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Japan’s ispace loses communication with moon lander after touchdown
- Japanese company ispace said it has not been able to establish communication with its uncrewed moon lander following its lunar touchdown attempt on Friday, two years after its failed inaugural mission.
- Tokyo-based ispace has hoped to join U.S. firms Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace, which have accomplished commercial landings amid an intensifying global race for the moon that includes state-run missions from China and India.
- Resilience, ispace’s second lunar lander, targeted Mare Frigoris, a basaltic plain about 900 km (560 miles) from the moon’s north pole.
- The company’s live-streamed flight data showed Resilience’s altitude suddenly falling to zero shortly before the planned touchdown time of 4:17 a.m. on Friday, Japanese time (1917 GMT on Thursday) following an hour-long descent from lunar orbit.
Key Details of the Mission
- Resilience’s descent appeared smooth until its altitude suddenly dropped to zero just before the planned landing at 4:17 a.m. JST on Friday.
- Mission control has been unable to establish contact with the lander and is continuing efforts to communicate.
- Public viewing event in Tokyo saw 500 attendees, including employees, shareholders, and government officials, fall silent as the situation unfolded.
- CEO Takeshi Hakamada is expected to provide an update at a press conference.
Background & Future Plans
- ispace’s first lunar lander crashed in 2023 due to altitude miscalculations.
- Resilience carried a four-wheeled rover and five external payloads worth $16 million, including scientific instruments.
- The lander was expected to conduct 14-day exploration activities, including capturing images of lunar regolith for NASA research.
- ispace plans seven more lunar missions through 2029, including one in 2027 as part of NASA’s Artemis program
Key Challenges in Private Lunar Landings
- Final descent complexity – Many missions fail in the last moments due to altitude miscalculations or thruster issues.
- Communication loss – Several landers, including Resilience, lost contact before touchdown.
- Funding constraints – Private companies have limited budgets, making repeated failures costly
Key Innovations in Lunar Landing Technology
Precision Navigation Systems
- Companies like Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines are using advanced terrain mapping to improve landing accuracy.
- AI-driven autonomous landing algorithms help spacecraft adjust in real-time.
Stronger Landing Gear & Stability Enhancements
- Blue Ghost lander successfully landed upright, unlike previous missions that tipped over.
- Shock-absorbing landing legs are being developed to handle rough lunar terrain.
- Improved Altitude Measurement Systems
- ispace’s Hakuto-R Mission 1 failed due to altitude miscalculations, leading to a crash.
- New laser-based altimeters and multi-sensor fusion are being integrated to prevent errors.
Lunar Surface Adaptation
- The Moon’s surface has sharp cliffs and deep craters, making landings difficult.
- AI-powered hazard detection helps landers avoid dangerous terrain.
NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Program
- NASA is partnering with private companies to develop cost-effective lunar landing solutions.
- Missions like Blue Ghost and Odysseus are testing new landing technologies
Precision Landing & Hazard Avoidance
- NASA’s SPLICE technology enables autonomous precision landings, allowing spacecraft to avoid hazardous terrain like steep slopes and boulder fields. This is crucial for future human missions and robotic exploration.
Sustainable Lunar Exploration
- The Moon’s south pole is a key target due to its potential water ice deposits, which could support long-term human presence. Advanced landing systems help spacecraft reach these critical areas safely.
AI & Autonomous Navigation
- AI-driven terrain mapping and real-time adjustments improve landing accuracy, reducing the risk of crashes like ispace’s Resilience lander. These advancements will be vital for future lunar bases.
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Astronomers fear impact of Musk’s Starlink on South Africa mega-telescope observations
- Astronomers in South Africa are urging authorities to ensure that any licensing agreement with Elon Musk’s Starlink protects the Square Kilometre Array (SKA-Mid) telescope, one of the world’s most powerful radio observatories. Scientists fear that Starlink’s low-orbiting satellites could interfere with sensitive space observations, likening the disruption to shining a spotlight into someone’s eyes, making it difficult to detect faint celestial signals.
Key Concerns & Proposed Solutions
- Interference Risk: SKA-Mid operates in the 350 MHz to 15.4 GHz range, which overlaps with frequencies used by satellite operators.
- Licensing Conditions: Scientists propose requiring Starlink to steer satellite beams away from SKA receivers or pause transmissions for brief periods to minimize interference.
- Regulatory Challenges: South Africa is reviewing its Information and Communication Technology sector rules, but remains firm on economic transformation policies.
