Page 3 - Space

IN-SPACe picks Google-backed PixxelSpace for satellite constellation

The PixxelSpace-led consortium won the project, outbidding Indian defence equipment makers Astra Microwave and Bharat Electronics

Meteor that hit a home in Georgia is older than Earth, says scientist

A meteorite that punched a hole in a Georgia home owner's roof after blazing across the sky in a fiery streak is older than the Earth itself, according to a scientist who examined fragments of the space rock. People in several Southern states reported seeing the mysterious fireball in broad daylight on June 26 as it hurtled toward the ground faster than the speed of sound. University of Georgia planetary geologist Scott Harris said in a press release on Friday that he examined 23 grams (0.8 ounces) of meteorite fragments recovered from a piece the size of a cherry tomato that struck a man's roof like a bullet and left a dent in the floor of the home outside Atlanta. Examining the fragments under microscopes, Harris concluded the meteorite formed 4.56 billion years ago. That is roughly 20 million years older than the Earth. "It belongs to a group of asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that we now think we can tie to a breakup of a much larger asteroid about

Dhruva Space to deploy two payloads using its home-built satellite platform

Space start-up Dhruva Space is set to launch its first commercial mission, LEAP-1, by deploying payloads for two Australia-based firms using its indigenously developed satellite platform. The Hyderabad-based start-up will launch payloads from Australia's Akula Tech and Esper satellites aboard its P-30 satellite platform on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in Q3 of the current fiscal. AI payload Nexus-01 (Akula Tech) and hyperspectral imager OTR-2 (Esper) will fly on Dhruva's P-30 platform, which was successfully tested on ISRO's POEM-3 mission in January 2024. The LEAP-1 mission is officially slated to launch aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 in Q3 2025, marking not just a significant Indo-Australian collaboration, but also growing support from the United States in Dhruva Space's global commercial journey, the company said. "Following a successful qualification of the P-30 onboard ISRO's PSLV-C58, Dhruva Space is excited to take its indigenously developed P-30 satellite platform to the global market

Over 200 startups have come up in space sector alone, says PM Modi

Hailing astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's return from space, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said a new wave of curiosity about space among children is sweeping across India and noted that today more than 200 startups have come up in the space sector alone. In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, Modi said the road to Viksit Bharat passes through self-reliance and 'vocal for local' is the strongest foundation of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. "Recently, there was a lot of discussion in the country about the return of Shubhanshu Shukla from space. As soon as Shubhanshu landed safely on Earth, people jumped with joy, and a wave of happiness ran through every heart. The whole country was filled with pride," he said. A new wave of curiosity about space among children is sweeping across India, Modi said. Modi said space startups are also coming up at a fast pace in the country. "There were fewer than 50 startups five years ago. Today, there are more than 200 startups in the space sect

CERN discovery could hint at why universe is made of matter, not antimatter

Cosmological models say the Big Bang produced equal matter and antimatter, which destroy each other on contact-so it's a mystery why the universe isn't just energy left from that annihilation

Next Indian astronaut will travel in indigenous spacecraft: Jitendra Singh

Shubhanshu Shukla's successful space odyssey has provided expertise for India's future voyages and the next Indian astronaut will travel in an indigenously built spacecraft, Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said In an exclusive video interview to PTI, Singh said Shukla's three-week stay at the International Space Station as part of the Axiom-4 mission has given India valuable insights and experience in handling space missions as it prepares for its own Gaganyaan project. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to launch its human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan that will take two astronauts to a low earth orbit sometime in 2027. "The next mission is going to be totally, totally indigenous, developed in India, right from the scratch. Indian astronauts going in for the first time in an Indian spaceship," the Union Minister for Science and Technology said. "It would also place us in that elite league of nations in the world which have actually been able to do so. A

Aerospace turf war: Andhra, Karnataka lock horns to attract investment

States clash after Karnataka scraps farmland plan; Andhra pitches 8,000 acres

Shubhanshu Shukla back from space after 18 days: What happens next?

Shubhanshu Shukla returned to Earth after spending 18 days in microgravity. After splashdown, he will undergo a number procedures as part of his post-spaceflight recovery process

India's space odyssey begins anew with ambitious plans for the future

With government investments of ₹1.5 trillion expected by 2035, the size of the Indian space economy is expected to grow significantly from its current $8 billion

With space cities, Andhra Pradesh sets course for Rs 25K cr inflows

Two space cities planned in Lepakshi and Tirupati, spanning 33,000 acres, to attract global investments and align with Centre's Rs 1.5 trillion space sector roadmap

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla showcases zero-gravity experiment aboard ISS

