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The Dutch teenager who became the world’s youngest space traveller this week surprised billionaire Jeff Bezos on the flight by telling him he’d never ordered anything on Amazon.com.

Oliver Daemen, an 18-year-old physics student, accompanied Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos and 82-year-old female aviator Wally Funk – the oldest person to go to space – on a 10-minute trip beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

Bezos funded exploration company Blue Origin by selling billions of dollars’ worth of stock in his online delivery business Amazon.

“I told Jeff, like, I’ve actually never bought something from Amazon,” Daemen told Reuters in an interview on Friday at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. “And he was like, ‘oh, wow, it’s a long time ago I heard someone say that’.”

Daemen, who was picked after another candidate bidding $28 million for the ride cancelled at the last minute, found out he would be joining the flight while on a family holiday in Italy.

“They called and said: Are you still interested?’ and we were like ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!'”

Daemen had dreamt of space travel since he was a kid, followed every development by space exploration companies like Blue Origin and got his pilot’s licence at a young age.

“We didn’t pay even close to $28 million (roughly Rs. 208.40 crores), but they chose me because I was the youngest and I was also a pilot and I also knew quite a lot about it already.”

Ping-pong in space
Reality still hasn’t sunk in three days after the journey.

“I don’t think I realised it until I was in the rocket: ‘wow, it’s really happening’,” he said. “It was my ultimate, ultimate goal … but I never thought it was going to be this soon.”

The crew received two days of safety training, but nothing very hard, said Daemen, who can be seen in a video of the trip tossing ping-pong balls in weightlessness with Jeff Bezos.

“That was super cool. It’s so weird to be weightless. It was easier than I had expected. It was kind of like being in water.”

Daemen, who is set to start at Utrecht University in September, said he was not sure what he wanted to do later in life, but would seriously consider a career in space travel.

Asked what it was like travelling in a rocket ship with a billionaire, he answered with a wide smile: “They were super fun and all down to earth, as funny as that may sound.”

© Thomson Reuters 2021


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NASA’s new mission could change how we mine resources on the Moon

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NASA’s new mission could change how we mine resources on the Moon

NASA’s Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1 (PRIME-1) is being prepared to analyse the Moon’s subsurface for resource extraction, with its technology expected to aid future Artemis missions. The experiment, which will assess lunar soil and identify potential resources, has been developed to support sustained human exploration. The instruments onboard will work together to drill, collect, and examine samples, providing data crucial for understanding the lunar environment. The mission is expected to deliver insights that could contribute to establishing long-term lunar habitation.

Instruments to Extract and Analyse Lunar Samples

According to the study, PRIME-1 consists of two primary instruments designed for simultaneous operation. The Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrains (TRIDENT) has been engineered to drill into the Moon’s surface and collect samples, while the Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSOLO) will analyse the gases released from these samples. Insights gained from this experiment could influence strategies for lunar resource utilisation, facilitating the production of essential supplies for deep-space missions.

Jackie Quinn, PRIME-1 project manager at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre, stated in a report that the ability to drill and analyse samples simultaneously will provide critical information for future lunar missions. The technology is expected to assist in developing efficient methods for extracting and utilising resources available on the Moon’s surface and subsurface.

Scheduled Launch and Mission Objectives

Reports indicate that PRIME-1 is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, set to launch no earlier than February 26. The mission will be transported aboard Intuitive Machines’ Athena lunar lander, which is expected to explore the Mons Mouton plateau near the Moon’s South Pole. This location has been selected due to its potential for resource-rich deposits.

Technology Developed for Lunar Drilling and Analysis

TRIDENT, developed by Honeybee Robotics, a subsidiary of Blue Origin, has been designed as a rotary percussive drill capable of penetrating up to one metre below the lunar surface. The drill will extract 10-centimetre-long samples, allowing scientists to examine the distribution of frozen gases at varying depths. Equipped with carbide cutting teeth, the drill is built to handle the challenging lunar terrain. Unlike the Apollo-era drills, TRIDENT will be remotely operated from Earth, offering valuable data on regolith composition and temperature variations.

MSOLO, developed by INFICON and adapted for spaceflight at Kennedy Space Centre, will analyse the gases released from the drilled samples. This mass spectrometer is expected to identify the presence of water ice and other volatile compounds, contributing to a better understanding of lunar resource availability.

