SpaceX Starship Launch Canceled Due to Engine Failure

Spheres developed in South Africa are being sent to the Moon, where they are intended to form, according to their creators, the world's first array of radio telescopes on the lunar surface. The electronics for these devices are being developed by engineers and students at Stellenbosch University.

Africa2Moon Mission

The first space exploration organized exclusively by African countries is named Africa2Moon. This mission plans to fly aboard China's Chang’e-8 robotic mission to the Moon's south pole in 2029. In April 2025, the China National Space Administration included it in a list of 11 international payloads.

Project Participants and Goal

The project is overseen by the Africa Space Development Fund in collaboration with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (Sarao), the South African National Space Agency, Stellenbosch University, Rhodes University, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The technological demonstrator consists of three composite spheres containing low-frequency antennas and electronics. These spheres are named Bounced African Low Lunar Spheres, or Balls (B.A.L.L.S.), and their task is to prove the feasibility of conducting radio astronomy on the lunar surface at frequencies below 20 MHz.

Significance of the Lunar Observatory

This frequency range is critically important because it is virtually invisible from Earth. The planet's ionosphere blocks and distorts radio waves below approximately 20 MHz, preventing ground-based telescopes, including the Square Kilometre Array, from adequately observing an entire segment of the radio universe, including signals from the earliest epochs of the cosmos. The Moon, which lacks an ionosphere and is subject to significantly less radio interference, is an ideal site for such an observatory.

Planned Ambitions and Development

The director of the Africa2Moon mission, Karla Mitchell, noted that this will allow scientists to study the band of radio wave information from space that is largely inaccessible from Earth, potentially leading to new discoveries about the Universe. The team's ambitions extend beyond the three spheres: the ultimate goal of the Africa2Moon mission is to launch 55 Balls antennas, one for each African nation, from the lunar surface.

The demonstrator is in its final stages and is scheduled to be sent to China by mid-2026 for inspection by the Chinese space agency. The agency must ensure that the payload is compatible with the lander module and capable of withstanding launch and lunar environment conditions. After approval, a prototype will be created using space-class components.

Technical Aspects and Future

The Stellenbosch Electronics Systems Laboratory, established after the launch of South Africa's first satellite Sunsat in 1999 and participating in the SumbandilaSat project, has developed communication and electronics systems. Four master's students presented working systems in March, despite the tight mission deadlines. Engineers at Sarao built a structural model, collaborating with the University of KwaZulu-Natal Aerospace Systems Research Institute. Willem Jordaan from ESL emphasized that the mission presents unique technical challenges for the lunar environment and serves as an opportunity to test existing technologies and create new components.

The Chang’e-8 mission will lay the foundation for an International Lunar Research Station, which is planned under China's program. This robotic base could eventually host astronauts, placing South Africa's payload within Beijing's flagship lunar program alongside contributions such as the Pakistani rover, the Italian laser reflector array, and the Thai neutron analyzer. Arno Barnard from ESL noted that for Stellenbosch, this is a continuation of a 35-year history of aerospace engineering, pointing to more than ten companies involved in high-end development within a 20 km radius of Stellenbosch.

Chinese geneticists conducted a study and concluded that the probable origin of the basic lineage of Mycobacterium leprae is South East Asia. This conclusion is based on the DNA analysis of ancient people suffering from leprosy found in the region.

Discovery of Ancient Samples

Researchers have discovered ancient inhabitants of East Asia for the first time who show traces of leprosy. Bacterial DNA was extracted from the teeth of two individuals: one was buried in Xinjiang, and the other in Shanxi province. Analysis of the genome of these and previously published sequences allowed for the hypothesis that the original form of Mycobacterium leprae may have originated in South East Asia, from where it subsequently spread across Eurasia and to the Pacific islands. The results of the study were published in the journal Communications Biology.

