Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing for the launch of the ambitious Proba-3 mission to space aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Hyderabad-based space technology company TakeMe2Space is also riding aboard PSLV-XL with the My Orbital Infrastructure - Technology Demonstrator (MOI-TD), marking India’s first ever artificial intelligence laboratory in the space. Government agency IN-SPACe has provided crucial support for testing and validating the MOI-TD platform, which addresses a significant challenge in satellite operations like inefficiency of transmitting vast amounts of data to Earth. Equipped with advanced technology like AI accelerators, flexible solar cells, and sophisticated control systems, MOI-TD represents a significant step toward establishing data centers in space.
The asteroid Ryugu sample brought to Earth in 2020 after being gathered in 2019 during Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission has amazed the scientific community across the globe by signs of life forms in it. However, soon the excitement died down when they found that the microbes on the sample had actually originated on Earth. Meanwhile, the scientists treated the asteroid samples with great care and kept them under strict contamination controls, preventing chances of contamination.
"It was very surprising to find terrestrial microbes within the rock. We usually polish meteorite specimens, and microbes rarely appear on them. However, it only needs one microbial spore to cause colonisation," said team leader Matthew Genge of Imperial College London.
Scientists discovered a "baby" exoplanet relatively near to Earth is the youngest alien world ever seen. Researchers said the rare sighting is connected to a mysteriously “wonky proplanetary disk” around the exoplanet's host star. The newly discovered exoplanet is named as IRAS 04125+2902 b or TIDYE-1b, a lightweight gas giant with a diameter slightly smaller than Jupiter's. The exoplanet is 0.4 times the mass of the solar system's largest planet. Based on the age of the protostar, which has a mass of around 70% of our sun, TIDYE-1b can only be up to 3 million years old — approximately 1,500 times younger than the Earth.
ISRO satellites EOS-06 & INSAT-3DR are closely tracking Cyclone FENGAL approaching Tamil Nadu since 23-Nov-2024. pic.twitter.com/3Jzrd1NAxK
— UPNews81 Live (@UPNews81Live) November 29, 2024
(Credit - X/@UPNews18Live)
ISRO is closely monitoring Cyclone Fengal, which is approaching Tamil Nadu, using state-of-the-art satellites EOS-06 and INSAT-3DR. The EOS-06 Scatterometer, part of the Oceansat-3 mission, has been instrumental in identifying ocean wind patterns associated with the cyclone. ISRO said that since November 23, 2024, these two satellites have been providing crucial data to analyze the cyclone's trajectory and intensity. The early detection will allow timely warnings and preparedness measures, enhancing safety for vulnerable communities. The scatterometer captures detailed wind vector data, important for understanding the cyclone's behaviour and potential impact.
