Latest news with #Aryabhata
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
HistoriCity: Celestial bodies and India's contributions to ancient astronomy
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla walks in the footsteps of ancient geniuses like Aryabhata, who calculated the value of pi accurately. Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla walks in the footsteps of ancient geniuses like Aryabhata, who calculated the value of pi accurately. (ANI Video Grab) The tantalising possibility of finding traces of life elsewhere in the universe has for a long time remained in human consciousness. In India, the first probes into astronomy began with questions such as those asked in the Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa, written by Lagadha and said to be the earliest astronomical text in India, in which the author describes a lunisolar calendrical system. Similarly, the Rig Veda's Nasadiya Sukta—often described as the origin hymn—asks questions that continue to confound us. It asks: 'There was neither non-existence nor existence then; Neither the realm of space, nor the sky which is beyond; What stirred? Where? In whose protection?' One can easily imagine the elite and intellectual class of ancient Indians trying to make sense of celestial phenomena like shooting stars, comets, thunder and lightning, and not least the eclipses, which continue to fascinate both the devout and the superstitious among us. The waning and waxing of the moon, and the rising and setting of the sun, which determined so much about pre-modern life, cannot be taken for granted either. These natural phenomena must have sparked the earliest inquiries. It is only natural that the Rig Vedic questions were more fundamental than those asked by modern astronauts and scientists today. However, without modern equipment or scientific understanding, ancient Indians were able to identify various planets by their characteristic colours, observe constellations, and anthropomorphise them. All this was achieved by the time we entered the Common Era, i.e., around 2,000 years ago. The lunar zodiac—or nakshatra—remains a constant in Indian astronomical texts from the Vedic period and continues to guide religious observances, including festivals and other auspicious dates associated with myriad rituals. Aryabhata: India's Mathematical Genius The Common Era marks the beginning of rapid astronomy development —not just in India, but across the world. Aryabhata introduced a diverse set of time units, such as yuga, kalpa, and manvantara. In his only surviving work, the Aryabhatiya, there is evidence of the concept of 'zero' or void, along with indeterminate equations (kuttaka) and principles of mensuration. The text also presents techniques to calculate planetary positions and introduces the concept of a seven-day week. He accurately calculated the value of pi as 3.1416—the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. Aryabhata, who lived in the early 6th century CE, laid the foundation for later scholars such as Brahmagupta and Varāhamihira to further advance Indian astronomy. The Aryabhatiya was translated into Arabic in the 8th century, which eventually contributed to the development of algorithmic mathematics through the works of Al-Khwarizmi. By the time of Al-Biruni in the 11th century, it was well known among contemporary scientists across the world that Aryabhata had postulated that the Earth rotates on its axis. India's contribution to the modern numeral system is yet to be fully acknowledged. As James Evans wrote in The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy: 'Our numerals are sometimes called 'Arabic,' but 'Indian' or 'Hindu-Arabic' would be more appropriate.' Ancient Observatories Burzahom, near Srinagar, is Kashmir's earliest known human settlement, dating from 8000 BCE to 1000 BCE. Excavated in 1935, the site revealed three stages of the Neolithic period. More interestingly, evidence shows that ancient inhabitants understood astronomy and may have recorded a supernova. Owing to its cultural and scientific value, the site is currently on UNESCO's tentative list for World Heritage Site status. Mudumal, a prehistoric site of megalithic menhirs (upright stones) in Telangana, dates back approximately 3,500 to 4,000 years. It features, among other remarkable menhir alignments, a group of cup-marked stones arranged in the pattern of the Ursa Major constellation. In Hindu mythology, this is known as Saptarishi, or the Seven Sages, closely linked to the North Star. The site includes 80 large menhirs and 2,000 aligned stones spread over 80 acres, many of which align with the sun during solstices. It is believed to be one of India's oldest known astronomical observatories. The Surya Mandir or Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha, built in the 13th century CE, reflects