NASA astronaut Anil Menon assigned mission to International Space Station
Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by a 3rd party. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein.
More
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
39 minutes ago
- India Today
Meet the toys that have floated in space: From Joy to Buzz Lightyear
Space missions involve high-tech equipment and elaborate science; however, many astronauts also travel with soft toys. Shubhanshu Shukla carried Joy with him on the Axiom-4 NASA project. Joy is a white baby swan soft toy, and along with being an adorable companion, Joy serves as a zero-gravity indicator and carries significant cultural was chosen by Shukla's six-year-old son to accompany them on the spacecraft. Once in orbit, Joy becomes "weightless," serving as a clear visual cue that the crew is in this, Joy symbolises wisdom and purity in Indian culture, loyalty in Poland, and grace in Hungary, reflecting the crew's diverse backgrounds. Shukla highlighted that Joy serves as a meaningful companion, helping the team focus on what truly matters during their mission in space. When people think of space missions, they think in terms of complex machines, satellites, and scientific experiments. However, behind the scenes, astronauts sometimes take toys with them to help them remember home, inspire inquisitive children watching from Earth, and sometimes help to demonstrate science concepts. Either towards the end of a school year, many of the toys have not only been fun, but have also had realistic the years, many toys, from characters popularised in memorable movies to handmade stuffed animals, have floated inside the International Space Station (ISS). Each toy has a story to tell and a reason to be in are the most interesting toys for travelling in Yoda joined the crewIn 2020, during SpaceX's Crew-1 mission, a Baby Yoda toy from The Mandalorian series joined NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi on their journey to the ISS. Astronaut Victor Glover playfully told mission control, 'Baby Yoda says you guys can come back on board,' after the cameras had briefly turned off, making the toy an instant hit on social media. Meet the toys that have floated in space: From Joy to Buzz Lightyear Dinosaurs, Planets, and Buzz LightyearMany other toys have made memorable space trips:Tremor the sparkly dinosaur plush: Chosen by astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley for SpaceX's Demo-2 mission because both have children who love dinosaurs. Tremor became famous worldwide and quickly sold out the toy planet: Sent as a zero-gravity indicator on SpaceX's Crew Dragon test flight in 2019. It floated as the spacecraft entered orbit, showing the crew had reached buddy, that's your Mother Earth. Isn't she beautiful? COL Anne McClain (@AstroAnnimal) March 4, 2019Buzz Lightyear: In 2008, NASA sent a Buzz Lightyear toy to the ISS, finally fulfilling the character's dream of flying in space. Buzz stayed in orbit for 15 months before returning to Earth, where he now lives at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. NASA/Steven Siceloff TOYS THAT TAUGHT AND INSPIREDSome toys also helped astronauts explain science to children on Earth:Angry Birds plush: In 2012, astronaut Don Pettit took a plush Red Bird to the ISS to help explain microgravity in an educational chessboard: NASA astronaut Gregory Chamitoff played a long-distance chess game against schoolchildren on Earth, with moves exchanged online every couple of days. The kids eventually ISS model: Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa built a Lego model of the International Space Station while on board to show scientific ideas AND SPECIAL TOYSA few toys carried personal and cultural meaning:Smokey Bear: A soft toy symbol of fire safety travelled with NASA astronaut Joe Acaba and Russian cosmonauts in 2012, highlighting the importance of Earth research from dinosaur plush: In 2013, astronaut Karen Nyberg sewed a small toy dinosaur aboard the ISS for her son Jack using scraps of fabric and materials available on the station—the only toy on the list made entirely in Astronauts, including Peggy Whitson in 2002, used yo-yos to show how objects move differently in solo baseball: Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa famously pitched, batted, and caught the same baseball thanks to zero gravity, turning an ordinary game into something truly ASTRONAUTS TAKE TOYS TO SPACETo many people, toys in space may seem playful or even unnecessary. But they serve important roles:Acting as zero-gravity indicatorsHelping astronauts share science in creative waysBringing comfort and reminders of family and homeMaking space missions feel closer and more human to people on EarthFrom Joy the swan to Baby Yoda and Buzz Lightyear, these toys remind us that even on the most advanced space missions, astronauts carry a piece of Earth-and often, a piece of love—with them beyond the stars.- Ends
India Today
39 minutes ago
- India Today
Asteroid nine times the size of Qutub Minar is coming towards Earth
Asteroid 2005 VO5, nearly nine times the size of Qutub Minar is set to make a close approach to Earth on July 11, asteroid, with a diameter of 660 metres, is being closely monitored by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) due to its significant size and proximity to our planet. The asteroid will travel at an impressive speed of 51,732 kilometres per hour as it passes asteroid will fly by Earth at a distance of approximately 6,086,084 kilometres. Although this might seem like a vast expanse, the distance is considered close on an astronomical scale, providing a valuable opportunity for scientists to study the asteroid's characteristics and trajectory in detail. The close proximity allows for enhanced observation, which can yield insights into the asteroid's composition and 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 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 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 upcoming flyby points to the importance of continuous observation and analysis of asteroids, as they are key components of our dynamic solar the current trajectory poses no immediate threat, it demonstrates the relevance of preparedness for future encounters with celestial 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
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Third interstellar object spotted? A11pI3Z stirs global astronomy buzz
Has a third interstellar visitor entered our solar system? The astronomical community is abuzz with excitement as early data suggests that a newly spotted object, dubbed A11pI3Z, may have originated from beyond our solar system. While confirmation is still pending, astronomers are closely watching tonight's observations, which could mark the discovery of only the third known interstellar object after 'Oumuamua and Borisov. The object, A11pI3Z, was first flagged by the ATLAS telescope system, with observations now stretching back to June 25, thanks to data uncovered by citizen scientist Sam Deen. According to early orbital estimates, the object is on a hyperbolic trajectory with an eccentricity far exceeding the threshold that defines a bound solar system orbit. For context, an eccentricity above 1 indicates a hyperbolic, and thus interstellar, path. This places A11pI3Z firmly in the realm of interstellar origins. 'With an eccentricity near 10, this is like nothing seen before. The comet is screaming by us,' one astronomer posted on X, highlighting the object's extreme speed and unusual path. Confirmation efforts have ramped up in recent hours. Another amateur astronomer confirmed A11pI3Z's identity remotely using the T72 system in Chile, capturing five stacked 20-second exposures and measuring the object's brightness at magnitude 17.5 G on July 2, 2025. 3rd interstellar object discovered? Maybe. There's a lot of buzz right now in the Astro community. More observations should come in tonight to confirm if A11pI3Z is from beyond the solar system. — Tony Dunn (@tony873004) July 2, 2025 If confirmed, A11pI3Z will join ʻOumuamua (2017) and Comet Borisov (2019) as only the third known interstellar object to be detected passing through our solar system — a rare and valuable opportunity to study material from beyond our stellar neighbourhood. More observations are expected to come in over the next 24–48 hours, which should further refine the object's orbit and composition. More about interstellar candidate A11pI3Z On July 1, 2025, the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center officially listed the object A11pI3Z on its Near-Earth Object (NEO) confirmation page. It has also appeared on NASA/JPL's NEO Confirmation Page under the same designation. While it's being tracked as a near-Earth object, astronomers have clarified that it poses no threat to Earth and is not expected to pass anywhere near our planet. The object is currently headed towards the sun, as indicated by the observations of a number of astronomers around the world. The closest approach is expected in October 2025. If verified, A11pI3Z could be a historic discovery — a cosmic message in a bottle from the depths of interstellar space.
