NASA Launches New System to Aid Global Disaster Response Widespread Flooding in Brazil In early May, the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul experienced severe flooding and landslides, leaving thousands without food, water, or electricity. In response, NASA provided crucial data and imagery to assist on-the-ground responders in assessing the disaster’s impacts and deploying aid effectively. New Disaster Response System Building on past successes, NASA announced a new Disaster Response Coordination System on June 13. This system is designed to support disaster response organisations in the U.S. and globally, providing up-to-date information on various extreme events, including fires, earthquakes,…
Author: Kanika Sharma
SpaceX and Elon Musk Sued by Engineers Over Alleged Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit Filed by Eight Engineers On Wednesday, eight engineers filed a lawsuit against SpaceX and its CEO, Elon Musk, alleging illegal termination after raising concerns about sexual harassment and discrimination against women at the company. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles state court, includes four women and four men among the plaintiffs. Allegations of a Toxic Workplace Culture The engineers claim they were fired in 2022 after circulating a letter that criticised Musk’s behaviour, calling him a “distraction and embarrassment” and urging SpaceX executives to denounce his sexually…
NASA’s Simulation Broadcast Confusion On Wednesday, NASA mistakenly broadcasted a simulation of astronauts receiving treatment for decompression sickness on the International Space Station (ISS). This led to widespread speculation about a real emergency on social media. Broadcast Incident At about 5:28 p.m. U.S. Central Time (2228 GMT), NASA’s live YouTube channel aired audio suggesting that a crew member was experiencing decompression sickness (DCS). A female voice in the recording was heard instructing crew members to “get commander back in his suit,” check his pulse, and provide oxygen, describing the situation as “tenuous.” However, NASA has not confirmed the authenticity of…
Elon Musk Withdraws Lawsuit Against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has moved to dismiss his lawsuit against ChatGPT maker OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman. The lawsuit accused them of abandoning OpenAI’s original mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity and not for profit. Lawsuit Withdrawal Attorneys for Musk requested the California state court to dismiss the lawsuit, initially filed in February, without providing a reason for the move. The filing was made in San Francisco Superior Court, where a judge was scheduled to hear OpenAI’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit the following…
NASA and Boeing Delay Starliner’s Return to Earth for Further Analysis NASA and Boeing have announced that the return of the Starliner spacecraft and its first astronaut crew from the International Space Station (ISS) is now expected on June 18. This delay allows mission analysts to address issues that could impact the return. Adjusted Return Schedule Originally, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner was scheduled to undock on Friday and return to Earth after launching from Florida with two NASA astronauts on June 5. This mission is crucial for certifying Starliner for regular flights by the U.S. space agency. Factors Affecting the Return…
Boeing’s Starliner Capsule to Dock with ISS in Key Test Boeing’s Starliner capsule faces a pivotal test on Thursday as it aims to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time with astronauts aboard. This mission is crucial for Boeing as it competes with Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the space race. Mission Overview The CST-100 Starliner, carrying astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday. The launch utilised an Atlas V rocket provided by the United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.…
The TRISHNA (Thermal Infra-Red Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment) mission is a joint initiative by ISRO and CNES. This mission aims to provide high-resolution monitoring of Earth’s surface temperature, emissivity, biophysical variables, and radiation for energy budgeting on a regional to global scale. It focuses on addressing water and food security challenges, human-induced climate change impacts, and efficient water resource management through evapotranspiration monitoring. Primary Objectives TRISHNA’s main goals include: Detailed monitoring of the energy and water budgets of the continental biosphere to quantify terrestrial water stress and usage. High-resolution observation of water quality and dynamics in coastal…
Astroscale Holdings Sees 51% Surge in Shares on Debut Shares of Japanese startup Astroscale Holdings (186A.T) jumped 51% in their Tokyo growth market debut on Wednesday. The stock opened at 1,281 yen per share, significantly higher than the initial public offering (IPO) price of 850 yen. This values the company at 145 billion yen ($934 million). https://youtu.be/vc7HhWttLFs Milestone for Space Debris Removal Astroscale’s CEO, Nobu Okada, described the listing as a significant milestone in their mission to tackle the global problem of space debris. The startup, founded in 2013, has received support from the governments of Japan, the United States,…
Climate Change Doubles Risk of Southern Brazil Floods Climate change has doubled the likelihood of the recent floods in southern Brazil, say international scientists. Heavy rains, intensified by the natural El Niño phenomenon, led to this disaster. Over 170 lives were lost, and nearly 580,000 people were displaced after storms and floods hit Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state, last month. Local authorities have called it the worst disaster in the region’s history. https://youtu.be/rAEnJQyZH_s An Extremely Rare Event Experts from the World Weather Attribution group explained that the heavy rainfall, which submerged entire towns and destroyed critical infrastructure, was…
Japanese Billionaire Yusaku Maezawa Cancels “dearMoon” Mission Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has cancelled his highly anticipated “dearMoon” mission, which was set to be the first private flight around the moon. The mission’s team announced this development on Saturday, expressing disappointment over the cancellation. Initially, the “dearMoon” team aimed to complete the circumlunar flight with celebrities on board by the end of the previous year. However, this target became “unfeasible,” leading to the project’s cancellation. “Without clear schedule certainty in the near-term, it is with a heavy heart that Maezawa made the unavoidable decision to cancel the project,” the mission stated…
