Saturday, February 15, 2014
ISRO unveils space capsule that will fly Indian astronauts
ISRO unveils space capsule that will fly Indian astronauts
Pallava Bagla
After its Mars mission, India now aims to puts humans into space. The first steps towards flying Indian astronauts into space could be taken in weeks.
The Indian astronaut capsule has been unveiled for the very first time. If all goes as per plan it will be tested in the first experimental flight of India's latest monster rocket, the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III is likely to be tested as early as May or June from Sriharikota.
The GSLV Mk-3 could see this astronaut module being flown into space for the very first time, but in a sub-orbital flight. In its first test flight no crew or any animals are likely to be flown.
"Only re-entry technologies and flight dynamics will be tested and the capsule will be recovered 400-500 kilometers away from Port Blair in the Bay of Bengal," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K Radhakrishnan told NDTV.
ISRO has been dreaming of putting an Indian into space using an Indian rocket launched from India soil. ISRO has sought funding worth Rs. 12,500 crores from the government for the program. It says once the approval comes, an Indian astronaut can be flown in a low Earth orbit in about seven years from the time the approval comes from the government.
When it happens, India's human space capsule could be sent on a seven day mission for two-three astronauts in a low Earth orbit of 300-400 kilometers above earth.
Till date only Russia, USA and China have successfully flown astronauts into space with the latest entrant being China in 2003.
The outer skeleton of Indian human space capsule has been fabricated by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore and was handed over to ISRO which developed it. HAL says the first crew module will be further equipped with systems necessary for crew support, navigation, guidance and control systems by ISRO for experimentation in the forthcoming GSLV-MK3 launch.
"HAL takes pride in the India's space programmes and our Aerospace Division has produced this Crew Module in a record time to meet the requirements of ISRO", said Dr RK Tyagi, Chairman, HAL.
While the government has hesitated to clear a hefty bill of Rs. 12,500 crores as desired by ISRO for its human space flight program, but so that there are no delays in the development work the Indian government has already sanctioned Rs. 145 crores for the development of what it calls 'critical technologies'.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/isro-unveils-space-capsule-that-will-fly-indian-astronauts-483605
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Monday, February 3, 2014
At Jammu new science initiatives announced by PM Manmohan Singh as he prepares to hand over `baton’
At Jammu new science initiatives announced by PM Manmohan Singh as he
prepares to hand over `baton’
New Delhi, February 3, 2014
Pallava Bagla
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh speaking at 101st session of
the Indian Science Congress being held for the very first time in Jammu a part
of the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir, where some 8000 scientists have
gathered for this annual event.
The Prime Minister highlighted some aspects in his
speech:
“To do science,
someone must pay for it. We must increase our annual expenditure on science and
technology to at least 2% of our GDP. This has to come from both government and
industry. In countries such as South Korea, where a high percentage of the GDP goes
to science, the contribution of Korean industry is indeed very significant. I
am happy to say that our Department of Biotechnology has activated private
public partnerships in R&D in biotechnology. I appeal to the corporate
sector to join hands with the government in realizing the goals that we have
set for more our nation.
A major research
funding organization, the National Science and Engineering Research Board, has
just started functioning. This Board is managed by scientists and it has
simplified funding procedures. We expect much more from it in supporting
individual scientists as well as groups of scientists in creating small units
devoted to crucial sectors at the very frontiers of science.
India currently
occupies an enviable position in the field of atomic energy and high-energy
physics. Indian nuclear scientists are attracting global interest in their
effort to develop a Fast Breeder Reactor. I expect the prototype under
construction in Kalpakkam to be completed this year. It will be a great day for
Indian science and technology because we will be one of the few countries in
the world with leadership in a completely new area of nuclear technology that
can contribute non-polluting electrical power.
I recognise and we all
recognise that the Government must also focus on creating new opportunities for
our bright and socially conscious scientists. To ensure food security and to
improve land and water productivity, we have to launch a national drive for an
ever-green revolution. This will test the ingenuity of our agricultural
scientists. Climate-resilient agriculture and modern bio-technological tools
hold great promise. Use of bio-technology has great potential to improve
yields. While safety must be ensured, we should not succumb to unscientific prejudices
against Bt. crops. Our government remains committed to promoting the use of
these new technologies for agricultural development. I urge our scientific
community to increase communication and engagement with society at large in
explaining socially productive applications of technology alternatives and for
improving the productivity of small and medium enterprises.
