News Analysis India

Tag: ISRO

  • ISRO plans to return to Mars, explore dark side of moon with Japan

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: After missions to the moon and Mars, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has now set its eyes on Venus and also plans to explore the dark side of the moon in collaboration with Japan.

    Making a presentation on ISRO’s future missions at the Akash Tattva conference here, Anil Bhardwaj, Director of the Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory, said the space agency also planned to send a probe to Mars.

    Bhardwaj said it was in talks with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for sending a lunar rover to explore the permanent shadow region of the moon.

    As per the initial plans, a lunar lander and rover built by ISRO will be put into orbit by a Japanese rocket with a planned landing near the south pole of the moon.

    “The rover will then travel to the permanent shadow region of the moon which never sees sunlight,” Bhardwaj said.

    He said the exploration of the region was interesting as anything that has remained in the PSR zone was akin to staying in deep freeze for times immemorial.

    Bhardwaj said the Aditya L-1 would a unique mission in which a 400-kg class satellite carrying the payload would be placed in an orbit around the Sun in such a way that it can continuously view the star from a point called the Lagrange Point L-1.

    The orbit would be located 1.5 million kilometres away from the Earth and it would try to understand the coronal heating, solar wind acceleration and the initiation of coronal mass ejection, flares and near-earth space weather.

    Bhardwaj said the Aditya L-1 and the Chandrayaan-3 missions would be taken up on priority as early as next year and were likely to be followed by the mission to Venus and the mission to the moon with JAXA.

    The success of the lunar rover on board Chandrayaan-3 was crucial as it would be used again in the mission with JAXA.

    DEHRADUN: After missions to the moon and Mars, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has now set its eyes on Venus and also plans to explore the dark side of the moon in collaboration with Japan.

    Making a presentation on ISRO’s future missions at the Akash Tattva conference here, Anil Bhardwaj, Director of the Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory, said the space agency also planned to send a probe to Mars.

    Bhardwaj said it was in talks with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for sending a lunar rover to explore the permanent shadow region of the moon.

    As per the initial plans, a lunar lander and rover built by ISRO will be put into orbit by a Japanese rocket with a planned landing near the south pole of the moon.

    “The rover will then travel to the permanent shadow region of the moon which never sees sunlight,” Bhardwaj said.

    He said the exploration of the region was interesting as anything that has remained in the PSR zone was akin to staying in deep freeze for times immemorial.

    Bhardwaj said the Aditya L-1 would a unique mission in which a 400-kg class satellite carrying the payload would be placed in an orbit around the Sun in such a way that it can continuously view the star from a point called the Lagrange Point L-1.

    The orbit would be located 1.5 million kilometres away from the Earth and it would try to understand the coronal heating, solar wind acceleration and the initiation of coronal mass ejection, flares and near-earth space weather.

    Bhardwaj said the Aditya L-1 and the Chandrayaan-3 missions would be taken up on priority as early as next year and were likely to be followed by the mission to Venus and the mission to the moon with JAXA.

    The success of the lunar rover on board Chandrayaan-3 was crucial as it would be used again in the mission with JAXA.

  • ISRO carries out key test of its heaviest rocket’s engine

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: The flight acceptance hot test of CE-20 engine has been carried out in the High Altitude Test facility of ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.

    The engine is assigned for the LVM3-M3 mission identified for launching the next 36 OneWeb India-1 satellites, the Indian Space Research Organisation said.

    Sources said these satellites of OneWeb, the London-based satellite communications company, are expected to be launched by the NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the ISRO’s commercial arm, aboard LVM3 early next year.

    Friday’s flight acceptance test comes within days of the launch of the first set of 36 OneWeb satellites by the NSIL from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC- SHAR) in Sriharikota on October 23.

    According to OneWeb, its partnership with NSIL and ISRO demonstrated its commitment to providing connectivity across the length and breadth of India by 2023.

    From Ladakh to Kanyakumari and Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh, OneWeb will bring secured solutions not only to enterprises but also to towns, villages, municipalities and schools, including the hardest-to-reach areas across the country, it said.

    “OneWeb’s commitment to enhance connectivity in India is backed by Bharti Global, its largest investor”, the company said.

    NSIL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Radhakrishnan D had said: “We look forward to strengthening our partnership with OneWeb and utilising the potential that LEO connectivity has to deliver broadband services across India.”

