Starbase, SpaceX's town in Texas, might soon oust several residents from their properties. According to a notice, residents may lose the right to continue using their property as they do today, according to a memo, CNBC reported. The company town is considering a new zoning ordinance and citywide map, as per the notice.&nbsp;It further proposes that Starbase would become a “Mixed Use District,” with “residential, office, retail, and small-scale service" uses of properties. The report suggests that a public hearing is being planned for June 23, where the proposed zoning will be discussed, along with a new map for the town.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/deep-space-radio-signals-cosmic-mystery-object-pulsar-magnetar-1748517706567">44 minutes apart, 2 minutes every time: Something from deep space is sending signals to Earth</a>&nbsp;Kent Myers, the new city administrator for Starbase, informed about the meeting, according to ValleyCentral.com.&nbsp;<h2>SpaceX officials run the town of Starbase</h2>&nbsp;Stabase was officially turned into a "type-C municipal corporation" earlier this month. The change was done after Elon Musk’s aerospace and defence contractor won a local election. All officials running the town are either current SpaceX employees or former staff.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/venus-asteroids-earth-nuclear-bomb-nasa-warning-1748417986834">Evil twin? Venus sheltering 'invisible' asteroids that can wipe off humanity with a minuscule change in course</a>&nbsp;It currently has 500 people, of whom 260 are direct employees of SpaceX. The rest are all related to the staff members of the space tech company. The company owns 1.6 square miles of land in Starbase, but the main attraction here is the launch facility from which SpaceX tests its huge rocket, Starship.&nbsp;<h2>Why does SpaceX have an entire town?</h2>&nbsp;Having a town dedicated to the company on the Texas Gulf Coast lets SpaceX build and test the rocket without the need for any permissions. Its first city commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday. Notably, on Tuesday (May 27), a Starship rocket exploded during a test launch, the third time in a row. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there were "no reports of public injury or damage to public property".&nbsp;Starship's ninth test flight saw the vehicle break up over the Indian Ocean 46 minutes after launch. Its eighth flight also exploded in March, and the seventh one also failed in January.&nbsp;Notably, Starship has gained permission from the FAA to increase its launches per year from five to 25. The rocket has been designed to carry 100 people to Mars as part of Musk's vision for future humans. He has his eyes set on sending humans to the red planet and is planning to build a colony there. As per reports, he wants to land the first humans on Mars early next decade. &nbsp;

Residents of Starbase might soon have to forego certain rights over their properties. SpaceX employees run the town of Starbase.

Starbase, SpaceX's town in Texas, might soon oust several residents from their properties. According to a notice, residents may lose the right to continue using their property as they do today, according to a memo, CNBC reported. The company town is considering a new zoning ordinance and citywide map, as per the notice. It further proposes that Starbase would become a “Mixed Use District,” with “residential, office, retail, and small-scale service" uses of properties. The report suggests that a public hearing is being planned for June 23, where the proposed zoning will be discussed, along with a new map for the town. Also Read: 44 minutes apart, 2 minutes every time: Something from deep space is sending signals to Earth Kent Myers, the new city administrator for Starbase, informed about the meeting, according to ValleyCentral.com. SpaceX officials run the town of Starbase Stabase was officially turned into a "type-C municipal corporation" earlier this month. The change was done after Elon Musk’s aerospace and defence contractor won a local election. All officials running the town are either current SpaceX employees or former staff. Also Read: Evil twin? Venus sheltering 'invisible' asteroids that can wipe off humanity with a minuscule change in course It currently has 500 people, of whom 260 are direct employees of SpaceX. The rest are all related to the staff members of the space tech company. The company owns 1.6 square miles of land in Starbase, but the main attraction here is the launch facility from which SpaceX tests its huge rocket, Starship. Why does SpaceX have an entire town? Having a town dedicated to the company on the Texas Gulf Coast lets SpaceX build and test the rocket without the need for any permissions. Its first city commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday. Notably, on Tuesday (May 27), a Starship rocket exploded during a test launch, the third time in a row. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there were "no reports of public injury or damage to public property". Starship's ninth test flight saw the vehicle break up over the Indian Ocean 46 minutes after launch. Its eighth flight also exploded in March, and the seventh one also failed in January. Notably, Starship has gained permission from the FAA to increase its launches per year from five to 25. The rocket has been designed to carry 100 people to Mars as part of Musk's vision for future humans. He has his eyes set on sending humans to the red planet and is planning to build a colony there. As per reports, he wants to land the first humans on Mars early next decade.

Residents of Starbase might soon have to forego certain rights over their properties. SpaceX employees run the town of Starbase.

SpaceX employees run this town which might soon have new rules and a new map

Space tourism is growing as private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin offer trips beyond Earth. Pioneered by billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, it’s a costly adventure with both risks and rewards. As tech advances, prices may drop and space travel could expand.

Space tourism is growing as private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin offer trips beyond Earth. Pioneered by billionaires like Bezos and Musk, it’s a costly adventure with both risks and rewards. As tech advances, prices may drop and space travel could expand.

Why is space tourism becoming a new hobby for billionaires?

SpaceX’s Starship exploded over the Indian Ocean just 30 minutes after launch, but the test still showed major progress. With more flights planned soon, the mission to make space travel cheaper and reach.

SpaceX’s Starship exploded over the Indian Ocean just 30 minutes after launch, but the test still showed major progress. With more flights planned soon, the mission to make space travel cheaper and reach.

What SpaceX learnt from Starship’s crash over the Indian ocean?

Elon Musk’s SpaceX faced yet another setback after a bumpy test flight of prototype Starship, which exploded over the Indian Ocean on Tuesday (May 27).&nbsp;The Starship Flight 9 started spinning out of control after the rocket experienced a fuel leak. The world’s biggest and most powerful launch vehicle lifted off around 6:36 pm (2336 GMT) from the company’s Starbase facility in Texas.&nbsp;The first-stage Super Heavy booster exploded instead of executing its planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.&nbsp;In the live feed, the upper-stage spaceship was seen failing to open its doors to deploy a payload of Starlink satellite “simulators”.&nbsp;While the Starship flew further than the earlier two attempts, it experienced leaks and started spinning out of control. Mission teams vented fuel to reduce the expected explosion.&nbsp;“As if the flight test was not exciting enough, Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly. Teams will continue to review data and work toward our next flight test,” SpaceX said on X.&nbsp;“With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s test will help us improve Starship’s reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multiplanetary,” it added.&nbsp;SpaceX CEO said, “Starship made it to the scheduled ship engine cutoff, so big improvement over last flight! Also, no significant loss of heat shield tiles during ascent. Leaks caused loss of main tank pressure during the coast and re-entry phase. Lot of good data to review.”&nbsp;He added, “Launch cadence for next 3 flights will be faster, at approximately 1 every 3 to 4 weeks.”&nbsp;This comes after two failed flights earlier this year, Flight 7 in January and Flight 8 in March. Although SpaceX successfully managed to return its Super Heavy booster back to Earth, the Ship stage of the rocket failed soon after liftoff.

