Starliner's Delays, Hobbit Fossil Mystery, and 3D-Printed Neighborhoods

NASA has delayed a SpaceX astronaut mission due to issues with Boeing's Starliner. Plans exist for Starliner astronauts to return on SpaceX capsules. A tiny arm bone has revealed insights into Indonesia's extinct 'Hobbit' people. The world's largest 3D-printed neighborhood nears completion in Texas.

NASA announced on Tuesday that it has delayed the launch of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station, initially set for Aug. 18, to Sept. 24. This postponement allows more time to analyze issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, currently docked at the ISS.

Additionally, NASA officials on Wednesday discussed the possibility of Boeing's Starliner astronauts returning to Earth on a SpaceX capsule in February 2025. This contingency plan arises due to ongoing safety concerns around the Starliner, which delivered two astronauts to the ISS in June.

In other news, researchers have unearthed a rod-shaped arm bone on Flores island, Indonesia. Initially misidentified as a crocodile bone, it was later confirmed to belong to an adult Homo floresiensis, a diminutive extinct species, solving some mysteries about their origins.

Meanwhile, ICON's Vulcan printer, a massive 3D printer, is on the brink of completing the world's largest 3D-printed neighborhood in Georgetown, Texas. The project includes 100 houses and marks a significant advancement in residential construction technology.

(With inputs from agencies.)