Let’s say that a popular automobile company introduces a new type of small, cost-efficient car. This car is meant to be built and operated in large numbers, and over the years it is projected to ferry a significant number of passengers and bring in big bucks. However, after doing three mandatory development rides in three years, this car has never been started again; it isn’t even being talked about much in the relevant global market, while its competition does very well. The aforementioned car analogy refers to the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), an ISRO-built rocket funded by the Indian taxpayer.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>What is the SSLV rocket?&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;Launched for the first time on August 7th, 2022, SSLV was meant to be a new addition to India’s fleet of PSLV, GSLV, and LVM3 mainstay rockets. In the Indian context, think of the PSLV as a hatchback, GSLV as a crossover, and LVM3 as an SUV. The SSLV can be thought of as a two-seater car. Many rockets in the global market can be compared to large vans and buses; Indian rockets do not come close in size or capability.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to ISRO, SSLV is capable of launching a 500 kg satellite in a 500 km planar orbit from the Indian spaceport in Sriharikota. The features of SSLV are easy-to-manufacture, low-cost, can accommodate multiple satellites, launch-on-demand feasibility, minimal launch infrastructure requirements, etc. It has been said SSLV could be assembled and readied for launch in less than a week and could be launched multiple times in a month.&nbsp;Typical ISRO rockets like PSLV and GSLV require more than a month to assemble and be readied for launch. SSLV was touted as a rocket that could be readied for launch on short notice, based on customer orders. SSLV was also seen as a strategic spacefaring capability that would help India launch small satellites during emergency scenarios or crises.&nbsp;Based on such features, the SSLV was projected as a rocket that could earn revenue for the Indian government. Together, India’s PSLV and LVM3 rockets have launched more than 400 foreign-origin satellites and brought in millions of dollars to the Indian exchequer. SSLV was expected to do the same and increase India’s share in a billion-dollar market where there are only a handful of government agencies and private firms competing consistently. Estimates say that India’s share in the $20 billion global space launch market is barely 2-3%.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>In 3 flights, SSLV failed once, succeeded twice&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;The first three flights of a rocket are known as developmental flights, these are opportunities to launch the rocket and test, validate all its systems. Which is why there is a high chance of failure or unexpected errors. Shortly after reaching space, SSLV failed on its first launch that took place on 7th August 2022. Both satellites were lost due to the rocket failure in the final moments.&nbsp;ISRO rectified the errors identified in the maiden mission, and SSLV’s second launch was successfully carried out on February 10th, 2023. SSLV’s third launch was successfully carried out on August 16th, 2024. Overall, based on its three launches till date, the SSLV has a success rate of 66%.&nbsp;<h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Why has the SSLV not been flying? Here’s what insiders say</h2>&nbsp;Insiders say that the Indian government had only approved and funded three launches of the SSLV rocket. Generally, a rocket has to be launched multiple times by its maker to prove its reliability and performance. As a rocket accomplishes more successful missions, its track record becomes globally recognised and satellite companies would be willing to charter the rocket to ferry their expensive satellites to space. In SSLV’s case, the rocket has a success rate of 66%(2 successes in 3 launches). In contrast, the Indian LVM3 rocket has a success rate of 100%(all seven launches successful). ISRO’s famed workhorse PSLV rocket has a success rate of over 93% (59 successes in 63 missions).&nbsp;<h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>In the era of SpaceX, Indian rockets are not the first choice of customers</h2>&nbsp;It is claimed that Indian rockets and space missions are cheaper than Hollywood films. However, these direct numerical comparisons are neither scientific nor rooted in reality. In the world of commercial rocketry, the real metric is cost-per-kilogramme to orbit. In simple terms, per-kg cost on larger rockets is cheaper than per-kg cost on smaller rockets. This is broadly similar to why a train ticket costs far lesser than undertaking the same journey via car. The larger the vehicle, the more it can carry, therefore the per-kg cost reduces.&nbsp;&nbsp;While ISRO’s commercial arm NSIL does not officially reveal its per-kg cost, it is well established in the market that ISRO’s rockets are not cost competitive in a world dominated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. For various reasons, many Indian startups have chosen to launch their satellites on SpaceX rockets instead of choosing the homegrown ISRO rockets.&nbsp;As the world’s leading rocket firm, SpaceX does well over 120 launches a year, compared to less than seven launches that ISRO does annually. Industry estimates have clearly established that the per-kg cost on SpaceX’s massive Falcon-series of re-usable rockets is less than half of the per-kg cost charged by India. Naturally, satellite firms would choose the cheaper option offered by SpaceX.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>SSLV’s global peers are flying high</h2>&nbsp;In India, SSLV enjoys a monopoly as it is the only operational small rocket and it is developed by the reputed ISRO. Indian startups are in the process of building similar small rockets, but they have not launched to space. Therefore, if a foreign firm or Indian startup wishes to launch a small satellite, SSLV is among the few options available globally.&nbsp;&nbsp;For sake of comparison, a relatively small American firm Rocket Lab operates the Electron rocket, which is similar to the Indian SSLV. Rocket Lab accomplished 16 rocket launch missions for its customers in 2024, and is on track to execute 16 or more launches in 2025. Though a small firm when compared to industry giants like SpaceX, Rocket Lab has been consistently increasing its number of launches with every passing year. Critics also say that India government agency NSIL has not been working hard enough to attract customers for the SSLV.&nbsp;<h2>SSLV may fly again in 2025-end or 2026?</h2>&nbsp;In July 2025, ISRO Chief Dr. V. Narayanan mentioned that “a couple of SSLV missions” are among the nine launches that are scheduled to happen by March 2026.&nbsp;In 2024, it was announced that a 450 kg Australian satellite ‘Optimus’ would be launched by SSLV in the year 2026.NSIL had also said that it is building 15 SSLV rockets, but even these missions are expected to take to the skies in 2026 or later.In early 2024, Indian government agency projected that two SSLVs would be launched before March 2025, and none of those launches happened.&nbsp;<h2>SSLV is now HAL’s rocket. Can they deliver?</h2>&nbsp;In June 2025, the Indian Government announced that the SSLV rocket would be owned, marketed, and flown by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Government firm HAL had bid for the SSLV rocket and its technology transfer, and would pay Rs 511 crore in a phased manner for it.&nbsp;In about two years from now, HAL would be entirely building the SSLVs. This would mean that the SSLV rocket is going to be HAL’s property, they can launch it to ferry customers’ satellites and demand a price for providing the launch services.&nbsp;However, HAL also faces harsh public criticism from India’s defence establishment for its slow rollout of Tejas fighter jets, and unresolved technical issues that led to the ongoing grounding of variants of ALH (Dhruv) helicopters. Officials from HAL’s Aerospace division had outlined that their capability for space manufacturing is different from that of fighter planes. They added that a different manufacturing capacity exists for the space programme and for the fighter jet programme.

In about two years from now, HAL would be entirely building the SSLVs. This would mean that the SSLV rocket is going to be HAL’s property, they can launch it to ferry customers’ satellites and demand a price for providing the launch services.

Let’s say that a popular automobile company introduces a new type of small, cost-efficient car. This car is meant to be built and operated in large numbers, and over the years it is projected to ferry a significant number of passengers and bring in big bucks. However, after doing three mandatory development rides in three years, this car has never been started again; it isn’t even being talked about much in the relevant global market, while its competition does very well. The aforementioned car analogy refers to the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), an ISRO-built rocket funded by the Indian taxpayer. What is the SSLV rocket? Launched for the first time on August 7th, 2022, SSLV was meant to be a new addition to India’s fleet of PSLV, GSLV, and LVM3 mainstay rockets. In the Indian context, think of the PSLV as a hatchback, GSLV as a crossover, and LVM3 as an SUV. The SSLV can be thought of as a two-seater car. Many rockets in the global market can be compared to large vans and buses; Indian rockets do not come close in size or capability. According to ISRO, SSLV is capable of launching a 500 kg satellite in a 500 km planar orbit from the Indian spaceport in Sriharikota. The features of SSLV are easy-to-manufacture, low-cost, can accommodate multiple satellites, launch-on-demand feasibility, minimal launch infrastructure requirements, etc. It has been said SSLV could be assembled and readied for launch in less than a week and could be launched multiple times in a month. Typical ISRO rockets like PSLV and GSLV require more than a month to assemble and be readied for launch. SSLV was touted as a rocket that could be readied for launch on short notice, based on customer orders. SSLV was also seen as a strategic spacefaring capability that would help India launch small satellites during emergency scenarios or crises. Based on such features, the SSLV was projected as a rocket that could earn revenue for the Indian government. Together, India’s PSLV and LVM3 rockets have launched more than 400 foreign-origin satellites and brought in millions of dollars to the Indian exchequer. SSLV was expected to do the same and increase India’s share in a billion-dollar market where there are only a handful of government agencies and private firms competing consistently. Estimates say that India’s share in the $20 billion global space launch market is barely 2-3%. In 3 flights, SSLV failed once, succeeded twice The first three flights of a rocket are known as developmental flights, these are opportunities to launch the rocket and test, validate all its systems. Which is why there is a high chance of failure or unexpected errors. Shortly after reaching space, SSLV failed on its first launch that took place on 7th August 2022. Both satellites were lost due to the rocket failure in the final moments. ISRO rectified the errors identified in the maiden mission, and SSLV’s second launch was successfully carried out on February 10th, 2023. SSLV’s third launch was successfully carried out on August 16th, 2024. Overall, based on its three launches till date, the SSLV has a success rate of 66%. Why has the SSLV not been flying? Here’s what insiders say Insiders say that the Indian government had only approved and funded three launches of the SSLV rocket. Generally, a rocket has to be launched multiple times by its maker to prove its reliability and performance. As a rocket accomplishes more successful missions, its track record becomes globally recognised and satellite companies would be willing to charter the rocket to ferry their expensive satellites to space. In SSLV’s case, the rocket has a success rate of 66%(2 successes in 3 launches). In contrast, the Indian LVM3 rocket has a success rate of 100%(all seven launches successful). ISRO’s famed workhorse PSLV rocket has a success rate of over 93% (59 successes in 63 missions). In the era of SpaceX, Indian rockets are not the first choice of customers It is claimed that Indian rockets and space missions are cheaper than Hollywood films. However, these direct numerical comparisons are neither scientific nor rooted in reality. In the world of commercial rocketry, the real metric is cost-per-kilogramme to orbit. In simple terms, per-kg cost on larger rockets is cheaper than per-kg cost on smaller rockets. This is broadly similar to why a train ticket costs far lesser than undertaking the same journey via car. The larger the vehicle, the more it can carry, therefore the per-kg cost reduces. While ISRO’s commercial arm NSIL does not officially reveal its per-kg cost, it is well established in the market that ISRO’s rockets are not cost competitive in a world dominated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. For various reasons, many Indian startups have chosen to launch their satellites on SpaceX rockets instead of choosing the homegrown ISRO rockets. As the world’s leading rocket firm, SpaceX does well over 120 launches a year, compared to less than seven launches that ISRO does annually. Industry estimates have clearly established that the per-kg cost on SpaceX’s massive Falcon-series of re-usable rockets is less than half of the per-kg cost charged by India. Naturally, satellite firms would choose the cheaper option offered by SpaceX. SSLV’s global peers are flying high In India, SSLV enjoys a monopoly as it is the only operational small rocket and it is developed by the reputed ISRO. Indian startups are in the process of building similar small rockets, but they have not launched to space. Therefore, if a foreign firm or Indian startup wishes to launch a small satellite, SSLV is among the few options available globally. For sake of comparison, a relatively small American firm Rocket Lab operates the Electron rocket, which is similar to the Indian SSLV. Rocket Lab accomplished 16 rocket launch missions for its customers in 2024, and is on track to execute 16 or more launches in 2025. Though a small firm when compared to industry giants like SpaceX, Rocket Lab has been consistently increasing its number of launches with every passing year. Critics also say that India government agency NSIL has not been working hard enough to attract customers for the SSLV. SSLV may fly again in 2025-end or 2026? In July 2025, ISRO Chief Dr. V. Narayanan mentioned that “a couple of SSLV missions” are among the nine launches that are scheduled to happen by March 2026. In 2024, it was announced that a 450 kg Australian satellite ‘Optimus’ would be launched by SSLV in the year 2026. NSIL had also said that it is building 15 SSLV rockets, but even these missions are expected to take to the skies in 2026 or later. In early 2024, Indian government agency projected that two SSLVs would be launched before March 2025, and none of those launches happened. SSLV is now HAL’s rocket. Can they deliver? In June 2025, the Indian Government announced that the SSLV rocket would be owned, marketed, and flown by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Government firm HAL had bid for the SSLV rocket and its technology transfer, and would pay Rs 511 crore in a phased manner for it. In about two years from now, HAL would be entirely building the SSLVs. This would mean that the SSLV rocket is going to be HAL’s property, they can launch it to ferry customers’ satellites and demand a price for providing the launch services. However, HAL also faces harsh public criticism from India’s defence establishment for its slow rollout of Tejas fighter jets, and unresolved technical issues that led to the ongoing grounding of variants of ALH (Dhruv) helicopters. Officials from HAL’s Aerospace division had outlined that their capability for space manufacturing is different from that of fighter planes. They added that a different manufacturing capacity exists for the space programme and for the fighter jet programme.

