Research has already shown that space conditions can alter bacterial behaviour. This study could help scientists develop strategies to stop infections before they become untreatable, both for astronauts on long missions and for people here on Earth.

Research has already shown that space conditions can alter bacterial behaviour. This study could help scientists develop strategies to stop infections before they become untreatable, both for astronauts on long missions and for people here on Earth.

Why SpaceX has launched disease-causing bacteria to the International Space Station?

Data from Voyager 1 revealed how our solar system’s magnetic bubble protects us from harmful cosmic radiation, offering clues for future deep space missions.


Data from Voyager 1 revealed how our solar system’s magnetic bubble protects us from harmful cosmic radiation, offering clues for future deep space missions.

'The far edge': What NASA's Voyager-1 is teaching us about life beyond solar system?

As humanity sets its sights on Mars, a new kind of robotic explorer is being built to lead the way. Meet Olympus, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) four-legged robot designed to thrive in the Red Planet’s harshest environments, from rocky plains to deep lava tubes.

As humanity sets its sights on Mars, a new kind of robotic explorer is being built to lead the way. Meet Olympus, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) four-legged robot designed to thrive in the Red Planet’s harshest environments, from rocky plains to deep lava tubes.

This space robot could help humans explore the most dangerous parts of Mars

The journey is expected to last around 400 years, meaning countless generations would be born and pass away aboard the Chrysalis, never knowing life on Earth. This transforms the vessel from merely a mission into a completely new way of life for its residents.


The journey is expected to last around 400 years, meaning countless generations would be born and pass away aboard the Chrysalis, never knowing life on Earth. This transforms the vessel from merely a mission into a completely new way of life for its residents.

Meet Chrysalis! A spaceship that could take 1,500 humans on a journey to the stars

Voyager 1, launched in 1977, crossed into interstellar space in 2012 and it’s been quietly sending back mind-bending discoveries ever since. Beyond our Sun’s influence, it’s detecting strange signals and particles that are rewriting what scientists thought they knew about the universe.

Voyager 1, launched in 1977, crossed into interstellar space in 2012 and it’s been quietly sending back mind-bending discoveries ever since. Beyond our Sun’s influence, it’s detecting strange signals and particles that are rewriting what scientists thought they knew about the universe.

5 mysterious phenomena NASA’s Voyager-1 has detected in interstellar space

When NASA’s Voyager 1 launched in 1977, personal computers were a luxury, calculators were pocket-sized marvels, and floppy disks were cutting-edge. Yet, nearly half a century later, the spacecraft is still operating, powered by computers that would seem prehistoric by today’s standards.

When NASA’s Voyager 1 launched in 1977, personal computers were a luxury, calculators were pocket-sized marvels, and floppy disks were cutting-edge. Yet, nearly half a century later, the spacecraft is still operating, powered by computers that would seem prehistoric by today’s standards.

How ancient computers have been running NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft for last 47 years

NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (Nicer) telescope, a $67 million X-ray instrument aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has halted science operations due to a sudden hardware malfunction.

NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (Nicer) telescope, a $67 million X-ray instrument aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has halted science operations due to a sudden hardware malfunction.

'$67 million project': NASA’s NICER Telescope faces glitch in space, scientific missions paused

On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Earth completed its rotation slightly more slowly than usual, making the day fractionally longer. While the difference was imperceptible to people, scientists say the cause offers important clues about the forces influencing our planet’s spin.

On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Earth completed its rotation slightly more slowly than usual, making the day fractionally longer. While the difference was imperceptible to people, scientists say the cause offers important clues about the forces influencing our planet’s spin.

A sudden slowdown in Earth’s spin was detected on August 5! Is it a warning sign?

Its route through the inner solar system may have been aimed at scanning Earth or other planets for atmospheric or radio signals indicating life.

In 2017, astronomers spotted ‘Oumuamua, the first known object from outside our solar system, speeding past the Sun. While most scientists think it was a natural body, some have asked: What if it wasn’t? Here are possible scenarios researchers have considered.

If ‘Oumuamua was an alien craft, what could it have been doing?

L 98-59 f orbits its star every 23 Earth days in an almost perfectly circular path. The planet receives a similar amount of stellar energy to Earth, placing it within the star’s habitable zone.

L 98-59 f orbits its star every 23 Earth days in an almost perfectly circular path. The planet receives a similar amount of stellar energy to Earth, placing it within the star’s habitable zone.

'35 light-years away': Scientists discover ‘super-earth' exoplanet that could hold liquid water

SETI has reviewed over one million objects for technosignatures as part of large-scale radio surveys, while new systems like LaserSETI are being constructed to monitor laser pulses across the sky, enhancing our detection capabilities for intelligent signals.


SETI has reviewed over one million objects for technosignatures as part of large-scale radio surveys, while new systems like LaserSETI are being constructed to monitor laser pulses across the sky, enhancing our detection capabilities for intelligent signals. &nbsp;

How close are we to 'first contact' with aliens and what if they’re not friendly?

The scientists who precisely measure the position of Earth are in a bit of trouble after the rise of wifi, mobile phones, and satellite internet. The development unfolded after it began blocking the specific frequency lanes on the radio spectrum highway that track black holes. They use radio telescopes to detect the radio waves coming from the black holes.&nbsp;The measurement is done by using the science of geodesy, based on tracking the locations of black holes in distant galaxies. It plays a significant role in the satellites being used by the scientists for navigation, communication, and Earth observation every day, according to a report by Space.com.&nbsp;They suggest that radio waves pass cleanly through the atmosphere, which helps in receiving during day and night and in all weather conditions for study and measurement. Radio waves are also utilised for communication on Earth, which includes wifi and mobile phones.&nbsp;The use of varied radio frequencies along with different lanes on the radio highway, is closely regulated, out of which a few narrow lanes are reserved for radio astronomy for study and other astronomical projects&nbsp;However, the scientists have claimed that there was little traffic on the radio highway in previous decades. Scientists commonly ventured beyond traditional radio astronomy lanes to receive the signals from the black hole. Achieving the extreme precision required in modern geodesy now depends on accessing frequencies beyond those strictly set aside for astronomy.<h3>Radio traffic on the rise</h3>In the recent past, with the advancement of technology, human-made electromagnetic pollution has exponentially increased. Following the emergence of wifi and mobile phone services, scientists had to move to higher frequencies. But now they began running out of lanes.&nbsp;Five to six generations of mobile phones (each occupying a new lane) are crowding the spectrum of radio frequency, along with internet connections now directly beaming from a fleet of thousands of satellites.&nbsp;The multitude of powerful signals is often too strong for geodetic observatories to detect the very weak signals emitted by black holes. This potentially jeopardises key satellite-based services.

The science of geodesy plays a significant role in measuring the positions of Earth after tracking the locations of the black holes in distant galaxies. It is done for navigation, communication, and Earth observation every day.

The scientists who precisely measure the position of Earth are in a bit of trouble after the rise of wifi, mobile phones, and satellite internet. The development unfolded after it began blocking the specific frequency lanes on the radio spectrum highway that track black holes. They use radio telescopes to detect the radio waves coming from the black holes. The measurement is done by using the science of geodesy, based on tracking the locations of black holes in distant galaxies. It plays a significant role in the satellites being used by the scientists for navigation, communication, and Earth observation every day, according to a report by Space.com. They suggest that radio waves pass cleanly through the atmosphere, which helps in receiving during day and night and in all weather conditions for study and measurement. Radio waves are also utilised for communication on Earth, which includes wifi and mobile phones. The use of varied radio frequencies along with different lanes on the radio highway, is closely regulated, out of which a few narrow lanes are reserved for radio astronomy for study and other astronomical projects However, the scientists have claimed that there was little traffic on the radio highway in previous decades. Scientists commonly ventured beyond traditional radio astronomy lanes to receive the signals from the black hole. Achieving the extreme precision required in modern geodesy now depends on accessing frequencies beyond those strictly set aside for astronomy. Radio traffic on the rise In the recent past, with the advancement of technology, human-made electromagnetic pollution has exponentially increased. Following the emergence of wifi and mobile phone services, scientists had to move to higher frequencies. But now they began running out of lanes. Five to six generations of mobile phones (each occupying a new lane) are crowding the spectrum of radio frequency, along with internet connections now directly beaming from a fleet of thousands of satellites. The multitude of powerful signals is often too strong for geodetic observatories to detect the very weak signals emitted by black holes. This potentially jeopardises key satellite-based services.

