The year 2024 has been amazing development in the field of space and science sectors. Here are top eight such stories of 2024, including the once-in-a-lifetime North American coast-to-coast eclipse, NASA’s decision to delay its Artemis manned and unmanned Moon missions (and subsequent Mars Missions), contact with the far-in-space Voyager 1, and Sunita Williams’ space odessey.
NASA delays Artemis II to April 2026, Artemis III to mid-2027
On December 5, the United States’ national space agency, NASA, stated that it is officially delaying its Artemis Moon mission programmes. NASA said the Artemis programme has faced a setback, pushing the Artemis II crewed test flight to April 2026 (from September 2025) and the Artemis III mission to mid-2027.
Engineers will continue to prepare the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II crewed test flight, according to the space agency. The new date shows the time required to address gaps in the Orion capsule’s environmental control and life support systems.
Sunita Williams’ ‘lettuce’ leap into space farming
Sunita Williams, NASA astronaut presently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is leading groundbreaking research with leafy green lettuce. According to the media reports, as the station’s commander, Williams is focusing on “Outredgeous” romaine lettuce growth in microgravity. This research is significant for understanding how different amounts of water impact plant growth, which has implications for future space missions and agricultural advancements on Earth.
Chandrayaan-3 Sends Data: Did Moon’s surface once have magma ocean?
The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 moon mission, which soft landed on Moon’s south pole last year, send back data in August 2024 supporting the theory that Earth’s satellite was covered in an ocean of magma. The analysis looked at lunar soil measurements and samples, recorded and collected by the Chandrayaan-3’s Pragyan rover at multiple points along a 100-metre track on the Moon’s surface. The rover was deployed by the mission’s Vikram lander, which made a soft landing near the south pole of the Moon on August 23, 2023.
From 8 days to 8 months — Sunita Williams, Barry Wilmore stuck in space till 2025
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore took off for the ISS on June 5, a mission that was supposed to last eight days, before returning back to earth. They are now on an extended eight month long stay in space, with possible return in 2025 having missed summer, and missing Christmas and New Year celebrations with family and friends. The astronauts, 58-year-old Williams and 61-year-old Wilmore, left aboard a Boeing Starliner spacecraft, that detected problems before the return journey and has kept the duo in limbo aboard the ISS till NASA finds a solution.
Total Solar Eclipse 2024: North America’s coast-to-coast spectacle
Millions in North America were treated to the rare phenomenon of a total solar eclipse in April 2024. A vast audience, comprising a couple hundred million residents living in or near the eclipse’s path, alongside visitors from afar, witnessed the event, marking it as the largest eclipse audience ever on the continent. As the total solar eclipse commenced its diagonal journey across land, Texas found itself predominantly under clouds. The eclipse’s trajectory started along Mexico’s clear Pacific coast, traversing through Texas and 14 other US states in 1 hour and 40 minutes, before dissipating into the North Atlantic near Newfoundland in Canada. The moon’s shadow raced over 4,000 miles (6,500 km) across the continent, leaving a trail of awe and wonder in its wake.
Gaganyaan’s unmanned mission likely in March next year
ISRO’s Gaganyaan unmanned mission is likely to start as early as March next year to prepare for India’s most ambitious space project, its manned mission in 2026. The Indian Space Research Organisation will reportedly send ships carrying scientists to be stationed at observation points in the Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans to monitor the unmanned mission.
Voyager-1’s cosmic comeback! NASA receives faint signal, thanks to 1981’s backup transmitter
Travelling billions of kilometres from Earth into interstellar space, the 15 billion-mile-away Voyager-1 spacecraft has again established communication with Earth, albeit with a faint signal. NASA successfully reestablished contact with Voyager-1 on October 24 following a brief interruption caused by an activation of its fault protection system.
Japan’s Mount Fuji snow-less in October first time in 130 years
Japan’s Mount Fuji has was snow-less in October 2024, marking the latest date for a snowcap absence in its 130 years of records. According to the media reports, the country’s highest peak is usually covered with snow by October, but as of October 30, there are still no signs of snow. The volcano’s snowcap starts forming on October 2 on average. In 2023, snow was first detected on October 5.
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