In recent space news, Japan's SLIM lander astonished scientists by surviving not one, but two lunar nights, while a breakthrough in drug manufacturing in space offers promising advancements in healthcare.
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| (Image: Google) |
SLIM's Lunar Triumph
While India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission succumbed to the frigid temperatures of the lunar night, Japan's SLIM lander proved its mettle by enduring two consecutive lunar nights. Despite an unconventional landing on its nose, SLIM, short for "Smart Lander for Investigating Moon," successfully landed on the Moon, marking Japan's entry as the fifth nation to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface.
Upon landing, SLIM faced a power challenge due to its inverted position, causing it to go dark shortly after touchdown. However, after a brief hiatus, the resilient lander reactivated, fulfilling its primary mission objectives, including deploying rovers and collecting vital data.
To the surprise of many, SLIM persevered through not one, but two lunar nights, defying expectations of its demise due to freezing temperatures. This remarkable feat highlights SLIM's resilience and underscores the potential of future lunar exploration missions.
Space-Produced Drugs: A New Frontier
Meanwhile, back on Earth, a groundbreaking development emerged in the realm of drug manufacturing as a capsule containing ritonavir, a drug used in HIV treatment, arrived from space. This drug was manufactured autonomously in space by Varda Space Industries, based in California.
The concept of producing drugs in space raises questions about its feasibility and necessity, considering the high costs associated with space missions. However, the rationale behind space manufacturing becomes apparent when considering long-duration space missions, such as voyages to Mars, where dependence on Earth-made drugs may pose logistical challenges.
Moreover, space offers unique conditions conducive to certain drug manufacturing processes, particularly in protein crystallization, which significantly influences a drug's efficacy. Experiments conducted aboard the International Space Station have demonstrated the potential for producing stable drug formulations with improved properties compared to their Earth-made counterparts.
While space-produced drugs hold promise for revolutionizing medical science, challenges remain, including cost-effectiveness and scalability. Nonetheless, ongoing research and advancements in space technology suggest that space could become a frontier for pharmaceutical innovation, paving the way for groundbreaking medical treatments in the future.
