Latest news with #Exploration
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Science
- New Straits Times
Hajiji: Sabah must reform education system to tackle future challenges
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah needs to transform the state's education system for students to better face the future challenges, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. He said the latest research data from 2024 revealed that only 65 per cent of students demonstrated good or excellent problem-solving skills, while just 72 per cent were confident in applying scientific knowledge in daily life. "These figures show that we cannot afford to be complacent. Many students are still struggling to understand basic science, technology, engineering and mathematics concepts. "Therefore, educational transformation must become a top priority for all stakeholders," he said at the launch of the International Educational Research Conference "Astounding Research Innovation STEM Exploration" (ARISE) 2025 at the Sabah International Convention Centre here. Hajiji added that teaching approaches rooted in research and innovation must be strengthened and mainstreamed to ensure Sabah's education system remains relevant, inclusive and competitive. The chief minister also called on educators, educational institutions, researchers and policymakers to continuously explore and improve pedagogical methods to align with the digital era and current industry needs. He added that ARISE 2025, which brings together more than 600 participants from Malaysia and abroad, including from the United Kingdom, Spain, the Philippines, China and Ireland, serves as a crucial platform for pioneering global educational collaboration. He also said the state government has allocated RM41.75 million this year to the state Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, as well as Sabah Skills and Training and Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centres, to implement training and skills empowerment programmes. Among those programmes are Borneo Science Expedition, Sabah Science Carnival, Technology and Innovation Competitions, STEM Education Festival, Roboneo Programme and Sabah Screen Fest. Hajiji said all are crucial platforms to cultivate students' interest in technology and engineering.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA takes possession of Orion for Artemis II moon mission
For the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, NASA officially has its hands on a spacecraft expected to fly humans to the moon. Lockheed Martin, prime contractor for the Orion space capsule, transferred possession of the Artemis II spacecraft Thursday to the agency's Exploration Ground Systems team base at Kennedy Space Center. Artemis II is slated to launch from KSC no later than April 2026, taking NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day mission around the moon — but not to the lunar surface. That launch date is one that's been repeatedly delayed after completion of the uncrewed Artemis I mission in late 2022. 'We want to achieve a pace of one flight a year. We're not there yet,' said Lockheed Martin's Kirk Shireman, head of its Orion program. 'We all know that the faster you fly, the faster you produce vehicles, the cheaper they are, the less cost there is to that and the more you keep the interest of the public.' Artemis II will be the third flight to space for Orion, which was originally part of the Constellation program started under President George W. Bush. It survived that program's demise and was incorporated into what became Artemis, designed to be launched atop the massive Space Launch System rocket for deep-space missions. Orion performed a short test trip to space in 2014 before flying on the Artemis I mission in 2022 that orbited the moon without crew. That flight brought Orion back to Earth at nearly 24,500 mph enduring temperatures of 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Unexpected damage found on the heat shield's protective coating prompted an investigation that forced NASA to punt Artemis II further into the decade from its original timelines. As recent as late 2020 under President Trump's first administration, NASA was still holding to the lofty, although ultimately unrealistic goal of flying Artemis I in 2021, Artemis II in 2023 and Artemis III — which aimed to return humans to the lunar surface in 2024. Artemis I ended up flying one year later than planned. Damage to the mobile launcher from the 8.8 million pounds of thrust created by the SLS rocket in addition to Orion heat shield issues were prime factors in Artemis II slipping first into 2024, then 2025 and now not until early 2026. NASA had asked all of its partners in the Artemis program to see if they can exceed deadlines and get to flight as early as February while keeping Artemis III on NASA's calendar for summer 2027. Artemis III is reliant on SpaceX to develop a working version of its Starship rocket to act as the human landing system. 'We are working to even accelerate our work production for flights for Artemis 3, 4, 5 and beyond. NASA has been working with us and encouraging us to continue doing that,' Shireman said. 'The direction we've been getting from NASA is, 'Hey, we've got to meet our dates, and it would be awesome if you could exceed, if you could do better than those dates,' and and that's the way we've been working.' He said a new issue that popped up late last year regarding Orion's batteries had teams projecting a final delivery at the end of May. 'I think we're extremely proud to have been not only able to hold, but accelerate that date,' he said noting Lockheed gained back nearly a month. 