Asteroid nine times the size of Qutub Minar is coming towards Earth
The close proximity allows for enhanced observation, which can yield insights into the asteroid's composition and behaviour.This event marks the asteroid's return since its last close flyby on July 1, 1988. Asteroid 2005 VO5 is not expected to come this close to Earth again until 2062.This rare occurrence offers researchers a chance to gather important data that can enhance our understanding of such celestial bodies and their movements. Observing these flybys is crucial for developing predictive models that can help in future space missions and planetary defense strategies.advertisementNASA has been vigilant in tracking Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), like 2005 VO5, to ensure any potential impact risks are assessed. JPL plays a crucial role in observing the orbit of this asteroid, enabling scientists to detect and analyse any changes in its path.The upcoming flyby points to the importance of continuous observation and analysis of asteroids, as they are key components of our dynamic solar system.While the current trajectory poses no immediate threat, it demonstrates the relevance of preparedness for future encounters with celestial objects.As the approach date nears, NASA and other scientific entities remain focused on leveraging this event to deepen our understanding of asteroids. This flyby represents an opportunity to advance scientific knowledge and improve strategies for monitoring these celestial visitors in the future.- Ends
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Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Red 'sprite' in space: Nasa astronaut shares elusive atmospheric phenomena; aids TLE research
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Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk wants to shut down the International Space Station for which Donald Trump just sanctioned $1.25 billion; says time to focus on ...
The world's richest man and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has triggered a debate by urging the retirement of the International Space Station (ISS), calling it a relic that's holding back humanity's cosmic ambitions. On July 3, Elon Musk took to Twitter to repost a summary of space-related funding in President Donald Trump's latest tax bill, which allocates $1.25 billion to sustain the ISS through 2030. Musk's blunt response: 'It's time to retire the Space Station and focus on Mars'. Musk's post sparked a heated online debate, with supporters cheering his bold vision and critics defending the ISS as a cornerstone of global scientific collaboration. The ISS, said to be a marvel of engineering orbiting 250 miles above Earth, has been a hub for groundbreaking research since its first module launched in 1998. But at over two decades old, the station is showing its age. NASA has acknowledged that critical systems, including life support and structural components, are nearing the end of their operational life. The tax bill also includes $325 million to fund a safe deorbit process by 2030, signaling that the station's days are numbered. Last year, NASA awarded SpaceX an $843 million contract to build a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle to guide the ISS to a controlled reentry, ensuring it burns up safely over a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. Why Elon Musk wants ISS deorbited Elon Musk argues that the ISS's mounting maintenance costs -- estimated at $3-4 billion annually -- are a drain on resources that could be better spent on humanity's next frontier: Mars. 'The ISS was a great achievement, but it's a 20th-century project,' Musk said in a follow-up post on Twitter. 'If we want to become a multi-planetary species, we need to stop tinkering with old hardware and go all-in on Mars.' His vision for a self-sustaining Martian colony has been a cornerstone of SpaceX's mission since its founding in 2002, with the company's Starship rocket designed to carry crews and cargo to the Red Planet. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo What supporters of International Space Station say Critics, however, argue that Musk's push to abandon the ISS overlooks its ongoing contributions. The station hosts experiments in microgravity that have advanced medical research, materials science, and our understanding of long-term space habitation -- knowledge critical for Mars missions. 'The ISS isn't just a lab; it's a symbol of what nations can achieve together,' said Dr. Ellen Stofan, former NASA chief scientist, in a statement to Reuters. 'Dismissing it prematurely risks losing that momentum.' The ISS is a joint effort of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada, and its cooperative framework has weathered geopolitical tensions, including recent strains with Russia over Ukraine. Elon Musk's 'time to retire ISS' divides the internet Public reaction on Twitter too reflect the divide. 'Musk is right—ISS is a money pit. Mars is the future,' posted user @SpacePioneer2030, echoing sentiments from those who see the station as outdated. Others, like @AstroGeek42, countered: 'The ISS still delivers science you can't get anywhere else. Why ditch it before we're ready?' The debate underscores a broader tension in space policy: balancing immediate scientific gains with long-term exploration goals. NASA's current plan keeps the ISS operational until 2030, with private space stations like Axiom Space's proposed orbital habitat expected to fill the gap. But Musk's comments suggest he'd rather see that transition happen sooner. SpaceX, which already ferries astronauts and supplies to the ISS, is positioned to play a key role in both the station's end and the next chapter of space exploration. The company's reusable rockets have slashed launch costs, making ambitious projects like Mars missions more feasible. The tax bill's funding for the ISS and its deorbit underscores a pragmatic reality: the station's end is inevitable. Yet Musk's call to shift focus to Mars raises questions about priorities in an era of constrained budgets and competing global challenges. As one senior NASA official, speaking anonymously, told The Washington Post, 'Elon's not wrong that Mars is the big goal, but the ISS is still teaching us how to get there. It's not an either-or situation—yet."
Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Indian Express
Life on Mars? Thick clay layers on red planet might hold the answer
The possibility of life on Mars is something scientists and astronomers have been trying to figure out for decades. With rapid advancements in science in the last century, scientists have stumbled across various clues as to how and where life could be hidden on the red planet. While meteorites, liquid water and water ice at the planet's poles have hinted that the planet may once have been ideal for life, new research suggests that the thick, mineral-rich layers of clay were ideal for life to survive for a long time. These layers, which are said to have formed about 3.7 billion years ago, had warmer and wetter conditions than the rest of the planet. Researchers say they analysed 150 clay deposits using NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and analysed their shape and locations to see how they resembled ancient lakes and rivers on the planet. In a statement to Rhianna Moore, a researcher and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas' Jackson School of Geosciences, said, 'These areas have a lot of water but not a lot of topographic uplift, so they're very stable. If you have a stable terrain, you're not messing up your potentially habitable environments.' For those wondering, deposits like these on Earth can be found in certain landscapes and climatic conditions. Researchers say they noticed that most of the clay layers were formed in low areas near ancient lakes, but they weren't close to the valleys where water once flowed. In a new study published in the journal Nature Astronomy, scientists say these clay minerals were found in areas where chemical weathering was favoured over physical erosion.' Since tectonic activity is pretty much non-existent on Mars, CO2 released by volcanoes on Mars likely stayed in the planet's atmosphere for a long time, making it warmer and wetter. This may have also contributed to the formation of the clay layers. Speculation also has it that the clay absorbed water and captured chemical byproducts like cations, which prevented them from reacting with the rocks surrounding them. However, it is still unclear how the planet's topography and climate affected the formation of these clay layers.
