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Tag: S Somanath

  • ‘Have lot of missions in the conceptual phase,Venus mission already configured’ says ISRO Chairman

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath on Tuesday said that the mission to the brightest planet in the solar system, Venus is already configured adding that payloads have been developed for the future mission. 

    Addressing the Indian National Science Academy in Delhi, ISRO chief Somanath said, “We have a lot of missions in the conceptual phase. A mission to Venus is already configured. Payloads have already developed for it.”

    “Venus mission already configured…”: ISRO Chairman SomanathRead @ANI Story | https://t.co/kN53wWiP7R#ISRO #Venus pic.twitter.com/jFRWiqDS3c
    — ANI Digital (@ani_digital) September 27, 2023
    ISRO chairman further stated that Venus is an interesting planet and exploring it will help answer certain questions in the field of space science.  

    “Venus is a very interesting planet. It also has an atmosphere. Its atmosphere is so thick. The atmospheric pressure is 100 times that of Earth and it is full of acids. You cannot penetrate the surface. You don’t know if its surface is hard or not. Why are we trying to understand all of this? Earth could be one day Venus. I don’t know. Maybe 10,000 years later we (Earth) change our characteristics. Earth was never like this. It was not a habitable place long long back,” he said.

    Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is Earth’s closest planetary neighbour. It’s one of the four inner, terrestrial (or rocky) planets, and it’s often called Earth’s twin because it’s similar in size and density.

    More recent Venus missions include ESA’s Venus Express (which orbited from 2006 until 2016) and Japan’s Akatsuki Venus Climate Orbiter (orbiting since 2016).

    NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has made multiple flybys of Venus. On Feb. 9, 2022, NASA announced the spacecraft had captured its first visible light images of the surface of Venus from space during its February 2021 flyby.

    Meanwhile, following the triumphant soft landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the lunar South Pole, ISRO launched the Aditya-L1 Mission to study the Sun in unprecedented detail.

    In only six decades, India has rapidly ascended as a global frontrunner in space technology and exploration, with much credit attributed to the ISRO.

    ISRO’s laurels extend to space exploration as well, with feats like the Chandrayaan missions for lunar exploration, the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) in 2013—India’s inaugural interplanetary expedition—and the initiation of AstroSat in 2015, marking the country’s first dedicated astronomical pursuit. 

    NEW DELHI: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath on Tuesday said that the mission to the brightest planet in the solar system, Venus is already configured adding that payloads have been developed for the future mission. 

    Addressing the Indian National Science Academy in Delhi, ISRO chief Somanath said, “We have a lot of missions in the conceptual phase. A mission to Venus is already configured. Payloads have already developed for it.”

    “Venus mission already configured…”: ISRO Chairman Somanath
    Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/kN53wWiP7R#ISRO #Venus pic.twitter.com/jFRWiqDS3cgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
    — ANI Digital (@ani_digital) September 27, 2023
    ISRO chairman further stated that Venus is an interesting planet and exploring it will help answer certain questions in the field of space science.  

    “Venus is a very interesting planet. It also has an atmosphere. Its atmosphere is so thick. The atmospheric pressure is 100 times that of Earth and it is full of acids. You cannot penetrate the surface. You don’t know if its surface is hard or not. Why are we trying to understand all of this? Earth could be one day Venus. I don’t know. Maybe 10,000 years later we (Earth) change our characteristics. Earth was never like this. It was not a habitable place long long back,” he said.

    Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is Earth’s closest planetary neighbour. It’s one of the four inner, terrestrial (or rocky) planets, and it’s often called Earth’s twin because it’s similar in size and density.

    More recent Venus missions include ESA’s Venus Express (which orbited from 2006 until 2016) and Japan’s Akatsuki Venus Climate Orbiter (orbiting since 2016).

    NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has made multiple flybys of Venus. On Feb. 9, 2022, NASA announced the spacecraft had captured its first visible light images of the surface of Venus from space during its February 2021 flyby.

    Meanwhile, following the triumphant soft landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the lunar South Pole, ISRO launched the Aditya-L1 Mission to study the Sun in unprecedented detail.

    In only six decades, India has rapidly ascended as a global frontrunner in space technology and exploration, with much credit attributed to the ISRO.

    ISRO’s laurels extend to space exploration as well, with feats like the Chandrayaan missions for lunar exploration, the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) in 2013—India’s inaugural interplanetary expedition—and the initiation of AstroSat in 2015, marking the country’s first dedicated astronomical pursuit. 

