Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today set the countdown for rocket launch on Friday.&nbsp;

The space organization is set to launch 31 satellites on Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on Friday morning from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, near Chennai.

31 spacecraft, including weather observation Cartosat-2 series satellite, will be launched by PSLV-C40.

&quot;The 28-hour countdown began at 5.29 a.m. in the mission control here for the rocket launch at 9.28 a.m. on Friday,&quot; ISRO said, adding, &quot;the propellant filling operation of fourth stage of PSLV-C40 is under progress.&quot;

The PSLV&nbsp;will be carrying 28&nbsp;satellites belonging to six countries namely the US, UK, France, Canada, Finland and South Korea. There are three Indian satellites as well.

ISRO had said earlier that it was &quot;back in the game&quot; with the launch after the unsuccessful launch of the navigation satellite IRNSS-1H in August last year.

On August 31, India&#39;s mission to launch its backup navigation satellite IRNSS-1H on board PSLV-C39 failed after a technical fault on the final leg following a perfect launch.

PSLV-C40 will launch the 710 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation, the total weight of all the 31 satellites carried on board PSLV-C40 will be around 1,323 kgs.

31 spacecraft, including weather observation Cartosat-2 series satellite, will be launched by PSLV-C40.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today set the countdown for rocket launch on Friday. The space organization is set to launch 31 satellites on Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on Friday morning from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, near Chennai. 31 spacecraft, including weather observation Cartosat-2 series satellite, will be launched by PSLV-C40. "The 28-hour countdown began at 5.29 a.m. in the mission control here for the rocket launch at 9.28 a.m. on Friday," ISRO said, adding, "the propellant filling operation of fourth stage of PSLV-C40 is under progress." The PSLV will be carrying 28 satellites belonging to six countries namely the US, UK, France, Canada, Finland and South Korea. There are three Indian satellites as well. ISRO had said earlier that it was "back in the game" with the launch after the unsuccessful launch of the navigation satellite IRNSS-1H in August last year. On August 31, India's mission to launch its backup navigation satellite IRNSS-1H on board PSLV-C39 failed after a technical fault on the final leg following a perfect launch. PSLV-C40 will launch the 710 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation, the total weight of all the 31 satellites carried on board PSLV-C40 will be around 1,323 kgs.

ISRO begins countdown for satellite launch

The government on Wednesday appointed renowned scientist Sivan K as the chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He will replace of A S Kiran Kumar, who was appointed on January 12, 2015..

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved his appointment as secretary, Department of Space and chairman of Space Commission for a tenure of three years, an order issued by the personnel ministry said.

Sivan is at present Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

He graduated from Madras Institute of Technology in aeronautical engineering in 1980 and completed Master of Engineering in Aerospace engineering from IISc, Bangalore in 1982, according to his biodata.

Subsequently, he completed his PhD in Aerospace engineering from IIT, Bombay in 2006.

Sivan joined the ISRO in 1982 in PSLV project and has contributed immensely towards end to end mission planning, mission design, mission integration and analysis.

He has numerous publications in various journals and is a fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering, Aeronautical Society of India and Systems Society of India.

Sivan has received numerous awards throughout his career which includes Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from Sathyabama University, Chennai in April 2014 and Shri Hari Om Ashram Prerit Dr Vikram Sarabhai Research award for 1999.

Sivan is at present Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

The government on Wednesday appointed renowned scientist Sivan K as the chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He will replace of A S Kiran Kumar, who was appointed on January 12, 2015.. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved his appointment as secretary, Department of Space and chairman of Space Commission for a tenure of three years, an order issued by the personnel ministry said. Sivan is at present Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. He graduated from Madras Institute of Technology in aeronautical engineering in 1980 and completed Master of Engineering in Aerospace engineering from IISc, Bangalore in 1982, according to his biodata. Subsequently, he completed his PhD in Aerospace engineering from IIT, Bombay in 2006. Sivan joined the ISRO in 1982 in PSLV project and has contributed immensely towards end to end mission planning, mission design, mission integration and analysis. He has numerous publications in various journals and is a fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering, Aeronautical Society of India and Systems Society of India. Sivan has received numerous awards throughout his career which includes Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from Sathyabama University, Chennai in April 2014 and Shri Hari Om Ashram Prerit Dr Vikram Sarabhai Research award for 1999.

Sivan K named new ISRO chairman

India will launch ISRO&#39;s 100th satellite along with 30 others in a single mission on January 12 from Sriharikota, in a milestone event in the country&#39;s space history.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it was &quot;back in the game&quot; with the launch, the first Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) mission after the unsuccessful launch of the navigation satellite IRNSS-1H in August last.

&quot;The 31 spacecraft, including weather observation Cartosat-2 series satellite, will be launched by PSLV-C40,&quot; ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) director M Annadurai said today.

Stating that 28 of the satellites were from abroad, the official noted that the launch of three Indian satellites during the mission would mark the rollout of the hundredth satellite from ISRO.

&quot;When the last satellite is ejected out it will become the hundredth satellite...The first century we have done. It is the maiden century. So PSLV-C40 marks a maiden century of&nbsp;Indian satellite....We are eagerly waiting for that,&quot; he said.

Speaking to reporters on sidelines of an exhibition on ASTROSAT here, Annadurai said, &quot;With PSLV-C40 we are back in the game&quot;.

PSLV-C40 will launch the 710 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation and 30 co-passengers (together weighing about 613 kg) at lift-off on January 12 at?09.28 am, ISRO said.

It will be launched from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, about 100 km from Chennai.

The co-passenger satellites include one micro and nanosatellite each from India. Three micro and 25 nanosatellites from six countries namely Canada, Finland, France, Republic of Korea, UK and USA, make up the other payload.

Referring to the PSLV-C39 failure, Annadurai said ISRO had understood it and repeated tests had been conducted to ensure that such problems did not reoccur. This took slightly more time for PSLV-C40 launch.

On August 31, India&#39;s mission to launch its backup navigation satellite IRNSS-1H on board PSLV-C39 failed after a technical fault on the final leg following a perfect launch.

ISRO then said the heat shield did not separate on the final leg of the launch sequence and, as a result, IRNSS-1H&nbsp;got stuck in the fourth stage of the rocket.

The total weight of all the 31 satellites carried on board PSLV-C40 is about 1,323 kg.

According to ISRO, Cartosat-2 series satellite launch is a follow-on mission with the primary objective of providing&nbsp;high-resolution scene-specific spot imageries.

It carries panchromatic and multi-spectral cameras operating in Time Delay Integration mode and is capable of&nbsp;delivering high-resolution data.

This will be the third satellite in the Cartosat-2 series.

On plans for the year, Annadurai said Chandrayaan-2 was in the final stage of testing and integration of the orbiter, lander, and rover, and was expected for launch this year.

Also, IRNSS-1I, a follow-on satellite will be the first satellite whose assembly, integration and testing will be fully done by private industry, he said, adding &quot;we are enabling the private industry&quot;.

On GSAT-11, a six-tonne class communication satellite, he said, was at the final leg of testing, and the launch target was April.&nbsp;

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it was 'back in the game' with the launch, the first Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) mission after the unsuccessful launch of the navigation satellite IRNSS-1H in August last.

India will launch ISRO's 100th satellite along with 30 others in a single mission on January 12 from Sriharikota, in a milestone event in the country's space history. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it was "back in the game" with the launch, the first Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) mission after the unsuccessful launch of the navigation satellite IRNSS-1H in August last. "The 31 spacecraft, including weather observation Cartosat-2 series satellite, will be launched by PSLV-C40," ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) director M Annadurai said today. Stating that 28 of the satellites were from abroad, the official noted that the launch of three Indian satellites during the mission would mark the rollout of the hundredth satellite from ISRO. "When the last satellite is ejected out it will become the hundredth satellite...The first century we have done. It is the maiden century. So PSLV-C40 marks a maiden century of Indian satellite....We are eagerly waiting for that," he said. Speaking to reporters on sidelines of an exhibition on ASTROSAT here, Annadurai said, "With PSLV-C40 we are back in the game". PSLV-C40 will launch the 710 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation and 30 co-passengers (together weighing about 613 kg) at lift-off on January 12 at?09.28 am, ISRO said. It will be launched from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, about 100 km from Chennai. The co-passenger satellites include one micro and nanosatellite each from India. Three micro and 25 nanosatellites from six countries namely Canada, Finland, France, Republic of Korea, UK and USA, make up the other payload. Referring to the PSLV-C39 failure, Annadurai said ISRO had understood it and repeated tests had been conducted to ensure that such problems did not reoccur. This took slightly more time for PSLV-C40 launch. On August 31, India's mission to launch its backup navigation satellite IRNSS-1H on board PSLV-C39 failed after a technical fault on the final leg following a perfect launch. ISRO then said the heat shield did not separate on the final leg of the launch sequence and, as a result, IRNSS-1H got stuck in the fourth stage of the rocket. The total weight of all the 31 satellites carried on board PSLV-C40 is about 1,323 kg. According to ISRO, Cartosat-2 series satellite launch is a follow-on mission with the primary objective of providing high-resolution scene-specific spot imageries. It carries panchromatic and multi-spectral cameras operating in Time Delay Integration mode and is capable of delivering high-resolution data. This will be the third satellite in the Cartosat-2 series. On plans for the year, Annadurai said Chandrayaan-2 was in the final stage of testing and integration of the orbiter, lander, and rover, and was expected for launch this year. Also, IRNSS-1I, a follow-on satellite will be the first satellite whose assembly, integration and testing will be fully done by private industry, he said, adding "we are enabling the private industry". On GSAT-11, a six-tonne class communication satellite, he said, was at the final leg of testing, and the launch target was April.

ISRO to launch 100th satellite on January 12

ISRO today announced that it would launch 31 satellites, including India&#39;s Cartosat-2 series earth observation spacecraft, in a single mission onboard its Polar rocket on January 10.

The mission will be the first Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) mission after the unsuccessful launch of navigation satellite IRNSS-1H in August.

&quot;The launch is tentatively scheduled for January 10,&quot; a senior Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) official noted.

The mission&#39;s main payload would be India&#39;s Cartosat-2 series earth observation satellite.

The Mission Readiness Review committee and Launch Authorisation Board is scheduled to meet in the coming days to take the final call, he said.

PSLV-C40 will be used for the launch from the spaceport in Andhra Pradesh&#39;s Sriharikota, about 100 kms from Chennai.

The mission would be a combination of 28 nano satellites from foreign countries, including Finland and the US, one micro and nano satellite from India along with one Cartosat satellite, the official said.

On August 31, India&#39;s mission to launch its backup navigation satellite IRNSS-1H on board PSLV-C39 ended in a failure after a technical fault on the final leg following a perfect launch.

ISRO then said the heat shield did not separate on the final leg of the launch sequence and, as a result, IRNSS-1H got stuck in the fourth stage of the rocket.

According to ISRO, Cartosat-2 series satellite launch is a follow-on mission with the primary objective of providing high-resolution,&nbsp;scene specific spot imageries.

