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A US government watchdog on Friday sided with NASA over its decision to pick a single lunar lander provider, rejecting a protest filed by Blue Origin and defense contractor Dynetics Inc.

The companies had challenged the $2.9 billion award to Elon Musk’s SpaceX for the lander, arguing NASA was required to make multiple awards. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) said it “denied the protest arguments that NASA acted improperly in making a single award to SpaceX.”

Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, said on Friday it remained convinced that there were “fundamental issues” with NASA’s decision, and that GAO was not able to address them “due to their limited jurisdiction.”

Blue Origin said it will continue to advocate for two immediate providers as it believes that to be the right solution.

“GAO’s decision will allow NASA and SpaceX to establish a timeline for the first crewed landing on the Moon in more than 50 years,” NASA said in a statement on Friday, adding that sending American astronauts to the moon is a priority for the Biden Administration.

Dynetics, a unit of Leidos Holdings, said it was disappointed with the decision, but plans to compete for other opportunities announced by NASA in the future.

SpaceX did not comment, but Musk sent a tweet saying just “GAO” with a flexed muscle emoji.

NASA had sought proposals for a spacecraft that would carry astronauts to the lunar surface under its Artemis program to return humans to the moon for the first time since 1972.

In April, NASA awarded SpaceX a contract to build such a spacecraft as early as 2024.

Blue Origin had contended NASA gave SpaceX an unfair advantage by letting it revise its pricing.

On Monday, Bezos offered to cover up to $2 billion in NASA costs if the U.S. space agency awarded Blue Origin a lunar landing contract.

In a letter to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Bezos said Blue Origin would waive payments up to $2 billion, and pay for an orbital mission to vet its technology. In exchange, Blue Origin would accept a firm, fixed-priced contract, and cover any system development cost overruns.

“Without competition, NASA’s short-term and long-term lunar ambitions will be delayed, will ultimately cost more, and won’t serve the national interest,” Bezos said.

Bezos’ offer came six days after he flew alongside three crewmates to the edge of space aboard Blue Origin’s rocket-and-capsule New Shepard.

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Can Ageing Be Reversed in Human Eggs? New Mouse Study Offers Hope

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September 11, 2024

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Can Ageing Be Reversed in Human Eggs? New Mouse Study Offers Hope

A groundbreaking study from the National University of Singapore has revealed that it is possible to reverse the ageing process in mouse egg cells, offering new hope for fertility treatments. Researchers, led by Dr Rong Li, Director of the Mechanobiology Institute, have discovered a method to rejuvenate ageing mouse oocytes by placing them into younger follicles. This advancement could pave the way for similar approaches in human fertility, although more research is needed before applying these findings to people.

The Rejuvenation Technique

The process involves removing aged oocytes from older mice and transplanting them into young mouse follicles. As oocytes age, they face challenges with cell division, often resulting in chromosomal errors that increase miscarriage rates. By reintroducing these older oocytes into a young follicle, scientists claim they have managed to restore crucial connections and enhance cell function. This method has shown that oocytes can recover their youthful characteristics, leading to improved cell maturation and lower rates of chromosomal abnormalities.

Significance for Fertility

Rejuvenated oocytes exhibited better maturation rates and fewer chromosomal issues. When these eggs were fertilised and reimplanted into mice, there was a notable increase in successful pregnancies. Dr Rong Li and her team suggest that this method could potentially be adapted to human cells, offering a new avenue for treating age-related fertility problems.

Looking Ahead

The implications of this research are promising, claim scientists. If similar techniques can be developed for human use, they could transform the way age-related fertility issues are addressed. The study highlights the crucial role of the follicular environment in egg quality and points to future possibilities for enhancing reproductive health.

As scientists continue to explore these findings, there is optimism about the potential for new fertility treatments that could help many individuals struggling with age-related reproductive challenges.

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Isolated Mpox Case Confirmed in India, Says Health Ministry

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September 11, 2024

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Isolated Mpox Case Confirmed in India, Says Health Ministry

The Health Ministry has confirmed the presence of the Mpox virus, specifically the West African clade 2, in a recent patient. The case, verified on September 9, 2024, is travel-related and not part of the ongoing global public health emergency involving clade 1 of the virus. This case is an isolated incident, similar to the previous 30 cases reported in India since July 2022. The patient, a young male with recent travel history to a country experiencing Mpox transmission, is currently in isolation at a designated healthcare facility and remains stable.

Health Ministry Guidelines

Apurva Chandra, Health Secretary, stated that public health measures, including contact tracing and monitoring, are actively underway to contain the situation. The Ministry has written to all States and Union Territories, emphasising the need to train healthcare workers, particularly those in skin, STD, and NACO clinics, in identifying symptoms, following protocol for case management, and reporting cases promptly.

According to the World Health Organisation, the primary mode of transmission for Mpox in the current outbreak is through sexual contact, followed by non-sexual person-to-person contact. Common symptoms include rashes and fever. The median age of affected individuals is 34, and over half of the cases involve individuals living with HIV.

Precautions and Public Awareness

Chandra has also highlighted the need for better community awareness and timely reporting of suspect cases, with State AIDS control societies being alerted. While the current outbreak is classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the risk of it spreading beyond Africa remains moderate. Health screening at airports and hospital-based surveillance have been ramped up to detect suspect cases.

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Boeing Starliner Lands Safely After ISS Mission Delay

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6 hours ago

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September 11, 2024

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Boeing Starliner Lands Safely After ISS Mission Delay

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has completed its Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission, landing safely at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, on September 7, 2024. After more than three months in space, the uncrewed capsule returned with a successful parachute-assisted landing at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT). This marked the end of a mission initially planned for just ten days, but delays arose due to thruster issues experienced as the capsule neared the International Space Station (ISS). Although no astronauts were on board, NASA confirmed that they would have been unharmed if they had been.

Safe Landing Despite Challenges

NASA’s Steve Stich, manager of the Commercial Crew Program, explained during a press conference that Starliner’s descent followed the planned procedure. The spacecraft performed its deorbit burn, re-entry, and landing as designed. According to Stich, even with crew aboard, the landing would have been equally safe, despite the unexpected problems during the mission. Boeing and NASA have spent the past three months at White Sands performing tests to understand the thruster malfunction, which delayed Starliner’s return.

Astronaut Reassignment and Starliner’s Future

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, initially part of the mission, had to be reassigned. They were originally scheduled to return after ten days but will now stay on the ISS for ten months. Wilmore and Williams will return to Earth on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in February 2025, after Crew-9’s rotation.

The future of Starliner’s operations remains uncertain, with plans for its crew transport missions to the ISS now delayed until at least August 2025. Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program vice president, Mark Nappi, confirmed that the data from this mission will be reviewed to decide the next steps for the spacecraft.

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