NASA astronaut Sunita Williams departed for Earth on Tuesday (Mar 18) after being stuck in space at the International Space Station. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a letter to NASA astronaut Sunita Williams. Currently, she is on her return way to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) after being stuck there for more than nine months.
On March 1, PM Modi wrote a letter to Sunita, "I could not stop myself from writing to you." The letter was made public by the Indian Minister of Science &amp; Technology, Jitendra Singh, on Tuesday.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/how-much-time-sunita-williams-spend-in-space-how-much-will-she-pay-after-months-of-delay-8865363">How much time did Sunita Williams spend in space? How much will she earn after months of delay?</a>
In the letter, the PM conveyed his greetings to Sunita by the people of India, adding, "1.4 billion Indians have always taken great pride in your achievements. Recent developments have yet again showcased your inspirational fortitude and perseverance."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
As the whole world waits, with abated breath, for the safe return of Sunita Williams, this is how PM Sh <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> expressed his concern for this daughter of India. &ldquo;Even though you are thousands of miles away, you remain close to our hearts,&rdquo; says PM Sh Narendra Modi&rsquo;s&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/MpsEyxAOU9">pic.twitter.com/MpsEyxAOU9</a>
&mdash; Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrJitendraSingh/status/1901914697504637296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Modi's letter</h2>
The PM recalled that during his meet-up with astronaut Mike Massimino at an event in Delhi, they discussed her accomplishments and are proud of her work. Modi also shared that during his visit to the United States, he always inquired about her well-being with the President. The letter was shared on social media after Williams and astronaut Butch Wilmore undocked from the ISS to Earth.
Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/those-who-doubt-our-strength-pm-modi-says-maha-kumbh-reflects-spirit-of-rising-india-in-parliament-8864729">'Those who doubt our strength...': PM Modi says Maha Kumbh 'reflects spirit of rising India'</a>
He said her mother, Bonnie Pandya, would surely be awaiting her return. Remembering her dad, Deepak Pandya, the PM said, "I am sure that Late Deepakbhai's blessings are with you as well." In the later part of the letter, Modi expressed, "After your return, we are looking forward to seeing you in India. It will be a pleasure for India to host one of its illustrious daughters."
In the concluding part of the letter, the PM voiced his best wishes to her and her colleague, Bary Wilmore, and regards to Michael Williams.

India News: Trending: Discover how PM Modi's heartfelt letter to NASA astronaut Sunita Williams highlights her perseverance and achievements, as she returns from ISS mission.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams departed for Earth on Tuesday (Mar 18) after being stuck in space at the International Space Station. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a letter to NASA astronaut Sunita Williams. Currently, she is on her return way to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) after being stuck there for more than nine months. On March 1, PM Modi wrote a letter to Sunita, "I could not stop myself from writing to you." The letter was made public by the Indian Minister of Science & Technology, Jitendra Singh, on Tuesday. Also read | How much time did Sunita Williams spend in space? How much will she earn after months of delay? In the letter, the PM conveyed his greetings to Sunita by the people of India, adding, "1.4 billion Indians have always taken great pride in your achievements. Recent developments have yet again showcased your inspirational fortitude and perseverance." As the whole world waits, with abated breath, for the safe return of Sunita Williams, this is how PM Sh @narendramodi expressed his concern for this daughter of India. “Even though you are thousands of miles away, you remain close to our hearts,” says PM Sh Narendra Modi’s… pic.twitter.com/MpsEyxAOU9 — Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) March 18, 2025 Modi's letter The PM recalled that during his meet-up with astronaut Mike Massimino at an event in Delhi, they discussed her accomplishments and are proud of her work. Modi also shared that during his visit to the United States, he always inquired about her well-being with the President. The letter was shared on social media after Williams and astronaut Butch Wilmore undocked from the ISS to Earth. Also read |'Those who doubt our strength...': PM Modi says Maha Kumbh 'reflects spirit of rising India' He said her mother, Bonnie Pandya, would surely be awaiting her return. Remembering her dad, Deepak Pandya, the PM said, "I am sure that Late Deepakbhai's blessings are with you as well." In the later part of the letter, Modi expressed, "After your return, we are looking forward to seeing you in India. It will be a pleasure for India to host one of its illustrious daughters." In the concluding part of the letter, the PM voiced his best wishes to her and her colleague, Bary Wilmore, and regards to Michael Williams.

‘Even though you are thousands of miles away..’: PM Modi writes letter to Sunita Williams

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully undocked from the International Space Station as NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, and Butch Wilmore along with their crew return to Earth.

SpaceX Dragon spacecraft undocks from ISS in mission to get stranded NASA astronauts back to Earth

