<h1 class="page-title mt-0">Blue Ghost touches down on Moon</h1>
<h5>Confirmation of touchdown came from the company&rsquo;s Mission Control outside Austin, Texas, following the action some 225,000 miles (360,000 km) away</h5>
<h5>A private lunar lander carrying a drill, vacuum and other experiments for NASA touched down on the Moon on Sunday, the latest in a string of companies looking to kickstart business on Earth&rsquo;s celestial neighbour ahead of astronaut missions</h5>
<h5>Firefly Aerospace&rsquo;s Blue Ghost lander descended from lunar orbit on autopilot, aiming for the slopes of an ancient volcanic dome in an impact basin on the Moon&rsquo;s northeastern edge of the near side. Confirmation of touchdown came from the company&rsquo;s Mission Control outside Austin, Texas, following the action some 225,000 miles (360,000 km) away.</h5>

The Blue Ghost spacecraft successfully lands on the Moon, marking a monumental achievement in space exploration.

Blue Ghost touches down on Moon

<p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}">A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage made an unplanned impact on the lunar surface in the early hours of Wednesday after spending more than a year drifting through space following the completion of its mission, according to a video shared by NASA on X.</p>
<p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}">According to NASA, a combination of solar activity and gravitational forces prompted the unplanned impact. The upper stage of the&nbsp;Falcon 9 rocket was launched in January 2025 in order to deploy two commercial lunar landers before it was left in an uncontrolled orbit.</p>
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<p class="continue-read-break" data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}">NASA stated that the rocket stage lacked enough fuel to return to Earth or move into a stable disposal orbit after completing its mission, causing it to drift through cislunar space for more than a year. The rocket struck&nbsp;the Moon at a speed of roughly 5,400 mph (about 8,700 km/h).</p>
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<p class="" data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}">According to NASA, the impact occurred near the Einstein Crater on the Moon's western limb, an area that is difficult to observe directly from Earth.</p>
<p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}">Scientists were unable to witness the impact directly because the crash site was close to the Moon's edge from Earth's perspective,&nbsp;<em>The</em>&nbsp;<em>Associated Press</em>&nbsp;reported. However, a telescope in Chile detected a plume containing sodium and lithium, providing strong evidence that the impact occurred as predicted.</p>
<p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}">NASA said that it has '100% confidence' that the impact occurred based on spacecraft tracking data and observations collected before and after the expected collision.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}">According to NASA, its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will image the impact site in the coming days to confirm the newly formed crater and study the effects of the high-speed collision.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}">Researchers cited by<em>&nbsp;The Associated Press&nbsp;</em>have stated that the impact is expected to have created a new crater measuring roughly 40 to 60 feet (12 to 18 metres) across.</p>
<p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}">Source:- NDTV Profit</p>

