Future scientists and researchers of the Indian Space Organisation ISRO are trained at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram.

IIST: WION reports from Indian institute of space science and technology

The Indian Space Agency, ISRO, has announced a successful runway landing of a space plane 'RLV-TD'. This takes India further into endeavours to build a reusable space vehicle. Watch the video to know more about the space plane and its landing.

India: ISRO collaborates with DRDO, Indian Air Force; space plane 'RLV-TD' makes successful landing

At 7:40am on Sunday morning, the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) performed a feat that brought to fruition an idea born 20 years ago — the runway landing of an unmanned, fully autonomous, indigenous space plane.

Known as 'RLV-TD' (Reusable launch vehicle-Technology Demonstrator) the space place was dropped mid-air from an altitude of 4.5km, by an Indian Air Force 'Chinook' tandem-rotor helicopter, from where the space plane glided down, performed autonomous navigation, guidance and control calculations, manoeuvred deftly and landed precisely on a runway at&nbsp;high speed&nbsp;of 350kmph.

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Top ISRO officials told WION that the plane landed just as planned, perfectly along the runway centreline and the spaceplane is in impeccable condition, at the tarmac in Chitradurga, Karnataka.&nbsp;

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What a wow moment, a 20yr old dream becomes a reality for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> 🇮🇳🇮🇳🚀🚀🚀 
 
Here’s the RLV-TD <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#indian</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> plane autonomously coming in to land and touching down at speeds close to 350kmph… it was a flawless landing and the plane is in impeccable condition <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isro</a> <a href="https://t.co/kuIDo2GqqP">pic.twitter.com/kuIDo2GqqP</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1642392331860213761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"In a first in the world, a winged body has been carried to an altitude of 4.5 km by a helicopter and released for carrying out an autonomous landing on a runway. RLV is essentially a space plane with a low lift to drag ratio requiring an approach at high glide angles that necessitated a landing at high velocities of 350 kmph," said the Indian Space agency, ISRO.

Post the successful touch-down and landing of the space plane, ISRO Chairman&nbsp;Dr. S. Somanath appreciated the team of Indian scientists. This space plane landing is an effort of Indian Space agency ISRO, India's Defence Research Lab DRDO, and the Indian Air Force, among others.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-president-ramchandra-paudel-admitted-to-hospital-578148">Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel admitted to hospital</a>

"The very first (runway landing) experiment is now successful. I'm very sure it is meeting almost all the objectives that we had defined long back. This will continue, few more landing experiments will be done under different conditions to prove the ruggedness of the software and the hardware that we have put in," said Dr. S. Somanath. He was present along with his team to witness the historic moment.&nbsp;

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“Today’s successful landing demonstration is a step towards developing India’s own re-usable rocket/landing craft..work underway to take this vehicle to orbit and then land it successfully ‘ORV’ mission.. congrats. More tests coming up” says Dr.S. Somanath, Chairman <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isro</a> 🚀🇮🇳🇮🇳 <a href="https://t.co/IRePhaUJZy">pic.twitter.com/IRePhaUJZy</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1642399731287482368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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He added that this was a great opportunity for India to develop an 'ORV' (orbital landing experiment) and that this work was already progressing. ORV is where the same space plane is flown to space atop a rocket and then brought back to land, completely autonomously.

"Today's step is taking us closer to reusable rocket/landing craft for very specific mission goals," he said. India has so far been using expendable rockets that fall back into the sea after launch, once this spaceplane becomes a reality, it would make India among the handful nations that have a re-usable orbital space vehicle.&nbsp;

Explaining the progress of RLV testing, VSSC Director, Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair told WION about how the same RLV-TD vehicle had earlier (in 2016) successfully been carried to 65km&nbsp;altitude by a rocket. From there, the vehicle re-entered the denser parts of the atmopshere at Hypersonic speeds, almost five times the speed of sound and finally made a splashdown landing in the Bay of Bengal (simulated runway).

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However, the ocean landing was a preliminary step and the precise runway landing is a really sophisticated and technologically complex feat that takes forward the progress of making the spaceplane a reality, he added.&nbsp;

Dr. Nair also said that this RLV-TD vehicle was meant for demonstration purpose and the real vehicle would be about 1.6 times larger. Specifying how the final RLV spaceplane would work, he said that the spaceplane would be mounted atop a modified-GSLV rocket and then launched into space, where the spaceplane would be autonomously carrying out on-board experiments and operating its payloads.

The spaceplane could function in Low Earth orbit for up to a month and then autonomously perform de-orbiting and re-enter the earth's atmosphere and come in to land on the runway. This ensures that the spaceplane can be fully re-used, after carrying out a few refurbishments.&nbsp;

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A hero is born! India’s indigenous <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> plane RLV-TD seen autonomously carrying out navigation, guidance, control, as it comes in for a perfect landing, right on the runway centre line 
 
It’s moments like these that reflect decades of planning, tireless R&amp;D 🚀🚀🇮🇳🇮🇳 <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tech</a> <a href="https://t.co/TT1w4Tqpbt">pic.twitter.com/TT1w4Tqpbt</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1642405148399124480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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On the latest test and the homegrown systems for the same, ISRO said LEX utilised several indigenous systems. Localised Navigation systems based on pseudolite systems, instrumentation, and sensor systems, etc. were developed by ISRO.

Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the landing site with a Ka-band Radar Altimeter provided accurate altitude information. The RLV LEX demanded several state-of-the-art technologies including accurate Navigation hardware and software, Pseudolite system, Ka-band Radar Altimeter, NavIC receiver, indigenous Landing Gear, Aerofoil honey-comb fins and brake parachute system, the Indian space agency added.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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At 7:40am on Sunday morning, the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) performed a feat that brought to fruition an idea born 20 years ago — the runway landing of an unmanned, fully autonomous, indigenous space plane.

