China opens applications for lunar samples from Chang’e-6 and -5 missions
Images | Lunar samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 mission, July 27, 2024. /CFP
China is inviting researchers to apply for the first batch of lunar samples returned by the Chang'e-6 mission, as well as the eighth batch of samples from the Chang'e-5 mission, CGTN reports.
The Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center, under the China National Space Administration (CNSA), announced the launch of the borrowing application process for these lunar scientific specimens on Tuesday.
Researchers interested in accessing these samples can submit their applications through an official data and sample release system, as the application window will close on November 22, 2024. Following the application phase, the Lunar Exploration Center will conduct a rigorous review to evaluate the proposals.
China's Chang'e-6 mission made history by collecting 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, a first in human exploration. These samples were collected from the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin, a region on the moon's far side distinct from the familiar nearside areas like Oceanus Procellarum.
The SPA Basin is the largest and oldest known impact basin on the moon, estimated to have formed around 4.32 to 4.33 billion years ago. Remote sensing data reveals that the landing site contains mid-and low-titanium basalt formations, with surface material composed of basaltic rocks, feldspar and gabbro from nearby impact craters.
The Chang'e-5 mission, which landed on the near side of the moon, previously retrieved about 1,731 grams of lunar samples. This eighth batch is also being made available for research applications.
Samples from these missions are classified into shovel-collected and drill-extracted categories, further divided into thin sections, rock debris and powdered samples. Thin sections and rock debris are available as whole units, while powdered samples are distributed by weight in milligrams.
In January 2021, China unveiled regulations to encourage international collaboration in lunar research, maintaining an open attitude toward scientific inquiry.
Last year, the seventh batch of Chang'e-5 samples was made available to both domestic and international applicants. Ge Ping, deputy director of the Lunar Exploration Center, reiterated that scientists from around the globe are welcome to apply for future sample distributions in accordance with the regulations.
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China launches commercial Lijian-1 Y5 carrier rocket, 15 satellites
Images | Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua
China on Monday launched the Lijian-1 Y5 commercial carrier rocket with 15 satellites onboard, Xinhua reports.
The rocket blasted off at 12:03 p.m. (Beijing Time) from a commercial aerospace innovation pilot zone in northwest China and sent the 15 satellites, including satellites from the Jilin-1 Gaofen series, Yunyao-1 series, Xiguang-1 series and a remote-sensing satellite launched for Oman, into their planned orbits.
The Lijian-1 carrier rocket was developed by CAS Space, a commercial spaceflight company established by the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This rocket series completed its maiden flight on July 7, 2022, and has now launched a total of 57 satellites in the course of five flight missions.
With a length of 30 meters, a takeoff weight of 135 tonnes, and a takeoff thrust of 200 tonnes, Lijian-1 can send a payload of 1.5 tonnes to a 500-km sun-synchronous orbit, or a payload of 2 tonnes to low Earth orbit.
The Lijian-1 Y5 carrier rocket uses a payload fairing with a diameter of 3.35 meters to accommodate the larger space required by satellites. Payload fairing configuration can be adjusted according to the payload capacity and space requirements of satellites in future missions.
The Yunyao-1 series onboard the rocket consists of six satellites, which are primarily designed for atmospheric detection or monitoring environmental hot spots.
The remote-sensing satellite launched for Oman utilized artificial intelligence to calculate its load. The intelligent operating system of the satellite can conduct in-orbit processing and analysis, and it can be applied in detailed land surveys, urban planning, forest surveys and disaster monitoring.
This mission marks the first time for Chinese commercial space enterprises to provide launch services to international users, highlighting that the Lijian-1 carrier rocket has officially entered the international commercial space market, said Shi Xiaoning, chief designer of the rocket.
Shi noted that the cost performance and product reliability of the rocket have been recognized by the international market.
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Donald Trump secures victory in US presidential election
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Former US President Donald Trump has won a stunning victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, securing a second term in the White House, Kazinform News Agency reports.