The science of geodesy plays a significant role in measuring the positions of Earth after tracking the locations of the black holes in distant galaxies. It is done for navigation, communication, and Earth observation every day.

Where are we in Universe? Scientists turn to Black Holes to locate Earth, but phones and Wi-Fi block signals

Axiom Mission 4 marks India’s return to human spaceflight with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as pilot. Led by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, the mission includes astronauts from 31 countries, focusing on science and global collaboration in space.


Axiom Mission 4 marks India’s return to human spaceflight with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as pilot. Led by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, the mission includes astronauts from 31 countries, focusing on science and global collaboration in space.

31 countries unite for Axiom Mission 4 – What makes it special for India

A study led by Tanguy Bertrand of the Paris Observatory, in Nature Astronomy, found that Pluto’s haze affects its climate by absorbing sunlight during the day and releasing it as infrared radiation at night. 

A study led by Tanguy Bertrand of the Paris Observatory, in Nature Astronomy, found that Pluto’s haze affects its climate by absorbing sunlight during the day and releasing it as infrared radiation at night.&nbsp;

‘New kind of climate’: NASA’s James Webb Telescope discovers strange atmospheric phenomenon on Pluto

Rakesh Sharma became India’s first astronaut in 1984, flying aboard Soyuz T-11 for 8 days. He was born in Punjab, and he was an indian air force pilot selected for the Indo-Soviet Interkosmos programme. His famous words, “saare jahan se achha,” inspired a nation.

Rakesh Sharma became India’s first astronaut in 1984, flying aboard Soyuz T-11 for 8 days. He was born in Punjab, and he was an indian air force pilot selected for the Indo-Soviet Interkosmos programme. His famous words, “saare jahan se achha,” inspired a nation.

Why do Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma's words 'Saare Jahan Se Achha' from space still inspire India?

Galaxy clusters are the largest gravitationally bound structures in the universe. They contain hundreds to thousands of galaxies, vast quantities of hot gas, and dark matter. PSZ2 G181 is considered lower in mass compared to typical colliding systems, which makes this repeated interaction especially valuable for study.

Previous radio observations using the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) in the Netherlands revealed bracket-shaped shock fronts near the cluster’s edges. These are thought to have formed during the first collision, similar to how sonic booms result when jets exceed the speed of sound.

'Cosmic clash reloaded': Two galaxies are about collide in deep space, again!

ISRO’s Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station. Falcon 9, from its reusable design to its role in transforming global space missions, this rocket is redefining the future of space travel.

ISRO’s Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station. Falcon 9, from its reusable design to its role in transforming global space missions, this rocket is redefining the future of space travel.

ISRO’s Shubhanshu Shukla: What is SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, which will launch Indian astronauts to ISS?

Venus is hiding several asteroids that can one day prove fatal for Earth. A study has found that several asteroids moving in tandem with our twin planet around the Sun can smash into our planet if something were to move them out of their path. A small gravitational change could be enough to shift them outwards and crash into Earth.&nbsp;Scientists at NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), Roscosmos, and other space agencies routinely track near-Earth asteroids that can prove potentially hazardous to our planet. However, all our telescopes fail when it comes to peering towards rocks in a sub-orbital path with Venus.&nbsp;A team of scientists from São Paolo University, led by&nbsp;Valerio Carruba, observed Venus co-orbital asteroids, writing that they know about at least 20 of them. The study published in the&nbsp;journal Astronomy and Astrophysics states, that these asteroids are in sync with Venus, so they'll never crash into Venus. However, the same can't be said about Earth.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/pollen-grains-are-telling-the-story-of-asteroids-dinosaurs-mayans-1747816046382">Pollen grains are telling the story of asteroids, dinosaurs, Mayans and others</a>&nbsp;Researchers from Brazil, France, and Italy have concurred that the Sun's glare makes it almost impossible to see these asteroids. Since humans can't observe them, they will never get enough time to deflect any of these space rocks. In fact, they'll have as little as two to four weeks to prepare for an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. That's almost nothing since any attempt to deflect or break apart a dangerous asteroid will require several years of effort.&nbsp;<h2>How dangerous are these asteroids?</h2>&nbsp;There are at least three such asteroids that can pose a threat to Earth in the future. Asteroids 2020 SB, 524522, and 2020 CL1 can fall into a trajectory which puts them on the same path as our planet, leading them to crash into the planet. All it'll take is a slight gravitational change to pull them off their track.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/asteroid-2025-fa22-hurtling-towards-earth-and-can-crash-in-2089-9046455">656-foot asteroid can crash into Earth in 64 years. It will visit us this year as well</a>&nbsp;The three asteroids are capable of wiping out cities, destroying a major chunk of humanity. According to the researchers, an asteroid nearly 500 feet in diameter would strike with a force equal to hundreds of megatons of TNT. These three asteroids are between 330 and 1,300 feet in diameter. If even one of them hits Earth, the event will release over one million times more energy than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945 during World War II.&nbsp;Asteroids 2020 SB, 524522, and 2020 CL1 have a very small Minimum Orbital Intersection Distance (MOID) -&nbsp;the closest distance between their orbit and Earth's orbit around the Sun. This dramatically increases their chances of colliding with Earth.&nbsp;<h2>How can we prevent asteroids from crashing into Earth?</h2>&nbsp;Scientists say that we might be able to spot the deadly asteroids from the Rubin Observatory in Chile. However, even if we see them, there'll be little time to take any action, only about a few weeks. The only way is to send a probe to Venus and get a close look at the asteroids before they become a danger to Earth.&nbsp;

Venus is hiding several asteroids that humans cannot see from Earth, irrespective of how advanced the telescope is. Of the 20 we know about, any one can come on a collision course with Earth.

Venus is hiding several asteroids that can one day prove fatal for Earth. A study has found that several asteroids moving in tandem with our twin planet around the Sun can smash into our planet if something were to move them out of their path. A small gravitational change could be enough to shift them outwards and crash into Earth. Scientists at NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), Roscosmos, and other space agencies routinely track near-Earth asteroids that can prove potentially hazardous to our planet. However, all our telescopes fail when it comes to peering towards rocks in a sub-orbital path with Venus. A team of scientists from São Paolo University, led by Valerio Carruba, observed Venus co-orbital asteroids, writing that they know about at least 20 of them. The study published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics states, that these asteroids are in sync with Venus, so they'll never crash into Venus. However, the same can't be said about Earth. Also Read: Pollen grains are telling the story of asteroids, dinosaurs, Mayans and others Researchers from Brazil, France, and Italy have concurred that the Sun's glare makes it almost impossible to see these asteroids. Since humans can't observe them, they will never get enough time to deflect any of these space rocks. In fact, they'll have as little as two to four weeks to prepare for an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. That's almost nothing since any attempt to deflect or break apart a dangerous asteroid will require several years of effort. How dangerous are these asteroids? There are at least three such asteroids that can pose a threat to Earth in the future. Asteroids 2020 SB, 524522, and 2020 CL1 can fall into a trajectory which puts them on the same path as our planet, leading them to crash into the planet. All it'll take is a slight gravitational change to pull them off their track. Also Read: 656-foot asteroid can crash into Earth in 64 years. It will visit us this year as well The three asteroids are capable of wiping out cities, destroying a major chunk of humanity. According to the researchers, an asteroid nearly 500 feet in diameter would strike with a force equal to hundreds of megatons of TNT. These three asteroids are between 330 and 1,300 feet in diameter. If even one of them hits Earth, the event will release over one million times more energy than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945 during World War II. Asteroids 2020 SB, 524522, and 2020 CL1 have a very small Minimum Orbital Intersection Distance (MOID) - the closest distance between their orbit and Earth's orbit around the Sun. This dramatically increases their chances of colliding with Earth. How can we prevent asteroids from crashing into Earth? Scientists say that we might be able to spot the deadly asteroids from the Rubin Observatory in Chile. However, even if we see them, there'll be little time to take any action, only about a few weeks. The only way is to send a probe to Venus and get a close look at the asteroids before they become a danger to Earth.