At 7:40am on Sunday morning, the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) performed a feat that brought to fruition an idea born 20 years ago — the runway landing of an unmanned, fully autonomous, indigenous space plane. Known as 'RLV-TD' (Reusable launch vehicle-Technology Demonstrator) the space place was dropped mid-air from an altitude of 4.5km, by an Indian Air Force 'Chinook' tandem-rotor helicopter, from where the space plane glided down, performed autonomous navigation, guidance and control calculations, manoeuvred deftly and landed precisely on a runway at high speed of 350kmph. Watch | Hot air balloon catches fire mid-air in Mexico, two dead and a child injured Top ISRO officials told WION that the plane landed just as planned, perfectly along the runway centreline and the spaceplane is in impeccable condition, at the tarmac in Chitradurga, Karnataka. What a wow moment, a 20yr old dream becomes a reality for #isro #india 🇮🇳🇮🇳🚀🚀🚀 Here’s the RLV-TD #indian #space plane autonomously coming in to land and touching down at speeds close to 350kmph… it was a flawless landing and the plane is in impeccable condition @isro pic.twitter.com/kuIDo2GqqP — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) April 2, 2023 × "In a first in the world, a winged body has been carried to an altitude of 4.5 km by a helicopter and released for carrying out an autonomous landing on a runway. RLV is essentially a space plane with a low lift to drag ratio requiring an approach at high glide angles that necessitated a landing at high velocities of 350 kmph," said the Indian Space agency, ISRO. Post the successful touch-down and landing of the space plane, ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath appreciated the team of Indian scientists. This space plane landing is an effort of Indian Space agency ISRO, India's Defence Research Lab DRDO, and the Indian Air Force, among others. Also Read | Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel admitted to hospital "The very first (runway landing) experiment is now successful. I'm very sure it is meeting almost all the objectives that we had defined long back. This will continue, few more landing experiments will be done under different conditions to prove the ruggedness of the software and the hardware that we have put in," said Dr. S. Somanath. He was present along with his team to witness the historic moment. “Today’s successful landing demonstration is a step towards developing India’s own re-usable rocket/landing craft..work underway to take this vehicle to orbit and then land it successfully ‘ORV’ mission.. congrats. More tests coming up” says Dr.S. Somanath, Chairman @isro 🚀🇮🇳🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/IRePhaUJZy — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) April 2, 2023 × He added that this was a great opportunity for India to develop an 'ORV' (orbital landing experiment) and that this work was already progressing. ORV is where the same space plane is flown to space atop a rocket and then brought back to land, completely autonomously. "Today's step is taking us closer to reusable rocket/landing craft for very specific mission goals," he said. India has so far been using expendable rockets that fall back into the sea after launch, once this spaceplane becomes a reality, it would make India among the handful nations that have a re-usable orbital space vehicle. Explaining the progress of RLV testing, VSSC Director, Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair told WION about how the same RLV-TD vehicle had earlier (in 2016) successfully been carried to 65km altitude by a rocket. From there, the vehicle re-entered the denser parts of the atmopshere at Hypersonic speeds, almost five times the speed of sound and finally made a splashdown landing in the Bay of Bengal (simulated runway). Watch | WION Exclusive: Indian Actor Dia Mirza speaks to WION on playing Geetanjali in 'Bheed' × However, the ocean landing was a preliminary step and the precise runway landing is a really sophisticated and technologically complex feat that takes forward the progress of making the spaceplane a reality, he added. Dr. Nair also said that this RLV-TD vehicle was meant for demonstration purpose and the real vehicle would be about 1.6 times larger. Specifying how the final RLV spaceplane would work, he said that the spaceplane would be mounted atop a modified-GSLV rocket and then launched into space, where the spaceplane would be autonomously carrying out on-board experiments and operating its payloads. The spaceplane could function in Low Earth orbit for up to a month and then autonomously perform de-orbiting and re-enter the earth's atmosphere and come in to land on the runway. This ensures that the spaceplane can be fully re-used, after carrying out a few refurbishments. A hero is born! India’s indigenous #space plane RLV-TD seen autonomously carrying out navigation, guidance, control, as it comes in for a perfect landing, right on the runway centre line It’s moments like these that reflect decades of planning, tireless R&D 🚀🚀🇮🇳🇮🇳 @isro #tech pic.twitter.com/TT1w4Tqpbt — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) April 2, 2023 × On the latest test and the homegrown systems for the same, ISRO said LEX utilised several indigenous systems. Localised Navigation systems based on pseudolite systems, instrumentation, and sensor systems, etc. were developed by ISRO. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the landing site with a Ka-band Radar Altimeter provided accurate altitude information. The RLV LEX demanded several state-of-the-art technologies including accurate Navigation hardware and software, Pseudolite system, Ka-band Radar Altimeter, NavIC receiver, indigenous Landing Gear, Aerofoil honey-comb fins and brake parachute system, the Indian space agency added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

EXCLUSIVE: India lands unmanned spaceplane with pin-point accuracy; next destination is space

IIST: India's biggest space institute

The Internet came to transform our lives. Gone are the days when the pen was the most important tool in this world. Times have changed and now the internet rules the world. With the gradual shift of content on the internet, the need for digital connectivity became crucial. Currently, 'Starlink' is the key player among satellite internet service providers. To compete with this mega player, India stepped in. In a historic feat, ISRO launched 36 Internet satellites into space on March 25.

India stays committed to digital connectivity as it launches 36 OneWeb satellites in Space

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - ISRO successfully launched LMV3 rocket carrying 36 satellite. Egyptian police is using fake account to arrest LGBTQ + community says the app

ISRO launches LMV3 rocket carrying 36 satellite; Egypt police using fake account to arrest LGBTQ

The Indian space agency, ISRO, carried out two launches of its largest and heaviest rocket, in record time - on October 23, 2022, and on Sunday, March 26. Both were commercial missions, where the LVM3 rocket ferried a total of 72 satellites of UK-based telecom firm OneWeb, thus earning ISRO (its commercial-arm NSIL) a total revenue of more than Rs.1100cr or $137 million. These two launch missions enabled OneWeb to complete its constellation comprising 618 broadband satellites in Low Earth Orbit.&nbsp;

Notably, these are the only commercial missions that India's heaviest launcher has performed. OneWeb Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal revealed the contribution of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in facilitating these commercial launches with ISRO, which falls under the Department of Space that is part of the prime minister's portfolio.&nbsp;

On the occasion of the completion of OneWeb's Gen1 constellation, Mittal said that India stepped up to help when the Bharti group and UK-govt backed company faced serious setbacks. Recalling the tough situation, he said that the Russia-Ukraine war had led to the cancellation of six launches that were contracted with the Russian space agency Roscosmos.&nbsp;

"The six launches were contracted and fully paid for(and after cancellation) we are struggling to get the money back. We lost 36 satellites and three dispensers(which eject the satellites into orbit) and a year's time," he said.&nbsp;

As per reports, after the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the Russian space agency demanded that OneWeb guarantee that their satellites won't be used for military purposes (against Russia). Added to this, Moscow's space industry had also been hit as a consequence of the war and Russia had demanded that the UK government sell its stake in OneWeb.&nbsp;

While OneWeb ended up cancelling the launches with the Russian agency on their Soyuz rockets, it has been unable to retrieve 36 satellites worth nearly $50 million from the Russia-operated spaceport in Kazakhstan.&nbsp;

"In the global commercial rocket launch industry, with Soyuz (Russian rocket) taken out, the scenario has not been easy. Only very few options are left. SpaceX gave us three rockets (despite OneWeb being a competitor to Elon Musk's Starlink) and Prime Minister Modi recognised the moment and directed the entire Indian space ecosystem to step up and give two rockets to OneWeb and that has been a gamechanger for us," Mittal said.&nbsp;

Referring to the two successful OneWeb launches carried out by ISRO, he said that ISRO and its commercial-arm NSIL had established themselves as serious and significant players in the global commercial launch market.&nbsp;

Elaborating on the opportunity that lay ahead for ISRO, Mittal said that there is a void created in the absence of workhorse launchers such as Russian Soyuz rockets, Europe Ariane V (retired) and the immense delays on the Ariane VI rocket. He expressed hope that India's ISRO would take up this opportunity to become a dominant competitor to SpaceX in the launch industry.&nbsp;

Speaking at the post-launch televised address, ISRO Chairman Dr S Somanath also acknowledged the role of the Indian prime minister and the Indian government in offering support and making the LVM3 rockets available for commercial launches.&nbsp;

"It was at such a short notice that this opportunity to launch 72 OneWeb satellites came to us. We had to get ready with required approvals and the processes to enable such commercial missions", he said.&nbsp;

As a government-run space agency, ISRO plans its missions well in advance and builds, and allocates rockets as per the national priorities and based on advance requests from customers. In such a scenario, making rockets available at short notice for commercial missions is quite challenging.&nbsp;

Dr Somanath also said that the two commercial launches of LVM3 had only increased ISRO's confidence in their largest rocket, which is also meant to perform the Gaganyaan astronaut mission. He revealed that the LVM-M3 rocket that flew on Sunday, March 26 had featured the twin 'S-200' motors that are designed with increased margins and features for Gaganyaan configuration. There were many more improvements in this rocket, which are aimed towards making it human-rated (suitable and safe for carrying astronauts).

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The Indian space agency, ISRO, carried out two launches of its largest and heaviest rocket, in record time - on October 23, 2022, and on Sunday, March 26. Both were commercial missions, where the LVM3 rocket ferried a total of 72 satellites of UK-based telecom firm OneWeb, thus earning ISRO (its commercial-arm NSIL) a total revenue of more than Rs.

The Indian space agency, ISRO, carried out two launches of its largest and heaviest rocket, in record time - on October 23, 2022, and on Sunday, March 26. Both were commercial missions, where the LVM3 rocket ferried a total of 72 satellites of UK-based telecom firm OneWeb, thus earning ISRO (its commercial-arm NSIL) a total revenue of more than Rs.1100cr or $137 million. These two launch missions enabled OneWeb to complete its constellation comprising 618 broadband satellites in Low Earth Orbit. Notably, these are the only commercial missions that India's heaviest launcher has performed. OneWeb Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal revealed the contribution of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in facilitating these commercial launches with ISRO, which falls under the Department of Space that is part of the prime minister's portfolio. On the occasion of the completion of OneWeb's Gen1 constellation, Mittal said that India stepped up to help when the Bharti group and UK-govt backed company faced serious setbacks. Recalling the tough situation, he said that the Russia-Ukraine war had led to the cancellation of six launches that were contracted with the Russian space agency Roscosmos. "The six launches were contracted and fully paid for(and after cancellation) we are struggling to get the money back. We lost 36 satellites and three dispensers(which eject the satellites into orbit) and a year's time," he said. As per reports, after the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the Russian space agency demanded that OneWeb guarantee that their satellites won't be used for military purposes (against Russia). Added to this, Moscow's space industry had also been hit as a consequence of the war and Russia had demanded that the UK government sell its stake in OneWeb. While OneWeb ended up cancelling the launches with the Russian agency on their Soyuz rockets, it has been unable to retrieve 36 satellites worth nearly $50 million from the Russia-operated spaceport in Kazakhstan. "In the global commercial rocket launch industry, with Soyuz (Russian rocket) taken out, the scenario has not been easy. Only very few options are left. SpaceX gave us three rockets (despite OneWeb being a competitor to Elon Musk's Starlink) and Prime Minister Modi recognised the moment and directed the entire Indian space ecosystem to step up and give two rockets to OneWeb and that has been a gamechanger for us," Mittal said. Referring to the two successful OneWeb launches carried out by ISRO, he said that ISRO and its commercial-arm NSIL had established themselves as serious and significant players in the global commercial launch market. Elaborating on the opportunity that lay ahead for ISRO, Mittal said that there is a void created in the absence of workhorse launchers such as Russian Soyuz rockets, Europe Ariane V (retired) and the immense delays on the Ariane VI rocket. He expressed hope that India's ISRO would take up this opportunity to become a dominant competitor to SpaceX in the launch industry. Speaking at the post-launch televised address, ISRO Chairman Dr S Somanath also acknowledged the role of the Indian prime minister and the Indian government in offering support and making the LVM3 rockets available for commercial launches. "It was at such a short notice that this opportunity to launch 72 OneWeb satellites came to us. We had to get ready with required approvals and the processes to enable such commercial missions", he said. As a government-run space agency, ISRO plans its missions well in advance and builds, and allocates rockets as per the national priorities and based on advance requests from customers. In such a scenario, making rockets available at short notice for commercial missions is quite challenging. Dr Somanath also said that the two commercial launches of LVM3 had only increased ISRO's confidence in their largest rocket, which is also meant to perform the Gaganyaan astronaut mission. He revealed that the LVM-M3 rocket that flew on Sunday, March 26 had featured the twin 'S-200' motors that are designed with increased margins and features for Gaganyaan configuration. There were many more improvements in this rocket, which are aimed towards making it human-rated (suitable and safe for carrying astronauts). WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. v

ISRO earns $137mn as PM Modi asked ISRO to launch OneWeb satellites: OneWeb chairman

ISRO's second mission in 2023 has taken off successfully. The largest indigenous rocket LMV3 along with 36 satellites is now on route, space. This is the second commercial mission performed by LMV3.

India's LMV3 to carry a payload of 36 satellites

ISRO's second mission in 2023 has taken off successfully. The largest indigenous rocket LVM3 along with 36 satellites is now on route, space. This is the second commercial mission performed by LVM3.

India's largest, heaviest rocket LMV3 set to take off, to carry payload of 36 satellites

The countdown for the second commercial launch of India's largest rocket LVM3 began at 8:30am on Saturday, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, an official at Indian Space Research Organisation told WION.

During the 24-and-a-half-hour countdown, the final health checks of the rocket and satellite systems and fuel filling into the liquid and cryogenic stages of the rocket will be carried out.&nbsp;

Dubbed as 'LVM3-M3/OneWeb India-2 Mission', this will be the LVM3 rocket's sixth mission overall and its second mission to Low Earth orbit (between 400-2000km&nbsp;above earth).

ALSO READ -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/indias-largest-rocket-lvm3-to-perform-second-commercial-mission-on-march-26-574007">India's largest rocket LVM3 to perform second commercial mission on March 26</a>

Notably, this is also the shortest duration in which ISRO is carrying out two missions of the LVM3 rocket — on October 23, 2022 and March 26, 2022.

Such quick execution is being carried out in order to meet the timelines of the customer OneWeb, whose satellites are being launched.&nbsp;

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The integration, vehicle readiness <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/video?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#video</a> for LVM3-M3 mission is out! 
 
Now that countdown has commenced, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/weather?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#weather</a> looks bright &amp; sunny, it's all go for lift-off at 9am tomo <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OneWeb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OneWeb</a> 
 
Can't wait to report from SDSC SHAR, after a 1.5month gap since SSLVD2 
🚀🚀🇮🇳🇮🇳🚀🚀 <a href="https://t.co/AMoCRzwkam">pic.twitter.com/AMoCRzwkam</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1639486210057043968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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OneWeb has been utilising the launch services of SpaceX, Arianespace and ISRO to place all its first generation constellation satellites in orbit. So far, OneWeb satellites have flown 17 times.&nbsp;ISRO will be carrying the 18th&nbsp;set on Sunday.

"We are one launch away from achieving global coverage. This last launch with ISRO/NSIL will mark over 600 satellites in space, which is the number needed to go commercially live," a OneWeb spokerperson told WION.

ALSO WATCH -&nbsp;ISRO Rocket Launch: Mission grants entry of LVM3 into commercial lounge service area

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The firm's services are&nbsp;already live for customers 24x7 in 50 degrees north latitude — Alaska, Canada, Greenland, UK and Northern Europe. By the end of this year, we plan to initiate services across the Globe, it was added.

This is a dedicated commercial mission being carried out through ISRO's commercial arm&nbsp;NSIL (NewSpace India Limited).

The rocket will carry&nbsp;36 OneWeb Gen-1 satellites with a total mass of 5,805 kg, into a 450 km circular Low Earth Orbit with an inclination of 87.4° degrees.&nbsp;&nbsp;

OneWeb is a UK-based firm being backed by India's Bharti Group. OneWeb aims to offer high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity from space via their constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit.&nbsp;

LVM3 is a three-stage vehicle with two S200 solid motors as first stage, L110 twin liquid engines as second stage and a final C25 cryogenic upper stage. This 43.5 m tall vehicle has a lift-off mass of 643tons.

