NASA enters second phase of going to the Moon after 50 years

The world is waiting for NASA to enter the second phase of exploring the Moon. Its Space Launch System SLS is set to lift-off to set the foundation for the Artemis project. This is being developed to put humans back on the lunar surface after half a century. The mission will also pave the way for flights to Mars in the 2040s. At present, the rocket will conduct test on a capsule far from Earth. This capsule is called Orion, the program calls for the spacecraft to loop around the Moon on a big arc. It will later return to Earth and splash down in the Pacific Ocean in six weeks' time. Orion is unmanned for this demonstration. However, in case everything goes as per plans, astronauts will be on board for missions that are more complex. These could begin in 2024. Artemis: Nasa ready to launch new era of Moon exploration. NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik explains the objective. He says - "Everything we're doing with this Artemis I flight, we're looking at through the lens of what can we prove out and what can we demonstrate that will buy down risk for the Artemis II crewed mission."

The American space agency has multiple opportunities to fly SLS-Orion. However, its intention would be to seize the first available opportunity. Right now, the weather in Florida is very dynamic. There are possibilities of electrical storms passing over the spaceport. In fact, the lightning towers have already been struck recently a number of times. Therefore, NASA has to weigh all the options available and select the most appropriate time slot. Incidentally, the rocket is not supposed to lift off in the rain.

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School days – Diwali and Kali puja

This is another great festival of Bengalis where Goddess Kali is worshipped - it is also the Laxmi Puja or worship of the Goddess of Wealth and New Year for some communities. Hence, there is a festive air all around with shops selling varieties of sweets while other shops sold firecrackers of various types.
In those days there was no restriction of the decibel levels of firecrackers and, hence, there would be packets of low decibel levels for use by us children and the higher decibel ones apart from rockets were meant for the college going ones and the elders.
We children had to be content with sparklers, charkis, tubris and other such innocent combinations.
Of course, the lightings of houses during Diwali used to make the occasion more attractive - there would be tiny earthen lamps which would be lit in the evenings and oil in them would be replenished at regular intervals to ensure that the wick did not burn out.
Some households would install garlands made up of tiny colored electric bulbs – these would be set to glow at pre-determined intervals thereby adding to the charm. (to be continued …)