Isro successfully completed the first ground test of a solid motor for the Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments (SOLVE), designed to support the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. The test validated the motor's performance for lofting the Gaganyaan crew module for parachute tests.
ISRO successfully conducted a static test of the solid motor for its new Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments (SOLVE) on July 3. SOLVE will support the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program by testing parachute systems for the Crew Module.
NASA plans to deorbit the International Space Station into the Pacific Ocean's "spacecraft cemetery" around 2031. While deemed the safest option, environmental experts question the ecological impact of debris on ocean health, highlighting a growing challenge for the modern space age.
Nasa's Artemis III mission, aiming to return humans to the Moon, is drawing criticism for selecting an all-male crew, despite previous commitments to diversity and landing the first woman and person of color on the Moon. Nasa defends the choice, citing mission requirements and astronaut expertise.
SpaceX postponed its Starship launch on Thursday due to last-minute technical issues, with Elon Musk citing a "hydraulic pin" problem. The company is now targeting Friday for another attempt, crucial for NASA's lunar missions and SpaceX's potential IPO.
China, in collaboration with Russia, is accelerating its plans for a permanent lunar base, the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), aiming for a manned scientific station by 2035. This initiative, focusing on in-situ resource utilization and international partnerships, puts pressure on NASA's Artemis program, which faces delays and strategic adjustments. The Moon's south pole, rich in water ice, is the focal point of this new space race, emphasizing sustainable bases over mere prestige.
Sweden has joined India's Venus orbiter mission, developing a scientific instrument, while Norway signed an MoU with ISRO to boost space cooperation, focusing on climate change research.
GalaxEye, a Bengaluru-based space startup, successfully placed its first commercial satellite Drishti in orbit aboard SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket. Weighing 190kg, Drishti is India's largest privately developed Earth observation satellite and the world's first OptoSAR satellite, integrating Electro-Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar sensors for all-weather, day-and-night imaging.
Russia has successfully completed the first test launch of its new Soyuz-5 rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The vehicle is designed to increase payload capacity and reduce costs, representing a major modernization effort for the Russian space program.
Luxury fashion house Prada is collaborating with Axiom Space to design advanced lunar spacesuits for NASA's Artemis program. The AxEMU suits aim for greater mobility and protection, with Prada contributing expertise in materials and stitching. Artemis III's mission focus has shifted, with a lunar landing now targeted for Artemis IV.
A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage, identified as 2025-010D, will crash into the Moon on August 5, 2026, near the Einstein crater, highlighting space debris concerns and offering a scientific opportunity to study lunar soil impact effects.
Industry leader Dylan Taylor indicates humans could return to and live on the Moon before the end of this decade, with inflatable habitats potentially operational by the late 2020s. The shift reflects accelerating plans from both governments and private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin to establish sustained lunar presence, though significant technical challenges including radiation, extreme temperatures, and resource scarcity remain.
NASA has named the four-member crew for the upcoming SpaceX Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station. The mission, launching in mid-September, features astronauts from NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and Roscosmos to conduct research for future lunar and Mars exploration.
China has selected two Pakistani astronauts, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, for training to potentially join a future mission to the Tiangong space station, marking a significant step in bilateral space cooperation.
