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On October 14, 2024, representatives from the Artemis Accords signatories convened during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) held in Milan. The event marked a significant gathering, with 42 out of 45 signatories, including prominent space agencies from around the globe, participating to discuss the responsible utilisation of outer space. The discussions aimed to advance the principles outlined in the Artemis Accords, ensuring that space exploration benefits all humanity.

Importance of Collaboration

Pam Melroy, NASA’s Deputy Administrator, emphasised the critical role of international collaboration as humanity ventures deeper into the solar system. She stated that the Artemis Accords establish fundamental principles that foster trust and cooperation among nations, allowing them to contribute effectively to space exploration. This meeting was co-chaired by NASA, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the Italian Space Agency, showcasing a unified approach to navigating the complexities of space activities.

Key Discussions and Outcomes

During the meeting, leaders discussed enhancing technical dialogues and promoting participation from emerging space nations. Teodoro Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency, highlighted the strategic importance of encouraging the adoption of the Artemis Accords, which is vital for integrating new players into space exploration. The signatories established guidelines on non-interference, interoperability, and long-term sustainability, crucial for the implementation of the Accords.

Advancing Future Initiatives

Following a workshop held in Montreal earlier in May 2024, the discussions continued to focus on non-interference and technical interoperability. Lisa Campbell, President of the CSA, expressed satisfaction with the progress made, emphasising the commitment to safe and sustainable space activities.
The meeting also reviewed progress on mission data parameters aimed at enhancing transparency in lunar exploration activities. This included the sharing of relevant mission details with the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs. Looking ahead, potential priorities include sustainability efforts, particularly debris management on the Moon’s surface and in lunar orbit.

The Artemis Accords, established initially in 2020 by the United States and seven other nations, set forth a framework to promote the beneficial use of outer space. These principles align with the Outer Space Treaty and best practices that advocate for responsible behaviour in space. The ongoing collaboration among signatories supports the pursuit of safe and sustainable exploration, ensuring that future generations can continue to explore the cosmos.

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Japan Launches World’s First Wooden Satellite LignoSat into Space

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November 6, 2024

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Japan Launches World's First Wooden Satellite LignoSat into Space

The first wooden satellite, built by Japanese researchers, has embarked on its journey to space. Created by a collaboration between Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, LignoSat was launched aboard a SpaceX mission and will orbit 400 km above Earth, circling the planet for six months. The satellite, crafted from honoki wood—a type of magnolia native to Japan—will test the viability of wood as a sustainable material in the harsh conditions of space, which include temperature swings between -100 and 100 degrees Celsius. This mission marks a potential breakthrough in the use of renewable materials for space exploration.

Proving Wood’s Potential in Space

LignoSat is a compact, palm-sized satellite constructed without screws or glue, using traditional Japanese woodworking techniques. The project is led by Takao Doi, a former astronaut and now a professor at Kyoto University. Doi believes wood could serve as a core building material for future space exploration and possibly for lunar and Martian settlements. Unlike metals that produce aluminium oxide during atmospheric re-entry, wood has a minimal environmental impact as it simply burns up. If successful, LignoSat could change the way we think about satellite production, possibly leading to a shift away from metals in satellite design.

Aiming for Sustainability in Space

Researcher Kenji Kariya from Sumitomo Forestry Tsukuba Research Institute highlights the satellite’s design as a demonstration of wood’s durability in extreme conditions. The mission will also assess wood’s ability to mitigate radiation impact on semiconductors—an important factor for potential applications in data centres and other technology requiring protection from radiation. Koji Murata, a Kyoto University forest science professor, notes that while wood was once commonly used in early 20th-century aircraft, its application in space is unprecedented and could represent a new frontier for the timber industry as humanity pushes further into space.

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India-UK Team Proposes Experiment to Test Quantum Behaviour of Gravity with Diamond Crystals



Samsung Galaxy S25+ Spotted on Geekbench With Exynos 2500 SoC, Android 15

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ndia-UK Physics Team Proposes Experiment to Test Gravity’s Quantum Nature

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November 6, 2024

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ndia-UK Physics Team Proposes Experiment to Test Gravity's Quantum Nature

A collaboration of physicists from India and the UK has designed an experiment to examine if gravity exhibits quantum behaviour. The experiment is spearheaded by Professor Sougato Bose from University College London (UCL) and also involves Dr Debarshi Das. With this new experiment,  the team aims to explore whether gravitational interactions follow the peculiar rules of quantum mechanics, similar to other fundamental forces such as electromagnetism. The experiment will measure gravitational effects between two minuscule diamond crystals, with results potentially reshaping our understanding of gravity.

