In 1997, Galileo mapped a 400-kilometer patch of Europa; a later analysis found ammonia-bearing compounds near fractures in the iceRecent examinations of historical Galileo data have uncovered ammonia compounds near the surface fractures of Europa. This discovery points...
08 Sep, 2026, 07.20 PM IST
8 years, 10 billion km, one shot: The spacecraft racing toward Mercury faces its trickiest hour yetA spacecraft carrying European and Japanese probes will complete an eight-year journey to arrive at Mercury on Thursday, while still facing...
03 Sep, 2026, 02.32 PM IST
In 1968, two Russian steppe tortoises travelled around the Moon before humans did. They survived a punishing 20G force while returning to EarthIn a remarkable journey, two Russian steppe tortoises embarked on a mission aboard Zond 5, orbiting the Moon in September 1968. This pionee...
26 Aug, 2026, 10.37 PM IST
In 2000, NASA’s Galileo spacecraft mapped Jupiter's moon Io’s volcanoes at temperatures above 1,000°C. 26 years later, the data still reveal one of the solar system’s strangest volcanic worldsGalileo spacecraft data revealed Io's extraordinary volcanic landscape and intense heat. Pele volcano showed temperatures reaching 1,500 de...
26 Aug, 2026, 08.13 PM IST
In 1976, NASA's Viking Project sent the first images from a Mars lander back to Earth; its landing-site lessons influenced later U.S. Mars missionsIn 1976, Viking 1's successful touchdown on Mars set in motion a vital new strategy for choosing landing sites. Following safety concerns t...
26 Aug, 2026, 06.40 PM IST
In 1986, Voyager 2 discovered 10 moons around Uranus. 39 years later, Webb found a 29th moon only 10 kilometre wide that the spacecraft had missedIn 1986, Voyager 2 discovered 10 moons around Uranus during its flyby. Thirty-nine years later, James Webb Space Telescope observations ide...
25 Aug, 2026, 11.59 PM IST
In 2009, NASA deliberately crashed LCROSS into a permanently shadowed lunar crater; the mission detected water in the resulting debris plumeNASA's groundbreaking LCROSS mission in 2009 confirmed the presence of water ice at the Moon's south pole, transforming our understanding o...
22 Aug, 2026, 02.20 PM IST
In 2015, NASA's New Horizons flew past Pluto and captured detailed images of its frozen surface. More than a decade later, scientists revisited the images and found evidence that liquid nitrogen may have once flowed across the dwarf planetScientists found evidence of liquid nitrogen flow beneath Pluto's Sputnik Planitia. This flow may have occurred after rising through cracks...
14 Aug, 2026, 11.29 PM IST
In 1961, a UCLA graduate student at JPL discovered how spacecraft could borrow speed from planetary gravity. Decades later, his gravity-assist technique produced a fuel-saving breakthrough that transformed deep-space explorationIn 1961, UCLA graduate student Michael Minovitch found a smarter way to move spacecraft through space. At JPL, he studied planetary gravity...
12 Aug, 2026, 06.19 PM IST
1.4 billion kilometers from the Sun, Titan has rain, rivers, and 100-meter-deep lakes, but the liquid is methane, not waterNew research reveals Titan's polar seas have shifting liquid compositions. Rivers deliver methane-rich liquid near coastlines, while open s...
27 Jul, 2026, 06.12 PM IST
Artemis II on April 6: Where the spacecraft is — what to expect from lunar flyby, and rare moon alignment explainedNASA’s Artemis II mission is poised to hit a major milestone on April 6, as astronauts gear up for a historic lunar flyby that will provide...
06 Apr, 2026, 03.40 PM IST
Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Spacecraft Close Flyby SwRI Mission Explained: Proposal, design, feasibility. Here's telescopes observations, surprising properties, origin theoriesInterstellar object 3I/ATLAS spacecraft close flyby SwRI mission has gained global attention. Scientists propose a mission to study the obj...
09 Sep, 2025, 04.32 PM IST
- NASA wants you to pick picture sites for Jupiter probe
Washington, Jan 23 (IANS) Are you a space enthusiast? Then there is a golden opportunity for you to decide where NASA's Juno spacecraft sho...
23 Jan, 2017, 03.01 PM IST
Now, choose which Jupiter sites NASA's Juno probe will image!Members of the public can vote to participate in selecting all pictures to be taken of Jupiter during the Juno flyby on February 2. Voting ...
23 Jan, 2017, 02.38 PM IST
- NASA's Juno probe exits safe mode
Washington, Oct 26 (IANS) NASA's Juno spacecraft at Jupiter that entered safe mode on October 18 when a software performance monitor induce...
26 Oct, 2016, 04.32 PM IST
- Plan to put Juno closer to Jupiter delayed
Washington, Oct 15 (IANS) Mission managers for Juno probe to Jupiter have decided to delay the upcoming burn of its main rocket motor - des...
15 Oct, 2016, 11.15 AM IST
NASA spacecraft ready for Pluto flyby after glitchThe recent computer glitch that triggered communication breakdown with NASA's New Horizon spacecraft has been rectified.
06 Jul, 2015, 05.04 PM IST