Science

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.