Latest news with #Chandrayaan-2
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Why William Shatner (Star Trek's Captain Kirk) is tweeting about Chandrayaan-II
Captain Kirk, the legendary Starfleet captain from Star Trek, was brought to life by actor William Shatner . Known for his bold leadership, iconic one-liners, and deep-space diplomacy, Kirk became a symbol of space exploration in pop culture. Recently, Shatner posted about Chandrayaan 2 and this has sparked curiosity among his fans given the fact his iconic character Captain Kirk, never landed on the moon. It all started when William Shatner, our favorite Captain Kirk posted on X about a 'calendar glitch'. "If it's the end of the week; why does my phone's calendar have the first day start on Sunday?," he posted and this invited a series of replies, one among which was "This is why I'm never gonna believe you landed on the moon. How could you pull that off in 1969 and you still don't know that the first day of the week is Sunday?" Shatner's reply to this quirky comment was, "Well the Chandrayaan-2 ship took some amazing photos of the lunar surface including images of 2 of the Apollo modules that were left on the surface. That was before the ship crashed adding another crater to the surface." Now, as expected the post got viral and fans quickly asked "Did Shatner land on moon?". No, Captain Kirk did not land on the Moon. But let's be honest, if anyone should have landed on the Moon wearing a Starfleet uniform and dropping one-liners about boldly going where no man has gone before, it's Captain James T. Kirk. Now, when people say 'Captain Kirk,' they usually mean William Shatner, the actor who played the iconic starship captain on Star Trek: The Original Series. That show launched back in the 1960s, right around the same time NASA was launching actual astronauts into space. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo So it's easy to understand why some wires get crossed in people's minds. But while the Enterprise was out dodging Klingons and beaming down to alien planets, the real NASA team was doing something a little more down-to-Earth or rather, up-to-Moon. The actual Moon landing happened in 1969, when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to step onto the lunar surface during the Apollo 11 mission. Shatner, meanwhile, was probably filming an episode where he was wrestling a lizard man or kissing a green alien. Groundbreaking in its own way, sure but not exactly NASA material. That said, Shatner has had quite the real-life space adventure of his own. In October 2021, he actually did go to space sort of. At age 90, he became the oldest person ever to fly into space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard, a suborbital spaceflight owned by Jeff Bezos. So yes, William Shatner went to space, but no moon boots were involved. Just a quick 11-minute joyride that gave him a taste of zero gravity and a view of Earth from above. Still, pretty epic. And let's not forget the symbolic influence Captain Kirk has had on space travel. Shatner's portrayal of a brave, diplomatic, and occasionally shirtless space explorer inspired generations of scientists, engineers, and yes, even astronauts. NASA has openly acknowledged Star Trek's influence on tech and space culture, from real-life communicators (hello, smartphones) to actual mission names that nod to Trek. So, to wrap it up: Captain Kirk never landed on the Moon, but his legacy has absolutely orbited our collective imagination when it comes to exploring the cosmos. William Shatner may not have left footprints in lunar dust, but he did help kick-start the dream for a whole lot of people who one day might.
India Today
23-06-2025
- Science
- India Today
Nasa discovers big crater on the Moon. It was made by crashed Japanese spacecraft
Weeks after the Japanese spacecraft Resilience crashed on the Moon, Nasa has captured images of the debris. The spacecraft crashed on the Moon as it attempted a soft landing in the northern Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) captured photos of the site where the ispace Mission 2 attempted to land. LRO's right Narrow Angle Camera, one in a suite of cameras known as LROC, captured the image from an altitude of about 50 miles above the surface of Mare Frigoris, a volcanic region interspersed with large-scale faults known as wrinkle The dark smudge visible above the arrow in the photo formed as the vehicle impacted the surface, kicking up regolith — the rock and dust that make up Moon 'soil.' The faint bright halo encircling the site resulted from low-angle regolith particles scouring the delicate is not the only agency to have captured the images. India's Chandrayaan-2 orbiter also captured the images, however, Isro is yet to release them enthusiast Shanmuga Subramanian found the debris in the images captured by Chandrayaan-2's Orbiter High Resolution Camera (OHRC).The spacecraft was tagetting to land on the Moon's Sea of Cold in the Northern Hemisphere when Mission Control in Tokyo lost communications and telemetry with the after the spacecraft crashed on the Moon, ispace revealed the initial findings from data it received moments before the spacecraft had a hard landing on the laser rangefinder used to measure the distance to the lunar surface experienced delays in obtaining valid measurement values. As a result, the lander was unable to decelerate OHRC, with its impressive 0.25-meter resolution—the highest achieved by any lunar orbiter—provided the crucial data needed to pinpoint the crash Watch
India Today
20-06-2025
- Science
- India Today
Chandrayaan-2 captures debris of crashed Japanese spacecraft on the Moon
