The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will organise a nationwide Nari Shakti Vandan Run on April 17 and 18, 2026, spanning seven major cities as part of its push to promote women-led development and citizen engagement under the Viksit Bharat vision.
The event, themed #NariShaktiVandan, will be held in Delhi, Cuttack, Patna, Mumbai, Indore, Bengaluru and Jaipur. While Patna and Jaipur will host the run on April 17, the remaining cities—Delhi, Cuttack, Mumbai, Indore and Bengaluru—are scheduled for April 18.
The programme will begin early in the morning with participant registrations, followed by an inaugural session featuring the felicitation of dignitaries, an address by the chief guest, and the administration of the Nari Shakti pledge. The run itself, covering a distance of around 2 to 3 kilometres, will take place at prominent public venues in each city and conclude with certificate distribution.
The initiative seeks to draw wide participation from women across sectors, including students, professionals, entrepreneurs, athletes and civil society members. Participation is being facilitated through platforms and institutions such as MY Bharat, the National Service Scheme (NSS), and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), along with other partner organisations.
The event coincides with the ongoing Parliament session from April 16 to 18, during which discussions around women’s representation and delimitation are underway. It is aimed at deepening public awareness and encouraging greater engagement in democratic processes, particularly in the context of inclusive representation.
The ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Run’ underscores the government’s continued emphasis on women’s empowerment, positioning women as central stakeholders in India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation.
The Vice President of India, C. P. Radhakrishnan, on Wednesday called for a proactive embrace of Artificial Intelligence as a transformative force for governance, while delivering the 5th Dr. Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lecture at the Indian Institute of Public Administration.
Speaking at the institute’s Founders’ Day celebrations, he described the current era as the “Age of AI,” noting that emerging technologies are redefining how governments function and interact with citizens. He emphasised that governance must go beyond systems and regulations, focusing instead on empowering people and ensuring inclusivity.
Paying tribute to Rajendra Prasad, the Vice President highlighted his legacy of integrity, simplicity, and commitment to public service, calling the lecture series a fitting homage to the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
Radhakrishnan underlined that AI is playing a pivotal role in advancing India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047. He said the technology is enabling faster, smarter, and more transparent governance, improving service delivery and ensuring targeted welfare distribution with minimal leakages.
He also pointed to India’s growing leadership in the AI space under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing initiatives such as the national language platform BHASHINI, which is helping bridge linguistic divides. AI applications in healthcare, including telemedicine services like eSanjeevani, were highlighted as examples of how technology is expanding access to essential services.
Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan graced the 72nd Founders’ Day celebrations of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in New Delhi today. On the occasion, he delivered the 5th Dr. Rajendra Prasad Annual Memorial Lecture on the theme “AI for Good Governance.”… pic.twitter.com/bXUTQEO7GZ
Beyond healthcare, he noted AI’s expanding footprint across agriculture, MSMEs, cybersecurity, judiciary, and administrative systems, reinforcing its role as a cross-sectoral enabler.
Highlighting India’s strong global standing in AI innovation, the Vice President referenced key initiatives such as the India AI Mission and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, aimed at strengthening the country’s technological ecosystem.
He also urged young professionals to adapt to emerging technologies, drawing parallels with the early scepticism around computers, and emphasised the need to build an AI-ready workforce through initiatives like Skill India and the National Education Policy.
At the same time, Radhakrishnan cautioned against the unregulated use of AI, stressing that technological advancement must be guided by ethical principles, fairness, and accountability.
Concluding his address, he described Artificial Intelligence as not merely a technological shift but a broader human transformation, calling on stakeholders to harness its potential responsibly to build an inclusive and compassionate society.
A study led by University of California Riverside physicist Hai-Bo Yu suggests a new form of dark matter could explain three long-standing astrophysical anomalies. Published in Physical Review Letters, the research shows how dense clumps of self-interacting dark matter may shape structures across galaxies. The findings connect observations from distant gravitational lenses to stellar streams and nearby satellite galaxies through a single theoretical framework.
Key Takeaways
Self-interacting dark matter offers a new explanation for dense cosmic structures.
A single mechanism may explain anomalies in lenses, stellar streams, and dwarf galaxies.
The theory challenges the long-standing cold dark matter model.
Future observations could provide stronger evidence for or against SIDM.
Dark matter remains one of the most elusive components of the universe. It cannot be seen directly, yet it accounts for roughly 85 percent of all matter, shaping galaxies through its gravitational pull.
For decades, physicists have relied on the standard “cold dark matter” model, which assumes particles pass through one another without interaction. That framework explains large-scale cosmic structure but struggles with certain dense, small-scale phenomena observed in space.
New research from UC Riverside proposes an alternative. Instead of behaving like non-interacting particles, dark matter may collide with itself, exchanging energy and forming dense cores.
Yu and his team focus on what is known as self-interacting dark matter, or SIDM. In this model, particle collisions trigger a process called gravothermal collapse, leading to the formation of compact, high-density regions.
“The difference is like a crowd of people who ignore each other versus one where everyone is constantly bumping into one another,” Yu said. “In SIDM, these interactions can dramatically reshape the internal structure of dark matter halos.”
Self-interacting dark matter theory and gravothermal collapse explained
In the SIDM framework, dark matter halos do not remain diffuse. Repeated interactions allow energy to redistribute, causing matter to concentrate toward the center.
Over time, this produces clumps with extreme density, sometimes reaching masses equivalent to about a million suns. These compact structures can exert strong gravitational effects, even though they remain invisible.
Such behavior offers a possible explanation for anomalies that have puzzled astronomers. Many observed systems show signs of dense, unseen objects that do not align with predictions from standard models.
Yu’s study suggests these structures arise naturally in SIDM, without requiring additional exotic physics.
Astrophysical anomalies explained by SIDM clumps
The research identifies three distinct observations that may share the same underlying cause.
JVAS B1938+666 gravitational lens system: An ultra-dense object appears to distort light from distant galaxies more strongly than expected, indicating a compact mass concentration.
GD-1 stellar stream disruption: A spur-and-gap feature suggests that an unseen object passed through the stream, leaving a gravitational imprint that altered its structure.
Fornax 6 in the Fornax dwarf galaxy: A tightly bound cluster of stars may have formed around a dense dark matter clump acting as a gravitational trap.
Each case involves a different cosmic environment, from distant galaxies to structures within the Milky Way. Yet all show evidence of unusually dense, compact objects.
“What’s striking is that the same mechanism works in three completely different settings, across the distant universe, within our galaxy, and in a neighboring satellite galaxy,” Yu said. “All show densities that are difficult to reconcile with standard model dark matter but arise naturally in SIDM.”
Implications for cosmology and future observations
The study provides a unified explanation for phenomena that previously required separate interpretations. By linking them to a single mechanism, it strengthens the case for SIDM as a viable alternative to the standard model.
