ISRO to Tie-up with Elon Musk's SpaceX to Launch Satellite
ISRO's (Indian Space Research Oragnisation) commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) announced that it will use Elon Musk-led SpaceX's Falcon-9 for one of its mission launches later this year (2024).
The mission to launch GSAT-20, is slated for a launch in second quarter of 2024. This mission will be the first time ISRO will be using a SpaceX rocket to launch one of its satellites.
Jan 01, 2024
China's Groundbreaking Voyage: Mengxiang Sets Sail for Earth's Mantle Exploration
China introduced its groundbreaking ocean drilling vessel, Mengxiang, signifying a pivotal moment in scientific exploration. Developed by the China Geological Survey in collaboration with 150 research institutes and companies, the vessel is named "dream" in Chinese, reflecting its ambitious mission. The Mengxiang aims to penetrate Earth's crust and delve into the mysteries of the mantle, marking humanity's inaugural foray into this uncharted territory.
Mengxiang is a colossal ship with exceptional capabilities. It boasts a range of 15,000 nautical miles and can operate for 120 days per port call. Engineered to withstand powerful tropical cyclones, it stands as a testament to advancements in deep-sea drilling technology. The vessel's drilling prowess is unmatched, with the capacity to reach depths of 11,000 metres below the sea's surface.
Traditionally confined to the Earth's crust, scientific exploration now eyes the mantle, a crucial layer connecting the surface to the core. The Mengxiang seeks to breach the Mohorovicic discontinuity, or Moho, the final frontier for human exploration into the mantle. While American scientists have pursued this goal since the 1960s, Mengxiang's cutting-edge technology represents a new chapter in the quest for understanding Earth's structure.