Indian Space Research Organization has called-off Moon mission after scientists lost contact with the orbiting Chandrayaan-1 space ship. Spacecraft was introduced last October as a two-year mission of traveling around.

This launch was a major step for India. ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair said to the reporters in spite of the called off, mission was a great success and 95% of its purpose is finished. He quoted saying we could collect a large volume of data, including 70,000 images of moon. ISRO scientists add a conversation with US and Russia to track the spacecraft, which travel round 200km from the surface of Moon. Southern state of Andhra Pradesh last October expected robotic probe would orbit the Moon, accumulate a three- dimensional atlas of lunar surface and distribution of elements and minerals. The satellite did experience technical problem when an antenna broke down. During that, time information was already gathered through pictures even though picture quality did affect the malfunction.  Mission was likely to cost up to 3.8bn rupees greatly less than Japanese and Chinese survey says when they sent Moon last year. Not all-Indian government welcomed a space effort. Some critics looked upon the space effort as a waste of resources in a country where people still not have basic needs.

Virgin Galactic unveiled its new class of carrier aircraft in a naming ceremony at Mojave Air and Spaceport, California. The plan was named EVE in honor of Sir Richard Branson’s mother. Branson is the founder of the Airline Virgin Atlantic. The plan is of WhiteKnightTwo class and is designed to be used as a launch platform for SpaceShipTwo at an altitude of 50,000 feet above the earth.

It will carry the passenger ship to that altitude on its underside and once launched the SpaceShipTwo will start its climb to the edge of the atmosphere (104 km) using its own power. It will remain there for sometime before it will start a descent, thus providing the passengers a visit to space experience. It will take 6 passengers on each trip with a single person trip costing 1,50,000 pounds.

The aircraft is made of carbon-composite material and is highly efficient when it comes to fuel usage. Thus comes in line with the vision of Sir Richard Branson to make Virgin Galactic a company providing space travel a safe and commercial option. The same platform could also be used to carry satellites of small payload into space. The aircraft has a catamaran like design with twin booms and the propulsion is provided by four turbofan jet engines. It aircraft has a wingspan 140 feet.

Space shuttle Endeavour finally gusted into space Wednesday evening, along with its seven-member entourage on Thursday from Cape Canaveral, Florida after overcoming five major setbacks, slated to reach the International Space Station on Friday. After a month long delay, the launch of Endeavour coincides with the 40th anniversary of the successful launch when man first landed on moon.

Engineers have noted rubble of close to nine foam insulations of the external fuel tank flying off the Endeavour at the time of take off, though the prospect of major damage has been ruled out. A few scrapes have been observed that are being comprehended as insignificant coating being grazed off. A detailed picture of further damage would become clear on Friday when the astronauts would be taking closeup pictures of the space shuttle as it back tosses prior to docking.

The chairman of the mission management team, Mike Moss stated that it would be premature to make any speculations regarding the damage at this point of time. He further mentioned that in the eventuality of minor damage, the crew were well-equipped with repair kits. If matters were worse, the crew had the option to haul into the space station for the 2-3 month period while a rescue shuttle would be there to tend to them.

Columbia, NASA’s prior fatal venture that blasted to pieces in sky while re-entry claimed all seven lives on it.

The seven member crew comprising of six Americans along with a Canadian, Julie Payette who is set to manoeuvre the space shuttle’s robot arm in the mission. For a period of two weeks, the space shuttle will remain docked at the International Space Station, during which the crew will assist in installation of the final component of the Japanese space lab, Kibo, a porch that needs exposure to space for research work. There are five spacewalks scheduled.

There are seven space flights to be undertaken in future prior to the shuttle’s retirement in 2010.

Google is all set to step into a territory ruled by Microsoft for over two decades. Google Chrome Operating System is all set to be as an operating platform ready for use by 2010. Google already offer a suite of web based services including the popular search engine and the email, with this launch they will expose the venerable Microsoft as till now it has enjoyed a monopoly in the OS domain. Chrome OS is designed specifically to make web application usage easier.

According to Google, Microsoft has its platforms designed on a model that has been followed when web did not exist and thus there need to be a radical new approach when it comes to designing Operating system which can meets today’s requirements.

Now one has to wait and watch if Google can convince PC manufacturers for entering into partnership and promoting the platform. Some of the leading PC manufacturers like HP, Dell, Acer and Compaq offer Windows as a platform in most of there products.

Some still doubt if Google can do much on the OS front as there Chrome Internet browser is yet to make gains and has a mere share of 1.2 % when it comes to the Browser usage. So time will only tell if Google can win this battle.

US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hit an introductory pact on Monday , that ensued after three hours of discussion held in Kremlin, to cut down their respective stash of nuclear missiles to as low as 1500, targeting the least echelon that any US –Russia arms pact has ever achieved. The endeavour also entrusts the new deal to reduce the respective nation’s long range projectiles for conveying nuclear bombs to be in the range of 500-1100.

The notable deal being Obama’s premier one in Russia, was signed between the two leaders during the Moscow summit as a means to direct envoys while the nations progress towards a substitute deal as the currently existing START arms control agreement nullifies in December. The present agreement permits an upper limit of 2,200 weapons and 1,600 launch platforms. According to a statement issued by the White House, the new-fangled agreement incorporates able corroboration measures to augment defence, whilst doubling up to offer logicality and constancy in tactical offensive power.

Conscious measures to bridge the gap between the two countries were evident by the deal in which Moscow would permit US to move weaponry across its soil and space to Afghanistan. This comes as a windfall as it would aid in saving precious US $ 133million annually by means of relinquishing of transit fees and decreased flight time.

Obama requires Russia’s aid in creating pressure on North Korea and Iran to forego their nuclear warhead aspirations and thus effectively dealing with global warming, terror campaigns and in reviving economy.