ISRO's PSLV-C60 rocket successfully launched the SpaDex satellite, designed for an important space docking experiment. This mission marks a significant achievement in India’s space exploration efforts, advancing research in space technology and docking capabilities.

ISRO's Final Mission Of 2024: SpaDex Satellites Take Off Successfully

ISRO PSLV-C60 Launches SpaDex For Critical Space Docking Experiment, Launches Successfully

This year, India has made significant progress with rocket engine technology. India's space agency ISRO has certified all rocket engines required for the country's ambitious human space flight program, Gaganyaan. ISRO has also performed a few successful test firings of its most powerful rocket engine yet, a semi-cryogenic engine. For more details, WION's Sidharth MP spoke to Dr. V Narayanan from ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. Watch in for more details!

India's Most Powerful Rocket Engine In Development

<p><span class="region">Washington, United States </span>
<p>Indian Space agency ISRO has commenced assembly of the Human-rated Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (HLVM3) rocket that will eventually carry Indian astronauts to space as part of the country's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. </p></p>
<p>Presently, the rocket is being assembled at the Indian Spaceport in Sriharikota, in preparation for a maiden mission where the rocket will be carrying a humanoid robot 'Vyommitra' to space, instead of astronauts. </p>
<p>Vyommitra will fly on three test missions to space, and once all these missions are successfully accomplished, ISRO will carry out the astronaut mission. </p>
<p>The data gained through the uncrewed flights will be instrumental for the success of the crewed missions.</p>
<p>HLVM3 is a three-stage rocket with a payload capacity of about 10 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit. The vehicle is 53 metres tall and weighs 640 tonnes. </p>
<p>"At 8:45 Hrs on 18th December, 2024 at SDSC, the stacking of the nozzle end segment with full flex seal nozzle of the S200 motor took place, thus commencing the official launch campaign of the HLVM3-G1 / OM-1 mission," ISRO said. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-european-space-agency-to-help-india-see-and-speak-to-gaganyaan-782093"><strong>Also read: Explained: European Space Agency to help India 'see and speak' to Gaganyaan</strong></a></p>
<p>Twin S200 motors powered by solid fuel comprise the first stage of the rocket. L110 (liquid stage) and C32 (cryogenic) stages for the HLVM3, which serve as the second and final stage of the rocket, are also ready at the spaceport, ISRO added. HLVM3 is a modified version of India's heaviest rocket, the LVM3. Simply put, ISRO has enhanced the satellite-carrying LVM3 rocket to carry astronauts to space. </p>
<p>Further, the crew escape systems elements are also at the spaceport. The Crew Escape System is what ejects the astronaut-carrying capsule to safety when there is an anomaly detected in the rocket mid-flight.</p>
<p>The integration of Crew Module (the capsule that will house astronauts) is happening at ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, and the integration of Service Module (which contains critical systems that support the mission) is taking place at UR Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru. </p>
<p>Subsequently, the Crew Module and the Service Module will be integrated and tested at URSC, Bengaluru.</p>
<h2><strong>Significance of Dec 18 and ISRO's LVM3-X/CARE mission</strong></h2>
<p>It was on December 18th, 2014, that ISRO carried out the maiden flight of the LVM3 rocket. In a mission dubbed 'LVM3-X/CARE', the LVM3-X rocket had lifted a 3775 kg Crew Module to an altitude of 126 km above the earth. </p>
<p>From that sub-orbital altitude, it was controlled using thrusters to orient it for a favourable re-entry. The Crew Module descended using parachutes to have a smooth splashdown at the designated location off India's East Coast. </p>
<p>The Indian Coast Guard recovered the Crew Module from the turbulent seas of the Bay of Bengal, approximately 1600 km from the Indian spaceport.</p>
<p>Conducted exactly a decade ago, that mission was developed as part of pre-project activities of the Human Spaceflight Project, well before the official Gaganyaan project was approved in 2019. </p>
<p><strong>Watch | Gaganyaan: ISRO names 4 astronauts who will be part of India’s first manned space mission</strong></p>
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<p>It is a fitting coincidence that ten years later, on the same day, ISRO is gearing up for the first uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan by commencing the stacking of human-rated LVM3, christened HLVM3, at the spaceport.</p>
<p>The primary objective of the LVM3-X/CARE mission was to validate the then new rocket's flight through the atmospheric regime and demonstrate the re-entry of a full-scale Crew Module into Earth's atmosphere. </p>
<p>The mission achieved several critical technical milestones, including the flight validation of the LVM3 rocket, synchronized performance of the paired S200 solid rocket boosters, twin-engine operation of the Vikas engines in L110 stage, algorithms across the rocket's first two stages, and complex stage separation mechanisms.</p>
<p>That success also validated the entire integration, assembly, testing, and launch servicing processes, as well as the mission design and simulation cycles, ensuring readiness for future missions. </p>
<p>The CARE experiment itself served as a platform to evaluate the aerothermal performance of the Crew Module and validate critical re-entry technologies. </p>
<p>It successfully demonstrated blunt-body re-entry aerodynamics, thermal protection systems, parachute-based deceleration mechanisms, and recovery logistics, providing invaluable insights for further developments, ISRO said.</p>
<p>ISRO has come a long way from the experimental mission of LVM3-X/CARE mission. The human-rated launch vehicle, HLVM3, is derived from LVM3 and designed with enhanced reliability to meet human safety considerations.</p>
<p>Additionally, a Crew Escape System (CES) is implemented to ensure crew safety by safe ejection of Crew Module (CM) in a potentially adverse situation. The CES is operational from the launch pad till its separation after the atmospheric flight regime. </p>
<p>The success of the LVM3-X/CARE mission was instrumental in ISRO's journey toward self-reliance in launching heavier satellites. LVM3 has since completed seven successive successful launches. </p>
<p>The insights gained from the CARE mission have also been pivotal in shaping ISRO's human spaceflight program. Iterations in the Crew Module design, along with subsequent pad abort tests, air-drop tests, and test vehicle flights, are built on the foundational data provided by CARE.</p>
<p>Dr. S Somanath, Mission Director of the LVM3-X/CARE mission, now serves as the Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO, while Dr. S Unnikrishnan Nair, the Payload Director of the LVM3-X/ CARE mission, became the founding Director of the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), Bengaluru, and now leads the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram.</p>


Presently, the rocket is being assembled at the Indian Spaceport in Sriharikota, in preparation for a maiden mission where the rocket will be carrying a humanoid robot 'Vyommitra' to space, instead of astronauts. 