Information on Leprosy

Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic illness classified by the World Health Organization among neglected diseases, despite registering about 200,000 new cases annually. The causative agents of this infection are two types of bacteria: Mycobacterium leprae and M. lepromatosis. The latter species was only identified in 2008 after an unknown pathogen was found in patients from Mexico.

Historical Context of the Disease

Written evidence indicates that people suffered from leprosy long before the Middle Ages, when leprosaria existed in Europe. For example, Hippocrates, who lived in the 5th–4th centuries BC, described a disease similar in symptoms to leprosy. Nevertheless, the exact initial focus of M. leprae spread across Eurasia has not yet been established. Previously, some scientists suggested that the origin might be Southeast or Central Asia, while others leaned towards Western Eurasia or even Europe.

Work of Chinese Scientists

Chinese scientists, led by Cui Yinciu from Jilin University, presented the first molecular evidence that ancient inhabitants of East Asia had contact with the leprosy pathogen. In the course of their work, they studied bacterial DNA from the remains of 1800 people from various regions of the area. Two cases of leprosy were identified during the screening.

Dating and Findings

One of the remains was found in Xinjiang in 2017 at the Shihuao monument; radiocarbon dating showed that this person died approximately 1711–1550 years ago. The second case was discovered during the analysis of remains excavated in 2025 at the Danliuzhuangcun monument in Shanxi province. The dating of this sample indicates an age of approximately 2157–2340 years.

Phylogenetic Conclusions

Phylogenetic analysis of recently obtained and previously published DNA sequences showed that both new genomes belong to basal lineage 0. Specialists calculated that the last common ancestor of all known strains existed approximately 4199 years ago (with a 95% confidence interval of 5195–3340 years ago), which is 300 years earlier than previously assumed. Scientists believe that the cradle of M. leprae was in East Asia, possibly in its south. They hypothesize that strains of the future lineage 0B migrated to the Pacific islands along with speakers of Austronesian languages. Another group of strains, forming lineage 0A, first spread to northern East Asia and then further across Eurasia, including the strain found in the ancient person from Xinjiang. However, researchers note that more precise conclusions will be possible after analyzing M. leprae DNA from other important regions, including South East Asia.

Other Cases of Leprosy

As for the American leprosy pathogen, M. lepromatosis, it affected people for millennia. A recent study established that approximately 4300–4200 years ago, adult men infected with this bacterium lived in Chile, representing the oldest confirmed cases of leprosy in the New World.

There are innovations capable of radically changing people's lives that remain unnoticed because they lack a suitable platform. These can be founders solving real problems in small towns, non-profit organizations improving access to healthcare or education, or entrepreneurs creating technological solutions previously deemed impossible in India. These stories are scattered across the country, often lacking the necessary recognition, mentorship, or capital for scaling.

The Indian Innovation Icons competition is designed to address this need, and applications for its 2027 edition have now opened. Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF) launched its flagship program, Indian Innovation Icons (formerly known as Innovation for India Awards), in 2006. This event is held biennially and aims to identify and highlight Indian innovators whose work has the potential for large-scale impact but has not yet received due attention.

Categories and Eligibility Criteria

Applications are open under two streams. The Business category targets commercial organizations based in India, including startups. The Social category is available to non-profit organizations registered in India, which includes government bodies, charitable foundations, philanthropic organizations, social enterprises, multilateral agencies, public trusts, NGOs, as well as corporate or charitable foundations.

To qualify, the solution must be unique, sustainable, rapidly scalable, and capable of making a significant economic, social, or environmental impact in India and beyond. For the business category, innovations implemented within the last 10 years are considered, while for the social category, the period is 16 years as of the application submission month. All applications are evaluated based on four equally weighted criteria: uniqueness, impact, scalability, and sustainability.

The evaluation process takes nearly eight months and involves expert review by independent knowledge partners, two rounds of jury discussions, and thorough on-site verification before winners are announced at the Grand Finale in March 2027.

