Nasa astronauts' moon mission delayed due to rocket issue



Nasa has said that its 6 March launch day for its long-awaited lunar mission is now "out of consideration", after it spotted several last minute issues during routine checks that would prevent lift off.

On Friday, the space agency said that its Artemis II mission, which would see astronauts sent to the moon for the first time in 50 years, would likely have the green light to launch within a matter of weeks.

But NASA administrator Jared Isaacman announced on Saturday that setbacks would mean that further maintenance would have to be carried out.

Four astronauts are preparing to be sent on the 10-day trip to the far side of the Moon and back, marking humanity's furthest ever journey into space.

Isaacman said he understood "that people are disappointed by this development", after almost 50-hours of checks on Thursday revealed no faults.

The agency felt almost certain that its "wet rehearsal" had been a success, leading the team to announce that the launch could take place as soon as 6 March.

But overnight on Friday, engineers observed an interruption in the flow of helium required for launch operations.

Disruption to helium, which is used to pressurise fuel tanks and cool rocket systems, is treated as a serious technical issue, according to Nasa.

(BBC article continues)

Nasa boss says Boeing Starliner failure one of worst in its history


Nasa astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were stranded in space for over nine months

Nasa has labelled the botched 2024 Starliner mission, which left two astronauts stranded in space for months, a "Type A" mishap, on par with fatal shuttle disasters of the past, in a newly published report.

The category is the space agency's most severe, reserved for incidents causing more than $2m (£1.49 m) in damage, the loss of a vehicle or its control, or deaths.

On Thursday, Nasa's new boss, Jared Isaacman, blasted Boeing, which built Starliner, and the space agency for poor decision-making and leadership that led to the failed mission.

The incident drew global attention after the pilots were stuck for more than nine months in space before returning home last March.

Isaacman, an amateur jet pilot who was the first non-professional astronaut to conduct a spacewalk, took Nasa's top job in late 2025 after a second nomination by US President Donald Trump. His approval came after a turbulent process in which Trump put forward Isaacman's name for the role but then withdrew it during a public feud with Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk, who is a close ally of Isaacman.

In a statement on Starliner's findings, Isaacman said the spacecraft had faced issues throughout its prior recent missions but had still been accepted for the test. "We are correcting those mistakes. Today, we are formally declaring a Type A mishap and ensuring leadership accountability so situations like this never reoccur."

Nasa's "Type A" grade puts the Starliner incident at the same level assigned to the fatal 2003 Columbia and 1986 Challenger space shuttle disasters.

The agency said in its statement: "While there were no injuries and the mission regained control prior to docking, this highest-level classification designation recognises there was potential for a significant mishap."

Nasa's 312-page report comes after the agency commissioned an independent investigation team to identify the causes behind the troubled mission. Investigators flagged hardware failures, leadership missteps and cultural problems at the organisations that led to conditions that fell short of the space agency's safety standards.

The report also highlighted poor engineering and a lack of oversight at Boeing, which helped turn an eight-to-14-day mission into a months-long ordeal for the test pilots, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore.

The pair waited months on board the International Space Station before getting a lift from a SpaceX flight in March 2025. Both pilots have since retired from the agency.

Nasa said it will accept this as the final report and is taking corrective actions to address the findings.

"While Boeing built Starliner, Nasa accepted it and launched two astronauts to space," Isaacman said. "To undertake missions that change the world, we must be transparent about both our successes and our shortcomings. We have to own our mistakes and ensure they never happen again."

The pair waited months on board the International Space Station before getting a lift from a SpaceX flight in March 2025. Both pilots have since retired from the agency.

I was wondering where it might be ...

Model Britain is currently in active pre-application dialogue with Milton Keynes Council regarding two potential sites, and with West Northamptonshire Council regarding an additional site located on the Milton Keynes boundary.

Last weekend in The Marches and Wales, I was struck by the number of class 197s around and they are replacing classes 150, 153 and 158 aren't they? ... just asking.   

Rare albino squirrel spotted in tree by children


Albino squirrels are thought to a one-in-100,000 genetic occurrence

Two children have spotted and photographed a rare albino squirrel in a churchyard.

James, 11, and Jennifer, eight, identified the animal on Monday at St Martin's Church in Dorking, Surrey, their mother Abigail told the BBC.

Albino squirrels, thought to a one-in-100,000 genetic occurrence, are identified by their white coat with pink eyes.

"I think the people in the churchyard were quite bemused at what we were looking at but the children were really, really excited, especially my son," Abigail said. She said the family were counting squirrels when daughter Jennifer spotted the animals and her son identified it as albino.

James is "very into his animals so he understood what he was seeing" and was "over the moon" with the find, according to his mother. She said: "He was really keen to take some pictures. He sent it to all his friends. He sent it to some of his friends' mums. He sent it to all our family."

Thanks for your post, johnneyw. 

What struck me about that announcement was the sheer number of words in it: why sum it up briefly in five words when you can add another twenty and hide the meaning completely?

CfN.

Rail compensation 'set to be scrapped' for some passengers in major shake-up

Rail passengers will no longer qualify for train compensation unless their journey is 30 minutes delayed, under new proposals reportedly being considered by the government.

Most train companies currently refund 25% of your ticket price if your journey is between 15 and 29 minutes delayed.

If your train is between 30 and 59 minutes delayed, you normally qualify for 50% compensation - this rises to 100% of your ticket price back if you are over one hour delayed.

But under the new rules, rail passengers would only get compensation if their journey is more than 30 minutes delayed.

