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NASA agreed on Thursday to temporarily halt work on a $2.9 billion (roughly Rs. 21,587 crores) lunar lander contract awarded to Elon Musk’s SpaceX after rival billionaire businessman Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin sued the U.S government, an agency spokeswoman said.

Blue Origin has said its lawsuit, filed in the US Court of Federal Claims last week, was “an attempt to remedy the flaws in the acquisition process found in NASA’s Human Landing System.” A US judge has set an October 14 hearing on the case.

NASA said in a statement it paused work with SpaceX on the human landing system through November 1.

“In exchange for this temporary stay of work, all parties agreed to an expedited litigation schedule that concludes on November 1,” the US space agency said. “NASA officials are continuing to work with the Department of Justice to review the details of the case and look forward to a timely resolution of this matter.”

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) last month sided with NASA over its decision to pick a single lunar lander provider, rejecting Blue Origin’s protest.

SpaceX, headed by Tesla’s CEO Musk, this week intervened in the lawsuit to ensure that the court “has a complete and accurate picture of the facts and circumstances surrounding this protest, including the substantial harm that SpaceX will suffer if the court grants the relief sought” by Blue Origin.

SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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

NASA 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.

The space agency said on Thursday it “is committed to Artemis and to maintaining the nation’s global leadership in space exploration. With our partners, we will go to the moon and stay to enable science investigations, develop new technology, and create high paying jobs for the greater good and in preparation to send astronauts to Mars.”

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

© Thomson Reuters 2021

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Chandrayaan-4 Mission Gets Approval, Will Return to Earth This Time

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September 19, 2024

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Chandrayaan-4 Mission Gets Approval, Will Return to Earth This Time

Chandrayaan-4 mission has received approval from the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday. This marks another significant milestone in India’s lunar exploration efforts. Unlike previous missions, Chandrayaan-4 will not only aim for a successful landing on the Moon but will also focus on returning to Earth. This mission will demonstrate critical technologies that will allow for lunar samples to be collected, brought back to Earth, and studied. It represents an essential leap toward India’s long-term goal of landing on the Moon with humans by 2040.

Chandrayaan-4 to Develop Return Technologies

Chandrayaan-4 follows the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission and aims to further advance India’s capabilities in space. The mission will focus on developing technologies essential for docking, undocking, landing, and safe return from the Moon. Collecting lunar samples will also be a key feature, as India moves closer to a full-scale manned mission in the coming decades. The government’s vision includes an Indian Space Station by 2035, followed by human landings on the Moon by 2040.

Mission Details and Industry Involvement

The mission will be completed within 36 months of approval, with ISRO leading the development and launch. It will involve participation from both industry and academia. A budget of ₹2104.06 crore has been allocated for spacecraft development, launch vehicle missions, and deep space support.

This includes costs for special tests and design validation. High employment potential is expected in associated sectors due to this mission.

Aiming for Self-Sufficiency in Space Technologies

Chandrayaan-4 is set to make India self-reliant in crucial space technologies, helping the nation prepare for future manned missions and lunar explorations. The mission will also involve science meets and workshops to include Indian academia and ensure significant contributions to the analysis of lunar samples.

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Ancient Barracks Unearthed With Egyptian Pharaoh Inscribed Sword

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September 19, 2024

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Ancient Barracks Unearthed With Egyptian Pharaoh Inscribed Sword

A recent excavation in Egypt has uncovered a 3,200-year-old military barracks containing a treasure trove of ancient artefacts, including a sword inscribed with the name of Pharaoh Ramesses II. This discovery sheds light on Egypt’s military operations during Ramesses II’s reign, a time when threats from the Libyans were growing. The barracks also contained storerooms for grain, ovens for baking, and pottery filled with animal bones, including fish. Additionally, archaeologists found cow burials at the site, leading experts to suggest these animals were used for food.

Discovery of Bronze Sword and Limestone Blocks

Among the most significant finds was a bronze sword inscribed with Ramesses II’s name, discovered in a small room near what might have been a defensive position. According to Ahmed El Kharadly, an archaeologist with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, this suggests the sword was intended for combat and not merely ceremonial use.

The excavation also uncovered two limestone blocks with hieroglyphic inscriptions, one bearing the name of Ramesses II and the other referring to an official named Bay.

Strategic Military Location

The barracks were located along a military road in the northwest Nile Delta, a strategic point where Egyptian forces could defend against potential invasions from the western desert and the Mediterranean. The location of this site aligns with historical accounts indicating rising tensions between Egypt and Libyan groups.

Professor Anthony Spalinger from the University of Auckland noted that the garrison likely played a key role in controlling access to Egypt during this period.

Significance of the Discovery

Peter Brand, a history professor at the University of Memphis, highlighted the importance of the find for understanding the military strategy of Ramesses II. This well-preserved barracks offers rare insights into the logistics of Egypt’s armed forces at the time.

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A Wobble from Mars? It Could Be Dark Matter, Study Reveals

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September 19, 2024

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A Wobble from Mars? It Could Be Dark Matter, Study Reveals

MIT physicists have put forward a theory that the wobble in Mars’ orbit could be caused by primordial black holes, which may constitute dark matter. According to the research, these tiny black holes formed after the Big Bang and could be passing through our solar system, affecting the orbit of planets like Mars. David Kaiser, a professor of physics at MIT, suggests that the technology we have today could detect this slight shift in Mars’ orbit, which would be a significant breakthrough in understanding dark matter.

The Role of Primordial Black Holes

The study published in the journal Physical Review D suggests that dark matter could be made up of these primordial black holes, which are different from those formed from collapsed stars. These microscopic black holes may exert enough gravitational force to impact planetary orbits.

MIT’s team, including David Kaiser and Sarah Geller, used simulations to predict that these black holes pass through the solar system every decade or so. Their calculations show that even a black hole the size of an asteroid could influence Mars’ orbit.

Detecting the Wobble

Mars is an ideal candidate for this study because of its precise telemetry data. Instruments currently track its position with an accuracy of about 10 centimetres. A passing primordial black hole would cause Mars to deviate slightly from its regular orbit. Sarah Geller, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Santa Cruz, told Phys.org that while Earth and the Moon might also be affected, the data for Mars is clearer, making it easier to detect any potential anomalies.

What This Could Mean for Dark Matter Research

If such a wobble is detected, it could confirm the presence of primordial black holes and offer new insights into dark matter. The research highlights the need for precise observations and collaboration with experts in solar system dynamics to explore this phenomenon further.

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