A New Approach to Test Gravity’s Quantum Properties

This novel experiment, outlined in Physical Review Letters, will utilise tiny diamond crystals as tools to detect potential quantum disturbances. By placing one crystal as a detector and another as the gravitational source, the researchers intend to observe whether the act of measuring gravity induces a disturbance in the system. In classical physics, observations don’t influence the system under study, but quantum mechanics suggests otherwise. According to Professor Bose, “Once experimental errors are eliminated, any disturbance observed would signify gravity’s adherence to quantum principles.”

A Solution to a Persistent Mystery in Physics

Physicists have long sought to reconcile gravity with quantum mechanics, the established framework for understanding the other three fundamental forces: electromagnetism, the weak nuclear force, and the strong nuclear force. The quantum behaviour of these forces is well-documented, but gravity has consistently eluded similar classification. Despite attempts by large research groups, including experiments with neutrinos in Antarctica, no conclusive evidence of quantum gravitational effects has yet been found.

A Long-Term Vision for Testing Quantum Gravity

The proposed table-top setup offers an efficient and compact way to test for quantum gravity, but the experiment hinges on advanced technology that can manipulate and measure the gravitational pull of extremely lightweight nanodiamonds. Dr Das noted that it may take a decade or more to perfect the technique, adding that “a table-top experiment is far more practical than alternatives, such as constructing a particle accelerator on a cosmic scale.”

The Path to Unified Physics

Team members like Dr Dipankar Home from the Bose Institute in Kolkata see the experiment as an opportunity to test quantum mechanics’ predictions uniquely for gravity. While theories like string theory attempt to bridge the gap between quantum mechanics and gravity, no direct experimental evidence exists.

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iQOO 12 Android 15-Based FuntouchOS 15 Update Reportedly Rolling Out for Global Users



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India plans to launch Chandrayaan-4 in 2028 to collect moon samples!

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November 6, 2024

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India plans to launch Chandrayaan-4 in 2028 to collect moon samples!

India is setting its sights on the moon once more as it is aiming to launch the ambitious Chandrayaan-4 mission in 2028. This upcoming mission, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), seeks to return samples from the moon’s south pole. The mission plans to retrieve 3 kilograms of lunar material from areas believed to hold water ice, with the goal of bringing these samples safely back to Earth. During a recent address in New Delhi, ISRO’s Chairman S. Somanath detailed this plan, highlighting its importance within India’s expanding space programme. The programme recently received increased government backing of Rs. 21 billion (around $250 million).

Two-Launch Strategy to Capture and Return Lunar Samples

The Chandrayaan-4 mission will involve a complex multi-stage approach to ensure the successful collection and return of lunar samples. The mission will require two separate launches aboard ISRO’s LVM-3 rockets. The first launch will carry a lunar lander and an ascender vehicle that will gather samples. The second launch will deploy a transfer module and a reentry vehicle that will remain in lunar orbit. After the samples are collected, the ascender will transfer them to the reentry module in lunar orbit, which will then return to Earth.

To prepare for the mission’s in-orbit docking requirements, ISRO will conduct a docking experiment, SPADEX, worth $14 million, to test this technique in a real-world environment. This experiment, set for late 2024 or early 2025, aims to refine skills critical for the mission’s success.

Expanding Partnerships and Future Lunar Ambitions

India’s collaboration with Japan will also play a key role in its lunar exploration plans. Following Chandrayaan-4, ISRO and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will work together on Chandrayaan-5, also known as the Lunar Polar Exploration Project (LUPEX). JAXA will contribute a 350-kilogram rover for this mission, a significant step up from the Pragyan rover used on Chandrayaan-3.

The Chandrayaan series of missions represents India’s drive to establish a human presence on the moon by 2040 and explore long-term options for a lunar base by 2050. Somanath and ISRO remain committed to reaching these ambitious milestones, seeing them as essential steps towards India’s vision of space leadership. India plans to launch Chandrayaan-4 in 2028 to collect moon samples!

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