Researchers say the findings could guide future observations. If dense dark matter clumps are common, astronomers may detect more indirect signatures through gravitational effects.
The work also highlights the importance of studying small-scale structures, where differences between competing dark matter models become most apparent.
Further research will be needed to test the theory across additional systems and refine predictions. Observations from next-generation telescopes may offer more precise data to confirm or challenge the SIDM framework.
Veteran playback singer Asha Bhosle passed away on April 12, 2026, following a brief illness, marking the end of an era in Indian music. She was 92.
Her last rites will be held at Shivaji Park on Monday afternoon with full state honours, reflecting her immense contribution to Indian cinema and music. Family members, close associates from the film and music industry, and admirers gathering to pay their final respects.
Several leading personalities, including members of the Mangeshkar family and prominent figures from Bollywood, attended the ceremony, while fans across the country mourned her loss and remembered her timeless voice.
Your voice will live in our hearts forever. #AshaTai
A heartfelt tribute to Asha Bhosle Ji, a true legend.
Om Shanti 🙏 pic.twitter.com/g0pwrkxPbV
Ashalata Dinanath Mangeshkar was born in the small hamlet of Goar in Sangli, then part of the princely state of Sangli (now in Maharashtra), into a musically rich family. Her father, Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, of Marathi and Konkani heritage, was a noted classical singer and stage actor, while her mother Shevanti was of Gujarati origin. Tragedy struck early when her father passed away while she was just nine years old. Following his death, the family relocated from Pune to Kolhapur and eventually to Mumbai in search of livelihood. Alongside her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar, she began singing and acting in films to support the family. Her first recorded film song, “Chala Chala Nav Bala,” was for the Marathi film Majha Bal (1943).
Career
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, playback singing for leading actresses in Hindi cinema was largely dominated by voices like Geeta Dutt, Shamshad Begum, and Lata Mangeshkar. Despite this, Asha Bhosle steadily carved her own space and, by the 1950s, was recording more songs than many of her contemporaries.
Composer O. P. Nayyar played a pivotal role in shaping her early career between 1952 and 1956. However, her major breakthrough came with B. R. Chopra’s Naya Daur (1957), with music composed by Nayyar. Her duets with Mohammed Rafi—such as “Maang Ke Saath Tumhara,” “Saathi Haath Badhana,” and “Uden Jab Jab Zulfein Teri,” written by Sahir Ludhianvi—brought her widespread acclaim and recognition.
Over the years, she delivered numerous iconic songs, including “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja” from Caravan and “Yeh Mera Dil” from Don, among many others that remain timeless classics.
In 2013, at the age of 79, Bhosle made her acting debut in the film Mai, playing the titular role. She portrayed a 65-year-old mother suffering from Alzheimer’s disease who is abandoned by her children, earning praise from critics for her performance.
In May 2020, she expanded her digital presence by launching her YouTube channel, “Asha Bhosle Official.”
Personal Life:
At the age of 16, Asha married Ganpatrao Bhosle against her family’s wishes. The marriage, however, ended in separation in 1960, after which she returned to her maternal home with her children.
She later married music composer Rahul Dev Burman in 1980.
Awards:
Asha Bhosle won numerous awards. Some of them are :
Filmfare Best Female Playback Award
1967: “Garibon ki Suno” (Dus Lakh, 1966)
1969: “Parde Mein Rehne Do” (Shikar, 1968)
1972: “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja” (Caravan, 1971)
1973: “Dum Maro Dum” (Hare Rama Hare Krishna, (1971)
1974: “Hone Lagi Hai Raat” (Naina, 1973)
1975: “Chain Se Humko Kabhi” (Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye, 1974)
1979: “Yeh Mera Dil” (Don, 1978)
National Film Awards
Bhosle won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer twice:
1981: Dil Cheez Kya Hai (Umrao Jaan)
1986: Mera Kuch Samaan (Ijaazat)
IIFA Awards
IIFA Award for Best Female Playback
2002: “Radha Kaisa Na Jale” (Lagaan)
Grammys
Bhosle is one of the very few Indian artists who have been nominated at the Grammy Awards.
39th Grammy Awards – 1997
– Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album – Ali Akbar Khan’s Legacy (nominated)
48th Grammy Awards – 2006
– Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album – You’ve Stolen My Heart (nominated)
Honours and recognitions
In 1997, Bhosle became the first Indian singer to be nominated for the Grammy Award, for Legacy, an album with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.
She received seventeen Maharashtra State Awards.
She received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000 for her outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
In 2011 the Guinness Book of World Records officially acknowledged Bhosle, at The Asian Awards, as the most recorded artist in the history of music. She was awarded a certificate for “the most studio recordings (singles) from Sebastian Coe for recording up to 11,000 solo, duet and chorus-backed songs and in over 20 Indian languages since 1947”. At the event she was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Asha Bhosle, popular bollywood singer passed away today at the age of 92 in Mumbai. She died at Breach Candy Hospital following a chest infection, extreme exhaustion, multiple organ failure and a cardiac arrest. Her funeral is scheduled to take place at Shivaji Park.
Asha Bhosle, born Ashalata Dinanath Mangeshkar on September 8, 1933, was a towering figure in Indian music whose career spanned singing, acting, business, and television. Widely associated with Indian cinema, she earned acclaim for her remarkable versatility across genres and styles. Over the decades, she came to be regarded as one of the most influential and celebrated voices in the history of Hindi film music.
She is one of India’s most versatile and celebrated playback singers, with a career spanning over seven decades. She has recorded thousands of songs across multiple languages, becoming especially known for her wide range—from classical and ghazals to pop and cabaret numbers.
The younger sister of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, Asha carved her own identity through iconic songs in Bollywood and collaborations with composers like R. D. Burman.
She has received numerous honours, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and remains an enduring symbol of adaptability and excellence in Indian music.
Her passing marks the end of an era in Indian music, with tributes pouring in across the country and globally.
Deeply saddened by the passing of Asha Bhosle Ji, one of the most iconic and versatile voices India has ever known. Her extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, enriched our cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world. Be it her soulful melodies or… pic.twitter.com/SbFrzf1Meu
Artemis II launched aboard NASA’s Space Launch System, carrying four astronauts in the Orion spacecraft on a deep-space mission beyond low Earth orbit.
The crew conducted system checks and performed a historic lunar flyby, travelling thousands of kilometres beyond the Moon before beginning their return journey.
After completing a roughly 10-day mission, Orion safely re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, marking the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo.
Artemis II Moon mission complete!