In a remarkable feat of space sleuthing, India's Chandrayaan-2 mission has helped locate the debris of a crashed Japanese lunar lander, thanks to the sharp eyes of space enthusiast Shanmuga high-resolution images captured by Chandrayaan-2's Orbiter High Resolution Camera (OHRC), Subramanian identified the scattered remains of the Japanese spacecraft Japanese lander, which lost contact during its descent had left mission controllers and space enthusiasts worldwide searching for clues about its fate. Resilience debris found in Chandrayaan-2 images. (Photo: Isro) advertisement The spacecraft was tagetting to land on the Moon's Sea of Cold in the Northern Hemisphere when Mission Control in Tokyo lost communications and telemetry with the after the spacecraft crashed on the Moon, ispace revealed the initial findings from data it received moments before the spacecraft had a hard landing on the laser rangefinder used to measure the distance to the lunar surface experienced delays in obtaining valid measurement values. As a result, the lander was unable to decelerate CHANDRAYAAN-2Chandrayaan-2's OHRC, with its impressive 0.25-meter resolution—the highest achieved by any lunar orbiter—provided the crucial data needed to pinpoint the crash Subramanian, who previously made headlines for discovering the debris of India's own Vikram lander from the Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019, once again demonstrated his extraordinary skill in analysing lunar through the OHRC's detailed images, he identified unusual patterns and bright spots in the expected crash zone, which matched the characteristics of spacecraft OHRC images are incredibly detailed, allowing astronomers to spot even small fragments on the lunar surface. Resilience lunar lander above the Moon. (Photo: ispace) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is however, yet to confirm the orbiter has been praised for its technological capabilities ever since it was deployed in 2019. It was also responsible for scouting the landing zone for the crashed spacecraft for private company discovery not only provides important data for the Japanese space agency's analysis of the mission failure but also highlights the growing role of citizen scientists in space orbiter continues to deliver high-resolution imagery and scientific data, supporting both Indian and international lunar missions. As the world gears up for renewed exploration of the Moon, Chandrayaan-2 remains central for imagery and analysin of the lunar Watch
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Meet the Indian designer embedding ‘India's fingerprint in space' with Axiom-4 mission badge for Shubhanshu Shukla
Source: ANI India's growing ambitions in space will soon be represented not just through technological feats, but also a powerful symbol of cultural pride. As Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla prepares for his journey aboard the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station, he will wear a specially designed mission badge crafted by Indian designer Manish Tripathi. This emblem serves as more than just mission insignia that fuses India's deep-rooted scientific legacy with its rich cultural heritage. From the symbolism of ancient observatories to nods at modern achievements like Gaganyaan, the badge tells the story of a nation rising in space exploration. It's a historic moment where tradition meets technology; India's identity stitched into the stars, and carried proudly on the global stage. Indian designer Manish Tripathi creates mission badge for Axiom-4 astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla What is exceptional about this badge is the personal relationship between the designer and the astronaut. According to ANI reports, classmates Manish Tripathi and Shubhanshu Shukla share a past, and out of this, they led a partnership founded on vision and trust. The two shared ideas back and forth for eight months that bridged time zones to ensure that the badge would be an honest and truthful portrayal of India's space journey. This was not a regular design assignment. It required technical sophistication, cultural sensitivity, and a purpose. Every aspect of the design had to be prototested for its usability in space-grade materials and conditions. This makes it a graphic narrative of India's story through symbolic design. The badge is more than just an eyesore sight loaded with symbolism of varied layers. Similar to the shape of a postage stamp, the symbol indicates India stamping a message to the world. What each element of the Axiom-4 emblem says about India's space legacy Here's what the most vital elements are and what they mean: Gaganyaan icon: A reference to India's maiden human spaceflight mission, a new gold standard for indigenous space exploration. Aryabhata satellite: 50 years since the launch of India's first satellite, a milestone in the national scientific history of India. The Sun: A heavenly body which is worshipped in Indian culture and one which is central to space science too, symbolizing energy, continuity, and light. Jantar Mantar observatory: A reference to the ancient Indian wisdom on astronomy and ancient curiosity about the universe. The infinity symbol and the zero sign: Both mathematical symbols were created for the first time in India and form the cornerstone of ancient science and space travel. The Moon: In terms of ISRO's successful moon missions like Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 that made India a global leader in space technology. India's map in the chin of an astronaut helmet: This design is a tribute to the valor of Lord Hanuman symbolising the country being propelled forward with courage and intention. All these were carefully picked to demonstrate that India's identity in space is not only new and intentional but also historical and philosophical. NASA's Axiom-4 mission features India's cultural emblem in space The badge includes flags or maps of countries working together on the Axiom-4 mission, representing world cooperation symbolically. This serves to highlight that space is a global effort, and India is no longer at the fringes; it is a dynamic, active participant. India's partnership with Axiom Space , NASA, and SpaceX on missions like Axiom-4 is an