Mighty India Power

The Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ), that got global recognition for its successful launch of a mission to Mars, will now launch German, French, British and Canadaian satellites, a top official said. "We will be launching EnMAP (Environmental Mapping and Analysis Programme) satellite belonging to Germany. The satellite will weigh around 800 kg," ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan told IANS in an interview. The EnMAP is a hyperspectral satellite that would provide images of the Earth at regular intervals. This apart, ISRO will be launching French satellite SPOT-7 during the first quarter of 2014, Radhakrishnan said. "There will be four more small foreign satellites that would go along with SPOT-7," he added. ISRO  had launched the SPOT-6 satellite in 2012. Read more @  http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/isro-enmap-satellite-spot-7-satellite-k-radhakrishnan-pslv-rocket-mars-orbiter/1/326376.html

India on 23 November 2013 successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Dhanush ballistic missile from a naval ship off Odisha coast. The surface-to-surface Dhanush, a naval variant of India's indigenously developed Prithvi missile, was test fired from a location at Bay of Bengal by the Srategic Force Command of the defence force. The single-stage, liquid propelled Dhanush has already been inducted into the armed services. It is one of the five missiles developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. Dhanush missile is capable of carrying conventional as well as nuclear payload of 500 to 1000 kg and hit both land and sea-based targets. - See more at: http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/india-successfully-test-fired-nuclear-capable-dhanush-ballistic-missile-1385197216-1#sthash.tqQieCuH.dpu f

Mars Orbiter Mission carries five payloads: For atmpospheric studies: Layman Alpha Photometer (LAP): It is an absorption cell photometer. It measures the relative abundance of deuterium and hydrogen from Lyman-alpha emission in the Martian upper atmosphere (typically Exosphere and exobase). Measurement of D/H (Deuterium to Hydrogen abundance ratio) allows us to understand especially the loss process of water from the planet. Methan Sensors for Mars (MSM): It is designed to measure methane (CH4) in the Martian atmosphere with PPB accuracy and map its source. Data is acquired only over illuminated scene as the sensor measures the reflected solar radiation. Methane concentration in the Martian atmosphere undergoes spatial and temporal variations. For particle environment studies: Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA): It is a quadruple mass spectrometer capable of analysing the neutral composition in the range of 1 to 300 amu with unit mass resolution. The herit...

In keeping with expectations, the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) trusted workhorse, the PSLV rocket, delivered a perfect launch to India's ambitions of reaching the Red Planet by parking the  Mangalyaan spacecraft  precisely outside Earth on Tuesday. The 43-minute launch aboard the  PSLV C25  from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, some 80 km from Chennai, saw the Mangalyaan spacecraft placed in an argument of perigee of 282.75 degrees which was considered necessary to enable the actual 400 million km transition towards Mars on November 30. It was a textbook launch for the Mangalyaan spacecraft — the 25th successful mission carried out by the PSLV rocket — and its progress through the 43-minute launch phase — the longest ever for a PSLV — went on cue, with the crucial third stage rockets firing at 33 minutes and the rocket initiating satellite separation at 43 minutes. "The PSLV 25 has placed the  Ma...

Arihant, which translates as the 'destroyer of enemies" from Sanskrit, now has a new "heart" to take the battle to enemy shores. The miniaturized atomic reactor on board India's first indigenous nuclear submarine  INS Arihant h as "gone critical", in a big leap towards making the country's long-awaited "nuclear weapons triad" an operational reality. Sources said the 83mw pressurized light-water reactor, fuelled by enriched uranium, achieved "criticality" late on Friday night after months of "checking and re-checking" of all the machinery, systems and sub-systems of the 6000-tonne submarine at the heavily-guarded ship-building centre at Visakhapatnam. The green signal for the reactor to be "finally switched on" was apparently given by the top-secret meeting of the Nuclear Command Authority, chaired by PM  Manmohan Singh  and attended by Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) members, among others, on July 31....

 Nothing projects raw power like an aircraft carrier prowling on the high seas, capable of unleashing strike fighters against an adversary in a jiffy. A nuclear-powered carrier can make the punch even deadlier with much longer operational endurance. With its first  indigenous  aircraft carrier (IAC) set to be "launched" at Cochin Shipyard on August 12, and sea trials of the first nuclear submarine  INS Arihant  to begin shortly after, India is now examining the possibility of having a nuclear-powered 65,000-tonne carrier in the future. Navy vice-chief  Vice Admiral RK Dhowan  on Thursday said a "detailed study" was underway on the "size, type of aircraft and their launch and recovery systems, propulsion" and the like for the IAC-II project . "Yes, we are also considering nuclear propulsion. All options are being studied. No final decision has been taken," he said. There are huge cost issues with nuclear-powered carriers, which can easily take up...

India will launch its first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, on August 12 from the Kochi shipyard. This will make India only the fifth country after the US, Russia, Britain and France to have the capability to build such vessels. "About 83 per cent of the fabrication work and 75 per cent of the construction work will be over when the ship goes into water," said Indian Navy's vice chief, Admiral Robin Dhowan. The rest of the work, including the flight deck, will be completed once the ship is launched, the Navy vice chief said. The aircraft carrier is expected to be inducted into the Indian Navy by 2018. Admiral Dhowan also said that the 40,000 tonne indigenous aircraft carrier is one of its most prestigious warship projects and unprecedented in terms of size and complexity. It has been designed by Indian Navy's design organisation. INS Vikrant will have two take-off runways and a landing strip with three arrester wires capable of opera...