It carries Panchromatic and Multi-spectral cameras operating in Time Delay Integration mode and is capable of delivering high-resolution data.

This would be the third satellite in the Cartosat-2 series.

In February this year, PSLV-C37 launched the first Cartosat-2 series satellite along with 103 co-passenger satellites in a single flight.

In June, India&#39;s workhorse launch vehicle launched the second one along with 30 co-passenger satellites -- the 39th consecutively successful mission of PSLV.

In February this year, PSLV-C37 launched the first Cartosat-2 series satellite along with 103 co-passenger satellites in a single flight

ISRO today announced that it would launch 31 satellites, including India's Cartosat-2 series earth observation spacecraft, in a single mission onboard its Polar rocket on January 10. The mission will be the first Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) mission after the unsuccessful launch of navigation satellite IRNSS-1H in August. "The launch is tentatively scheduled for January 10," a senior Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) official noted. The mission's main payload would be India's Cartosat-2 series earth observation satellite. The Mission Readiness Review committee and Launch Authorisation Board is scheduled to meet in the coming days to take the final call, he said. PSLV-C40 will be used for the launch from the spaceport in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota, about 100 kms from Chennai. The mission would be a combination of 28 nano satellites from foreign countries, including Finland and the US, one micro and nano satellite from India along with one Cartosat satellite, the official said. On August 31, India's mission to launch its backup navigation satellite IRNSS-1H on board PSLV-C39 ended in a failure after a technical fault on the final leg following a perfect launch. ISRO then said the heat shield did not separate on the final leg of the launch sequence and, as a result, IRNSS-1H got stuck in the fourth stage of the rocket. According to ISRO, Cartosat-2 series satellite launch is a follow-on mission with the primary objective of providing high-resolution, scene specific spot imageries. It carries Panchromatic and Multi-spectral cameras operating in Time Delay Integration mode and is capable of delivering high-resolution data. This would be the third satellite in the Cartosat-2 series. In February this year, PSLV-C37 launched the first Cartosat-2 series satellite along with 103 co-passenger satellites in a single flight. In June, India's workhorse launch vehicle launched the second one along with 30 co-passenger satellites -- the 39th consecutively successful mission of PSLV.

ISRO to launch 31 satellites in a single mission onboard

Authors: Marc Norman and Penelope King*

No human has been to the Moon since 1972 and only 12 people have ever done it &ndash; all of them American men.

But that list could soon be getting a lot longer.

Why the Moon? Haven&rsquo;t we already been there, done that? Well, yes. But now there are new reasons motivating countries to reach the Moon.

Human and other missions to the Moon are planned by India, China and Russia, as well as Japan and Europe. South Korea and North Korea are also looking towards the Moon.

Even NASA seems to be getting its mojo back, recently announcing a revamped vision for a Deep Space Gateway that includes a port of call at the Moon en route to Mars and beyond. Elon Musk has also called for a Moon base.

Private companies are vying for a slice of the Moon pie, lured by Google&rsquo;s multi-million dollar XPRIZE that challenges entrants to develop low-cost methods for robotic space exploration.

A space race of sorts seems to back on in earnest, for five reasons.

Reason 1: A vision for innovation

In the past and still now, one reason that space attracts interest and investment is that humans seem driven to explore and push the limits, physically and viscerally.

But space also acts as a unifying force, providing a clear vision that pushes technology and innovation forwards.

After several decades of relative neglect, space exploration is again seen as driving technology, inspiring engagement with science and engineering, and creating national pride. The program at the recent International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide captured that sentiment.

These motivators are seen as especially important by emerging economies like India, China and Russia, which means that more established players like Europe and the USA have to work harder keep up.

The recent announcement that Australia will have a space agency is expected to create new opportunities for this country.

Reason 2: Economic and geopolitical advantages

Paradoxically, exploration of the Moon builds both international cooperation and competition.

Even if they don&rsquo;t have their own space program, countries can develop instruments to fly on spacecraft that are built and launched by other nations. For example, India&rsquo;s Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft carried instruments from Sweden, Germany, UK, Bulgaria, and the US to the Moon. This helps mesh economies and provides strong motivation to keep the peace.

Economic and geopolitical competition occurs because the Moon is seen as an unclaimed territory. No country is allowed to own the Moon, at least according to a 1967 UN Treaty that has agreement from over 100 countries.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/file-20171116-19829-1n2eghp-20171121060409.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
The Long March 3C rocket carrying an experimental Moon orbiter launches from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China&rsquo;s Sichuan province, 24 October 2014. (Others)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Nonetheless, there are incentives to place a claim on the Moon. For example, helium-3 (an isotope of the element helium) is abundant on the Moon but rare on Earth. It is a potential fuel for nuclear fusion, a potentially unlimited and non-polluting source of energy. China, in particular, has stated a strong interest in lunar helium-3.

The situation appears similar to that of Antarctica in the 1950s, when the continent was subdivided by the 12 countries that had active scientific programs in the region at the time. Sending a spacecraft to the Moon &ndash; even if it fails prematurely like India&rsquo;s Chandrayaan-1 &ndash; may provide a compelling case for recognition if the Moon were ever to be carved up into zones of research and economic development.

Russia, China, Japan, Europe and the USA landed (or crashed) spacecraft on the Moon in the decades after Apollo.

Reason 3: An easy target

Growing space agencies need successful missions, and the Moon is a tempting target. Radio communication over the relatively short distance between the Earth and Moon (384,400 km) is almost instantaneous (1-2 sec). Between Earth and Mars, two-way communication times can be the better part of an hour.

The low gravity and lack of an atmosphere on the Moon also simplifies operations for orbiters and landers.

The Russian Luna missions showed that it is technically feasible to apply robotics to bring samples from the Moon to Earth. China aims to launch a robotic mission to the Moon in the next 1-2 years to fetch samples. If successful, these will be the first samples brought back from the Moon since Luna 24 in 1976.

Reason 4: New discoveries

Despite decades of observations, each new mission to the Moon produces new discoveries.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/file-20171116-19845-1o83gtx-20171121060501.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Indian spacecraft lifting off carrying India&rsquo;s first lunar probe Chandrayaan-1 at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, 22 October 2008. (Others)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Japan&rsquo;s Selene spacecraft and India&rsquo;s Chandrayaan-1 mission discovered new distributions of minerals on the Moon and probed regions of potential resources.

An exciting discovery has been the presence of water ice and other organic compounds in permanently shadowed regions of the Moon that never see sunlight. If present in sufficient quantities, water ice on the Moon could be used as a resource for generating fuel or supporting human habitation. This would be a major advantage for future missions considering the cost of carrying water from the Earth to the Moon

Although immense engineering advances are needed to recover these resources from environments as cold as -250?, such challenges drive new technologies.

Reason 5: We learn about Earth

Aside from the practicalities, exploration of the Moon has revealed completely new ideas about the origin of the Solar system.

Prior to the Apollo missions, planets were thought to form over long periods of time by the slow agglomeration of dusty particles. Moon rocks returned to Earth by the Apollo missions changed that idea literally overnight. We now know that gigantic collisions between planets were common, and one such collision of a Mars-size planet with the Earth probably formed the Moon (animation).

We&rsquo;ve also learned that the dark circular features on the Moon are scars of impacting asteroids stirred up by shifts in the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn.

Future studies of the Moon will undoubtedly lead to even deeper insights into the origin of the Earth, our home planet.

Space exploration is not only about &ldquo;out there&rdquo;. Travel to the Moon creates jobs, technical innovations and new discoveries that improve the lives of all of us &ldquo;down here&rdquo;.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/five-reasons-india-china-and-other-nations-plan-to-travel-to-the-moon-87589" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

Image Credit: ISRO, NASA, AAP

Penelope King is an Associate Professor at Australian National University

(Disclaimer: Both authors write here in a personal capacity).

No human has been to the moon since 1972. But India, China and Russia would like to change that, and soon

Authors: Marc Norman and Penelope King* No human has been to the Moon since 1972 and only 12 people have ever done it – all of them American men. But that list could soon be getting a lot longer. Why the Moon? Haven’t we already been there, done that? Well, yes. But now there are new reasons motivating countries to reach the Moon. Human and other missions to the Moon are planned by India, China and Russia, as well as Japan and Europe. South Korea and North Korea are also looking towards the Moon. Even NASA seems to be getting its mojo back, recently announcing a revamped vision for a Deep Space Gateway that includes a port of call at the Moon en route to Mars and beyond. Elon Musk has also called for a Moon base. Private companies are vying for a slice of the Moon pie, lured by Google’s multi-million dollar XPRIZE that challenges entrants to develop low-cost methods for robotic space exploration. A space race of sorts seems to back on in earnest, for five reasons. Reason 1: A vision for innovation In the past and still now, one reason that space attracts interest and investment is that humans seem driven to explore and push the limits, physically and viscerally. But space also acts as a unifying force, providing a clear vision that pushes technology and innovation forwards. After several decades of relative neglect, space exploration is again seen as driving technology, inspiring engagement with science and engineering, and creating national pride. The program at the recent International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide captured that sentiment. These motivators are seen as especially important by emerging economies like India, China and Russia, which means that more established players like Europe and the USA have to work harder keep up. The recent announcement that Australia will have a space agency is expected to create new opportunities for this country. Reason 2: Economic and geopolitical advantages Paradoxically, exploration of the Moon builds both international cooperation and competition. Even if they don’t have their own space program, countries can develop instruments to fly on spacecraft that are built and launched by other nations. For example, India’s Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft carried instruments from Sweden, Germany, UK, Bulgaria, and the US to the Moon. This helps mesh economies and provides strong motivation to keep the peace. Economic and geopolitical competition occurs because the Moon is seen as an unclaimed territory. No country is allowed to own the Moon, at least according to a 1967 UN Treaty that has agreement from over 100 countries. The Long March 3C rocket carrying an experimental Moon orbiter launches from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan province, 24 October 2014. (Others) × Nonetheless, there are incentives to place a claim on the Moon. For example, helium-3 (an isotope of the element helium) is abundant on the Moon but rare on Earth. It is a potential fuel for nuclear fusion, a potentially unlimited and non-polluting source of energy. China, in particular, has stated a strong interest in lunar helium-3. The situation appears similar to that of Antarctica in the 1950s, when the continent was subdivided by the 12 countries that had active scientific programs in the region at the time. Sending a spacecraft to the Moon – even if it fails prematurely like India’s Chandrayaan-1 – may provide a compelling case for recognition if the Moon were ever to be carved up into zones of research and economic development. Russia, China, Japan, Europe and the USA landed (or crashed) spacecraft on the Moon in the decades after Apollo. Reason 3: An easy target Growing space agencies need successful missions, and the Moon is a tempting target. Radio communication over the relatively short distance between the Earth and Moon (384,400 km) is almost instantaneous (1-2 sec). Between Earth and Mars, two-way communication times can be the better part of an hour. The low gravity and lack of an atmosphere on the Moon also simplifies operations for orbiters and landers. The Russian Luna missions showed that it is technically feasible to apply robotics to bring samples from the Moon to Earth. China aims to launch a robotic mission to the Moon in the next 1-2 years to fetch samples. If successful, these will be the first samples brought back from the Moon since Luna 24 in 1976. Reason 4: New discoveries Despite decades of observations, each new mission to the Moon produces new discoveries. Indian spacecraft lifting off carrying India’s first lunar probe Chandrayaan-1 at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, 22 October 2008. (Others) × Japan’s Selene spacecraft and India’s Chandrayaan-1 mission discovered new distributions of minerals on the Moon and probed regions of potential resources. An exciting discovery has been the presence of water ice and other organic compounds in permanently shadowed regions of the Moon that never see sunlight. If present in sufficient quantities, water ice on the Moon could be used as a resource for generating fuel or supporting human habitation. This would be a major advantage for future missions considering the cost of carrying water from the Earth to the Moon Although immense engineering advances are needed to recover these resources from environments as cold as -250?, such challenges drive new technologies. Reason 5: We learn about Earth Aside from the practicalities, exploration of the Moon has revealed completely new ideas about the origin of the Solar system. Prior to the Apollo missions, planets were thought to form over long periods of time by the slow agglomeration of dusty particles. Moon rocks returned to Earth by the Apollo missions changed that idea literally overnight. We now know that gigantic collisions between planets were common, and one such collision of a Mars-size planet with the Earth probably formed the Moon (animation). We’ve also learned that the dark circular features on the Moon are scars of impacting asteroids stirred up by shifts in the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn. Future studies of the Moon will undoubtedly lead to even deeper insights into the origin of the Earth, our home planet. Space exploration is not only about “out there”. Travel to the Moon creates jobs, technical innovations and new discoveries that improve the lives of all of us “down here”. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Image Credit: ISRO, NASA, AAP Penelope King is an Associate Professor at Australian National University (Disclaimer: Both authors write here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: Why India & China plan to travel to the Moon