Venus is hiding several asteroids that humans can't see from Earth, irrespective of how advanced the telescope is. Of the 20 we know about, any one can come on a collision course with Earth.

Evil twin? Venus sheltering 'invisible' asteroids that can wipe off humanity with a minuscule change in course

ISRO’s astronaut Shubanshu Shukla  is on eco-friendly experiments in space, focusing on growing plants, recycling water, and using clean energy. His mission aims to make space travel sustainable and could offer innovative solutions to Earth’s food and energy challenges.

ISRO’s astronaut Shubanshu Shukla&nbsp; is on eco-friendly experiments in space, focusing on growing plants, recycling water, and using clean energy. His mission aims to make space travel sustainable and could offer innovative solutions to Earth’s food and energy challenges.

ISRO’s Shubanshu Shukla: How his space farming experiments may shape life beyond Earth

New research shows Jupiter was once twice its current size, holding over 2,000 Earths. Its strong magnetic field shaped the early solar system. Studying its tiny moons helped scientists unlock secrets of planet formation and our cosmic origins.

New research shows Jupiter was once twice its current size, holding over 2,000 Earths. Its strong magnetic field shaped the early solar system. Studying its tiny moons helped scientists unlock secrets of planet formation and our cosmic origins.

'Can fit 2,000 Earths inside’: Scientists discover Jupiter was once even bigger than it is today

Shukla will use the X-33 Skywalker inside the spacecraft and the Moonwatch for spacewalks. Both are specially calibrated for the demands of space missions.

Shubhanshu Shukla will use the X-33 Skywalker inside the spacecraft and the Moonwatch for spacewalks. Both are specially calibrated for the demands of space missions.

ISRO's Shubhanshu Shukla: This luxury watch will be worn by Indian astronaut during his visit to space

Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, was once thought to be a dry, rocky body.

Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, was once thought to be a dry, rocky body.

'Similar to glaciers on Earth': NASA’s Dawn mission discovers frozen ocean world between Mars and Jupiter

Shubhanshu Shukla is set to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) on board SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. This state-of-the-art spacecraft is known for its safety, comfort, and cutting-edge technology.


Shubhanshu Shukla is set to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) on board SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. This state-of-the-art spacecraft is known for its safety, comfort, and cutting-edge technology.

ISRO’s Shubhanshu Shukla: 7 reasons why Crew Dragon is the safest ride for his space mission

A study that was published in Geophysical Research Letters by scientists from Kyushu University focusses on these little-understood patches of ionised material that form between 90 and 120 kilometres above sea level.

A study that was published in Geophysical Research Letters by scientists from Kyushu University focusses on these little-understood patches of ionised material that form between 90 and 120 kilometres above sea level.

'Metal clouds': Scientists detect unusual anomaly in Earth’s upper atmosphere caused by solar superstorm

The first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) on a private mission. From 400 kilometres above, he will witness sights few on Earth can imagine.


The first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) on a private mission. From 400 kilometres above, he will witness sights few on Earth can imagine.

ISRO’s Shubhanshu Shukla: 16 sunrises and sunsets! What will he see from space?

The need to test, replace and further test a few critical spacecraft components resulted in the American Axiom-4 human spaceflight mission being pushed from May 29th to June 8th. Indian astronaut and Air Force test pilot Shubhanshu Shukla is the pilot of this mission that is to liftoff from Florida, US. "That's exactly what pre-flight checks are for- to confirm the flight-worthiness of every single component before launch day," explained Sarah Walker, Director, Dragon Mission Management at SpaceX during a media briefing.&nbsp;&nbsp;Elaborating on the reasons behind the one-week delay for the Axiom-4 launch, Sarah explained that each Crew Dragon spacecraft undergoes specific tests and integration, depending on when it is flying next. While SpaceX has at least eight spacecrafts, they are not working on readying all of them at the same time.&nbsp;&nbsp;In preparation for Axiom-4, when the new craft meant for the mission was being inspected, SpaceX teams found that a wire harness had to be replaced, because it did not pass the high potential safety test(one that is meant to verify the insulation strength). After replacement, the new wiring harness also must undergo a safety test.&nbsp;In simple terms, a wiring harness is a bundled arrangement of electrical wires and cables that transmit power or signals within a device or system. It could be termed as an organized "nervous system" for electronic components, ensuring they can communicate and function properly.&nbsp;&nbsp;Further, the SpaceX teams observed that the parachutes that are meant to slow down the Dragon craft during descent, did not pass the inspection. "We detected evidence of moisture in the bags that the parachutes were packed in," Walker said, adding that it took time to get that replaced.&nbsp;&nbsp;In space missions, even the most minor performance issues can lead to mission failure.&nbsp;Parachutes are typically stored in dry and controlled environments, because moisture can degrade the material of the parachute, cause the weakening of parachute material, it could also affect the electronic systems and associated metal parts. During the extreme temperatures encountered during spaceflight, there is also the likelihood of the moisture freezing and affecting the properties and characteristics of the parachute fabric.&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking of the busy schedule of SpaceX's human spaceflight missions, Sarah said that the firm had been executing six human spaceflight missions per year, for the last three years. She added that 2025 was an incredibly busy year, as SpaceX will be undertaking six human spaceflight missions between March and August.&nbsp;About the Axiom-4 mission&nbsp;Axiom-4 will carry a crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station, where they would stay for two weeks and perform 60 experiments. The astronauts would be flying on the SpaceX Falcon9 rocket and the Crew Dragon capsule.&nbsp;&nbsp;This mission will facilitate the return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, given that each nation’s first and only government-sponsored spaceflight had taken place more than 40 years ago. The Ax-4 crew members will represent their nations in Low Earth Orbit and perform scientific experiments and demonstrations that are of high national importance.&nbsp;For India, the Axiom-4 mission is a result of deepening Indo-US Space cooperation, which came to the fore during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State visit to the United States in June 2023. Back then, President Biden had announced Indo-US collaboration on Human spaceflight and the mission to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station, marking the highest point in India-US space ties.&nbsp;Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at&nbsp;Axiom&nbsp;Space, will command the&nbsp;Axiom-4 mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.&nbsp;Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be the first Indian to fly to the International Space Station, and the second Indian to fly to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew on a Soviet Mission in 1984. The Indian Government has paid almost $64mn(Rs.550cr) for Shukla's training and spaceflight as part of Axiom-4.&nbsp;As per the present launch timeline, Shukla will blastoff to space on the SpaceX Falcon9 rocket at 6:41pm Indian time, Sunday, 8th June. The launch will be carried out from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Centre, Florida. This launch pad was built in the 1960s to accommodate the Saturn V rocket that was used in the Apollo series of missions, including the maiden moon landing by Apollo11. Further, this launchpad has been used for multiple launches of the space shuttle. Since 2019, this site has been leased to SpaceX, which launches its Falcon9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.&nbsp;

Elaborating on the reasons behind the one-week delay for the Axiom-4 launch, Sarah explained that each Crew Dragon spacecraft undergoes specific tests and integration, depending on when it is flying next.

