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<p>INS Tushil (F 70), the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi&nbsp;at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, on Monday, December 9th, 2024. Commissioning marks the formal induction of a warship into the Navy and is an occasion when the ship earns its prefix (in this case, INS—Indian&nbsp;Naval Ship).</p>

<p>The event was also attended by Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Aleksandr Alekseyevich Moiseyev, Ambassador of India to Russia Shri Vinay Kumar, and other senior officials from the Indian and Russian governments, Navies, and industries.</p>

<p>Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister Rajnath Singh described the event as a testament to India’s growing maritime strength and a significant milestone in the long-standing friendship between India and&nbsp;Russia, which are bound together by shared values, mutual trust, and special and&nbsp;strategic privileged partnership.</p>

<p>Highlighting the deep ties between the Indian Navy and the Russian Navy, Singh stated that technical and operational collaboration is constantly touching new heights under the holistically growing relations between the two countries under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Delighted to attend the Commissioning Ceremony of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INSTushil?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INSTushil</a>, the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate, at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad (Russia).<br />
<br />
The ship is a proud testament to India’s growing maritime strength and a significant milestone in long-standing… <a href="https://t.co/L6Pok31wQJ">pic.twitter.com/L6Pok31wQJ</a></p>
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/1866084233393193214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>“Our Navy has foiled the designs of piracy, arms and drug smugglers, and non-state actors in various hotspots. From the Gulf of Oman to the Gulf of Aden, from Suez to Malacca, and from Australia to Madagascar, the Indian Navy is playing the essential role of a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region. India, along with its friendly countries, believes in ensuring that maritime trade in the region remains safe and secure, thereby promoting unhindered trade across the sea,” he said.</p>

<h2><strong>What is a Frigate-class warship?</strong></h2>

<p>A frigate&nbsp;is a class of warships that is known for its versatility, speed, and manoeuvrability. Frigates are generally smaller than destroyers and are designed to perform a variety of missions, such as escorting and safeguarding larger ships, anti-submarine warfare, and maritime patrol. They are a key component of modern naval fleets. They carry a host of weapons such as surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and close-in weapons systems to tackle incoming threats.</p>

<p><strong>INS Tushil - How it came to be...</strong></p>

<p>'Tushil' means ‘the protector shield’ and its crest represents the ‘Abhedya Kavacham’ (impenetrable shield).</p>

<p>INS Tushil is an upgraded Krivak III class frigate of Project 1135.6. Already, six ships of this class are in service with the Indian Navy, and Tushil is the seventh. Of the six, the first three were&nbsp;Talwar class ships, built at Baltiysky shipyard, St. Petersburg. The rest are Teg class ships, built at Yantar shipyard, Kaliningrad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>INS Tushil is the first of the two upgraded additional follow-on ships, the contract for which was signed in October 2016 between JSC Rosoboronexport, the Indian Navy, and the Government of India. Tamal, the sister ship of INS Tushil, is being built in Russia and is expected to be commissioned in 2025. Similarly, two ships of the same class are being built at India's Goa Shipyard, under the transfer of technology from Russia. There has been a considerable delay in the delivery of the two Russian-built ships, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war with Ukraine. Interestingly, this series of Russian-built warships is powered by engines from Zorya-Mashproekt of Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ship’s keel was laid (marking the start of construction) on July 12th, 2013 and was launched in water in October 2021. The ship sailed out for her maiden sea trials on January 25th, 2024, and completed an exhaustive schedule of factory trials followed by State Committee trials and finally the Delivery Acceptance trials, both in the harbour and at sea, by September 24th, 2024.&nbsp; The ship has successfully carried out firing trials of all her Russian weapon systems and would reach India in a near combat-ready condition. In some cases, ships undergo a year of trials even after commissioning.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Capabilities of INS Tushil</strong></h2>

<p>The Russian-built frigate carries 20 Indian-made hull systems and is equipped with the BrahMos supersonic missile system. Besides, ROSOBORONEXPORT and India are implementing about 10 joint naval projects alone and are discussing several new ones", - said Alexander Mikheev, Director General of ROSOBORONEXPORT.</p>

<p>Measuring 125 metres and displacing 3,900 tonnes, INS Tushil is designed for blue water operations across the spectrum of naval warfare in all four dimensions—air, surface, underwater and electromagnetic. It is armed with a range of advanced weapons, including the Indo-Russian Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles, vertically-launched Shtil Surface-to-Air Missiles with enhanced ranges, upgraded medium-range anti-air and surface guns, optically-controlled close-range rapid-fire gun system, anti-submarine torpedoes and rockets and advanced electronic warfare and communication suite.</p>

<p>The ship is capable of embarking the upgraded Russian-origin anti-submarine and airborne early warning helicopters, the Kamov 28 and Kamov 31, which are formidable force multipliers. The ship is powered by an advanced gas turbine propulsion plant with state-of-the-art controls and is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots (more than 55 kmph). The high degree of automation and stealth features further enhance its combat capability and survivability.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The share of Indian equipment on INS Tushil is estimated at 26 per cent. The major Indian manufacturers involved in the project are BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems, Elcome Marine, Johnson Controls India, and others.</p>

<p>Notably, Tushil and Tamal are the last of the foreign-built ships that the Indian Navy will be inducting. All future orders of ships and submarines are being fulfilled by Indian shipyards, which is in line with the Indian Government's vision of promoting homegrown shipbuilding efforts and boosting the national economy.&nbsp;</p>


INS Tushil (F 70), the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, on Monday, December 9th, 2024.

INS Tushil (F 70), the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, on Monday, December 9th, 2024. Commissioning marks the formal induction of a warship into the Navy and is an occasion when the ship earns its prefix (in this case, INS—Indian Naval Ship). The event was also attended by Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Aleksandr Alekseyevich Moiseyev, Ambassador of India to Russia Shri Vinay Kumar, and other senior officials from the Indian and Russian governments, Navies, and industries. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister Rajnath Singh described the event as a testament to India’s growing maritime strength and a significant milestone in the long-standing friendship between India and Russia, which are bound together by shared values, mutual trust, and special and strategic privileged partnership. Highlighting the deep ties between the Indian Navy and the Russian Navy, Singh stated that technical and operational collaboration is constantly touching new heights under the holistically growing relations between the two countries under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Delighted to attend the Commissioning Ceremony of #INSTushil, the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate, at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad (Russia). The ship is a proud testament to India’s growing maritime strength and a significant milestone in long-standing… pic.twitter.com/L6Pok31wQJ — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 9, 2024 × “Our Navy has foiled the designs of piracy, arms and drug smugglers, and non-state actors in various hotspots. From the Gulf of Oman to the Gulf of Aden, from Suez to Malacca, and from Australia to Madagascar, the Indian Navy is playing the essential role of a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region. India, along with its friendly countries, believes in ensuring that maritime trade in the region remains safe and secure, thereby promoting unhindered trade across the sea,” he said. What is a Frigate-class warship? A frigate is a class of warships that is known for its versatility, speed, and manoeuvrability. Frigates are generally smaller than destroyers and are designed to perform a variety of missions, such as escorting and safeguarding larger ships, anti-submarine warfare, and maritime patrol. They are a key component of modern naval fleets. They carry a host of weapons such as surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and close-in weapons systems to tackle incoming threats. INS Tushil - How it came to be... 'Tushil' means ‘the protector shield’ and its crest represents the ‘Abhedya Kavacham’ (impenetrable shield). INS Tushil is an upgraded Krivak III class frigate of Project 1135.6. Already, six ships of this class are in service with the Indian Navy, and Tushil is the seventh. Of the six, the first three were Talwar class ships, built at Baltiysky shipyard, St. Petersburg. The rest are Teg class ships, built at Yantar shipyard, Kaliningrad. INS Tushil is the first of the two upgraded additional follow-on ships, the contract for which was signed in October 2016 between JSC Rosoboronexport, the Indian Navy, and the Government of India. Tamal, the sister ship of INS Tushil, is being built in Russia and is expected to be commissioned in 2025. Similarly, two ships of the same class are being built at India's Goa Shipyard, under the transfer of technology from Russia. There has been a considerable delay in the delivery of the two Russian-built ships, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war with Ukraine. Interestingly, this series of Russian-built warships is powered by engines from Zorya-Mashproekt of Ukraine. The ship’s keel was laid (marking the start of construction) on July 12th, 2013 and was launched in water in October 2021. The ship sailed out for her maiden sea trials on January 25th, 2024, and completed an exhaustive schedule of factory trials followed by State Committee trials and finally the Delivery Acceptance trials, both in the harbour and at sea, by September 24th, 2024. The ship has successfully carried out firing trials of all her Russian weapon systems and would reach India in a near combat-ready condition. In some cases, ships undergo a year of trials even after commissioning. Capabilities of INS Tushil The Russian-built frigate carries 20 Indian-made hull systems and is equipped with the BrahMos supersonic missile system. Besides, ROSOBORONEXPORT and India are implementing about 10 joint naval projects alone and are discussing several new ones", - said Alexander Mikheev, Director General of ROSOBORONEXPORT. Measuring 125 metres and displacing 3,900 tonnes, INS Tushil is designed for blue water operations across the spectrum of naval warfare in all four dimensions—air, surface, underwater and electromagnetic. It is armed with a range of advanced weapons, including the Indo-Russian Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles, vertically-launched Shtil Surface-to-Air Missiles with enhanced ranges, upgraded medium-range anti-air and surface guns, optically-controlled close-range rapid-fire gun system, anti-submarine torpedoes and rockets and advanced electronic warfare and communication suite. The ship is capable of embarking the upgraded Russian-origin anti-submarine and airborne early warning helicopters, the Kamov 28 and Kamov 31, which are formidable force multipliers. The ship is powered by an advanced gas turbine propulsion plant with state-of-the-art controls and is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots (more than 55 kmph). The high degree of automation and stealth features further enhance its combat capability and survivability. The share of Indian equipment on INS Tushil is estimated at 26 per cent. The major Indian manufacturers involved in the project are BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems, Elcome Marine, Johnson Controls India, and others. Notably, Tushil and Tamal are the last of the foreign-built ships that the Indian Navy will be inducting. All future orders of ships and submarines are being fulfilled by Indian shipyards, which is in line with the Indian Government's vision of promoting homegrown shipbuilding efforts and boosting the national economy.