NASA's Starliner astronauts were initially set to spend eight days on the International Space Station (ISS) after their arrival in June 2024. However, their stay unexpectedly stretched to almost a year, keeping them in space while a political debate unfolded back on Earth.
Last month, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that the Starliner astronauts were kept in space &ldquo;for political reasons.&rdquo; His comment sparked disagreement with many people in the space community.
Elon Musk faced criticism after he insulted Andreas Mogensen, a Danish astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station (ISS), on X. The argument started when Mogensen accused Musk of lying, leading to a tense and unpleasant exchange.
According to reports from online media outlet "Interesting Engineering", many space fans and reporters admire Elon Musk for his work with SpaceX, but they also feel frustrated and confused by his behavior in public.
Could Musk&rsquo;s actions push away key partners in the space industry? Is his behaviour affecting SpaceX&rsquo;s work? Here&rsquo;s what we know.
<h2>Musk criticises former ISS Commander</h2>
On February 20, former ISS commander Andreas Mogensen shared a video on X from an interview between Donald Trump and Elon Musk on Fox News.
In the video, Musk talked about the Starliner astronauts who have been on the ISS for nine months. He suggested they were kept there because of politics.
Mogensen shared the clip and commented, "That's not true. And this comes from someone who often criticises the mainstream media for not being honest."
Musk didn&rsquo;t react well to the criticism. He insulted Mogensen and said, &ldquo;SpaceX could have brought them back months ago. I personally offered this to the Biden administration, but they said no. The delay was because of politics.&rdquo;
Many space reporters and experts were surprised by Musk&rsquo;s comments. For months, journalists have warned against exaggerated claims that NASA&rsquo;s Starliner astronauts are "stuck" in space.
Even though Musk is part of NASA&rsquo;s internal discussions, many people doubted his claims. NASA and the Starliner astronauts have repeatedly said they are not "stranded."
<h2>Are the Starliner astronauts actually stuck in space?</h2>
NASA first planned for the Starliner astronauts to stay on the ISS for just eight days. But they have now been in space for about nine months.
It's important to remember that delays and longer missions are normal in human space travel.
Musk is well aware of this. As the CEO of SpaceX, he has dealt with many delayed launches in the Falcon 9 and Starship programmes.
In a live broadcast from the ISS this month, Starliner astronaut Butch Wilmore said he was ready for the extended stay. "We were prepared for a long mission, even though the plan was for a short one," he explained, according to Interesting Engineering.
The human spaceflight programme is all about preparing for the unknown and handling unexpected situations. "And we did that," Butch said.
Starliner astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been in space for nearly 300 days. However, this isn't a record. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio holds the longest stay on the ISS, spending 371 days in a row.
The Starliner astronauts have made it clear that they don&rsquo;t feel abandoned. During the same live broadcast from the ISS, Wilmore responded to comments from Trump and Musk, saying, "That&rsquo;s just politics&mdash;it&rsquo;s part of life. For me, politics hasn&rsquo;t influenced this mission at all."
In a February interview with CBS, Starliner astronaut Suni Williams dismissed claims that she felt stranded. "We&rsquo;re part of something bigger&mdash;the International Space Station," she said. "So no, we don&rsquo;t feel abandoned."
<h2>NASA officials deny Starliner 'rescue' claims</h2>
NASA officials working with the ISS crew have also denied the claims made by Musk and Trump.
During a teleconference on March 7, Steve Stich, who leads NASA&rsquo;s Commercial Crew Program, said that after reviewing all the options, the current plan was the best choice.
Even though Trump said the Starliner astronauts were "abandoned," a plan to bring Williams and Wilmore back was already in place before he became president.
In September 2024, NASA decided to send only two astronauts on its Crew-9 mission instead of four. This allowed Williams and Wilmore to come back when Crew-9 finished its mission in February.
Stich explained that for Crew-9, they sent two open seats and a suit for Butch while also making sure the seats were properly adjusted for both Butch and Suni to bring them back safely.
But since Crew-10's launch was delayed, Crew-9 and the Starliner astronauts also had to wait longer to return.
NASA has explained many times that its decision was based on crew schedules and upcoming missions. During a teleconference on March 7, Ken Bowersox, a top NASA official, said this is usually how they make their decisions.
The teams make decisions based on what works best for their programs, both practically and technically. NASA leaders also review these plans, and in this case, they believed the chosen plan was the best option.
<h2>Musk's bold timelines</h2>
Musk insists that those accusing him of lying weren&rsquo;t there. He says if they had been, they would have seen Biden Administration officials turn down his plan to bring Williams and Wilmore back. However, Musk has a history of making claims that aren&rsquo;t always true or backed by facts.
Interestingly, X&rsquo;s Grok AI identified Musk as the biggest source of false information on the platform. Even before he bought Twitter (now called X), Musk was known for making big promises that often didn&rsquo;t happen.
Back in 2019, Musk said Tesla would have a million self-driving "robotaxis" on the roads by 2020. However, that still hasn&rsquo;t happened.
Last year, Musk said that 1,000 Tesla Optimus robots would be working in U.S. factories. The year isn&rsquo;t over yet, but even his fans know to be skeptical of his promises.
Even Tesla&rsquo;s own employees have admitted that Musk often exaggerates. In 2021, he claimed Tesla cars would reach full self-driving (level 5) by the end of the year. However, a leaked company memo revealed that his team disagreed, saying, &ldquo;Elon&rsquo;s tweet does not match engineering reality.&rdquo; At that time, Tesla&rsquo;s self-driving was only at level 2, and four years later, it still hasn&rsquo;t reached level 5.
<h2>Bold claims, controversy, and misinformation</h2>
In 2018, Musk made headlines for insulting cave diver "Vernon Unsworth," who played a key role in rescuing 12 children trapped in a cave in Thailand. Musk called him "pedo guy" (short for "pedophile guy"), a &nbsp;that sparked widespread criticism.
A &nbsp;pedophile is a person who has a sexual attraction to children. It is a very serious accusation and can damage a person&rsquo;s reputation.
Musk's insult was a reaction, just like his response to Mogensen. He made the comment after Unsworth criticized his efforts to build a small submarine for the rescue, calling it just a "PR stunt."
This was one of the first well-known times Musk made a public claim without solid proof.
Unsworth lost the defamation case against Musk. In court, Musk&rsquo;s lawyers argued that his comment was just an insult and not meant to be taken seriously as a fact.
After the verdict, Mark Stephens, Unsworth&rsquo;s lawyer in the UK, said it was unfortunate that a powerful billionaire had such a big influence. Musk&rsquo;s lawyers won the case by arguing that his comment was just an insult and wasn&rsquo;t meant to be taken as a true statement.
Musk frequently makes bold statements on X, claiming he is just using his right to free speech. However, many people have criticized him for not being consistent with his "free speech absolutism." For example, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has accused Musk of banning well-known figures from X if they openly disagree with him.
<h2>Is Musk&rsquo;s behaviour affecting SpaceX&rsquo;s work?</h2>
While Musk appears to be focusing most of his energy on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), SpaceX&rsquo;s Starship upper-stage rocket has failed its last two test flights.
Some experts believe that Musk&rsquo;s absence from SpaceX&rsquo;s Starbase headquarters in southern Texas might be slowing down the Starship program.
Some experts say the setbacks are just because spaceflight is incredibly difficult. Ars Technica senior editor Eric Berger suggested that the issues might not be due to Musk&rsquo;s absence but rather SpaceX&rsquo;s intense work culture.
Some people believe the challenges are simply because spaceflight is very difficult. Ars Technica senior editor Eric Berger suggested that the problems might be less about Musk not being there and more about SpaceX&rsquo;s demanding work environment.
Some people have a more critical view. Seth Abramson, who is working on a biography of Musk, believes that Musk&rsquo;s unpredictable behavior could have far-reaching effects beyond just the Starship program.
Abramson shared on X that he believes Musk is not mentally stable enough to be involved in government. He also claimed that Musk&rsquo;s actions, both publicly and privately, are leading to lost lives, jobs, and harm to the U.S.&rsquo;s reputation. &ldquo;He is unwell, and we can all see it,&rdquo; Abramson wrote.
Walter Isaacson, who wrote an authorized biography of Elon Musk, recently shared his thoughts with the New York Times. He described Musk as a highly skilled and determined entrepreneur who has helped shape some of the most important companies of our time.
However, he also tends to show little empathy for those around him, and his impulsive actions have made people question how he handles his great power.
The SpaceX CEO has a lot of power when responding to criticism. In 2022, hundreds of SpaceX employees signed an open letter expressing their disappointment with Musk&rsquo;s public behavior.
Those employees were later fired. Last month, not long after insulting Mogensen for accusing him of lying, Musk urged Trump to shut down the International Space Station (ISS) as soon as possible.
Musk has helped bring new energy to the space industry with SpaceX. However, his impulsive behavior and immense influence are serious reasons for concern.
(Girish Linganna is an award-winning Science Writer and a Defence, Aerospace &amp; Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also the Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. He can be reached at: girishlinganna@gmail.com ).
(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

SCIENCE & TECH | World: During a live broadcast from ISS, Buch Wilmore responded to comments from Trump and Musk, saying, "That’s just politics—it’s part of life. For me, politics hasn’t influenced this mission at all."

NASA's Starliner astronauts were initially set to spend eight days on the International Space Station (ISS) after their arrival in June 2024. However, their stay unexpectedly stretched to almost a year, keeping them in space while a political debate unfolded back on Earth. Last month, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that the Starliner astronauts were kept in space “for political reasons.” His comment sparked disagreement with many people in the space community. Elon Musk faced criticism after he insulted Andreas Mogensen, a Danish astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station (ISS), on X. The argument started when Mogensen accused Musk of lying, leading to a tense and unpleasant exchange. According to reports from online media outlet "Interesting Engineering", many space fans and reporters admire Elon Musk for his work with SpaceX, but they also feel frustrated and confused by his behavior in public. Could Musk’s actions push away key partners in the space industry? Is his behaviour affecting SpaceX’s work? Here’s what we know. Musk criticises former ISS Commander On February 20, former ISS commander Andreas Mogensen shared a video on X from an interview between Donald Trump and Elon Musk on Fox News. In the video, Musk talked about the Starliner astronauts who have been on the ISS for nine months. He suggested they were kept there because of politics. Mogensen shared the clip and commented, "That's not true. And this comes from someone who often criticises the mainstream media for not being honest." Musk didn’t react well to the criticism. He insulted Mogensen and said, “SpaceX could have brought them back months ago. I personally offered this to the Biden administration, but they said no. The delay was because of politics.” Many space reporters and experts were surprised by Musk’s comments. For months, journalists have warned against exaggerated claims that NASA’s Starliner astronauts are "stuck" in space. Even though Musk is part of NASA’s internal discussions, many people doubted his claims. NASA and the Starliner astronauts have repeatedly said they are not "stranded." Are the Starliner astronauts actually stuck in space? NASA first planned for the Starliner astronauts to stay on the ISS for just eight days. But they have now been in space for about nine months. It's important to remember that delays and longer missions are normal in human space travel. Musk is well aware of this. As the CEO of SpaceX, he has dealt with many delayed launches in the Falcon 9 and Starship programmes. In a live broadcast from the ISS this month, Starliner astronaut Butch Wilmore said he was ready for the extended stay. "We were prepared for a long mission, even though the plan was for a short one," he explained, according to Interesting Engineering. The human spaceflight programme is all about preparing for the unknown and handling unexpected situations. "And we did that," Butch said. Starliner astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been in space for nearly 300 days. However, this isn't a record. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio holds the longest stay on the ISS, spending 371 days in a row. The Starliner astronauts have made it clear that they don’t feel abandoned. During the same live broadcast from the ISS, Wilmore responded to comments from Trump and Musk, saying, "That’s just politics—it’s part of life. For me, politics hasn’t influenced this mission at all." In a February interview with CBS, Starliner astronaut Suni Williams dismissed claims that she felt stranded. "We’re part of something bigger—the International Space Station," she said. "So no, we don’t feel abandoned." NASA officials deny Starliner 'rescue' claims NASA officials working with the ISS crew have also denied the claims made by Musk and Trump. During a teleconference on March 7, Steve Stich, who leads NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said that after reviewing all the options, the current plan was the best choice. Even though Trump said the Starliner astronauts were "abandoned," a plan to bring Williams and Wilmore back was already in place before he became president. In September 2024, NASA decided to send only two astronauts on its Crew-9 mission instead of four. This allowed Williams and Wilmore to come back when Crew-9 finished its mission in February. Stich explained that for Crew-9, they sent two open seats and a suit for Butch while also making sure the seats were properly adjusted for both Butch and Suni to bring them back safely. But since Crew-10's launch was delayed, Crew-9 and the Starliner astronauts also had to wait longer to return. NASA has explained many times that its decision was based on crew schedules and upcoming missions. During a teleconference on March 7, Ken Bowersox, a top NASA official, said this is usually how they make their decisions. The teams make decisions based on what works best for their programs, both practically and technically. NASA leaders also review these plans, and in this case, they believed the chosen plan was the best option. Musk's bold timelines Musk insists that those accusing him of lying weren’t there. He says if they had been, they would have seen Biden Administration officials turn down his plan to bring Williams and Wilmore back. However, Musk has a history of making claims that aren’t always true or backed by facts. Interestingly, X’s Grok AI identified Musk as the biggest source of false information on the platform. Even before he bought Twitter (now called X), Musk was known for making big promises that often didn’t happen. Back in 2019, Musk said Tesla would have a million self-driving "robotaxis" on the roads by 2020. However, that still hasn’t happened. Last year, Musk said that 1,000 Tesla Optimus robots would be working in U.S. factories. The year isn’t over yet, but even his fans know to be skeptical of his promises. Even Tesla’s own employees have admitted that Musk often exaggerates. In 2021, he claimed Tesla cars would reach full self-driving (level 5) by the end of the year. However, a leaked company memo revealed that his team disagreed, saying, “Elon’s tweet does not match engineering reality.” At that time, Tesla’s self-driving was only at level 2, and four years later, it still hasn’t reached level 5. Bold claims, controversy, and misinformation In 2018, Musk made headlines for insulting cave diver "Vernon Unsworth," who played a key role in rescuing 12 children trapped in a cave in Thailand. Musk called him "pedo guy" (short for "pedophile guy"), a that sparked widespread criticism. A pedophile is a person who has a sexual attraction to children. It is a very serious accusation and can damage a person’s reputation. Musk's insult was a reaction, just like his response to Mogensen. He made the comment after Unsworth criticized his efforts to build a small submarine for the rescue, calling it just a "PR stunt." This was one of the first well-known times Musk made a public claim without solid proof. Unsworth lost the defamation case against Musk. In court, Musk’s lawyers argued that his comment was just an insult and not meant to be taken seriously as a fact. After the verdict, Mark Stephens, Unsworth’s lawyer in the UK, said it was unfortunate that a powerful billionaire had such a big influence. Musk’s lawyers won the case by arguing that his comment was just an insult and wasn’t meant to be taken as a true statement. Musk frequently makes bold statements on X, claiming he is just using his right to free speech. However, many people have criticized him for not being consistent with his "free speech absolutism." For example, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has accused Musk of banning well-known figures from X if they openly disagree with him. Is Musk’s behaviour affecting SpaceX’s work? While Musk appears to be focusing most of his energy on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), SpaceX’s Starship upper-stage rocket has failed its last two test flights. Some experts believe that Musk’s absence from SpaceX’s Starbase headquarters in southern Texas might be slowing down the Starship program. Some experts say the setbacks are just because spaceflight is incredibly difficult. Ars Technica senior editor Eric Berger suggested that the issues might not be due to Musk’s absence but rather SpaceX’s intense work culture. Some people believe the challenges are simply because spaceflight is very difficult. Ars Technica senior editor Eric Berger suggested that the problems might be less about Musk not being there and more about SpaceX’s demanding work environment. Some people have a more critical view. Seth Abramson, who is working on a biography of Musk, believes that Musk’s unpredictable behavior could have far-reaching effects beyond just the Starship program. Abramson shared on X that he believes Musk is not mentally stable enough to be involved in government. He also claimed that Musk’s actions, both publicly and privately, are leading to lost lives, jobs, and harm to the U.S.’s reputation. “He is unwell, and we can all see it,” Abramson wrote. Walter Isaacson, who wrote an authorized biography of Elon Musk, recently shared his thoughts with the New York Times. He described Musk as a highly skilled and determined entrepreneur who has helped shape some of the most important companies of our time. However, he also tends to show little empathy for those around him, and his impulsive actions have made people question how he handles his great power. The SpaceX CEO has a lot of power when responding to criticism. In 2022, hundreds of SpaceX employees signed an open letter expressing their disappointment with Musk’s public behavior. Those employees were later fired. Last month, not long after insulting Mogensen for accusing him of lying, Musk urged Trump to shut down the International Space Station (ISS) as soon as possible. Musk has helped bring new energy to the space industry with SpaceX. However, his impulsive behavior and immense influence are serious reasons for concern. (Girish Linganna is an award-winning Science Writer and a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also the Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. He can be reached at: girishlinganna@gmail.com ). (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