'That's pretty phenomenal in a complicated spacecraft.' Orion will eventually be stacked atop the SLS rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building, after which the completed rocket and spacecraft atop the mobile launcher could roll to Launch Pad 39-B before the end of the year for testing where NASA intends to keep it until launch. Shireman said he thinks NASA is happy with Lockheed's performance. 'It wasn't like everything was smooth sailing,' he said saying many issues were found and solved before they became a schedule threat. 'People have really been working hard and are probably more than a little fatigued. So they're going to take a breather here for 24, maybe 48 hours, and then we're going to hit it again for Artemis III.' Shireman said Lockheed has not had any signal from NASA to pull back from long-term plans with Artemis even though the future of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft could shift under new direction during the second Trump administration. The delays to Artemis, along with ballooning costs, has critics including billionaire Jared Isaacman, who was nominated to become the next NASA administrator and is awaiting a confirmation vote in the Senate. Isaacman has told senators he's on board with the plan through at least Artemis III, especially as the U.S. tries to compete with Chinese plans to land on the moon. But after achieving the lunar landing, the nation should look at commercial alternatives such as SpaceX's Starship or Blue Origin's New Glenn for achieving its lunar goals. Shireman continued to stump for the current plan to fly Orion atop SLS in the short term even though plans could change. 'You could launch an Orion on a New Glenn and you could create an architecture,' he said. 'But when you add new elements that don't exist and you haven't started working on them, that's where the time comes in. 'So that's why I believe, firmly believe, the quickest way to the moon — to put American boots back on the moon — is with SLS and Orion on Artemis III.' But he pitched the spacecraft to remain part of whatever the future of deep-space exploration becomes. 'Ultimately, we could pivot to something different,' Shireman said. 'We want to be part of putting Americans back on the moon and a sustainable lunar program. And if the administration wants to modify the architecture, we'll be happy to to work with them.'
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
Spain Pavilion: Kuroshio Current
This pavilion is themed on the Kuroshio Current, an ocean stream that served ships plying Asia in the age of Exploration. The grand staircase leading to the entrance evokes the life-giving sea and sun. The interior is dark as the depths of the sea and introduces marine life, blue economies, and the history of Spain's connections with Japan. The plaza beyond brings light, with exhibitions on image technology based on the theme of sunlight. There is also a restaurant serving tapas . Spain pavilion is located in the Connecting Lives zone. ( See the official map for details.) Spain marks its national day on Friday, May 16, at the Expo National Day Hall. The exterior of the pavilion. (© ) The pavilion's grand staircase. (© ) The pavilion's grand staircase. (© ) (Originally published in Japanese. Reporting and text by Uchiyama Ken'ichi and . Photographic assistance by Kuroiwa Masakazu of 96-Box. Banner photo © .)
Associated Press
27-01-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Guardian Metal Resources PLC Announces Option to Acquire Tempiute Tungsten Project Signed
Option to Acquire Former Producing Tempiute Tungsten Project Signed LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2025 / Guardian Metal Resources plc (LON:GMET)(OTCQX:GMTLF), a strategic development and mineral exploration company focused in Nevada, USA, is pleased to announce that it has completed the required due diligence and now signed the Definitive Exploration Lease and Option to Purchase Agreement ('Definitive' or the 'Agreement') with Hinkinite Resources LLC ('Hinkinite' or the 'Optionor') for the Tempiute Tungsten Project ('Tempiute' or the 'Project'). Tempiute, also formerly known as the Emerson Tungsten Mine, is located in south-central Nevada less than 240 km north of Las Vegas in Lincoln County. Highlights: Signing of the Agreement marks a significant step forward for Guardian Metal in its mission to lead reshoring efforts for critical metals in the U.S., specifically tungsten, aligning with U.S. president Donald Trump's plan of 'Unleashing American Energy'. Tempiute, a historical tungsten producer as recently as the late 1980s, boasts extensive in-place infrastructure and lies almost entirely within patented (private) mining claims, providing a robust foundation for rapid redevelopment. The Company's Chairman, CEO, select advisers and members of Guardian Metal's engineering team will be completing a site visit to Tempiute in the second week of February with a goal of immediately aligning on next key steps to advance the Project with groundwork expected to commence shortly thereafter. Oliver Friesen, CEO of Guardian Metal, commented: 'We are very pleased to have finalised the Agreement allowing for a 100% acquisition of the former producing Tempiute/Emerson Tungsten Project. Importantly, this asset, along with our Pilot Mountain tungsten project, represents a significant holding of U.S.-domiciled tungsten projects located in the mining friendly state of Nevada. We are positioned as a leader in U.S. tungsten at a critical time following the declaration of a 'National Energy Emergency 'as well as the 'Unleashing American Energy' Executive Order signed by President Donald Trump; both of which point to the U.S. urgency to reshore its mined supply chains of critical metals including tungsten. 