Category: Science

China successfully launches lunar probe mission to collect samples for first time from far side of moon

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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China on Friday launched a 53-day-long lunar probe mission to collect samples for the first time from the far side of the moon and bring them for scientific studies. The Chang’e-6 mission is tasked with collecting and then returning samples from the moon’s far side to Earth — the first endeavour of its kind in the history of human lunar exploration, China National Space Administration (CNSA) said.

The entire mission would last for 53 days. The far side of the moon is not visible from Earth. An hour after the launch, an official announced that Chang’e-6’s launch was “a complete success”.

The lunar probe was carried by a Long March-5 Y8 rocket blasted off smoothly from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the coast of China’s southern island province of Hainan. The launch was telecast live by state-run television. Chang’e 6 consists of four components: an orbiter, a lander, an ascender and a re-entry module, according to CNSA.

After collecting dust and rocks on the moon, the ascender will transport the samples to the lunar orbiter for transfer to the re-entry module, which will carry them back to Earth. The CNSA said earlier that the mission is poised to make breakthroughs in key technologies, such as automatic sample collection, take-off and ascent from the far side of the moon. Meanwhile, the probe will carry out scientific exploration of the landing zone.

The CNSA has announced that scientific instruments from France, Italy and the European Space Agency/Sweden will be on board the lander of the Chang’e-6 mission and a Pakistani payload on the orbiter. This is the first time that China has included an orbiter from its all-weather ally Pakistan in its moon mission.

According to reports from Pakistan quoting the Institute of Space Technology (IST), the satellite ICUBE-Q has been designed and developed by IST in collaboration with China’s Shanghai University SJTU and Pakistan’s national space agency Suparco. ICUBE-Q orbiter carries two optical cameras to image the lunar surface.

The Chang’e lunar exploration probe is named after the Chinese mythical moon goddess. The Chang’e 5 brought samples from the moon’s near side. Chinese said the analysis of the samples found they contained water in tiny beads embedded in lunar dirt.

China also plans to have a lunar station on the moon in future. A major space power, China in the past successfully launched unmanned missions to the moon, including landing a rover. China has also sent a rover to Mars and built a space station, which is currently in operation.

Earlier, China announced plans for a manned lunar landing by 2030. India became the first country to land near the little-explored lunar south pole region last year when its Chandrayaan-3’s lander, carrying the Pragyaan rover successfully landed there.

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All about Pakistan’s maiden Moon mission, set for launch aboard Chinese lunar probe on May 3

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Pakistan is all set to witness the launch of its first lunar mission on Friday, May 3.

Pakistan’s Institute of Space Technology (IST) has announced that the lunar mission iCube-Q will be launched at 12.50 pm (local time) on board China’s Chang’e 6 lunar probe, Dawn reported.

The iCube-Q satellite has been developed by IST in collaboration with China’s Shanghai University SJTU and Suparco, which is Pakistan’s national space agency.

Confirming the development, the Chinese embassy in Pakistan noted that the Chang’e 6 lunar probe will carry payloads from the European Space Agency (ESA), France and Pakistan on a round trip.

“Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, #SUPARCO’s logo is seen on China’s most powerful rocket #LongMarch5! Together with China’s #ChangE6 lunar probe and payloads from France and #ESA, Pakistan’s CubeSat is ready to go to the moon in just a few days!” the Embassy said in a post on social media site X on April 29.

Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, #SUPARCO’s logo is seen on China’s most powerful rocket #LongMarch5! Together with China’s #ChangE6 lunar probe and payloads from France and #ESA, Pakistan’s CubeSat is ready to go to the moon in just a few days! pic.twitter.com/tlOebD5wVf

— Chinese Emb Pakistan (@CathayPak) April 29, 2024

The report further stated that the iCube-Q orbiter would carry two optical cameras to capture images of the lunar surface. The iCube-Q has been integrated with the Chang’e 6 mission after successful qualification and testing.

This is the sixth in a series of China’s lunar exploration missions. It is expected to touch down on the Moon’s far side and collect samples from the surface before returning back to Earth for research purposes, reports said.

