Weekly - Chinese astronauts’ return capsule damaged and more
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This week ranks green 🟢 on the Engagement Palette.
3I/ATLAS loses its tail, further baffling scientists
Comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar object (i.e. an object from outside our solar system) to enter our neighbourhood. It has been of interest lately due to its unusual behaviour. Last week, as the comet approached the sun, it displayed a significant increase in brightness than what was explainable. In recent images, the comet seems to have lost its tail, baffling scientists who predicted a significant increase in outgassing (the process that creates the tail). Some have even pointed out that the comet might be an alien spacecraft.
Chinese astronauts’ return capsule damaged
The return of three Chinese astronauts, part of the Shenzhou-20 crew on the space station Tiangong, has been delayed indefinitely as their return capsule was damaged by space debris hours before departure. Scientists are still analysing the extent of the damage. If the spacecraft is confirmed to be unsafe, it will be ejected and returned to Earth unmanned. In such a case, the astronauts will have to return using the next crew’s module.