In about two years from now, HAL would be entirely building the SSLVs. This would mean that the SSLV rocket is going to be HAL’s property, they can launch it to ferry customers’ satellites and demand a price for providing the launch services.

3 years after its debut, India’s SSLV rocket doesn’t have a market?

Over the last 25 years, trade between India and Latin America has grown nine-fold, rising from $2 billion in the year 2000 to almost $18 billion in 2025, said Raj Kumar Sharma, CEO of the Indo-Latin American Chamber of Commerce (ILACC). Speaking to WION about the potential for further expanding Indo-Latam investments, Sharma said that Latin American countries are looking to invest $2 billion in India by 2028, whereas India is likely to invest a larger sum in the region. A facilitator of bilateral trade and commerce, the ILACC is recognised by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Commerce (MOC).&nbsp;Recently, the ILACC launched its South India chapter, with a focus towards facilitating deeper engagement between Latin America and the Southern Indian States. The conclave witnessed the participation of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, trade envoys, and ambassadors from Latin American nations, including Peru, Cuba, El Salvador, Venezuela, Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina.&nbsp;The event featured high-level discussions, business partnership sessions, and panel dialogues aimed at enhancing trade, diplomacy and forging partnerships in sectors such as agriculture, energy, technology, healthcare, education, pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure.&nbsp;&nbsp;Addressing the event, officials emphasized on the need to move from North-South corridors and to focus on Global South connectivity. Among the prospective corridors discussed were Chennai-Caracas, Bengaluru-Buenos Aires, Mumbai-Lima. Representatives from Latin American nations said that India’s vast energy requirements could be supported by oil and natural gas and renewable energy solutions from the Latam region.&nbsp;Listing out the areas of potential cooperation, it was said that India could work with Cuba on pharma and biotechnology to develop affordable drugs for global south, Uruguay’s forward-looking policies and strategic location could prove attractive for Indian investments, Argentina can contribute in terms of mining and renewable energy, Peru welcomes partnership in the textile and agriculture sectors, El Salvador in digital transformation technologies, and Honduras in textiles and sustainable development.&nbsp;ILACC highlighted that 1.6% of overall Indian imports come from Latin America, whereas India contributed to 2% of overall imports by Latin America. Pharma, agro, chemicals, EV industries, engineering goods, automobiles, and automobile parts are among the major areas where there is potential for India to export to Latam region, industry estimates say. Further, in the high-tech areas, India can also contribute in space tech, biotech, and fintech.

Latin American countries are looking to invest $2 billion in India by 2028, whereas India is likely to invest a larger sum in the region, said the CEO of the Indo-Latin American Chamber of Commerce (ILACC), a facilitator of bilateral trade and commerce.

Over the last 25 years, trade between India and Latin America has grown nine-fold, rising from $2 billion in the year 2000 to almost $18 billion in 2025, said Raj Kumar Sharma, CEO of the Indo-Latin American Chamber of Commerce (ILACC). Speaking to WION about the potential for further expanding Indo-Latam investments, Sharma said that Latin American countries are looking to invest $2 billion in India by 2028, whereas India is likely to invest a larger sum in the region. A facilitator of bilateral trade and commerce, the ILACC is recognised by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Commerce (MOC). Recently, the ILACC launched its South India chapter, with a focus towards facilitating deeper engagement between Latin America and the Southern Indian States. The conclave witnessed the participation of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, trade envoys, and ambassadors from Latin American nations, including Peru, Cuba, El Salvador, Venezuela, Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina. The event featured high-level discussions, business partnership sessions, and panel dialogues aimed at enhancing trade, diplomacy and forging partnerships in sectors such as agriculture, energy, technology, healthcare, education, pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure. Addressing the event, officials emphasized on the need to move from North-South corridors and to focus on Global South connectivity. Among the prospective corridors discussed were Chennai-Caracas, Bengaluru-Buenos Aires, Mumbai-Lima. Representatives from Latin American nations said that India’s vast energy requirements could be supported by oil and natural gas and renewable energy solutions from the Latam region. Listing out the areas of potential cooperation, it was said that India could work with Cuba on pharma and biotechnology to develop affordable drugs for global south, Uruguay’s forward-looking policies and strategic location could prove attractive for Indian investments, Argentina can contribute in terms of mining and renewable energy, Peru welcomes partnership in the textile and agriculture sectors, El Salvador in digital transformation technologies, and Honduras in textiles and sustainable development. ILACC highlighted that 1.6% of overall Indian imports come from Latin America, whereas India contributed to 2% of overall imports by Latin America. Pharma, agro, chemicals, EV industries, engineering goods, automobiles, and automobile parts are among the major areas where there is potential for India to export to Latam region, industry estimates say. Further, in the high-tech areas, India can also contribute in space tech, biotech, and fintech.

Latin American countries are looking to invest $2 billion in India by 2028, whereas India is likely to invest a larger sum in the region, said the CEO of the Indo-Latin American Chamber of Commerce (ILACC), a facilitator of bilateral trade and commerce.

India-Latin America trade grew 9-fold in 25 years: Industry body

Hope appears to be dimming for Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is convicted of murder in Yemen, and is on death row. With her execution that was scheduled for July 16th 2025 being indefinitely postponed by Yemeni authorities, the deceased victim's brother has shared a letter requesting authorities for "speedy implementation of the retaliation sentence against the convict Nimisha Priya(of Indian nationality."Shared via a social media post, the letter dated August 3rd, Sunday, is written by Abdul Fattah Abdo Mahdi. Abdul Fattah Abdo Mahdi is the brother of the Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi, in whose murder Nimisha Priya is convicted.Addressed to the Yemeni Attorney General, Judge Abdul Salam Al-Houthi, the letter re-emphasises the victim family's stance of wanting Nimisha Priya to be hanged to death. "More than half a month has passed since that (mid-July) postponement without setting a new date for the implementation, we the heirs of the victim, affirm our full adherence to our legitimate right to implement the retaliation sentence, and categorically reject all attempts at reconciliation or mediation," reads the letter, originally written in Arabic.Further, the letter also requests the Court to set a new date for implementation of the death sentence. It adds that the death sentence would uphold the right of the (victim family) and deliver justice.Indian Govt denies Yemen visit for Nimisha Priya's representativesFollowing a recent Supreme Court order, a team of India-based individuals as part of the Nimisha Priya International Action Council had formally requested for permission from the Indian Government to travel to Yemen. India has banned its nationals from travelling to Yemen, and such travel can be undertaken only with permission from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs(MEA).Responding to this, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) pointed out the disturbed security situation in Yemen, and that the Indian Embassy in Yemen has been relocated to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Further, it was mentioned that the MEA is concerned about the Indian delegation's well-being in Yemen, and that India has no formal diplomatic relationship with the present dispensation in Sana'a, Yemen."The security situation in Sana'a is tenuous and in recent months, regional developments have made it challenging. Safety of travel is consequently a greater concern. Negotiations on the matter are only between the family of the deceased and Nimisha Priya's family or her family's authorized representatives," read the MEA's response. While the MEA affirmed that it is making all possible efforts in this case, it stated that travel permission to Yemen cannot be granted for the delegation.About Nimisha Priya and her caseHailing from a poor family in Kerala's Palakkad district, Nimisha went to Yemen in 2008 and worked as a nurse in a Government-run hospital in Sana'a. Eyeing better earning opportunities, she quit her job and started her own clinic.Nimisha's India-based lawyer Subhash Chandan maintains that Priya and another woman had started a clinic with Yemeni national Talal, who had later subjected the women to physical and mental abuse, confiscated their passports. In a desperate bid to escape the abuse and flee, it is said that Priya and the Yemeni woman had drugged Talal, which is suspected to have led to his death. The case got further complicated after Talal's mutilated body was found by the authorities in Yemen. Priya was arrested in connection with the murder, while she is said to have made an escape bid from the war-torn country.

In a letter addressed to the Yemeni Attorney General, Judge Abdul Salam Al-Houthi, the victim's family re-emphasised that they want Nimisha Priya to be hanged to death.

