Page 3 - Isro Chief

Isro excels as no individual here is penalised for failures, says Somanath

Failures are a very natural part of the space sector but no individual is penalised for it at ISRO which encourages scientists to take novel approaches in decision-making, the space agency's chairman S Somanath said on Wednesday. Speaking at the 50th anniversary of the All India Management Association (AIMA), Somanath, who played a key role in the soft-landing of a spacecraft on the moon, noted that even he had faced failures several times, but never got criticised for it by his seniors. "We make sure that no single individual is penalised for failures because no decision is made by a single individual. All these decisions are taken by collective wisdom," he said in an interactive session here. Somanath said in the space sector, there is a clear understanding that one person cannot understand everything which leads to collective decision-making. "So, collective decision means that you own the responsibility of failures as well. Management owns the responsibility, it is not fixed on

'Fairly good chance': Ex-Isro chief on Vikram lander and Pragyan waking up

Chandrayaan-3: Isro is gearing up to wake the Vikram lander and Pragyan from 'sleep mode' to face the sun's rays after they were put into deep sleep having completed their set tasks

Chandrayaan-3: After landing on Moon, here's what Pragyan rover will do now

Chandrayaan-3 updates: After Vikram's successful landing on the Moon, now it is up to Pragyan rover to take up the next phase of the mission. What are its goals? Here are the details

Chandrayaan-3 landing on August 27 if conditions are unfavourable: Isro

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has kept an alternative date for Chandrayaan-3 landing on August 27, if it will not be appropriate to land the Vikram module on August 23

Chandrayaan-3: Vikram lander to separate from propulsion module today

Chandrayaan-3 location: On Wednesday, the Chandrayaan-3 mission hit another mark when its spacecraft successfully underwent a fifth and final lunar-bound orbit manoeuvre

Consider rockets like baby: Isro chief Somanath after Chandrayaan-3 launch

Expressing his deep love and association with rockets, ISRO chairman S Somanath on Saturday said he considers the launch vehicles as babies. Somanath said he enjoyed the launch of Phase-I of Chandrayaan-3 on Friday, while adding that he had gone through the entire data and marvelled at "how beautiful the rocket was". ISRO on Friday successfully launched its third moon mission, this time a far more complicated 41-day voyage to reach the lunar south pole where no other country has gone before. The space agency said the technically challenging soft landing on lunar surface, which Chandrayaan-2 could not achieve, has been planned for 5.47 pm on August 23. Delivering his address at the 12th Convocation of IIT Hyderabad in neighbouring Sangareddy district, Somanath said "As an engineer and scientist, I have a love for rockets. I consider the rocket like a baby, seeing its birth, its growth, its problems of growth, its emotions and developing a deep understanding of its mechanics and ...

Need for cooperation among G20 nations on space technologies: ISRO chairman

ISRO chairman S Somanath on Monday said there was a need for cooperation among the G20 nations on space technologies. Addressing the precursor meeting of the G20 Space Economy Leaders Meeting (SELM) in Shillong, he said the bilateral relationships between the countries on space technologies also need to be strengthened. "There is a need for cooperation among the G20 nations for the development of space technology and its applications," he said. Twenty-eight delegates from the G20 nations and guest countries attended the meeting. Global experts in the field were also present in the meeting. Somanath said space applications for the benefit of mankind will increase many folds in the future, and it will play the role of an economic contributor and help the global economy. He expressed optimism that the deliberations at the meeting will result in a fruitful outcome, and assist the space community at different levels. He also lauded the Northeastern Space Applications Centre for handli

Isro launches 36 satellites for OneWeb; everything you need to know

This was the second launch by Isro for OneWeb, a UK-based company supported by the UK govt, SoftBank, and India's Bharti Enterprises

India plans to expand NaVIC, make signals more secure, says Isro chief

India plans to expand its regional satellite navigation system NaVIC in a bid to increase its use in the civilian sector and also by ships and aircraft travelling far from the country's borders. The Navigation with Indian Constellation (NaVIC) uses seven satellites to provide real-time positioning and timing services in India and an area extending upto 1,500 km from the country's borders. However, several satellites of the constellation have outlived their lives and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) now plans to replace at least five of these with the improved L-Band, which would enable it to offer better global positioning services to the public. "We have five more satellites in production, they have to be launched periodically to replace the defunct satellites. The new satellites will have L-1, L-5 and S Band," ISRO Chairman S Somanath told PTI in an interview here. Somanath was speaking on the sidelines of the India Space Congress organised by the SatCom Industry ...

Isro likely to launch Chandrayan-3 in June next year: Chief Somanath

Addressing a press conference, Somanath told the reporters that mission Chandrayaan-3 is almost ready to be launched in June of next year

SSLV suffers 'data loss' at terminal stage: ISRO chairman Somanath

ISRO maiden Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) suffered "data loss" at the terminal stage, although three stages "performed and separated"

Centre open to public-private union to build up space industry: ISRO chief

The government has come out with a policy to encourage participation of private companies in space technology as part of reforms in the field, ISRO chief S Somanath said on Saturday. The government would consult with industries and startups to strengthen the space eco systems under the public- private partnership in infrastructre, remote-sensing and development of new technology, Somanath told reporters on the sidelines of 26th convocation of Karunya University here. With regard to investment, he said it would be 100 per cent for Indian companies and 70 per cent through FDI with the approval of the Centre. To a question on the launch of small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV), Somanath said it would happen by this month-end or at the beginning of August. Asked about starting a launchpad at Kulasekharapatnam in Tamil Nadu, he said the State government has allotted 2,000 acres of land and after developing the required infrastructure, it may be ready by another two years. On the much

Fate of 4 Indians and 18 others unclear as rescuers locate plane wreckage

ISRO is taking help of doctors in building its human-rated spacecraft for the Gaganyaan mission, India's first human spaceflight that aims to take astronauts into a low earth orbit.

ISRO chairman, Maharashtra MP Navneet Rana given VIP security cover

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath has also been accorded a 'Y+' category security cover

Senior Kerala rocket scientist S Somanath appointed as new ISRO chief

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Wednesday approved the appointment of S Somanath to the post of Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, ISRO

We have lined up 14 missions for launch this year: Isro chief Sivan

ISRO has lined up 14 missions for launch in 2021, including the space agency's first unmanned mission later this year, its Chairman K Sivan said here on Sunday.

Isro working on green fuels like hydrogen peroxide for rockets

Isro is working to replace its existing hazardous fuel with non-hazardous and environment- friendly fuels for its rockets and satellites

Country's space reforms are not aimed at privatising Isro, says chairman

Isro will be able to better utilise its resources in taking up capacity building and developmental activities, he adds

ISRO readying low-cost satellite launch vehicles worth Rs 30-35 cr

ISRO has planned some 500 Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launches in the next five years, a press release quoting Haridas said

Isro aiming for 13 space missions before March 2020, says Chairman K Sivan

The Indian space agency will soon be launching radar imaging satellites RISAT-2BR1, RISAT-2BR2