In a major development, Nasa has found evidence of the hard landing of the Japanese lunar lander HAKUTO-R Mission 1, which crashed on the moon’s surface a month earlier, reported CBS News Wednesday.
The Japanese moon lander, designed by the company ispace, was launched on December 11, 2022, and was to land in the moon’s Atlas crater on April 25.
The ispace team said in a news release that the “lander’s descent speed rapidly increased as it approached the moon. It then lost contact with Mission Control.”
“Based on this, it has been determined that there is a high probability that the lander eventually made a hard landing on the Moon’s surface,” the company said.
On April 26, Nasa’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, a robotic spacecraft orbiting around the moon with cameras provided topographic maps of the lunar surface, and captured 10 images around the landing site.
The 10 captured images and the one clicked before the landing helped scientists, operating the spacecraft, begin to look for the Japanese lander in a 28-by-25-mile region.
The team identified what NASA called “an unusual surface change” near where the lander was supposed to end up.
The photo by Nasa’s orbiter shows “four prominent pieces of debris” and several changes in the lunar surface, including some changes that could indicate a small crater or pieces of the lander.
In a statement, Nasa said, “the photos are just the first step in the process. The site will be further analysed over the coming months.”
According to the US space agency, the orbiter will make further observations of the site in different lighting conditions and from other angles.
Despite the crash, the company ispace is eyeing to launch further moon probes.
Takeshi Hakamada, founder and CEO of ispace, told CBS News before the failed launch that the company’s goal is to help develop a lunar economy and create an infrastructure that will augment Nasa’s Artemis programme and make it easier to access the surface of the moon.
Under the company’s lunar mission, another lander is set to take another rover to the moon in 2024. The third mission is currently under preparation.
Hakamada said that if possible, the goal is to set “high-frequency transportation to the lunar surface to support scientific, exploration, and technology demonstration missions.”
“We are planning to offer frequent missions to the surface. After 2025, we plan to offer two to three missions per year,” said the CEO.
The National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) has released a security advisory concerning the increasing utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, emphasizing potential hazards related to the exposing of private data.
The recommendation recognizes that AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, have gained significant popularity for personal and professional duties owing to their capacity to improve productivity and engagement. Nonetheless, the CERT cautions that these AI systems frequently retain sensitive information, so posing a danger of data breaches.
Engagements with AI chatbots may encompass sensitive information, such as corporate strategy, personal dialogues, or confidential correspondence, which could be compromised if inadequately safeguarded. The warning emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive cybersecurity framework to alleviate concerns associated with AI chatbot utilization.
Users are advised against inputting critical information into AI chatbots and are encouraged to deactivate any chat-saving functionalities to mitigate the danger of unwanted data access. The CERT additionally advises performing routine system security checks and employing monitoring tools to identify any anomalous behavior from AI chatbots.
Organizations are urged to adopt rigorous security protocols to safeguard against possible data breaches resulting from AI-driven interactions.
Air Marshal (R) Asad Lodhi has praised the Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge, an initiative by the Air University and Higher Education Commission that aims to train future cyber security experts and pioneers. At the opening ceremony of the two-day Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge, which took place at Air University in Islamabad, he was the chief guest. Showdown challenges, the Ideas Cup, and the Pakistan Crypt Challenge are all part of the Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge, which lasts for two days.
Air Marshal (R) Abdul Moeed Khan, VC of Air University, made a speech praising the cyber security abilities of Pakistani youth, saying that they are among the best in the world and will help the country face cyber threats. A haven for cyber security excellence, he said, Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge 2024. Additionally, he praised the Air University for its innovative and outstanding work in this area. At the inaugural ceremony of the Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge, Dr. Zia Ul Qayyum, executive director of the Higher Education Commission, also spoke to the crowd. He discussed how HEC has created a welcoming atmosphere and helped facilitate projects such as the Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge. As part of the inauguration event, an MoU was also signed. Guests and participants were given souvenirs as the opening ceremony came to a close.