• The massive Artemis I rocket atop a mobile launch platform en route to Launch Pad 39B from the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. AFP
    The massive Artemis I rocket atop a mobile launch platform en route to Launch Pad 39B from the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. AFP
  • Nasa's massive new rocket began its first journey to a launchpad ahead of a battery of tests. AFP
    Nasa's massive new rocket began its first journey to a launchpad ahead of a battery of tests. AFP
  • Nasa employees are seen on the stairs outside of the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Centre, Florida. AFP
    Nasa employees are seen on the stairs outside of the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Centre, Florida. AFP
  • Nasa's Space Launch System rocket. AFP
    Nasa's Space Launch System rocket. AFP
  • Nasa's Space Launch System rocket. AFP
    Nasa's Space Launch System rocket. AFP
  • Invited guests and Nasa employees take photos as Nasa's Space Launch System rocket is rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building for the first time. AFP
    Invited guests and Nasa employees take photos as Nasa's Space Launch System rocket is rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building for the first time. AFP
  • Nasa’s Space Launch System rocket. AFP
    Nasa’s Space Launch System rocket. AFP
  • The Artemis rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard. AP Photo
    The Artemis rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard. AP Photo
  • The Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AP Photo
    The Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AP Photo
  • A crowd looks on as the massive Artemis I rocket is ferried to Launch Pad 39B from the Kennedy Space Centre. AFP
    A crowd looks on as the massive Artemis I rocket is ferried to Launch Pad 39B from the Kennedy Space Centre. AFP
  • Nasa's next-generation moon rocket Reuters
    Nasa's next-generation moon rocket Reuters

Artemis 1: five experiments planned for Nasa's test flight to the Moon


Sarwat Nasir
  • English
  • Arabic

Nasa’s Artemis 1 mission will conduct several science and technology experiments to help expand understanding of the Moon, including whether ice is hidden all over its surface.

The uncrewed test flight is scheduled for launch from Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre on August 29. The Space Launch System rocket will deliver the Orion spacecraft to space, and then it will fly solo to the Moon.

It is part of the space agency’s Artemis programme, which aims to build a sustainable human presence on the Moon.

The flight will carry 10 CubeSats - miniature satellites - which will support the mission's investigations. Details of a few of these were revealed during a virtual press briefing held by Nasa on Tuesday.

Jacob Bleacher, chief exploration scientist at the space agency, said these could help deepen our knowledge of lunar science and deep-space travel.

“We’re at the beginning of an exciting adventure to explore the Moon, but also to learn about our place and an evolving universe,” he said.

“Our moon serves as basically a celestial library right next door. From here, we can begin to research our history. Lunar rocks and lunar ice serve as the books of this library."

Search for lunar water ice

A rendering of the LunaH-Map CubeSat. Photo: Nasa
A rendering of the LunaH-Map CubeSat. Photo: Nasa

One of these experiments will be carried out by the LunaH-Map CubeSat, built by a team at Arizona State University.

The spacecraft will measure whether there is ice hidden in the illuminated plains of the Moon, and not just the permanently shadowed region, as was discovered previously.

Craig Hardgrove, principal investigator of the mission, said the CubeSat will pass over regions of the South Pole to see if ice extends on to sunlit parts of the surface.

“We've known for quite some time that there's water ice at the Moon's poles, but there are a lot of unanswered questions about how much there is and where exactly it is,” he said.

“Most of it is within these permanently shadowed regions of the South Pole. These are some of the coldest locations in the entire solar system, and they may have never seen sunlight.

“There's evidence that there may be ice within the sunlit plains that might be stable for millennia in those regions, but we simply don't have high enough resolution data of both poles of the Moon to really address some of these questions.

“And so that's where we came in. And to do that, we're using a tried-and-true technique called neutron spectroscopy.”

Neutron spectroscopy tools, which measure hydrated materials on planetary surfaces, have been used by Nasa previously in other missions.

Mr Hardgrove said they have an advantage because they can navigate the spacecraft into a very low altitude South Pole orbit to study the regions in depth.

Landing on the Moon with a tiny spacecraft

Apart from lunar science, Artemis 1 will also see technology demonstrations that can make future Moon landing missions easier.

Japan’s space agency Jaxa is launching its Omotenashi (Outstanding Moon Exploration Technologies demonstrated by Nano Semi-Hard Impactor) CubeSat on the flight.

A team from Japan's space agency Jaxa works on the Omotenashi CubeSat. Photo: Nasa
A team from Japan's space agency Jaxa works on the Omotenashi CubeSat. Photo: Nasa

Weighing only 14 kilograms, it includes an orbiter and a lander. The landing module will attempt a hard landing on the surface.

Tatsuaki Hashimoto, project manager of the mission, said that this was the world’s smallest Moon lander.

“Omotenashi itself is not a science mission, but its demonstrated technologies will enable future small surface science missions,” he said.

Altogether, the mission aims to demonstrate whether low-cost technology can be used to land and explore the lunar surface.

First deep-space biology experiment

BioSentinel, a shoebox-sixed CubeSat, will also be part of the flight.

It is the first long-duration biology experiment in deep space.

It will carry micro-organisms, in the form of yeast, so scientists can study more about the health risks in deep space posed by space radiation.

This is important for Nasa to study as it prepares to send humans to the lunar surface again, and then eventually to Mars.