The need to test, replace and further test a few critical spacecraft components resulted in the American Axiom-4 human spaceflight mission being pushed from May 29th to June 8th. Indian astronaut and Air Force test pilot Shubhanshu Shukla is the pilot of this mission that is to liftoff from Florida, US. "That's exactly what pre-flight checks are for- to confirm the flight-worthiness of every single component before launch day," explained Sarah Walker, Director, Dragon Mission Management at SpaceX during a media briefing. Elaborating on the reasons behind the one-week delay for the Axiom-4 launch, Sarah explained that each Crew Dragon spacecraft undergoes specific tests and integration, depending on when it is flying next. While SpaceX has at least eight spacecrafts, they are not working on readying all of them at the same time. In preparation for Axiom-4, when the new craft meant for the mission was being inspected, SpaceX teams found that a wire harness had to be replaced, because it did not pass the high potential safety test(one that is meant to verify the insulation strength). After replacement, the new wiring harness also must undergo a safety test. In simple terms, a wiring harness is a bundled arrangement of electrical wires and cables that transmit power or signals within a device or system. It could be termed as an organized "nervous system" for electronic components, ensuring they can communicate and function properly. Further, the SpaceX teams observed that the parachutes that are meant to slow down the Dragon craft during descent, did not pass the inspection. "We detected evidence of moisture in the bags that the parachutes were packed in," Walker said, adding that it took time to get that replaced. In space missions, even the most minor performance issues can lead to mission failure. Parachutes are typically stored in dry and controlled environments, because moisture can degrade the material of the parachute, cause the weakening of parachute material, it could also affect the electronic systems and associated metal parts. During the extreme temperatures encountered during spaceflight, there is also the likelihood of the moisture freezing and affecting the properties and characteristics of the parachute fabric. Speaking of the busy schedule of SpaceX's human spaceflight missions, Sarah said that the firm had been executing six human spaceflight missions per year, for the last three years. She added that 2025 was an incredibly busy year, as SpaceX will be undertaking six human spaceflight missions between March and August. About the Axiom-4 mission Axiom-4 will carry a crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station, where they would stay for two weeks and perform 60 experiments. The astronauts would be flying on the SpaceX Falcon9 rocket and the Crew Dragon capsule. This mission will facilitate the return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, given that each nation’s first and only government-sponsored spaceflight had taken place more than 40 years ago. The Ax-4 crew members will represent their nations in Low Earth Orbit and perform scientific experiments and demonstrations that are of high national importance. For India, the Axiom-4 mission is a result of deepening Indo-US Space cooperation, which came to the fore during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State visit to the United States in June 2023. Back then, President Biden had announced Indo-US collaboration on Human spaceflight and the mission to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station, marking the highest point in India-US space ties. Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the Axiom-4 mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be the first Indian to fly to the International Space Station, and the second Indian to fly to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew on a Soviet Mission in 1984. The Indian Government has paid almost $64mn(Rs.550cr) for Shukla's training and spaceflight as part of Axiom-4. As per the present launch timeline, Shukla will blastoff to space on the SpaceX Falcon9 rocket at 6:41pm Indian time, Sunday, 8th June. The launch will be carried out from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Centre, Florida. This launch pad was built in the 1960s to accommodate the Saturn V rocket that was used in the Apollo series of missions, including the maiden moon landing by Apollo11. Further, this launchpad has been used for multiple launches of the space shuttle. Since 2019, this site has been leased to SpaceX, which launches its Falcon9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.

Elaborating on the reasons behind the one-week delay for the Axiom-4 launch, Sarah explained that each Crew Dragon spacecraft undergoes specific tests and integration, depending on when it is flying next.

Axiom-4 launch: Why is Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's spaceflight delayed to June 8th?

In February 2024, for the first time ever, Indian Government agency IN-SPACE(established to support Indian sapce startups) had publicly released an "Integrated Launch Manifesto 2024-25". In the document, IN-SPACE mentioned that ISRO(Indian Space agency), ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), and startups would perform up to 30 rocket launch missions in the 15-month period between January 2024 and March 2025.&nbsp;However, Government data on space launches shows that India executed only 7 of these 30 rocket launch missions in the said period. This amounts to meeting 23% of the target stated in the Government agency IN-SPACE's launch manifesto. Of the seven launch missions in the 15-month period, ISRO executed five, NSIL executed one mission for a foreign customer, and a private firm carried out a test launch.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/4-failures-in-8yrs-isro-s-troubles-with-strategic-space-missions-1747648135145">4 failures in 8yrs- ISRO's troubles with strategic space missions</a>&nbsp;"As is evident there is a notable increase in launches and in private sector involvement in the Indian space sector. This marks a substantial increase in launch activity compared to previous years and is a positive indicator of the expanding space ecosystem in the country," IN-SPACE had said in February 2024, referring to its "30 launches in 15 months manifesto". With barely one-fourth of the target being met, Indian space industry insiders are raising questions about the wide gulf between the manifesto and the reality, and the credibility of such manifestos. They also expressed concerns about how the global space sector would view an emerging space power like India, which has big ambitions but appears to fall severely short on implementation.&nbsp;For example, American private firm SpaceX which does the most number of space launches globally, had targeted 148 launches of their Falcon series of rockets in the year 2024, of which they accomplished 134 launches. SpaceX met 90% of its annual target, and has been drastically increasing its launch targets with every passing year. Every year, SpaceX gets within touching distance of its publicly stated target.Likewise, Rocket Lab, an American private firm that launches small spacefaring rockets had projected 22 launches in 2024, and ended up accomplishing 16 launches. Rocket Lab met 72% of its annual target. Though a small firm when compared to giants like SpaceX, Rocket Lab has been consistently increasing its number of launches with every passing year.&nbsp;For the sake of comparison, in the 15-month period between October 2022 and December 2023, all space entities in India had performed a total of 10 rocket launches. Insiders question why the next 15-month period(Jan 2024-March 2025 as stated in the IN-SPACE manifesto) has seen only 7 rocket launches, indicating a 30% fall from the earlier 15-month period.&nbsp;Going by recent trends, the Government-run space agency ISRO and its commercial arm NSIL have been performing a total of six or seven rocket launches in a financial year. Startups that build and launch rockets in India are in their nascent stages and have only done maiden experimental launches. Indian rocket Startups have not started launching to space. It is under such circumstances that the government-run IN-SPACE had announced a four-fold increase in launches in the Jan 2024 to March 2025 period. Experts question the methodology used by IN-SPACE to put out such an ambitious manifesto, when the there seems to a blatant slowdown in India's space launches.&nbsp;This wide gulf between announced launches and actual performance also raises questions about the level of coordination between the Government agency and space sector regulator IN-SPACE (which announced the manifesto for the 30 launches) and the space sector(ISRO, NSIL and private firms) that has to execute these launches, critics say. IN-SPACE, ISRO, and NSIL are all arms of the Indian Government's high-profile Department of Space, which reports to the Prime Minister's Office.&nbsp;Industry veterans agree that delays are common in the space sector and launches get postponed by a few weeks or few months. However, they point out that meeting only 23% of the publicly stated launch target affects India's credibility domestically and globally.As per IN-SPACE website, their vision is "To enable private sector participation in space activities, boost space economy within the country and develop space force frontiers, for a resurgent, AatmaNirbhar Bharat(self-reliant India)."&nbsp;The website also mentions that IN-SPACE is responsible to promote, enable authorize and supervise various space activities of the NGEs(private firms) that include, among others, the building of launch vehicles &amp; satellites and providing space-based services; sharing of space infrastructure and premises under the control of DOS/ISRO; and establishment of new space infrastructure and facilities. However, it remains unclear how IN-SPACE, which is primarily responsible for hand-holding startups, publicly announces the launch targets of ISRO and NSIL, both of which are run by their respective leadership and organizational setup.&nbsp;"Action must be matched with action", says an Industry report&nbsp;A recent report by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry(FICCI), EY, released in the presence of top Indian Government officials and space industry members, had spoken about the immense potential of the Indian Space sector, while also cautioning that "ambition must be matched with action". Referring to the challenges faced by the Indian Space sector, the report had also mentioned Bureaucratic complexity and multi-agency overlaps, listing out IN-SPACE, ISRO, NSIL, Department of Space (DoS), Department of Telecom(DoT), which led to delays in decision-making. It had also expressed the need for a single-window clearance system for the space sector.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In the interest of transparency, here are the major Govt documents/data points used to bring out this report on 🇮🇳 accomplishing only 7 of 30 announced space launches between Jan2024 - March2025 Data as sourced from Govt <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/INSPACeIND?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@INSPACeIND</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DrJitendraSingh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrJitendraSingh</a> <a href="https://t.co/vkRkKMA8Gs">https://t.co/vkRkKMA8Gs</a> <a href="https://t.co/b7qmml0nv0">pic.twitter.com/b7qmml0nv0</a>&mdash; Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1924834313738322134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In February 2024, for the first time ever, Indian Government agency IN-SPACE(established to support Indian sapce startups) had publicly released an "Integrated Launch Manifesto 2024-25". 

