Page 13 - Isro

Isro, Australian space agency sign cooperation pact for human space flight

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday said it has signed an Implementation Agreement (IA) with Australian Space Agency (ASA) for further strengthening of cooperation in space activities between the two countries. The IA enables cooperation between both space agencies on crew and crew module recovery for Gaganyaan missions, the country's first crewed spaceflight program, it said. The IA was signed by D K Singh, Director, Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) on ISRO's side at Bengaluru and Jarrod Powell, General Manager, Space Capability Branch, on ASA's side at Canberra on November 20, the space agency said in a statement. ISRO has embarked on the Human Spaceflight ("Gaganyaan") programme with an objective of demonstrating capability to carryout Low Earth Orbit in an Indian Crew Module with up to three crew members onboard, for up to three days and to safely recover the module. The IA enables the Australian authorities to work with Indian authorities to ensure support fo

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India, US tech industry bodies launch webinar series on regulatory issues

Satcom Industry Association-India (SIA-India) and IndUS Tech Council have launched a partnership to unravel the regulatory challenges in emerging technologies such as AI, space systems, and dual use innovations. The two industry bodies have launched Perspectives on Regulatory Issues in Strategic Markets (PRISM) 2024 webinar series that seek to offer a platform for industry to navigate evolving regulations and explore new avenues for innovation and collaboration. "The first webinar 1.0 comes at a crucial time ahead of critical reforms like ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations), MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime) liberalisation," Nikita Vardiparti, Vice President, IndUS Tech Council was quoted in a statement issued by SIA-India. She said following recent amendments by the US Department of Commerce aimed at easing restrictions on space-related items, which reclassifies many space-related products, including commercial satellites, from the US Munitions List to the ...

Musk's SpaceX launches Isro's GSAT-20 satellite, marks first collaboration

Isro doesn't have operational launch vehicles to handle the GSAT-N2's 4,700 kg payload, leading to the first-ever collaboration with SpaceX

SC asks govt to procure data on farm fires from geo-stationary satellites

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to procure data from geostationary satellites on farm fire instances instead of from NASA polar-orbiting satellites. The data of farm fires throughout the day can thus be made available to the state to enable them to take immediate action, it directed. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih noted that ISRO is taking data from NASA satellites which pass over the NCR region around 10.30 am to 1.30 pm daily and the instances of farm fires which are captured by satellite are only for this limited period. The bench said senior advocate Aprajita Singh, who has been appointed as amicus curiae, pointed out that a Korean satellite, which is a stationary one, has captured data of farm fires at 4.20 pm. It said that the amicus has pointed out that there may be a difference between the data of farm fires which may be collected through stationary satellites and the one which

Musk's SpaceX to launch India's GSAT-20 satellite for better communication

SpaceX will launch India's GSAT-20 satellite, enhancing communication capacity and supporting initiatives like Smart Cities. The partnership comes after ISRO's heavy-lift limitations

ISRO sets up first space education lab in AP's Keyi Panyor district

In Arunachal Pradesh's Keyi Panyor district, ISRO opens its first space education lab. It was inaugurated by state Education Minister Pasang Dorjee and set up in collab with Vyomika Space Academy

Big industrial houses need to enter space sector, says Isro chief Somanath

ISRO chairman S Somanath on Tuesday urged industry houses to invest in the space sector in a big way to build rockets and allied systems for India to emerge as a space power by 2047. Addressing the Indian Space Conclave here, Somanath voiced concern over the "elusive" investments in the upstream sector of the space industry comprising launch vehicles, hardware and software for ground-based stations, telemetry, tracking and command stations. He said the share of the Indian space economy in the global market was very low and there was a need to encourage and inspire the next generation of leaders to come into the sector and create a vibrant activity. India's space economy is pegged at USD 8.4 billion and is projected to grow to USD 45 billion in the next ten years. Somanath said investments were not forthcoming from big industry houses within the country for the upstream side of the business despite pursuing the matter with them. "India is not devoid of big (industry) houses having

What makes India's space missions cost less than Hollywood sci-fi movies?

India's low-cost space missions, Mangalyaan ($74 mn) and Chandrayaan-3 ($75 mn), starkly contrast with Hollywood's $100m Gravity and costlier Nasa and Russian counterparts

Simulating extraterrestrial life: Isro's analogue mission begins in Ladakh

The mission's objective is to replicate conditions of living in an interplanetary habitat, tackling the potential obstacles that astronauts may face on future deep-space missions

Isro to launch electric propelled satellite in Dec: Chairman Somanath

India will test its home-grown electric thrusters to steer satellites to its desired orbit, a technology that promises to make spacecraft lighter and pack more punch, in December. Delivering the Sardar Patel Lecture at Akashvani, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath said the first Technology Demonstrator Satellite (TDS-01) using indigenously developed electric propulsion will be launched in December. The TDS-01 will also demonstrate indigenously built traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs) that are integral parts of various communication and microwave remote sensing payloads on satellites. A four-tonne communication satellite carries more than two tonnes of liquid fuel which is used to fire thrusters to steer it from the launch orbit to the desired geostationary orbit. These thrusters are also fired to keep the satellite in the desired orbit, if it strays due to atmospheric drag or as a result of a pull due to the gravity of the sun and the moon. "A four to

