News
NASA is reevaluating the Mars Sample Return Mission as current plans face setbacks
Spaceflight is not the easiest of enterprises, and NASA has recently announced a change in plans for the Mars Sample Return Mission. Originally, the plan was to work with the European Space Agency (ESA) to collect samples from the Perseverance rover and bring them back to Earth by 2031. However, due to increasing costs and delays in the project timeline, NASA has had to rethink their strategy. Administrator Bill Nelson has now revealed a simpler, less expensive, and less risky alternative.
The Mars Perseverance Rover was launched as part of the Mars 2020 mission on July 30, 2020. After a journey of almost 7 months, it arrived on Mars on February 18, 2021. One of its primary objectives was to collect rock samples, seal them in tubes, and leave them for a future mission to retrieve and return to Earth. These samples are crucial for analyzing the history of the Solar System, searching for signs of ancient life on Mars, and preparing for future human exploration of the red planet.
However, due to budget constraints and the findings of an independent review of the Mars Sample Return mission, NASA has had to revise its plans. The mission design now includes a simpler, less risky approach that can be executed at a lower cost. The timeline for returning the samples to Earth has been extended to 2040, a significant delay from the original target date.
The challenges ahead for NASA are immense. Landing on Mars is just the first hurdle; the samples must be collected, securely stored, and then returned to Earth. This complex mission has never been attempted without human intervention, unlike the Apollo missions where astronauts brought back lunar samples. As of now, NASA is still grappling with how to reduce costs while ensuring the success of the mission. They have called upon multiple teams to collaborate on innovative solutions using proven technology.
Nicky Fox, NASA’s associate administrator, emphasized the importance of returning diverse and scientifically relevant samples from Mars. Despite the obstacles, NASA remains committed to achieving this goal. While the road ahead may be challenging, NASA’s track record of ingenuity and problem-solving gives hope for a successful mission. By the end of the 2030s, we may witness another historic moment in interplanetary exploration with the return of samples from Mars.
Source : NASA Sets Path to Return Mars Samples, Seeks Innovative Designs
News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
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