Latest news with #MarsOrbiterMission
India.com
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Based on space, this film was a record breaker, made for Rs 40 crore, it earned Rs 290 crore, film is..., lead actors are...
Well, we have seen several films with big budgets failing at the Box Office, but what if a failed launch turns into India's proudest moment in space history? An inspiring story that had to be told, and Mission Mangal did just that. The film, which is 2 hours and 10 minutes long, has left a mark on viewers with its emotional depth, scientific precision, and real-life inspiration. Fans went all crazy over it for all the right reasons. What makes Mission Mangal special? The film not only tells us the Mars Orbiter Mission, but also the lives and grit of the scientists behind it. It shows what happens when a mission crashes, emotionally and professionally, and how a determined team rewrites its fate. It's not just about rockets; it's about resilience. Mission Mangal: Star cast The Jagan Shakti's directorial is led by Akshay Kumar as Rakesh Dhawan (inspired by ISRO scientist Mylswamy Annadurai), alongside Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Sonakshi Sinha, Kirti Kulhari, and Sharman Joshi. Mission Mangal: Box Office Collection With just a budget of Rs 40 crore, Mission Mangal rocketed to a global box office collection of Rs 90.59 crore. It not only emerged as one of the biggest hits of the year, but even outperformed Akshay's mega sci-fi venture 2.0 , quite the mission accomplished. Why are people still talking about it? Because Mission Mangal isn't just a film, it's a reminder of what ambition, teamwork, and belief can achieve. It celebrates the quiet heroes behind India's space dreams, especially the women scientists who finally got their screen space.
NDTV
04-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Indian Ham Radio Operator Will Connect With Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla
New Delhi: In a unique space to Earth Communications Bridge, India's orbiting Gaganyatri Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will hold a conversation with a special audience at ISRO's UR Rao Satellite Center in Bengaluru today. This dialogue possibly with students will not be done via a regular video link but by using the old-fashioned technology called HAM radio. In an age dominated by smartphones and social media, a century-old hobby continues to quietly shape the world of communication, science, and public service. Ham Radio, also known as Amateur Radio, is more than just a pastime - it's a global, technology-driven social network that has connected millions across continents, from students and astronauts to royalty and farmers. Often hailed as the "King of Hobbies," Ham Radio allows individuals to communicate wirelessly with others around the world using home-built transmitters and receivers. But its significance goes far beyond casual conversation. From the Titanic disaster to the recent Cyclone Fani, Ham Radio has played a vital role in emergency communication during natural calamities, often serving as the only lifeline when conventional networks fail. India is home to over 38,000 licensed Ham Radio operators, spanning diverse professions and age groups. Among them stands a towering figure, BA Subramani (call sign: VU2WMY), Station Director of ISRO's Upagrah Amateur Radio Club and Director of the Educational Outreach Programme at AMSAT India. His journey from a Space Simulation Engineer to a national leader in amateur satellite communication is a testament to the transformative power of this hobby. After a long career at India's space agency, he retired and now runs this Ham radio network as serious hobby. Astronaut Shukla will connect with the Indian audience at 3:47 pm India time and a select group of special invitees will be able to dialogue with Shukla. Subramani joined ISRO in 1984 and has since been instrumental in conducting space environmental simulation tests for landmark missions such as Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission, and Chandrayaan-2. His expertise spans spacecraft testing at subsystem, system, and full spacecraft levels, ensuring mission readiness under simulated space conditions. A licensed Radio Ham since 1986, Subramani holds an Advanced Grade license with the call sign VU2WMY. He is active across all amateur frequency bands and modes, including cutting-edge software-based digital modes. With over 10,000 radio contacts spanning 150 countries - including Antarctica - his reach is truly global. But Subramani's contributions extend far beyond personal achievements. He has played a pivotal role in the upkeep and operations of ISRO's Ham Radio station, and is a founding member of AMSAT-India, an organisation dedicated to designing and launching amateur satellites. His technical acumen has been crucial in configuring, testing, and evaluating HAMSAT payloads, and he has supported telemetry tracking for student-built satellites like STUDSAT, SRMSAT, JUGNU, and others. One of his most notable achievements includes activating the Amateur Radio APRS payload onboard the spent stage of the PSLV C45 rocket, showcasing how Ham Radio can be integrated into mainstream space missions. He has also provided emergency communication support during disasters such as the Latur earthquake, Odisha cyclones, and the 2004 tsunami, where he operated uninterrupted Ham Radio services for 16 days in Cuddalore. Subramani's passion for education is equally commendable. He is actively involved in establishing amateur satellite ground stations at schools and engineering colleges, training students and faculty in real-time satellite tracking, telemetry decoding, and space communication. His outreach includes over 175 lectures and hands-on workshops across India, covering topics like Short Wave Listening, Software Defined Radios (SDR), visual spotting of satellites, and life aboard the International Space Station. Ham Radio's