
Bharatiya Antariksh Station to weigh 50 tonnes, confirms Isro chief
He also emphasised the Department of Space's ongoing collaboration with various agencies to ensure the safety and security of India's vast borders, including its 11,500 km coastline and northern frontiers.
India is readying for Gaganyaan Mission. (Photo: Isro)
Addressing concerns over the recent PSLV-C61/EOS-09 mission setback, Narayanan described it as an exception in Isro's otherwise stellar record. He assured that the failure would not derail future projects, including the highly anticipated Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. 'Gaganyaan's first mission will be an uncrewed test flight, expected to launch in the coming days, followed by two crewed missions in the near future,' he revealed.advertisementIsro is also advancing its lunar exploration programme, with Chandrayaan-4 set to return lunar samples within the next two-and-a-half years. Meanwhile, Chandrayaan-5, a collaborative mission with Japan, will feature a 6,400 kg lander carrying a 350 kg rover, designed for a 100-day mission on the Moon. For comparison, the successful Chandrayaan-3 lander weighed 1,600 kg and carried a 25 kg rover."Right now, we (Isro) are also working on Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5. Chandrayaan-5, in collaboration with Japan. It will have a life span of 100 days," he said.With these bold initiatives, Isro continues to inspire the nation and expand India's footprint in space exploration.Must Watch
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Indian Express
7 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
India–US ‘scientific handshake' to track disasters, climate via NISAR satellite
NEW DELHI: A couple of days ahead of the launch of the NISAR satellite, Union Minister for Space Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday described the mission as a "scientific handshake". 'NISAR is not just a satellite; it is India's scientific handshake with the world,' Dr Singh remarked, adding that the NISAR satellite is scheduled for launch on 30 July from Sriharikota. During a media briefing, Dr Singh explained that NISAR is designed to deliver critical global data related to natural disasters, agriculture, and climate for the benefit of the entire world. Calling it a global benchmark in Indo-US scientific collaboration, he emphasised that, as the first joint Earth observation mission between ISRO and NASA, the launch will mark a significant milestone in the history of Indo-US space cooperation, as well as in ISRO's broader international engagements. He further stated that the mission will be launched aboard India's GSLV-F16 rocket. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite will provide observations that will be made available to policymakers worldwide, aiding in the formulation of more effective responses to challenges posed by climate change. Dr Singh said the mission embodies Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of India becoming a 'Vishwa Bandhu' – a global partner contributing to the collective good of humanity. 'NISAR will not only serve India and the United States but will also provide critical data for countries around the world, especially in areas like disaster management, agriculture, and climate monitoring,' he said. A key feature of the mission, Dr Singh noted, is that all data generated by NISAR will be freely accessible within one to two days of observation, and in near real-time during emergencies. He said the mission combines the technological expertise of both space agencies. ISRO, for its part, has contributed the S-Band SAR payload, the spacecraft bus accommodating both payloads, the GSLV-F16 launch vehicle, and all associated launch services. Weighing 2,392 kg, the satellite will be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit, enabling repeat imaging of the Earth's land and ice surfaces every 12 days. 'It will allow continuous monitoring of ecosystem disturbances and help assess natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and landslides,' Dr Singh said. One of the satellite's most notable capabilities is its ability to track even subtle changes in the Earth's crust and surface movement. 'The data from the satellite will also be used for sea ice classification, ship detection, shoreline monitoring, storm tracking, crop mapping, and changes in soil moisture – all of which are vital for governments, researchers, and disaster management agencies,' he added.

