Future Trends

Letter to Barack Obama

Concerned by his "all of the above" energy strategy, a group of environmentalists this week sent a joint letter to President Barack Obama, calling on him to expand clean energy. This follows a similar effort last year by business leaders, philanthropists and election campaign supporters. The letter is reproduced here in full.

American Rivers | Clean Water Action | Defenders of Wildlife | Earthjustice

Energy Action Coalition | Environment America | Environmental Defense Fund

Friends of the Earth | League of Conservation Voters | National Audubon Society |
National Wildlife Federation | Native American Rights Fund

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

We applaud the actions you have taken to reduce economy-wide carbon pollution and your commitment last June "to take bold action to reduce carbon pollution" and "lead the world in a coordinated assault on climate change." We look forward to continuing to work with you to achieve these goals.

In that speech, you referenced that in the past you had put forward an "all of the above" energy strategy, yet noted that we cannot just drill our way out of our energy and climate challenge. We believe that continued reliance on an "all of the above" energy strategy would be fundamentally at odds with your goal of cutting carbon pollution and would undermine our nation's capacity to respond to the threat of climate disruption. With record-high atmospheric carbon concentrations and the rising threat of extreme heat, drought, wildfires and super storms, America's energy policies must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, not simply reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

We understand that the U.S. cannot immediately end its use of fossil fuels and we also appreciate the advantages of being more energy independent. But an "all of the above" approach that places virtually no limits on whether, when, where or how fossil fuels are extracted ignores the impacts of carbon-intense fuels and is wrong for America's future. America requires an ambitious energy vision that reduces consumption of these fuels in order to meet the scale of the climate crisis.

An "all of the above" strategy is a compromise that future generations can't afford. It fails to prioritize clean energy and solutions that have already begun to replace fossil fuels, revitalize American industry, and save Americans money. It increases environmental injustice while it locks in the extraction of fossil fuels that will inevitably lead to a catastrophic climate future. It threatens our health, our homes, our most sensitive public lands, our oceans and our most precious wild places. Such a policy accelerates development of fuel sources that can negate the important progress you've already made on lowering U.S. carbon pollution, and it undermines U.S. credibility in the international community.

Mr. President, we were very heartened by your commitment that the climate impacts of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline would be "absolutely critical" to the decision and that it would be contrary to the "national interest" to approve a project that would "significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution." We believe that a climate impact lens should be applied to all decisions regarding new fossil fuel development, and urge that a "carbon-reducing clean energy" strategy rather than an "all of the above" strategy become the operative paradigm for your administration's energy decisions.

In the coming months your administration will be making key decisions regarding fossil fuel development -- including the Keystone XL pipeline, fracking on public lands, and drilling in the Arctic ocean -- that will either set us on a path to achieve the clean energy future we all envision or will significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution. We urge you to make climate impacts and emission increases critical considerations in each of these decisions.

Mr. President, we applaud you for your commitment to tackle the climate crisis and to build an economy powered by energy that is clean, safe, secure, and sustainable.

Sincerely,

Wm. Robert Irvin
President and CEO

American Rivers

Robert Wendelgass
President
Clean Water Action

Jamie Rappaport Clark
President and CEO
Defenders of Wildlife

Trip Van Noppen
President
Earthjustice

Maura Cowley
Executive Director
Energy Action Coalition

Margie Alt
Executive Director
Environment America

Fred Krupp
President
Environmental Defense

Fund

Eric Pica
President
Friends of the Earth

Gene Karpinski
President
League of Conservation Voters

David Yarnold
President and CEO
National Audubon Society

Larry J. Schweiger
President & CEO
National Wildlife

Federation

John Echohawk
Executive Director
Native American Rights Fund

Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council

Andrew Sharpless
Chief Executive Officer
Oceana

Catherine Thomasson, MD
Executive Director
Physicians for Social Responsibility

John Seager
President
Population Connection

Michael Brune
Executive Director
Sierra Club

Sandy Newman
President
Voices for Progress

NASA budget of $17.6 billion is approved

President Barack Obama has signed a budget that provides NASA with $17.6 billion for this year – fully funding both the heavy-lift Space Launch System and Orion capsule that will eventually take humans to Mars.