relevance in today's digital age is profound. It offers a gateway to understanding electronics and communication technology, especially valuable for those from non-technical backgrounds. With simple equipment and free software, enthusiasts can receive real-time telemetry and payload data from satellites, track space objects, and even interact with astronauts aboard the ISS. As the world embraces space exploration and satellite technology, Ham Radio remains a powerful tool for education, innovation, and public service. And in India, BA Subramani stands as a beacon of what this hobby can achieve - bridging the gap between amateur passion and professional excellence, and inspiring a new generation to look to the skies not just with wonder, but with purpose. Subramani will make history when he speaks to Gaganyatri Shukla and is able to convey the excitement of how India reached the International Space Station.
NDTV
03-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Indian Ham Radio Operator Will Connect With Astronaut Shubhashu Shukla
New Delhi: In a unique space to Earth Communications Bridge, India's orbiting Gaganyatri Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will hold a conversation with a special audience at ISRO's UR Rao Satellite Center in Bengaluru tomorrow. This dialogue possibly with students will not be done via a regular video link but by using the old-fashioned technology called HAM radio. In an age dominated by smartphones and social media, a century-old hobby continues to quietly shape the world of communication, science, and public service. Ham Radio, also known as Amateur Radio, is more than just a pastime - it's a global, technology-driven social network that has connected millions across continents, from students and astronauts to royalty and farmers. Often hailed as the "King of Hobbies," Ham Radio allows individuals to communicate wirelessly with others around the world using home-built transmitters and receivers. But its significance goes far beyond casual conversation. From the Titanic disaster to the recent Cyclone Fani, Ham Radio has played a vital role in emergency communication during natural calamities, often serving as the only lifeline when conventional networks fail. India is home to over 38,000 licensed Ham Radio operators, spanning diverse professions and age groups. Among them stands a towering figure, BA Subramani (call sign: VU2WMY), Station Director of ISRO's Upagrah Amateur Radio Club and Director of the Educational Outreach Programme at AMSAT India. His journey from a Space Simulation Engineer to a national leader in amateur satellite communication is a testament to the transformative power of this hobby. After a long career at India's space agency, he retired and now runs this Ham radio network as serious hobby. Astronaut Shukla will connect with the Indian audience at 3:47 pm India time and a select group of special invitees will be able to dialogue with Shukla. Subramani joined ISRO in 1984 and has since been instrumental in conducting space environmental simulation tests for landmark missions such as Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission, and Chandrayaan-2. His expertise spans spacecraft testing at subsystem, system, and full spacecraft levels, ensuring mission readiness under simulated space conditions. A licensed Radio Ham since 1986, Subramani holds an Advanced Grade license with the call sign VU2WMY. He is active across all amateur frequency bands and modes, including cutting-edge software-based digital modes. With over 10,000 radio contacts spanning 150 countries - including Antarctica - his reach is truly global. But Subramani's contributions extend far beyond personal achievements. He has played a pivotal role in the upkeep and operations of ISRO's Ham Radio station, and is a founding member of AMSAT-India, an organisation dedicated to designing and launching amateur satellites. His technical acumen has been crucial in configuring, testing, and evaluating HAMSAT payloads, and he has supported telemetry tracking for student-built satellites like STUDSAT, SRMSAT, JUGNU, and others. One of his most notable achievements includes activating the Amateur Radio APRS payload onboard the spent stage of the PSLV C45 rocket, showcasing how Ham Radio can be integrated into mainstream space missions. He has also provided emergency communication support during disasters such as the Latur earthquake, Odisha cyclones, and the 2004 tsunami, where he operated uninterrupted Ham Radio services for 16 days in Cuddalore. Subramani's passion for education is equally commendable. He is actively involved in establishing amateur satellite ground stations at schools and engineering colleges, training students and faculty in real-time satellite tracking, telemetry decoding, and space communication. His outreach includes over 175 lectures and hands-on workshops across India, covering topics like Short Wave Listening, Software Defined Radios (SDR), visual spotting of satellites, and life aboard the International Space Station. Ham Radio's relevance in today's digital age is profound. It offers a gateway to understanding electronics and communication technology, especially valuable for those from non-technical backgrounds. With simple equipment and free software, enthusiasts can receive real-time telemetry and payload data from satellites, track space objects, and even interact with astronauts aboard the ISS. As the world embraces space exploration and satellite technology, Ham Radio remains a powerful tool for education, innovation, and public service. And in India, BA Subramani stands as a beacon of what this hobby can achieve - bridging the gap between amateur passion and professional excellence, and inspiring a new generation to look to the skies not just with wonder, but with purpose. Subramani will make history when he speaks to Gaganyatri Shukla and is able to convey the excitement of how India reached the International Space Station.
