|
Russia launches probe to Mars moon
Wednesday November 09, 2011 09:42:03 AM,
RIA Novosti
|
|
Moscow: Russia has launched a robotic spacecraft to Mars' moon Phobos in
an attempt to bring back soil samples from the moon by 2014.
The two-stage Zenit-2SB launch vehicle carrying the Phobos-Grunt
probe lifted off from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan at
2016 GMT Tuesday.
The $163-million spacecraft is carrying an array of 20 instruments
designed to gather and transmit data from the vicinity of Mars and
from the surface of Phobos.
Phobos-Grunt is also carrying several other payloads -- including
a Chinese sub-probe Yinghuo 1 that will separate from Phobos-Grunt
and go into orbit around the Red Planet.
The Russian craft also carries a capsule with microbes to study
how life forms survive long flights through deep space.
The probe is expected to reach Mars in September 2012 and drop its
lander onto Phobos early in 2013.
|
|
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top Stories |
|
Prayers mark Eid in India, but clashes in Kashmir
Thronging
mosques, sacrificing goats, greeting friends and rustling up
delicacies, millions of Indian Muslims celebrated Eid-ul-Zuha
Monday. The day passed off peacefully
»
Eid-ul-Zuha is about the spirit of sacrifice
Sacrifice and its impact on economy
Muslims
around the world celebrate Eid-ul-Adha
|
|
|
|
Most Read |
|
 SAARC officials firm up agenda for Nov 10-11 summit
Foreign secretaries and senior officials of eight
SAARC countries met Monday at the Addu Atoll in the Maldives to
firm up the agenda for the Nov 10-11 summit that is expected to
result in pacts
»
|
|
Amid China's overtures, Manmohan to court Maldives
India is set
to seal an all embracing agreement and a counter-terror pact with
the Maldives when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets President
Mohammed Nasheed in Male Friday.
Amid China's attempt to increase its clout in the Indian Ocean
island, Manmohan Singh will meet Nasheed
»
|
|
|
|
News Pick |
|
Swami Agnivesh to enter 'Bigg Boss 5'
Social activist Swami Agnivesh will be the latest entrant in the "Bigg
Boss 5" house, currently home to an eclectic mix of aggressive and
abusive celebrities. He will enter the show Tuesday.
Agnivesh was in the news recently for
»
|
|
Over 1,000 striking teachers arrested in
Chhattisgarh
Over 1,000 contract teachers in Chhattisgarh, who have been
striking work since Nov 1 for a better salary package, were
arrested Monday as the state government imposed the Essential
Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
»
|
|
Malegaon
rejoice as 'innocents' granted bail ahead of Eid
Even though the Muslims accused of conspiring the
2006 Malegaon blast would not be able to celebrate Eid in the town
as their bail papers »
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Day |
|
 |
|
More than 2.5mn people from all
across the world have gathered in Makkah for Haj which starts
November 05, 2011 this year. Haj, the fifth pillar of Islam is
a religious journey to the House of Allah in Makkah. This is
in response to the call of Prophet Abraham when Allah
commanded him to call mankind to perform Haj. Haj is the
largest gathering of Muslims as about three million Muslims
from all over the world meet to worship their Lord. All
barriers including language, color, class and race are broken.
(Photo:
Arab News/Ahmad Hashad) |
|
|
|
|
Comments
|
Quick links