The Times of India

Space titans Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are locked in a new lunar race, mirroring the tortoise and the hare. Musk champions rapid, iterative development for a Moon city, embracing failure for speed. Bezos, via Blue Origin, signals a deliberate, step-by-step approach, emphasizing long-term reliability. Their contrasting philosophies shape humanity's next steps beyond Earth.

A record-breaking $44.6 million sale of a Stegosaurus fossil has ignited a global debate. While private collectors view these ancient remains as status symbols and investments, scientists fear losing crucial access for research. The booming trade, fueled by US laws allowing private ownership, risks locking away vital pieces of Earth's history.

We are targeting 2028 for Chandrayaan-4, Isro chairman V Narayanan had earlier said. According to Isro officials, they had zeroed in on four sites of the Mons Mouton (MM) and found one of them suitable for landing on the lunar surface. Mons Mouton is a region on the Moon. Officials said they had identified locations -- MM-1, MM-3, MM-4 and MM-5. Of them, MM-4 was chosen for the landing.

NASA's colossal Artemis II moon rocket, stretching nearly the length of a football field, is poised to send four astronauts on a 10-day lunar journey. This mission, a crucial step towards returning humans to the moon, faced a delay due to hydrogen leaks detected during a recent countdown rehearsal. The launch is now targeted for at least March.

SpaceX is now prioritizing a lunar settlement over Mars, according to Elon Musk, aiming for a self-sustaining city on the Moon within a decade. This strategic shift, driven by logistical advantages like more frequent launch windows, aligns with US lunar exploration goals. While Mars remains a long-term objective, the Moon offers faster progress for establishing a permanent human presence.