INS Tushil: India's Russian-built warship with Ukrainian engines is commissioned

<p>The evolving weather system in the Bay of Bengal, off India's southeast coast, is now a 'well-marked low-pressure area', said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).</p>

<p>As it moves towards Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu coasts on Wednesday, 11th December, the system is forecast to dump heavy (7-11 cm) to very heavy rain (12-20 cm) over 17 districts of Tamil Nadu, and the adjoining Union Territory of Puducherry.</p>

<p>In meteorology, a low-pressure area is associated with rainfall, stormy weather, rough sea conditions, and gusty winds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For Wednesday, 11th December, the IMD has issued an orange alert for six districts of Tamil Nadu, warning of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai,&nbsp;Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Pudukkottai districts. Similarly, a yellow alert for heavy rain has been issued for Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Kallakurichi, and Villuppuram,</p>

<p>Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Chennai, Tiruvallur districts of Tamil Nadu. This rainfall activity is expected to continue on Thursday, 12th December as well.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Orange &amp; Yellow alert for heavy(7-11cms) to very heavy(12-20cms) rainfall, for pretty much half of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TamilNadu</a> districts... This is applicable for tomo (Wednesday) &amp; Thursday...Yellow alert for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chennaj?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chennaj</a> on both days. This is due to a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/weather?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#weather</a> system in Bay of Bengal <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEMonsoon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEMonsoon</a> <a href="https://t.co/i7Xw3tAbSt">pic.twitter.com/i7Xw3tAbSt</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1866497396047524064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>As per the IMD, the impact of this weather system could continue to bring rainfall across parts of Tamil Nadu through this week. Owing to rough sea conditions and gusty winds, the IMD has advised fishermen against going on deep sea fishing, while also urging them to avoid fishing along the Tamil Nadu coast.</p>

<p>This evolving weather system and rainfall alert comes barely 10 days after the impact of Cyclone Fengal, which claimed 19 lives across&nbsp;Sri Lanka and Southern India. The October-December period is the typical Northeast monsoon season, which brings rains to India's eastern coastal states such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.</p>


The evolving weather system in the Bay of Bengal, off India's southeast coast, is now a 'well-marked low-pressure area', said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

The evolving weather system in the Bay of Bengal, off India's southeast coast, is now a 'well-marked low-pressure area', said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). As it moves towards Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu coasts on Wednesday, 11th December, the system is forecast to dump heavy (7-11 cm) to very heavy rain (12-20 cm) over 17 districts of Tamil Nadu, and the adjoining Union Territory of Puducherry. In meteorology, a low-pressure area is associated with rainfall, stormy weather, rough sea conditions, and gusty winds. For Wednesday, 11th December, the IMD has issued an orange alert for six districts of Tamil Nadu, warning of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Pudukkottai districts. Similarly, a yellow alert for heavy rain has been issued for Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Kallakurichi, and Villuppuram, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Chennai, Tiruvallur districts of Tamil Nadu. This rainfall activity is expected to continue on Thursday, 12th December as well. Orange & Yellow alert for heavy(7-11cms) to very heavy(12-20cms) rainfall, for pretty much half of #TamilNadu districts... This is applicable for tomo (Wednesday) & Thursday...Yellow alert for #Chennaj on both days. This is due to a #weather system in Bay of Bengal #NEMonsoon pic.twitter.com/i7Xw3tAbSt — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) December 10, 2024 × As per the IMD, the impact of this weather system could continue to bring rainfall across parts of Tamil Nadu through this week. Owing to rough sea conditions and gusty winds, the IMD has advised fishermen against going on deep sea fishing, while also urging them to avoid fishing along the Tamil Nadu coast. This evolving weather system and rainfall alert comes barely 10 days after the impact of Cyclone Fengal, which claimed 19 lives across Sri Lanka and Southern India. The October-December period is the typical Northeast monsoon season, which brings rains to India's eastern coastal states such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.

Weather system in Bay of Bengal, rainfall warning for 17 districts of Tamil Nadu

<p>Barely ten days after the impact of Cyclone Fengal, which claimed 19 lives across Sri Lanka and Southern India, another weather system is brewing in the Bay of Bengal, off India's southeast coast.</p>

<p>The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has characterised the system as a low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining east Equatorial Indian Ocean.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In meteorology, a low-pressure area is a region that has lower atmospheric pressure compared to its surrounding regions. It is associated with overcast weather, rainfall activity, rough sea conditions, and gusty winds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The low-pressure area and its associated cyclonic circulation, extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level, are likely to move west-northwestwards and become more marked by Tuesday, 10th December, said the IMD.</p>

<p>It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards thereafter and reach over the southwest Bay of Bengal off Sri-Lanka–Tamil Nadu coasts around Wednesday, 11th December, according to the forecast.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Owing to the evolving weather system, for this entire week, a rainfall warning has been issued for multiple districts in Tamil Nadu&nbsp;and the Union Territory of Puducherry. From Tuesday onwards, heavy rainfall activity is likely to commence over several coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, and it is likely to intensify into very heavy rainfall as the week progresses.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur districts of Tamilnadu and Karaikal area. Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Pudukkottai, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Kallakurichi, Villuppuram, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Chennai, Tiruvallur districts of Tamilnadu and Puducherry, says the IMD forecast for Wednesday, 11th December.</p>

<p>Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Salem, Namakkal, Dindigul, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Ariyalur, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Villuppuram, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Chennai and Tiruvallur districts of Tamilnadu and Puducherry and Karaikal area, reads the forecast for Thursday, 12th December.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Owing to the impact of the weather system at sea, fishermen have been advised not to plan for deep-sea fishing. Through this week, winds gusting up to 55 kmph are likely to prevail along the Tamil Nadu coast, and hence the IMD has warned fishermen, advising them against venturing out into regions adjoining the Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka coasts.</p>


Barely ten days after the impact of Cyclone Fengal, which claimed 19 lives across Sri Lanka and Southern India, another weather system is brewing in the Bay of Bengal, off India's southeast coast.

Barely ten days after the impact of Cyclone Fengal, which claimed 19 lives across Sri Lanka and Southern India, another weather system is brewing in the Bay of Bengal, off India's southeast coast. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has characterised the system as a low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining east Equatorial Indian Ocean. In meteorology, a low-pressure area is a region that has lower atmospheric pressure compared to its surrounding regions. It is associated with overcast weather, rainfall activity, rough sea conditions, and gusty winds. The low-pressure area and its associated cyclonic circulation, extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level, are likely to move west-northwestwards and become more marked by Tuesday, 10th December, said the IMD. It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards thereafter and reach over the southwest Bay of Bengal off Sri-Lanka–Tamil Nadu coasts around Wednesday, 11th December, according to the forecast. Owing to the evolving weather system, for this entire week, a rainfall warning has been issued for multiple districts in Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry. From Tuesday onwards, heavy rainfall activity is likely to commence over several coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, and it is likely to intensify into very heavy rainfall as the week progresses. Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur districts of Tamilnadu and Karaikal area. Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Pudukkottai, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Kallakurichi, Villuppuram, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Chennai, Tiruvallur districts of Tamilnadu and Puducherry, says the IMD forecast for Wednesday, 11th December. Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Salem, Namakkal, Dindigul, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Ariyalur, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Villuppuram, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Chennai and Tiruvallur districts of Tamilnadu and Puducherry and Karaikal area, reads the forecast for Thursday, 12th December. Owing to the impact of the weather system at sea, fishermen have been advised not to plan for deep-sea fishing. Through this week, winds gusting up to 55 kmph are likely to prevail along the Tamil Nadu coast, and hence the IMD has warned fishermen, advising them against venturing out into regions adjoining the Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka coasts.

Weather system brewing in Bay of Bengal, to head for Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka coasts

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<p>In the coming years, when India's Gaganyaan astronaut-carrying capsule circles the Earth, antennae belonging to the European Space Agency (ESA) will help the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) 'see and speak' to the mission.</p>

<p>ISRO and ESA signed a Technical Implementing Plan (TIP)&nbsp;document for Ground Tracking Support for Gaganyaan Missions. The TIP was signed by Dr Anilkumar A K, Director, ISTRAC, from ISRO and Mr Dietmar Pilz, Director of Technology, Engineering &amp; Quality and Director of ESTEC, Netherlands, from ESA.</p>

<p>The TIP was signed at the Indian Spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), in the presence of Dr S&nbsp;Somanath, Chairman, ISRO and Mr Didier van der Hasselt, Belgium's Ambassador to India.</p>

<h2><strong>What is a satellite ground station and how does it work?</strong></h2>

<p>A satellite ground station is an Earth-based facility equipped with antennae, specialised hardware and software that help communicate with satellites in space. These stations serve as the bridge between space assets and Earth, enabling the exchange of data, commands, and signals.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-space-agency-isro-launches-proba-3-mission-satellites-781717">India's space agency ISRO launches Proba-3 mission satellites</a></strong></p>

<p>Satellites and ground stations communicate via radio waves, which require a clear line of sight. Due to Earth's curvature, a&nbsp;ground station (antenna) can maintain contact with a satellite only while the satellite is above the station's field of view. As satellites orbiting the earth only spend a couple of&nbsp;minutes within the range of an antenna, a network of ground stations around the globe is required to maintain continuous contact with the satellite.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Therefore, as India's Gaganyaan astronaut-carrying capsule circles the Earth, multiple ground stations around the world will help Indian ground controllers stay in touch with the crew, monitor the spacecraft, and its technical parameters, and carry out many crucial functions. Establishing multiple ground stations around the world is a very expensive and time-consuming effort, which is why space agencies collaborate and share their tracking resources.</p>

<h2><strong>Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&amp;C)</strong></h2>

<p>Ground stations are used to monitor the satellite's health, such as power levels, orientation (which direction it is facing), and system status. This process is known as Telemetry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Satellites have to remain in a specific pre-determined orbit to carry out their functions. Ground stations are responsible for keeping a tab on the satellite's orbit, a function that is known as Tracking.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISRO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ISRO</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/esa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@esa</a> have inked a pact that enables ESA to provide ground station support for 🇮🇳 Gaganyaan astronaut Missions.<br />
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Establishing antennae around the world is too expensive, so it is practical to use other agencies' support to track &amp; talk to our mission as it circles 🌏 <a href="https://t.co/Qr9XlpU4rp">pic.twitter.com/Qr9XlpU4rp</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1864927332684959872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Satellites carry various payloads (scientific equipment) onboard and each one of them has a unique purpose and function. Ground stations regularly issue commands to satellites to perform specific tasks – such as clicking pictures of a certain region, operating a particular piece of equipment, manoeuvring the satellite in a certain direction etc. Simply put, it is a process of remotely controlling the satellite, based on instructions issued from the ground.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Global support for tracking India's Chandrayaan-3</strong></h2>

