<p>The Indian space agency, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is planning to build a moon-orbiting space station by 2040, as per various online reports. This is part of ISRO’s ambitious objective to establish a long-term presence beyond Earth orbit.</p>

<p>The space station will serve crewed missions to the surface of the moon and will be an outpost for scientific research, according to local media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The lunar space station is expected to be completed around the same time India’s astronauts will land on the moon, with the construction of a permanent base on the surface before 2050.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This space station will be the third and final phase of India’s moon exploration efforts, as mentioned in various reports online. The first phase involved conducting robotic missions to the moon using ISRO’s technology, including the upcoming Chandrayaan 4 sample-return mission.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/spacex-to-launch-isros-gsat-20-at-indian-midnight-hour-776981">SpaceX to launch ISRO's GSAT-20 at Indian midnight hour&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>The Chandrayaan 4 is scheduled to launch in 2028, which will aim to collect roughly 3 kilograms of samples from a water-ice-rich surface near the lunar south pole and deliver them back to Earth.</p>

<p>"We are looking at how we can do a mission to the moon and back in a low-cost manner," said S. Somanath, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).</p>

<p>The second phase seeks to achieve a crewed moon landing by 2040, followed by construction of the moon-orbiting station, India Today reported. In addition to hosting astronauts, the station will serve as a hub for scientific research and as a base for future space missions.</p>

<p>Watch |&nbsp;<strong>SpaceX to Launch an Indian Government Satellite</strong></p>

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<p>Last year in August, India became the fourth country to land a spacecraft on the moon and the only country to soft-land a spacecraft on the lunar south pole, with its Chandrayaan 3 mission.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country should aim for "new and ambitious goals," including a crewed moon flyby in 2035, followed by a human landing mission five years later.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-air-pollution-50-delhi-government-employees-to-work-from-home-as-aqi-hits-526-777593">Delhi Air Pollution: 50% government employees switch to work from home as AQI hits 526</a></p>

<p>Meanwhile, the four astronauts chosen for the crewed space missions are undergoing training in one of ISRO's facilities in Bengaluru after finishing similar work in Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One astronaut, Indian Air Force test pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, is scheduled to fly next spring to the International Space Station on a two-week mission.</p>

<p><i>(With inputs from agencies)</i></p>


The Indian space agency, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is planning to build a moon-orbiting space station by 2040, as per various online reports. This is part of ISRO’s ambitious objective to establish a long-term presence beyond Earth orbit.

The Indian space agency, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is planning to build a moon-orbiting space station by 2040, as per various online reports. This is part of ISRO’s ambitious objective to establish a long-term presence beyond Earth orbit. The space station will serve crewed missions to the surface of the moon and will be an outpost for scientific research, according to local media reports. The lunar space station is expected to be completed around the same time India’s astronauts will land on the moon, with the construction of a permanent base on the surface before 2050. This space station will be the third and final phase of India’s moon exploration efforts, as mentioned in various reports online. The first phase involved conducting robotic missions to the moon using ISRO’s technology, including the upcoming Chandrayaan 4 sample-return mission. Also Read | SpaceX to launch ISRO's GSAT-20 at Indian midnight hour The Chandrayaan 4 is scheduled to launch in 2028, which will aim to collect roughly 3 kilograms of samples from a water-ice-rich surface near the lunar south pole and deliver them back to Earth. "We are looking at how we can do a mission to the moon and back in a low-cost manner," said S. Somanath, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The second phase seeks to achieve a crewed moon landing by 2040, followed by construction of the moon-orbiting station, India Today reported. In addition to hosting astronauts, the station will serve as a hub for scientific research and as a base for future space missions. Watch | SpaceX to Launch an Indian Government Satellite × Last year in August, India became the fourth country to land a spacecraft on the moon and the only country to soft-land a spacecraft on the lunar south pole, with its Chandrayaan 3 mission. After this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country should aim for "new and ambitious goals," including a crewed moon flyby in 2035, followed by a human landing mission five years later. Also Read | Delhi Air Pollution: 50% government employees switch to work from home as AQI hits 526 Meanwhile, the four astronauts chosen for the crewed space missions are undergoing training in one of ISRO's facilities in Bengaluru after finishing similar work in Russia. One astronaut, Indian Air Force test pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, is scheduled to fly next spring to the International Space Station on a two-week mission. (With inputs from agencies)

India's ISRO plans to build space station around moon by 2040: Report

<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

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<p>"When I stand here, I look at a young village boy. After having been a state topper in the science stream, I had no courage to write the IIT entrance examination...but I kept a dream to once graduate from such an institution. I had the fortune of completing my Masters degree from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and now my PhD comes from IIT-Madras," said Indian&nbsp;space agency (ISRO)&nbsp;chief Dr S&nbsp;Somanath while reminiscing&nbsp;his humble journey, as he earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from IIT-Madras on Friday (Jul 19).&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>In his stellar career that has spanned four decades, Dr Somanath has been conferred with multiple honorary doctorates, but the PhD from IIT-Madras is special, as this is a result of his determination to earn a doctorate in a subject close to his heart.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I was a village boy... I was a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kerala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kerala</a> state topper in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/science?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#science</a> stream... But I did not have the courage to write <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IIT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IIT</a> entrance.. But I dreamt of graduating from such an institution" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> Chief Dr. SOMANATH, after earning his PhD in Mechanical <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Engineering?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Engineering</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IITMadras?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IITMadras</a> <a href="https://t.co/IL7xyMPGq2">pic.twitter.com/IL7xyMPGq2</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1814281253622886501?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISRO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ISRO</a> Chief S. Somanath receives his PhD in Mechanical <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/engineering?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#engineering</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IITMadras?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IITMadras</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chennai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#chennai</a><br />
Aged 60+, ~40yr career, he is already is a recipient of multiple honorary doctorates and now he's earned a very special one...<br />
Congrats Dr. S. SOMANATH...<br />
What an inspiration! ❤️🚀🇮🇳 <a href="https://t.co/78gR0L0pyp">pic.twitter.com/78gR0L0pyp</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1814267039651094536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>"I joined here (IIT-M) as a student when I was doing the GSLV Mk3 rocket design and development. I got immersed in that. So, I couldn't further this task of completing my PhD. It's a good fortune that after assuming the office of chairman of ISRO, I could complete it and get graduated. It is really a great honour. I thank the Department of Space and ISRO, who sponsored me to study while working for the organization," Dr Somanath&nbsp;said in a short address after receiving his PhD at the 61st Convocation of IIT-M.</p>

<p>According to IIT-M, 2,636 students graduated on this occasion.</p>

<p>The ISRO chief thanked his mentors and research guides - Prof Shankar Krishnapillai, Prof Narayanan, and his close friend and colleague Dr Unnikrishnan Nair, who heads ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.</p>

<p>Notably, Dr Nair had also completed his PhD from IIT-Madras, and so did Dr Veeramuthuvel, project director of Chandrayaan-3.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/less-than-1-iitans-in-isro-iitans-dont-want-to-join-isro-chief-645276"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Less than 1% IITians in ISRO, they don't want to join: ISRO Chief Somanath</strong></a></p>

<p>While top officials of ISRO have completed their PhDs from IITs, it must also be remembered that IITians don't prefer to join the Indian space agency. Perceptions of low pay in the government-run ISRO, the style of functioning of government organisations, preference for corporate jobs, high-paying domains, and the lure of foreign employment are a few reasons that are said to deter IITians from pursuing careers at ISRO.</p>

<p>"Our (country's) best talents are supposed to be engineers from IITs. But, they are not joining ISRO. If we go and try to recruit from IIT, no one joins," Dr Somanath said in a television interview last year. He also mentioned that the Indian space agency was not getting the best of talent and that IITians comprise less than one&nbsp;per cent of those working at ISRO.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following the successful lunar soft-landing of India's Chandrayaan-3, parliamentarian from Thiruvananthapuram Dr&nbsp;Shashi Tharoor had said in the Lok Sabha: "If IITians went to Silicon Valley, CETans (alumni of College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram) took us to the moon."</p>

