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<ul><li>The workers began a month-long <keyword id="6358138" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Strike">strike</keyword> on Tuesday. </li><li>They are protesting against the government’s move to corporatise <keyword id="497741" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ordnance-Factories">ordnance factories</keyword>. </li><li>Production has stalled completely since the strike began.</li></ul><keyword id="115338" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ordnance-factory">Ordnance factory</keyword> workers in India began a month long strike on Tuesday. The workers are protesting against the government’s move to corporatise the factories which produce defence equipment. The Indian government had decided to convert the ordnance factory, which is currently government-owned into a corporation or a PSU. This enraged its 80,000 workers across 41 ordnance factories. The Indian Ordnance Factories organisation - a family of 41 ordnance factories – is into defence production including production, testing, logistics, research, development and marketing of a comprehensive product range of land, sea and air systems. As the month-long strike began, representatives from the three trade trade unions — the Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh, the Indian National Defence Workers Federation, and the All India Defence Employees Federation – released a joint statement. “The strike has commenced at 6 am and the entire workforce are staying away from work, resulting in scaling down of the defence production to zero level. Strike was a total success in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh (Jabalpur, Katni), Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Chandigarh, where the ordnance factories are located. The strike was a total success at ordnance factory board headquarters, Kolkata,” <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/strike-total-at-all-41-ordnance-factories-say-unions-on-day-one/article29183842.ece">the statement said.</a> The Indian government will also set up a high-level committee to draw a roadmap for the ordnance factories and analyse the turning of it into a public sector unit.

India’s 41 ordnance factories come to grinding halt as its 80,000 workers go on strike

If you are a fan of Akshay Kumar and have watched his movie Namastey London, you probably remember from his popular monologue that Indians boast of having the third biggest army in the world. 
 
However, you would feel ashamed to know that the soldiers of this huge army force, those who guard our lives day and night without a worry about their own, are being forced to buy their boots and uniforms from their own money, all because of the inferior quality of the ones that are issued to them from the authorities. 
 Official from the Defence ministry told ET that the <keyword id="183464" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ordnance-Factory-Board">Ordnance Factory Board</keyword> (OFB), which is responsible for the production of boots and uniforms, has often received complaints about the low quality of their products. 
 
The boots tend to tear and the heavy sole dropped off, said a soldier who had to buy a new pair from his own money and that too within three months of being issued the OFB footwear. 
 
Talking of uniforms, the biggest complaint about them is the quality of the material used, which gets ripped and fades in no time, leading to colour mismatches. This means getting pulled up during inspections and parades, because of which they consider buying their own clothes. 
The sizing is also an issue, which makes it almost impossible for the soldiers of the 1.2-million strong army to find the clothes that fit them right. 
"The OFB issues uniforms and boots every 18 months, but they last only three-four months," one of the officials told ET. "There is no option but to buy these from the market." 
 
When questioned, the army headquarters confirmed that there were flaws in the designs of the boots. "Boot High Ankle DVS was reported to have heavy sole and a better design and lighter weight with polyurethane rubber sole for better flexibility has been identified," an official confirmed. Approval for an open tender enquiry (OTE) has been obtained, he said. 
 
<a href="http://archive.defense.gov/DODCMSShare/NewsStoryPhoto/2009-10/hrs_091024-D-1852B-1267.jpg">Image source</a>

Shocking! Indian soldiers are forced to buy their own boots and uniforms

The <keyword id="6354416" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Indian-Army">Indian Army</keyword> would place an order worth Rs 1, 200 crore to get <keyword id="6358373" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="dhanush">Dhanush</keyword> artillery guns after their confirmatory trials are over early next year, reported PTI. 

	According to defence sources, if the confirmatory test of the indigenously-developed guns comes out as positive, it will pave the way for Bulk Production Clearance (BPC).
 Under the first phase, the army will place an order for 114 such guns with the <keyword id="498182" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Ordnance-Factories-Board">Ordnance Factories Board</keyword>. 

	"The confirmatory trials are going on after and if they prove to be successful, the guns will go in for bulk production for the army," sources told PTI. 
 

	The Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur, plans to supply 6 guns within 6 months, another 12 within the next one year before ramping up the production.
 It is important to know that Dhanush would be the first artillery gun to be acquired by the Indian Army since the purchase of Bofors guns from <keyword id="23050" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sweden">Sweden</keyword> in 1987. 

	It is a modified version of the Bofors and already underwent winter trials in 2013 and summer trials in 2014. 
 Earlier this year, Defence Minister <keyword id="6363133" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Manohar-Parrikar">Manohar Parrikar</keyword> said the test for the 155/45mm caliber Dhanush gun was successful. 

	According to sources, minor changes were done following the trials, following which the confirmation trials have begun.
 

	OFB is a conglomerate of 39 ordnance factories with another two new projects being set up at Nalanda in Bihar and Korwa in Uttar Pradesh. 
	 (Image: <keyword id="6369097" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Defence">Ministry of Defence</keyword>)

Indian Army to order Dhanush artillery guns after trials

<ul><li>The new gun has 81% indigenously manufactured components. </li><li>Each gun costs upwards of ₹140 million and uses rounds which cost around ₹100,000 each. </li><li>The gun is based on Swedish Bofors guns, but has a better range. </li></ul>On Friday, <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> conducted final tests for its first indigenous, long-range- artillery gun, named “<keyword id="6358373" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dhanush">Dhanush</keyword>”, at Pokhran, Rajasthan. The gun’s design is based on the Swedish Bofors gun, and fifty rounds each were fired from six Dhanush guns, reports <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/">India Today</a>. Dhanush Dhanush is a long-range artillery gun with a strike range of 38 km. Also known as the “Desi Bofors”, the gun fires 155mm x 45mm calibre artillery shells. It was developed in the Gun Carriage Factory (GCF) in Jabalpur, and cost up of ₹140 million each, while each round fired cost around ₹100,000. The project, which was sanctioned in 2011, has now cleared its final tests. The first prototype was built by 2014 and since then 11 other prototypes had been made and 4,200 rounds were test fired. The gun currently comprises of 81% indigenously manufactured components and there are plans to scale up to 90% by 2019. The tests As of June 2018, the gun has been rigorously tested under hot and humid conditions in Balasore, Odisha, Babina (Jhansi) and Pokhran (Rajasthan), and under severe cold conditions of Sikkim and Leh. It has a hitting range that’s 11 km more than the imported Bofors guns and is apparently amongst the finest in terms of accuracy. It also includes features like electronic gun-laying and sighting systems. Dhanush also <a href="http://www.janes.com/article/79422/defexpo-2018-ofb-showcases-155-mm-52-calibre-mounted-gun-system">has</a> a vehicle-mounted variant called Mounted Gun System, which was showcased by India’s Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) at Defexpo 2018. It is mounted on an 8x8 truck manufactured by BEML and has a speed of 30 km/h cross country and 80 km/h on road. Future In March 2013, the defence ministry had <a href="https://swarajyamag.com/politics/finally-army-to-get-its-dhanush/">placed</a> an order worth over ₹12.6 billion for the acquisition of 114 Dhanush guns, which were subject to its clearing the trials. Now, according to a <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/dhanush-india-s-first-indigenous-artillery-gun-clears-final-test-ready-for-induction-into-army-1256122-2018-06-09">report</a>,12 guns will be delivered to the <keyword id="6354416" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Army">Indian Army</keyword> in the current fiscal.

India has successfully test fired its first indigenously made long-ranged artillery gun

