NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson returned safely to Earth in Kazakhstan on September 23, alongside Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, after spending 184 days in space. The trio traveled 78 million miles, completing 2,944 Earth orbits. Kononenko and Chub set a record with a 374-day continuous stay on the International Space Station (ISS). They departed the ISS aboard Soyuz MS-25 at 4:36 a.m. EDT and landed at 7:59 a.m. Eight astronauts, including Americans Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, remain on the ISS, awaiting their delayed return. The successful landing marked a milestone in international space cooperation. 

Two Russian cosmonauts, Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, successfully returned to Earth on Monday after setting a record 374-day continuous stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). During this mission, Kononenko, 60, also achieved a remarkable milestone by surpassing 1,111 total days in space across five missions. American astronaut Tracy Dyson, who launched to the ISS in March, accompanied them in the Soyuz MS-25 capsule, landing in Kazakhstan. Despite plans to establish an independent Russian space station, ongoing partnerships with the U.S. continue on the ISS amidst geopolitical tensions.

The Pragyan rover, part of India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, made a significant discovery by identifying an ancient crater near its landing site at Shiv Shakti Point in the Moon's south polar region. The rover's images revealed a notable absence of large boulders, which are typically over one meter in size. This finding suggests that any boulders that may have existed in the area have been eroded over billions of years due to space weathering. The observations point to the extreme age of the region, providing valuable information about the Moon's geological history and the environmental processes that have shaped its surface over time.

India's Chandrayaan-3 mission continues to make significant discoveries as the Pragyan rover has found a 160-kilometer-wide ancient crater in the Moon's south polar region. Located approximately 350 kilometers from the South Pole-Aitken basin, this crater is believed to predate the basin and offers crucial insights into the Moon's geological history. Images from Pragyan's cameras reveal the structure of the crater, which has been mostly buried by debris from later impacts, providing scientists a rare chance to study ancient lunar material and improve understanding of the Moon's evolution.

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams marked her 59th birthday aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on September 19, her second birthday in space. Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, Williams has been stranded on the ISS for eight months after Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft was deemed unfit for human travel by NASA. She continues vital maintenance and scientific research aboard the station with fellow astronaut Don Pettit. Despite the extended stay, Williams remains optimistic, calling the ISS her "happy place." This is her third space mission, and she is expected to return to Earth via SpaceX’s capsule in February 2025.

Earth is set to temporarily capture a new mini moon, asteroid 2024 PT5, from September 29 to November 25, 2024. The asteroid, 10 meters wide, was discovered by ATLAS on August 7. Although it will complete one full orbit around Earth, its small size makes it nearly impossible to spot without specialized equipment. After this short stint, it will return to a sun-centered orbit. Scientists highlight the significance of such mini moons for space exploration due to their potential valuable resources like water and minerals.

A 120-foot asteroid, 2022 SW3, will safely pass by Earth today, according to NASA. The asteroid, roughly the size of a small airplane, will come no closer than 1.6 million miles from Earth—about three times the distance from Earth to the Moon. NASA assures there is no threat from this close encounter. The event offers scientists a valuable chance to gather data on near-Earth objects (NEOs), enhancing their ability to predict and prepare for potential future threats. This close flyby highlights the importance of ongoing asteroid monitoring and planetary defense initiatives.

NASA’s “Hidden Figures,” Black female mathematicians and engineers who played pivotal roles during the 20th-century space race, were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on Capitol Hill. Honorees include Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Christine Darden, who were celebrated for their critical work that helped NASA launch successful missions, including the first American astronaut to orbit Earth. House Speaker Mike Johnson praised their courage and contributions, saying they "laid the foundation for American space exploration." Their legacy, captured in the film “Hidden Figures,” continues to inspire future generations.

India's Union Cabinet has approved the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM), a major advancement in its space exploration program. Scheduled for a March 2028 launch, the mission will send a spacecraft to orbit Venus, with a budget of Rs. 1,236 crore (about $149 million). Of this, Rs. 824 crore will be dedicated to spacecraft development, managed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The VOM aims to deepen understanding of Venus's surface, subsurface, and atmospheric conditions, as well as the Sun’s impact on its atmosphere. The mission will also explore Venus's historical potential for habitability and its evolution compared to Earth.

NASA has issued an alert for asteroid 2024 ON, a 290-metre-wide space rock set to approach Earth on Tuesday. Traveling at 40,000 km/h, it will pass within 1 million kilometers of Earth. NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observations Program first spotted the asteroid, which last came close to Earth in 2013. Though 2024 ON poses no threat on its current path, a slight deviation could have significant consequences. Skywatchers won’t see it without telescopes, but a rare partial lunar eclipse coinciding with a supermoon will be visible on the same day across Europe, Africa, and parts of the Americas.