India's space agency, ISRO, achieved a significant milestone in its Gaganyaan Mission as it successfully tested the Crew Escape System. The test, conducted using the Test Vehicle (TV-D1) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, validated crucial motors for astronaut safety, including low-altitude, high-altitude, and jettisoning motors. The system, akin to fighter jet ejection seats, safeguards astronauts by ejecting them to a safe distance in case of emergencies. ISRO's success paves the way for India's first manned space mission, with plans to send astronauts by 2025 and explore the Moon by 2040.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed the Department of Space to work towards establishing the 'Bharatiya Antariksha Station' (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and achieving India's first lunar landing by 2040. This directive came during a high-level meeting focused on assessing the progress of the Gaganyaan Mission and outlining the nation's future space exploration endeavors. The meeting also highlighted the various technologies developed for the Gaganyaan Mission and affirmed its readiness for launch in 2025. In addition to this, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to set new ambitious goals, building on recent successes like Chandrayan-3 and Aditya L1 Missions.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) unveiled images of the Gaganyaan spacecraft, scheduled for a December 2024 manned space mission. ISRO announced imminent unmanned flight tests, focusing on the Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) to showcase the Crew Escape System's performance. The Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate India's capability in launching a crew of two to three members into a 400 km circular orbit around Earth for a one-to-three-day mission, followed by a safe return landing in the Indian sea waters. Successful tests will pave the way for further qualifications, leading to the inaugural Gaganyaan mission with Indian astronauts. (Image Courtesy: ISRO)

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that its Aditya-L1 spacecraft has surpassed Earth's influence, advancing towards the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1) at a distance of over 9.2 lakh kilometers from Earth. This achievement, the second of its kind after the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), signifies a major milestone. Launched on September 2 via PSLV-C57.1, Aditya-L1's mission involves studying the Sun's physics, corona, solar wind, and space weather impact on Earth, positioning itself in a halo orbit around L1 approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth in the direction of the Sun.

The Indian Space Research Organisation is preparing for future missions to Venus and other celestial bodies following the successful Chandrayaan 3 lunar mission. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath stressed understanding Venus given its Earth-like nature and puzzling atmosphere. Studying Venus could offer insights into planetary evolution. ISRO has configured a Venus mission with developed payloads, building on its growing reputation via the Mars Orbiter, AstroSat, and other pioneering space programs. ISRO's readiness for more complex planetary exploration highlights India's rapid advances in space technology and exploration capabilities.

  Efforts to re-establish communication with India's Chandrayaan-3 moon lander and rover have dimmed after they entered "sleep mode" during the lunar night. The robots were expected to reawaken when exposed to sunlight around September 22, but contact hasn't been made. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had expressed confidence in their survival but noted that hopes were fading. They plan to continue efforts to contact the spacecraft until September 30, the next lunar sunset. Despite the challenges, the Chandrayaan-3 mission had already achieved its primary objectives, making India a key player in lunar exploration.

The Indian Space Research Organisation is awaiting signals as it attempts to revive the Chandrayaan-3 mission's Vikram lander and Pragyan rover from sleep mode. ISRO Director (SAC) Nilesh Desai said the revival is automatic and can't be controlled from Earth. Solar-charged systems should transmit signals after lunar sunrise on Sept 22. But no contact yet as efforts continue. Revival chances are 50-50 based on electronics surviving the cold. The mission accomplished its objectives already. Further moon surface experiments are possible if revived. ISRO anxiously awaits any communication from the dormant lunar lander and rover.

An eight-year-old Indian-origin girl, Aditi Shankar, has become the first person in the UK's NHS history to undergo a transplant without the need for lifelong drugs. Suffering from a rare genetic condition, she received a stem cell transplant from her mother and a kidney donation. This groundbreaking treatment, conducted at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, means that her new kidney functions without the ongoing requirement for immunosuppressant drugs to prevent rejection. The success of this procedure may pave the way for similar treatments for seriously ill children and adults with kidney failure, although it carries higher risks than standard kidney transplants. [Image Courtesy: @GreatOrmondSt]

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced a one-day delay in their attempt to revive the Pragyan rover and Vikram lander of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Originally planned for September 22 evening, the reactivation will now occur on September 23 as per ISRO's Nilesh Desai. The rover and lander had successfully landed on the moon in August and conducted experiments before entering sleep mode this month. While the rover traversed over 100m, below the 350m target, the mission achieved key objectives including a lunar hop test. If the dormant spacecraft components recharge as intended, the mission may get extended to gather more lunar samples.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to re-establish communication with Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander and Pragyan rover on Friday, September 22. Vikram and Pragyan had entered sleep mode for the lunar night after completing a successful hop experiment. The two-week lunar night meant no sunlight to power the solar-dependent systems. However, ISRO kept the lander's receivers active for data collection. Now with the lunar day starting, ISRO aims to wake up the spacecrafts and restart communications. The Chandrayaan-3 mission components rely on solar panels for energy. The earlier 14-day lunar day was their primary operational phase which allowed functioning with steady sunlight. But the lunar night posed a challenge with temperatures dropping to minus 180 degrees Celsius.