Hope appears to be dimming for Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is convicted of murder in Yemen, and is on death row. With her execution that was scheduled for July 16th 2025 being indefinitely postponed by Yemeni authorities, the deceased victim's brother has shared a letter requesting authorities for "speedy implementation of the retaliation sentence against the convict Nimisha Priya(of Indian nationality." Shared via a social media post, the letter dated August 3rd, Sunday, is written by Abdul Fattah Abdo Mahdi. Abdul Fattah Abdo Mahdi is the brother of the Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi, in whose murder Nimisha Priya is convicted. Addressed to the Yemeni Attorney General, Judge Abdul Salam Al-Houthi, the letter re-emphasises the victim family's stance of wanting Nimisha Priya to be hanged to death. "More than half a month has passed since that (mid-July) postponement without setting a new date for the implementation, we the heirs of the victim, affirm our full adherence to our legitimate right to implement the retaliation sentence, and categorically reject all attempts at reconciliation or mediation," reads the letter, originally written in Arabic. Further, the letter also requests the Court to set a new date for implementation of the death sentence. It adds that the death sentence would uphold the right of the (victim family) and deliver justice. Indian Govt denies Yemen visit for Nimisha Priya's representatives Following a recent Supreme Court order, a team of India-based individuals as part of the Nimisha Priya International Action Council had formally requested for permission from the Indian Government to travel to Yemen. India has banned its nationals from travelling to Yemen, and such travel can be undertaken only with permission from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs(MEA). Responding to this, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) pointed out the disturbed security situation in Yemen, and that the Indian Embassy in Yemen has been relocated to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Further, it was mentioned that the MEA is concerned about the Indian delegation's well-being in Yemen, and that India has no formal diplomatic relationship with the present dispensation in Sana'a, Yemen. "The security situation in Sana'a is tenuous and in recent months, regional developments have made it challenging. Safety of travel is consequently a greater concern. Negotiations on the matter are only between the family of the deceased and Nimisha Priya's family or her family's authorized representatives," read the MEA's response. While the MEA affirmed that it is making all possible efforts in this case, it stated that travel permission to Yemen cannot be granted for the delegation. About Nimisha Priya and her case Hailing from a poor family in Kerala's Palakkad district, Nimisha went to Yemen in 2008 and worked as a nurse in a Government-run hospital in Sana'a. Eyeing better earning opportunities, she quit her job and started her own clinic. Nimisha's India-based lawyer Subhash Chandan maintains that Priya and another woman had started a clinic with Yemeni national Talal, who had later subjected the women to physical and mental abuse, confiscated their passports. In a desperate bid to escape the abuse and flee, it is said that Priya and the Yemeni woman had drugged Talal, which is suspected to have led to his death. The case got further complicated after Talal's mutilated body was found by the authorities in Yemen. Priya was arrested in connection with the murder, while she is said to have made an escape bid from the war-torn country.

In a letter addressed to the Yemeni Attorney General, Judge Abdul Salam Al-Houthi, the victim's family re-emphasised that they want Nimisha Priya to be hanged to death.

Nimisha Priya case: Hope dimming for Indian nurse; Victim's family firm on execution

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is a highly sophisticated and precise Earth-imaging system. Costing well over $1.3 billion, this satellite's phenomenal imaging prowess is a result of its 12-meter large radar reflector antenna, which can send thousands of radar beams to Earth and capture their reflection. Made out of a thin and flexible material, this massive radar reflector is stowed carefully before launch and unfurled after reaching space. Though made of a delicate material, this umbrella-like antenna is capable of withstanding the impact of tiny space rocks that could potentially hit it at speeds well over 35,000kmph, a NASA official told WION.&nbsp;In space, there are millions of man-made debris and naturally occurring micrometeoroids (millimetre-sized space rocks). They travel in space at hypervelocity speeds averaging 10 km/s (35,000kmph). When this space junk collides with spacecraft and satellites, it could potentially cause serious damage or catastrophic failure. This makes NISAR's massive 12-meter antenna quite a vulnerable target, but such risks have been factored in while building the most expensive civilian-use Earth-imaging satellite."The reflector antenna (mesh) is&nbsp;built to be robust against micrometeoroids.&nbsp;At times, micrometeoroids can punch tiny holes on the micrometre or millimetre scale, but even in that event, the reflector is designed to hold its shape and continue doing its job," Dr. Paul Rosen, NASA-JPL's Project Scientist for NISAR told WION's Sidharth.M.P. An analysis deemed that this risk was acceptable, he added.<h2>Why is NISAR placed in a sun-synchronous polar orbit?</h2>Conventional Earth-imaging satellites click detailed colour photos of Earth, very similar to what a high-end camera does. As in the case of photography, the most detailed images from conventional Earth-imaging satellites are obtained during the daylight hours. To ensure repeated and reliable imagery of its target area in daylight conditions, such conventional Earth-imaging satellites are placed in orbits that are in sync with the Sun's angle. This is known as a Sun-Synchronous Polar orbit (SSPO).In comparison, a radar-imaging satellite works in a totally different manner. Instead of giving an optics-based picture (like a photograph), radar satellites constantly beam radar waves onto the Earth. The features on Earth's surface (buildings, trees, mountains, water bodies, roads, glaciers) reflect these radar waves back to the satellite. By collecting and processing the reflected radar waves, radar-imaging satellites deliver imagery during day and night, in all weather conditions. Due to their all-weather, round-the-clock imaging capability, radar-imaging satellites don't need to be placed in SSPO for repeated daylight imagery.&nbsp;However, NISAR is being placed in an SSPO. When queried about the reasoning behind this, Dr. Rosen told WION that NISAR's Sun-synchronous polar orbit at 6 am and 6 pm provides uniform power to its solar panels, minimises exposure to the ionosphere (which can cause disruptions), and sets consistent times of day for data collection, which is important for science.&nbsp;<h2>24/7 Earth-monitoring for several years by NISAR&nbsp;</h2>Typically, an Earth-imaging satellite would have to capture images only when passing over its area of interest or region of study. When not flying over the area of interest, the imaging equipment can be turned off and put to rest. That's where NISAR stands out - its job is to capture earth imaging data round-the-clock, over its operational life of more than three years. NASA says NISAR will be capable of mapping the Earth's land and ice-covered surface twice in a period of twelve days. While NISAR is expected to have a minimum mission life of three years, it is likely to perform its duties for five years or longer. Satellite life depends on how much fuel it carries on board, the design life of its electronic components, and other technical parameters.NISAR is the first satellite mission to collect radar data in two microwave bandwidth regions, called the L-band and the S-band, to measure changes of our planet’s surface, including movements as small as a centimetre. This allows the mission to observe a wide range of Earth processes, from the flow rates of glaciers and ice sheets to the dynamics of earthquakes and volcanoes. NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days.&nbsp;<h2>NISAR to be launched at 5:40 pm, Indian time</h2>The countdown to the billion-dollar NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite launch commenced at 14:10 hours Indian time, Tuesday, (July 29) at the Indian spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR). At 17:40hrs, Indian time, Wednesday, 30th July, the Indian GSLV-F16 rocket carrying the Earth-imaging satellite is scheduled to liftoff from the second launchpad of India's lone spaceport.<h2>About the NISAR satellite and the GSLV rocket</h2>The NISAR satellite weighs 2,400kg and sits atop ISRO's 52-meter-tall GSLV rocket, a three-staged launch vehicle that is powered by solid, liquid, and cryogenic fuels. The rocket is expected to place the satellite into orbit almost 19 minutes after liftoff, around 18:00 hours IST.Costing well over a billion US dollars, the NISAR satellite is the first such collaborative mission between the Indian and American space agencies. While NASA has revealed that they've spent $1.2bn on NISAR, ISRO has not officially revealed its financial contribution. Estimates say ISRO is likely to have spent around $100mn. The vast difference in expenditure is said to be owing to the differences in accounting.&nbsp;Notably, the estimated $1.3bn (₹11,294cr approx) cost of the NISAR mission is almost as much as the annual budget of the Indian Space Agency, ISRO. In recent years, ISRO's annual budget has hovered between $1.3 and $1.5 billion. Therefore, it would be fair to say that there is a lot riding on ISRO's GSLV rocket-literally and figuratively.&nbsp;

Though made of a delicate material, this umbrella-like antenna is capable of withstanding the impact of tiny space rocks that could potentially hit it at speeds well over 35,000kmph, a NASA official told WION. 

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is a highly sophisticated and precise Earth-imaging system. Costing well over $1.3 billion, this satellite's phenomenal imaging prowess is a result of its 12-meter large radar reflector antenna, which can send thousands of radar beams to Earth and capture their reflection. Made out of a thin and flexible material, this massive radar reflector is stowed carefully before launch and unfurled after reaching space. Though made of a delicate material, this umbrella-like antenna is capable of withstanding the impact of tiny space rocks that could potentially hit it at speeds well over 35,000kmph, a NASA official told WION. In space, there are millions of man-made debris and naturally occurring micrometeoroids (millimetre-sized space rocks). They travel in space at hypervelocity speeds averaging 10 km/s (35,000kmph). When this space junk collides with spacecraft and satellites, it could potentially cause serious damage or catastrophic failure. This makes NISAR's massive 12-meter antenna quite a vulnerable target, but such risks have been factored in while building the most expensive civilian-use Earth-imaging satellite. "The reflector antenna (mesh) is built to be robust against micrometeoroids. At times, micrometeoroids can punch tiny holes on the micrometre or millimetre scale, but even in that event, the reflector is designed to hold its shape and continue doing its job," Dr. Paul Rosen, NASA-JPL's Project Scientist for NISAR told WION's Sidharth.M.P. An analysis deemed that this risk was acceptable, he added. Why is NISAR placed in a sun-synchronous polar orbit? Conventional Earth-imaging satellites click detailed colour photos of Earth, very similar to what a high-end camera does. As in the case of photography, the most detailed images from conventional Earth-imaging satellites are obtained during the daylight hours. To ensure repeated and reliable imagery of its target area in daylight conditions, such conventional Earth-imaging satellites are placed in orbits that are in sync with the Sun's angle. This is known as a Sun-Synchronous Polar orbit (SSPO). In comparison, a radar-imaging satellite works in a totally different manner. Instead of giving an optics-based picture (like a photograph), radar satellites constantly beam radar waves onto the Earth. The features on Earth's surface (buildings, trees, mountains, water bodies, roads, glaciers) reflect these radar waves back to the satellite. By collecting and processing the reflected radar waves, radar-imaging satellites deliver imagery during day and night, in all weather conditions. Due to their all-weather, round-the-clock imaging capability, radar-imaging satellites don't need to be placed in SSPO for repeated daylight imagery. However, NISAR is being placed in an SSPO. When queried about the reasoning behind this, Dr. Rosen told WION that NISAR's Sun-synchronous polar orbit at 6 am and 6 pm provides uniform power to its solar panels, minimises exposure to the ionosphere (which can cause disruptions), and sets consistent times of day for data collection, which is important for science. 24/7 Earth-monitoring for several years by NISAR Typically, an Earth-imaging satellite would have to capture images only when passing over its area of interest or region of study. When not flying over the area of interest, the imaging equipment can be turned off and put to rest. That's where NISAR stands out - its job is to capture earth imaging data round-the-clock, over its operational life of more than three years. NASA says NISAR will be capable of mapping the Earth's land and ice-covered surface twice in a period of twelve days. While NISAR is expected to have a minimum mission life of three years, it is likely to perform its duties for five years or longer. Satellite life depends on how much fuel it carries on board, the design life of its electronic components, and other technical parameters. NISAR is the first satellite mission to collect radar data in two microwave bandwidth regions, called the L-band and the S-band, to measure changes of our planet’s surface, including movements as small as a centimetre. This allows the mission to observe a wide range of Earth processes, from the flow rates of glaciers and ice sheets to the dynamics of earthquakes and volcanoes. NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days. NISAR to be launched at 5:40 pm, Indian time The countdown to the billion-dollar NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite launch commenced at 14:10 hours Indian time, Tuesday, (July 29) at the Indian spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR). At 17:40hrs, Indian time, Wednesday, 30th July, the Indian GSLV-F16 rocket carrying the Earth-imaging satellite is scheduled to liftoff from the second launchpad of India's lone spaceport. About the NISAR satellite and the GSLV rocket The NISAR satellite weighs 2,400kg and sits atop ISRO's 52-meter-tall GSLV rocket, a three-staged launch vehicle that is powered by solid, liquid, and cryogenic fuels. The rocket is expected to place the satellite into orbit almost 19 minutes after liftoff, around 18:00 hours IST. Costing well over a billion US dollars, the NISAR satellite is the first such collaborative mission between the Indian and American space agencies. While NASA has revealed that they've spent $1.2bn on NISAR, ISRO has not officially revealed its financial contribution. Estimates say ISRO is likely to have spent around $100mn. The vast difference in expenditure is said to be owing to the differences in accounting. Notably, the estimated $1.3bn (₹11,294cr approx) cost of the NISAR mission is almost as much as the annual budget of the Indian Space Agency, ISRO. In recent years, ISRO's annual budget has hovered between $1.3 and $1.5 billion. Therefore, it would be fair to say that there is a lot riding on ISRO's GSLV rocket-literally and figuratively.