As reported by Fox News, according to current vote counts, Trump has surpassed the 270 electoral votes needed to win, with a total of 277 votes, while Harris has 226. House Speaker Mike Johnson also announced Trump’s victory.
Recall that Trump was first elected president in 2016, defeating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and promising to "make America great again." He lost re-election to President Biden in 2020 during the global coronavirus pandemic, but is running for the White House again in 2024 after a nearly two-year campaign, promising to "make America great again."
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Spain's flood-hit Valencia seeks €31.4B in recovery aid
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Spain's Valencia region requested €31.4 billion ($34 billion) in emergency aid from the central government Monday following devastating floods that killed 217 people, Anadolu reports.
The comprehensive aid request to Madrid includes additional housing support of up to €15,000 per household, €7 billion for industrial reconstruction, €2.6 billion for immediate reconstruction of public infrastructure and €2.2 billion for flood prevention infrastructure, according to information shared by the regional government.
Valencia’s president, Carlos Mazon, unveiled a 136-point recovery plan at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting, alongside an immediate regional aid package worth €250 million.
The plan includes direct payments of €6,000 to residents whose homes were damaged, with disbursements expected this week.
Local municipalities will receive minimum grants of €200,000 for urgent expenses, while the regional government has secured tax payment deferrals for affected residents.
The floods and Storm Dana damaged more than 20,000 hectares of agricultural land and destroyed over 100,000 vehicles across 50 municipalities. Some 30% of homes were reportedly damaged along with numerous hospitals, industrial sites and shopping centers.
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Shenzhou-18 mission returns samples for extraterrestrial habitation research
Images | A handover ceremony for space station experimental samples brought back by the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft is held at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 4, 2024. (Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Handout via Xinhua)
The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft has returned to Earth with 34.6 kilograms of space station experimental samples, encompassing microorganisms, alloy materials and nanomaterials that are difficult to prepare on Earth, the Science and Technology Daily reported on Monday, Xinhua reports.
The retrieved samples are poised to advance the development of space fiber lasers, facilitate the creation of extraterrestrial materials and explore the prospects of Earth life spreading through the cosmos.
The Shenzhou-18's return capsule, carrying three Chinese astronauts, returned to Earth in the early morning on Monday, after completing a six-month space station mission.
The scientific experimental samples brought back by the spacecraft included a total of 55 types, spanning 28 science projects across areas such as space life sciences, space materials science and microgravity combustion science.
The life science specimens comprise methane-generating archaea, radiation-resistant microbes and microorganisms that inhabit rocks. These are anticipated to lay the scientific groundwork for investigating the potential habitability of extraterrestrial environments and to assess the capacity of microorganisms to adapt to the challenges of outer space.
Part of the returned samples are high-temperature resistant alloys, fiber optics and optical coatings. These innovative materials hold the potential to revolutionize the manufacturing of next-generation aerospace turbine blades, space-adapted fiber lasers and precision medical repairs.
The spacecraft also returned nanoparticles derived from methane combustion, which are intended to facilitate the future synthesis of critical particulate materials for extraterrestrial environments.
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8 killed as volcano erupts on Indonesia’s Flores island
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A volcanic eruption on Indonesia’s Flores island killed at least eight people, local media reported Sunday, Anadolu reports.
The eruption occurred on Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, said the Indonesian Disaster Management Agency. Lava flows reached a nearby village, destroying several buildings, including a monastery.
Officials confirmed that a nun is among the dead while one person remains missing.
The region has experienced a series of eruptions over the past week.
In response, authorities raised the alert level for Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki to its highest point.
Since last week, the volcano has been releasing thick brown ash columns as high as two kilometers (1.24 miles) into the sky each day.
Indonesia, located along the "Pacific Ring of Fire," has 130 active volcanoes, making it one of the world’s most seismically active countries.
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