ON FRIDAY (23), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) opened its scientific data from the Chandrayaan-3 mission to researchers worldwide, marking the first anniversary of India’s successful lunar landing.
The space agency has released over 55 gigabytes of data from the five payloads – three aboard the Vikram lander and two on the Pragyan rover – that made history on August 23 last year by achieving a soft landing near the Moon's unexplored south pole.
"This data will not be confined to the scientists who developed the instruments but will be made available to researchers globally to enhance the mission's outcomes," ISRO Chairman S Somanath announced during the National Space Day celebrations.
The Chandrayaan-3 data sets are now accessible through the PRADAN portal of the Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) at www.pradan.issdc.gov.in.
The Pragyan rover conducted in-situ chemical analyses of the lunar surface, contributing to a better understanding of the Moon's origin and evolution. This information is crucial for future lunar exploration and potential resource utilisation.
Scientists from Ahmedabad's Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) after studying the data from Chandrayaan-3 provided evidence to confirm the Lunar Magma Ocean Hypothesis that the Moon evolved from a giant ocean of magma which later cooled down.
President Droupadi Murmu made it a point to laud the findings of India's space scientists which were published in science journal 'Nature' in her speech on the National Space Day.
The president said ISRO had made remarkable achievements in the space sector as well as made invaluable contributions to the country's social and economic development. (PTI)
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)