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India Today
10-07-2025
- Science
- India Today
Europe conducts critical drop tests on reusable spacecraft
The European Space Agency's reusable spacecraft Space Rider has successfully completed a crucial series of drop tests, bringing it closer to becoming Europe's versatile orbital laboratory for a wide range of the size of two minivans, Space Rider is designed to stay in low Earth orbit for up to three months, enabling scientific research, in-orbit manufacturing, and visits to orbital platforms before returning safely to recent drop-test campaign took place at the Salto di Quirra testing range in Sardinia, Italy, where models of Space Rider's reentry module were released from an Italian Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter at altitudes between 1 and 2.5 kilometers. These tests focused on two critical systems: the parachutes that slow the spacecraft during descent and the flight-control software that autonomously guides Space Rider to a precise landing Space Rider reenters Earth's atmosphere, it faces extreme conditions—traveling over six times the speed of sound and enduring temperatures exceeding ensure a safe landing, a sequence of parachutes deploys: first a drogue chute just below the speed of sound for initial braking, followed by a pilot chute that pulls out a large parafoil at around 5 km altitude. This parafoil then steers the spacecraft to a targeted landing with remarkable tests confirmed the parachutes' reliable deployment and speed reduction capabilities, as well as the effectiveness of the autonomous guidance test model, equipped with sensors and control avionics, descended without any ground intervention, landing within 150 meters of the target—a world-first achievement for precision landing under parafoil. pace Rider represents a major step forward for reusable European spaceflight. (Photo: ESA) This campaign was led by Thales Alenia Space Italia, with support from industrial partners and the Italian Defence sector, which provided essential logistics and access to the test ahead, Space Rider will undergo further full-system drop tests, including simulations of worst-case landing scenarios to ensure payload safety. The spacecraft is designed for quick turnaround, undergoing six months of maintenance before returning to orbit for subsequent Rider represents a major step forward for reusable European spaceflight, promising to advance research in pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, materials science, and space technology while offering routine, affordable access to and return from orbit.- Ends
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Italian town loves deep-fried British dish so much, it holds a two-week festival dedicated to it
When it comes to culinary styles, Scotland and Italy are, few would argue, poles apart - except for one corner of Tuscany that can't get enough of one of Britain's most popular dishes. Every August, the hilltop town of Barga hosts its annual Fish and Chip festival, which admittedly sounds a little more cosmopolitan in Italian - 'Sagra del Pesce e Patate'. Legions of locals turn up to dine on hearty portions of battered haddock and chips, doused in salt and vinegar - although it's unclear whether other chip shop favourites such as mushy peas, battered onion rings and pickled eggs make the cut. How did the Tuscan town, which typically enjoys a diet of olive oil, pizza and pasta, fall in love with our own deep fried staple? Italian immigration to Scotland in the early 20th century holds the key; many Barga residents upped sticks and sought a new life north of the English border. While many of those who relocated to Scotland brought an Italian foodie favourite with them - gelato - and opened ice-cream stores, others found work in the most popular takeaway of the time, the humble chippie. Scottish singer Paolo Nutini's family hail from the walled town, which lies around 45 minutes drive from Florence. When they later returned home - either to visit family during the summer holidays - or relocated permanently, they taught those back in Barga how to recreate the fish and chips they'd been serving up... and the rest is history. The Fish and Chip festival has now been running since the 1980s and one Scottish-Italian who attended last year praised it, writing on its Facebook page: 'Attended this year from Bonny Scotland. 'Had a great evening and delicious fish and chips thank you for your hospitality it was second to none. Another bucket list adventure ticked if our list.' Another, this time an Englishman, added: 'From Yorkshire to Barga, again, we've returned for our second year. Thank you very much, Forza Barga!!' On the menu, alongside a host of other Italian meals, is fish and chips, and another dish that possibly wouldn't make the menu in a down-to-earth Scottish chippie - fagiolie cipolla, a side dish made up of cannellini or borlotti beans and sliced red onions. Barga hearts Scotland: A red telephone box also stands in the Italian town, which is in the region of Lucca in Tuscany The festival this summer will be held from August 1st to August 17th in the town's AS Barga football stadium, which is named after the only Scottish-born male footballer to play for Italy, Johnny Moscardini. Moscardini was born in Falkirk in 1897 and learned to play football in the streets near his family's café in Manor Street. The family came from Barga and Moscardini enlisted in the Italian Army as a machine gunner, receiving a shrapnel wound to his left arm that restricted its movement until his death in 1985. While recovering from his injury he played football with Lucchese, Pisa and Genoa, during which time he won nine international caps, scoring seven goals. He played his last game for Italy against France on March 22, 1925, scoring twice in a 7-0 win. That year, however, he returned to Scotland to help run his uncle's Royal Cafe in Campbeltown.
