Science News Roundup: Russia delays launch of 'Internet of Things' satellite; Japan successfully launches next-generation H3 rocket after failure last year and more

"The launch of the first Marathon-IoT demonstration space apparatus has been postponed for the purpose of additional software checks, as well as clarifying the program of additional research," Roscosmos said. No visa required: Cuban biologists unravel mysteries of bird migration University of Havana professor Daniela Ventura has intercepted a migrant.

Following is a summary of current science news briefs.

Russia delays launch of 'Internet of Things' satellite

Russia has delayed the launch of its first Internet of Things "Marathon" satellite due to the need for additional software checks, the TASS state news agency quoted Russia's space corporation, Roscosmos, as saying on Friday. "The launch of the first Marathon-IoT demonstration space apparatus has been postponed for the purpose of additional software checks, as well as clarifying the program of additional research," Roscosmos said.

No visa required: Cuban biologists unravel mysteries of bird migration

University of Havana professor Daniela Ventura has intercepted a migrant. Her net, stretched taut on a forest trail in Havana's Botanical Garden, trembles. A catbird - a discretely clad gray bird with a black cap - thrashes then succumbs as she plucks it from the net's near invisible webbing.

Private US moon lander launched half century after last Apollo lunar mission

A moon lander built by Houston-based aerospace company Intuitive Machines was launched from Florida early on Thursday on a mission to conduct the first U.S. lunar touchdown in more than a half century and the first by a privately owned spacecraft. The company's Nova-C lander, dubbed Odysseus, lifted off shortly after 1 a.m. EST (0600 GMT) atop a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket flown by Elon Musk' SpaceX from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.

Japan successfully launches next-generation H3 rocket after failure last year

Japan successfully launched its new H3 flagship rocket on Saturday, putting its satellite programme back on track after multiple setbacks including the failure of the rocket's inaugural flight last year. The launch also marks a second straight win for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) after its moon lander, SLIM, achieved a "pinpoint" touchdown last month.