Our Government has
invested in many areas to ensure that India remains at the cutting edge of
science. I am happy to announce another National Mission on High Performance
Computing with an outlay of Rs. 4500 crores. We are also considering
establishment of a National Geographical Information System with an outlay of
about Rs. 3000 crores. A National Mission on Teaching to enhance the esteem of
our teachers is also being launched.
I am also happy to
announce that India will partner the international scientific community in the
establishment of some of the world’s major R&D projects. In the
Gravitational Wave experiment, India intends to host the third detector. A
Neutrino-based Observatory is proposed to be established in Tamil Nadu at a
cost of about Rs 1450 crores. India is also joining the famous CERN institute
as an associate member.
Before I close, I
would like to stress on something that has troubled me for some time. I worry
some time that science has not yet got its proper due in our value system. I
would like science to be high in our value system so that our entire society
provides both moral and material support for its development. This is not only
necessary because our future depends on it, but also because instilling a
scientific attitude and temper in our population is essential for developing a
progressive, rational and humane society. I do hope that our scientists and
educators will ponder seriously on how we can achieve this transformation in
the mind set of our society. This year,
our Government selected Professor CNR Rao for the highest civilian award of
Bharat Ratna. Let this be only the first step in creating an environment that
gives birth to many more Bharat Ratnas in the field of Indian science. That is
my wish that is my prayer.”
Saturday, July 7, 2012
God Particle almost revelaed
NDTV
Dated: July 4, 2012
God Particle Almost revealed
44 minutes of video on the special show
http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/india-decides-9/the-9-oclock-news-the-biggest-stories/238274
Dated: July 4, 2012
God Particle Almost revealed
44 minutes of video on the special show
http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/india-decides-9/the-9-oclock-news-the-biggest-stories/238274
CERN scientists to reveal God Particle today?
From : NDTV
July 4, 2012
CERN scientists to reveal God Particle today?
http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/cern-scientists-to-reveal-god-particle-today/238161
July 4, 2012
CERN scientists to reveal God Particle today?
http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/cern-scientists-to-reveal-god-particle-today/238161
India to launch $75m mission to forecast rains
From: BBC
India to launch $75m mission to
forecast rains
India is launching a
$75m (£48) mission using computer models to understand the south-west monsoon
and forecast the rains more accurately, officials say. Experts say scientists
all over the world struggle to forecast weather patterns
India receives 80% of its annual rainfall during the summer
monsoons between June and September.
Forecasting the monsoon is a tricky task, as India's meteorologists have discovered time and again.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) admitted later
that it was "not very accurate" in its forecasts.
In its 137-year history the IMD has never been able to predict a drought or a flood - the two extremes of a monsoon season - successfully.
Title: India to launch $75m
mission to forecast rains
Date: July 2, 2012
By: Pallava Bagla
By Pallava Bagla
Delhi
A significant shortfall in rain can trigger drought, which
can cause great damage to India's 235 million farmers.
There have been reports that this year's monsoons have been
less than satisfactory so far.
"Understanding the monsoon will be a major priority of
the government for the next five years," says Shailesh Nayak, a senior
official in the ministry of earth sciences.
He said efforts will be made to understand the rains using
computer models developed by the UK and the US and gathering fresh data.
Forecasting the monsoon is a tricky task, as India's meteorologists have discovered time and again.
Last year they predicted a bad monsoon, but in the end the
rains turned out to be in excess of what was forecast.
In its 137-year history the IMD has never been able to predict a drought or a flood - the two extremes of a monsoon season - successfully.
Experts say scientists all over the world struggle to
forecast weather patterns.
They say the IMD does a "commendable job, putting its
reputation on the block" by making monsoon forecasts every year.
Monsoon watchers like Prof J Srinivasan from the Indian
Institute of Science says seasonal forecasts for drought and floods are
relatively accurate for the Sub-Saharan region in Africa, but no agency in the
world has ever been able to predict a drought or flood for the Indian region.
The US weather office also struggles to predict droughts for
North America but there have been occasions where they have been able to make seasonal
drought forecasts, experts say.
Pallava Bagla is a
correspondent for Science magazine
India's rocket launch business is open to industry
India's
rocket launch business is open to industry
New Delhi: In a bold move, the Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO) is opening up to market forces and is hoping to hand over
part of the lucrative rocket launch business and satellite manufacturing to the
Indian industry.