NASA's budget for 2014 was passed by Congress earlier this week and officially signed by the President on Friday. A total of $17.65 billion has been allocated to the space agency, which is slightly less than the $17.7 billion it had requested. However, some analysts had expected a figure as low as $16.1 billion, due to recent budget cuts and spending concerns arising from the sequester of 2013. For space enthusiasts, the final approved figure is therefore a welcome surprise.

Some highlights from the budget include:

• $1,918 million for the Space Launch System (SLS).

The SLS is a heavy launch vehicle intended to replace the Space Shuttle. It is designed to be upgraded over time with more powerful versions. Initially carrying payloads of 70 metric tons into orbit, the SLS will eventually be fitted with an upper "Earth Departure Stage" capable of lifting at least 130 metric tons. This will be 12 metric tons greater than the Apollo-era Saturn V, making it the largest and most powerful rocket ever built. It will take astronauts and hardware to asteroids, the Moon, Mars, and most of the Earth's Lagrangian points. A first unmanned test launch is planned for 2017, with NASA being allocated an extra $200 million to ensure this deadline is met. A manned flight around the Moon and possibly to an asteroid is expected to occur in 2021, with manned missions to Mars in the 2030s. The additional funding in this year's budget will "maintain critical forward momentum" on the program, according to legislators.

• $1,197 for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV).

Orion is a small capsule designed to transport up to six astronauts and cargo beyond Earth orbit. It will be integrated with and carried by the SLS rockets. A first unmanned test flight is scheduled for later this year, during which its altitude will reach higher than any spacecraft intended for human use since 1973. Manned flights will commence in the 2020s.

• $5,151 million for science.

This includes $80 million for planning and development of a Europa mission. The next Discovery-class mission will be announced by May 2014, with selection of the mission(s) in September 2015. Meanwhile, NASA's flagship project and Hubble successor – the James Webb Space Telescope – remains funded and on track for delivery in 2018. Among its primary objectives will be capturing images of reionization and "first light" from stars after the Big Bang.

The remaining budget will go towards operational maintenance, space technology, aeronautics, grants, education and other services provided by NASA. Despite this week's good news, however, the longer term picture is less clear for NASA. As shown in the graph below, its budget as a percentage of the federal budget has been gradually declining and is now a mere fraction of its peak in the 1960s. It will be interesting to see how the private sector can influence the agency's strategy in the coming decades.

Following the much-criticised Windows 8, Microsoft launches a major overhaul of the operating system in 2015. Windows 9.0 addresses a number of usability issues – refining the "Metro" design language of its predecessor and providing a more distinct experience for desktop, mobile and other platforms. This includes a return of the traditional Start Menu. The OS introduces a more unified code base, for improved compatibility and simpler transfer of data between various devices and services. There is a much greater focus on apps. Highly advanced gesture recognition is also incorporated, now that 3D cameras are becoming more common. It also deals with power management issues. Initially codenamed "Threshold", it is released in April 2015.**

5 things we want for Windows 9

By Adrian Covert @CNNMoneyTech

Windows 8 is chock-full of good ideas, but the execution is still lacking at times. As Windows 9 rumors swirl, here are five things we'd like to see Microsoft include.

More layout flexibility: Windows 8's "snap widgets" essentially serve the same function as old-school windows in desktop mode. Snap widgets make productivity easier on tablets, allowing users to go back and forth between windows. But there is a lot of room for refinement.

Being able to divide widgets into smaller tiles that could be arranged horizontally or vertically along a grid could help users go in and out of various apps much more seamlessly. And being able to quickly take an app into full screen mode and back would go a long way towards making the Windows layout feel less claustrophobic.

Desktop-only mode: Although the Windows 8 tile display is adequate on a standard laptop, it's still not optimal for productivity tasks, particularly on a desktop computer. There are also many apps that only work in desktop mode. The abrupt move between Windows 8's starkly contrasting tile and desktop environments has left a bad taste in the mouths of many users.