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Russian military relies on artillery to compensate for other battlefield shortcomings.</li><li>But its heavy use of artillery in Ukraine could outstrip its ability to make new shells and cannons.</li></ul>Russia's way of war relies on quantity rather than quality to overwhelm the enemy, and with hopes for a quick victory in Ukraine gone, the Kremlin is aiming to wear Kyiv down.But to win a war of attrition, Russia will have to be more capable of replacing equipment and ammunition than Ukraine is. Yet it is Ukraine that has secured military aid, ranging from boots and helmets to tanks and artillery, from 50 countries. Russia has only managed to buy arms from a few <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-desperation-in-ukraine-closer-ties-with-iran-north-korea-2022-11">pariahs like Iran and North Korea</a>.There is one country that could make a major difference to Russia's war machine. If China uses its military stockpiles and industrial base to support Russia's war in Ukraine, the consequences could be as significant as Mao Zedong's decision to send 3 million Chinese "volunteers" <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/korean-war-battle-chosin-reservoir-now-chinese-rallying-cry-2020-11">to fight in the Korean War</a>.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-artillery-arsenal-creates-logistical-maintenance-problems-2023-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Artillery and other long-range fires</a>, such as multiple-launch rockets, remain the "critical capability underpinning the Russian military," according to a recent <a href="https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/special-resources/meatgrinder-russian-tactics-second-year-its-invasion-ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> by the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank.<div type="image" title="Russia artillery Msta-S self-propelled howitzer" height="1342" width="2000" msid="102353056" hostid="261" sizebytes="200628"></div>Yet Moscow has used its "massive stockpile of ammunition" inefficiently, burning through shells and cannons faster than it can build them, the RUSI report said.The flaws in that approach are evident on the ground. The commander of Russia's 58th Army in Ukraine <a href="https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1679258082302459904?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was recently relieved</a> after complaining about the state of Russian artillery, including "the lack of counter-battery fire" and "lack of artillery reconnaissance stations."According to the RUSI report, the Russian military has used firepower "as a crutch to compensate" for other tactical shortcomings and if it is unable to bring as much firepower to bear, it could struggle to hold ground."Perhaps the greatest danger for Ukraine, therefore, as regards the longer term trajectory of Russian forces, is if another country provides tooling and workers to establish additional production capacity in Russia for munitions and barrels," the report warned.China has pledged neutrality in Ukraine — though its leaders have made expressions of support for Russia — but artillery represents a historical link between the two countries.<div type="image" title="Chinese artillery" height="1381" width="2000" msid="102353058" hostid="261" sizebytes="238786"></div>China's army — known as the People's Liberation Army — used Soviet-supplied or Soviet-designed howitzers and multiple-launch rocket systems throughout the Cold War. While China now designs its own artillery, many of its weapons still come in calibers used by Russian army — including 152 mm, 130 mm and 122 mm — meaning China's munitions factories could churn out shells that would have some compatibility with Russian ordnance.Since Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022, the US has been concerned about the possibility of China supplying military hardware to Russia. China's <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-weapons-germany-ukraine-2a51d2c64c12fca75683d20fbafba475" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vow not to sell</a> arms to either side is hardly reassuring.Trade data shows Chinese firms shipping items that could have military use, including "<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/16/chinese-rifles-body-armor-russia-ukraine-00087398" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hunting rifles</a>," as well as massive <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/23/business/economy/china-russia-ammunition.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amounts of gunpowder</a> to Russia.In recent months, Ukrainian officials have said they <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-is-finding-more-chinese-components-russian-weapons-2023-04-14/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are finding more</a> Chinese-made components in Russian weapons and US <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/02/24/china-russia-artillery-ukraine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">officials have said</a> China's government is considering sending artillery shells to Russia. (Asked about those US comments in February, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/20/world/asia/china-russia-us-arms.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> "the US is not qualified to issue any orders to China.")At first glance, it would seem natural for China to support Russia against Ukraine.<div type="image" title="xi putin handshake.JPG" height="900" width="1200" msid="102353062" hostid="261" sizebytes="39306"></div>After <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fighting-over-dispute-border-island-risked-chinese-soviet-nuclear-war-2021-3">nearly coming to blows</a> during the Cold War, Moscow and Beijing are close partners. Their relations have warmed considerably under Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, allowing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/improving-china-ties-allows-russia-to-raise-ukraine-military-pressure-2022-2">both to focus</a> on their <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-should-worry-about-partner-china-us-ambassador-pick-says-2021-10">respective rivals</a>.Russian and Chinese leaders would both like to replace the current global political and economic system dominated by Western liberal democracies with a more authoritarian-friendly world order. China selling arms to Russia — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-commanders-worry-about-growing-russia-china-military-cooperation-2021-6">a reversal of the historical trend</a> — would also bring cash into China's Covid-damaged economy and help pay for its massive military buildup aimed at Taiwan and the US.Yet while Beijing hasn't condemned Russia's invasion, it does have compelling reasons not to actively take Moscow's side. Massive military support for Russia would antagonize not just the US but also Europe, which has had more cordial relations with China but is now taking a <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-china-wang-yi-josep-borrell-trade/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">harder line</a> over Chinese imports and other issues.More cynically, Beijing may prefer that Russia be just strong enough to divert US and European resources from the Pacific but weak enough to remain dependent on China and less able to counter Chinese expansion <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/05/23/china-central-asia-xi-xian-summit-russia-ukraine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in Central Asia</a> and in the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-arms-sales-may-get-boost-from-russia-war-ukraine-2023-7">global arms market</a>. That may also appeal to Chinese nationalists still smarting <a href="https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20220915-ticking-timebomb-as-russia-continues-to-occupy-swathes-of-chinese-territory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over historical disputes</a> with Russia.Chinese support could mean the difference between victory and defeat for Russia, but salvation from Beijing may be a long time coming.Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a master's in political science. Follow him on <a href="https://www.twitter.com/@mipeck1" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmipeck%2F&amp;amazonTrackingID=null&amp;site=bi&amp;vikingID=63a0ec69c4cc6f36ff0dbbd6&amp;platform=browser&amp;sc=false&amp;disabled=false&amp;sessionID=1666393597540n9zaize3&amp;postID=64c7fc3dfa4d08025227aeaf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noindex noopener sponsored">LinkedIn</a>.

