Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has unveiled the Bharatiya Habitable Expandable Extraterrestrial Habitat (BHEEM), an academic research concept exploring how future astronauts could live beyond Earth. The project emerged during the Indian phase of Shukla’s astronaut training after his return from Russia. He explained that the training involved learning the systems of India’s launch vehicle and orbital module, extensive physical conditioning and spaceflight preparation. Alongside these activities, astronauts were encouraged to undertake academic research connected to the future of human space exploration. BHEEM focuses on the concept of habitats for human life beyond Earth, reflecting India’s growing interest in long-term human spaceflight and habitation beyond spacecraft, potentially on extraterrestrial surfaces.

ISRO will launch its GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite on September 4. The launch is scheduled for 2:55 AM from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.   GSLV-F17 will be the 19th flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle. The rocket will place EOS-05 into a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.   EOS-05 will be India’s first imaging satellite to operate from a geosynchronous orbit. From its high position, it will observe large areas of Earth. The satellite will help monitor land, natural resources and changes on the planet. It will also support scientific and practical applications.  

NASA’s Curiosity rover has reached a new milestone on Mars, gaining one kilometre in elevation during its 14-year journey across the Red Planet. The rover has climbed from Gale Crater up the slopes of Mount Sharp, reaching its highest point so far. NASA also shared a recent panorama showing the distant crater floor and northern rim of Gale Crater through Mars’ dusty summer atmosphere. Curiosity’s latest images offer one of the clearest views of the Martian surface, revealing a cold, rocky and dusty landscape shaped by billions of years of geological history.  

India is working towards establishing its own space station, the Bharatiya Antariksha Station, by 2035, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said on Sunday. Speaking during National Space Day celebrations in Ahmedabad, Narayanan said the first module of the proposed space station has already received approval. He also highlighted upcoming programmes, including the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. Narayanan said India's space programme has expanded significantly over the past 64 years, with space-based technology now supporting citizens in more than 50 areas, including communication, navigation, disaster management, remote sensing, education and Earth observation.  

A new Cambridge University study has found that India had the highest rocket launch cost per kilogram among major space powers in 2025, at $13,302. The study analysed more than 6,740 launches and said smaller payload capacities and lower launch frequency raise India’s per-kilogram costs. The US averaged $3,225, followed by Japan, China, Russia and Europe. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan rejected the findings, saying the study used “wrong data”, while former chief S Somanath said cost per kilogram does not present the complete picture. (PC: NDTV)

A team of Indian geologists has discovered evidence of ancient microbial life dating back around 3.5 billion years in rocks from Jharkhand’s Singhbhum Craton. The study, led by Geological Survey of India geologist Trisrota Chaudhuri, found fossilised microbial mats near Jamshedpur. Researchers studied carbon preserved in the ancient rocks and used Raman spectroscopy to confirm it was part of the original rock. Analysis of zircon crystals helped establish the age of the material. The findings suggest primitive microorganisms survived in a chemically extreme environment alongside volcanic activity, in an ocean rich in iron and silica. (PC: X)

China has successfully recovered a rocket’s first stage on land for the first time, marking a major advance in its reusable-spaceflight programme, state media reported. The Zhuque-3, developed by private aerospace company LandSpace, launched on Wednesday and its first stage was subsequently recovered. China had previously achieved a rocket-stage recovery at sea in July using a net-capture system. Wednesday’s mission was the country’s first land recovery using deployable landing legs. SpaceX and Blue Origin have been recovering rockets since 2015, helping reduce launch costs through reusable hardware. Japan also conducted its first experimental reusable-rocket flight in July. The developments highlight intensifying competition to lower launch costs and strengthen commercial space capabilities.

Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon has harvested and cooked fresh vegetables grown aboard the International Space Station, sharing a video of the experiment. Menon and fellow astronaut Jessica Meir grew kale and wasabi mustard greens for about a month inside NASA’s Veggie plant-growth chamber. The astronauts harvested the leaves and prepared them as part of a fresh meal in space. NASA is studying how plants grow in microgravity to support future long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Growing fresh food in space could provide astronauts with nutrients and reduce the amount of food that needs to be transported from Earth.  

A geomagnetic storm from the Sun is expected to reach Earth on Monday, August 17. The event began with a solar eruption on August 14. It sent a huge cloud of charged particles into space. The cloud, called a coronal mass ejection, is expected to make a direct or glancing impact with Earth’s magnetic field. Forecasters expect a G1-class storm, the lowest level on the five-point scale. It could create bright auroras in parts of North America and Europe. The storm may also cause minor disruptions to satellites, radio signals and navigation systems. No major impact is expected.

Millions of people across the UK and Europe gathered to watch a rare solar eclipse, described as the most significant visible from the UK since 1999. More than 90% of the Sun was covered by the Moon in most parts of the UK, creating a striking spectacle. The eclipse was also visible across large parts of Europe, while a total eclipse could be seen in parts of Iceland and Spain. In Spain’s Benavente, crowds fell silent during 84 seconds of totality. People in Edinburgh cheered when clouds cleared, while a beach cafe in Cornwall was described as “absolutely buzzing” during the event. (PC: X/Reuters)