Those interested can watch the live telecast of the launch activity on the IST website and across its social media platforms.

China’s lunar mission holds major significance for Pakistan as it will also take iCube-Q — a CubeSat Satellite — which has been developed by IST.

These miniature satellites are mainly constructed in a cubic shape and consist of modular components that adhere to specific size constraints.

Weighing not more than a few kilograms, their primary purpose is to facilitate scientific research and educational initiatives in space exploration.

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How the advancement in precision medicine is promising new hopes in breast cancer treatment

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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In recent years, the field of oncology has witnessed remarkable progress in the realm of precision medicine, particularly in the treatment of breast cancer. Precision medicine, also known as personalised medicine, involves tailoring medical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient, including their genetic makeup, lifestyle factors, and environmental influences.

This approach has significantly transformed the way breast cancer is diagnosed, treated, and managed, offering new hope to patients and clinicians alike.

Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent and deadly cancers affecting women worldwide. While traditional treatment approaches such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy have been effective for many patients, they often come with significant side effects and may not always provide optimal outcomes.

However, the advent of precision medicine has ushered in a new era of targeted therapies and individualised treatment strategies, bringing unprecedented precision and efficacy to breast cancer care.

The exact causes of breast cancer are multifaceted, certain genes plays a significant role. Two particularly influential genes are BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes act as tumour suppressors, working tirelessly to repair DNA damage and prevent uncontrolled cell division. When these genes malfunctions, the body’s ability to repair DNA is compromised, and it significantly increases the risk of developing breast cancer. 

Its important to note that BRCA mutations are not the only risk factor for breast cancer. Age, family history beyond BRCA genes, lifestyle choices like alcohol consumption and obesity, and exposure to radiation can all contribute. 

Signs and Symptoms

Being informed of your body and knowing the signs of breast cancer is crucial for early detection and effective treatment. Common warning signs include:

• Transformations in the size, shape, or the appearance of the breast
• A lump in the breast or armpit
• Nipple discharge (bloody or clear)
• Dimpling or puckering the breast skin
• Pain in the breast or armpit

Conventional treatment choices

• Surgery- This involves removing the cancerous tissue or the entire breast 
• Radiation Therapy-  High-energy rays are used to destroy the cancer cells
• Chemotherapy-  Powerful drugs are used to kill the cancer cells throughout the body 

While these treatments are effective, they can come with harsh side effects. This is where precision medicine steps in, offering a more targeted and personalised approach. 

Precision Medicine

Precision medicine analyses a patient’s tumour for specific genetic mutations. These genetic mutations can act as fingerprints, revealing vulnerabilities in the cancer cells. This allows doctors to choose therapies that target these weaknesses, maximising effectiveness and minimising side effects. 

• Targeted Therapies: Drugs like PARP inhibitors and CDK4/6 inhibitors exploit specific vulnerabilities in cancer cells, leading to better outcomes with reduced toxicity.
• Immunotherapy: This treatment approach helps a patient’s own immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. Checkpoint inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy, have shown promise in treating breast cancers
• Genetic Testing: Identifying mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2 allows doctors to tailor preventive measures and treatment plans for those at higher risk.

Precision medicine is still evolving, but the developments hold immense promise. With continued research, we can expect to see:

• More targeted therapies: Tailored drugs that target an even wider range of genetic mutations
• Improved diagnostic tools: Tests that can identify not just the existence of cancer but also its specific exposures 
• Personalised treatment plans: A future where every patient receives a treatment plan designed specifically for their unique cancer

While the fight against breast cancer continues, precision medicine offers a beacon of hope, empowering doctors with the tools to personalise treatments and improve patient outcomes. As research continues, we can look forward to a future where breast cancer is not just treatable, but preventable and ultimately, a disease of the past.

—The author, Dr. Chandrashekhar Prasad Singh, is Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology, at HCG Abdur Razzaque Ansari Cancer Hospital, Ranchi. The views expressed are personal.  