The first-stage Super Heavy booster exploded instead of executing its planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX faced yet another setback after a bumpy test flight of prototype Starship, which exploded over the Indian Ocean on Tuesday (May 27). The Starship Flight 9 started spinning out of control after the rocket experienced a fuel leak. The world’s biggest and most powerful launch vehicle lifted off around 6:36 pm (2336 GMT) from the company’s Starbase facility in Texas. The first-stage Super Heavy booster exploded instead of executing its planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. In the live feed, the upper-stage spaceship was seen failing to open its doors to deploy a payload of Starlink satellite “simulators”. While the Starship flew further than the earlier two attempts, it experienced leaks and started spinning out of control. Mission teams vented fuel to reduce the expected explosion. “As if the flight test was not exciting enough, Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly. Teams will continue to review data and work toward our next flight test,” SpaceX said on X. “With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s test will help us improve Starship’s reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multiplanetary,” it added. SpaceX CEO said, “Starship made it to the scheduled ship engine cutoff, so big improvement over last flight! Also, no significant loss of heat shield tiles during ascent. Leaks caused loss of main tank pressure during the coast and re-entry phase. Lot of good data to review.” He added, “Launch cadence for next 3 flights will be faster, at approximately 1 every 3 to 4 weeks.” This comes after two failed flights earlier this year, Flight 7 in January and Flight 8 in March. Although SpaceX successfully managed to return its Super Heavy booster back to Earth, the Ship stage of the rocket failed soon after liftoff.

The first-stage Super Heavy booster exploded instead of executing its planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

Elon Musk’s Starship Flight 9 explodes over Indian Ocean, SpaceX calls it ‘rapid unscheduled disassembly’

The spacecraft, which is designed for low Earth orbit, is fully reusable. It can also fly to the moon and Mars.

The spacecraft, which is designed for low Earth orbit, is fully reusable. It can also fly to the moon and Mars.

In pics | SpaceX set to launch Starship Flight 9 after two failed flight this year

People in Los Angeles were rattled by a sudden sonic boom on Saturday night. It was a loud explosion that caught residents unawares at around 10:45 pm. What scared them the most was that a noticeable shaking followed the sound. People thought it was an earthquake, but it was actually a visitor from space of man-made origin. The loud noise was made by Elon Musk's SpaceX Dragon capsule returning to Earth.&nbsp;The boom and the rattling were heard from Santa Monica to Fresno. People flocked to social media to know more about what shook their homes, hoping to find the answers. Some feared that it was an explosion. The incident was so scary that some social media users thought they were witnessing the end of times, with one of them stating it was likely "my last day on Earth."&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/universe-just-recorded-its-most-powerful-sonic-booms-in-stephans-quintet-778628">Universe just recorded its most powerful sonic booms in Stephan’s Quintet</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;Another quipped that the explosion was so loud that he thought they were all about to go out "like dinosaurs."&nbsp;<h2>SpaceX Dragon capsule returned to Earth</h2>&nbsp;NASA reported that a SpaceX Dragon capsule had returned to Earth. It had carried approximately 6,700 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station (ISS). It made its reentry after undocking from the ISS at 9:05 am on Friday.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/jupiter-was-an-even-bigger-monster-billions-of-years-ago-1747903607663">Jupiter was an even bigger monster billions of years ago, Amalthea and Thebe hold clues</a>&nbsp;<h2>Warning issues about sonic boom in Los Angeles</h2>&nbsp;After about 36 hours, the capsule splashed down into the Pacific Ocean off the California coast. SpaceX had posted a warning about an hour before the descent that the Dragon capsule would "announce its arrival with a brief sonic boom". However, the sonic boom came as a surprise to most residents of Los Angeles.&nbsp;SpaceX and NASA have joined hands to ensure critical cargo and supplies reach the International Space Station. Spacecraft commonly return to Earth at supersonic speed, and this one was also monitored as routine.&nbsp;Loud noises in the area near the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County have become common in the area. SpaceX and the US Space Force have admitted that such noises have become common due to frequent rocket launches and landings in the area.&nbsp;Concerns have been raised about the sonic booms, with appeals being made to limit them. However, military officials have dismissed them. Notably, SpaceX is planning over 90 launches from the base by 2026. &nbsp;

A loud boom, followed by a rattling, triggered an earthquake scare in Los Angeles on Saturday night. Panicked people flocked to social media to search for answers. What was it?

People in Los Angeles were rattled by a sudden sonic boom on Saturday night. It was a loud explosion that caught residents unawares at around 10:45 pm. What scared them the most was that a noticeable shaking followed the sound. People thought it was an earthquake, but it was actually a visitor from space of man-made origin. The loud noise was made by Elon Musk's SpaceX Dragon capsule returning to Earth. The boom and the rattling were heard from Santa Monica to Fresno. People flocked to social media to know more about what shook their homes, hoping to find the answers. Some feared that it was an explosion. The incident was so scary that some social media users thought they were witnessing the end of times, with one of them stating it was likely "my last day on Earth." Also Read: Universe just recorded its most powerful sonic booms in Stephan’s Quintet Another quipped that the explosion was so loud that he thought they were all about to go out "like dinosaurs." SpaceX Dragon capsule returned to Earth NASA reported that a SpaceX Dragon capsule had returned to Earth. It had carried approximately 6,700 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station (ISS). It made its reentry after undocking from the ISS at 9:05 am on Friday. Also Read: Jupiter was an even bigger monster billions of years ago, Amalthea and Thebe hold clues Warning issues about sonic boom in Los Angeles After about 36 hours, the capsule splashed down into the Pacific Ocean off the California coast. SpaceX had posted a warning about an hour before the descent that the Dragon capsule would "announce its arrival with a brief sonic boom". However, the sonic boom came as a surprise to most residents of Los Angeles. SpaceX and NASA have joined hands to ensure critical cargo and supplies reach the International Space Station. Spacecraft commonly return to Earth at supersonic speed, and this one was also monitored as routine. Loud noises in the area near the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County have become common in the area. SpaceX and the US Space Force have admitted that such noises have become common due to frequent rocket launches and landings in the area. Concerns have been raised about the sonic booms, with appeals being made to limit them. However, military officials have dismissed them. Notably, SpaceX is planning over 90 launches from the base by 2026.

