Reusable rockets, satellite constellation for broadband in ISRO's 10-year plan - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Reusable rockets, satellite constellation for broadband in ISRO's 10-year plan.

Stepping into 2021, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has chalked out its decadal plan which includes development of a heavy lift rocket, reusable satellite launch vehicle, semi-cryogenic engine, and others, said a top official.

In the short term, the space agency has to realise the first developmental flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) operational Geo-Imaging capability, the third moon mission Chandrayaan-3, the first solar mission Aditya-L1, and the first Indian Data Relay Satellite.

"The first unmanned flight under the Gaganyaan Programme is another significant milestone to be achieved this year," said ISRO Chairman K Sivan, who is also Secretary, Department of Space, ISRO.

In his New Year message, he said all the centres/units of ISRO had actively contributed to the formulation of the decadal plan.

Sivan said: "In this decade, the VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre), the lead centre for space transportation systems, will carry forward its competence in launch vehicle development towards heavy lift capabilities, achieving partial & full reusability and achieving progress in scramjet engine research."

According to Sivan, the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) will fructify the much-awaited high thrust semi-cryogenic propulsion capability, which is expected to boost the lifting capability of Indian rockets to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) to almost 5.5 ton while also focusing on liquid oxygen (oxidiser)-Methane propulsion, green propulsion as well as electric propulsion.

He also said ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) needed to gear up its test facilities to support the qualification of the new propulsion systems and also expand its integration facilities to realise the new semi-cryogenic and LOX/Methane engines.

"In the next decade, emphasis will be on satellite constellation for broadband communication, all electric satellite platform and high performance satellite platforms in all the application areas," Sivan said as regards the decadal plans for the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC).

He said the Space Applications Centre (SAC) will complete its indigenisation efforts for atomic clock and traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTA).

In this decade, SAC and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) need to work towards ensuring the collection, processing and on-demand delivery of satellite data services in line with user expectations.

As regards the rocket port under the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) scaling up of the launch infrastructure to support human spaceflight as well as new heavy lift vehicles and perhaps support and facilitate the launching of private space transportation systems in the country, said Sivan.

The Semi-Conductor Laboratory SCL will work towards creating a strong micro-electronics base in the country and enhance capabilities in Very Large Scale Integrated circuit (VLSI) domain.

"A lion's share of ISRO's technology development and advanced R&D activities is expected to be carried out for facilitating the Gaganyaan (human space mission) programme and sustaining the human spaceflight activities in the long term," Sivan added.

On its part, the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), in association with all other ISRO centres, is working towards the enhanced capabilities essential for the human spaceflight programme including the human rated launch vehicle, Orbital Module, rendezvous and docking, regenerative life support systems and space habitats, Sivan added. (Source:defencenews.in)

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Reusable rockets, satellite constellation for broadband in ISRO's 10-year plan.

Kerala-based startup is set to launch world’s first blockchain-powered satellite - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Kerala-based startup is set to launch world’s first blockchain-powered satellite.

Blockchain technology, which is being used extensively in safe transactions, data security, and a few other applications, is now being deployed in space. And Accubits, a startup based in Thiruvanthapuram, Kerala, has taken the lead. The developers claim that they are all set to launch the world’s first blockchain satellite, called Chainsat.

On the concept of blockchain-powered satellites, Aharsh MS, Chief Marketing Officer, Accubits, tells YourStory, “Chainsat will serve two purposes. One, it will act as one of the nodes of a private blockchain network or consortium blockchain. Second, it will enable a communication channel between different nodes of the blockchain network.”
The startup aims to send a low earth orbit satellite, weighing 12 kg, to space for establishing an enterprise blockchain ledger that can enable a secure transactional network for next-generation financial and IoT systems. It wishes to send it to the orbit by Q1 2021.
Besides, the startup will develop the software and firmware for the satellite while the hardware part will be collaboratively built by Accubits and a vendor. For this, the startup is in talks with multiple firms for collaboration.
One-of-its-kind solution :
Not all businesses are established in well-connected areas like Tier-I or Tier-II cities, but are set up across Tier-III cities. Today, companies have sprung in remote areas as well with dire connectivity issues.
Here, Chainsat will enable a secure communication channel for enterprises to use a blockchain network. According to Aharsh, Chainsat will enable businesses across the world to meet the specific requirements, as it acts as a blockchain node, or a point of contact for the enterprises.
For instance, for agro-related businesses, the production farms are remotely located and most of these places do not have internet accessibility. Here, Chainsat can help in establishing communication to access a blockchain ledger for applications like supply chain traceability and other crucial operations.
Besides, the satellites will be no different from the rest in the orbit in terms of its orbital presence, launch and operation. What differs is the software architecture and the internal hardware that is designed to host a blockchain node. (Source:defencenews.in)


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Kerala-based startup is set to launch world’s first blockchain-powered satellite.

Geo Imaging Satellite GISAT-1 can keep a 24/7 watch on Indian subcontinent, say ISRO veterans - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Geo Imaging Satellite GISAT-1 can keep a 24/7 watch on Indian subcontinent, say ISRO veterans.

Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) latest earth observation satellite GISAT-1, the launch of which was postponed by the space agency due to technical reasons on March 4, 2020, can keep a 24/7 watch on Indian subcontinent.

