China sets ‘organ-chip’ standards for skin research as global biotech race heats up

China sets ‘organ-chip’ standards for skin research as global biotech race heats up

China is aiming to take the global lead in a promising biotech area by setting its first national standards for “organ-on-a-chip technology”. The chips are an emerging research tool that could replace animal testing and speed up the time a drug takes to get from concept to market. “This milestone marks an important step forward … Read more

NASA astronaut hospitalized upon return from extended stay in space

NASA astronaut hospitalized upon return from extended stay in space

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida —  A NASA astronaut was taken to the hospital for an undisclosed medical issue after returning from a nearly eight-month space station stay extended by Boeing’s capsule trouble and Hurricane Milton, the space agency said Friday. A SpaceX capsule carrying three Americans and one Russian parachuted before dawn into the Gulf of … Read more

SpaceX launches crew for first-ever private spacewalk mission

SpaceX launches crew for first-ever private spacewalk mission

A crew of four private astronauts ascended into space early Tuesday on a risky SpaceX mission to attempt the first-ever private spacewalk using the company’s new spacesuits and a redesigned spacecraft. A billionaire entrepreneur, a retired military fighter pilot and two SpaceX employees were launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., aboard … Read more

NASA, Boeing prepare for return of Starliner spacecraft — without its astronauts

NASA, Boeing prepare for return of Starliner spacecraft — without its astronauts

It’s been a long time coming, but Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is finally returning to Earth — but without its two astronauts.  The capsule is scheduled to depart the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, leaving behind test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, and land at the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico early Saturday morning. … Read more

SpaceX Falcon 9 flight operations cleared to resume by FAA

SpaceX Falcon 9 flight operations cleared to resume by FAA

The SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle may return to flight operations while the overall investigation of the anomaly during a recent Starlink mission remains open, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Friday. SpaceX made the return to flight request for the workhorse vehicle on Thursday and the FAA gave approval on Friday. The agency … Read more

Riskiest SpaceX mission to date delayed after helium leak

Riskiest SpaceX mission to date delayed after helium leak

The launch of SpaceX’s four-person Polaris Dawn mission will be delayed by at least a day because of a helium leak in ground equipment at Kennedy Space Center, the company said on Tuesday, hours before the scheduled liftoff of its Crew Dragon capsule. The highlight of the mission is expected to come two days after … Read more

Bloody Skulls, Funny Warships And Stranded Astronauts In This Week's Beyond Cars Roundup

Bloody Skulls, Funny Warships And Stranded Astronauts In This Week's Beyond Cars Roundup

Man, airlines have gotten so strict these days. You aren’t allowed to physically threaten and intimidate a crew member. You aren’t allowed to do any sex stuff. You aren’t allowed to complain about the food. And now, apparently, you aren’t allowed to fly if your head is bleeding. In fact, as one man recently found … Read more

Stranded astronauts will stay on space station until February, NASA says

Stranded astronauts will stay on space station until February, NASA says

Two NASA astronauts who flew to the International Space Station in June aboard Boeing’s faulty Starliner capsule will need to return to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle early next year, NASA said on Saturday, deeming issues with Starliner’s propulsion system too risky to carry its first crew home. The agency’s decision, tapping Boeing’s top space … Read more

UPSC current affairs: All you need to know about Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to set foot on space

UPSC current affairs: All you need to know about Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to set foot on space

On August 2, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced that Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla has been picked for an upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS). While Shubhanshu is the “prime” astronaut recommendation for the mission, Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair has been selected as the “backup”.According to … Read more

Sunita Williams still stuck in space, no return date yet for Boeing Starliner

Sunita Williams still stuck in space, no return date yet for Boeing Starliner

Nasa announced that two of its astronauts, test pilots Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, will have an extended stay at the International Space Station. The astronauts were originally scheduled to return in mid-June, following a week-long visit to the orbiting laboratory. However, the Boeing Starliner capsule encountered thruster failures and helium leaks, causing Nasa and … Read more