After nearly eight months on the International Space Station (ISS), four astronauts—three Americans and one Russian—returned to Earth on Friday. The SpaceX capsule carrying the crew landed safely in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida. Originally scheduled to return two months ago, the mission faced delays due to Boeing's Starliner capsule issues and Hurricane Milton. NASA’s Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, along with Russia's Alexander Grebenkin, finally undocked mid-week. Their replacements include Starliner test pilots Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, along with two others, ensuring the ISS returns to its regular crew of seven.

NASA's Crew-8 mission has begun its 34-hour return to Earth after six months aboard the International Space Station. The SpaceX Dragon capsule, carrying NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, undocked from the ISS at 2:40 am (IST) on Thursday. Their return had been delayed by poor weather conditions. The crew is expected to splash down near the Florida coast at around 1 pm (IST) on Friday. This marks the end of their mission, which involved various scientific experiments and maintenance activities during their time in space.

The Cryonics Institute in the U.S. claims it can revive the dead within 200-250 years. Over 500 bodies, including more than 200 preserved brains, are currently frozen, with many signing up for potential immortality. Despite criticism from medical experts labeling it as fraudulent, wealthy investors like Sam Altman and Jeff Bezos have supported the initiative. The preservation method involves cooling bodies to -196°C in liquid nitrogen, raising ethical concerns about identity and memory loss if revival occurs. While some dismiss the practice as nonsense, others see it as a potentially lucrative investment.              

NASA has identified six asteroids scheduled to pass by Earth on October 24, 2024, with the largest measuring up to 580 feet wide. None of these asteroids are considered a threat to Earth, but their proximity highlights the importance of tracking near-Earth objects (NEOs). Asteroids are rocky remnants from the early solar system, which formed about 4.6 billion years ago. They mainly orbit the Sun in the asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter. Unlike planets, asteroids lack atmospheres and do not exhibit geological activities such as volcanism or plate tectonics. Sizes of asteroids can range from small boulders to large bodies.

SpaceX has unveiled new footage showcasing a historic achievement in spaceflight: the successful capture of its Super Heavy booster by the launch tower for the first time. This event took place during the fifth test flight of the Starship rocket. The footage shows the booster being caught by the tower's giant mechanical arms, highlighting SpaceX's progress towards a fully reusable rocket system. This recovery is a significant advancement for SpaceX as it aligns with NASA's plans to return astronauts to the moon. The fully reusable Starship rocket performed flawlessly during the test, marking an important milestone in the company's space endeavors.

The ancient comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, known as the “comet of the century,” lit up the night skies this week. It made its closest approach to Earth, about 44 million miles away. Discovered in 2023, this long-period comet only visits the inner solar system every 80,000 years. Stargazers around the world shared stunning photos and time-lapse videos on social media. The comet was first spotted by scientists in China and South Africa. People reported seeing the comet over locations like Arizona, Russia, North Macedonia, and Japan.

NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft has launched from Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, beginning its 5.5-year journey to Jupiter’s moon Europa. Set to reach orbit in 2030, the mission will investigate whether Europa's subsurface ocean, hidden beneath an icy shell, could support life. Europa Clipper will conduct 49 close flybys to measure the ocean's depth and map the surface. Weighing 6,000 kg and equipped with solar arrays, the probe is designed to withstand Jupiter’s intense radiation while gathering data to help understand potential habitability beyond Earth.

SpaceX achieved a major breakthrough by catching its 232-foot Super Heavy booster with giant robotic arms, called "chopsticks," following the successful launch of its reusable Starship spacecraft from Boca Chica, Texas. The booster re-ignited three engines to slow its descent before being caught by the arms mounted on a steel tower. SpaceX owner Elon Musk hailed the achievement as a historic engineering moment. The Starship second stage continued its journey into space, landing in the Indian Ocean after completing its fifth test flight.

SpaceX successfully caught its Starship Super Heavy booster for the first time during its fifth test flight, a significant achievement in space exploration. After reaching speeds over 17,000 mph, the booster was gently guided back to the Texas launchpad, where it was captured by mechanical arms, marking a leap towards reusable rocket technology. Elon Musk hailed the event as a "big step towards making life multi-planetary." Additionally, Starship completed a successful splashdown in the Indian Ocean, fulfilling both key objectives of the test.

India has inaugurated the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Observatory in Hanle, Ladakh, placing the nation at the forefront of cosmic-ray research. Built by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), MACE is the highest imaging Cherenkov telescope globally, located at an altitude of 4,300 meters. The observatory will focus on studying high-energy gamma rays, offering insights into phenomena like supernovae, black holes, and gamma-ray bursts. This project, expected to contribute to Ladakh's socio-economic development, also aims to inspire future Indian scientists and foster international collaborations.