Though the launch was postponed for some time, ISRO veterans claimed that the the geo-imaging satellite GISAT-1, which is one of the first-of-its-kind satellites, is equipped with a very powerful telescope and very sensitive imaging sensors which have been developed indigenously.
Explaining reasons for placing the earth-observation satellites in GEO, Padma Shri Dr Mylswamy Annadurai, Programme Director Chandrayaan 1 and Mangalyaan, Vice President TN State Council for Science and Technology, said, ‘’Satellites in Low earth orbit can only click an image of a particular spot only 2-3 times a day, when they make a pass, but satellites in geostationary orbit (In sync with the movement of the earth) can constantly monitor a vast area. When a satellite is placed in GEO, it can click pictures of a particular spot in India or any spot that is visible to it, almost 24/7.’’
When asked if the image quality will not be adversely affected due to its distance of nearly 36000 km from earth, Annadurai said, ‘’It is true that the resolution and quality of an image would be affected due to the 36,000 km orbit at which the satellite is placed, but besides optical cameras, we can also use other infrared-based imaging sensors that are part of the satellite.’’
Replying to a question if there were other Indian satellites apart from communication satellites which have been placed in GEO, Annadurai said, ‘’Some of our earlier satellites such as Kalpana, INSAT 3D and INSAT 3DR can click images 24/7. INSAT 3D and 3DR are utilized for communication, monitoring climate, environment and for disaster management system and are placed in GSO.’’
‘’These are the satellites that help us track changing weather patterns every 15 minutes. While the earlier ones were multi-purpose satellites, the current satellite GISAT-1 is a more advanced version dedicated mainly to earth observation and can give higher resolution images and incorporates a different kind of technology,’’ he added.
Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai also explained how the new technology will change the functionality of the satellite and said, ‘’Some of our earlier generations of satellites like INSAT series had a scanning mirror in them, that moved east-west in a sweeping motion as a part of the image capturing process. However, since the satellites were also used for communications purposes(and are required to move in such a way that it appears fixed over a particular spot above the equator), the satellite was only moving on its GEO (in sync with the angular velocity of the earth). But since the GISAT is dedicated mainly for different kinds of earth observation, the satellite itself can rotate on an east-west, north-south axis to enable imaging of a specific region. In layman’s terms, its like tilting a handheld camera and moving it for getting the best shot.’’
Meanwhile, Padma Vibhushan Dr G Madhavan Nair, former Chairman, ISRO, said revealed some of the real world applications of the GISAT -1.
Nair said, ‘’If we have a natural calamity in a particular region or a region that has to be monitored, we can issue commands for the satellite to point towards that specific region, or a weather pattern such as a cyclone and look at it in more detail. Low earth orbit satellites can give us better quality pictures, but they can make a pass only every 110minutes or so. But in the case of GISAT, we can continuously observe the area. So if a region is affected by forest fires or floods, we will know it near-real time and (if required) can deploy the satellites in Low Earth Orbit to click high-resolution pictures to improve our awareness of the situation.’’
Explaining why ISRO calls it the first state-of-the-art agile earth observation satellite from Geostationary orbit, Nair said, ‘’As far as India is concerned this is the first-of-its-kind satellite. Basically this is a technology breakthrough as it requires a very powerful telescope and very sensitive imaging sensors which we have developed indigenously. We have been working on this technology for sometime.’’
The launch of ISRO’s GSLV-F10 rocket carrying the geo-imaging satellite GISAT-1, that was scheduled for 5:43 pm on Thursday, was postponed by the ISRO due to technical reasons. ISRO has said that a revised launch date would be announced in due course.
The GSLV rocket will be carrying what ISRO calls a state-of-the-art agile Earth Observation Satellite into Geo Stationary Transfer Orbit(GTO), which is 36,000 km at its farthest point from earth and 170km at its nearest point to earth.
After it is placed in GTO, the satellite would be issued a series of commands to fire its Liquid Apogee Motor(LAM) for a few sequential burns, until it is placed in Geostationary orbit (GEO) of 36000km circular from where the satellite would be seen stationary to all the points from the earth.
According to ISRO, the satellite is meant to provide near real time imaging of large regions of interest at frequent intervals, quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic events and also obtain spectral signatures for agriculture, forestry, mineralogy, disaster warning, cloud properties, snow & glaciers and oceanography.
While conventionally, earth-observation satellites are placed in Low-Earth orbit (between 500 and 2000kms), to ensure high resolution imagery, better capabilities, it is pertinent to note that ISRO’s latest agile earth-observation satellite is to be placed in 36,000kms away. The GEO orbit is generally meant for Communication Satellites that are required to relay signals across a vast landmass. Being placed in the 36,000km circular orbit would also mean that the 2268kg GISAT-1 is beyond the range of Anti-satellite missiles. (Source: pib)

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Geo Imaging Satellite GISAT-1 can keep a 24/7 watch on Indian subcontinent, say ISRO veterans.

ISRO to 'split up & unite' a satellite in space this year - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

ISRO to 'split up & unite' a satellite in space this year.

Among things in Isro’s pipeline this year, the space agency will be splitting up a satellite and then re-uniting it in space. This Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) will be key in realising technologies for future human missions and the proposed space station.

While the technology Isro is aiming to eventually have is one that will allow it to transfer humans from one vehicle or spacecraft to another, the immediate goal is to enable refuelling of spacecraft to give them a longer life and also transfer other crucial systems to an existing spacecraft, by transporting another to space.
Confirming this to TOI, Isro chairman K Sivan, said: “The satellite we will launch will have two components. It will be separated into two pieces and then they will get docked into a single piece. This single unit will then function as a full-fledged satellite. This is a very crucial technology.”
A successful SPADEX experiment will also give Isro data on space rendezvous technology — capabilities wherein two spacecraft can find each other and remain in the same orbit — advancements in which are critical if India wants to have its own space station built in the future.
“The space station is a long-term project. We are working on it, but the immediate focus is on big missions like Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, Gaganyaan, and other satellite launches,” Sivan said. The SPADEX project has so far received Rs 10 crore, but Isro will need more money in the future.
The challenges of the experiment would be that docking has to be automatic and many of the functions thereon will have to be robotic. There is also the challenge of managing the speeds of each of the crafts (or two units in this case) when they near each other and to then dock one vehicle in a manner that it doesn’t crash or collide into each other.
The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is working on rendezvous and docking. “To achieve docking during the final phase of the mission, the relative position and velocity of the target spacecraft and chaser spacecraft has to be brought to zero. To ensure proper alignment of the docking port, the relative angular orientation needs to be precisely aligned,” an Isro document reads.
This technology will be a forerunner to future planetary missions including crew transfer, international participation et al, the document added.
“The satellite will be ready by mid-year but then we have a lot of tests to be done. The experimental launch may happen towards the end of this year,” Sivan added.
Isro has already worked on several systems like signal analysis equipment, high-precision videometer for navigation, docking system electronics and real-time decision making for landing systems, all of which will be used in this experimental flight. (Source: defencenews.in)


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ISRO to 'split up & unite' a satellite in space this year

U.S. Infrared Satellite Data Could Settle The Debate Over Pakistan-India Dogfight - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

U.S. Infrared Satellite Data Could Settle The Debate Over Pakistan-India Dogfight.

