Wednesday, July 30News That Matters

Space

Future of Space Science: ISRO Chief S Somanath Inspires Students at START 2025 Launch

Future of Space Science: ISRO Chief S Somanath Inspires Students at START 2025 Launch

Breaking News, Space
In a virtual keynote at the launch of ISRO's START 2025 programme, Chairman S Somanath painted an inspiring yet realistic picture of space science. Addressing 20,000 students from over 560 institutions, he emphasized that the field is not just about the thrill of exploring the universe but also about rigorous, time-intensive work. “Space science isn’t just excitement; it’s about crunching numbers, solving formulas, and building systems like satellites, rockets, and sensors,” he said, underlining the demanding nature of the discipline. The START programme, which runs until January 29, aims to introduce students to both the thrilling and technical aspects of space missions. “We’ll talk about our exciting space missions, but also the science behind orbits, trajectories, and rocket build...
Space Station Crew Prepares for Upcoming Spacewalks and Advances Scientific Research

Space Station Crew Prepares for Upcoming Spacewalks and Advances Scientific Research

Breaking News, Space
The Expedition 72 team aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is in full swing, balancing scientific research, astronaut training, and preparation for two upcoming spacewalks aimed at enhancing the station's capabilities. The crew's efforts exemplify the critical collaboration and ingenuity required for space exploration. NASA Flight Engineers Don Pettit and Nick Hague focused on advancing scientific understanding and ensuring the safety of future space missions. Pettit began his day collecting biological samples for storage in the station's science freezer, contributing to ongoing studies on human health in microgravity. He then turned his attention to the Combustion Integrated Rack, swapping out experiment samples to study flame behavior in weightlessness. These findings are exp...
V Narayanan Named New ISRO Chief Now Succeeding S Somanath and takeover Office on January 14

V Narayanan Named New ISRO Chief Now Succeeding S Somanath and takeover Office on January 14

Breaking News, Space
The Union government has announced that V Narayanan will succeed S Somanath as the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the secretary of the Department of Space. Narayanan, currently the director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), will take over on January 14, 2025, for a term of two years or until further orders. Narayanan is a distinguished scientist and an expert in rocket and spacecraft propulsion, has been with ISRO since 1984. Over his nearly 40-year career, he has played a pivotal role in various landmark projects, particularly in solid and liquid propulsion systems: Worked on the Solid Propulsion systems of the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) during ISRO’s early years. Contributed t...
Rocket Fragment Crashes in Kenyan Village, Sparks Space Debris Concerns

Rocket Fragment Crashes in Kenyan Village, Sparks Space Debris Concerns

Breaking News, Environment, Space
Panic swept through Mukuku village in Kenya’s Makueni County this week when a massive metallic object, described by locals as a "huge, red-hot object," fell from the sky. The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) has identified the debris as part of a rocket, specifically a metallic ring measuring 2.5 meters in diameter and weighing approximately 500 kilograms. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, prompting immediate action from the KSA and local authorities. Villagers quickly alerted officials, who rushed to the scene to investigate and secure the area. In a statement released on Wednesday, the KSA confirmed that the object was a fragment of a space object, most likely a separation ring from a rocket. They assured the public that the debris poses no safety risk and commended the residents for...
ISRO’s SpaDeX Mission: India’s First Step Towards Its Own Space Station

ISRO’s SpaDeX Mission: India’s First Step Towards Its Own Space Station

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space, Tech
New Delhi: India is poised to achieve a historic milestone in space exploration with the launch of ISRO’s Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission. Scheduled to lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 10:00 PM IST on December 30, SpaDeX marks the final and most ambitious mission of 2024 for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This pioneering mission is a critical step toward India establishing its own space station, the Bharatiya Antriksh Station, by 2035. If successful, India will join an elite group of nations  the United States, Russia, and China that possess the capability to dock spacecraft in space. What is the SpaDeX Mission? SpaDeX, or Space Docking Experiment, is designed to test and demonstrate the complex docking p...
SpaceX Gears Up for All Major Space Missions in 2025

SpaceX Gears Up for All Major Space Missions in 2025

Breaking News, Space, Tech
Elon Musk SpaceX is set to push the boundaries of space exploration in 2025 with an impressive lineup of launches and collaborations. Since its inception in 2002, SpaceX has revolutionized the aerospace industry with innovations like reusable rockets and groundbreaking missions. Next year, the company is poised to achieve new milestones with missions that aim to advance human spaceflight, satellite deployment, and deep-space exploration. Key SpaceX Missions in 2025 Starship Flight 7 Launch Date: January 11, 2025 Location: Starbase, South Texas Objective: This mission will test Starship's thermal re-entry capabilities. The results will play a crucial role in refining SpaceX's reusable spacecraft technology. WISeSat Satellite Launch Launch Date: January 14, 2025 ...
Three Years of JWST Unveiling the Universe’s Greatest Mysteries

Three Years of JWST Unveiling the Universe’s Greatest Mysteries

Breaking News, Space
On this day three years ago, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) launched into space, marking the beginning of a new era in cosmic exploration. Despite taking three decades to build, JWST has, in just three years of operation, revolutionized our understanding of the universe and uncovered mysteries that challenge established scientific models. Peering Into the Early Universe One of JWST's most significant achievements is its ability to peer back in time to the early universe. Using its powerful infrared capabilities, it has identified galaxies that formed when the universe was just 300 million years old. These early galaxies, surprisingly massive and bright, lack the dust expected from star formation, leaving scientists puzzled. Were their stars collapsing without supernova expl...
Astronomers Discover 140 trillion Water Reservoir Orbiting Distant Quasar

Astronomers Discover 140 trillion Water Reservoir Orbiting Distant Quasar

Breaking News, Space
Astronomers have uncovered a colossal water reservoir in a distant corner of the universe, orbiting a quasar more than 12 billion light-years away. This discovery located in the quasar APM 08279+5255, dates back to a time when the universe was still in its infancy. The water reservoir contains an astonishing 140 trillion times the volume of Earth's oceans, making it the largest and most distant water source ever identified. This vast supply exists near a supermassive black hole approximately 20 billion times more massive than our Sun. The quasar itself emits energy equivalent to a thousand trillion suns creating an extreme environment filled with unique molecules and radiation. Water vapour spans a region hundreds of light-years across surrounding the quasar. Although the gas is s...
Astronomers Discover Universe’s Largest Water Reservoir in Distant Quasar

Astronomers Discover Universe’s Largest Water Reservoir in Distant Quasar

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space
Astronomers have identified an enormous water reservoir surrounding a quasar located over 12 billion light-years away, offering a glimpse into the universe’s distant past. This quasar, APM 08279+5255, is powered by a supermassive black hole approximately 20 billion times the mass of the Sun and emits energy equivalent to a thousand trillion suns. The discovery reveals an astonishing 140 trillion times the volume of Earth’s oceans in water vapour, making it the largest and farthest known water source in the universe. The quasar’s environment is highly unique, with a mix of hydrogen-rich gases like water vapour and carbon monoxide forming a region spanning hundreds of light-years. Despite the gases being sparse compared to Earth’s atmosphere, they are remarkably warm and dense for such...
NASA and SpaceX Set 2025 Launch for Interstellar Mapping Probe and Two Other Heliophysics Missions

NASA and SpaceX Set 2025 Launch for Interstellar Mapping Probe and Two Other Heliophysics Missions

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Space
NASA and SpaceX have announced a revised launch schedule for the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), targeting no earlier than September 2025. The adjustment allows NASA additional preparation time for the spacecraft. The IMAP mission is poised to explore the Sun's heliosphere a magnetic bubble that shields the solar system from interstellar particles. By sampling and mapping particles streaming toward Earth, the mission will offer critical insights into this protective boundary, which impacts space weather, human exploration, and even the existence of life in the universe. Rideshare Missions to L1 IMAP will share its SpaceX Falcon 9 flight with two additional heliophysics observatories: This mission will study Earth's geocorona, the ultraviolet-emitting outermo...