In a landmark move 25 years after the US imposed sanctions on India over nuclear tests, NASA will welcome Indian astronauts Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair for the Axiom-4 mission. This mission will see them join astronauts from the US, Hungary, and Poland on a SpaceX Falcon-9 and Crew Dragon to the ISS. The sanctions, which restricted advanced technology transfers to ISRO, have given way to a robust partnership. This collaboration reflects a significant shift in Indo-US relations and a renewed commitment to global space exploration.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has selected Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as the prime astronaut for an upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla, the youngest of ISRO's astronaut-designates, will be the mission pilot, while Group Captain Prashanth Nair will serve as his backup. This mission follows a joint statement from PM Modi's 2023 US visit, enhancing ISRO-NASA cooperation. Training begins in August 2024, marking India's return to manned spaceflight after 40 years. The astronauts will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations on the ISS.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has been chosen as the prime pilot for an upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS), as announced by ISRO. Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair will serve as the backup pilot. The mission, part of a space flight agreement with Axiom Space Inc., aims to conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations on the ISS. Both pilots will start training in August 2024. This mission will enhance India’s human spaceflight program and strengthen collaboration with NASA.

ISRO has released high-resolution satellite images of the devastating landslide in Wayanad, Kerala, which has claimed over 250 lives. The images, captured by Cartosat-3 and RISAT satellites, reveal the extensive damage caused by the landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall. Approximately 86,000 square meters of land has slipped, with debris flowing nearly 8 kilometers along the Iruvaiphuzha River, widening its course. The satellite images provide a clear picture of the disaster's scale, aiding rescue operations and future disaster management planning. The images were taken by the National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) in Hyderabad.

Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams and colleague Butch Wilmore have been stranded in space for 52 days due to technical issues with their spacecraft, Boeing's Starliner. Originally a 10-day mission launched on June 5, the delay has caused significant health challenges. The prolonged absence of gravity has led to muscle mass reduction and bone density loss, despite regular exercise routines on the ISS. These issues highlight the physical toll of extended space missions. NASA and Boeing are working diligently to resolve the situation and ensure the astronauts' safe return.

NASA and Boeing conducted a hot fire test of the Starliner spacecraft, a crucial step for the return of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore from the International Space Station. The test, performed with the astronauts on board, fired 27 of the spacecraft's 28 jets to evaluate thruster performance and helium leak rates. Preliminary results indicate all tested thrusters met preflight levels for thrust and chamber pressure. The test also assessed helium supply and leak rates. The successful test confirms the spacecraft's readiness for the astronauts' return journey to Earth.

NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams are stranded in space due to issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Their mission, launched on June 5, has been extended indefinitely. The Starliner has helium leaks, faulty thrusters, and a malfunctioning valve, delaying their return. NASA might use a SpaceX Dragon capsule if the Starliner remains inoperative. The $1.5 billion financial impact on Boeing highlights challenges in crew transport to the ISS. The situation complicates docking plans for the Crew-9 mission. Boeing continues efforts to resolve Starliner's issues and ensure its future reliability.

Tonight, the Delta Aquariids meteor shower will dazzle the UK skies as Earth passes through debris from Comet 96P/Machholz. The meteor shower, which began on July 12, peaks tonight and will continue until August 25. As the comet's debris burns up in Earth's atmosphere, bright trails will streak across the sky. For the best viewing experience, find a dark spot away from city lights and watch between midnight and 2 a.m. Despite some cloud cover, clear skies are expected over much of the UK.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft successfully completed a key hot fire test of its Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters while docked at the ISS, bringing it closer to returning astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. The test, involving the sequential firing of 27 thrusters, provided critical data for the upcoming Crew Flight Test. Flight director Chloe Mehring praised the test's success, noting peak performance of thrusters and stable helium system. Despite a month-long extension of their mission, Williams and Wilmore are now preparing for return simulations and a Flight Test Readiness Review, with multiple landing opportunities in August.

India is set for a historic milestone as an Indian astronaut, referred to as a 'Gaganyaatri,' prepares to journey to the International Space Station (ISS) in a joint ISRO-NASA mission. Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that the mission, named Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), will launch in August 2024 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Gaganyaatri will be among four astronauts selected for this mission, representing a significant step forward in India’s space exploration efforts. The astronaut will be chosen from four Indian Air Force test pilots trained for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission.