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Forbes
12 hours ago
- Science
- Forbes
White House Aims To Halt NASA Missions Across The Solar System
The New Horizons spacecraft sends back its sensational snapshots of Jupiter, and its volcanic moon ... More Io, before the mission's close encounter with Pluto (Photo by: Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Universal Images Group via Getty Images The Trump administration's bid to terminate NASA's leading-edge flights of exploration 'across the solar system' may cripple American leadership in space, preventing discoveries that could reshape civilization in what is now considered the first Space Age, says one of the world's top planetary scientists. As space powers across the continents vie to map and image planets and moons, comets and ice-worlds circling the sun, slashes to NASA's funding would represent a great leap backward, crippling it even as rivals race ahead, says Alan Stern, a one-time leader at NASA and a globally acclaimed space scientist. The president's new proposed budget drastically cuts appropriations for NASA, with outlays for its planetary science missions—the exploration of Pluto and other celestial worlds by space-borne rockets and robots, cameras and telescopes—axed almost in half. Now facing the guillotine—inexplicably—are constellations of technologically advanced space probes developed by NASA and spearheading scientists across America, including the Juno imager now orbiting Jupiter, the Mars Odyssey and Maven spacecraft gliding above Mars and the asteroid hunter OSIRIS-Apophis. NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft, in orbit around Mars, is one of the leading-edge explorers slated to ... More be terminated by the White House. Shown here is an artist's impression of the orbiter. (Photo) Getty Images 'Incredibly, this budget proposes to turn off 55 perfectly working, productive spacecraft across the solar system,' Dr. Stern, who once headed NASA's Science Mission Directorate, tells me in an interview. Stern took up that post after conceiving and designing one of the American space agency's most sensational missions ever - the New Horizons spacecraft that aced a close approach with Pluto while sending back fantastical images of the otherworldly orb and its moons - a miniature planetary system that generated billions of hits when it began beaming down across NASA's website. While New Horizons continues its super-speed flight through the outer solar system, charting the mysterious frozen reaches of the Kuiper belt, the president's plan calls for the spacecraft to be cast away. Abandoning the $900-million mission in order to recoup the minimal costs of its ongoing operation makes no sense economically or scientifically, Stern says. The robotic photographer New Horizons images Pluto as it speeds through the outer solar system ... More (Photo by NASA/APL/SwRI via Getty Images) Getty Images 'With New Horizons,' he says, 'there are a lot of important scientific objectives still ahead, things no other spacecraft can do.' 'Terminating this mission would also represent a tragic loss of soft power projection for the U.S.' The Horizons craft, and its array of next-generation cameras and spectrometers, is exploring a region beyond Pluto that no other human-created probe has ever entered, with a treasure trove of potential discoveries waiting. 'This would be like sending a message to [Christopher] Columbus to sink his ships while they were in North America,' Stern tells me, upending a new age of discovery. 'With New Horizons, we have the power and the fuel to run this mission for another 20 years … and we have more Kuiper belt objects to explore.' The White House, in issuing its slashed budget plan for NASA, never provided a logical rationale for torpedoing some of the agency's world-leading missions to survey and image the solar system. Its inscrutable sinking of some of these vanguard voyages was unveiled with the terseness of a telegram: 'Operating missions that have completed their prime missions (New Horizons and Juno) and the follow-on mission to OSIRIX-REx, OSIRIS-Apophis Explorer, are eliminated.' The asteroid-hunter OSIRIS spacecraft, shown here at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is one of ... More the trailblazers set to be terminated by the White House. (Photo by Bruce Weaver / AFP) (Photo by BRUCE WEAVER/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images The OSIRIS spacecraft, which had been slated to rendezvous with the closely approaching Apophis asteroid ahead, is a precursor mission to defending the Earth's eight billion citizens against doomsday cosmic strikes by colossal comets or asteroids of the future. The robotic photographer Juno has snapped an endless kaleidoscope of imagery as it floats around Jupiter. Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab have posted raw impressions of the orb and its moons and invited 'citizen scientists' to Photoshop and launch them across the cybersphere. In the process, they are becoming part of the spacefaring civilization that is spreading out across the globe. Model of the $1-billion Juno spacecraft, which is now orbiting and photographing Jupiter (Photo by ... More) Getty Images During its own space odyssey, New Horizons has astounded stargazers, students and scholars worldwide with its technicolor panoramas of Pluto, covered in surreal ice-fields and cryo-volcanoes, and its age-old companion Charon. The twin netherworlds—named after the mythical Greek god of the underworld and the pilot who shuttled souls across the river Styx—circle more than five billion kilometers distant from the sun, along an orbit that Stern's Pluto expedition took nine years to reach. Now, even as it whizzes beyond all of the classical planets, New Horizons, and its future, has entered the purgatory of potential excommunication by mission controllers—and their masters—six worlds away. The New Horizons spacecraft, now speeding through the outer solar system, could be jettisoned under ... More a White House plan that would destroy American leadership in planetary science missions. (Photo by Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images) Heritage Images via Getty Images 'This is a vast and tragic mistake,' Stern says, 'because the issue is larger than just NASA, it also affects U.S. world leadership [and] responsible government that protects taxpayers from waste like this.' The administration's crash-and-burn dismissal of the solar system's trailblazing robotic discoverers has triggered trepidation across NASA, whose ranks of pioneering scientists are likewise set to be culled. Within NASA, Alan Stern is a pole star of cutting-edge exploration, helping guide more than two dozen missions. After his New Horizons spacecraft rendezvoused with Pluto, the agency bestowed its highest honor on him - the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal. 'Stern led the team that returned remarkable imagery and other data from the Pluto system last summer, generating headlines worldwide and setting a record for the farthest world ever explored,' NASA's leaders said. "New Horizons represents the best of humanity and reminds us of why we explore,' added Jim Green, NASA's director of planetary science. "The first flyby of Pluto is a remarkable achievement.' Being given the chance to lead the close encounter with Pluto, Stern said on accepting the award, 'has been the greatest honor of my lifetime.' Around the same time, NASA film-makers paid tribute to Stern, his 2000+ Pluto mission colleagues, and the target of their interplanetary expedition in the captivating documentary ' The Year of Pluto .' Stern has himself chronicled his trek across the twilight reaches of the star system in a series of fascinating books, including Pluto and Charon: Ice Worlds on the Ragged Edge of the Solar System and Chasing New Horizons, and in a torrent of acclaimed papers . Scholar Stern predicts that if the White House's proposed death sentence for flotillas of pathfinding space missions is actually carried out, that would mark the decline and fall of NASA's planetary science breakthroughs, and the comparative rise of its competitors in the renewed space race of the 2020s. If NASA's funding and inter-planet journeys are decimated, he tells me, 'These cuts will absolutely destroy U.S. leadership in all the space sciences.' 'This is tragically misguided.' The potential death knell for an armada of space discovery missions has been reverberating not just across NASA, but also throughout the U.S. universities that help conceive or design these flights. 'Certainly termination of the New Horizons mission would be terrible,' says Kip Hodges , who as founding director of Arizona State University's School of Earth and Space Exploration helped transform the university into one of the top American space studies centers. 'This a real frontier mission at this point,' he tells me in an interview, 'delivering important new information about distant parts of our Sun's heliosphere.' Congress has the power to save NASA and its leading-edge robotic explorers across the solar system ... More (Illustration by Tobias Roetsch/Future Publishing via Getty Images) Future Publishing via Getty Images Professor Hodges , one of the top space scholars in the U.S., predicts that the Swords of Damocles now hanging above New Horizons and other new-frontier flights could still be lifted. If the White House plan to cut away at NASA and its revolutionary planetary scouting missions were enacted as is, he predicts, 'a great many folks in industry, the NASA labs, and academia will be disappointed.' Yet he adds that 'the budget for NASA evolves over several stages,' with the president's initial proposal just one of competing models—one that could be rejected as the Senate and House of Representatives look afresh at NASA's missions, goals and funding. After the twin chambers reach a consensus on reshaping NASA for the next phase of its evolution, Professor Hodges adds, 'Quite often, the appropriated budget is not the president's budget.' That means space aficionados across America who seek to overturn the president's capital sentence on NASA's boundary-breaking missions have a clear channel of recourse, Stern says. Would-be petitioners for a reprieve, he advises, 'should contact their elected representatives in Congress and tell them this is a huge mistake.'
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
The week ahead is going to test your relationships to the max: 4 zodiac signs BEWARE!