    Last Sunday’s launch marked the rocket’s entry into the global commercial launch service market, according to the Bengaluru-headquartered national space agency.

    NSIL, a central public sector enterprise under the Department of Space, had earlier signed two launch service contracts with the Network Access Associated Limited (OneWeb) for launching a total of 72 OneWeb LEO (low earth orbit) satellites on board ISRO’s LVM3.

    LVM3, ISRO’s heaviest rocket, is capable of launching a four-ton class of satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer orbit.

    LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark 3) is a three-stage vehicle with two solid motor strap-ons, a liquid propellant core stage and a cryogenic stage.

    BENGALURU: The flight acceptance hot test of CE-20 engine has been carried out in the High Altitude Test facility of ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.

    The engine is assigned for the LVM3-M3 mission identified for launching the next 36 OneWeb India-1 satellites, the Indian Space Research Organisation said.

    Sources said these satellites of OneWeb, the London-based satellite communications company, are expected to be launched by the NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the ISRO’s commercial arm, aboard LVM3 early next year.

    Friday’s flight acceptance test comes within days of the launch of the first set of 36 OneWeb satellites by the NSIL from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC- SHAR) in Sriharikota on October 23.

    According to OneWeb, its partnership with NSIL and ISRO demonstrated its commitment to providing connectivity across the length and breadth of India by 2023.

    From Ladakh to Kanyakumari and Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh, OneWeb will bring secured solutions not only to enterprises but also to towns, villages, municipalities and schools, including the hardest-to-reach areas across the country, it said.

    “OneWeb’s commitment to enhance connectivity in India is backed by Bharti Global, its largest investor”, the company said.

    NSIL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Radhakrishnan D had said: “We look forward to strengthening our partnership with OneWeb and utilising the potential that LEO connectivity has to deliver broadband services across India.”

    Last Sunday’s launch marked the rocket’s entry into the global commercial launch service market, according to the Bengaluru-headquartered national space agency.

    NSIL, a central public sector enterprise under the Department of Space, had earlier signed two launch service contracts with the Network Access Associated Limited (OneWeb) for launching a total of 72 OneWeb LEO (low earth orbit) satellites on board ISRO’s LVM3.

    LVM3, ISRO’s heaviest rocket, is capable of launching a four-ton class of satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer orbit.

    LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark 3) is a three-stage vehicle with two solid motor strap-ons, a liquid propellant core stage and a cryogenic stage.

  • Committed to provide connectivity across India by 2023: OneWeb

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: London-based satellite communications company Network Access Associated Limited (OneWeb) on Sunday said its partnership with ISRO and the space agency’s commercial arm NSIL demonstrated its commitment to provide connectivity across the length and breadth of India by 2023.

    From Ladakh to Kanyakumari and Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh, OneWeb will bring secured solutions not only to enterprises but also to towns, villages, municipalities and schools, including the hardest-to-reach areas across the country, it said.

    “OneWeb’s commitment to enhance connectivity in India is backed by Bharti Global, its largest investor,” the company said in a statement.

    OneWeb confirmed the successful deployment of 36 satellites launched by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC- SHAR) in Sriharikota.

    “This launch by ISRO and NSIL is one of the biggest commercial orders by India’s premier space organisation, and the first using the LVM3 rocket,” OneWeb noted.

    The lift-off took place on Sunday at 12.07 am. OneWeb’s satellites separated successfully from the rocket and were dispensed in nine phases over a period of one hour and 15 minutes, with signal acquisition on all 36 satellites confirmed.

    This is OneWeb’s 14th launch, bringing the constellation to 462 satellites.

    This launch represents more than 70 per cent of its planned 648 low earth orbit (LEO) satellite fleet that it said will deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity worldwide.

    With only four more launches to go, OneWeb said it remains on track to activate global coverage in 2023, while its connectivity solutions are already live in regions north of 50-degrees latitude.

    “This (Sunday’s launch) will pave way for more launches in the future. The interaction with OneWeb was so seamless, right from the receipt of the satellites until injection,”, ISRO Chairman S Somanath was quoted as saying.

    Executive Chairman of OneWeb Sunil Bharti Mittal said today’s launch is a significant milestone for OneWeb.

    “This new phase of our launch programme from India brings us a step closer to not only enhancing our global coverage but also delivering connectivity in India and South Asia, particularly to the communities who need it most,” Mittal said.

