A remarkable turnaround story from India’s growing private space sector, Pawan Kumar Chandana transformed early academic struggles into entrepreneurial success. After scoring just 51 marks in mathematics during school, Chandana improved through IIT-JEE preparation, secured admission to Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, and later joined Indian Space Research Organisation as a scientist. In 2018, he left ISRO to co-found Skyroot Aerospace with Naga Bharath Daka. The company achieved a historic milestone by launching India’s first privately developed rocket and recently reached a valuation of about $1.1 billion. Skyroot is now preparing for the orbital launch of its Vikram-1 rocket. (PC: MJF World)

The official FIFA World Cup 2026 match ball, Trionda, has completed an extraordinary pre-tournament mission aboard the International Space Station as part of a NASA-backed experiment studying football dynamics in microgravity. Astronauts examined how a ball’s internal mass distribution affects motion, stability and spin, helping researchers better understand the impact of embedded technologies such as match-ball sensors. The study builds on earlier ISS research and highlights the growing intersection of sports and space science. Named after the three host nations including the United States, Canada and Mexico, Trionda features a four-panel design and advanced 500Hz connected-ball technology for enhanced accuracy and performance.

Indian-American NASA astronaut Anil Menon is set to begin his first space mission on July 14, 2026, when he launches aboard the Soyuz MS-29 to the International Space Station. The eight-month mission will see Menon spend about 240 days in orbit alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. Born to Indian and Ukrainian immigrant parents, Menon built a distinguished career spanning medicine, engineering, military service and aerospace operations. A Harvard and Stanford graduate, he previously served as a NASA flight surgeon and became SpaceX’s first flight surgeon, helping develop astronaut medical systems. (PC: X)

NASA has announced the crew for Artemis III, its next major Moon programme mission, though the flight will no longer attempt a lunar landing. Instead, Artemis III will operate in low Earth orbit and test docking procedures with prototype lunar landers. Veteran astronaut Randy Bresnik will command the mission, joined by pilot Luca Parmitano of Italy and mission specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio. The change follows delays in SpaceX’s Starship programme and concerns about the readiness of critical technologies such as orbital refuelling. Additional setbacks include damage to Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch infrastructure. NASA currently aims to launch Artemis III in 2027, with lunar landing missions planned afterward.

NASA has announced the four astronauts selected for the Artemis III mission, a major step in its plan to return humans to the Moon. The crew includes Commander Randy Bresnik, Pilot Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency, and NASA astronauts Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas.   The mission will test important docking procedures and collect scientific data needed for future lunar missions. Artemis III will also work with commercial partners, including Blue Origin and SpaceX, to test spacecraft systems in orbit.   NASA said the mission will help prepare for future Moon landings and long-term human exploration beyond Earth.

A powerful solar storm is expected to impact Earth on Monday night, raising the possibility of rare aurora sightings over parts of India. The US Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm watch, with brief G4 (severe) conditions possible between 11:30 PM IST and 2:30 AM on June 9.   Experts say high-altitude regions of Ladakh, particularly Hanle, have the best chance of witnessing faint red auroras. Parts of Kashmir, Nubra Valley and the Uttarakhand Himalayas may also get a glimpse if conditions remain favourable. Most major Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru, are unlikely to see the phenomenon due to light pollution and cloud cover. (PC: India Today)

A powerful solar eruption from the Sun’s Active Region 4461 is expected to strike Earth on June 8, prompting warnings of a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm. The event was triggered by an M1.8-class solar flare on June 6, which launched a fast-moving coronal mass ejection (CME) and magnetic filament travelling at nearly 1,400 km per second. Scientists say the storm could generate vivid auroras across northern India’s mountainous regions, Europe and Australia. The impact will depend on the CME’s magnetic orientation, which could temporarily weaken Earth’s magnetosphere. While no direct threat to people is expected, satellite operations, GPS navigation, radio communications and power infrastructure could experience disruptions.

A powerful solar eruption is expected to reach Earth on Monday, prompting warnings of a strong geomagnetic storm. Space weather agencies have issued a G3 storm watch after a fast-moving cloud of charged particles was released from the Sun on June 6. The eruption is travelling at about 1,400 kilometres per second and could trigger bright auroras in parts of northern India, Europe and Australia. Scientists say the storm may briefly reach G4 levels if conditions intensify. While no major disruptions are expected, experts are closely monitoring the event as it approaches Earth. (PC: X/@aestheticspost)

A worsening air leak aboard the International Space Station briefly prompted NASA to place five astronauts on standby for a possible evacuation on June 5. The precautionary order followed a sudden increase in air loss within the Russian Zvezda service module, where two leaks were identified. Four Crew-12 members and another NASA astronaut were instructed to move into a docked SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft before the alert was lifted roughly two hours later after consultations with Roscosmos. One leak was sealed, while repairs continued on the second. Officials stressed there was no immediate threat to crew safety, and normal station operations subsequently resumed. (PC: News18)

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station were instructed by NASA to shelter in their spacecraft and prepare for a possible evacuation after a worsening air leak was detected in the Russian-built Zvezda service module. The leak, located in the module’s transfer tunnel, has been a long-standing concern, but recent signs of deterioration prompted Russian space agency Roscosmos to begin extensive repair operations. As a precaution, members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission, along with other station residents, were placed on alert and told to be ready for an emergency departure if required. NASA emphasized that the move was made out of caution while engineers continue monitoring the situation. (PC: The Guardian)