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.

The Northern Lights made a stunning appearance across the UK on Thursday night, visible as far south as Sussex due to a severe geomagnetic storm. Clear skies allowed many across the country, including regions like Kent, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, to witness the dazzling aurora borealis. The phenomenon, caused by charged particles colliding with Earth's atmospheric gases, is influenced by solar activity, which is nearing its peak. According to the Met Office, further sightings may occur this weekend, particularly in Scotland. The lights' appearance this far south is rare and delighted stargazers across Britain.

Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNA and its role in gene regulation. The Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute awarded the scientists a prize of 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.1 million). The discovery of microRNA has significantly impacted the field of molecular biology and medical research. The prestigious Nobel Prize, founded by Alfred Nobel, continues to recognize groundbreaking contributions in science, literature, and peace. This year’s laureates will receive their awards on December 10.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on September 29, 2024, to rescue astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, stranded since June due to Boeing's Starliner thruster failures. The rescue mission, manned by NASA's Nick Hague and Russia's Alexander Gorbunov, will not return to Earth until February 2025, leaving Williams and Wilmore in space for eight months. NASA's Deputy Program Manager confirmed the astronauts monitored the launch from the ISS, maintaining a positive outlook on their extended stay in orbit.

Earth has temporarily acquired a second moon, named Asteroid 2024 PT5. This small asteroid, roughly the size of a bus, was captured by Earth's gravity on Sunday. Although only 10 meters wide, this "mini moon" won't be visible from India or any other location without advanced telescopes. The asteroid is expected to orbit Earth for two months before breaking free on November 25. First spotted in August by scientists in Spain, 2024 PT5 is part of the Arjuna asteroid group and is projected to pass by Earth again in 2055.

SpaceX’s Crew-9 successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, ready to return stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams. The mission launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday. Wilmore and Williams, delivered to the ISS by Boeing’s Starliner in June, were initially scheduled for an eight-day stay, but issues with the Starliner’s propulsion system extended their mission. NASA decided to return them via SpaceX after extensive testing. Crew-9’s astronauts, Nick Hague and Alexander Gorbunov, will spend five months conducting over 200 experiments on the ISS.

India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has landed in a 3.85-billion-year-old crater on the Moon, formed during the Nectarian period. This site, at the Moon’s south pole, is one of the oldest and most unique. Scientists from ISRO and the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad shared that the mission’s Pragyan rover has explored a place no other mission has visited. Images reveal half of the crater is buried under material from the South Pole-Aitken basin, a massive impact site. The Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully landed on August 23, 2023, marking a historic achievement for India.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, part of the Crew-9 mission, docked at the International Space Station (ISS) to rescue NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. The astronauts were stranded since June after issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Initially scheduled for a short stay, Williams and Wilmore will now return to Earth in late February. The Crew Dragon brought NASA’s Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov to the ISS. Williams, now the ISS commander, welcomed the new arrivals. Their extended mission has included maintenance and scientific research on the station.

India's Chandrayaan-3 mission landed on one of the Moon’s oldest craters, formed during the Nectarian period over 3.85 billion years ago, according to researchers from ISRO and the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. Images from the mission’s Vikram lander and Pragyan rover revealed that the landing site was buried under ejecta from the South Pole-Aitken basin, one of the Moon’s largest impact basins. This discovery offers valuable insights into the Moon's geological history, showcasing how it evolved over time. The landing occurred near the Moon's south pole on August 23, 2023.