In Windows 9 -- or whatever the next big revision of Windows will be called -- users will be able to run those "Modern" apps in a window on the desktop, according to WinSuperSite's Paul Thurrott. If Microsoft also gave users the ability to lock their computers in desktop mode, that would help make the experience of using Windows on a laptop feel more consistent.

Microsoft shouldn't give up on the Start Screen, but some users just don't need it.

More consistent trackpad standards: Sometimes it seems like the trackpad on every single Windows 8 device feels different, making use of clicks and gestures in different ways.

For example, unlocking the homescreen requires a swipe on some trackpads, and a click on others. At their best, exemplified by Logitech's standalone Windows 8 trackpad, gestures in Windows 8 are as quick and intuitive as touching a screen. At their worst, ironically exemplified by Microsoft's Surface tablet, gestures can be incredibly frustrating.

If the next version of Windows could standardize the trackpad experience, it could go a long way towards making Windows more usable.

Better Display Handling: One of the biggest problems facing Windows 8 is its inconsistent display settings. When connecting a PC to larger, more pixel-dense resolutions, settings that look good in tile mode don't look so great in desktop mode and vice versa. A second display only makes things more complicated.

And that's before you consider the super-HD screens that PC makers are starting to use. Even if you manage to find a sweet spot, some settings will frequently revert back.

If Microsoft really wants customers to love its new approach to Windows, the display has to look good in any mode, and on any device.

More interactivity with Windows Phone and Xbox: Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and the Xbox One software are all built on top of the same foundation. They also share a suite of services and utilities that should function as a glue that binds each product. Yet, the overlap between the experiences on these devices is still lacking.

Buying an app on Windows Phone doesn't mean you automatically have access to the corresponding Windows app. If you start a Skype conversation on your computer, there's no way to push it over to your phone. While there is basic functionality for streaming video from a Windows 8 device to the Xbox, it's often unreliable or half-baked.

Multiplayer games have the potential to simultaneously span phones, tablets, computers, and consoles. Few companies are in a better position to facilitate this than Microsoft, but for now, the idea lies dormant.

Being able to intuitively share media or move your work between devices should be a big consideration in the next era of Windows.

References

5 Things We Want for Windows 9
http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/16/technology/enterprise/windows-9/

By Adrian Covert @CNNMoneyTech First Published: January 16, 2014: 12:55 PM ET

Windows 9 Release Date, News and Rumors
http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/windows-9-release-date-news-and-rumours-1029245
By Dan Grabham January 14th

What Windows 9 Must Do to Avoid Flopping Like Windows 8
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2014/01/17/what-windows-9-must-do-to-avoid-flopping-like-windows-8/
By Gordon Kelly, January 17, 2014

Ford unveils a solar-powered hybrid car

Ford unveils a solar-powered hybrid car

Ford Motor Company has announced the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept, a first-of-its-kind Sun-powered car with potential to deliver the best of what a plug-in hybrid offers – without depending on the electric grid for fuel.

Instead of powering its battery from an electrical outlet, the C-MAX Solar Energi harnesses power from the Sun by using a special concentrator that acts like a magnifying glass – directing intense rays to panels on the vehicle roof.

The result is a concept vehicle that takes a day’s worth of sunlight to deliver the same performance as the conventional C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, which draws its power from the electric grid. Ford C-MAX Energi gets a combined best miles per gallon equivalent in its class, with 108 MPGe city and 92 MPGe highway, for a combined average 100 MPGe. By using renewable power, it reduces the annual greenhouse gas emissions a typical owner would produce by four metric tons.

“Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept shines a new light on electric transportation and renewable energy,” said Mike Tinskey, Ford global director of vehicle electrification and infrastructure. “As an innovation leader, we want to further the public dialog about the art of the possible in moving the world toward a cleaner future.”

C-MAX Solar Energi Concept, which will be shown at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, is a collaborative project of Ford, SunPower Corp and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Strong electrified vehicle sales

The C-MAX Solar Energi Concept debuts as Ford caps a record year of electrified vehicle sales. The company expects to sell 85,000 hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles for 2013 – the first full year its six new electrified vehicles were available in dealer showrooms.