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World IP Day | Why a robust IP ecosystem vital for progress of a nation

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Intellectual property rights (IPR) is an important driver for innovation and growth. From global health to addressing the issues of climate change, intellectual property is an important element in policy making. Therefore, maintaining a robust intellectual property ecosystem that fuses innovation and creativity is imperative for a better and sustainable world. However, it is always a challenge for countries, especially the countries with poor resources and a low income population.    

World Intellectual Property Day, observed on April 26 every year as a reminder of the effects that intellectual property has on the social and economic progress,  has this time chosen the theme — IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity. 

The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) still have a lot to attain and are lagging behind in targets. The countries must collaborate to make the goals attainable and for this there is a need to harness the innovation and creative potential while making intellectual property an important area of all developments.

IP creation will naturally foster innovation, develop new technologies and build better concepts. These will collectively help in addressing global challenges like climate change and tackling health issues.  Innovators across the world are using IPR to translate their innovations into assets that can have a positive social and  economic benefit for the people.

Intellectual property refers to any kind of creation and creativity like an invention, artistic and literary work, names, images and designs. And, the intellectual property rights are being protected in the form of patents, trademarks, copy rights and geographical indications.    

IP and SDG

According to a recent report of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the intersection of IP and the SDGs offers a unique lens and help track innovation aligned with the SDGs across diverse technology landscapes. It provides a quantifiable measure of the intellectual capital being invested in each goal, offering a tangible representation of the commitment to sustainable development within the global innovation landscape.

The report tracks how patents contribute to progressing towards and achieving the SDGs revealing the latest patent trends. It shows the pivotal role of IP in steering development towards sustainability and can be used to empower the decision makers, policy makers and innovators to foster collaborations. WIPO’s Global Challenges program seeks to raise awareness and understanding of the complex linkages between global health and access to medical technologies, innovation, technology transfer and trade. The goal is to leverage intellectual property (IP) as a tool that contributes to meeting the world’s most pressing health needs.

Patent data offers a powerful lens into the state of technological development because groundbreaking innovations are typically disclosed through the patenting process.  Sagacious IP, an organisation that helps to provide IP solutions to global companies and expand their IP portfolios, has highlighted the need to analyse patent portfolios for identifying how they can serve as a leading indicator of a company’s commitment to sustainable practices. 

In 2020, Sagacious IP embarked on an extensive green patent landscape study to identify the leading innovators driving the transition to a greener future through their patenting activities. The resulting GREEN100® report, first published in 2021 and updated in 2023, spotlights companies generating high-quality “green” patents focused on mitigating climate change. An analysis of the green patent portfolios reveal that organisations from five key industries are having an outsized impact —transportation, motor vehicles & parts, energy and power, information and communication technology, industrial machinery and renewables.

India needs a better IP ecosystem 

Intellectual property (IP) filings in India have surged significantly in recent years. In a statistics released by WIPO in 2022, India ranked fifth in terms of the number of trademark applications filed annually and sixth in the world for patent filings.

According to the 12th edition of the International IP Index released by the US Chamber of Commerce in February,  2024,  India ranked at 42 out of the 55 countries in the index with an overall score of 38.64%. The United States emerged at the top of the list followed by the United Kingdom and France respectively.

The report highlighted concerns over India’s IP regime, pointing out the dissolution of the Intellectual Property Appellate Board in 2021, and a judiciary that lacks adequate resources. While acknowledging certain IP strengths such as the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023, the report urged leading economies like the USA and EU to reaffirm their IP policy leadership.

The report also affirmed that multilateral organisations can reaffirm global IP commitment instead of tolerating counterproductive measures like IP waivers.

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Chandrayaan missions to continue until an Indian lands on moon: ISRO Chairman

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Indian Space Research Organisation will continue its Chandrayaan series of lunar probes until an astronaut from the country lands on the Moon, said ISRO Chairman S Somanath on Wednesday.

Last August, the premier space agency’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft made a soft landing on the south pole of the lunar surface, making India the first country to achieve the feat. Chandrayaan 3 has done very well.

