The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully tested supersonic landing parachute that will be deployed in its Mars rover mission set to launch in 2020. The mission will rely on special parachute to slow spacecraft down as it enters Martian atmosphere at over 5.4 kilometres per second. It was first of several tests in support of NASA’s Mars 2020 mission.

China launched world's first fully electric cargo ship in Guangzhou, capital city of Guangdong province. It is the first ship in the world to use lithium ion battery. The ship will be mainly used to run in inland section of Pearl River for carrying coal for generation of electric power. First Electric Cargo Ship: Know More The 70.5-metre-long ship, which weighs about 600 tonnes, was launched in Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong Province. The vessel, manufactured by the Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Ltd, is powered by a 26-tonne lithium battery. It can cruise at the top speed of 12.8 km per hour. As the ship do not use fossil fuels, it has zero emission, including carbon, sulphur and PM2.5 and it could be used as a passenger liner or a working ship, state-run Global Times reported. On its inaugural run, the vessel was loaded with thermal coal mainly for areas around the Pearl River in Guangdong Province.

The Union Ministry of Railways has advanced target for 100% completion of installing human waste discharge free Bio-toilets in coaches to December 2018. Earlier, the target to install bio-toilets in all its coaches as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission was by September 2019. Ministry of Railways The Ministry of Railways is a ministry in the Government of India, responsible for the country's rail transport. Website: indianrailways.gov.in Formed: 16 April 1853 Jurisdiction: India Headquarters: Rail Bhavan, 1, Raisina Road, New Delhi Cabinet minister: Piyush Goyal Minister of state: Manoj Sinha, Rajen Gohain

Direct-to-home (DTH) service provider Tata Sky launched its latest interactive service Tata Sky Beauty, in partnership with FTheCouch (FTC) Beauty Studio, a Suniel Shetty venture. The 24×7 beauty channel will carry content around hair styling, make-up, fashion, and skin-care featuring celebrity artists. TATA Sky: Know More Tata Sky is a direct broadcast satellite television provider in India, using MPEG-4 digital compression technology, transmitting using INSAT-4A and GSAT-10 satellite. CEO: Harit Nagpal (Aug 2010-) Headquarters: Worli, Mumbai Founded: 10 August 2006 Number of employees: 100,000 (Approximately) Parent organization: Tata Sons