<p>He was referring to the alumni of unsung engineering colleges from various parts of India, and how such people from humble backgrounds worked on the Chandrayaan-3 mission and continue to work for several government-run science and technology organisations in India.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I joined <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IITMadras?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IITMadras</a> as a student when I was designing &amp; developing India's largest rocket GSLV-Mk3..<br />
I was immersed in my work and couldn't proceed with PhD.. It's an honour that I've completed PhD while being <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> Chief..<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indian</a> Govt sponsored my PhD" Dr. SOMANATH <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chennai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#chennai</a> <a href="https://t.co/KLMUgV5ACu">pic.twitter.com/KLMUgV5ACu</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1814284193129484428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Referring to the exceptional cases of IITians joining ISRO, Dr Somanath said in a TV interview, "Few passionate IITians who think space is important, such people join."</p>

<p>Sharing an example of an ISRO team that went to recruit talent from an IIT, Dr Somanath mentioned that 60 per cent of students left the hall after seeing the highest pay that they could earn at the Indian government-run space agency.</p>

<p>"The career ambitions of those joining IITs are different."</p>

<p>While he said that ISRO was not attracting the best talent, the Indian space agency chief admitted that the organisation has adequate talent to carry out the work they are performing. He also referred to the diversity and vast availability of scientific talent in India, given the massive human resource pool.</p>


"When I stand here, I look at a young village boy. After having been a state topper in the science stream, I had no courage to write the IIT entrance examination.

"When I stand here, I look at a young village boy. After having been a state topper in the science stream, I had no courage to write the IIT entrance examination...but I kept a dream to once graduate from such an institution. I had the fortune of completing my Masters degree from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and now my PhD comes from IIT-Madras," said Indian space agency (ISRO) chief Dr S Somanath while reminiscing his humble journey, as he earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from IIT-Madras on Friday (Jul 19). In his stellar career that has spanned four decades, Dr Somanath has been conferred with multiple honorary doctorates, but the PhD from IIT-Madras is special, as this is a result of his determination to earn a doctorate in a subject close to his heart. "I was a village boy... I was a #kerala state topper in the #science stream... But I did not have the courage to write #IIT entrance.. But I dreamt of graduating from such an institution" #isro Chief Dr. SOMANATH, after earning his PhD in Mechanical #Engineering from #IITMadras pic.twitter.com/IL7xyMPGq2 — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) July 19, 2024 × #ISRO Chief S. Somanath receives his PhD in Mechanical #engineering from #IITMadras #chennai Aged 60+, ~40yr career, he is already is a recipient of multiple honorary doctorates and now he's earned a very special one... Congrats Dr. S. SOMANATH... What an inspiration! ❤️🚀🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/78gR0L0pyp — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) July 19, 2024 × "I joined here (IIT-M) as a student when I was doing the GSLV Mk3 rocket design and development. I got immersed in that. So, I couldn't further this task of completing my PhD. It's a good fortune that after assuming the office of chairman of ISRO, I could complete it and get graduated. It is really a great honour. I thank the Department of Space and ISRO, who sponsored me to study while working for the organization," Dr Somanath said in a short address after receiving his PhD at the 61st Convocation of IIT-M. According to IIT-M, 2,636 students graduated on this occasion. The ISRO chief thanked his mentors and research guides - Prof Shankar Krishnapillai, Prof Narayanan, and his close friend and colleague Dr Unnikrishnan Nair, who heads ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. Notably, Dr Nair had also completed his PhD from IIT-Madras, and so did Dr Veeramuthuvel, project director of Chandrayaan-3. Also read | Less than 1% IITians in ISRO, they don't want to join: ISRO Chief Somanath While top officials of ISRO have completed their PhDs from IITs, it must also be remembered that IITians don't prefer to join the Indian space agency. Perceptions of low pay in the government-run ISRO, the style of functioning of government organisations, preference for corporate jobs, high-paying domains, and the lure of foreign employment are a few reasons that are said to deter IITians from pursuing careers at ISRO. "Our (country's) best talents are supposed to be engineers from IITs. But, they are not joining ISRO. If we go and try to recruit from IIT, no one joins," Dr Somanath said in a television interview last year. He also mentioned that the Indian space agency was not getting the best of talent and that IITians comprise less than one per cent of those working at ISRO. Following the successful lunar soft-landing of India's Chandrayaan-3, parliamentarian from Thiruvananthapuram Dr Shashi Tharoor had said in the Lok Sabha: "If IITians went to Silicon Valley, CETans (alumni of College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram) took us to the moon." He was referring to the alumni of unsung engineering colleges from various parts of India, and how such people from humble backgrounds worked on the Chandrayaan-3 mission and continue to work for several government-run science and technology organisations in India. "I joined #IITMadras as a student when I was designing & developing India's largest rocket GSLV-Mk3.. I was immersed in my work and couldn't proceed with PhD.. It's an honour that I've completed PhD while being #isro Chief..#Indian Govt sponsored my PhD" Dr. SOMANATH #chennai pic.twitter.com/KLMUgV5ACu — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) July 19, 2024 × Referring to the exceptional cases of IITians joining ISRO, Dr Somanath said in a TV interview, "Few passionate IITians who think space is important, such people join." Sharing an example of an ISRO team that went to recruit talent from an IIT, Dr Somanath mentioned that 60 per cent of students left the hall after seeing the highest pay that they could earn at the Indian government-run space agency. "The career ambitions of those joining IITs are different." While he said that ISRO was not attracting the best talent, the Indian space agency chief admitted that the organisation has adequate talent to carry out the work they are performing. He also referred to the diversity and vast availability of scientific talent in India, given the massive human resource pool.

