SpaceX delays flight to replace NASA's stuck astronauts after launch pad problem
Cape Canaveral (US) (AP): A launch pad problem prompted SpaceX to delay a flight to the International Space Station on Wednesday to replace NASA's two stuck astronauts - Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.
The new crew needs to get to the International Space Station before the two can head home after nine months in orbit.
Concerns over a critical hydraulic system arose less than four hours before the Falcon rocket's planned evening liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. As the countdown clocks ticked down, engineers evaluated the hydraulics used to release one of the two arms clamping the rocket to its support structure. This structure needs to tilt back right before liftoff.
Already strapped into their capsule, the four astronauts awaited a final decision, which came down with less than an hour remaining in the countdown. SpaceX canceled for the day. Officials later said the launch was off until at least Friday.
Once at the space station, the U.S., Japanese and Russian crew will replace Wilmore and Williams, who have been up there since June. The two test pilots had to move into the space station for an extended stay after Boeing's new Starliner capsule encountered major breakdowns in transit.
Starliner's debut crew flight was supposed to last just a week, but NASA ordered the capsule to return empty and transferred Wilmore and Williams to SpaceX for the return leg.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Woman held for Rs 7 lakh gold jewellery theft in Thane
Thane (PTI): Police have arrested a 40-year-old woman for allegedly breaking into a house in Maharashtra's Thane district and stealing gold ornaments valued at Rs 7.08 lakh, an official said on Tuesday.
The theft occurred on January 15 when a 51-year-old woman occupant of the house, located in the Mira Road area, had gone to cast her vote in the civic polls.
When the woman returned home after voting, she found that someone had entered the house, broken a wooden cupboard locker in the bedroom and stolen gold ornaments of Rs 7.08 lakh, Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar's Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Madan Ballal said.
Based on her complaint, the police launched an investigation and zeroed in on a woman suspect. They took her into custody on January 17, and during interrogation, she confessed to her involvement in the offence, he said.
Following the information provided by the accused, all the stolen jewellery was later recovered, the police said.
The accused was booked under relevant provisions for housebreaking and theft.