Ukraine's offensive is bearing down on Russian forces, but Chinese artillery could still bail Moscow out

With a vision to make <keyword id="68884" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telangana">Telangana</keyword> a commercial hub for all space-related products and services, the state government has decided to formulate a space-tech policy framework. The policy aims to push domestic production of launch vehicles, satellite systems and sub-systems and ground equipment manufacturing. State's Principal Secretary, Industry and Commerce, <keyword id="130896" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jayesh-Ranjan">Jayesh Ranjan</keyword>, said on Sunday that Telangana is creating a holistic framework to develop end-to-end spacetech ecosystem in the state and attempt to capture the emerging global opportunities in space-related investments and innovations. This can potentially create a trickle-down impact on other areas of innovation such as universal connectivity and big data analytics for agriculture, remote education, disaster management, he said. Equal emphasis would be given to downstream applications of remote sensing that have the potential to solve real-life problems in agriculture, disaster management, insurance, urban flood modeling and forestry. The Centre's Department of Space recently released the draft Spacecom policy 2020 and draft SpaceRS policy 2020. Officials said states can significantly contribute to achieving the national objectives like "Atmanirbhar Bharat". Telangana is already home to several renowned start-ups such as Skyroot, Dhruva and other major companies in the spacetech sector. The city has collocated facilities of the <keyword id="152819" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Defence-Research-and-Development-Organisation">Defence Research and Development Organisation</keyword>, the <keyword id="467450" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Remote-Sensing-Centre">National Remote Sensing Centre</keyword>, the Advanced Data Processing Research Institute, the Defence Research &amp; Development Laboratory, the Research Centre Imarat, the Bharat Dynamics Ltd, the Mishra Dhatu Nigam Ltd, the Ordnance Factory Board, the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, and the Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials. To formulate Telangana's spacetech policy framework, the state government held a virtual consultation. It invited stakeholders like hardware start-ups, analytics start-ups and academia to share their insights during a virtual stakeholder consultation. Uma Maheshwaran, Scientific Secretary, ISRO HQs, and Dr Ravi Kumar, Director, NRSC) also attended the event. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/nasa-says-its-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-sent-a-positive-status-update-as-it-prepares-for-the-flight-the-agency-is-thinking-about-future-crewed-flights-to-the-red-planet-/articleshow/81140085.cms">NASA says its Ingenuity Mars helicopter sent a positive status update. As it prepares for the flight, the agency is thinking about future crewed flights to the Red Planet.</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/a-japanese-supercomputer-is-on-a-mission-to-find-out-how-our-universe-went-from-nothing-to-everything-in-less-than-a-microsecond/articleshow/81048254.cms">A Japanese supercomputer is on a mission to find out how our universe went from nothing to everything in less than a microsecond</a>