The ISRO has started flight integration activity for its next lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 and scientists are currently carrying out tests for the lander and the rover that will explore the moon. 
 
Officials said the spacecraft launch, on board GSLV-Mk II, is planned for March and many new technologies have been developed indigenously to achieve the mission requirements. 
 
Chandrayaan-2, India&#39;s second mission to the Moon, is an advanced version of the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission nine years ago. This spacecraft is a composite model consisting of orbiter, lander and rover. 
 
According to the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency, unlike Chandrayaan-1, wherein an impact probe crash-landed on the surface of the moon, Chandrayaan-2 will soft-land its lander with the rover on the lunar surface to conduct the next level of scientific studies. 
 
&quot;Flight integration activity is going on, and a series of tests are planned for lander and rover. They are all in progress and we are working towards the first quarter (of 2018) launch of Chandrayaan-2,&quot; ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar told PTI. 
 
Officials said rover flight systems test include soil mixing exercise&nbsp;and mobility test to evaluate the rover&#39;s wheel-soil interaction. 
 
According to them, the lander configuration has been finalised to meet soft and safe landing at the identified site, as also payload configuration and interfaces with the lander. 
 
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had also established a lunar terrain test facility for conducting lander leg drop tests. 
 
&quot;It is a totally Indian mission; no other collaboration,&quot; Kiran Kumar said. 
 
&quot;It (Chandrayaan-2) differs from the previous one (Chandrayaan-1) in the sense that in the last one, we had moon impact probe that descended on the moon in an uncontrolled manner, whereas this (Chandrayaan-2) will carry a lander, which will descend on the surface of the moon in a controlled manner,&quot; he said 
 
After the lander lands on the moon, the rover will come out and it will do some in-situ observations and we will be able to get these observations through radio contact, Kiran Kumar said.

The ISRO has started flight integration activity for its next lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 and scientists are currently carrying out tests for the lander and the rover that will explore the moon.

The ISRO has started flight integration activity for its next lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 and scientists are currently carrying out tests for the lander and the rover that will explore the moon. Officials said the spacecraft launch, on board GSLV-Mk II, is planned for March and many new technologies have been developed indigenously to achieve the mission requirements. Chandrayaan-2, India's second mission to the Moon, is an advanced version of the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission nine years ago. This spacecraft is a composite model consisting of orbiter, lander and rover. According to the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency, unlike Chandrayaan-1, wherein an impact probe crash-landed on the surface of the moon, Chandrayaan-2 will soft-land its lander with the rover on the lunar surface to conduct the next level of scientific studies. "Flight integration activity is going on, and a series of tests are planned for lander and rover. They are all in progress and we are working towards the first quarter (of 2018) launch of Chandrayaan-2," ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar told PTI. Officials said rover flight systems test include soil mixing exercise and mobility test to evaluate the rover's wheel-soil interaction. According to them, the lander configuration has been finalised to meet soft and safe landing at the identified site, as also payload configuration and interfaces with the lander. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had also established a lunar terrain test facility for conducting lander leg drop tests. "It is a totally Indian mission; no other collaboration," Kiran Kumar said. "It (Chandrayaan-2) differs from the previous one (Chandrayaan-1) in the sense that in the last one, we had moon impact probe that descended on the moon in an uncontrolled manner, whereas this (Chandrayaan-2) will carry a lander, which will descend on the surface of the moon in a controlled manner," he said After the lander lands on the moon, the rover will come out and it will do some in-situ observations and we will be able to get these observations through radio contact, Kiran Kumar said.

ISRO begins flight integration activity for next lunar mission

ISRO launched its PSLV rocket on June 23 that placed the world&#39;s smallest spacecraft named &#39;Sprites&#39; in low Earth orbit. The Indian spacecraft was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.&nbsp;

Along with the smallest spacecraft, the launch vehicle also carried the 712 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite with 30 other satellites. The 30 smaller satellite included 6 prototypes of interstellar spacecraft &#39;Sprites&#39;.

The tiny spacecraft measures 3.5cm by 3.5cm and weighs around four grams.&nbsp;

The spacecraft is successfully travelling in low Earth orbit and communicating with systems on Earth. These have been designed to help pave the way for even smaller single-chip spacecraft.&nbsp;

According to a report, the launch is part of the ambitious project called &#39;Breakthrough Startshot &#39;by the Russian billionaire investor Yuri Milner and famous cosmologist Stephen Hawking.

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ISRO launched its PSLV rocket on June 23 that placed the world's smallest spacecraft named 'Sprites' in low Earth orbit

ISRO launched its PSLV rocket on June 23 that placed the world's smallest spacecraft named 'Sprites' in low Earth orbit. The Indian spacecraft was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. Along with the smallest spacecraft, the launch vehicle also carried the 712 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite with 30 other satellites. The 30 smaller satellite included 6 prototypes of interstellar spacecraft 'Sprites'. The tiny spacecraft measures 3.5cm by 3.5cm and weighs around four grams. The spacecraft is successfully travelling in low Earth orbit and communicating with systems on Earth. These have been designed to help pave the way for even smaller single-chip spacecraft. According to a report, the launch is part of the ambitious project called 'Breakthrough Startshot 'by the Russian billionaire investor Yuri Milner and famous cosmologist Stephen Hawking.

Indian rocket aids launch of smallest spacecraft

&nbsp;India&#39;s latest communication satellite GSAT-17 was successfully launched onboard Ariane space rocket from Kourou in French Guiana. 
 
GSAT-17 with a lift-off mass of about 3,477 kg carries payloads in normal C-band, extended C-band and S-band to provide various communication services. 
 
It also carries equipment for meteorological data relay and satellite based search and rescue services being provided by earlier INSAT satellites, the space agency said. 
 
This is the third satellite launch by ISRO this month, the other two being first developmental flight of GSLV MkIII and PSLV C-38 missions -- both from Sriharikota spaceport. 
 
The mission from liftoff to deployment of the two satellites into Geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is expected to take about 39 minutes.

(PTI)

The mission from liftoff to deployment of the two satellites into Geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is expected to take about 39 minutes

India's latest communication satellite GSAT-17 was successfully launched onboard Ariane space rocket from Kourou in French Guiana. GSAT-17 with a lift-off mass of about 3,477 kg carries payloads in normal C-band, extended C-band and S-band to provide various communication services. It also carries equipment for meteorological data relay and satellite based search and rescue services being provided by earlier INSAT satellites, the space agency said. This is the third satellite launch by ISRO this month, the other two being first developmental flight of GSLV MkIII and PSLV C-38 missions -- both from Sriharikota spaceport. The mission from liftoff to deployment of the two satellites into Geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is expected to take about 39 minutes. (PTI)

GSAT-17 launched successfully onboard Ariane space rocket from French Guiana

ISRO has launched its PSLV C38 rocket from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, and put 31 satellites in orbit.

The rocket was carrying a Cartosat 2 series satellite and 30 co-passenger satellites.

The Cartosat will be India&#39;s sixth &quot;eye in the sky&quot;.

It will orbit the Earth from 500 kms above and, according to media reports, will be capable of counting the number of army tanks parked in hostile territories.

&nbsp;Watch video&nbsp;of the launch below:

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: ISRO launches PSLV-C38 rocket on a mission to put 31 satellites into orbit from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh <a href="https://t.co/WNrvaFDngP">pic.twitter.com/WNrvaFDngP</a>
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The rocket was carrying a Cartosat 2 series satellite and 30 co-passenger satellites

ISRO has launched its PSLV C38 rocket from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, and put 31 satellites in orbit. The rocket was carrying a Cartosat 2 series satellite and 30 co-passenger satellites. The Cartosat will be India's sixth "eye in the sky". It will orbit the Earth from 500 kms above and, according to media reports, will be capable of counting the number of army tanks parked in hostile territories. Watch video of the launch below: #WATCH: ISRO launches PSLV-C38 rocket on a mission to put 31 satellites into orbit from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh pic.twitter.com/WNrvaFDngP — ANI (@ANI_news) June 23, 2017 ×

Watch: ISRO launches PSLV C38 rocket from Sriharikota, puts 31 satellites in orbit

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will on Monday launch GSLV-Mark III, a heavy lift rocket capable of carrying humans, into geo synchronous orbit from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota at 5 pm.

The rocket is carrying 3,136-kilogram weighed GSAT-19 communication satellite and will place it a distance of 36,000 km from earth.

The rocket was developed for 15 years at a cost of around Rs 300 crore.

Dubbed by the scientists as the &quot;Monster Rocket&quot;, it has the capability to launch satellites as heavy as 4 tonnes, i.e. 4000 kilogrammes.

Currently, India has to take the help of foreign countries if it wants to launch communication satellites beyond 2.3 tonnes.

With this India will be in the elite club of launching a heavy satellite. So far, the United States, Russia, Europe, China and Japan have achieved this feat.

The rocket is powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine that uses liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as propellants.

The flight&#39;s launch is expected to boost India&#39;s assertions of putting humans into space.