Village boy to ISRO chief to IIT PhD: The inspirational journey of Dr S Somanath

The launch of India's first semi-cryogenic rocket schedule for today has been delayed again. It uses commercially available aviation turbine fuel or Kerosene and medical-grade liquid oxygen.

India: Europe's ESA & ISRO to boost collaboration in space programmes: S Somanath

India's space prowess and possibilities  - ISRO Chief Dr S Somanath Exclusive on WION

India eyes second private rocket launch, Agnibaan: ISRO Chief S Somanath

Indian astronauts being treated by US & Russian space agencies: S Somanath

<p>ISRO Chairman S Somanath announced his decision to withdraw the publication of his forthcoming autobiography, <em>Nilavu Kudicha Simhangal</em>&nbsp;(translated as 'Lions that drank the moonlight'). This move came following a controversy sparked by alleged critical remarks made by Somanath about his predecessor, K Sivan, in the book.</p>

<p>The controversy came to light&nbsp;when reports surfaced, suggesting that Somanath's autobiography contained disparaging comments about K Sivan.</p>

<p>Responding to these claims, Somanath&nbsp;denied any intention of targeting "any particular individual." He argued that individuals in high-ranking positions, such as his own, often face a multitude of challenges, one of which involves securing positions within the organisation, reported the Hindu.</p>

<p>“Persons holding such key positions may have to go through several challenges. One among them is the challenges with regard to getting positions in an organisation,” he said, adding that these are challenges that everybody has to go through.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/data-lab-with-a-budget-less-than-hollywoods-interstellar-indias-moon-mission-is-gaining-momentum-628393">Also read |&nbsp;Data Lab | With a budget less than Hollywood's 'Interstellar', India's Chandrayaan-3 is a big success</a></p>

<h2><strong>Mention of Chandrayaan-2</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, Somanath's autobiography also referenced the lack of clarity in connection with the announcement of the failure of the Chandrayaan-2 mission.</p>

<p>While the details of this reference are not fully disclosed, it highlights the complexity and challenges that ISRO faces in its missions.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/the-mysterious-blobs-remnants-of-ancient-moon-forming-object-present-near-earths-core-654107">Also read |&nbsp;A planet crashed into Earth 4.5bn yrs ago, and so the moon was born</a></p>

<p>Somanath reiterated that the purpose of his autobiography was not to criticise anyone but to serve as an inspirational narrative for those who aspire to overcome life's challenges and obstacles.&nbsp;</p>


ISRO Chairman S Somanath announced his decision to withdraw the publication of his forthcoming autobiography, Nilavu Kudicha Simhangal (translated as 'Lions that drank the moonlight').