NASA’s CLPS Initiative and Future Exploration

Under the CLPS model, NASA is investing in commercial partnerships to enable lunar deliveries, with the goal of supporting long-term exploration. NASA, as a primary customer, is one of several organisations utilising these missions for scientific and technological advancements. The PRIME-1 mission has been funded by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate Game Changing Development program and is expected to provide foundational data for future lunar operations.

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Blue Origin Prepares Second New Glenn Launch, Aims for Better Landing

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Blue Origin Prepares Second New Glenn Launch, Aims for Better Landing

The second launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is being targeted for late spring, as efforts are being made to enhance its landing capabilities. The 320-foot-tall rocket was first launched on January 16, 2025, from Florida’s Space Coast, successfully deploying a test version of the Blue Ring spacecraft into orbit. However, the booster stage failed to land on the recovery platform at sea. The company had anticipated this possibility and has since identified potential issues affecting the landing sequence. Adjustments to the booster are being made in preparation for the upcoming launch.

Landing Challenges Identified and Addressed

According to reports, the engines performed as expected during the descent, but issues in delivering fuel from the tanks prevented a successful touchdown. Blue Origin Chief Executive Officer Dave Limp stated at the 27th Annual Commercial Space Conference that a combination of factors contributed to the failed landing. While specific technical details were not disclosed, it was mentioned that modifications are being implemented on the second booster. These changes are expected to improve landing success without delaying the next flight.

Payload for the Second Flight Yet to Be Finalized

The payload for the upcoming launch has not been officially confirmed. Reports indicate that Blue Origin is considering several options, including potential commercial missions. If no suitable payload is available, the rocket may carry a mass simulator for testing purposes. Limp mentioned that the first three flights of New Glenn are regarded as developmental missions, while commercial launches are expected to begin from the fourth flight onward.

New Glenn’s Capabilities and Future Prospects

New Glenn, under development for nearly a decade, is designed to transport 50 tons of payload to low Earth orbit. Its payload fairing, measuring 23 feet in diameter, is larger than that of any operational rocket. The company aims to establish New Glenn as a competitive launch vehicle for commercial and government clients, with an emphasis on reusability and cost efficiency.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a press release)

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Curiosity Rover Observes Iridescent Clouds on Mars, Offering New Insights

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Curiosity Rover Observes Iridescent Clouds on Mars, Offering New Insights

Images captured by NASA’s Curiosity rover have shown rare iridescent clouds drifting across the Martian sky. These formations, observed in the planet’s twilight, were seen at high altitudes where sunlight still reaches them despite nightfall on the surface. The images were taken on January 17, using one of the rover’s onboard cameras, with individual frames stitched together to create a time-lapse video. Scientists are analysing these cloud patterns to gain insights into Mars’ atmospheric processes and climate conditions.

Details of the Findings

A report from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) detailed that these high-altitude clouds, composed of carbon dioxide ice, were seen floating between 60 and 80 kilometres above the surface. The cold temperatures at these heights cause the condensation of carbon dioxide, forming distinctive cloud structures. Some of the ice crystals were observed descending before evaporating at approximately 50 kilometres, where temperatures begin to rise.

As reported by space.com,that this is the fourth Martian year in which Curiosity has recorded these cloud formations. The phenomenon was first observed by NASA’s Pathfinder mission in 1997, which captured images from a location just north of the Martian equator.

Expert Analysis on Martian Clouds

In a statement to NASA’s JPL, Mark Lemmon, Atmospheric Scientist at the Space Science Institute in Colorado, remarked that the first sighting of these iridescent clouds was initially thought to be a colour anomaly. He highlighted that their seasonal recurrence has allowed researchers to predict their appearance and plan observations in advance.

Last year, scientists produced the most comprehensive cloud map of Mars, compiled from two decades of data gathered by the European Space Agency’s Mars Express orbiter. This study classified a range of cloud formations, including patterns not seen on Earth. Daniela Tirsch, Planetary Geologist at the German Aerospace Center, commented at the time that Martian clouds exhibit significant diversity.

Unanswered Questions About Cloud Formation

Observations have so far been limited to specific regions, with no twilight clouds detected by the Perseverance rover, which landed in Jezero Crater in 2021. This has led scientists to question what makes certain areas more conducive to their formation.

Lemmon explained that carbon dioxide was not expected to condense into ice at these altitudes, suggesting an unknown cooling mechanism at work. He pointed to atmospheric gravity waves as a possible factor, though their role in Martian weather patterns remains uncertain. Further studies are planned to better understand these cloud formations and their implications for the planet’s climate.

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