European space officials outlined plans on Thursday for a new Sat Nav system for the Moon as humans prepare to return to its surface after a gap of more than 50 years.
The European Space Agency is in the early stages of building a constellation of satellites that would allow missions to keep in constant touch with Earth even from the dark side of the Moon.
The proposed navigation system would allow the growing number of planned missions to land accurately and then communicate with Earth and any potential future permanent lunar base staffed by astronauts.
US space agency Nasa is planning a manned mission to the Moon in 2024 called Artemis, the first since 1972. It is just one of a number of planned missions to the Moon as nations seek to exploit cheaper space missions.
“The Moon is of interest in itself – it’s also a fantastic testing ground and the ultimate base camp for future exploration and economic activity of which we can only imagine today,” said Graham Turnock, the chief executive of the UK space agency.
The ESA communications system is designed to provide a permanent in-orbit lunar control centre allowing landing craft to dispense with expensive and heavy on-board systems currently needed for safe landings. Officials say the plans, part of its Moonlight programme, would allow rover vehicles to be explore remote parts of the Moon.
David Huw Parker, head of human and robotic exploration at ESA, said: “After 4.5 billion years of solar system history we have hardly begun to unlock its secrets.”
The proposals are part of efforts to tap into the ambitious US plans for lunar exploration. It plans to set up a small space station in lunar orbit that will be home to astronauts and can be used as a holding area for equipment and a base to re-supply missions on the surface below.
The first phase of the feasibility work is being carried out by companies from the UK and Italy, two of the 22 countries that are members of ESA.
ESA said on Thursday said that it believed it was the frontrunner for the commercial navigation operation but enters a crowded marketplace. China earlier this month landed a probe on Mars and defence experts have warned of a growing race for strategic supremacy in space.
Nations have been joined by the private sector. Elon Musk’s company SpaceX is leading the charge for space tourism and has been contracted by Nasa to deliver astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
MANDOOB
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Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR
US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.
KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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More on animal trafficking
Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica
Best Agent: Jorge Mendes
Best Club : Liverpool
Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP
Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart
Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)
Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)
Best Women's Player: Lucy Bronze
Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi
Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)
Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs
Brief scoreline:
Burnley 3
Barnes 63', 70', Berg Gudmundsson 75'
Southampton 3
Man of the match
Ashley Barnes (Burnley)
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
BLACK%20ADAM
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Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
ROUTE%20TO%20TITLE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