In February 2024, for the first time ever, Indian Government agency IN-SPACE(established to support Indian sapce startups) had publicly released an "Integrated Launch Manifesto 2024-25". In the document, IN-SPACE mentioned that ISRO(Indian Space agency), ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), and startups would perform up to 30 rocket launch missions in the 15-month period between January 2024 and March 2025. However, Government data on space launches shows that India executed only 7 of these 30 rocket launch missions in the said period. This amounts to meeting 23% of the target stated in the Government agency IN-SPACE's launch manifesto. Of the seven launch missions in the 15-month period, ISRO executed five, NSIL executed one mission for a foreign customer, and a private firm carried out a test launch. Also read: 4 failures in 8yrs- ISRO's troubles with strategic space missions "As is evident there is a notable increase in launches and in private sector involvement in the Indian space sector. This marks a substantial increase in launch activity compared to previous years and is a positive indicator of the expanding space ecosystem in the country," IN-SPACE had said in February 2024, referring to its "30 launches in 15 months manifesto". With barely one-fourth of the target being met, Indian space industry insiders are raising questions about the wide gulf between the manifesto and the reality, and the credibility of such manifestos. They also expressed concerns about how the global space sector would view an emerging space power like India, which has big ambitions but appears to fall severely short on implementation. For example, American private firm SpaceX which does the most number of space launches globally, had targeted 148 launches of their Falcon series of rockets in the year 2024, of which they accomplished 134 launches. SpaceX met 90% of its annual target, and has been drastically increasing its launch targets with every passing year. Every year, SpaceX gets within touching distance of its publicly stated target. Likewise, Rocket Lab, an American private firm that launches small spacefaring rockets had projected 22 launches in 2024, and ended up accomplishing 16 launches. Rocket Lab met 72% of its annual target. Though a small firm when compared to giants like SpaceX, Rocket Lab has been consistently increasing its number of launches with every passing year. For the sake of comparison, in the 15-month period between October 2022 and December 2023, all space entities in India had performed a total of 10 rocket launches. Insiders question why the next 15-month period(Jan 2024-March 2025 as stated in the IN-SPACE manifesto) has seen only 7 rocket launches, indicating a 30% fall from the earlier 15-month period. Going by recent trends, the Government-run space agency ISRO and its commercial arm NSIL have been performing a total of six or seven rocket launches in a financial year. Startups that build and launch rockets in India are in their nascent stages and have only done maiden experimental launches. Indian rocket Startups have not started launching to space. It is under such circumstances that the government-run IN-SPACE had announced a four-fold increase in launches in the Jan 2024 to March 2025 period. Experts question the methodology used by IN-SPACE to put out such an ambitious manifesto, when the there seems to a blatant slowdown in India's space launches. This wide gulf between announced launches and actual performance also raises questions about the level of coordination between the Government agency and space sector regulator IN-SPACE (which announced the manifesto for the 30 launches) and the space sector(ISRO, NSIL and private firms) that has to execute these launches, critics say. IN-SPACE, ISRO, and NSIL are all arms of the Indian Government's high-profile Department of Space, which reports to the Prime Minister's Office. Industry veterans agree that delays are common in the space sector and launches get postponed by a few weeks or few months. However, they point out that meeting only 23% of the publicly stated launch target affects India's credibility domestically and globally. As per IN-SPACE website, their vision is "To enable private sector participation in space activities, boost space economy within the country and develop space force frontiers, for a resurgent, AatmaNirbhar Bharat(self-reliant India)." The website also mentions that IN-SPACE is responsible to promote, enable authorize and supervise various space activities of the NGEs(private firms) that include, among others, the building of launch vehicles & satellites and providing space-based services; sharing of space infrastructure and premises under the control of DOS/ISRO; and establishment of new space infrastructure and facilities. However, it remains unclear how IN-SPACE, which is primarily responsible for hand-holding startups, publicly announces the launch targets of ISRO and NSIL, both of which are run by their respective leadership and organizational setup. "Action must be matched with action", says an Industry report A recent report by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry(FICCI), EY, released in the presence of top Indian Government officials and space industry members, had spoken about the immense potential of the Indian Space sector, while also cautioning that "ambition must be matched with action". Referring to the challenges faced by the Indian Space sector, the report had also mentioned Bureaucratic complexity and multi-agency overlaps, listing out IN-SPACE, ISRO, NSIL, Department of Space (DoS), Department of Telecom(DoT), which led to delays in decision-making. It had also expressed the need for a single-window clearance system for the space sector.

February 2024, for the first time ever, Indian Government agency IN-SPACE(established to support Indian sapce startups) had publicly released an "Integrated Launch Manifesto 2024-25".&nbsp;

