Latest news with #Axiom-4
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Science
- Indian Express
In photos: Here are top 10 iconic space photos of all time
Since the advent of space exploration, cameras have been silent companions on nearly every mission, capturing some of the most extraordinary sights ever witnessed. With the advancement of technology, high-performance cameras are being designed to be increasingly ultra-lightweight for space where every gram counts. However, the pursuit of bettering the quality remains uncompromised to illuminate distant worlds in stunning detail through the lenses of astronauts, robotic explorers, and powerful telescopes. As India established a step ahead in its space program, with Shubhanshu Shukla at the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission, we take a look at the top 10 most iconic space photographs ever clicked. On Christmas Eve 1968, Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders captured the first colour photograph of Earth rising above the lunar horizon. The blue-and-white sphere of Earth, set against the stark gray of the Moon, was taken during humanity's first journey around the Moon. The 'Blue Marble' was taken by the Apollo 17 crew en route to the Moon, showing a fully illuminated Earth. Captured with a hand-held Hasselblad camera, it reveals Africa, Antarctica, and the swirling clouds of our atmosphere. During the first Moon landing, Neil Armstrong photographed Buzz Aldrin standing on the lunar surface, with Armstrong and the lunar module reflected in Aldrin's visor. This image captures the achievement of the Apollo program. NASA's Mars Pathfinder mission delivered the Sojourner rover to the surface of Mars, where it sent back images of the Martian terrain and itself exploring the rocky landscape. These photos marked the first time a rover operated on another planet. The Curiosity rover has sent back several self-portraits from Mars, stitched together from images taken by its robotic arm. As Voyager 1 left the solar system, it turned its camera back toward Earth and captured our planet as a tiny dot suspended in a sunbeam. This image was made famous by Carl Sagan. On July 19, 2013, as NASA's Cassini spacecraft captured a mosaic of Saturn, its rings, and several moons, it also photographed Earth as a tiny blue dot nearly 900 million miles away. Planetary scientist Carolyn Porco, who led the imaging team, encouraged people around the world to reflect on their place in the cosmos and to step outside and 'smile' as their photo was being taken from deep space. Shortly after its launch, the Hubble Space Telescope captured its 'first light' image. Though not as visually stunning as later Hubble images, this photograph demonstrated the telescope's power and set the stage for decades of discovery. Hubble's high-resolution image of Jupiter and its moon Europa reveals intricate details of the planet's atmosphere and the icy surface of its moon. This Hubble image shows the irregular galaxy NGC 4449, a star-forming galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. (With inputs from Space, NASA, ESA, BBC)
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
First champagne pop in space: Axiom-4 astronauts test specially designed bottle aboard ISS in bubbly milestone for humankind
Designed for zero gravity Live Events What's next? Cooking in space (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A soft pop in space might soon become a real thing. For the first time ever, a specially made champagne bottle, the Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar , is being tested aboard the International Space Station (ISS) by astronauts from the Axiom-4 mission This is not just a technical achievement, but also a cultural step forward for life in space. The bottle was developed by Axiom Space, a private space company, in partnership with the French champagne brand Maison Mumm. It was designed by Spade Agency, a creative design firm.'At Axiom, we believe that the future of space travel is not just about going to new places. It's also about making space liveable and meaningful for people,' the company said in a statement. 'Testing a champagne bottle made especially for the Ax-4 mission is a big cultural moment in space history.'Spade Agency founder Octave de Gaulle explained that designing a bottle for space is no easy task. It's not only about dealing with weightlessness and pressure, but also about holding on to something familiar and emotional.'With Mumm Stellar, we weren't just solving engineering problems,' said de Gaulle. 'We were trying to keep something meaningful alive in space.'After the champagne project, Axiom and Spade are now working together on something new, a space kitchen. They're designing a galley (kitchen area) for the Axiom Station, a future modular space station being built for commercial could mean that one day, astronauts (and even space tourists) might not only toast with champagne in orbit, but also enjoy freshly made from TOI
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'You may be far, but hearts of 140cr Indians beat with you, it's start of new era': PM Modi to Shukla on ISS
