However, the return of human beings to deep space is not just about powerful rockets and advanced navigation systems. Rather, it is also about managing the most basic human needs in an environment where nothing behaves as it does on Earth. NASA has recently launched the Artemis II mission, which is the first human mission…
Four astronauts successfully launched off aboard Nasa’s Artemis II mission on Thursday from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, marking humanity’s first journey to the Moon’s vicinity since Apollo 17 in 1972 and a crucial step towards returning humans to the lunar surface.Nasa shared the moments of lift-off of the mission as the Space Launch System…
Orion spacecraft’s toilet (Courtesy: X) The crew of Nasa’s historic Artemis II mission, with support from mission control, successfully restored the Orion spacecraft’s toilet system after it experienced a recurring issue following Wednesday’s launch (US local time) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.“Ahead of the apogee raise burn on April 1, the Artemis II…
Nasa on Wednesday (local time) confirmed that the Orion spacecraft had successfully separated from the rocket’s upper stage as part of the Artemis II mission. The agency said that proximity operations tests were now underway.Sharing the video of the separation online, Nasa said astronauts aboard Orion were manually piloting the spacecraft in a way similar…
More than half a century after Apollo 11 put humans on the lunar surface, NASA has taken a major step toward returning. On April 1, 2026 (April 2 IST), the Artemis II successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center, sending four astronauts on a 10-day journey toward and around the Moon. It is the first time…
In a landmark study in PLOS ONE, women were found to have as many as 50 per cent more olfactory bulbs, i.e., neurons capable of detecting smells, in their brains than do men. This increased biological hardware enables women to have a significantly higher level of sensitivity to complex environmental odours, subtle changes in the…
Space missions depend on power systems that can function far away from sunlight and without maintenance. Solar panels struggle in deep space, where light weakens with distance. That limitation has pushed agencies to rely on nuclear-based energy sources for decades. These systems, known as radioisotope power systems, have quietly supported missions operating across the Solar…
The night before a major event, be it a major event in one’s life or a major event in space, is often a time filled with nervous energy, and astronauts are no exception. As NASA gears up for its historic mission to the Moon, a mission that marks a return to the Moon after over…
While the notion that we might be approaching Earth’s maximum, or its breaking point, has previously been associated with environmentalism, there is now a growing amount of scientific research to support this notion. With our population exceeding eight billion, we are finding it increasingly difficult to deny the pressure we are placing on our environment….
The ‘Pink Moon’ will occur in the night sky on April 1, 2026 – the culmination of a combination of lunar orbital mechanics and historical cultural significance. While the name indicates a radical colour change, it really reflects the rules of physics between our planet, the moon and the sun, along with plant cycles in…