<p>ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in the city of&nbsp;Bengaluru handles the major responsibility of providing tracking support for all the satellite and launch vehicle missions of ISRO. ISTRAC has a network of ground stations at Bengaluru, Lucknow, Sriharikota, Port Blair, and Thiruvananthapuram, within India.</p>

<p>Brunei, Biak (Indonesia), and Mauritius are the friendly-foreign nations where ISTRAC operates its overseas facilities. However, when a spacecraft like Chandrayaan-3 circles the Earth and travels farther (the moon is 3.84 lakh km away), it is imperative to have a global network of stations that can offer tracking support.</p>

<p>As part of ISRO's international cooperation with major space agencies, multiple tracking stations belonging to NASA, the European Space Agency and the Swedish Space Corporation tracked Chandrayaan-3 from around the world. These include South Point Satellite Station in Hawaii, Goldstone in California, Kourou in South America (French Guiana), Madrid in Spain, Goonhilly in the United Kingdom and Canberra in Australia. The constant tracking from Indian and foreign stations ensured that India's Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft was visible to one or more stations at a time and could be monitored and safely steered towards the Moon.</p>

<h2><strong>Ship-based tracking</strong></h2>

<p>There are times when the rocket is not 'visible' to tracking antennae, especially, when the rocket or satellite flies over the high seas, where tracking stations are unavailable. Such gaps in the tracking process are filled in by specialised tracking ships that are fitted with long-range radars and communications antennae.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/russian-deputy-envoy-roman-babushkin-calls-india-a-space-superpower-indicates-support-for-gaganyaan-707451">Russian Deputy Envoy Roman Babushkin calls India a space superpower, indicates support for Gaganyaan</a></strong></p>

<p>Such vessels are stationed at a pre-determined location on the high seas, by the flight path of the rocket/satellite. As the vehicle overflows that large region, the sensors and tracking equipment on board the ship can provide real-time tracking and telemetry on how the mission is progressing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>In October 2022, when ISRO launched 36 satellites of the European firm OneWeb, India positioned Ocean Research Vessel Sagar Nidhi in the Indian Ocean region (thousands of kilometres south of India's southern tip) to track the flight of the LVM3 rocket that was flying towards the south pole.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>International Cooperation for Gaganyaan tracking</strong></h2>

<p>In close coordination with the Australian government and space agency, ISRO will be setting up a tracking antenna at the Australian External Territory of Cocos Keeling islands, to track the Gaganyaan craft, as it overflies the region. Similarly, Indian and Australian authorities have signed a pact to ensure support for the search and rescue of crew, and recovery of crew module as part of contingency planning (in case the Gaganyaan crew module has to be ejected mid-flight). This arrangement is in place, as the ejected capsule could land in Australian waters.</p>

<p>ISRO and ESA have signed the Technical Implementing Plan (TIP) so that ISRO can avail the support of ESA's tracking station network Estrack. Estrack is a global system of ground stations providing links between satellites in orbit and the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), Darmstadt, Germany. The core Estrack network comprises seven stations in seven countries. The essential task of all ESA ground tracking stations is to communicate with spacecraft, transmitting commands and receiving scientific data and spacecraft status information.</p>


In the coming years, when India's Gaganyaan astronaut-carrying capsule circles the Earth, antennae belonging to the European Space Agency (ESA) will help the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) 'see and speak' to the mission.

In the coming years, when India's Gaganyaan astronaut-carrying capsule circles the Earth, antennae belonging to the European Space Agency (ESA) will help the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) 'see and speak' to the mission. ISRO and ESA signed a Technical Implementing Plan (TIP) document for Ground Tracking Support for Gaganyaan Missions. The TIP was signed by Dr Anilkumar A K, Director, ISTRAC, from ISRO and Mr Dietmar Pilz, Director of Technology, Engineering & Quality and Director of ESTEC, Netherlands, from ESA. The TIP was signed at the Indian Spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), in the presence of Dr S Somanath, Chairman, ISRO and Mr Didier van der Hasselt, Belgium's Ambassador to India. What is a satellite ground station and how does it work? A satellite ground station is an Earth-based facility equipped with antennae, specialised hardware and software that help communicate with satellites in space. These stations serve as the bridge between space assets and Earth, enabling the exchange of data, commands, and signals. Also read | India's space agency ISRO launches Proba-3 mission satellites Satellites and ground stations communicate via radio waves, which require a clear line of sight. Due to Earth's curvature, a ground station (antenna) can maintain contact with a satellite only while the satellite is above the station's field of view. As satellites orbiting the earth only spend a couple of minutes within the range of an antenna, a network of ground stations around the globe is required to maintain continuous contact with the satellite. Therefore, as India's Gaganyaan astronaut-carrying capsule circles the Earth, multiple ground stations around the world will help Indian ground controllers stay in touch with the crew, monitor the spacecraft, and its technical parameters, and carry out many crucial functions. Establishing multiple ground stations around the world is a very expensive and time-consuming effort, which is why space agencies collaborate and share their tracking resources. Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C) Ground stations are used to monitor the satellite's health, such as power levels, orientation (which direction it is facing), and system status. This process is known as Telemetry. Satellites have to remain in a specific pre-determined orbit to carry out their functions. Ground stations are responsible for keeping a tab on the satellite's orbit, a function that is known as Tracking. #ISRO and @esa have inked a pact that enables ESA to provide ground station support for 🇮🇳 Gaganyaan astronaut Missions. Establishing antennae around the world is too expensive, so it is practical to use other agencies' support to track & talk to our mission as it circles 🌏 pic.twitter.com/Qr9XlpU4rp — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) December 6, 2024 × Satellites carry various payloads (scientific equipment) onboard and each one of them has a unique purpose and function. Ground stations regularly issue commands to satellites to perform specific tasks – such as clicking pictures of a certain region, operating a particular piece of equipment, manoeuvring the satellite in a certain direction etc. Simply put, it is a process of remotely controlling the satellite, based on instructions issued from the ground. Global support for tracking India's Chandrayaan-3 ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in the city of Bengaluru handles the major responsibility of providing tracking support for all the satellite and launch vehicle missions of ISRO. ISTRAC has a network of ground stations at Bengaluru, Lucknow, Sriharikota, Port Blair, and Thiruvananthapuram, within India. Brunei, Biak (Indonesia), and Mauritius are the friendly-foreign nations where ISTRAC operates its overseas facilities. However, when a spacecraft like Chandrayaan-3 circles the Earth and travels farther (the moon is 3.84 lakh km away), it is imperative to have a global network of stations that can offer tracking support. As part of ISRO's international cooperation with major space agencies, multiple tracking stations belonging to NASA, the European Space Agency and the Swedish Space Corporation tracked Chandrayaan-3 from around the world. These include South Point Satellite Station in Hawaii, Goldstone in California, Kourou in South America (French Guiana), Madrid in Spain, Goonhilly in the United Kingdom and Canberra in Australia. The constant tracking from Indian and foreign stations ensured that India's Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft was visible to one or more stations at a time and could be monitored and safely steered towards the Moon. Ship-based tracking There are times when the rocket is not 'visible' to tracking antennae, especially, when the rocket or satellite flies over the high seas, where tracking stations are unavailable. Such gaps in the tracking process are filled in by specialised tracking ships that are fitted with long-range radars and communications antennae. Also read | Russian Deputy Envoy Roman Babushkin calls India a space superpower, indicates support for Gaganyaan Such vessels are stationed at a pre-determined location on the high seas, by the flight path of the rocket/satellite. As the vehicle overflows that large region, the sensors and tracking equipment on board the ship can provide real-time tracking and telemetry on how the mission is progressing. In October 2022, when ISRO launched 36 satellites of the European firm OneWeb, India positioned Ocean Research Vessel Sagar Nidhi in the Indian Ocean region (thousands of kilometres south of India's southern tip) to track the flight of the LVM3 rocket that was flying towards the south pole. International Cooperation for Gaganyaan tracking In close coordination with the Australian government and space agency, ISRO will be setting up a tracking antenna at the Australian External Territory of Cocos Keeling islands, to track the Gaganyaan craft, as it overflies the region. Similarly, Indian and Australian authorities have signed a pact to ensure support for the search and rescue of crew, and recovery of crew module as part of contingency planning (in case the Gaganyaan crew module has to be ejected mid-flight). This arrangement is in place, as the ejected capsule could land in Australian waters. ISRO and ESA have signed the Technical Implementing Plan (TIP) so that ISRO can avail the support of ESA's tracking station network Estrack. Estrack is a global system of ground stations providing links between satellites in orbit and the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), Darmstadt, Germany. The core Estrack network comprises seven stations in seven countries. The essential task of all ESA ground tracking stations is to communicate with spacecraft, transmitting commands and receiving scientific data and spacecraft status information.

Explained: European Space Agency to help India 'see and speak' to Gaganyaan

<p>European Space Agency (ESA) teams at Redu, Belgium are trying to perform a software tweak to fix the ongoing issue with their Proba-3 satellite, the launch of which has been put on hold at the Indian spaceport in Sriharikota. Barely 50 minutes before the planned liftoff at IST 4:08 pm, Wednesday (Dec 4), aboard the ISRO PSLV rocket, the launch mission was put on hold due to an anomaly with the European-made satellite.<br />
<br />
ISRO says that the launch has been rescheduled to 16:04 hrs Indian time, Thursday, as per a request from the European Space Agency.&nbsp;Subject to the resolution of the issue, ISRO and ESA are now looking at 4:04 pm IST, Thursday (Dec 5), as the backup launch date.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Proba3?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Proba3</a> launch has been postponed due to an issue with the propulsion system that ensures that the Coronagraph satellite points in the right direction..<a href="https://twitter.com/esa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@esa</a> teams at Redu, Belgium are working on a software fix: ESA<br />
Wishing them the best <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/science?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#science</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tech</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> <a href="https://t.co/hy89R7MqBN">pic.twitter.com/hy89R7MqBN</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1864296265481376086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to ESA, during Proba3’s pre-launch preparations at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, an anomaly occurred in the redundant propulsion system of the Coronagraph Spacecraft. Proba-3 comprises two crafts – the Occulter and the Coronagraph.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This redundant propulsion system (in which an anomaly is observed), is responsible for ensuring that the satellite points in the right direction while in space and can remain in the desired orientation (which side faces which way).&nbsp;</p>