indicator of its transition from being an emerging space nation to a global player in becoming a part of the shaping of the future of orbital technology and science. Tripathi emphasised that the badge will be an inspiration for future generations. He calls it "India's fingerprint in space," not merely a badge of national pride, but an incentive to think big. It is an emblem of Indian excellence on a material level, reminding students, innovators, and citizens that they can make a difference on earth or even in outer space. Shubhanshu Shukla represents India's strength and spirit on Axiom-4 Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is more than a guest to Axiom-4; he's a symbol of Indian grit, intellect, and humility. Tripathi referred to him as "a real superhero"; a vote of confidence for his level head and seriousness of purpose he represents. Shukla dons his suit with this emblem bearing the aspirations of over a billion citizens. The Axiom-4 mission in itself is a component of the wider trend in the space sector towards private-public partnership. With NASA in alliance with Axiom Space, and SpaceX, such missions are establishing the next generation of space station, deep-space logistics, and low-Earth orbit research capability. For India, participation in such missions is about more than representation but it is actually about redefining what Indian innovation looks like on a global scale. With the inclusion of Tripathi's emblem, India asserts that science and culture, ambition and tradition, can move forward together. Also Read | NASA launching rockets to investigate mysterious ionospheric clouds disrupting global communication networks
Indian Express
06-06-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Why Japanese Moon mission's failure during landing marks yet another setback for private operators
A Japanese space mission that was supposed to land on the Moon this morning (June 6) has ended in failure, with the spacecraft likely meeting a fate similar to that Chandrayaan-2 – unable to decelerate sufficiently in the final moments and crashing on the Moon's surface. The Hakuto-R mission, carried out by the private Japanese company ispace, had a lander called Resilience and a rover called Micro. Just ahead of touchdown this morning, communications with the spacecraft were lost. 'The lander descended from an altitude of approximately 100 km to approximately 20 km, and then successfully fired its main engine as planned to begin deceleration. While the lander's altitude was confirmed to be nearly vertical, telemetry was lost thereafter, and no data indicating a successful landing was received, even after the scheduled landing time had passed,' ispace said in a statement. 'Based on the currently available data, the Mission Control Centre has been able to confirm the following: the laser rangefinder used to measure the distance to the lunar surface experienced delays in obtaining valid measurement values. As a result, the lander was unable to decelerate sufficiently to reach the required speed for the planned lunar landing. Based on these circumstances, it is currently assumed that the lander likely performed a hard landing on the lunar surface,' it said. Chandrayaan-2, which was launched in 2019, had met with a similar fate, having been unable to slow down in the final stages due to a malfunction in the thrusters. This is the second failure for the Hakuto-R mission to land on the Moon. Its previous attempt in 2023 had also been unsuccessful. The latest failure accentuates the continuing struggle of private space companies to achieve a clean and safe landing on the Moon. In the last two years alone, five missions from private companies — the other four from the United States — have tried to land on the Moon, and only one has been able to do it cleanly. US-based Firefly Aerospace has been the only one to make a successful soft-landing so far, with its Blue Ghost mission touching down on March 2. Intuitive-Machines, a Houston based company, got its spacecraft to land twice on the Moon, once last year and then again in March this year, but both times the landing was not entirely perfect. Another US company Astrobotic Technologies had attempted to land its Peregrine mission but it faced technical difficulties during the flight, and the mission could not make its way to the Moon. Earlier, Israel's Beresheet mission, by a company called SpaceIL, had attempted a moon landing in 2019, but ended up crashing in a similar fashion to the latest incident. The last part of the landing operation, wherein the speeding spacecraft slows down to make a soft-landing, is the most complex part of the Moon missions. This is where most of the accidents have happened. The Luna-25 mission in 2023, which was marking the return of Russia to the Moon, also ended in a failure during the final moments of landing. In the last five years, a moon landing has been attempted 12 times, by national as well as private space agencies, and only five of these have been able to land in a manner that fulfils the science objectives of the mission. These include Chandrayaan-3 by India, the SLIM mission by Japan, and Chang'e 5 and 6 missions from China. An increasing number of private space players have been getting ready with their Moon missions, amidst a renewed urgency to explore the Moon with the objective of establishing facilities for long-term stay and research. US space agency NASA, in particular, has been encouraging the private space companies to build capacities and participate in these missions. It has launched a programme called Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS) that is aimed at helping private companies to regularly undertake these complex missions. The missions sent by Astrobotic Technologies, Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace were all part of this CLPS programme. Over a dozen space companies have been contracted by NASA for carrying out these kinds of sorties to the Moon.