A loud boom, followed by a rattling, triggered an earthquake scare in Los Angeles on Saturday night. Panicked people flocked to social media to search for answers. What was it?

Screeching sound blasts Los Angeles, followed by a strange rattling. What was it?

SpaceX launched 23 more Starlink satellites into orbit late on Tuesday (May 20) night, just 24 hours after a last-minute abort halted the initial attempt.

SpaceX launched 23 more Starlink satellites into orbit late on Tuesday (May 20) night, just 24 hours after a last-minute abort halted the initial attempt.

In Pics | SpaceX launches Falcon 9 with 23 Starlink satellites, a day after last-minute abort

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is preparing to head to space as part of the Ax-4 mission. His recent training involved simulating space like low pressure conditions to prepare for emergencies in orbit.

ISRO's Shubhanshu Shukla goes through toughest space training for Ax-4 mission! Know all about it

Residents in a small part of southern Texas are voting on whether to turn their neighbourhood into a brand-new city, one that would give Elon Musk&rsquo;s SpaceX something close to its own government. The new city would be called Starbase, and it sits right where SpaceX carries out its rocket launches in Texas.
<h2>What the vote is about?</h2>
The election is being held among a few hundred people living in what is now known as Boca Chica. If passed, the vote would officially create a city government, allowing the area to make its own local rules.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-mocks-elon-musk-after-white-house-exit-9026163" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Kissing my a**': Trump mocks 'buddy' Elon Musk after his alleged White House exit</a>
Most of the people eligible to vote are SpaceX employees and their families, which makes the outcome almost certain. Starbase is expected to be approved.
<h2>How would this benefit Musk?</h2>
By creating Starbase, Musk gains a level of control rarely seen in modern-day business. While he won&rsquo;t technically be in charge, the town would be run almost entirely by SpaceX staff. That means the company, and by extension, Musk&nbsp;would have significant influence over how things are done in the city.
It also gives SpaceX more freedom to manage day-to-day operations, including road closures during rocket launches, without relying as much on outside authorities. According to statements submitted by SpaceX workers, this new setup would improve &ldquo;logistics and coordination&rdquo;.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ice-cream-lincoln-bedroom-video-games-elon-musks-100-days-in-trump-admin-amid-reports-of-his-white-house-exit-9023602" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Ice cream, Lincoln bedroom, video games: Elon Musk's 100 days in Trump admin amid reports of his White House exit</a>
<h2>Who&rsquo;s running the town?</h2>
Starbase would be led by people already high up at SpaceX. The candidate for mayor, Bobby Peden, is the vice-president of test and launch operations and has been with the company since 2013. He is running unopposed.
Two others from the company, an engineering manager and a senior director of environmental health and safety, are running for city commissioner roles. Like Peden, both are standing without opposition.
<h2>What does Starbase look like?</h2>
Starbase is a small area near the Mexican border, close to the Gulf of Mexico. It&rsquo;s lined with palm trees, prefabricated homes and shiny airstream trailers. A massive golden bust of Musk, nine feet tall, stands in the middle of it all. A plaque below calls him &ldquo;ELON aka Memelord&rdquo;.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-tesla-ceo-regrets-supporting-donald-trump-in-united-states-9029278" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Yes...but cut that part': Elon Musk quips when asked if he regrets supporting Donald Trump</a>
Not everyone is impressed. Vandals recently damaged the statue, peeling off parts of the foam and fibreglass.
<h2>Local concerns over Starbase</h2>
Although the town is likely to be created, not everyone is happy about it. Locals have raised concerns about rising living costs and reduced beach access during rocket tests. Since SpaceX moved into Cameron County about ten years ago, rents have gone up nearly 15%.
Community organiser Bekah Hinojosa spoke out against the plan, telling Politico, &ldquo;They&rsquo;re claiming they&rsquo;re bringing economic incentives, but the rent is going up, the roads are crumbling.&rdquo;
&ldquo;It is getting harder to live here,&rdquo; she added. &ldquo;All this seems to benefit is fancy restaurants with SpaceX clientele.&rdquo;
Hinojosa said, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the richest man on the planet using us as a testing ground. Elon Musk is on his way to colonising Mars. First, he&rsquo;s trying to colonise this community.&rdquo;
Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tesla-board-searches-for-a-new-ceo-to-replace-musk-wsj-report-9023876" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Tesla board searches for a new CEO to replace Musk: WSJ report</a>
<h2>A new kind of company town</h2>
If the vote succeeds, Musk&rsquo;s influence over Starbase will look a lot like the company towns of the Gilded Age, where businesses controlled everything from housing to local laws. Though Musk won&rsquo;t have an official role, his company will effectively run the town.

World: By creating Starbase, Musk gains a level of control rarely seen in modern-day business. While he won’t technically be in charge, the town would be run almost entirely by SpaceX staff.