    “Today, my dream of having an Indian element in the OneWeb constellation has been realised. This launch with ISRO and NSIL opens up the space sector in India with the possibility of billions of dollars flowing into the country,” he added.

    NSIL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Radhakrishnan D said: “We look forward to strengthening our partnership with OneWeb and utilising the potential that LEO connectivity has to deliver broadband services across India.”

    BENGALURU: London-based satellite communications company Network Access Associated Limited (OneWeb) on Sunday said its partnership with ISRO and the space agency’s commercial arm NSIL demonstrated its commitment to provide connectivity across the length and breadth of India by 2023.

    From Ladakh to Kanyakumari and Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh, OneWeb will bring secured solutions not only to enterprises but also to towns, villages, municipalities and schools, including the hardest-to-reach areas across the country, it said.

    “OneWeb’s commitment to enhance connectivity in India is backed by Bharti Global, its largest investor,” the company said in a statement.

    OneWeb confirmed the successful deployment of 36 satellites launched by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC- SHAR) in Sriharikota.

    “This launch by ISRO and NSIL is one of the biggest commercial orders by India’s premier space organisation, and the first using the LVM3 rocket,” OneWeb noted.

    The lift-off took place on Sunday at 12.07 am. OneWeb’s satellites separated successfully from the rocket and were dispensed in nine phases over a period of one hour and 15 minutes, with signal acquisition on all 36 satellites confirmed.

    This is OneWeb’s 14th launch, bringing the constellation to 462 satellites.

    This launch represents more than 70 per cent of its planned 648 low earth orbit (LEO) satellite fleet that it said will deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity worldwide.

    With only four more launches to go, OneWeb said it remains on track to activate global coverage in 2023, while its connectivity solutions are already live in regions north of 50-degrees latitude.

    “This (Sunday’s launch) will pave way for more launches in the future. The interaction with OneWeb was so seamless, right from the receipt of the satellites until injection,”, ISRO Chairman S Somanath was quoted as saying.

    Executive Chairman of OneWeb Sunil Bharti Mittal said today’s launch is a significant milestone for OneWeb.

    “This new phase of our launch programme from India brings us a step closer to not only enhancing our global coverage but also delivering connectivity in India and South Asia, particularly to the communities who need it most,” Mittal said.

    “Today, my dream of having an Indian element in the OneWeb constellation has been realised. This launch with ISRO and NSIL opens up the space sector in India with the possibility of billions of dollars flowing into the country,” he added.

    NSIL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Radhakrishnan D said: “We look forward to strengthening our partnership with OneWeb and utilising the potential that LEO connectivity has to deliver broadband services across India.”

  • ISRO’s dedicated commercial satellite mission LVM3-M2/OneWeb India-1 lifts off 

    By PTI

    SRIHARIKOTA: The heaviest rocket of the Indian Space Research Organisation– LVM3-M2/OneWeb India-1 blasted off from this spaceport on Sunday to place 36 broadband communication satellites into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for a UK-based customer.

    NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a central public sector enterprise under the Department of Space, had earlier signed two launch service contracts with the London-headquartered Network Access Associated Limited (OneWeb) for launching OneWeb LEO satellites on board ISRO’s LVM3.

    OneWeb is a private satellite communications company, in which India’s Bharti Enterprises is a major investor and shareholder.

    On Sunday, the 43.5 metre tall rocket soared majestically at 12.07 am from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here at the end of the 24-hour countdown.

    The vehicle is also dubbed as one of the heaviest for its ability to carry satellites upto 8,000 kg.

    The mission assumes significance as this was LVM3’s maiden commercial mission and also NSIL’s first with the said launch vehicle.

    According to ISRO, the mission has the heaviest payloads with 36 satellites of OneWeb, becoming the first Indian rocket with a payload of 5,796 kg.

    The launch is also first for LVM3-M2 to place the satellites in the Low Earth Orbit (up to 1,200 kms above the earth) unlike Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

    ISRO scientists have rechristened the launch vehicle its present name from GSLV-MKK III as the newest rocket is capable of launching 4,000 kilogram class of satellites into GTO and 8,000 kgs of payloads into LEO.

    GSLV-Mk III had four successful missions in the past. LVM3-M2 is a three-stage launch vehicle consisting of two solid propellant S200 strap-ons on its sides and core stage comprising L110 liquid stage and C25 cryogenic stage.