America's constellation of panoptic infrared early warning satellites is known for providing the Pentagon with the first indication that a ballistic missile launch has occurred and where to cue the attention of other sensors so that the missile can be tracked, classified, and even potentially intercepted. Yet America's huge investment in orbital early warning platforms, which dates back to the 1960s, has also resulted in a secondary function for these systems—picking up much more than just large rocket and ballistic missile launches. These ancillary events can include the launch of smaller missiles, like surface-to-air and even air-to-air types, artillery barrages, large detonations on the ground... and exploding aircraft.

The limited air battle between India and Pakistan that occurred over Kashmir on February 28, 2019, is one of the most hotly contested military events we have seen in a long time. Misinformation flowed like a waterfall in the hours, days, and weeks following the shoot-down of the Indian MiG-21 Bison by a Pakistani fighter, with allegations of systemic deception at the highest levels of government being flung with reckless abandon across both sides of Line Of Control. In fact, it continues to this very day with no sign of abating.
We have covered the story in extreme depth and tried to separate myth from reality and knowns from unknowns as much as possible in an attempt to bring an objective and well-versed viewpoint to the alarmingly murky and spiteful debate. But even a month and a half after the aerial engagement happened, what exactly occurred during it remains unclear.
India says their MiG-21 pilot that got shot down also shot down a fighter of his own—a Pakistani F-16—moments before his aircraft was struck. Meanwhile, Pakistan claims they lost no aircraft during the engagement and reports attributed to undisclosed sources state that all of its F-16s are accounted for.
So, when it comes to the air-to-air side of hostilities, we are left with one crucial question that has tensions boiling between the two long-time foes—was a Pakistani fighter shot down or not? India has produced some far from conclusive "radar data" that they say shows the F-16 being shot down. It also provides general positioning information of the aircraft involved and especially of the MiG-21 in relation to the F-16 that New Delhi says was shot down by its MiG pilot.
But with just a few screenshots to go by of said radar data and with Pakistan unwilling to provide any additional info of their own, the two sides seem locked in an informational stalemate of sorts, where one narrative is constantly pitted against the other without end.
The thing is that the Pentagon very likely possesses sensor data that can unequivocally prove one story right and the other wrong. That aforementioned infrared early warning constellation includes Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) and Defense Support Program (DSP) satellites—the former being the more modern and advanced of the two. You can and should read all about these fascinating satellites and their origins in this past feature of mine.
It is all but certain that portions of America's space-based infrared early warning system staring down on the India-Pakistan area as the air battle unfolded. With the two countries possessing enough nuclear warheads to cause significant harm to the globe—many of which would be deployed via ballistic missile—the region is something of a "must monitor" for Department of Defense. This is especially true considering a nearly unprecedented bombing raid into Pakistani territory occurred just a day before the air engagement in question and a full-out war between the bitter foes could have been right around the corner.
As we mentioned earlier, these satellites not only have a strategic function, they also have a tactical one in that they have the ability to detect non-ballistic missile launches and other infrared events. In fact, there is an entire Air Force unit tasked with squeezing out secondary surveillance products from these spacecraft that constantly stare at the earther's surface. And they see a lot. In 2014, over 8,000 separate infrared events were detected and cataloged, the next year was even busier.
So, it is probable that any missile launches that occurred that day, whether it was an AIM-120 AMRAAM from the Pakistani F-16 or the R-73 from the Indian MiG-21, could have been detected, geolocated, and catalogized. But it is even less challenging for the satellites to detect a missile exploding in mid-air and causing the aircraft it showers with shrapnel to erupt into a massive fireball.
This is not conjecture. The downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 over Eastern Ukraine was picked up by SBIRS, as was the SA-11's missile launch that doomed that Boeing 777. The bombing of Metrojet Flight 9268 over the Sanai Peninsula was also detected by SBIRS. So, are we to believe that a fighter loaded with weapons and fuel, flying over what could be an imminent flashpoint of war between two nuclear powers, had a missile blow it out of the sky and it wasn't detected?
Highly unlikely, to say the least.
That data could totally validate or invalidate the radar surveillance data India has presented, including correlating the locations of the MiG and F-16 with the geolocations and timing of the infrared events detected.
So why isn't the U.S. setting the record straight assuming it has this information? Geopolitically there is a long list of reasons for the U.S. not to inject itself into a conflict between two nuclear-armed powers with different levels of complex relations with Washington D.C. In addition, the Pentagon has never been all that talkative about the secondary uses for its space-based infrared early warning network and detecting terrestrial infrared events is just one of its potentially secondary applications. Leveraging this information in real time could have huge advantages during a conflict, so it seems to only be talked about when it is absolutely necessary—like the shoot down of MH17, an event that Russia was accused of having a direct hand in.
So, there you have it. As the brutal information war on the internet rages on between the two estranged neighbors, keep in mind that the U.S. could most likely settle the debate once and for all with data it has had since the moment the engagement occurred. And this is just one intelligence product among many that the Pentagon and the U.S. intelligence community can pull from to make an accurate analysis of what went on that day. But as of yet, nobody with the power to do so is willing to offer up such definitive information to put the issue to rest.
It's possible that unless that changes, we may never truly know exactly what went on in the chaotic skies over Kashmir on that fateful day. (Source:defencenews.in)


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U.S. Infrared Satellite Data Could Settle The Debate Over Pakistan-India Dogfight.

Isro launches EMISAT and 28 other satellites from US, Spain - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Isro launches EMISAT and 28 other satellites from US, Spain.

Isro has launched the EMISAT satellite along with 28 other satellites from other nations. The EMISAT will conduct space experiments.

