The Times of India

Indian-American space scientist Amit Kshatriya holds a senior leadership role at NASA, contributing to the agency's renewed human lunar exploration. Following the successful Artemis II mission, a crewed lunar flyby, Kshatriya emphasized the significant work ahead for future deep space endeavors.

Artemis II successfully concluded with a safe splashdown, marking humanity's first crewed lunar journey in decades. The four astronauts travelled further than ever before, testing vital systems and paving the way for future Moon landings and Mars missions. This historic flight included the first woman, first Black astronaut, and first non-American on a lunar voyage.

A 10-year-old girl's heartfelt plea to reinstate Pluto as a planet has captured global attention, prompting an encouraging response from NASA. Her letter, emphasizing Pluto's significance and the joy it brings, resonated deeply, reigniting public fascination with the celestial body. This heartwarming exchange underscores the power of curiosity and science communication.

Artemis II's crew is preparing for a high-speed re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, a critical and dangerous phase of their mission. The Orion spacecraft's heat shield, which experienced issues on the uncrewed Artemis I mission, is under close watch as it faces extreme temperatures and pressure during its descent.

Indian-origin scientist Deep Jariwala will join the University of Tennessee Knoxville and Oak Ridge National Laboratory as the UT-ORNL Governors Chair for Quantum Devices in January 2027. This prestigious joint appointment will allow him to lead cutting-edge quantum research, combining academic leadership with access to advanced scientific infrastructure.