✅✅✅✅✅✅
– Space Launch System rocket launched crew into space
– Orion spacecraft kept astronauts safe
– Flew around the Moon, observed its far side
– New human spaceflight distance record
– Crew safely returned to Earth
– Inspired the WORLD pic.twitter.com/yc9TMRj97a
Welcome home Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy! 🫶
The Artemis II astronauts have splashed down at 8:07pm ET (0007 UTC April 11), bringing their historic 10-day mission around the Moon to an end. pic.twitter.com/1yjAgHEOYl
Watch as the Artemis II crew returns to Earth, splashing down.
See visualization of plasma build up around the space craft, repelling of that heat on Integrity seat shield To splash down in pacific ocean( from timestamp 1:26:15) in below video posted by NASA on X.
LIVE: They are coming home.
Watch as the Artemis II crew returns to Earth, splashing down at around 8:07pm ET (0007 UTC April 11). https://t.co/n3vZE2rcFv
NASA’s Artemis II mission is scheduled to splash down at about 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT) off the coast of San Diego. After splashdown, a combined NASA and U.S. military team, will retrieve the crew and transport them by helicopter to the USS John P. Murtha. Once aboard the ship, the astronauts will undergo post-mission medical evaluations before returning to shore to board an aircraft bound for NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The Artemis II Crew – NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen are preparing for re-entry aboard the Orion spacecraft/NASA
7:33 p.m.
Orion’s crew and service module have separated. The crew module continues on its path towards Earth while the service module will harmlessly burn up in Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. The Artemis II return trajectory is designed to ensure any remaining debris does not pose a hazard to land, people, or shipping lanes.
7:37 p.m.
Orion performed the crew module raise burn, adjusting the spacecraft’s orientation to align its heat shield for re-entry.
7:53 p.m.
At 7:53 p.m. EDT, The Orion spacecraft reached Earth’s atmosphere 400,000 feet above the planet’s surface, traveling 35 times the speed of sound and about 1,956 statute miles from the splashdown site. This is where the spacecraft first encounters the upper atmosphere and begins its guided descent. Shortly after, Orion is in a planned communications blackout expected to last about six minutes as plasma built around the crew capsule during heating.
8:00 p.m.
NASA has reestablished communications contact with the Artemis II crew aboard the Orion spacecraft as it returns to Earth.
8:03 p.m.
At 23,400 feet, the drogue parachutes on Orion deployed to slow and stabilize the spacecraft. Orion’s velocity drops to 479 feet per second and is .8 miles from splashdown.
8:04 p.m.
At 5,400 feet, Orion’s drogue parachutes were cut and the three main parachutes deployed, reducing velocity to less than 200 feet per second and guiding Orion on its final descent and splashdown.
8:07 p.m.
SPLASHDOWN!
NASA’s Artemis II crew in their Orion spacecraft is back on Earth. They successfully completed a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT).
NASA
NASA’s Artemis II crew in their Orion spacecraft is back on Earth. They successfully completed a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT).
Engineers will conduct several additional tests while Orion is in the water before powering down the spacecraft and handing it over to the recovery team aboard the USS John P. Murtha. The recovery team is on site and headed to the capsule to begin assisting the crew out of Orion.
The Orion spacecraft with the Artemis II crew inside is seen floating in the Pacific Ocean after splashing down at 8:07 p.m. EDT on April 10, 2026.
NASA
Orion has begun crew module power down, a planned post-splashdown step in which flight controllers shut down nonessential systems and transition the capsule into its recovery configuration. This reduces power demand and prepares the spacecraft for crew extraction as recovery teams move in.
8:12 p.m.
At the direction of the NASA recovery director, team members from the agency and the U.S. military now are approaching the spacecraft in inflatable boats.
Approximately an hour after splashdown, the crew will be extracted from Orion and then flown to the USS John P. Murtha. U.S. Navy helicopters will then transport them to the ship. Once aboard, the astronauts will undergo post-mission medical evaluations before returning to shore to board an aircraft bound for NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
When ready, Navy divers will attach a cable, called the winch line, to Orion to pull the spacecraft into a specially designed cradle inside the ship’s well deck. Four additional tending lines will be secured to attachment points on the crew module while under tow.
Once Orion is positioned above the cradle assembly, technicians will drain the well deck and secure the capsule.
After it is secure aboard the ship, teams will return Orion to U.S. Naval Base San Diego before returning it to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for inspection. Once there, technicians will thoroughly examine the spacecraft, retrieve onboard data, remove payloads, and conduct additional post-flight checks.
The Artemis II crew is seen on an inflatable raft, called the front porch, after exiting the spacecraft. The Artemis II mission successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 8:07 p.m. EDT on April 10, 2026.
9:56 p.m.
The Artemis II crew has been hoisted into U.S. helicopters and are being flown to the USS John P. Murtha.
Artemis II Commander and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman is being hoisted into a U.S. military helicopter before being transported to the USS John P. Murtha.
Artemis II mission specialist and NASA astronaut Christina Koch is being hosted into a U.S. military helicopter before being flown to the USS John P. Murtha. NASA
9:58 p.m.
The Artemis II crew is safely aboard the USS John P. Murtha, where they will undergo post-mission medical evaluations in the ship’s medical bay before traveling back to shore to board a NASA aircraft bound for the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
NASA will hold a post-splashdown news conference at 10:35 p.m. EDT from the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Participants include:
NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya
Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate
Rick Henfling, entry flight director, Artemis II
Howard Hu, manager, Orion Program
Shawn Quinn, manager, Exploration Ground Systems Program
At 2:53 p.m. EDT, the Orion spacecraft ignited its thrusters for 8 seconds, producing a change in velocity of 4.2 feet-per-second and pushing Artemis II toward Earth. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen reviewed procedures and monitored the spacecraft’s configuration and navigation data.
The crew continues to wrap up cabin configuration for re-entry and move into their entry checklist.
Splashdown is targeted for 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT) off the coast of San Diego, where NASA’s recovery team will be standing by to welcome the Artemis II crew home.
Watch live return coverage on NASA+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Netflix, HBO Max, Discovery+, Peacock and Roku, starting at 6:30 p.m. Learn how to stream NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media. Coverage will continue until NASA and Department of War personnel safely assist the crew out of Orion and transport them to the USS John P. Murtha.
The Artemis II crew — NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen — began the final phase of their journey home to the songs “Run to the Water” by Live, selected by the crew, and “Free” by Zac Brown Band, as they prepared for their third return trajectory correction burn and shifted into full re-entry and splashdown preparations. When they woke up, they were 61,326 miles from Earth.
Splashdown is targeted for 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT) off the coast of San Diego, where a combined NASA and U.S. military recovery team will be standing by to welcome the Artemis II crew home.
The third return burn will occur at 2:53 p.m., refining Orion’s path for atmospheric entry and splashdown. During the maneuver, the spacecraft will make precise adjustments to stay on its targeted course home.
