The quest for the final frontier is still very much on. But rather than the Cold War-era space race between the two governments of the United States and Soviet Union, the competition now has many players, both public and private.
The public sector these days includes China, which recently announced plans to send an unmanned probe to Mars within the next five years, Chinese state-run agency Xinhua reported. The pledge is a direct challenge to NASA, whose ETA for landing a rover mission on the Red Planet is set for July 2020. The U.S. space agency is also shooting for a manned mission to Mars by 2030, and has just completed a year-long simulation of such an experience in a remote site in Hawaii. The BBC quotes Cyprien Verseux, one of the six scientists who took part in the simulation: “I can give you my personal impression which is that a mission to Mars in the close future is realistic.”
Meanwhile, Moscow is still in the race. This Kommersant article reports that the Russian space agency Roscosmos plans — among other things — a satellite mission in 2019 to determine the effects of prolonged space travel and zero gravity on a living organism.
But beyond the national agencies, the race for the stars now includes individual entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. The Economist magazine reports this week on the growing private business competition in space, including everything from the GPS satellite technology that helps you find a restaurant to unknown galaxies that could reveal the meaning of life. Buckle up, this is a ride for the ages.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR TODAY
- Suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff addresses Senate in her impeachment trial. Here’s the front page from O Globo.
- U.S. Open begins.
- More than 3,300 people across the U.S. take aeronautical exam, as FAA rules on commercial use of drones go into effect.
COLOMBIA CEASEFIRE BEGINS
One of Colombia’s “most painful chapters” comes to an end today as a ceasefire between the government and the leftist rebel group FARC goes into effect, effectively ending a 52-year-old war. “A new story starts for Colombia,” President Juan Manuel Santos said in a tweet. The historic peace deal agreed last week will be officially signed next month before being put to a vote on Oct. 2.
TURKISH ARMY MOVES FURTHER INTO SYRIA
Turkish troops and rebel groups allied to it have thrust deeper into Syria over the weekend, seizing territories controlled by Kurdish forces, Reuters reports. At least 35 villagers were killed in the five days since Turkish forces crossed the border, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Turkey denies the report.
— ON THIS DAY
Hurricane Katrina — 11 years ago. That, and more, in your 57-second shot of History.
VERBATIM
“In my opinion the negotiations on TTIP with the United States have de facto failed, even though nobody is really admitting it,” Germany’s Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs Sigmar Gabriel said yesterday during an interview with national broadcaster ZDF.
BOMB EXPLODES IN EMPTY BRUSSELS POLICE BUILDING
A bomb ripped through a criminology institute in Brussels in the middle of the night, causing extensive damage but no victims, Le Soir reports. The police are investigating the explosion as a criminal act but have ruled out links to terrorism five months after deadly attacks on the Brussels airport and a metro station.
— WORLDCRUNCH-TO-GO
There is no law in China expressly forbidding the public from filming law enforcement. And yet, police officers stubbornly resist the idea of being filmed. But now the country’s Ministry of Public Security is saying things must change, as Zhou Dongxu writes for Chinese daily Caixin: “Allowing the public to film police actions makes law enforcement more accountable, and poses a direct challenge to their propaganda machine. But it can also present police in a good light provided they carry out their functions in accordance with the law. It serves as a powerful incentive, therefore, for law enforcement to perform professionally and appropriately. In today’s information age, the roles and definitions of media are constantly evolving. Police must adapt to the new situation.”
Read the full article, China To Its Citizens: Go Ahead And Film The Cops.
8,991
Figures from Germany’s federal police show that 8,991 unaccompanied refugee children and young people had been reported missing by July 1, a figure that almost doubled since January.
— MY GRAND-PERE’S WORLD
Floating Business — Lake Titicaca, April 1996
BEYONCÉ SHINES AT MTV AWARDS
The American singer’s Formation wins top video award. See all the coverage from MTV.
MORE STORIES, EXCLUSIVELY IN ENGLISH BY WORLDCRUNCH
- Is Argentina In An Era Of “Post-Homosexuality”? — Clarin
- Couchsurfing In Palestine, Part 3: Death At The Door — Rue Amelot (essay)
- Is It Legal For Vigilantes To Hunt For Suspects On Facebook? — Süddeutsche Zeitung
“GOOD DOG” IS ENOUGH (NO BONE NEEDED)
Does he really love you, or just the treat you give him? Worry not, a new Emory University study finds that dogs’ reputation as “man’s best friend” is well deserved. Human praise (and maybe a pat on the head or scratch on the belly) is enough to please your average canine. Read more from UPI.