the excellence of Kalinga architecture. It pays homage to Surya, the sun god, who is depicted as traversing the sky in a chariot drawn by horses. The temple is said to have been constructed so that the first rays of the rising sun fall upon the main idol of sun god. Moreover, the 24 wheels of the chariot also function as sundials, casting shadows that indicate the time of day. Apart from the Jantar Mantars built in New Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, and other cities—which function as sundials and observatories—another prehistoric megalithic circle deserves mention: Junapani, about 10 kilometers northwest of Maharashtra's Nagpur. These 150 stone circles, which are sepulchral in nature (relating to funerary practices), are said to have been erected between 1000 BCE and 300 CE. Some of these circles are cup-marked, suggesting they served a directional or guiding purpose, potentially indicating the direction of the winter solstice sunrise. HistoriCity is a column by author Valay Singh that narrates the story of a city that is in the news, by going back to its documented history, mythology and archaeological digs. The views expressed are personal.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
18-06-2025
- Science
- First Post
50 years of Aryabhata: India's journey through Space Age
India's space journey is no longer just about reaching the stars — it is about shaping the future read more On April 19, 1975, India achieved a significant milestone in space technology as it launched its first satellite, Aryabhata शं नो द्यावापृथिवी पूर्वहूतौ शमन्तरिक्षं दृशये नो अस्तु । शं न ओषधीर्वनिनो भवन्तु शं नो रजसस्पतिरस्तु जिष्णुः || — ऋग्वेदः सूक्तं ७.३५ 'May the heaven and earth invoked since eternity in the first yajna, and the middle regions so charming to see be good for our peace and joy. May the herbs instilled with the vitality of sun rays be for our peace and joy of good health, and may the victorious lord of life on earth and in distant regions be good and bring us peace, prosperity and happiness.' — Rig Veda STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Space has long captivated the human imagination, with mythological tales across cultures often alluding to celestial journeys and cosmic realms. India is no exception, with its rich heritage of stories that reflect a deep-rooted fascination with the universe. On the evening of November 21, 1963—about half an hour after sunset—India took its first nascent step into space technology. From the newly established Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) launched a 715 kg Nike-Apache sounding rocket. It soared to an altitude of 200 kms, releasing a brilliant sodium vapor cloud in the upper atmosphere that lit up the twilight sky—a modest yet momentous beginning for India's space programme. On August 15, 1969, India established Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the Department of Atomic Energy, which replaced the erstwhile INCOSPAR. However, it was only in June 1972 that India established Department of Space (DOS) and brought ISRO under its purview. Aryabhata: India joins the space club On April 19, 1975, India achieved a significant milestone in space technology as it launched its first satellite, Aryabhata. The satellite was carried aboard a Soviet Kosmos-3M launch vehicle from the Kapustin Yar spaceport in Astrakhan Oblast as spart of the Soviet Union's Interkosmos programme. Aryabhata remained in contact with ground stations until March 1981. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Aryabhata remained in contact with ground stations until March 1981 To commemorate this achievement, the Government of India featured the satellite's image on the reverse side of the Rs 2 banknote, which remained in circulation from 1976 to 1997. Rohini Satellites: India's Orbital Genesis From 1979 to 1983, India conducted a series of four experimental satellite launches under the Rohini programme, which employed the indigenously developed four-stage solid-propellant Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3). From 1979 to 1983, India conducted a series of four experimental satellite launches under the Rohini programme These missions were aimed at validating launch vehicle performance, orbit injection accuracy, and establishing indigenous capability in satellite deployment. ISRO used the indigenously developed 'Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV)'. For each of these launches from its launchpad at Sriharikota High Altitude Range. The satellites were named as: Rohini Technology Payload (RTP), Rohini RS-1, Rohini RS-D1 and Rohini RS-D2. RS-1 was India's first successful satellite launch and India joined an elite group of countries to reach Earth's orbit after the USSR, the US, France, the UK, China and Japan. On July 18, 1981 Department of Posts commemorated Rohini Satellites by issuing a 1 Rupee postage stamp and a First Day Cover. The First Day Cover shows SLV-3 being transported to the launcher while the stamp shows the launch of SLV 3 Rocket with diagram of Rohini satellite. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD PSLV: The Workhorse of India's Space Missions As the Cold War neared its end in late 1980s, India felt the need to move away from foreign launch vehicles for launching its own satellites. An indigenous platform not only meant strategic autonomy but also saving of precious foreign exchange. Thus, the workhorse of India's space programme, PSLV, was born. The first launcher in this series was PSLV-G which powered the PSLV-D1 mission on 20 September 1993 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Till date, PSLV has had 63 launches, out of which 59 have been successful giving it an incredible success rate of 93.65 per cent! Some of the notable launches by PSLV include: PSLV-C2 which deployed Oceansat-1, DLR-Tubsat, and Kitsat-3, PSLV-C28 which successfully deployed 5 satellites, PSLV-C34 which deployed a record breaking 20 satellites from different countries in a single flight, PSLV-C35 which was the first mission to deploy satellites in 2 different orbits, PSLV-C57 which deployed India's first solar observatory Aditya-L1, PSLV-C56 which deployed a Singapore satellite along with 6 smaller satellites. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On April 10, 2015 Department of Posts released a set of 2 stamps of 25 Rupees and 5 Rupees in a Joint Issue with France to commemorate 50 years of space cooperation between the two countries. The 5 Rupees stamp shows the Satellite 'Megha-Tropiques' which was launched by PSLV in 2011 in orbit around Earth. The 25 Rupees stamp shows the 'Satellite with ARgos and ALtika' (SARAL), which was launched by PSLV in 2013, orbiting the Earth with the Map of India in the background. On April 10, 2015 Department of Posts released a set of 2 stamps of 25 Rupees and 5 Rupees in a Joint Issue with France to commemorate 50 years of space cooperation between the two countries Reaching for the Moon The Chandrayaan missions also known as the Indian Lunar Exploration Programme, is India's ambitious pursuit of moon exploration. On October 22, 2008, Chandrayaan-1 was launched aboard PSLV. The mission was extremely successful as the Moon Impact Probe (MIP) landed near the Lunar South Pole and made the historic discovery of existence of water on Moon. On September 6, 2019, Chandrayaan-2 crash landed on moon's surface during its descent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Not to be deterred, ISRO launched Chandrayaan-3 mission and on August 23, 2023, Vikram lander made history by becoming the first human endeavour to land on the Lunar South Pole. Taare Zameen Par From Aryabhata to Chandrayaan-3, India's space missions reflect a saga of resilience, innovation, and vision. India has launched successful missions which have not only enhanced communication, weather forecasting, navigation, resource management but also saved precious foreign exchange and made India a key player in global space economy. India's space journey is no longer just about reaching the stars — it is about shaping the future. It is also about carrying the aspirations of a billion Indians with one cosmic milestone at a time. Krishna Kant Sharma (X: @krishnakant_75) is a New Delhi-based technology professional with experience in IT, Telecom & Digital Transformation domains. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Meet the Indian designer embedding ‘India's fingerprint in space' with Axiom-4 mission badge for Shubhanshu Shukla
Source: ANI India's growing ambitions in space will soon be represented not just through technological feats, but also a powerful symbol of cultural pride. As Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla prepares for his journey aboard the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station, he will wear a specially designed mission badge crafted by Indian designer Manish Tripathi. This emblem serves as more than just mission insignia that fuses India's deep-rooted scientific legacy with its rich cultural heritage. From the symbolism of ancient observatories to nods at modern achievements like Gaganyaan, the badge tells the story of a nation rising in space exploration. It's a historic moment where tradition meets technology; India's identity stitched into the stars, and carried proudly on the global stage. Indian designer Manish Tripathi creates mission badge for Axiom-4 astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla What is exceptional about this badge is the personal relationship between the designer and the astronaut. According to ANI reports, classmates Manish Tripathi and Shubhanshu Shukla share a past, and out of this, they led a partnership founded on vision and