Page 22 - Space

Space junk on Moon will rise with future missions, but who will clean it up

With more countries landing on the Moon, people back on Earth will have to think about what happens to all the landers, waste and miscellaneous debris left on the lunar surface and in orbit

Vikram lander's ILSA payload records natural event on lunar surface: Isro

ILSA comprises a cluster of six high-sensitivity accelerometers, which are indigenously fabricated using the Silicon Micromachining process

Auction of space-based spectrum would amount to killing golden goose: ISpA

India's nascent space industry has made a strong pitch for administrative allocation of satellite-based spectrum, saying the auction route could hit the growth of the sector. Indian Space Association (ISpA) Director General Lt Gen A K Bhatt (retd.) said auctioning the satellite-based spectrum will create a barrier to growth and may impact the innovation drive of the space sector start-ups. ISpA is the industry body of private space sector companies that acts as a bridge with the government. In an interaction with PTI, Bhatt said opting for the auction of space-based spectrum would amount to killing the golden goose as the space sector was set to witness rapid growth in the country as it demonstrated its prowess by undertaking complex missions such as Chandrayaan-3. Mobile telecom players such as Reliance Jio have been insisting that the government opt for auction of space-based spectrum. "Many say if you don't give it by auction, you will get less money. Yes, I agree with it. But,

Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover confirms sulphur in lunar region: Isro

Another instrument onboard the Chandrayaan-3 mission's rover 'Pragyan' has confirmed the presence of sulphur in the lunar region by deploying a different technique, ISRO said on Thursday. The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) has detected sulphur, as well as other minor elements on the Moon, the Bengaluru-headquartered national space agency said in a social media post. "This finding by Ch-3 compels scientists to develop fresh explanations for the source of Sulphur (S) in the area: intrinsic?, volcanic?, meteoritic?,......?" read the post. ISRO also released a video of the rover rotating in search of a safe route. The rotation was captured by a lander imager camera. "It feels as though a child is playfully frolicking in the yards of Chandamama, while the mother watches affectionately. Isn't it?" ISRO quipped in the social media post. The space agency released a video showing an automated hinge mechanism rotating the 18 cm tall APXS, aligning the detector head to be ...

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All you need to know about Aditya L-1, Isro's mission to study the Sun

Isro's head S Somanath said that the Aditya-L1 mission, which is all about studying the Sun, is all set to begin its voyage next on September 2

Chandrayaan-3 landing site called Shiv Shakti: Who names sites on the Moon?

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi named the touchdown point of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon as Shivshakti Point, we explain how these spots are termed and who names them

Cong slams those unable to digest contribution of Nehru in setting up Isro

The Congress on Sunday hit out at those "unable to digest the contribution" of Jawaharlal Nehru that led to the setting up of ISRO and asserted that the India's first prime minister used to encourage the scientific approach. In a post in Hindi on X, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said, "Nehru used to promote scientific approach. Those who are unable to digest his contribution in the setting up of ISRO should listen to his speech on the foundation day of TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research)." Ramesh also shared a video from Nehru's speech at the event. "Unlike the person who gave knowledge about the science of clouds providing a shield from radar, he (Nehru) did not just talk big but took big decisions," Ramesh said in an apparent swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress and the BJP have been engaged in a war of words over Nehru and other Congress prime ministers' contribution to India's space programme with the opposition party ...

Isro's Vikram lander observes Moon temperature, records high of 70 deg C

ISRO on Sunday released a graph of the temperature variation on the lunar surface and a senior scientist of the space agency expressed surprise over the high temperature recorded on the Moon. The national space agency said Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) payload onboard Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander measured the temperature profile of the lunar topsoil around the pole to understand the thermal behaviour of the Moon's surface. "Here are the first observations from the ChaSTE payload onboard Vikram Lander. ChaSTE (Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment) measures the temperature profile of the lunar topsoil around the pole to understand the thermal behaviour of the moon's surface," ISRO said in an update on social media platform 'X'. Speaking about the graphic illustration, ISRO scientist B H M Darukesha told PTI: "We all believed that the temperature could be somewhere around 20 degree centigrade to 30 degree centigrade on the surface but it is 70 degree ...