Washington, United States Indian Space agency ISRO has commenced assembly of the Human-rated Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (HLVM3) rocket that will eventually carry Indian astronauts to space as part of the country's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. Presently, the rocket is being assembled at the Indian Spaceport in Sriharikota, in preparation for a maiden mission where the rocket will be carrying a humanoid robot 'Vyommitra' to space, instead of astronauts. Vyommitra will fly on three test missions to space, and once all these missions are successfully accomplished, ISRO will carry out the astronaut mission. The data gained through the uncrewed flights will be instrumental for the success of the crewed missions. HLVM3 is a three-stage rocket with a payload capacity of about 10 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit. The vehicle is 53 metres tall and weighs 640 tonnes. "At 8:45 Hrs on 18th December, 2024 at SDSC, the stacking of the nozzle end segment with full flex seal nozzle of the S200 motor took place, thus commencing the official launch campaign of the HLVM3-G1 / OM-1 mission," ISRO said. Also read: Explained: European Space Agency to help India 'see and speak' to Gaganyaan Twin S200 motors powered by solid fuel comprise the first stage of the rocket. L110 (liquid stage) and C32 (cryogenic) stages for the HLVM3, which serve as the second and final stage of the rocket, are also ready at the spaceport, ISRO added. HLVM3 is a modified version of India's heaviest rocket, the LVM3. Simply put, ISRO has enhanced the satellite-carrying LVM3 rocket to carry astronauts to space. Further, the crew escape systems elements are also at the spaceport. The Crew Escape System is what ejects the astronaut-carrying capsule to safety when there is an anomaly detected in the rocket mid-flight. The integration of Crew Module (the capsule that will house astronauts) is happening at ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, and the integration of Service Module (which contains critical systems that support the mission) is taking place at UR Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru. Subsequently, the Crew Module and the Service Module will be integrated and tested at URSC, Bengaluru. Significance of Dec 18 and ISRO's LVM3-X/CARE mission It was on December 18th, 2014, that ISRO carried out the maiden flight of the LVM3 rocket. In a mission dubbed 'LVM3-X/CARE', the LVM3-X rocket had lifted a 3775 kg Crew Module to an altitude of 126 km above the earth. From that sub-orbital altitude, it was controlled using thrusters to orient it for a favourable re-entry. The Crew Module descended using parachutes to have a smooth splashdown at the designated location off India's East Coast. The Indian Coast Guard recovered the Crew Module from the turbulent seas of the Bay of Bengal, approximately 1600 km from the Indian spaceport. Conducted exactly a decade ago, that mission was developed as part of pre-project activities of the Human Spaceflight Project, well before the official Gaganyaan project was approved in 2019. Watch | Gaganyaan: ISRO names 4 astronauts who will be part of India’s first manned space mission × It is a fitting coincidence that ten years later, on the same day, ISRO is gearing up for the first uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan by commencing the stacking of human-rated LVM3, christened HLVM3, at the spaceport. The primary objective of the LVM3-X/CARE mission was to validate the then new rocket's flight through the atmospheric regime and demonstrate the re-entry of a full-scale Crew Module into Earth's atmosphere. The mission achieved several critical technical milestones, including the flight validation of the LVM3 rocket, synchronized performance of the paired S200 solid rocket boosters, twin-engine operation of the Vikas engines in L110 stage, algorithms across the rocket's first two stages, and complex stage separation mechanisms. That success also validated the entire integration, assembly, testing, and launch servicing processes, as well as the mission design and simulation cycles, ensuring readiness for future missions. The CARE experiment itself served as a platform to evaluate the aerothermal performance of the Crew Module and validate critical re-entry technologies. It successfully demonstrated blunt-body re-entry aerodynamics, thermal protection systems, parachute-based deceleration mechanisms, and recovery logistics, providing invaluable insights for further developments, ISRO said. ISRO has come a long way from the experimental mission of LVM3-X/CARE mission. The human-rated launch vehicle, HLVM3, is derived from LVM3 and designed with enhanced reliability to meet human safety considerations. Additionally, a Crew Escape System (CES) is implemented to ensure crew safety by safe ejection of Crew Module (CM) in a potentially adverse situation. The CES is operational from the launch pad till its separation after the atmospheric flight regime. The success of the LVM3-X/CARE mission was instrumental in ISRO's journey toward self-reliance in launching heavier satellites. LVM3 has since completed seven successive successful launches. The insights gained from the CARE mission have also been pivotal in shaping ISRO's human spaceflight program. Iterations in the Crew Module design, along with subsequent pad abort tests, air-drop tests, and test vehicle flights, are built on the foundational data provided by CARE. Dr. S Somanath, Mission Director of the LVM3-X/CARE mission, now serves as the Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO, while Dr. S Unnikrishnan Nair, the Payload Director of the LVM3-X/ CARE mission, became the founding Director of the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), Bengaluru, and now leads the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram.

ISRO starts assembling astronaut-carrying rocket 'HLVM3'

<p><span class="region">Ladakh, India</span>
<p>Indian space agency ISRO is creating "Habitat-1 or Hab-1" which is its first-ever "analogue mission" in which space conditions are simulated to prepare astronauts before they go for real space missions. </p></p>
<p>Scientists recently tested it for three weeks in the Himalayan mountain ranges of India's Union Territory of Ladakh.</p>
<p>Speaking to the BBC, Gujarat-based firm Aaka's space architect Aastha Kacha-Jhala said that the simulations help in identifying and addressing the issues that equipment and astronauts may face before space missions. </p>
<h2><strong>All about Habitat-1</strong></h2>
<p>Habitat-1 has been built using space-grade Teflon and is insulated with industrial-use foam.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro-postpones-pslv-xl-proba-3-mission-launch-to-thursday-due-to-anomaly-781487">ISRO postpones PSLV-XL Proba-3 mission launch to Thursday due to anomaly</a></p>
<p>It has a bed as well as a stowaway tray which one can pull out and use like a workstation. There is storage space for keeping emergency kits, supplies, a toilet as well as a kitchenette for heating meals. </p>
<p>The astronauts remained holed up in the simulation for three weeks. </p>
<p>"Hab-1 is designed keeping in mind that space is going to be very limited on the Moon or Mars. The astronaut will also have very limited water so we designed a dry toilet. We also put in place a system for a proper disposal of waste and ensured that the habitat remained odour-free," said Kacha-Jhala. </p>
<p>Kacha-Jhala is now holding talks with ISRO for constructing the country's first permanent simulation space facility in Ladakh. This is happening at a time when India is making preparations for sending its first astronauts into space.</p>
<p>ISRO's Gaganyaan mission has decided to place its three astronauts for three days into low-Earth orbit. The orbit is at an altitude of 400 km (248 miles). </p>
<p>If everything happens as per the plan, ISRO will launch the mission next year. India is planning to set up the country's first space station by 2035 and send its first astronaut to the Moon by 2040.</p>
<p><strong>Watch: Isro Rocket Successfully Places Europe's Proba-3 Into Orbit </strong></p>
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<p>Dozens of simulation missions are carried out by space programmes of NASA, European Space Agency, Russia, China, and other countries. Meanwhile, two Indian astronauts were selected for the Gaganyaan mission and are receiving their training at NASA currently.</p>
<p>"Once we have our own simulation mission, we won't have to depend on foreign space agencies to train our astronauts," said Prof. Subrat Sharma, Dean of Research Studies at Ladakh University. The university has collaborated with ISRO on the project.</p>
<p>Speaking to BBC, Prof. Sharma said that the experiment is being carried out in Ladakh because "from a geographical perspective, its rocky, barren landscape and soil have similarities with the material and rocks found on Mars and some parts of the lunar terrain, which make it ideal for space research".</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian space agency ISRO plans to send its first astronaut to the moon soon amid experiments in Habitat-1

 