The gravity of politics: Sunita's extended Starliner Mission and the earthbound echoes

NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft are undergoing power-saving measures, shutting down instruments to extend their journey into interstellar space and continue sending valuable data back to Earth.

NASA turns off voyager science instruments to extend mission

Four members of NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 mission—NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov—undock from the International Space Station and begin their journey home to Earth. Crew-9's SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station

NASA SpaceX Crew-9: Williams and Wilmore undock from ISS, begin journey home

US President Donald Trump said that he spoke with NASA's Acting Administrator Janet Petro, who agreed to bring the stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth, prior to the two-week period originally approved by the space agency.
Trump claimed that he instructed SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to bring the "abandoned" astronauts back, alleging that the Biden administration "was incapable of doing so".
"I just spoke with the Acting Administrator of NASA, Janet Petro. She is coordinating our Team of highly respected Scientists, Space Engineers, and various other &ldquo;geniuses,&rdquo; who has agreed to let our Astronauts come home long prior to the two week period originally approved by NASA. Janet was great. She said, &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s bring them home NOW, Sir!&rdquo; &mdash; And I thanked her," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
"This began when I asked Elon Musk to go up and get the abandoned Astronauts because the Biden Administration was incapable of doing so. They shamefully forgot about the Astronauts, because they considered it to be a very embarrassing event for them &ndash; Another thing I inherited from that failed group of incompetents," he added.
<iframe width="600" height="" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114179081339591399/embed" class="truthsocial-embed" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script>

<h2>'After eight long months, it is time,' says Trump</h2>
The US president said that he, along with Musk, helmed the project and sent SpaceX Dragon, which has "successfully docked" and is expected to land on Wednesday.
"Elon and I have taken on the project, sending up the SpaceX Dragon, which has successfully docked and, hopefully, while there is always danger involved in such a mission, they will soon be on their way home &mdash; Taking off tomorrow, and landing on Wednesday. Exact times will be provided to you. Safety always comes first, and maximum standards are being adhered to. But after eight long months for a mission that was supposed to be eight days, IT IS TIME. I look forward to seeing Butch and Suni, and thank you again to NASA and Janet Petro!" Trump said.
What was scheduled to be a 10-day mission in space turned out to be a nearly 10-month expedition after astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were stranded on the space station.&nbsp;
The duo embarked on the journey aboard the Boeing Starliner on June 5, 2024. However, they were unable to return after the spacecraft experienced thruster malfunctions during its approach and docking manoeuvres.
Following an extensive investigation on the ground by NASA and Boeing, the spacecraft was deemed too risky to carry the astronauts back home, resulting in their unexpected extended stay at the space station.
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

World news: The US president said that he along with Musk, helmed the project and sent SpaceX Dragon, which has "successfully docked" and is expected to land on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump said that he spoke with NASA's Acting Administrator Janet Petro, who agreed to bring the stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth, prior to the two-week period originally approved by the space agency. Trump claimed that he instructed SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to bring the "abandoned" astronauts back, alleging that the Biden administration "was incapable of doing so". "I just spoke with the Acting Administrator of NASA, Janet Petro. She is coordinating our Team of highly respected Scientists, Space Engineers, and various other “geniuses,” who has agreed to let our Astronauts come home long prior to the two week period originally approved by NASA. Janet was great. She said, “Let’s bring them home NOW, Sir!” — And I thanked her," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "This began when I asked Elon Musk to go up and get the abandoned Astronauts because the Biden Administration was incapable of doing so. They shamefully forgot about the Astronauts, because they considered it to be a very embarrassing event for them – Another thing I inherited from that failed group of incompetents," he added. 'After eight long months, it is time,' says Trump The US president said that he, along with Musk, helmed the project and sent SpaceX Dragon, which has "successfully docked" and is expected to land on Wednesday. "Elon and I have taken on the project, sending up the SpaceX Dragon, which has successfully docked and, hopefully, while there is always danger involved in such a mission, they will soon be on their way home — Taking off tomorrow, and landing on Wednesday. Exact times will be provided to you. Safety always comes first, and maximum standards are being adhered to. But after eight long months for a mission that was supposed to be eight days, IT IS TIME. I look forward to seeing Butch and Suni, and thank you again to NASA and Janet Petro!" Trump said. What was scheduled to be a 10-day mission in space turned out to be a nearly 10-month expedition after astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were stranded on the space station. The duo embarked on the journey aboard the Boeing Starliner on June 5, 2024. However, they were unable to return after the spacecraft experienced thruster malfunctions during its approach and docking manoeuvres. Following an extensive investigation on the ground by NASA and Boeing, the spacecraft was deemed too risky to carry the astronauts back home, resulting in their unexpected extended stay at the space station. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump says he instructed Elon Musk to bring ‘abandoned’ astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back

