Boeing and NASA have addressed two technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft, including a “design vulnerability” that required a temporary workaround, to ensure the capsule is ready for its first mission carrying astronauts, officials announced on Friday. Addressing Technical Setbacks Starliner’s debut crewed mission, a critical test now scheduled for June 1, was delayed earlier this month due to a minor helium leak in its propulsion system detected just hours before its planned launch from Florida. After two weeks of thorough investigation, officials confirmed the leak poses no significant risk to the astronauts. “This is really not a safety of…
Author: Kanika Sharma
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SpaceX has successfully completed a significant prelaunch test for its Starship rocket, marking a key milestone as it prepares for the vehicle’s fourth test flight. Launch rehearsal for Flight 4 complete pic.twitter.com/Gh8s7n4JIQ — SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 20, 2024 Successful Wet Dress Rehearsal On May 20, 2024, SpaceX conducted a “wet dress rehearsal” at its Starbase site in South Texas. This involved filling both stages of the Starship rocket with supercold liquid oxygen and liquid methane. SpaceX announced the completion of this test via a post on X, sharing four photos of the procedure. “Launch rehearsal for Flight 4 complete,” SpaceX…
Blue Origin Launches Six-Person Crew to the Edge of Space Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space company, successfully launched a six-person crew from West Texas to the edge of space on Sunday. This flight included Ed Dwight, the first U.S. Black astronaut candidate from the 1960s, marking the resumption of Blue Origin’s space tourism business after its New Shepard rocket was grounded in 2022. Historic Flight and Crew Members Ed Dwight, now 90 years and eight months old, became the oldest person to fly to space. Upon landing, he expressed his excitement, saying, “I am ecstatic.” Dwight had been selected by…
Blue Origin is set to launch its seventh human spaceflight, NS-25, from Launch Site One in West Texas. The launch is scheduled for Sunday, 19 May, with a window opening at 8:30 AM CDT / 1330 UTC. Excitement builds as the webcast will begin streaming on BlueOrigin.com 40 minutes before liftoff. The NS-25 mission patch beautifully incorporates several symbols. These include the Gemini spacecraft, highlighting Ed Dwight’s aerospace training, and a hand lifting the crew capsule, representing Dwight’s profound contributions to art. Additionally, a sunrise symbolizes Mason Angel and Carol Schaller’s quest to experience the overview effect. The mountains celebrate…
Zoho’s Ambitious Plan Indian software firm Zoho plans to enter the chipmaking industry and seeks federal government incentives, according to sources familiar with the proposal. One source estimates the investment at around $700 million. Company Background Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Tamil Nadu, Zoho offers subscription-based software and services to businesses in 150 countries, competing with giants like Microsoft and Salesforce. This new venture into chip manufacturing marks a significant diversification for the company. Government Incentives and Industry Push Zoho is the latest company to seek government financial incentives for establishing a chip fabrication plant. Semiconductors are crucial to…
An international team of astronomers used the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to uncover evidence of an ongoing merger between two galaxies and their massive black holes when the Universe was just 740 million years old. This discovery marks the most distant black hole merger ever detected and the earliest instance observed in the Universe’s history. Early Universe Black Hole Growth Astronomers have found supermassive black holes, with masses ranging from millions to billions of times that of the Sun, in most massive galaxies, including our Milky Way. These black holes significantly influence the evolution of their host galaxies. However,…
In early May 2024, Earth encountered one of the most severe solar storms in over two decades, induced by the highly active sunspot AR13664. This sunspot released several X-class flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) aimed at Earth, leading to a geomagnetic storm with a Dst index reaching -412 nT. The storm’s magnitude matched the most intense disturbances since 2003 and caused widespread disruptions in communication and GPS systems. It featured not only powerful X-class flares but also numerous M-class and C-class flares, many of which were associated with halo CMEs—CMEs aimed directly at Earth. Observations from Ground Solar flares,…
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is poised to embark on its ambitious second mission to Mars, following the resounding success of Mangalyaan, its maiden Mars mission. This new venture aims to position India as the third country to successfully land a spacecraft on Mars, joining the exclusive ranks of nations that have achieved this extraterrestrial feat. ISRO’s upcoming mission is set to include advanced technological components, such as a rover and a helicopter, similar to NASA’s Perseverance rover. During a presentation on National Technology Day at the Space Application Centre, new details emerged about the mission’s complex landing strategy.…
The aurora borealis, commonly referred to as the Northern Lights, typically visible in polar regions, recently made a rare appearance in the skies over Ladakh, India. This exceptional sighting occurred in Hanle, above Mount Saraswati, at latitudes of 34-36°N, where such phenomena are usually not seen. The Indian Astronomical Observatory captured this rare event on camera, marking it as a significant observation given the aurora’s typical confinement to higher latitudes around the Arctic and Antarctic. The sighting coincided with a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm, as classified by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, which is unusual for mid-latitude regions like Ladakh.…
Introduction to SpaceX’s Development Efforts SpaceX, under Elon Musk’s leadership, is actively expanding its Texas facilities. The projects include launching sites, offices, and a shopping center. However, financial issues with construction partners are overshadowing these developments. Delayed Payments Causing Industry Discontent A recent Reuters review highlighted delays in SpaceX’s payment processes. Property records show over 72 liens filed against SpaceX properties since 2019. These liens, amounting to more than $2.5 million, seek compensation for unpaid construction services. Industry Voices of Dissatisfaction The construction industry is growing impatient with SpaceX’s slow payments. For example, Brian Rozelle from Hydroz Energy Services voiced…
