Historic private astronaut mission prepares for splashdown

23 Sept 06:26 Key points summarised by AI

The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission is returning to Earth after achieving the first-ever spacewalk by non-government astronauts, marking a significant milestone in commercial spaceflight.
Led by Jared Isaacman, the four-member crew ventured 870 miles into space, the furthest humans have traveled from Earth since the Apollo missions, and traversed the Van Allen radiation belt.
During the mission, Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis performed a pioneering spacewalk at 434 miles altitude, testing next-generation suits and exposing the entire crew to the vacuum of space.
Beyond the spacewalk, the crew conducted approximately 40 science experiments and demonstrated Starlink internet connectivity, contributing valuable data for long-duration space missions.
Polaris Dawn is the first of three missions under the Polaris program, aiming to advance commercial space capabilities, with the final mission targeting the first crewed flight of SpaceX's Starship.

Lamphun in a New Light

Today 15:02 Key points summarised by AI

Lamphun illuminates its ancient city with two concurrent light festivals: the high-tech VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN and the traditional Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival.
VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN transforms historic landmarks into an outdoor gallery, using projections and multimedia to animate Lamphun's history, including Queen Chamadevi's story.
The Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival, part of Yi Peng, fills temples and streets with countless traditional lanterns, symbolizing Buddhist devotion and personal wishes.
These festivals offer a unique after-dark experience, blending contemporary light art with centuries-old Lanna traditions, connecting visitors to Lamphun's past and faith.