Days after India tested its first anti-satellite missile, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has fired off a new variant of its old workhorse, PSLV sending 29 satellites into three different orbits in space.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) which is on its 47th flight took off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota at 9:27 am, on Monday. The new variant uses four strap-on motors.
PSLV C45 carries 28 foreign satellites, 24 from United States which are mostly for earth observation, two from Lithuania and one each from Switzerland and Spain. All the foreign satellites would be injected into the low-earth orbit, at an altitude of 504 kms above the earth’s surface.
The primary satellite onboard is India’s EMISAT, an observation satellite which weighs 436 kgs and would measure the electromagnetic spectrum to help locate positions of enemy radars.
After removing the heat-shield at an altitude of 115 kms, the fourth-stage of rocket (PS4) would first inject EMISAT into an orbit of 749 km. It would then fire its engines twice and come down to an orbital of 504 kms where all the foreign satellites together weighing about 220 kg would be released.

The fourth stage would then eventually come down to 485 kms orbit, where it will act as an orbital platform for three other payloads - ISRO’s Automatic Identification System which would help in automatic identification of ships by capturing messages from ships and relaying them to ground stations.
The other two payloads include - an Automatic Packet Repeating System from Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation(AMSAT) to assist amateur radio operators in tracking and monitoring position data and an payload from Indian Institute of Space Science and technology (IIST) for study of structural and composition of ionosphere.
It is the first time that scientists have equipped the fourth stage with a solar panel so that it can sustain itself by generating electrical power in orbit.
The decision to use PS4 as an orbital platform was one of the several firsts marked by the space agency this year. Since, the fourth stage of the rocket becomes debris after it takes a satellite into its desired orbit, the idea was to innovatively use this wasted stage for payloads and conduct experiments in space.
It would also enable space researchers to study earth’s ionosphere in real time which can help in improving accuracy of satellite navigation signals.
The previous launches by ISRO this year include the imaging satellite Microsat-R for military purpose along with 1.2 kg Kalamsat in January onboard PSLV-C44.
In February, Isro launched India's communication satellite GSAT-31 from the European launch service provider Ariane from French Guiana.(Source:Livemint)


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Isro launches EMISAT and 28 other satellites from US, Spain.

ISRO to launch electronic intelligence defence satellite Emisat for DRDO in March - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

ISRO to launch electronic intelligence defence satellite Emisat for DRDO in March.

ISRO will also launch 28 third-party satellites and demonstrate its new technologies like three different orbits with a new variant of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket in March.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan on Wednesday said that the Bengaluru-based space agency is set to launch an electronic intelligence satellite Emisat for the DRDO in March.
Sivan added that ISRO will also launch 28 third-party satellites and demonstrate its new technologies like three different orbits with a new variant of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket in March. He, however, did not give a specific date.
"It is a special mission for us. We will be using a PSLV rocket with four strap-on motors. Further, for the first time we will be trying to orbit the rocket at three different altitudes," K. Sivan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS.
"The main passenger for the PSLV rocket will be the defence intelligence satellite Emisat belonging to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The satellite weighs about 420 kg. The 28 satellites belonging to our customers would cumulatively weigh about 250 kg," Sivan added.
The ISRO chief said that Emisat is an electronic intelligence satellite. It is to be noted that ISRO is also gearing up to launch two more defence satellites in July/August. The space agency will use its new rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) for launching these defence satellites.
It may be recalled a defence imaging satellite Microsat R was launched by ISRO for the DRDO in January.
Providing more details about Emisat, Sivan said that after launching this satellite at an altitude of 763 km, the rocket will be brought down to place the 28 satellites at an altitude of 504 km.
"Following that the rocket will be brought down further to 485 km where the fourth stage will turn into a payload platform carrying three experimental payloads -- one developed by the students of Indian Institute of Space Science and Tecnology, besides ISRO`s own technology demonstrator and a Hamsat," Sivan said.
PSLV is a four-stage engine expendable rocket with alternating solid and liquid fuel. On January 24, the ISRO flew a PSLV with two strap-on motors.


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ISRO to launch electronic intelligence defence satellite Emisat for DRDO in March.

India successfully launches latest communication satellite GSAT-31 - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India successfully launches latest communication satellite GSAT-31.

India's latest communication satellite GSAT-31 was successfully launched by European launch services provider- Arianespace rocket from French Guiana in the early hours of Wednesday.

Weighing about 2,535 kg, the GSAT-31 will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites.

The satellite derives its heritage from ISROs earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series, the space agency said, adding that it provides Indian mainland and island coverage.
GSAT-31 is the country's 40th communication satellite which is configured on ISRO's enhanced 'I-2K Bus', utilising the maximum "bus capabilities" of this type.
This satellite will augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in Geostationary Orbit, ISRO said.
With a mission life of around 15 years, GSAT-31 will be used for supporting VSAT networks, Television uplinks, Digital Satellite News Gathering, DTH-television services, cellular backhaul connectivity and many such applications.
It also provides wide beam coverage to facilitate communication over large oceanic region, comprising large parts of Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean, using a wide band transponder.
According to ISRO, two Ku-band beacon downlink signals are transmitted for ground tracking purpose.
The Ariane-5 vehicle (Flight VA247) also carried Saudi Geostationary Satellite 1/Hellas Sat 4 along with GSAT-31.
Riding in Ariane 5’s upper position, HS-4/SGS-1 was released first in the flight sequence, with its separation occurring about 27 minutes after liftoff.
Comprising two payloads, Saudi Geostationary Satellite 1/Hellas Sat 4, also called HS- 4/SGS-1, is a geostationary condosat for KACST (King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology Saudi Arabia) and Hellas Sat (Greece Cyprus).
HS- 4/SGS-1 will provide telecommunication capabilities, including television, Internet, telephone and secure communications in the Middle East, South Africa and Europe, Arianespace said on its website.
GSAT-30 is another geostationary satellite to be lofted soon by Arianespace. Since the launch of India's APPLE experimental satellite on Ariane Flight L03 in 1981, Arianespace has orbited 23 satellites and signed 24 launch contracts with the Indian space agency, the European launch services provider said . (Source:Livemint)


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India successfully launches latest communication satellite GSAT-31.

India launches military satellite Microsat-R and Kalamsat(lightest ever satellite) - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India launches military satellite Microsat-R and Kalamsat(lightest ever satellite).

India successfully launched Microsat-R, a military satellite onboard in its Polar rocket PSLV C44, from the spaceport here on Thursday, in the first mission for ISRO in 2019.

