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From The Hindu, July 8, 1975: U.S. and Russia getting ready for space rendezvous

From The Hindu, July 8, 1975: U.S. and Russia getting ready for space rendezvous

The Hindu9 hours ago
Cape Canaveral, Florida, July 7: Five years ago, it was considered impossible, a dream. But on July 15, American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts are to rocket into orbit to start an historic joint space flight, appropriately labelled a mission of 'high-flying detente'.
Much symbolism and prestige will be involved on this first international flight of the world's leading spacefaring nations, once keen rivals in space exploration until U.S. astronauts landed on the moon. Neither wants to fail in the global spotlight that will follow every moment.
It won't be just a 'handshake in the sky', say the astronauts and cosmonauts, but a mission that hopefully will lead to future co-operative flights in large space stations and perhaps to the planets.
The flight is scheduled to start at 8:20 a.m. (17-50 IST) with the launching of the two cosmonauts in a Soyuz spacecraft from the Soviet Union.
If there are no problems, three Apollo astronauts will ride an Apollo spacecraft away from Cape Canaveral 7.5 hours later.
With the more sophisticated Apollo performing all the critical manoeuvres, the astronauts will pursue the Soyuz through the skies for two days, moving in for a link-up at 12:15 p.m. (22:45 IST) on Thursday July 17, 224 km above West Germany.
Three hours later, both ends of an airlock tunnel connecting the vehicles will be opened and the American Commander, Air Force Brig. Gen. Thomas Stafford, and the Russian Commander, Air Force Col. Alexei Leonov, will shake hands.
It will be a moment of high emotion, not only for its symbolism, but because these two men have become fast friends during two years of training. Both believe that through flights like this, high in space, their two nations can achieve detente on earth.
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From The Hindu, July 8, 1975: U.S. and Russia getting ready for space rendezvous
From The Hindu, July 8, 1975: U.S. and Russia getting ready for space rendezvous

The Hindu

time9 hours ago

  • The Hindu

From The Hindu, July 8, 1975: U.S. and Russia getting ready for space rendezvous

Cape Canaveral, Florida, July 7: Five years ago, it was considered impossible, a dream. But on July 15, American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts are to rocket into orbit to start an historic joint space flight, appropriately labelled a mission of 'high-flying detente'. Much symbolism and prestige will be involved on this first international flight of the world's leading spacefaring nations, once keen rivals in space exploration until U.S. astronauts landed on the moon. Neither wants to fail in the global spotlight that will follow every moment. It won't be just a 'handshake in the sky', say the astronauts and cosmonauts, but a mission that hopefully will lead to future co-operative flights in large space stations and perhaps to the planets. The flight is scheduled to start at 8:20 a.m. (17-50 IST) with the launching of the two cosmonauts in a Soyuz spacecraft from the Soviet Union. If there are no problems, three Apollo astronauts will ride an Apollo spacecraft away from Cape Canaveral 7.5 hours later. With the more sophisticated Apollo performing all the critical manoeuvres, the astronauts will pursue the Soyuz through the skies for two days, moving in for a link-up at 12:15 p.m. (22:45 IST) on Thursday July 17, 224 km above West Germany. Three hours later, both ends of an airlock tunnel connecting the vehicles will be opened and the American Commander, Air Force Brig. Gen. Thomas Stafford, and the Russian Commander, Air Force Col. Alexei Leonov, will shake hands. It will be a moment of high emotion, not only for its symbolism, but because these two men have become fast friends during two years of training. Both believe that through flights like this, high in space, their two nations can achieve detente on earth.

With $6 billion in research slashed, US academics find scientific asylum abroad
With $6 billion in research slashed, US academics find scientific asylum abroad