Ladakh, India Indian space agency ISRO is creating "Habitat-1 or Hab-1" which is its first-ever "analogue mission" in which space conditions are simulated to prepare astronauts before they go for real space missions. Scientists recently tested it for three weeks in the Himalayan mountain ranges of India's Union Territory of Ladakh. Speaking to the BBC, Gujarat-based firm Aaka's space architect Aastha Kacha-Jhala said that the simulations help in identifying and addressing the issues that equipment and astronauts may face before space missions. All about Habitat-1 Habitat-1 has been built using space-grade Teflon and is insulated with industrial-use foam. Also Read: ISRO postpones PSLV-XL Proba-3 mission launch to Thursday due to anomaly It has a bed as well as a stowaway tray which one can pull out and use like a workstation. There is storage space for keeping emergency kits, supplies, a toilet as well as a kitchenette for heating meals. The astronauts remained holed up in the simulation for three weeks. "Hab-1 is designed keeping in mind that space is going to be very limited on the Moon or Mars. The astronaut will also have very limited water so we designed a dry toilet. We also put in place a system for a proper disposal of waste and ensured that the habitat remained odour-free," said Kacha-Jhala. Kacha-Jhala is now holding talks with ISRO for constructing the country's first permanent simulation space facility in Ladakh. This is happening at a time when India is making preparations for sending its first astronauts into space. ISRO's Gaganyaan mission has decided to place its three astronauts for three days into low-Earth orbit. The orbit is at an altitude of 400 km (248 miles). If everything happens as per the plan, ISRO will launch the mission next year. India is planning to set up the country's first space station by 2035 and send its first astronaut to the Moon by 2040. Watch: Isro Rocket Successfully Places Europe's Proba-3 Into Orbit Dozens of simulation missions are carried out by space programmes of NASA, European Space Agency, Russia, China, and other countries. Meanwhile, two Indian astronauts were selected for the Gaganyaan mission and are receiving their training at NASA currently. "Once we have our own simulation mission, we won't have to depend on foreign space agencies to train our astronauts," said Prof. Subrat Sharma, Dean of Research Studies at Ladakh University. The university has collaborated with ISRO on the project. Speaking to BBC, Prof. Sharma said that the experiment is being carried out in Ladakh because "from a geographical perspective, its rocky, barren landscape and soil have similarities with the material and rocks found on Mars and some parts of the lunar terrain, which make it ideal for space research". (With inputs from agencies)

ISRO simulates space conditions for astronauts in 'Habitat-1'. Here's what it is

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the PSLV-C59/ Proba-3 mission successfully today from Sriharikota. Watch here to learn more!

ISRO Successfully Launches ESA’s Proba-3 Mission To Study Sun’s Corona

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 mission on Thursday. Originally scheduled for launch on Wednesday, December 4, the mission was postponed due to an anomaly detected in the spacecraft. Following rectifications, the mission proceeded smoothly, further demonstrating ISRO's robust problem-solving capabilities and commitment to mission safety and success. Watch to know more!

Isro Rocket Successfully Places Europe's Proba-3 Into Orbit | World News | WION

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


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

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

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

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


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

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

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

ISRO's PSLV rocket is scheduled to launch the European Space Agency's PROBA-3 satellite, designed for precise formation flying. The satellite is expected to be placed into orbit just 18 minutes after liftoff, marking a significant milestone for both ISRO and international space collaboration.

ISRO PSLV-XL Proba-3 Launch: Europe's Solar Mission To Lift-Off Today | World News | WION

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


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

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

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

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


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

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

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

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch the Proba-3 satellite in December. Proba-3 includes two satellites that will circle the Earth. Watch this report for more details!

Proba-3: World's First Precision Formation Flying Mission

Proba-3 Satellites To Be Launched In December

ISRO's Proba-3 Satellite to Fly on PSLV

ISRO to Launch Proba-3 Satellites in December

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is now gearing up to conduct a space docking experiment (Spadex) next year. WION tells you more about the mission in this report.

Decoding: Indian Space Agency's Spadex Mission

Australia has expressed admiration for ISRO's Gaganyaan mission and announced its commitment to support the recovery efforts for India's Gaganyaan capsule. This collaboration highlights the growing international partnerships in space exploration, as Australia seeks to contribute to India's ambitious human spaceflight program. The support underscores a shared interest in advancing space technology and enhancing capabilities in the field.

Australia 'Inspired' By ISRO's Gaganyaan, To Support Recovery Of India's Gaganyaan Capsule

India's Chandrayaan-3 mission has achieved another remarkable success by discovering a key geological feature on the Moon. Following the successful deployment of its Pragyan rover at the Moon’s south pole in 2023, the mission has now captured images of a buried ancient crater measuring 160 kilometers wide near its landing site.

Chandrayaan-3: Pragyan Rover Discovers Ancient 160 Km Crater On Moon

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<p>The Union&nbsp;Cabinet led by Indian&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally approved a host of high-profile, expensive space missions and long-term projects of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).&nbsp;</p>

<p>These projects include a 'Chandrayaan-4' that will land on and return samples from the moon, expansion of India's ongoing Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight programme (homegrown astronaut missions), an Indian space station that will enable long-term astronaut presence in Earth orbit, a Venus orbiter mission, heavy-lift and re-usable rockets for future missions. All of these are steps that will eventually lead to the Indian government's vision of landing Indian astronauts on the moon, by the year 2040.</p>

<p>For several years, ISRO has been working on concepts and proposals for the above projects. However, the formal nod granted by the Indian government on Wednesday (Sep 18)&nbsp;helps put these grand plans into action, in the coming years and decades.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Special budget and timeline for India's Space missions</strong></h2>

<p>Over the last 25 years, India has repeatedly executed end-to-end space missions. This includes the design, development and launch of rockets and satellites, the ability to track and control these space vehicles and perform a host of functions.</p>

<p>India has successfully accomplished&nbsp;missions to study the Moon, Mars, and Sun, launching space probes. In addition to this, ISRO's rockets perform commercial missions to ferry customer satellites and earn revenue for the Indian government. ISRO also performs a host of missions to cater to the needs of India's defence forces, weather agencies, commercial users, Earth-imaging, strategic uses etc. However, all of these are being done with an annual budget that has hovered around $ 1.5 billion (Rs.12,500 crore). With grand ambitions, now the Indian government has also announced a commensurate hike in the budgetary allocations for these newly approved projects.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Chandrayaan-4&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Following the successful lunar landing of Chandrayaan-3 in August 2023, ISRO is embarking on more challenging robotic lunar exploration missions. With the knowledge and experience gained from multiple robotic missions, ISRO can gradually gear up for human-led missions to the moon, given that India wants to land its astronauts on the moon by the year 2040 and return safely.</p>

<p>ISRO is expected to carry out the Chandrayaan-4 mission within 36 months, which is by September 2027. For this mission, the Indian government has allocated approximately $250mn or Rs&nbsp;2104 crore. The cost covers the development of two launches of India's largest rocket LVM3, external deep space network support (antennae), and special tests for design validation, finally leading to the mission of landing on the Moon's surface and safe return to Earth along with the collected lunar sample.</p>

<h2><strong>Bharatiya Anthariksh Station (BAS) or Indian Space Station</strong></h2>

<p>In less than a year, India will launch a humanoid robot to space on an Indian rocket and Indian capsule. The capsule will circle the Earth and return for a splashdown landing in the Indian Ocean. After successfully performing such robotic missions, India will launch astronauts to space and return them for a similar splashdown landing. There will be a total of four such missions. Titled Gaganyaan, this will be India's maiden homegrown astronaut mission. Further to this, India hopes to establish a long-term presence in space, which would mean setting up a lab that circles the Earth.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjbuIjj6cyIAxVPKkQIHVHUAPgQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-plans-full-e-visa-service-for-indians-space-mou-with-isro-in-work-757213" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-plans-full-e-visa-service-for-indians-space-mou-with-isro-in-work-757213&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjbuIjj6cyIAxVPKkQIHVHUAPgQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Philippines plans full e-Visa service for Indians, space MoU with ISRO</a></strong></p>