Though made of a delicate material, this umbrella-like antenna is capable of withstanding the impact of tiny space rocks that could potentially hit it at speeds well over 35,000kmph, a NASA official told WION.&nbsp;

Exclusive: NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite can survive hits from tiny space rocks

India’s strategic NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) series of satellites, built and maintained by the space agency ISRO, are nearly defunct, with only a bare minimum of four among 11 satellites fulfilling their core purpose, government data shows. Of these four operational satellites, one (IRNSS-1B) has already exceeded its planned life of 10 years and could stop functioning anytime, while another (IRNSS-1F) has less than a year to complete its decade in service and has suffered partial equipment failure. NAVIC is India’s own version of America’s GPS, Russia’s GLONASS, China’s Beidou and Europe’s Galileo systems. According to ISRO, India’s NAVIC constellation is meant to have five or seven operational satellites. At present, the depleted and near-defunct fleet of NAVIC satellites requires urgent replacement, given that they serve India’s strategic forces and are meant to augment warfighting capabilities.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">India&#39;s desi-GPS satellites known as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISRO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ISRO</a> NAVIC are near-defunct.. Of 11 satellites launched, only 4 are providing core PNT services. Of these 4, 1 has completed end of planned life, 1 has partial equipment failure. Govt admitted this in Parliament, &amp; RTI by <a href="https://twitter.com/SolidBoosters?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SolidBoosters</a> <a href="https://t.co/WDvm6kaTfg">pic.twitter.com/WDvm6kaTfg</a>&mdash; Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1948350953335185867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

While GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo provide global coverage, India’s NAVIC provides services only in the Indian neighbourhood (Indian mainland and 1,500 km beyond Indian borders). The Indian Government decided to fund and operationalise the NAVIC series of satellites, after precise GPS services were denied to the Indian military amid the 1999 war against neighbour Pakistan. It is well established that all operators of GPS-like satellite constellations use them for civilian and military purposes.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to the Indian space agency ISRO, which builds and operates NAVIC, the constellation of satellites serves terrestrial, aerial, and maritime navigation, precision agriculture, emergency services, and fleet management, Location-based services in mobile devices, marine fisheries, timing services for financial institutions, power grids, and other government agencies, Internet-of-Things (IoT) based applications, and strategic applications.&nbsp;As is the case with GPS and other foreign services, NAVIC is also meant for use by the Indian armed forces for navigation, assigning targets to and guiding drones, missiles, smart bombs, precision-guided munitions, among others. It is learnt that NAVIC-based systems are in active use and are also being integrated with more warfighting systems of the Indian Armed Forces.&nbsp;<h2>Five of eight First-generation NAVIC satellites failed</h2>&nbsp;Between the year 2013 and 2018, ISRO launched a total of nine NAVIC satellites, which were then known as Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). These satellites in the first-generation series were designated as IRNSS1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 1I.&nbsp;Of these nine, IRNSS 1H failed to reach orbit, due to a rocket-related failure. Therefore, only eight IRNSS satellites were successfully placed in orbit.&nbsp;Of these eight IRNSS satellites in orbit, over the years, five satellites (1A, 1C, 1D, 1E,1G) have experienced a total failure of all three atomic clocks. Each satellite carries three onboard atomic clocks and all of them failed, government data sourced via RTI shows. Further, the 1F satellite has witnessed the failure of two of three atomic clocks. According to ISRO, these atomic clocks have been sourced from Swiss firm SpectraTime, a leading provider of such high-precision atomic clocks.&nbsp;As per government data, of the eight first generation satellites only three—1B, 1F, 1I—satellites are fully functional and providing Position, Navigation, Timing Services. Among these three, 1B has already exceeded its planned life of 10years (which means it could become defunct soon), while 1F has less than a year to complete its planned decade in service, but it also faces partial atomic clock failure. 1I was launched it 2018 and it expected to work till 2028, but doubts remain given the other five premature failures.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>One of two Second Generation NAVIC satellites failed</h2>&nbsp;In order to replace the ageing fleet of IRNSS (first gen NAVIC) satellites, ISRO began launching the NVS-series of satellites. NVS is meant to be a constellation of five satellites. ISRO launched NVS-01 in May 2023 and that satellite has been working as designed, but the successor satellite NVS-02 which launched in January 2025 failed to reach its destined orbit. The satellite remains stuck in its initial orbit, as the satellite’s onboard engine could not fire to lift it higher. Stuck in the initial orbit, NVS-02 cannot provide Position, Navigation, Timing services. So far, ISRO has not publicly revealed the exact cause that led to the engine not firing.&nbsp;<h2>NAVIC satellites need urgent replacement; ISRO must speed up</h2>&nbsp;With only four operational satellites (1B, 1F, 1I, NVS-01), another failure could render NAVIC completely ineffective and inaccurate, which also affects Indian Armed Forces and their warfighting capabilities. Therefore, ISRO needs to urgently launch NVS-03, NVS-04, NVS-05. The Indian government has said in Parliament that all three remaining NVS satellites would be launched by the end of 2026. However, this seems like an unrealistic timeline, given ISRO’s pace so far.&nbsp;&nbsp;ISRO launched NVS-01 in May 2023; NVS-02 was launched in January 2025, which shows a gap of 19 months between the two launches. With NVS-02 having failed, ISRO would have to conduct thorough studies and work towards preventing similar failures in subsequent missions, and this whole process could take time. Further, the flaws identified must be corrected and software/hardware changes must be implemented in the upcoming NVS satellites.&nbsp;&nbsp;At the time of writing, ISRO has conducted only two launches in seven months of 2025 and both these missions have failed. In the first mission, NVS-02 satellite failed to reach orbit, and in the second mission the PSLV-C61 rocket failed mid-flight and the EOS-09 Earth-imaging satellite was also destroyed in the process.&nbsp;In recent years, ISRO has been performing a maximum of five or seven launches in a calendar year. Therefore, ISRO needs to work on both the rocketry front and the satellite front to ramp up its launch activity, ensure a higher rate of mission success and reliability, so that India's public-funded NAVIC can get back on track, in addition to a host of other critical missions.

India’s depleted and near-defunct fleet of NAVIC satellites requires urgent replacement since they serve India’s strategic forces and play a major role in augmenting warfighting capabilities. The NAVIC constellation is meant to have five or seven operational satellites.

India’s strategic NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) series of satellites, built and maintained by the space agency ISRO, are nearly defunct, with only a bare minimum of four among 11 satellites fulfilling their core purpose, government data shows. Of these four operational satellites, one (IRNSS-1B) has already exceeded its planned life of 10 years and could stop functioning anytime, while another (IRNSS-1F) has less than a year to complete its decade in service and has suffered partial equipment failure. NAVIC is India’s own version of America’s GPS, Russia’s GLONASS, China’s Beidou and Europe’s Galileo systems. According to ISRO, India’s NAVIC constellation is meant to have five or seven operational satellites. At present, the depleted and near-defunct fleet of NAVIC satellites requires urgent replacement, given that they serve India’s strategic forces and are meant to augment warfighting capabilities.

India’s depleted and near-defunct fleet of NAVIC satellites requires urgent replacement since they serve India’s strategic forces and play a major role in augmenting warfighting capabilities. The NAVIC constellation is meant to have five or seven operational satellites.

India’s desi-GPS NAVIC is near-defunct; satellites need urgent replacement

It has been more than a week since the postponement of the planned execution of Indian national Nimisha Priya in Yemen. While the indefinite postponement of execution is being seen as a temporary relief among those working to save Priya, the matter continues to be delicate, as Priya has not been pardoned. Complicating matters further, the victim's family, which has the power to pardon Priya, has been firm in their stance that Priya deserves to be punished for murdering their family member. As uncertainty prevails over Nimisha's fate, her mother,&nbsp;Premakumari, has shared a teary-eyed plea.&nbsp;Premakumari had travelled from her hometown in Kerala, India, to Sanaa, Yemen, back in April 2024. The senior citizen is being supported in Yemen by Indian national Samuel Jerome, who is the Power of Attorney Holder of Nimisha's family. In her video message, Premakumari emphasises that she had travelled to Yemen after a long wait of seven years, hoping that she could return to her hometown with her daughter(after obtaining a pardon). In Yemen, Premakumari says she had met Priya on multiple occasions.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, as uncertainty prevails over Priya's safe return and the apprehensions that she could be executed, Premakumari says that she cannot leave her daughter behind in Yemen and return to Kerala. "I am not sitting here because anyone forced me to.. I am here because I need to save my daughter(from the gallows).. I have had a chance to meet her a few times", she adds.&nbsp;Referring to the situation back at home in Kerala, Kumari says that Nimisha has a school-going daughter who is waiting for her return. My happiness lies in the hope that we will be able to save my daughter and reunite her with her schoolgoing daughter.&nbsp;About Nimisha Priya and her case&nbsp;Hailing from a poor family in Kerala's Palakkad district,&nbsp;Nimisha&nbsp;went to Yemen in 2008 and worked as a nurse in a Government-run hospital in Sana'a. Eyeing better earning opportunities, she quit her job and started her clinic.&nbsp;Nimisha's India-based lawyer Subhash Chandan maintains that&nbsp;Priya&nbsp;and another woman had started a clinic with Yemeni national Talal, who had later subjected the women to physical and mental abuse, confiscated their passports. In a desperate bid to escape the abuse and flee, it is said that&nbsp;Priya&nbsp;and the Yemeni woman had drugged Talal, which is suspected to have led to his death. The case got further complicated after Talal's mutilated body was found by the authorities in Yemen.&nbsp;Nimisha's lawyer maintains that she was only responsible for drugging the abuser and that she isn't aware of what transpired after her escape bid.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since 2017, India strictly prohibited its nationals from travelling to Yemen, owing to the deteriorating internal security situation there. Only those with special permission from the Indian Government can undertake travel to Yemen, for others it is a punishable offence.&nbsp;&nbsp;On receiving a go-ahead from the Supreme Court of India, the Nimisha Priya International Action Council, an organisation fighting to save Priya, has approached the Indian Government to permit a delegation to travel to Yemen. They hope that this delegation will be able to negotiate with the deceased victim's family and obtain a pardon. However, this is widely perceived as a major challenge, owing to the victim's family's unwillingness to pardon Priya and accept Blood Money for sparing her life.&nbsp;

It has been more than a week since the postponement of the planned execution of Indian national Nimisha Priya in Yemen.

