Orbital Sciences
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Earth May Have At Least Six "Minimoons" At Any Given Time: Study
Studying minimoons can provide insights into the Moon's history and crater formation process.
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Shubhanshu Shukla Bids Farewell from ISS, Honours India’s Space Legacy
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s farewell message from the ISS during the Axiom-4 mission was a stirring tribute to India’s space journey. Echoing Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 phrase, Shukla said that from orbit, India appears “full of ambition, fearless, confident and full of pride.” His 18-day stay aboard the ISS included over 60 experi...
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Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Set To Return: How Human Body Is Impacted In Microgravity
As India prepares to receive its first astronaut, who is returning from the International Space Station, the spotlight turns to the health of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a decorated officer of the Indian Air Force.
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Shubhanshu Shukla Saw 230 Sunrises From Space, Travelled 100 Lakh Km
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his Axiom-4 crew have witnessed 230 sunrises onboard the International Space Station (ISS) and travelled nearly 100 lakh kms in space at the end of two weeks on the orbital laboratory.
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Massive Boulders Ejected by DART Mission Could Complicate Future Asteroid Deflection
NASA’s DART mission successfully deflected an asteroid but also unleashed high-velocity boulders with unexpected momentum. These chaotic ejecta may alter asteroid spin and orbit, complicating future deflection strategies. A new study highlights the importance of accounting for such forces in planetary defence. ESA’s Hera mission will further in...
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Ciao Shux! Astrophotographers, Amateurs Capture ISS's Flight Over India
As the ISS flew over New Delhi, astrophotographers and amateurs alike turned their cameras to the skies, possibly mirroring the awe-filled gaze with which Shubhanshu Shukla must have been looking at India from the orbital lab.
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New Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Could Reveal Secrets of Distant Worlds
Astronomers have confirmed the arrival of 3I/ATLAS, only the third interstellar object ever spotted in our solar system. First seen on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS survey team in Chile, it was quickly identified by its unusual hyperbolic orbit and comet-like tail. Larger and brighter than either 1I/ʻOumuamua or 2I/Borisov, 3I/ATLAS is estimated to b...
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Space Capsule Carrying Ashes Of Over 160 People Crashes Into Pacific Ocean
A space capsule carrying the ashes of 166 people crashed into the Pacific Ocean after two successful orbits around the Earth.
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NASA Astronaut Captures Rare Red Sprite Over Storm from Space Station
In a rare celestial event, NASA astronaut Nichole “Vapor” Ayers captured a vivid red sprite lightning phenomenon from the International Space Station as it flared above a thunderstorm across Mexico and the southern U.S. The image highlights the importance of orbital observation and NASA's citizen-science initiative, Spritacular, which collects ...
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Climate Satellite MethaneSAT Fails After Just One Year in Orbit
MethaneSAT, a climate-monitoring satellite backed by Google and the Bezos Earth Fund, has failed after just one year in orbit. Launched in March 2024 to track methane leaks, the $88 million satellite lost power in June 2025. Though unrecoverable, mission operators will continue analyzing the collected data to support climate action and emission tra...
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A Planet with a Death Wish: How HIP 67522 b Is Forcing Its Star to Explode
NASA-backed astronomers have identified HIP 67522 b, a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting extremely close to its star, causing massive magnetic explosions. For the first time, a planet has been shown to trigger solar flares on its host star, highlighting a new era in exoplanet and stellar magnetic research.
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Japan Launches Final H-2A Rocket with GOSAT-GW Satellite to Monitor Climate and Oceans
Japan concluded the H-2A rocket program with the launch of the GOSAT-GW satellite, dedicated to monitoring greenhouse gases and sea temperatures. The mission strengthens Japan’s long-term commitment to climate research and marks a transition to the more cost-effective H3 launch system. Over its 25-year lifespan, H-2A recorded 49 successes out of ...
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SpaceX Expands Starlink Network with Dual Falcon 9 Launches, Boosts Constellation Beyond 7,900 Satellites
SpaceX continues its rapid Starlink expansion with two Falcon 9 launches on June 28, 2025, delivering 53 satellites to orbit. With over 7,900 active units now in its constellation, SpaceX strengthens its lead in global LEO broadband service. The reusable boosters also landed successfully, marking their fifth and eighth flights.
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Rare Jupiter-Sized Planet Discovered Using Phenomenon First Predicted by Einstein
AT2021uey b orbits a small and dim M dwarf star and completes its orbit every 4,170 days.
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Rocket Lab Launches ‘Get the Hawk Outta Here’ Mission with Four Satellites from New Zealand
Rocket Lab launched four satellites for Hawkeye 360 from New Zealand on June 27 aboard its Electron rocket. The mission deployed radio-frequency monitoring satellites and a tech demo into polar orbit, supporting strategic intelligence operations. It marks the company’s 67th launch and ninth of 2025, with several more missions slated before year-e...