<p>By 2028, India plans to launch the first unit of the country's independent space station. As part of testing and preparing technologies for the space station, India will perform four missions. Gradually, as the space station is expanded and readied, it will begin to host Indian astronauts from 2035. Thus far, only China operates its independent space station. The International Space Station is a multilateral effort involving the United States, Europe, Japan, Canada, and Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ongoing Gaganyaan effort has received additional funding of approx $1.4 billion&nbsp;or Rs.11,170 crore.&nbsp;This takes the total funding for the Gaganyaan Programme to approx $2.4 billion or Rs. 20,193 crore.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Mission to Orbit and Study Venus&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Venus is the closest planet to Earth and is believed to have formed in conditions similar to Earth. India's ‘Venus Orbiter Mission’ is meant to circle the planet to observe and understand the Venusian surface and subsurface, atmospheric processes and the influence of the Sun on Venusian atmosphere.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjbuIjj6cyIAxVPKkQIHVHUAPgQxfQBKAB6BAgREAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/isro-delayed-chandrayaan-3s-launch-by-four-seconds-to-avoid-massive-collision-in-space-716278" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/isro-delayed-chandrayaan-3s-launch-by-four-seconds-to-avoid-massive-collision-in-space-716278&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjbuIjj6cyIAxVPKkQIHVHUAPgQxfQBKAB6BAgREAE">ISRO delayed Chandrayaan-3’s launch by four seconds to avoid massive collision in space</a></strong></p>

<p>The total fund approved for the Venus Orbiter Mission” (VOM), is approx $150 million&nbsp;or Rs 1,236 crore. Out of this, Rs 824 crore&nbsp;will be spent on the spacecraft. The above mission cost includes the development of the spacecraft including its specific payloads and technology elements, global ground station support cost for tracking and navigation, and the rocket launch cost. This mission is expected to be completed by 2028.</p>

<h2><strong>Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV):&nbsp;</strong><strong>India's Future Rocket&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>At present,&nbsp;India's largest rocket LVM3 can only carry 10 tons to orbits near the Earth, when it comes to travelling farther from the Earth, this lifting capacity falls down to 4 tons. This is highly inadequate considering India's big ambitions. Therefore, the Indian Government has approved the NGLV, a rocket that will have 3 times the present payload capability of LVM3, while costing just 1.5 times as much. This low cost will be achieved by using reusable technologies, efficient fuels etc.</p>

<p>Capable of carrying 30 tons to orbits near the Earth, the NGLV is expected to be developed by 2032. By then, ISRO is to complete three developmental flights of the rocket and showcase its capabilities. ISRO has been allocated approx $1bn or Rs.8240cr for the development, three developmental launches, facility establishment, and other activities related to the new rocket.</p>


The Union Cabinet led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally approved a host of high-profile, expensive space missions and long-term projects of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The Union Cabinet led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally approved a host of high-profile, expensive space missions and long-term projects of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). These projects include a 'Chandrayaan-4' that will land on and return samples from the moon, expansion of India's ongoing Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight programme (homegrown astronaut missions), an Indian space station that will enable long-term astronaut presence in Earth orbit, a Venus orbiter mission, heavy-lift and re-usable rockets for future missions. All of these are steps that will eventually lead to the Indian government's vision of landing Indian astronauts on the moon, by the year 2040. For several years, ISRO has been working on concepts and proposals for the above projects. However, the formal nod granted by the Indian government on Wednesday (Sep 18) helps put these grand plans into action, in the coming years and decades. Special budget and timeline for India's Space missions Over the last 25 years, India has repeatedly executed end-to-end space missions. This includes the design, development and launch of rockets and satellites, the ability to track and control these space vehicles and perform a host of functions. India has successfully accomplished missions to study the Moon, Mars, and Sun, launching space probes. In addition to this, ISRO's rockets perform commercial missions to ferry customer satellites and earn revenue for the Indian government. ISRO also performs a host of missions to cater to the needs of India's defence forces, weather agencies, commercial users, Earth-imaging, strategic uses etc. However, all of these are being done with an annual budget that has hovered around $ 1.5 billion (Rs.12,500 crore). With grand ambitions, now the Indian government has also announced a commensurate hike in the budgetary allocations for these newly approved projects. Chandrayaan-4 Following the successful lunar landing of Chandrayaan-3 in August 2023, ISRO is embarking on more challenging robotic lunar exploration missions. With the knowledge and experience gained from multiple robotic missions, ISRO can gradually gear up for human-led missions to the moon, given that India wants to land its astronauts on the moon by the year 2040 and return safely. ISRO is expected to carry out the Chandrayaan-4 mission within 36 months, which is by September 2027. For this mission, the Indian government has allocated approximately $250mn or Rs 2104 crore. The cost covers the development of two launches of India's largest rocket LVM3, external deep space network support (antennae), and special tests for design validation, finally leading to the mission of landing on the Moon's surface and safe return to Earth along with the collected lunar sample. Bharatiya Anthariksh Station (BAS) or Indian Space Station In less than a year, India will launch a humanoid robot to space on an Indian rocket and Indian capsule. The capsule will circle the Earth and return for a splashdown landing in the Indian Ocean. After successfully performing such robotic missions, India will launch astronauts to space and return them for a similar splashdown landing. There will be a total of four such missions. Titled Gaganyaan, this will be India's maiden homegrown astronaut mission. Further to this, India hopes to establish a long-term presence in space, which would mean setting up a lab that circles the Earth. Also read: Philippines plans full e-Visa service for Indians, space MoU with ISRO By 2028, India plans to launch the first unit of the country's independent space station. As part of testing and preparing technologies for the space station, India will perform four missions. Gradually, as the space station is expanded and readied, it will begin to host Indian astronauts from 2035. Thus far, only China operates its independent space station. The International Space Station is a multilateral effort involving the United States, Europe, Japan, Canada, and Russia. The ongoing Gaganyaan effort has received additional funding of approx $1.4 billion or Rs.11,170 crore. This takes the total funding for the Gaganyaan Programme to approx $2.4 billion or Rs. 20,193 crore. Mission to Orbit and Study Venus Venus is the closest planet to Earth and is believed to have formed in conditions similar to Earth. India's ‘Venus Orbiter Mission’ is meant to circle the planet to observe and understand the Venusian surface and subsurface, atmospheric processes and the influence of the Sun on Venusian atmosphere. Also read: ISRO delayed Chandrayaan-3’s launch by four seconds to avoid massive collision in space The total fund approved for the Venus Orbiter Mission” (VOM), is approx $150 million or Rs 1,236 crore. Out of this, Rs 824 crore will be spent on the spacecraft. The above mission cost includes the development of the spacecraft including its specific payloads and technology elements, global ground station support cost for tracking and navigation, and the rocket launch cost. This mission is expected to be completed by 2028. Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV): India's Future Rocket At present, India's largest rocket LVM3 can only carry 10 tons to orbits near the Earth, when it comes to travelling farther from the Earth, this lifting capacity falls down to 4 tons. This is highly inadequate considering India's big ambitions. Therefore, the Indian Government has approved the NGLV, a rocket that will have 3 times the present payload capability of LVM3, while costing just 1.5 times as much. This low cost will be achieved by using reusable technologies, efficient fuels etc. Capable of carrying 30 tons to orbits near the Earth, the NGLV is expected to be developed by 2032. By then, ISRO is to complete three developmental flights of the rocket and showcase its capabilities. ISRO has been allocated approx $1bn or Rs.8240cr for the development, three developmental launches, facility establishment, and other activities related to the new rocket.

Space station, Venus orbiter, mega rocket: Indian government grants approvals, funds

'We will be part of deterrent capabilities', Philippines Vice Minister for foreign affairs Theresa P. Lazaro tells WION on Brahmos missile acquisition from India. She also added that Philippines is looking to sign MoU with ISRO.