NASA powers down Voyager, humanity's deepest explorer

NASA's Crew-10 mission arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday (Mar 16). The Dragon spacecraft, which was launched aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, is scheduled to bring back stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore on Wednesday (Mar 19).
The time-lapse video of the spacecraft&rsquo;s docking at the orbital ISS was shared by NASA astronaut Don Pettit.
&ldquo;Close Encounter but not of the third kind,&rdquo; Pettit wrote on X while sharing the video, &ldquo;Crew 10 docking to Space Station.&rdquo;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sunita-williams-homecoming-nasas-spacex-crew-10-docks-at-iss-stranded-astronauts-to-return-on-8859295">Sunita Williams&rsquo; homecoming: NASA&rsquo;s SpaceX Crew-10 docks at ISS, stranded astronauts to return on...</a>
Crew-10&rsquo;s Crew Dragon capsule, Endurance, completed docking with the Harmony module on the space station early Sunday morning (Mar 16) at 12:04 a.m. ET while the two spacecraft were 260 miles (418 kilometres) above the Atlantic Ocean.
The Dragon spacecraft, which was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Friday (Mar 14), carried four astronauts to the ISS.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Close Encounter but not of the third kind; Longer version of Crew 10 docking to <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a> <a href="https://t.co/20ZxPglB1K">pic.twitter.com/20ZxPglB1K</a>
&mdash; Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) <a href="https://twitter.com/astro_Pettit/status/1901249942758281460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote>

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<h2>Crew-10 joins space station members</h2>
The four crew members included NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/what-is-baby-feet-nasas-sunita-williams-and-butch-wilmore-to-face-after-returning-to-earth-8857975">What is 'Baby Feet,' NASA's Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore likely to experience after returning to Earth?</a>
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s such a great honour for us to be part of this program,&rdquo; Crew-10 mission specialist Takuya Onishi of JAXA said shortly after docking. &ldquo;We have a lot of exciting work ahead of us that we are looking forward to. Again, thank you very much to everybody who helped us to get here.&rdquo;
Crew-10 astronauts have joined the Expedition 72 crew aboard the space station and are expected to stay there for about six months. Following the handover of duties, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will return to Earth along with NASA&rsquo;s Nick Hague and Roscosmos&rsquo; Aleksandr Gorbunov.
<h2>Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore to return</h2>
While Hague and Gorbunov have been staying at the ISS since late September, Williams and Wilmore became stranded on the space orbital lab in June after their Boeing's Starliner spacecraft faced thruster malfunctions.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/stranded-nasa-astronauts-sunita-williams-butch-wilmore-to-return-to-earth-soon-after-nine-months-in-space-on-iss-long-awaited-return-from-iss-begins-with-crew-10-launch-8854593">'Stranded' NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore to return to Earth soon; SpaceX's swap team launches to ISS</a>
While Starliner&rsquo;s mission was expected to last 10 days, the two astronauts were forced to extend their stay as the spacecraft was deemed too risky to carry the astronauts back home.
Hague, Williams, Wilmore, and Gorbunov are expected to return to Earth in the Crew-9 Dragon on Wednesday (Mar 19), according to NASA officials.
(With inputs from agencies)

Science & Tech | Science | World | The time-lapse video of the spacecraft's docking at the orbital ISS was shared by NASA astronaut Don Pettit.

NASA's Crew-10 mission arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday (Mar 16). The Dragon spacecraft, which was launched aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, is scheduled to bring back stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore on Wednesday (Mar 19). The time-lapse video of the spacecraft’s docking at the orbital ISS was shared by NASA astronaut Don Pettit. “Close Encounter but not of the third kind,” Pettit wrote on X while sharing the video, “Crew 10 docking to Space Station.” Also read | Sunita Williams’ homecoming: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 docks at ISS, stranded astronauts to return on... Crew-10’s Crew Dragon capsule, Endurance, completed docking with the Harmony module on the space station early Sunday morning (Mar 16) at 12:04 a.m. ET while the two spacecraft were 260 miles (418 kilometres) above the Atlantic Ocean. The Dragon spacecraft, which was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Friday (Mar 14), carried four astronauts to the ISS. Close Encounter but not of the third kind; Longer version of Crew 10 docking to @Space_Station pic.twitter.com/20ZxPglB1K — Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) March 16, 2025 Crew-10 joins space station members The four crew members included NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. Also read | What is 'Baby Feet,' NASA's Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore likely to experience after returning to Earth? “It’s such a great honour for us to be part of this program,” Crew-10 mission specialist Takuya Onishi of JAXA said shortly after docking. “We have a lot of exciting work ahead of us that we are looking forward to. Again, thank you very much to everybody who helped us to get here.” Crew-10 astronauts have joined the Expedition 72 crew aboard the space station and are expected to stay there for about six months. Following the handover of duties, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will return to Earth along with NASA’s Nick Hague and Roscosmos’ Aleksandr Gorbunov. Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore to return While Hague and Gorbunov have been staying at the ISS since late September, Williams and Wilmore became stranded on the space orbital lab in June after their Boeing's Starliner spacecraft faced thruster malfunctions. Also read | 'Stranded' NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore to return to Earth soon; SpaceX's swap team launches to ISS While Starliner’s mission was expected to last 10 days, the two astronauts were forced to extend their stay as the spacecraft was deemed too risky to carry the astronauts back home. Hague, Williams, Wilmore, and Gorbunov are expected to return to Earth in the Crew-9 Dragon on Wednesday (Mar 19), according to NASA officials. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | Stunning visuals show SpaceX’s Crew-10 Dragon capsule docking at International Space Station

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 mission has docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday (Mar 16) after undertaking about a 29-hour long journey. The spacecraft will soon bring back stranded NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to earth.
The Dragon spacecraft was launched aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 7.03 pm ET on Friday (Mar 14). The Dragon docked on the ISS at 12:04 am on Sunday (Mar 16).
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/what-is-baby-feet-nasas-sunita-williams-and-butch-wilmore-to-face-after-returning-to-earth-8857975">What is 'Baby Feet,' NASA's Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore likely to experience after returning to Earth?</a>
<h2>NASA&rsquo;s SpaceX Crew-10 docking</h2>
NASA announced that the hatch of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft opened March 16 at 1:35 am ET, following which the members of the Crew 10 entered the space station to join the astronauts aboard.
The four crew members included NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/stranded-nasa-astronauts-sunita-williams-butch-wilmore-to-return-to-earth-soon-after-nine-months-in-space-on-iss-long-awaited-return-from-iss-begins-with-crew-10-launch-8854593">'Stranded' NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore to return to Earth soon; SpaceX's swap team launches to ISS</a>
Crew-10 astronauts have joined the Expedition 72 crew of NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Don Petitt, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Aleksandr Gorbunov, Alexey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner. This brings a total crew strength at the space station to 11 people.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
All the hugs. 🫶 The hatch of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft opened March 16 at 1:35 a.m. ET and the members of Crew-10 entered the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a> with the rest of their excited Expedition 72 crew. <a href="https://t.co/mnUddqPqfr">pic.twitter.com/mnUddqPqfr</a>
&mdash; NASA's Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson/status/1901149221610271099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote>

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The Crew-10 members will become part of the Expedition 72 after taking over duties from the returning members. They will stay on the space station for roughly about six months.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/when-will-nasa-astronaut-sunita-williams-return-to-earth-after-it-gets-delayed-again-check-new-date-and-time-8850209">NASA astronaut Sunita Williams will return to Earth on THIS date | Check here</a>
<h2>Stranded NASA astronauts to return to Earth</h2>
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will now finally return to earth with Hague and Gorbunov after the crew 'handover' period.
&ldquo;Houston, thanks for tuning in early morning. Great to see our friends arrive,&rdquo; said Sunita Williams on the arrival of Crew-10.
The astronauts are expected to depart from the ISS for Earth on Wednesday (Mar 19) as early as 8 am.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/sunita-williams-returns-to-earth-physical-effects-to-expect-8844997">Sunita Williams to get 'baby feet' after returning to Earth. What does it mean?</a>
What was scheduled to be a 10-day mission in space turned out to be a nearly 10-month expedition after NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were stranded on the space station.&nbsp;
The duo embarked on the journey aboard the Boeing Starliner on June 5, 2024. However, they were unable to return after the spacecraft experienced thruster malfunctions during its approach and docking manoeuvres.
Following an extensive investigation on ground by NASA and Boeing, the spacecraft was deemed too risky to carry the astronauts back home, resulting in their unexpected extended stay at the space station.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Science & tech | The Dragon spacecraft was launched aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 7.03 pm ET on Friday (Mar 14). The Dragon docked on the ISS at 12:04 am on Sunday (Mar 16).