Residents in a small part of southern Texas are voting on whether to turn their neighbourhood into a brand-new city, one that would give Elon Musk’s SpaceX something close to its own government. The new city would be called Starbase, and it sits right where SpaceX carries out its rocket launches in Texas. What the vote is about? The election is being held among a few hundred people living in what is now known as Boca Chica. If passed, the vote would officially create a city government, allowing the area to make its own local rules. Also read: 'Kissing my a**': Trump mocks 'buddy' Elon Musk after his alleged White House exit Most of the people eligible to vote are SpaceX employees and their families, which makes the outcome almost certain. Starbase is expected to be approved. How would this benefit Musk? By creating Starbase, Musk gains a level of control rarely seen in modern-day business. While he won’t technically be in charge, the town would be run almost entirely by SpaceX staff. That means the company, and by extension, Musk would have significant influence over how things are done in the city. It also gives SpaceX more freedom to manage day-to-day operations, including road closures during rocket launches, without relying as much on outside authorities. According to statements submitted by SpaceX workers, this new setup would improve “logistics and coordination”. Also read: 'Ice cream, Lincoln bedroom, video games: Elon Musk's 100 days in Trump admin amid reports of his White House exit Who’s running the town? Starbase would be led by people already high up at SpaceX. The candidate for mayor, Bobby Peden, is the vice-president of test and launch operations and has been with the company since 2013. He is running unopposed. Two others from the company, an engineering manager and a senior director of environmental health and safety, are running for city commissioner roles. Like Peden, both are standing without opposition. What does Starbase look like? Starbase is a small area near the Mexican border, close to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s lined with palm trees, prefabricated homes and shiny airstream trailers. A massive golden bust of Musk, nine feet tall, stands in the middle of it all. A plaque below calls him “ELON aka Memelord”. Also read: 'Yes...but cut that part': Elon Musk quips when asked if he regrets supporting Donald Trump Not everyone is impressed. Vandals recently damaged the statue, peeling off parts of the foam and fibreglass. Local concerns over Starbase Although the town is likely to be created, not everyone is happy about it. Locals have raised concerns about rising living costs and reduced beach access during rocket tests. Since SpaceX moved into Cameron County about ten years ago, rents have gone up nearly 15%. Community organiser Bekah Hinojosa spoke out against the plan, telling Politico, “They’re claiming they’re bringing economic incentives, but the rent is going up, the roads are crumbling.” “It is getting harder to live here,” she added. “All this seems to benefit is fancy restaurants with SpaceX clientele.” Hinojosa said, “It’s the richest man on the planet using us as a testing ground. Elon Musk is on his way to colonising Mars. First, he’s trying to colonise this community.” Watch: Tesla board searches for a new CEO to replace Musk: WSJ report A new kind of company town If the vote succeeds, Musk’s influence over Starbase will look a lot like the company towns of the Gilded Age, where businesses controlled everything from housing to local laws. Though Musk won’t have an official role, his company will effectively run the town.

‘He’s trying to colonise’: Elon Musk to add his own city, ‘Starbase’, to his empire - Here’s all you need to know

President Donald Trump’s ambitious missile defense program, dubbed the “Golden Dome,” aims to deploy 1,000 satellites to protect America from nuclear threats. With Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Starlink playing a key role, the US is entering a new era of space-based military defense, costing trillions but promising unmatched security.

Trump's Golden Dome: 1,000 satellites to shield America from nukes

Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma is the first and the only Indian astronaut. Sharma flew to the Soviet Salyut 7 space station in April 1984. Very soon, a second Indian will be flying to space. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force fighter pilot, is slated to fly to the International Space Station next month.

Indian astronaut to pilot Axiom-4: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to fly to space in May

#GRAVITAS | Elon Musk's SpaceX is on a mission to orbit Earth from pole to pole -a novel trajectory in which no humans have traveled before. On Monday, it launched a crew of four private astronauts led by a Crypto entrepreneur. Watch this video to find out more.

Elon Musk Sends Private Crew Of 4 For Polar Exploration

SpaceX on Monday (Mar 31) launched the first human space flight directly over Earth's polar regions. It is a privately funded orbital mission involving four astronauts, including mission commander Chun Wang, vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen, vehicle pilot Rabea Rogge and mission specialist and medical officer Eric Philips.&nbsp;
SpaceX shared video which showed the powerful Falcon 9 rocket roaring upward and beginning its journey toward Earth's North and South Poles.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/are-nasa-boeing-to-be-blamed-for-sunita-williams-butch-willmores-extended-space-stay-astronauts-respond-8911400">Are NASA, Boeing to be blamed for Sunita Williams &amp; Butch Willmore&rsquo;s extended space stay? Astronauts respond</a>
SpaceX, the American space technology company, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, said that the Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously flew Crew-1 to and from the International Space Station (ISS), Inspiration4, the first all-civilian mission to orbit and Polaris Dawn, the first commercial mission to conduct an extra-vehicular activity from Dragon.&nbsp;
The space company informed that this will be the sixth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-9, RRT-1, Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1 and two Starlink missions.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/spider-eggs-on-mars-nasa-scientists-spot-strange-mysterious-object-on-red-planet-see-close-up-image-8905669">Spider eggs on Mars? NASA scientists spot strange, mysterious object on Red Planet - see close-up image</a>&nbsp;
Watch the video here:&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8xvu336-7qct27ut-6s634kd7">
Liftoff of Fram2 and the <a href="https://twitter.com/framonauts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@framonauts</a>! <a href="https://t.co/XBL5juCnHQ">pic.twitter.com/XBL5juCnHQ</a>
&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1906886541164855662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>What are mission objectives?&nbsp;</h2>
Dragon and the crew will fly over Earth's polar regions for the first time and investigate the planet from a polar orbit during their multi-day trip.&nbsp;
Additionally, they will carry out 22 research projects aimed at improving humanity's capacity for extended space travel and to get a better understanding of health in space.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/nasa-finds-largest-carbon-molecules-on-mars-hinting-at-ancient-life-8888503">NASA finds largest organic molecules on Mars, hinting at ancient life</a>
The crew of Fram2 intends to grow mushrooms in microgravity, conduct workout research to preserve muscle and skeletal mass and take the first x-ray in space during its time in orbit.&nbsp;
The crew also intends to successfully return to Earth and then leave the Dragon spacecraft without further medical or operational support, which will aid researchers in assessing astronauts' capacity to carry out functional activities without assistance following both brief and extended space missions.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-how-india-and-japan-will-execute-chandrayaan-5lupex-moon-mission-8897124">Explained: How India and Japan will execute Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX Moon mission</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

Science and Tech | World | Dragon and the crew will fly over Earth's polar regions for the first time and investigate the planet from a polar orbit