ISRO Chairman S Somanath announced his decision to withdraw the publication of his forthcoming autobiography, Nilavu Kudicha Simhangal (translated as 'Lions that drank the moonlight'). This move came following a controversy sparked by alleged critical remarks made by Somanath about his predecessor, K Sivan, in the book. The controversy came to light when reports surfaced, suggesting that Somanath's autobiography contained disparaging comments about K Sivan. Responding to these claims, Somanath denied any intention of targeting "any particular individual." He argued that individuals in high-ranking positions, such as his own, often face a multitude of challenges, one of which involves securing positions within the organisation, reported the Hindu. “Persons holding such key positions may have to go through several challenges. One among them is the challenges with regard to getting positions in an organisation,” he said, adding that these are challenges that everybody has to go through. Also read | Data Lab | With a budget less than Hollywood's 'Interstellar', India's Chandrayaan-3 is a big success Mention of Chandrayaan-2 Notably, Somanath's autobiography also referenced the lack of clarity in connection with the announcement of the failure of the Chandrayaan-2 mission. While the details of this reference are not fully disclosed, it highlights the complexity and challenges that ISRO faces in its missions. Also read | A planet crashed into Earth 4.5bn yrs ago, and so the moon was born Somanath reiterated that the purpose of his autobiography was not to criticise anyone but to serve as an inspirational narrative for those who aspire to overcome life's challenges and obstacles.

ISRO chief S Somanath withdraws autobiography publication amid controversy over Chandrayaan-2 mention

<p>The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath provided a big update on the Chandrayaan-3 mission on Tuesday (August 8) as he assured that Vikram lander will be able to make a soft-landing on the Moon's surface on August 23.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He claimed that the landing is certain even if all the sensors and two of its engines do not work. The Vikram lander is expected to descend on the moon on August 23.</p>

<p>Somnath was speaking during an interaction hosted by the non-profit organisation Disha Bharat, as he said that the design of the lander is such that it would be able to handle failures. The interaction was on the topic — 'Chandrayaan-3: Bharat's Pride Space Mission'.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chandrayaan-3-completes-maiden-orbit-reduction-gets-closer-to-lunar-surface-622945">Chandrayaan-3 completes maiden orbit reduction, gets closer to Lunar surface</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Somanath said: "If everything fails, if all the sensors fail, nothing works, still it (Vikram) will make a landing. That's how it has been designed -- provided that the propulsion system works well."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mission was launched on July 14 by the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 rocket. It is now placed in a 170 km by 4,313 km elliptical orbit around the moon and a series of manoeuvres are planned for August 9 and 17 to place it in a 100 km circular orbit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ISRO chief said on Monday that India's third lunar mission "Chandrayaan-3" is in good health. He said that its most critical phase will be the orbit determination process when the spacecraft starts moving closer to the moon from the 100 km circular orbit.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-isro-releases-video-of-the-moon-captured-by-chandrayaan-3-as-it-enters-lunar-orbit-622908">ISRO releases video of the moon captured by Chandrayaan-3 as it enters lunar orbit</a></strong></p>

<p>Somanath told PTI: "Up to 100 km we do not see any difficulty. The issues are only an estimation of the position of the lander accurately from Earth. This measurement is a very critical measurement, we call it the orbit determination process. If it is correct, the rest of the process can be done."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are able to bring it down very correctly this time. The orbit changes are happening as planned. There is no deviation. So, it shows excellent results and we are hoping that all will be fine," the ISRO chairman added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath provided a big update on the Chandrayaan-3 mission on Tuesday (August 8) as he assured that Vikram lander will be able to make a soft-landing on the Moon's surface on August 23.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath provided a big update on the Chandrayaan-3 mission on Tuesday (August 8) as he assured that Vikram lander will be able to make a soft-landing on the Moon's surface on August 23. He claimed that the landing is certain even if all the sensors and two of its engines do not work. The Vikram lander is expected to descend on the moon on August 23. Somnath was speaking during an interaction hosted by the non-profit organisation Disha Bharat, as he said that the design of the lander is such that it would be able to handle failures. The interaction was on the topic — 'Chandrayaan-3: Bharat's Pride Space Mission'. Also read: Chandrayaan-3 completes maiden orbit reduction, gets closer to Lunar surface Somanath said: "If everything fails, if all the sensors fail, nothing works, still it (Vikram) will make a landing. That's how it has been designed -- provided that the propulsion system works well." The mission was launched on July 14 by the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 rocket. It is now placed in a 170 km by 4,313 km elliptical orbit around the moon and a series of manoeuvres are planned for August 9 and 17 to place it in a 100 km circular orbit. ISRO chief said on Monday that India's third lunar mission "Chandrayaan-3" is in good health. He said that its most critical phase will be the orbit determination process when the spacecraft starts moving closer to the moon from the 100 km circular orbit. Also read: ISRO releases video of the moon captured by Chandrayaan-3 as it enters lunar orbit Somanath told PTI: "Up to 100 km we do not see any difficulty. The issues are only an estimation of the position of the lander accurately from Earth. This measurement is a very critical measurement, we call it the orbit determination process. If it is correct, the rest of the process can be done." "We are able to bring it down very correctly this time. The orbit changes are happening as planned. There is no deviation. So, it shows excellent results and we are hoping that all will be fine," the ISRO chairman added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'If everything fails...': ISRO chief's BIG comment on Chandrayaan-3 landing on August 23