ISRO said that the vehicle's&nbsp;cryogenic stage is uniquely designed to orient and re-orient in orthogonal direction to meet the customer requirements of injecting satellites precisely and with a gap to avoid collision.

Ejecting 36 satellites is a complex manoeuvre that ISRO carried out during the earlier OneWeb launch in October 2022 as well.

OneWeb had signed a pact with NSIL and ISRO for placing a total of 72 satellites in orbit (in two batches of 36).

This deal has raked in more than Rs 1000 crore (Rs 10 billion) revenue for the Indian Government-run space agency.

It also provides an opportunity for ISRO to demonstrate the capability and reliability of their largest rocket for offering commercial launch services. Until October 2022, ISRO's LVM3 or GSLV Mk3 rocket was being used only for fulfilling India's national missions such as Chandrayaan-2 and launching heavy satellites.

Notably, the LVM3 has performed successful launches in all its missions to date.&nbsp;

"Subject to all regulatory approvals being in place, we are confident of the commencement of our services later this year for India and have announced distribution agreements with Hughes to provide services" the OneWeb spokesperson told WION, when queried&nbsp;about service roll out in India.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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The countdown for the second commercial launch of India's largest rocket LVM3 began at 8:30am on Saturday, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, an official at Indian Space Research Organisation told WION.

The countdown for the second commercial launch of India's largest rocket LVM3 began at 8:30am on Saturday, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, an official at Indian Space Research Organisation told WION. During the 24-and-a-half-hour countdown, the final health checks of the rocket and satellite systems and fuel filling into the liquid and cryogenic stages of the rocket will be carried out. Dubbed as 'LVM3-M3/OneWeb India-2 Mission', this will be the LVM3 rocket's sixth mission overall and its second mission to Low Earth orbit (between 400-2000km above earth). ALSO READ - India's largest rocket LVM3 to perform second commercial mission on March 26 Notably, this is also the shortest duration in which ISRO is carrying out two missions of the LVM3 rocket — on October 23, 2022 and March 26, 2022. Such quick execution is being carried out in order to meet the timelines of the customer OneWeb, whose satellites are being launched. The integration, vehicle readiness #video for LVM3-M3 mission is out! Now that countdown has commenced, #weather looks bright & sunny, it's all go for lift-off at 9am tomo @isro @OneWeb Can't wait to report from SDSC SHAR, after a 1.5month gap since SSLVD2 🚀🚀🇮🇳🇮🇳🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/AMoCRzwkam — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) March 25, 2023 × OneWeb has been utilising the launch services of SpaceX, Arianespace and ISRO to place all its first generation constellation satellites in orbit. So far, OneWeb satellites have flown 17 times. ISRO will be carrying the 18th set on Sunday. "We are one launch away from achieving global coverage. This last launch with ISRO/NSIL will mark over 600 satellites in space, which is the number needed to go commercially live," a OneWeb spokerperson told WION. ALSO WATCH - ISRO Rocket Launch: Mission grants entry of LVM3 into commercial lounge service area × The firm's services are already live for customers 24x7 in 50 degrees north latitude — Alaska, Canada, Greenland, UK and Northern Europe. By the end of this year, we plan to initiate services across the Globe, it was added. This is a dedicated commercial mission being carried out through ISRO's commercial arm NSIL (NewSpace India Limited). The rocket will carry 36 OneWeb Gen-1 satellites with a total mass of 5,805 kg, into a 450 km circular Low Earth Orbit with an inclination of 87.4° degrees. OneWeb is a UK-based firm being backed by India's Bharti Group. OneWeb aims to offer high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity from space via their constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit. LVM3 is a three-stage vehicle with two S200 solid motors as first stage, L110 twin liquid engines as second stage and a final C25 cryogenic upper stage. This 43.5 m tall vehicle has a lift-off mass of 643tons. ISRO said that the vehicle's cryogenic stage is uniquely designed to orient and re-orient in orthogonal direction to meet the customer requirements of injecting satellites precisely and with a gap to avoid collision. Ejecting 36 satellites is a complex manoeuvre that ISRO carried out during the earlier OneWeb launch in October 2022 as well. OneWeb had signed a pact with NSIL and ISRO for placing a total of 72 satellites in orbit (in two batches of 36). This deal has raked in more than Rs 1000 crore (Rs 10 billion) revenue for the Indian Government-run space agency. It also provides an opportunity for ISRO to demonstrate the capability and reliability of their largest rocket for offering commercial launch services. Until October 2022, ISRO's LVM3 or GSLV Mk3 rocket was being used only for fulfilling India's national missions such as Chandrayaan-2 and launching heavy satellites. Notably, the LVM3 has performed successful launches in all its missions to date. "Subject to all regulatory approvals being in place, we are confident of the commencement of our services later this year for India and have announced distribution agreements with Hughes to provide services" the OneWeb spokesperson told WION, when queried about service roll out in India. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Countdown begins for ISRO's launch of it largest LVM3 rocket

The Indian space agency has announced that its largest rocket LVM3 will be launched at 9am on March 26 from the second launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This will be the rocket's sixth mission overall and its second commercial mission.

India's largest rocket LVM3 to perform second commercial mission on March 26

With the establishment of the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1963 at Thumba, a location close to the magnetic equator, there was a quantum jump in the scope for aeronomy and atmospheric sciences in India.

WION at ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space centre

ISRO is planning to send civilians into space for about $700,000 a ticket by 2030. India's premier space agency will now compete with SpaceX in space tourism. Will India be the next big thing in space tourism? Mohammed Saleh reports.

Gravitas: ISRO pushes for space tourism

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somnath told Hindustan Times that "work is in progress" around India's very own space tourism module, in a report published on Thursday. As quoted, Somnath further said that the module is both "safe and reusable".&nbsp;

Space tourism means spaceflights that are sub-orbital, orbital, and sometimes beyond Earth orbit. It is quite fascinating and refers to the activity of travelling into space, mostly for recreational purposes.&nbsp;

Several companies including Virgin Galactic and SpaceX have already taken steps and floated plans for commercial spaceflight soon. But such flights have been costly.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro-chandrayaan-3-spacecraft-successfully-completes-vibration-and-acoustic-tests-572654">ISRO: Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully completes vibration and acoustic tests</a>&nbsp;

As quoted, the ISRO chairman said that the enthusiasts will be able to take a trip to space by 2030 as he put a timeline to the space travel module. As per the report, the estimated cost of the trip would be Rs 6 crore.&nbsp;

Somnath said, "The per ticket price is likely to be around Rs 6 crore. People who take the trip will also be able to call themselves astronauts."&nbsp;

Watch this report:&nbsp;

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Jitendra Singh, who is Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology, Atomic Energy and Space, said earlier this year in February that ISRO is working on India's sub-orbital space tourism mission.&nbsp;

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Singh said: "Through Gaganyaan — India's maiden human spaceflight programme — Isro is engaged in the development of various technologies, which are essential building blocks for human space missions."&nbsp;

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somnath told Hindustan Times that "work is in progress" around India's very own space tourism module, in a report published on Thursday.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somnath told Hindustan Times that "work is in progress" around India's very own space tourism module, in a report published on Thursday. As quoted, Somnath further said that the module is both "safe and reusable". Space tourism means spaceflights that are sub-orbital, orbital, and sometimes beyond Earth orbit. It is quite fascinating and refers to the activity of travelling into space, mostly for recreational purposes. Several companies including Virgin Galactic and SpaceX have already taken steps and floated plans for commercial spaceflight soon. But such flights have been costly. ALSO READ | ISRO: Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully completes vibration and acoustic tests As quoted, the ISRO chairman said that the enthusiasts will be able to take a trip to space by 2030 as he put a timeline to the space travel module. As per the report, the estimated cost of the trip would be Rs 6 crore. Somnath said, "The per ticket price is likely to be around Rs 6 crore. People who take the trip will also be able to call themselves astronauts." Watch this report: × Jitendra Singh, who is Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology, Atomic Energy and Space, said earlier this year in February that ISRO is working on India's sub-orbital space tourism mission. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Singh said: "Through Gaganyaan — India's maiden human spaceflight programme — Isro is engaged in the development of various technologies, which are essential building blocks for human space missions." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Work is in progress' around India's very own space tourism module. Read details about ticket price, and more

Indicating its rapid progress towards getting its third lunar spacecraft mission-ready, the Indian space agency has revealed that the Chandrayaan-3 integrated spacecraft underwent crucial tests.

