Lauding the inauguration of the much-awaited Padma Bridge, several entertainers and celebrated media personalities shared their excitement and joy with the media reporters and on their social media handles. Popular celebrities including Dhallywood superstar Shakib Khan, Jaya Ahsan, Omar Sani, Zayed Khan, Anjana Rahman, Chanchal Chowdhury and many other celebrities from the entertainment sphere expressed their heartfelt words, regarding the newly inaugurated Padma Bridge. Shakib Khan took to his official Facebook page, to express his delight at the Padma Bridge's opening. “This is indeed a dream come true scenario as the Padma Bridge is now in sight. This bridge will revolutionize the capital's transportation and communication system and economy with the country's south-western region. The completion of the Padma Bridge is a significant accomplishment for Bangladesh. Our Padma bridge, our source of pride." Jaya Ahsan, one of the most popular actresses in both Bangladesh and West Bengal, wrote a tribute article for Kolkata’s Anandabazar Patrika. In that piece, she wrote: “In the construction process of the bridge, there were many significant obstacles in almost every step. The first was the World Bank's withdrawal from the project. Our Prime Minister said, "We will build this bridge with our own money," which seemed like an impossible thought and she even acknowledged the possible obstacles.” Read: Padma Bridge connecting Bangladesh’s past with bright future: German envoy “There were all kinds of rumours and speculations as many did not believe that such a big project can be done with our own money, Sheikh Hasina went ahead almost alone with this unwavering confidence, and she turned the impossible into possible. The Padma Bridge is probably her greatest contribution to the people of Bengal, and this bridge will surely keep her memory alive,” Jaya Ahsan wrote. Silver screen superstar Omar Sani wrote on his Facebook: “My ancestral home is in Barisal’s Gournadi Union and although I was born into Kaliganj, Jinjira in the Dhaka division, my father-in-law's house is in Satkhira, Khulna. Alhamdulillah, Padma Bridge, is indeed our pride. Our first achievement is our liberation and independence, and our second achievement is Padma Bridge.” "This thrill is incomparable," stated popular music composer Prince Mahmud. “This cannot be put into words. This sentiment is not an immediate commotion. This resonance will be felt by those who have come from the other side of the Padma. Life has become easier and simpler, and I can now travel home anytime I wish." Anjana Rahman, another popular actress representing the silver screen, said, “Our Padma Bridge, our pride. The hopes and aspirations of 170 million Bengali-speaking people are fulfilled today. Without the grace of the World Bank, we have funded on our own to build the Padma Bridge. Salute to you, Hon'ble Prime Minister Deshratna Sheikh Hasina - the embodiment of all the hopes and aspirations of the entire Bengali nation, the daughter of democracy.” Acclaimed actor-singer Chanchal Chowdhury wrote, ”Today (yesterday) is the happiest day of Bangladesh, the day of pride. Long live Sheikh Hasina, for constructing the bridge of joy. "Padma Bridge," is our pride.” Read: Busy first day leads to tailback, showcases potential Popular rockstar, musician, activist, poet, Baul researcher and legendary band Feedback co-founder Maqsoodul Haque lauded the initiative from his Facebook page Mac Haque, writing:  “An unbelievable dream that millions had hoped for - a structure like none other in our history. Joy Bangla.” The official theme song for the grand opening of Padma Bridge has been composed by renowned singer-music composer Kishore Das. Writing from his official page Kishore, he said: Just before the Padma Bridge's inauguration, the Prime Minister and dignitaries present are playing the song written by Kabir Bakul Bhai, to my tune, performed by legendary singers including Sabina Yasmin, Rafiqul Alam, Kumar Bishwajit, Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, Momotaz Begum, Dilshad Nahar Kona, Bappa Mazumder, Imran Mahmudul, Nishita Barua and myself. This is indeed an incredible experience for me.” Besides, many other popular celebrities including Mehazabein Chowdhury, Afran Nisho, Tasnia Farin, Tawsif Mahbub, Zayed Khan and more have shared their excitement over the inauguration of the Padma Bridge.

NASA’s Mars helicopter fizzled Thursday on its fourth flight attempt. The 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) helicopter named Ingenuity was supposed to lift off on its longest, fastest flight yet, after three successes. But the chopper remained on the ground. Flight controllers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California will attempt a redo on Friday. Also read: NASA’s Mars helicopter takes flight, 1st for another planet Ingenuity’s took flight for the first time at Mars on April 19 — becoming the first powered aircraft to soar at another planet — after controllers fixed a software error. Managers said the solution would work 85% of the time. After three successful flights, Thursday’s attempt was not one of them. The helicopter team has until early next week to test Ingenuity in the Martian skies. Two more flights are planned before NASA’s Perseverance rover shoves off on its primary mission: seeking signs of past life in the Martian rocks. The rover will collect core samples and set them aside for pickup by a future robotic craft, for eventual return to Earth. Also read: NASA releases Mars landing video: 'Stuff of our dreams' Perseverance and Ingenuity arrived at Mars on Feb. 18, landing in an ancient river delta.

NASA on Monday released the first high-quality video of a spacecraft landing on Mars, a three-minute trailer showing the enormous orange and white parachute hurtling open and the red dust kicking up as rocket engines lowered the rover to the surface.

NASA has launched its new Mars rover, Perseverance, on a six-month journey to the Red Planet as part of an ambitious, long-range project to bring the first Martian rock samples back to Earth to be analysed for evidence of ancient life, reports AP.