SpaceX Crew Delays
NASA's plans faced a setback as SpaceX delayed the Crew-10 mission. This mission was supposed to bring home astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore,
who have been stranded in space for nine months due to issues with Boeing's Starliner. The delay pushes their return to no earlier than March 17. The situation has triggered a political debate, with Donald Trump and Elon Musk putting pressure on NASA to resolve the issue more rapidly. The Crew-10 Dragon has since docked with the ISS, carrying four passengers, and the launch was accelerated for the speedy return of Williams and Wilmore.
Starship Test Failure
SpaceX's Starship experienced its second major failure this year when it exploded mid-air during a test flight. Debris from the spacecraft was observed falling over Florida and the Bahamas, leading the FAA to temporarily halt flights at four airports. While SpaceX acknowledged the setback, they remain optimistic about enhancing Starship's reliability. This incident raises concerns about the future of SpaceX's Moon and Mars missions, as Starship is a key component of these ambitious plans.
Moon Landing Successes
Firefly Aerospace celebrated success with the release of a video showcasing the Blue Ghost Moon Landing. The video presents the deorbit insertion burn from its parking orbit, along with a controlled terminal descent, marking the first private mission to successfully land upright on the lunar surface. The Blue Ghost Moon Lander by Firefly Aerospace successfully touched down on the lunar surface. The probe has started relaying back observations, including photos from the lunar surface. Firefly Aerospace intends to operate the lander for an entire lunar day.
Space Telescope, Probes
NASA launched the SPHEREx space telescope and the PUNCH solar mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. SPHEREx is designed to map the universe in infrared light, while PUNCH is set to study the Sun’s corona and solar wind. These missions are aimed at solving cosmic mysteries and enhancing space weather predictions. Additionally, Intuitive Machine successfully launched its second commercial probe to the Moon aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. The payloads on board will help us better understand our only natural satellite and support NASA's Artemis Campaign.
ISRO's Aditya-L1 Mission
ISRO’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft captured the seeds of a solar flare in the lower atmosphere of the Sun. This was captured by India's first dedicated heliophysics observatory in space. The Solar Flare was observed about a year ago, at a time when it was the strongest solar flare in the solar cycle. Currently, Solar Cycle 25 is at its peak, and this data is critical for understanding solar activity.
Black Hole Discovery
Astronomers have discovered a substantial number of black holes occupying dwarf galaxies, a discovery that significantly adds to the tally of potential objects for elusive intermediate mass black holes. Scientists have compiled a catalogue of 2,500 bright black holes in these smaller galaxies. The discovery was enabled by an advanced ground-based instrument capable of simultaneously observing light from 5,000 galaxies.
Ancient Bone Needles
Researchers discovered ancient bone needles from the Ice Age in the USA, tools that belonged to the Clovis Culture. This find enriches our knowledge of the relationship between prehistoric humans and the animals that existed during that era, offering insights into their survival and daily lives.
Bengaluru Interference Issue
Spacecraft communications encountered interference from a cell phone tower in Bengaluru, affecting ISRO's ISTRAC facility. This interference caused additional downtime for the deep space network, impacting missions, including an asteroid mining venture. This situation highlighted challenges in maintaining clear communication channels in space missions.
WHO on Encephalitis
The World Health Organisation (WHO) identified encephalitis as a public health priority, recognizing the inflammatory condition affecting brain tissue caused by a variety of organisms. The WHO released its initial technical report on the disease, which requires swift medical treatment and can result in lasting neurological damage.