Indicating its rapid progress towards getting its third lunar spacecraft mission-ready, the Indian space agency has revealed that the Chandrayaan-3 integrated spacecraft underwent crucial tests. The integrated spacecraft, comprising the propulsion module, lander and rover, underwent tests to check whether it can handle the excess amounts of noise and vibration that are generated at the time of the rocket's launch and flight. For context, the sound emanating from the launch of the LVM3 rocket(which is meant to launch Chandrayaan-3) can be heard at least for an eight-kilometre radius around the launchpad. Nestled securely in the nose cone(payload fairing) of the rocket, the spacecraft would have to operate normally even after being exposed to such noise and vibration at launch. Though the payload fairing is adequately protected to shield the spacecraft from the harsh launch environment, it is essential to test and ensure the survivability of the spacecraft. ISRO carried out these tests at the UR Rao Satellite Centre(URSC) in Bengaluru, India's lead facility for designing, developing and building satellites and interplanetary probes. "These tests were particularly challenging, considering the fact that the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is a composite of three modules -Propulsion Module, Lander Module and the Rover module," ISRO said. The vibration and acoustic tests carried out on the integrated spacecraft have provided sufficient confidence in the structural integrity and survivability in the launch environment, the Indian Space agency added. WATCH | Cryogenic engine for ISRO's third lunar mission × In recent weeks, ISRO had been making many revelations about the tests that are being carried out in the run-up to the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Intense testing is being carried out on both the rocket components and the spacecraft performance and related parameters. The CE-20 Cryogenic engine of the LVM3 rocket was successfully test-fired at ISRO's Propulsion Complex, the spacecraft was tested for Electromagnetic interference and Electromagnetic compatibility to ensure that it can function in the unforgiving environs of space and lunar orbit. ISRO Chairman Dr S.Somanath has been pointing out that the Chandrayaan-3 Lunar lander-rover probe could be launched around June-July 2023 and ISRO's efforts towards testing the rocket and satellite components show the pace of activity towards the high-profile mission. ISRO has performed two Lunar missions to date - Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter in 2008 (which is credited with affirming the presence of water molecules on the moon) and Chandrayaan-2 in 2019. The orbiter-lander-rover mission in 2019 did not accomplish its major goal of a controlled lunar landing and the lander-rover was lost on un controlled impact onto the moon's surface. The Chandrayaan-2 rover continues to orbit the moon and provide valuable data, ISRO has said and this orbiter would also be used to support the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which doesn't have an orbiter of its own. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

ISRO: Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully completes vibration and acoustic tests

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will carry out the launch of its heaviest and largest rocket LVM3, at 9 AM on Sunday, March 26. Aside from being the second commercial mission of the LMV3 rocket, the launch will also mark the completion of the first generation constellation of UK-Based LEO satellite communications firm OneWeb.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will carry out the launch of its heaviest and largest rocket LVM3, at 9 AM on Sunday, March 26. Aside from being the second commercial mission of the LMV3 rocket, the launch will also mark the completion of the first generation constellation of UK-Based LEO satellite communications firm OneWeb. OneWeb has been utilising the launch services of SpaceX, Arianespace and ISRO to place all its first-generation constellation satellites in orbit. OneWeb satellites have flown 17 times to date and ISRO will be carrying the 18th set. Placing the entire constellation in orbit would enable the firm to initiate global coverage in 2023. Just like it had done in October 2022, ISRO's rocket would be carrying 36 OneWeb satellites into low earth orbit, roughly 600 km above the earth's surface. The launch is scheduled to take place from ISRO's second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. "Across India, OneWeb will bring secured(internet communications) solutions not only to enterprises but also to towns, villages, municipalities and schools, including the hardest-to-reach areas across the country," said the firm backed by India's Bharti group. OneWeb had signed a pact with ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) for placing a total of 72 satellites in orbit (in batches of 36). This deal has raked in more than $120 million (Rs 1000 crore) in revenue for the Indian Government-run space agency. It also provides an opportunity for ISRO to demonstrate the capability and reliability of their largest rocket for offering commercial launch services. Until October 2022, ISRO's LVM3 or GSLV Mk3 rocket was being used only for fulfilling India's national missions such as Chandrayaan-2 and launching heavy satellites. Notably, the LVM3 has performed successful launches in all its missions to date. The March 26 launch of LVM3 will be the rocket's sixth mission. When quizzed about the number of satellites in their Gen1 constellation, OneWeb recently told WION that "the first generation (Gen 1) LEO constellation is comprised of 648 satellites in total, which is inclusive of spare satellites that will be deployed on an as-needed basis.” ISRO's launch will take the constellation numbers up to 618. Read more: ISRO officials and Bhutan government inaugurate ground station of Indo-Bhutan satellite Why LEO-based satellites for internet communications? Traditionally, communications satellites and those used for TV broadcasting purposes have been placed in Geostationary orbits, roughly 36,000 km above the earth's surface. From that high above, a single satellite would be able to view one-third of the Earth's surface and provide services over a vast area - be it communications or TV broadcast or internet or radio and even military applications. As the name suggests, in a geostationary orbit, the satellite will appear stationary when viewed from Earth, as the satellite's orbital movement is in sync with the Earth's rotation. With satellites in this orbit, all DTH antennas, ground-based antennas can simply focus in a single direction towards the sky and can perpetually receive signals. However, in modern-day use cases, there are many disadvantages to using Geostationary satellites for providing connectivity. Geostationary orbit satellites are large, heavy, and expensive and there is a considerable lag in the signal as it has to travel a vast distance. The signal delay is estimated at 477 milliseconds for Geostationary orbit satellites and in the case of LEO satellites it is 27 milliseconds. Lesser delays or latency can enable real-time functions such as online gaming, HD video conferencing, remote operations of machines and other strategic uses. Read more: NASA-ISRO imaging satellite arrives in India from US for 2024 launch by Indian GSLV rocket Given that the LEO satellites are closer to earth (roughly 160-2000kms above the earth), the signals can travel faster. However, to provide constant coverage, a large number of satellites working in unison are required. That's why firms like OneWeb, Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper are putting in place constellations. Owing to the smaller size, proven capabilities and low-cost, firms prefer to install LEO constellations to provide global internet connectivity, irrespective of challenges posed by the terrain. However, the satellites in LEO have a short lifespan when compared to those in GEO, thus necessitating the entire constellation to be replaced every five years or so. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

ISRO's heaviest rocket LVM3 to launch second batch of OneWeb satellites on March 26

All space agencies began by launching small rockets for experimental purposes and India's space agency ISRO also started its journey of rocketry by building and launching small indigenous rockets. Watch the video to know the journey of ISRO from its birthplace, Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS).