The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) blasted off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 11.37 pm at the end of a 28-hour countdown.

In a textbook launch, the 44-metre tall, four-stage PSLV-C44 soared into the clear and starry night sky majestically and injected the 740-kg Microsat-R into the orbit, precisely 13 minutes and 30 seconds later.
ISRO scientists broke into celebration at the mission control centre here, about 130 km from Chennai, as the Microsat-R was released in a 274-km polar sun-synchronous orbit, marking another success story for the space agency.
Former ISRO chairmen Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan and AS Kiran Kumar were among those who witnessed the launch.
The fourth stage of the rocket with co-passenger Kalamsat, a students’ payload, would now be moved to a higher circular orbit, around 450 km from earth, so as to establish an orbital platform for carrying out experiments.
The ISRO said it would take about 90 minutes for the fourth stage to reach the desired orbit.
Built at a cost of around Rs 12 lakh, the Kalamsat is an experimental satellite for studying the communication system of nanosatellites, which can be useful in many fields, predominantly disaster management.
The PSLV C44 is the first launch for the country’s space agency in 2019.
The PSLV-C44, assembled in 30 days, was the first mission of a new variant of the PSLV, called the PSLV-DL, as it was equipped with two strap-on configurations, the ISRO said.
Usually, PSLVs were launched without any strap-ons (boosters) or were equipped with six strap-ons fixed around the rocket, but the ISRO, for the first time, used only two boosters for the mission, an official of the space agency said.
He added that for the first time, the ISRO placed a satellite Microsat-R in a lower orbit, at around 274 km from earth.
Contributed by college students and the members of a Chennai-based organization Space Kidz India, Kalamsat is the first to use PS4 (the fourth stage of the vehicle) as a platform to orbit around the earth.
“We have been working on the project for over six years now. These students are from various backgrounds and the youngest one is studying B.Sc Physics,” said Space Kidz India CEO Srimathy Kesan
Kesan said Kalamsat was the lightest ever satellite to be launched by India.
Space Kidz India aims to nurture young scientists.
With this, the PSLV, basically a four-stage vehicle with alternating solid and liquid stages has launched 54 Indian and 269 satellites of international customers. (Source:rstv.nic.in)


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India launches military satellite Microsat-R and Kalamsat(lightest ever satellite).

Satellite images show China is building underground facility 50 km from India border - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Satellite images show China is building underground facility 50 km from India border.

The People’s Liberation Army has constructed an underground facility (UGF) barely 50 km from the India-China border, and just 60 km from the Indian forward posts at Demchok in Ladakh.

So far, there was just one UGF in Tibet, with another one which could possibly target India being a fair way away in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. But now, thanks to satellite imagery, ThePrint has identified a deeply buried hardened target (DBHT) under construction near the town of Ngari, also known as Shiquanhe in Mandarin, which could of worry to India.
Construction of this UGF began in December 2016, about six months before the Doklam standoff near the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction in the east. The slow speed of construction indicates that special personnel are being used instead of locals, clearly in order to maintain secrecy and security of the facility.
Overview of the UGF ::
The UGF is served by four large tunnel entrances and three small ones. Most of them have barracks at the entrance for security personnel.
The facilities are in two separate groups, not very far from each other, and connected with proper roads. They have hardened entrances constructed with reinforced cement concrete. It is assessed that all entrances would soon be covered with other material to withstand even a direct hit.
Excavated earth has been piled nearby to avoid detection, but a temporal comparison indicates clear mensuration.
The amount of earth excavated indicates that approximately 3.5 lakh cubic metres of space has been created inside the UGF.
Construction material ::
The construction material for this facility is dumped at two places very close to the entrances. These dumps also have two cement plants sufficient for construction activity inside the tunnels.
The material dump has some iron rebars, indicating that the construction work is reinforced concrete.
The vehicle park and barrack type of accommodation for workers and staff is located very close to one of the dumps.
Garrisons ::
The tunnelled facility has a support garrison constructed in 2016 and 2017. Construction of another support garrison has probably just begun.
Both the garrisons are very close to the main road. The roads are wide enough to let large transporters with big turning radii move smoothly.
Although it is difficult to indicate the exact purpose of this facility with such low temporal resolution, it can safely be assumed that it may be used for storage of missiles and/or ammunition on wheels.


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Satellite images show China is building underground facility 50 km from India border.

ISRO to Launch Exclusive Satellite to Help in Securing Pakistan, Bangladesh Borders - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

ISRO to Launch Exclusive Satellite to Help in Securing Pakistan, Bangladesh Borders.

A satellite will be launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) exclusively for the home ministry to help it further strengthen its frontiers with Pakistan and Bangladesh among others, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.

The move is part of recommendations made by a task force on the use of space technology in improving border management which have been accepted by home minister Rajnath Singh.
To execute the project in a time bound manner, a short, medium and long-term plan has been proposed for implementation in five years in close coordination with the ISRO and the defence ministry.
"Major recommendations of the report are to build capacity in border guarding forces to use space resources for security, operational planning and border infrastructure development," the statement issued by the home ministry said.
In short term, immediate needs of border guarding forces will be met by procurement of high resolution imagery and hiring of bandwidth for communications, it said.
"In mid-term, one satellite is being launched by the ISRO for exclusive use of the MHA," the statement said.
Over the long term, the MHA will develop ground segment and network infrastructure to share satellite resources by user agencies, develop a central archival facility for storing various imagery resources and dissemination of the same to user agencies, it said.
"Deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces in remote areas will be also coordinated by satellite communications. Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-based GPS will provide navigation facilities for operational parties in high altitude, remote and difficult borders and Naxal areas," the home ministry said.
The Border Security Force (BSF) has been designated as lead agency for implementation of ground segment and network infrastructure, including establishment of archival facility, it said.
India shares land borders with Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.
With the assistance of the department of space, the ministry of home affairs would implement the project, the statement said.
"This project will strengthen island and border security and facilitate development of infrastructure in border/island areas," it said.
The home minister has approved report of the task force created by the MHA to identify areas for use of space technology in improving border management, the statement said.
The task force headed by Joint Secretary (Border Management), having members from the BSF, the Department of Space and BM division of the Home Ministry, consulted all stakeholders including border guarding forces, the ISRO, National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and the Ministry of Defence to finalise the report.
Island development, border security, communication and navigation, Geographic Information System (GIS) and operations planning system, and border infrastructure development are the areas identified for use of space technology, it added.


