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Specks of dust retrieved by a Japanese space probe from an asteroid some 300 million kilometres from Earth have revealed a surprising component: a drop of water, scientists said Friday. The discovery offers new support for the theory that life on Earth was seeded from outer space.

The findings are in the latest research to be published from the analysis of 5.4 grams of rocks and dust gathered by the Hayabusa-2 probe from the asteroid Ryugu.

“This drop of water has great meaning,” lead scientist Tomoki Nakamura of Tohoku University told reporters ahead of the research’s publication in the journal Science on Friday.

“Many researchers believe that water was brought (from outer space) but we actually discovered water in Ryugu, an asteroid near Earth, for the first time.”

F, and returned to Earth’s orbit two years ago to drop off a capsule containing the sample.

The precious cargo has already yielded several insights, including organic material that showed some of the building blocks of life on Earth, amino acids, may have been formed in space.

The research published Friday says the team found a drop of fluid in the Ryugu sample “which was carbonated water containing salt and organic matter”, Nakamura said.

That bolsters the theory that asteroids like Ryugu, or its larger parent asteroid, could have “provided water, which contains salt and organic matter” in collisions with Earth, Nakamura said.

“We have discovered evidence that this (process) may have been directly linked to, for example, the origin of the oceans or organic matter on Earth.”

Nakamura’s team, comprising about 150 researchers – including 30 from the United States, Britain, France, Italy, and China – is one of the largest teams analysing the sample from Ryugu.

The sample has been divided among different scientific teams to maximise the chance of new discoveries.

Kensei Kobayashi, an astrobiology expert and professor emeritus at Yokohama National University who is not part of the research group, hailed the discovery.

“The fact that water was discovered in the sample itself is surprising,” given its fragility and the chances of it being destroyed in outer space, he told AFP.

“It does suggest that the asteroid contained water – in the form of fluid and not just ice – and organic matter may have been generated in that water.”

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Russian Kosmos Satellites Release Mysterious Object in Orbit

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April 7, 2025

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Russian Kosmos Satellites Release Mysterious Object in Orbit

A group of Russian satellites launched earlier this year has caught the attention of space watchers around the world. The satellites – Kosmos 2581, 2582, and 2583 – were sent into orbit in early February from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. They’ve been placed in a near-polar orbit, about 585 kilometres above Earth. So far, Russian officials haven’t confirmed what these satellites are actually meant to do. But what’s really stirred interest is the release of an unknown object from one of them. This new development, spotted in mid-March, has prompted fresh scrutiny from space monitoring teams across the globe.

What We Know So Far

According to tracking data from the United States Space Force and other monitoring groups, the mysterious object appeared on March 18. It was quickly catalogued and, at first, linked to Kosmos 2581. Later on, though, some signals hinted it might be tied to Kosmos 2583 instead. What’s clear is that the object was released while the satellites were still active – and so far, Russia hasn’t said a word about it.

Interestingly, before the object showed up, the satellites were seen carrying out what’s known as “proximity operations” – basically manoeuvring close to other objects in orbit, which is not something routine satellites typically do.

Expert Insight and Possible Explanations

Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics spoke to Space.com about the situation. He pointed out that the satellites had been making deliberate close-range movements, which has led many to believe this isn’t just routine activity.

As for the object itself, there are a few possibilities. It could be part of a satellite testing programme or a tool for formation flying. There’s also a chance it’s linked to some kind of military experiment. While a technical malfunction hasn’t been ruled out, experts note that accidents like that usually leave behind several bits of debris – and that doesn’t seem to be the case here.

Putting It Into Context

The “Kosmos” label has been used by Russia for decades, dating back to 1962. It covers a broad range of secretive military and scientific missions. Triplets like this group aren’t unusual either – China and the US have also used similar formations, often for surveillance or intelligence-gathering purposes.
Still, the exact purpose of Kosmos 2581, 2582, 2583 – and now this newly released object – remains a mystery. Until more information is released (if it ever is), analysts will continue to watch closely from the ground.

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NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Completes Second Close Flyby of the Sun

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April 7, 2025

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NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Completes Second Close Flyby of the Sun

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has made its second close flyby of the sun. The spacecraft travelled at a speed of 692000 kilometres per hour. It moved within 6.1 million kilometres of the sun. This event took place on March 22. A signal confirming its good health was received on March 25. The signal confirmed that all systems on board were working as planned. The probe was designed to study solar winds and collect data from the sun’s outer atmosphere. The mission is being used to help scientists understand solar activity that affects Earth.

More About The Mission

According to NASA’s announcement, the probe’s instruments were activated during the pass. They were used to study the corona. This is the outer layer of the sun’s atmosphere. The spacecraft was operated on its own during the flyby. It had been programmed in advance. Scientists believe this data may help them understand why the corona is hotter than the sun’s surface. The data is also being used to study changes in space weather. This information is considered important for protecting satellites and communication systems on Earth.

Quote from NASA

In a press release issued by NASA, acting Administrator Janet Petro said that the mission has entered a zone no spacecraft has visited before. Petro said this while addressing the media at the agency’s Washington headquarters. She said that the research is expected to change how solar science is studied in the future.

Award given to the team

As per a statement released by the National Aeronautic Association, the mission team was given the 2024 Robert J. Collier Trophy. The team includes experts from NASA and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. Ralph Semmel, Director at Johns Hopkins APL, said that the mission was once believed to be impossible. He shared this in an interview with NASA’s press team. The next close flyby is expected to take place on June 19.

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ISRO’s Shubhanshu Shukla Set to Make History with Space Station Mission in May

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ISRO’s Shubhanshu Shukla Set to Make History with Space Station Mission in May

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April 7, 2025

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ISRO’s Shubhanshu Shukla Set to Make History with Space Station Mission in May

The mission of Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) will take place in May 2025. This mission will be the greatest research and science-related activity carried out on an Axiom Space voyage onboard the International Space Station to date, emphasizing the mission’s global relevance and collaborative character in advancing microgravity research in low-Earth orbit (LEO). NASA confirmed from its Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States, that the mission will launch no earlier than May 2025.

Mission Overview and Crew

Shubhanshu Shukla will join an international crew on a commercial spacecraft; he is a skilled aerospace engineer and one of ISRO’s top astronaut prospects. This mission is viewed as a watershed moment in India’s larger journey toward advanced space exploration and human spaceflight.

ISRO’s research studies will focus on investigating the physical and cognitive impact of computer screens in microgravity and studying the growth, metabolism, and genetics of three microalgae strains in microgravity.

Scientific Objectives and Experiments

The ISRO-led study, in collaboration with NASA and ESSA, aims to increase microgravity research aboard the ISS to better our understanding of biological processes in microgravity and develop strategies for long-term space missions.

India’s Expanding Role in Space

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station and the first Indian to travel to space in the past 40 years.The commercial mission will be directed by experienced NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, with Tibor Kapu from Hungary and European Space Agency project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland.

Mission Duration and Recovery

Following the launch from Kennedy Space Center, the mission crew will spend 14 days on board the International Space Station, completing several experiments.

According to Axiom Space, the Ax-4 research complement includes over 60 scientific programs and activities from 31 nations, including the United States, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the UAE, and countries throughout Europe.

After achieving their objectives, the spacecraft will return to Earth, with a splashdown scheduled in the Pacific Ocean. NASA and its allies will oversee recovery efforts to ensure the safe return of all crew members.

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