WION ground report from TERLS: The birthplace of ISRO

ISRO launches 'RH-200' sounding rocket. WION gets this exclusive report from the ISRO centre in Kerala, India.

ISRO launches 'RH-200' sounding rocket

"VSSC's main job is to develop space transportation systems. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre has also designed and developed the crew module for Indian astronauts", says Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, VSSC, in conversation with WION's Sidharth MP on key activities and more.

WION reaches ISRO's centre in Kerala, India

RLV activities going on, ISRO working on landing RLV autonomously: Dr. S Unnikrishnan Nair

After providing valuable scientific data and serving the science community for more than a decade, the Indo-French satellite 'Megha-Tropiques' (MT-1) now rests in peace at a remote location in the Pacific Ocean.

Just as they had intended, the Indian space agency, ISRO, successfully de-orbited the satellite (gradually brought the satellite closer to Earth from its orbit) and made it re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.

This process is a brutal one where the re-entering object undergoes sustained exposure to high speeds and temperatures well over 2500 degrees Celsius, thus completely burning it up.

ISRO on Tuesday announced that the re-entry experiment was successfully, adding that they performed two 20-minute firings of the satellites on-board propulsion system.

This firing was done to ensure that the satellite gets pulled further into the influence of Earth's gravity and eventually burns up as it enters the denser layers of the Earth's atmosphere.

"The final perigee (the closest distance the satellite is from the earth) was estimated to be less than 80 km indicating that the satellite would enter the denser layers of the Earth's atmosphere and subsequently undergo structural disintegration. The re-entry aero-thermal flux analysis confirmed that there would be no surviving large debris fragments" ISRO said.

Based on telemetry data, ISRO also confirmed that the satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere and would have disintegrated, with the final impact somewhere deep in the Pacific Ocean. The entire process of de-orbiting and re-entry was carried out by ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), Bengaluru.&nbsp;

The complex process of manoeuvring the satellite, lowering its orbit, facilitating re-entry and burning it up in the upper atmosphere is part of ISRO's effort to reduce space debris.

WION had earlier reported, based on a NASA revelation, that there are more than 47,000 pieces of space debris that are larger than 10cm in size. Had the de-orbiting not been done, MT-1 too could have ended up as a long-term resident in space, without serving any useful purpose.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/100mn-millimeter-sized-space-debris-a-serious-threat-to-astronauts-sats-nasa-chief-scientist-552192">100mn+ millimetre-sized space debris a serious threat to astronauts, says NASA chief scientist</a>

While larger pieces of debris such as defunct satellites and rocket upper stages are easier to track, it is the smaller pieces of millimetre-sized debris that pose more of a threat to space assets and space-walking astronauts.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/how-and-why-isro-is-disposing-off-a-defunct-indo-french-satellite-569090/amp">How and why ISRO is disposing off a defunct Indo-French satellite</a>

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</ul>

ISRO has taken up proactive measures to improve the compliance level with the internationally accepted guidelines on space debris mitigation, the Indian Space agency said.&nbsp;Efforts are underway to build indigenous capabilities for tracking and monitoring space objects to safeguard Indian space assets.

ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM) has been established to spearhead such activities, ISRO added.&nbsp;

'Megha-Tropiques' was an&nbsp;Indo-French Joint Satellite Mission for studying the water cycle and energy exchanges in the tropics. The main objective of this mission is to understand the life cycle of convective systems that influence the tropical weather and climate and their role in associated energy and moisture budget of the atmosphere in tropical regions.

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After providing valuable scientific data and serving the science community for more than a decade, the Indo-French satellite 'Megha-Tropiques' (MT-1) now rests in peace at a remote location in the Pacific Ocean.

After providing valuable scientific data and serving the science community for more than a decade, the Indo-French satellite 'Megha-Tropiques' (MT-1) now rests in peace at a remote location in the Pacific Ocean. Just as they had intended, the Indian space agency, ISRO, successfully de-orbited the satellite (gradually brought the satellite closer to Earth from its orbit) and made it re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. This process is a brutal one where the re-entering object undergoes sustained exposure to high speeds and temperatures well over 2500 degrees Celsius, thus completely burning it up. ISRO on Tuesday announced that the re-entry experiment was successfully, adding that they performed two 20-minute firings of the satellites on-board propulsion system. This firing was done to ensure that the satellite gets pulled further into the influence of Earth's gravity and eventually burns up as it enters the denser layers of the Earth's atmosphere. "The final perigee (the closest distance the satellite is from the earth) was estimated to be less than 80 km indicating that the satellite would enter the denser layers of the Earth's atmosphere and subsequently undergo structural disintegration. The re-entry aero-thermal flux analysis confirmed that there would be no surviving large debris fragments" ISRO said. Based on telemetry data, ISRO also confirmed that the satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere and would have disintegrated, with the final impact somewhere deep in the Pacific Ocean. The entire process of de-orbiting and re-entry was carried out by ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), Bengaluru. The complex process of manoeuvring the satellite, lowering its orbit, facilitating re-entry and burning it up in the upper atmosphere is part of ISRO's effort to reduce space debris. WION had earlier reported, based on a NASA revelation, that there are more than 47,000 pieces of space debris that are larger than 10cm in size. Had the de-orbiting not been done, MT-1 too could have ended up as a long-term resident in space, without serving any useful purpose. Also read | 100mn+ millimetre-sized space debris a serious threat to astronauts, says NASA chief scientist While larger pieces of debris such as defunct satellites and rocket upper stages are easier to track, it is the smaller pieces of millimetre-sized debris that pose more of a threat to space assets and space-walking astronauts. Also read | How and why ISRO is disposing off a defunct Indo-French satellite ISRO has taken up proactive measures to improve the compliance level with the internationally accepted guidelines on space debris mitigation, the Indian Space agency said. Efforts are underway to build indigenous capabilities for tracking and monitoring space objects to safeguard Indian space assets. ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM) has been established to spearhead such activities, ISRO added. 'Megha-Tropiques' was an Indo-French Joint Satellite Mission for studying the water cycle and energy exchanges in the tropics. The main objective of this mission is to understand the life cycle of convective systems that influence the tropical weather and climate and their role in associated energy and moisture budget of the atmosphere in tropical regions. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Defunct Indo-French satellite ‘Megha-Tropiques’ now in pieces, laid to rest in Pacific Ocean

Indian Space Agency ISRO conducted a crucial cryogenic rocket engine test. The indigenous CE20 cryogenic engine takes India a step closer to executing its third lunar mission Chandrayaan 3.

Cryogenic engine for ISRO's third lunar mission

The Indian Space Agency ISRO is carrying out a controlled re-entry of a defunct Indo-French satellite and attempting to land it in an uninhabited zone in the Pacific Ocean. Launched in 2011, the 1000-kg Megha-Tropiques-1(MT1) was a satellite jointly developed by India's ISRO and France's CNES for studying tropical weather and climate. Despite it being designed for an operational life of three years, the satellite performed for more than a decade (until 2021). ISRO has predicted that the re-entry and final splashdown of the satellite would take place between 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm Indian Standard Time, on Tuesday, March 7th, 2023.

