Space

07 May 2024, 17:22

Here’s what falling inside a black hole would look like, according to a NASA supercomputer simulation

Have you ever wondered what happens if you were to fall into a black hole? Thanks to cutting-edge visualisations produced on a NASA supercomputer, this mind-bending experience is now within reach. These simulations offer multiple perspectives, from what would happen if we fell into the black hole itself, to the view of an observer narrowly missing the gravity giant.

07 May 2024, 16:54

A train on the Moon? NASA’s new space tech includes lunar railways, Martian rockets and more

NASA has set its sights on six mind-blowing tech concepts that seem ripped straight from science fiction. These visionary ideas, chosen for further development by the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program, could revolutionise space exploration as we know it.

07 May 2024, 09:29

Planned crewed launch of Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft called off

NASA announced on social media platform X that the problem was identified with an oxygen valve on part of ULA's Atlas 5 rocket and that the space agency, Boeing and ULA have "scrubbed the launch opportunity on May 6 for the agency's Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station due to a faulty oxygen relief valve observation on the Atlas V rocket Centaur second stage. The crew and rocket remain safe and more information will be forthcoming."

06 May 2024, 17:03

India's satcom sector to take off as IN-SPACe allows Indian players access to international orbital data

Previously, Indian satellite players — an industry still very much in its nascent stage — were constrained by reliance solely on domestic orbital resources, which often proved to be limited and costly. However, with the new IN-SPACe guidelines, Indian entities can now leverage surplus international satellite capacities to deliver satcom services at competitive rates, promising better services and affordability for end-consumers.

06 May 2024, 16:43

Remember Sunita Williams, Indian-origin astronaut who made history by going to space twice? She is all set to fly to space for the third time!

Wiliams will be tasked with conducting a series of tests to ensure the Starliner meets NASA's stringent safety standards for future regular missions. After docking, the astronauts will spend a productive eight days living and working on the ISS before returning to Earth on May 15. Unlike traditional US capsules that splashdown in the ocean, the Starliner will make a novel land-based touchdown in the western US.

03 May 2024, 19:59

China is building a huge network of satellites that could be used against US troops: intel chief

Maj. Gen. Greg Gagnon, deputy chief of space operations for intelligence, said China had developed a sophisticated military satellite program.

30 Apr 2024, 20:38

China's plan to be the dominant power in space is moving at breathtaking speed. The US needs to wake up, officials say.

There is a very real risk, according to experts, that the US could soon lose its status as the world's dominant space power.

29 Apr 2024, 17:27

Why did a NASA spacecraft suddenly start talking gibberish after more than 45 years of operation? What fixed it?

Voyager 1 mysteriously stopped sending decipherable science and engineering data back to Earth on November 14. Fortunately, a myriad of independent controllers onboard were able to show that the spacecraft was still able to receive commands and was working normally, meaning the problem was localised. More importantly, it seemed fixable.

23 Apr 2024, 18:08

US satellites could face threat from Russia and China's 'unfriendly' space behavior, warn defense analysts

Russia and China are working on things that could be used to disable US satellites, raising alarms for defense analysts.

15 Apr 2024, 17:45

An interplanetary collision might have shrunk Mercury to its current size, scientists think

Mercury, the smallest and closest planet to the Sun, has long captivated scientists with its extreme conditions and mysterious features. With temperatures swinging from scorching heat to freezing cold and a surface scarred by craters, understanding Mercury's composition and formation has proved challenging.

03 Apr 2024, 11:29

Lunar farming: Artemis III astronauts will cultivate plants on the Moon’s surface for the very first time!

Embarking on a celestial gardening expedition of sorts, NASA has set its sights on an ambitious project: growing plants on the Moon for the very first time! This initiative will be a part of the 2026 Artemis III mission, which will see the US space agency send humans back to the lunar surface.

30 Mar 2024, 10:54

European Space Agency Director praises ISRO, calls India's accomplishments in space "astonishing"

Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), Josef Aschbacher, has heaped praise on the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its recent successful launches and said that India's accomplishments in space and especially in lunar exploration is 'astonishing'. Aschbacher posted an appreciation post on X, after ESA hosted its 323rd Council meeting in Paris which was attended by the ISRO Chairman, S Somanath.

