NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore have returned safely to Earth after spending over nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their mission, originally scheduled for just eight days, extended unexpectedly due to technical issues, subjecting them to prolonged exposure to microgravity and other space-related conditions. The Crew-9 capsule successfully splashed down near the coast of Florida, USA, concluding their extended stay. The mission, whic

NASA has confirmed that astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months, are finally set to return to Earth. The two astronauts initially embarked on a 10-day mission but remained in space far longer than planned due to propulsion malfunctions in their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The much-anticipated return journey will now be carried out using the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, which successfully docked a

For centuries, humans have gazed at the night sky, pondering the mysteries of the universe. But what if those mysteries are not just distant wonders, but tangible objects already drifting through our own Solar System? Scientists now believe that material from Alpha Centauri, our closest stellar neighbor, may have made its way into our cosmic backyard—and possibly even to Earth.A new study suggests that tiny fragments from Alpha Centauri, a three-star system located just over four light-

ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) has successfully completed the integration of the liquid propulsion system for the Crew Module of Gaganyaan, India's first human spaceflight mission. On January 21, 2025, ISRO dispatched the Crew Module to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota for further processing and integration. This uncrewed mission, known as Gaganyaan (G1), is a crucial step in ISRO's efforts to acquire human spaceflight capabilities. The Crew

The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), set to become the world's largest visible- and infrared-light telescope, is taking shape at its construction site atop Cerro Armazones in Chile's Atacama Desert. Managed by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the ELT is expected to revolutionize astronomical research upon its completion, targeted for 2028. The telescope's dome, which spans an impressive 305 feet in diameter and rises 263 feet in height, has made significant progr

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the most advanced telescope ever built, has provided a groundbreaking view of the universe by revealing detailed 3D maps of interstellar dust and gas. Recently, it captured the infrared glow of this cosmic material, showing delicate patterns that resemble wood grain. This discovery marks the first time scientists have been able to map the interstellar medium in such detail. The findings offer a fresh perspective on star formation and galaxy evo

Overview of ISRO's START 2025 Program: ISRO Chairman S Somanath delivered a keynote speech at the launch of the Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START 2025) program, emphasizing the role of space science beyond the excitement of becoming astronomers. He explained that space science involves rigorous and time-consuming work that requires years of persistent effort and expertise. He shared that this year’s program will involve 20,000 students from more than 560

NASA has announced delays to its Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon. The first crewed lunar mission, Artemis 2, will now take place in April 2026, pushed back from its original launch window in September 2025. The second mission, Artemis 3, which seeks to land astronauts on the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, has been rescheduled from late 2026 to mid-2027. The delays, revealed on December 5, are attributed to technical issues discovered during the Ar

The KM3NeT (Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope) is an innovative scientific project aimed at detecting high-energy neutrinos in the Mediterranean Sea. This project involves deploying two massive underwater telescopes equipped with photomultiplier tubes to capture light from neutrinos interacting with seawater. One telescope is located off the coast of Sicily to observe cosmic neutrinos, while the other off the French coast focuses on studying atmospheric neutrinos and their o

NASA's Dawn spacecraft, which orbited asteroid Vesta in 2012, captured images of enigmatic gullies on the asteroid's surface, prompting scientists to investigate their origins. A recent study published in the Planetary Science Journal explores the possibility that these gullies were formed by brief liquid flows involving briny water. Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) simulated conditions similar to Vesta's surface using the Dirty Under-vacuum Simul

Space One, a Tokyo-based space startup, faced another setback in its mission to develop Japan's domestic space industry when its second rocket launch was aborted minutes after liftoff. The Kairos No. 2 rocket, designed to carry small satellites into orbit, launched from Spaceport Kii in the Wakayama prefecture on Wednesday. The rocket's trajectory became unstable shortly after takeoff, leading to a termination of the flight about 10 minutes in. The mission, which carried five satellit

NASA has announced that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June, will remain in space at least until late March 2025. Originally, they were meant to spend just eight days aboard the ISS, but due to issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft's propulsion system, their mission was altered. After Starliner faced difficulties, NASA decided to send the astronauts back with the Crew-9 mission, which arrived in S

The rapid increase in satellites and space junk is threatening the future of Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the most accessible region of space. Experts and industry insiders have raised alarms, stating that without international cooperation and data sharing, LEO could soon become overcrowded and unsafe. According to the United Nations, more than 14,000 satellites, along with over 120 million pieces of debris, are already in orbit, with many more expected in the coming years. This growing congestion

A powerful solar flare, classified as an X2.3 flare, disrupted radio communications over parts of the Atlantic Ocean, South America, and Africa on November 6, 2024. The event, which took place at 8:40 am ET, caused a shortwave radio blackout, highlighting the significant impact solar flares can have on global communications. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which constantly monitors solar activity, captured images of the flare. Solar flares are intense bursts of energy

For astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the beauty of sunrise and sunset is not a once-a-day event; instead, they experience this breathtaking spectacle up to 16 times in a single Earth day. NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, currently on the ISS, knows this phenomenon well. During a 2013 event at the University of Gujarat, she reflected on her unique experience of witnessing 16 sunrises and sunsets while orbiting the Earth in a fast-moving shuttle. Due to delays i

In a significant advancement for China's space ambitions, three astronauts launched aboard the Shenzhou-19 mission to the Tiangong space station early Wednesday. The mission, which aims to conduct experiments and contribute to China's goal of establishing a lunar base by 2030, features Wang Haoze, the nation's only female spaceflight engineer and the third woman to partake in a Chinese crewed mission. The launch occurred at 4:27 AM local time from the Jiuquan Satellite L

The countdown has officially begun for NASA's Europa Clipper mission, now scheduled to launch on Monday after a delay caused by Hurricane Milton, which impacted Florida last week. The storm resulted in damage to parts of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, but preparations have resumed for this ambitious mission. The Europa Clipper spacecraft will embark on an extraordinary journey, traveling 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion km) to reach Jupiter, with an anticipated arrival in April

Elon Musk's latest generation of Starlink satellites is raising significant concerns among Dutch scientists, who argue that the rapid expansion of these satellites is severely interfering with astronomical research. Researchers at the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) have reported that thousands of Starlink satellites are "blinding" radio telescopes, complicating the collection of clean data essential for understanding the universe. While Starlink sat

Recent Disruptions in Space Missions: The recent delays in space missions have highlighted a recurring issue with helium leaks. Boeing's Starliner spacecraft had to return uncrewed to Earth after issues with its propulsion system, including problematic helium leaks. Similarly, SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission faced delays due to helium issues with ground equipment. These disruptions underscore the critical role helium plays in space technology and the chall

Chandrayaan-3: What to Know About India's Moon Landing Mission Continuing Lunar Exploration:     India's space agency, ISRO, is gearing up for another lunar exploration mission with Chandrayaan-3, building upon the success of its predecessors. Focused on Lander and Rover:     Chandrayaan-3 is primarily centered on a lander and rover, aiming to achieve