Data has been collected and scientific publication has just started. Now, we want to continue the Chandrayaan series till an Indian lands on the Moon. Before that, we have to master many technologies, such as going there and coming back. That we are trying to do in the next mission, he told reporters on the sidelines of an event.

Somnath was in Ahmedabad as the chief guest of a programme organised by the Astronautical Society of India. About India’s first-ever human space flight mission, Gaganyaan, Somanath said ISRO will carry out an uncrewed mission, a test vehicle flight mission and an airdrop test this year.

The airdrop test will happen on April 24. Then two more uncrewed missions will happen next year and then the manned mission, if everything goes well, by the end of next year, the ISRO chairman said. The Gaganyaan project envisages the demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and bringing them back safely to Earth, by landing in Indian sea waters.

On ISRO’s newly developed Carbon-Carbon (C-C) nozzle for rocket engines, he said it will improve payload capacity for being lightweight and it will be installed in the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV. This is the technology we wanted to develop over the past many years. Now we have mastered it, built it and then tested it in the engine.

It’s a Carbon-Carbon nozzle. It gives us a weight advantage in comparison to metal and it also allows us to operate at higher temperatures. Reduction in weight improves the efficiency of engine and payload capacity. We are going to put it in PSLV, he said.

In a release on April 16, ISRO announced that it had achieved a breakthrough in rocket engine technology with the development of a lightweight C-C nozzle for rocket engines, enhancing payload capacity.

This innovation accomplished by the space agency’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre promises to enhance the vital parameters of rocket engines, including thrust levels, specific impulse, and thrust-to-weight ratios, thereby boosting the payload capacity of launch vehicles, it said.

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What is cloud seeding? How it works

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Dubai used cloud seeding to increase rainfall in the region on Tuesday, April 16. The city administration has been conducting this process for years, particularly in the summer, to improve the rainfall to deal with the problem of water scarcity.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the Prince of Dubai, shared on Instagram a view where the elephants were spotted walking and enjoying the weather after Dubai received heavy rainfall.

What is cloud seeding?

Cloud seeding is the process of weather modification to stimulate the precipitation process to produce rain or snow. For this, substances like silver iodide, potassium iodide, or liquid propane are dispersed into the air. These substances provide nuclei around which water droplets can form before the formation of precipitation.

This technique has been used for decades in some regions to alleviate drought conditions.

Process of cloud seeding

According to DRI, the process of cloud seeding can be carried out from ground-based generators or aircraft. The DRI Cloud Seeding Research Program primarily uses ground-based generators that are designed and built such that they can work remotely. They also use a subcontracted seeding aircraft in the Carson and Walker River basins.

In this operation, most of the time, they use a compound called silver iodide to aid in the formation of ice crystals. When a storm system passes through the cloud-seeding areas, the ground-based generators or aircraft burn a solution containing a small amount of silver iodide.

When it reaches the cloud, it works as an ice-forming nuclei and helps in the formation of snowflakes.

Benefits of cloud seeding

Cloud seeding is the practice of generating artificial rain by implanting substances in clouds. It uses generators and planes to pour chemicals into clouds to condense tiny particles into larger raindrops.

The benefits of cloud seeding are different from time to time, but the main objective is to enhance the rainfall, winter snowfall, etc.

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A 1.6-pound metal fell from the sky and crashed on someone’s house — space debris can be scary

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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On March 8, a mysterious object crashed through the roof of Alejandro Otero’s home in Florida. Today, NASA admitted that it was a 700 gram metal object that was discarded by the International Space Station in March 2021.

It’s common practice to dispose of junk in space and they are supposed to burn up when it enters the Earth’s atmosphere but this one didn’t. Many

The metal object that fell from the sky and crashed into Otero’s home was part of a pallet, a flat wooden structure, which was used to store aging batteries  that weighed over 2,630 kg.

The problem of rising space debris

More than 25,000 objects larger than 10 centimetres are floating around the Earth’s orbit and this junk travels at a tremendous speed of about 7 to 8 kilometres a second, according to NASA.