'Philippines looking to sign MoU with ISRO', says Philippines Vice Minister for foreign affairs

<p>The universe is filled with billions of celestial bodies, galaxies, exoplanets, stars and more. But Earth seems to be the only place in this vast world harbouring life. At least that's what years of research have shown. Humans have been trying to make contact with other alien civilisations but have not succeeded yet. So are we alone in the universe?</p>

<p>Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath doesn't seem to think so. Speaking to Ranveer Allahabadia on his podcast, Somanath said that considering the technological advancements human beings have made in the past years, it seems only apt that there are several alien civilisations spread out in the universe that are at different stages of technological advancements.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He stated that different technological and evolutionary stages mean that these alien civilisations are likely interacting with the universe in ways human beings cannot perceive.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Imagine there is a civilisation out there just 200 years behind you, and another civilisation 1,000 years ahead of you," Somanath said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Alien systems which are 1,000 years more progressive than us will always have been here," he said, stating that they are "much more evolved" than us and are beyond our current understanding or detection capabilities.</p>

<p>As human beings work to advance their technology and reach a better understanding of the universe over time, other civilisations that have been around for many more years likely already know much more and are living a life we cannot understand.</p>

<p>Human beings, he says, are relatively younger in the cosmos and so such civilisations may reside in the universe that are far ahead of us. So while we are still trying to find them, they are likely around us and exist in ways we don't know yet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Somanath added that "origins of life and much evolved [forms]... are everywhere in the universe."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alien-search-seti-institute-launches-probe-for-low-frequencies-across-galaxies-in-first-study-of-its-kind-753587">Alien search: SETI Institute launches probe for low frequencies across galaxies in first study of its kind</a></p>

<h2>Should humans contact alien civilisations?</h2>

<p>"I would be happy to never be in contact with aliens," Somanath warns. Sounding a cautionary note, the ISRO chief says coming in contact with alien civilisations might come with several risks. He says that they might have entirely different genomic and protein structures from us and might prove to be a danger to life on Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also warned that interaction between different life forms might also lead to conflict and a fight for dominance.&nbsp;</p>


The universe is filled with billions of celestial bodies, galaxies, exoplanets, stars and more. But Earth seems to be the only place in this vast world harbouring life.

The universe is filled with billions of celestial bodies, galaxies, exoplanets, stars and more. But Earth seems to be the only place in this vast world harbouring life. At least that's what years of research have shown. Humans have been trying to make contact with other alien civilisations but have not succeeded yet. So are we alone in the universe? Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath doesn't seem to think so. Speaking to Ranveer Allahabadia on his podcast, Somanath said that considering the technological advancements human beings have made in the past years, it seems only apt that there are several alien civilisations spread out in the universe that are at different stages of technological advancements. He stated that different technological and evolutionary stages mean that these alien civilisations are likely interacting with the universe in ways human beings cannot perceive. "Imagine there is a civilisation out there just 200 years behind you, and another civilisation 1,000 years ahead of you," Somanath said. "Alien systems which are 1,000 years more progressive than us will always have been here," he said, stating that they are "much more evolved" than us and are beyond our current understanding or detection capabilities. As human beings work to advance their technology and reach a better understanding of the universe over time, other civilisations that have been around for many more years likely already know much more and are living a life we cannot understand. Human beings, he says, are relatively younger in the cosmos and so such civilisations may reside in the universe that are far ahead of us. So while we are still trying to find them, they are likely around us and exist in ways we don't know yet. Somanath added that "origins of life and much evolved [forms]... are everywhere in the universe." Also read: Alien search: SETI Institute launches probe for low frequencies across galaxies in first study of its kind Should humans contact alien civilisations? "I would be happy to never be in contact with aliens," Somanath warns. Sounding a cautionary note, the ISRO chief says coming in contact with alien civilisations might come with several risks. He says that they might have entirely different genomic and protein structures from us and might prove to be a danger to life on Earth. He also warned that interaction between different life forms might also lead to conflict and a fight for dominance.

Alien contact might lead to diseases, conflict, ISRO chief warns

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:14,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1703}">August 23rd, 2023 is the day when India made history by becoming the first nation to land a mission (robotic spacecraft Chandrayaan-3) near the moon's South Pole. Exactly a year later, on August 23rd 2024, as India celebrates National Space Day, the Indian Space agency ISRO will reveal the findings and scientific discoveries made by the country's third lunar mission, WION has learnt.&nbsp;</p>