SpaceX on Monday (Mar 31) launched the first human space flight directly over Earth's polar regions. It is a privately funded orbital mission involving four astronauts, including mission commander Chun Wang, vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen, vehicle pilot Rabea Rogge and mission specialist and medical officer Eric Philips. SpaceX shared video which showed the powerful Falcon 9 rocket roaring upward and beginning its journey toward Earth's North and South Poles. Also read: Are NASA, Boeing to be blamed for Sunita Williams & Butch Willmore’s extended space stay? Astronauts respond SpaceX, the American space technology company, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, said that the Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously flew Crew-1 to and from the International Space Station (ISS), Inspiration4, the first all-civilian mission to orbit and Polaris Dawn, the first commercial mission to conduct an extra-vehicular activity from Dragon. The space company informed that this will be the sixth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-9, RRT-1, Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1 and two Starlink missions. Also read: Spider eggs on Mars? NASA scientists spot strange, mysterious object on Red Planet - see close-up image Watch the video here: Liftoff of Fram2 and the @framonauts! pic.twitter.com/XBL5juCnHQ — SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 1, 2025 What are mission objectives? Dragon and the crew will fly over Earth's polar regions for the first time and investigate the planet from a polar orbit during their multi-day trip. Additionally, they will carry out 22 research projects aimed at improving humanity's capacity for extended space travel and to get a better understanding of health in space. Also read: NASA finds largest organic molecules on Mars, hinting at ancient life The crew of Fram2 intends to grow mushrooms in microgravity, conduct workout research to preserve muscle and skeletal mass and take the first x-ray in space during its time in orbit. The crew also intends to successfully return to Earth and then leave the Dragon spacecraft without further medical or operational support, which will aid researchers in assessing astronauts' capacity to carry out functional activities without assistance following both brief and extended space missions. Also read: Explained: How India and Japan will execute Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX Moon mission (With inputs from agencies)

Liftoff of Fram2: SpaceX launches private astronauts on mission to orbit Earth from pole to pole - WATCH

Just days after successfully bringing back astronauts Sunita Williams and Crew-9 from the International Space Station, SpaceX is preparing for a groundbreaking mission.&nbsp;
The Fram2 mission, set to launch on March 31, 2025, from NASA&rsquo;s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will be the first human spaceflight to travel over Earth&rsquo;s polar regions.
A Falcon 9 rocket will carry the Crew Dragon capsule, which will host four international astronauts on an unprecedented journey.
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<h2>Global crew takes the lead</h2>
The mission&rsquo;s crew is made up of first-time space travellers, led by: Chun Wang (Malta) &ndash; Mission Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen (Norway) &ndash; Vehicle Commander Rabea Rogge (Germany) &ndash; Mission Pilot Eric Philips (Australia) &ndash; Mission Medical Officer
Inspired by the Norwegian exploration vessel Fram, which ventured into the Arctic and Antarctic in the 19th century, the team aims to push new frontiers in human spaceflight.
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<h2>Scientific exploration beyond traditional orbits</h2>
Fram2 will break from conventional flight paths by entering a 90-degree orbit, steeper than the 51.6-degree orbits of past crewed missions. Over a three-to-five-day journey, the astronauts will conduct 22 cutting-edge experiments on spaceflight and human biology. Among the key objectives:
-First-ever X-ray imaging of humans in space.
-Growing mushrooms in microgravity for potential Mars missions.Studying Strong.
-Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancements (STEVE), a mysterious polar light phenomenon.
-The mission will also feature the Fram2Ham competition, allowing amateur radio operators worldwide to decode images sent from space.
<h2>SpaceX&rsquo;s growing role in private spaceflight</h2>
Fram2 joins a series of private space missions led by SpaceX. Previous missions include: Ax-1, Ax-2, and Ax-3 &ndash; Organised by Axiom Space, these missions carried private astronauts to the International Space Station. Inspiration 1 and 2 &ndash; These free-flying missions saw private astronauts perform assisted spacewalks in Earth&rsquo;s orbit. With Fram2, SpaceX continues to expand the possibilities of commercial human spaceflight, pushing beyond traditional mission profiles.

SCIENCE & TECH | A Falcon 9 rocket will carry the Crew Dragon capsule, which will host four international astronauts on an unprecedented journey.

Just days after successfully bringing back astronauts Sunita Williams and Crew-9 from the International Space Station, SpaceX is preparing for a groundbreaking mission. The Fram2 mission, set to launch on March 31, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will be the first human spaceflight to travel over Earth’s polar regions. A Falcon 9 rocket will carry the Crew Dragon capsule, which will host four international astronauts on an unprecedented journey. Also Read | Teenage girls were victims of human sacrifice ritual in Turkey 5,000 years ago Global crew takes the lead The mission’s crew is made up of first-time space travellers, led by: Chun Wang (Malta) – Mission Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen (Norway) – Vehicle Commander Rabea Rogge (Germany) – Mission Pilot Eric Philips (Australia) – Mission Medical Officer Inspired by the Norwegian exploration vessel Fram, which ventured into the Arctic and Antarctic in the 19th century, the team aims to push new frontiers in human spaceflight. Also Read | Partial Solar Eclipse 2025: Time, when, where and how to watch event live in India Scientific exploration beyond traditional orbits Fram2 will break from conventional flight paths by entering a 90-degree orbit, steeper than the 51.6-degree orbits of past crewed missions. Over a three-to-five-day journey, the astronauts will conduct 22 cutting-edge experiments on spaceflight and human biology. Among the key objectives: -First-ever X-ray imaging of humans in space. -Growing mushrooms in microgravity for potential Mars missions.Studying Strong. -Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancements (STEVE), a mysterious polar light phenomenon. -The mission will also feature the Fram2Ham competition, allowing amateur radio operators worldwide to decode images sent from space. SpaceX’s growing role in private spaceflight Fram2 joins a series of private space missions led by SpaceX. Previous missions include: Ax-1, Ax-2, and Ax-3 – Organised by Axiom Space, these missions carried private astronauts to the International Space Station. Inspiration 1 and 2 – These free-flying missions saw private astronauts perform assisted spacewalks in Earth’s orbit. With Fram2, SpaceX continues to expand the possibilities of commercial human spaceflight, pushing beyond traditional mission profiles.

SpaceX's Fram2 mission set for first human flight over Earth's polar regions

A mesmerizing blue spiral appeared over Europe, leaving people in awe. The stunning phenomenon was caused by a SpaceX rocket re-entry, creating a dazzling cosmic whirlpool. Social media lit up with breathtaking images of the rare event.