The Hindu
7 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Kalam's rise in life is a lesson for the nation, says ISRO chairman V. Narayanan
'From a paper delivery boy, late President APJ Abdul Kalam rose to become a nuclear scientist and missile man of India,' said V. Narayanan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation, here on Sunday. His remarks came on the occasion of the 10th Remembrance Day of Kalam. Mr. Narayanan said the prestigious Bharat Ratna award was not simply conferred on Kalam, but earned by the late President through his sincere hard work. Tracing his journey, he said the year 1969, when Kalam joined ISRO, was the same year when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. ISRO was at its nascent stage, when NASA was trying out various space projects. 'But we can proudly say that India, which began taking baby steps when America completed its space mission, is now looked upon by the world due to its space projects. Speaking about the situation at the time of Independence, he said about 97.5% of the population was in Below Poverty Line (BPL) category, and the average person's life expectancy was 32 years. 'It has increased now to 72 years, which shows our desire and will in developing our country.' The people's dreams at the time of Independence made the impossible possible. Kalam's rise from a village boy to one of the important personalities in the country was one such dream. It was not just his dream, but his country's dream. 'Kalam's success gave courage and lessons to many people like me to dream big and think big. If not for him, many of us would have just dreamt of distant targets,' he added. The book Wings of Fire, penned by Kalam, was the important reason for completing his Ph.D degree, which became one of the important technologies to operate the rockets of ISRO. The life lessons of Kalam should be taken seriously by students to not just work for themselves but also for their country, he added. 'The upcoming launch of NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar [NISAR] satellite from India is one such example the students should watch closely,' he further said. Mr. Narayanan paid tributes to Kalam's memorial at Peikarumbu near Rameswaram. Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon also paid his respects at the memorial.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Man Ki Baat: PM Modi praises astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla; says new wave of curiosity for space among kids
File photo (Picture credit: PTI) NEW DELHI: Ahead of the National Space Day, PM Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted India's growing capabilities in space sector, mentioning the achievement of IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's recent journey to International Space Station, talked about a new wave of curiosity about space among children and pointed out that today more than 200 startups have come up in the space sector alone. Talking about Shubhanshu Shukla, who was one of the four crew members of the Axiom-4 mission to ISS, PM Modi, in his 124th 'Mann Ki Baat' episode, said, 'We shall touch upon the successes of the country; the achievements of the countrymen.' He said when Shukla landed back on Earth, a 'wave of happiness rippled through every heart' and added that the 'whole country was filled with pride.' PM Modi also highlighted how the success of Isro's Chandrayaan-3 mission created an atmosphere of curiosity in the country for space endeavours. 'I remember, when Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed in August 2023, a new ambience was created in the country. A new curiosity also arose among children about science, about space. Little children now say, we will also go to space; we will also land on the Moon — we will become space scientists," PM Modi said. PM Modi specifically mentioned the 'INSPIRE-MANAK Abhiyan,' which promotes innovation among children by providing them with a platform to develop innovative ideas rooted in science. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo 'In this, five children are selected from each school. Each child brings up a new idea. So far, lakhs of children have joined this, and after Chandrayaan-3, their number has doubled,' he said. PM noted a rise in India's space startups, pointing out that the number has almost quadrupled in the last five years. 'Five years ago, there were fewer than 50 start-ups. Today, there are more than 200," he said. Further noting the upcoming National Space Day on August 23, PM Modi said, "How will you celebrate it..., do you have any new ideas? Do send me a message on the NaMo App'. PM Modi also mentioned the recent achievements of students in the science and mathematics fields, giving a shout-out to the brightest minds. 'In 21st-century India, science is progressing with renewed energy. A few days ago, our students won medals in the International Chemistry Olympiad. India has also strengthened its image in the world of mathematics. In the International Mathematical Olympiad held in Australia, our students won 3 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze medal," PM Modi said. He also announced that an Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad is going to be held in Mumbai next month. This will be the biggest Olympiad to date, he noted. The PM also hailed the development of Unesco recognising 12 Maratha forts as World Heritage Sites. 'Eleven forts in Maharashtra; one in Tamil Nadu. Each fort has a chapter of history attached to it. Every stone is a testimony to a historical event... Salher Fort, where the Mughals were defeated, Shivneri, where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born. A fort that is unbreachable for the enemy. Khanderi Fort is an amazing fort built in the middle of the sea,' he said. 'The enemy wanted to stop him, but Shivaji Maharaj made the impossible possible. Pratapgarh Fort, where Afzal Khan was defeated, the echo of that saga still remains entrenched in the walls of the fort. Vijaydurg, which had secret tunnels, is proof of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's farsightedness. I visited Raigad a few years ago... bowed in front of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue. This experience will stay with me all my life,' Modi said. He said sometimes a task comes across as impossible to some people, but when the country comes together on one thought, even the impossible becomes possible. '' Swachh Bharat Mission ' is the biggest example of this. Soon, this mission will complete 11 years. But its strength and its need are still the same,' he said. In these 11 years, 'Swachh Bharat Mission' has become a mass movement, and people consider it their duty, and this is real public participation, Modi said. 'The Swachh Survey conducted every year has lifted this feeling further. This year, more than 4500 cities and towns of the country joined it. More than 15 crore people participated in it. This is not an ordinary number. This is the voice of Swachh Bharat,' he said.