Musings of an amateur astronomer

"To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit." – Stephen Hawking Exploring the Cosmos: The Adventure Gene and Our Drive to Discover Humans have always been curious. In ancient times, we explored the oceans. Today, we explore outer space. This curiosity and restlessness are part of our nature. They drive us to seek new adventures and uncover the unknown. The Adventure Gene: DRD47R Scientists have found a gene, called DRD47R, that might explain our urge to explore. This gene is sometimes called the "wanderlust gene." It affects how our brains respond to dopamine, a chemical linked to pleasure and reward. Traits Linked to DRD47R 1. Curiosity and Restlessness: People with the DRD47R gene are often more curious and restless. They enjoy exploring new places and trying new things. 2. RiskTaking and Novelty Seeking: This gene is also linked to risktaking behavior and a desire for new experiences. 3. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Diso...

Capt. Gopichand reveals his ambitions for India’s space sector and how he hopes to help   Captain Gopichand Thotakura, India’s first space tourist and the second Indian to visit space after Rakesh Sharma, believes that India has immense potential in the field of space exploration. He plans to actively invest in Indian space startups, providing them with the necessary support and encouragement. Despite the lack of extensive media coverage, India is ahead in space technology, with brilliant minds working on innovative projects. Captain Gopichand aims to bridge the gap between entrepreneurial vision and practical implementation in the aerospace industry. His purpose now lies in contributing to India’s space sector and ensuring a sustainable planet.   For more details on this news article, pl visit the URL below   The original article can be found on –   https://www.firstpost.com/tech/exclusive-capt-gopichand-reveals-his-big-ambition-for-indias-space-actor-and-how-he-hop...

How lunar missions could help pave the way to deep space for astronauts   In 2023, significant space missions included NASA’s OSIRISREx mission and India’s Chandrayaan3 mission. Now, 2024 promises to be another exciting year for space exploration. Here are two missions to watch:   1. Europa Clipper: ·        Objective: Explore Europa, one of Jupiter’s largest moons. ·        Europa's Features: Slightly smaller than Earth's Moon, Europa has an icy surface covering a saltwater ocean beneath. ·        Mission Goals: Investigate whether Europa's ocean could support extraterrestrial life by studying its icy shell, geology, and subsurface ocean. ·        Launch Window: Opens on October 10, 2024, with arrival at Jupiter's system in 2030. ·        Launch Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket¹.   2. Artemis II: ...

How scientists shipped astronomy's largest camera from California to Chile   After two decades of meticulous work, the camera destined for the Vera C. Rubin Observatory has finally reached its home atop the Cerro Pachón mountain in Chile. This remarkable camera is the heart of the Rubin Observatory's Simonyi Survey Telescope, and it's no ordinary piece of equipment—it's the largest camera ever built for astronomy. Weighing a staggering 6,600 pounds (3 metric tons) and spanning over five feet (1.5 meters) across, the camera's safe transport from the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California to the observatory's location was a monumental task.   To minimize risk to the $168-million eyepiece, scientists and engineers conducted a "full dress rehearsal" in 2021. They shipped an analog of the camera's mass to Chile, equipped with data loggers to document the conditions it would encounter during the journey. On May 14, 2024, the actual ca...

Space startup Agnikul Cosmos calls off maiden rocket launch for the fourth time   Space tech startup Agnikul Cosmos recently inaugurated India's first-ever facility for manufacturing 3D-printed rocket engines. Named "Rocket Factory 1," this 10,000-square-foot facility is located at IIT-Madras Research Park in Chennai. The unveiling ceremony was attended by Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran, ISRO chairman S. Somanath, and Pawan Goenka, the chairman of IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre).   The facility houses a state-of-the-art 400mm x 400mm x 400mm metal 3D printer from EOS, enabling end-to-end manufacturing of rocket engines under one roof. Agnikul plans to produce two rocket engines per week, leading to the assembly of one launch vehicle every month. Co-founder Srinath Ravichandran expressed excitement about transitioning from the R&D phase to core manufacturing and highlighted the startup's global interest in launches up to 20...

Indian space tech startup to launch six satellites in 2024 via ISRO and SpaceX rockets   Bengaluru-based space tech startup Pixxel is gearing up to launch six hyperspectral imagery satellites in 2024. These satellites will be deployed using rockets from both the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and SpaceX. The company aims to support various industries, including agriculture, energy, forestry, and environmental monitoring.   Pixxel CEO Awais Ahmed explained that they plan to utilize both SpaceX's rideshare missions and ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for these launches. The choice between the two will depend on the readiness of their satellites and the availability of launch windows. While SpaceX missions generally run on schedule, ISRO's PSLV missions can face delays if the primary satellite isn't ready.   In 2022, Pixxel successfully launched its Shakuntala (Technology Demonstrator-2) satellite using SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket. With...