India's space agency is planning to have a total of five rocket launches in 2013 from its rocket launch pad at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, around 80 km from here. This will include a mission to Mars later this year. Four of the launches are expected to happen between June and December, including the launch of communication satellite G-Sat 14 using heavier rocket - Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) - powered with a domestic cryogenic engine. "Between June 10 and 15 we are planning to launch the first navigational satellite, Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-R1A (IRNSS-R1A) and it will be followed by the launch of G-Sat 14 some time in July," a senior official at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS, preferring anonymity. According to officials, the assembling of two rockets is going on at a good pace at the rocket launch centre. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL (PSLV-XL) version that will carry the navigation satellite ...

The Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System, IRNSS-1A, the first of the seven satellites of the IRNSS constellation, will be launched next month. K Radhakrishnan, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), said the IRNSS would be launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on June 12 at 1:01 am. The Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) which would be under complete control of the Indian government. The requirement of such a navigation system is driven by the fact that access to Global Navigation Satellite Systems, GPS, is not guaranteed in hostile situations. The IRNSS would provide two services, with the Standard Positioning Service open for civilian use and the Restricted Service, encrypted one, for authorised users (military). The full constellation is plann...

Moving towards completing its nuclear triad, India will activate the atomic reactor on-board the indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant in the "next two to three weeks" paving way for its operational deployment by the Navy soon.  "The nuclear reactor on-board the INS Arihant would be made critical (activated) in next two to three weeks," DRDO chief VK Saraswat told PTI here on Saturday.  Nuclear triad is the ability to fire nuclear-tipped missiles from land, air and sea. He said after the nuclear reactor is activated, the agencies concerned can work towards readying the warship for operational deployments soon.  INS Arihant has been undergoing trials at Navy's key submarine base in Vishakhapatnam and would be launched for sea trials after the nuclear reactor goes critical.  The DRDO has also readied a medium-range nuclear missile BO-5 for being deployed on the Arihant and its last developmental trial was held on January 27 off the coast of V...

Here are 10 must-know points about India's Nirbhay: It is a sub-sonic cruise missile. It blasts off like a rocket, but then unlike a missile, it turns into an aircraft. Unlike other ballistic missiles like the Agni,Nirbhay has wings and pronounced tail fins.  In early flight after launch, the rocket motor falls off and the small wings get deployed.  At this point a gas turbine engine kicks in and it becomes like a full aircraft, explains P S Krishnan, Director, Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bangalore. 

India on Tuesday successfully test fired cruise missile Nirbhay from the Interim Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur in Odisha. Nirbhay, which has a range of 1000 km, was fired at 11:55 am from a mobile launcher and hit a pre-designed target set in the sea. The two-stage sub sonic missile can travel at a speed of 0.7 Mach. This is the first time that India has test-fired its indigenously developed medium range sub-sonic cruise missile. "The missile blasted off from a mobile launcher positioned in the launch pad 3 of the ITR at about 11:54 am," defence sources said. The maiden launch developmental trial of the sophisticated missile was carried out at Chandipur, about 15 km from here, in the presence of top defence scientists and senior officials. The surface-to-surface missile has the capability of being launched from land, sea and air, they said, adding Nirbhay has good loitering capability, good control and guidance, high degree of accuracy in terms of impact and very good s...

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched Indo-French satellite 'SARAL' from the spaceport of Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on Monday.  The satellite aimed at oceanographic studies along with six foreign mini and micro satellites onboard ISRO's workhorse rocket PSLV was launched from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 6.01 pm and successfully placed into orbit .It was initially slated for blast-off at 5.56 pm local time.  President Pranab Mukherjee was also present at the mega launch.He witnessed the first of the 10 space missions planned by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for 2013 and also the country's 101th space mission.  The other dignitaries who witnessed the successful launch were Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L.Narasimhan, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy.  With a rich orange flame at its tail and a plume of white fume, the rocke...

Pinaka, the country’s indigenously developed multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) weapon system, was successfully test fired from a defence base at Chandipur-on-sea, about 15 km from in Balasore, today.  The trial was conducted by the personnel of Armament research and Development Establishment (ARDE) at the Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) firing point-2 at Chandipur as part of a routine test exercise, defence sources said. Pinaka weapon system. Image courtesy PIB Pinaka, which underwent several tough tests since 1995, has already been inducted into the armed forces. “These are routine trials and some more rockets are likely to be tested tomorrow,” they said. “Four rounds of rocket test were successfully carried out today,” said a defence official adding the MBRL, capable of acting as a force-multiplier, can gradually replace the current artillery system.  The sophisticated Pinaka is an weapon system aimed at supplementing the existing artillery gu...

