huawei to bypass US export controls, which restrict the Chinese company from obtaining high-end AI chips. These controls, imposed two years ago, aim to limit China’s access to advanced technologies that could enhance its military capabilities. TSMC’s Compliance with US Export Rules TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), the world’s largest chipmaker, stated that it has not supplied chips to Huawei since September 2020, in compliance with US restrictions. These rules prevent global semiconductor manufacturers from using US technology to produce…
China Launches Yaogan-43 Satellites with Long March-2C Rocket On Wednesday, China successfully launched Yaogan-43, a Long March-2C carrier rocket to place a new group of remote-sensing satellites into space. The launch occurred at 09:09 Beijing Time from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Sichuan Province. Yaogan-43 Satellites and Their Purpose The group of satellites entered their planned orbit shortly after launch. These satellites will be used primarily to conduct tests on new technologies for low-orbit satellite constellations. These advancements could pave the way for more efficient satellite networks, enabling a variety of future applications, including improved Earth observation and communication…
Eutelsat Launches 20 Satellites with SpaceX in Key Expansion Move Eutelsat, the world’s third-largest satellite operator by revenue, launched 20 satellites on Sunday to strengthen its communications network. The satellites were launched via Elon Musk’s SpaceX, marking a significant step since the merger of Eutelsat and Britain’s OneWeb last year. Successful Satellite Launch with SpaceX A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the satellites into space from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 0513 GMT. This launch is the first for Eutelsat’s OneWeb satellites since the merger in September 2023. Eutelsat’s CEO, Eva Berneke, noted that the company plans to…
NASA’s C-130 Hercules Transports Radar Antenna for NISAR Mission to India NASA’s C-130 Hercules team is on a cargo mission to Bengaluru, India, supporting the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission. The aircraft departed from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Tuesday, October 15, starting a multi-leg journey spanning around 24,500 nautical miles and nearly 80 hours of flight time. NASA-ISRO NISAR Mission: Objective The mission’s main goal is to deliver NASA’s radar antenna reflector, a crucial component for the NISAR spacecraft. This equipment will be integrated into the joint NASA and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) mission. The…
Worldcoin Rebrands to World Network, Expands Iris-Scanning Technology Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency project founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, announced on Thursday that it is rebranding to World Network and ramping up efforts to scan every human’s iris using its signature “orb” devices. The core offering of the project is World ID, a “digital passport” designed to verify that its holder is a real human, distinguishing them from AI bots in the digital world. New Orb Device Unveiled with Enhanced Security At an event in San Francisco, World Network introduced an updated version of its orb iris-scanning device. The new orb…
US Stocks Rise Amid Strong Economic Data; Gold Hits Record High US stocks rose on Thursday, following gains in European markets, as investors reacted to mixed earnings reports and encouraging economic data. Gold reached a record high, benefitting from its status as a safe-haven asset amid uncertainty surrounding the upcoming US election. Gold’s climb to an all-time high reflects investor concerns about market volatility and political uncertainties. Meanwhile, technology stocks, particularly semiconductor companies, played a key role in boosting US indices. Semiconductor Strength Drives US Stock Rally Technology shares led the market surge, with the semiconductor sector making significant gains.…
Amazon Strengthens Sustainability Efforts with Nuclear Energy Investments Amazon is expanding its commitment to sustainable energy by signing three new agreements to advance nuclear energy projects. These agreements focus on developing Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), a key part of Amazon’s plan to achieve carbon-free energy. SMRs are smaller and faster to build compared to traditional reactors, offering scalable clean energy that fits with Amazon’s sustainability goals. Recently, the company announced that it had already matched 100% of its electricity use with renewable energy, hitting this target seven years ahead of its 2030 deadline. Collaboration on SMR Projects at Amazon Amazon…
