India Launches Mission To The Moon
After a week’s delay, India successfully launched its Chandrayaan-2 mission. The mission could make India the fourth country to make a controlled landing on the moon.
The Chandrayaan-2 mission builds off of India’s 2008 Chandrayaan-1 trip, which created a small explosion on the moon so that the dust from the explosion could be studied.
The Chandrayaan-2 should arrive at the moon in September. One part of the spaceship will orbit (go around) the moon for up to a year. The lander will only last for about two weeks, but it will explore the moon’s south pole, an area that hasn’t been studied
Hong Kong Protesters Hold Sit-In In Airport
Thousands of protesters took over an area of Hong Kong International Airport on Friday. The protesters are trying to draw international attention to their protest movement and the response of Hong Kong’s government.
(Source: Wpcpey [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.)
Though Hong Kong is part of China, it is supposed to have a separate political system. Many people from Hong Kong worry that the government is limiting their freedom and giving too much control to the Chinese government.
Last Sunday night, a group of masked men beat the protesters with sticks and iron bars. The protesters want the police to take action against their attackers.
During Friday’s sit-in at the airport, the protesters handed out information and showed videos to inform international travelers about the protests, which are now in their eighth week.
President Trump Speaks In Front Of Fake Presidential Seal
On Tuesday, US President Trump spoke to a group of high school students, in front of an image that looked like the presidential seal – a specially designed logo that represents the US president.
But as people looked more carefully at the seal behind Mr. Trump, it became clear that it wasn’t official. It was different in many ways.
For example, the eagle in the seal behind the president had two heads – something closely related to Russia. And in the eagle’s claws, instead of arrows, it held golf clubs and money. The seal also had several other small jokes about Mr. Trump.
The fake presidential seal was created by an artist who is not a fan of the president. He had sold the seal in his online store. The image behind the president was chosen by accident by someone searching the internet for a copy of the presidential seal.
Flyboard Inventor Fails To Cross English Channel
On Thursday, inventor Franky Zapata tried to cross the English Channel on his “Flyboard”. The flying device uses special jets to allow Mr. Zapata to hover in the air and fly as fast as 90 miles per hour (145 kilometers per hour).
(Source: Natashabelarus [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.)
Mr. Zapata made the news by zipping through the air on his Flyboard holding a rifle during France’s Bastille day celebration on July 14.
At its narrowest, the English Channel is about 21 miles (33 kilometers) wide. But Mr. Zapata’s attempt to cross it failed about halfway across. Mr. Zapata was trying to land on a boat to get more fuel, but wound up falling into the water. He was unhurt, and says he plans to try again soon.