"Next launch of LVM3 will be in the beginning of January or February. We also have to do the SSLV mission which is the repeat of what we did last time after making the corrections. We are now getting ready for the launch of PSLV possibly this November end. Then we have to the GSLV launch and go for Aditya L1 launch in the end of this year," says S Somanath, ISRO Chairman.

Next launch of LVM3 will be in Jan : ISRO Chairman Somanath talks to WION about 5 upcoming launches

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<p>Throwing light on work that is underway to develop a Next-Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV rocket) for India, Chairman, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said that it should be cost-effective, support efficient manufacturing processes, reusable, and be possible to produce faster. Dr S. Somanath, who heads ISRO and also serves as secretary of India's department of space, was addressing a gathering of fellow scientists and engineers from across domains.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While firmly stating that India's existing fleet of PSLV and GSLV (with the exception of GSLV MKIII) rockets are 1980s technology and are meant to be retired someday, Somanath touched upon ISRO's future launch vehicle. He was speaking at the 'INAE Engineers Conclave-2022', which was hosted by ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre(LPSC) in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-heaviest-rocket-to-have-maiden-commercial-flight-on-oct-23rd-36-satellites-to-be-launched-525422"><strong>Read more: ISRO to launch 36 'OneWeb' satellites in maiden commercial flight of GSLV Mk III on Oct. 23</strong></a></p>

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<p>Depictions of the prospective technical specifications of the NGLV indicated that it could carry up to 10 tonnes of payload to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (payload 2.5 times higher than India's current heaviest launcher GSLV MKIII). It was also revealed that this could be a three-stage launch vehicle that is powered by Green fuel combinations such as Methane and Liquid oxygen or Kerosene and Liquid oxygen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In terms of the intended utility of the vehicle, it was mentioned that NGLV could be used for launching multiple communication satellites, for deep space missions, for ferrying cargo, and for performing future human spaceflight missions. It is also intended that this rocket would offer a low cost per kilogramme to orbit.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/private-consortiums-to-build-gslv-sslv-rockets-in-addition-to-pslv-says-isro-chief-515739"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;'Private consortiums to build GSLV &amp; SSLV rockets, in addition to PSLV', says ISRO chief</strong></a></p>

<p>This is a measure of how much it costs to take one kg of payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). It is intended that the NGLV would offer launch costs of $1900/kg (in reusable configuration) and $3000/kg (in expendable configuration). Expendable configuration turns out expensive because of how the rocket parts fall back into the sea after their burn time, whereas reusable systems ensure that some or all parts of the rocket are recovered and can be reused in future launches.</p>

<p>On the process of realising such a rocket, Somanath said that it is crucial to have the participation of Indian industry, right from the beginning of the definition stage of the rocket. He added that it would help make the rocket, manufacturing-friendly, and operational-friendly whilst making it possible for the Indian industry to build, operate, and launch the rocket with ISRO's technical support and backing.</p>

<p>He envisioned this rocket as a 'national asset' and one that could operate for a long period, while also undergoing upgrades, as technology progresses.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Throwing light on work that is underway to develop a Next-Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV rocket) for India, Chairman, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said that it should be cost-effective, support efficient manufacturing processes, reusable, and be possible to produce faster.