  • Discussing possible mission to moon with Japanese agency: ISRO chairman S Somanath 

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Indian Space Research Organisation chairman S Somanath on Wednesday said ISRO has successfully done significant collaborations on its space missions and is also discussing a possible mission to the moon with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

    Somanath also said there is a good opportunity to launch a mission to explore planet Venus by 2028.

    He was delivering the inaugural talk on “Indian Capabilities for Space and Planetary Exploration” at the 4th Indian Planetary Science Conference organised at Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) here.

    The ISRO chief said it was important to have a connection between scientific institutions across the world and ISRO in building complex missions.

    He cited the example of the TRISHNA mission, designed to observe the earth’s surface in the thermal infrared domain, which has been developed by ISRO and its French counterpart CNES.

    “We are also discussing a possible mission to the moon with JASA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) where the land rover will be built by them and they will launch it using a Japanese rocket,” said Somanath, who is also Secretary of the Department of Space.

    He said ISRO will look at possible engagement with other agencies in exploratory missions.

    “It is very important that it will happen only when they have confidence in you and our instruments and measurement systems are complementary to their goals,” he said.

    “ISRO has been successful in doing significant collaborations on its space missions, and it is important to have a connection between scientific institutions across the world and ISRO in building complex missions of this nature,” Somanath said.

    Talking about the ambitious “Gaganyaan” project — which envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely to earth — the ISRO chairman said it was going on very well.

    This project gives a lot of opportunities to conduct experiments on board, with possibilities like micro-gravity, space mining, material testing, and space-based observations.

    “We need to work on this and come up with scientific goals through the Gaganyaan programme. Sending a man up there is one part, but doing something very meaningful is something we are all looking at,” he said.

    Somanath informed discussions are underway for ISRO’s proposed mission to Venus.

    “Venus is a very challenging planet to explore and there is a good opportunity to launch it by 2028,” he said, adding there is a lot of interest in the science community to make use of the capability in this mission.

    “I am very sure that we will take it up further,” he added.

    Somanath said ISRO will seek further approval for DISHA payloads and will look at the possibility of landing a mission to Mars a few years from now.

    AHMEDABAD: Indian Space Research Organisation chairman S Somanath on Wednesday said ISRO has successfully done significant collaborations on its space missions and is also discussing a possible mission to the moon with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

    Somanath also said there is a good opportunity to launch a mission to explore planet Venus by 2028.

    He was delivering the inaugural talk on “Indian Capabilities for Space and Planetary Exploration” at the 4th Indian Planetary Science Conference organised at Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) here.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The ISRO chief said it was important to have a connection between scientific institutions across the world and ISRO in building complex missions.

    He cited the example of the TRISHNA mission, designed to observe the earth’s surface in the thermal infrared domain, which has been developed by ISRO and its French counterpart CNES.

    “We are also discussing a possible mission to the moon with JASA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) where the land rover will be built by them and they will launch it using a Japanese rocket,” said Somanath, who is also Secretary of the Department of Space.

    He said ISRO will look at possible engagement with other agencies in exploratory missions.

    “It is very important that it will happen only when they have confidence in you and our instruments and measurement systems are complementary to their goals,” he said.

    “ISRO has been successful in doing significant collaborations on its space missions, and it is important to have a connection between scientific institutions across the world and ISRO in building complex missions of this nature,” Somanath said.

    Talking about the ambitious “Gaganyaan” project — which envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely to earth — the ISRO chairman said it was going on very well.

    This project gives a lot of opportunities to conduct experiments on board, with possibilities like micro-gravity, space mining, material testing, and space-based observations.

    “We need to work on this and come up with scientific goals through the Gaganyaan programme. Sending a man up there is one part, but doing something very meaningful is something we are all looking at,” he said.

    Somanath informed discussions are underway for ISRO’s proposed mission to Venus.

    “Venus is a very challenging planet to explore and there is a good opportunity to launch it by 2028,” he said, adding there is a lot of interest in the science community to make use of the capability in this mission.

    “I am very sure that we will take it up further,” he added.

    Somanath said ISRO will seek further approval for DISHA payloads and will look at the possibility of landing a mission to Mars a few years from now.

  • After Moon and Mars, ISRO eyes budget Venus trip

    By Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Indian Space Research Organisation has a history of stunning the world by conducting space missions at incredibly low costs. In line with this legacy, the ISRO has now set its eyes on Venus expedition at a trifling cost of Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,000 crore. 

    “The cost will depend on the extend of instrumentation. If you put a lot of payload instruments, the cost will naturally go up,”  said ISRO chairman S Somanath on Friday.