-
Earth May Have At Least Six "Minimoons" At Any Given Time: Study
Studying minimoons can provide insights into the Moon's history and crater formation process.
-
Shubhanshu Shukla Bids Farewell from ISS, Honours India’s Space Legacy
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s farewell message from the ISS during the Axiom-4 mission was a stirring tribute to India’s space journey. Echoing Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 phrase, Shukla said that from orbit, India appears “full of ambition, fearless, confident and full of pride.” His 18-day stay aboard the ISS included over 60 experi...
-
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Set To Return: How Human Body Is Impacted In Microgravity
As India prepares to receive its first astronaut, who is returning from the International Space Station, the spotlight turns to the health of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a decorated officer of the Indian Air Force.
-
Shubhanshu Shukla Saw 230 Sunrises From Space, Travelled 100 Lakh Km
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his Axiom-4 crew have witnessed 230 sunrises onboard the International Space Station (ISS) and travelled nearly 100 lakh kms in space at the end of two weeks on the orbital laboratory.
-
Massive Boulders Ejected by DART Mission Could Complicate Future Asteroid Deflection
NASA’s DART mission successfully deflected an asteroid but also unleashed high-velocity boulders with unexpected momentum. These chaotic ejecta may alter asteroid spin and orbit, complicating future deflection strategies. A new study highlights the importance of accounting for such forces in planetary defence. ESA’s Hera mission will further in...
-
Ciao Shux! Astrophotographers, Amateurs Capture ISS's Flight Over India
As the ISS flew over New Delhi, astrophotographers and amateurs alike turned their cameras to the skies, possibly mirroring the awe-filled gaze with which Shubhanshu Shukla must have been looking at India from the orbital lab.
-
New Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Could Reveal Secrets of Distant Worlds
Astronomers have confirmed the arrival of 3I/ATLAS, only the third interstellar object ever spotted in our solar system. First seen on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS survey team in Chile, it was quickly identified by its unusual hyperbolic orbit and comet-like tail. Larger and brighter than either 1I/ʻOumuamua or 2I/Borisov, 3I/ATLAS is estimated to b...
-
Space Capsule Carrying Ashes Of Over 160 People Crashes Into Pacific Ocean
A space capsule carrying the ashes of 166 people crashed into the Pacific Ocean after two successful orbits around the Earth.
-
NASA Astronaut Captures Rare Red Sprite Over Storm from Space Station
In a rare celestial event, NASA astronaut Nichole “Vapor” Ayers captured a vivid red sprite lightning phenomenon from the International Space Station as it flared above a thunderstorm across Mexico and the southern U.S. The image highlights the importance of orbital observation and NASA's citizen-science initiative, Spritacular, which collects ...
-
Climate Satellite MethaneSAT Fails After Just One Year in Orbit
MethaneSAT, a climate-monitoring satellite backed by Google and the Bezos Earth Fund, has failed after just one year in orbit. Launched in March 2024 to track methane leaks, the $88 million satellite lost power in June 2025. Though unrecoverable, mission operators will continue analyzing the collected data to support climate action and emission tra...
-
A Planet with a Death Wish: How HIP 67522 b Is Forcing Its Star to Explode
NASA-backed astronomers have identified HIP 67522 b, a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting extremely close to its star, causing massive magnetic explosions. For the first time, a planet has been shown to trigger solar flares on its host star, highlighting a new era in exoplanet and stellar magnetic research.
-
Japan Launches Final H-2A Rocket with GOSAT-GW Satellite to Monitor Climate and Oceans
Japan concluded the H-2A rocket program with the launch of the GOSAT-GW satellite, dedicated to monitoring greenhouse gases and sea temperatures. The mission strengthens Japan’s long-term commitment to climate research and marks a transition to the more cost-effective H3 launch system. Over its 25-year lifespan, H-2A recorded 49 successes out of ...
-
SpaceX Expands Starlink Network with Dual Falcon 9 Launches, Boosts Constellation Beyond 7,900 Satellites
SpaceX continues its rapid Starlink expansion with two Falcon 9 launches on June 28, 2025, delivering 53 satellites to orbit. With over 7,900 active units now in its constellation, SpaceX strengthens its lead in global LEO broadband service. The reusable boosters also landed successfully, marking their fifth and eighth flights.
-
Rare Jupiter-Sized Planet Discovered Using Phenomenon First Predicted by Einstein
AT2021uey b orbits a small and dim M dwarf star and completes its orbit every 4,170 days.
-
Rocket Lab Launches ‘Get the Hawk Outta Here’ Mission with Four Satellites from New Zealand
Rocket Lab launched four satellites for Hawkeye 360 from New Zealand on June 27 aboard its Electron rocket. The mission deployed radio-frequency monitoring satellites and a tech demo into polar orbit, supporting strategic intelligence operations. It marks the company’s 67th launch and ninth of 2025, with several more missions slated before year-e...