<p>For example, an earth-imaging satellite must point its cameras and sensors toward the Earth. In the case of Proba-3, the twin satellites must face the sun.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to ESA, the anomaly is currently under detailed investigation. The use of a software solution by the mission control team at ESA’s ESEC centre at Redu, Belgium is being evaluated to allow a launch on Thursday (Dec 5).&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro-postpones-pslv-xl-proba-3-mission-launch-to-thursday-due-to-anomaly-781487"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;ISRO postpones PSLV-XL Proba-3 mission launch to Thursday due to anomaly</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>What is Proba-3?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Proba-3 belongs to the European Space Agency, which represents 22 European nations. The twin Proba-3 satellites were built by a host of European firms, and the satellites were tested in Europe before being flown to India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Proba-3 is a project more than 10&nbsp;years in the making, which has been implemented with the industrial support of more than 40 companies across Europe, under the leadership of a core team of companies in Spain and Belgium, such as Sener Aerospace (System Prime), Redwire Space (avionics, satellite assembly and testing, satellite operations), Airbus Defence and Space (satellite thermo-mechanical and propulsion, satellite environmental testing), GMV (formation flying algorithm and software, on-ground flight dynamics system), Spacebel (on-board, ground system and simulation software), and Centre Spatial de Liège (Coronagraph scientific instrument).&nbsp;</p>

<p>After arriving at the ISRO spaceport, the satellites were tested, integrated, and fuelled at the Indian spaceport by European teams.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The anomaly with the satellite was observed during the countdown to the launch when crucial health checks of the rocket systems and satellite systems were conducted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For this mission, ISRO is the launch service provider (responsible for the rocket and its launch), while the European Space Agency is responsible for the satellite, its functioning, and tracking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is a commercial mission where the European Space Agency is paying the launch cost of approximately $30 million to NewSpace India Ltd., the commercial arm of ISRO.&nbsp;</p>


European Space Agency (ESA) teams at Redu, Belgium are trying to perform a software tweak to fix the ongoing issue with their Proba-3 satellite, the launch of which has been put on hold at the Indian spaceport in Sriharikota.

European Space Agency (ESA) teams at Redu, Belgium are trying to perform a software tweak to fix the ongoing issue with their Proba-3 satellite, the launch of which has been put on hold at the Indian spaceport in Sriharikota. Barely 50 minutes before the planned liftoff at IST 4:08 pm, Wednesday (Dec 4), aboard the ISRO PSLV rocket, the launch mission was put on hold due to an anomaly with the European-made satellite. ISRO says that the launch has been rescheduled to 16:04 hrs Indian time, Thursday, as per a request from the European Space Agency. Subject to the resolution of the issue, ISRO and ESA are now looking at 4:04 pm IST, Thursday (Dec 5), as the backup launch date. The #Proba3 launch has been postponed due to an issue with the propulsion system that ensures that the Coronagraph satellite points in the right direction..@esa teams at Redu, Belgium are working on a software fix: ESA Wishing them the best #space #science #tech #india #isro pic.twitter.com/hy89R7MqBN — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) December 4, 2024 × According to ESA, during Proba3’s pre-launch preparations at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, an anomaly occurred in the redundant propulsion system of the Coronagraph Spacecraft. Proba-3 comprises two crafts – the Occulter and the Coronagraph. This redundant propulsion system (in which an anomaly is observed), is responsible for ensuring that the satellite points in the right direction while in space and can remain in the desired orientation (which side faces which way). For example, an earth-imaging satellite must point its cameras and sensors toward the Earth. In the case of Proba-3, the twin satellites must face the sun. According to ESA, the anomaly is currently under detailed investigation. The use of a software solution by the mission control team at ESA’s ESEC centre at Redu, Belgium is being evaluated to allow a launch on Thursday (Dec 5). Also read: ISRO postpones PSLV-XL Proba-3 mission launch to Thursday due to anomaly What is Proba-3? Proba-3 belongs to the European Space Agency, which represents 22 European nations. The twin Proba-3 satellites were built by a host of European firms, and the satellites were tested in Europe before being flown to India. Proba-3 is a project more than 10 years in the making, which has been implemented with the industrial support of more than 40 companies across Europe, under the leadership of a core team of companies in Spain and Belgium, such as Sener Aerospace (System Prime), Redwire Space (avionics, satellite assembly and testing, satellite operations), Airbus Defence and Space (satellite thermo-mechanical and propulsion, satellite environmental testing), GMV (formation flying algorithm and software, on-ground flight dynamics system), Spacebel (on-board, ground system and simulation software), and Centre Spatial de Liège (Coronagraph scientific instrument). After arriving at the ISRO spaceport, the satellites were tested, integrated, and fuelled at the Indian spaceport by European teams. The anomaly with the satellite was observed during the countdown to the launch when crucial health checks of the rocket systems and satellite systems were conducted. For this mission, ISRO is the launch service provider (responsible for the rocket and its launch), while the European Space Agency is responsible for the satellite, its functioning, and tracking. This is a commercial mission where the European Space Agency is paying the launch cost of approximately $30 million to NewSpace India Ltd., the commercial arm of ISRO.

Proba-3 faced propulsion issue; ESA trying software fix to launch on Thursday

<p>Barely 50 minutes ahead of the scheduled 4:08 pm liftoff on Wednesday afternoon, the Indian Space agency called off the launch of the PSLV-XL rocket, which was to ferry the European Space Agency's Proba-3 satellite to an orbit around the earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Due to an anomaly detected in PROBA-3 spacecraft, the PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 launch has been rescheduled to tomorrow at 16:12 hours," ISRO said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Proba-3 belongs to the European Space Agency, which represents 22 European nations. The twin Proba-3 satellites were built by a host of European firms, and the satellites were tested in Europe before being flown to India.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro-to-launch-europes-proba-3-satellites-2530-hrs-countdown-starts-781157"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;ISRO to launch Europe's Proba-3 satellites - 25.30 hours countdown starts</strong></a></p>

<p>Proba-3 is a project more than ten years in the making, which has been implemented with the industrial support of more than 40 companies across Europe, under the leadership of a core team of companies in Spain and Belgium, such as Sener Aerospace (System Prime), Redwire Space (avionics, satellite assembly and testing, satellite operations), Airbus Defence and Space (satellite thermo-mechanical and propulsion, satellite environmental testing), GMV (formation flying algorithm and software, on-ground flight dynamics system), Spacebel (on-board, ground system and simulation software), and Centre Spatial de Liège (Coronagraph scientific instrument).&nbsp;</p>

<p>After arriving at the ISRO spaceport, the satellites were tested, integrated, and fuelled at the Indian spaceport by European teams.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The anomaly with the satellite was observed during the countdown to the launch, when crucial health checks of the rocket systems and satellite systems are conducted.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;ISRO PSLV-XL Proba-3 Launch: Europe's Solar Mission To Lift-Off Today | World News | WION</strong></p>

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<p>Depending on the issue, the European Space Agency teams at the Indian spaceport will now have to take corrective measures and prepare the satellite for launch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For this mission, ISRO is the launch service provider (responsible for the rocket and its launch), while the European Space Agency is responsible for the satellite, its functioning, and tracking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is a commercial mission where the European Space Agency is paying the launch cost of approximately $30 million to NewSpace India Ltd., the commercial arm of ISRO.&nbsp;</p>


Barely 50 minutes ahead of the scheduled 4:08 pm liftoff on Wednesday afternoon, the Indian Space agency called off the launch of the PSLV-XL rocket, which was to ferry the European Space Agency's Proba-3 satellite to an orbit around the earth.

Barely 50 minutes ahead of the scheduled 4:08 pm liftoff on Wednesday afternoon, the Indian Space agency called off the launch of the PSLV-XL rocket, which was to ferry the European Space Agency's Proba-3 satellite to an orbit around the earth. "Due to an anomaly detected in PROBA-3 spacecraft, the PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 launch has been rescheduled to tomorrow at 16:12 hours," ISRO said. Proba-3 belongs to the European Space Agency, which represents 22 European nations. The twin Proba-3 satellites were built by a host of European firms, and the satellites were tested in Europe before being flown to India. Also read: ISRO to launch Europe's Proba-3 satellites - 25.30 hours countdown starts Proba-3 is a project more than ten years in the making, which has been implemented with the industrial support of more than 40 companies across Europe, under the leadership of a core team of companies in Spain and Belgium, such as Sener Aerospace (System Prime), Redwire Space (avionics, satellite assembly and testing, satellite operations), Airbus Defence and Space (satellite thermo-mechanical and propulsion, satellite environmental testing), GMV (formation flying algorithm and software, on-ground flight dynamics system), Spacebel (on-board, ground system and simulation software), and Centre Spatial de Liège (Coronagraph scientific instrument). After arriving at the ISRO spaceport, the satellites were tested, integrated, and fuelled at the Indian spaceport by European teams. The anomaly with the satellite was observed during the countdown to the launch, when crucial health checks of the rocket systems and satellite systems are conducted. Watch | ISRO PSLV-XL Proba-3 Launch: Europe's Solar Mission To Lift-Off Today | World News | WION × Depending on the issue, the European Space Agency teams at the Indian spaceport will now have to take corrective measures and prepare the satellite for launch. For this mission, ISRO is the launch service provider (responsible for the rocket and its launch), while the European Space Agency is responsible for the satellite, its functioning, and tracking. This is a commercial mission where the European Space Agency is paying the launch cost of approximately $30 million to NewSpace India Ltd., the commercial arm of ISRO.

