Latest news with #MarsRover
Forbes
26-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
First-Ever SpaceX Shares Now Available Through Blockchain
(Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty ... More Images) At one point, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut. Years later, I got as close as a civilian could—working with a partner on the Mars Rover project during my time at AWS. But today, something even more surprising is possible: owning a piece of SpaceX. Ksenia Carter-Allensworth, Sandy Carter, Maria Carter-Allensworth, Todd Allensworth And you don't need a telescope, just a crypto wallet. This week, investment platform Republic unveiled an industry first: blockchain-based fractional shares of Elon Musk's private space company SpaceX. For the first time, retail investors—those without institutional backing or venture capital credentials—can gain exposure to one of the most sought-after private companies in the world. A Private Club Cracks Open By SpaceX And Blockchain Traditionally, owning equity in a company like SpaceX was reserved for the financial elite: VCs, hedge funds, and high-net-worth individuals. Republic is rewriting that script by offering digital tokens that represent slices of SpaceX shares. A digital token is a blockchain-based unit of value that represents ownership or access rights to an asset—such as equity, real estate, or digital goods. It functions like a tradable certificate that can streamline transactions, improve transparency, and reduce reliance on tokens aren't just clever financial instruments—they're emblematic of a larger shift toward financial accessibility. There's a catch, however. These tokens don't confer voting rights or governance control. Investors won't have a say in SpaceX's strategic direction or Musk's next launchpad move. What they do get is exposure to the company's valuation growth—a potentially lucrative proposition, especially for those priced out of private equity until now. Blockchain Tokenized Access, Not Just SpaceX Talk Republic's use of blockchain here isn't window dressing. By putting these fractional shares on-chain, the platform delivers transparency, portability, and lower friction than traditional private equity deals. The move also bypasses many of the compliance headaches associated with traditional investment vehicles. Tokenization is being used for the first time with SpaceX shares It's not equity in the classic sense—there are no shareholder meetings or board seats—but it's a financial stake in the company's future. That alone marks a major psychological and structural shift in how we define ownership in the digital age. Why This Moment Matters For Blockchain And SpaceX The offering comes at a time when public interest in space—and in alternative assets—is soaring. SpaceX has become a cultural icon, not just for its audacious Mars goals or the Starlink satellite array, but for how it blends tech ambition with a kind of mythic futurism. Until now, the closest most people could get was following rocket launches on X (formerly Twitter). Now, through Republic's platform, everyday investors can participate in that future. It's not a free-for-all—there are still guardrails and eligibility filters—but the aperture has widened significantly. The Bigger Picture For SpaceX And Tokenization More broadly, Republic's move could set a precedent. If blockchain can be used to unlock access to coveted private companies like SpaceX, what's next? Stripe? OpenAI? It's not hard to imagine a wave of tokenized investment opportunities redefining capital formation for startups and unicorns alike. Critics may question the real value of exposure without control. Others might point to regulatory gray areas. But the broader trend is unmistakable: finance is being restructured for a more connected, more distributed world. Republic may not be sending you to space, but it's offering the next best thing—a chance to be financially tethered to a rocket ship. And in a world where ownership is increasingly digital, that may be the new moonshot. Did you enjoy this story about SpaceX and Tokenization of Shares? Don't miss my next one: Use the blue follow button at the top of the article near my byline to follow more of my work.