Reportedly, the ISRO has asked Rs&nbsp;12,500 crore from the Centre for its mission to place humans in space. If approved, the work is expected to take roughly seven years.

The premiere space agency has already developed critical technologies for a human space mission. The space suit is ready and a crew module was tested in 2014.

(ANI)

The Indian Space Research Organisation will today launch GSLV-Mark III, a heavy lift rocket capable of carrying humans

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will on Monday launch GSLV-Mark III, a heavy lift rocket capable of carrying humans, into geo synchronous orbit from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota at 5 pm. The rocket is carrying 3,136-kilogram weighed GSAT-19 communication satellite and will place it a distance of 36,000 km from earth. The rocket was developed for 15 years at a cost of around Rs 300 crore. Dubbed by the scientists as the "Monster Rocket", it has the capability to launch satellites as heavy as 4 tonnes, i.e. 4000 kilogrammes. Currently, India has to take the help of foreign countries if it wants to launch communication satellites beyond 2.3 tonnes. With this India will be in the elite club of launching a heavy satellite. So far, the United States, Russia, Europe, China and Japan have achieved this feat. The rocket is powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine that uses liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as propellants. The flight's launch is expected to boost India's assertions of putting humans into space. Reportedly, the ISRO has asked Rs 12,500 crore from the Centre for its mission to place humans in space. If approved, the work is expected to take roughly seven years. The premiere space agency has already developed critical technologies for a human space mission. The space suit is ready and a crew module was tested in 2014. (ANI)

India's heaviest satellite GSAT-19 launches today

India's first successful satellite launch took place on October 15, 1994

Launch History Flight Variant Launch date and time Payload mass Result D1 PSLV-G Maiden flight; attitude control failure at second stage separation. 20 September 1993 05:12 846 kg Failure D2 PSLV-G 15 October 1994 05:05 804 kg Success D3 PSLV-G 21 March 1996 04:53 920 kg Success C1 PSLV-G First operational flight; fourth stage under-performed resulting in lower than planned orbit. Satellite used own propulsion to move to correct orbit. 29 September 1997 04:47 1250 kg Partial failure C2 PSLV-G First launch to have foreign satellites, and first to carry multiple satellites. 26 May 1999 06:22 1050 kg 45 kg 107 kg Success C3 PSLV-G 22 October 2001 04:53 1108 kg 94 kg 92 kg Success First multi-orbit mission. TES and BIRD were injected into a nominal 568 km circular sun synchronous polar orbit, PROBA was injected into a 568 X 638 km elliptical orbit. Orbit was raised using RCS thrusters on fourth stage. C4 PSLV-G 12 September 2002 10:23 1060 kg Success India's first launch to GTO. GTO payload capability has reached 1200 kg from 2002 onward, compared to 1050 kg previously. First use of lightweight carbon composite payload adapter. C5 PSLV-G 17 October 2003 04:52 1360 kg Success Payload capability had been progressively increased by more than 600 kg since the first PSLV launch. Launch took place despite heavy rain. C6 PSLV-G 5 May 2005 04:45 1560 kg 42.5 kg Success First PSLV launch from the second launch pad. C7 PSLV-G 10 January 2007 03:54 680 kg 500 kg 56 kg 6 kg Success First flight of hardware upgrade, first launch of reentry capsule (SRE). C8 PSLV-CA 23 April 2007 10:00 352 kg 185 kg Success First flight of the 'Core-Alone' configuration. ISRO's first commercial launch (foreign satellite as the main payload). C10 PSLV-CA 21 January 2008 03:45 295 kg Success ISRO's second commercial launch (foreign satellite as the main payload). C9 PSLV-CA 28 April 2008 03:53 690 kg 83 kg 8 kg 6.5 kg 3.5 kg 3 kg 2.2 kg 1 kg 1 kg 0.75 kg Success C11 PSLV-XL 22 October 2008 00:52 1380 kg Success First flight of the PSLV-XL configuration, first Indian Lunar probe. C12 PSLV-CA 20 April 2009 01:15 300 kg 40 kg Success India's first radar imaging satellite, RISAT. C14 PSLV-CA 23 September 2009 06:21 960 kg 8 kg 8 kg 1 kg 1 kg 1 kg 1 kg Success Rubin 9.1 and 9.2 intentionally remained attached to the fourth stage. SwissCube-1 was the first Swiss satellite, and ITUpSAT1 was the first satellite to be constructed in Turkey. C15 PSLV-CA 12 July 2010 03:52 694 kg 117 kg 6.5 kg 1 kg 0.95 kg Success AISSat-1 and TIsat are part of NLS-6. C16 PSLV-G 20 April 2011 04:42 1206 kg 106 kg 92 kg Success C17 PSLV-XL 15 July 2011 11:18 1410 kg Success First use of Vikram flight computer. C18 PSLV-CA 12 October 2011 05:31 1000 kg 10.9 kg 3 kg 28.7 kg Success C19 PSLV-XL 26 April 2012 00:17 1850 kg Success C21 PSLV-CA 9 September 2012 04:23 720 kg 50 kg 15 kg Success mRESINS tested avionics for future PSLV launches. ISRO's third commercial launch (foreign satellite as the main payload). ISRO's 100th mission. C20 PSLV-CA 25 February 2013 12:31 409 kg 148 kg 74 kg 14 kg 14 kg 6.5 kg 0.8 kg Success TUGSAT-1 and UniBRITE were the first Austrian satellites. C22 PSLV-XL 1 July 2013 18:11 1425 kg Success India's first regional navigation satellite. C25 PSLV-XL 5 November 2013 09:08 1350 kg Success India's first Mars mission. C24 PSLV-XL 4 April 2014 11:44 1432 kg Success India's second regional navigation satellite. C23 PSLV-CA 30 June 2014 04:22 714 kg 15 kg 15 kg 14 kg 7 kg Success ISRO's fourth commercial launch (foreign satellite as the main payload). C26 PSLV-XL 16 October 2014 20:02 1425.4 kg Success Seventh PSLV-XL and third Navigation Satellite launch. C27 PSLV-XL 28 March 2015 11:49 1425 kg Success Eighth PSLV-XL and fourth Navigation Satellite launch. PSLV-XL 10 July 2015 16:28 447 kg 447 kg 447 kg 91 kg 7 kg Success At the time it was the heaviest commercial mission (1439 kg) successfully accomplished using a launch vehicle assembled by ISRO. C30 PSLV-XL 28 September 2015 04:30 1650 kg 68 kg 5.5 kg 4 kg 4 kg 4 kg 4 kg Success Launch of India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory and ISRO's first launch of US satellites. C29 PSLV-CA 16 December 2015 12:30 400 kg 123 kg 13 kg 78 kg 3.4 kg - Success Commercial launch of 6 Singaporean satellites. Fourth stage re-ignition demonstrated successfully after payload deployment. C31 PSLV-XL 20 January 2016 04:01 1425 kg Success IRNSS-1E, fifth navigation satellite of the seven satellites constituting the IRNSS space segment launched. It carries two types of payloads – navigation payload and ranging payload. This is the eleventh time ‘XL’ configuration is being flown. C32 PSLV-XL 10 March 2016 10:31 1425 kg Success IRNSS-1F, sixth navigation satellite of the seven satellites constituting the IRNSS space segment launched. It carries two types of payloads – navigation payload and ranging payload. This is the twelfth time ‘XL’ configuration is being flown. IRNSS-1F carries Corner Cube Retroreflectors for laser ranging. Launch initially scheduled for 10:30 was delayed by one minute to avoid space debris. C33 PSLV-XL 28 April 2016 07:20 1425 kg Success IRNSS-1G, last navigation satellite of the seven satellites constituting the IRNSS space segment launched. India's own navigational system, the set-up for which was completed will be called NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) C34 PSLV-XL 22 June 2016 03:55 727.5 kg 120 kg 130 kg 110 kg 25.5 kg 85 kg 1 kg 1.5 kg 12 × 4.7 kg Success ISRO's Cartosat-2C and 19 other satellites launched. C35 PSLV-G 26 September 2016 03:42 371 kg 117 kg 103 kg 44 kg 10 kg 8 kg 7 kg 5.25 kg Success ISRO's longest PSLV satellite launch mission. First mission of PSLV in which it launched its payloads into two different orbits. C36 PSLV-XL 7 December 2016 04:55 1235 kg Success C37 PSLV-XL 19 February 1228447:58:00 730 kg 8.4 kg 9.7 kg 1.1 kg 1.7 kg 3 kg 4.3 kg 4.2 kg 4.7 kg x 88 Nos. 4.6 kg x 8 Nos.

PSLV-G: Launch history since 1993

India&#39;s first lunar probe - the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft - which was considered lost, is still orbiting the Moon, NASA scientists have found by using a new ground-based radar technique.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) lost communication with Chandrayaan-1 on August 29, 2009, almost a year after it was launched on October 22, 2008. Now, scientists at NASA&#39;s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California have successfully located the spacecraft still circling some 200 kilometres above the lunar surface.

&ldquo;We have been able to detect NASA&#39;s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation&#39;s Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft in lunar orbit with ground-based radar,&rdquo; said Marina Brozovic, a radar scientist at JPL and principal investigator for the test project.

&quot;Finding LRO was relatively easy, as we were working with the mission&#39;s navigators and had precise orbit data where it was located. Finding India&#39;s Chandrayaan-1 required a bit more detective work because the last contact with the spacecraft was in August of 2009,&quot; said Brozovic.

The Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft is very small, a cube about 1.5 meters on each side - about half the size of a smart car. 
Although the interplanetary radar has been used to observe small asteroids several million miles from Earth, researchers were not certain that an object of this smaller size as far away as the Moon could be detected, even with the world&#39;s most powerful radars.

Chandrayaan-1 proved the perfect target for demonstrating the capability of this technique. To find a spacecraft 380,000 kilometres away, JPL&#39;s team used NASA&#39;s 70-metre antenna at NASA&#39;s Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in California to send out a powerful beam of microwaves directed towards the Moon. Then the radar echoes bounced back from lunar orbit were received by the 100-meter Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia.

Finding a derelict spacecraft at lunar distance that has not been tracked for years is tricky because the Moon is riddled with mascons (regions with higher-than-average gravitational pull) that can dramatically affect a spacecraft&#39;s orbit over time, and even cause it to have crashed into the Moon.

JPL&#39;s orbital calculations indicated that Chandrayaan-1 is still circling some 200 kilometres above the lunar surface, but it was generally considered &quot;lost.&quot; However, with Chandrayaan-1, the radar team utilised the fact that this spacecraft is in polar orbit around the Moon, so it would always cross above the lunar poles on each orbit.

On July 2 last year, the team pointed Goldstone and Green Bank at a location about 160 kilometres above the Moon&#39;s north pole and waited to see if the lost spacecraft crossed the radar beam.

Chandrayaan-1 was predicted to complete one orbit around the Moon every two hours and eight minutes. Something that had a radar signature of a small spacecraft did cross the beam twice during four hours of observations, and the timings between detections matched the time it would take Chandrayaan-1 to complete one orbit and return to the same position above the Moon&#39;s pole.