Throwing light on work that is underway to develop a Next-Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV rocket) for India, Chairman, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said that it should be cost-effective, support efficient manufacturing processes, reusable, and be possible to produce faster. Dr S. Somanath, who heads ISRO and also serves as secretary of India's department of space, was addressing a gathering of fellow scientists and engineers from across domains. While firmly stating that India's existing fleet of PSLV and GSLV (with the exception of GSLV MKIII) rockets are 1980s technology and are meant to be retired someday, Somanath touched upon ISRO's future launch vehicle. He was speaking at the 'INAE Engineers Conclave-2022', which was hosted by ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre(LPSC) in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram. Read more: ISRO to launch 36 'OneWeb' satellites in maiden commercial flight of GSLV Mk III on Oct. 23 https://publish.twitter.com/?query=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fsdhrthmp%2Fstatus%2F1581960954564132864&widget=Tweet × Depictions of the prospective technical specifications of the NGLV indicated that it could carry up to 10 tonnes of payload to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (payload 2.5 times higher than India's current heaviest launcher GSLV MKIII). It was also revealed that this could be a three-stage launch vehicle that is powered by Green fuel combinations such as Methane and Liquid oxygen or Kerosene and Liquid oxygen. In terms of the intended utility of the vehicle, it was mentioned that NGLV could be used for launching multiple communication satellites, for deep space missions, for ferrying cargo, and for performing future human spaceflight missions. It is also intended that this rocket would offer a low cost per kilogramme to orbit. Read more: 'Private consortiums to build GSLV & SSLV rockets, in addition to PSLV', says ISRO chief This is a measure of how much it costs to take one kg of payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). It is intended that the NGLV would offer launch costs of $1900/kg (in reusable configuration) and $3000/kg (in expendable configuration). Expendable configuration turns out expensive because of how the rocket parts fall back into the sea after their burn time, whereas reusable systems ensure that some or all parts of the rocket are recovered and can be reused in future launches. On the process of realising such a rocket, Somanath said that it is crucial to have the participation of Indian industry, right from the beginning of the definition stage of the rocket. He added that it would help make the rocket, manufacturing-friendly, and operational-friendly whilst making it possible for the Indian industry to build, operate, and launch the rocket with ISRO's technical support and backing. He envisioned this rocket as a 'national asset' and one that could operate for a long period, while also undergoing upgrades, as technology progresses. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

ISRO chairman shares insights into key aspects of India's next-gen rocket

<p>The Indian Space agency now has a new facility aimed at performing what in simple terms can be explained as a holistic 'Traffic Management in Space' and to ensure the sustainable use of space. Known as the&nbsp;'ISRO System for Safe &amp; Sustainable Operations Management' (IS4OM), the new facility based in Bengaluru will perform a host of functions - safeguarding India's space assets, protecting them from space debris, predicting the orbital movement of debris, predicting likely collisions and coordinating with global agencies for all of the above.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With every passing day, the number of satellites orbiting earth are increasing in number, this also naturally means an increase in space debris. Debris includes everything from the spent upper stages of rockets, and defunct satellites, to even smaller objects that emerge after debris collisions. Given that these objects orbit the earth at nearly 27,000km per hour, any collision with space assets can prove catastrophic and could cause a massive outage of space-based services. Hence, it becomes increasingly important to have&nbsp;a 'Space Traffic Management System'.</p>

<p>"This is not about (space)traffic management alone, it is about keeping orbits available to everyone, operating in space without causing problems to one another, and ensuring sustainable use" explained Chairman, ISRO Dr. S. Somanath.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Elaborating on the different functions of 'IS40M', Dr. Somanath told WION, "Firstly it is about using radars and optical observation to watch and tag objects in space, then we will have to&nbsp;consider the effect of earth's gravitational pull, impact of sun and moon etc. and&nbsp;predict the movement of the said object/debris. Based on this, we will have to look for possibilities of collisions. This entire process has to be carried out on a daily basis. In case an object poses a threat to our satellite, we must accordingly move our satellite out of harm's way and also inform foreign agencies(whose satellites are in the vicinity) about our collision avoidance maneuver."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Honorable Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Ji dedicated ISRO System for Safe &amp; Sustainable Operations Management (IS4OM) to the nation today in Bengaluru. <a href="https://t.co/nwyzFvbUVW">pic.twitter.com/nwyzFvbUVW</a></p>
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<p>In addition to this, the objects that are likely to fall back onto the earth (recently, parts of a spent Chinese rocket landed in an Indian village), asteroids that are on collision course with earth will also have to be tracked. These are complex calculations and are error-prone, owing to the large number of factors involved, thus necessitating various corrections.&nbsp;Dr. Somanath added that these mathematical models used to calculate and project the path of debris and their impact etc. are indigenously developed and even if a country wanted, such models are not available for purchase in the International market.</p>