Indian Express
15-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
From Lucknow to the hills: IIT Mandi BTech student's story of curiosity, campus life, and confidence
— Aryan Singh I have always been fascinated by how things work, and during my school years at City Montessori School, Aliganj, Uttar Pradesh, that curiosity slowly morphed into a deep love for Physics. It was this interest that nudged me towards preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). Cracking JEE had been on my goal list for a while, due to all of the amazing things it could lead me to in engineering and research. I appeared for JEE Main twice. The first time was alongside my Class 12 board exams, in which I qualified. However, I was still not satisfied with my marks and wanted to improve, so I gave it another try the next year. The preparation was definitely challenging. The sudden jump in difficulty from school-level to JEE-level concepts was tough to cope with initially. Also, I personally struggled with chemistry, which made things harder. But consistent effort and staying motivated helped me get through it. Physics fascinated me the most during my JEE preparation as well. That love for the subject naturally guided me to choose Engineering Physics at IIT Mandi. I am doing BTech in Engineering Physics at the School of Physical Sciences in IIT Mandi now. I'm in the fourth year of the course. I joined IIT Mandi in 2022. It was the first time I moved away from my hometown, Lucknow, but the transition was harder for my family. At IIT Mandi, all first-year students share rooms, so you're never truly alone. It's a very supportive environment. My daily routine is quite simple. I wake up, have breakfast, attend lectures and labs, and in the evening, I usually hang out with friends or take walks around the campus. As for hobbies, I enjoy watching anime and sitcoms during my free time. We mostly hang out at the campus canteen. Given the amazing weather in Mandi, having tea or coffee with friends is always a great idea. During my first year, I explored many clubs and took part in a range of activities from microcontroller workshops to art and design sessions. One memorable experience was participating in Utkarsh, our intra-college tech competition. I stayed up all night to build a line-following robot. It may sound basic now, but back then, it gave me a real sense of accomplishment. The academic pressure is manageable if you follow lectures and complete assignments on time. Beyond academics, IIT Mandi has helped me grow in confidence and has instilled in me a positive approach to tackling challenges. One major lesson I have learned here is that you can learn anything. The environment here constantly encourages self-learning and experimentation. I participated in the University Rover Challenge (URC), an international competition for undergraduates. We built a Mars Rover as part of the challenge. The entire project was funded by the institute, and it was an incredible hands-on learning experience. It feels amazing to be able to say, 'I helped build a Mars Rover.' The professors here are extremely knowledgeable and approachable. Many of them are open to casual discussions outside the classroom. One great thing about IIT Mandi is the smaller batch sizes, which makes it easier to connect with the faculty. I've had meaningful academic conversations with many of my professors beyond the classroom setting. Another very important part of my IIT Mandi life is the students' gymkhana. I have been mostly involved with the SnTC (Science and Technical Council) of IIT Mandi. Also, the culture is such that learning is promoted – it doesn't matter if you have prior experience or not. I never thought that a student-led body could make a car or a Mars rover. Being a part of these activities has helped me a lot to meet seniors and learn from them. Life at IIT Mandi is calm and peaceful. The institute is located in the mountains, so unlike urban campuses, we don't have a bustling city atmosphere. However, we enjoy clean air, beautiful weather throughout the year, and a very tight-knit campus community, which is rare in most cities. Locals all over Himachal are friendly and loving. One very interesting experience was when I was roaming around with my friends and suddenly Director Sir appeared. Well, you don't expect to see the institute's director roaming around on campus, but at IIT Mandi it's quite common. He is also interested in interacting with students. I mostly manage my expenses with financial support from home. Occasionally, I earn a little extra by working as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for some courses. As a child, I never had any issues with academics or sports activities, although I had a major injury during one of my football matches, after which I stopped playing. I expect to continue in interdisciplinary research, although I am not sure in exactly which field – I am hoping to figure that out in my last year at IIT. Mridusmita Deka covers education and has worked with the Careers360 previously. She is an alumnus of Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University. ... Read More
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
NASA Perseverance Rover Strikes A Selfie With Mars Dust Devil