trust. The two shared ideas back and forth for eight months that bridged time zones to ensure that the badge would be an honest and truthful portrayal of India's space journey. This was not a regular design assignment. It required technical sophistication, cultural sensitivity, and a purpose. Every aspect of the design had to be prototested for its usability in space-grade materials and conditions. This makes it a graphic narrative of India's story through symbolic design. The badge is more than just an eyesore sight loaded with symbolism of varied layers. Similar to the shape of a postage stamp, the symbol indicates India stamping a message to the world. What each element of the Axiom-4 emblem says about India's space legacy Here's what the most vital elements are and what they mean: Gaganyaan icon: A reference to India's maiden human spaceflight mission, a new gold standard for indigenous space exploration. Aryabhata satellite: 50 years since the launch of India's first satellite, a milestone in the national scientific history of India. The Sun: A heavenly body which is worshipped in Indian culture and one which is central to space science too, symbolizing energy, continuity, and light. Jantar Mantar observatory: A reference to the ancient Indian wisdom on astronomy and ancient curiosity about the universe. The infinity symbol and the zero sign: Both mathematical symbols were created for the first time in India and form the cornerstone of ancient science and space travel. The Moon: In terms of ISRO's successful moon missions like Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 that made India a global leader in space technology. India's map in the chin of an astronaut helmet: This design is a tribute to the valor of Lord Hanuman symbolising the country being propelled forward with courage and intention. All these were carefully picked to demonstrate that India's identity in space is not only new and intentional but also historical and philosophical. NASA's Axiom-4 mission features India's cultural emblem in space The badge includes flags or maps of countries working together on the Axiom-4 mission, representing world cooperation symbolically. This serves to highlight that space is a global effort, and India is no longer at the fringes; it is a dynamic, active participant. India's partnership with Axiom Space , NASA, and SpaceX on missions like Axiom-4 is an indicator of its transition from being an emerging space nation to a global player in becoming a part of the shaping of the future of orbital technology and science. Tripathi emphasised that the badge will be an inspiration for future generations. He calls it "India's fingerprint in space," not merely a badge of national pride, but an incentive to think big. It is an emblem of Indian excellence on a material level, reminding students, innovators, and citizens that they can make a difference on earth or even in outer space. Shubhanshu Shukla represents India's strength and spirit on Axiom-4 Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is more than a guest to Axiom-4; he's a symbol of Indian grit, intellect, and humility. Tripathi referred to him as "a real superhero"; a vote of confidence for his level head and seriousness of purpose he represents. Shukla dons his suit with this emblem bearing the aspirations of over a billion citizens. The Axiom-4 mission in itself is a component of the wider trend in the space sector towards private-public partnership. With NASA in alliance with Axiom Space, and SpaceX, such missions are establishing the next generation of space station, deep-space logistics, and low-Earth orbit research capability. For India, participation in such missions is about more than representation but it is actually about redefining what Indian innovation looks like on a global scale. With the inclusion of Tripathi's emblem, India asserts that science and culture, ambition and tradition, can move forward together. Also Read | NASA launching rockets to investigate mysterious ionospheric clouds disrupting global communication networks
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
From The Hindu, June 2, 1975: Space programme not hit by snags in Aryabhata
Madras, June 1: The Indian space satellite programme would not be affected because of the difficulties experienced in the functioning of Aryabhata, Prof. Satish Dhawan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), said here to-day. Prof. Dhawan said that the malfunctioning of some of the equipment on board the Aryabhata was due to the failure of the 'power transistor' system. The fault was detected by the ISRO scientists after careful scrutiny of the material received by Mission Control at Bangalore. These scientists were now working round the clock studying the possibility of reviving the experiments. Even such 'drastic steps' like sending electronic pulses to activate the instruments abroad the satellite were being considered. But it was too early to say whether 'we will succeed in this task,' Prof. Dhawan said. Tracing the initial difficulties encountered by the satellite immediately after it was launched, he said even after a few orbits, it started 'tumbling' and did not 'spin' as expected. The satellite was made of non-magnetic material but even then there was some drag on it, thereby slowing it down. The latest information was that it was normal and orbiting according to the programme, he said.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
