Business
NASA is sending its first Black and first female astronauts to the moon
NASA is preparing to launch a mission to the moon — and it’s making history for more reasons than one.
The space agency’s Artemis II launch marks the U.S.’s first journey back to the moon in more than 50 years. It will also carry the first Black astronaut and the first female astronaut to travel to the moon, though the mission will be a flyby without a touchdown on the surface.
The launch, originally scheduled for early February and now delayed, will carry four astronauts around the moon and back, including Victor Glover and Christina Koch, the first Black and first female astronauts, respectively, to make the flight.
The mission follows the success of the Artemis I launch in 2022, which was uncrewed, and marks NASA’s next step toward eventually sending astronauts to Mars.
“The benefits of the Artemis program are technological, but they’re also cultural,” Glover, who is a decorated U.S. Navy captain and has traveled to the International Space Station, said in a 2024 NASA video. “What really means something to me is the inspiration that will come from it, inspiring future generations to reach for the moon, literally to reach for the moon.”
Koch began her career at NASA, starting as an engineer and going on to conduct scientific research before becoming an astronaut in 2013, also traveling to the International Space Station.
“The one thing I’m most excited about is that we are going to carry your excitement, your aspiration, your dreams with us on this mission,” Koch said at the 2023 press conference when the mission’s astronauts were announced.
Danielle Wood, a professor in the astronautics department at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said this mission builds upon decades of NASA’s work, including lessons learned from its previously failed endeavors.
“NASA’s been thinking through this whole process, two decades’ worth, of what we’re going to do is prepare the government to focus on these harder, next-generation missions and be able to do things that are not already demonstrated,” Wood told CNBC.
Wood said she’s also thankful that NASA has created a commitment to sending more diverse astronauts to space who “represent society in a more broad way.” Though the space agency initially emphasized military training for astronauts, she said opening up those requirements has led to exciting developments.
“It is still the case that there are many firsts, many glass ceilings, that need to be broken by Black women and Black men and women in general — that’s still real,” Wood added.
The mission will encompass more than just an exploratory journey to the moon too, she said. NASA will be conducting scientific research on the astronauts’ health, the rocket and the science of the moon. The mission is also working in conjunction with other countries, like Saudi Arabia and Germany, as part of “goodwill” agreements to pool together resources for moon research, Wood said.
“That’s just one step for this bigger, new form of operation,” she said.
Space historian Amy Shira Teitel, who’s been studying space for more than two decades, said Artemis II is the beginning of NASA’s next chapter of research.
“It’s marking a new era of leaving low Earth orbit, which we haven’t done since 1972,” she told CNBC. “It’s still a significant step because at the end of the day, we’re still going to gain some information that can be applied to whatever the next step is.”
Still, Teitel has her doubts about whether this launch will be the first step toward a lasting presence on the moon. Between budget restraints, multiple launch delays and complicating political factors, Teitel said the rocket launching this mission is “widely regarded as a huge boondoggle.”
That comes even as the space sector — and the journey back to the moon — has become more crowded.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX announced earlier this month that it was shifting its efforts from Mars explorations to moon explorations. Texas-based rocket and spacecraft builder Firefly Aerospace and Houston-based space startup Intuitive Machines have both sent spacecraft to the moon.
And NASA plans to retire the International Space Station in favor of smaller space stations focusing on the moon and Mars, with costs adding up. The U.S. Senate has also advanced legislation to support NASA’s advancements and create thousands of aerospace jobs, especially in Alabama, where the Marshall Space Flight Center is located.
Though the Artemis II launch will mark a significant step in NASA’s history, Teitel said she is choosing to remain cautiously optimistic about the future of space exploration, despite the hurdles.
“There’s so many challenges with this program right now stemming from policy, not from the astronauts or the engineers, just stemming from the fact that space is so complicated and so rooted in politics and so expensive that it’s hard to be that thrilled about this as the next step when everything else feels so tenuous,” Teitel said.
One in five UK grocery trips involves at least one missing item, adding up to roughly £2.1 billion in “displaced” sales, according to a report.
As a result, 44% of consumers say they have switched to another supermarket or added in a visit to an alternative grocer in the past year to find an item they need – rising to almost two thirds of shoppers under 45, a study by DHL Supply Chain and the consultancy Retail Economics found.
Almost six in 10 shoppers (59%) said availability is a main reason they shop across multiple stores, and one in three now prioritised availability over price, a survey of 2,000 UK households suggests.