Some of them travel at ten times the speed of a bullet.

An average of one cataloged piece of debris fell back to Earth each day in the last 50 years, the American space agency said.

On April 2, a flaming piece of orbital wreck weighing over 1,500 kg, which was left in space by the Shenzou 15 mission launched by China, crashed over Southern California.

A space debris from the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) PSLV satellite fell on a beach in Australia in 2023.

Most of the space debris falls into the oceans, covering over 70% of the Earth’s surface.

While the odds may be low, but a big piece of space junk falling at great speeds and crashing into a ship could cause a lot of damage.

Some of the pieces may even be radioactive as was the case with the remnants of the Kosmos 954, a Soviet Union satellite that crashed in the north of Canada in 1978 .

Even those that fall into the water may hurt life and pollute marine ecosystems.

Possible accidents on Earth due to falling space debris are not the only risks.

The floating space junk also collide with satellites in outer space. By NASA’s admission, the ISS collides with space debris at an average of once a year.

There are international laws to curb the generation and management of space junk. Article 7 of the Outer Space Treaty says that the country launching the space object would be liable to pay for any damages due to the debris it leaves behind.

The convention, which came into force in September 1972, also provides for procedures for the settlement of claims for damages, says the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs.

However, the junk and the risks emerging from it are increasing with the rising role of private players in the space industry.

The first fine for leaving discarded junk in space was imposed only in October 2023. The US-based Dish Network paid $150,000 for violating the norms.

The European Space Agency has a planned launch in 2026 to clean up millions of space debris. The Switzerland-based Startup Clearspace that built the solution described the vehicle as a tow truck for the space.

A defunct rocket weighing 112 kg is only one of the millions of junk floating over our head in the low Earth orbit waiting to be cleaned up by Clearsapce, which was described byTIME Magazine rated as one the best inventions of 2023.

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The world’s most popular coffee may be over 600,000 years old

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The latest study published in Nature Genetics reportedly showed that Coffee Arabica, the most commonly consumed variety of coffee, developed in Ethiopia between 600,000 years and a million years ago.

The University of Bufffalo study of the coffee genome, which was funded by Nestle, has shown that the crop grew in the wild, without any role for humans, and that it can survive climate change.

Why are the findings significant?

Poor genetic diversity has led to a shrinking population size of Arabica, which is used by popular coffee chains like Starbucks and Tim Hortons, and made the crop vulnerable to pests and illnesses.

For instance, one of the other variants of coffee, the Robusta (used primarily in the making of instant coffee), is born out of mating between Arabica and Canephora. Robusta is relatively more resistant to diseases than Arabica.

“These results (of the study) suggest a novel target locus for potentially improving pathogen resistance in Arabica,” Jarkko Salojärvi, assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and one of the authors of the latest study, reportedly said.

History of coffee

Coffee is believed to have originated in the forests of Ethiopia in pre-historic times. But it wasn’t a global phenomenon until the 15th century when its cultivation began in Yemen and other parts of the Arabian peninsula.

America’s National Coffee Association says that coffee made it to Europe in the 17th century, thanks to the merchants from Venice travelling to the Ottoman empire.

The coffee may have reached India around the same time. Legend goes that a Sufi saint Baba Budan was so in awe of the ‘magical beverage’, he smuggled seven beans of coffee in his beard, on his way back from Mecca.

The saint is supposed to have planted them on the hills in modern day Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka, giving rise to the name Baba Budangiri, where his tomb is situated.

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Meet Gopi Thotakura, set to be the first Indian space tourist

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Blue Origin, an aerospace company led by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has revealed its six-person crew that will soon be flying on its NS-25 mission. Among the crew members is Gopi Thotakura, an entrepreneur and a pilot, who will be the first Indian to venture into space as a tourist.

Other crew members of the flight include Kenneth L Hess, Sylvain Chiron, Carol Schaller, Mason Angel and former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight, who was selected by former US President John F Kennedy in 1961 as the nation’s first black astronaut candidate. However, he was never granted the opportunity to fly to space.

