"Welcome": When PM Modi's SMS To Ratan Tata Helped Gujarat Get Nano Plant

'Welcome', a one word SMS from the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to the then Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata led to shifting the Tata Nano project from West Bengal to Gujarat way back in 2008.

PM Modi had sent the SMS to Mr Tata when the industrialist was addressing a press conference in Kolkata announcing the exit of Tata Nano project from West Bengal after violent protests led by Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee.

"When Ratan Tata said in a press conference in Kolkata that they are leaving West Bengal, I sent him a short SMS saying 'welcome'. And now you can see what a Re 1 (worth) SMS can do," PM Modi had said inaugurating the Tata Nano plant at Sanand in 2010 built at an investment of Rs 2,000 crore.

Mr Tata had announced the exit of the Nano project from West Bengal on October 3, 2008 and declared that the plant would be set up at Sanand in Gujarat within the next four days.

PM Modi had then said many countries were keen to offer all help for the Nano project, but the Gujarat government officers ensured that the project did not go out of India.

He had also praised the government machinery saying it was matching the corporate culture in efficiency, and playing a major role in fast development of the state.

At the rollout of the first Nano car from the plant in Sanand in June 2010, Mr Tata lauded the Gujarat government led by PM Modi for the help in setting up the facility.

"When we searched for another Nano plant, we wanted to move to peace and harmony. Gujarat stood out against all others in guaranteeing us all that we needed. 'It was not just Tata's project, it is our project', Modi told us. We owe a great lot of gratitude for the support and confidence placed in us," Mr Tata said.

Tata discontinued the production of Nano cars in 2018.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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NASA Astronaut Shares Timelapse Video Of Hurricane Milton From Space

A stunning timelapse video taken by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick aboard the International Space Station has revealed the sheer scale of Hurricane Milton's fury. Shot on Tuesday from the window of the Dragon Endeavor, the footage shows the space station orbiting above the powerful storm in the Gulf of Mexico. Mr Dominick, currently residing in the docked Dragon Endeavor, awaits its detachment and return to Earth. 

Endeavour initially transported Mr Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Alexander Grebenkin (Roscosmos) to space in March. Its return to Earth, initially scheduled for October 7, has been delayed due to Hurricane Milton's trajectory. As a result, Endeavour will now undock from the ISS on October 13.

''Timelapse flying by Hurricane Milton about 2 hours ago. 1/6400 sec exposure, 14mm, ISO 500, 0.5-sec interval, 30fps,'' he captioned the video.

See the tweet here:

Timelapse flying by Hurricane Milton about 2 hours ago.

1/6400 sec exposure, 14mm, ISO 500, 0.5 sec interval, 30fps pic.twitter.com/p5wBlC95mx

— Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) October 8, 2024

The footage has taken the internet by storm, garnering close to 9 million views. One user wrote, ''Incredible footage! It's fascinating yet alarming to see the power of nature from such a unique perspective.''

Another commented, ''That's a breathtaking perspective on the immense scale and the distinct eye formation at the centre.''

A third said, ''Awesome shot! Great idea to have a 0.5-second interval, the result is very smooth & looks like you are speeding over the hurricane. Of this is also very worrying for the folks under Milton in Florida, Georgia etc, hopefully, people will evacuate somewhere else well in time.''

A fourth added, ''Hard to wrap your head around the sheer size and power of these storms. Thanks for sharing your perspective!''

Hurricane Milton is a powerful Category 5 hurricane that's been intensifying rapidly in the Gulf of Mexico. It's expected to make landfall on Florida's west coast, Florida, threatening to unleash a deadly storm surge, devastating winds, and torrential rains, according to Fox Weather. This has prompted evacuation orders for coastal communities, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declaring a state of emergency in 51 of the state's 67 counties over the weekend.

The storm surge, flooding, and high winds may affect energy infrastructure, including power plants, transmission lines, and fuel terminals. The National Weather Service has warned that Hurricane Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.

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NASA's Curiosity Rover Provides Insights into Mars' Uninhabitable Climate

NASA's Curiosity rover, currently exploring Gale Crater on Mars, has revealed critical insights into the planet's ancient climate. The research uncovers how Mars transformed from a potentially habitable environment, abundant in liquid water, to the cold, arid landscape we see today. An artist's concept illustrates early Mars, where liquid water may have existed in river and lake formations. Geological evidence suggests that ancient Mars had a denser atmosphere capable of supporting significant bodies of water. However, as the planet cooled and lost its global magnetic field, solar winds eroded much of its atmosphere, leading to the inhospitable conditions present now.

Findings from the Curiosity Rover

Curiosity has measured the isotopic composition of carbon-rich minerals (carbonates) found in Gale Crater. David Burtt from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center stated, “The isotope values of these carbonates point toward extreme amounts of evaporation, suggesting they likely formed in a climate that could only support transient liquid water.” This indicates that while the surface environment was not suitable for life, underground habitats may still exist.

The Role of Isotopes in Understanding Mars

Isotopes, which are variants of elements differing in mass, play a vital role in understanding Mars' climatic history. During evaporation, lighter carbon and oxygen isotopes escape into the atmosphere, leaving behind heavier ones in carbonate rocks, which serve as climate records.

Conclusion: Implications for Habitability

The study proposes two mechanisms for carbonate formation: through cycles of wet and dry conditions or in extremely salty water under icy conditions. Co-author Jennifer Stern noted that these scenarios indicate varying levels of habitability on ancient Mars. These findings, supported by isotopic evidence from Curiosity's instruments, contribute to our understanding of Mars' climate evolution and its potential to have supported life in the past.

 

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Hera Spacecraft Embarks on Mission to Study Asteroid Redirected by NASA in 2022

A spacecraft named Hera has successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a mission to study the asteroid Dimorphos, which was intentionally redirected by NASA in 2022. The launch took place at 10:52 local time (15:52 BST) on Monday, marking a significant step in international efforts to explore how we can prevent potential asteroid threats to Earth. The Hera mission, led by the European Space Agency (ESA), aims to gather vital data about Dimorphos, located approximately seven million miles away, with an expected arrival in December 2026.

Understanding Asteroid Redirection

Dimorphos is a small moon with a diameter of 160 metres that orbits a larger asteroid, Didymos. The DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission by NASA successfully altered Dimorphos's trajectory in a groundbreaking test. According to NASA scientists, the collision with the spacecraft shifted the asteroid's course by a few metres. Although Dimorphos was not on a collision course with Earth, the experiment demonstrated that asteroid redirection is feasible, providing critical insights into how we might tackle real threats in the future.

Objectives of the Hera Mission

Upon reaching Dimorphos, the Hera spacecraft will conduct an in-depth examination of the impact crater created by the DART collision. Additionally, it will deploy two cube-shaped probes designed to analyse the asteroid's composition and mass. Dr Naomi Murdoch, a scientist at the European Space Agency, emphasised the importance of understanding the physical properties of asteroids, such as their composition, to enhance future deflection strategies.

The Importance of Asteroid Research

While there is currently no significant threat of a massive asteroid impact akin to the extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs, smaller asteroids can and do collide with Earth. A notable incident occurred in 2013, when a house-sized asteroid exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, injuring over 1,600 people. This highlights the necessity for ongoing research into asteroid detection and redirection methods.

 

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