Science

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a major milestone with the successful sea-level test of its indigenously developed CE20 cryogenic engine. Conducted at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Tamil Nadu, the test demonstrated the engine’s restart capabilities, a critical feature for India’s future manned missions, including the Gaganyaan spaceflight. The engine, now upgraded to deliver 20 tonnes of thrust, is set to enhance the payload capacity of the LVM3 launch vehicle. Additionally, innovative technologies like the Nozzle Protection System were successfully tested, streamlining the testing process and paving the way for more efficient evaluations.

Researchers at the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi) have developed AgeXtend, an AI-powered platform that accelerates the discovery of molecules with anti-aging properties. By screening over 1.1 billion compounds in two years, the team identified several promising candidates, validated through experiments on yeast, worms, and human cell models. What sets AgeXtend apart is its ability to not only predict geroprotective properties but also explain the mechanisms behind its predictions. This breakthrough could significantly shorten the timeline for identifying viable anti-aging treatments and guide future research.

A groundbreaking study from the Karolinska Institutet and Columbia University has discovered that the heart contains its own nervous system, referred to as a "mini-brain," which plays a key role in regulating heart rhythms. This complex network of neurons within the heart wall challenges the long-standing belief that the heart is solely controlled by the brain. The research, conducted using zebrafish, identified specialized neurons with pacemaker properties that directly influence heartbeat, opening new possibilities for understanding and treating heart conditions like arrhythmias.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore marked six months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) this Thursday, with two more months to go in their extended mission. The duo launched in June aboard Boeing's Starliner capsule, initially meant for a short test flight, but due to technical issues, their mission was extended until February. Williams, who serves as the station commander, shared her excitement about life in space, calling it “super fun.” The astronauts have carried out vital tasks such as scientific experiments, repairs, and maintaining the station, while also staying connected to Earth by participating in marathons and sending holiday greetings. Despite the challenges, both astronauts remain positive, with Wilmore describing their journey as being “on a different path.”

On December 5, 2024, ISRO successfully launched the PSLV-C59 mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, deploying two Proba-3 satellites from the European Space Agency (ESA). The mission, aimed at advancing solar research, saw the Coronagraph and Occulter satellites separated into their intended orbits. The Proba-3 satellites will work in tandem to study the Sun's corona, with the Occulter blocking the Sun's bright disk and allowing the Coronagraph to focus on the surrounding solar atmosphere. This mission follows ISRO's success with the Aditya-L1 mission, enhancing its role in global solar research.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 mission on Wednesday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This mission, which aims to study the Sun's corona through an artificial solar eclipse, marks a significant milestone in ISRO’s evolution into a global space leader. The Proba-3 consists of two spacecraft, the Occulter Satellite (OSC) and the Coronagraph Satellite (CSC), designed to provide continuous observation of the solar corona, advancing scientific understanding of solar dynamics and space weather. This successful launch will further strengthen ISRO's reputation as a reliable partner in international space missions.

Two Indian astronauts, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, have successfully completed the initial phase of their training for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). As part of a collaboration between ISRO and NASA, the astronauts began their training in the U.S. in August 2024. The first phase included mission orientations, SpaceX suit fittings, and familiarization with the ISS systems and space food. The astronauts will continue their preparation with a focus on the US Orbital Segment of the ISS and scientific research in microgravity.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched ISRO's GSAT-20 communications satellite from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Tuesday. Weighing 4,700 kg, GSAT-20 is designed to enhance India’s communication infrastructure, offering improved internet connectivity for remote areas and in-flight services. This launch marks the first commercial collaboration between ISRO and SpaceX, as the satellite's weight exceeded the capacity of ISRO’s own rockets. The partnership comes amid geopolitical tensions and operational challenges faced by other global launch providers, making SpaceX the preferred choice for India’s heavy satellite launches.

A recent study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that the river network surrounding Mount Everest has contributed to its height, causing the mountain to rise between 15 and 50 meters over the past 89,000 years. Researchers from University College London found that the Arun River, which erodes a nearby gorge, is responsible for this uplift. The mountain currently rises by about 2 millimeters each year due to erosion, a process known as "isostatic rebound." This research sheds light on the geological processes affecting the Himalayas and emphasizes the significant role of river systems in shaping mountain landscapes.

SpaceX made history on Sunday by successfully "catching" the first-stage booster of its Starship megarocket as it returned to the launch pad after a test flight. This achievement marks a significant advancement in the company's quest for rapid reusability. The Super Heavy booster launched alongside the Starship rocket and executed a controlled descent back to the Texas launch pad, where large mechanical "chopsticks" from the launch tower securely halted its descent. Liftoff occurred at 7:25 AM (1225 GMT), and while the booster returned, the upper stage of Starship was set to splash down in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX engineers dedicated years of preparation and extensive testing to make this catch attempt a reality. The success of this mission underscores SpaceX's leadership in the aerospace industry, furthering its goal of making humanity a multiplanetary species.

Chandrayaan-3, India’s lunar mission, has successfully landed in a 3.85-billion-year-old crater on the Moon, marking a significant achievement for the country’s space exploration efforts. This ancient crater, formed during the Nectarian period, is one of the oldest on the Moon's surface and has not been explored by any previous missions. The Pragyan rover is now providing valuable geological insights, revealing that one half of the crater is buried under ejecta from the South Pole-Aitken basin. The mission underscores India's growing capabilities in space science, having made its soft landing on the Moon's south pole on August 23, 2023, at a site designated as Shiv Shakti Point.

A SpaceX mission launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Saturday to bring astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back from the International Space Station (ISS), where they have been stranded for months. The spacecraft is carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, while Williams and Wilmore are set to return after spending over eight months in space, significantly longer than the week they initially expected.