The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will execute the first of multiple test flights ahead of its first manned mission to space, Gaganyaan from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on October 21. The test involves launching the module to outer space and bringing it back to earth and recovering it after touchdown in the Bay of Bengal. The test is intended to test the crew module or the part of the vehicle where the Indian astronauts will be housed. ISRO will launch an empty module before bringing it safely back to Earth. “The success of this test flight will set the s
On October 14, as parts of the world will plunge into partial darkness during the annular solar eclipse, NASA will send rockets flying into the shadow of the eclipse. Under its mission, Atmospheric Perturbations around the Eclipse Path (APEP), the US space agency will launch three rockets to learn how the sudden drop in sunlight affects Earth’s upper atmosphere. On Saturday, the people living near the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico will see sudden bright streaks from the three NASA rockets racing towards the Sun when its brightness will dim to only a bright “ring of fire.”
ISRO on October 6 shared pictures showing how plastic is shredded and mixed to make roads at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. The Indian space agency said that the Department of Space (DoS) is actively contributing to the Swachhata Campaign by implementing best practices. “Plastic waste is being sustainably utilised for the resurfacing of roads at SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota, the Spaceport of India,” ISRO posted. Under the Union Government’s ‘Waste to Wealth’ mission and its mission of constructing environmentally sustainable national highways, the National High
A school team from Vadodara, Gujarat has bagged the bronze medal in the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2023 national championship. The team of Hriday Parikh and Shreyans Bohora will now represent India at the international championship in Panama. Along with their coach, the 15-year-old boys made a robot, which can solve ocean traffic problems in 85 seconds. The team that was contesting in the senior high age (15-19 years) was given the challenge to create a versatile robot that can help load and unload ships, fuel them and pilot them to open sea - a robot to solve ocean traffic pro
The US has imposed its first-ever fine of $150,000 on the TV company, Dish, for improper satellite disposal. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), responsible for authorising space-based telecom services, handed down the penalty on October 2. Dish had failed to correctly deorbit its satellite, EchoStar-7, which had been in orbit since 2002. As the geostationary satellite reached the end of its operational lifespan, Dish deviated from the agreed-upon altitude, raising concerns about orbital debris. In 2012, Dish had committed to raising the satellite to an altitude of 300 kilometers
JPMorgan’s Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon has said that artificial intelligence (AI) has the ability to make dramatic improvements in workers’ lives. In a recent interview, Dimon expressed optimism that AI holds the potential to advance cancer treatment and could lead to a workweek as short as 3.5 days for the next generation. A staunch advocate of AI, Dimon believes it is indispensable to his company’s success. He previously highlighted its multifaceted utility, including its capacity to drive innovation, enhance customer engagement, boost productivity, and bolster risk management wit
A team led by Northwestern University researchers has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) that can intelligently design robots from scratch. To test the new AI, the researchers of the Illinois, US, based university asked the system to design a robot that can walk across a flat surface. The new algorithm accomplished the task at lightning speed by designing a successfully walking robot in mere seconds. The AI program is not only fast, but also runs on a lightweight personal computer and designs completely new structures from scratch. This makes the algorithm different from other AI
Optimus, the humanoid robot of US multinational automotive and clean energy company Tesla, can perform a variety of tasks such as yoga and sorting blocks by colour independently. In a video shared by the company, the robot demonstrated its ability to sort objects fast and with ease like a human. When intervened by a human in the task, Optimus rapidly adapted to the change and went on to complete the task. The robot can also perform yoga poses. The poses require standing on one leg and extending its limbs, to display its balance and flexibility. As per the video, Optimus is now capable o
The New York Police Department (NYPD) will deploy a robot to patrol the city’s subways. At 5 feet tall and 400 pounds, the Knightscope K5 Autonomous Security Robot is currently on pilot test at the Times Square subway station, working the overnight shift with a human partner. The robot, K5 is equipped with multiple cameras and two-way communication. It is intended to deter crime and capture crimes in progress. It is equipped with a panic button that riders can use to alert patrol officers. It also has facial recognition capabilities and listening devices. The robot began its pilot on
Elon Musk-owned SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has set a new record for being reused for the 17th time. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was launched for a record-tying 17th time on September 23, when it lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 11:38 p.m. EDT, carrying 22 Starlink internet satellites. The rocket’s first stage came back to Earth as planned, landing on a SpaceX drone ship at sea about 8.5 minutes after launch. With the 17th liftoff, the rocket tied the company’s reuse record, set four days earlier by a different Falcon 9 on another Starlink launch. The 22