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ISRO to Launch Exclusive Satellite to Help in Securing Pakistan, Bangladesh Borders.

ISRO successfully launches Military Communication Satellite GSAT-7A from Sriharikota - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

ISRO successfully launches Military Communication Satellite GSAT-7A from Sriharikota.

ISRO today launched its military communication satellite GSAT-7A from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The satellite GSAT-7A is the 35th Indian communication satellite weighing 2,250 kg. The satellite is expected to add a new space-based dimension to the way Indian Air Force interlinks, operates and communicates with its aircraft as they fly and with command centres on ground.

GSAT-7A will be the first satellite built primarily for the IAF to qualitatively unify its assets and improve combined, common intelligence during operations.
GSAT-7A is designed to expand the communication capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF). It will do this by connecting many of the ground radar stations, airbases and aircrafts operated by the IAF, and is also expected to boost some of their network-dependant warfare and drone capabilities.
Hailing the launch, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said, GSLV-7A would enhance the networking and communication capabilities of the Air Force.
"We have several platforms (aircrafts) which have capabilities of communication through satellite. The communication to the platform (aircrafts) through the satellite will be made possible with this launch," stated B S Dhanoa.
Satellite using Ku band will enable superior real time aircraft-to-aircraft communication; and between planes that are in flight and their commanders on the ground.
The GSAT-7A/GSLV-F11 mission will also wrap up the calendar year for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The GSLV-F11 space vehicle will release it to an eventual geostationary orbit about 36,000 km from Earth. However, it will become fully functional after a month of testing payloads. GSLV F-11 with indigenous cryogenic upper stage has a total of three stages before reaching the destined orbit using the onboard propulsion system.


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ISRO successfully launches Military Communication Satellite GSAT-7A from Sriharikota.

5.8-tonne India's Heaviest Satellite GSAT-11 ready for launch - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

5.8-tonne India's Heaviest Satellite GSAT-11 ready for launch.

Part of ISRO’s new satellite fleet for high-speed Internet services.

A team of top officials and engineers of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), now stationed in the Guiana Space Centre, South America, is going over the last steps before it sees off the heaviest Indian communication satellite, GSAT-11, to its space orbit. The liftoff is slated for the wee hours of Wednesday, December 5, India time, but from half way across the globe.
The 5,854-kg satellite, almost double the biggest one built or launched by ISRO to date, will ride up on European launch vehicle Ariane 5 ECA, numbered VA246, between 2.07 a.m. and 3.23 a.m. IST, according to the schedule of Arianespace, which is providing the launch services. It will be sunset at nearby Kourou in French Guiana, located 5 degrees North of the Equator, with a launch window between 5.37 p.m. and 6.53 p.m. local time.
ISRO Chairman K. Sivan, besides the project director and scores of engineers, who have been taking care of the satellite for the last 30-odd days, are in Kourou for the big day, it is learnt.
GSAT-11 is part of ISRO’s new family of high-throughput communication satellite (HTS) fleet that will drive the country's Internet broadband from space to untouched areas; the broadband domain is now ruled by underground fibre and covers partial and convenient locations.
High-speed data
Already up in space are two HTSs — GSAT-29 (November 14) and GSAT-19 (June 2017) — while one more is due to join them in the near future. They are all to provide high-speed Internet data services at the rate of 100 Gbps (Gigabits per second) to Indian users. ISRO has earlier said this speed would be far better than what is available in the country now.
The HTSs will also be the backbone of pan-India digital or easy Internet-based programmes and services — such as Digital India, BharathNet for rural e-governance, and commercial and public sector VSAT Net service providers.
According to ISRO, GSAT-11’s multiple spot beam coverage — 32 in Ku band and eight in Ka bands — will deliver an improved service of 16 gbps over the Indian region and nearby islands. It said, “GSAT-11 will play a vital role in providing broadband services across the country. It will also provide a platform to demonstrate new generation applications.”
New date
GSAT-11 was earlier planned for launch on May 26 this year. A few days before it, ISRO,brought it back from Kourou to the Bengaluru satellite centre for additional checks. The spacecraft was sent back in October for the rescheduled launch.
Its co-passenger is South Korea’s GEO-KOMPSAT-2A, a meteorology satellite.(Source: The Hindu)


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5.8-tonne India's Heaviest Satellite GSAT-11 ready for launch.

ISRO launches earth monitoring satellite HysIS - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

ISRO launches earth monitoring satellite HysIS.

The data from ISRO’s HysIS satellite can be used in wide-ranging areas including agriculture.