ISRO postpones PSLV-XL Proba-3 mission launch to Thursday due to anomaly

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<p>At 14.38 hrs on Tuesday, 3rd December, the Indian Space agency ISRO commenced the 25-hour countdown for the PSLV-C59/Proba-3 mission. The countdown is a process when the health checks of various systems and technical parameters of the rocket are conducted, liquid fuels are filled. At 16:08 hrs on Wednesday, the 320-tonne PSLV-XL rocket is to liftoff from the first launchpad at the Indian Spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 44-metre tall PSLV rocket will be carrying the twin (Occulter and Coronagraph) spacecraft of the European Space Agency (ESA), which weigh a total of 550 kg. The mission is known as Proba-3. Proba is a series of missions where the ESA demonstrates new technologies in space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mission's name, 'Proba' is derived from the Latin word, which means "to try or try it"... Proba is an abbreviated version of&nbsp; ‘PRoject for OnBoard Autonomy’.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Around 18 minutes and 40 seconds after liftoff, the twin satellites will be injected into a 600 km&nbsp;x 60,000 km&nbsp;orbit. This is known as a highly-elliptical orbit, which means that the satellites' distance from Earth keeps varying drastically. A large number of satellites are injected into circular orbits, which puts them at a constant distance from the Earth. However, in elliptical orbits, satellites have an apogee (farthest point from Earth) and perigee (closest point from Earth), and their distance from the Earth keeps constantly changing.</p>

<h2><strong>What makes Proba-3 unique?</strong></h2>

<p>Proba-3 is the world’s first precision formation flying mission. It consists of two small satellites launched together that will separate apart to fly in tandem to prepare for future multi-satellite missions flying as one virtual structure. Simply put, Proba-3 satellites will fly at a proximity (approximate distance of 150 metres) to one another. This is similar to how fighter pilots fly their planes in a close formation.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">25:30hrs countdown to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISRO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ISRO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ESA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Proba3?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Proba3</a> mission commenced at 2:38pm IST, today. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSLV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PSLV</a> will liftoff at 4:08pm tomo, Dec 4th<br />
<br />
After a span of 23yrs(Proba-1 in 2001), an <a href="https://twitter.com/ESA_Tech?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESA_Tech</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/esa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@esa</a> satellite is again flying with 🇮🇳🚀<br />
<br />
Explainer video by ISRO &amp; ESA👇👇<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tech</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/science?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#science</a> <a href="https://t.co/qzu5BaL4FD">pic.twitter.com/qzu5BaL4FD</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1863890200914727201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>As a world first, its two satellites—the Coronagraph spacecraft and the Occulter spacecraft—will maintain formation to a few millimetres and arcsecond precision at distances of 144 m or more for six hours at a time. In effect, the pair will be forming a virtual giant satellite. This will be achieved autonomously, without relying on guidance from the ground.</p>

<h2><strong>What will Proba-3 study?</strong></h2>

<p>The solar corona (the outermost part of the sun's atmosphere) has many mysteries associated with it. The solar corona is a million degrees warmer than the surface of the sun, and it is the origin of coronal mass ejections(highly charged particles) which can affect the functioning of satellites, or communication and power networks back on earth. There is immense scientific interest in better understanding the solar corona and related phenomena.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Coronagraph is a device that can artificially block out the bright light of the sun, thereby enhancing the visibility of the faint corona. A solar eclipse, when the moon blocks out the sun, is a great natural opportunity to study the solar corona. But eclipses are rare and occur only for a few minutes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two Proba-3 satellites will be precisely aligned so that the Occulter spacecraft casts a shadow across the Coronagraph spacecraft, thereby enabling the visibility of the faint solar corona. If the two are not perfectly aligned, then the bright disc of the sun will not be hidden from the instrument, and the corona will be obscured by its bright light.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why is Proba-3 being launched from India?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>India's PSLV-XL launcher was chosen to ferry Proba-3 satellites to space, as the European Space Agency (ESA) does not possess a medium-lift rocket that can launch the 550 kg Proba-3 satellites into the desired orbit. The mass of the satellites is above the capability of ESA's Vega-C small rocket, while the large Ariane-6 rocket would be too costly for a mission of this kind. PSLV offers the perfect balance in terms of lift capability and cost. ESA will be paying around € 30 million (approximately Rs 271 crore) to avail the launch services from ISRO's commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).</p>


At 14.38 hrs on Tuesday, 3rd December, the Indian Space agency ISRO commenced the 25-hour countdown for the PSLV-C59/Proba-3 mission. The countdown is a process when the health checks of various systems and technical parameters of the rocket are conducted, liquid fuels are filled.

At 14.38 hrs on Tuesday, 3rd December, the Indian Space agency ISRO commenced the 25-hour countdown for the PSLV-C59/Proba-3 mission. The countdown is a process when the health checks of various systems and technical parameters of the rocket are conducted, liquid fuels are filled. At 16:08 hrs on Wednesday, the 320-tonne PSLV-XL rocket is to liftoff from the first launchpad at the Indian Spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The 44-metre tall PSLV rocket will be carrying the twin (Occulter and Coronagraph) spacecraft of the European Space Agency (ESA), which weigh a total of 550 kg. The mission is known as Proba-3. Proba is a series of missions where the ESA demonstrates new technologies in space. The mission's name, 'Proba' is derived from the Latin word, which means "to try or try it"... Proba is an abbreviated version of ‘PRoject for OnBoard Autonomy’. Around 18 minutes and 40 seconds after liftoff, the twin satellites will be injected into a 600 km x 60,000 km orbit. This is known as a highly-elliptical orbit, which means that the satellites' distance from Earth keeps varying drastically. A large number of satellites are injected into circular orbits, which puts them at a constant distance from the Earth. However, in elliptical orbits, satellites have an apogee (farthest point from Earth) and perigee (closest point from Earth), and their distance from the Earth keeps constantly changing. What makes Proba-3 unique? Proba-3 is the world’s first precision formation flying mission. It consists of two small satellites launched together that will separate apart to fly in tandem to prepare for future multi-satellite missions flying as one virtual structure. Simply put, Proba-3 satellites will fly at a proximity (approximate distance of 150 metres) to one another. This is similar to how fighter pilots fly their planes in a close formation. 25:30hrs countdown to #ISRO #ESA #Proba3 mission commenced at 2:38pm IST, today. #PSLV will liftoff at 4:08pm tomo, Dec 4th After a span of 23yrs(Proba-1 in 2001), an @ESA_Tech @esa satellite is again flying with 🇮🇳🚀 Explainer video by ISRO & ESA👇👇#space #tech #science pic.twitter.com/qzu5BaL4FD — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) December 3, 2024 × As a world first, its two satellites—the Coronagraph spacecraft and the Occulter spacecraft—will maintain formation to a few millimetres and arcsecond precision at distances of 144 m or more for six hours at a time. In effect, the pair will be forming a virtual giant satellite. This will be achieved autonomously, without relying on guidance from the ground. What will Proba-3 study? The solar corona (the outermost part of the sun's atmosphere) has many mysteries associated with it. The solar corona is a million degrees warmer than the surface of the sun, and it is the origin of coronal mass ejections(highly charged particles) which can affect the functioning of satellites, or communication and power networks back on earth. There is immense scientific interest in better understanding the solar corona and related phenomena. A Coronagraph is a device that can artificially block out the bright light of the sun, thereby enhancing the visibility of the faint corona. A solar eclipse, when the moon blocks out the sun, is a great natural opportunity to study the solar corona. But eclipses are rare and occur only for a few minutes. The two Proba-3 satellites will be precisely aligned so that the Occulter spacecraft casts a shadow across the Coronagraph spacecraft, thereby enabling the visibility of the faint solar corona. If the two are not perfectly aligned, then the bright disc of the sun will not be hidden from the instrument, and the corona will be obscured by its bright light. Why is Proba-3 being launched from India? India's PSLV-XL launcher was chosen to ferry Proba-3 satellites to space, as the European Space Agency (ESA) does not possess a medium-lift rocket that can launch the 550 kg Proba-3 satellites into the desired orbit. The mass of the satellites is above the capability of ESA's Vega-C small rocket, while the large Ariane-6 rocket would be too costly for a mission of this kind. PSLV offers the perfect balance in terms of lift capability and cost. ESA will be paying around € 30 million (approximately Rs 271 crore) to avail the launch services from ISRO's commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

ISRO to launch Europe's Proba-3 satellites - 25.30 hours countdown starts

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<p>Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to sign an executive order that would bar transgender individuals from serving in the military, potentially as early as his first day back in office. The order, expected to follow his inauguration on 20 January, would also result in the medical discharge of thousands of currently serving transgender personnel.</p>

<p>As per a report by The Sunday Times, defence sources estimate that approximately 15,000 transgender service members could be medically discharged, effectively deeming them unfit for military duty. This comes as Trump continues to criticise what he calls “woke” policies in the armed forces, claiming some senior officers prioritise diversity and inclusion over military readiness.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-israel-lebanon-are-on-verge-of-ceasefire-deal-to-end-israel-hezbollah-conflict-says-report-778964" target="_blank">'Israel, Lebanon on verge of ceasefire deal to end Israel-Hezbollah conflict'</a></strong></p>

<p>A source cited by the report said that transgender people will be "forced out at a time when the military can’t recruit enough people.” They added that only the Marine Corps is meeting recruitment targets and warned that some of the ones likely to be&nbsp;affected hold senior roles.</p>

<p>The report follows Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth, a former major in the US National Guard and Fox News host, as his defence secretary. Hegseth has been outspoken in his criticism of what he terms “weak” leadership in the military. In his recent book, he called for “housecleaning” within the ranks and called the medical care provided to transgender personnel an unnecessary expense for the Pentagon.</p>

<p>This would not be Trump’s first move against transgender individuals in the military. During his first term, he declared that transgender people would no longer be allowed to serve, citing “tremendous medical costs and disruption.”</p>

<p>That policy, announced by Trump&nbsp;in 2017, came into effect in 2019 before being reversed by President Joe Biden. Biden’s reversal allowed transgender individuals to serve once more, but Trump is now expected to not only reinstate the ban but go further by discharging those currently serving.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/from-picking-vance-to-blocking-pompeo-trump-junior-is-calling-shots-in-us-transition-process-778943" target="_blank">From picking Vance to blocking Pompeo, Trump junior is calling shots in US transition process</a></strong></p>

<p>This anticipated executive order is just one of many actions Trump plans to take upon returning to office. His proposed measures include significant changes to immigration policies and other controversial initiatives likely to face strong opposition.</p>

<p>During his campaign, Trump vowed to roll back civil rights protections for LGBT+ individuals, block transgender students from participating in sports or using facilities aligned with their gender, and ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth across the United States.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to sign an executive order that would bar transgender individuals from serving in the military, potentially as early as his first day back in office.

Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to sign an executive order that would bar transgender individuals from serving in the military, potentially as early as his first day back in office. The order, expected to follow his inauguration on 20 January, would also result in the medical discharge of thousands of currently serving transgender personnel. As per a report by The Sunday Times, defence sources estimate that approximately 15,000 transgender service members could be medically discharged, effectively deeming them unfit for military duty. This comes as Trump continues to criticise what he calls “woke” policies in the armed forces, claiming some senior officers prioritise diversity and inclusion over military readiness. Also read: 'Israel, Lebanon on verge of ceasefire deal to end Israel-Hezbollah conflict' A source cited by the report said that transgender people will be "forced out at a time when the military can’t recruit enough people.” They added that only the Marine Corps is meeting recruitment targets and warned that some of the ones likely to be affected hold senior roles. The report follows Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth, a former major in the US National Guard and Fox News host, as his defence secretary. Hegseth has been outspoken in his criticism of what he terms “weak” leadership in the military. In his recent book, he called for “housecleaning” within the ranks and called the medical care provided to transgender personnel an unnecessary expense for the Pentagon. This would not be Trump’s first move against transgender individuals in the military. During his first term, he declared that transgender people would no longer be allowed to serve, citing “tremendous medical costs and disruption.” That policy, announced by Trump in 2017, came into effect in 2019 before being reversed by President Joe Biden. Biden’s reversal allowed transgender individuals to serve once more, but Trump is now expected to not only reinstate the ban but go further by discharging those currently serving. Also read: From picking Vance to blocking Pompeo, Trump junior is calling shots in US transition process This anticipated executive order is just one of many actions Trump plans to take upon returning to office. His proposed measures include significant changes to immigration policies and other controversial initiatives likely to face strong opposition. During his campaign, Trump vowed to roll back civil rights protections for LGBT+ individuals, block transgender students from participating in sports or using facilities aligned with their gender, and ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth across the United States. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Navy, Coast Guard, NDRF on alert over brewing Cyclone Fengal

<p>In their 47-year history, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) seized a total of 12.85 tonnes&nbsp;of narcotic substances, nearly half of which (6 tonnes) was seized this week from a single Myanmarese fishing vessel that was lurking in the Andaman Sea, in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This unprecedented haul of Crystal Methamphetamine (valued at Rs. 27,500 crore or $USD 3.27 billion, as per modest estimates) was made after a coordinated air-sea operation amid rough seas, while a potential cyclonic storm brewed in the Bay of Bengal, off India's southeast coast.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In their 47yrs of service, the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianCoastGuard?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianCoastGuard</a> has seized total 12.85tons of drugs(all kinds)<br />
<br />
Of this 12.85tons, almost half(6tons) was seized yesterday from a single <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Myanmar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Myanmar</a> origin fishing boat<br />
<br />
Let that sink in! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianOcean?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianOcean</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/drugs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#drugs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/maritime?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#maritime</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smuggling?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#smuggling</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Meth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Meth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/trade?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#trade</a> <a href="https://t.co/VGFLEYxl14">pic.twitter.com/VGFLEYxl14</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1861421419848179880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>As per conservative estimates, Meth is valued at Rs. 5 crore/kg ($0.58 million/kg), which puts the latest seizure value at Rs. 27,500 crore ($3 billion). For perspective, this sum (Rs. 27,500 crore) is more than the cost of the Indian indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant (approx Rs. 21,000cr), the biggest and most sophisticated surface warship built in India. Rs. 27,000crore is also more than twice the annual budget of the Indian Space agency ISRO (which hovers around Rs. 12,500 crore/year). Some estimates say that Meth costs Rs. 10 crore/kg or more.</p>

<p>The record-breaking haul underscores India’s growing role in combating transnational drug trafficking and highlights the complexities of safeguarding the nation’s maritime borders. This haul gains also significance because it took place in an extremely challenging and vast geography, where there are more than 550 islands as part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. This operation, conducted over two days, involved the ICG's air and sea assets working in perfect coordination to intercept the foreign vessel.</p>

<h2><b>Rampant flow of drugs from India's immediate neighbourhood&nbsp;&nbsp;</b></h2>

<p>India’s strategic location&nbsp;between the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran) and the Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand)—two of the world’s largest illicit opium-producing regions, has made it a transit and consumption hub. The aforementioned regions in India's vicinity feed a network of transnational crime syndicates that use land and maritime routes to smuggle contraband across borders.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The maritime domain, with its vast stretches of unpatrolled waters, presents unique challenges for enforcement agencies. Smugglers exploit these routes using sophisticated techniques and technology, such as satellite communication and unregistered vessels, to avoid detection.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>Presence of Myanmarese vessels in Andaman Sea &amp; ICG's heightened vigil&nbsp;</b></h2>

<p>Recent incidents of Myanmarese/Rohingya fishing vessels poaching in the Andaman Seas, within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone, have led to heightened vigil by Indian agencies. According to the Indian Coast Guard, the Andaman Seas were kept under strict surveillance owing to recent inputs from the joint interrogation of an apprehended poacher.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwi5tpPvr_qJAxXqQfUHHThQKucQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-largest-drug-bust-5-tons-meth-seized-by-coast-guard-off-andamans-778983" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-largest-drug-bust-5-tons-meth-seized-by-coast-guard-off-andamans-778983&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi5tpPvr_qJAxXqQfUHHThQKucQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">India`s largest drug bust: 5 tonnes of Meth seized by Coast Guard off Andamans</a></strong></p>

<p>This operation is ICG's third major anti-narcotics breakthrough in the Andaman Sea in recent years. In September 2019, the ICG apprehended a Myanmarese vessel carrying 1,160 kilogramme&nbsp;of ketamine worth Rs. 300 crore ($33.5 million). Three months later, another boat was intercepted with 371 kg&nbsp;of methaqualone valued at&nbsp;Rs. 185 crore ($20.7 million). These operations reflect the increasing reliance of drug cartels on maritime routes to evade land-based enforcement.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>Recap of the latest operation</b></h2>

<p>The operation began on Saturday, November 23, when a routine surveillance flight by an ICG Dornier-228 aircraft detected an unidentified fishing boat in the Andaman Sea, within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Recognizing the potential threat, ICG swiftly launched a coordinated response and tasked fast patrol vessel ICGS Aruna Asaf Ali from Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair). Tracking the suspicious boat for hours, the ICG maintained overnight surveillance in preparation for a VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seize) operation at dawn. On Sunday, November 24, at 6:30 AM, the crew intercepted the vessel, later identified as ‘Soe Wai Yan Htoo’, registered in Myanmar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Manned by six crew members, the boat was carrying several gunny sacks, giving rise to suspicion. Thereafter, the vessel was towed to Sri Vijaya Puram harbor for a thorough investigation, where authorities uncovered 222 bags filled with crystalline methamphetamine, weighing a total of 6,016.87 kg. In addition to the drugs, the ICG seized an INMARSAT satellite phone and Myanmar currency worth 633,850 Kyat (approx Rs. 25,000).&nbsp;</p>


In their 47-year history, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) seized a total of 12.85 tonnes of narcotic substances, nearly half of which (6 tonnes) was seized this week from a single Myanmarese fishing vessel that was lurking in the Andaman Sea, in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

In their 47-year history, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) seized a total of 12.85 tonnes of narcotic substances, nearly half of which (6 tonnes) was seized this week from a single Myanmarese fishing vessel that was lurking in the Andaman Sea, in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This unprecedented haul of Crystal Methamphetamine (valued at Rs. 27,500 crore or $USD 3.27 billion, as per modest estimates) was made after a coordinated air-sea operation amid rough seas, while a potential cyclonic storm brewed in the Bay of Bengal, off India's southeast coast. In their 47yrs of service, the #IndianCoastGuard has seized total 12.85tons of drugs(all kinds) Of this 12.85tons, almost half(6tons) was seized yesterday from a single #Myanmar origin fishing boat Let that sink in! #IndianOcean #drugs #maritime #smuggling #Meth #trade pic.twitter.com/VGFLEYxl14 — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) November 26, 2024 × As per conservative estimates, Meth is valued at Rs. 5 crore/kg ($0.58 million/kg), which puts the latest seizure value at Rs. 27,500 crore ($3 billion). For perspective, this sum (Rs. 27,500 crore) is more than the cost of the Indian indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant (approx Rs. 21,000cr), the biggest and most sophisticated surface warship built in India. Rs. 27,000crore is also more than twice the annual budget of the Indian Space agency ISRO (which hovers around Rs. 12,500 crore/year). Some estimates say that Meth costs Rs. 10 crore/kg or more. The record-breaking haul underscores India’s growing role in combating transnational drug trafficking and highlights the complexities of safeguarding the nation’s maritime borders. This haul gains also significance because it took place in an extremely challenging and vast geography, where there are more than 550 islands as part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. This operation, conducted over two days, involved the ICG's air and sea assets working in perfect coordination to intercept the foreign vessel. Rampant flow of drugs from India's immediate neighbourhood India’s strategic location between the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran) and the Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand)—two of the world’s largest illicit opium-producing regions, has made it a transit and consumption hub. The aforementioned regions in India's vicinity feed a network of transnational crime syndicates that use land and maritime routes to smuggle contraband across borders. The maritime domain, with its vast stretches of unpatrolled waters, presents unique challenges for enforcement agencies. Smugglers exploit these routes using sophisticated techniques and technology, such as satellite communication and unregistered vessels, to avoid detection. Presence of Myanmarese vessels in Andaman Sea & ICG's heightened vigil Recent incidents of Myanmarese/Rohingya fishing vessels poaching in the Andaman Seas, within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone, have led to heightened vigil by Indian agencies. According to the Indian Coast Guard, the Andaman Seas were kept under strict surveillance owing to recent inputs from the joint interrogation of an apprehended poacher. Also read: India`s largest drug bust: 5 tonnes of Meth seized by Coast Guard off Andamans This operation is ICG's third major anti-narcotics breakthrough in the Andaman Sea in recent years. In September 2019, the ICG apprehended a Myanmarese vessel carrying 1,160 kilogramme of ketamine worth Rs. 300 crore ($33.5 million). Three months later, another boat was intercepted with 371 kg of methaqualone valued at Rs. 185 crore ($20.7 million). These operations reflect the increasing reliance of drug cartels on maritime routes to evade land-based enforcement. Recap of the latest operation The operation began on Saturday, November 23, when a routine surveillance flight by an ICG Dornier-228 aircraft detected an unidentified fishing boat in the Andaman Sea, within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Recognizing the potential threat, ICG swiftly launched a coordinated response and tasked fast patrol vessel ICGS Aruna Asaf Ali from Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair). Tracking the suspicious boat for hours, the ICG maintained overnight surveillance in preparation for a VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seize) operation at dawn. On Sunday, November 24, at 6:30 AM, the crew intercepted the vessel, later identified as ‘Soe Wai Yan Htoo’, registered in Myanmar. Manned by six crew members, the boat was carrying several gunny sacks, giving rise to suspicion. Thereafter, the vessel was towed to Sri Vijaya Puram harbor for a thorough investigation, where authorities uncovered 222 bags filled with crystalline methamphetamine, weighing a total of 6,016.87 kg. In addition to the drugs, the ICG seized an INMARSAT satellite phone and Myanmar currency worth 633,850 Kyat (approx Rs. 25,000).