What Winners Receive

A distinguishing feature of Indian Innovation Icons is not just the recognition, but also the volume of support that follows. Winners receive a series of commitments that can significantly alter the trajectory of their organizations. This includes a guaranteed one-hour individual consultation with Harsh Marivala, founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Marico Limited, followed by six months of personalized mentorship from senior company leadership in areas such as marketing, finance, supply chain, operations, and strategy.

Furthermore, laureates gain exclusive access to capital and business networks. Marivala personally connects them with venture capitalists, institutional investors, grant providers, and corporate executives on their behalf. They present their projects at the Grand Finale to an audience of over 500 prominent industrialists, board members, and philanthropists. A month later, they participate in InnoWin Day—specially curated meetings with selected institutions aimed at accelerating progress without the need for cold outreach.

In addition to mentorship and access, winners receive public endorsement from Marivala on LinkedIn, as well as national recognition through an exclusive video partnership with The Better India, reaching over 129 million views. To enhance the communication of their work, the program also provides specialized storytelling and executive coaching in collaboration with The School of Practical Skills, led by communications trainer Ankita Vengulkar.

Competition Jury Composition

For the 2027 edition, a diverse group of industry leaders, politicians, investors, and social impact advocates has been assembled to evaluate the applications. The Chair of the Jury is Amit Chandra, Chairman of Bain Capital India and Co-founder of ATE Chandra Foundation.

The Business Jury includes Dr. Ashish Lale, Director of CSIR-National Chemical Library; Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Scientist at NITI Aayog; Namita Tapar, CEO of Emcure Pharmaceuticals; Prabha Narasimhan, CEO of Colgate Palmolive India; Ravi Marivala, Chairman and CEO of Smaart Water; and Sanjeev Kaul, Senior Partner at ChrysCapital.

The Social Jury features Aniket Deoghar, Founder and CEO of Haqdarshak; Chetna Gala Singh, Founder and Chairman of Mann Deshi Bank and Mann Deshi Foundation; Dipali Hanna, Vice President and Head of Asia at The Rockefeller Foundation; Louis Miranda, Co-founder and Chairman of the Indian School of Public Policy; Pratik Madhav, CEO and Co-founder of AssisTech Foundation; and Smariniti Shetty, Co-founder and CEO of India Development Review.

Examples of Past Winners

Over the past ten editions, the platform has recognized more than 70 breakthrough Indian innovations. In the Business category, past winners include Astrome Technologies, which provides high-speed broadband internet access at affordable prices in remote areas using E-band multi-beam wireless technology. Chara Technologies, which develops synchronous relaxation motors without rare-earth magnets as a sustainable alternative for India's electric vehicle and industrial motor sectors, was also a winner. Other past laureates include Indra Water, whose patented ElectroX technology cleans wastewater without chemicals, reducing space requirements by 90% and operational costs by 40%, and Skyroot Aerospace, the first private Indian company to build a fully 3D-printed cryogenic engine, working to democratize access to space for satellite launches.

In the Social category, AssisTech Foundation was recognized as the first assistive technology accelerator in India, supporting startups developing mobility, communication, and independent living solutions for people with disabilities. The People's Archive of Rural India (PARI) was also acknowledged—a digital platform preserving the voices of rural India through multimedia archives in 15 languages—and Rocket Learning, which uses technological solutions to bridge the gap between parents, teachers, and communities in early childhood education.

This track record underscores why Indian Innovation Icons has become a significant benchmark of trust for both commercial and non-profit organizations across the country.

About Marico Innovation Foundation

Marico Innovation Foundation was established in 2003 as a non-profit division of Marico Limited. It implements two main programs: the Scale-Up Program and Indian Innovation Icons, both aimed at developing and stimulating the innovation ecosystem in India. MIF's mission is to identify breakthrough innovations capable of delivering long-term socio-economic and environmental impact, providing them with the visibility, opportunities, and support necessary for success.

How to Apply

Indian Innovation Icons 2027 offers precisely the platform that innovators who have created something significant but have yet to find a match for their ambitions need. The deadline for applications is set for July 22, 2026. Interested organizations can apply through the official form.