Mysterious blue spiral lights up European night sky after SpaceX launch

Elon Musk&rsquo;s companies are set to benefit massively from a wave of new federal contracts and support across several key US government departments, as the Trump administration continues to align policies with Musk&rsquo;s interests, as per The New York Times report.
<h2>A new era of influence</h2>
Appointed by President Trump to lead a cost-cutting effort, Musk is running a group called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has overseen the dismissal of nearly 100,000 federal workers and the shutdown of various agencies. While the exact scope of his power is unclear, his growing influence is undeniable.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-backs-musks-claim-of-white-genocide-in-south-africa-grok-fact-check-calls-them-out-8883153">Trump backs Musk's claim of &lsquo;white genocide&rsquo; in South Africa, Grok fact-check calls them out</a>
<h2>SpaceX embedded across government</h2>
Across the government, Musk&rsquo;s aerospace company SpaceX is becoming deeply embedded.
<ul>
<li>The Pentagon is exploring the use of SpaceX rockets to rapidly transport military equipment around the globe.</li>
<li>NASA is being pushed, partly due to Musk&rsquo;s lobbying, to shift focus towards Mars exploration&mdash;a move that could see SpaceX winning major contracts to send the first humans to the red planet.</li>
<li>The FAA and White House have begun installing Starlink satellite internet terminals, expanding Musk&rsquo;s presence inside federal systems.</li>
</ul>
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/political-nonsense-elon-musks-father-defends-son-says-he-was-friends-with-black-servants-during-apartheid-8881788">'Political nonsense': Elon Musk's father defends son, says he was 'friends' with Black servants during apartheid</a>
According to The New York Times, this expansion comes not only from Trump&rsquo;s directives but also from the placement of Musk&rsquo;s allies and former employees in influential government positions.
The New York Times report said, &ldquo;Even if Trump had never given Musk and his employees a government role&mdash;or if former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. had been elected to a second term&mdash;SpaceX would have continued to secure new government work. What has changed is the overall value of the work expected to be delivered to SpaceX.&rdquo;
<h2>Federal contracts</h2>
SpaceX was already a top federal contractor, with $3.8 billion in contracts secured in fiscal year 2024 across 344 deals. But that figure is expected to grow significantly under current policies prioritising private space companies for key services such as:
<ul>
<li>Satellite manufacturing</li>
<li>Communications infrastructure</li>
<li>Government transport missions</li>
</ul>
One major step includes the FAA&rsquo;s recent approval to double SpaceX&rsquo;s Falcon 9 rocket launches at Cape Canaveral, from 48 to 120 per year.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/slimy-billionaire-elon-musk-blasted-for-buying-votes-in-wisconsin-court-election-as-trump-backs-brad-schimel-8880989">'Slimy billionaire': Elon Musk blasted for &lsquo;buying votes&rsquo; in Wisconsin court election as Trump backs Brad Schimel</a>
During the Biden administration, SpaceX&rsquo;s Starlink satellite internet service was mostly excluded from federal rural broadband funding. That changed with the appointment of Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary. At his confirmation hearing, Lutnick vowed to change how $42 billion in broadband funds are distributed.
&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s use satellites, let&rsquo;s use wireless, and let&rsquo;s use fibre,&rdquo; Lutnick said. &ldquo;And let&rsquo;s do it the cheapest, most efficiently we can.&rdquo; This shift allows Starlink to fully compete for rural broadband deals nationwide.
<h2>Ethical concerns </h2>
Musk&rsquo;s reach inside the government has raised ethical red flags. SpaceX employees embedded in federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, have been granted ethics waivers allowing them to participate in decisions that may directly benefit SpaceX.
One employee, Theodore Malaska, posted on X that FAA systems are now integrating Starlink satellites to relay weather data to pilots, technology that could bring further revenue to Musk&rsquo;s company. Though the FAA claims only eight Starlink terminals are currently in use, others have appeared in White House offices and at the General Services Administration.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-makes-rare-admission-on-musks-conflicts-of-interest-says-certainly-you-wouldnt-show-the-businessman-china-war-plans-8878296">Trump makes rare admission on Musk&rsquo;s conflicts of interest, says 'wouldn&rsquo;t show' businessman China war plans</a>
Federal law prohibits employees from making decisions that benefit their financial interests or give the appearance of a conflict. While Musk has claimed he is not personally involved in securing contracts, the whole situation raises unprecedented questions about influence and access.
After a fatal collision between a military helicopter and a civilian plane in January, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy brought in SpaceX teams to help modernise air traffic systems. Musk soon criticised Verizon for delays in implementing the FAA&rsquo;s updated network, calling it a &ldquo;serious risk to air travellers&rdquo;. With Starlink now being considered as an alternative, SpaceX could secure a foothold in another critical infrastructure system.
Musk&rsquo;s influence comes after he donated nearly $300 million to Donald Trump&rsquo;s 2024 campaign and later joined the administration as a cost-cutting&nbsp;adviso.
Blair Levin, a former FCC official, told NYT, &ldquo;The odds of Elon getting whatever Elon wants are much higher today. He is in the White House and Mar-a-Lago. No one ever anticipated that an industry competitor would have access to those kinds of levers of power.&rdquo;
NASA, which has already paid SpaceX over $13 billion in contracts over the past decade, may hand over even more in future deals. These have included cargo and astronaut missions and launching the agency&rsquo;s largest space probes.
Now, Trump has nominated Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur who paid SpaceX to fly to orbit twice, as the new head of NASA. Isaacman&rsquo;s firm, Shift4 Payments, previously held a stake in SpaceX, earning $25 million before selling it off. In his ethics filings, Isaacman promised to sever all remaining financial ties to the company.
He will join Michael Altenhofen, another former SpaceX staffer who became a senior NASA adviser in February.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: While Musk has claimed he is not personally involved in securing contracts, the whole situation raises unprecedented questions about influence and access.

Elon Musk’s companies are set to benefit massively from a wave of new federal contracts and support across several key US government departments, as the Trump administration continues to align policies with Musk’s interests, as per The New York Times report. A new era of influence Appointed by President Trump to lead a cost-cutting effort, Musk is running a group called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has overseen the dismissal of nearly 100,000 federal workers and the shutdown of various agencies. While the exact scope of his power is unclear, his growing influence is undeniable. Also read: Trump backs Musk's claim of ‘white genocide’ in South Africa, Grok fact-check calls them out SpaceX embedded across government Across the government, Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX is becoming deeply embedded. The Pentagon is exploring the use of SpaceX rockets to rapidly transport military equipment around the globe. NASA is being pushed, partly due to Musk’s lobbying, to shift focus towards Mars exploration—a move that could see SpaceX winning major contracts to send the first humans to the red planet. The FAA and White House have begun installing Starlink satellite internet terminals, expanding Musk’s presence inside federal systems. Also read: 'Political nonsense': Elon Musk's father defends son, says he was 'friends' with Black servants during apartheid According to The New York Times, this expansion comes not only from Trump’s directives but also from the placement of Musk’s allies and former employees in influential government positions. The New York Times report said, “Even if Trump had never given Musk and his employees a government role—or if former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. had been elected to a second term—SpaceX would have continued to secure new government work. What has changed is the overall value of the work expected to be delivered to SpaceX.” Federal contracts SpaceX was already a top federal contractor, with $3.8 billion in contracts secured in fiscal year 2024 across 344 deals. But that figure is expected to grow significantly under current policies prioritising private space companies for key services such as: Satellite manufacturing Communications infrastructure Government transport missions One major step includes the FAA’s recent approval to double SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launches at Cape Canaveral, from 48 to 120 per year. Also read: 'Slimy billionaire': Elon Musk blasted for ‘buying votes’ in Wisconsin court election as Trump backs Brad Schimel During the Biden administration, SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service was mostly excluded from federal rural broadband funding. That changed with the appointment of Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary. At his confirmation hearing, Lutnick vowed to change how $42 billion in broadband funds are distributed. “Let’s use satellites, let’s use wireless, and let’s use fibre,” Lutnick said. “And let’s do it the cheapest, most efficiently we can.” This shift allows Starlink to fully compete for rural broadband deals nationwide. Ethical concerns Musk’s reach inside the government has raised ethical red flags. SpaceX employees embedded in federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, have been granted ethics waivers allowing them to participate in decisions that may directly benefit SpaceX. One employee, Theodore Malaska, posted on X that FAA systems are now integrating Starlink satellites to relay weather data to pilots, technology that could bring further revenue to Musk’s company. Though the FAA claims only eight Starlink terminals are currently in use, others have appeared in White House offices and at the General Services Administration. Also read: Trump makes rare admission on Musk’s conflicts of interest, says 'wouldn’t show' businessman China war plans Federal law prohibits employees from making decisions that benefit their financial interests or give the appearance of a conflict. While Musk has claimed he is not personally involved in securing contracts, the whole situation raises unprecedented questions about influence and access. After a fatal collision between a military helicopter and a civilian plane in January, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy brought in SpaceX teams to help modernise air traffic systems. Musk soon criticised Verizon for delays in implementing the FAA’s updated network, calling it a “serious risk to air travellers”. With Starlink now being considered as an alternative, SpaceX could secure a foothold in another critical infrastructure system. Musk’s influence comes after he donated nearly $300 million to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign and later joined the administration as a cost-cutting adviso. Blair Levin, a former FCC official, told NYT, “The odds of Elon getting whatever Elon wants are much higher today. He is in the White House and Mar-a-Lago. No one ever anticipated that an industry competitor would have access to those kinds of levers of power.” NASA, which has already paid SpaceX over $13 billion in contracts over the past decade, may hand over even more in future deals. These have included cargo and astronaut missions and launching the agency’s largest space probes. Now, Trump has nominated Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur who paid SpaceX to fly to orbit twice, as the new head of NASA. Isaacman’s firm, Shift4 Payments, previously held a stake in SpaceX, earning $25 million before selling it off. In his ethics filings, Isaacman promised to sever all remaining financial ties to the company. He will join Michael Altenhofen, another former SpaceX staffer who became a senior NASA adviser in February. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Elon getting whatever Elon wants’: How Musk’s $300 million bet on Trump could make him billions

Elon Musk might love controversy, but love him or hate him, you cannot escape him. The billionaire has built a massive legacy in the fields of car manufacturing, space and now even social media. This is why those vying to reach heights in their career would never dare to say no to a job offer from one is his companies.
Forget a full-time job, being an intern at his establishments also comes with massive perks, especially if you get a chance to enter SpaceX, his space company. Reports suggest that interns are given a "shocking" amount of money at SpaceX as compared to interns anywhere else in the United States.&nbsp;
The stipends offered to interns at SpaceX vary depending on the role and your field of education. Roles are available in technology, engineering, design, and even business operations, so you have various entry points that can get you placed inside the biggest private space company.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/lost-continent-discovered-under-antarctica-and-india-8872820" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pieces of lost continent found under Antarctica and India point to one thing</a>
According to the website Space Crew, active students are offered paid internships at SpaceX, just like associate engineer opportunities open for graduates. The company also offers perks, such as relocation assistance, 'gourmet' food options at the company, health insurance coverage, and even a free gym membership.
<h2>Intern salaries at SpaceX, according to a company review website</h2>
However, the most attractive part is the monetary compensation. According to reviews on Glassdoor, the average SpaceX intern makes around $63,716 (Rs 54 lakh) per year, or $5,309 (Rs 4.5 lakh) per month. According to the report, this is 57 per cent more than the average stipends for internships in the US.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/what-are-the-strongest-signs-that-suggest-life-on-mars-8849703" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">What are the strongest signs of ancient life on Mars, scientists discuss</a>
Shockingly, the annual compensation for an intern at SpaceX is just $2,000 less than what an average American makes in a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The website cites the example of a Business Operations Internship advertisement where an intern is being offered between $43,680 (Rs 37 lakh) and $54,080 per year. For a Graduate Engineer, the salary is between $83,200 and $100,100 per year.&nbsp;
<h2>What NASA pays</h2>
In contrast, NASA does not pay anywhere near what SpaceX offers. Graduates applying for the highest-paying roles at NASA during the Fall/Spring Internship Session get $14,400 as part of a 16-week program.&nbsp;

What do interns make at SpaceX? The figures will shock you. Some of the interns make almost the same as an average American in a full-time job at other companies. World Trending

