SpaceX plans first manned flight to space station in May

Washington: Elon Musk’s SpaceX will send astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time in May, NASA said, announcing the first crewed launch from the US to the platform since 2011. The tech entrepreneur’s company will launch a Falcon 9 rocket to transport NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley in a first for the space agency as it looks to cut costs. “NASA and SpaceX are currently targeting no earlier than mid-to-late May for launch,” the US space agency said. AFP

‘Wonderchicken’ fossil helps decode origin of birds

London: Researchers have identified the oldest fossil of a modern bird yet found, dating from the age of dinosaurs, a finding that may shed more light on avian evolution, and help understand how birds survived the extinction event. The fossil is nicknamed the ‘Wonderchicken’, and includes a nearly complete skull, hidden inside pieces of rock. The researchers said the fossil was found in a limestone quarry near the Belgian-Dutch border, making it the first modern bird from the age of dinosaurs found in the northern hemisphere. PTI