SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on September 29, 2024, to rescue astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, stranded since June due to Boeing's Starliner thruster failures. The rescue mission, manned by NASA's Nick Hague and Russia's Alexander Gorbunov, will not return to Earth until February 2025, leaving Williams and Wilmore in space for eight months. NASA's Deputy Program Manager confirmed the astronauts monitored the launch from the ISS, maintaining a positive outlook on their extended stay in orbit.

Earth has temporarily acquired a second moon, named Asteroid 2024 PT5. This small asteroid, roughly the size of a bus, was captured by Earth's gravity on Sunday. Although only 10 meters wide, this "mini moon" won't be visible from India or any other location without advanced telescopes. The asteroid is expected to orbit Earth for two months before breaking free on November 25. First spotted in August by scientists in Spain, 2024 PT5 is part of the Arjuna asteroid group and is projected to pass by Earth again in 2055.

SpaceX’s Crew-9 successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, ready to return stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams. The mission launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday. Wilmore and Williams, delivered to the ISS by Boeing’s Starliner in June, were initially scheduled for an eight-day stay, but issues with the Starliner’s propulsion system extended their mission. NASA decided to return them via SpaceX after extensive testing. Crew-9’s astronauts, Nick Hague and Alexander Gorbunov, will spend five months conducting over 200 experiments on the ISS.

India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has landed in a 3.85-billion-year-old crater on the Moon, formed during the Nectarian period. This site, at the Moon’s south pole, is one of the oldest and most unique. Scientists from ISRO and the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad shared that the mission’s Pragyan rover has explored a place no other mission has visited. Images reveal half of the crater is buried under material from the South Pole-Aitken basin, a massive impact site. The Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully landed on August 23, 2023, marking a historic achievement for India.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, part of the Crew-9 mission, docked at the International Space Station (ISS) to rescue NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. The astronauts were stranded since June after issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Initially scheduled for a short stay, Williams and Wilmore will now return to Earth in late February. The Crew Dragon brought NASA’s Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov to the ISS. Williams, now the ISS commander, welcomed the new arrivals. Their extended mission has included maintenance and scientific research on the station.

India's Chandrayaan-3 mission landed on one of the Moon’s oldest craters, formed during the Nectarian period over 3.85 billion years ago, according to researchers from ISRO and the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. Images from the mission’s Vikram lander and Pragyan rover revealed that the landing site was buried under ejecta from the South Pole-Aitken basin, one of the Moon’s largest impact basins. This discovery offers valuable insights into the Moon's geological history, showcasing how it evolved over time. The landing occurred near the Moon's south pole on August 23, 2023.

SpaceX launched a mission on Saturday to return two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June. The astronauts were left on the ISS after a fault was discovered in Boeing's Starliner, which returned to Earth empty. The Dragon capsule, launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, is expected to dock with the ISS on Sunday. The mission, delayed by Hurricane Helene, will also deliver fresh supplies. NASA and Roscosmos continue their collaboration on ISS missions, with astronauts regularly flying on both Soyuz and Dragon spacecraft.

NASA’s Crew-9 mission launched on September 28, 2024, from Cape Canaveral to rescue astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June 6 due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule. The mission features only two crew members, Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, with seats reserved for Williams and Wilmore's return. The Starliner had experienced helium leaks and thruster failures, prompting NASA to deem it unsafe for crew return. Crew-9 is set to dock with the ISS on September 29.

Earth is set to gain a temporary "mini-moon" this autumn. Asteroid 2024 PT5 will orbit our planet from September 29 to November 25, according to research published in the American Astronomical Society's journal. Measuring small in size, the dull-rock asteroid will be visible only through professional telescopic equipment. This temporary satellite will eventually escape Earth's gravitational pull. Scientists welcome this rare opportunity to study asteroids up close. The mini-moon's orbital period will provide valuable insights into asteroid dynamics and Earth's gravitational influence.

NASA has postponed SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, originally set to launch on September 26, to September 28 due to Tropical Storm Helene. The mission will see NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov heading to the International Space Station to bring back Sunita Williams, who is set to return to Earth in February 2025. Hague, an experienced U.S. Air Force colonel, and Gorbunov, a veteran cosmonaut, will conduct research and maintenance tasks during their five-month stay aboard the ISS.