The Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which launched with NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore on June 5, will return to Earth uncrewed on September 7, 2024. Due to faulty thrusters and helium leaks, NASA decided to keep the astronauts aboard the International Space Station and return the capsule without them. The spacecraft will undock from the ISS on September 6, 2024, and land in the U.S. Southwest. NASA plans to have Williams and Wilmore return next year via SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, prioritizing safety over the original mission schedule.

India’s Gaganyaan mission will carry fruit flies on its first uncrewed flight to study kidney stone formation in space. Scientists from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), with support from ISRO, developed the experiment. The flies will be exposed to space conditions to understand the effects on their kidney-like organs. This research could offer insights for long-term space missions, addressing health risks like kidney stones. The launch is scheduled for December 2024. “These are experiments with long-time horizons,” said lead scientist Kumaran Sreejalekshmi.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams will remain in space for six more months due to issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Her mother, Bonnie Pandya, expressed relief that NASA prioritized safety, saying, "I’m relieved they didn’t rush her return." Despite missing her daughter, whom she calls her best friend, Pandya is reassured knowing Williams is safe. "She’s doing fine and loves being in space," Pandya shared. Williams is happy to have another chance to view Earth from above, even though this might be her last mission. "I understand," Pandya said, acknowledging the challenges of space travel.

Scientists have discovered over two hundred sixty dinosaur footprints in Brazil and Cameroon, providing insight into ancient geography. The footprints, found over three thousand seven hundred miles apart, suggest that dinosaurs roamed a corridor that connected South America and Africa before the supercontinent Gondwana split. Researchers studied similar geological structures in the Borborema Plateau in Brazil and the Koum Basin in Cameroon. The footprints, preserved in ancient floodplains, belong to theropods, sauropods, and ornithischians. Paleontologist Dr. Louis Jacobs remarked, “Dinosaur tracks reveal information that bones cannot,” offering a glimpse into the movement and behavior of prehistoric species.

Astronomers using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope have discovered the brightest object ever observed, a quasar named J0529-4351. This quasar is over 500 trillion times brighter than the Sun and is growing at a rate of one Sun per day. Quasars are extremely luminous cores of galaxies powered by supermassive black holes, which emit intense light as gas and dust fall into them. The discovery, published in Nature Astronomy, marks J0529-4351 as the "most luminous object ever observed" and highlights its rapid growth and extreme brightness, making it one of the most extreme cosmic phenomena known.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams' husband, Michael J. Williams, and mother, Bonnie Pandya, have expressed little concern over her extended stay at the International Space Station (ISS). Originally scheduled to return in June 2024, Williams and fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore faced delays due to spacecraft issues. Michael said, "Space is her happy place," while Pandya, a proud mother, described Sunita as a "seasoned astronaut." Speaking with NewsNation, Pandya shared that Sunita assured her not to worry, emphasizing that "everything's going to be fine."

NASA has extended astronaut Sunita Williams’ stay on the International Space Station (ISS) until February 2025, raising concerns about food and oxygen supplies. NASA assured the public that the ISS is well-stocked with provisions, including food, water, and oxygen. Regular resupply missions, along with the station's Veggie garden for fresh produce, will support Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore during their extended mission. Originally planned to return on a Boeing Starliner, the astronauts will now depart aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, while the Starliner will return uncrewed in September.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has failed to return astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth, prompting NASA to seek assistance from SpaceX. The spacecraft experienced helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, leaving the astronauts stranded since June. Boeing employees reportedly feel "embarrassed" as the company’s issues are compounded by this setback. SpaceX's Crew Dragon is now set to rescue the astronauts in February 2025. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized Boeing’s need to address the root causes of the Starliner’s issues to restore its credibility and ensure safe future missions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Russia’s morning barrage, stating that over 100 missiles and approximately 100 drones were used in attacks across 15 regions, including Kyiv. Zelenskyy reported "a lot of damage in the energy sector" and urged Western allies for enhanced air defense and long-range weapon support. He also called for help to intercept Russian drones near their airspace. The Kremlin confirmed targeting energy facilities and dismissed any potential ceasefire talks, citing the situation as having "lost relevance." Moscow warned of further retaliation for Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk.

NASA has decided Boeing’s Starliner capsule will return empty from the International Space Station (ISS) due to persistent propulsion problems, adding to Boeing’s $1 billion loss. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will now return on SpaceX's Crew-9 in February 2025. The decision follows a "technical disagreement" between NASA and Boeing over safety. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson highlighted the need for further investigation into the Starliner's issues and reiterated the commitment to ensuring future crewed missions with Boeing. Starliner's return to Earth will be planned following additional Flight Readiness Reviews.