Space Age

DARPA is developing a robotic spacecraft designed to service and repair satellites in geosynchronous orbit, some 36,000 kilometres above Earth. The program, detailed by IEEE Spectrum, would allow malfunctioning or aging satellites to be fixed or refueled in place rather than decommissioned. Interest centers on how the robot would operate at such distances and what it means for the future of satellite maintenance and space security.

The University of Glasgow is working with Japanese partners on a satellite project that will age whisky in space for the first time, with ties to both Scotch and Japanese whisky industries. Researchers say the space environment could alter how the spirit matures, with potential implications for the drinks industry.

Reports from Trinidad and Tobago discuss the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency, a regional initiative aimed at coordinating space policy and cooperation across Latin America and the Caribbean. Coverage is drawing attention to what the agency would mean for smaller nations in the region seeking a role in space science, satellite technology and international space partnerships.

The Tribune revisits Sputnik 1, the Soviet satellite launched on October 4, 1957, which became the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. The piece frames Sputnik as the event that started the space age, triggering the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States and reshaping Cold War politics, science funding and satellite technology.

Launch Complex 19 at Cape Canaveral, the pad that hosted NASA's Gemini missions in the mid-1960s, is being revisited as a site of decaying space-age ruins. The complex launched ten crewed Gemini flights between 1964 and 1966, paving the way for the Apollo program. Today the structures stand largely abandoned, drawing interest from space history enthusiasts reflecting on the physical remains of the early US space program.

The Russian House in Dhaka held an event marking the 69th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik-1, the Soviet Union's first artificial satellite, which orbited Earth in 1957 and opened the space age. The commemoration highlighted the historic milestone of space exploration and Russia's scientific legacy for audiences in Bangladesh.

The U.S. Space Force has confirmed that a Cold War-era American spy satellite has broken apart in orbit, with the cause described as a mystery. The breakup adds debris concerns to an already crowded orbital environment, and tracking of the resulting fragments is under way.

Milt Windler, the NASA flight director best known for his role in bringing the crew of Apollo 13 safely home after the 1970 in-flight explosion, has died at the age of 94. Windler was one of four flight directors who led Mission Control's response to the crisis. Readers are remembering him as a key figure in NASA's golden era of human spaceflight.

The 69th anniversary of the Sputnik 1 launch is being remembered, marking the moment the Soviet Union opened the space age on 4 October 1957. Commentators are revisiting how the beeping satellite stunned the world, triggered the space race with the United States, and reshaped science, technology and Cold War politics for decades to come.

Legal analysts are examining what the current 'golden age' of commercial space transportation and the proposed U.S. Space Academy mean for immigration policy and the future American space workforce. The discussion centres on how rapidly growing launch activity and new training institutions will affect visa pathways for skilled international engineers and scientists, and whether U.S. institutions can develop enough domestic talent to fill jobs in an expanding space economy.

Iran's Space Agency chief says the country is developing a new generation of satellite carrier rockets, according to remarks carried by Iranian media. The announcement signals continued work on Iran's space launch programme, which has drawn international attention because the same technology used to orbit satellites can also serve missile development.

Martin is positioning himself as a figure focused on entrepreneurship and property redevelopment, with a stated aim of helping people turn ideas into viable businesses and bringing unused or aging properties back into use. The announcement has been reported locally in Owensboro, where revitalizing downtown spaces and supporting small business formation remain ongoing civic priorities.

Space journalist Gurbir Singh has given an in-depth interview examining whether India's space agency, ISRO, faces risks to its standing and future direction. The discussion looks at pressures on the agency's programmes and policy choices, and viewers are engaging with the debate about India's space ambitions and institutional challenges.

Street magicians in India are reportedly disappearing as a living tradition, with the age-old craft of performing in public spaces fading from the country's streets. The story highlights the performers' struggles to survive and the cultural loss as this art form vanishes, prompting reflection on what is being lost.

New York City is moving forward with a plan to replace an aging government office building in Lower Manhattan with nearly 4,000 apartments, a proposal championed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The project would add a major batch of housing to Manhattan's Civic Center area and is being watched as a test of city-led office-to-housing conversion, with debate expected over affordability and scale.

Ghana plans to establish a national space agency, according to Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings. The announcement points to the West African country's ambition to build capacity in space science, satellite technology and related research. Details on funding, structure and timeline have not been provided. Observers see it as part of a broader move among African nations investing in space programmes to support development goals.