India did 7 of 30 space launches planned for 2024-25: Govt data

The rare and unusual mid-flight failure of India's PSLV-C61 rocket on May 18th, 2025, and the subsequent loss of the strategic EOS-09 satellite is a serious setback for India. However, the latest loss of a national security-related satellite is one among many in recent years. Between 2021-25, this author has reported in detail about three failures of India's strategic space missions. Prior to that, there was a PSLV mission failure in 2017. Unfortunately, all four satellites lost/affected in these missions were critical for India's national security and strategic needs. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;As per publicly available information, each mission failure over the last eight years was caused by a different component/system. This re-emphasizes that rocketry is a&nbsp; zero-error business, where even the smallest of errors or defects can lead to catastrophic failures and immense losses. While such losses offer valuable lessons for future missions, it is also important to note that these failures are &nbsp;denying and delaying deployment of several important space-based capabilities developed by Indian scientists.&nbsp;Going by rocket and satellite cost estimates, four mission failures in the last eight years would have cost the Indian Government at least Rs.1250crores(approx $146mn). Further, the Government would have to spend the same amount of money once again to redo these missions. Also, one must factor in the cost of the lost opportunities. Because, in the absence of these homegrown strategic satellites, India would have to purchase satellite-based services from foreign firms. Having to commit resources to redo failed missions would also considerably slowdown India's planned rocket launch missions, and the overall timeline of executing space launches.&nbsp;Going by launch statistics from recent years, the Indian space agency has done 41 rocket launch missions between 2017 and May 2025. Of these, four have ended up as failures and all four happen to be national security and strategic missions. Here's an analysis of ISRO's troubles with recent strategic space missions, the timing of those failures, and the strategic impact of the same.&nbsp;August 2017, PSLV-C39/IRNSS-1H&nbsp;&nbsp;Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System(IRNSS), later known as Navigation with Indian Constellation(NAVIC) is a Position, Navigation, Timing service meant to be used by the various ministries of the Indian Government and the Armed Forces. Simply put, NAVIC is comparable to an Indian-made equivalent of Global Positioning System.&nbsp;Unlike the American GPS/Russian GLONASS/Chinese Beidou which works worldwide, NAVIC works only within the Indian landmass and 1,500kms from India's borders. Therefore, it is a regional system covering India's immediate neighbourhood. Notably, NAVIC was approved following the 1999 Kargil war between India and Pakistan, when US denied/degraded GPS services that would support Indian military operations.&nbsp;During the late-night launch of PSLV-C39, all flight events took place exactly as planned, except heat shield separation. This resulted in satellite separation occurring within the heat shield. The satellite remained inside the heat shield resulting in the unsuccessful mission.&nbsp;In April 2018, ISRO launched the PSLV-C41 rocket carrying the IRNSS-1I satellite, which was meant to serve as a replacement for the lost satellite and complete the NAVIC constellation.&nbsp;August 2021, GSLV-F10/EOS-03&nbsp;Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ISRO had launched a &nbsp;sophisticated earth-imaging satellite known as GISAT-1, aboard the GSLV-F10 rocket. GISAT-1 or EOS-3 was an agile earth observation satellite, which can use different types of imaging technologies to provide a constant monitoring of a region of interest/calamity/weather pattern.&nbsp;GISAT-1 was meant to provide almost real-time imaging of large regions of interest at frequent intervals, quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic events, and also obtain spectral signatures for agriculture, forestry, mineralogy, disaster warning, cloud properties, snow &amp; glaciers, and oceanography.&nbsp;Unlike Low Earth orbit satellites(placed at approx 600kms altitude) that re-visit the same spot approximately once a week, GISAT-1 was meant to stay perched 36,000kms above the Indian subcontinent and help maintain a constant vigil of a large area. This mission was ready for launch in early-2020, but delayed for "technical reasons". Finally, the rocket lifted off on August 12th 2021, but the mission ran into trouble after a malfunction in the Cryogenic upper stage that was meant to place the satellite into orbit. ISRO later revealed that a valve leak in the liquid hydrogen tank led to the failure.Though not directly related, this earth-imaging satellite was being launched at a time when India was dealing with China's aggressive military posturing along the Line of Actual Control. Till May 2025, ISRO has not launched a replacement for the lost GISAT-1 satellite. It is likely to be launched before March 2026, it is learnt.&nbsp;January 2025, GSLV-F15/NVS-02&nbsp;With the first-generation of NAVIC satellites nearing their end-of-life, ISRO began replacing it with a heavier series of five satellites known as NVS. NVS-01, the maiden satellite in this series was launched successfully in May 2023. The next one, NVS-02 was launched in January 2025, in what was the 100th rocket launch from the Indian spaceport in Sriharikota.&nbsp;While the GSLV rocket accomplished its task of placing the NVS-02 satellite in the initial orbit, the satellite encountered an anomaly, which prevented it from firing its on-board engines and moving to the final orbit. Satellites are moved from one orbit to another by firing their liquid-fuelled engines that burn a fuel and oxidizer combination. In this case, it has not been possible to fire the engine and raise the satellite's orbit, due to an issue with the valve that releases the oxidizer.&nbsp;The satellite was launched into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), which is usually used as an initial parking orbit for heavy satellites. Approximately, the satellite was launched into an orbit that is highly elliptical- 170kms above Earth at its nearest approach (perigee) and 36,500kms at its farthest approach from Earth (apogee). Typically, a series of engine firings are performed to place the satellite into a circular orbit, where it is evenly 35,700 km above Earth. However, NVS-02 remained stuck in GTO.ISRO had stated that the satellite systems are healthy, elaborating that it is generating power from its solar panels and communicating with the stations on Earth. "Alternate mission strategies for utilising the satellite for navigation in an elliptical orbit is being worked out," it was added. However, the satellite's long-term survival and its core purpose being accomplished is highly uncertain. ISRO has also not provided further updates about this satellite. Going forward, ISRO is expected to launch an NVS-series satellite every year. Therefore, it would be at least four years before the five-satellite NVS-series is fully operational.&nbsp;May 2025, PSLV-C61/EOS-09&nbsp;On Sunday, 18th May, barely six minutes after liftoff, ISRO's &nbsp;PSLV-C61 rocket faced trouble mid-flight. "Up to the second stage performance was normal. Third stage ignited, but we made an observation regarding its functioning. Mission could not be accomplished. We are studying the data," said ISRO Chief Dr. V. Narayanan regarding the status of the four-stage PSLV rocket that was supposed to perform an 18-minutes-long mission.&nbsp;EOS-09 is a radar imaging satellite(earlier known as RISAT) that is capable of day and night imaging. It can see through clouds, deliver images under all weather conditions. This 1,700kg satellite was meant to have an operational life of at least five years.&nbsp;Over a dozen Indian Parliamentarians, who are part of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Science and Technology were at the spaceport in Sriharikota to witness ISRO's 101st rocket launch mission. Notably, the PSLV is ISRO's most-flown rocket and has a great track record of launching over two hundred satellites belonging to India and foreign customers. In its 63 flights so far, PSLV has had only four major setbacks - three failures and one partial success.&nbsp;Addressing journalists at the spaceport, the ISRO Chief elaborated on the observations. "The third stage of the PSLV uses a solid-fuel motor system. There was a fall in the chamber pressure in the motor case. We are studying the entire performance," Dr. Narayanan said.&nbsp;The failed launch of this strategic satellite comes a week after Nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan have announced a ceasefire, following three days of a rapidly escalating war-like situation. However, it must be emphasized that the space launch mission taking place at this time is a mere coincidence. The PSLV rocket takes a little over a month to assemble, and it takes well over a year to build a satellite like EOS-09.&nbsp;It would take more than a year or two for ISRO to build and launch a replacement for the EOS-09 satellite.&nbsp;

The rare and unusual mid-flight failure of India's PSLV-C61 rocket on May 18th, 2025, and the subsequent loss of the strategic EOS-09 satellite is a serious setback for India. 