India's workhorse rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which has completed 20 consecutively successful launches under the eagle eye of ISRO, is one such technology that the agency is hoping to hive off to private players. Today, about 80 % of the vehicle is put together with parts supplied by the private industry. If K Radhakrishnan, the current chairman of ISRO and a manager trained at the Indian Institute of Management at Bangalore has his way, then the entire vehicle itself could well be made and launched by private players.
Mr Radhakrishnan says, "The PSLV is a reliable vehicle...there are requirements of putting Indian satellites, and in the global market, the PSLV too has a niche. Capability is there, demand is there, now how to enhance the capacity to realize more PSLVs? As of now more than 400 industrial firms are working for realizing various elements of PSLV. Can we get the Indian space industry to realize the [entire] PSLV vehicle itself?"
Each PSLV vehicle costs the tax payer about Rs. 120 crores, and today ISRO can, at best, fabricate four PSLV rockets per year. In the next two-three years, almost a dozen launches of PSLV are already slated and ISRO will be stretched to meet these requirements.
The plan is to carve out a 250-acre, dedicated 'Space Park' adjoining the space port at Sriharikota, which could be used by private players to develop the Indian aerospace industry.
ISRO is also thinking of hiving off the money-spinning communication satellite business. Adding further, Mr Radhakrishnan said, "On communications satellites, there is a large demand for transponders today. So, if the proven platforms of communications satellites...if they could be replicated with the help of the industry. With industry taking a major role, that is another way of meeting the national demands at the earliest possible."
With missions to Mars, moon and sun on the mind, ISRO
rightfully seeks to divest itself of repeat and routine manufacturing which is
best done by nimble private players, but with the Antrix-Devas fiasco fresh in
everyone's mind, will the private players really bite the bait? ISRO now seeks
to do what it does best - cutting-edge research. So it now wants to sell off
its launcher and communication satellite units to the industry.
From: NDTV
Date: July 1, 2012
Title: India's rocket launch business is open to industry
By: Pallava Bagla
See Video:
India's rocket launch business is open to industry
Written by Pallava Bagla, Edited by Mala Das | Updated: June
30, 2012 22:09 IST
India's workhorse rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which has completed 20 consecutively successful launches under the eagle eye of ISRO, is one such technology that the agency is hoping to hive off to private players. Today, about 80 % of the vehicle is put together with parts supplied by the private industry. If K Radhakrishnan, the current chairman of ISRO and a manager trained at the Indian Institute of Management at Bangalore has his way, then the entire vehicle itself could well be made and launched by private players.
Mr Radhakrishnan says, "The PSLV is a reliable vehicle...there are requirements of putting Indian satellites, and in the global market, the PSLV too has a niche. Capability is there, demand is there, now how to enhance the capacity to realize more PSLVs? As of now more than 400 industrial firms are working for realizing various elements of PSLV. Can we get the Indian space industry to realize the [entire] PSLV vehicle itself?"
Each PSLV vehicle costs the tax payer about Rs. 120 crores, and today ISRO can, at best, fabricate four PSLV rockets per year. In the next two-three years, almost a dozen launches of PSLV are already slated and ISRO will be stretched to meet these requirements.
The plan is to carve out a 250-acre, dedicated 'Space Park' adjoining the space port at Sriharikota, which could be used by private players to develop the Indian aerospace industry.
ISRO is also thinking of hiving off the money-spinning communication satellite business. Adding further, Mr Radhakrishnan said, "On communications satellites, there is a large demand for transponders today. So, if the proven platforms of communications satellites...if they could be replicated with the help of the industry. With industry taking a major role, that is another way of meeting the national demands at the earliest possible."
Today, the global space business is valued at $ 177 billion
and growing. So, will the Indian industry not want a share? M V Kotwal, Board
Member, Larsen & Toubro & President Heavy Engineering and head of
L&T's space and nuclear business told NDTV, "If ISRO is interested in
partnering the Indian Industry in overall management of the entire Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicle programme and the communications satellite fabrication
programme, it is a very welcome and necessary step. With its wide experience
and expertise in project management, L&T would be positively inclined and
well placed to take over the complete programme management with technical
support from ISRO. In future, we could jointly explore global opportunities in
these domains."
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