It has been more than a week since the postponement of the planned execution of Indian national Nimisha Priya in Yemen. While the indefinite postponement of execution is being seen as a temporary relief among those working to save Priya, the matter continues to be delicate, as Priya has not been pardoned. Complicating matters further, the victim's family, which has the power to pardon Priya, has been firm in their stance that Priya deserves to be punished for murdering their family member. As uncertainty prevails over Nimisha's fate, her mother, Premakumari, has shared a teary-eyed plea. Premakumari had travelled from her hometown in Kerala, India, to Sanaa, Yemen, back in April 2024. The senior citizen is being supported in Yemen by Indian national Samuel Jerome, who is the Power of Attorney Holder of Nimisha's family. In her video message, Premakumari emphasises that she had travelled to Yemen after a long wait of seven years, hoping that she could return to her hometown with her daughter(after obtaining a pardon). In Yemen, Premakumari says she had met Priya on multiple occasions. However, as uncertainty prevails over Priya's safe return and the apprehensions that she could be executed, Premakumari says that she cannot leave her daughter behind in Yemen and return to Kerala. "I am not sitting here because anyone forced me to.. I am here because I need to save my daughter(from the gallows).. I have had a chance to meet her a few times", she adds. Referring to the situation back at home in Kerala, Kumari says that Nimisha has a school-going daughter who is waiting for her return. My happiness lies in the hope that we will be able to save my daughter and reunite her with her schoolgoing daughter. About Nimisha Priya and her case Hailing from a poor family in Kerala's Palakkad district, Nimisha went to Yemen in 2008 and worked as a nurse in a Government-run hospital in Sana'a. Eyeing better earning opportunities, she quit her job and started her clinic. Nimisha's India-based lawyer Subhash Chandan maintains that Priya and another woman had started a clinic with Yemeni national Talal, who had later subjected the women to physical and mental abuse, confiscated their passports. In a desperate bid to escape the abuse and flee, it is said that Priya and the Yemeni woman had drugged Talal, which is suspected to have led to his death. The case got further complicated after Talal's mutilated body was found by the authorities in Yemen. Nimisha's lawyer maintains that she was only responsible for drugging the abuser and that she isn't aware of what transpired after her escape bid. Since 2017, India strictly prohibited its nationals from travelling to Yemen, owing to the deteriorating internal security situation there. Only those with special permission from the Indian Government can undertake travel to Yemen, for others it is a punishable offence. On receiving a go-ahead from the Supreme Court of India, the Nimisha Priya International Action Council, an organisation fighting to save Priya, has approached the Indian Government to permit a delegation to travel to Yemen. They hope that this delegation will be able to negotiate with the deceased victim's family and obtain a pardon. However, this is widely perceived as a major challenge, owing to the victim's family's unwillingness to pardon Priya and accept Blood Money for sparing her life.

Premakumari had travelled from her hometown in Kerala, India, to Sanaa, Yemen, back in April 2024. The senior citizen is being supported in Yemen by Indian national Samuel Jerome.

Can't leave her on death row in Yemen and return home: Nimisha Priya's mother

Just like the Indian Government's space mission Gaganyaan aims to develop technology to send its astronauts to earth orbit and return them safely, the Samudrayaan mission aims to develop technology to send a crewed capsule 6kms (6,000meters) beneath the ocean. While the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission is entirely the Indian Space agency ISRO's domain, ISRO is using its design, engineering, and materials expertise to contribute towards the Earth Sciences Ministry's Samudrayaan, which aims to travel deep into the ocean. ISRO's contribution includes the development and testing of Matsya-6000, a submersible spherical vessel that is meant to execute Samudrayaan.&nbsp;The Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and ISRO had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ISRO for designing and fabricating the spherical vessel Matsya-6000. A sphere of 2.26 meters diameter with a wall thickness of 0.8meters, Matysa-6000 is made out of Titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V - ELI grade) and is expected to withstand an external pressure up to 600bar, under low temperature conditions of -3°C.&nbsp;&nbsp;This has the capability to carry a three-member crew into the deep ocean. For context, 1 bar is the standard atmospheric pressure felt at sea level, whereas Matsya-6000 is supposed to withstand 600-times as much. According to ISRO, the major challenge in fabricating the spherical vessel is the development of reliable, high penetration (80-102mm thick) Electron Beam Welding (EBW) process and the high-energy (7.5MeV) X-ray radiography facility for the Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE), which is essential for the certification of the human-rated product.&nbsp;&nbsp;ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) was responsible for developing the process and infrastructure for the welding process and Non-Destructive Evaluation. LPSC-Bengaluru had the facility and expertise to carry out welding up to 20mm thick. To meet the high power demand for welding, the Electron Beam Welding machine was augmented from 15kW to 40kW rating along with additional facilities for chemical cleaning and handling equipment for the higher size and mass.&nbsp;For Non-Destructive Evaluation, the existing X-ray facility in kV range was augmented to 7.5MeV range. Multiple NDE techniques were employed which complement each other in ascertaining weld quality, based on various parameters. Subsequent to the process development and process optimization by ISRO, the first welding on the actual hardware and detailed evaluation have been successfully completed, ISRO said. High penetration welding of 80mm weld scale, thickness over 7100mm length with 32 minutes of weld duration, was carried out for the first time in the country, the space agency added.

ISRO supports development of Indias deep ocean capsule 

Just like the Indian Government's space mission Gaganyaan aims to develop technology to send its astronauts to earth orbit and return them safely, the Samudrayaan mission aims to develop technology to send a crewed capsule 6kms (6,000meters) beneath the ocean. While the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission is entirely the Indian Space agency ISRO's domain, ISRO is using its design, engineering, and materials expertise to contribute towards the Earth Sciences Ministry's Samudrayaan, which aims to travel deep into the ocean. ISRO's contribution includes the development and testing of Matsya-6000, a submersible spherical vessel that is meant to execute Samudrayaan. The Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and ISRO had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ISRO for designing and fabricating the spherical vessel Matsya-6000. A sphere of 2.26 meters diameter with a wall thickness of 0.8meters, Matysa-6000 is made out of Titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V - ELI grade) and is expected to withstand an external pressure up to 600bar, under low temperature conditions of -3°C. This has the capability to carry a three-member crew into the deep ocean. For context, 1 bar is the standard atmospheric pressure felt at sea level, whereas Matsya-6000 is supposed to withstand 600-times as much. According to ISRO, the major challenge in fabricating the spherical vessel is the development of reliable, high penetration (80-102mm thick) Electron Beam Welding (EBW) process and the high-energy (7.5MeV) X-ray radiography facility for the Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE), which is essential for the certification of the human-rated product. ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) was responsible for developing the process and infrastructure for the welding process and Non-Destructive Evaluation. LPSC-Bengaluru had the facility and expertise to carry out welding up to 20mm thick. To meet the high power demand for welding, the Electron Beam Welding machine was augmented from 15kW to 40kW rating along with additional facilities for chemical cleaning and handling equipment for the higher size and mass. For Non-Destructive Evaluation, the existing X-ray facility in kV range was augmented to 7.5MeV range. Multiple NDE techniques were employed which complement each other in ascertaining weld quality, based on various parameters. Subsequent to the process development and process optimization by ISRO, the first welding on the actual hardware and detailed evaluation have been successfully completed, ISRO said. High penetration welding of 80mm weld scale, thickness over 7100mm length with 32 minutes of weld duration, was carried out for the first time in the country, the space agency added.

The Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and ISRO had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ISRO for designing and fabricating the spherical vessel Matsya-6000

ISRO supports development of India's deep ocean capsule

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, jointly built by the American and Indian space agencies, will be capturing an unprecedented amount of Earth-imaging data as it circles 747 kms above the Earth’s surface. “NISAR would be capturing 4.37 Terabytes (over 4,300 GB) of data per day,” Dr. Sanghamitra Dutta, NISAR Program Executive, NASA Headquarters, told WION’s Sidharth M.P. For context, an average consumer laptop comes with 512 GB of storage space. Therefore, NISAR would capture enough imagery to fill up at least eight laptops in a single day.&nbsp;&nbsp;Weighing nearly 2,400 kg, NISAR is meant to carry out high-resolution Earth imaging for at least three years. NISAR would generate a whopping 1569 Terabytes (over 1.5 million GB) of imaging data, considering its minimal operational life of three years. Over this period of three years, NISAR would generate enough data to fill up at least 2,900 laptops. The first-ever satellite to be built jointly by space agencies of India and the US, NISAR is meant to monitor Earth’s vital signs and help understand the impact of climate change and natural disasters, among others.&nbsp;If everything goes according to plan, the GLSV-F16 rocket carrying the NISAR satellite will lift off from the Indian Spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, at around 5:40 pm Indian time, on 30th July, Wednesday. ISRO has officially announced the launch date and time for the mission.&nbsp;<h2>24/7 Earth-monitoring for several years</h2>&nbsp;Typically, an Earth-imaging satellite would have to only capture images when passing over its area of interest or region of study. When not flying over the area of interest, the imaging equipment can be turned off and put to rest. That’s where NISAR stands out—its job is to capture earth imaging data round-the-clock over its operational life of more than three years. NASA says NISAR will be capable of mapping the Earth’s land and ice-covered surface twice in a period of twelve days. While NISAR is expected to have a minimum mission life of three years, it is likely to perform its duties for five years or longer. Satellite life depends on how much fuel it carries on board, the design life of its electronic components, and other technical parameters.&nbsp;NISAR is the first satellite mission to collect radar data in two microwave bandwidth regions, called the L-band and the S-band, to measure changes of our planet’s surface, including movements as small as a centimetre. This allows the mission to observe a wide range of Earth processes, from the flow rates of glaciers and ice sheets to the dynamics of earthquakes and volcanoes. NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>How scientists would manage such vast amount of data from NISAR</h2>&nbsp;Given how NISAR would generate over 4,300 GB of data daily, scientists face a major challenge in managing this vast trove of Earth-imaging information. Like all our gadgets, the Solid State Data recorder on the NISAR satellite has a limited capacity, which is why NASA and ISRO are working on quick methods to downlink the data (send the data from the satellite to Earth) as frequently as possible. Think of it like rapidly downloading all photos and videos from a camera’s memory card before deleting them to free up space for the next use.&nbsp;NASA’s Dr. Dutta says that NISAR could generate the highest-ever amount of data from a single-satellite mission. “There has never been so much data coming from a mission on a daily basis, and we have prepared the downlink stations (Earth-based stations that receive data from satellites) for such high data rates. This would also help NASA in getting ready for future missions, when there would be a much higher volume of data transfers.” Notably, all of NISAR’s data would be archived and shared with the science community.&nbsp;<h2>How a radar-imaging satellite works</h2>&nbsp;Conventional Earth-imaging satellites click detailed colour photos of Earth, very similar to what a high-end camera does. In comparison, a radar-imaging satellite works in a totally different manner. Instead of giving an optics-based picture (like a photograph), radar satellites constantly beam radar waves onto the Earth. The features on Earth’s surface (buildings, trees, mountains, water bodies, roads, and glaciers) reflect these radar waves back to the satellite. By collecting and processing the reflected radar waves, radar-imaging satellites deliver imagery during day and night, during all weather conditions.&nbsp;Typically, conventional satellites’ ability to deliver images is obstructed by clouds and weather-related phenomena. While conventional optical satellite images are in colour, radar satellite images are inherently black-and-white. However, these black-and-white radar satellite images can be processed to deliver false-colour images for analysis.&nbsp;<h2>Is NISAR a spy satellite?&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;Synthetic Aperture Radar technology is widely used for military and strategic purposes, as it can delivery imagery during day and night conditions, even amid weather conditions that hinder traditional camera-based satellite imaging. During his time at the helm of ISRO, when asked if NISAR was a spy satellite, Dr. S. Somanath categorically stated, “NISAR is not a spy satellite.” He elaborated that the data generated by NISAR would be shared in a free and open manner with the entire scientific community. He said that it was purely a science mission and aimed at studying the Earth in high detail, which would help draw better conclusions on various phenomena that are affecting our planet.&nbsp;Dr. Datta from NASA highlighted that the first civilian SAR satellite in history, called SEASAT, was launched by NASA in 1978. SEASAT led to a series of NASA space shuttle-based radar missions and inspired the development of spaceborne SAR systems worldwide. She added that Japan and Europe also have SAR satellites for Earth-imaging purposes.&nbsp;&nbsp;All NISAR science data, L-band and S-band, will be freely available and open to the public, consistent with the long-standing NASA Earth Science open data policy. NASA has chosen the Alaska Satellite Facility Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) to host the mission’s data and products, said the American space agency.

The first-ever satellite to be built jointly by space agencies of India and the US, NISAR is meant to monitor Earth’s vital signs and help understand the impact of climate change and natural disasters, among others.

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, jointly built by the American and Indian space agencies, will be capturing an unprecedented amount of Earth-imaging data as it circles 747 kms above the Earth’s surface. “NISAR would be capturing 4.37 Terabytes (over 4,300 GB) of data per day,” Dr. Sanghamitra Dutta, NISAR Program Executive, NASA Headquarters, told WION’s Sidharth M.P. For context, an average consumer laptop comes with 512 GB of storage space. Therefore, NISAR would capture enough imagery to fill up at least eight laptops in a single day. Weighing nearly 2,400 kg, NISAR is meant to carry out high-resolution Earth imaging for at least three years. NISAR would generate a whopping 1569 Terabytes (over 1.5 million GB) of imaging data, considering its minimal operational life of three years. Over this period of three years, NISAR would generate enough data to fill up at least 2,900 laptops. The first-ever satellite to be built jointly by space agencies of India and the US, NISAR is meant to monitor Earth’s vital signs and help understand the impact of climate change and natural disasters, among others. If everything goes according to plan, the GLSV-F16 rocket carrying the NISAR satellite will lift off from the Indian Spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, at around 5:40 pm Indian time, on 30th July, Wednesday. ISRO has officially announced the launch date and time for the mission. 24/7 Earth-monitoring for several years Typically, an Earth-imaging satellite would have to only capture images when passing over its area of interest or region of study. When not flying over the area of interest, the imaging equipment can be turned off and put to rest. That’s where NISAR stands out—its job is to capture earth imaging data round-the-clock over its operational life of more than three years. NASA says NISAR will be capable of mapping the Earth’s land and ice-covered surface twice in a period of twelve days. While NISAR is expected to have a minimum mission life of three years, it is likely to perform its duties for five years or longer. Satellite life depends on how much fuel it carries on board, the design life of its electronic components, and other technical parameters. NISAR is the first satellite mission to collect radar data in two microwave bandwidth regions, called the L-band and the S-band, to measure changes of our planet’s surface, including movements as small as a centimetre. This allows the mission to observe a wide range of Earth processes, from the flow rates of glaciers and ice sheets to the dynamics of earthquakes and volcanoes. NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days. How scientists would manage such vast amount of data from NISAR Given how NISAR would generate over 4,300 GB of data daily, scientists face a major challenge in managing this vast trove of Earth-imaging information. Like all our gadgets, the Solid State Data recorder on the NISAR satellite has a limited capacity, which is why NASA and ISRO are working on quick methods to downlink the data (send the data from the satellite to Earth) as frequently as possible. Think of it like rapidly downloading all photos and videos from a camera’s memory card before deleting them to free up space for the next use. NASA’s Dr. Dutta says that NISAR could generate the highest-ever amount of data from a single-satellite mission. “There has never been so much data coming from a mission on a daily basis, and we have prepared the downlink stations (Earth-based stations that receive data from satellites) for such high data rates. This would also help NASA in getting ready for future missions, when there would be a much higher volume of data transfers.” Notably, all of NISAR’s data would be archived and shared with the science community. How a radar-imaging satellite works Conventional Earth-imaging satellites click detailed colour photos of Earth, very similar to what a high-end camera does. In comparison, a radar-imaging satellite works in a totally different manner. Instead of giving an optics-based picture (like a photograph), radar satellites constantly beam radar waves onto the Earth. The features on Earth’s surface (buildings, trees, mountains, water bodies, roads, and glaciers) reflect these radar waves back to the satellite. By collecting and processing the reflected radar waves, radar-imaging satellites deliver imagery during day and night, during all weather conditions. Typically, conventional satellites’ ability to deliver images is obstructed by clouds and weather-related phenomena. While conventional optical satellite images are in colour, radar satellite images are inherently black-and-white. However, these black-and-white radar satellite images can be processed to deliver false-colour images for analysis. Is NISAR a spy satellite? Synthetic Aperture Radar technology is widely used for military and strategic purposes, as it can delivery imagery during day and night conditions, even amid weather conditions that hinder traditional camera-based satellite imaging. During his time at the helm of ISRO, when asked if NISAR was a spy satellite, Dr. S. Somanath categorically stated, “NISAR is not a spy satellite.” He elaborated that the data generated by NISAR would be shared in a free and open manner with the entire scientific community. He said that it was purely a science mission and aimed at studying the Earth in high detail, which would help draw better conclusions on various phenomena that are affecting our planet. Dr. Datta from NASA highlighted that the first civilian SAR satellite in history, called SEASAT, was launched by NASA in 1978. SEASAT led to a series of NASA space shuttle-based radar missions and inspired the development of spaceborne SAR systems worldwide. She added that Japan and Europe also have SAR satellites for Earth-imaging purposes. All NISAR science data, L-band and S-band, will be freely available and open to the public, consistent with the long-standing NASA Earth Science open data policy. NASA has chosen the Alaska Satellite Facility Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) to host the mission’s data and products, said the American space agency.

The first-ever satellite to be built jointly by space agencies of India and the US, NISAR is meant to monitor Earth’s vital signs and help understand the impact of climate change and natural disasters, among others.

Exclusive: NASA-ISRO satellite to capture 4,300 GB of Earth imagery daily

As part of the Axiom-4 mission crew, India's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla flew to space on June 25th&nbsp;and docked with the International Space Station on June 26th. The crew was to spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting lab, which is 420 km above the Earth. If the Axiom-4 crew were to return after their two-week mission, they should've been back on Earth by July 10th&nbsp;or so. However, their return journey is now scheduled to commence at 4:30 pm Indian time, Monday, 14th&nbsp;July, and they are to splash down off the American coast at 3 pm Indian time, Tuesday. Why did the Axiom-4 crew spend a handful of extra days aboard the space station?<h2>High Solar Beta&nbsp;</h2>While announcing that the Axiom-4 mission (Crew Dragon spacecraft) is targeting to undock around 14th&nbsp;July, NASA's Commercial Crew Program Manager had said that the undocking and return would be done after the high solar beta period. In simple terms, solar beta is the angle between the Sun and the orbit of a spacecraft (like the Axiom-4 Crew Dragon).&nbsp;In the case of a high solar beta angle, the sun is above or below the spacecraft, and the craft is exposed to a constant period of sunlight. During ideal conditions, the spacecraft frequently alternates between sunlight and Earth's shadow. Having high solar beta conditions would mean that the craft is continuously illuminated by the sun for days or even weeks, depending on the orbit.&nbsp;<h2>How high solar beta and continuous Sunlight exposure affect spacecraft</h2>In space, while being exposed to sunlight, the spacecraft's external temperature can get as high as 120-150 degrees Celsius. While the outside is burning at up to 150 degrees Celsius, the&nbsp;inside of the craft maintains a temperature of 20-30 degrees Celsius for the comfort of astronauts and for maintaining an ideal working temperature for electronics.&nbsp;In space, while the craft is in Earth's shadow, the external temperature of the craft can dip to minus 150-170 degrees Celsius. The temperature inside the craft must be maintained at a temperature of 20-30 degrees Celsius for the comfort of astronauts and for maintaining an ideal working temperature for electronics.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/shubhanshu-shukla-and-axiom-crew-to-return-to-earth-1752484467578/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/shubhanshu-shukla-and-axiom-crew-to-return-to-earth-1752484467578/embed</a>For a spacecraft, long-term sunlight exposure and long-term exposure to Earth's shadow are both potentially harmful. When there is continuous sunlight exposure, there is a risk of overheating in some of the external components of the craft, such as the solar panels, radiators. These components and their functioning become less effective during excessive heating caused by prolonged sunlight exposure. Overall, the heat management becomes challenging when there is prolonged sunlight exposure. While sunlight exposure is helpful to generate solar power and charge the batteries, it could also potentially overload the systems, affect batteries and related electronics. This is why space agencies avoid certain types of missions and activities during high solar beta periods.&nbsp;<h2>High Solar beta was mentioned even before Axiom-4 launch</h2>Owing to a variety of reasons, the launch of Axiom-4 was postponed at least seven times, over a four-week period between May and June. Amid these repeated postponements, Dana Weigel, Manager, International Space Station Programme, NASA, had said that the Axiom-4 Crew Dragon had a launch window until 30th&nbsp;June. If the launch does not take place by June 30th, it can be done after the High Solar Beta period ends in the second week of July, she had said.&nbsp;Typically, every rocket launch mission has a launch window/launch opportunity- an ideal period of a few days or weeks within which the launch can take place. On each of these specific days within the launch window, there are a few minutes when the rocket can blast off to space. All of these launch times are precisely planned down to the second, based on various technical parameters. Which is why many rocket launch missions happen at odd hours, and no two missions (even of the same type) follow the same launch time.&nbsp;In the case of Axiom-4, NASA has been clear that they will not carry out either the launch or the return during the high solar beta period, owing to the possible technical challenges caused by overheating of the spacecraft, due to excessive sunlight exposure. This is standard practice for all missions.&nbsp; &nbsp;

While announcing that the Axiom-4 mission (Crew Dragon spacecraft) is targeting to undock around 14th July, NASA's Commercial Crew Program Manager had said that the undocking and return would be done after the high solar beta period.

