FirstUp: World’s first private spacewalk, S Jaishankar in Switzerland… The headlines today

Thursday, September 12, is shaping up to be a busy day with several significant events on the agenda.

Polaris Dawn crew will conduct the world’s first private space walk.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will begin his two-day visit to Switzerland’s Geneva.

PM Modi to attend second Asia Pacific Civil Aviation Ministers Conference.

China is set to host the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.

The ‘bow-string’ arch bridge in Mumbai will partially open today.

Here’s how the day will unfold

Polaris Dawn’s historic spacewalk

The Polaris Dawn crew, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman and including non-astronauts Scott Poteet, Anna Menon, and Sarah Gillis, is poised to make history today with the first-ever private spacewalk.

This five-day mission is part of the Polaris Program, which aims to test and develop new space technologies. It is the first of three planned missions under the program. The crew lifted off on September 10 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s iconic Launch Complex-39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

For the spacewalk, all crew members will don spacesuits, and the air will be completely vented from the spacecraft. According to The New York Times, “The hatch will then be opened, and the inside of the spacecraft will become part of the vacuum of outer space.”

However, only Isaacman and Gillis will exit the capsule to perform the spacewalk, while Poteet and Menon will stay inside to manage the umbilical cords and monitor readings, ensuring the operation runs smoothly.

EAM S Jaishankar’s Switzerland tour

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to conclude his six-day diplomatic tour with a visit to Switzerland.

As per a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), “The External Affairs Minister will meet with heads and representatives of international organisations with whom India is actively engaged.” Given that Geneva hosts numerous UN bodies and global institutions, this visit holds significant diplomatic importance.

Jaishankar is also scheduled to meet the Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis to review the strong partnership between India and Switzerland and discuss new opportunities for enhancing bilateral ties, according to the MEA.

Earlier in the trip, Jaishankar visited Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he participated in the First India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Following this, he travelled to Berlin, Germany, for a two-day stop. During his time in Berlin, he met with German Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and took part in a debate with foreign policy and security experts, organised by the Munich Security Conference.

Modi to attend Asia Pacific Civil Aviation Ministers Conference

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the 2nd Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

During the event, Modi will address the conference and announce the adoption of the “Delhi Declaration” by all member states, aiming to enhance the region’s aviation sector.

Organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the conference will bring together Transport and Aviation ministers, regulatory authorities, and industry experts from across the Asia-Pacific region.

The discussions will focus on crucial challenges, including infrastructure development, sustainability, and workforce training, while encouraging stronger collaboration between public and private sectors

Xiangshan defence forum in Beijing

China is set to host the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum starting today.

Co-hosted by the China Association for Military Science and the China Institute for International Strategic Studies, the forum will focus on discussions on security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region to multipolarity and the global order, according to the forum’s official website.

This year’s forum will also explore the security of artificial intelligence and the beneficial use of emerging technologies.

According to China Daily, more than 500 representatives from over 90 countries and international organisations have confirmed their participation.

Wu Jiangang, an official from the forum’s organising committee, stated that the attendees include over 30 defence ministers and chiefs of staff, alongside more than 200 experts and scholars.

PM Modi to meet with India’s Paralympians

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet and interact with India’s Paris Paralympic contingent at Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi today.

PM Modi had previously taken out time after finishing his official engagements in Brunei to call up and congratulate India’s Paralympic champions as India has now secured a historic performance in the Paris Paralympics by winning 20 medals.

India concluded their historic Paris Paralympics campaign with 29 medals, including seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze medals, marking the country’s best performance in the competition’s history.

The ‘bow-string’ arch bridge in Mumbai

The much-anticipated ‘bow-string’ arch bridge, connecting the Mumbai Coastal Road with the Bandra Worli Sea Link, is set to partially open, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Currently, the Coastal Road ends at Worli, but this new bridge will be a game-changer. Starting on September 12, vehicles will be able to drive directly onto the Bandra Worli Sea Link, bypassing the tedious detour at the Worli interchange, The Indian Express reported.

Interestingly, there will be no formal inauguration for the bridge but by the end of the year, the girder connecting the southbound lanes of the Sea Link to the Coastal Road is expected to be completed, marking a significant milestone in improving Mumbai’s connectivity.

With input from agencies