An opposition upon a conjunction, no matter how straight the themes of the playing planets may be, always spells out chaos of some kind. The reason behind these regular bouts of cosmically-induced chaos being intense, come as no surprise, given the massive power each of the ever-moving planets hold within them. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in a still from The Notebook (2004)(Photo: X) Now when we say relationships, the first implication is of course on love and romance. However, the impact of the quadruple arrangement now in motion, as per astrologist and psychic Evan Nathaniel Grim, is actually open to impact any and all relationships, right from friends to family and even work. And the fixed signs in particular need to take special note. Mercury is opposing Pluto, at the same time that Venus is conjunct Uranus. To break this down for you, Mercury in Astrology represents communication, intellect, and mental processes, while Pluto stands to denote transformation, regeneration, and power. So assume these two sets of themes to be butting heads with one another rather aggressively. In the same breath, Venus represents love, beauty, harmony, and relationships while Uranus represents revolution, innovation, sudden change, and individuality. The softest themes in this lineup are then, that of love and romance which are already aligned with Uranus' core energy of sudden change. With Mercury opposing Pluto at the same time, communication leading to (often painful) transformation will be the predominating energy. What to expect? The truth and nothing less. If things are actually are as they appear to be on the surface, your relationship, as per Evan, will have an emotionally-charged breakthrough for the better. However, if there are lies and deceit, expect them to come to the forefront in not so pretty ways. It could be as simple as finding out someone has been gossiping behind your back, or something as major as your partner having a roving eye. Fixed signs beware Seeing as most of this movement is taking place in the sign of Taurus, maximum impact will be felt by the fixed signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. Evan specifies that people with placements in the first 10 degrees and the last 10 degrees of the fixed signs are also to wield caution and keep an eye out. It's going to be a sink or swim situation — but as the number one rule of the cosmos asserts, everything happens for a reason, so hold on tight!
UAE Moments
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
Your Career Horoscope for June 27, 2025
Find daily astrological predictions for all sun signs for June 27. We recommend reading the horoscopes for your rising sign. Aries Career Horoscope The closer you get to the Moon's return to your work sector in two days, the first since Mars returned and the last while Venus and Uranus are in your income sector, the more important it becomes to keep your mind and your options open. As this will have the biggest impact in the early part of the new working week and with the weekend between now and then, this could prove to be the perfect distraction. Taurus Career Horoscope It is a given that the Moon's return to your home and family sector today will see it spend its early hours clashed with Pluto in your career sector. With Pluto in the first year of what will be a 20 year visit, these monthly visits are key to maintaining the right work/life balance. The difference is that Mercury also returns today and while still two days away from clashing, he will be watching as the Moon goes in first, with a chance to learn some lessons. Gemini Career Horoscope Having already formed a friendly aspect to Juno on the job front and having already aligned with the Sun and Jupiter in your income sector, the last thing the Moon will do before leaving there today is form a friendly aspect to the North Node in your career sector. As well as leaving you with a sharp nose for money, this will leave you with a download of information and insight to unpack from across the income, work and career fronts, along with a renewed sense of confidence. Click here to follow our WhatsApp channel for tarot readings, love, health, career, and Chinese horoscopes delivered to your phone daily! Cancer Career Horoscope As they both return to your income sector today, this will do more than just see the Moon's sharp nose and Mercury's smart head for money kick in, while opening up a whole new chapter on the income side of the financial fence. Over the next few days, the Moon will make a positive aspect to all five planets in your career sector and Mercury to the first two. These are the two that like Mercury, will over the coming weeks turn retrograde, opening the doors to the past, second chances and untapped professional and income potential. Leo Career Horoscope While the Moon has already made its last visit to your career sector before Venus leaves next week, it is still two days away from its only visit to your income sector while the planet of money, desire and attraction is here. As Venus is just as focused on the money as she is on attracting professional opportunities and potential, some of her best days are still in front of you. Virgo Career Horoscope As much as the Moon and Mercury's return to a nostalgic part of your chart will both see them clash with Pluto in your work sector, the Moon today and Mercury over the weekend, the timing couldn't be better. This is something that heading into the weekend will put how well you know when to keep your work hat on and when to take it off to the test, but in between the Sun's departure from your career sector last week and Venus' return next week, just as professionally there is a chance to pause. Libra Career Horoscope Within the space of just a few hours, first Mercury and then