- Global Advocacy: The SKA Observatory is also lobbying for similar conditions with Amazon’s OneWeb and Eutelsat, aiming to maintain quiet skies amid increasing satellite launches
- Satellite interference is becoming a major challenge for future space exploration, affecting radio astronomy, navigation systems, and deep-space missions.
Impact on Radio Astronomy
- South Africa’s SKA telescope faces interference from Starlink satellites, disrupting faint celestial observations.
- Global observatories are lobbying for licensing conditions to minimize satellite signal disruptions.
Threats to Space Navigation
- Satellite jamming is increasing, affecting GPS systems and aviation safety.
- The United Nations urges countries to protect critical frequency bands to prevent disruptions.
Space Debris & Collision Risks
- The rise of satellite constellations contributes to space debris, increasing the risk of collisions with spacecraft.
- Mitigation strategies include active debris removal and better satellite tracking systems.
Environmental Concerns
- Radio frequency interference from satellites affects Earth-based and space-based research.
- Scientists advocate for global regulations to ensure sustainable space exploration
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Health Minister Nadda launches FSSAI’s ‘Stop Obesity’ campaign on World Food Safety Day 2025
- Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda addressed the World Food Safety Day 2025 event in Bengaluru, emphasizing the importance of food safety and nutrition in combating obesity and non-communicable diseases.
Key Highlights of the Event
- Theme: Stop Obesity by Eating Safe and Healthy.
- Organized by: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- Launch of the “Awareness Initiative to Stop Obesity” under the Eat Right India programme.
- Obesity Statistics: The ICMR–India Diabetes (INDIAB) study reported a 39.6% increase in urban obesity and 23.1% in rural areas between 2008 and 2020.
- Future Projections: By 2050, one-third of India’s population could be obese if current trends continue.
Government Initiatives:
- Reducing oil consumption by 10%.
- Reviving traditional foods like millets.
- Early awareness campaigns for children to counter unhealthy food marketing.
- Campaign & Educational Initiatives
- Inclusive communication materials in regional languages and sign language.
- Media outreach via FM radio, railway announcements, and digital platforms.
- Eat Right Activity Book launched to educate schoolchildren on food safety, hygiene, and nutrition.
- Sugar and Oil Boards placed in schools, workplaces, and public spaces to highlight hidden sugars and fats in everyday foods
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Golden Dome missile defence system
- to The US President Donald Trump has offered the ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence system for free to Canada, which had shown interest after the Republican leader announced it but added a rider that Ottawa can have it without paying any charge “if it becomes part of the US’ 51st State”.
Key Takeaways :
- 1. First floated by Trump this January, the Golden Dome is inspired by Israel’s much lauded Iron Dome system — a short-range, ground-to-air, air defence system. But it is far more ambitious in scale and scope, and seeks to integrate “next-generation” technologies across land, sea, and even space.
- 2. Trump said that the system will comprise, among other things, space-based sensors and interceptors. If this were to be true, this would make the Golden Dome the very first truly space-based weapon system.
- 3. As of right now, the use of space technology in defence has largely been restricted to reconnaissance. Satellites provide crucial targeting and other data for Earth-based weapon systems such as long-range missiles, guided munitions, etc
- 4. The proposed Golden Dome goes one step further, with the introduction of interceptors to be launched from space. Exactly how they will work is still unclear. But according to the initial plans, the system will comprise thousands of small satellites orbiting Earth, which will intercept an enemy missile mere moments after it is launched,
- Trump said the defense shield would cost some $175 billion, and will be operational by January 2029, when his term ends. But industry experts are skeptical of both this timeline and estimated cost,
Israel’s Iron Dome
- 1. Iron Dome is a short-range, ground-to-air, air defence system that includes a radar and Tamir interceptor missiles that track and neutralise any rockets or missiles aimed at Israeli targets. It is used for countering rockets, artillery & mortars (C-RAM) as well as aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.
- 2. The genesis of the Iron Dome goes back to the 2006 Israeli-Lebanon war, when the Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets into Israel. The following year, Israel announced that its state-run Rafael Advance Systems would come up with a new air defence system to protect its cities and people. It was developed with Israel Aerospace Industries.
- 3. Notably, the idea behind Trump’s proposed Golden Dome is inspired by Israel’s much lauded Iron Dome system. But the Iron Dome’s capabilities pale in comparison to what Trump wants with the Golden Dome.
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