NASA has issued an alert for asteroid 99942 Apophis, known as the "God of Chaos," which will pass close to Earth on November 13 at about 19,000 miles (31,000 km) away. Although scientists assure a safe distance, Apophis’ proximity and immense size, comparable to the Empire State Building, have sparked global interest. If it were to strike, it could unleash energy equivalent to hundreds of nuclear bombs, causing massive destruction. Discovered in 2004, Apophis is classified as a near-Earth object (NEO) and continues to be closely tracked to understand potential risks and refine future planetary defense technologies.

A small asteroid, designated 2024 UQ, struck Earth on October 22, just hours after its detection by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Hawaii. Measuring only 3 feet in diameter, it disintegrated in the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean, off California. The asteroid was the third "imminent impactor" of 2024, with impact monitoring systems failing to fully track its trajectory in time. While the event posed no significant threat, it highlights the need for continued advancements in early space surveillance and impact detection technology.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, initially set for an eight-day mission, has spent six months in space due to a Starliner malfunction. Her prolonged stay has sparked health concerns, with recent images showing weight loss and a gaunt appearance. Dr. Vinay Gupta, a Seattle-based pulmonologist, noted signs of calorie deficit and strain from space’s unique challenges. Despite NASA’s assurances of routine health monitoring, concerns linger as no immediate rescue is available until February, when a Dragon capsule is scheduled for retrieval. NASA’s spokesperson emphasized that Williams and fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore are closely monitored by flight surgeons.

As Americans vote in the 2024 elections, NASA has made arrangements for astronauts in space, including Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, to participate remotely. Williams, along with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, is currently on the Boeing Starliner and is expected to return to Earth only in February. NASA’s voting-from-space initiative ensures that these astronauts can fulfill their civic duty despite their location. Williams expressed her excitement about voting from space, emphasizing the importance of this right as a citizen.

NASA's 47-year-old Voyager 1 spacecraft, currently 15 billion miles away in interstellar space, experienced a brief communication interruption on October 16. Engineers at Jet Propulsion Laboratory re-established contact on October 24 using a radio transmitter last used in 1981. The outage occurred when Voyager 1's fault protection system switched to a lower-power transmitter. Signals take 23 hours to travel between Earth and the spacecraft. Investigation revealed the system's automatic power-down triggered the shutdown. Successful reconnection ensures continued transmission of vital data from the historic spacecraft.

India's space agency, ISRO, has launched its first analog space mission in Leh, Ladakh, to study the challenges of extraterrestrial conditions. The mission includes a compact, inflatable habitat named Hab-1, simulating life in an interplanetary habitat to tackle challenges of a base station beyond Earth. This groundbreaking project, developed in collaboration with ISRO's Human Spaceflight Centre, the University of Ladakh, IIT Bombay, and Aaka Space Studio, will help understand challenges future astronauts may face on missions beyond Earth. Key objectives include testing human endurance, advanced habitat designs, biometric data collection, and life support systems.

NASA's Voyager-1 spacecraft, launched in 1977, briefly lost contact with Earth due to a technical issue. On October 16, a command to activate a heater triggered the spacecraft's fault protection system, shutting down its primary X-band transmitter. The system automatically switched to a backup S-band transmitter, last used in 1981. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory team successfully reestablished communication on October 24, overcoming challenges posed by the weaker signal traveling 25 billion kilometers from Earth. The incident demonstrated Voyager-1's resilience and NASA's expertise in maintaining communication with the 45-year-old probe.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, currently stationed on the International Space Station (ISS), shared heartfelt Diwali greetings from space. In a video message, she expressed gratitude to U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for celebrating Diwali at the White House, recognizing the Indian community’s contributions. Williams, who has been aboard the ISS since June, reflected on her cultural heritage and the significance of Diwali. Originally planned as a short mission, her stay was extended, with her return expected in February. Williams shared, “Diwali is a time of joy as goodness in the world prevails.”

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, of Indian origin, celebrated Diwali from the International Space Station (ISS), where she's been since June. In a video message, Williams expressed gratitude to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for celebrating Diwali at the White House, highlighting their support for the Indian community. Reflecting on her father’s efforts to maintain cultural traditions, she said, "Diwali is a time of joy as goodness prevails." The White House Diwali event acknowledged the community's contributions. Williams will return to Earth in February, extending what was initially a one-week mission.

ISRO Chief S Somanath has announced updated timelines for India’s upcoming space missions. The Chandrayaan-4 mission, aimed at returning lunar samples, is scheduled for 2028. The Chandrayaan-5 mission, a collaborative moon landing with Japan’s JAXA, is also expected after 2028, carrying a 350-kg rover, ten times heavier than Chandrayaan-3’s. India’s first manned mission, Gaganyaan, is planned for 2026, with future goals set for a moon mission by 2040. Additionally, ISRO will launch the TDS-01 electric-propelled satellite in December 2024. Somanath shared these updates at the Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture, highlighting India’s space advancements.