India on Thursday successfully launched its latest earth observation satellite HysIS, the data from which can be used in wide-ranging areas including agriculture, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here onboard ISRO’s trusted workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
The rocket, PSLV-C43, successfully injected state of the art HysIS and 30 other co-passenger satellites from eight countries into their designated orbits.
The rocket lifted off majestically into cloudy skies in a burst of orange flames at 9.57 am from the first launch pad at this spaceport at the end of the 28-hour countdown.
The Hyper Spectral Imaging Satellite (HysIS) was placed in its orbit 17 minutes and 27 seconds after lift-off while the 30 co-passenger satellites were dropped into the designated orbit one by one after an hour.
HysIS, the latest earth observation satellite developed by ISRO, has several uses.
The satellite’s data will be useful in many fields including agriculture, forestry, soil survey, geology, coastal zone studies, inland water studies, environmental monitoring and pollution detection from industries.
ISRO chief K Sivan and the space agency’s scientists broke into cheers as the earth observation satellite was injected into sun-synchronous polar orbit.
Thursday’s launch is significant as scientists restarted the fourth stage engine twice to place the 30 co-passenger satellites into their orbit.
According to an official, the fourth stage engine was cut off after the earth observation satellite separated at an altitude of 636.3 kilometers exactly 17.27 minutes after the rocket lifted off.
After the earth observation satellite was placed in its orbit, the scientists undertook an operation to restart the fourth stage engine twice. They reduced the altitude from 636 kilometers to around 504 kilometres to place the 30 satellites in the sun-synchronous polar orbit one by one.
The mission was one of the longest for ISRO.
A similar campaign was undertaken when scientists injected eight different satellites including the country’s weather satellite SCATSAT-1 and five from other nations in two different orbits on September 25, 2016.
The primary mission of the HysIS, whose mission life is five years, is to study the earth’s surface in visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
It is the primary satellite of the PSLV-C43 mission, which is on its 45th flight.
The mass of the spacecraft is about 380 kilograms, ISRO said.
The co-passenger satellites have been contracted for launch through ISRO’s commercial arm Antrix Corporation Limited.
PSLV-C43 is the ‘Core Alone’ version of PSLV. It is the lightest version of the launch vehicle.
Sivan congratulated the team on the successful launch and said Indian scientists have shown their excellent work yet again, just 15 days after the spectacular dual mission of GSLV MkIII D2 and GSAT29.
“Today our PSLV has injected hyperspectral imaging satellite and subsequently after two manoeuvres, once again PSLV has injected 30 customer satellites into their designated home,” he said.
Speaking about the high-tech hyperspectral satellite, Sivan said it came with state-of-the-art technology.
“The heart of the system required for the HysIS satellite is basically an optical imaging detector chip,” he said.
The chip was indigenously designed and developed by the space application centre of ISRO and fabricated indigenously at the semiconductor lab in Chandigarh, he added.
“I am sure that team ISRO can be proud that they are really giving excellent space assets to India. Let me thank the entire team ISRO for this wonderful satellite (launch),” Sivan said.
He said the international customers will be very happy to see their “babies” delivered home “safely and precisely”, one by one.
The space body chief said the success was a result of team ISRO’s hard work along with excellent mechanisms and the quality system in place.
“Looking forward, our journey ahead, road ahead, is full of traffic,” Sivan said. The next mission will be GSAT11, which is India’s heaviest satellite. It is set to be launched from French Guiana on December 5 at 2.08 am.
The long-awaited launch of GSAT-7A is also planned for December.
Sivan said several missions including Chandrayaan-II are lined up for next year.
“I am sure this team will rise to the occasion and will achieve (in) the missions whatever we want, not for ISRO, it is for India. I am sure that our team will do (a) very good job in future also,” he said. (Source:Livemint)


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ISRO launches earth monitoring satellite HysIS.

Another feat for ISRO! For the first time, India to launch Colombian satellite from PSLV-C43 on November 29 - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Another feat for ISRO! For the first time, India to launch Colombian satellite from PSLV-C43 on November 29.

For the first time ever, a Colombian satellite will be launched from Sriharikota by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) along with other countries onboard PSLV-C43 on Nov 29.

The workhorse of ISRO will be carrying India’s earth observation satellite HysIS and 30 satellites from other countries out of which almost 23 belong to the US.
Sources confirmed to FE that “Colombia has chosen to get its satellite launched by ISRO for the first time. This launch has been commercially contracted through Antrix Corporation Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO. ”
Earlier this year, FE was the first to break the news of South American nation Colombia being in touch with ISRO to launch the nano-satellite belonging to Colombian air force, ‘Facsat1’, which is 30 cm long and 10 metres high, and will be used for that country’s national security, as well as monitor the effects of climate change and prevent emergencies.
According to ISRO, PSLV’s 45th flight will be launched from the First Launch Pad (FLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota and the satellite will be placed in 636 km polar sun synchronous orbit (SSO) with an inclination of 97.957 deg. The mission life of the satellite is 5 years.
The main aim of India’s HysIS is to study the earth’s surface in visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The other satellites which will be onboard are micro and nano satellites from other countries including the US, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Finland, Malaysia, Netherlands and Spain, will be put in a 504 km orbit by the work horse.
It was after India’s successful Mars mission some years ago that which was proved that ISRO has the capability of achieving inter-planetary missions in a cost-effective manner, that several countries from across the globe have started looking at the agency for launching their satellites.
As reported earlier by FE, countries including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua are reaching out to the space agency for launching or developing satellites.
In 2017, for launching its first homemade palm-sized satellite, the University of Chile got a ride onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C38 rocket. The faculty of the university is already working with professors at IIT-Madras for doing joint missions.
Launch, of SUCHAI, the nano-satellite of the University of Chile, was successfully accomplished by ISRO at the end of June 2017. The SUCHAI project was a standardised satellite of Cubesat type of 1 litre of volume and 1 kg of weight. Also, it was the first ever satellite built in Chile by students at the university.
The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), which already has long-standing space cooperation with China, has been in touch with ISRO and the ground stations in Brazil (Alcantara and Cuiaba) which have been providing tracking support for Indian satellites (Chandrayaan-I, Megha Tropiques, MOM, and ASTROSAT) on a commercial basis.
Even Bolivian Space Agency (ABE) has concluded a MoU on space cooperation with ISRO, which will help to conduct preliminary studies of establishing a ground station in Bolivia for supporting India’s space agency’ s space operations.(Source:Livemint)


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Another feat for ISRO! For the first time, India to launch Colombian satellite from PSLV-C43 on November 29.

China launches high-resolution Earth observation satellite - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

China launches high-resolution Earth observation satellite.

China on Tuesday launched Gaofen-11, an optical remote sensing satellite, as part of the country's high-resolution Earth observation project.

The Gaofen-11 satellite was launched on a Long March 4B rocket at 11 am Beijing Time from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province. It was the 282nd flight mission by a Long March carrier rocket.
The satellite can be used for land survey, urban planning, road network design, agriculture, and disaster relief. Its data will also be used for the Belt and Road Initiative.
Since the Gaofen project began in 2010, China has gained an increasingly clearer view of the planet.


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China launches high-resolution Earth observation satellite.

NASA Launches Online Toolkit To Promote Commercial Use Of Satellite Data - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

NASA Launches Online Toolkit To Promote Commercial Use Of Satellite Data.

The "Remote Sensing Toolkit" provides a simple system that quickly identifies relevant sources based on user input, NASA said in a statement on Thursday.