Telangana government to formulate a space-tech policy framework

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to-live">US News &amp; World Report</a> named <keyword id="14138452" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="huntsville" source="Orion">Huntsville</keyword>, <keyword id="11910053" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="alabama" source="Orion">Alabama</keyword>, as the best US city to live in its annual ranking.</li><li>I've lived there for over 50 years and have watched the city grow before my eyes. </li></ul>My family has lived in Huntsville, Alabama, for six generations, setting down roots back when it was just a small rural farm town in the 1840s. As a native of what's now <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/alabama/articles/2021-08-13/huntsville-now-alabamas-largest-city-overtakes-birmingham#:~:text=(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Huntsville%20has%20overtaken,has%20a%20population%20of%20215%2C006.">Alabama's largest city</a>, I've watched my hometown evolve before my eyes.Now, the secret is officially out. This year, Huntsville took home the top honors in <a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to-live">US News &amp; World Report's annual list </a>of the best places to live in the US. The ranking is determined by an analysis of both public data and user opinions of the following <a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/places/methodology">five criteria</a>: job market, housing affordability, quality of life, desirability, and migration patterns.Here's what Huntsville is like, from someone born and raised there. <h2>Huntsville has a rich history that's shaped it into the city it is today </h2><div type="image" title="welcome to huntsville sign" height="2620" width="3494" msid="92064305" hostid="261"></div>Situated in the <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-mountains-in-the-world-2018-4">foothills of the Appalachian Mountains</a> and nestled in the Tennessee Valley, Huntsville is the location of many of Alabama's <a href="https://www.insider.com/civil-rights-moments-historic-past-150-years-2019-1">historic firsts and brightest achievements</a>.It was the state's first city to <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2020/09/the-firsts-desegregating-alabamas-public-schools/616449/">integrate its public schools in 1963</a> and where scientists and engineers <a href="https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2019/06/alabama-and-its-rocket-put-apollo-11-first-man-on-the-moon.html">helped put the first man on the moon in 1969</a>.Eventually, decades of innovation in <keyword id="11945697" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="space-exploration" source="Orion">space exploration</keyword> and rocket science in Huntsville led it to be coined "The Rocket City," a nickname many people know the city by today. <h2>The cost of living is relatively low compared to some similarly sized cities, but home prices are still climbing</h2>Huntsville has a metro population of 464,607 people, according to the report.In comparison to similarly sized cities like <a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/places/colorado/boulder">Boulder, Colorado</a>, which is ranked fourth on <a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/places/alabama/huntsville">US News &amp; World Report</a>'s list, and <a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/places/maine/portland">Portland, Maine</a>, which is ranked eighth, the <a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator/compare/huntsville-al-vs-portland-me">cost of living in Huntsville is relatively low</a>.Even so, it's been shocking to watch the <a href="https://www.reckonsouth.com/family/2021/07/a-lot-of-wealth-and-rocket-scientists-why-huntsville-is-now-unaffordable-for-so-many.html">meteoric rise</a> in our city's home prices over the past few months.My daughter was fortunate enough to <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-buy-a-house-2018-6">purchase her first house</a> in Huntsville in December 2021. The previous owners beat the Huntsville housing boom and paid $74 per square foot in 2017, per Zillow. As of June 2022, the home's value has increased to $188 per square foot. <div type="image" title="stovehouse outdoor area in huntsville alabama, swinging seat on left with shops in the background" height="3024" width="4032" msid="92064308" hostid="261"></div>According to <a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/places/alabama/huntsville">US News &amp; World Report</a>, Huntsville's median home price is $192,667. And although I've seen the city's housing market take off firsthand, it's still considerably less than Boulder's $528,833 and Portland's $310,300, which makes me appreciate what Huntsville real estate has to offer.<h2>Huntsville is known for being a hub for space exploration</h2>Huntsville's <a href="https://www.huntsville.org/blog/list/post/why-huntsville-doesnt-have-skyline/">tallest structure</a> is a 363-foot tall Saturn V rocket for a reason: The city is a hub for space exploration. The US Army selected Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal, a former World War II-era chemical munitions facility, to be the <a href="https://history.redstone.army.mil/ihist-1950.html">home of the Ordnance Guided Missile Center</a> in 1950. These <a href="https://www.insider.com/places-people-think-aliens-built-2018-7">scientists and engineers</a> marked the beginnings of the US space program and eventually NASA, which officially formed in 1958.