Isro shares first observations from Vikram Lander's ChasSTE payload

ISRO on Sunday released a graph of the temperature variation on lunar surface with increase in depth measured by the ChaSTE payload onboard Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander module. According to the space agency, Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) measured the temperature profile of the lunar topsoil around the south pole, to understand the thermal behaviour of the Moon's surface. Here are the first observations from the ChaSTE payload onboard Vikram Lander. ChaSTE measures the temperature profile of the lunar topsoil around the pole, to understand the thermal behaviour of the moon's surface, ISRO said in an update on X', formerly Twitter. The payload has a temperature probe equipped with a controlled penetration mechanism capable of reaching a depth of 10 cm beneath the surface. The probe is fitted with 10 individual temperature sensors. The presented graph illustrates the temperature variations of the lunar surface/near-surface at various depths, as recorded during

Chandrayaan-3 should be used to power scientific temper among youth: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the excitement generated by the success of Chandrayaan-3 has to be channelised to power scientific temper among youngsters to realise the dream of a developed India by 2047. Addressing a function organised at the airport here by the BJP to celebrate the success of Chandrayaan-3 and welcome the prime minister on his return from his two-nation tour, Modi said that at the BRICS Summit in South Africa and during his visit to Greece, he received several congratulatory messages over the success of the lunar mission. Modi was welcomed at the Delhi airport by BJP president J P Nadda and Lok Sabha members from the national capital, while scores of people had gathered at the function to celebrate the Chandrayaan-3 landing on the Moon. The prime minister also spoke about his brief stopover in Bengaluru on Saturday morning, during which he met ISRO scientists and took the decision to name the landing point of the spacecraft as "Shiv Shakti". He also

Supplied high-strength alloy steel for Chandrayaan-3: Jindal Stainless

Jindal Stainless Ltd (JSL) on Friday said it supplied high-strength alloy steel grade to ISRO which was used in Chandrayaan-3 mission. The specialised alloy steel grade supplied to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), usually imported from several countries, was meticulously developed over a span of three years with the help of an advanced refining process to meet the stringent quality standards and specifications of the crucial project, JSL said in a statement. The company stated that "it developed and supplied special, high-strength alloy steel grade that has been used in the motor casing of India's ambitious third lunar mission, the Chandrayaan-3". The heat-resistant material shields the motor from shocks as well as elevated temperatures, the company said. Its properties, which persist even under the most extreme thermal conditions, underscore the alloy steel grade's reliability and suitability for critical space missions, the company said. On Wednesday, ISRO's third

At Rs 600 cr Chandrayaan-3 costs less than some Hollywood films: Minister

Union Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Friday said the estimated cost of the Chandrayaan-3 project at Rs 600 crore was lower than the budget of some Hollywood films made on the themes of space and moon. He also said scientific research connected with the project to check availability of hydrogen and oxygen on the surface of the moon is what makes the country's initiative "quite different" from lunar missions of other nations. "The cost of Chandrayaan-3 is merely Rs 600 crore, whereas a Hollywood film on space and moon costs more than Rs 600 crore. I don't see movies often nowadays but I was told by someone that one or two big actors now charge Rs 100 crore per film (in Bollywood), much above the Rs 5-6 lakh a star like Dilip Kumar charged for Devdas," he said. Experiments of Chandrayaan-3 started on Thursday on the surface of the moon and will last for 14 days, the Union minister added. "These experiments would pave way for new scientific research about the moon

L&T, HAL vetted to potentially bid on India's rocket privatisation

BENGALURU (Reuters) - Larsen & Toubro and Hindustan Aeronautics are among companies vetted to potentially bid in India's efforts to privatise its small satellite launch rocket, a source told Reuters, as the government seeks more investment in the booming space market.