Any refund due would be awarded automatically - removing the need for passengers to have to fill out “delay repay” forms online, with proof of their ticket.

The Times reports that the proposals are being considered as part of plans to replace “delay repay” schemes with a single system.

UK rail companies are being nationalised as private contracts expire, with a goal to bring all major operators into public ownership by October 2027.

The cost of compensation will be funded by taxpayer money once all the rail compensations are nationalised, as opposed to be paid by private operators.

Around £138million was paid out to rail passengers in the 2023-24 financial year. A Department for Transport spokesperson told The Mirror : “We do not comment on speculation.

“This Government is overhauling our railways and building back public trust so that passengers can rely on trains that run on time.

“Our reforms are making ticketing simpler throughout passengers’ journeys – from rolling out more contactless tech at stations and trialling pay-as-you-go fares, to making it easier to claim delay repay, including through our upcoming GBR app.”

It comes after Trainline revealed rail passengers are missing out on more than £80million a year in compensation for delayed journeys.

Trainline has launched a petition calling on the Government to enable “one click” claims to be made by all online ticket buyers.

Trainline chief executive Jody Ford said: “Six minutes of form-filling after a delayed train is unacceptable.

“With years of innovation and industry cooperation, we’ve made huge progress in simplifying ticket buying, but compensation must be just as easy when journeys are disrupted.

“Passengers want rail reform that focuses on what matters to them, and ‘one-click’ delay repay is a practical change the industry and Government can do together.”

So, is this announcement a lot of management speak ... ?

Gritter driver's 40 years of being a 'winter hero'


Gary Lawson's bosses said he had rescued people, livestock and emergency vehicles in 40 years

Missed Christmasses and abandoned shopping are all part of the job, a man who has driven gritters for 40 years has said.

Gary Lawson, from Crook, said he had "seen it all" when working on the roads with Durham County Council since 1986, but said he went home "knowing my friends and family are safe".

The 62-year-old has been presented with an award for his dedication by gritter manufacturer Econ, who said Lawson had "never been late in 40 years of service and had rescued people, livestock and emergency vehicles in freezing temperatures".

He said: "When the weather turns, it's about getting to the yard as quickly as you can." He added "many a Christmas" had been put on hold, along with him being known for abandoning his grocery shopping to get to work.

Lawson was nominated by four of his managers to win the award on Tuesday for his "unrivalled knowledge of the vehicles and problem-solving abilities". The ceremony heard how he could "manoeuvre his gritter in ways others would never attempt".

Lawson said: "There's been many a Christmas morning when my wife, son and now grandchildren have held off opening presents until I get back from work. It's not easy, but my family is incredibly supportive of my job and understand that it's something I've just got to do."


Gary Lawson has rescued people, livestock and emergency vehicles in freezing temperatures

Lawson also recalled a call-out on April Fool's Day, with a request to go and rescue three cars on the Teesdale border. "Obviously, I thought he was joking but sure enough, 100m up, the weather changed and I ended up with a cab full of stranded drivers and passengers. Honestly, I've seen it all and sometimes, our experiences make Ice Road Truckers look like toddlers."

Econ Engineering said it wanted to celebrate "winter heroes", adding drivers had to get up in the middle of the night and had an "incredible amount of skill to handle the vehicles, often in dangerous conditions".

Jonathan Lupton, managing director at Econ, said Lawson's "kindness, commitment and dedication to his community and our industry really came across".

I was wondering where it might be ...

I noted their logo has a certain similarity to a certain local station.

Oxford train station platform cordoned off amid bad smell



Part of Oxford railway station has been cordoned off due to overflowing sewage causing a stink for commuters.

There is a "whiff" in the air at city centre's train station, according to one commuter, with what appears to be toilet paper spilling out from the pipes.

Images sent in show shredded up wet paper coming from a cover on the platform with liquid surrounding it on the ground.

A commuter told us: "There’s a little whiff, not much. Pretty grim sight when you’re trying to have a tasty Taylors sandwich for lunch though."

The area has been cordoned off with yellow and black tape by workers at the station ahead of it being fixed.

Thames Water, Network Rail and Great Western Railway have all been approached for further information.

The project team is currently assessing a number of strategically significant UK locations with strong infrastructure and national connectivity. Model Britain is also actively engaging with strategic partners across the technology, heritage, travel, and education sectors who share a vision for celebrating British innovation at scale. A formal opening timeline will be confirmed following site acquisition and planning approval.

Size: 100,000 sq ft immersive miniature world
Visitors Forecast: 700,000+ annually
Investment: £50 million
Location: Central England
Economic Impact: Hundreds of jobs created during and after construction

Model Britain announces the Establishment of Its New Advisory Board - 20 February 2026

Model Britain has formally transitioned from concept to structured delivery with the convening of its inaugural Advisory Board. This milestone establishes the governance framework for a project set to become one of the UK’s most ambitious cultural and educational attractions.

Model Britain’s vision is to Explore, Imagine, Inspire. The project will be a large-scale, permanent indoor miniature attraction celebrating British history, innovation, and landscapes. Developed at substantial national scale, it is designed to operate at significant visitor capacity and to offer an immersive experience that blends excitement with deep educational value for children and adults alike.

The attraction will include a structured education programme aligned to national curriculum themes, supporting history, geography, design and technology, and STEM learning for school groups nationwide. The project enters development at a time of renewed national focus on the UK’s experience economy and regional tourism growth, positioning Model Britain to contribute meaningfully to both cultural and economic priorities.