Introduction: A Nuclear Vision for Viksit Bharat@2047 As India marches toward its ambitious goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, energy security stands as a pivotal pillar in the vision of Viksit Bharat . Amid the global climate crisis and rising energy demands, nuclear power has re-emerged as a compelling solution. India’s commitment to achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 is both visionary and necessary—but achieving this requires a strategic shift in policy, participation, and international cooperation. While India’s nuclear energy sector has traditionally been a tightly controlled domain under government monopoly—primarily led by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) —it is now imperative to welcome private sector investments and foreign partnerships. A reformed nuclear ecosystem can unlock the full potential of atomic energy as a clean, reliable, and scalable contributor to India’s net-zero aspiration...
Athena Mission Targets Lunar South Pole with Innovative Hopping Rover In a significant stride toward lunar exploration, Intuitive Machines has launched the Athena lander, aiming for a historic touchdown near the Moon's south pole. Scheduled to land on March 6, 2025, this mission seeks to investigate the presence of water ice in permanently shadowed craters, a resource pivotal for future human endeavors on the Moon. Mission Overview Launch Details Date and Time: Athena was launched on February 26, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Operator: The mission is managed by Intuitive Machines, a Houston-based private aerospace company. Landing Site Target Location: The lander aims to touch down near the lunar south pole, specifically targeting Mons Mouton, the Moon's tallest mountain. Scientific Significance: This region is believed to harbor water ice within its permanently shadowed craters, making it a prime location for resource explora...