    OneWeb Ltd is a global communication network powered from space, enabling internet connectivity for governments and businesses.

    SRIHARIKOTA: The heaviest rocket of the Indian Space Research Organisation– LVM3-M2/OneWeb India-1 blasted off from this spaceport on Sunday to place 36 broadband communication satellites into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for a UK-based customer.

    NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a central public sector enterprise under the Department of Space, had earlier signed two launch service contracts with the London-headquartered Network Access Associated Limited (OneWeb) for launching OneWeb LEO satellites on board ISRO’s LVM3.

    OneWeb is a private satellite communications company, in which India’s Bharti Enterprises is a major investor and shareholder.

    On Sunday, the 43.5 metre tall rocket soared majestically at 12.07 am from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here at the end of the 24-hour countdown.

    The vehicle is also dubbed as one of the heaviest for its ability to carry satellites upto 8,000 kg.

    The mission assumes significance as this was LVM3’s maiden commercial mission and also NSIL’s first with the said launch vehicle.

    According to ISRO, the mission has the heaviest payloads with 36 satellites of OneWeb, becoming the first Indian rocket with a payload of 5,796 kg.

    The launch is also first for LVM3-M2 to place the satellites in the Low Earth Orbit (up to 1,200 kms above the earth) unlike Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

    ISRO scientists have rechristened the launch vehicle its present name from GSLV-MKK III as the newest rocket is capable of launching 4,000 kilogram class of satellites into GTO and 8,000 kgs of payloads into LEO.

    GSLV-Mk III had four successful missions in the past. LVM3-M2 is a three-stage launch vehicle consisting of two solid propellant S200 strap-ons on its sides and core stage comprising L110 liquid stage and C25 cryogenic stage.

    OneWeb Ltd is a global communication network powered from space, enabling internet connectivity for governments and businesses.

  • Mangalyaan mission over, Mars Orbiter craft non-recoverable, confirms ISRO

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation confirmed on Monday that the Mars Orbiter craft has lost communication with ground station, it’s non-recoverable and the Mangalyaan mission has attained end-of-life.

    The ISRO gave an update on the Mars Orbiter Mission and the national meet held on September 27 to commemorate the MOM, on the event of completion of its eight years in the Martian orbit.

    It was also discussed that despite being designed for a life-span of six months as a technology demonstrator, the MOM has lived for about eight years in the Martian orbit with a gamut of significant scientific results on Mars as well as on the Solar corona, before losing communication with the ground station, as a result of a long eclipse in April 2022, the national space agency said.

    During the national meet, ISRO deliberated that the propellant must have been exhausted, and therefore, the “desired altitude pointing” could not be achieved for sustained power generation, ISRO said.

    “It was declared that the spacecraft is non-recoverable, and attained its end-of-life”, an ISRO statement said.

    MOM was launched on November 5, 2013, and after completing 300 days of interplanetary journey, it was inserted to the Martian orbit on September 24, 2014.

    “Equipped with a five scientific payloads onboard, during these eight years, the mission has gifted significant scientific understanding on the Martian surface features, morphology, as well as the Martian atmosphere and exosphere,” ISRO said.

    BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation confirmed on Monday that the Mars Orbiter craft has lost communication with ground station, it’s non-recoverable and the Mangalyaan mission has attained end-of-life.

    The ISRO gave an update on the Mars Orbiter Mission and the national meet held on September 27 to commemorate the MOM, on the event of completion of its eight years in the Martian orbit.

    It was also discussed that despite being designed for a life-span of six months as a technology demonstrator, the MOM has lived for about eight years in the Martian orbit with a gamut of significant scientific results on Mars as well as on the Solar corona, before losing communication with the ground station, as a result of a long eclipse in April 2022, the national space agency said.

    During the national meet, ISRO deliberated that the propellant must have been exhausted, and therefore, the “desired altitude pointing” could not be achieved for sustained power generation, ISRO said.

    “It was declared that the spacecraft is non-recoverable, and attained its end-of-life”, an ISRO statement said.

    MOM was launched on November 5, 2013, and after completing 300 days of interplanetary journey, it was inserted to the Martian orbit on September 24, 2014.

    “Equipped with a five scientific payloads onboard, during these eight years, the mission has gifted significant scientific understanding on the Martian surface features, morphology, as well as the Martian atmosphere and exosphere,” ISRO said.

  • Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator: ISRO demonstrates new tech that can be used for its Mars, Venus missions

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: ISRO on Saturday successfully demonstrated a new technology with Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD) that it said is a game-changer with multiple applications for future missions including to Mars and Venus.

    An IAD, designed and developed by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), was successfully test flown in a ‘Rohini’ sounding rocket from Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS).

    The IAD was initially folded and kept inside the payload bay of the rocket, according to the Bengaluru-headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

    At around 84 km altitude, the IAD was inflated and it descended through atmosphere with the payload part of sounding rocket.

    The pneumatic system for inflation was developed by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), it said.

    The IAD has systematically reduced the velocity of the payload through aerodynamic drag and followed the predicted trajectory.

    “This is the first time that an IAD is designed specifically for spent stage recovery. All the objectives of the mission were successfully demonstrated”, the space agency said in a statement.

    “The IAD has huge potential in variety of space applications like recovery of spent stages of rocket, for landing payloads on to Mars or Venus and in making space habitat for human space flight missions”, it said.

    Rohini sounding rockets are routinely used for flight demonstration of new technologies being developed by ISRO as well as by scientists from India and abroad.

    In Saturday’s flight, along with IAD new elements like micro video imaging system which captured the bloom and flight of IAD, a miniature software defined radio telemetry transmitter, MEMS (Micro-electromechanical systems)-based acoustic sensor and a host of new methodologies were flight tested successfully, ISRO said.

    “These will be inducted later to the major missions. Sounding rockets offers an exciting platform for experimentation in upper atmosphere”, it said.

    “This demonstration opens a gateway for cost-effective spent stage recovery using the Inflatable Aerodynamics Decelerator technology and this IAD technology can also be used in ISRO’s future missions to Venus and Mars” said ISRO Chairman S Somanath, who witnessed the launch.

    BENGALURU: ISRO on Saturday successfully demonstrated a new technology with Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD) that it said is a game-changer with multiple applications for future missions including to Mars and Venus.

    An IAD, designed and developed by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), was successfully test flown in a ‘Rohini’ sounding rocket from Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS).

    The IAD was initially folded and kept inside the payload bay of the rocket, according to the Bengaluru-headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

    At around 84 km altitude, the IAD was inflated and it descended through atmosphere with the payload part of sounding rocket.

    The pneumatic system for inflation was developed by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), it said.

    The IAD has systematically reduced the velocity of the payload through aerodynamic drag and followed the predicted trajectory.

    “This is the first time that an IAD is designed specifically for spent stage recovery. All the objectives of the mission were successfully demonstrated”, the space agency said in a statement.

    “The IAD has huge potential in variety of space applications like recovery of spent stages of rocket, for landing payloads on to Mars or Venus and in making space habitat for human space flight missions”, it said.

    Rohini sounding rockets are routinely used for flight demonstration of new technologies being developed by ISRO as well as by scientists from India and abroad.

    In Saturday’s flight, along with IAD new elements like micro video imaging system which captured the bloom and flight of IAD, a miniature software defined radio telemetry transmitter, MEMS (Micro-electromechanical systems)-based acoustic sensor and a host of new methodologies were flight tested successfully, ISRO said.

    “These will be inducted later to the major missions. Sounding rockets offers an exciting platform for experimentation in upper atmosphere”, it said.

    “This demonstration opens a gateway for cost-effective spent stage recovery using the Inflatable Aerodynamics Decelerator technology and this IAD technology can also be used in ISRO’s future missions to Venus and Mars” said ISRO Chairman S Somanath, who witnessed the launch.

  • Delhi HC sets aside arbitral award asking ISRO’s Antrix to pay USD 562 million to Devas

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Monday set aside an arbitral award directing ISRO’s Antrix Corporation to pay damages of USD 562.2 million with interest to Devas for “unlawfully” terminating a deal in 2011, saying the award suffered from “patent illegalities and fraud”, and was in conflict with the public policy of India.

    Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva allowed the petition filed by Antrix under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act seeking setting aside of the arbitral award passed on September 14, 2005 by the Arbitral Tribunal constituted by the International Chamber of Commerce which had allowed the claim of Devas Multimedia Private Limited.

    The high court referred to a January 17, 2022 judgement of the Supreme Court which held that the very seeds of the commercial relationship between Antrix and Devas were a product of fraud perpetrated by Devas and thus every part of the plant that grew out of those seeds, such as the agreement, the disputes, arbitral awards etc., are all infected with the poison of fraud.