<p>On India's capabilities, he explained that India has radars that are&nbsp;meant to observe satellites and the Indian space agency is also installing optical tracking facilities. However, the Indian space agency&nbsp;does not have all facilities required to track objects of 10cm size and for this it relies on data provided by foreign agencies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Overall, we have to cover every aspect of safety and security of space assets and do so round-the-clock. Our scope of coverage from a single location will be limited. Multiple tracking stations across the globe are required to have entire coverage like America and Russia are having.&nbsp;For India's national security we will also have to observe and watch movements of foreign satellites over our country. As part of cooperation with foreign space agencies, we will exchange useful data, with the exceptions being the classified data and the precise ones which we need for our national security" Dr. Somanath concluded.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch WION's live TV here:</strong></p>

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The Indian Space agency now has a new facility aimed at performing what in simple terms can be explained as a holistic 'Traffic Management in Space' and to ensure the sustainable use of space.

The Indian Space agency now has a new facility aimed at performing what in simple terms can be explained as a holistic 'Traffic Management in Space' and to ensure the sustainable use of space. Known as the 'ISRO System for Safe & Sustainable Operations Management' (IS4OM), the new facility based in Bengaluru will perform a host of functions - safeguarding India's space assets, protecting them from space debris, predicting the orbital movement of debris, predicting likely collisions and coordinating with global agencies for all of the above. With every passing day, the number of satellites orbiting earth are increasing in number, this also naturally means an increase in space debris. Debris includes everything from the spent upper stages of rockets, and defunct satellites, to even smaller objects that emerge after debris collisions. Given that these objects orbit the earth at nearly 27,000km per hour, any collision with space assets can prove catastrophic and could cause a massive outage of space-based services. Hence, it becomes increasingly important to have a 'Space Traffic Management System'. "This is not about (space)traffic management alone, it is about keeping orbits available to everyone, operating in space without causing problems to one another, and ensuring sustainable use" explained Chairman, ISRO Dr. S. Somanath. Elaborating on the different functions of 'IS40M', Dr. Somanath told WION, "Firstly it is about using radars and optical observation to watch and tag objects in space, then we will have to consider the effect of earth's gravitational pull, impact of sun and moon etc. and predict the movement of the said object/debris. Based on this, we will have to look for possibilities of collisions. This entire process has to be carried out on a daily basis. In case an object poses a threat to our satellite, we must accordingly move our satellite out of harm's way and also inform foreign agencies(whose satellites are in the vicinity) about our collision avoidance maneuver." Honorable Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Ji dedicated ISRO System for Safe & Sustainable Operations Management (IS4OM) to the nation today in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/nwyzFvbUVW — ISRO (@isro) July 11, 2022 × In addition to this, the objects that are likely to fall back onto the earth (recently, parts of a spent Chinese rocket landed in an Indian village), asteroids that are on collision course with earth will also have to be tracked. These are complex calculations and are error-prone, owing to the large number of factors involved, thus necessitating various corrections. Dr. Somanath added that these mathematical models used to calculate and project the path of debris and their impact etc. are indigenously developed and even if a country wanted, such models are not available for purchase in the International market. On India's capabilities, he explained that India has radars that are meant to observe satellites and the Indian space agency is also installing optical tracking facilities. However, the Indian space agency does not have all facilities required to track objects of 10cm size and for this it relies on data provided by foreign agencies. "Overall, we have to cover every aspect of safety and security of space assets and do so round-the-clock. Our scope of coverage from a single location will be limited. Multiple tracking stations across the globe are required to have entire coverage like America and Russia are having. For India's national security we will also have to observe and watch movements of foreign satellites over our country. As part of cooperation with foreign space agencies, we will exchange useful data, with the exceptions being the classified data and the precise ones which we need for our national security" Dr. Somanath concluded. Watch WION's live TV here:

IS40M is India's space traffic management facility, ISRO Chairman explains to WION

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