SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Paused and Future Astronaut Spencer Takes Spotlight

SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch of Polaris Dawn, set for Wednesday, was paused due to bad weather. Paralympian John McFall, who will be the first physically disabled astronaut, promotes space sports. ISRO plans higher funding and new heavy-lift rockets. Issues delayed Boeing's Starliner and SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission.

SpaceX has paused the Falcon 9 launch of Polaris Dawn, originally scheduled for early Wednesday, citing unfavorable weather forecast in splashdown areas off Florida's coast. The mission will now be delayed, officials announced on Tuesday.

Paralympian John McFall is set to break new barriers this week as he becomes the first person with a physical disability to be cleared for future space missions by the European Space Agency. The British surgeon and 2008 Beijing Paralympics bronze medalist is currently in France supporting Team GB at the Paris Games.

India's space agency, ISRO, expects a 20%-30% increase in its budget over the next few years, according to its head S Somanath. The agency is working on developing a heavy-lift booster rocket using a mix of private and public funds. Meanwhile, Boeing's Starliner capsule, which had been set to carry NASA astronauts to the International Space Station, has been sent home without crew after numerous delays and technical issues, highlighting ongoing struggles within Boeing's space sector.

(With inputs from agencies.)