The team used data from the return signal to estimate its velocity and the distance to the target. This information was then used to update the orbital predictions for Chandrayaan-1.

Chandrayaan operated for 312 days as opposed to the intended two years but the mission achieved 95 per cent of its planned objectives. Among its many achievements, the greatest achievement was the discovery of the widespread presence of water molecules in the lunar soil.

(PTI)

ISRO lost communication with Chandrayaan-1 on August 29, 2009, almost a year after it was launched on October 22, 2008

India's first lunar probe - the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft - which was considered lost, is still orbiting the Moon, NASA scientists have found by using a new ground-based radar technique. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) lost communication with Chandrayaan-1 on August 29, 2009, almost a year after it was launched on October 22, 2008. Now, scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California have successfully located the spacecraft still circling some 200 kilometres above the lunar surface. “We have been able to detect NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft in lunar orbit with ground-based radar,” said Marina Brozovic, a radar scientist at JPL and principal investigator for the test project. "Finding LRO was relatively easy, as we were working with the mission's navigators and had precise orbit data where it was located. Finding India's Chandrayaan-1 required a bit more detective work because the last contact with the spacecraft was in August of 2009," said Brozovic. The Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft is very small, a cube about 1.5 meters on each side - about half the size of a smart car. Although the interplanetary radar has been used to observe small asteroids several million miles from Earth, researchers were not certain that an object of this smaller size as far away as the Moon could be detected, even with the world's most powerful radars. Chandrayaan-1 proved the perfect target for demonstrating the capability of this technique. To find a spacecraft 380,000 kilometres away, JPL's team used NASA's 70-metre antenna at NASA's Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in California to send out a powerful beam of microwaves directed towards the Moon. Then the radar echoes bounced back from lunar orbit were received by the 100-meter Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia. Finding a derelict spacecraft at lunar distance that has not been tracked for years is tricky because the Moon is riddled with mascons (regions with higher-than-average gravitational pull) that can dramatically affect a spacecraft's orbit over time, and even cause it to have crashed into the Moon. JPL's orbital calculations indicated that Chandrayaan-1 is still circling some 200 kilometres above the lunar surface, but it was generally considered "lost." However, with Chandrayaan-1, the radar team utilised the fact that this spacecraft is in polar orbit around the Moon, so it would always cross above the lunar poles on each orbit. On July 2 last year, the team pointed Goldstone and Green Bank at a location about 160 kilometres above the Moon's north pole and waited to see if the lost spacecraft crossed the radar beam. Chandrayaan-1 was predicted to complete one orbit around the Moon every two hours and eight minutes. Something that had a radar signature of a small spacecraft did cross the beam twice during four hours of observations, and the timings between detections matched the time it would take Chandrayaan-1 to complete one orbit and return to the same position above the Moon's pole. The team used data from the return signal to estimate its velocity and the distance to the target. This information was then used to update the orbital predictions for Chandrayaan-1. Chandrayaan operated for 312 days as opposed to the intended two years but the mission achieved 95 per cent of its planned objectives. Among its many achievements, the greatest achievement was the discovery of the widespread presence of water molecules in the lunar soil. (PTI)

NASA spots ISRO's 'lost' Chandrayaan-1 orbiting the moon

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched a record 104 satellites in one go from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday morning.

India has become the first country to successfully carry so many satellites in a single mission, surpassing Russia which launched 39 satellites in a single mission in June 2014.

Scientists gathered for the launch in the southern spaceport of Sriharikota burst into applause as the head of India&#39;s Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced all the satellites had been ejected, AFP reported.&nbsp;

The rocket took off at 9:28 am (0358 GMT) and cruised at a speed of 27,000 kilometres (16,777) per hour, ejecting all the 104 satellites into orbit in around 30 minutes, according to ISRO.

The rocket&#39;s main cargo was a 714-kilogram satellite for earth observation but it was also loaded with 103 smaller &quot;nano satellites&quot;, weighing a combined 664 kilogrammes, according to AFP.&nbsp;

Nearly all of the nano satellites are from other countries, including Israel, Kazakhstan, The Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and 96 from the&nbsp;United States.&nbsp;

Last June, India set a national record after it successfully launched a rocket carrying 20 satellites, including 13 from the US.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

The earlier record of 37 satellites was held by the Russian Space Agency

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched a record 104 satellites in one go from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday morning. India has become the first country to successfully carry so many satellites in a single mission, surpassing Russia which launched 39 satellites in a single mission in June 2014. Scientists gathered for the launch in the southern spaceport of Sriharikota burst into applause as the head of India's Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced all the satellites had been ejected, AFP reported. The rocket took off at 9:28 am (0358 GMT) and cruised at a speed of 27,000 kilometres (16,777) per hour, ejecting all the 104 satellites into orbit in around 30 minutes, according to ISRO. The rocket's main cargo was a 714-kilogram satellite for earth observation but it was also loaded with 103 smaller "nano satellites", weighing a combined 664 kilogrammes, according to AFP. Nearly all of the nano satellites are from other countries, including Israel, Kazakhstan, The Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and 96 from the United States. Last June, India set a national record after it successfully launched a rocket carrying 20 satellites, including 13 from the US. (WION with inputs from AFP)

In new world record, ISRO launches 104 satellites into space on board single rocket

Since the &#39;Space Race&#39; era of exploration&nbsp;between United States and Soviet Union, space technology has witnessed major developments.

Astronomers have carried out the study of space with telescopes and have progressed to take forward&nbsp;physical exploration, both by unmanned robotic probes and human spaceflights.

Early space explorations were carried out for military, communications and security purposes&nbsp;but now space colonisation, or space humanisation, is also emerging as a new frontier.

If you want to know how we fare in terms of space travel in the future, have a look at some of the most kickass upcoming space missions:

<h2>Asteroid mining technology</h2>

This year, the world will witness the first flight in connection with the long-term goal of asteroid mining.&nbsp;The Prospector-X test flight&nbsp;is a precursor to the Prospector-1 mission&nbsp;and will test the company&rsquo;s water-based propulsion, avionics and navigation systems. If successful, the Prospector-1 mission will take place before the end of the decade.&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J0vkqQN44I4" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Blue Origin&nbsp;</h2>

Jeff Bezos&rsquo;s Blue Origin private space firm has a manned test flight dated for early this year. It will be a sub-orbital hop rather than a full-fledged journey into orbit. They also have a space capsule offering&nbsp;large windows and space for up to six people.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-YJhymiZjqc" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Cassini&#39;s grand finale</h2>

NASA&rsquo;s&nbsp;Cassini probe has been orbiting Saturn since 2004, and&nbsp;the space agency is set for a finale this year.&nbsp;Cassini will&nbsp;undertake 22&nbsp;orbits between the inner rings and the planet, capturing information and images. Once the&nbsp;orbits are complete, the probe will burn&nbsp;in Saturn&rsquo;s upper atmosphere.&nbsp;Cassini has made many important discoveries since its launch. It spotted liquid-hydrocarbon lakes on Titan and geysers of water ice blasting from the south polar region of Saturn&rsquo;s moon Enceladus.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/59Br_aZ5i3c" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Chinese probe to&nbsp;land on moon and return with samples</h2>

This is perhaps the most ambitious mission undertaken by the Chinese space agency. So far, China has sent a rover to the moon, but returning back with samples is risky. Chang&rsquo;e 5 mission will see a lunar lander touching down on the moon, gathering samples and bringing them back to Earth. Returning back is difficult as the probe needs to be protected during re-entry.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lBM5swBrKdY" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Dawn&#39;s mission&nbsp;</h2>

NASA&#39;s Dawn spacecraft will complete its task this year. The $467-million Dawn mission was launched in September 2007 to study Vesta and Ceres, the two largest objects in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The spacecraft has revealed a lot&nbsp;about dry, rocky Vesta and icy Ceres&nbsp;and has found evidence of water ice being&nbsp;common just beneath the dwarf planet&#39;s surface.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5OFgJwdZxRc" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Exoplanet hunter</h2>

NASA will continue the search for exoplanets this year. It is teaming up with SpaceX to launch the TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) space telescope. TESS will monitor more than 200,000 stars for temporary drops in brightness caused by planetary transits. These planets range from gas giants to potential Earth-like planets. It will spend the early years looking for alien planets that cross the faces of their parent stars.&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZsPStvGgNuk" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>ESA to launch exoplanet telescope</h2>

The year will witness&nbsp;two space telescopes being launched.&nbsp;CHEOPS, one of the telescopes, will be looking at nearby stars&nbsp;already known to host exoplanets. This will give new information about existing planets.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mwf-zJ0bRb8" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Falcon Heavy</h2>

Expected to launch in spring/summer, Falcon Heavy will be the most powerful rocket in the world. It will be&nbsp;capable of carrying 60 tons (54 metric tons) to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and 24.5 tons (22.2 metric tons) to the geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u26-CIDaazQ" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Green alternative to chemical propulsion</h2>

NASA will be launching the Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM)&nbsp;for a new form of green propulsion, as an alternative to hydrazine, the fuel used today. It will lead to&nbsp;fuel loading becoming much safer, faster and less expensive. The alternative also has a higher density than hydrazine with a better thrust and a lower freezing point.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0rKYHLAThYc" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Launching satellites from a Boeing 747</h2>

We have had plenty of satellites being launched into space from a jet aircraft, but firing satellites from a Boeing is completely unheard of. Virgin Galactic will be testing its new LauncherOne&nbsp;programme, which aims to carry&nbsp;a 200 kg payload&nbsp;into a &#39;sun synchronous orbit&#39;&nbsp;for less than $10 million.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L2OT8Fvo1zw" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Private moon landing</h2>

For an award prize of&nbsp;$30 million, two companies will be fighting to land a robotic craft on the moon, a first for a private entity.&nbsp;Google&lsquo;s Lunar X Prize, in the form of Israel&rsquo;s SpaceIL and the USA&rsquo;s Moon Express programmes are looking to award the company which can achieve this feat. To win, they will not just land the spacecraft but will travel 500 metres and transmit HD video/pictures back to Earth.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cuXxBoSYmfc" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Space debris</h2>

The mission is set to launch this year and will test a device that is aimed at capturing&nbsp;orbiting space debris. There will also be a system of spacing junk with an attached dragsail that will allow&nbsp;the existing&nbsp;debris to be pushed out of the orbit. If successful, we might just have less&nbsp;space junk floating around our planet.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ADVlDRmuooA" width="970"></iframe>

(Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

&nbsp;

From mining asteroids to private space flights and even space tourism, here's what you can expect in space exploration in 2017