NEW DELHI: 'Earth looks borderless and gives feeling of oneness, and Bharat looks big from space,' Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla told PM Narendra Modi on Saturday during his first interaction with the PM through a video link from the International Space Station while 'orbiting Earth at an altitude of 400 km". Cheering the astronaut, Modi told him that 'you may be far from us but the hearts of 140 crore Indians beat with you'. 'The first thing I saw was Earth — it looks perfectly unified. No borders are visible. India looks so large from here, far more prominent than on a map. From up here, there are no countries, no divisions — just one home. That is our ethos: unity in diversity. Just a while ago, when I saw from the window of ISS, I could see Hawaii,' Group Captain Shukla told the PM while informing him, 'I have hoisted the tricolour on ISS. India has reached ISS. ' Modi said Shukla's name carries the word 'shubh' (meaning auspicious) and that his journey marked the auspicious 'beginning of a new era'. The Indian astronaut told the PM that his space sojourn was 'not my journey alone but also our country's'. 'We trained for a year and I learnt about different after coming here, everything even small things are different because there is no gravity in by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Livguard Lithium-X: The Future of Power Backup Livguard Shop Now Undo here is a big challenge...I can even sleep on the roof. It takes some time to get used to this environment,' Shukla told the PM, while adding, 'Right now, we are travelling at a speed of 28,000 kmph and I am talking to you with my legs tied. ' 'This speed reflects how fast our nation is progressing and now, we must go even beyond this,' he said. The astronaut said the space station orbits Earth 16 times a day and that he is privileged to witness 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every day. While referring the astronaut as 'Shux', PM gave him 'homework', telling him to learn as much as possible because the lessons learnt from this Axiom-4 mission 'will have to be extensively used in the Gaganyaan mission , our own Bharatiya Antariksh Station and also for landing an Indian on the Moon.' Shukla told Modi that he is 'absorbing experiences at ISS like a sponge'. When the PM asked about Indian delicacies he carried to space and whether he shared them with his space mates, Shukla said he is carrying 'gajar ka halwa, moong dal halwa, and aamras into orbit'. 'I wanted my fellow crew members from other countries to taste India's heritage. We all sat together and enjoyed it. They loved it,' Shukla said. Shukla shared his reflections from space — on science, struggle, and the boundless dreams of a rising nation. The call was more than ceremonial. It was a glimpse into how India's spacefaring ambitions have matured. Modi described Shukla's journey not as a solitary voyage but as India's own orbit of progress. 'When I was a child, I never imagined I could become an astronaut. But today, modern India enables the realisation of such dreams,' Shukla said. When asked by Modi about microgravity tests he will carry out on ISS, especially from the medicine and agriculture sectors, Shukla said, he 'will do seven experiments'. 'Today, I am going to do a test on stem cells. I am doing a test on supplements to see if such supplements can help prevent muscle loss. This will help people in old age who are losing muscle due to ageing,' he said. Another test explores the cultivation of nutrient-rich microalgae, which could boost food security back home. 'The advantage of space,' he said, 'is that processes happen quickly. That accelerates research and inspires children back home to say, 'I can go there too'.' PM Modi asked what message he would send to India's youth. Shukla responded with clarity and conviction: 'Never stop trying. Whether today or tomorrow, success will come if you don't give up. This is just the first chapter of India's space story. We'll build our own space station. We'll land Indian astronauts on the Moon. And, I'm documenting everything—every lesson I learn will help others fly sooner.' His final words struck a chord destined to echo across classrooms, command centres and quiet corners of the country: 'The sky is never the limit—not for me, not for you, and not for India.' 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' chant filled up the space station as the PM raised the slogan towards the end of the 18-minute conversation, which was reciprocated by Shukla.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
In a 1st, spl champagne bottle tested in space
A soft pop in space could soon spark a bubbly Big Bang. For the first time, a specially designed champagne bottle — the Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar — is being tested aboard International Space Station by the Axiom-4 crew. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Part technological feat, part cultural milestone, the bottle marks a new chapter in human spaceflight. Crafted through collaboration between Axiom Space and French champagne house Maison Mumm, the space-certified bottle is the product of design firm Spade Agency. 'At Axiom, we believe the future of spaceflight is not just about reaching new frontiers — it's about making them liveable, meaningful, and human,' the company said. 'The testing of a champagne bottle specially designed for Ax-4 marks a major cultural moment in space .' Spade founder Octave de Gaulle said designing for orbit means confronting technical extremes and emotional distance. 'With Mumm Stellar, we weren't just solving a problem of pressure or weightlessness, but preserving something meaningful in orbit,' de Gaulle said. Next up: cooking in orbit. Axiom and Spade are collaborating on the galley for the upcoming Axiom Station, a modular commercial outpost under development.
New Indian Express
14 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
"Space talk" between PM Modi and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla at ISS
Watch the video of PM Narendra Modi in conversation with ISRO astronaut and IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla at the International Space Station (ISS) on an Axiom-4 mission, who said he understood the significance of the Indian motto of 'Unity in diversity' when he watched the lines and borders of the Earth fade away as a feeling of 'oneness' took over him in space.