SpaceX rocket crashes into moon, NASA explains what went wrong

<p>Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon has sent his first message from space after arriving at the International Space Station (ISS), thanking his family, colleagues and fellow space professionals as he begins an eight-month scientific mission in orbit.</p>
<p>In a video recorded from the ISS shortly after reaching the orbital laboratory, Menon reflected on the journey that brought him to space and acknowledged the people and organisations that helped make it possible.</p>
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<p>"Hello from the International Space Station. It's day one for me, and I just wanted to say thank you to some of the folks that help make this dream a reality. Anna, Grace, James, thank you so much from deep in my heart. Grace, happy birthday, and I know some of my friends and colleagues from SpaceX, where I used to work, were out there rooting me on and sending me messages. Thank you all for teaching me how to do the impossible. I have used that lesson time and time again.<br>And to the guardians at the Space Force, this is the biggest domain, and your job, our job, is unbelievably big. I'm proud to serve alongside you, and also to NASA, who makes this all happen and is tasked with doing the near impossible, going to the moon, going to Mars, and pushing our boundaries where we have never gone, I am happy to be working alongside of you, using the space station as a stepping stone to those huge dreams of ours. Let's go, team. Let's do this."</p>
<p>Menon is the first NASA astronaut of Malayali heritage to travel to space.</p>
<p>Menon reached the International Space Station aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft alongside Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina.</p>
<p>Who is Anil Menon?<br>Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Menon is an emergency medicine physician, aerospace medicine specialist and Colonel in the United States Space Force.<br>His father, K.P. Shankaran Menon, is from Ottapalam in Kerala's Palakkad district, while his mother, Elizabeth, emigrated from Ukraine to the United States.</p>
<p>Menon also shares a longstanding connection with India. As a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, he spent a year in the country supporting polio vaccination programmes while studying public health.</p>
<p>Before becoming an astronaut, Menon built a career across some of the world's most demanding environments.</p>
<p>During Operation Enduring Freedom, he served with the US Air Force in Afghanistan, providing emergency medical care in combat conditions.</p>
<p>He later volunteered with the Himalayan Rescue Association on Mount Everest, treating climbers at high altitude and gaining expertise in expedition and wilderness medicine.</p>
<p>Menon studied neurobiology at Harvard University before earning both a master's degree in mechanical engineering and a medical degree from Stanford University. He later specialised in emergency and aerospace medicine.</p>
<p>Menon first joined NASA in 2014 as a flight surgeon, supporting astronauts aboard the International Space Station.</p>
<p>In 2018, he moved to SpaceX, where he established the company's medical programme and helped prepare its first crewed missions. He also contributed to the development of Starship, the fully reusable spacecraft being designed for future missions to the Moon and Mars.</p>
<p>NASA selected him as part of its 2021 astronaut class. After completing nearly two years of astronaut training, he received his first spaceflight assignment aboard Soyuz MS-29.</p>
<p>Spaceflight also runs in his family. His wife, Anna Wilhelm, travelled to orbit during SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission in 2024.</p>
<p>During Expedition 74, Menon and his crewmates will work alongside astronauts from NASA, Roscosmos and the European Space Agency, carrying out hundreds of scientific investigations spanning medicine, biology, Earth observation, physics and technology development.</p>
<p>Source:- &nbsp;The Economic Times.</p>

'Hello from the ISS': Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon shares first message from space

<p>Space has a way of making geometry look effortless. While humans spend hours with rulers and compasses, the universe routinely reveals near-flawless shapes. The European Space Agency (ESA) shared an image of one of the most "perfect geometrical" forms created in space. The image, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, captures the formation of an unusual pre-planetary nebula, known as IRAS 23166+1655, around the star LL Pegasi in the constellation of Pegasus.</p>
<p>"The striking picture shows what appears to be a thin spiral pattern of astonishingly regularity winding around the star, which is itself hidden behind thick dust," the ESA wrote. "The spiral pattern suggests a regular periodic origin for the nebula's shape."</p>
<p>According to the space agency, the material forming the spiral is moving outwards at a speed of about 50 000 km/hour. ESA noted that by combining this speed with the distance between layers, astronomers calculate that the shells are each separated by about 800 years.</p>
<p><br>"The spiral is thought to arise because LL Pegasi is a binary system, with the star that is losing material and a companion star orbiting each other. The spacing between layers in the spiral is expected to directly reflect the orbital period of the binary, which is indeed estimated to be also about 800 years," said ESA.</p>
<p>The image of IRAS 23166+1655 offers a rare, front-row seat to the early stages of stellar death. Stars ranging from half to eight times the mass of our Sun do not exit the universe in a violent supernova explosion. Instead, they experience a far more regal finale. As they die, they gently shed their outer layers of gas into the void. These expanding shells often drift into the glowing structures that resemble dramatic watercolour paintings to observers on Earth.</p>
<p>"IRAS 23166+1655 is just at the dawn of this transformation," ESA noted. "The central star has yet to fully emerge from its dusty cocoon, but it is already leaving behind an unprecedented architectural masterpiece."</p>
<p>Source:- NDTV</p>

European Space Agency Shares Details Of "Most Perfect Geometrical" Forms Created In Space

Astronomers have captured an image of one of the most geometrically perfect structures ever witnessed in deep space.