What are De-orbiting and Controlled re-entry?&nbsp;

With low earth orbits(orbits 400-2000kms above the earth's surface) getting increasingly overpopulated with satellites and space debris, there are several risks posed to operational space assets. The debris ranges from centimetre-sized objects to meters-wide used rocket stages and defunct satellites. All objects in Low Earth orbit travel at a speed of nearly 28,000kmph and a collision between two objects at such high speeds would create endless debris and threaten several space assets including satellites and space stations.&nbsp;

Also&nbsp;read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/exclusive-gaganyaan-isros-crew-module-to-undergo-in-flight-abort-tests-on-mini-rocket-tv-565652">Exclusive | Gaganyaan: ISRO's crew module to undergo in-flight abort tests on mini-rocket 'TV'</a>

To avoid such hazards, space agencies make attempts to de-orbit defunct satellites by gradually manoeuvring them closer to earth and eventually ensure that they burn up while re-entering the upper atmosphere and splashing down in uninhabited land or oceans. Another option is to bring the satellite into an orbit around the earth, where it would spend a lesser number of years circling the earth, than in its original orbit.&nbsp;

What is ISRO attempting with Megha-Tropiques?

In its original orbit, at an altitude of 867 km and an inclination of 20 degrees, the defunct Megha-Tropiques satellite would have circled the earth in an uncontrolled manner for more than 100 years and would have remained as space debris. Though MT1 is not designed for performing a de-orbiting and controlled re-entry, the Indian Space agency is attempting to do so, by precisely manoeuvring the satellite using its leftover onboard fuel.&nbsp;

According to ISRO, "about 125 kg on-board fuel remained unutilised at its end-of-mission that could pose risks for accidental break-up(in space). This left-over fuel was estimated to be sufficient to achieve a fully controlled atmospheric re-entry to impact an uninhabited location in the Pacific Ocean". Given that MT1 is more than a decade old and not all of its systems would function exactly as expected, ISRO carried out further planning by involving its experts from across domains -&nbsp;mission, operations, flight dynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, controls, navigation, thermal, and other sub-system design teams.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/isro-successfully-test-fires-cryogenic-engine-that-will-help-chandryaan-3-begin-journey-to-moon-566703">ISRO successfully test fires cryogenic engine that will help Chandryaan-3 begin journey to Moon</a>

Based on their calculations, ISRO zeroed into an&nbsp;uninhabited area in the Pacific Ocean between 5°S to 14°S latitude and 119°W to 100°W longitude, as the targeted re-entry zone for MT1. Since August 2022, 18 orbit manoeuvres were performed to progressively lower the satellite's orbit and bring it closer to earth.&nbsp;"The final two de-boost burns and the ground impact are expected to take place between 16:30 IST to 19:30 IST on March 7, 2023," ISRO said. The Indian space agency also added that no large fragments of the satellite are likely to survive the aerothermal heating during re-entry. Re-entry temperatures(when an object from space re-enters earth's atmosphere) could be as much as 2500 degrees Centigrade, thus burning up most objects.

Why is ISRO performing this re-entry mission?&nbsp;

International guidelines for spacefaring nations stipulate certain space debris mitigation guidelines for the safe disposal and sustainable management of defunct space assets. Though this satellite is not designed to perform such controlled de-orbit and re-entry, ISRO is undertaking the challenging experiment as there are conducive parameters to carry it out. "This satellite with sufficient left-over fuel presented a unique opportunity&nbsp;to test the relevant methodologies and understand the associated operational nuances of post mission disposal by direct re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere," ISRO said.

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The Indian Space Agency ISRO is carrying out a controlled re-entry of a defunct Indo-French satellite and attempting to land it in an uninhabited zone in the Pacific Ocean.

The Indian Space Agency ISRO is carrying out a controlled re-entry of a defunct Indo-French satellite and attempting to land it in an uninhabited zone in the Pacific Ocean. Launched in 2011, the 1000-kg Megha-Tropiques-1(MT1) was a satellite jointly developed by India's ISRO and France's CNES for studying tropical weather and climate. Despite it being designed for an operational life of three years, the satellite performed for more than a decade (until 2021). ISRO has predicted that the re-entry and final splashdown of the satellite would take place between 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm Indian Standard Time, on Tuesday, March 7th, 2023. What are De-orbiting and Controlled re-entry? With low earth orbits(orbits 400-2000kms above the earth's surface) getting increasingly overpopulated with satellites and space debris, there are several risks posed to operational space assets. The debris ranges from centimetre-sized objects to meters-wide used rocket stages and defunct satellites. All objects in Low Earth orbit travel at a speed of nearly 28,000kmph and a collision between two objects at such high speeds would create endless debris and threaten several space assets including satellites and space stations. Also read | Exclusive | Gaganyaan: ISRO's crew module to undergo in-flight abort tests on mini-rocket 'TV' To avoid such hazards, space agencies make attempts to de-orbit defunct satellites by gradually manoeuvring them closer to earth and eventually ensure that they burn up while re-entering the upper atmosphere and splashing down in uninhabited land or oceans. Another option is to bring the satellite into an orbit around the earth, where it would spend a lesser number of years circling the earth, than in its original orbit. What is ISRO attempting with Megha-Tropiques? In its original orbit, at an altitude of 867 km and an inclination of 20 degrees, the defunct Megha-Tropiques satellite would have circled the earth in an uncontrolled manner for more than 100 years and would have remained as space debris. Though MT1 is not designed for performing a de-orbiting and controlled re-entry, the Indian Space agency is attempting to do so, by precisely manoeuvring the satellite using its leftover onboard fuel. According to ISRO, "about 125 kg on-board fuel remained unutilised at its end-of-mission that could pose risks for accidental break-up(in space). This left-over fuel was estimated to be sufficient to achieve a fully controlled atmospheric re-entry to impact an uninhabited location in the Pacific Ocean". Given that MT1 is more than a decade old and not all of its systems would function exactly as expected, ISRO carried out further planning by involving its experts from across domains - mission, operations, flight dynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, controls, navigation, thermal, and other sub-system design teams. Also read | ISRO successfully test fires cryogenic engine that will help Chandryaan-3 begin journey to Moon Based on their calculations, ISRO zeroed into an uninhabited area in the Pacific Ocean between 5°S to 14°S latitude and 119°W to 100°W longitude, as the targeted re-entry zone for MT1. Since August 2022, 18 orbit manoeuvres were performed to progressively lower the satellite's orbit and bring it closer to earth. "The final two de-boost burns and the ground impact are expected to take place between 16:30 IST to 19:30 IST on March 7, 2023," ISRO said. The Indian space agency also added that no large fragments of the satellite are likely to survive the aerothermal heating during re-entry. Re-entry temperatures(when an object from space re-enters earth's atmosphere) could be as much as 2500 degrees Centigrade, thus burning up most objects. Why is ISRO performing this re-entry mission? International guidelines for spacefaring nations stipulate certain space debris mitigation guidelines for the safe disposal and sustainable management of defunct space assets. Though this satellite is not designed to perform such controlled de-orbit and re-entry, ISRO is undertaking the challenging experiment as there are conducive parameters to carry it out. "This satellite with sufficient left-over fuel presented a unique opportunity to test the relevant methodologies and understand the associated operational nuances of post mission disposal by direct re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere," ISRO said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

How and why ISRO is disposing off a defunct Indo-French satellite

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The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are developing virtual reality (VR), augmented reality and mixed reality solutions to help train Indian astronauts for the harsh unknowns of Space.

This collaboration is meant to help the four Indian astronauts (originally Indian Air Force test pilots) who are undergoing specialised training to undertake India's most ambitious space mission —'Gaganyaan' or the human spaceflight programme.&nbsp;

Prof M Manivannan, Department of Applied Mechanics, IIT Madras, explained to WION that among the key takeaways from this collaboration would be the ability to simulate space emergencies and train astronauts for facing them.

"We will be simulating fire in space, medical emergencies, and the astronauts will be trained in mitigating and finding solutions to such situations," he said.