#NewShepard #NS25 crew will include Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Ed Dwight, Ken Hess, Carol Schaller, and Gopi Thotakura. Read more 🚀: https://t.co/KbAJkbRTvj pic.twitter.com/8QBFYPJkYj

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 4, 2024

Thotakura will be the first Indian space tourist and the second Indian to venture into space after the Indian Army’s Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984, PTI reported.

ALSO READ | In search for life, NASA’s ‘Clipper’ spacecraft to explore Jupiter’s moon

The upcoming mission is set to be the seventh human flight for Blue Origin’s New Shepard programme and the 25th in the company’s history. So far, the programme has flown 31 humans above the Karman line, which is the proposed conventional boundary between the Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.

In a statement, the company said the flight date is yet to be announced.

Who is Gopi Thotakura?

Born in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Thotakura is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

He serves as the co-founder of Preserve Life Corp, a global centre for holistic wellness and applied health. The centre is situated near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

“Gopi is a pilot and aviator who learned how to fly before he could drive,” Blue Origin said in a release.

ALSO READ | US, Japan announce plans to send Japanese astronaut to moon

Besides flying jets commercially, Thotakura pilots bush, aerobatic, and seaplanes, as well as gliders and hot air balloons. He has also served as an international medical jet pilot.

A lifelong traveller, Thotakura’s most recent adventure included the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

As per the company’s release, each astronaut will carry a postcard to space during the flight on behalf of its foundation, Club for the Future.

The programme provides students access to space on its rockets, including an all-digital method to create and send postcards.

The mission of Club for the Future is to inspire and mobilise future generations to pursue a career in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) for the benefit of Earth.

“From an environmental standpoint, nearly 99% of New Shepard’s dry mass is reused, including the booster, capsule, engine, landing gear, and parachutes,” the company said.

It added that the New Shepard’s engine is fuelled by highly efficient liquid oxygen and hydrogen.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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In search for life, NASA’s ‘Clipper’ spacecraft to explore Jupiter’s moon

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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US space agency NASA is gearing up for an interplanetary probe to hunt for extra-terrestrial life on one of Jupiter’s icy moons. US scientists recently unveiled plans to send the Clipper spacecraft to Europa, one of dozens of moons orbiting Jupiter, in October this year, AFP reported.

It is touted as the nearest spot in our celestial neighbourhood that might offer a perch for life.

“One of the fundamental questions that NASA wants to understand is, are we alone in the cosmos?” the news agency quoted Bob Pappalardo, the mission’s project scientist, as saying.

This probe will cost NASA a whopping $5 billion and is currently at its Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, sitting in a ‘clean room’. The sealed area is only accessible to those who wear head-to-toe covering.

The US space agency is making all possible efforts to make sure that the probe remains free of contaminants to avoid transporting Earthly microbes to Europa.

Clipper will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in October 2024 to kickstart its five-year journey that involves a pass by Mars.

It is expected to be in orbit around Jupiter and Europa in 2031. There it will start its detailed study of the moon which scientists believe is covered in frozen water.

Pappalardo said that Clipper will have instruments like cameras, and spectrometers, a magnetometer and a radar that can “penetrate right through ice, bounce off liquid water and back to the surface to tell us how thick is the ice and where is liquid water located”.

The mission managers are looking out for conditions that could support life on Europa — nearly the size of Earth’s moon.

Conditions on Europa could provide a similar habitat, the scientists believe.

“If moons around planets far away from stars could hold life, then the number of opportunities around the solar system, around the universe, where life could take hold, I think goes up dramatically,” AFP quoted Jordan Evans, project manager for the Europa Clipper mission, as saying.

However, the challenging environment around Europa poses significant challenges to NASA’s mission.

A powerful radiation field around Europa may degrade the instruments, because of this the signal will take 45 minutes to arrive at mission control.

Further, it will be difficult to keep Clipper powered as sustaining power with solar arrays is difficult.

Right after launch, the solar panels put out 23,000 watts, however, once they are out at Jupiter, they are only putting out 700 watts, Evans said.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow