Space

How Mars lost its water: Study links atmosphere change to methane formation

New research hints that Mars' water vanished around 3.5 billion years ago when its carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere thinned out

Stuck Nasa astronauts welcome SpaceX capsule that will bring them home

The two astronauts stuck at the International Space Station since June welcomed their new ride home with Sunday's arrival of a SpaceX capsule. SpaceX launched the rescue mission on Saturday with a downsized crew of two astronauts and two empty seats reserved for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who will return next year. The Dragon capsule docked in darkness high over Botswana as the two craft soared 420 kilometres above Earth. NASA switched Wilmore and Williams to SpaceX following concerns over the safety of their Boeing Starliner capsule. It was the first Starliner test flight with a crew, and NASA decided the thruster failures and helium leaks that cropped up after liftoff were too serious and poorly understood to risk the test pilots' return. So Starliner returned to Earth empty earlier this month. The Dragon carrying NASA's Nick Hague and the Russian Space Agency's Alexander Gorbunov will remain at the space station until February, turning what should have been a weeklong trip

Cabinet clears Chandrayaan-4, Venus Orbiter Mission for space exploration

Moon mission Chandrayaan-4 will cost Rs 2104.06 cr while Rs 1,236 crore has been earmarked for Venus Orbiter Mission

54 new spacetech startups in 2023 represent new opportunities for India

Spacetech startups are harnessing artificial intelligence and 'deep technologies' like Blockchain and Internet of Things to transform industries and solve pressing societal challenges

Asteroid 2024 ON not hitting earth but its speed concerning, says Nasa

A huge 720-foot asteroid '2024 ON' is expected to approach Earth today. The asteroid will safely pass at a distance of 997,793 km, but its speed is a matter of concern

Tech billionaire Isaacman returns to Earth after first private spacewalk

A billionaire spacewalker returned to Earth with his crew on Sunday, ending a five-day trip that lifted them higher than anyone has travelled since NASA's moonwalkers. SpaceX's capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida's Dry Tortugas in the predawn darkness, carrying tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, two SpaceX engineers and a former Air Force Thunderbird pilot. They pulled off the first private spacewalk while orbiting nearly 460 miles (740 kilometres) above Earth, higher than the International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope. Their spacecraft hit a peak altitude of 875 miles (1,408 kilometres) following Tuesday's liftoff. Isaacman became only the 264th person to perform a spacewalk since the former Soviet Union scored the first in 1965, and SpaceX's Sarah Gillis the 265th. Until now, all spacewalks were done by professional astronauts. During Thursday's commercial spacewalk, the Dragon capsule's hatch was open barely a half-hour. Isaacman emerged only up t

Iran launches satellite in space amid Western concerns over missile risks

Iran launched a satellite into space Saturday with a rocket built by the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, state-run media reported, the latest for a programme the West fears helps Tehran advance its ballistic missile programme. Iran described the launch as a success, which would be the second such launch to put a satellite into orbit with the rocket. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the launch's success, nor did Iranian authorities immediately provide footage or other details. The launch comes amid heightened tensions gripping the wider West Asia over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, during which Tehran launched an unprecedented direct missile-and-drone attack on Israel. Meanwhile, Iran continues to enrich uranium to nearly weapons-grade levels, raising concerns among nonproliferation experts about Tehran's program. Iran identified the satellite-carrying rocket as the Qaem-100, which the Guard used in January for another successful launch

Nasa to establish Lunar Time Standard to set standard time system for Moon

The proposed lunar time standard is to be based on a weighted average of atomic clocks placed on the Moon. It aims to create a standardised time system for the moon

History in making: SpaceX mission crew complete first commercial spacewalk

The crew of four on board SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission soared to a record 1,400 km above Earth - the farthest humans have travelled since the Apollo programme over 50 years ago

'Perfectworld': Isaacman makes history with 1st private spacewalk

The space walk served as the main event for the ongoing mission in Earth orbit. Launched early Tuesday morning, the flight's primary goal is to test SpaceX's spacesuits in the vacuum of space

NASA's solar sail spacecraft visible with naked eye. Here's how to spot it

NASA's experimental Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) can be spotted with the naked eye as it orbits Earth. Here's how you can track it with Nasa's application

Polaris Dawn Mission: All you need to know about first private spacewalk

SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket on September 10, which was originally scheduled for August 28 but was delayed due to a helium leak and further postponed due to bad weather around Florida

Europa Clipper: New NASA mission to explore this icy world is a go

NASA's Europa Clipper mission passed a mission planning milestone, known as Key Decision Point E, on Monday, implying the mission is approved for launch around Thursday, Oct. 10

Polaris Dawn mission: SpaceX launches four private astronauts into space

The crew consists of billionaire Jared Isaacman, Scott Poteet, a retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel, and two SpaceX employees, Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis

Saturn's rings set to 'disappear' briefly in March 2025: Explained

In 2025, Saturn's rings will briefly disappear from view due to its alignment with Earth. This happens due to the change in orientation of the rings around Saturn as it orbits the Sun

Private space startups gain from Isro's support, but face significant risks

While Isro is deservedly lauded for its cost-effectiveness, there is excessive focus on achievements such as developing moon launch vehicle for $70 mn, when nations like US spend a billion on project

Elon Musk to celebrate PM Meloni as Italy eyes space sector investment

Musk and Meloni have met on a number of occasions, including at a political festival last December thrown by the prime minister's right-wing Brothers of Italy party

140-feet airplane-sized asteroid to pass by Earth today, NASA issues alert

As two asteroids make their closest approach to Earth on Sept 2, space watchers will be hooked to the sky to witness the spectacle

Best of BS opinion: Tax-reform dilemmas, ring-fencing a challenge

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Stationed in space: Recent experience has important lessons for Isro

The stranding of astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore at ISS until February 2025 highlights the challenges involved in manned space missions