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

Renowned rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert V. Narayanan is set to take over as the next Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), succeeding S. Somanath. His appointment comes at a pivotal time for India's space sector, which is undergoing significant reforms, with numerous ambitious projects on the horizon, including the Gaganyaan human spaceflight, Chandrayaan-4, and the development of India’s own space station.

On December 13, 2024, the United States and China signed a bilateral science and technology agreement, revising a 45-year-old pact. However, this new agreement limits research collaboration and narrows the scope of topics allowed for joint study, reflecting heightened concerns over international research security. Governments worldwide, including the U.S., European Union, Canada, and Japan, have introduced stricter measures to safeguard sensitive scientific data from foreign interference, esp

The number of sunrises seen by the crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is determined by the station’s rapid orbiting of Earth. As of January 1, 2025, U.S. astronaut Sunita Williams, currently stationed on the ISS, is set to witness 16 sunrises as the world enters the New Year. Williams, the commander of the “Expedition 72” mission, is joined by her fellow flight engineers: Alexey Ovchini

India is gearing up to launch a massive American communications satellite that will enable phone calls using direct connectivity from space. This innovative approach to satellite telephony is a first for India, which has previously only launched small satellites made by American entities.   The satellite, operated by AST SpaceMobile, a Texas-based company, will allow users to make voice calls u

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): ISRO is preparing for a major milestone as it plans the 100th launch from the Sriharikota spaceport, scheduled for January. This milestone will be achieved with a Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) mission, according to ISRO Chairman S. Somanath. The 99th launch from Sriharikota took place on Monday, with the successful PSLV-C60

What Is a Black Moon and How to Experience This Rare Phenomenon? Skywatchers are in for a treat as 2024 concludes with a rare astronomical event called the "black moon." This fascinating term refers to the second new moon occurring within a single calendar month. While not officially recognized in astronomy, the phenomenon has gained popularity among amateur astronomers and stargazers over the years. According to the US Naval Observatory, the black moon will oc

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

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

NASA's Parker Solar Probe is gearing up for a record-breaking approach to the sun's surface on Christmas Eve. The spacecraft will come within 3.8 million miles of the sun, making it the closest any human-made object has ever come to a star.   Traveling at an incredible 430,000 mph, the Parker Solar Probe will make its closest approach of all 24 scheduled orbits around the sun. This hist

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

A catastrophic fire erupted at Escientia Advanced Sciences Private Ltd. in the Special Economic Zone at Atchutapuram, Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 18 workers and leaving 20 others seriously injured. The blaze, reportedly triggered by a reactor explosion, has shocked the region and prompted an immediate response from the Andhra Pradesh government. Chief Minister