A rendering of the BioSentinal CubeSat. Photo: Nasa
A rendering of the BioSentinal CubeSat. Photo: Nasa

“Space radiation is like a demolition derby – on the nano scale. High-energy galactic cosmic rays and bursts of solar particles permeate deep space,” Nasa said.

“These types of radiation can wreak havoc on electronics and living cells alike.”

BioSentinal will monitor vital signs of the yeast to see how they fare when exposed to deep space radiation.

Artemis 1 manikin

A suited manikin will be aboard the Orion spacecraft, fitted with sensors to provide data on what crew members may experience in flight.

This will help Nasa learn how best to protect astronauts for future crewed missions to the Moon.

The suited manikin that will fly aboard the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis 1 mission to the Moon. Photo: Nasa
The suited manikin that will fly aboard the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis 1 mission to the Moon. Photo: Nasa

“The manikin flying on Artemis I will occupy the commander’s seat inside Orion, be equipped with two radiation sensors, and wear a first-generation Orion Crew Survival System suit – a spacesuit astronauts will wear during launch, entry and other dynamic phases of their missions,” Nasa said.

The manikin’s seat will have two sensors – one under the headrest and another behind the seat – to record acceleration and vibration throughout the mission.

Engineers will use the data to make sure the suits for the first crewed flight, Artemis II, are safe.

Taking advanced images of the Moon day and night

The LunIR CubeSat will carry out flybys of the Moon and use a miniature infrared sensor – an instrument that measures the heat of an object – to collect images and data about the lunar surface and its environment.

It will gather data such as the material composition, thermal signatures, presence of water and potential landing sites.

The instrument will be able to map the Moon during the day and night and collect data at much higher temperatures than similar sensors.

This will be possible because a micro-crycooler, similar to a refrigator, is installed into it. The device can research cryogenic temperatures below -147.7°C.

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMascotte%20Health%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMiami%2C%20US%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bora%20Hamamcioglu%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOnline%20veterinary%20service%20provider%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.2%20million%20raised%20in%20seed%20funding%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key changes

Commission caps

For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:

• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term). 

• On the protection component, there is a cap  of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).

• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated. 

• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.

• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.

Disclosure

Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.

“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”

Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.

Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.

“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.

Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.

RESULTS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E5pm%3A%20Sheikh%20Mansour%20bin%20Zayed%20Racing%20Festival%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh100%2C000%20(Turf)%202%2C200m%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Suny%20Du%20Loup%2C%20Pat%20Dobbs%20(jockey)%2C%20Hamad%20Al%20Marar%20(trainer)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E5.30pm%3A%20Sheikh%20Mansour%20bin%20Zayed%20Racing%20Festival%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Conditions%20(PA)%20Dh150%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Nadia%20Du%20Loup%2C%20Antonio%20Fresu%2C%20Sulaiman%20Al%20Ghunaimi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E6pm%3A%20Sheikha%20Fatima%20bint%20Mubarak%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Conditions%20(PA)%20Dh150%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Dareen%2C%20Dane%20O%E2%80%99Neill%2C%20Jean%20de%20Roualle%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E6.30pm%3A%20Sheikh%20Zayed%20bin%20Sultan%20Al%20Nahyan%20National%20Day%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(PA)%20Dh500%2C000%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20AF%20Alwajel%2C%20Pat%20Dobbs%2C%20Ernst%20Oertel%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E7.15pm%3A%20Sheikh%20Zayed%20bin%20Sultan%20Al%20Nahyan%20Jewel%20Crown%20%E2%80%93%20Group%201%20(PA)%20Dh5%2C000%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20First%20Classs%2C%20Ronan%20Thomas%2C%20Jean%20De%20Mieulle%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E8pm%3A%20Sheikh%20Zayed%20bin%20Sultan%20Al%20Nahyan%20National%20Day%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Listed%20(TB)%20Dh380%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20San%20Donato%2C%20Pat%20Dobbs%2C%20Doug%20Watson%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E8.30pm%3A%20Wathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh100%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20AF%20Rasam%2C%20Fernando%20Jara%2C%20Ernst%20Oertel%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

Victims%20of%20the%202018%20Parkland%20school%20shooting
%3Cp%3EAlyssa%20Alhadeff%2C%2014%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EScott%20Beigel%2C%2035%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMartin%20Duque%2C%2014%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ENicholas%20Dworet%2C%2017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAaron%20Feis%2C%2037%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJaime%20Guttenberg%2C%2014%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EChris%20Hixon%2C%2049%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELuke%20Hoyer%2C%2015%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECara%20Loughran%2C%2014%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EGina%20Montalto%2C%2014%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJoaquin%20Oliver%2C%2017%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAlaina%20Petty%2C%2014%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMeadow%20Pollack%2C%2018%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EHelena%20Ramsay%2C%2017%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAlex%20Schachter%2C%2014%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECarmen%20Schentrup%2C%2016%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPeter%20Wang%2C%2015%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.

The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?

My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.

The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.

So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.

 

 

ARABIAN GULF LEAGUE FIXTURES

Thursday, September 21
Al Dahfra v Sharjah (kick-off 5.35pm)
Al Wasl v Emirates (8.30pm)

Friday, September 22
Dibba v Al Jazira (5.25pm)
Al Nasr v Al Wahda (8.30pm)

Saturday, September 23
Hatta v Al Ain (5.25pm)
Ajman v Shabab Al Ahli (8.30pm)

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:

Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')

Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate

Updated: August 16, 2022, 2:03 PM