The rare and unusual mid-flight failure of India's PSLV-C61 rocket on May 18th, 2025, and the subsequent loss of the strategic EOS-09 satellite is a serious setback for India. However, the latest loss of a national security-related satellite is one among many in recent years. Between 2021-25, this author has reported in detail about three failures of India's strategic space missions. Prior to that, there was a PSLV mission failure in 2017. Unfortunately, all four satellites lost/affected in these missions were critical for India's national security and strategic needs. As per publicly available information, each mission failure over the last eight years was caused by a different component/system. This re-emphasizes that rocketry is a zero-error business, where even the smallest of errors or defects can lead to catastrophic failures and immense losses. While such losses offer valuable lessons for future missions, it is also important to note that these failures are denying and delaying deployment of several important space-based capabilities developed by Indian scientists. Going by rocket and satellite cost estimates, four mission failures in the last eight years would have cost the Indian Government at least Rs.1250crores(approx $146mn). Further, the Government would have to spend the same amount of money once again to redo these missions. Also, one must factor in the cost of the lost opportunities. Because, in the absence of these homegrown strategic satellites, India would have to purchase satellite-based services from foreign firms. Having to commit resources to redo failed missions would also considerably slowdown India's planned rocket launch missions, and the overall timeline of executing space launches. Going by launch statistics from recent years, the Indian space agency has done 41 rocket launch missions between 2017 and May 2025. Of these, four have ended up as failures and all four happen to be national security and strategic missions. Here's an analysis of ISRO's troubles with recent strategic space missions, the timing of those failures, and the strategic impact of the same. August 2017, PSLV-C39/IRNSS-1H Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System(IRNSS), later known as Navigation with Indian Constellation(NAVIC) is a Position, Navigation, Timing service meant to be used by the various ministries of the Indian Government and the Armed Forces. Simply put, NAVIC is comparable to an Indian-made equivalent of Global Positioning System. Unlike the American GPS/Russian GLONASS/Chinese Beidou which works worldwide, NAVIC works only within the Indian landmass and 1,500kms from India's borders. Therefore, it is a regional system covering India's immediate neighbourhood. Notably, NAVIC was approved following the 1999 Kargil war between India and Pakistan, when US denied/degraded GPS services that would support Indian military operations. During the late-night launch of PSLV-C39, all flight events took place exactly as planned, except heat shield separation. This resulted in satellite separation occurring within the heat shield. The satellite remained inside the heat shield resulting in the unsuccessful mission. In April 2018, ISRO launched the PSLV-C41 rocket carrying the IRNSS-1I satellite, which was meant to serve as a replacement for the lost satellite and complete the NAVIC constellation. August 2021, GSLV-F10/EOS-03 Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ISRO had launched a sophisticated earth-imaging satellite known as GISAT-1, aboard the GSLV-F10 rocket. GISAT-1 or EOS-3 was an agile earth observation satellite, which can use different types of imaging technologies to provide a constant monitoring of a region of interest/calamity/weather pattern. GISAT-1 was meant to provide almost real-time imaging of large regions of interest at frequent intervals, quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic events, and also obtain spectral signatures for agriculture, forestry, mineralogy, disaster warning, cloud properties, snow & glaciers, and oceanography. Unlike Low Earth orbit satellites(placed at approx 600kms altitude) that re-visit the same spot approximately once a week, GISAT-1 was meant to stay perched 36,000kms above the Indian subcontinent and help maintain a constant vigil of a large area. This mission was ready for launch in early-2020, but delayed for "technical reasons". Finally, the rocket lifted off on August 12th 2021, but the mission ran into trouble after a malfunction in the Cryogenic upper stage that was meant to place the satellite into orbit. ISRO later revealed that a valve leak in the liquid hydrogen tank led to the failure. Though not directly related, this earth-imaging satellite was being launched at a time when India was dealing with China's aggressive military posturing along the Line of Actual Control. Till May 2025, ISRO has not launched a replacement for the lost GISAT-1 satellite. It is likely to be launched before March 2026, it is learnt. January 2025, GSLV-F15/NVS-02 With the first-generation of NAVIC satellites nearing their end-of-life, ISRO began replacing it with a heavier series of five satellites known as NVS. NVS-01, the maiden satellite in this series was launched successfully in May 2023. The next one, NVS-02 was launched in January 2025, in what was the 100th rocket launch from the Indian spaceport in Sriharikota. While the GSLV rocket accomplished its task of placing the NVS-02 satellite in the initial orbit, the satellite encountered an anomaly, which prevented it from firing its on-board engines and moving to the final orbit. Satellites are moved from one orbit to another by firing their liquid-fuelled engines that burn a fuel and oxidizer combination. In this case, it has not been possible to fire the engine and raise the satellite's orbit, due to an issue with the valve that releases the oxidizer. The satellite was launched into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), which is usually used as an initial parking orbit for heavy satellites. Approximately, the satellite was launched into an orbit that is highly elliptical- 170kms above Earth at its nearest approach (perigee) and 36,500kms at its farthest approach from Earth (apogee). Typically, a series of engine firings are performed to place the satellite into a circular orbit, where it is evenly 35,700 km above Earth. However, NVS-02 remained stuck in GTO. ISRO had stated that the satellite systems are healthy, elaborating that it is generating power from its solar panels and communicating with the stations on Earth. "Alternate mission strategies for utilising the satellite for navigation in an elliptical orbit is being worked out," it was added. However, the satellite's long-term survival and its core purpose being accomplished is highly uncertain. ISRO has also not provided further updates about this satellite. Going forward, ISRO is expected to launch an NVS-series satellite every year. Therefore, it would be at least four years before the five-satellite NVS-series is fully operational. May 2025, PSLV-C61/EOS-09 On Sunday, 18th May, barely six minutes after liftoff, ISRO's PSLV-C61 rocket faced trouble mid-flight. "Up to the second stage performance was normal. Third stage ignited, but we made an observation regarding its functioning. Mission could not be accomplished. We are studying the data," said ISRO Chief Dr. V. Narayanan regarding the status of the four-stage PSLV rocket that was supposed to perform an 18-minutes-long mission. EOS-09 is a radar imaging satellite(earlier known as RISAT) that is capable of day and night imaging. It can see through clouds, deliver images under all weather conditions. This 1,700kg satellite was meant to have an operational life of at least five years. Over a dozen Indian Parliamentarians, who are part of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Science and Technology were at the spaceport in Sriharikota to witness ISRO's 101st rocket launch mission. Notably, the PSLV is ISRO's most-flown rocket and has a great track record of launching over two hundred satellites belonging to India and foreign customers. In its 63 flights so far, PSLV has had only four major setbacks - three failures and one partial success. Addressing journalists at the spaceport, the ISRO Chief elaborated on the observations. "The third stage of the PSLV uses a solid-fuel motor system. There was a fall in the chamber pressure in the motor case. We are studying the entire performance," Dr. Narayanan said. The failed launch of this strategic satellite comes a week after Nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan have announced a ceasefire, following three days of a rapidly escalating war-like situation. However, it must be emphasized that the space launch mission taking place at this time is a mere coincidence. The PSLV rocket takes a little over a month to assemble, and it takes well over a year to build a satellite like EOS-09. It would take more than a year or two for ISRO to build and launch a replacement for the EOS-09 satellite.

The rare and unusual mid-flight failure of India's PSLV-C61 rocket on May 18th, 2025, and the subsequent loss of the strategic EOS-09 satellite is a serious setback for India.&nbsp;

4 failures in 8yrs- ISRO's troubles with strategic space missions

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the launch of its 100th mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in January 2025.
According to Chairman S Somanath, ISRO will use its Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) to launch the second-generation navigation satellite NVS-02.&nbsp;
This milestone follows the successful launch of PSLV-C60 mission on December 30, 2024.
It deployed two spacecraft for the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) into a circular orbit around the Earth.&nbsp;
<h2>Previous Launches&nbsp;</h2>
The PSLV-C60 launch, initially scheduled for 9:58 PM, was delayed to 10:00 PM to ensure optimal separation from other satellites in orbit.&nbsp;
Earlier in May, the GSLV-F12 successfully deployed the NVS-01 satellite, marking the first of the second-generation satellites designed for the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/nasa-introduces-new-mars-helicopter-design-following-ingenuitys-success-8580942">NASA introduces new Mars helicopter design following Ingenuity's success</a>
<h2>NVS-02</h2>
NVS-02 will be the ninth satellite in the navigation with Indian constellation. The launch will have two kinds of payloads: navigational and ranging, just like its predecessor, NVS-01.
The navigational payload will transmit signals to Earth.&nbsp;
It transmits signals by using three spectrum bands: L1, L5, and S.
It includes a Rubidium atomic clock to ensure precise timing. These clocks measure one second by counting the oscillations of rubidium-87 atoms and are accurate enough to maintain time within a one-second deviation over 100 million years. &nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro-successfully-launches-pslv-spadex-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-key-space-docking-mission-8579030">ISRO successfully launches PSLV SpaDex: All you need to know about the space&nbsp;docking&nbsp;mission</a>
The ranging payload features a transponder that enables navigation satellites to send time-stamped signals to ground-based receivers.
These signals are processed by end-users to determine their exact position, speed and time.
This system ensures continuous and reliable service regardless of Earth's weather conditions.
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

Science & Tech: The mission will utilise the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle or GSLV, to deploy the navigation satellite NVS-02, enhancing India's navigation capabilities.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the launch of its 100th mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in January 2025. According to Chairman S Somanath, ISRO will use its Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) to launch the second-generation navigation satellite NVS-02. This milestone follows the successful launch of PSLV-C60 mission on December 30, 2024. It deployed two spacecraft for the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) into a circular orbit around the Earth. Previous Launches The PSLV-C60 launch, initially scheduled for 9:58 PM, was delayed to 10:00 PM to ensure optimal separation from other satellites in orbit. Earlier in May, the GSLV-F12 successfully deployed the NVS-01 satellite, marking the first of the second-generation satellites designed for the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system. Also read: NASA introduces new Mars helicopter design following Ingenuity's success NVS-02 NVS-02 will be the ninth satellite in the navigation with Indian constellation. The launch will have two kinds of payloads: navigational and ranging, just like its predecessor, NVS-01. The navigational payload will transmit signals to Earth. It transmits signals by using three spectrum bands: L1, L5, and S. It includes a Rubidium atomic clock to ensure precise timing. These clocks measure one second by counting the oscillations of rubidium-87 atoms and are accurate enough to maintain time within a one-second deviation over 100 million years. Also read: ISRO successfully launches PSLV SpaDex: All you need to know about the space docking mission The ranging payload features a transponder that enables navigation satellites to send time-stamped signals to ground-based receivers. These signals are processed by end-users to determine their exact position, speed and time. This system ensures continuous and reliable service regardless of Earth's weather conditions. (With inputs from agencies)