<div type="image" title="Saturn V rocket outside of the Davidson Center for Space Exploration" height="3024" width="4032" msid="92064310" hostid="261"></div>Huntsville teams went on to <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/history/explorer1/explorer-1.html">develop the technology</a> for the Explorer 1, America's first satellite; the Saturn V for the Apollo Lunar Lander Program; the Space Shuttle; and the International Space Station.The <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/home/index.html">Marshall Spaceflight Center</a> in Huntsville still plays a critical role in missions, some of which include developing the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html">Space Launch System</a> and the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/content/more-about-the-human-landing-system-program">Human Landing System Program</a>, which aims to send people to the moon and Mars.<h2>It has several tourist attractions that appeal to locals, too </h2><div type="image" title="exterior shot of space camp in huntsville alabama, white building on left with space camp logo" height="3024" width="4032" msid="92064314" hostid="261"></div>Lest you think Huntsville is all work and no play, let's talk about the fun side of all this space history:<a href="https://www.spacecamp.com/"> Space Camp</a>, a hands-on learning experience for all things space <keyword id="11896628" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="travel" source="Orion">travel</keyword>. Participants can simulate missions, launch model rockets, and learn what it's like to live in the International Space Station.The camp's been open since 1982 and, over the years, almost one million people have graduated from the program. Among its alumni are several individuals who have gone on to <a href="https://www.huntsville.org/blog/list/post/space-camp-alumni-who-left-their-mark-on-the-world/#:~:text=As%20one%20would%20anticipate%2C%20there,aboard%20the%20International%20Space%20Station.">become professional astronauts</a>. <div type="image" title="Saturn V Rocket inside the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, shot from below" height="3024" width="4032" msid="92064316" hostid="261"></div>Many <a href="https://www.insider.com/tourist-attractions-no-longer-popular-2019-11">visitors and locals alike</a> also enjoy visiting the adjoining <a href="https://www.rocketcenter.com/">US Space &amp; Rocket Center</a> museum, the home of the aforementioned Saturn V. The famous rocket, which serves as the beacon of The Rocket City skyline, is actually a replica.The real article, which is one of only three in the world and holds the title of <a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/nasa-nhls.htm">National Historic Landmark</a>, is located inside the Davidson Center for Space Exploration on the grounds of the US Space &amp; Rocket Center.Many people hold <keyword id="12722729" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="local" source="Orion">local</keyword> conferences, awards dinners, and weddings by the iconic rocket.<h2>Many of our entertainment venues are housed in repurposed old buildings</h2>Huntsville has way more to offer than rockets. Adaptive reuse of historic or abandoned properties has led to some unique entertainment opportunities over the past few years. Take, for instance, <a href="https://lowemill.art/">Lowe Mill ARTS &amp; Entertainment</a>, which originally opened as a cotton mill in 1901 and later served as a <a href="https://www.insider.com/tour-lisa-franks-abandoned-factory-today-2018-11">jungle-boot factory</a> during the Vietnam War. <div type="image" title="lowe mill entertainment space in huntsville alabama. brown brick building in left corner and water tower on the right" height="3024" width="4032" msid="92064319" hostid="261"></div>My father likes to say that as a young man he worked at Lowe Mill making boots and, six months later, he was wearing them. Even more change has happened, as it's now the US's <a href="https://lowemill.art/history/">largest privately owned arts facility</a>.The beautiful building is home to over 150 studios and features pottery, painting, photography, <a href="https://www.dannydavisguitars.com/">a luthier</a>, a <a href="https://piperandleaf.com/">local tea company</a>, <a href="https://ironsone.com/">a small batch single-hand crafted whiskey distiller</a>, and even <a href="https://www.pizzellesconfections.com/">an artisan chocolatier</a>. <div type="image" title="barrels up close to camera in huntsville bar" height="2939" width="3918" msid="92064321" hostid="261"></div>Just down the road, you'll find<a href="https://campus805.com/"> Campus No. 805</a>, a former middle school with visible remnants of its past, like burnt-orange lockers and a former principal's office.Now, this reimagined landmark houses an event space,<a href="http://straighttoale.com/"> Straight to Ale</a> brewery and<a href="https://www.yellowhammerbrewery.com/"> Yellowhammer Brewing</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Ronnie-Rayguns-1568541326782872/"> Ronnie Raygun's</a> arcade,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/offbeatcoffeestudio/"> Offbeat Coffee Studio</a>,<a href="https://earthandstonepizza.com/"> Earth and Stone Wood Fired Pizza</a>, and more.