<div bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:275,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:196,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1964}" class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:130,&quot;y&quot;:286,&quot;w&quot;:568,&quot;h&quot;:175,&quot;abs_x&quot;:163,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1975}" class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:135,&quot;y&quot;:286,&quot;w&quot;:558,&quot;h&quot;:175,&quot;abs_x&quot;:168,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1975}" class="twitter-tweet">
<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:196,&quot;y&quot;:324,&quot;w&quot;:472,&quot;h&quot;:82,&quot;abs_x&quot;:229,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2013}" dir="ltr" lang="en">What did <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:261,&quot;y&quot;:324,&quot;w&quot;:85,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:294,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2013}" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chandrayaan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chandrayaan</a> 3 find near the Moon's south pole... <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:571,&quot;y&quot;:324,&quot;w&quot;:28,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:604,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2013}" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> will share the answers this Friday, 23rd August.. <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:443,&quot;y&quot;:340,&quot;w&quot;:35,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:476,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2029}" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:482,&quot;y&quot;:340,&quot;w&quot;:41,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:515,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2029}" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:528,&quot;y&quot;:340,&quot;w&quot;:51,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:561,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2029}" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/science?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#science</a> <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:583,&quot;y&quot;:340,&quot;w&quot;:31,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:616,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2029}" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tech</a> <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:618,&quot;y&quot;:340,&quot;w&quot;:39,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:651,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2029}" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/moon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#moon</a><br bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:658,&quot;y&quot;:340,&quot;w&quot;:0,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:691,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2029}" />
<br bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:432,&quot;y&quot;:355,&quot;w&quot;:0,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:465,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2044}" />
Friday ia the the 1st year anniversary of <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:448,&quot;y&quot;:373,&quot;w&quot;:92,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:481,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2062}" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chandrayaan3?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chandrayaan3</a> Lunar landing 🇮🇳🚀🌗❤️ <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:381,&quot;y&quot;:391,&quot;w&quot;:141,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:414,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2080}" href="https://t.co/Nx4KwPAxsL">https://t.co/Nx4KwPAxsL</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:476,&quot;y&quot;:419,&quot;w&quot;:94,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:509,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2108}" href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1826279024643162334?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:800,&quot;y&quot;:276,&quot;w&quot;:19,&quot;h&quot;:19,&quot;abs_x&quot;:833,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1965}" class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:486,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2175}">So&nbsp;far, ISRO has only revealed some initial inferences about the mission. The significant findings are to be revealed on Friday, at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, as the Indian Government's Department of Space conducts a massive event on the day. This will be presided over by the Indian Head of State, President Droupadi Murmu.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:553,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2242}">Chandrayaan-3's preliminary findings and feats:</p>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:588,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2277}"><strong bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:588,&quot;w&quot;:387,&quot;h&quot;:24,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2277}">Temperature variations on lunar soil</strong></h2>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:632,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2321}">During its 10-day lifetime on the Lunar surface, the scientific probes and sensors aboard Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander and Praygan rover conducted multiple in situ experiments.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:681,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2370}">One of the significant preliminary findings was about the drastic temperature variation in the Lunar soil near the south polar region. "On the Lunar top soil (surface), the temperature is 50 degrees Centigrade, and barely 10 cm below the surface, the temperature is minus 10 degrees Centigrade, ISRO had revealed in August 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:747,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:85,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2436}">For context, In India, if you are in the deserts of Rajasthan (north-west) during peak summer, the temperature could well be around 50 degrees Centigrade. Likewise, if you are in Jammu and Kashmir (north) during winters, the temperature could well be minus 10 degrees centigrade or even colder. Kashmir and Rajasthan are well over 600km&nbsp;apart, and have different altitudes, terrain, and climatic conditions. On the Lunar surface, all it takes is 10cm&nbsp;of digging beneath the top soil to see such temperature differences.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:847,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2536}">This study was performed by the ChaSTE (Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment) probe. Notably, this study is done during the Lunar day, when sunlight is available at the landing site. Lunar nighttime temperatures could be much colder.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:914,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2603}">According to NASA, lunar daytime temperatures near the equator reach 120 degrees centigrade, while nighttime temperatures get to minus 130 degrees centigrade. The Moon’s poles are even colder.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:963,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2652}">NASA's equipment even found a place in the floor of the Moon’s Hermite Crater that was detected to be minus 250 degrees Centigrade, making it the coldest temperature measured anywhere in the solar system.</p>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1015,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2704}"><strong bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1015,&quot;w&quot;:432,&quot;h&quot;:24,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2704}">Did ISRO's ILSA detect a 'moon quake'?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1059,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:68,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2748}">Further, ISRO's Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) payload on the Chandrayaan-3 Vikram Lander is the first instance of a Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology-based instrument on the moon. It has recorded the vibrations occurring due to the movements of Rover and other payloads. According to ISRO, this instrument had also recorded what is suspected to be a 'moon quake'.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1146,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2835}"><strong bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1146,&quot;w&quot;:625,&quot;h&quot;:24,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2835}">ISRO unravels elemental composition of Lunar soil</strong></h2>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1190,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2879}">The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument onboard the Chandrayaan-3 Pragyan rover had made the first-ever in situ measurements of the elemental composition of the lunar surface near the South Pole. These in situ measurements unambiguously confirmed the presence of sulphur in the region, ISRO said.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1256,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:68,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2945}">LIBS is a scientific technique that analyses the composition of materials by exposing them to intense laser pulses. A high-energy laser pulse is focused onto the surface of a material, such as rock or soil. The laser pulse generates an extremely hot plasma. The collected plasma light is analysed by sensors, and the elemental composition of the material is determined.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1339,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:68,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3028}">ISRO's preliminary analyses had unveiled the presence of Aluminium (Al), Sulphur (S), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Chromium (Cr), and Titanium (Ti) on the lunar surface. Further measurements have revealed the presence of manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O). Thorough investigation regarding the presence of hydrogen is underway, ISRO had said in August 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1426,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3115}"><strong bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1426,&quot;w&quot;:443,&quot;h&quot;:24,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3115}">When Vikram lander hopped on the Moon</strong></h2>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1470,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3159}">Chandrayaan-3 landed vertically like a helicopter. In the words of ISRO, VSSC Director Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair, "It was a feather-like soft-landing".</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1519,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3208}">Let's imagine that the Chandrayaan-3 lander wants to take off again and come back. In that case, it would have to fire its engines and almost launch itself like a rocket and reach Lunar orbit.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1568,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3257}">As a minor step or hop towards that ambitious future goal, the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3 was commanded to perform a hop test, which it successfully performed.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1617,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3306}">Think of the hop as an exercise move - jumping up from a point and landing a few centimetres beside where you started from. By performing this manoeuvre, ISRO has re-fired the engines of the Vikram lander and gathered valuable data on engine firings on the Lunar surface.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1683,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3372}">"On command, it (Vikram Lander) fired the engines, elevated itself by about 40 cm as expected and landed safely at a distance of 30 - 40 cm away. Importance?: This 'kick-start' enthuses future sample return and human missions!" ISRO has said in a Twitter post, back in 2023. &nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1749,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3438}">On the moon, the gravity is barely 1/6th that of Earth. The Lunar terrain is uneven and strewn around with fine Lunar dust, which gets kicked up when an engine is fired on/near the surface and this fine dust (which remains suspended over the site for a few hours) can cause issues for the craft's on-board sensors, cameras, and instruments.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1815,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3504}">Given the uneven terrain, the craft must be able to take off, hover and land smoothly and not get toppled over. By executing all this successfully, ISRO has proven the robustness and reliability of their technology.&nbsp;<br bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:654,&quot;y&quot;:1832,&quot;w&quot;:0,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:687,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3521}" />
&nbsp;</p>


August 23rd, 2023 is the day when India made history by becoming the first nation to land a mission (robotic spacecraft Chandrayaan-3) near the moon's South Pole.

August 23rd, 2023 is the day when India made history by becoming the first nation to land a mission (robotic spacecraft Chandrayaan-3) near the moon's South Pole. Exactly a year later, on August 23rd 2024, as India celebrates National Space Day, the Indian Space agency ISRO will reveal the findings and scientific discoveries made by the country's third lunar mission, WION has learnt. What did #Chandrayaan 3 find near the Moon's south pole... #isro will share the answers this Friday, 23rd August.. #India #space #science #tech #moon Friday ia the the 1st year anniversary of #Chandrayaan3 Lunar landing 🇮🇳🚀🌗❤️ https://t.co/Nx4KwPAxsL — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) August 21, 2024 × So far, ISRO has only revealed some initial inferences about the mission. The significant findings are to be revealed on Friday, at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, as the Indian Government's Department of Space conducts a massive event on the day. This will be presided over by the Indian Head of State, President Droupadi Murmu. Chandrayaan-3's preliminary findings and feats: Temperature variations on lunar soil During its 10-day lifetime on the Lunar surface, the scientific probes and sensors aboard Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander and Praygan rover conducted multiple in situ experiments. One of the significant preliminary findings was about the drastic temperature variation in the Lunar soil near the south polar region. "On the Lunar top soil (surface), the temperature is 50 degrees Centigrade, and barely 10 cm below the surface, the temperature is minus 10 degrees Centigrade, ISRO had revealed in August 2023. For context, In India, if you are in the deserts of Rajasthan (north-west) during peak summer, the temperature could well be around 50 degrees Centigrade. Likewise, if you are in Jammu and Kashmir (north) during winters, the temperature could well be minus 10 degrees centigrade or even colder. Kashmir and Rajasthan are well over 600km apart, and have different altitudes, terrain, and climatic conditions. On the Lunar surface, all it takes is 10cm of digging beneath the top soil to see such temperature differences. This study was performed by the ChaSTE (Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment) probe. Notably, this study is done during the Lunar day, when sunlight is available at the landing site. Lunar nighttime temperatures could be much colder. According to NASA, lunar daytime temperatures near the equator reach 120 degrees centigrade, while nighttime temperatures get to minus 130 degrees centigrade. The Moon’s poles are even colder. NASA's equipment even found a place in the floor of the Moon’s Hermite Crater that was detected to be minus 250 degrees Centigrade, making it the coldest temperature measured anywhere in the solar system. Did ISRO's ILSA detect a 'moon quake'? Further, ISRO's Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) payload on the Chandrayaan-3 Vikram Lander is the first instance of a Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology-based instrument on the moon. It has recorded the vibrations occurring due to the movements of Rover and other payloads. According to ISRO, this instrument had also recorded what is suspected to be a 'moon quake'. ISRO unravels elemental composition of Lunar soil The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument onboard the Chandrayaan-3 Pragyan rover had made the first-ever in situ measurements of the elemental composition of the lunar surface near the South Pole. These in situ measurements unambiguously confirmed the presence of sulphur in the region, ISRO said. LIBS is a scientific technique that analyses the composition of materials by exposing them to intense laser pulses. A high-energy laser pulse is focused onto the surface of a material, such as rock or soil. The laser pulse generates an extremely hot plasma. The collected plasma light is analysed by sensors, and the elemental composition of the material is determined. ISRO's preliminary analyses had unveiled the presence of Aluminium (Al), Sulphur (S), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Chromium (Cr), and Titanium (Ti) on the lunar surface. Further measurements have revealed the presence of manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O). Thorough investigation regarding the presence of hydrogen is underway, ISRO had said in August 2023. When Vikram lander hopped on the Moon Chandrayaan-3 landed vertically like a helicopter. In the words of ISRO, VSSC Director Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair, "It was a feather-like soft-landing". Let's imagine that the Chandrayaan-3 lander wants to take off again and come back. In that case, it would have to fire its engines and almost launch itself like a rocket and reach Lunar orbit. As a minor step or hop towards that ambitious future goal, the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3 was commanded to perform a hop test, which it successfully performed. Think of the hop as an exercise move - jumping up from a point and landing a few centimetres beside where you started from. By performing this manoeuvre, ISRO has re-fired the engines of the Vikram lander and gathered valuable data on engine firings on the Lunar surface. "On command, it (Vikram Lander) fired the engines, elevated itself by about 40 cm as expected and landed safely at a distance of 30 - 40 cm away. Importance?: This 'kick-start' enthuses future sample return and human missions!" ISRO has said in a Twitter post, back in 2023. On the moon, the gravity is barely 1/6th that of Earth. The Lunar terrain is uneven and strewn around with fine Lunar dust, which gets kicked up when an engine is fired on/near the surface and this fine dust (which remains suspended over the site for a few hours) can cause issues for the craft's on-board sensors, cameras, and instruments. Given the uneven terrain, the craft must be able to take off, hover and land smoothly and not get toppled over. By executing all this successfully, ISRO has proven the robustness and reliability of their technology.