Hindustan Times
01-07-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Axiom-4 boost for Isro's manned spaceflight plans
The recent Axiom-4 mission, featuring group captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force as pilot, is far more than a symbolic gesture for India. It represents an important and strategic stepping stone for the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro)'s ambitious Gaganyaan manned spaceflight programme. It is also a firm indication that India is now ready to move onto a more mature space programme. the Axiom-4 mission strengthens international collaboration and knowledge transfer for the Indian community, elevating India's standing as a serious and capable player in the exclusive club of human spacefaring nations. (ANI Video Grab) The Axiom-4 mission allows Isro to bridge the gap between extensive ground-based training and invaluable real-world experience, which is critical to the plans to send Indian gaganyatris into orbit. Over the last few decades, Isro has emerged as a global leader in cost-effective satellite launches and interplanetary missions, from the iconic Chandrayaan series to the Mars Orbiter Mission. However, human spaceflight has its own unique set of challenges. It requires extreme levels of safety and reliability and a focus on the needs and limitations of the human body. This is where, most importantly, Axiom-4 provides an unparalleled opportunity for practical in-space training and exposure. Shukla is part of the first batch of gaganyatris already selected by Isro. His role as pilot in the Axiom-4 flight means he has gained firsthand experience in critical aspects of human spaceflight: living and working in almost-zero gravity, handling complex spacecraft systems, responding to contingencies, and performing intricate docking procedures at the International Space Station (ISS). This 'lived experience' on a fully operational platform with a consortium of international partners is something no simulated activity can fully replicate. The physiological adaptations to sustained microgravity, the mental aspects of confinement and ISS life, the long hours of exercise and muscle toning, the complex teamwork with a truly international crew and the nuances of real-time flight dynamics, are lessons that will be directly fed back into Gaganyaan's astronaut-training modules and mission protocols. Shukla's experience in pre-launch quarantine, spacecraft ingress and egress, medical diagnostics in microgravity, and health readiness will be invaluable in the planning for Indian missions. Moreover, the major sustained activities on this mission involves critical scientific experiments with direct relevance to Gaganyaan. India's contribution to the Axiom-4 science involves biological and genetic research payloads, developed by Isro in collaboration with leading Indian institutions. These include cultivating food crops such as moong and methi sprouts, and examining strains of cyanobacteria and microalgae to study their growth rates, cellular responses, and biochemical activity in microgravity. There is research on muscle regeneration under microgravity to identify skeletal muscle dysfunction and explore therapeutic strategies. There is a close study of the functioning of tardigrades, which are among the most resilient forms of life. Finally, there are studies of the physical and cognitive impact of using devices in microgravity to inform future spacecraft computer design. These experiments are not merely academic, they are designed to address the very challenges Gaganyaan will face — ensuring sustainable food and oxygen, maintaining astronaut health, and understanding long-duration effects of space life on humans. The data gathered from these experiments will be invaluable for refining Gaganyaan's environmental control and life support systems, crew health management protocols, and overall mission design. Furthermore, the Axiom-4 mission strengthens international collaboration and knowledge transfer for the Indian community. Working alongside not just public sector partners such as the US's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), but also private players such as Axiom Space — which will soon operate an independent space station — provides Isro with unique insights into global best practices in human spaceflight operations, safety standards, and mission management. This kind of equal partnership on a global stage also elevates India's standing as a serious and capable player in the exclusive club of human spacefaring nations, rekindling the legacy of the first move in 1984 with cosmonaut wing commander Rakesh Sharma. The next crucial phases for Gaganyaan include conducting a series of uncrewed test flights, designed to rigorously test various Gaganyaan systems, including the Crew Escape System, the Crew Module's re-entry