    “The basic notions of morality and justice are always in conflict with fraud and that allowing Devas and its shareholders to reap the benefits of their fraudulent action would send another wrong message namely that by adopting fraudulent means and by bringing into India an investment in a sum of Rs 579 crores, the investors can hope to get tens of thousands of crores of rupees, even after siphoning off Rs 488 crores,” the apex court had noted in its order.

    The high court, in its 87-page judgement, said the objections filed by petitioner Antrix under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act are allowed and it is held that the impugned award of September 14, 2015 suffers from “patent illegalities and fraud and is in conflict with the Public Policy of India” and it is set aside.

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Monday set aside an arbitral award directing ISRO’s Antrix Corporation to pay damages of USD 562.2 million with interest to Devas for “unlawfully” terminating a deal in 2011, saying the award suffered from “patent illegalities and fraud”, and was in conflict with the public policy of India.

    Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva allowed the petition filed by Antrix under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act seeking setting aside of the arbitral award passed on September 14, 2005 by the Arbitral Tribunal constituted by the International Chamber of Commerce which had allowed the claim of Devas Multimedia Private Limited.

    The high court referred to a January 17, 2022 judgement of the Supreme Court which held that the very seeds of the commercial relationship between Antrix and Devas were a product of fraud perpetrated by Devas and thus every part of the plant that grew out of those seeds, such as the agreement, the disputes, arbitral awards etc., are all infected with the poison of fraud.

    “The basic notions of morality and justice are always in conflict with fraud and that allowing Devas and its shareholders to reap the benefits of their fraudulent action would send another wrong message namely that by adopting fraudulent means and by bringing into India an investment in a sum of Rs 579 crores, the investors can hope to get tens of thousands of crores of rupees, even after siphoning off Rs 488 crores,” the apex court had noted in its order.

    The high court, in its 87-page judgement, said the objections filed by petitioner Antrix under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act are allowed and it is held that the impugned award of September 14, 2015 suffers from “patent illegalities and fraud and is in conflict with the Public Policy of India” and it is set aside.

  • ISRO successfully completes Gaganyaan low altitude escape motor static test

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: An important milestone in the planned human spaceflight project Gaganyaan was completed on Wednesday with the successful test-firing of the Low Altitude Escape Motor (LEM) of crew escape system from Sriharikota spaceport, space agency ISRO said.

    The crew escape system takes away the crew module of the Gaganyaan mission in case of any eventuality and rescues the astronauts, the Bengaluru-headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement.

    In case of aborting the mission during the initial phase of flight, LEM provides the required thrust to the crew escape system to take away the crew module from the launch vehicle, it said.

    The main objectives of the static tests are to evaluate motor ballistic parameters, validate motor subsystem performance and confirm the design margins and to validate the integrity of all interfaces, among others, the space agency said.

    BENGALURU: An important milestone in the planned human spaceflight project Gaganyaan was completed on Wednesday with the successful test-firing of the Low Altitude Escape Motor (LEM) of crew escape system from Sriharikota spaceport, space agency ISRO said.

    The crew escape system takes away the crew module of the Gaganyaan mission in case of any eventuality and rescues the astronauts, the Bengaluru-headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement.

    In case of aborting the mission during the initial phase of flight, LEM provides the required thrust to the crew escape system to take away the crew module from the launch vehicle, it said.

    The main objectives of the static tests are to evaluate motor ballistic parameters, validate motor subsystem performance and confirm the design margins and to validate the integrity of all interfaces, among others, the space agency said.

  • Satellites no longer usable after deviation: ISRO on its maiden SSLV mission

    By PTI

    SRIHARIKOTA: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday said the satellites onboard its maiden Small Satellite Launch Vehicle “are no longer usable” after the SSLV-D1 placed them in an elliptical orbit instead of a circular one.

    The space agency said a committee would analyse and make recommendations into today’s episode and with the implementation of those recommendations “ISRO will come back soon with SSLV-D2.”

    ALSO READ | ISRO’s SSLV lifts-off with student satellite AzaadiSAT then reports ‘data loss’ at terminal stage

    “SSLV-D1 placed the satellites into 356 km x 76 km elliptical orbit instead of 356 km circular orbit. Satellites are no longer usable. Issue is reasonably identified. Failure of a logic to identify a sensor failure and go for a salvage action caused the deviation,” ISRO said in an update on its official Twitter handle.