The Troika: Focused R&D, energy sovereignty and values
Imagine a world without zero. No binary code, no computing, and certainly no AI. The concept of zero, first formalised by Brahmagupta in 7th century India, was a philosophical breakthrough that enabled progress in fields from astronomy to finance and computer science. From Aryabhata's calculations of π to CV Raman's Nobel-winning work, India has a deep legacy of scientific inquiry and innovation, which continues today as Indian-origin talent fuels the global tech economy — leading AI breakthroughs, powering innovation at top firms, and shaping the digital world. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Pakistan's economy has much more to lose than India's due to the ongoing tensions, warns Moody's Ratings The day Pakistan got the power to poke India FM Sitharaman meets ADB chief and Italian FM, discusses economic issues; no mention of Pakistan Now, as the world enters the Era of Intelligence, India faces an urgent need to harness this legacy for its own advancement. The race for dominance is accelerating, with the US and China investing heavily to secure long-term advantage across chips, talent, and data. India's opportunity lies in seizing the boldest leapfrog bets—those with the power to redefine global paradigms. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Fort-de-france Modular Homes: See Prices Mobile Homes | Search ads Undo Focused R&D R&D is the primary battleground of the Intelligence Era. To build global competitiveness, supply chain resilience, and national security, India must focus its R&D on critical domains. Live Events Biotechnology will redefine healthcare, agriculture, and climate resilience. Building sovereign capabilities in synthetic biology, precision medicine, and bio-manufacturing will be critical to food and health security—and to reducing reliance on global supply chains. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Advanced materials are the backbone of next-generation semiconductors, aerospace, defence, and clean energy. Controlling these innovations will be essential to decoupling from vulnerable supply chains and achieving strategic self-reliance in critical sectors, including electronics and defence. Quantum computing and communications will be foundational to the next era of encryption, cybersecurity, financial systems, and scientific modeling. Early leadership is essential to safeguarding national security infrastructure and setting new global standards—before others do. In the next 10 years, we must move from value-chain participation to value-chain creation—disrupting chokepoints and setting new rules for global competition. Energy Sovereignty AI may run on data, but it thrives on energy. As adoption accelerates, electricity demand from data centres and AI supercomputing is expected to double by 2026. Energy is now a strategic asset—central to digital power and economic leadership. India, with over 200 GW of renewable capacity and a 2030 target of 500 GW, is well-positioned to lead. The`19,744 crore National Green Hydrogen Mission is a bold step toward making India a global hub for green hydrogen. If executed with ambition, India could become in this century what oil-rich nations were in the last: the bedrock of global energy ecosystems. Strategic investments in green hydrogen, battery storage, smart grids, and next-gen renewables will make India the destination of choice for energy-intensive industries—from semiconductor fabs and AI clusters to quantum labs and advanced manufacturing. Human-Centric AI India's most profound contribution to the Intelligence Era may not lie just in its technological prowess but in its values. As the world races toward hyper-automation, India must lead with a human-centric AI vision—one that augments, not replaces; empowers, not exploits; and keeps people, not machines, at the heart of progress. AI should be harnessed to solve India's most pressing challenges: boosting agricultural productivity, bridging learning gaps, democratizing access to quality healthcare, and building climate resilience. We are walking the talk with the India AI Mission, but India must go further—and shape global governance frameworks rooted in our values dignity, inclusion, and equity.