ISRO to launch 100th mission on-board GSLV in January

China is set to debut new rockets with advanced capabilities in 2025, including new variants of its Long March series and commercial launch vehicles. These new projects aim to support China&rsquo;s growing space ambitions that include space station cargo missions, mega-constellation satellite projects and commercial contracts.
<h2>New Long March Rockets</h2>
The Long March 8A is expected to launch on January 19. It has been developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).
It features a more powerful second-stage rocket and a larger payload, increasing its capacity to a 700-kilometre sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) from 5,000 to 7,000 kgs.
The Long March 12A, a reusable variant of the expendable Long March 12, is also under development. It may incorporate methane-liquid oxygen engines and is scheduled for a vertical takeoff and landing (VTVL) test in January 2025.
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<h2>Commercial Rockets</h2>
Several Chinese private companies are preparing new rockets to compete in the space sector. They include:
<ul>
<li>Zhuque-3: Landspace plans the first orbital launch of this rocket, with payload capacities ranging from 12,500 to 21,000 kilograms depending on recovery options.</li>
<li>Tianlong-3: Space Pioneer aims to launch this rocket, benchmarked against SpaceX&rsquo;s Falcon 9, following an earlier testing mishap.</li>
<li>Pallas-1 and Ceres-2: Galactic Energy is developing these rockets, designed for reusability and increased payload capacities.</li>
<li>Nebula-1: Deep Blue Aerospace plans to launch and recover this two-stage rocket with 3D-printed engines.</li>
<li>Kinetica-2: CAS Space is preparing this reusable kerosene-liquid oxygen rocket to support low-cost space station cargo services.</li>
<li>Hyperbola-3: iSpace is transitioning to kerolox rocket after setbacks with its Hyperbola-1.</li>
</ul>
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<h2>Implications</h2>
These new rocket projects aim to enhance China&rsquo;s presence in space, increase launch rates, and lower costs.
While the Chinese domestic space market is competitive, these developments are expected to support national space projects and potentially attract international payloads leading to higher revenue from the space sector.
(With inputs from agencies)

Science & tech: China's space sector is preparing for significant advancements by focusing on the development of reusable rockets to enhance launch efficiency.

China is set to debut new rockets with advanced capabilities in 2025, including new variants of its Long March series and commercial launch vehicles. These new projects aim to support China’s growing space ambitions that include space station cargo missions, mega-constellation satellite projects and commercial contracts. New Long March Rockets The Long March 8A is expected to launch on January 19. It has been developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). It features a more powerful second-stage rocket and a larger payload, increasing its capacity to a 700-kilometre sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) from 5,000 to 7,000 kgs. The Long March 12A, a reusable variant of the expendable Long March 12, is also under development. It may incorporate methane-liquid oxygen engines and is scheduled for a vertical takeoff and landing (VTVL) test in January 2025. Also read: Sunita Williams witnesses 16 New Year sunrises. Science explains how Commercial Rockets Several Chinese private companies are preparing new rockets to compete in the space sector. They include: Zhuque-3: Landspace plans the first orbital launch of this rocket, with payload capacities ranging from 12,500 to 21,000 kilograms depending on recovery options. Tianlong-3: Space Pioneer aims to launch this rocket, benchmarked against SpaceX’s Falcon 9, following an earlier testing mishap. Pallas-1 and Ceres-2: Galactic Energy is developing these rockets, designed for reusability and increased payload capacities. Nebula-1: Deep Blue Aerospace plans to launch and recover this two-stage rocket with 3D-printed engines. Kinetica-2: CAS Space is preparing this reusable kerosene-liquid oxygen rocket to support low-cost space station cargo services. Hyperbola-3: iSpace is transitioning to kerolox rocket after setbacks with its Hyperbola-1. Also read: NASA introduces new Mars helicopter design following Ingenuity's success Implications These new rocket projects aim to enhance China’s presence in space, increase launch rates, and lower costs. While the Chinese domestic space market is competitive, these developments are expected to support national space projects and potentially attract international payloads leading to higher revenue from the space sector. (With inputs from agencies)

China to introduce advanced Long March and commercial rockets in 2025

The Sun has had the largest number of sunspots in over 20 years this month, according to the US agencies observing the star.

The estimated Sunspot Number or SNN for 8 August may have reached 299, said the US Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, Colorado.

This is the largest number since at least July 2002, it said on its website.&nbsp;These sunspots occurred in a 24-hour period.

The current solar cycle, which is numbered as Solar Cycle 25, "likely reached its highest SSN thus far on August 8, a value of perhaps 299," it said. A solar cycle, estimated to last 11 years, is how the Sun alternates between its so-called solar minimum and solar maximum.

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The official SSN data is released by global agencies in September, though 299 appears to be a possible number. The final number will come from the World Data Center - Sunspot Index and Long-Term Solar Observations (WDC-SILSO).

In fact, the SWPC had recorded the SSN higher at 337, a value not observed since March 2001.&nbsp;

<h2>What are sun spots?</h2>

Each sunspot is the size of the whole earth. These are relatively darker areas on the Sun.&nbsp;

The rotations of the Sun in each solar cycle lead to areas of magnetic energy on the star. When these areas are very strong, they become visible as sunspots.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the result of sunspots?</h2>

Sunspots have strong magnetic fields that cause coronal mass ejections or CMEs.&nbsp;CMEs release large amounts of plasma and magnetic fields&nbsp;from&nbsp;the Sun's corona region.&nbsp;

These cause solar flares that send out electromagnetic radiation and are experienced as geomagnetic 'solar storms' on Earth.

As sunspots increase, a corresponding rise in solar flares&nbsp;is observed.

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Warnings were issued for geomagnetic storms&nbsp;in the August 11-12 period, around the time when sunspots were estimated at the highest since 2002. 
 
"Solar Cycle 25 is proving to be much more active than originally forecast by the scientist experts who predicted the cycle back in 2019 or so," Space.com quoted Shawn Dahl of SWPC as saying.

The Solar Cycle 25 has already caused intense geomagnetic storms, and auroras on Earth.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Sun has had the largest number of sunspots in over 20 years this month, according to the US agencies observing the star. The estimated Sunspot Number or SNN for 8 August may have reached 299, said the US Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, Colorado.

The Sun has had the largest number of sunspots in over 20 years this month, according to the US agencies observing the star. The estimated Sunspot Number or SNN for 8 August may have reached 299, said the US Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, Colorado. This is the largest number since at least July 2002, it said on its website. These sunspots occurred in a 24-hour period. The current solar cycle, which is numbered as Solar Cycle 25, "likely reached its highest SSN thus far on August 8, a value of perhaps 299," it said. A solar cycle, estimated to last 11 years, is how the Sun alternates between its so-called solar minimum and solar maximum. Also read | Volcanic eruption in 536 spewed so much ash that Sun didn't shine for 18 months The official SSN data is released by global agencies in September, though 299 appears to be a possible number. The final number will come from the World Data Center - Sunspot Index and Long-Term Solar Observations (WDC-SILSO). In fact, the SWPC had recorded the SSN higher at 337, a value not observed since March 2001. What are sun spots? Each sunspot is the size of the whole earth. These are relatively darker areas on the Sun. The rotations of the Sun in each solar cycle lead to areas of magnetic energy on the star. When these areas are very strong, they become visible as sunspots. What is the result of sunspots? Sunspots have strong magnetic fields that cause coronal mass ejections or CMEs. CMEs release large amounts of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun's corona region. These cause solar flares that send out electromagnetic radiation and are experienced as geomagnetic 'solar storms' on Earth. As sunspots increase, a corresponding rise in solar flares is observed. Also read | Aurora on Sun? It happened in 2023 when Earth spewed back particles Warnings were issued for geomagnetic storms in the August 11-12 period, around the time when sunspots were estimated at the highest since 2002. "Solar Cycle 25 is proving to be much more active than originally forecast by the scientist experts who predicted the cycle back in 2019 or so," Space.com quoted Shawn Dahl of SWPC as saying. The Solar Cycle 25 has already caused intense geomagnetic storms, and auroras on Earth. (With inputs from agencies)

The Sun probably just had the largest number of sunspots in over 20 years: What does it mean?