Ford sold more plug-in vehicles in October and November than both Toyota and Tesla, and it outsold Toyota through the first 11 months of 2013. Plug-in hybrids continue to grow in sales as more customers discover the benefits of using electricity to extend their driving range.

Breakthrough clean technology

SunPower, which has been Ford’s solar technology partner since 2011, is providing high-efficiency solar cells for the roof of this concept car. Because of the extended time it takes to absorb enough energy to fully charge, Ford turned to the Georgia Institute of Technology for a way to amplify sunlight, to make a solar-powered hybrid feasible for daily use.

Researchers developed an off-vehicle solar concentrator (pictured below) with a special Fresnel lens to direct sunlight to the solar cells while boosting the impact of sunlight by a factor of eight. A Fresnel is a compact lens originally developed for use in lighthouses. Similar in concept to a magnifying glass, this patent-pending system tracks the Sun as it moves from east to west, drawing enough power each day to equal a four-hour battery charge (8 kilowatts).

With a full charge, the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept will achieve the same range as a conventional C-MAX Energi hybrid – up to 620 miles, including 21 electric-only miles. Additionally, the vehicle still has a charge port, and can be charged by connecting to a station via cord and plug, so that drivers retain the option to power up via the grid, if desired.

After the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is shown at CES, Ford and Georgia Tech will begin testing the vehicle in numerous real-world scenarios. The outcome of those tests will help to determine if the concept is feasible as a production car.

Off-the-grid car

By tapping renewable solar energy with a rooftop solar panel system, the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is not dependent on the traditional electric grid for its battery power. Research by Ford suggests the Sun could power up to 75 percent of all trips made by an average driver in a solar hybrid car. This could be especially important in places where the electric grid is underdeveloped, unreliable or expensive to use.

The vehicle also reinforces MyEnergi Lifestyle, a concept revealed by Ford and several partners at 2013 CES. MyEnergi Lifestyle uses math, science and computer modelling to help homeowners understand how they can take advantage of energy-efficient home appliances, solar power systems and plug-in hybrid vehicles to significantly reduce monthly expenses while also reducing their overall carbon footprint.

The positive environmental impact from Ford C-MAX Solar Energi could be significant. It would reduce yearly CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions from the average U.S. car owner by as much as four metric tons – the equivalent of what a U.S. house produces in four months.

If all light-duty vehicles in the United States were to adopt Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept technology, annual greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by approximately 1 billion metric tons.

References

Are Solar Powered Cars Coming?
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2014/01/18/are-solar-powered-cars-coming/

by Austin Smith, The Motley Fool Jan 18th 2014 12:00PM

Ford and Georgia Tech Debut Hybrid Cars

http://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=19499

http://www.gatech.edu/

Published on January 17, 2014

NATO Forces Withdraw from Afghanistan

NATO forces withdraw from Afghanistan

Credit: Nigelj (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the U.S. Congress passed legislation authorizing the use of military force against those it deemed responsible. Less than a month later, on 7th October 2001 – in what was called "an act of self-defence" – the U.S. government launched military operations in Afghanistan, with support from Britain. This occurred without the authorization of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

On 20th December 2001, with Taliban forces having abandoned the city of Kabul, the UNSC authorized the creation of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). This would help the Afghan Interim Authority in maintaining security. Command of the ISAF passed to NATO in August 2003, following the US invasion of Iraq during March of that year.

Mullah Omar, spiritual leader of the Taliban, reorganized the Taliban movement and in 2003 launched insurgency against the Afghan government and ISAF forces. Though vastly outgunned and outnumbered by NATO forces and the Afghan National Army, the Taliban insurgents waged asymmetric warfare with guerrilla raids and ambushes in rural areas, suicide attacks against urban targets, and turncoat killings against coalition forces. The Taliban exploited the weak administration of the Afghan government, among the most corrupt in the world, to reassert influence across many areas of southern and eastern Afghanistan.

By 2004, the war had expanded into neighboring North-West Pakistan, with Pakistani Army forces clashing with local tribes hosting al-Qaeda and Taliban militants. The U.S. military began launching drone attacks in Pakistan to kill leaders of the insurgent groups. In 2006, NATO boosted its troop numbers for operations to "clear and hold" villages and began "nation building" projects to "win hearts and minds". These numbers proved to be insufficient, however, and further increases in support were needed in subsequent years. The war reached its peak in 2010 with over 100 coalition casualties in a single month.