What did Chandrayaan-3 find on the moon? ISRO to reveal on Space Day 23rd Aug

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<p>India's space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on Friday (Aug 16) launched the Earth Observation Satellite-8 (EOS-8) using its recently built small satellite launch vehicle SSLV-D3. The satellite was launched from the&nbsp;Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Harikota at 9.17 am IST.</p>

<p>This is the third and final developmental flight of the SSLV-D3/EOS-08 mission.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-final-development-flight-small-rocket-sslv-now-aims-for-big-market-750569">After final development flight, small rocket SSLV now aims for big market</a></strong></p>

<p>The SSLV rocket, which measures about 34 metres in height, was planned to be launched on India's Independence Day on August 15 (Thursday)&nbsp;at 9.17 am and was later rescheduled to Friday from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The mission's objectives</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier, ISRO said that the&nbsp;primary objectives of the mission&nbsp;include designing and developing a microsatellite, creating payload instruments compatible with the microsatellite bus, and incorporating new technologies required for future operational satellites.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Indian space agency, ISRO, launches the third and final developmental flight of SSLV-D3/EOS-08 mission, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh<br />
<br />
Video: <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isro</a><br />
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READ MORE: <a href="https://t.co/YSydHXmu6c">https://t.co/YSydHXmu6c</a> <a href="https://t.co/0YyxRz8nAc">pic.twitter.com/0YyxRz8nAc</a></p>
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<p>With this mission, ISRO&nbsp;completes the developmental flight of the smallest rocket which can carry satellites weighing up to 500 kilograms&nbsp;and can place them into Low Earth Orbit (of up to 500 kilometres&nbsp;above Earth).</p>

<p>A report by the news agency PTI on Thursday said that the mission would give a boost to NewSpace India Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO to take up commercial launches using such Small Satellite Launch Vehicles with the industry.</p>

<p><em><strong>Built on the Microsat/IMS-1 bus, the Earth Observation Satellite carries three payloads: Electro Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry payload (GNSS-R), and SiC UV Dosimeter&nbsp;payload.</strong></em></p>

<p>The spacecraft has a mission life of one year.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The role of the three payloads</strong></h2>

<p>The&nbsp;EOIR is designed to capture images in the Mid-Wave IR (MIR) and Long-Wave IR (LWIR) bands, both during the day and night, for applications such as satellite-based surveillance, disaster monitoring, environmental monitoring, fire detection, volcanic activity observation, and industrial and power plant disaster monitoring.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;GNSS-R payload demonstrates the capability of using GNSS-R-based remote sensing for applications such as ocean surface wind analysis, soil moisture assessment, cryosphere studies over the Himalayan region, flood detection, and inland waterbody detection.</p>

<p>The third payload- SiC UV&nbsp;monitors UV irradiance at the viewport of the Crew Module in the Gaganyaan Mission and serves as a high-dose alarm sensor for gamma radiation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


India's space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on Friday (Aug 16) launched the Earth Observation Satellite-8 (EOS-8) using its recently built small satellite launch vehicle SSLV-D3.

India's space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on Friday (Aug 16) launched the Earth Observation Satellite-8 (EOS-8) using its recently built small satellite launch vehicle SSLV-D3. The satellite was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Harikota at 9.17 am IST. This is the third and final developmental flight of the SSLV-D3/EOS-08 mission. Also read | After final development flight, small rocket SSLV now aims for big market The SSLV rocket, which measures about 34 metres in height, was planned to be launched on India's Independence Day on August 15 (Thursday) at 9.17 am and was later rescheduled to Friday from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The mission's objectives Earlier, ISRO said that the primary objectives of the mission include designing and developing a microsatellite, creating payload instruments compatible with the microsatellite bus, and incorporating new technologies required for future operational satellites. Indian space agency, ISRO, launches the third and final developmental flight of SSLV-D3/EOS-08 mission, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh Video: @isro READ MORE: https://t.co/YSydHXmu6c pic.twitter.com/0YyxRz8nAc — WION (@WIONews) August 16, 2024 × With this mission, ISRO completes the developmental flight of the smallest rocket which can carry satellites weighing up to 500 kilograms and can place them into Low Earth Orbit (of up to 500 kilometres above Earth). A report by the news agency PTI on Thursday said that the mission would give a boost to NewSpace India Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO to take up commercial launches using such Small Satellite Launch Vehicles with the industry. Built on the Microsat/IMS-1 bus, the Earth Observation Satellite carries three payloads: Electro Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry payload (GNSS-R), and SiC UV Dosimeter payload. The spacecraft has a mission life of one year. The role of the three payloads The EOIR is designed to capture images in the Mid-Wave IR (MIR) and Long-Wave IR (LWIR) bands, both during the day and night, for applications such as satellite-based surveillance, disaster monitoring, environmental monitoring, fire detection, volcanic activity observation, and industrial and power plant disaster monitoring. The GNSS-R payload demonstrates the capability of using GNSS-R-based remote sensing for applications such as ocean surface wind analysis, soil moisture assessment, cryosphere studies over the Himalayan region, flood detection, and inland waterbody detection. The third payload- SiC UV monitors UV irradiance at the viewport of the Crew Module in the Gaganyaan Mission and serves as a high-dose alarm sensor for gamma radiation. (With inputs from agencies)

India's space agency ISRO launches EOS-08 satellite with SSLV-D3

The SSLV-D3 in its third and final development flight lifted off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 9.17 am.

ISRO launches third and final developmental flight SSLV-D3/EOS-08 mission

SSLV-D3/EOS-08 Mission: The launch of the third developmental flight of SSLV is scheduled for August 16, 2024, in a launch window of one hour.

ISRO successfully launches SSLV-D3/EOS-08, ISRO chairman confirms, 'everything is perfect'

The SSLV-D3 in its third and final development flight lifted off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 9.17 am. Watch this exclusive interview with ISRO chairman DR S Somnath.

ISRO Chairman Dr S Somnath elaborates on Gaganyaan mission

ISRO will launch the EOS-08 earth observation satellite on August 15, 2024, aboard its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle. Watch to know more.