India needs revolutionary growth to become developed economy: Isro chief

India must undergo a revolutionary transformation to rise as a developed economy, said ISRO Chairman S. Somanathan, stressing the importance of technological advancements and product development to drive economic growth. He also praised tech mogul Elon Musk for his innovative work in the space sector, noting that Musk's achievements have inspired global efforts, including those within ISRO. Somanathan made these remarks while addressing students at the 13th convocation ceremony of the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Delhi here on Saturday. "If India aspires to become the third, second, or even the first-largest global economy, a revolutionary change is needed. Growth will not be driven by trade and resources alone. We need to create value in technology that powers product development," he said. Speaking about Musk, the ISRO chief said, "Elon Musk is making heads turn with his rockets. Everyone, from Europe to Russia to China, is looking at what he is doin

Important to know what is happening in space: Isro chairman Somanath

Somanath further said, In the domain of communication, a lot of changes are happening in this domain,

Isro chairman gets IAF World Space Award for Chandrayaan-3's achievement

ISRO said on Monday its Chairman S Somanath has received the International Astronautical Federation's (IAF) prestigious World Space Award for Chandrayaan-3's remarkable achievement. "This recognition celebrates India's contributions to space exploration. Celebrations underway in Milan (Italy) as we continue to strive for new frontiers, the national agency headquartered here said in an online post. According to the IAF, Chandrayaan-3 mission by ISRO exemplifies the synergy of scientific curiosity and cost-effective engineering, symbolising India's commitment to excellence and the vast potential that space exploration offers humanity. Rapidly unveiling previously undiscovered facets of the Moon's composition and geology, the mission stands as a global testament to innovation. Achieving a historic milestone, Chandrayaan-3 becomes the first to touch down near the lunar South Pole, showcasing both aspiration and technological prowess on an international scale, the IAF said in a ...

Isro's Bharatiya Antariksha Station: 5-module design to take flight by 2035

India aims to establish the Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035, with a five-module design. The first module, BAS-1, will launch by 2028 to support future crewed missions

Upper Stage of PSLV-37 rocket enters earth's atmosphere as predicted: Isro

The upper stage of PSLV-37 rocket, which launched a record number of 104 satellites more than seven years ago, has re-entered the earth's atmosphere as predicted, the Indian Space Research Organisation announced on Tuesday. PSLV-C37 was launched on February 15, 2017 with Cartosat-2D as the main payload along with another 103 satellites as co-passengers. It created history as the first mission to launch 104 satellites with a single vehicle, the Bengaluru-headquartered national space agency noted in a statement. After injecting the satellites and passivation, the upper stage (PS4) was left at an orbit of approximately 470 x 494 km size. It was regularly tracked and its orbital altitude slowly decayed, primarily due to atmospheric drag effects, it said. Since September 2024, IS4OM (ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management) regularly monitored the orbital decay as part of its regular activities and predicted the re-entry into the atmosphere in October first week.

From ISRO scientist to cab service operator; man builds 2 cr cab business

Uthaya Kumar, an ISRO scientist, left his job to start something of his own after seven years and launched a cab service business. He hails from Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu, India

NGLV development model will be announced soon: Isro chief Somanath

The model for the development of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) will be announced soon and that will provide a huge opportunity for industries to come into the space sector right at the beginning of design itself, ISRO chief S Somanath said on Monday. Last month, the Union Cabinet approved the development of NGLV. It will be a significant step towards establishing and operating the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, as well as towards developing capability for Indian crewed landing on the Moon by 2040. While mentioning about NGLV, Somanath on Monday said ISRO will support the development but the production and launches will move over to the industry right at the beginning. The mode for developing NGLV will be announced soon. It is going to be a huge opportunity for industries to come into the space sector right in the beginning of design itself, he added. The NGLV development project will be implemented with maximal participation from the Indian industry, which is also expecte

Moon rock: Chandrayaan-4 a test for Isro's ambitious manned moon mission

Isro's ambitions have grown along with its successes. Alongside Chandrayaan-4, the Cabinet also cleared a Venus orbital mission, which will be even more challenging

Chandrayaan-3 landed on one of the oldest craters on Moon: PRL-Isro study

Indian lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 landed within a buried impact crater, which is around 160 km in size and approximately 4.4 km deep, and likely to be older than the South Pole Atkin (SPA) basin, according to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This is revealed based on analysis of images obtained by navigation cameras on Chandrayaan-3 Pragyan rover and Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter's optical high resolution camera, according to scientists from Physical Research Laboratory and ISRO, who published their study in peer-reviewed journal 'Icarus'. The Chandrayaan-3 mission with the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover landed in the high latitude highland region near the south pole of the Moon, an ISRO statement noted. The landing site is located approximately 350 km from the SPA basin rim, an ancient and the largest impact basin in the Solar System. This landing site has undergone the complex emplacement sequence of SPA basin ejecta followed by the nearby and distant impact basins and ..