NASA Awards Moon Base Transportation, Technology, Science Projects
the gist
NASA announced a set of awards and mission updates to expand its Moon Base program, covering commercial robotic deliveries to the lunar surface, a nuclear-powered rover called PROMISE, launch and orbital transfer services, and surface infrastructure. The agency says the work is meant to help establish a sustained American presence on the Moon. The announcement came on a Saturday and details beyond these project names are limited in the source.
so what
It signals concrete steps toward a lasting human and robotic base on the Moon, with commercial companies playing a major role.
history·Wikipedia·classic1336–1565 · Karnataka, India
Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565
the gist
Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.
how it works
The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.
so what
Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.
fun fact
The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0
False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting
from CNA
CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.
Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.