NASA’s Artemis II re-entry and splashdown timeline and streaming coverage. Splashdown is targeted for 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT) off the coast of San Diego, where NASA’s recovery team will be standing by to welcome the Artemis II crew home.NASA
Artemis II splashdown timeline
A carefully timed sequence will guide Orion through the final stages of descent:
7:33 p.m.: Orion’s crew module will separate from the service module, exposing its heat shield for the spacecraft’s return through Earth’s atmosphere, where it will encounter temperatures of about 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
7:37 p.m.: Following separation, Orion will perform an 18 second crew module raise burn beginning to set the proper entry angle and align the heat shield for atmospheric interface.
7:53 p.m.: When Orion reaches 400,000 feet above Earth’s surface while traveling nearly 35 times the speed of sound. The crew is expected to experience up to 3.9 Gs in the planned entry profile. This moment marks the spacecraft’s first contact with the upper atmosphere and the start of a planned six-minute communications blackout as plasma builds around the capsule.
8:03 p.m.: Around 22,000 feet in altitude, the drogue parachutes will deploy, slowing and stabilizing the capsule as Orion nears splashdown.
8:04 p.m.: At around 6,000 feet, the drogues will release, and the three main parachutes will deploy, reducing Orion’s speed to less than 136 mph.
8:07 p.m.: Slowing to 20 mph, Orion will splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, completing the Artemis II crew’s return to Earth and a 694,481-mile journey.
From there, teams from NASA and the U.S. military will extract the crew from Orion and fly them via helicopter to the USS John P. Murtha.
Within two hours after splashdown, the crew will be extracted from Orion and flown to the USS Murtha. Recovery teams will retrieve the crew, assist them onto an inflatable raft, and then use helicopters to deliver them to the ship. Once aboard, the astronauts will undergo post‑mission medical evaluations before returning to shore where awaiting aircraft will take them to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The Artemis II mission began with the successful liftoff of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket on April 1 at 6:35 p.m. from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending the first humans toward the Moon since 1972.
During the mission, the astronauts completed a historic lunar flyby, marking humanity’s return to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. Throughout the flight, the crew and teams on the ground have evaluated Orion’s systems in the deep‑space environment, including a series of tests in which astronauts directly operated and interacted with the spacecraft.
Mukta Arts Enters Global Animation Space With SGM Studios
Mukta Arts Ltd has announced its foray into the animation feature film segment for global cinema audiences, marking a strategic expansion into a rapidly growing entertainment vertical.
The company will operate through its newly formed division, SGM Animation Studios, and has partnered with Green Gold Animation—a well-established Hyderabad-based Indian animation company known for delivering successful animated content, founded by Rajiv Chilaka.
Green Gold Animation is widely recognised for producing popular titles such as Chhota Bheem, among other commercially successful projects.
Wikipedia
The collaboration is expected to position Mukta Arts in the global animation market, leveraging creative expertise and proven storytelling capabilities to develop feature films for worldwide audiences.
The acquisition of the radio frequency signal from the Artemis II crewed mission to the Moon by NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) is indicated by the peak in the data signal shown below on the computer screen.
Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Soon after the mission’s launch on April 1, 2026, at 6:35 p.m. EDT, NASA’s Near Space Network led communications with the Orion capsule. Then, communications were handed off to the DSN, marking the first time in over 50 years that the network would be communicating with a crewed spacecraft traveling through deep space.
The Space Flight Operations Facility at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California (where this photo was taken) operates the DSN, which comprises three complexes in Goldstone, California; Madrid, Spain; and Canberra, Australia. Each complex consists of several radio frequency antennas that communicate with dozens of robotic spacecraft exploring the solar system in addition to the Artemis II mission.
A graphical representation of the Deep Space Network’s radio frequency antennas indicate signal acquisition from NASA’s Artemis II mission to the Moon on April 1, 2026, inside the Space Flight Operations Facility at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Two antennas at the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex, Deep Space Station 54 and 56, can be seen communicating with Artemis II (the signals are labelled “EM2”, short for “Exploration Mission 2”; elsewhere they are labelled “ART2” for “Artemis II”).
A similar visualization can be found at DSN Now, which details all the missions that the network is communicating with 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
NASA
The DSN is managed by JPL for the agency’s Space Communications and Navigation program, which is located at NASA Headquarters within the Space Operations Mission Directorate. The DSN allows missions to track, send commands to, and receive scientific data from faraway spacecraft. JPL is managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California, for NASA.
A container of “lucky peanuts” was placed above workstations inside the Space Flight Operations Facility at Jet Propulsion Laboratory ahead of the Artemis II launch on April 1, 2026.
The quirky ritual—eating peanuts before major mission events—has long been observed at JPL, seen by teams as a symbol of good fortune before critical operations.
Control Centre Behind Deep Space Communication
The Space Flight Operations Facility oversees NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN), a global communication system comprising three major complexes located in Goldstone, California; Madrid, Spain; and Canberra, Australia.
Each site houses multiple radio-frequency antennas that maintain constant contact with dozens of spacecraft across the solar system, including the crewed Artemis II mission.
NASA
A Critical Link To Spacecraft
Managed by JPL under NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation programme, the DSN operates from the agency’s headquarters within the Space Operations Mission Directorate.
The network plays a vital role in tracking spacecraft, transmitting commands, and receiving scientific data from distant missions. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory itself is run by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, on behalf of NASA.
Also Read:
JPL’s Mission Control Steps Up For Artemis II Deep Space Operations
Inside the Space Flight Operations Facility at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Artemis II mission took center stage on April 1, 2026, moments before liftoff. The central display featured the mission patch, while adjacent screens mapped real-time activity across the agency’s Deep Space Network (DSN), with active antennas highlighted as they transmitted and received signals.
From Launch To Deep Space Communication
Shortly after launch at 6:35 p.m. EDT from Kennedy Space Center, initial communications were managed through NASA’s Near Space Network.
Control was then handed over to the DSN, marking a significant milestone—the first time in more than five decades that the network was tasked with maintaining contact with a crewed spacecraft journeying through deep space.
Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltec
A Global Network Tracking The Mission
The DSN, operated from the Space Flight Operations Facility, consists of three major complexes located in Goldstone, California; Madrid, Spain; and Canberra, Australia.
Each site houses multiple high-powered radio antennas, forming a global system capable of maintaining continuous communication with spacecraft across the solar system—including Artemis II.
The Backbone Of Space Communication
Managed by JPL under NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation programme at headquarters, the DSN serves as a critical link between Earth and deep-space missions.
It enables mission teams to track spacecraft, transmit commands, and receive scientific data from vast distances. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory itself is operated by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, on behalf of NASA.
On their final full day in space, the Artemis II crew began the morning with “Lonesome Drifter” by Charley Crockett as their spacecraft closed in on Earth from a distance of 147,337 miles.
Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch of NASA, along with Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency, are spending the day preparing for their scheduled return on Friday, April 10. Activities include reviewing re-entry protocols and executing a trajectory correction maneuver.
Securing The Cabin For Re-Entry
Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are leading preparations inside the capsule, securing loose equipment, removing storage netting, and adjusting crew seating configurations for re-entry.
The crew will also assess updated weather forecasts, recovery team readiness, and the mission timeline. Simultaneously, they are reviewing post-landing procedures to ensure a smooth transition once back on Earth.
Artemis II infographic showcasing the missions entry, descent, and landing milestones. This graphic was presented by Artemis II Flight Director Rick Henfling during the mission status briefing to the media and public on April 8, 2026 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.NASA
Trajectory Correction Burn
A key maneuver is scheduled for 9:53 p.m. EDT, when Orion’s thrusters will fire for a second return trajectory correction burn.
This adjustment is designed to fine-tune the spacecraft’s path toward Earth and align it precisely for atmospheric entry. During the burn, Jeremy Hansen will oversee procedure execution and monitor navigation and propulsion systems.
Infographic featuring the Artemis II Orion lofted entry sequence. This graphic was presented by Artemis II Flight Director Rick Henfling during the mission status briefing to the media and public on April 8, 2026 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. NASA
Countdown To Splashdown
Ground teams are making final preparations for splashdown, expected around 8:07 p.m. (5:07 p.m. PDT) on April 10 off the coast of San Diego.
The re-entry sequence will begin with the separation of Orion’s service module at approximately 7:33 p.m., followed by a final trajectory adjustment at 7:37 p.m. The spacecraft will then execute roll maneuvers and accelerate to nearly 23,864 mph before entering Earth’s atmosphere.
A communications blackout is expected at 7:53 p.m. as plasma builds up around the capsule, lasting about six minutes. During this phase, astronauts may experience forces up to 3.9 Gs.
Infographic displaying the Artemis II Orion parachute sequence. This graphic was presented by Artemis II Flight Director Rick Henfling during the mission status briefing to the media and public on April 8, 2026 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. NASA
Parachute Deployment And Landing
After re-establishing communication, Orion will jettison its forward bay cover and deploy drogue parachutes at around 22,000 feet. Main parachutes will follow at approximately 6,000 feet, slowing the capsule for a safe ocean landing.
Ground track map displaying the Artemis II Orion parachute sequence. This graphic was presented by Artemis II Flight Director Rick Henfling during the mission status briefing to the media and public on April 8, 2026 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. NASA
Recovery And Return To Houston
Within two hours of splashdown, the crew will be retrieved and transported to the USS John P. Murtha via helicopter.
Once aboard, astronauts will undergo initial medical evaluations before returning to shore and boarding a flight to Johnson Space Center in Houston for post-mission debriefing and recovery.
U.S. Navy MH-60 Seahawks from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 are seen arriving on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha as they prepare to conduct air operations training as NASA, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force teams prepare for the the return of the Artemis II crewmembers to Earth, Monday, April 6, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. NASA’s Artemis II mission is taking NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back aboard their Orion spacecraft. Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen are scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego at approximately 5:07 p.m. PDT (8:07 p.m. EDT) on Friday, April 10. NASA/Bill Ingalls
Artemis II (launched April 1, 2026) successfully completed its historic crewed lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. The four-person crew NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover (Pilot), Christina Koch (Mission Specialist), and Jeremy Hansen (CSA Mission Specialist) became the first humans to view the Moon’s far side in over 50 years, traveled farther from Earth than any previous crew (surpassing Apollo 13’s record at ~252,000+ miles), and are now on their return journey.
Splashdown is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 2026 (evening) in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego.
Recent Media Updates (as of April 9, 2026): The crew has been actively sharing experiences via live calls, press conferences from Orion, and transmitted images/footage while heading back to Earth.
LIVE: Artemis II astronauts answer media questions as they continue their journey toward Earth following their record-breaking lunar flyby. https://t.co/iAN74RMaRk
Return journey underway
The crew has completed the lunar flyby and is now on a gravity-assisted return trajectory to Earth, with splashdown expected in the Pacific.
Record-breaking distance achieved
Astronauts travelled over 252,000 miles from Earth, becoming the farthest humans ever in space, surpassing Apollo-era records.
Historic firsts during return
Crew made a record “space-to-space” call with the ISS, spanning ~230,000 miles — a first in human spaceflight.
Emotional reflections from space
Astronauts described the mission as a “relay race” for future explorers, emphasizing lessons for upcoming lunar missions.
Rare space phenomena observed
Witnessed a solar eclipse from the Moon’s far side, an experience crew said was “breathtaking”.
Scientific work continues during return
Ongoing experiments include studying the solar corona, monitoring meteoroid impacts, and testing astronaut health systems for re-entry.
Iconic imagery released
NASA shared first-ever human-captured views of the Moon’s far side, including Earthrise and eclipse visuals.
Symbolic gestures & legacy moments
Crew proposed naming lunar craters “Integrity” (after their Orion spacecraft) and “Carroll” (after Wiseman’s late wife).
Preparation for re-entry
Astronauts are now stowing equipment and conducting trajectory corrections ahead of a high-speed atmospheric re-entry.
Mission significance
The mission is seen as a critical stepping stone for future Moon landings and Mars missions, with data feeding into upcoming Artemis flights. The mission has been a major success so far, paving the way for future Artemis landings.
Artemis II marked a key step in its return to Earth late Tuesday, as the Orion spacecraft fired its engines to fine-tune its path home.
At 8:03 p.m. Eastern Time, Orion, named Integrity, performed its first return trajectory correction burn. The 15-second firing adjusted the spacecraft’s velocity by 1.6 feet per second, a small but critical change that aligned the crew’s course back toward Earth. NASA astronaut Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen oversaw the maneuver, reviewing procedures and closely tracking navigation and system data.
During a mission status briefing the same day, officials from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration released the first images captured during the crew’s lunar flyby, offering early visual data from the historic pass around the Moon. The agency also confirmed that the USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26) has departed port and is en route to a staging position in the Pacific Ocean, where it will support recovery operations following splashdown.
NASA said it will continue to share updates on recovery logistics and weather conditions in its daily briefings.
A live view shows the Orion spacecraft and its solar arrays as the Artemis II crew completed the mission’s first return correction burn on Flight Day 7.
With the burn complete, the crew is expected to rest before beginning a new round of flight objectives on Wednesday, April 8, focused on preparing for reentry.
Among the scheduled tasks is a test of an orthostatic intolerance garment, equipment designed to help astronauts regulate blood pressure and circulation as they transition from microgravity to Earth’s gravity. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Koch and Hansen will evaluate how effectively the garment supports cardiovascular stability during the return phase.