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 mission has docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday (Mar 16) after undertaking about a 29-hour long journey. The spacecraft will soon bring back stranded NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to earth. The Dragon spacecraft was launched aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 7.03 pm ET on Friday (Mar 14). The Dragon docked on the ISS at 12:04 am on Sunday (Mar 16). Also read | What is 'Baby Feet,' NASA's Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore likely to experience after returning to Earth? NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 docking NASA announced that the hatch of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft opened March 16 at 1:35 am ET, following which the members of the Crew 10 entered the space station to join the astronauts aboard. The four crew members included NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. Also read | 'Stranded' NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore to return to Earth soon; SpaceX's swap team launches to ISS Crew-10 astronauts have joined the Expedition 72 crew of NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Don Petitt, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Aleksandr Gorbunov, Alexey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner. This brings a total crew strength at the space station to 11 people. All the hugs. 🫶 The hatch of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft opened March 16 at 1:35 a.m. ET and the members of Crew-10 entered the @Space_Station with the rest of their excited Expedition 72 crew. pic.twitter.com/mnUddqPqfr — NASA's Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) March 16, 2025 The Crew-10 members will become part of the Expedition 72 after taking over duties from the returning members. They will stay on the space station for roughly about six months. Also read | NASA astronaut Sunita Williams will return to Earth on THIS date | Check here Stranded NASA astronauts to return to Earth Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will now finally return to earth with Hague and Gorbunov after the crew 'handover' period. “Houston, thanks for tuning in early morning. Great to see our friends arrive,” said Sunita Williams on the arrival of Crew-10. The astronauts are expected to depart from the ISS for Earth on Wednesday (Mar 19) as early as 8 am. Also read | Sunita Williams to get 'baby feet' after returning to Earth. What does it mean? What was scheduled to be a 10-day mission in space turned out to be a nearly 10-month expedition after NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were stranded on the space station. The duo embarked on the journey aboard the Boeing Starliner on June 5, 2024. However, they were unable to return after the spacecraft experienced thruster malfunctions during its approach and docking manoeuvres. Following an extensive investigation on ground by NASA and Boeing, the spacecraft was deemed too risky to carry the astronauts back home, resulting in their unexpected extended stay at the space station. (With inputs from agencies)

Sunita Williams’ homecoming: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 docks at ISS, stranded astronauts to return on...

Stuck in space for more than 9 months, two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, are a step closer to returning home. NASA and SpaceX have launched a long-awaited crew to the International Space Station. Watch in for more details!

Stranded astronauts closer to homecoming, NASA, SpaceX launch Crew-10 mission

NASA faces deep budget cuts under a Trump administration order, with reports suggesting a possible 50% reduction by 2026. The funding crisis has forced program cuts, workforce reductions, and mission delays, including the postponed SpaceX launch meant to bring stranded astronauts home. Meanwhile, NASA's Moon mission continues to face years of setbacks, raising concerns about the agency’s future.

NASA's curse leaves Sunita Williams adrift in space

NASA cuts budget, delays missions as astronauts wait stranded

Long-time stranded NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's return to Earth has once again got delayed after SpaceX and NASA postponed the launch of a replacement crew to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday (March 12).
The ISS said that their return was delayed due to an unexpected technical problem.&nbsp;
William and Butch Wilmore have been stranded in space for nine months now after their trip aboard Boeing's faulty Starliner.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/sunita-williams-and-butch-wilmores-return-cancelled-as-nasa-postpones-iss-mission-8848558">Sunita Williams stuck in space: NASA, SpaceX postpone rescue operation</a>
<h2>When are they coming back now?&nbsp;</h2>
NASA'S SpaceX Crew-10 now is targeting no earlier than 7:03 pm EDT on Friday (4.33 am IST on Saturday), according to the NASA website.
Now, the launch coverage will begin at 3 pm on March on NASA+. Further, docking is scheduled for 11:30 pm on Saturday (March 15).&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> now target the launch of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crew10?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crew10</a> mission for no earlier than 7:03pm ET on Friday, March 14, to the International Space Station. <a href="https://t.co/B9vkvcVbZ9">https://t.co/B9vkvcVbZ9</a>
&mdash; International Space Station (@Space_Station) <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1900013375796764764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote>

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Moreover, the launch teams are also working to address a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A at NASA&rsquo;s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/sunita-williams-returns-to-earth-physical-effects-to-expect-8844997">Sunita Williams to get 'baby feet' after returning to Earth. What does it mean?</a>&nbsp;
<h2>Why did they delay the return?</h2>
The mission managers decided to wave off the launch attempt on Thursday due to high winds and precipitation forecast in the flight path of Dragon.&nbsp;
"Crew-10 is the 10th crew rotation mission of SpaceX&rsquo;s human space transportation system and its 11th flight with crew aboard, including the Demo-2 test flight, to the space station through NASA&rsquo;s Commercial Crew Program," the NASA blog read.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-trump-hopes-nasa-astronauts-sunita-williams-and-butch-wilmore-love-each-other-8830063">Trump calls Sunita Williams 'woman with wild hair', hopes she and Butch Wilmore 'love each other'</a>
Earlier, Williams and Butch Wilmore were due to spend only eight days on the ISS but have been stranded there after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that was supposed to bring them back suffered propulsion problems.&nbsp;
Health concerns have been raised for Williams, as the human body is not built for spaceflight, with its microgravity conditions, exposure to high-energy radiation and other issues. As a result, trekking beyond the Earth's confines causes many physiological changes that affect an astronaut's health.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/usd-488-million-nasa-mission-launched-to-find-secrets-about-the-big-bang-and-study-sun-8847872">$488 million NASA mission launched to find secrets about the &lsquo;Big Bang&rsquo; and study the Sun</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World, trending: NASA'S SpaceX Crew-10 now is targeting no earlier than 7:03 pm EDT on Friday (4.33 am IST on Saturday), according to the NASA website.

Long-time stranded NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's return to Earth has once again got delayed after SpaceX and NASA postponed the launch of a replacement crew to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday (March 12). The ISS said that their return was delayed due to an unexpected technical problem. William and Butch Wilmore have been stranded in space for nine months now after their trip aboard Boeing's faulty Starliner. Also read: Sunita Williams stuck in space: NASA, SpaceX postpone rescue operation When are they coming back now? NASA'S SpaceX Crew-10 now is targeting no earlier than 7:03 pm EDT on Friday (4.33 am IST on Saturday), according to the NASA website. Now, the launch coverage will begin at 3 pm on March on NASA+. Further, docking is scheduled for 11:30 pm on Saturday (March 15). .@NASA and @SpaceX now target the launch of the #Crew10 mission for no earlier than 7:03pm ET on Friday, March 14, to the International Space Station. https://t.co/B9vkvcVbZ9 — International Space Station (@Space_Station) March 13, 2025 Moreover, the launch teams are also working to address a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Also read: Sunita Williams to get 'baby feet' after returning to Earth. What does it mean? Why did they delay the return? The mission managers decided to wave off the launch attempt on Thursday due to high winds and precipitation forecast in the flight path of Dragon. "Crew-10 is the 10th crew rotation mission of SpaceX’s human space transportation system and its 11th flight with crew aboard, including the Demo-2 test flight, to the space station through NASA’s Commercial Crew Program," the NASA blog read. Also read: Trump calls Sunita Williams 'woman with wild hair', hopes she and Butch Wilmore 'love each other' Earlier, Williams and Butch Wilmore were due to spend only eight days on the ISS but have been stranded there after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that was supposed to bring them back suffered propulsion problems. Health concerns have been raised for Williams, as the human body is not built for spaceflight, with its microgravity conditions, exposure to high-energy radiation and other issues. As a result, trekking beyond the Earth's confines causes many physiological changes that affect an astronaut's health. Also read: $488 million NASA mission launched to find secrets about the ‘Big Bang’ and study the Sun (With inputs from agencies)

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams will return to Earth on THIS date | Check here

Starliner astronauts Anita Williams and Butch Willmore, who have been stuck aboard the International Space Station for over 9 months, may have to wait a little longer to return home. The launch of Crew 10 has been postponed due to a last-minute technical issue. Watch in for more details!

NASA-SpaceX mission to bring back stranded astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore delayed

SpaceX Crew-10 launch postponed; NASA cites 'issue with hydraulic system on the ground side'

SpaceX has launched National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) latest astrophysics observatory called SPHEREx on Tuesday (Mar 11) from California observatory via Falcon rocket. The $488 million mission has been launched to understand the histories of galaxies, map the sky, and search for life-supporting elements such as water in the Earth-containing Milky Way galaxy.
The SPHEREx mission, short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer, will essentially try to understand what exactly, or rather how exactly, the universe expanded in the initial moments after the Big Bang.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nasa-initiates-workforce-reduction-closes-several-key-offices-after-trumps-executive-order-8842790">NASA initiates workforce reduction, closes several key offices after Trump&rsquo;s executive order</a>
The SPHEREx has four small satellites that will make up PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission, which will study 'how the Sun&rsquo;s outer atmosphere becomes the solar wind.'
&ldquo;Everything in NASA science is interconnected, and sending both SPHEREx and PUNCH up on a single rocket doubles the opportunities to do incredible science in space,&rdquo; said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, in a release.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Congratulations to both mission teams as they explore the cosmos from far-out galaxies to our neighbourhood star. I am excited to see the data returned in the years to come,&rdquo; she added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/heres-why-nasa-engineers-switch-off-instruments-voyager-space-probes-8839192">Here&rsquo;s why NASA engineers are switching off instruments on Voyager space probes</a>
The mission is aimed at mapping the galaxies in a wider manner, unlike Hubble or James Webb.
"The mission will use a technique called spectroscopy to measure the distance to 450 million galaxies in the nearby universe. It also will measure the total collective glow of all the galaxies in the universe, providing new insights about how galaxies have formed and evolved over cosmic time. To achieve its wide-ranging science goals, SPHEREx will create a 3D map of the entire celestial sky every six months," read the NASA release.
If successful in its goal, SPHEREx might be able to solve the most significant of the questions science faces&mdash;the origin of everything we see today.