NASA has launched an online toolkit to make it easier for users to find, analyse and utilise the most relevant satellite data for their research, business projects or conservation efforts.
The "Remote Sensing Toolkit" provides a simple system that quickly identifies relevant sources based on user input, NASA said in a statement on Thursday.
The toolkit is designed to help users search for data, as well as ready-to-use tools and code to build new tools.
"This new tool makes finding and using NASA satellite data easier than ever before, and we hope it sparks innovation among the entrepreneurial community and leads to further commercialisation of NASA technology and benefits people across the world," said Daniel Lockney, NASA''s Technology Transfer programme executive.
"Our mission to bring NASA technology down to Earth is expanding with the release of this remote sensing toolkit," Mr Lockney said.
Through its constellation of Earth observation satellites, NASA collects petabytes of data each year.
The variety of open source tools created to access, analyse and utilise the data from these satellites is familiar to millions of science users, but accessing and utilising this data remains daunting for many potential commercial users.
For example, NASA''s remote-sensing data and tools are spread out across dozens of sites.
The NASA Technology Transfer programme reviewed more than 50 websites and found that no source provided a comprehensive collection of information or a single access point to begin a search.
This prompted the US space agency to introduce the Remote Sensing Toolkit.
"Remote Sensing Toolkit will help grow the number of users who put NASA''s free and open data archive to work for people," said Kevin Murphy of NASA''s Earth Science Division in Washington.


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NASA Launches Online Toolkit To Promote Commercial Use Of Satellite Data.

China to launch 300 satellites to provide worldwide low-orbit communications - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

China to launch 300 satellites to provide worldwide low-orbit communications.

China plans to launch 300 low-orbit satellites to provide worldwide communication services, with the first in the series to be launched later this year, an official media report said today.

The first in the 300-satellite array -- known as the Hongyan constellation -- is set to be launched by the end of this year, it said.
The announcement was made at the Hunan Commercial Aviation Space and Marine Equipment Forum held on Thursday in Changsha, Central China's Hunan Province, state-run Global Times reported.
The official Xinhua news agency had in February quoted the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) as saying that the series called Hongyan constellation was set to be launched this year.
The Hongyan constellation is composed of more than 300 satellites, along with data processing centres, and will be built in three stages.
Once completed, the satellite communication network will take the place of the ground-based network and allow a mobile phone to be connected everywhere on the planet, either in a remote desert or at sea, the CASC said.
China is already developing BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) to rival America's Global Positioning System, (GPS).
Besides rivalling GPS, China uses BDS for its military applications to avoid dependence on GPS.
The new constellation will be the first group of low-orbit communication satellites designed and launched by China, enabling the country to better guide disaster rescue efforts, the Global Times reported.
Low-orbit satellites have stronger signals and a shorter signal delay than synchronous orbit satellites, which are 36,000 km above the equator.
The coverage of a single low-orbit satellite is limited, requiring more satellites to cover wider areas, Pang Zhihao, retired rocket and aerospace expert with the China Academy of Space Technology (CASC) told the daily.
"The technology can be applied to multiple fields including civil and military use," Pang said.
However, a number of China's aerospace companies have decided not to invest in the development of satellite systems as they worry about high costs and remain uncertain of the commercial use of the technology.
"Mobile communications satellites are a trend of the future, but reducing costs remains an important issue to be solved," Pang said.
Zhao Junsuo, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Software, told the newspaper that China's current space-based infrastructure remains insufficient.
Improvement of the infrastructure could lessen the cost of satellite constellations and needs government support, Zhao said.
China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited, is also planning to launch an array of low-orbit satellites. (Source: The India Today)


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China to launch 300 satellites to provide worldwide low-orbit communications.

India to train scientists of countries lacking satellite-building capability - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India to train scientists of countries lacking satellite-building capability.

India has decided to train space scientists of countries that lack satellite-building capability.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Few months ago, India had a pact with Israel on development of atomic clocks, electric propulsion for small satellites and GEO-LEO optical links
Isro chief said, “India will also launch the satellite built by Isro-trained scientists of a country if the spacecraft is well-built and clears all tests."
India has decided to train space scientists of countries that lack satellite-building capability. The country announced this initiative during the UNISPACE+50 meeting in Vienna recently.
Talking to TOI, Isro chairman K Sivan, who led the Indian delegation at the four-day summit from June 18, said, “India has taken the initiative to train scientists of countries like UAE and African nations that lack the technical knowhow and capability to build a satellite. India won’t charge for this capacity-building programme but will play a role in shortlisting scientists for the training programme.”
Sivan said, “India will also launch the satellite built by Isro-trained scientists of a country if the spacecraft is well-built and clears all tests. The Indian move was welcomed by member countries of UNISPACE+50.
“The Indian delegation also had bilateral talks with space scientists of 12 countries, including France, Israel and Japan, on the sidelines of the meeting. The talks focused on enhancing space collaboration.”
Some months ago, India had a pact with Israel on development of atomic clocks, electric propulsion for small satellites and GEO-LEO optical links. With France, the country had in March signed an agreement for close collaboration on inter-planetary missions. The discussion on the fringes of the Vienna summit was meant to boost cooperation in these fields.
India’s initiative came at a time when the forum commemorated the 50th anniversary of the ground-breaking 1968 UN Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE). The symposium also gave an opportunity to the international community to consider the future course of global space cooperation for the benefit of the humankind.
The conference took place around a regular session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS), the committee that works on problems from sustainability on Earth through space activities to the sustainable use of space environment.(Source: The Times of India)


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India to train scientists of countries lacking satellite-building capability.

China launches satellite to provide transmission across Asia-Pacific region - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis

China launches satellite to provide transmission across Asia-Pacific region.

Both the satellite and the rocket were developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

China launched a new communication satellite "APSTAR-6C" late on Thursday at the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
The satellite was sent into orbit by the Long March-3B carrier rocket. This was the 273rd mission of the Long March rocket series, Xinhua reported.
Both the satellite and the rocket were developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
The user of the satellite is Hong Kong-based APT Satellite Co. Ltd. The satellite will provide TV transmission, communication, Internet and multimedia services to customers across the Asia-Pacific region. (Source: The Business Standard)


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China launches satellite to provide transmission across Asia-Pacific region.