As the decade drew to a close, Obama's incoming administration proposed a new strategy. U.S. troop numbers would be increased again by 30,000 – bringing the total to 100,000. A phased withdrawal would then proceed from 2011 to 2014, with Afghan forces gradually assuming responsibility for security. A major turning point was reached on 2nd May 2011, as U.S. Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. The following year, leaders of NATO countries endorsed an exit strategy for removing their soldiers from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

In the meantime, UN-backed peace talks got underway between the Afghan government and Taliban. Tens of thousands of people had been killed in the war, mostly militants and ordinary civilians. In addition, more than 4,000 ISAF soldiers and civilian contractors as well as over 10,000 Afghan National Security Forces had died. Support among the U.S. public for continued operations in the region had declined substantially.*

Although combat operations were intended to end by 31st December 2014, a small number of training personnel, Special Operations and military assets would remain for several more years, to support Afghanistan's army and police forces, ensuring the country did not fall back into chaos.* Furthermore, $16 billion in development aid – closely monitored to avoid corruption or mismanagement – would assist the nation in rebuilding itself.*

References

Afghanistan, Gallup:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/116233/afghanistan.aspx
Accessed 16th November 2013.
NATO and Afghanistan, NATO:
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/69772.htm
Accessed 16th November 2013.

Afghanistan promised $16bn in development aid, The Guardian:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/08/afghanistan-donors-16bn-development-aid

Self Service Checkout Automation

Increased automation in retail environments

Checkout operators of retail chains are increasingly being replaced with automated systems, in order to save costs and improve efficiency. The customer simply scans the items themselves, and is prompted via on-screen instructions and audio to insert their method of payment. In 2009, around 100,000 self-service checkouts were installed worldwide. By 2014, this number has more than quadrupled.*

References

Jacqui Smith's secret plan to carry on snooping, The Times:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6211101.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1
Accessed 4th May 2009.

Self-Checkout Terminals To Quadruple By 2014, Retail Solutions Online:
http://www.retailsolutionsonline.com/article.mvc/Self-Checkout-Terminals-To-Quadruple-By-2014-0001?VNETCOOKIE=NO
Accessed 19th October 2010.

Skype Future Internet Technology

Most phone calls are made via the Internet now

By now, the majority of homes and workplaces use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems, such as Skype.*These connections are made via the Internet, rather than traditional phone lines. The biggest advantage of VoIP is the cost. PC-to-PC phone calls can be made anywhere in the world, at any time, for free. PC-to-phone connections usually charge a fee, but are generally much cheaper than standard phone services with conventional handsets.

Another advantage is the portability. Phone calls can be made and received from any PC – provided there is a broadband connection – simply by signing into a personal VoIP account. Phone-to-phone VoIP is also portable. When you sign up with a VoIP servicer provider, the Internet phone or adaptor that is used with that service is assigned a unique number. This 'phone number' remains valid even if your VoIP service provider is located in England and you are connected to the Internet in Australia. An Internet phone is small and light enough to take with you anywhere. It can simply be plugged into any broadband connection, anywhere in the world, and used to make and receive calls, just as though you were in your own home or office.

There are several other features that make VoIP attractive. Higher fidelity (wideband) audio, video, call forwarding, call waiting, voicemail, caller ID and multiple-way calling at no extra charge. Digital data such as pictures, documents and other files can also be transmitted during calls.

Rosetta Spacecraft

Rosetta deploys its lander on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Rosetta is a probe launched in 2004 by the European Space Agency and intended to study the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The craft studies two asteroids, 2867 Steins and 21 Lutetia, before rendezvousing with the comet in 2014. It then deploys a lander. This uses harpoons to anchor itself to the surface, and has legs designed to dampen its initial impact. During its week-long mission, the lander uses a variety of scientific instruments to examine the surface and internal composition.*

Reference

Rosetta (spacecraft), Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_%28spacecraft%29
Accessed 18th July 2010.