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, the Axiom-4 mission pilot, has showcased a zero-gravity experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) involving water to illustrate how microgravity transforms everyday physics. The experiment, part of Axiom Space's outreach and scientific mission, highlighted the unique behaviour of water in space. After an 18-day stay at the ISS, Shukla and three others -- commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary -- of the commercial Axiom-4 mission set off on a return journey to Earth on Monday evening. Using surface tension to their advantage, Shukla formed a floating water bubble. I've become a water bender here in the station, he joked. Another astronaut Whitson further went on to press a plastic bag gently into the sphere, demonstrating how surface tension behaves like a magnet in microgravity by clinging to the object and distorting light like a lens. The astronauts also spoke abou

Isro to industry: Tech transfers fueling private sector's orbital lift-off

Isro's tech expertise has found wider uses. Now, IN-SPACe is driving deeper tech transfers to power the private sector's orbital lift-off

India looks full of ambition, fearless from space: Shubhanshu Shukla

India looks full of ambition, fearless, confident and full of pride from space, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla said on Sunday. "Even today, Bharat looks 'saare jahan se accha' from above," Shukla said reprising the iconic words of India's first astronaut Rakesh Sharma in 1984. Shukla was speaking at a farewell ceremony for Axiom-4 mission astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) who are set to begin their return journey to Earth on Monday. "It almost seems magical to me... It has been a fantastic journey for me," Shukla said of his stay at the ISS which began on June 26. The Indian astronaut said he was taking with him a lot of memories and learning that he will share with his countrymen. The Axiom-4 mission undocks from the ISS on Monday and is expected to splash down off the California coast on Tuesday.

Time for feasts, farewells for Shubhanshu Shukla, Axiom-4 astronauts

After 18 days of intense science experiments at the International Space Station, it is time for farewells and feasts for Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts of the Axiom-4 mission who are set to begin their return journey to Earth on Monday. The Axiom 4 (Ax-4) crewCommander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu "Shux" Shukla, and Mission Specialists Slawosz "Suave" Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapuare nearing the completion of their research and preparing to undock no earlier than at 7:05 am ET (4:35 pm IST) on Monday. "Arrival back to earth.... splash down scheduled for 15th July at 3:00 PM IST," Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said in a post on X. A formal farewell for the Axiom-4 crew is scheduled for Sunday evening, India time. As the Axiom-4 mission drew to a close, astronauts on board the ISS gathered for a feast with a diverse menu from the six nations they represent. Currently, there are 11 astronauts on the ISS, seven of Expedition 73 and four of the ..

Trump appoints transport secretary Sean Duffy as interim Nasa chief

Duffy's appointment comes less than two months after Trump unexpectedly pulled the nomination of his original choice for Nasa administrator, SpaceX astronaut and billionaire Jared Isaacman

Shubhanshu Shukla turns farmer in space; grows methi seeds onboard ISS

In the final leg of his space sojourn, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla turned into a farmer, taking photos of 'moong' and 'methi' seeds sprouting in petri dishes and inserting them into a storage freezer on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a study on how microgravity influences germination and early plant development. Shukla and his fellow Axiom-4 astronauts have spent 12 days on the orbital lab and they are expected to return to Earth any day after July 10, depending on the weather conditions off the Florida coast. NASA is yet to announce a date for the undocking of the Axiom-4 mission from the space station. The duration of the Axiom-4 mission docked to the ISS is up to 14 days. "I am so proud that ISRO has been able to collaborate with national institutions all over the country and come up with some fantastic research which I am doing on the station for all the scientists and researchers. It is exciting and a joy to do this," Shukla said in an interaction with

Isro successfully conducts hot tests of Gaganyaan propulsion system

ISRO has successfully conducted two hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) at the space agency's Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri on July 3. The short-duration tests, lasting 30 seconds and 100 seconds respectively, were aimed at validating the test article configuration, ISRO said in a statement on Wednesday. "The overall performance of the propulsion system during these hot tests was normal as per pre-test predictions. During the 100s test, simultaneous operation of all Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters in different modes (steady state; pulsed) along with all Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engines was also successfully demonstrated. "ISRO's Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC) is leading the technology development activities for the Gaganyaan SMPS. SMPS is a critical system of Gaganyaan Orbital Module and is required during orbital manoeuvring as well as specific abort scenarios," the space agency said. It comprises five Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM)

'Privilege to be amongst few': Shukla describes seeing Earth from space

Speaking from orbit, the astronaut shared his experience of living and working in space, offering insights into the physical challenges, the awe of observing Earth from above

Shubhanshu Shukla shares Indian food, struggles most with sleep aboard ISS

'You want to do more and more,' says Shubhanshu Shukla on the struggle to sleep in space amid the pressure of limited time

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS spotted: Updates on status, position and speed

Astronomers and space agencies continue to track the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS streaking through solar system at blistering speeds