'Tempiute has been a domestic U.S. tungsten producer during multiple periods over the last 100 years, and we strongly believe, given the significant tailwinds across the U.S. critical metals space, that it can under Guardian's guidance once again supply U.S. consumers with tungsten that has been mined in America.' Further Details: Hinkinite is a privately owned and operated Utah-based company focused on the prospecting and development of precious, base-metal and industrial material deposits as well as on revitalising historic mining operations located throughout the western United States. A Letter of Intent to acquire the Project was signed on 31 October 2024 the details of which are outlined in the below: Following this, a due diligence update was provided on 18 December 2024 the details of which are outlined in the below: Commercial Terms: As the definitive agreement (the 'Definitive' or 'Definitive Agreement') to acquire the Option has now been signed, a cash payment of US$50,000 will be made to Hinkinite along with the issue to Hinkinite of 150,000 ordinary shares in Guardian Metal ('Consideration Shares') within the coming days. Until such time as the Option is exercised or the Definitive Agreement is terminated, Guardian Metal will pay Hinkinite a cash payment of US$25,000 at the end of each six-month period following the date of the Definitive Agreement. In order to exercise the Option, Guardian Metal will be required, (i) within three (3) years of the date of the Definitive Agreement, to establish on the Property a 'mineral resource' of tungsten trioxide (WO3) with a minimum cut off grade of 0.4%, prepared in accordance with either the CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by CIM Council, as amended, or the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the 'Maiden Resource'), and (ii) within five (5) business days of the announcement of the Maiden Resource to pay Hinkinite a bonus of US$100,000 for each 3,100 tons (WO3 metal) of such Maiden Resource (the 'Bonus Payment'), equal to US$1,000,000 for a 31,000 ton (WO3 metal) Maiden Resource, up to a maximum Bonus Payment of US$2,000,000. Guardian Metal may, in its sole discretion, satisfy up to 50% of the Bonus Payment by issuing to Hinkinite ordinary shares in Guardian Metal at a deemed price per share equal to the volume weighted average trading price of Guardian Metal's ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange for the last ten (10) trading days ('10-day VWAP') calculated as of the date of the announcement of the Maiden Resource, converted from pounds sterling to United States dollars using the Bank of England daily spot exchange rate as of the date of the announcement. In the event that Guardian Metal does not establish a Maiden Resource and make the Bonus Payment within three (3) years of the date of the Definitive Agreement, the Definitive Agreement will terminate and Hinkinite will retain a 100% interest in the Property. Upon Guardian Metal having established a Maiden Resource and payment of the Bonus Payment, Guardian Metal will be deemed to have acquired a 100% interest in the Project. Hinkinite will retain a limited license to explore for and mine industrial minerals, such as sand, gravel and limestone, on the Property at its own cost and risk, subject to Guardian Metal's prior and superior right to explore for, develop and mine other minerals on the Project. Upon exercise of the Option, Guardian Metal will grant Hinkinite a production royalty equal to 1.5% of the net smelter returns from all mineral production from the Project (the 'NSR Royalty'). Guardian Metal may, at any time after the grant of the NSR Royalty, repurchase 50% of the NSR Royalty for a one time payment of US$1,000,000 by Guardian Metal to Hinkinite, payable at the option of Guardian Metal in cash or in Guardian Metal ordinary shares at a deemed price per share equal to the 10-Day VWAP converted from pounds sterling to United States dollars using the Bank of England daily spot exchange rate calculated as of the date that Guardian Metal provides notice to Hinkinite of its election to repurchase. The balance of the NSR Royalty after repurchase will be 0.75% of the net smelter returns from all mineral production on the Project. Media Application will be made for the 150,000 Consideration Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM which is expected to occur on or around 30 January 2025 ('Admission'). The Consideration Shares will rank pari passu in all respects with the ordinary shares of the Company currently traded on AIM. Following Admission of the Consideration Shares and of the 931,873 Warrant Shares issued and announced on 24 January 2025, the Company's issued share capital will comprise 126,422,687 ordinary shares of 1p each. This number will represent the total voting rights in the Company and may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculation by which they can determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 (which forms part of domestic UK law pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018). The Directors of the Company are responsible for the contents of this announcement. Forward Looking Statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or anticipated future events and anticipated results that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, such as general economic, market and business conditions, competition for qualified staff, the regulatory process and actions, technical issues, new legislation, uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, uncertainties resulting from working in a new political jurisdiction, uncertainties regarding the results of exploration, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of prospecting rights, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of regulatory and other third party consents and approvals, uncertainties regarding the Company's or any third party's ability to execute and implement future plans, and the occurrence of unexpected events. Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. For further information visit or contact the following:
