A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched two lunar landers from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday. The mission includes Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost rover and Japan’s ispace's Resilience lander, both part of a rideshare program. Firefly’s rover will study the Moon’s magnetic field and collect samples, while ispace’s lander will deploy a rover and scoop up lunar regolith. NASA is backing this commercial endeavor, marking a significant step in private lunar exploration. Firefly’s rover is expected to reach the Moon in 45 days, while ispace’s lander will take up to five months.

Dr. S. Somanath, ISRO chairman, has stepped down, leaving a legacy of extraordinary accomplishments, including Chandrayaan-3’s historic Moon landing and Aditya-L1’s solar mission launch. Despite battling cancer during critical mission phases, Somanath’s leadership ensured India’s space exploration prominence. His tenure also advanced the Gaganyaan program for human spaceflight and innovative projects like the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle. Dr. V. Narayanan, ISRO’s new chief, plans ambitious missions like Chandrayaan-4, a space station by 2028, and navigation satellites. Narayanan’s extensive experience promises to uphold ISRO’s innovative streak and international collaboration, heralding a new era in India’s space exploration.

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is set to launch from Cape Canaveral after delays. This marks a critical step in the billionaire space race, challenging Elon Musk's SpaceX dominance. The rocket, named after John Glenn, aims to carry up to 45 tonnes to low Earth orbit. Despite prior delays due to sea conditions, the team is hopeful for success. With reusable stages and an innovative payload, this launch could reshape the commercial space industry. Bezos’s space venture competes with Musk’s efforts, which have dominated the market with numerous successful launches. Follow live for updates as the rocket takes flight.

ISRO’s Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) is making progress as satellites SDX01 and SDX02 approach each other for docking. Currently, the satellites are 15 metres apart and holding position, ISRO announced. A trial attempt to close the gap to 3 metres was conducted, with the spacecraft later moved to a safe distance for further analysis. The mission, launched on December 30, 2024, aims to demonstrate in-space docking technology, crucial for future projects like the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and lunar astronaut missions. If successful, India will join three other nations in mastering this complex space technology.

Dr V Narayanan, a Distinguished Scientist and Director of ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), will become the ISRO Chairman on January 14, succeeding S Somnath. With nearly 4 decades of experience, Dr Narayanan has been instrumental in developing India's space propulsion systems. He led the C25 Cryogenic Project for GSLV Mk III and contributed to Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and Aditya-L1 missions. Under his leadership, LPSC delivered 183 propulsion systems for ISRO missions. His accolades include the IIT Kharagpur Silver Medal and ASI Gold Medal, highlighting his remarkable contributions to India's space program.

ISRO plans to launch a US communications satellite enabling voice calls via smartphones directly from space in February or March. The mission, led by New Space India Limited, marks the first launch of an American company’s large-scale satellite by an Indian rocket. Texas-based AST SpaceMobile will use ISRO’s Launch Vehicle Mark-3 to deploy its 6,000-kg Bluebird satellite with a 64-square-meter antenna into low Earth orbit. The satellite aims to deliver affordable 5G broadband service worldwide, connecting satellites to regular smartphones. ISRO officials confirmed the project is a commercial venture targeting groundbreaking mobile communication technology.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, aboard the International Space Station (ISS), will witness 16 sunrises on January 1, 2025. Commander of the “Expedition 72” mission, Williams and six crewmates orbit Earth 15.5 times daily at 28,000 km/h, experiencing a sunrise every 90 minutes. Originally on an eight-day mission, Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stranded since June 2024 due to an unfit Boeing Starliner capsule. NASA confirmed their return is delayed until March 2025 with astronauts Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov. Despite challenges, the crew celebrated Christmas and continue sharing messages with loved ones on Earth.

ISRO will mark its 100th mission in January 2025 with the launch of GSLV-F15, carrying the IRNSS-1K satellite. Announced by Chairman S Somanath, this milestone mission will contribute to NavIC, India’s regional navigation system, enhancing precision military, strategic, and civilian applications. The payload includes advanced navigation and ranging technologies, such as a Rubidium atomic clock for accuracy. NavIC aims to rival global systems like GPS and supports diverse services, including IoT, agriculture, and emergency operations. Following the success of PSLV-C60 in December 2024, this mission continues ISRO's streak of innovations in satellite navigation and space exploration.

India has launched its first space docking test, the SpaDeX mission, aboard the PSLV rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The mission, which involved a two-minute delay due to space traffic, aims to demonstrate satellite interlinking, a crucial step for future Indian space projects, including the development of a space station and the Chandrayaan-4 moon sample return mission. If successful, India will join the US, Russia, and China in mastering space docking technology. The docking test, slated for January 7, will showcase precision maneuvers between two satellites, a vital capability for future crewed missions.

ISRO launched its PSLV-C60 rocket, carrying the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), from Sriharikota on Monday night. SpaDeX features two 220-kg satellites designed to execute India's first autonomous orbital docking. The satellites were deployed into a 476-km orbit, marking a crucial milestone in India’s space program. ISRO chief S. Somnath announced the docking attempt is expected by January 7. SpaDeX aims to pioneer in-orbit refueling, satellite repairs, and space station assembly, placing India among elite nations mastering this technology. Additionally, the mission's payload includes scientific instruments and experiments demonstrating India’s growing private space sector capabilities.