"Israeli Airstrike Kills Nine of Gaza Doctor’s Children in Khan Younis"

""Israeli Airstrike Kills Nine of Gaza Doctor’s Children in Khan Younis"

 On May 24, 2025, a devastating Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, resulted in the deaths of nine of pediatrician Dr. Alaa al-Najjar's ten children. At the time of the attack, Dr. al-Najjar was on duty at the Nasser Medical Complex, where she works. Her husband, also a doctor, and their surviving child sustained injuries but survived the strike.  

The al-Najjar family had no known political or military affiliations. Colleagues described them as dedicated medical professionals. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they had targeted suspects operating near IDF troops and were reviewing claims of civilian harm.  

This incident is part of a broader escalation in Gaza, with over 100 sites targeted across the territory. In the past 24 hours alone, at least 79 people have been killed, including members of the Dardouna family.  

International humanitarian organizations have expressed deep concern over the increasing civilian casualties and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The United Nations and other groups have highlighted the urgent need for aid access, as famine conditions worsen and essential supplies remain blocked.  

The tragic loss of Dr. al-Najjar's children underscores the profound human cost of the ongoing conflict and has intensified calls for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians. 

On May 18, 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) faced a significant setback when its PSLV-C61 mission failed to deploy the EOS-09 Earth observation satellite into orbit.  

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🚀 Mission Overview

Launch Vehicle: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C61)

Satellite: EOS-09 (also known as RISAT-1B), equipped with a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for all-weather, day-and-night Earth observation

Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota

Launch Time: 5:59 AM IST, May 18, 2025

Objective: To place the 1,696 kg EOS-09 satellite into a sun-synchronous polar orbit for applications in agriculture, forestry, disaster management, and national security  

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⚠️ What Went Wrong

The mission proceeded nominally through the first two stages. However, during the third stage, an anomaly occurred approximately 6.26 minutes into the flight, leading to mission failure. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan stated that the third stage motor started correctly, but an observation during its operation led to the mission's incompletion.  

Preliminary analyses suggest a drop in chamber pressure in the third stage motor case, possibly due to a malfunction in the flex nozzle control system—a critical component that directs thrust by adjusting the rocket nozzle's orientation.  

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🛰️ Significance of EOS-09

EOS-09 was designed to enhance India's Earth observation capabilities, providing high-resolution radar imagery for various applications, including: 

Agriculture and forestry monitoring

Disaster management and flood mapping

Border surveillance and national security 

The satellite's failure represents a notable loss, particularly in strengthening India's remote sensing infrastructure.  

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🛠️ Investigation and Response

In response to the failure, ISRO has established a National Failure Analysis Committee to investigate the anomaly. A comprehensive audit of the PSLV-C61 systems is underway, with all components being thoroughly reviewed.  

This incident marks the first failure of the PSLV in eight years, disrupting its otherwise reliable track record.  

Despite this setback, ISRO continues to analyze the failure to enhance the reliability of future missions. The organization remains committed to advancing India's space capabilities.