Isro, on Aug 15, successfully launched the Earth Observation Satellite-8 using its newly-developed SSLV-D3 from Sriharikota. The EOS-08 mission aimed to design a microsatellite, develop new technologies for future satellites, and included polarized payloads like EOIR and GNSS-R. The integration of advanced satellite technology marked a significant achievement for Isro's operational capabilities.
Nasa announced that Boeing's Starliner spacecraft might be unsafe for astronaut returns, raising the possibility of using SpaceX to bring Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams back to Earth in February 2025. Initially planned for eight days, the mission has been extended due to propulsion issues in Starliner. Nasa and Boeing are working on resolving these problems.
Nasa delayed SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the ISS due to problems with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. The Starliner, which transported two astronauts to the ISS in June, has been docked for two months due to propulsion anomalies. Now set for September 24, the Crew-9 mission may return the stranded astronauts and two Crew-8 members as Boeing addresses its issues. Updates are expected on Wednesday.
A Chinese state-owned enterprise planned to launch the first batch of satellites for a constellation aimed at competing with Space X's Starlink. The project, known as the Thousand Sails Constellation, aimed to deploy over 15,000 low Earth orbit satellites. The launch was significant for China's strategic goals and had military implications.
Scientists discovered fossilized plants and insects beneath a two-mile ice core from central Greenland, proving the region was ice-free within the past million years. This finding implies greater potential for global sea level rise due to current climate change.