Some facts on Mars mission Spacecraft facts: Its main engine generates 440 Newtons of thrust. Launch mass: 1350 kg. It bears a single solar panel, 1.4 by 1.8 meters, producing 750W at Mars. [Note: This doesn't jibe with the single image that I have managed to find of the orbiter, posted below; that one appears to have a three-section panel, with each section possibly 1.4 by 1.8 meters. I can't explain the discrepancy.] For attitude control it has four reaction wheels, eight 22-Newton thrusters. Those are mostly pretty similar to Chandrayaan-1, except for the size of the solar panel. Chandrayaan-1 had a single 2.15-by-1.8-meter panel that generated 750W at the Moon. My guess is that the diagram below is correct and that the Mars spacecraft has a single solar array consisting of three panels 1.4 by 1.8 meters each, which would, together, manage to produce similar power at Mars that the single, larger panel did at the Moon.  Five instruments have been selected, includi...

India would flight test sub-sonic, medium range cruise missile Nirbhay, next month, a key defence official said today. Nirbhay is being developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a Defence Research and Development Organisation lab based here, V K Saraswat, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister, told a press conference here. "This is in the final stage of integration and we expect to launch it next month", Saraswat, also Secretary in the Department of Defence (R&D) and DRDO Director General, said. He said Nirbhay has good loitering capability, good control and guidance, high degree of accuracy in terms of impact and very good stealth features. ADE Director P S Krishnan said Nirbhay would be launched from Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Orissa. Nirbhay will be a all-weather low-cost medium-range cruise missile with stealth and high accuracy. The missile will have a range of 750km, which will be increased later. It will weighin...

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has submitted a plan for 58 space missions to be undertaken as a part of 12th Five Year Plan, 2012-17. A plan outlay of Rs 39,750 crore in 12th Five Year Plan period has been provisionally earmarked under the Plan budget for space programme. During the current year 2012-13, a sum of Rs 5,615 crore has been allocated and the amount spent up to end October, 2012 is Rs 1,871.53 crore. The missions planned for 12th Five Year plan includes 33 satellite missions and 25 launch vehicles missions. The mission includes: SARAL, CARTOSAT-2C, CARTOSAT-2D, RESOURCESAT-2A, OCEANSAT-3, CARTOSAT-3, GISAT, GSAT-9, GSAT-10, GSAT-15, GSAT-16, GSAT-17, GSAT-18, GSAT-14, GSAT-11S, GSAT-6, GSAT-6A, GSAT-7, GSAT-Ka, GSAT-11, GSAT-19E, IRNSS-1, INSAT-3D, IRNSS-2, IRNSS-3, IRNSS-4, IRNSS-5, IRNSS-6, IRNSS-7, ASTROSAT, MARS ORBITER, CHANDRAYAAN-2, ADITYA, PSLV-C20, PSLV-C21, PSLV-C22, PSLV C23, PSLV C24, PSLV C25, PSLV C26, PSLV C27, PSLV C28, PSLV C29, PSL...

India today successfully tested the underwater BO5 ballistic missile. With this the country is a step closer to having a nuclear triad with land version as well as air based versions tested successfully. The missile was launched from an approximate depth of about 50 metres, simulating exactly the conditions as would prevail during an operational launch from India's indigenously made nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant. After emerging from the water, the missile followed a copy book track of its trajectory and hit its target about six minutes after launch in a very precise manner. The trajectory was tracked using several cameras and radars specially deputed for this launch. This is the fourteenth consecutively successful launch of this potent weapons system which has till now always been done in complete secrecy. This was the last developmental launch and now the weapons system is ready to be integrated with the Indian submarines, says AK Chakrabarty, the man who desig...

India is developing a Rs 6,000 crore Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) programme, scientific adviser to the defence minister, Dr V.K. Saraswat, informed the media. “The AWACS will be able to penetrate into enemy territory for longer distances, not physically, but by way of radars and electronic warfare systems. The Government of India has given its clearance for the programme and the DRDO has begun to work on it,” said Dr Saraswat, who is also the director-general of DRDO. Asked what benefits AWACS offer as compared to the AEW&C system that India currently uses, Dr Saraswat said that a combination of both systems is used all over the world. However, AWACS gives better coverage -- 360 degrees as compared to 270 degrees by AEW&C. The AWACS can fly at higher altitudes, for longer distances and for longer durations, he said. Two AEW&C aircraft will be ready this year and all the three aircraft that the Indian Air Force has ordered will be delivered by ...

By all means, 2012 can be considered a watershed year for the Indian space programme. The programme had begun modestly in November 1963 with the launch of a 9-kg sounding rocket from a modest facility in the fishing hamlet of Thumba on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram. 2012 saw the 100th space mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). On September 9, 2012, the four stage workhorse PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) orbited the 720-kg French remote sensing satellite  Spot-6  along with the 15-kg Japanese  Proiteres  probe as a piggy back payload on commercial terms, and in the process helped ISRO complete the saga of a “space century”. The significance of the mission lay in the fact that the PSLV, considered a highly reliable space vehicle, launched the heaviest ever satellite of an international customer on commercial terms. The PSLV has so far launched 29 satellites for international customers on commercial terms. Its versatility lies in t...