Author: Misum Hasan

ISRO Chief, S Somnath, announced the first round of testing for the Indian Space Station also referred to as Bharatiya Antariksha Station in 2025 in an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times. As per ISRO’s plan, the first module of Bharatiya Antariksha Station is set to launch by 2028, with the completion of all modules scheduled for 2035. The inaugural module of Bharatiya Antariksha Station features an 8-tonne robotic arm module equipped with docking and undocking facilities, specifically designed for spacecraft launched from Earth to conduct microgravity tests within the space station. Testing for Indian Space Station Currently, ISRO is engaged…

Indian Space Research Organisation launched the INSAT-3DS satellite on 17th February 2024 at 5:35 pm IST by GSLV-F14. It will be ISRO’s 2nd launch in 2024 first was XpoSat launched on 1st January 2024. This satellite was also expected to launch in January but was delayed due to some reason now be launched in February. GSLV (GeoSynchronous Launch Vehicle ) MK II is India’s most powerful 3-stage liquid propellant rocket. This is the first launch of GSLV around a gap of 9 months last was the launch of the NVS-01 satellite in May 2023. More About INSAT-3DS Satellite INSAT 3DS…

Agnibaan SorTed ( Sub-Orbital Tech Demonstrator ) rocket is the rocket of Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos. It is now scheduled for launch on 22nd March between 7 AM to 10 AM IST as per NOTAM from the Agnikul launch pad in Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Shri Harikota. This rocket will be India’s first rocket that runs on Kerolox propellant and This rocket is entirely manufactured using 3D printing technology. Agnibaan and SorTed are distinct rockets developed by Agnikul Cosmos. The SorTed serves as a technology demonstrator rocket, showcasing key advancements in the company’s rocket technology. On the other hand,…

XPoSat captures the first light from the Cassiopeia A (Cas A) supernova remnant using XSPECT Payload. XPoSat was launched on 1 January 2024. It is India’s first and the world’s second Polarimetric mission. XPoSat is equipped with two essential payloads: the POLIX (POLarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and the XSPECT (X-ray SPECtroscopy and Timing). These instruments are designed to delve into the enigmatic realm of cosmic X-ray sources. The XSPECT payload, specifically, is dedicated to conducting continuous and prolonged spectral as well as temporal investigations of X-ray sources within the soft X-ray band. XPoSat Captures Cassiopeia A supernova On January 5,…

Astrobotic Technology, a private company with its Peregrine Lander funded by NASA, faced a significant setback due to a crucial fuel loss. This development marks a substantial setback for NASA, impacting a historic private mission aimed at lunar exploration. It deals a major blow to America’s aspirations of deploying its first robotic presence on the lunar surface in over five decades. The Vulcan rocket from United Launch Alliance (ULA) propelled Astrobotic’s lander, placing it on a lengthy and circuitous trajectory toward the moon. Peregrine Lander mission achieved the milestone of being the inaugural American commercial lunar lander launched on a…

PAPA payload ( Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya ) on Aditya L1 is now functioning at its maximum capacity of 5 Kv and has initiated the transmission of data of high quality. On 8 December 2023, the payload was switched on for the first time only for 10 hours during the cruise phase. During the cruise phase, the functionality of the payload was assessed to evaluate its in-orbit condition. Both the primary and backup DC-DC converters were utilized for testing. It is noteworthy that the high voltage (5 kV) was not enabled during this specific cruise phase. On December 11,…

India and Mauritius have joined forces to develop and launch a small satellite within an ambitious 15-month timeline. This collaborative effort, approved by the Union Cabinet, showcases a significant stride in the space cooperation between the two nations. The initiative, led by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), involves an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore, with India covering the financial aspects. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the organizations signifies their commitment to advancing space technology and conducting scientific research collaboratively. India and Mauritius join hands The collaboration not only…

The Aditya L-1 spacecraft, accomplished a significant milestone by entering into a Halo orbit around the Lagrange Point L1 on January 6 2024 to initiate its mission of studying the sun. Have you encountered the idea of a Halo orbit around Lagrange-Point L1? There is a discernible inclination among spacecraft engineered for solar studies to be stationed at Lagrange-Point L1. What gives these Halo orbits around L1 their significance in missions focused on studying the sun? Presently, there are four operational probes stationed at the L1 point. What is Lagrange Point? Lagrange points, crucial in astronomy, represent specific locations in…

Nigar Shaji, a 59-year-old woman, holds the position of Program Director at ISRO and serves as the Project Director of the Aditya L1 mission. She is a senior scientist at the UR Rao Satellite Centre, which is the research and development center of ISRO located in Bengaluru. Aditya is a sophisticated scientific satellite,” Ms. Nigar has dedicated nine years of tireless work to Aditya L1 development. She has collaborated with numerous scientists at ISRO during this process. She has also played a significant role in contributing to the design of India’s interplanetary, communication, and remote-sensing satellites. Nigar Shaji began her…

Indian Space Research Organisation set to launch the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 mission by PSLV-XL in September 2024 from Shri Harikota, Andhra Pradesh. PROBA ( Project for On-Board Autonomy ) is a minisatellite technology demonstration mission designed to tackle challenges related to the on-board operational autonomy of a generic platform. Proba-1 was also launched by ISRO’s PSLV on 22 October 2001. PROBA is the designated name for a series of satellites, commencing with PROBA-1. The term is also utilized to denote the satellite bus within this series. All about Proba-3 Mission The Proba 3 mission comprises two small satellites: a…