28 Mar 2024, 18:03

Fresh photographs of Milky Way’s black hole Sgr A* reveal strong, twisted magnetic field similar to M87*

The colossal black hole named Sagittarius A* resides at the heart of the Milky Way, approximately 27,000 light-years away from our planet. For the first time now, Sgr A* has been observed in polarised light, offering a fresh glimpse into its magnetic environment. The latest portrayal showcases a strong, twisted and systematically organised magnetic field enveloping the black hole.

27 Mar 2024, 18:11

Galactic gold rush: Astronomers discover 49 new galaxies in less than 3 hours!

Dubbed the ‘49ers’ in homage to the California gold rush miners of 1849, these newfound galaxies have been likened to precious nuggets scattered across our night sky. Many of them have clustered together to form galaxy groups, with some intricately interconnected by their gas content. Among these galaxies, three even stand out for their intriguing dynamics.

12 Mar 2024, 12:32

Earth through Indian eye in the sky: ISRO’s meteorological satellite INSAT-3DS unveils its first batch of images

INSAT-3DS, the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) meteorological satellite pivotal for weather forecasting, climate monitoring and understanding atmospheric processes, has unveiled the first batch of images captured by its meteorological Imager and Sounder payloads. These images are from the first imaging session for the Meteorological Payload IOT, which took place on March 7, 2024.

22 Feb 2024, 09:23

Govt eases FDI norms in space sector; 100% in making components for satellites

The government on Wednesday eased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms in the space sector by allowing 100 per cent overseas investment in making components for satellites, as part of efforts to attract overseas players and private companies into the segment. The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

01 Jan 2024, 10:23

Space success: India ushers in 2024 by orbiting XPoSat successfully

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh)India on Monday ushered in the New Year in a grand manner by orbiting its X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat). At about 9.10 a.m. on the first day of the calendar year 2024, India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C58 (PSLV-C58) standing 44.4-metre tall, with a lift off mass of 260 ton blasted off from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, here.

29 Dec 2023, 15:32

Celestial dance: Lunar and solar eclipses in 2024

In 2024, four eclipses in total will occur – two solar and two lunar eclipses. The first one of the year will happen on 25 March 2024 and it will be a penumbral lunar eclipse. The second one will be a total solar eclipse, which will occur on 8 April 2024. The third eclipse of the year described as a partial lunar eclipse will happen on 18 September 2024.

05 Dec 2023, 09:14

ISRO moves Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module to orbit around Earth in unique experiment

The Propulsion Module (PM) of Chandrayaan-3 has been moved from an orbit around the Moon to an orbit around Earth, ISRO has said, terming the operation a unique experiment. The primary objective of the Chandrayaan-3 mission was to demonstrate a soft landing near the lunar south polar region and perform experiments using the instruments on the 'Vikram' lander and the 'Pragyan' rover.

17 Nov 2023, 21:26

China takes on Elon Musk's Starlink with hundreds of low-orbit satellites

A Chinese company plans to launch the first in a network of 300 very-low-earth-orbit satellites in December.

03 Nov 2023, 20:34

Elon Musk says Starlink is now breaking even — and accounts for a 'majority' of active satellites

Elon Musk said the satellite internet operator, which is part of SpaceX, now accounts for a "majority" of active satellites.

27 Oct 2023, 19:02

Venus has Earth-like plate tectonics, indicating possibility of hosting life once

Venus, known as a scorching wasteland of a planet, may have once had tectonic plate movements similar to those believed to have occurred on early Earth, found a study indicating the possibility of hosting life. Using atmospheric data from Venus and computer modelling, a team of scientists from Brown University showed that Venus must have had plate tectonics sometime after the planet formed, about 4.5 billion to 3.5 billion years ago.

27 Oct 2023, 18:48

Partial lunar eclipse – A quick guide to understanding the celestial event on Oct 28

Every eclipse is unique in terms of the spectacle it provides the sky gazers. The second and the last eclipse of 2023 occurr...

27 Oct 2023, 14:34

Partial lunar eclipse on Oct 28 – When, where and how to watch

Lunar eclipse happens when the sun, earth and the moon align in a straight line. Sky watchers are getting excited about one more lunar eclipse that will occur in the night sky on October 28-29, 2023. Earlier on October 14, 2023, the world witnessed a solar eclipse, which was not visible in India, but was seen from some parts of the western United States and the Pacific Ocean

25 Oct 2023, 19:34

Russia moved one of its satellites uncomfortably close to a French one, possibly to spy on it: report

Russia moved one of its satellites uncomfortably close to France's Eutelsat 3B satellite, possibly to listen in on communications, according to reports.