As part of the Axiom-4 mission crew, India's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla flew to space on June 25th and docked with the International Space Station on June 26th. The crew was to spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting lab, which is 420 km above the Earth. If the Axiom-4 crew were to return after their two-week mission, they should've been back on Earth by July 10th or so. However, their return journey is now scheduled to commence at 4:30 pm Indian time, Monday, 14th July, and they are to splash down off the American coast at 3 pm Indian time, Tuesday. Why did the Axiom-4 crew spend a handful of extra days aboard the space station? High Solar Beta While announcing that the Axiom-4 mission (Crew Dragon spacecraft) is targeting to undock around 14th July, NASA's Commercial Crew Program Manager had said that the undocking and return would be done after the high solar beta period. In simple terms, solar beta is the angle between the Sun and the orbit of a spacecraft (like the Axiom-4 Crew Dragon). In the case of a high solar beta angle, the sun is above or below the spacecraft, and the craft is exposed to a constant period of sunlight. During ideal conditions, the spacecraft frequently alternates between sunlight and Earth's shadow. Having high solar beta conditions would mean that the craft is continuously illuminated by the sun for days or even weeks, depending on the orbit. How high solar beta and continuous Sunlight exposure affect spacecraft In space, while being exposed to sunlight, the spacecraft's external temperature can get as high as 120-150 degrees Celsius. While the outside is burning at up to 150 degrees Celsius, the inside of the craft maintains a temperature of 20-30 degrees Celsius for the comfort of astronauts and for maintaining an ideal working temperature for electronics. In space, while the craft is in Earth's shadow, the external temperature of the craft can dip to minus 150-170 degrees Celsius. The temperature inside the craft must be maintained at a temperature of 20-30 degrees Celsius for the comfort of astronauts and for maintaining an ideal working temperature for electronics. https://www.wionews.com/videos/shubhanshu-shukla-and-axiom-crew-to-return-to-earth-1752484467578/embed For a spacecraft, long-term sunlight exposure and long-term exposure to Earth's shadow are both potentially harmful. When there is continuous sunlight exposure, there is a risk of overheating in some of the external components of the craft, such as the solar panels, radiators. These components and their functioning become less effective during excessive heating caused by prolonged sunlight exposure. Overall, the heat management becomes challenging when there is prolonged sunlight exposure. While sunlight exposure is helpful to generate solar power and charge the batteries, it could also potentially overload the systems, affect batteries and related electronics. This is why space agencies avoid certain types of missions and activities during high solar beta periods. High Solar beta was mentioned even before Axiom-4 launch Owing to a variety of reasons, the launch of Axiom-4 was postponed at least seven times, over a four-week period between May and June. Amid these repeated postponements, Dana Weigel, Manager, International Space Station Programme, NASA, had said that the Axiom-4 Crew Dragon had a launch window until 30th June. If the launch does not take place by June 30th, it can be done after the High Solar Beta period ends in the second week of July, she had said. Typically, every rocket launch mission has a launch window/launch opportunity- an ideal period of a few days or weeks within which the launch can take place. On each of these specific days within the launch window, there are a few minutes when the rocket can blast off to space. All of these launch times are precisely planned down to the second, based on various technical parameters. Which is why many rocket launch missions happen at odd hours, and no two missions (even of the same type) follow the same launch time. In the case of Axiom-4, NASA has been clear that they will not carry out either the launch or the return during the high solar beta period, owing to the possible technical challenges caused by overheating of the spacecraft, due to excessive sunlight exposure. This is standard practice for all missions.

While announcing that the Axiom-4 mission (Crew Dragon spacecraft) is targeting to undock around 14th&nbsp;July, NASA's Commercial Crew Program Manager had said that the undocking and return would be done after the high solar beta period.

What is Solar Beta that extended astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's stay in space?

The Indian Government's preliminary report into the June 12th Air India 171 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Gujarat, mentions that the plane's fuel control switches (which can turn on/off fuel flow to the engines) switched from "Run" to "Cutoff" sequentially post-takeoff(few seconds after takeoff). The fuel switches being turned off has led to the starvation and stoppage of the plane's twin engines. The preliminary report mentions that in the cockpit audio, one pilot asks the other - "why did you cutoff?" and the other pilot replies "I didn't".&nbsp;The aircraft flying Ahmedabad-London had crashed about 40 seconds after takeoff, killing 260 people, which includes passengers and those at the crash site (a hostel), making it among the worst aviation disasters in India.&nbsp;The mystery of crucial fuel control switches seemingly getting turned off without pilot intervention (as indicated by cockpit audio mentioned in the Government probe report), has raised suspicion among a section of senior aviators. These aviators are posing serious questions to Boeing, the American planemaker, whose jets have faced multiple crashes and safety-related, quality-related incidents in recent years.&nbsp;<h2>American FAA report highlighted issues with Boeing Fuel Switches</h2>&nbsp;Citing a December 17th, 2018 information bulletin from America's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), senior aviators point out to WION that the US firm Honeywell-made fuel switches on Boeing planes have been a cause for concern. With the subject line "Engine fuel and control" the FAA bulletin mentions the "potential for disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature" in more than two dozen popular variants and sub-variants of Boeing planes, including the 787-8 Dreamliner model which crashed in Gujarat.&nbsp;In the advisory from 2018, FAA recommended Boeing fleet operators with "affected planes" to: "Inspect the locking feature of the fuel control switch to ensure its engagement. While the airplane is on the ground, check whether the fuel control switch can be moved between the two positions without lifting up the switch. If the switch can be moved without lifting it up, the locking feature has been disengaged and the switch should be replaced at the earliest opportunity."&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In December 2018, America&#39;s civil Aviation regulator released an advisory about Fuel cutoff switches in 24+ Boeing plane variants/sub-variants. This includes popular models including the 737, also the 787-8 Dreamliner (Air India AI-171) that crashed in Gujarat, India <a href="https://t.co/K7UcEL7Gjr">pic.twitter.com/K7UcEL7Gjr</a>&mdash; Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1943978882769780757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;The advisory also mentions, "for Boeing Model 737-700, -700C, -800, and -900ER series airplanes and Boeing Model 737 8 and -9 airplanes delivered with a fuel control switch having P/N 766AT613-3D: Replace the fuel control switch with a switch having P/N 766AT614-3D, which includes an improved locking feature." We request that owners and operators report any failure of the locking feature of the fuel control switch to Boeing, America's FAA mentions in the advisory.&nbsp;<h2>‘Air India did not carry out fuel switch inspections’</h2>&nbsp;According to the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau(AAIB) of the Indian Government's Ministry of Civil Aviation(MOCA), Air India did not carry out the fuel switch inspections as suggested by FAA, as it was an advisory and not mandatory. Further it mentions, the throttle control module was replaced on the crashed VT-ANB (crashed AI-171) in 2019 and 2023.&nbsp;However, the replacement of throttle control module was not linked to the fuel control switch, the report says. There has been no defect reported pertaining to the fuel control switch since 2023 on VT-ANB(crashed AI-171), the preliminary report mentions.&nbsp;"Takeoff is a very critical maneuver and it is done not via autopilot, but physically by one of the pilots. One pilot is fully focused on pulling the yoke so that the aircraft lifts off at three degrees per second to achieve 15 degrees in five seconds. The other pilot is busy monitoring the aircraft pitch angle, airspeed, the rate of climb, and the altitude. These are all very critical and focused jobs. This is not the time pilots are playing with fuel switches," a senior aviator told WION, on the condition of anonymity.&nbsp;Explaining the Boeing's fuel control switches, the aviator told WION, "think of the Boeing jet as a car... every time you start the car, you have to turn ON fuel switches and then put the key... After that, the switches have to be checked again. In comparison, Airbus in their A320 fleet and later models don’t have dedicated fuel cutoff switches, Airbus just has one master switch for the engine. Boeing's fuel switch is an old technology and the FAA report shows there were issues with it," he opines.&nbsp;<h2>‘Fuel switches turned off one after another, then turned back on’</h2>&nbsp;According to the preliminary report released by Indian authorities, the fuel switches on the taking-off AI-171 plane were turned OFF one after another, with a one second gap. A few seconds later, the fuel switches of both engines were turned back ON, the report says.&nbsp;Captain Mohan Ranganathan, a veteran aviator(retired) who has clocked over 20,000hours of flying over four decades, told WION that one must carefully observe the report of fuel switches initially getting turned OFF - one after another, with a one second gap between them. He also highlights the portion of the report which says that both fuel control switches are getting turned back ON later. He suggests that this transition between ON-OFF-ON possibly indicates manual intervention, as the switches cannot be operated without physically moving them.&nbsp;When asked about the 2018 FAA bulletin on Boeing's fuel control switches, Ranganathan said that the advisory was not mandatory and was an advisory. He also referred to the track record of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which has not had any fatal accidents since its first flight in 2011. The AI-171 is the first such fatal accident involving this type of aircraft.&nbsp;However, Ranganathan also raises questions about the Indian Government's report and asks why some parts of the report are deliberately left unclear. He points out to the verbal exchange between the two pilots regarding the fuel control switch being turned off. "Why does the report not mention specify who among the two aviators asked the question and who answered? This can be easily identified and revealed based on the recordings available," he remarked.&nbsp;<h2>‘No significant bird activity, plane started losing altitude before crossing airport wall’</h2>&nbsp;The Government's preliminary report also mentions that there was no significant bird activity observed in the vicinity of the flight path and that the plane started to lost altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall. "Investigation is continuing and the investigation team will review and examine additional evidence, records, and information that is being sought from the stakeholders.&nbsp;

The aircraft flying Ahmedabad-London had crashed about 40 seconds after takeoff, killing 260 people, which includes passengers and those at the crash site (a hostel), making it among the worst aviation disasters in India.

The Indian Government's preliminary report into the June 12th Air India 171 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Gujarat, mentions that the plane's fuel control switches (which can turn on/off fuel flow to the engines) switched from "Run" to "Cutoff" sequentially post-takeoff(few seconds after takeoff). The fuel switches being turned off has led to the starvation and stoppage of the plane's twin engines. The preliminary report mentions that in the cockpit audio, one pilot asks the other - "why did you cutoff?" and the other pilot replies "I didn't". The aircraft flying Ahmedabad-London had crashed about 40 seconds after takeoff, killing 260 people, which includes passengers and those at the crash site (a hostel), making it among the worst aviation disasters in India. The mystery of crucial fuel control switches seemingly getting turned off without pilot intervention (as indicated by cockpit audio mentioned in the Government probe report), has raised suspicion among a section of senior aviators. These aviators are posing serious questions to Boeing, the American planemaker, whose jets have faced multiple crashes and safety-related, quality-related incidents in recent years. American FAA report highlighted issues with Boeing Fuel Switches Citing a December 17th, 2018 information bulletin from America's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), senior aviators point out to WION that the US firm Honeywell-made fuel switches on Boeing planes have been a cause for concern. With the subject line "Engine fuel and control" the FAA bulletin mentions the "potential for disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature" in more than two dozen popular variants and sub-variants of Boeing planes, including the 787-8 Dreamliner model which crashed in Gujarat. In the advisory from 2018, FAA recommended Boeing fleet operators with "affected planes" to: "Inspect the locking feature of the fuel control switch to ensure its engagement. While the airplane is on the ground, check whether the fuel control switch can be moved between the two positions without lifting up the switch. If the switch can be moved without lifting it up, the locking feature has been disengaged and the switch should be replaced at the earliest opportunity."

The aircraft flying Ahmedabad-London had crashed about 40 seconds after takeoff, killing 260 people, which includes passengers and those at the crash site (a hostel), making it among the worst aviation disasters in India.