As part of this, both hardware and software systems will be developed. Citing an example, he said that such a VR system would help to analyse how many switches/systems an astronaut can comfortably operate, while being confined to their seats and amid limited ability to move their bodies, etc.&nbsp;

Dr Umamaheswaran, Director, Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), ISRO, said that space program always had linkages with academia, and IIT Madras has a long history of contributing for ISRO’s program, including human spaceflight program.

As per the MoU signed between IITM and ISRO, the former would utilise the advanced technologies created at the newly-established Experiential Technology Innovation Centre (XTIC) at IIT Madras to promote research and development (R&amp;D) in the domain of extended reality.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/gaganyaan-indian-astronauts-to-experience-4g-acceleration-during-ascent-12g-if-aborted-557263">Gaganyaan: Indian astronauts to experience '4g' acceleration during ascent, '12g' if aborted</a>

While the design and development of these technologies is being carried out by IIT Madras, the 'CAVE' consortium comprising more than 270 Indian startups and companies in VR and haptics would carry out the implementation, Prof. Manivannan added.

He also mentioned that simulations will be carried out to see how the human body reacts to the harsh conditions in orbit, as the pre-existing data in this field is based on Caucasian astronauts and not Indians.&nbsp;

The collaborative effort is expected to churn out space-grade biomedical devices that Indian astronauts can carry to space, thus helping keep a constant track of their health and well-being during their 48-hour stay in space.

"We want to empower ISRO to develop their own AR &amp; VR systems. We've already trained a handful of ISRO scientists in this field" Manivannan said.&nbsp;

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The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are developing virtual reality (VR), augmented reality and mixed reality solutions to help train Indian astronauts for the harsh unknowns of Space.

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are developing virtual reality (VR), augmented reality and mixed reality solutions to help train Indian astronauts for the harsh unknowns of Space. This collaboration is meant to help the four Indian astronauts (originally Indian Air Force test pilots) who are undergoing specialised training to undertake India's most ambitious space mission —'Gaganyaan' or the human spaceflight programme. Prof M Manivannan, Department of Applied Mechanics, IIT Madras, explained to WION that among the key takeaways from this collaboration would be the ability to simulate space emergencies and train astronauts for facing them. "We will be simulating fire in space, medical emergencies, and the astronauts will be trained in mitigating and finding solutions to such situations," he said. As part of this, both hardware and software systems will be developed. Citing an example, he said that such a VR system would help to analyse how many switches/systems an astronaut can comfortably operate, while being confined to their seats and amid limited ability to move their bodies, etc. Dr Umamaheswaran, Director, Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), ISRO, said that space program always had linkages with academia, and IIT Madras has a long history of contributing for ISRO’s program, including human spaceflight program. As per the MoU signed between IITM and ISRO, the former would utilise the advanced technologies created at the newly-established Experiential Technology Innovation Centre (XTIC) at IIT Madras to promote research and development (R&D) in the domain of extended reality. Also read | Gaganyaan: Indian astronauts to experience '4g' acceleration during ascent, '12g' if aborted While the design and development of these technologies is being carried out by IIT Madras, the 'CAVE' consortium comprising more than 270 Indian startups and companies in VR and haptics would carry out the implementation, Prof. Manivannan added. He also mentioned that simulations will be carried out to see how the human body reacts to the harsh conditions in orbit, as the pre-existing data in this field is based on Caucasian astronauts and not Indians. The collaborative effort is expected to churn out space-grade biomedical devices that Indian astronauts can carry to space, thus helping keep a constant track of their health and well-being during their 48-hour stay in space. "We want to empower ISRO to develop their own AR & VR systems. We've already trained a handful of ISRO scientists in this field" Manivannan said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

IIT Madras & ISRO developing virtual reality tech to prep Indian astronauts for space emergencies

Earth observation satellite jointly developed by NASA and ISRO is all set to be shipped to India later this month. India-NASA had joined hands in 2014 to build the 2,800 kilogram satellite 'NISAR', that will likely be launched from India in September.

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Indian space agency ISRO is not just collaborating with established space powers Russia, USA, Japan and France, but is also looking to explore collaborations with emerging nations in the space sector.&nbsp;

Being carried out in partnership with the Indian external affairs ministry, such collaborations with newer entrants in the global space sector are aimed at exploring markets, said Dr Somanath, Chairman of ISRO.&nbsp;

Recently, the heads of the Indian and Mexican space agencies held a meeting and discussed the possibility of India building and launching a remote-sensing satellite for Mexico. The Indian space agency is considering this request and working with the Indian foreign ministry. &nbsp;

Elaborating on this, Dr Somanath said, "Mexico does not have a big space ecosystem and they need our help. Once we develop our private space ecosystem here, we can explore markets there and build for them. Not just ISRO, but India's private firms can operate and carry out business in foreign nations with whom space sector collaboration has been unexplored".&nbsp;

He added that the Mexican government would work with India's foreign ministry and get Indian banks to lend money, to enable Indian private firms to build a satellite and supply it to Mexico.&nbsp;

Speaking about the scope for India to carry out space sector business activities, Dr Somanath said that India would like to explore the markets in Latin America, Arab nations, Africa and South East Asia and collaborate with them for mutual benefit.&nbsp;

He mentioned the possibilities of Indian firms building satellites for foreign nations and also providing ground stations and relevant hardware.&nbsp;

From 2020 onwards, Indian private firms have been authorised to carry out end-to-end space activities including the building and launching of rockets and satellites, establishing ground segments etc.&nbsp;

Since then, a considerable number of firms have made progress in building and testing their own rocket engines. Private firms have also proven their capability to build rockets and launch them into the upper atmosphere and are aiming for space, while satellite companies have developed their spacecraft and launched them on Indian and foreign rockets.&nbsp;

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Indian space agency ISRO is not just collaborating with established space powers Russia, USA, Japan and France, but is also looking to explore collaborations with emerging nations in the space sector.

Indian space agency ISRO is not just collaborating with established space powers Russia, USA, Japan and France, but is also looking to explore collaborations with emerging nations in the space sector. Being carried out in partnership with the Indian external affairs ministry, such collaborations with newer entrants in the global space sector are aimed at exploring markets, said Dr Somanath, Chairman of ISRO. Recently, the heads of the Indian and Mexican space agencies held a meeting and discussed the possibility of India building and launching a remote-sensing satellite for Mexico. The Indian space agency is considering this request and working with the Indian foreign ministry. Elaborating on this, Dr Somanath said, "Mexico does not have a big space ecosystem and they need our help. Once we develop our private space ecosystem here, we can explore markets there and build for them. Not just ISRO, but India's private firms can operate and carry out business in foreign nations with whom space sector collaboration has been unexplored". He added that the Mexican government would work with India's foreign ministry and get Indian banks to lend money, to enable Indian private firms to build a satellite and supply it to Mexico. Speaking about the scope for India to carry out space sector business activities, Dr Somanath said that India would like to explore the markets in Latin America, Arab nations, Africa and South East Asia and collaborate with them for mutual benefit. He mentioned the possibilities of Indian firms building satellites for foreign nations and also providing ground stations and relevant hardware. From 2020 onwards, Indian private firms have been authorised to carry out end-to-end space activities including the building and launching of rockets and satellites, establishing ground segments etc. Since then, a considerable number of firms have made progress in building and testing their own rocket engines. Private firms have also proven their capability to build rockets and launch them into the upper atmosphere and are aiming for space, while satellite companies have developed their spacecraft and launched them on Indian and foreign rockets. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

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