the Moon will leave your career sector today. While the Moon was only here for a few days, a New Moon just as the Sun and Jupiter aligned, leaves you with your professional instincts sharp and a wave of momentum to ride. At the same time, after 18 days, Mercury leaves you with everything needed to keep your head in the game and to keep thinking on your feet. Scorpio Career Horoscope Within the same of just a few hours, first Mercury and then the Moon will both return to your career sector today. As well as your professional instincts kicking in just as Mercury returns with everything needed to get your head in the game and to think on your feet, both will start connecting with planets on the job front to kick off a brand new chapter. Sagittarius Career Horoscope With the Moon not only still two days away from its first visit since Mars returned to your career sector, but its last before Venus and Uranus leave, this could see a lot of things fall into place or come together just as you are ready to move into the new working week. Until then, as the Moon and Mercury return to an adventurous part of your chart, this can guard against overthinking things, just as the call has gone out to keep your mind and your options open. Capricorn Career Horoscope In between the Sun's departure from your work sector last weekend, Venus' not only returning later next week but the Moon set to return to your career sector before then, you are going into one of your last weekends this year with no planetary activity in either of your two professional houses. This is giving you the incentive to tie up the loose ends of this working week, ready for some much needed and important time out over the weekend. Aquarius Career Horoscope With the Moon and Mercury both leaving your work sector today, this will leave you with a variety of resources. As well as leaving you with your instincts sharp, as the Moon wraps up the New Moon two days ago, this will leave you with the momentum and insight needed to navigate the important weeks ahead. At the same time, Mercury leaves you with everything needed to work smarter, with your head in the game and your feet on the ground. Pisces Career Horoscope Within the space of just a few hours, first Mercury and then the Moon return to your work sector today. Because Mercury will return first, there is a chance to first to get your head in the game before the Moon returns to fuel your intuition, instincts and imagination. This will not only see the Moon and Mercury align, bringing their influences together, but with positive implications on the income front as well.
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Daily horoscope: June 27, 2025 astrological predictions for your star sign
What's been weighing on you lately? Today's Moon-Pluto connection is likely causing tension, poking at pressure points in your everyday life. Aries, Taurus, Gemini and Cancer, if that rings true, don't brush it off. Taking action beats pushing your feelings down. Ahead, you'll find all the star signs' horoscopes for today Friday 27, June 2025. Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox. To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit March 21 to April 20 There's a potential cosmic clash as the Leo Moon shines while Pluto stirs up shadows in Aquarius, which could set your social scene on fire. You may be craving a chance to do your own thing, but a friend or group might pull strings that feel more like chains. Should you follow the crowd or forge your own path? You don't need to prove your independence, just live it. Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries April 21 to May 21 The Moon/Pluto face-off suggests a tug-of-war between career issues and any craving for inner peace. You're not lazy, you're wisely protecting your energy. Don't let guilt override your need for stillness, as that email can wait but your peace of mind can't. Step back, breathe deeply and totally relax. It's time to curl up and indulge in something truly soul soothing. Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus May 22 to June 21 A small niggle could spark greater conflict, and what seems petty may stir up deeper pressure points. Are you really annoyed about the dishes or something more? Don't let minor issues mask major feelings. You're clever enough to talk your way through this, but wisdom means listening too. What's surfacing now needs healing not hiding, so welcome this chance. Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini June 22 to July 23 Today's Leo Moon may tempt you to soothe your soul with a little retail therapy, while Pluto in Aquarius asks, 'What's really bothering you?' It might feel good, but it won't resolve what's simmering underneath. Are you shopping to dodge a deeper discomfort? Emotional spending can feel great, but it won't help. True comfort comes from facing what's really upsetting you. Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer July 24 to August 23 With the Moon in your sign and Pluto casting a glance from Aquarius, a clash with someone close could escalate fast. Ask yourself if you want to win, or if you want peace? This isn't about backing down, it's about stepping up with tact. A kind word can tame tension faster than a dramatic face-off. You shine brightest when you take time to listen to others' concerns. Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo August 24 to September 23 Today's line-up invites you to exhale and unwind, but Pluto in your work zone may whisper that you should be doing more. You might crave rest, yet feel guilty when you take a break. Even relaxation can be a chance for you to plan ahead. Here's your permission slip that it's okay to do nothing. Rest isn't laziness, it's a strategy. Stop trying to be perfect and let yourself simply be. Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo September 24 to October 23 The Leo Moon spotlights passion and play, while Pluto in Aquarius stirs up social obligations. Prioritise what you enjoy, not what pleases everyone. Real friends won't flinch if you follow your bliss for a bit. Balance doesn't mean splitting time evenly, it means choosing what feels right. You're perfectly strong enough to connect with the group later, and share a few stories. Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra October 24 to November 22 The Moon/Pluto link could inspire you to vent in public. That sharp post or cutting comment might feel great at the time, but the fallout could be messier than expected. Your words are powerful, so use them especially carefully. Share privately if you need to but keep your public face polished. There's strength in restraint. Protect your peace by choosing diplomacy over too much drama. Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio November 23 to December 21 You're usually the first to chase new horizons, but an issue may have affected you deeply and now your ability to detach has gone away. Passion is great, but don't mistake certainty for truth. Listen before jumping to conclusions. A fresh perspective can be a good thing and you're a seeker first and foremost, so listen instead. Know when to keep quiet and when to speak. Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius December 22 to January 20 You may feel drawn to invest time, energy or cash into developing a talent or passion, hoping it boosts your self-worth. The truth is that you already have value, so there's no need to prove it. Still, nurturing a skill can be healing, just make sure it's for happiness, not validation. You don't need to earn your right to feel good. Confidence grows when you act from love rather than lack. Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn January 21 to February 19 Today's Leo Moon puts someone in your orbit who may cause an intense reaction, and Pluto in your sign hints it's not really about them. What's brewing beneath? That flash of frustration or attraction might be a mirror for an old, unhealed emotional pattern. You're brilliant at analysis, but this calls for inner excavation, not intellectualisation. Get curious not defensive, Aquarius. Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius February 20 to March 20 More Trending You're caught between your to-do lists and the lure of the soul's mystery. Mundane chores feel heavy when your spirit longs to swim in subtler waters. The trick? Balance your tasks with your love of dreaming. Fold laundry while pondering life's purpose. Wash dishes, then take time to reflect. Self-knowledge isn't separate from life, it's hidden in it. Find wonder in the everyday. Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces View More » Your daily horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page. MORE: What's my horoscope for today? June 26, 2025 astrological predictions for your star sign MORE: What's my horoscope for today? June 25, 2025 astrological predictions for your star sign MORE: What's my horoscope for today? June 24, 2025 astrological predictions for your star sign
UAE Moments
2 days ago
- Business
- UAE Moments
♍ Virgo: Daily Horoscope for June 27th, 2025
Dear Virgo, today the universe invites you to embrace the power of communication and creativity. With the Moon in Leo conjunct Mercury, your eloquence shines brightly. Use this energy to express your ideas and connect with others. Love Horoscope Today, Virgo, the celestial dance encourages you to open your heart and let love flow freely. The Moon in Leo's conjunction with Mercury invites you to express your feelings with confidence and warmth. Whether you're single or in a relationship, take a moment to appreciate the beauty of connection. Share a heartfelt conversation or a simple gesture of affection. Remember, love is not just about grand gestures but also about the small, everyday moments that bring joy and warmth to your life. Embrace vulnerability and let love illuminate your path. Career Horoscope In the realm of work, Virgo, today is a day to shine. The Moon in Leo enhances your natural eloquence and organizational skills, making it an ideal time for presentations or collaborative projects. Your attention to detail and logical approach will be appreciated by colleagues and superiors alike. However, be mindful of the Moon's opposition to Pluto, which may bring unexpected challenges. Stay flexible and open to new solutions. Remember, every challenge is an opportunity for growth. Embrace your role as a leader and let your light guide the way. Health Horoscope Virgo, your well-being is in focus today as the Moon's transition into Leo energizes your spirit. This is a perfect day to indulge in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Whether it's a walk in nature, a yoga session, or simply enjoying a good book, prioritize your mental and physical health. The trine between the Moon and Neptune encourages you to dream and visualize your ideal state of well-being. Remember, self-care is not a luxury but a necessity. Embrace the present moment and nurture your body and soul with kindness and compassion. Finance Horoscope Financially, Virgo, today is a day to be cautious yet optimistic. The Moon's opposition to Pluto suggests potential challenges, but with your meticulous nature, you can navigate them with grace. Review your budget and ensure everything is in order. This is not a day for impulsive purchases; instead, focus on long-term financial goals. The trine between Mercury and Saturn later in the day will provide clarity and insight into your financial strategies. Trust your analytical skills and remember that patience and planning are your allies in achieving financial stability.
