Elon Musk says it's time to retire the ISS and focus on Mars
Elon Musk has reignited debate by urging the retirement of the ageing International Space Station (ISS), calling it a project with 'very little incremental utility.' Backed by a NASA deorbiting deal, Musk insists it's time to shift focus to Mars and build a self-sustaining city to secure humanity's long-term survival.
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Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Salute to team ISRO': Shubhanshu Shukla speaks to ISRO chairman from the International Space Station
India's first Gaganyatri , Shubhanshu Shukla , currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission , spoke to ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan on the afternoon of July 6, 2025. During the telephonic conversation, Shukla thanked the Indian space agency for enabling his safe and successful journey to space, saying, 'Salute to team ISRO.' The call covered key updates on the scientific experiments being conducted on the ISS, as well as Shukla's well-being in microgravity. The ISRO Chairman emphasized the need to meticulously document all activities post-mission, as the insights would play a vital role in shaping India's Gaganyaan program , which aims to launch Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit using indigenous capabilities. Shubhanshu Shukla's ISS mission: A conversation to guide Gaganyaan ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan commended Shubhanshu Shukla's efforts and emphasized the mission's strategic value. He highlighted how the knowledge and experience gained aboard the ISS would directly inform the development and execution of Gaganyaan, India's first indigenous crewed space mission. The Chairman also encouraged detailed documentation of all experiments, observations, and challenges to serve as critical input for ISRO's ongoing human spaceflight initiatives. ISRO leadership joins the interaction Several senior officials from ISRO participated in the call, including Dr. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and Chairman of the Program Management Council for the Human Space Programme; Shri M. Mohan, Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC); Shri Padmakumar E.S., Director of ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU); Shri M. Ganesh Pillai, Scientific Secretary of ISRO; and Shri N. Vedachalam, former Director of LPSC. They discussed the scope and status of the scientific experiments being carried out aboard the ISS and expressed their admiration for Shukla's dedication and professionalism. A Mission of national pride During the interaction, Shubhanshu Shukla expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ISRO for providing him the opportunity to represent India on the global stage. He shared updates on the scientific experiments and challenges of working in space, while acknowledging the tireless efforts of the ISRO team in preparing him for the mission. The Chairman assured him of the agency's unwavering support and recalled regular pre-mission meetings where he guided and motivated Shukla personally. The Chairman also interacted regularly with Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, the designated standby astronaut for the Axiom-4 mission. His involvement ensured robust mission preparedness and contingency planning. The collaboration between ISRO and Axiom Space under this mission serves as a critical milestone as India inches closer to launching its first homegrown human spaceflight.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk's new party spooks investors: Tesla shares fall 7% as political move revives Donald Trump feud; stock slumps 35% since December peak
AI image Tesla shares fell nearly 7% in premarket trading on Monday after CEO Elon Musk 's surprise launch of a new US political outfit, the "America Party", reignited investor concerns over his focus on the electric vehicle maker's future. The announcement came Saturday from Musk, who previously led the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and was accompanied by criticism of President Donald Trump 's legislative agenda—specifically the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill'. The move escalates an already public feud between Musk and Trump, which resurfaced in June after Tesla posted its second straight quarterly drop in vehicle deliveries, Reuters reported. That decline prompted a series of social media spats, including a threat from Trump to cut off Tesla's government contracts and subsidies. "Investors are worried about two things – one is more Trump ire affecting subsidies and the other, more importantly, is a distracted Musk," said Neil Wilson, UK investor strategist at Saxo Markets, quoted Reuters. In May, shareholders had welcomed Musk's decision to scale back political donations and commit to leading Tesla for another five years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The billionaire had previously spent nearly $300 million backing Trump's 2024 re-election campaign. 'But now (they) are worried he's going to get sucked back in and take his eye off Tesla,' Wilson added. Investor unease surfaced shortly after Musk's party announcement, with Azoria Partners delaying the launch of a Tesla exchange-traded fund. Azoria CEO James Fishback criticised the political move on X, urging Tesla's board to assess whether Musk's political involvement aligns with his duties as CEO. 'The new party undermines the confidence shareholders had that Musk would be focusing more on the company,' Fishback said. Wedbush analyst and long-time Tesla bull Dan Ives said many investors now feel a 'sense of exhaustion' over Musk's continued political immersion. Trump also weighed in Sunday, calling the America Party 'ridiculous' and warning that Musk's influence over NASA, a position he once supported, could present a conflict of interest given SpaceX's ties to government contracts. Board under pressure Musk's latest political turn has renewed scrutiny of Tesla's board, which has long faced criticism for its hands-off approach in dealing with its outspoken CEO, who concurrently runs five other companies. 'This is exactly the kind of thing a board of directors would curtail—removing the CEO if he refused to curtail these kinds of activities,' said Ann Lipton, professor of business law at the University of Colorado. 'The Tesla board has been fairly supine... and it's difficult to imagine they would begin now.' Tesla board chair Robyn Denholm had in May denied reports that directors were exploring a CEO replacement. But with rising trade tensions, slowing sales, and an aging vehicle line-up, the board may face growing calls to act. Tesla shares have dropped 35% since peaking above $488 in December following Trump's re-election. The stock closed last week at $315.35, making it the worst performer this year among the "Magnificent Seven" group of top US tech stocks. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
United News of India
an hour ago
- United News of India
Indian Astronaut Shukla speaks to ISRO Chief from ISS
Chennai, July 7 (UNI) Indian astronaut Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla called Dr V Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO and acknowledged the efforts of the ISRO team in ensuring his safe travel to the International Space Station (ISS), where he is carrying our various experiments during his 14-day stay. Shukla spoke to Dr Narayanan yesterday afternoon. ISRO in a statement today said "On July 06, 2025, in the afternoon, Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian Gaganyatri currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission, had a telephonic conversation with Dr V Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space." During the call, the Chairman expressed his keen interest in Shubhanshu's well-being and inquired about the various scientific experiments and activities being conducted on the ISS. The Chairman emphasized the significance of documenting all experiments and activities meticulously after Shubhanshu's return to Earth, as this will provide valuable insights and inputs for the development of India's human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan. The Gaganyaan program aims to demonstrate India's capability to launch a crewed spacecraft into low Earth orbit, and the experiences and knowledge gained from this mission will be crucial for its success. Shubhanshu Shukla's ISS mission has been executed under the ISRO-Axiom Spaceflight agreement. The discussion was attended by several senior officials from ISRO, including Dr. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and Chairman of the Program Management Council for Human Space Programme; Shri M Mohan, Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC); Padmakumar E S, Director of ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU); M Ganesh Pillai, Scientific Secretary of ISRO; and N Vedachalam, former Director of LPSC. These officials also had the opportunity to interact with Shubhanshu Shukla during the call, discussed various aspects of the mission and the experiments being conducted. Shubhanshu Shukla expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing him with this incredible opportunity to represent India on the ISS. He also shared updates on the progress of the experiments and activities being carried out on the space station, highlighting the scientific objectives and the challenges being addressed. Shubhanshu Shukla acknowledged the efforts of Chairman, ISRO and the team ISRO in ensuring his safe travel to the ISS. Dr Narayanan reiterated that the entire ISRO team is working closely to support him throughout the mission. He had regular meetings with Shubhanshu Shukla prior to the mission, motivating him for the journey and providing guidance on the scientific objectives and the importance of the mission for India's Space Programme. The Chairman also interacted with Prashant Balan Nair, the standby astronaut, on a regular basis, ensuring that all necessary preparations were in place for a successful mission. UNI GV 1530