Meanwhile, convenience stores accounted for around one fifth of grocery sales but made up almost half of all displaced spending because of gaps on shelves.
Some 63% of shoppers believe availability is worse in convenience stores.
Nick Archer, managing director of convenience and consumer at DHL Supply Chain, said: “The research shows that even small stock gaps can have a significant impact on how shoppers feel about a retailer.
“Despite the pressure on shoppers’ wallets, loyalty is being driven by more than price.
“In a market where customers can switch stores with ease, availability is much more than an operational metric. Being competitive in today’s market requires precision.”
Retail Economics chief executive Richard Lim said: “In today’s environment of busy lifestyles, hybrid working and smaller, more frequent shopping trips, customers expect to find what they need quickly and easily.
“This is not only limited to grocery, but in all retail sectors, from fashion to beauty.
“Convenience comes down to having products there when the customer needs them, and availability has become the clearest sign of reliability.
“Retailers who get it right will be the ones who earn trust and lasting loyalty.”
Business
Shree Ram Twistex IPO Lists At 30% Discount, Clean Max Falls 20% In Debut Trade: Should You Buy, Sell Or Hold?
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Shares of Shree Ram Twistex Ltd and Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions Ltd make lacklustre stock market debuts on March 2.
IPO Listings of Shree Ram Twistex Ltd and Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions Ltd.
Shares of Shree Ram Twistex Ltd and Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions Ltd made lacklustre stock market debuts on March 2, listing at steep discounts to their issue prices amid a sharp broader market sell-off triggered by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
At 01:57 pm, the Sensex tumbled over 1,800 points, slipping below the 79,500 level; meanwhile, Nifty dropped below the 24,650 level.
Shree Ram Twistex lists at sharp discount
Shree Ram Twistex opened at Rs 68 on NSE, down 34.61% from its issue price of Rs 104, and at Rs 70 on BSE, marking a decline of 32.69%. The company’s market capitalisation stood at Rs 275.83 crore after listing.
Despite the weak debut, the IPO had seen strong investor demand, receiving 43.66 times subscription. The Rs 110.24-crore issue was entirely a fresh issue of up to 1.06 crore shares priced in the Rs 95-104 band.
Shivani Nyati, Head of Wealth at Swastika Investmart Ltd, said, “The muted listing reflects cautious sentiment and possible profit booking, even though the IPO was subscribed 43.66 times, with very strong demand in the retail and NII categories.”
She added that proceeds will be used for captive solar and wind power plants, debt repayment, and working capital support, which could lower energy costs over time.
“Volatility may persist in the short term. High-risk investors can consider holding with a strict stop loss at Rs 60. Fresh entry is advisable only after the stock shows signs of stability and buying support,” she said.
Clean Max falls sharply after listing
Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions listed at Rs 960 on NSE, an 8.83% discount to its upper price band of Rs 1,053, and at Rs 952.20 on BSE, down 9.57%. During the session, the stock dropped as much as about 20% from its opening levels. The firm’s market valuation stood at Rs 10,111.54 crore.
The Rs 3,100-crore IPO saw moderate demand, getting subscribed 94%. The issue comprised a fresh issue worth Rs 1,200 crore and an offer-for-sale of Rs 1,900 crore.
Nyati said, “While the long term business outlook remains structurally positive, the weak listing indicates near term caution and limited immediate upside visibility.”
She advised caution for investors: “Allottees may hold if risk appetite is high but should maintain a strict stop loss at Rs 900. Fresh investors are advised to wait for price stability and strong demand support before considering new positions.”
Business fundamentals vs listing sentiment
Shree Ram Twistex manufactures cotton yarn, while Clean Max operates in the renewable energy solutions space, providing solar, wind, hybrid power and carbon credit services for commercial and industrial clients.
Analysts note that weak listing performance does not necessarily reflect long-term fundamentals, particularly when broader market sentiment is risk-averse. However, steep listing discounts often indicate either aggressive IPO pricing or short-term liquidity pressure.
Should investors buy, sell or hold?
For Shree Ram Twistex, experts suggest only high-risk investors consider holding with tight risk management, while new investors should wait for price discovery. For Clean Max, the recommendation is similar: hold only if risk appetite is high and avoid fresh positions until stability returns.
In both cases, analysts stress that listing day performance should not be the sole investment metric; sustained earnings visibility, balance-sheet strength and institutional participation over the coming quarters will determine whether these stocks recover or continue to lag.
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March 02, 2026, 14:42 IST
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