SCIENCE & TECH: SpaceX has launched National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) latest astrophysics observatory called SPHEREx on Tuesday (Mar 11) from California observatory via Falcon rocket.

SpaceX has launched National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) latest astrophysics observatory called SPHEREx on Tuesday (Mar 11) from California observatory via Falcon rocket. The $488 million mission has been launched to understand the histories of galaxies, map the sky, and search for life-supporting elements such as water in the Earth-containing Milky Way galaxy. The SPHEREx mission, short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer, will essentially try to understand what exactly, or rather how exactly, the universe expanded in the initial moments after the Big Bang. Also read: NASA initiates workforce reduction, closes several key offices after Trump’s executive order The SPHEREx has four small satellites that will make up PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission, which will study 'how the Sun’s outer atmosphere becomes the solar wind.' “Everything in NASA science is interconnected, and sending both SPHEREx and PUNCH up on a single rocket doubles the opportunities to do incredible science in space,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, in a release. “Congratulations to both mission teams as they explore the cosmos from far-out galaxies to our neighbourhood star. I am excited to see the data returned in the years to come,” she added. Also read: Here’s why NASA engineers are switching off instruments on Voyager space probes The mission is aimed at mapping the galaxies in a wider manner, unlike Hubble or James Webb. "The mission will use a technique called spectroscopy to measure the distance to 450 million galaxies in the nearby universe. It also will measure the total collective glow of all the galaxies in the universe, providing new insights about how galaxies have formed and evolved over cosmic time. To achieve its wide-ranging science goals, SPHEREx will create a 3D map of the entire celestial sky every six months," read the NASA release. If successful in its goal, SPHEREx might be able to solve the most significant of the questions science faces—the origin of everything we see today.

$488 million NASA mission launched to find secrets about the ‘Big Bang’ and study the Sun

US President Donald Trump has been ambitious about his Mars mission. The president is keen on sending astronauts to the red planet; this is when two NASA astronauts are already looking to be back home from a lunar mission at the earliest after repeated delays. And now, what comes as a big blow to the space agency are the layoffs. NASA to eliminate the post of chief scientist along with two other departments. Katharine Calvin, chief scientist, was appointed by former President Joe Biden to bolster climate change initiatives.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/heres-why-nasa-engineers-switch-off-instruments-voyager-space-probes-8839192">Here&rsquo;s why NASA engineers are switching off instruments on Voyager space probes</a>
"NASA&rsquo;s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS), the Office of the Chief Scientist, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility branch in the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, along with reducing their workforce," NASA administrator Janet Petro confirmed in a memo to the employees.
She added, "As I alluded to last week, we are all navigating a complex and ever-changing landscape together, and I want to share what that means for our team in the near term."
OTPS was established in 2021, during the Biden administration. According to the agency's website, the department brings together diverse, multidisciplinary experts to provide NASA leadership with analytic, strategic, and decisional insights in the form of quickturn analyses, memos, and reports.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-claims-massive-cyberattack-after-x-twitter-outage-goes-down-worldwide-8841029">&lsquo;A country is involved&rsquo;: Elon Musk claims &lsquo;massive cyberattack&rsquo; after X goes down worldwide</a>
Ever since Trump assumed office on January 20, the Department of Government Efficiency, spearheaded by Elon Musk, has been slashing jobs under the pretext of cost-cutting. A month ago, the White House issued an order to implement downsizing of teams. The move was initiated for 'reforming the federal workforce to maximise efficiency and productivity'.
The notice from the President's office highlighted, "Within 240 days of the date of this order, the USDS Administrator shall submit a report to the President regarding implementation of this order."
The document also mentioned, "Within 30 days of the date of this order, agency heads shall submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget a report that identifies any statutes that establish the agency, or subcomponents of the agency, as statutorily required entities. The report shall discuss whether the agency or any of its subcomponents should be eliminated or consolidated."
&nbsp;

World | SCIENCE & TECH: NASA to eliminate the post of chief scientist along with two other departments. Katharine Calvin, chief scientist, was appointed by former President Joe Biden to bolster climate change initiatives.

US President Donald Trump has been ambitious about his Mars mission. The president is keen on sending astronauts to the red planet; this is when two NASA astronauts are already looking to be back home from a lunar mission at the earliest after repeated delays. And now, what comes as a big blow to the space agency are the layoffs. NASA to eliminate the post of chief scientist along with two other departments. Katharine Calvin, chief scientist, was appointed by former President Joe Biden to bolster climate change initiatives. Also read: Here’s why NASA engineers are switching off instruments on Voyager space probes "NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS), the Office of the Chief Scientist, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility branch in the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, along with reducing their workforce," NASA administrator Janet Petro confirmed in a memo to the employees. She added, "As I alluded to last week, we are all navigating a complex and ever-changing landscape together, and I want to share what that means for our team in the near term." OTPS was established in 2021, during the Biden administration. According to the agency's website, the department brings together diverse, multidisciplinary experts to provide NASA leadership with analytic, strategic, and decisional insights in the form of quickturn analyses, memos, and reports. Also Read: ‘A country is involved’: Elon Musk claims ‘massive cyberattack’ after X goes down worldwide Ever since Trump assumed office on January 20, the Department of Government Efficiency, spearheaded by Elon Musk, has been slashing jobs under the pretext of cost-cutting. A month ago, the White House issued an order to implement downsizing of teams. The move was initiated for 'reforming the federal workforce to maximise efficiency and productivity'. The notice from the President's office highlighted, "Within 240 days of the date of this order, the USDS Administrator shall submit a report to the President regarding implementation of this order." The document also mentioned, "Within 30 days of the date of this order, agency heads shall submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget a report that identifies any statutes that establish the agency, or subcomponents of the agency, as statutorily required entities. The report shall discuss whether the agency or any of its subcomponents should be eliminated or consolidated."

Despite ambitious space plans, Biden-appointed NASA chief scientist sacked amid Trump layoff push

#GRAVITAS | Williams has revealed the hardest part of being stranded in space. Nope, it isn't the constant floating around due to lack of gravity nor is it the confined quarters but the uncertainty over timeline of events that also impact the members of the family. Watch this video to find out more.

Nasa: Sunita Williams & Butch Wilmore set to return on March 16

Spacecraft Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have travelled to places in space where no other human-made objects have gone before, but their lives will end soon. The engineers at the US space agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), are turning off one instrument each on both spacecraft so that they continue with their job of space exploration.&nbsp;
The Voyager programme consists of two spacecraft, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, launched in 1977 to study the outer Solar System and beyond. Currently, both are exploring uncharted territory in interstellar space.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/super-earth-20-light-years-away-excites-scientists-8834090">'Second home for humanity?' Super-Earth 20 light-years away excites scientists</a>
Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 reached interstellar space in 2012 and 2018, respectively. The two spacecraft have travelled a combined 29 billion miles to become the farthest human-built objects from Earth.&nbsp;
The mission engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) deactivated Voyager 1's cosmic ray subsystem experiment on February 25. They will shut down the low-energy charged particle instrument onboard Voyager 2 on March 24.&nbsp;
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When they were launched weeks apart in 1977, the Voyager probes carried identical sets of 10 science instruments. The Voyager probes consist of a radioisotope power system and a nuclear battery that harnesses the heat of decaying plutonium to produce electricity. The system generated 470 watts of power at the time of launch, but as the plutonium degraded, that amount dropped.&nbsp;
Over time, the probes&rsquo; power supply has gradually diminished. The Voyager spacecraft rely on electricity generated from the heat of decaying plutonium, and both are losing an estimated 4 watts of power per year.&nbsp;
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"The Voyagers have been deep space rock stars since launch, and we want to keep it that way as long as possible," said Suzanne Dodd, Voyager project manager at JPL, in a statement.&nbsp;
"But electrical power is running low. If we don't turn off an instrument on each Voyager now, they would probably have only a few more months of power before we would need to declare end of mission," the statement added.&nbsp;
NASA officials have already expressed the agency's intention to have both Voyager spacecraft still in service by 2027 when they celebrate their 50th anniversary.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/not-just-solid-liquid-and-gas-scientists-discovers-fourth-form-of-water-that-might-be-on-alien-planets-8833548">Not just solid, liquid and gas: Scientists discover fourth form of water that might be on alien planets</a>
The probes will be able to survive for another two years only by carefully controlling the dwindling power supply. Out of their 10 instruments, only three will be powered by the end of March due to recent cullings. By 2026, they will only have two instruments left.&nbsp;
Linda Spilker, who is a Voyager project scientist at JPL, said, "Every minute of every day, the Voyagers explore a region where no spacecraft has gone before. That also means every day could be our last. But that day could also bring another interstellar revelation. So, we're pulling out all the stops, doing what we can to make sure Voyagers 1 and 2 continue their trailblazing for the maximum time possible."&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Science & tech | Launched in , Voyager and have ventured into interstellar space, becoming the farthest human-made objects from Earth, thanks to their nuclear power systems.