Since the 'Space Race' era of exploration between United States and Soviet Union, space technology has witnessed major developments. Astronomers have carried out the study of space with telescopes and have progressed to take forward physical exploration, both by unmanned robotic probes and human spaceflights. Early space explorations were carried out for military, communications and security purposes but now space colonisation, or space humanisation, is also emerging as a new frontier. If you want to know how we fare in terms of space travel in the future, have a look at some of the most kickass upcoming space missions: Asteroid mining technology This year, the world will witness the first flight in connection with the long-term goal of asteroid mining. The Prospector-X test flight is a precursor to the Prospector-1 mission and will test the company’s water-based propulsion, avionics and navigation systems. If successful, the Prospector-1 mission will take place before the end of the decade. Blue Origin Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin private space firm has a manned test flight dated for early this year. It will be a sub-orbital hop rather than a full-fledged journey into orbit. They also have a space capsule offering large windows and space for up to six people. Cassini's grand finale NASA’s Cassini probe has been orbiting Saturn since 2004, and the space agency is set for a finale this year. Cassini will undertake 22 orbits between the inner rings and the planet, capturing information and images. Once the orbits are complete, the probe will burn in Saturn’s upper atmosphere. Cassini has made many important discoveries since its launch. It spotted liquid-hydrocarbon lakes on Titan and geysers of water ice blasting from the south polar region of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Chinese probe to land on moon and return with samples This is perhaps the most ambitious mission undertaken by the Chinese space agency. So far, China has sent a rover to the moon, but returning back with samples is risky. Chang’e 5 mission will see a lunar lander touching down on the moon, gathering samples and bringing them back to Earth. Returning back is difficult as the probe needs to be protected during re-entry. Dawn's mission NASA's Dawn spacecraft will complete its task this year. The $467-million Dawn mission was launched in September 2007 to study Vesta and Ceres, the two largest objects in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The spacecraft has revealed a lot about dry, rocky Vesta and icy Ceres and has found evidence of water ice being common just beneath the dwarf planet's surface. Exoplanet hunter NASA will continue the search for exoplanets this year. It is teaming up with SpaceX to launch the TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) space telescope. TESS will monitor more than 200,000 stars for temporary drops in brightness caused by planetary transits. These planets range from gas giants to potential Earth-like planets. It will spend the early years looking for alien planets that cross the faces of their parent stars. ESA to launch exoplanet telescope The year will witness two space telescopes being launched. CHEOPS, one of the telescopes, will be looking at nearby stars already known to host exoplanets. This will give new information about existing planets. Falcon Heavy Expected to launch in spring/summer, Falcon Heavy will be the most powerful rocket in the world. It will be capable of carrying 60 tons (54 metric tons) to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and 24.5 tons (22.2 metric tons) to the geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). Green alternative to chemical propulsion NASA will be launching the Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) for a new form of green propulsion, as an alternative to hydrazine, the fuel used today. It will lead to fuel loading becoming much safer, faster and less expensive. The alternative also has a higher density than hydrazine with a better thrust and a lower freezing point. Launching satellites from a Boeing 747 We have had plenty of satellites being launched into space from a jet aircraft, but firing satellites from a Boeing is completely unheard of. Virgin Galactic will be testing its new LauncherOne programme, which aims to carry a 200 kg payload into a 'sun synchronous orbit' for less than $10 million. Private moon landing For an award prize of $30 million, two companies will be fighting to land a robotic craft on the moon, a first for a private entity. Google‘s Lunar X Prize, in the form of Israel’s SpaceIL and the USA’s Moon Express programmes are looking to award the company which can achieve this feat. To win, they will not just land the spacecraft but will travel 500 metres and transmit HD video/pictures back to Earth. Space debris The mission is set to launch this year and will test a device that is aimed at capturing orbiting space debris. There will also be a system of spacing junk with an attached dragsail that will allow the existing debris to be pushed out of the orbit. If successful, we might just have less space junk floating around our planet. (Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

Out-of-the-world space expeditions

Prof MGK Menon, an acclaimed physicist, who had played a prominent role in the development of science and technology in India over the last five decades, died here on Tuesday.

He was 88 years and ill for some time. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

Menon, who served as a minister of state for science and technology and education in the VP Singh government, had earlier worked as secretary in the Department of Science and Technology and Environment in the Union government.

He also headed the Indian Space Research Organisation in 1972 as its chairman, and was the director of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research at the age of 35 years.

A recipient of Padma awards, including Padma Vibhushan, Menon had done scientific work in cosmic rays, particle physics and distinguished himself with investigations in the field.

Menon was a member of the Planning Commission (1982-1989), Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister (1986-1989), Vice President, Council of Scientific &amp; Industrial Research (CSIR) (1989-1990) and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) during 1990-96.

He was also a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of London.

(PTI)

Menon has done scientific work in cosmic rays, particle physics and distinguished himself with investigations in the field

Prof MGK Menon, an acclaimed physicist, who had played a prominent role in the development of science and technology in India over the last five decades, died here on Tuesday. He was 88 years and ill for some time. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. Menon, who served as a minister of state for science and technology and education in the VP Singh government, had earlier worked as secretary in the Department of Science and Technology and Environment in the Union government. He also headed the Indian Space Research Organisation in 1972 as its chairman, and was the director of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research at the age of 35 years. A recipient of Padma awards, including Padma Vibhushan, Menon had done scientific work in cosmic rays, particle physics and distinguished himself with investigations in the field. Menon was a member of the Planning Commission (1982-1989), Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister (1986-1989), Vice President, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) (1989-1990) and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) during 1990-96. He was also a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of London. (PTI)

Indian physicist MGK Menon dies at 88

Indian Space Research Organisation&#39;s (ISRO) latest communication satellite GSAT-18 was successfully launched today by a heavy duty rocket of Arianespace from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In the wake of unfavourble conditions at Kourou, a French territory located in northeastern coast of South America, &nbsp;the launch was earlier deferred by 24 hours.&nbsp;

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GSAT-18 successfully launched by Ariane-5 VA-231 from Kourou, French Guiana<a href="https://t.co/2sr09MWd9S">https://t.co/2sr09MWd9S</a> <a href="https://t.co/jB0mpFKbld">pic.twitter.com/jB0mpFKbld</a>
&mdash; ISRO (@isro) <a href="https://twitter.com/isro/status/783781554828877828">October 5, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The European launcher Ariane-5 VA-231 blasted off at around 2 AM (IST) as the weather was clear today and injected GSAT-18 shortly after orbiting co-passenger Sky Muster II satellite for Australian operator nbn (National Broadband Network) in a flawless flight lasting about 32 minutes, Indian news agency PTI reported.

&nbsp;

ISRO&#39;s latest satellite aims at providing telecommunications services for the country by strengthening ISRO&#39;s current fleet of 14 operational telecommunication satellites.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

ISRO, which has been dependent on Ariane-5 rocket for carrying its heavier satellites, is developing GSLV Mk III for this purpose. GSAT-18 is the 20th satellite from ISRO to be launched by the European space agency and the mission is the 280th for Arianespace launcher family, the news agency said.&nbsp;

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Weighing 3,404 kg at lift-off, GSAT-18 carries 48 communication transponders to provide services in Normal C-band, Upper Extended C-band and Ku-bands of the frequency spectrum.

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Announcing the successful launch of the satellite, Arianespace CEO Stephane Israel tweeted: &quot;We take great pride in our strong relationship w/ @ISRO! Tonight marks 20 sats. launched for India&#39;s space agency &amp; more to come. Congrats!&quot;

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Contributing every day to our success: Thanks and congrats to <a href="https://twitter.com/CNES">@CNES</a>-csg and the ground industrial teams for this successful mission
&mdash; St&eacute;phane Isra&euml;l (@arianespaceceo) <a href="https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/783785148491804672">October 5, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Crucial support: Thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/esa">@ESA</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/CNES">@CNES</a> and all <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ariane?src=hash">#Ariane</a> member nations for your contributions to another Ariane 5 success! <a href="https://t.co/NU0vtLsKhm">pic.twitter.com/NU0vtLsKhm</a>
&mdash; St&eacute;phane Isra&euml;l (@arianespaceceo) <a href="https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/783784489784741888">October 5, 2016</a></blockquote>
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ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar, who watched the launch from the mission control centre, left shortly after lift-off, and his message was read out later by one of his senior colleagues.

&nbsp;

&quot;I am really delighted this evening having witnessed another glorious and flawless lift-off of Ariane-5 VA-231 flight that carried GSAT-18 and Sky Muster II successfully. Like on all previous occasions, Arianespace has again provided us a magnificient textbook launch,&quot; Kumar said.

&nbsp;

Designed to provide continuity of services on operational satellites in these bands, GSAT-18 with a mission life of about 15 years, carries Ku-band beacon as well to help in accurately pointing ground antennas towards the satellite. 
With GSAT-18&#39;s injection into GTO, ISRO&#39;s Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka takes control of the satellite and will perform the initial orbit raising manoeuvres using the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) of the&nbsp;satellite, placing it in a circular Geostationary Orbit.

&nbsp;

Following this, the deployment of appendages such as the solar panels and antennas as well as three axis stabilisation of the satellite will be performed, and GSAT-18 will be positioned at 74 deg East longitude and co-located with other operational satellites, ISRO said.

&nbsp;

GSAT-18s co-passenger Sky Muster II, built by SSL (Space Systems Loral) in Palo Alto, California, is aimed at bridging the digital divide, especially in the rural and isolated regions of Australia.

&nbsp;

Kumar said the next step after the successful launch of GSAT-18 was to carry out a series of manoeuvres before positioning it in its orbital location.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;The necessary preparations have been made and our team back in India is working on mission operations at Master Control Facility, Hassan,&quot; he said.

&nbsp;

&quot;GSAT 18 is an important satellite for us that will enable the continuity of the vital communication services in our country by replacing the currently ageing satellites,&quot; the ISRO chief said.

&nbsp;

Television, telecommunication, VSAT and digital satellite news gathering were a few of the services that GSAT 18 will support in coming days, he added.

&nbsp;

Pointing out that two more satellites GSAT 17 and GSAT 11 were getting ready for the launch by Arianespace during early next year, Kumar said &quot;realisation of both these satellites is in advanced stage&quot;.