Elon Musk might love controversy, but love him or hate him, you cannot escape him. The billionaire has built a massive legacy in the fields of car manufacturing, space and now even social media. This is why those vying to reach heights in their career would never dare to say no to a job offer from one is his companies. Forget a full-time job, being an intern at his establishments also comes with massive perks, especially if you get a chance to enter SpaceX, his space company. Reports suggest that interns are given a "shocking" amount of money at SpaceX as compared to interns anywhere else in the United States. The stipends offered to interns at SpaceX vary depending on the role and your field of education. Roles are available in technology, engineering, design, and even business operations, so you have various entry points that can get you placed inside the biggest private space company. Also Read: Pieces of lost continent found under Antarctica and India point to one thing According to the website Space Crew, active students are offered paid internships at SpaceX, just like associate engineer opportunities open for graduates. The company also offers perks, such as relocation assistance, 'gourmet' food options at the company, health insurance coverage, and even a free gym membership. Intern salaries at SpaceX, according to a company review website However, the most attractive part is the monetary compensation. According to reviews on Glassdoor, the average SpaceX intern makes around $63,716 (Rs 54 lakh) per year, or $5,309 (Rs 4.5 lakh) per month. According to the report, this is 57 per cent more than the average stipends for internships in the US. Also Read: What are the strongest signs of ancient life on Mars, scientists discuss Shockingly, the annual compensation for an intern at SpaceX is just $2,000 less than what an average American makes in a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The website cites the example of a Business Operations Internship advertisement where an intern is being offered between $43,680 (Rs 37 lakh) and $54,080 per year. For a Graduate Engineer, the salary is between $83,200 and $100,100 per year. What NASA pays In contrast, NASA does not pay anywhere near what SpaceX offers. Graduates applying for the highest-paying roles at NASA during the Fall/Spring Internship Session get $14,400 as part of a 16-week program.

Intern salaries at SpaceX can rival what an average American earns. 'Just $2,000 less than...'

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are back on Earth safely after the SpaceX dragon capsule carrying them made a remarkable splashdown on Tuesday. So did Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov but their homecoming was rather quiet. Watch this video to find out more.

2 NASA astronauts accompanied Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore on their trip back on Earth

First images of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore emerged as they finally returned to Earth on Tuesday after an unexpected nine-month stay at International Space Station (ISS). They received immediate medical care and were carried away on stretchers.

Astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore return home after 9 months in space

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

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

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>

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

<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

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 delays mission to bring back stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore

#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

A Space Force ship that went on a secret mission is back after carrying out mysterious tests in orbit. The Boeing-made X-37B vessel spent 434 days in orbit after being quietly launched by SpaceX in 2023 from NASA&rsquo;s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Friday morning.
The US Space Force released a statement, saying that it landed the unmanned spaceplane to exercise its rapid ability to launch and recover its systems across multiple sites. The X-37B was on Mission 7, and this was the first time it was launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket to a Highly Elliptical Orbit.
&ldquo;Mission 7 broke new ground by showcasing the X-37B&rsquo;s ability to flexibly accomplish its test and experimentation objectives across orbital regimens,&rdquo; Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/chandrayaan-3-landing-site-statio-shiv-shakti-has-clues-to-ice-on-moon-8833219" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Chandrayaan 3 landing site Statio Shiv Shakti hints at mineable ice on moon</a>
&ldquo;The successful execution of the aerobreaking manoeuvre underscores the US Space Force&rsquo;s commitment to pushing the bounds of novel space operation in a safe and responsible manner,&rdquo; he added.
While in orbit, the spaceplane conducted several tests and experiments aimed at demonstrating the X-37B&rsquo;s robust manoeuvre capability. The agency is working to create a versatile, reusable, and sustainable fleet for future projects.
<h2>Space Force trying to learn about space environment</h2>
The Space Force used the spaceplane to learn more about the space environment. It tested space domain awareness technology experiments while in orbit, which will help USSF conduct space operations at a time when the region is seeing a rise in the number of stakeholders.
The statement further informed that Mission 7 successfully performed its deorbit and landing procedures.&nbsp;
Calling the mission a significant milestone, X-37B Program Director, Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart, said, "Mission 7&rsquo;s operation in a new orbital regime, its novel aerobraking manoeuvre, and its testing of space domain awareness experiments have written an exciting new chapter in the X-37B program."

World Trending | Space is becoming a competitive arena with several countries vying to conquer it. The Space Force used the spaceplane to learn more about the space environment.

A Space Force ship that went on a secret mission is back after carrying out mysterious tests in orbit. The Boeing-made X-37B vessel spent 434 days in orbit after being quietly launched by SpaceX in 2023 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Friday morning. The US Space Force released a statement, saying that it landed the unmanned spaceplane to exercise its rapid ability to launch and recover its systems across multiple sites. The X-37B was on Mission 7, and this was the first time it was launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket to a Highly Elliptical Orbit. “Mission 7 broke new ground by showcasing the X-37B’s ability to flexibly accomplish its test and experimentation objectives across orbital regimens,” Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said. Also Read: Chandrayaan 3 landing site Statio Shiv Shakti hints at mineable ice on moon “The successful execution of the aerobreaking manoeuvre underscores the US Space Force’s commitment to pushing the bounds of novel space operation in a safe and responsible manner,” he added. While in orbit, the spaceplane conducted several tests and experiments aimed at demonstrating the X-37B’s robust manoeuvre capability. The agency is working to create a versatile, reusable, and sustainable fleet for future projects. Space Force trying to learn about space environment The Space Force used the spaceplane to learn more about the space environment. It tested space domain awareness technology experiments while in orbit, which will help USSF conduct space operations at a time when the region is seeing a rise in the number of stakeholders. The statement further informed that Mission 7 successfully performed its deorbit and landing procedures. Calling the mission a significant milestone, X-37B Program Director, Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart, said, "Mission 7’s operation in a new orbital regime, its novel aerobraking manoeuvre, and its testing of space domain awareness experiments have written an exciting new chapter in the X-37B program."

Spaceplane secretly launched by SpaceX returns after 434 days. What did it do?

In January, about 120 Spacex Starlink satellites burnt up in the Earth’s atmosphere. Three to four of them re-entered the Earth each day. While these may seem harmless, scientists have raised concerns about the threats being posed to the environment. Watch this video to find out more.

Scientists worry fall of satellites could pollute environment

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