    It added a detailed statement by ISRO Chairman S Somanath will be “uploaded soon.”

    In its maiden SSLV mission, the launch vehicle carried The Earth Observation Satellite EOS-02 and the co-passenger student satellites AzaadiSAT.

    SSLV had suffered ‘data loss’ in its terminal stage, after performing “as expected” in all stages. It had earlier after lifted off from the spaceport here on Sunday morning.

    SRIHARIKOTA: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday said the satellites onboard its maiden Small Satellite Launch Vehicle “are no longer usable” after the SSLV-D1 placed them in an elliptical orbit instead of a circular one.

    The space agency said a committee would analyse and make recommendations into today’s episode and with the implementation of those recommendations “ISRO will come back soon with SSLV-D2.”

    ALSO READ | ISRO’s SSLV lifts-off with student satellite AzaadiSAT then reports ‘data loss’ at terminal stage

    “SSLV-D1 placed the satellites into 356 km x 76 km elliptical orbit instead of 356 km circular orbit. Satellites are no longer usable. Issue is reasonably identified. Failure of a logic to identify a sensor failure and go for a salvage action caused the deviation,” ISRO said in an update on its official Twitter handle.

    It added a detailed statement by ISRO Chairman S Somanath will be “uploaded soon.”

    In its maiden SSLV mission, the launch vehicle carried The Earth Observation Satellite EOS-02 and the co-passenger student satellites AzaadiSAT.

    SSLV had suffered ‘data loss’ in its terminal stage, after performing “as expected” in all stages. It had earlier after lifted off from the spaceport here on Sunday morning.

  • History beckons ISRO with maiden SSLV-D1/EOS-2 mission on August 7

    By PTI

    CHENNAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is on the cusp of making history as the space agency is all set to embark on its maiden SSLV mission, ferrying an earth observation satellite and a student satellite from the spaceport in Sriharikota, about 135 kms from here on Sunday.

    After carving a niche on successful mission launches through its trusted workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV), Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV), ISRO would be making its maiden launch of a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), which would be used to deploy satellites in the low orbit earth.

    Scientists at the ISRO have been engaged in developing small launch vehicles over the last few weeks to meet the demand for such small satellites, which weigh upto 500 kgs and can be injected into the 500 kms low earth orbit.

    The SSLV is 34m tall, about 10m less than the PSLV and it has a vehicle diameter of two metres as compared to 2.8 metres of PSLV.

    SSLV has a lift off mass of 120 tonne while PSLV has 320 tonnes, which can carry payloads upto 1,800 kgs.

    On Sunday’s mission, SSLV would carry Earth Observation Satellite -02 and a co-passenger satellite AzaadiSAT — developed by the student team of ‘Space Kidz India’.

    The launch of the SSLV-D1/EOS-02 Mission is scheduled for Sunday, August 7, 2022, at 9:18 am (IST) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota. ISRO invites citizens to the Launch View Gallery at SDSC to witness the launch. Registration is open at https://t.co/J9jd8yDs4a pic.twitter.com/rq37VfSfXu
    — ISRO (@isro) August 1, 2022
    According to ISRO sources, the countdown compared to other missions which would be 25 hours is reduced to five hours and was expected to commence on Sunday at 4.18 hours for the lift-off scheduled at 9.18 am from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

    The significance of SSLV is that it has the fourth stage which carries liquid propulsion-based Velocity Trimming Module to place the satellites into the intended orbit.

    The rocket comprises solid fuel to fire the first three stages.

    The Earth Observation Satellite designed by ISRO, offers advanced optical remote sensing operating in an infra-red band with high spatial resolution.

    It belongs to the micro-satellite series of spacecraft.

    After travelling for about 13 minutes, SSLV is expected to first place the EOS-02 into the intended orbit followed by AzaadiSAT which is an eight kg Cubesat designed by the girl students from government schools across the country to mark the 75th Anniversary of Independence.

    ISRO said, SSLV offers low turn-around time, flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, launch on-demand feasibility and minimal launch infrastructure requirements.

    The AzaadiSAT carries 75 different payloads each weighing around 50 gms.

    Girl students from rural regions across the country were provided guidance by ISRO scientists to build these payloads which are integrated by the student team of ‘Space Kidz India’.