<div type="image" title="exterior of stovehouse in huntsville alabama" height="3024" width="4032" msid="92064323" hostid="261"></div>There's also Stovehouse, a former stove factory that's been converted into a destination for date nights, family dinners, and lunch breaks.As a mixed-use development, there are also a lot of offices there too. Stovehouse, for its part, describes itself as a space for "horsejackery," or "the act of slowing productivity and/or causing a commotion." And there are plenty of opportunities for "horsejackery." <a href="https://www.kamadoramen.com/">Kamado Ramen</a>,<a href="https://www.stovehouse.com/tenant/taqueria-el-cazador/"> Taqueria El Cazador</a>,<a href="https://charliefosters.com/"> Charlie Foster's</a> coffee, and<a href="https://www.stovehouse.com/tenant/bark-barrel-bbq/"> Bark &amp; Barrel BBQ</a> are just a few of the delicious dining options you can find there along with live music, a bar, event spaces, and shopping. <div type="image" title="sign from stovehouse in huntsville alabama, listing &quot;yes&quot; and &quot;no&quot; behavior for guests" height="4032" width="3024" msid="92064327" hostid="261"></div><h2>We also have wonderfully mild weather and direct access to tons of outdoor adventures </h2>With an <a href="https://www.weather.gov/hun/huntsvillenormalsandextremesdatabase">annual average high temperature of 74 degrees Fahrenheit and an annual average low temperature of 52 degrees Fahrenheit</a>, Huntsville residents can enjoy outdoor activities pretty much year-round.The <a href="https://www.landtrustnal.org/">Land Trust of North Alabama</a> encompasses 9,000 acres of beautifully preserved land, with <a href="https://www.insider.com/hikes-around-the-world-2019-3">73 miles of trails to explore</a>, all of which are accessible within Huntsville and its surrounding area.<a href="https://www.alapark.com/parks/monte-sano-state-park"> </a><div type="image" title="a brown sign for Land Trust of North Alabama at a trailhead" height="2891" width="3854" msid="92064328" hostid="261"></div>Also just minutes from downtown is <a href="https://www.alapark.com/parks/monte-sano-state-park">Monte Sano State Park</a>, which has its own 2,100 acres of preserved lands, 20 miles of hiking trails, and 14 miles of <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-bike-trails-in-every-state-2018-11">bike trails</a>. The southern edge of Huntsville, bordered by the Tennessee River, is where you'll find<a href="https://www.dittolanding.org/"> Ditto Landing Marina</a>, equipped with not only boating, but also hiking, camping, cycling, and ample space for picnicking. <div type="image" title="North Alabama Japanese Garden at Monte Sano State Park, wooded area with a small brown building/cottage in the right corner" height="3024" width="4032" msid="92064329" hostid="261"></div>But in my opinion, Huntsville's most iconic outdoor space is Big Spring Park, located in the downtown area. As a young adult, I remember downtown being a mostly quiet place with a smattering of bars and empty storefronts. In the evenings, the park primarily played host to local teenagers looking for something to do.More recently, Tommy Battle, the mayor of Huntsville, <a href="https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2017/04/big_spring_park_is_open_again.html">referred</a> to this special place as the city's "living room," and with good reason. On sunny days, you'll find it full of folks feeding the ducks, grabbing a bite for lunch, or getting in their steps. At night and on weekends, Big Spring Park is often the location of <a href="https://www.crushwinefestival.com/">festivals</a> and <a href="https://www.artshuntsville.org/concerts-in-the-park/">concerts</a>.<div type="image" title="big spring park in huntsville alabama, water and red bridge with trees to the left and a building in the background" height="2747" width="3926" msid="92064330" hostid="261"></div><h2>Huntsville's community has grown and evolved with the city</h2>Huntsville's space program has drawn people from all over the world, creating a truly unique community through the decades. According to the data from the <a href="https://www.al.com/news/2022/03/huntsville-area-adds-3200-people-each-year-from-migration-fueling-rapid-growth-in-north-alabama.html">US Census Bureau</a>, Madison County, where Huntsville is located, had a population increase of <a href="https://www.al.com/news/2022/03/huntsville-area-adds-3200-people-each-year-from-migration-fueling-rapid-growth-in-north-alabama.html">50,000 new residents</a> between 2010 and 2020.Some people come to support the space program, defense programs, and emerging biotechnology endeavors. Others are involved in industries like manufacturing or the arts. <div type="image" title="Blue Origin Human Lander Building in Cummings Research Park exterior" height="2732" width="4032" msid="92064331" hostid="261"></div>According to the <a href="https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/business/city-of-huntsville/the-history-of-huntsville/">City of Huntsville</a>, over 10% of its residents are natives of other countries, and more than 100 languages and dialects are spoken in the city.This broad range of cultures and experiences is my favorite thing about living in this community. Huntsville is a place where ideas come to grow, and the ground here is fertile for innovation and creativity. Having personally experienced more than 50 years of life in Huntsville, I would argue that the people are what make this city so special. Individuals from all over the globe come together in Huntsville to develop new technologies, take on challenges never accomplished before, and leave their own legacy.

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