Global Rocket Launch Setbacks and Space Discoveries

Recent events in space exploration have seen multiple launch cancellations, including India's Agnikul Cosmos' rocket and North Korea's satellite attempts. China's scheduled rocket launch in the Yellow Sea and discoveries indicating Venus' volcanic activity also headline the latest science news briefs. Italy's Vega-C rocket progresses towards flight after successful engine tests.

Following is a summary of current science news briefs.

India's space startup calls off maiden rocket launch for a fourth time

India's Agnikul Cosmos called off a test flight of its first rocket on Tuesday seconds before it was due to launch - the fourth such cancellation in the last three months. Launches of India's second privately built rocket, and first using a combination of gas and liquid fuel, had been aborted three times before because of technical issues, including one flight that was cancelled about 90 seconds before lift-off.

North Korea says it tried new fuel in satellite launch that ended in fiery explosion

North Korea's latest satellite launch exploded in a fireball before dropping into the Yellow Sea just minutes after lifting off, but analysts say the attempt showcased new strides in the nuclear-armed country's race for space. North Korea said its latest attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite failed in flight on Monday during the rocket's first stage, which featured a new "liquid oxygen and petroleum engine".

China to conduct rocket launches in Yellow Sea on May 28-31

China's maritime safety administration said it will conduct rocket launches in the Yellow Sea on May 28-31, according to a statement. Ships will not be allowed to enter the area during the launches, the statement said on Monday.

Venus has more volcanism than previously known, new analysis finds

Venus appears to be more volcanically active than previously known, according to scientists whose new analysis of decades-old radar images has spotted evidence of eruptions at two additional sites on the surface of Earth's inhospitable planetary neighbor. Radar images obtained by NASA's Magellan spacecraft from 1990 to 1992 indicated large lava flows at these two locations in the Venusian northern hemisphere at the time of the observations, the researchers said. These findings, coupled with previous studies, indicate that the planet's volcanic activity is comparable to Earth's, they added.

Italy's Vega-C rocket a step closer to returning to flight after successful engine test

Italy's Vega-C rocket is closer to flying again after a successful test of its engines carried out at the end of May, its manufacturer Avio said on Tuesday. Vega-C launchers are expected to return to flight in late 2024 after implementing fixes recommended by an independent panel of the European Space Agency (ESA) following a failed satellite launch.

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