Spacecraft Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have travelled to places in space where no other human-made objects have gone before, but their lives will end soon. The engineers at the US space agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), are turning off one instrument each on both spacecraft so that they continue with their job of space exploration. The Voyager programme consists of two spacecraft, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, launched in 1977 to study the outer Solar System and beyond. Currently, both are exploring uncharted territory in interstellar space. Also read: 'Second home for humanity?' Super-Earth 20 light-years away excites scientists Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 reached interstellar space in 2012 and 2018, respectively. The two spacecraft have travelled a combined 29 billion miles to become the farthest human-built objects from Earth. The mission engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) deactivated Voyager 1's cosmic ray subsystem experiment on February 25. They will shut down the low-energy charged particle instrument onboard Voyager 2 on March 24. Also read: 3D-printed penis implant invented to restore erectile function: Study When they were launched weeks apart in 1977, the Voyager probes carried identical sets of 10 science instruments. The Voyager probes consist of a radioisotope power system and a nuclear battery that harnesses the heat of decaying plutonium to produce electricity. The system generated 470 watts of power at the time of launch, but as the plutonium degraded, that amount dropped. Over time, the probes’ power supply has gradually diminished. The Voyager spacecraft rely on electricity generated from the heat of decaying plutonium, and both are losing an estimated 4 watts of power per year. Also read: Want to slow your brain's ageing? Have children, says recent study "The Voyagers have been deep space rock stars since launch, and we want to keep it that way as long as possible," said Suzanne Dodd, Voyager project manager at JPL, in a statement. "But electrical power is running low. If we don't turn off an instrument on each Voyager now, they would probably have only a few more months of power before we would need to declare end of mission," the statement added. NASA officials have already expressed the agency's intention to have both Voyager spacecraft still in service by 2027 when they celebrate their 50th anniversary. Also read: Not just solid, liquid and gas: Scientists discover fourth form of water that might be on alien planets The probes will be able to survive for another two years only by carefully controlling the dwindling power supply. Out of their 10 instruments, only three will be powered by the end of March due to recent cullings. By 2026, they will only have two instruments left. Linda Spilker, who is a Voyager project scientist at JPL, said, "Every minute of every day, the Voyagers explore a region where no spacecraft has gone before. That also means every day could be our last. But that day could also bring another interstellar revelation. So, we're pulling out all the stops, doing what we can to make sure Voyagers 1 and 2 continue their trailblazing for the maximum time possible." (With inputs from agencies)

Here’s why NASA engineers are switching off instruments on Voyager space probes

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded in space for the past eight months, stepped outside the International Space Station (ISS) for their first spacewalk together on Thursday (Jan 30).

Williams and Wilmore ventured out to carry out maintenance tasks and inspect the Space Station's exterior for any microbes that might have survived the journey from Earth and escaped through vents.

NASA astronaut: No information on offer to return earth earlier

The NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore, have been stranded in space for the past 9 months, marking the longest time astronauts have remained in space. After staying reticent for so long, they have now broken their silence. Watch in for more details!

Musk accuses Biden of blocking rescue mission, Wilmore: What Musk says is absolutely factual

NASA Astronauts&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-starliners-return-to-earth-delayed-as-nasa-carries-out-critical-safety-investigation-733003">Sunita Williams</a> and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded in space for nine months, broke silence on the reports claiming that their return was delayed due to politics. They said that politics had nothing to do with their extended stay in space.&nbsp;
Remarks from the stranded astronauts come after US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk accused former President Joe Biden's administration of postponing their return from the International Space Station (ISS).&nbsp;
Trump claimed that his administration wanted to expedite the astronauts' return to Earth.
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However on Tuesday (March 4), the two astronauts addressed an orbital press conference, during which, Wilmore responded to the controversy, saying that he totally supports Musk and Trump.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Obviously, we've heard some of these different things that have been said,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I can tell you at the outset, all of us have the utmost respect for Mr. Musk and obviously, respect and admiration for our president of the United States, Donald Trump.&rdquo;
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&ldquo;The words they've said, politics, I mean, that's part of life. We understand that. And there's an important reason why we have a political system and the political system that we do have, and we're behind it 100%.&rdquo;
They stressed that they came prepared to stay long in space, adding, "From my standpoint, politics is not playing into this at all.&rdquo;
&ldquo;We came up prepared to stay long, even though we planned to stay short. That's what we do in human space flight. That's what your nation's human space flight program is all about, planning for unknown, unexpected contingencies. And we did that.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-asks-spacex-for-fast-track-return-of-sunita-williams-butch-wilmore-to-home-says-musk-8662914">Trump orders Musk to bring astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore home</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World, trending: The two astronauts addressed an orbital press conference, during which, Wilmore responded to the controversy, saying that he totally supports Musk and Trump.

NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded in space for nine months, broke silence on the reports claiming that their return was delayed due to politics. They said that politics had nothing to do with their extended stay in space. Remarks from the stranded astronauts come after US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk accused former President Joe Biden's administration of postponing their return from the International Space Station (ISS). Trump claimed that his administration wanted to expedite the astronauts' return to Earth. Also read: Sunita Williams shares the one fun thing she took to space. 'Didn't think it would...' However on Tuesday (March 4), the two astronauts addressed an orbital press conference, during which, Wilmore responded to the controversy, saying that he totally supports Musk and Trump. “Obviously, we've heard some of these different things that have been said,” he said. “I can tell you at the outset, all of us have the utmost respect for Mr. Musk and obviously, respect and admiration for our president of the United States, Donald Trump.” Also read: 'Watching the...': Sunita Williams says THIS was the most exciting event in space “The words they've said, politics, I mean, that's part of life. We understand that. And there's an important reason why we have a political system and the political system that we do have, and we're behind it 100%.” They stressed that they came prepared to stay long in space, adding, "From my standpoint, politics is not playing into this at all.” “We came up prepared to stay long, even though we planned to stay short. That's what we do in human space flight. That's what your nation's human space flight program is all about, planning for unknown, unexpected contingencies. And we did that.” Also read: Trump orders Musk to bring astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore home (With inputs from agencies)

'Politics' played no role': Sunita Williams, Wilmore speak up on Trump's claim of Biden delayed their return

NASA has successfully tracked GPS signals on the Moon for the first time, marking a major breakthrough in lunar navigation. This achievement could revolutionize space travel, enabling precise positioning for future lunar missions and beyond. How will this impact space exploration?

New technology: NASA tracks GPS signals on the Moon for the first time

NASA achieves breakthrough: GPS signals successfully tracked on the Moon

Europe&rsquo;s Ariane 6 commercial launch has been postponed for the second time due to an anomaly detected on the ground, French aerospace company Arianespace announced on Monday. The mission was set to take off from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana but was called off minutes before launch. Arianespace CEO David Cavailloles confirmed that the decision to delay the launch was necessary and that it would not take place on the scheduled day.
The first commercial flight of Ariane 6 was initially scheduled for 26 February but was delayed due to a previous anomaly. Arianespace has not provided a revised launch date.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/science-technology/thermonuclear-blast-a-star-is-about-to-explode-in-deep-space-and-it-will-be-visible-from-earth-8774338">'Thermonuclear blast': A star is about to explode in deep space and it will be visible from Earth</a>
<h2>CSO-3 Satellite</h2>
The mission aims to deploy the CSO-3 satellite, developed for the French Defence Procurement and Technology Agency (DGA) and the French space agency CNES, on behalf of the French Air and Space Force&rsquo;s Space Command (CDE). The satellite is part of the Optical Space Component (CSO) programme, which enhances France&rsquo;s defence and reconnaissance capabilities.
Ariane 6 is Europe&rsquo;s next-generation heavy-lift launcher, designed to succeed the Ariane 5 rocket. It comes in two configurations: Ariane 62, equipped with two boosters, and Ariane 64, with four boosters for higher payload capacity.
The Ariane 62 version was set to carry the CSO-3 satellite into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 800 km. The satellite was expected to separate from the rocket around an hour and six minutes after launch. The CSO-3 satellite is the third and final component of the CSO constellation, joining CSO-1, launched in December 2018, and CSO-2, launched in December 2020.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/science-technology/36-billion-suns-inside-nasas-hubble-telescope-discovers-one-of-the-largest-black-hole-hiding-inside-an-einstein-ring-8773922">'36 billion suns inside': NASA's Hubble Telescope discovers one of the largest black hole hiding inside an Einstein Ring</a>
The satellites are supposed to be positioned in different sun-synchronous orbits to perform distinct roles: CSO-1 and CSO-3 focus on reconnaissance, covering operational theatres, and providing revisit capability, while CSO-2 is dedicated to high-resolution imaging and analysis. The constellation is designed to support the Multinational Space-based Imaging System (MUSIS), an initiative led by the DGA.&nbsp;
The CSO satellites are built by Airbus Defence and Space, with Thales Alenia Space supplying the very high-resolution optical imaging instrument. Each satellite has an expected operational lifespan of ten years. Arianespace has been working closely with CNES and the French military to ensure the successful deployment of the CSO-3 satellite, but further technical evaluations will now be required before a new launch date is confirmed.

