7 things to know about the world's first, floating nuclear reactor

The ambitious launch of NASA’s $1.5 billion Parker Solar Probe mission to the sun was delayed by 24 hours in August 2018. The excitement was short-lived after scientists discovered a helium pressure anomaly and the launch had to be called off. Touted as the fastest spacecraft in history, it finally took off the next day on August 12. In its seven-year mission, the Parker Solar Probe will fly directly through the Sun’s outer atmosphere in a bid to unlock some of the solar system’s greatest secrets.

(Image: www.nasa.gov)

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has had its share of delays. The first test was delayed by more than five years, from being scheduled in 2013 to finally being conducted in 2018 with a dummy payload.

In April this year, SpaceX had to postpone what would have been its first commercial launch with the Falcon Heavy rocket, citing strong wind in the upper atmosphere.

The launch was rescheduled two days later. Last month, the third flight of the Falcon Heavy was delayed by two days as the team needed a little extra time to wrap up final integration and prep work. The megarocket successfully lofted two dozen satellites into orbit on June 25.

(Image: www.spacex.com)

ISRO’s GSLV-D5

In August 2013, the national space agency had called off the launch of a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle called Sriharikota, 74 minutes before the final launch, after detecting a fuel leak. The vehicle was taken off the site and was finally launched on January 5, 2014.

(Image: www.isro.gov.in)

Japan’s Kounotori 7

On September 10, 2018, the unpiloted Kounotori 7 was supposed to take off for the International Space Station with 6,000 kg of crew supplies. But a typhoon forecast forced the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to postpone the launch of this cargo ship, and reschedule the lift-off to September 22.


(Image: global.jaxa.jp)

Russia’s Progress 69

The launch of a Russian cargo ship bound for the International Space Station was aborted in the final few seconds on February 11, 2018. The supply ship was seconds away from launching into space from Kazakhstan when an engine error halted the lift-off.

After its successful launch on February 13, the cargo craft delivered three metric tonnes of supplies, fuel, and oxygen to the ISS.

(Image: www.nasa.gov)

* Text: Aarti Bhanushali