&nbsp;

&quot;While GSAT 17 is an important satellite for replacing our satellites, GSAT 11 will be the first generation of high- throughput satellite of ISRO. Both of these upcoming launches are crucial for the Indian Space Programme,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(PTI)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

GSAT-18 aims at providing telecommunications services for India by strengthening ISRO's current fleet of 14 operational telecom satellites

Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) latest communication satellite GSAT-18 was successfully launched today by a heavy duty rocket of Arianespace from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana. In the wake of unfavourble conditions at Kourou, a French territory located in northeastern coast of South America, the launch was earlier deferred by 24 hours. GSAT-18 successfully launched by Ariane-5 VA-231 from Kourou, French Guianahttps://t.co/2sr09MWd9S pic.twitter.com/jB0mpFKbld — ISRO (@isro) October 5, 2016 × The European launcher Ariane-5 VA-231 blasted off at around 2 AM (IST) as the weather was clear today and injected GSAT-18 shortly after orbiting co-passenger Sky Muster II satellite for Australian operator nbn (National Broadband Network) in a flawless flight lasting about 32 minutes, Indian news agency PTI reported. ISRO's latest satellite aims at providing telecommunications services for the country by strengthening ISRO's current fleet of 14 operational telecommunication satellites. ISRO, which has been dependent on Ariane-5 rocket for carrying its heavier satellites, is developing GSLV Mk III for this purpose. GSAT-18 is the 20th satellite from ISRO to be launched by the European space agency and the mission is the 280th for Arianespace launcher family, the news agency said. Weighing 3,404 kg at lift-off, GSAT-18 carries 48 communication transponders to provide services in Normal C-band, Upper Extended C-band and Ku-bands of the frequency spectrum. Announcing the successful launch of the satellite, Arianespace CEO Stephane Israel tweeted: "We take great pride in our strong relationship w/ @ISRO! Tonight marks 20 sats. launched for India's space agency & more to come. Congrats!" Contributing every day to our success: Thanks and congrats to @CNES-csg and the ground industrial teams for this successful mission — Stéphane Israël (@arianespaceceo) October 5, 2016 × Crucial support: Thanks to @ESA, @CNES and all #Ariane member nations for your contributions to another Ariane 5 success! pic.twitter.com/NU0vtLsKhm — Stéphane Israël (@arianespaceceo) October 5, 2016 × ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar, who watched the launch from the mission control centre, left shortly after lift-off, and his message was read out later by one of his senior colleagues. "I am really delighted this evening having witnessed another glorious and flawless lift-off of Ariane-5 VA-231 flight that carried GSAT-18 and Sky Muster II successfully. Like on all previous occasions, Arianespace has again provided us a magnificient textbook launch," Kumar said. Designed to provide continuity of services on operational satellites in these bands, GSAT-18 with a mission life of about 15 years, carries Ku-band beacon as well to help in accurately pointing ground antennas towards the satellite. With GSAT-18's injection into GTO, ISRO's Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka takes control of the satellite and will perform the initial orbit raising manoeuvres using the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) of the satellite, placing it in a circular Geostationary Orbit. Following this, the deployment of appendages such as the solar panels and antennas as well as three axis stabilisation of the satellite will be performed, and GSAT-18 will be positioned at 74 deg East longitude and co-located with other operational satellites, ISRO said. GSAT-18s co-passenger Sky Muster II, built by SSL (Space Systems Loral) in Palo Alto, California, is aimed at bridging the digital divide, especially in the rural and isolated regions of Australia. Kumar said the next step after the successful launch of GSAT-18 was to carry out a series of manoeuvres before positioning it in its orbital location. "The necessary preparations have been made and our team back in India is working on mission operations at Master Control Facility, Hassan," he said. "GSAT 18 is an important satellite for us that will enable the continuity of the vital communication services in our country by replacing the currently ageing satellites," the ISRO chief said. Television, telecommunication, VSAT and digital satellite news gathering were a few of the services that GSAT 18 will support in coming days, he added. Pointing out that two more satellites GSAT 17 and GSAT 11 were getting ready for the launch by Arianespace during early next year, Kumar said "realisation of both these satellites is in advanced stage". "While GSAT 17 is an important satellite for replacing our satellites, GSAT 11 will be the first generation of high- throughput satellite of ISRO. Both of these upcoming launches are crucial for the Indian Space Programme," he added. (PTI)

Indian Space Research Organisation's latest communication satellite GSAT-18 launched successfully

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)&nbsp;launched a rocket carrying an advanced weather satellite today from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, a barrier island in the Bay of Bengal near the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. 
 
The launch was delayed by 40 minutes over an &#39;anamoly&#39;, ISRO said, according to media reports.&nbsp; 
 
The GSLV-F05 rocket will carry the 2,211 kilogram satellite &#39;INSAT-3DR&#39; and will be put in a geo-transfer orbit initially. It will then use its own propulsion systems to reach the geosynchronous orbit. 
 
The satellite is fitted with modern equipment to study weather patterns and can help during search and rescue operations too. 
 
This is India&#39;s tenth flight using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), which can send 2 to 2.5 tonne class of satellites in geostationary orbits. 
 
The &#39;made in India&#39; Cryogenic Upper Stage which is being carried on the rocket is being used for the fourth time. This will be the first operational flight carrying the cryogenic engine, the others were test flights. 
 
Both test flight missions, one in January 2014&nbsp;which launched the GSLV-D5 and another in August 2015 with the D6, were successful. 
 
With today&#39;s launch, India will take a step forward, leaving the testing phase behind. 
 
Here&#39;s what you need to know about the satellite:&nbsp;

<ol>
	<li>?The INSAT-3DR is configured with an atmospheric sounder and an imaging system&nbsp;</li>
	<li>It is similar to the INSAT-3D, which was launched in 2013. The INSAT-3D changed India&#39;s weather monitoring system through its Atmospheric Sounding System.</li>
	<li>The Atmospheric Sounding system provided a vertical profile of temperature, humidity and integrated Ozone from surface to top of the atmosphere.</li>
	<li>INSAT-3DR has incorporated the many changes added to INSAT-3D:</li>
</ol>

<ul>
	<li>A middle infrared band with imaging provides night time pictures of low clouds and fog.</li>
	<li>Imaging in two Thermal Infrared bands to accurately estimate Sea Surface Temperature (SST).</li>
	<li>The Visible and Thermal Infrared bands have Higher Spatial Resolution.</li>
	<li>Carries a Data Relay Transponder which can be used to receive meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic data from remote locations.&nbsp;This will help during extreme weather-related disasters such as floods, droughts and cyclones.</li>
	<li>It also carries a Search and Rescue Transponder which receives signals when a distress beacon is sent from maritime, aviation and land-based users trying to contact the Indian Mission Control Centre.</li>
	<li>This will help the Indian Coast Guard, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other organisations involved in search and rescue missions.</li>
</ul>

(WION with inputs from agencies)

The satellite is fitted with modern equipment to study weather patterns and can help during search and rescue operations too

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched a rocket carrying an advanced weather satellite today from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, a barrier island in the Bay of Bengal near the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The launch was delayed by 40 minutes over an 'anamoly', ISRO said, according to media reports. The GSLV-F05 rocket will carry the 2,211 kilogram satellite 'INSAT-3DR' and will be put in a geo-transfer orbit initially. It will then use its own propulsion systems to reach the geosynchronous orbit. The satellite is fitted with modern equipment to study weather patterns and can help during search and rescue operations too. This is India's tenth flight using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), which can send 2 to 2.5 tonne class of satellites in geostationary orbits. The 'made in India' Cryogenic Upper Stage which is being carried on the rocket is being used for the fourth time. This will be the first operational flight carrying the cryogenic engine, the others were test flights. Both test flight missions, one in January 2014 which launched the GSLV-D5 and another in August 2015 with the D6, were successful. With today's launch, India will take a step forward, leaving the testing phase behind. Here's what you need to know about the satellite: ?The INSAT-3DR is configured with an atmospheric sounder and an imaging system It is similar to the INSAT-3D, which was launched in 2013. The INSAT-3D changed India's weather monitoring system through its Atmospheric Sounding System. The Atmospheric Sounding system provided a vertical profile of temperature, humidity and integrated Ozone from surface to top of the atmosphere. INSAT-3DR has incorporated the many changes added to INSAT-3D: A middle infrared band with imaging provides night time pictures of low clouds and fog. Imaging in two Thermal Infrared bands to accurately estimate Sea Surface Temperature (SST). The Visible and Thermal Infrared bands have Higher Spatial Resolution. Carries a Data Relay Transponder which can be used to receive meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic data from remote locations. This will help during extreme weather-related disasters such as floods, droughts and cyclones. It also carries a Search and Rescue Transponder which receives signals when a distress beacon is sent from maritime, aviation and land-based users trying to contact the Indian Mission Control Centre. This will help the Indian Coast Guard, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other organisations involved in search and rescue missions. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Indian Space Research Organisation launches advanced weather satellite

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested a scramjet engine on Sunday morning, according to local media reports. 
 
The test flight of the engine was launched from the spaceport of&nbsp;Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, situated on the southeastern coast of India. The five-minute test took place at 6am. 
 
The scramjet engine will help ISRO reduce the launch cost of&nbsp;weather satellite INSAT-3DR, which&nbsp;will provide meteorological services to India. 
 
ISRO scientists say the engine will carry atmospheric oxygen, which will reduce the weight of INSAT-3DR during its launch. The reduction in the satellite&#39;s weight by more than half will help it carry added equipment into the orbit. 
 
&quot;The ignition of the engine, the building up of pressure and the duration for which the engine can sustain the flame will be tested and monitored,&quot; director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre K Sivan had told TOI before the launch of the engine. 
 
&quot;The main concern is igniting the air-breathing engine in the air and then sustaining the flame at supersonic speed. If we can sustain it for five seconds, then it can last for even 1000 seconds,&quot; Sivan had said. 
 
The engine was developed at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota. 
 
(WION) 
 
 
&nbsp;

The scramjet engine will help reduce the launch cost of?weather satellite INSAT-3DR

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested a scramjet engine on Sunday morning, according to local media reports. The test flight of the engine was launched from the spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, situated on the southeastern coast of India. The five-minute test took place at 6am. The scramjet engine will help ISRO reduce the launch cost of weather satellite INSAT-3DR, which will provide meteorological services to India. ISRO scientists say the engine will carry atmospheric oxygen, which will reduce the weight of INSAT-3DR during its launch. The reduction in the satellite's weight by more than half will help it carry added equipment into the orbit. "The ignition of the engine, the building up of pressure and the duration for which the engine can sustain the flame will be tested and monitored," director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre K Sivan had told TOI before the launch of the engine. "The main concern is igniting the air-breathing engine in the air and then sustaining the flame at supersonic speed. If we can sustain it for five seconds, then it can last for even 1000 seconds," Sivan had said. The engine was developed at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota. (WION)

India successfully tests air-breathing jet engine

An international tribunal has ruled that the Indian government had acted &quot;unfairly&quot; and &quot;inequitably&quot; in annulling a contract between city-based multimedia firm Devas and Indian Space and Research Organisation&#39;s commercial arm Antrix, making it liable to pay financial compensation, possibly to the tune of $1 billion.&nbsp; 
 
A Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) tribunal based in the Hague has found that the Indian government&#39;s actions in annulling the contract and denying Devas commercial use of S-band spectrum constituted an expropriation, Devas Multimedia Private Ltd. Said here. 
 
In its ruling yesterday, the PCA tribunal also found that India breached its treaty commitments to accord fair and equitable treatment to Devas&#39;s foreign investors, the company said in a statement here. 
 
The PCA regularly administers cases involving states, including investment treaty claims brought under arbitration rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). 
 
ISRO officials said they were yet to get details of the development. 
 
The ruling is the second by an international tribunal arising out of the cancellation of the Devas-Antrix contract. 
 
The unanimous decision included the arbitrator appointed to the tribunal by India, Devas said. 
 