    READ HERE | AzaadiSat, built by 750 girl students, to reach orbit next week onboard ISRO’s SSLV

    The ground system developed by Space Kidz India would be utilised for receiving the data from this satellite.

    ISRO began launching sounding rockets in 1965 to probe the upper atmospheric regions and for space research.

    The first sounding rocket was launched near Thiruvananthapuram in November 1963.

    The space agency later in 1980 launched the country’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle -3 which can carry payloads of upto 40kgs.

    In 1987, ISRO conducted the first developmental flight of Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) with a payload capacity of upto 150kgs.

    Later, ISRO made its first Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in September 1993, which was unsuccessful.

    However in 1994, ISRO tasted success on the first successful launch as it emerged to be a reliable and versatile trusted workhorse.

    ISRO conducted the first flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle in 2001 which is the largest launch vehicle developed by India, currently under operation.

    The GSLV has a lift-off mass of 414.75 tonne.

    CHENNAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is on the cusp of making history as the space agency is all set to embark on its maiden SSLV mission, ferrying an earth observation satellite and a student satellite from the spaceport in Sriharikota, about 135 kms from here on Sunday.

    After carving a niche on successful mission launches through its trusted workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV), Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV), ISRO would be making its maiden launch of a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), which would be used to deploy satellites in the low orbit earth.

    Scientists at the ISRO have been engaged in developing small launch vehicles over the last few weeks to meet the demand for such small satellites, which weigh upto 500 kgs and can be injected into the 500 kms low earth orbit.

    The SSLV is 34m tall, about 10m less than the PSLV and it has a vehicle diameter of two metres as compared to 2.8 metres of PSLV.

    SSLV has a lift off mass of 120 tonne while PSLV has 320 tonnes, which can carry payloads upto 1,800 kgs.

    On Sunday’s mission, SSLV would carry Earth Observation Satellite -02 and a co-passenger satellite AzaadiSAT — developed by the student team of ‘Space Kidz India’.

    The launch of the SSLV-D1/EOS-02 Mission is scheduled for Sunday, August 7, 2022, at 9:18 am (IST) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota. ISRO invites citizens to the Launch View Gallery at SDSC to witness the launch. Registration is open at https://t.co/J9jd8yDs4a pic.twitter.com/rq37VfSfXu
    — ISRO (@isro) August 1, 2022
    According to ISRO sources, the countdown compared to other missions which would be 25 hours is reduced to five hours and was expected to commence on Sunday at 4.18 hours for the lift-off scheduled at 9.18 am from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

    The significance of SSLV is that it has the fourth stage which carries liquid propulsion-based Velocity Trimming Module to place the satellites into the intended orbit.

    The rocket comprises solid fuel to fire the first three stages.

    The Earth Observation Satellite designed by ISRO, offers advanced optical remote sensing operating in an infra-red band with high spatial resolution.

    It belongs to the micro-satellite series of spacecraft.

    After travelling for about 13 minutes, SSLV is expected to first place the EOS-02 into the intended orbit followed by AzaadiSAT which is an eight kg Cubesat designed by the girl students from government schools across the country to mark the 75th Anniversary of Independence.

    ISRO said, SSLV offers low turn-around time, flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, launch on-demand feasibility and minimal launch infrastructure requirements.

    The AzaadiSAT carries 75 different payloads each weighing around 50 gms.

    Girl students from rural regions across the country were provided guidance by ISRO scientists to build these payloads which are integrated by the student team of ‘Space Kidz India’.

    READ HERE | AzaadiSat, built by 750 girl students, to reach orbit next week onboard ISRO’s SSLV

    The ground system developed by Space Kidz India would be utilised for receiving the data from this satellite.

    ISRO began launching sounding rockets in 1965 to probe the upper atmospheric regions and for space research.

    The first sounding rocket was launched near Thiruvananthapuram in November 1963.

    The space agency later in 1980 launched the country’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle -3 which can carry payloads of upto 40kgs.

    In 1987, ISRO conducted the first developmental flight of Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) with a payload capacity of upto 150kgs.

    Later, ISRO made its first Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in September 1993, which was unsuccessful.

    However in 1994, ISRO tasted success on the first successful launch as it emerged to be a reliable and versatile trusted workhorse.

    ISRO conducted the first flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle in 2001 which is the largest launch vehicle developed by India, currently under operation.

    The GSLV has a lift-off mass of 414.75 tonne.