A significant advancement in India’s space technology has been achieved with the development of a 10-tonne vertical planetary mixer, the largest globally for solid propellant production. Designed and manufactured through a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI), this new equipment is expected to enhance efficiency and safety in the manufacturing of solid rocket motors. The handover ceremony took place on February 13 at CMTI, Bengaluru, where Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) Director A. Rajarajan received the mixer in the presence of ISRO Chairman S. Somanath and CMTI Director K. Prasad.

Enhancing Solid Propellant Production

As reported by ISRO, according to ISRO, the new vertical planetary mixer is a critical addition to India’s space propulsion systems. Solid propellants, which serve as the backbone of rocket motors, require precise and controlled mixing due to the sensitivity of the materials involved. The newly developed mixer, weighing approximately 150 tonnes with dimensions of 5.4 metres in length, 3.3 metres in breadth, and 8.7 metres in height, will improve the consistency, quality, and scalability of solid propellant production.

Towards Self-Reliance in Space Technology

As part of India’s push for self-reliance in critical technologies, the Department of Space has undertaken multiple initiatives to develop indigenous manufacturing capabilities. The realisation of this mixer underscores India’s increasing capability in aerospace engineering and manufacturing. The equipment has undergone successful factory-level acceptance tests and is set to play a key role in advancing the country’s space transportation systems.

Future Implications for ISRO’s Missions

With an emphasis on improving safety and productivity, the newly developed mixer is expected to streamline the process of solid propellant preparation for future ISRO missions. The technology is set to support upcoming launch vehicle developments, reinforcing India’s position in the global space industry.

The next suborbital space tourism mission by Blue Origin, known as NS-30, is set to take place at an undisclosed date. This will be the 30th launch of the company’s New Shepard rocket and its 10th crewed mission. The flight will take off from Blue Origin’s West Texas facility, carrying six individuals on a brief journey to suborbital space. The names of five crew members have been announced, while the identity of the sixth passenger remains undisclosed.

Crew Members and Their Backgrounds

According to the official announcement, the five confirmed passengers include Lane Bess, Jesús Calleja, Elaine Chia Hyde, Richard Scott, and Tushar Shah. Lane Bess, founder of Bess Ventures and Advisory, will be making his second journey with Blue Origin, having previously flown on the NS-19 mission in December 2021.

Jesús Calleja, a Spanish television host and adventurer, has explored extreme environments across the globe, including the Seven Summits and polar regions. Elaine Chia Hyde, an entrepreneur, physicist, and pilot, was born in Singapore, raised in Australia, and currently resides in Florida. Richard Scott serves as a reproductive endocrinologist and holds an adjunct professorship at Yale University and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Tushar Shah is a hedge fund partner based in New York City.

Mission Overview and Past Flights

The NS-30 mission will provide passengers with an approximately 10 to 12-minute experience, including a brief period of weightlessness and a view of Earth from suborbital space. The New Shepard capsule will return to Earth via parachute. The company has not disclosed ticket prices for the flight. Blue Origin’s first crewed mission occurred on July 20, 2021, with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos among the passengers. Further details regarding NS-30’s launch schedule and the identity of the final crew member are expected to be released in due course.

A bright fireball streaked across the European sky on February 19, as debris from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket made an uncontrolled reentry. Reports from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland confirmed sightings of the object as it burned up in the atmosphere before fragments crashed to the ground. Social media users in Lincolnshire, England, and Berlin, Germany, captured images and videos of the event, showing a blazing trail in the night sky. In Poland, a large metallic object was discovered outside the city of Poznań, prompting an investigation by local authorities and space agencies.

Rocket Debris Identified

According to the Polish Space Agency (POLSA), the object was part of the upper stage of the Falcon 9 rocket that launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on February 1, 2025. The agency confirmed that the debris, weighing approximately four tons, originated from the Starlink Group 11-4 mission. The upper stage, which is designed to deorbit after completing its mission, failed to execute the manoeuvre as planned. Astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics stated via X that the reentry occurred over the Irish Sea at 03:43 UTC, with debris reaching Poland and Ukraine within minutes.

Authorities Respond to the Incident

As per space.com, the Poznań Police reported receiving a call around 9:20 a.m. from workers at a company in Komornik, who discovered an unidentified cylindrical object on their premises. No injuries or property damage were reported. Another similar object was later found in a nearby forest near Wiry Village, approximately 30 kilometres away from the initial discovery. Agnieszka Gapys, press officer for POLSA, stated to Reuters that examinations were underway to confirm the origin of the debris. A third object was reportedly spotted, but official confirmation is still pending. As of Wednesday afternoon, SpaceX had not released a statement on the incident.