Later in the day, the crew will take manual control of Orion as part of a piloting demonstration. Using the spacecraft’s viewing systems, they will align with a designated target and guide Orion into a tail-to-Sun orientation while comparing its control modes.
The manual piloting test is scheduled to begin at 9:59 p.m., adding another layer of real-time data to NASA’s assessment of the spacecraft’s performance during its journey home.
An international team of scientists reported on April 7, 2026, that water on the Moon likely accumulated gradually over billions of years rather than from a single event. The study, published in Nature Astronomy, points to permanently shadowed craters near the lunar south pole as the most likely reservoirs of ice. Using data from NASA missions and simulations, researchers identified older craters as prime targets for future exploration and resource use.
For decades, scientists have known that water may exist on the Moon. What remained unclear was how it got there and why it appears unevenly spread across the surface.
A new study published April 7 in Nature Astronomy offers a clearer picture. The research suggests that lunar water did not arrive in a single dramatic event, such as a comet impact, but instead accumulated slowly over billions of years.
The study was led by Oded Aharonson of the Weizmann Institute of Science, with contributions from Paul Hayne at the University of Colorado Boulder and collaborators including Norbert Schörghofer. Their findings draw on years of observations and modeling to explain one of lunar science’s longest-standing questions.
Lunar south pole ice locations and cold traps explained
Evidence of water on the Moon has come primarily from missions led by NASA, including the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Instruments aboard the spacecraft detected signals consistent with ice inside deep craters near the Moon’s south pole. These craters, known as “cold traps,” remain in permanent shadow and can preserve ice for billions of years.
Observations from the orbiter’s Lyman Alpha Mapping Project instrument indicated that ice is not evenly distributed. Some craters appear rich in ice, while others show little to none. That patchy pattern has puzzled scientists for years.
The new study attempts to explain that uneven distribution by looking back at the Moon’s geological history. The researchers combined temperature data from the orbiter’s Diviner instrument with computer simulations that reconstructed how the Moon’s orientation has shifted over time.
The Moon’s tilt relative to Earth has not always been constant. As it shifted, craters that are permanently shadowed today may once have received sunlight, while others remained dark for much longer periods. This variation appears to have influenced where ice could accumulate and persist.
“It looks like the moon’s oldest craters also have the most ice,” Hayne said, noting that this pattern suggests a slow and continuous buildup of water over as much as 3 to 3.5 billion years.
How water may have formed and accumulated on the Moon
The study does not identify a single source of lunar water, but it narrows down the likely mechanisms. Researchers ruled out the idea that most of the Moon’s water arrived in one large delivery, such as a massive comet impact.
Instead, multiple processes likely contributed over time. Volcanic activity in the Moon’s distant past may have released water from its interior. Comets and asteroids could have delivered additional water through smaller impacts. Hydrogen from the solar wind may also have reacted with oxygen in lunar soil to form water molecules.
“Through the solar wind, a constant stream of hydrogen bombards the moon, and some of that hydrogen can be converted to water on the lunar surface,” Hayne said.
The researchers found that the craters that have remained in shadow the longest are also those most likely to contain ice today. One example is Haworth Crater near the Moon’s south pole, which may have been in continuous darkness for more than 3 billion years.
These findings could guide future lunar missions. Identifying where ice is most likely to be concentrated can help scientists and engineers plan landing sites and exploration strategies.
Water on the Moon is not just a scientific curiosity. It has practical implications for long-term human exploration. Ice deposits could be mined for drinking water, breathable oxygen and even rocket fuel by separating hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
“Finding water beyond Earth in liquid and usable form is one of the most important challenges in astronomy,” Aharonson said in a statement released by his institute.
Future missions aim to confirm lunar ice deposits
The study highlights the need for direct sampling to confirm the origin and distribution of lunar water. Observational data and simulations can narrow possibilities, but they cannot fully resolve the question.
Hayne and his colleagues are working on a new instrument, the Lunar Compact Infrared Imaging System, designed to study surface ice in greater detail. The instrument is expected to be deployed near the Moon’s south pole around 2027 as part of upcoming missions.
“Ultimately, the question of the source of the moon’s water will only be solved by sample analysis,” Hayne said. “We will need to go to the moon to analyze those samples there or find ways to bring them from the moon back to Earth.”
As space agencies and private companies accelerate plans for lunar exploration, the findings provide a clearer map of where to look. The Moon’s darkest craters, once seen as inaccessible voids, are emerging as some of the most valuable real estate beyond Earth.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched four astronauts on April 2 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the Artemis II mission. The crew is set for a 10-day test flight around the Moon, marking the first human lunar flyby since the Apollo era. The mission aims to validate spacecraft systems and pave the way for future Moon landings and Mars exploration.
NASA’s Artemis II mission has marked humanity’s return to deep space, becoming the first crewed journey near the Moon since Apollo 17. Four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft completed a seven-hour lunar flyby, capturing detailed observations of the Moon’s far side. The crew also set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans, surpassing Apollo 13. During the mission, they witnessed a solar eclipse from space and observed rare meteoroid impacts on the lunar surface. The spacecraft is now on its return trajectory, while scientists analyze data collected during the flyby.
Aboard the Orion spacecraft were NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen who completed their lunar flyby, broke the Apollo 13 distance record (252,756 miles from Earth), and regained contact after passing the Moon’s far side.
🚀 LIVE FROM SPACE: President Donald J. Trump Calls Artemis II Astronauts After Breaking the Farthest Distance Record in Human Spaceflight 🇺🇸 HISTORIC!
“Your mission paves the way for America’s return to the lunar surface very soon.” pic.twitter.com/1TzmIEQG0l
US President Donald J.Trump calls the Artemis II Astronauts in space:
The White House shared video of President Trump phoning the Artemis II crew to congratulate them after breaking the human spaceflight distance record during their lunar flyby. Artemis II astronauts reached about 252,757 miles from Earth on April 6, 2026, surpassing Apollo 13’s 1970 mark of 248,655 miles by over 4,000 miles while passing the Moon’s far side.
Trump told the crew their mission paves the way for America’s return to the lunar surface, highlighting it as a historic step in U.S. space leadership.
Trump further said , “Thank you very much Jared and you are doing a fantastic job and hello very special hello to Artemis II. Today you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud. We have a lot of things to be proud of lately, but there’s nothing like what you’re doing, circling around the moon for the first time in more than a half a century and breaking the all-time record for the farthest distance from planet Earth.
“Humans have really never seen anything quite like what you’re doing in a manned spacecraft. It’s really special. I wanted to congratulate each and every one of you. I want to personally salute and congratulate Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, and I also want to thank the entire amazing team at NASA, headed by Jared [Isaacman], who’s a very special guy, by the way. You have made this day possible, you’ve really inspired the entire world, really, everybody’s watching it”, Trump added.