Slight Chance Comet Could Hit Mars in 2014

A comet is passing extremely close to Mars

C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) is an Oort cloud comet discovered in January 2013 by the Siding Spring Observatory. Subsequent analysis by NASA's NEO Program indicated that it could pass just 31,000 miles (50,000 km) from the Red Planet's surface: only two-and-a-half times the distance of its outermost moon, Deimos, and roughly the height at which communication satellites orbit Earth.* If the comet were to collide with Mars, it was estimated that a blast equivalent to a billion megatons of TNT would be produced, similar in scale to the impact which drove the dinosaurs extinct.

Reference

Slight Chance Comet Could Hit Mars in 2014, NASA Says, Yahoo! News:
http://news.yahoo.com/slight-chance-comet-could-hit-mars-2014-nasa-215439619.html
Accessed 7th March 2013.

Sun Jammer

Launch of the Sun Jammer solar sail

The Sun-jammer is a NASA mission intended to demonstrate solar sail technology, a form of propellant-free spacecraft propulsion that allows travel using radiation pressure alone.* This involves a combination of light and high-speed gas particles, ejected from the Sun, pushing large ultra-thin mirrors (or sails) to high speeds.

Solar sails have the potential to offer major advantages over conventional spacecraft. Low weight and a complete lack of fuel means that project costs are reduced. Though initially slow, their constant acceleration means they can build up to extremely high speeds over long time periods. This makes them especially well-suited for deep space missions to the outer planets, or even interstellar space. They could also provide a solution to the problem of space junk in Earth orbit, by catching small fragments of debris, or de-orbiting larger pieces.

The Sunjammer weighs just 31 kg (70 lb) and is the size of a dishwasher, prior to launch. When fully unfurled, however, its sails reach 38 metres (124 ft), covering almost 13,000 square feet, or one-third of an acre. This is 130 times larger than NanoSail-D2, a previous effort by NASA that was deployed in 2011.

Other spacecraft utilising solar sails include the Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun (IKAROS) – a Japanese mission launched in 2010,* with a larger version later in the decade.* By the 2030s, probes with solar sails are reaching hundreds of metres in size.* A few centuries from now, spacecraft the size of entire countries will become possible.*

References

Solar Sail Demonstration (The Sunjammer Project), NASA:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/tdm/solarsail/solarsail_overview.html
Accessed 29th March 2013.

"Future Solar Power Sail Demonstrator planned in the late 2010s will involve a large sized solar power sail with a diameter of 50m, and will have integrated ion-propulsion engines."
See Solar Power Sail Demonstrator "IKAROS", JAXA:
http://www.jspec.jaxa.jp/e/activity/ikaros.html

Accessed 29th March 2013.

First Interstellar Spacecraft May Use Texas-Size Solar Sail, Space.com:
http://www.space.com/20169-interstellar-spaceflight-solar-sail.html
Accessed 29th March 2013.

India's Mars Mission

India's first Mars mission

Joining the MAVEN probe this year is another orbiter, the first Indian mission to Mars.* Launched in November 2013, the probe enters a highly elliptical orbit of 500 x 80,000 km around Mars in September 2014. The payload of 25 kg consists of ten instruments – including a colour camera, infrared and thermal analysers, a radiation spectrometer, methane sensor, and a Plasma and Current Experiment. Controversy surrounds the mission, however, in light of foreign aid to alleviate the country's ongoing poverty and social problems.*

References

Mars mission: Demonstrating India's technology, BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-19110039
Accessed 18th August 2012.

India is heading for Mars: it doesn't need British aid money to pay the bills, The Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/9480279/
Accessed 18th August 2012.

The MAVEN probe arrives at Mars

NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft arrives at Mars, to study its atmosphere and climate history.* Its four primary objectives are:

1. To determine the role that loss of volatiles from the Mars atmosphere to space has played through time.
2. To determine the current state of the upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and interactions with the solar wind.
3. To determine current rates of escape of neutral gases and ions to space and the processes controlling them.
4. To determine the ratios of stable isotopes in the Martian atmosphere.

Reference

MAVEN (spacecraft), Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAVEN_%28spacecraft%29
Accessed 24th April 2010.