    While international space agencies like NASA spends huge amounts on space missions, the ISRO opts for budget missions. ISRO’s Chandrayan-1 was a budget spaceship built at a cost of only Rs 386 crore. The Chandrayaan-2 mission cost Rs 603 crore while its launch was made at Rs 367 crore.

    Speaking to media on the sidelines of a national conference on Aerospace Quality and Reliability here, the ISRO chief said the agency is in the process of approaching the Union government seeking approval for the mission. 

    Responding to questions, he said the schedule for Chandrayan-3 is yet to be fixed. The ISRO, after its Moon and Mars missions, is now looking at a Venus mission. Even as there are reports that the ISRO has been eyeing a December 2024 window for launching the Venus mission, Somanath said the schedule hasn’t been finalised yet. It would be announced only after final clearance by the Union government.The ISRO has been making efforts to ensure that it would be a unique mission. “We have to be careful with expensive missions of this nature,  he said. 

     It’s not mere fancy for work: ISRO chairman

    “It’s not mere fancy for work that we want to do a Venus mission. We do it for the unique identity that this mission will create amongst all the Venus missions that are likely to happen in future. That’s the goal,” said Somanath, adding  the mission would generate a lot of data than can be utilised by scientists. Though the schedule has not been announced yet, the ISRO is ready with the preparatory stages. “The technology definition, the work package, schedule, procurement — all these are ready. But then it has to go to the government, which will analyse it and has to finally approve the same,” he said. He said Chandrayan 3 is now going through testing stages including navigation, instrumentation and ground simulations. However no schedule has been fixed. 

  • Maharashtra independent MP Navneet Rana, ISRO chairman S Somanath get CISF cover

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Maharashtra Member of Parliament, Navneet Rana, and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath were accorded armed VIP security cover by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), sources said.

    Rana was provided ‘Y’ category all India security cover on April 14 while Somnath was accorded ‘Y+’ category all India security cover on April 18. Both Rana and Somnath were provided Central security cover after a threat analysis by the Ministry of Home Affairs in its recent VIP security meet.

    Rana, a former Indian actress who mainly acted in Telugu cinema, is an elected Member of Parliament from Amravati in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate.

    Eminent aerospace engineer and rocket scientist Somanath, who also holds charge of secretary of the Department of Space for a joint tenure of three years, recently succeeded Kailasavadivoo Sivan as the new ISRO chairman.

    Somanath is an expert in a host of disciplines including launch vehicle design. He has specialised in Launch Vehicle Systems engineering, structural design, structural dynamics, integration designs and procedures, mechanism design, and pyrotechnics.

  • From Thuravoor school student to ISRO chief, an illustrious journey of S Somanath

    By Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Centre on Wednesday appointed senior rocket scientist and director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) S Somanath as the next chief of the Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO). 

    Somanath, who has been instrumental in the development of the GSLV Mk-III launcher and a team leader for the integration of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) during the early phase of his career, has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of the Space Commission for a three-year term by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

    Somanath Sreedhara Panicker, who has been heading the VSSC here of ISRO, which is the lead centre responsible for launch vehicle development, since January 22, 2018, will succeed K Sivan as the next head of one of the world’s leading space agencies. The appointment is for a combined tenure of three years from the date of joining the post, inclusive of an extension in tenure beyond the age of superannuation in public interest, or until further orders whichever is earlier.

    In the 35 years of service in ISRO, he handled various responsibilities. He was the director of Liquid Propulsion Centre of ISRO, associate director of VSSC, project director of GSLV Mk-III Rocket and chief of different technology domains. With a strong background in design, development and management of launch vehicle systems, he is presently serving as the chairman of the management councils of launch vehicle programmes and Gaganyaan, ISRO’s human spaceflight programme, steering the technology development and management across the organisation.

    A native of Thuravoor near Cherthala, he had his schooling at St Augustine High School, Thuravoor there and did his predegree course at Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam. A graduate in mechanical engineering from TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, and a Master in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, he was the mission director for the first experimental mission of LVM3-X/CARE on December 18, 2014. After taking charge as the director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in July 2015, he led the team to realise the Indian cryogenic stages for four successful missions of GSLV and 11 successful missions of PSLV with the liquid stages realised by LPSC.  

    Now, his team is working on Gaganyaan, which involves the crew escape system in the event of a launch abort. Somanath is also awarded with a slew of honours from ISRO and professional bodies in India. Presently, he serves as one of the vice-presidents of International Astronautical Federation in charge of the technical activities. 

    Leading Gaganyaan Somanath Sreedhara Panicker is presently serving as the chairman of the management councils of launch vehicle programmes and Gaganyaan