and recovery, and the performance of the human-rated LVM3 launch vehicle. These are important for proving the safety and reliability of the entire system. One of these will carry Vyommitra, Isro's humanoid robot, to evaluate the integrated systems and environment in the crew module for suitability for human occupants. Also being developed for Gaganyaan is the systematic and careful process of integrating the crew module, which will house the astronauts, with the service module, providing essential services like propulsion, power, and life support, is ongoing. This includes fine-tuning the human-machine interfaces and ergonomic demands based on real-world insights, which will incorporate what is learnt from the Axiom-4 mission. As Shukla gains invaluable experience on Axiom-4, the other astronaut-designates continue their rigorous training, including simulations of all mission phases, parabolic flights for microgravity exposure, water survival training, and extensive medical and psychological conditioning. The culmination of these efforts will be the maiden crewed Gaganyaan mission. This aims to send three Indian astronauts to a low Earth orbit (approximately 400 km), or LEO, for a duration of several days, before a safe splashdown in the Arabian Sea. This is currently targeted for the first quarter of 2027. Beyond Gaganyaan, India's next ambition is the assembly of our own space station, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, by 2035. The first module is expected to launch by 2028, with the full station becoming operational by 2035. This long-term vision will provide a sustained platform for scientific research, technological development, and further LEO training of Indian astronauts. India also aims to have a crewed lunar mission in 2040. Meanwhile, Shukla and colleagues will return to Earth in the second week of July. What next? Shukla's thesis advisor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru has publicly appealed that he should come back to IISc and finish his Masters' dissertation as soon as he can. Somak Raychaudhury is vice-chancellor and professor of physics, Ashoka University. The views expressed are personal.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Scientists unlock secrets of Martian weather systems
1 2 Bhubaneswar/Rourkela: Researchers from NIT Rourkela, in collaboration with scientists from UAE University and Sun Yat-sen University in China, provided new insights into the complex atmospheric phenomena of Mars through a comprehensive study spanning two decades with data collated from multiple Mars missions. The research, published in the journal New Astronomy Reviews, examines three crucial elements of Martian weather — dust devils, large-scale dust storms, and water-ice clouds. The study was co-authored by professor Jagabandhu Panda and research scholar Anirban Mandal from NIT Rourkela's Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, along with international collaborators. The team analysed data from various Mars missions, including India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MoM), to understand how dust and water-ice interact to influence the planet's climate and temperature. Their findings revealed that dust devils, which are small spinning columns of air, are more prevalent during summer in the northern hemisphere and play a vital role in keeping dust suspended in the atmosphere. "Advancing weather prediction on Mars is not just a scientific pursuit; it's crucial for ensuring the success of future missions and understanding the planet's habitability," said Panda. He emphasised the need for more ISRO missions to Mars and increased investment in university research to further advance scientific understanding. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 300만원 가상화폐 투자금 있다면 '이렇게'해라. 나우투자그룹 더 알아보기 Undo The research also sheds light on Mars' notorious dust storms, which can escalate to cover entire regions or even the whole planet. These storms operate in a feedback loop where sunlight heats the dust, warming the atmosphere and strengthening winds, which in turn lifts more dust into the air. The study's findings are particularly significant as they could help protect future spacecraft and support astronaut missions to Mars. "By tracking seasonal changes and their impact on dust and cloud formation, researchers refined our understanding of the Martian climate system, potentially enabling more accurate weather predictions on the Red Planet," Panda said. A significant focus of the study was on Mars' water-ice clouds, which form in two distinct types — the aphelion cloud belt during summers when Mars is farthest from the Sun, and the polar hood clouds that form during winter. These delicate, wispy formations are particularly visible near the equator, around massive volcanoes like Olympus Mons, and in polar regions.