India Today

time19 hours ago

  • India Today

With $6 billion in research slashed, US academics find scientific asylum abroad

With the oath-taking of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States in January, one message travelled quickly through American academia -- the ground has shifted. Universities, once seen as hubs of international students and central to America's scientific leadership, are now under direct Harvard to Columbia, institutions began receiving notices of funding cuts, cancellations, and policy changes. Scholars and students alike saw the shift as long-term, with more restrictive steps funding cuts are not new, but the current scale has forced many to reconsider their future in the country. Europe, sensing an opportunity, responded quickly. The Trump administration has ordered all federal health agencies to slash contract spending by at least 35%. This comes alongside large-scale layoffs, cancelled grants, and other deep funding weeks, scholars began relocating. One of the flights that landed in Marseille, France, carried Brian Sandberg, an American historian uncertain about what lay is one of 300 scholars who have left the US, citing halted research funding and shrinking academic space.'Things have really changed The entire system of research and higher education in the United States is really under attack,' said Brian Sandbeg, quoted by The said he was afraid of returning to American soil after highlighting the issue. The fear was so strong that he decided to leave his TO GO: THE FUNDING, THEN THE RESEARCHERSAt Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, and elsewhere, calls came in. The budget office at the White House has altered how the labs from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and federal agencies were paused, withdrawn, or terminated one by alone lost $400 million in March. Harvard had $150 million cut. With more than 1,600 grants gone, NIH, NSF, and the Department of Energy were all named in total research funding cut now crosses $6 FRANCE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITYAt Aix-Marseille University in France, an inbox began to fill. A new programme called scientific asylum was offering 20 researchers funding for three years. A small gesture, but a loud weeks, more than 500 enquiries had been logged. Among them, a historian from Sandberg, like others, boarded a flight to Marseille with no job, no guarantee. But a had been shortlisted as one of 39 researchers. 'The system is being dismantled,' he told reporters. 'I'm not sure many people in Europe fully grasp how deep this runs.'RESEARCH CURBS, CLIMATE CUTS, DEI RESTRICTIONS DEEPEN US BRAIN DRAINRestrictions on research language -- such as banning terms like 'women,' 'bias,' and 'ethnicity' -- combined with cuts to diversity initiatives and overall research funding, are severely constraining US research funding in the US has also faced severe cuts, with key federal agencies like NOAA, NASA, and the NSF experiencing drastic budget reductions and program cuts have stalled critical climate science projects and led to the dismissal of numerous a result, many US researchers are seeking opportunities abroad in countries that continue to support and prioritise climate research, contributing to a significant brain drain in this vital funding and DEI cuts are leading to the cancellation of hundreds of grants, layoffs, and a chilling effect on the research climate, especially for early-career scientists.A Nature poll found that 75% of US scientists surveyed were considering moving overseas after recent policy changes, with many already applying for positions OF HISTORY?Post-WWII, the flow of knowledge was westward. Europe's scientists found shelter in American labs. Now, the direction has flipped. Eric Berton, president of Aix-Marseille, called it a 'sad reversal.'In the 1940s, American universities took in those fleeing fascism. In 2025, it is Europe offering the Johns Hopkins, Yale, Columbia -- all saw researchers apply. Among them were a climate scientist, a biologist, and an a biological anthropologist, knew she'd be leaving once Trump secured a second two children were ready. Her husband wasn't sure. He teaches school and doesn't speak French. The salary in Marseille is lower. The move is a climate researcher, didn't want his full name used. His wife had also been shortlisted. They're both on the European countries also saw the situation as an April 23, 2025, the Research Council of Norway announced it would provide 100 million kroner (approximately 7.2 million) in funding to more easily recruit researchers from around the per a Guardian report, the Nordic nation's Minister of Research and Higher Education, Sigrun Aasland, stated: "It is vital for Norway to be active in a challenging situation for academic freedom. We can make a difference for excellent researchers and valuable knowledge, and we wish to do this as soon as possible."WHAT'S BEEN LOSTAcross the board, American research has absorbed a blow that is hard to calculate in money alone. At University of Penn, $175 million was cut following a policy change involving transgender agencies began reviews of $9 billion in grants. Even schools with endowments -- like Harvard -- felt enquiries keep coming. Scientific asylum isn't a metaphor. It's a form. It's a process. A desk in Marseille now handles what once went to Boston, Baltimore, or Palo as one researcher said, 'If the future of science can't live in the US, it will find a way to live somewhere else.'- EndsMust Watch

Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket project suspended by US Air Force as it would harm…
Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket project suspended by US Air Force as it would harm…

Time of India

time20 hours ago

  • Time of India

Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket project suspended by US Air Force as it would harm…

The US Air Force has suspended a proposed hypersonic rocket cargo delivery project developed in partnership with Elon Musk 's SpaceX , following environmental concerns raised by scientists and wildlife advocates. The project, which aimed to test rocket re-entry vehicles from Johnston Atoll , a remote US territory in the Pacific, was flagged for its potential to harm the area's delicate bird population. Home to 14 species of tropical seabirds, the atoll is part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument and is protected under US environmental law. Elon Musk's rocket ambitions meet environmental pushback Biologists and conservationists warned that rocket tests on Johnston Atoll could endanger nesting seabirds, including several protected species. The island serves as a critical breeding ground with dense colonies of birds like frigatebirds and boobies. The plan would have required landing high-speed re-entry vehicles capable of delivering 100 tons of cargo within 90 minutes — an operation considered disruptive to the fragile ecosystem. A draft environmental assessment was expected but was delayed due to backlash from environmental groups, ultimately leading to the Air Force's decision to suspend the initiative. A strategic vision put on hold 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 rocket cargo program, part of a broader US military strategy to revolutionize logistics, aimed to use commercial rockets to rapidly deliver supplies anywhere in the world. While the Air Force had not formally confirmed SpaceX as its sole partner, Elon Musk's company was the most likely candidate due to its experience with reusable rockets. Despite the project's promise of logistical breakthroughs, the military is now exploring alternative test sites to avoid further environmental conflict. SpaceX's troubled track Record with Wildlife This is not the first time SpaceX has come under scrutiny for environmental impact. A 2023 Starship launch in Boca Chica, Texas, caused destruction of local shorebird nests, resulting in legal challenges. Musk responded to criticism jokingly at the time but did not deny the damage caused. The recent suspension highlights growing tensions between technological ambition and ecological responsibility as space companies increasingly intersect with protected environments. What's next for the rocket cargo program? According to Stars and Stripes, the US Air Force is now considering alternative locations for testing, though no specific site has been named. Officials have stated that the project remains important for the future of military mobility and supply chain resilience, especially in global conflict zones. However, any future tests will likely face stricter scrutiny from environmental regulators. For now, the seabirds of Johnston Atoll remain undisturbed, and the path forward for rocket-based military cargo remains uncertain.

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