The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has formalised an Implementation Agreement (IA) with the Australian Space Agency (ASA) to enhance cooperative efforts in the field of space exploration. This agreement, which was signed last week, focuses on collaborative measures for crew and module recovery under India’s Gaganyaan mission, a key project in India’s human spaceflight programme. The agreement was signed by D.K. Singh, Director of ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), and Jarrod Powell, General Manager of ASA’s Space Capability Branch, at separate ceremonies in Bengaluru and Canberra.

Scope of Collaboration

The partnership will see Australian authorities working with their Indian counterparts to develop robust support mechanisms for crew and module recovery, ISRO stated in a press release. Specific provisions have been made to address contingencies during the mission’s ascent phase, especially in scenarios where recovery operations might be required near Australian waters. This collaboration is expected to bolster the operational safety of the Gaganyaan programme, which aims to send a crewed spacecraft into Low Earth Orbit.

Objectives of the Gaganyaan Mission

ISRO’s Gaganyaan project seeks to demonstrate India’s capability to conduct human space missions by deploying an Indian crew module capable of carrying up to three astronauts. The spacecraft is designed to operate in orbit for up to three days, followed by a safe recovery of the crew module. This initiative represents a significant milestone in India’s expanding space ambitions.

Strategic Partnership Between Nations

India and Australia are recognised as long-standing strategic partners, with this agreement marking another step in their collaborative efforts. Both nations have pledged to explore further opportunities for cooperation in space technology and related domains. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing scientific and technological progress in the field of space exploration.

This agreement underscores the importance of international collaboration in addressing the challenges of human spaceflight and highlights the mutual benefits of such alliances.

The Hubble Space Telescope, a joint project of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) has provided a unique look at the spiral galaxy UGC 10043, located approximately 150 million light-years away in the constellation Serpens. Unlike the typical top-down perspective of galaxies, this image presents UGC 10043 from an edge-on view, making its thin disk appear as a sharply defined line across space. Prominent dust lanes cover much of this disk, but regions of active star formation shine through the dark clouds, revealing the galaxy’s glowing structure.

Distinctive Shape and Unusual Bulge Structure

The image posted on the official website of NASA, highlights an almost egg-shaped “bulge” in the centre of UGC 10043, which rises significantly above and below the galactic disk. Bulges are common in spiral galaxies, containing stars orbiting around the galactic centre, but the bulge in UGC 10043 appears unusually large compared to its disk.

This structure may have resulted from the galaxy’s interaction with a nearby dwarf galaxy, which could have altered its shape and contributed to its curved appearance at either end. Such warped shapes are rare and add a unique quality to this galactic structure.

Long-Standing Hubble Observations Enhance Detail

The composite image of UGC 10043, assembled from multiple exposures taken in 2000 and 2023, underscores the longevity and continued utility of Hubble’s data. Capturing light in multiple wavelengths, the image allows a detailed look at the galaxy’s composition, with each wavelength adding information about different features of the galaxy.

Hubble’s long-term data storage has enabled astronomers to produce clearer and more informative images, expanding the scientific insights drawn from past observations.

China is reportedly preparing to activate one of the world’s most advanced X-ray light sources, the High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), located near Beijing. This facility, built at a cost of $657 million, is expected to emit X-ray beams into experimental stations by late December. The fourth-generation synchrotron, one of only a few worldwide, is said to enable researchers to examine atomic-scale structures of proteins, materials, and chemical reactions. Final operational approval from the National Development and Reform Commission is being awaited before its inauguration.

Breakthrough Capabilities of HEPS

HEPS generates x-ray light by accelerating electrons to high energies and directing them along a circular track, as per a Science.org report. The emitted synchrotron radiation, primarily “hard” x-rays, is distributed into 14 initial beamlines. Scientists will utilise these beams to image structures at atomic and nanometre scales, as well as observe chemical processes in nanoseconds.

According to ScienceAdvancer, Mingda Li, a materials quantum properties expert at MIT, described this as a groundbreaking moment for synchrotron research, likening it to the unveiling of a new telescope that uncovers previously unseen phenomena.

Applications in Structural Biology and Materials Science

As reported by the publication, Dong Yuhui, Deputy Director at the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP), noted that HEPS will significantly advance research in structural biology. The technology will reportedly allow high-resolution imaging of protein machines, viruses, and cellular structures in their natural environments. However, managing the vast data generated by these experiments remains a key challenge.

Global Competition and Future Plans

HEPS marks Asia’s first fourth-generation synchrotron, positioning China as a leader in advanced light source technology. While upgrades are said to be planned for Japan’s SPring-8 facility to create SPring-8-II by 2029, HEPS intends to remain competitive. The addition of 30 to 32 beamlines over the next five years has been announced by Dong, ensuring its capabilities continue to evolve and support diverse scientific pursuits.

By January 2025, proposals from the global research community will reportedly be accepted, with intense competition expected for beam time.