Seized Myanmarese boat carried as much drugs as ICG confiscated in 47 years

<p>Recent incidents of Myanmarese/Rohingya fishing vessels poaching in the Andaman seas, within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone, have led to increased surveillance by Indian agencies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This heightened vigil off India's eastern archipelago is what led to the country's biggest drug haul - 5.5 tonnes (5,500kg) of the synthetic narcotic substance Methamphetamine from a Myanmarese fishing boat "Soe Wai Yan Htoo".</p>

<p>This massive drug haul by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), dwarfs all others that preceded it. Typically, the ICG seizes between 1 and 1.5 tonnes of drugs (of various types) in an entire year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this case, in a single day, in a single operation, more than 5.5 tonnes of Meth was seized from a single boat.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">As a storm brews in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BayofBengal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BayofBengal</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaCoastGuard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndiaCoastGuard</a> Dornier aircraft + Patrol vessel sized the biggest-ever quantity of drugs in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a><br />
<br />
They intercepted a Mynamar-origin boat smuggling 5+tons of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Meth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Meth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Methamphetamine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Methamphetamine</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/drugs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#drugs</a><br />
Estimated worth is well above ₹21K crore <a href="https://t.co/wuccyxvmuq">pic.twitter.com/wuccyxvmuq</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1861052696968532399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>As per conservative estimates, the Meth is valued at ₹5 crore/kg, which puts the latest seizure value at ₹27,500 crore. For perspective, this sum is more than the cost of the Indian indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant, which is the biggest and most sophisticated surface warship built in India. ₹27,000crore is also more than twice the annual budget of the Indian Space Agency ISRO (which hovers around ₹12,500crore a year). Some estimates say that Meth costs ₹10 crore/kg or more.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Over five tonnes of drugs seized in India's Andaman sea.<br />
<br />
All of the contraband was seized in a single day, from a single vessel.<a href="https://twitter.com/eriknjoka?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@eriknjoka</a> joined by WION's <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sdhrthmp</a> for updates.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuKashmir?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuKashmir</a> <a href="https://t.co/nmG3VjSFqN">pic.twitter.com/nmG3VjSFqN</a></p>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1861047325134917804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to the Indian Coast Guard, the Andaman Seas were kept under strict surveillance owing to recent inputs from the joint interrogation of an apprehended poacher.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-navy-helps-in-maintenance-of-maldives-mauritius-coast-guard-vessels-778799"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Indian Navy helps in maintenance of Maldives, Mauritius Coast Guard vessels</strong></a></p>

<p>The now apprehended Myanmarese boat was first spotted by the ICG's Dornier-228 maritime patrol aircraft. The foreign-origin boat was seen operating in a suspicious manner, following which the information was passed on to the Joint Operation Centre (JOC), which subsequently deployed an ICG Fast Patrol Vessel, ICG Ship Aruna Asaf Ali from Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) to intercept the suspicious Myanmarese boat.</p>

<p>Despite the stormy conditions caused by the weather system in the Bay of Bengal, the ICG ship braved rough sea conditions and proceeded to intercept the suspicious Myanmarese boat. The ICG ship shadowed the vessel for several hours, till early morning Sunday, 24th November.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the opportune moment, the team from ICG Ship Aruna Asaf Ali boarded the suspicious Myanmarese boat for investigation. The boat was eight nautical miles (approx 15kms) off Barren Island in Indian Territorial waters when the joint interrogation was carried out around 6:30 am IST, Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Subsequently, the six-member boat crew were identified as Myanmarese nationals. During rummaging of the boat, the boarding party detected a massive quantity of a white crystalline compound and one portable Inmarsat Satellite phone. The white crystalline compound was anticipated to be contraband, and hence the boat was apprehended.</p>

<p>Thereafter, the boat was brought to Sri Vijaya Puram for further investigation. ICG Ship Aruna Asaf Ali, along with the apprehended boat, entered Sri Vijaya Puram at 5 am on Monday, 25th November.</p>

<p>This operation represents a monumental success in India's fight against illegal drug trafficking and poaching in national waters. The seizure is the largest-ever drug haul by the Indian Coast Guard in maritime history, highlighting the growing threat of transnational maritime narcotics trade.&nbsp;</p>


Recent incidents of Myanmarese/Rohingya fishing vessels poaching in the Andaman seas, within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone, have led to increased surveillance by Indian agencies.

Recent incidents of Myanmarese/Rohingya fishing vessels poaching in the Andaman seas, within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone, have led to increased surveillance by Indian agencies. This heightened vigil off India's eastern archipelago is what led to the country's biggest drug haul - 5.5 tonnes (5,500kg) of the synthetic narcotic substance Methamphetamine from a Myanmarese fishing boat "Soe Wai Yan Htoo". This massive drug haul by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), dwarfs all others that preceded it. Typically, the ICG seizes between 1 and 1.5 tonnes of drugs (of various types) in an entire year. In this case, in a single day, in a single operation, more than 5.5 tonnes of Meth was seized from a single boat. As a storm brews in the #BayofBengal, @IndiaCoastGuard Dornier aircraft + Patrol vessel sized the biggest-ever quantity of drugs in #India They intercepted a Mynamar-origin boat smuggling 5+tons of #Meth #Methamphetamine #drugs Estimated worth is well above ₹21K crore pic.twitter.com/wuccyxvmuq — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) November 25, 2024 × As per conservative estimates, the Meth is valued at ₹5 crore/kg, which puts the latest seizure value at ₹27,500 crore. For perspective, this sum is more than the cost of the Indian indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant, which is the biggest and most sophisticated surface warship built in India. ₹27,000crore is also more than twice the annual budget of the Indian Space Agency ISRO (which hovers around ₹12,500crore a year). Some estimates say that Meth costs ₹10 crore/kg or more. Over five tonnes of drugs seized in India's Andaman sea. All of the contraband was seized in a single day, from a single vessel.@eriknjoka joined by WION's @sdhrthmp for updates.#JammuKashmir pic.twitter.com/nmG3VjSFqN — WION (@WIONews) November 25, 2024 × According to the Indian Coast Guard, the Andaman Seas were kept under strict surveillance owing to recent inputs from the joint interrogation of an apprehended poacher. Also read: Indian Navy helps in maintenance of Maldives, Mauritius Coast Guard vessels The now apprehended Myanmarese boat was first spotted by the ICG's Dornier-228 maritime patrol aircraft. The foreign-origin boat was seen operating in a suspicious manner, following which the information was passed on to the Joint Operation Centre (JOC), which subsequently deployed an ICG Fast Patrol Vessel, ICG Ship Aruna Asaf Ali from Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) to intercept the suspicious Myanmarese boat. Despite the stormy conditions caused by the weather system in the Bay of Bengal, the ICG ship braved rough sea conditions and proceeded to intercept the suspicious Myanmarese boat. The ICG ship shadowed the vessel for several hours, till early morning Sunday, 24th November. At the opportune moment, the team from ICG Ship Aruna Asaf Ali boarded the suspicious Myanmarese boat for investigation. The boat was eight nautical miles (approx 15kms) off Barren Island in Indian Territorial waters when the joint interrogation was carried out around 6:30 am IST, Sunday. Subsequently, the six-member boat crew were identified as Myanmarese nationals. During rummaging of the boat, the boarding party detected a massive quantity of a white crystalline compound and one portable Inmarsat Satellite phone. The white crystalline compound was anticipated to be contraband, and hence the boat was apprehended. Thereafter, the boat was brought to Sri Vijaya Puram for further investigation. ICG Ship Aruna Asaf Ali, along with the apprehended boat, entered Sri Vijaya Puram at 5 am on Monday, 25th November. This operation represents a monumental success in India's fight against illegal drug trafficking and poaching in national waters. The seizure is the largest-ever drug haul by the Indian Coast Guard in maritime history, highlighting the growing threat of transnational maritime narcotics trade.

India: Meth seized from Myanmarese boat costs more than aircraft carrier Vikrant, built at a cost of $2.49bn

<p>In a coordinated air-sea operation, the Indian Coast Guard has seized more than five tonnes of synthetic narcotic contraband (initial testing indicates Methamphetamine), off the Andaman and Nicobar islands, WION has learnt. The suspicious foreign-origin fishing vessel was identified and tracked by an Indian Coast Guard Dornier-228 maritime surveillance aircraft, following which fast patrol vessels were tasked to intercept and apprehend it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The foreign-origin vessel with six foreign crew members was apprehended in the Andaman Sea in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and has been taken to Port Blair for further investigation. Port Blair houses the Joint Command of the Indian Armed Forces, which is the country's only tri-services(Army, Navy, Air Force) command, and the regional headquarters of the Indian Coast Guard's Andaman and Nicobar Command.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/it-was-a-stupid-idea-ex-british-soldier-captured-in-russia-while-fighting-for-ukraine-report-778948">Ex-British soldier captured in Russia while fighting for Ukraine: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>There are more than 550 islands of varying sizes in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, making it a highly challenging region to monitor for illegal activities. The latest seizure of contraband comes barely a few days after India conducted its largest-ever Maritime Security drill - Exercise Sea Vigil-2024. The exercise involved the Indian tri-services, six central ministries, and 21 law enforcement agencies from the state and central levels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest operation was carried out amid harsh weather at sea, owing to the storm that is brewing in the Bay of Bengal, off India's East Coast.&nbsp;According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the&nbsp;well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining East Equatorial Indian Ocean concentrated into a depression at 8.30 am Indian Standard Time, Monday, 25th November. In Meteorological parlance, depression is associated with stormy weather, gusty winds, and rough sea conditions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is the single largest contraband seizure in the nearly five-decades-long history of the Indian Coast Guard, which has been at the forefront of maritime law enforcement in India's Exclusive Economic Zone that is spread across 2.4 million square kilometres.&nbsp;For context, the Indian Coast Guard's annual seizure of contraband (all kinds of drugs) usually hovers between 1-1.5 tonnes. However, in the latest operation, 5 tonnes were seized in a single day, from a single vessel, making it unprecedented.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Based on estimates from previous Meth seizures, it can be said that the latest Meth consignment weighing more than 5 tonnes could have a market value running into billions of US dollars (far exceeding Rs 8400 cr).</p>


In a coordinated air-sea operation, the Indian Coast Guard has seized more than five tonnes of synthetic narcotic contraband (initial testing indicates Methamphetamine), off the Andaman and Nicobar islands, WION has learnt.