AI-171 crash: Aviators debate Boeing's fuel switch issue, pilots' actions

Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink has received an approval from the Indian Government’s IN-SPACE, which is the promoter and facilitator for private space firms in the country. However, this approval is just one step in the list of multiple approvals that the firm still needs from various departments and ministries of the Indian government. Therefore, it could take several months before Starlink clears all hurdles and begins to offer its services in India. Starlink is learned to have been lobbying hard in India, using the political and economic clout of the controversial American billionaire.&nbsp;Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACE) has granted authorisation to M/s Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited (SSCPL), New Delhi, for enabling provisioning of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites constellation, namely Starlink Gen1. The authorisation will enable SSCPL to provide satellite communication services in India, IN-SPACE announced.&nbsp;&nbsp;Going by the official announcement from the Indian Government, it appears that the IN-SPACE approval comes with conditions and safeguards. Firstly, the authorisation has been provided only for the Generation 1 constellation, which refers to the older generation of Starlink satellites and related heavier, not-so-portable communication antennae. Secondly, the IN-SPACE authorisation is granted for a period of five years from the date of authorisation (July 8th 2025) or the end of operational life of Gen1 constellation—whichever is earlier. Given the relatively short life of Starlink Gen1 satellites and the considerable time they have already spent in space, it is highly likely that the entire fleet of Generation1 would be defunct before the end of the approved five-year period, July 7th 2030.&nbsp;The Starlink Gen1 Constellation is a global constellation with 4,408 satellites orbiting earth in altitudes between 540-570 km, and they are touted to be capable of providing ~600 Gbps throughput over India. Throughput refers to the total amount of data a satellite communication system can transmit and receive in a period of time.&nbsp;Starlink has a more advanced constellation known as the Gen2 and also has the ability to offer direct satellite internet connectivity (marketed as Direct to Cell) to mobile phones. However, there is no mention of those being approved in India.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Starlink Satellite internet will not replace your home broadband</h2>&nbsp;Starlink is not alone in wanting to gain access to the Indian satellite communications market. European firms Eutelsat OneWeb, SES are also in the race to foray into the Indian market. In recent months, IN-SPACE has also provided authorisations to the Indian subsidiaries of the aforementioned firms—OneWeb India Communications Private Limited, SES Satellites India Private Limited.&nbsp;However, it must be emphasised that these satellite internet services are not meant to replace high-speed home broadband connections that are widely available in Indian cities at highly affordable monthly rates around Rs. 500 (approx $5.83) and upwards.&nbsp;All these satellite internet providers are not targeting big cities, apartments or other institutions in urban centres. Instead, these satellites internet firms see business potential only in remote areas like mountains, deserts, islands, tough terrain etc., where traditional communication systems are weak and there is no reliable high-speed broadband connectivity and related infrastructure. Traditional high-speed broadband is available only in population dense regions where cables are laid and related infrastructure exists. Telecom firms do not install their infrastructure in remote and inaccessible regions with low population, because it becomes too expensive and unviable from a business perspective.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the case of Starlink, the firm provides an antenna/receiver that can send and receive signals to and from satellites. The antenna can be installed on the rooftop or a window from where it has a direct and unobstructred view of the sky (satellites passing overhead). Gadgets can be connected to the internet router linked to the Starlink antenna and one can access the internet from almost anywhere on earth.&nbsp;&nbsp;Satellite internet services are significantly more expensive than traditional wired broadband used in most homes. In case of Starlink, as seen in foreign countries, one must pay a one-time cost of around Rs.42780 ($499) for the antenna and then a monthly subscription cost of Rs. 2570 ($30) for the most affordable data plan. While Starlink has not announced its pricing for India, it is expected to be in the aforementioned range, considering how it is priced in similar nations.&nbsp;By all means, home broadband that is available in Indian cities is significantly cheaper and faster than the speeds offered by the likes of Starlink. However, during times of disasters and emergencies when all traditional means of communication get affected, Starlink and related services can prove useful in cities as well.

Satellites internet firms see business potential only in remote areas like mountains, deserts, islands, tough terrain, etc., where traditional communication systems are weak and there is no reliable high-speed broadband connectivity and related infrastructure

Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink has received an approval from the Indian Government’s IN-SPACE, which is the promoter and facilitator for private space firms in the country. However, this approval is just one step in the list of multiple approvals that the firm still needs from various departments and ministries of the Indian government. Therefore, it could take several months before Starlink clears all hurdles and begins to offer its services in India. Starlink is learned to have been lobbying hard in India, using the political and economic clout of the controversial American billionaire. Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACE) has granted authorisation to M/s Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited (SSCPL), New Delhi, for enabling provisioning of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites constellation, namely Starlink Gen1. The authorisation will enable SSCPL to provide satellite communication services in India, IN-SPACE announced. Going by the official announcement from the Indian Government, it appears that the IN-SPACE approval comes with conditions and safeguards. Firstly, the authorisation has been provided only for the Generation 1 constellation, which refers to the older generation of Starlink satellites and related heavier, not-so-portable communication antennae. Secondly, the IN-SPACE authorisation is granted for a period of five years from the date of authorisation (July 8th 2025) or the end of operational life of Gen1 constellation—whichever is earlier. Given the relatively short life of Starlink Gen1 satellites and the considerable time they have already spent in space, it is highly likely that the entire fleet of Generation1 would be defunct before the end of the approved five-year period, July 7th 2030. The Starlink Gen1 Constellation is a global constellation with 4,408 satellites orbiting earth in altitudes between 540-570 km, and they are touted to be capable of providing ~600 Gbps throughput over India. Throughput refers to the total amount of data a satellite communication system can transmit and receive in a period of time. Starlink has a more advanced constellation known as the Gen2 and also has the ability to offer direct satellite internet connectivity (marketed as Direct to Cell) to mobile phones. However, there is no mention of those being approved in India. Starlink Satellite internet will not replace your home broadband Starlink is not alone in wanting to gain access to the Indian satellite communications market. European firms Eutelsat OneWeb, SES are also in the race to foray into the Indian market. In recent months, IN-SPACE has also provided authorisations to the Indian subsidiaries of the aforementioned firms—OneWeb India Communications Private Limited, SES Satellites India Private Limited. However, it must be emphasised that these satellite internet services are not meant to replace high-speed home broadband connections that are widely available in Indian cities at highly affordable monthly rates around Rs. 500 (approx $5.83) and upwards. All these satellite internet providers are not targeting big cities, apartments or other institutions in urban centres. Instead, these satellites internet firms see business potential only in remote areas like mountains, deserts, islands, tough terrain etc., where traditional communication systems are weak and there is no reliable high-speed broadband connectivity and related infrastructure. Traditional high-speed broadband is available only in population dense regions where cables are laid and related infrastructure exists. Telecom firms do not install their infrastructure in remote and inaccessible regions with low population, because it becomes too expensive and unviable from a business perspective. In the case of Starlink, the firm provides an antenna/receiver that can send and receive signals to and from satellites. The antenna can be installed on the rooftop or a window from where it has a direct and unobstructred view of the sky (satellites passing overhead). Gadgets can be connected to the internet router linked to the Starlink antenna and one can access the internet from almost anywhere on earth. Satellite internet services are significantly more expensive than traditional wired broadband used in most homes. In case of Starlink, as seen in foreign countries, one must pay a one-time cost of around Rs.42780 ($499) for the antenna and then a monthly subscription cost of Rs. 2570 ($30) for the most affordable data plan. While Starlink has not announced its pricing for India, it is expected to be in the aforementioned range, considering how it is priced in similar nations. By all means, home broadband that is available in Indian cities is significantly cheaper and faster than the speeds offered by the likes of Starlink. However, during times of disasters and emergencies when all traditional means of communication get affected, Starlink and related services can prove useful in cities as well.

Satellites internet firms see business potential only in remote areas like mountains, deserts, islands, tough terrain, etc., where traditional communication systems are weak and there is no reliable high-speed broadband connectivity and related infrastructure

Elon Musk’s Starlink clears another hurdle with Indian Govt; many more to go

In India's Tamil Nadu on Tuesday (Jul 8), two school students were killed after their school bus was hit by a speeding train this morning, around 7:45 am, said police officials from Cuddalore district . The school bus carrying four students attempted to cross the Railway level crossing gate when it was hit by Train No. 56813. Based on preliminary information, railway authorities say that the bus driver insisted on allowing the vehicle to pass through the railway gate as the railway gatekeeper proceeded to close it.&nbsp;The bus driver and two students are undergoing treatment at the Cuddalore Government Hospital, officials said. Railway doctors are also monitoring the victims, and if required, they would be moved to the JIPMER hospital in the adjoining Puducherry Union territory, it is said.&nbsp;A committee of officers from the safety, operation and engineering branches are investigating the incident, said a railway statement. A railway relief train with a medical relief van has been dispatched to the site. The Divisional Railway Manager(DRM) and Branch Officers are proceeding to the spot, it was added.&nbsp;Railway authorities have revealed that their gatekeeper opened the gate on the insistence of the bus driver, who wished to reach the school early. "He should not have opened the gate as per the safety rules of Railway train operations. As gatekeeper violated safety rules, he has been suspended and process is initiated to remove from service as per procedure," Southern Railway said.&nbsp;Railways have announced an ex gratia of Rs.5 lakh to the bereaved families, Rs.2.5 lakh to kin of those grievously injured and Rs.50,000 for others.&nbsp;(This is a developing story)

The bus driver and two students are undergoing treatment at the Cuddalore Government Hospital, officials said. Railway doctors are also monitoring the victims, and if required, they would be moved to the JIPMER hospital in the adjoining Puducherry Union territory, it is said. 

In India's Tamil Nadu on Tuesday (Jul 8), two school students were killed after their school bus was hit by a speeding train this morning, around 7:45 am, said police officials from Cuddalore district . The school bus carrying four students attempted to cross the Railway level crossing gate when it was hit by Train No. 56813. Based on preliminary information, railway authorities say that the bus driver insisted on allowing the vehicle to pass through the railway gate as the railway gatekeeper proceeded to close it. The bus driver and two students are undergoing treatment at the Cuddalore Government Hospital, officials said. Railway doctors are also monitoring the victims, and if required, they would be moved to the JIPMER hospital in the adjoining Puducherry Union territory, it is said. A committee of officers from the safety, operation and engineering branches are investigating the incident, said a railway statement. A railway relief train with a medical relief van has been dispatched to the site. The Divisional Railway Manager(DRM) and Branch Officers are proceeding to the spot, it was added. Railway authorities have revealed that their gatekeeper opened the gate on the insistence of the bus driver, who wished to reach the school early. "He should not have opened the gate as per the safety rules of Railway train operations. As gatekeeper violated safety rules, he has been suspended and process is initiated to remove from service as per procedure," Southern Railway said. Railways have announced an ex gratia of Rs.5 lakh to the bereaved families, Rs.2.5 lakh to kin of those grievously injured and Rs.50,000 for others. (This is a developing story)

The bus driver and two students are undergoing treatment at the Cuddalore Government Hospital, officials said. Railway doctors are also monitoring the victims, and if required, they would be moved to the JIPMER hospital in the adjoining Puducherry Union territory, it is said.&nbsp;

2 dead, 3 injured as train hits school bus in Cudalore, Tamil Nadu

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Zee News Rajasthan

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