The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch the BlueBird Block-2 mission on December 24 at 8:54 AM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, using the LVM3-M6 heavy-lift rocket. The mission will deploy a 6,100-kg BlueBird Block-2 satellite developed by AST SpaceMobile, making it the heaviest commercial payload carried by LVM3 into low Earth orbit. The satellite is designed to provide direct-to-smartphone broadband connectivity, supporting global 4G and 5G services. This launch highlights ISRO’s expanding role in commercial space missions and international collaborations. The launch will be livestreamed on ISRO’s official digital platforms. (PC: X)

German engineer Michaela Benthaus made history as the world's first wheelchair user to travel to space. The European Space Agency employee, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a mountain bike accident seven years ago, joined five others on Blue Origin's 10-minute flight from Texas on Saturday. After reaching out online to retired SpaceX manager Hans Koenigsmann about whether her astronaut dream remained possible, he helped organize the historic mission. The crew reached just above the Kármán line, the recognized boundary of space. Benthaus independently transferred from her wheelchair into the capsule using a specially installed bench. Blue Origin modified ground support equipment to accommodate her, demonstrating that space accessibility is achievable for everyone.

Ten asteroids will approach Earth between December 18-20, according to NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, though none poses impact threats. The closest, asteroid 2015 XX168, passes at 2.3 million kilometers on December 18, several times the Moon's distance. Sizes range from 7 meters (2025 XT4) to 160 meters (2025 XV), with speeds between 6-17 kilometers per second. Most have zero rarity scores, indicating common occurrences; only 2025 XV rates one due to larger size, not elevated risk. Scientists emphasize these flybys provide valuable research opportunities for studying asteroid behavior, refining orbital models, and improving planetary defense capabilities. Close approaches occur regularly, often weekly, with Earth safely monitored. (PC: Pinterest)

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk expressed enthusiasm about serving India through Starlink following high-level meetings between company officials and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in New Delhi. Starlink is rapidly advancing regulatory approvals, commercial arrangements, and state-level collaborations, including a new Letter of Intent with Maharashtra. The satellite internet service is preparing for a potential 2025–26 launch in India, prioritizing rural and remote area connectivity. The company addressed confusion regarding pricing that briefly appeared on its Indian website, clarifying it was an error. Official service plans and pricing will only be announced after receiving complete government approval, as Starlink works toward establishing comprehensive internet coverage across underserved regions of India. (PC: Facebook)

Scientists say Africa is slowly breaking apart and may form a new ocean in 5 to 10 million years. The East African Rift, stretching from Jordan to Mozambique, is pulling the continent apart like “a zip on a jacket.” The Afar region, where three rifts meet, shows early signs of this split. Magnetic data from the 1960s confirms slow seafloor spreading. The eastern landmass would include Kenya, Tanzania, and Somalia, while the western landmass would have Egypt, Nigeria, and Algeria. The process is very slow, moving only a few millimeters each year, but will reshape Africa’s geography over millions of years. (PC: X)

A breathtaking world record was set over Lake Wales, Florida, as 104 elite skydivers created the largest canopy relative work formation, shattering the 18-year-old 100-way record. Thirty-six pilots using Valkyrie parachutes formed a stable base while remaining jumpers docked precisely into an intricate starburst pattern. Participants from 19 countries demonstrated split-second precision, navigating 20-30 mph descent speeds and challenging foggy conditions before achieving success on their final attempt. The physics-defying feat, dubbed Operation VK, required years of training in wind mastery and synchronized maneuvers. Safety equipment like CYPRES auto-activation devices ensured reliability. The stunning viral footage showcases skydiving's evolution from simple freefall to complex aerial artistry, cementing Florida's skydiving hub status.

Nasa has addressed rising online rumours that interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS might be an alien spaceship. The agency confirmed there is no evidence to support such claims. The comet, discovered on July 1, 2025, is believed to be 5 to 8 billion years old. It has triggered a major observation effort, with 12 Nasa missions capturing images as it moves through the inner Solar System. 3I/ATLAS passed close to Mars, allowing orbiters and the Perseverance rover to record new data. Scientists say its hyperbolic path proves it came from another star system. The comet offers rare insights into distant cosmic origins. (PC: India Today)

Blue Origin achieved a historic milestone, successfully launching its New Glenn rocket carrying NASA's twin Escapade spacecraft to Mars and landing its reusable first-stage booster for the first time. The 98-meter rocket lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral after four-day weather delays, deploying Mars orbiters Blue and Gold destined to arrive in 2027. Staff erupted in celebration as the booster landed upright on a platform 375 miles offshore in the Atlantic Ocean, a feat never accomplished before with such a large rocket by Jeff Bezos's company. The orbiters will study solar wind's interaction with Mars's magnetic environment and atmospheric escape. Elon Musk congratulated the achievement, intensifying the billionaire space race between Blue Origin and SpaceX.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin successfully launched its giant New Glenn rocket from Florida on Friday, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. The debut mission sent NASA's twin EscaPADE satellites on a 22-month journey to Mars while achieving the first successful return landing of its reusable booster at sea. This represents the first science payload Blue Origin has delivered for NASA or any customer. The powerful two-stage rocket's launch, following its inaugural flight in January, positions Blue Origin to compete more effectively with Elon Musk's SpaceX. The rocket's seven BE-4 liquid-fueled engines propelled it through clear afternoon skies after several days of delays caused by cloudy weather and a geomagnetic storm.

A powerful solar storm, known as a “cannibal storm,” is expected to hit Earth today, possibly disrupting GPS, communication networks, and power grids. The British Geological Survey has issued its highest alert, warning that the ongoing storm has already affected satellite navigation. A second, stronger geomagnetic wave is set to reach the UK by afternoon and could be one of the largest in 20 years. Caused by explosions on the Sun’s surface, such storms can disturb Earth’s magnetic field. The event has already produced bright Northern Lights across the UK, with more expected tonight if skies stay clear. (PC: X)