And also there were few question from Trump to Artemis Crew about the mission where Trump asked “about most unforgettable part of this really historic day, and was there any difference in feel between the far side of the moon and the near side of the Moon, to which the Astronauts explained the differences due to Earth’s gravitational pull creating dramatic variations in the lunar landscapes. They described views of the Orientale crater, a solar eclipse from space, and Earthshine.
The four astronauts aboard Artemis II closed out a landmark day in deep space Tuesday, completing a lunar flyby that carried humans farther from Earth than ever before.
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, spent nearly seven hours observing the Moon as their Orion spacecraft swept past its far side. It marked the first time humans have traveled this route since Apollo 17 in December 1972.
The crew crossed a historic threshold earlier in the day. At 1:56 p.m. Eastern Time, Orion surpassed the distance record set during Apollo 13, when astronauts reached 248,655 miles from Earth during their emergency return. Two minutes after their closest lunar approach, the Artemis II crew pushed that boundary further, reaching approximately 252,756 miles from Earth.
Eclipsed: A View from Orion: The Moon, backlit by the Sun during a solar eclipse, is photographed by NASA’s Orion spacecraft on April 6, 2026, during the Artemis II mission. Orion is visible in the foreground on the left. Earth is reflecting sunlight at the left edge of the Moon, which is slightly brighter than the rest of the disk. The bright spot visible just below the Moon’s bottom right edge is Saturn. Beyond that, the bright spot at the right edge of the image is Mars. Credit: NASA Image Credit: NASA
Lunar Flyby Observations And Record-Breaking Distance
The spacecraft’s closest pass came at about 7:00 p.m., when Orion flew roughly 4,067 miles above the Moon’s surface. That maneuver occurred during a planned communications blackout, as the Moon temporarily blocked signals between the spacecraft and Earth.
While out of contact, the crew documented the lunar far side, a region never visible from Earth. They photographed impact craters, ancient lava plains, and networks of ridges and fractures shaped over billions of years. Differences in brightness and color were also noted, offering clues about the Moon’s composition and geological history.
As Orion slipped behind the Moon, the astronauts witnessed an “Earthset,” watching Earth disappear below the lunar horizon. Moments later, as the spacecraft emerged, they observed an “Earthrise,” a visual long associated with early Apollo missions.
The observations are expected to support ongoing lunar science work. NASA officials said the imagery and data collected during the flyby will help refine understanding of the Moon’s surface evolution and assist in planning future crewed missions under the Artemis program.
Starstruck art002e012588 (April 7, 2026) – A stunning snapshot in time. The Artemis II crew captured this breathtaking photo of our galaxy, the Milky Way. The Milky Way’s elegant spiral structure is dominated by just two arms wrapping off the ends of a central bar of stars. Spanning more than 100,000 light-years, Earth is located along one of the galaxy’s spiral arms, about halfway from the center. Credit: NASA Image Credit: NASA
Solar Eclipse And Rare Lunar Phenomena Recorded
Toward the end of the flyby, the alignment of the spacecraft, the Moon, and the Sun created a prolonged solar eclipse visible from Orion. For nearly an hour, the astronauts observed the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, appearing as a halo around the Moon’s edge.
The eclipse also allowed the crew to study the Moon’s darkened surface under unique conditions. During this period, astronauts reported seeing six brief flashes of light, believed to be meteoroids striking the lunar surface at high speeds.
Such impacts occur regularly but are rarely observed directly from orbit. Scientists plan to analyze the timing and location of these flashes using spacecraft data and compare them with observations from Earth-based astronomers.
Post-Flyby Outreach And Data Analysis Begins
Following the flyby, the crew took part in a live call with Donald Trump, who congratulated the astronauts during NASA’s broadcast coverage. They also spoke with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and responded to questions submitted through social media platforms.
Mission teams are now preparing to receive a large volume of data transmitted from Orion. Engineers and scientists will review images, audio recordings, and telemetry collected during the flyby to identify key scientific insights and operational lessons.
NASA said the crew is scheduled to discuss their observations with the lunar science team in a live broadcast on April 7. Researchers are also expected to invite amateur astronomers to contribute observations taken during the same window, particularly in tracking the reported impact flashes.
The Artemis II mission, designed as a crewed test flight, continues its journey back toward Earth following the flyby. The success of this phase is expected to inform future missions aimed at returning astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time in more than half a century.
The four astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission woke up to a milestone few humans have experienced. Less than 19,000 miles from the Moon, they began final preparations for a lunar flyby that will mark humanity’s return to deep space after more than five decades.
Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen are expected to guide the Orion spacecraft through a carefully timed trajectory past the Moon later in the day. The moment carries symbolic weight. The last time humans ventured this far was during Apollo 17 in December 1972.
The crew’s wake-up call came with music. “Good Morning,” by Mandisa and TobyMac played through the spacecraft, followed by a recorded message from Apollo-era astronaut Jim Lovell, who died in 2025. Lovell commanded Apollo 13, the mission that previously held the record for the farthest distance traveled by humans from Earth.
That record is expected to fall at approximately 1:56 p.m. Eastern Time. Orion will surpass Apollo 13’s maximum distance of 248,655 miles, eventually reaching about 252,760 miles from Earth later in the evening.
“Hello, Artemis II! This is Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell. Welcome to my old neighborhood! When Frank Borman, Bill Anders, and I orbited the Moon on Apollo 8, we got humanity’s first up-close look at the Moon and got a view of the home planet that inspired and united people around the world. I’m proud to pass that torch on to you — as you swing around the Moon and lay the groundwork for missions to Mars … for the benefit of all. It’s a historic day, and I know how busy you’ll be. But don’t forget to enjoy the view. So, Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy, and all the great teams supporting you – good luck and Godspeed from all of us here on the good Earth.”
Lovell,Gemini VII, Gemini XII, Apollo 8, and Apollo 13 Astronaut
Lunar Flyby Timeline And Observation Plans
The flyby itself is scheduled to begin around 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time and will span roughly seven hours. During this window, Orion will pass close enough to the lunar surface to allow astronauts to observe geological features in detail.
NASA has indicated that cameras mounted on Orion’s solar arrays will transmit live views of the Moon back to Earth. The agency plans to stream coverage across multiple platforms, including NASA+, YouTube, and major streaming services.
Engineers have cautioned that image quality may fluctuate. The distance from Earth, along with bandwidth constraints across NASA’s Deep Space Network, could affect transmission clarity during portions of the flyby.
The spacecraft’s closest approach is expected shortly after a planned communications blackout. At about 6:44 p.m., Orion will pass behind the Moon, temporarily losing contact with Earth as lunar mass blocks radio signals. The blackout is expected to last around 40 minutes.
Within that window, at approximately 7:02 p.m., Orion will reach its nearest point to the lunar surface, about 4,070 miles above it. This maneuver is critical for setting up the spacecraft’s trajectory for its return journey.
Final Flyby Preparations art002e009294 (April 6, 2026) – Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen prepare for their journey around the far side of the Moon by configuring their camera equipment shortly before beginning their lunar flyby observations. Image Credit: NASA
Solar Eclipse Viewed From Deep Space
As the flyby concludes, the crew will witness a rare celestial alignment. Beginning around 8:35 p.m., the astronauts are expected to see a solar eclipse from their vantage point in space.
From Orion, the Moon will move directly between the spacecraft and the Sun, blocking sunlight for nearly an hour. The crew will observe the solar corona, the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, which becomes visible during such eclipses.
NASA officials have said this phase of the mission offers both scientific and experiential value. Observing the corona from deep space provides a unique opportunity to study solar activity without atmospheric interference.
The Artemis II mission is designed as a test flight, evaluating systems that will support future lunar landings under NASA’s Artemis program. Unlike later missions, Artemis II does not include a landing. Its focus remains on validating life support systems, navigation, and crew operations in deep space.
Still, Tuesday’s flyby represents a turning point. For the first time in more than 50 years, humans are returning to the Moon’s vicinity, setting the stage for a sustained presence in lunar orbit and, eventually, on its surface.
The spacecraft will continue its journey following the flyby, looping back toward Earth in the coming days.
Key moments for the lunar flyby include this following. All times are Eastern and may be adjusted based on real-time operations:
NASA
Monday, April 6
1:30 p.m.: The science officer in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston will brief the crew on their science goals for the upcoming flyby.
1:56 p.m.: The Artemis II crew is expected to surpass the record previously set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970 for the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth.
2:45 p.m.: Lunar observations begin.
6:44 p.m.: Mission control expects to temporarily lose communication with the crew as the Orion spacecraft passes behind the Moon.
6:45 p.m.: During “Earthset,” Earth will glide behind the Moon from Orion’s perspective.
7:02 p.m.: Orion reaches its closest approach to the Moon at 4,070 miles above the surface.
7:07 p.m.: Crew reach their maximum distance from Earth during the mission (252,706 miles).
7:25 p.m.: “Earthrise” marks Earth coming back into view on the opposite edge of the Moon.
7:25 p.m.: Mission control will re-acquire communication with the astronauts.
8:35-9:32 p.m.: During a solar eclipse, the Sun will pass behind the Moon from the crew’s perspective.
9:20 p.m.: Lunar observations conclude.
Tuesday, April 7
1:25 p.m.: Orion exits the lunar sphere of influence at 41,072 miles from the Moon.
Researchers at Princeton University have found that high-fat diets may make certain breast cancers more invasive by altering tumor structure. The study, published March 3 in APL Bioengineering, examined triple-negative breast cancer using advanced 3D models. Scientists say the findings could help explain why diet influences cancer outcomes, though results remain limited to lab conditions.
In a controlled lab setting, researchers watched tumors change shape.
Not grow faster. Not shrink. Change form.
That shift, they say, may help explain why diet influences how some cancers behave.
A team at Princeton University has identified new links between high-fat diets and aggressive breast cancer, focusing on how fat alters the structure of tumors rather than simply accelerating their growth.
The study examined triple-negative breast cancer, a subtype that does not respond to many conventional therapies and is often associated with poorer outcomes.
High-fat nutrients linked to invasive tumor structure
Using 3D tumor models designed to mimic human biological conditions, researchers exposed cancer cells to different nutrient environments, including fats, cholesterol, insulin, and ketones.
The results showed a clear structural difference.
Tumors exposed to fatty acids and cholesterol developed hollow, branching extensions that spread outward from the tumor core. These structures are associated with invasive behavior, allowing cancer cells to penetrate surrounding tissue and potentially spread through the body.
Celeste Nelson, the study’s lead investigator, described these formations as characteristic of aggressive cancers.
“Aggressive cancers have these tendrils, and it’s the leading edges that end up invading into our normal tissues and making it into either a lymphatic or a blood vessel and escaping and metastasizing,” she said.
Notably, the tumors did not grow significantly faster under high-fat conditions. Instead, cells redistributed, moving from the center toward the edges, reshaping the tumor’s structure.
Gene activity points to possible mechanism
The team also identified increased activity of a gene known as MMP1, which is associated with the breakdown of collagen, a key structural component of tissue.
Higher MMP1 levels were strongly correlated with the structural changes observed in the tumors.
Researchers believe this may allow cancer cells to break down surrounding tissue more easily, creating pathways for invasion.
However, the study stops short of proving direct causation. Nelson said further research is needed to determine whether high-fat diets directly trigger this gene activity or if other factors are involved.
Future experiments may test whether blocking MMP1 changes how tumors respond to high-fat conditions.
Fluorescence images of sample tumors show invasions into surrounding tissue over several days. Branching invasions are most pronounced in the lower right frame. (Photo illustration from image provided by the researchers/Princeton University.) Credit:Princeton University
Other diets showed limited impact in the model
The study also tested tumor responses under different nutrient conditions, including high insulin, glycerol, and ketones.
These conditions showed little difference from baseline tumors, which remained relatively compact and did not develop invasive structures.
One unexpected result involved a simulated ketogenic diet, which is typically high in fat and low in carbohydrates.
Researchers had expected it might slow tumor progression. Instead, the tumors did not show improved outcomes compared to baseline conditions within the model.
“We were expecting a ketogenic diet to be protective,” Nelson said. “Yet we didn’t see that here.”
She added that the model may not fully capture the complexity of how such diets interact with the human body, particularly immune responses and other systemic factors.
Study highlights limits of lab-based cancer models
The findings are based on 3D microfluidic tumor models, which aim to replicate aspects of real biological environments more accurately than traditional lab methods.
Unlike 2D cell cultures, which grow in simplified conditions, these models simulate both the physical and chemical environment of tumors. At the same time, they remain more controlled than animal studies, allowing researchers to isolate specific variables such as diet.
Even so, the researchers caution that the results are limited.
The tumors studied are simplified representations and do not include the full range of interactions present in the human body. That means the findings cannot be directly translated into dietary recommendations or clinical outcomes.
“Every tumor is an individual’s tumor,” Nelson said, noting the challenge of capturing the full diversity of cancer behavior in a single study.
New direction for diet and cancer research
The study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that diet influences cancer progression, though the mechanisms remain unclear.
By focusing on structural changes rather than growth rates, the Princeton team offers a different lens for understanding how nutrients interact with tumors.
The research also points to potential targets for future therapies, particularly genes involved in tissue breakdown and tumor invasion.
For now, the findings remain an early step.
They show how fat may change the way tumors behave under controlled conditions, opening new questions about how those processes unfold inside the human body.
