India Tests Critical Space Docking Technology with SpaDeX Mission India achieved a major milestone in its space programme on Monday, launching a spacecraft designed to test docking technologies essential for future space missions. The launch took place at 11:30 a.m. Eastern (10 p.m. local time) on December 30 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. A Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C60) successfully carried the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) as its primary payload, along with 24 secondary experiments aboard the POEM-4 module. These secondary payloads included innovations such as a walking robotic arm, a debris capture manipulator, and a compact…
Author: Aditya Lenka
Aditya Lenka
A multi-faceted professional with a diverse range of skills and experiences. He currently works as a Producer, Digital Marketer, and Journalist for several well-known media outlets, namely StratNewsGlobal, BharatShakti, and Interstellar. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Aditya has covered a wide range of topics and events across India, bringing a unique perspective to his work.When he's not busy producing content, Aditya enjoys exploring new places and cuisines, having traveled extensively throughout India. He's also an avid writer and poet, often penning his thoughts and musings in his free time. And when he wants to unwind and relax, Aditya spends time with his two loyal companions, Zorro and Pablo, his beloved dogs.Aditya's dynamic personality and varied interests make him a unique individual, always eager to learn and experience new things.
Read More
Landspace Secures $123 Million for Reusable Launch Development Chinese launch startup Landspace has received a significant boost with funding from a state-backed initiative. The company secured 900 million yuan ($123 million) from China’s National Manufacturing Transformation and Upgrading Fund, as reported by Chinese media on December 25. This investment will propel the development of reusable methane-liquid oxygen launch vehicles under its Zhuque series. Advancements in Zhuque Rockets Landspace recently achieved notable milestones in its rocket development program. In November, the company successfully launched its enhanced Zhuque-2 rocket, which can deliver up to 4,000 kilograms to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. Earlier…
Parker Solar Probe’s Record-Breaking Christmas Eve Sun Flyby NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is set to give astronomers an extraordinary Christmas gift: the closest-ever flyby of the Sun. On December 24, the spacecraft will pass through the Sun’s corona—its outer atmosphere—marking a groundbreaking milestone in space exploration. Key Details of the Christmas Eve Flyby The Parker Solar Probe will reach its closest approach to the Sun, known as perihelion, at 6:53 a.m. EST (1153 GMT) on December 24. During this flyby, the probe will come within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) of the Sun’s surface, travelling at a blistering speed…
ISRO and ESA Partner for Human Space Exploration and Research The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed a landmark agreement to collaborate on astronaut training, mission implementation, and research experiments. This partnership marks a significant step forward in advancing human space exploration. Highlights of the Agreement The agreement, signed by Dr. S Somanath, Chairman of ISRO, and Dr. Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA, establishes a framework for joint activities in human spaceflight and research. Key areas of cooperation include astronaut training, experiment development and integration, and the use of ESA’s facilities on…
The New Space Race: Civilisations Reach for the Stars In June 2021, China and Russia unveiled an ambitious plan to construct a joint International Lunar Research Station, aiming to land humans on the moon by the mid-2030s in an attempt to form civilisational states. Just days before this announcement, Brazil became the twelfth nation to sign the U.S.-led Artemis Accords, a set of principles guiding the exploration and exploitation of lunar and other space resources. The Artemis Accords, inspired by the U.S. Artemis program, aim to return Americans to the moon by the mid-2020s—a timeline delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.…
Space Warfare: The Evolution of Military Competition in the Cosmos In Ukraine’s ongoing battle for sovereignty, space has emerged as a critical theater of war. Satellites, once reserved for reconnaissance and communication, now play a central role in modern conflict. Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites enable Ukrainian forces to maintain connectivity crucial for targeted drone strikes, while commercial imaging satellites provide vital battlefield intelligence. These developments have earned the conflict the moniker of the “first commercial space war.” Yet, this description only scratches the surface of a broader, more complex history of space warfare. The Historical Role of Satellites in War…
European Automakers Hike Petrol Car Prices to Meet Stricter Emission Targets European automakers are raising prices on petrol vehicles and offering discounts on electric cars (EVs) to comply with tougher EU emissions rules set to take effect on January 1. The new regulations require at least 20% of total car sales to be electric, or automakers will face significant fines. Tougher Emissions Rules and the EV Gap The EU’s stricter carbon dioxide limits pose a major challenge for the automotive industry. While the target demands one-fifth of sales to come from EVs, only 13% of vehicles sold in 2023 have…
New Human Species, Homo juluensis, Proposed by University of Hawaiʻi Researcher A researcher from the University of Hawaiʻi has potentially uncovered a new human species, Homo juluensis, shedding light on the complex history of human evolution in Asia. Professor Christopher J. Bae, an anthropologist at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, has dedicated over 30 years to studying ancient human ancestors across Asia. His latest findings, published in Nature Communications, contribute to untangling the mysteries of ancient human relatives like the Denisovans, whose histories are still being pieced together. Discovering Homo juluensis According to the research, Homo juluensis lived around…
The Largest Living Organism by Biomass Oregon’s Malheur National Forest is home to a record-breaking organism known as the Humongous Fungus, an enormous occurrence of Armillaria ostoyae. This massive fungal organism spans approximately 2,385 acres, or 3.7 square miles, making it the largest known single living organism by biomass on Earth. It resides in the Reynolds Creek and Clear Creek areas of the forest, roughly 11 miles east of Prairie City. The Humongous Fungus is one of five distinct Armillaria ostoyae occurrences in the area, with individual sizes ranging from 50 to 2,385 acres. Discovered in 1988 by Greg Whipple,…
ISRO Successfully Tests CE20 Cryogenic Engine with Advanced Nozzle Design The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a significant milestone with the successful sea-level hot test of its CE20 cryogenic engine. Conducted on November 29, 2024, at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, the test showcased the engine’s cutting-edge nozzle design and restart capabilities. Overcoming Sea-Level Testing Challenges Testing cryogenic engines at sea level presents unique challenges, particularly for high area ratio nozzles like the CE20, which features a nozzle area ratio of 100. The engine’s nozzle has an exit pressure of approximately 50 mbar, making it…