Chandrayaan 3's success to propel int'l commercial projects: Ex-Isro chief

Chandrayaan 3's success will further boost India's international commercial contracts as there will be acceptance of its technical competence and launch systems, former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair said here on Thursday. Nair said the success of Chandrayaan-3 is the first stepping stone to begin India's planetary explorations. "We have really broken the ice and made a good beginning," he told PTI. The former ISRO Chairman said the country already has several commercial contracts with Europe and America, and this will grow now with the success of the third lunar mission on August 23. "Certainly the global people will accept our technical competence and quality of our launch system and spacecraft, etc. International cooperation has been on the agenda of the Indian space programme, and it will be strengthened in the days to come," he added. The total cost of Chandrayaan-3, according to ISRO, is Rs 615 crore, which is almost equivalent to a Hindi cinema's production budget. In a giant

Here's how private sector companies contributed to Chandrayaan-3 mission

A number of private companies have contributed to the development of ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft which successfully landed near the south pole of the Moon on Wednesday evening. Here is a list of the firms and their contribution: ** Tata Consulting Engineers Limited (TCE) engineered unique and indigenously built critical systems and sub-systems custom-built for the successful launch of space missions. TCE engineered the solid propellant plant, the vehicle assembly building and the mobile launch pedestal. ** Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has supplied various components for India's lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3. The company revealed that components such as the "middle segment and nozzle bucket flange" were manufactured at its facility in Powai, while the ground and flight umbilical plates were produced at its aerospace manufacturing facility in Coimbatore. ** Walchandnagar Industries manufactured components of the lunar mission vehicle, the first-stage booster and "flex nozzle control

PM Modi thanks world leaders for greetings on Chandrayaan-3 success

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said science has made it possible for India to reach a difficult terrain on the moon and thanked world leaders for their congratulatory messages on the success of Chandrayaan-3. "Since yesterday I have been receiving congratulatory messages from everyone. Worldover, this achievement is not seen as a success limited to one country, but of the entire humanity. It is a matter of pride for all of us. This is an opportunity to congratulate Indian scientists on behalf of the entire world," he said in brief remarks at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg. The soft landing at the south pole is not only a big achievement for India but for the scientific community of the world. "There have been no attempts to land in the area that India had targeted. India's attempt has been successful. Science has been able to take us to difficult terrain. This itself is a big achievement of science and scientists," Modi said. On Wednesday, India became the fourth nation

Proud of India's historic achievement: Lanka Prez on Chandrayaan-3 mission

President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday said Sri Lanka was proud of India's historic achievement as he congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India over the success of the country's lunar mission Chandrayaan-3. India's Chandrayaan-3 on Wednesday became the first space mission to make a soft landing near the south pole of the Moon. President Ranil Wickremesinghe extended heartfelt congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Modi, team ISRO and the people of India for the successful landing of Chandrayaan 3, being a remarkable feat as it was the first on the lunar South Pole, the President's Office said in a statement. Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka is proud of India's historic achievement. Sri Lanka is proud of this historic and momentous achievement and noted that PM Modi's generous gesture of dedicating this accomplishment to all of mankind will inspire generations to pursue the advancement of science and technological progress, the statement added.

Chandrayaan-3 on Pak media's front-page, politician calls it 'great moment'

Despite the chill in bilateral ties, Pakistan's media on Thursday gave front-page coverage to India's historic moon landing while a former minister even called it a "great moment" for India's space agency, ISRO. 'India becomes first nation to land near Moon's south pole' was the headline in most of the Pakistani newspapers and websites. This was India's second attempt to land a spacecraft on the Moon and comes less than a week after Russia's Luna-25 mission failed. The Geo News carried a story by its Web Desk about the landing, saying India's Chandrayaan-3 has finally landed on the moon after a 40-day journey starting from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota and a history of space crashing. The News International, the Dawn newspaper, the Business Recorder, Dunya News and others carried stories by various international news agencies. Fawad Chaudhry, who was Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting in the Imran Khan-led government, called it a great moment for the