<p>After years of careful research and testing, scientists have made an important discovery on Mars. A rock sample studied by NASA's Curiosity rover has revealed the most diverse collection of organic molecules ever found on the Red Planet. This finding has increased interest in the possibility that Mars once had the right conditions to support life, reported NASA.</p>
<p>The sample, collected in 2020, contained 21 carbon-based molecules. Out of these, seven were identified on Mars for the first time. Scientists explained that while these molecules are important, it is still not known whether they were formed by biological or geological processes.</p>
<p>However, the discovery confirms that ancient Mars had the chemical conditions needed to support life. Researchers also noted that these molecules have survived for billions of years despite exposure to radiation, which usually breaks down such compounds.</p>
<p>The findings have been published in the journal Nature Communications.</p>
<p>The rock sample, named "Mary Anning 3," was collected from Mount Sharp. This region once had lakes and streams billions of years ago. Over time, the area dried and refilled multiple times, leaving behind clay minerals. These minerals are known for preserving organic molecules, which are considered building blocks of life.</p>
<p>The newly identified compounds include a nitrogen heterocycle, a structure made up of carbon and nitrogen. Scientists believe that such molecules may be the earliest forms of molecules like RNA and DNA, which carry genetic information.</p>
<p>According to Amy Williams, lead author of the study, this discovery is significant because such structures may play a role in the formation of more complex nitrogen-based molecules.&nbsp;</p>
<p>She also clarified that nitrogen heterocycles have neither been previously found on the surface of Mars nor confirmed in Martian meteorites.</p>
<p>In addition, another important molecule, benzothiophene, was also found, which contains carbon and sulfur. This compound has previously been found in several meteorites, and some scientists believe it may have contributed to the early chemical evolution of the solar system.</p>
<p>This discovery was made possible through a mini-lab called "Sample Analysis at Mars" on the Curiosity rover. The rover drilled the rock, ground it into powder, and then heated it in a special furnace to analyze the gases emitted.</p>
<p>This process also used "wet chemistry," a technique in which the sample is mixed with a solution to break down large molecules into smaller parts for easier identification. The Mary Anning 3 sample was the first to be subjected to a powerful solution, tetramethylammonium hydroxide.</p>
<p>To confirm the results, scientists conducted similar tests on a sample of the Murchison meteorite on Earth. This test showed that large molecules can be broken down into smaller molecules, similar to those found on Mars.</p>
<p>This new discovery strengthens findings of large organic molecules previously found on Mars. These include long-chain hydrocarbons such as decane, undecane, and dodecane.</p>
<p>Mission project scientist Ashwin Vasavada said this achievement reflects the excellent work of the Curiosity team. They said the presence of these organic molecules further strengthens the possibility that conditions on ancient Mars may have been favorable for life.</p>
<p>Scientists say these findings will help guide future missions to Mars and other planets. Instruments similar to the technology used on Curiosity are being developed for upcoming missions, including the Rosalind Franklin rover and NASA's Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon Titan.</p>
<p>Researchers believe that continued research and modern technology will lead to a better understanding of Mars' chemical history and the potential for life there.</p>
<p>Source:- NDTV</p>

NASA's Curiosity Rover Discovers Most Diverse Organic Molecules On Mars, Raising Hopes Of Ancient Life

<p>Astronomers have identified 45 rocky planets beyond our solar system that may have the right conditions to support life, according to a new study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.</p>
<p>With more than 6,000 exoplanets discovered so far, scientists say finding life beyond Earth is a challenging task. To simplify the search, researchers have narrowed down a list of planets that are most likely to host liquid water-an essential ingredient for life.</p>
<p>The study includes well-known planets such as Proxima Centauri b, TRAPPIST-1f, and Kepler-186f, along with lesser-known candidates like TOI-715 b. These planets orbit within what scientists call the "Goldilocks zone," where temperatures are suitable for liquid water to exist.</p>
<p>The research used data from the Gaia mission and the NASA Exoplanet Archive to identify planets that receive similar energy levels from their stars as Earth does from the Sun.</p>
<p>Among the most promising systems is the TRAPPIST-1 system, located about 40 light-years away, where four planets lie within the habitable zone. Another strong candidate is LHS 1140 b, which recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope suggest could be a water-rich world with a nitrogen-heavy atmosphere.</p>
<p>Researchers also identified 24 additional planets in a broader "3D habitable zone," including those with elliptical orbits that move in and out of ideal temperature ranges. Studying these planets may help scientists better understand how much variation in heat and radiation a planet can handle while still remaining habitable.</p>
<p>The team hopes this shortlist will guide future observations and bring scientists closer to answering one of humanity's biggest questions-whether life exists beyond Earth.</p>
<p>Source:- ndtv</p>

Scientists Identify 45 Potentially Habitable Exoplanets In New Study

A new study has identified 45 rocky exoplanets in habitable zones that could support liquid water, helping scientists focus their search for life beyond Earth.