Space Delays and Ancient Discoveries: Highlights from Current Science News

NASA delays a SpaceX mission to analyze Boeing Starliner issues. China launches 18 satellites aiming to compete with SpaceX's Starlink. Researchers discover tiny arm bone fragments, solving the mystery of Indonesia's extinct 'Hobbit' people, Homo floresiensis. These headlines underscore the latest developments in space and archaeological research.

NASA announced on Tuesday a delay in the scheduled launch of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station. Originally set for August 18, the mission, dubbed Crew-9, has been pushed to September 24 due to issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.

In a significant move, China successfully launched 18 low Earth orbit satellites on Tuesday. The launch, conducted by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology at Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, represents China's bid to rival the U.S. firm SpaceX's Starlink network.

Archaeological researchers have unearthed a tiny arm bone fragment on Indonesia's Flores island, initially misidentified as a crocodile bone. The 700,000-year-old bone belongs to the extinct human species Homo floresiensis, also known as 'The Hobbit,' providing new insights into this mysterious lineage.

(With inputs from agencies.)