In a coordinated air-sea operation, the Indian Coast Guard has seized more than five tonnes of synthetic narcotic contraband (initial testing indicates Methamphetamine), off the Andaman and Nicobar islands, WION has learnt. The suspicious foreign-origin fishing vessel was identified and tracked by an Indian Coast Guard Dornier-228 maritime surveillance aircraft, following which fast patrol vessels were tasked to intercept and apprehend it. The foreign-origin vessel with six foreign crew members was apprehended in the Andaman Sea in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and has been taken to Port Blair for further investigation. Port Blair houses the Joint Command of the Indian Armed Forces, which is the country's only tri-services(Army, Navy, Air Force) command, and the regional headquarters of the Indian Coast Guard's Andaman and Nicobar Command. Also read: Ex-British soldier captured in Russia while fighting for Ukraine: Report There are more than 550 islands of varying sizes in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, making it a highly challenging region to monitor for illegal activities. The latest seizure of contraband comes barely a few days after India conducted its largest-ever Maritime Security drill - Exercise Sea Vigil-2024. The exercise involved the Indian tri-services, six central ministries, and 21 law enforcement agencies from the state and central levels. The latest operation was carried out amid harsh weather at sea, owing to the storm that is brewing in the Bay of Bengal, off India's East Coast. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining East Equatorial Indian Ocean concentrated into a depression at 8.30 am Indian Standard Time, Monday, 25th November. In Meteorological parlance, depression is associated with stormy weather, gusty winds, and rough sea conditions. This is the single largest contraband seizure in the nearly five-decades-long history of the Indian Coast Guard, which has been at the forefront of maritime law enforcement in India's Exclusive Economic Zone that is spread across 2.4 million square kilometres. For context, the Indian Coast Guard's annual seizure of contraband (all kinds of drugs) usually hovers between 1-1.5 tonnes. However, in the latest operation, 5 tonnes were seized in a single day, from a single vessel, making it unprecedented. Based on estimates from previous Meth seizures, it can be said that the latest Meth consignment weighing more than 5 tonnes could have a market value running into billions of US dollars (far exceeding Rs 8400 cr).

India's largest drug bust: 5 tonnes of Meth seized by Coast Guard off Andamans

<p>Hectic activity is underway at the Indian Spaceport in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, where the European Proba-3 twin satellites and the Indian PSLV rocket are being prepared for launch on December 4. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), the disc-bearing Occulter Spacecraft has been placed atop the Coronagraph spacecraft. This is the final configuration of Proba-3, where the two spacecraft will be placed in the payload fairing (nose cone) of the rocket and mated with the rocket systems. Because this is a foreign-origin spacecraft, all work related to it is being carried out by teams from European private firms Redwire, Sener, Airbus (all of whom contributed hardware towards the mission), and the fueling team from ArianeGroup.</p>

<p>Of the two – Occulter spacecraft and Coronagraph spacecraft, the former has been fuelled up, while the latter is yet to be fuelled. After the fuelling procedure is completed, the integrated spacecraft will be moved to the rocket for mating with the launch vehicle.</p>

<p>Last week, these satellites were put through a fit check, where they are mated with the payload adapter – a mechanical component that attaches the satellites to the topmost portion of the rocket. This is a crucial step to ensure that the satellite is perfectly interfaced with the rocket, and the satellite can flawlessly separate from the rocket at the desired time. In the case of the Proba-3 satellite, the craft is made by European firms, while the payload adapter for the PSLV rocket is made in India. Therefore, a 'fit check' has to be done to confirm that the spacecraft fits onto the adapter as designed. Only after this step can the spacecraft be fueled up.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>What makes Proba-3 unique?</b></h2>

<p>Proba stands for ‘PRoject for OnBoard Autonomy’.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Proba-3 is the world’s first precision formation flying mission. It consists of two small satellites launched together that will separate apart to fly in tandem, to prepare for future multi-satellite missions flying as one virtual structure.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiJyoi2hPCJAxUj5DkIHURYKh0QxfQBKAB6BAgLEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-raises-tariffs-on-european-brandies-as-eu-countries-approve-duties-on-chinese-evs-765652" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/china-raises-tariffs-on-european-brandies-as-eu-countries-approve-duties-on-chinese-evs-765652&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiJyoi2hPCJAxUj5DkIHURYKh0QxfQBKAB6BAgLEAE">China raises tariffs on European brandies as EU countries approve duties on Chinese EVs</a></strong></p>

<p>As a world first, its two satellites – the Coronagraph spacecraft and the Occulter spacecraft – will maintain formation to a few millimetres and arc second precision at distances of 144 m or more for six hours at a time. In effect, the pair will be forming a virtual giant satellite. This will be achieved autonomously, without relying on guidance from the ground.</p>

<h2><b>What will Proba-3 study?</b></h2>

<p>The solar corona (outermost part of the sun's atmosphere) has many mysteries associated with it. The solar corona is a million degrees warmer than the surface of the sun, and it is the origin of coronal mass ejections (highly charged particles) which can affect the functioning of satellites, or communication and power networks back on earth. There is immense scientific interest in better understanding the solar corona and related phenomena.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiJyoi2hPCJAxUj5DkIHURYKh0QxfQBKAB6BAgNEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasas-europa-clipper-successfully-lifts-off-to-hunt-life-on-jupiters-moon-767435" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/nasas-europa-clipper-successfully-lifts-off-to-hunt-life-on-jupiters-moon-767435&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiJyoi2hPCJAxUj5DkIHURYKh0QxfQBKAB6BAgNEAE">NASA`s Europa Clipper successfully lifts off to find alien life on Jupiter`s moon</a></strong></p>

<p>A Coronagraph is a device that can artificially block out the bright light of the sun, thereby enhancing the visibility of the faint corona. A solar eclipse, when the moon blocks out the sun, is a great natural opportunity to study the solar corona. But eclipses are rare and occur only for a few minutes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two Proba-3 satellites will be precisely aligned so that the Occulter spacecraft casts a shadow across the Coronagraph spacecraft, thereby enabling the visibility of the faint solar corona. If the two are not perfectly aligned, then the bright disc of the Sun will not be hidden from the instrument and the corona will be obscured by its bright light.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>Why is Proba-3 being launched from India?&nbsp;</b></h2>

<p>India's PSLV-XL launcher was chosen to ferry Proba-3 satellites to space, as the ESA&nbsp;does not possess a medium-lift rocket that can launch the 550kg Proba-3 satellites into the desired orbit. The mass of the satellites is above the capability of ESA's Vega-C small rocket, while the large Ariane-6 rocket would be too costly for a mission of this kind. PSLV offers the perfect balance in terms of lift capability and cost. ESA will be paying around €30 million (approx Rs 271cr) to avail the launch services from ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).</p>


Hectic activity is underway at the Indian Spaceport in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, where the European Proba-3 twin satellites and the Indian PSLV rocket are being prepared for launch on December 4.

Hectic activity is underway at the Indian Spaceport in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, where the European Proba-3 twin satellites and the Indian PSLV rocket are being prepared for launch on December 4. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), the disc-bearing Occulter Spacecraft has been placed atop the Coronagraph spacecraft. This is the final configuration of Proba-3, where the two spacecraft will be placed in the payload fairing (nose cone) of the rocket and mated with the rocket systems. Because this is a foreign-origin spacecraft, all work related to it is being carried out by teams from European private firms Redwire, Sener, Airbus (all of whom contributed hardware towards the mission), and the fueling team from ArianeGroup. Of the two – Occulter spacecraft and Coronagraph spacecraft, the former has been fuelled up, while the latter is yet to be fuelled. After the fuelling procedure is completed, the integrated spacecraft will be moved to the rocket for mating with the launch vehicle. Last week, these satellites were put through a fit check, where they are mated with the payload adapter – a mechanical component that attaches the satellites to the topmost portion of the rocket. This is a crucial step to ensure that the satellite is perfectly interfaced with the rocket, and the satellite can flawlessly separate from the rocket at the desired time. In the case of the Proba-3 satellite, the craft is made by European firms, while the payload adapter for the PSLV rocket is made in India. Therefore, a 'fit check' has to be done to confirm that the spacecraft fits onto the adapter as designed. Only after this step can the spacecraft be fueled up. What makes Proba-3 unique? Proba stands for ‘PRoject for OnBoard Autonomy’. Proba-3 is the world’s first precision formation flying mission. It consists of two small satellites launched together that will separate apart to fly in tandem, to prepare for future multi-satellite missions flying as one virtual structure. Also read: China raises tariffs on European brandies as EU countries approve duties on Chinese EVs As a world first, its two satellites – the Coronagraph spacecraft and the Occulter spacecraft – will maintain formation to a few millimetres and arc second precision at distances of 144 m or more for six hours at a time. In effect, the pair will be forming a virtual giant satellite. This will be achieved autonomously, without relying on guidance from the ground. What will Proba-3 study? The solar corona (outermost part of the sun's atmosphere) has many mysteries associated with it. The solar corona is a million degrees warmer than the surface of the sun, and it is the origin of coronal mass ejections (highly charged particles) which can affect the functioning of satellites, or communication and power networks back on earth. There is immense scientific interest in better understanding the solar corona and related phenomena. Also read: NASA`s Europa Clipper successfully lifts off to find alien life on Jupiter`s moon A Coronagraph is a device that can artificially block out the bright light of the sun, thereby enhancing the visibility of the faint corona. A solar eclipse, when the moon blocks out the sun, is a great natural opportunity to study the solar corona. But eclipses are rare and occur only for a few minutes. The two Proba-3 satellites will be precisely aligned so that the Occulter spacecraft casts a shadow across the Coronagraph spacecraft, thereby enabling the visibility of the faint solar corona. If the two are not perfectly aligned, then the bright disc of the Sun will not be hidden from the instrument and the corona will be obscured by its bright light. Why is Proba-3 being launched from India? India's PSLV-XL launcher was chosen to ferry Proba-3 satellites to space, as the ESA does not possess a medium-lift rocket that can launch the 550kg Proba-3 satellites into the desired orbit. The mass of the satellites is above the capability of ESA's Vega-C small rocket, while the large Ariane-6 rocket would be too costly for a mission of this kind. PSLV offers the perfect balance in terms of lift capability and cost. ESA will be paying around €30 million (approx Rs 271cr) to avail the launch services from ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

Europe's Proba-3 satellites to soon be mated with India's PSLV rocket

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