In September 2015, in a jolt to Antrix, the International Chamber of Commerce&#39;s (ICC) arbitration body International Court of Arbitration had asked it to pay damages worth USD 672 million (Rs 4,432 crore then) to Devas Multimedia for &quot;unlawfully&quot; terminating the deal five years ago on grounds of national security. 
 
The Tribunal then had noted that Antrix had no legal justification to terminate the agreement and that Dr K R Radhakrishnan, who at the time of annulment, was Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO, Antrix and the Space Commission, could have prevented the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) from approving the annulment. 
 
CCS had annulled the deal based on the recommendation of the Space Commission on the ground that it was not in the security interests of the country.&nbsp; 
 
Under the deal signed in 2005, Antrix was to provide 70 MHz of the scarce S-Band wavelength to Devas for its digital multimedia services by leasing 90 per cent of the transponders in ISROs GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A satellites. 
 
Devas, in turn, was to pay Antrix a total of USD 300 million over 12 years. 
 
&quot;With this PCA award, two international tribunals have now unanimously agreed that financial compensation should be paid after the annulment of Devas&#39;s rights,&quot; said Devas Chairman Lawrence Babbio, former Vice Chairman of Verizon, the largest telecommunications company in the United States. 
 
&quot;Other courts in France and the United Kingdom have agreed that the award against Antrix ought to be enforced. We prefer a mutually agreeable resolution of this matter. 
 
&quot;But until that occurs, Devas and its investors will continue to press their claims before international tribunals and in courts around the world,&quot; he said.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI) 
&nbsp;

Indian government's space arm Antrix faces $1 billion in damages for unlawful cancellation of Devas-Antrix contract

An international tribunal has ruled that the Indian government had acted "unfairly" and "inequitably" in annulling a contract between city-based multimedia firm Devas and Indian Space and Research Organisation's commercial arm Antrix, making it liable to pay financial compensation, possibly to the tune of $1 billion. A Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) tribunal based in the Hague has found that the Indian government's actions in annulling the contract and denying Devas commercial use of S-band spectrum constituted an expropriation, Devas Multimedia Private Ltd. Said here. In its ruling yesterday, the PCA tribunal also found that India breached its treaty commitments to accord fair and equitable treatment to Devas's foreign investors, the company said in a statement here. The PCA regularly administers cases involving states, including investment treaty claims brought under arbitration rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). ISRO officials said they were yet to get details of the development. The ruling is the second by an international tribunal arising out of the cancellation of the Devas-Antrix contract. The unanimous decision included the arbitrator appointed to the tribunal by India, Devas said. In September 2015, in a jolt to Antrix, the International Chamber of Commerce's (ICC) arbitration body International Court of Arbitration had asked it to pay damages worth USD 672 million (Rs 4,432 crore then) to Devas Multimedia for "unlawfully" terminating the deal five years ago on grounds of national security. The Tribunal then had noted that Antrix had no legal justification to terminate the agreement and that Dr K R Radhakrishnan, who at the time of annulment, was Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO, Antrix and the Space Commission, could have prevented the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) from approving the annulment. CCS had annulled the deal based on the recommendation of the Space Commission on the ground that it was not in the security interests of the country. Under the deal signed in 2005, Antrix was to provide 70 MHz of the scarce S-Band wavelength to Devas for its digital multimedia services by leasing 90 per cent of the transponders in ISROs GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A satellites. Devas, in turn, was to pay Antrix a total of USD 300 million over 12 years. "With this PCA award, two international tribunals have now unanimously agreed that financial compensation should be paid after the annulment of Devas's rights," said Devas Chairman Lawrence Babbio, former Vice Chairman of Verizon, the largest telecommunications company in the United States. "Other courts in France and the United Kingdom have agreed that the award against Antrix ought to be enforced. We prefer a mutually agreeable resolution of this matter. "But until that occurs, Devas and its investors will continue to press their claims before international tribunals and in courts around the world," he said. (PTI)

Devas-Antrix deal: International tribunal rules against Indian government

Two days after an Indian Air Force plane went missing, Indian Navy has sought the help of space agency, a senior navy official said today.&nbsp; 
 
The plane carrying 29, including 21 military personnel, six crew members and civilians, went missing in the Bay of Bengal on Friday. 
 
The AN-32 was on its way to Port Blair, the capital of India&#39;s Andaman and Nicobar islands, when it disappeared from radar. 
 
The Vice-Admiral of Eastern Naval command, HC Bisht, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)&#39;s help has been sought in locating the plane. 
 
&quot;Continuous search is going on by large number of ships. We are augmenting the search effort by larger number of ships, aircraft, helicopters, coast guard ships, air force aircraft, all these are contributing to the search effort and search effort is increasing. In addition, we are also asking for ISRO&#39;s help for satellite imaging of that area so that we have at least some information,&quot; said Bisht in the southern city of Visakhapatnam after meeting family members of Bhupath Singh, an employee of the Naval Armament Depot who was aboard the missing plane. 
 
Meanwhile, family members of missing people are keeping their fingers crossed. 
 
In northern Allahabad city, aircraftman Laxmi Kant Tripathi&#39;s family was inconsolable. 
 
&quot;He called up and said that he will leave for Andaman at around 8 pm-8:30 pm (GMT 1430-1500 hours) and then call up but I never received any call after that,&quot; said crying mother of Laxmi Kant, Meena Tripathi. 
 
&quot;Till now we have received no information. Yesterday some officials came and told us that as soon as they receive any information, they&#39;ll inform us. We are waiting but still no information has been received,&quot; said father of missing aircraftman, Narendra Nath Tripathi. 
 
Sixteen ships, six planes and a submarine have been pressed into search for the aircraft in one of India&#39;s largest search and rescue operations in recent years. 
 
Military officials said the weather had been rough in the Bay of Bengal over the last two days because of the monsoon season, hindering search operations. 
 
The AN-32 is a workhorse of the air force, chosen for its ability to operate from short runways. 
 
The air force has 101 of the AN-32s that entered service in 1984 and have gone through mid-life upgrades and life extensions since then. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Indian Space Research Organisation will help in satellite imaging to boost the search effort

Two days after an Indian Air Force plane went missing, Indian Navy has sought the help of space agency, a senior navy official said today. The plane carrying 29, including 21 military personnel, six crew members and civilians, went missing in the Bay of Bengal on Friday. The AN-32 was on its way to Port Blair, the capital of India's Andaman and Nicobar islands, when it disappeared from radar. The Vice-Admiral of Eastern Naval command, HC Bisht, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s help has been sought in locating the plane. "Continuous search is going on by large number of ships. We are augmenting the search effort by larger number of ships, aircraft, helicopters, coast guard ships, air force aircraft, all these are contributing to the search effort and search effort is increasing. In addition, we are also asking for ISRO's help for satellite imaging of that area so that we have at least some information," said Bisht in the southern city of Visakhapatnam after meeting family members of Bhupath Singh, an employee of the Naval Armament Depot who was aboard the missing plane. Meanwhile, family members of missing people are keeping their fingers crossed. In northern Allahabad city, aircraftman Laxmi Kant Tripathi's family was inconsolable. "He called up and said that he will leave for Andaman at around 8 pm-8:30 pm (GMT 1430-1500 hours) and then call up but I never received any call after that," said crying mother of Laxmi Kant, Meena Tripathi. "Till now we have received no information. Yesterday some officials came and told us that as soon as they receive any information, they'll inform us. We are waiting but still no information has been received," said father of missing aircraftman, Narendra Nath Tripathi. Sixteen ships, six planes and a submarine have been pressed into search for the aircraft in one of India's largest search and rescue operations in recent years. Military officials said the weather had been rough in the Bay of Bengal over the last two days because of the monsoon season, hindering search operations. The AN-32 is a workhorse of the air force, chosen for its ability to operate from short runways. The air force has 101 of the AN-32s that entered service in 1984 and have gone through mid-life upgrades and life extensions since then. (Reuters)

Indian Navy seeks space agency's help to locate missing air force plane

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today&nbsp;successfully placed 20 satellites in orbit with its flagship launch vehicle, PSLV C-34 from Sriharikota island in southern India. 
 
ISRO&#39;s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C34 took off at 9:26 am (0456 GMT) from Satish Dhawan Space Center carrying 17 foreign and three indigenous satellites. 
 
The mission lasted for 26 and a half minutes by which time all satellites were put into a polar synchronous orbit of 505 kilometres&nbsp;height one by one. 
 
The 320 tonne PSLV C-34 carried 17 foreign small satellites from Canada, Indonesia, Germany and the US but the main passenger was a 727 kilogram&nbsp;Indian earth observation satellite called Cartosat, which can take images at sub-meter resolution. The rocket also placed two Indian academic community built satellites, Sathyabhamasat and Swayam in the space. 
 
With 20 satellites, the Indian space agency has beaten its previous record of placing 10 satellites in April 2008. 
 
ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar called it a major accomplishment for the Indian space agency. 
 
&quot;Today, PSLV C34 has done its job and we have the current generation of earth observation satellite, Cartosat-2 series and along with this, another 17 satellites have been put into the orbit,&quot; said Kumar. 
 
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO team on the historic achievement. 
 
&quot;20 satellites in a go! @isro continues to break new barriers. Hearty congratulations to our scientists on the monumental accomplishment,&quot; read his tweet. 
 
Currently, Russia holds the world record for placing the most number of satellites in a single launch. Its Dnepr rocket launched 37 satellites in 2014. 
 
Till date India has successfully launched 57 foreign satellites. 
 
(Reuters)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO and described today's launch as a 'monumental' accomplishment

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today successfully placed 20 satellites in orbit with its flagship launch vehicle, PSLV C-34 from Sriharikota island in southern India. ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C34 took off at 9:26 am (0456 GMT) from Satish Dhawan Space Center carrying 17 foreign and three indigenous satellites. The mission lasted for 26 and a half minutes by which time all satellites were put into a polar synchronous orbit of 505 kilometres height one by one. The 320 tonne PSLV C-34 carried 17 foreign small satellites from Canada, Indonesia, Germany and the US but the main passenger was a 727 kilogram Indian earth observation satellite called Cartosat, which can take images at sub-meter resolution. The rocket also placed two Indian academic community built satellites, Sathyabhamasat and Swayam in the space. With 20 satellites, the Indian space agency has beaten its previous record of placing 10 satellites in April 2008. ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar called it a major accomplishment for the Indian space agency. "Today, PSLV C34 has done its job and we have the current generation of earth observation satellite, Cartosat-2 series and along with this, another 17 satellites have been put into the orbit," said Kumar. Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO team on the historic achievement. "20 satellites in a go! @isro continues to break new barriers. Hearty congratulations to our scientists on the monumental accomplishment," read his tweet. Currently, Russia holds the world record for placing the most number of satellites in a single launch. Its Dnepr rocket launched 37 satellites in 2014. Till date India has successfully launched 57 foreign satellites. (Reuters)

Indian Space Research Organisation launches 20 satellites in succession

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