ISRO set to launch Earth Observation Satellite EOS-08 aboard SSLV-D3

India: ISRO set to launch Earth Observation Satellite-8 via small satellite launcher on August 15

In a week from now the Indian Space Research Agency is will be executing its third launch mission of this year. India's smallest rocket small satellite launch vehicle or SSLV will be carrying the Earth Imaging satellite EOS 08.

ISRO to launch SSLV-D3 on Independence Day after six months break

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<p>The Indian space sector regulator and facilitator, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has given the authorisation to&nbsp;an Indian firm to build a facility that can be used to track and communicate with satellites.</p>

<p>Commonly known as a satellite ground station or an earth station, such facilities perform what is known as Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&amp;C). This involves tracking satellites, issuing commands to satellites, monitoring their health, and downloading data from satellites.</p>

<p>This approval for a private satellite ground station is in line with the Indian government's decision to permit private firms to perform all kinds of space activities.</p>

<p>Indian companies&nbsp;have already launched experimental rockets and are gearing up for space launches. Meanwhile,&nbsp;multiple Indian-built satellites have been launched from India and abroad. Likewise, the Indian government has now approved the setting up of a ground station by the firm AzistaBST.</p>

<p>Dr&nbsp;P K Jain, Director- Program Management and Authorization Directorate (PMAD), IN-SPACe, said, "This authorisation is yet another step by the Government to encourage and enable Indian satellite operators who will now have alternative Indian ground station service providers for their satellite operations and data reception in the UHF band."</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;US charges North Korean man with cyberattacks on NASA</strong></p>

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<p>While the government-run Indian space agency ISRO operates its own tracking facilities, the private one is aimed at domestic&nbsp;and international customers.</p>

<p>Many firms that operate satellites do not invest in their own ground stations, which are quite expensive to set up. Instead, they depend on those who operate ground stations and offer their service for a price. The space industry calls it Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS).</p>

<p>The private ground station has been approved to operate in the Ultra High Frequency(UHF) band of 300 MHz to 3 GHz. This band is primarily used for satellite communications, including data relay for remote sensing, telemetry, and control of satellites.</p>

<p>They support various applications such as weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and communications for scientific research and military operations.</p>

<h2><strong>An Indian Earth-imaging satellite constellation </strong></h2>

<p>In an unprecedented move, the Indian government and private sector are to unite for building a constellation of earth-imaging satellites with multiple sensors.</p>

<p>Operating a constellation comprising dozens or hundreds of satellites can help in getting a comprehensive global coverage, and the capability of imaging the same location at regular intervals. Such constellations serve various commercial, scientific and strategic purposes.</p>

<p>This includes disaster management, agricultural monitoring, studying environmental changes and surveillance of sensitive areas.</p>

<p>As the first step towards building such a constellation, the IN-SPACe released an Expression of Interest (EOI).</p>

<p>It invites private Indian firms to build and manage a constellation under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This long-term project involves the design, development, launch, and maintenance of a constellation of satellites equipped with advanced imaging technologies.</p>

<p>These satellites would be placed in Low Earth orbit (a region that is 300-2000 km above the Earth's surface). As they are very close to the Earth, satellites placed in LEO can capture very high-resolution pictures and short videos and can transmit them in near-real-time.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-shows-how-carbon-dioxide-gets-churned-in-sky-in-stunning-video-744423">NASA shows how carbon dioxide gets churned in sky in stunning video</a></strong></p>

<p>Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe said, "This is an initiative by IN-SPACe &amp; ISRO towards creating a self-reliant, robust, and sustainable Earth Observation System catering to the growing demand for Earth Observation data."</p>

<p>The satellites in the proposed constellation are meant to carry a combination of sensors such as panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, and microwave. Once built and tested, these satellites would be placed in orbit by Indian rockets.</p>

<p>It must be noted that building and maintaining a satellite constellation is a constant process. In this case, the private firm would have to monitor the health of all satellites in the constellation, download the data generated by the satellites, process the data and offer it for a multitude of applications.</p>

<p>The private entity will also have the option of developing their own ground-based facilities to communicate with the satellites, upload commands and download data. Alternatively, they could use the ground-based facilities of Ground Stations as a Service (GSaaS) providers such as AzisatBST. Therefore, this entire project is capable of generating a significant amount of economic activity within India.</p>


The Indian space sector regulator and facilitator, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has given the authorisation to an Indian firm to build a facility that can be used to track and communicate with satellites.

The Indian space sector regulator and facilitator, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has given the authorisation to an Indian firm to build a facility that can be used to track and communicate with satellites. Commonly known as a satellite ground station or an earth station, such facilities perform what is known as Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C). This involves tracking satellites, issuing commands to satellites, monitoring their health, and downloading data from satellites. This approval for a private satellite ground station is in line with the Indian government's decision to permit private firms to perform all kinds of space activities. Indian companies have already launched experimental rockets and are gearing up for space launches. Meanwhile, multiple Indian-built satellites have been launched from India and abroad. Likewise, the Indian government has now approved the setting up of a ground station by the firm AzistaBST. Dr P K Jain, Director- Program Management and Authorization Directorate (PMAD), IN-SPACe, said, "This authorisation is yet another step by the Government to encourage and enable Indian satellite operators who will now have alternative Indian ground station service providers for their satellite operations and data reception in the UHF band." Watch | US charges North Korean man with cyberattacks on NASA × While the government-run Indian space agency ISRO operates its own tracking facilities, the private one is aimed at domestic and international customers. Many firms that operate satellites do not invest in their own ground stations, which are quite expensive to set up. Instead, they depend on those who operate ground stations and offer their service for a price. The space industry calls it Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS). The private ground station has been approved to operate in the Ultra High Frequency(UHF) band of 300 MHz to 3 GHz. This band is primarily used for satellite communications, including data relay for remote sensing, telemetry, and control of satellites. They support various applications such as weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and communications for scientific research and military operations. An Indian Earth-imaging satellite constellation In an unprecedented move, the Indian government and private sector are to unite for building a constellation of earth-imaging satellites with multiple sensors. Operating a constellation comprising dozens or hundreds of satellites can help in getting a comprehensive global coverage, and the capability of imaging the same location at regular intervals. Such constellations serve various commercial, scientific and strategic purposes. This includes disaster management, agricultural monitoring, studying environmental changes and surveillance of sensitive areas. As the first step towards building such a constellation, the IN-SPACe released an Expression of Interest (EOI). It invites private Indian firms to build and manage a constellation under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This long-term project involves the design, development, launch, and maintenance of a constellation of satellites equipped with advanced imaging technologies. These satellites would be placed in Low Earth orbit (a region that is 300-2000 km above the Earth's surface). As they are very close to the Earth, satellites placed in LEO can capture very high-resolution pictures and short videos and can transmit them in near-real-time. Also read: NASA shows how carbon dioxide gets churned in sky in stunning video Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe said, "This is an initiative by IN-SPACe & ISRO towards creating a self-reliant, robust, and sustainable Earth Observation System catering to the growing demand for Earth Observation data." The satellites in the proposed constellation are meant to carry a combination of sensors such as panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, and microwave. Once built and tested, these satellites would be placed in orbit by Indian rockets. It must be noted that building and maintaining a satellite constellation is a constant process. In this case, the private firm would have to monitor the health of all satellites in the constellation, download the data generated by the satellites, process the data and offer it for a multitude of applications. The private entity will also have the option of developing their own ground-based facilities to communicate with the satellites, upload commands and download data. Alternatively, they could use the ground-based facilities of Ground Stations as a Service (GSaaS) providers such as AzisatBST. Therefore, this entire project is capable of generating a significant amount of economic activity within India.

Indian government approves satellite tracking facility in Hyderabad

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