Science: ESA's Ariane 6 mission was set to take off from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana but was called off minutes before launch due to a ground system anomaly.

Europe’s Ariane 6 commercial launch has been postponed for the second time due to an anomaly detected on the ground, French aerospace company Arianespace announced on Monday. The mission was set to take off from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana but was called off minutes before launch. Arianespace CEO David Cavailloles confirmed that the decision to delay the launch was necessary and that it would not take place on the scheduled day. The first commercial flight of Ariane 6 was initially scheduled for 26 February but was delayed due to a previous anomaly. Arianespace has not provided a revised launch date. Also read: 'Thermonuclear blast': A star is about to explode in deep space and it will be visible from Earth CSO-3 Satellite The mission aims to deploy the CSO-3 satellite, developed for the French Defence Procurement and Technology Agency (DGA) and the French space agency CNES, on behalf of the French Air and Space Force’s Space Command (CDE). The satellite is part of the Optical Space Component (CSO) programme, which enhances France’s defence and reconnaissance capabilities. Ariane 6 is Europe’s next-generation heavy-lift launcher, designed to succeed the Ariane 5 rocket. It comes in two configurations: Ariane 62, equipped with two boosters, and Ariane 64, with four boosters for higher payload capacity. The Ariane 62 version was set to carry the CSO-3 satellite into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 800 km. The satellite was expected to separate from the rocket around an hour and six minutes after launch. The CSO-3 satellite is the third and final component of the CSO constellation, joining CSO-1, launched in December 2018, and CSO-2, launched in December 2020. Also read: '36 billion suns inside': NASA's Hubble Telescope discovers one of the largest black hole hiding inside an Einstein Ring The satellites are supposed to be positioned in different sun-synchronous orbits to perform distinct roles: CSO-1 and CSO-3 focus on reconnaissance, covering operational theatres, and providing revisit capability, while CSO-2 is dedicated to high-resolution imaging and analysis. The constellation is designed to support the Multinational Space-based Imaging System (MUSIS), an initiative led by the DGA. The CSO satellites are built by Airbus Defence and Space, with Thales Alenia Space supplying the very high-resolution optical imaging instrument. Each satellite has an expected operational lifespan of ten years. Arianespace has been working closely with CNES and the French military to ensure the successful deployment of the CSO-3 satellite, but further technical evaluations will now be required before a new launch date is confirmed.

ESA's Ariane 6 launch delayed again due to ground system anomaly

US-based firm Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost scripts history becomes the second private moon lander to make a soft-landing on the lunar surface. The company was carrying science and technology equipment to the lunar surface as part of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/nasa" rel="dofollow">NASA</a>&rsquo;s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. As the touchdown was complete the craft captured first images from Mare Crisium, a unique landing site.
"Would you look at that view! #BlueGhost captured its first image on the Moon that embodies everything this bold, unstoppable Firefly team has worked so hard for over the last 3+ years. And we&rsquo;re just getting started!," a tweet by the US firm revealed
According to the company's website, Blue Ghost is tasked to supply data, power and thermal resources for payload missions for around 2 months.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Would you look at that view! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueGhost?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueGhost</a> captured its first image on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/moon" rel="dofollow">Moon </a>that embodies everything this bold, unstoppable Firefly team has worked so hard for over the last 3+ years. And we&rsquo;re just getting started! Find out what's next for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BGM1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BGM1</a> <a href="https://t.co/oEJhJu7KHx">https://t.co/oEJhJu7KHx</a> <a href="https://t.co/NsdljgQOpu">pic.twitter.com/NsdljgQOpu</a>
&mdash; Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) <a href="https://twitter.com/Firefly_Space/status/1896127381670367703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/science-technology/25-million-light-years-away-nasas-hubble-space-telescope-discovers-36-dwarf-galaxies-inside-andromeda-8768230">'2.5 million light-years away': NASA's Hubble Space Telescope discovers 36 dwarf galaxies orbiting Andromeda</a>
<h2>Why is the landing site unique?</h2>
The landing site, Mare Crisium, was created after being impacted by an asteroid. 3 billion years ago, it was created by volcanic eruptions that flooded the basin with basaltic lava. This unique site will help 'gather critical data about the moon&rsquo;s regolith, geophysical characteristics, and the interaction of solar wind and Earth&rsquo;s magnetic field.'
<h2>1st private spacecraft to land on moon</h2>
The first private spacecraft to make a successful landing on the moon was Intuitive Machines' Odysseus. The landing took place on February 22, but the craft landed on the slop of a crater which later led to its collapse. Some landing gear was damaged and ultimately toppled, making it a short-lived mission.
They are currently working on another mission that is to land Athena, another spacecraft on the southern <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lunar" rel="dofollow">lunar </a>surface. The mission announcement could come in less than a week's time.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/science-technology/game-changer-nasa-to-launch-spherex-telescope-on-march-4-8771144">'Game changer': NASA to launch SPHEREx Telescope on March 4</a>
<h2>About the team</h2>
Over 700 employees of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/us" rel="dofollow">US</a>-based firm FireFly worked relentlessly to make this feat a success. The company highlighted, 'These Ghost Riders are forging a highway to the Moon by enabling regular lunar access, advancing lunar research, and laying the groundwork for humans to have a lasting lunar presence.'&nbsp;

US-based firm Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost scripts history becomes the second private moon lander to make a soft-landing on the lunar surface. Science & Tech, Trending

US-based firm Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost scripts history becomes the second private moon lander to make a soft-landing on the lunar surface. The company was carrying science and technology equipment to the lunar surface as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. As the touchdown was complete the craft captured first images from Mare Crisium, a unique landing site. "Would you look at that view! #BlueGhost captured its first image on the Moon that embodies everything this bold, unstoppable Firefly team has worked so hard for over the last 3+ years. And we’re just getting started!," a tweet by the US firm revealed According to the company's website, Blue Ghost is tasked to supply data, power and thermal resources for payload missions for around 2 months. Would you look at that view! #BlueGhost captured its first image on the Moon that embodies everything this bold, unstoppable Firefly team has worked so hard for over the last 3+ years. And we’re just getting started! Find out what's next for #BGM1 https://t.co/oEJhJu7KHx pic.twitter.com/NsdljgQOpu — Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) March 2, 2025 Also Read: '2.5 million light-years away': NASA's Hubble Space Telescope discovers 36 dwarf galaxies orbiting Andromeda Why is the landing site unique? The landing site, Mare Crisium, was created after being impacted by an asteroid. 3 billion years ago, it was created by volcanic eruptions that flooded the basin with basaltic lava. This unique site will help 'gather critical data about the moon’s regolith, geophysical characteristics, and the interaction of solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field.' 1st private spacecraft to land on moon The first private spacecraft to make a successful landing on the moon was Intuitive Machines' Odysseus. The landing took place on February 22, but the craft landed on the slop of a crater which later led to its collapse. Some landing gear was damaged and ultimately toppled, making it a short-lived mission. They are currently working on another mission that is to land Athena, another spacecraft on the southern lunar surface. The mission announcement could come in less than a week's time. Also Read: 'Game changer': NASA to launch SPHEREx Telescope on March 4 About the team Over 700 employees of the US-based firm FireFly worked relentlessly to make this feat a success. The company highlighted, 'These Ghost Riders are forging a highway to the Moon by enabling regular lunar access, advancing lunar research, and laying the groundwork for humans to have a lasting lunar presence.'

Blue Ghost Landing: US firm's spacecraft second private lander on moon. Check out which was first

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander has captured breathtaking images of the Moon, showcasing massive craters and detailed lunar terrain. Launched on January 15, the lander is heading toward Mare Crisium, offering a rare glimpse of Earth's closest celestial neighbor. Watch these incredible images from space.

Blue Ghost lander sends stunning close-ups of the Moon

The latest scientific findings by NASA suggest that the chances of an asteroid collision have increased for the third time, raising concerns. How worried should we be? What happens if the asteroid is indeed on a collision course, and is there any hope for us? These are the pressing questions on many minds as experts work to assess the risks and potential responses.

NASA increases collision chances, experts assure: no need for panic

A new study says ---

The snow cover on Mount Everest snow cover has retreated by a huge 490 feet in one and a half months...

NASA’s satellite images point to a long-term shift in snowfall patterns.

'sublimation' shifts snowline on Mount Everest

America's Artemis moon mission faces growing uncertainty as reports suggest Trump’s potential return to power and Musk’s influence could shift NASA’s focus toward Mars instead of the Moon. Originally designed to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon, Artemis has already faced delays and cost overruns. Is the Moon mission being sidelined for Mars colonization dreams?

Trump and Musk’s space vision: Mars over Moon mission?

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