NASA's Perseverance took this selfie on May 10 along the rim of the Jezero crater. Unbothered. In its lane. Focused. Dusty. Fabulous. NASA's Perseverance Mars rover took some time away from its science work to snap a superb selfie from its perch on the rim of the Jezero Crater. The rover wasn't alone. A peppy dust devil danced in the background. NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab shared two versions of the rover selfie on May 21. The portraits show the rover parked on a rocky hill. In one shot, the rover 'looks' at the camera with its head-like mast. In the other, it looks toward the ground where a small hole marks a spot where the rover drilled for a rock sample. The photobombing dust devil can be seen in the distance as a light-colored puff near the middle of the image. 'The well-illuminated scene and relatively clear atmosphere allowed us to capture a dust devil located 3 miles to the north in Neretva Vallis,' said Perseverance imaging lead Justin Maki in a statement. The small dark hole in the rock in front of the rover is the borehole made when Perseverance ... More collected its latest sample. The small puff of dust left of center and below the horizon line is a dust devil. NASA shared an annotated version of the image pointing out the dust devil, the sample hole, an American flag on the rover and the rover's tracks behind it. Dust devils are common on Mars. NASA's rovers keep an eye out for dust devil activity. Perseverance even captured extraordinary footage of a larger dust devil consuming a smaller one in January. The rover snapped the selfie on May 10 to celebrate its 1,500th sol on the red planet. A sol is a Martian day. It works out to about 24 hours and 39 minutes, so a sol is slightly longer than an Earth day. This is Perseverance's fifth selfie since it arrived on Mars in early 2021. The rover landed inside the Jezero Crater and has since worked its way up to the crater rim. It's spent about five months exploring an area nicknamed Witch Hazel Hill. The region has delivered some geological surprises, like these 'shocking spherules' Perseverance investigated in March. Taking a selfie on Mars is no easy feat. Perseverance used its Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering camera to snap 59 images that could be stitched together into the full selfie. WATSON is located at the end of the rover's robotic arm. WATSON took three more snaps for the shot where Percy looked down toward the ground. The Perseverance team had to plan out each shot. 'That means we had to make 62 precision movements of the robotic arm,' said Perseverance imaging scientist Megan Wu. 'The whole process takes about an hour, but it's worth it. Having the dust devil in the background makes it a classic. This is a great shot.' Selfies aren't just for fun. The rover team uses them to assess the rover and monitor how much dust has gathered on the vehicle and its instruments. Mars is notoriously dusty. NASA's Opportunity rover and InSight lander succumbed to dust-covered solar panels. Unlike its dearly departed helicopter companion Ingenuity, Perseverance doesn't rely on solar. It's essentially powered by a nuclear battery. Perseverance received a thumbs-up health report from its team. 'After 1,500 sols, we may be a bit dusty, but our beauty is more than skin deep,' said Art Thompson, Perseverance project manager. Thompson said the rover has all the power it needs, that all systems are in the green and that Perseverance is set to 'feed scientific discoveries for years to come.' That's worth a celebratory Mars selfie.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Cusat showcases student innovations at govt expo
Kochi: At the Ente Keralam exhibition and trade fair, being held at Marine Drive ground as part of Kerala govt's fourth anniversary celebrations, the stall set up by Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) is drawing considerable attention for its display of innovation and cutting-edge research. The stall highlights several internationally acclaimed projects developed by Cusat engineering students. These include a Mars Rover that earned global recognition at European Rover Challenge in Poland, a racing car developed by students which won Formula Bharat Championship and a multi-purpose off-road vehicle designed for rescue operations. Another noteworthy innovation is a machine capable of planting multiple varieties of vegetable saplings simultaneously — India's first fully automated transplanter of its kind. The stall also offers a virtual reality (VR) journey simulating a walk with penguins in Antarctica. The immersive visuals of snow-covered landscapes, the northern lights and snowfall have captivated audiences. This VR experience is presented by Cusat-NCPOR Centre for Polar Science. Cusat's National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health (NCAAH) researchers are also showcasing bacterial products designed to enhance aquatic health, including supplements for fish and solutions to eliminate harmful chemicals from aquatic environments. Adding to the tech offerings, School of Legal Studies has introduced Legal GPT, an AI-powered software capable of answering legal queries. Cusat's IT engineering students developed a multilingual chatbot that provides instant responses to questions about the university in both Malayalam and English. The exhibition continues until Friday.
BreakingNews.ie
21-05-2025
- Science
- BreakingNews.ie
Nasa's Mars Perseverance snaps a selfie as a Martian dust devil blows by
The latest selfie by Nasa's Perseverance rover ont Mars has captured an unexpected guest: a Martian dust devil. Resembling a small pale puff, the twirling dust devil popped up three miles behind the rover during this month's photo shoot. Advertisement Released on Wednesday, the selfie is a composite of 59 images taken by the camera on the end of the rover's robotic arm, according to Nasa. It took an hour to perform all the arm movements necessary to gather the images, 'but it's worth it', said Megan Wu, an imaging scientist from Malin Space Science Systems, which built the camera. 'Having the dust devil in the background makes it a classic,' Ms Wu said in a statement. Did you know that I use self-driving autonomy on Mars? My AutoNav system helps me scan for hazards and chart a safe course in real time based on parameters from my team back home. This was built on decades of work, shaped by lessons from rovers that came before me. — NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) May 2, 2025 The picture — which also shows the rover's latest sample borehole on the surface — marks 1,500 sols or Martian days for Perseverance. That is equivalent to 1,541 days on Earth. Advertisement Perseverance is covered with red dust, the result of drilling into dozens of rocks. Launched in 2020, it is collecting samples for eventual return to Earth from Jezero Crater, an ancient lakebed and river delta that could hold clues of any past microbial life.
