td-cloud-library domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home3/amaadcmh/publictrustofindia.com/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131According to reports, the Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist died of a heart attack in Chennai.
A former ISRO Director Dr P V Venkitakrishnan took to X to condole her demise and wrote, ”The voice of Valarmathi Madam will not be there for the countdowns of future missions of ISRO from Sriharikotta. Chandrayan 3 was her final countdown announcement. An unexpected demise. Feel so sad. Pranams!”
A native of Tamil Nadu’s Ariyalur, she was born on July 31, 1959 and went to the Nirmala Girls Higher Secondary School before graduating in engineering from the Government College of Technology in Coimbatore. The scientist joined ISRO in 1984 and played a pivotal role in numerous missions. She was the project director of RISAT-1, India’s first indigenously developed Radar Imaging Satellite (RIS) and the country’s second such satellite.
In 2015, she became the first person to receive the Abdul Kalam Award, instituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu in honour of the former president Abdul Kalam in 2015.
]]>For the first time in global space science, lunar soil around Moon’s south pole, its temperature variation till 10 cm beneath the surface have been profiled.
ISRO shared a graph on the variation of Moon’s soil temperature at various depths.
“ChaSTE (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment) measures the temperature profile of the lunar topsoil around the pole, to understand the thermal behaviour of the moon’s surface. It has a temperature probe equipped with a controlled penetration mechanism capable of reaching a depth of 10 cm beneath the surface. The probe is fitted with 10 individual temperature sensors,” ISRO said.
“The presented graph illustrates the temperature variations of the lunar surface/near-surface at various depths, as recorded during the probe’s penetration. This is the first such profile for the lunar south pole. Detailed observations are underway,” ISRO added on social media platform X.
Chandrayaan 3 has seven payloads — four on Vikram lander, two on Pragyan rover and one propulsion module payload – which will carry out different scientific experiments.
According to Union Minister of State for Space Dr Jitendra Singh, the main focus of the payloads is to provide an integrated assessment of the lunar surface features, including the thermal properties and surface elements of the lunar topsoil (regolith) as well as the plasma environment near the surface. It will also assess the lunar seismic activities and the impact of meteors on the lunar surface.
“All these are essential for the fundamental understanding of the lunar near-surface environment and for making future lunar habitat developments for explorations,” Dr Singh was quoted as saying by Department of Space.
Vikram lander is carrying Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA), ChaSTE, Langmuir Probe (RAMBHA-LP) and a laser retroreflector array payloads, while Pragyan rover has Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) payloads.
“All these payloads are planned for continuous operations from 24th August 2023 till end of the mission,” informed Dr Singh, who is also Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, and Atomic Energy.
ILSA will make continuous observations of the lunar seismic activities as well as the meteors impacting lunar surface.
“These measurements will help us plan for future habitat developments by understanding the frequency of potential hazards from meteor impacts and seismic activities,” said Dr Singh.
ChaSTE is mounted with 10 high-precision Thermal Sensors, which will dig into the moon’s top soil to study temperature variations, explained the minister.
“The low density and high thermal insulation of the regolith enhances its potential as a basic building block for future habitats while the assessment of the wide range of temperature variations are crucial for survivability,” Dr Singh elaborated.
Study of Moon’s near-surface plasma and its time variations will be carried out by the Langmuir probe. RAMBHA-LP is the first-ever in-situ observation of the near-surface plasma and its diurnal variation in higher lunar latitude, where the Sun elevation angle is less, said Dr Singh.
“These will help assess the lunar surface charging for future manned missions,” he said.
Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), which are mounted on Pragyan rover, will make the measurements of lunar surface elements at the stop-points (once in about 4.5 hours) along Rover track.
“These measurements can make inference on the potential surface elemental compositions which will be helpful for future self-sustaining habitat developments,” the minister said.
Chandrayaan-3 is also carrying Spectropolarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) onboard the Propulsion orbit of the Moon.
“It will help identify earth-like exoplanets in future. The data will be made available to the students and general public after the initial analysis and consolidations,” stated Dr Singh.
]]>Among those who made major contributions towards the success of Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 lunar exploration mission is Debasish Mohapartra from Berhampur.
Ever since he joined ISRO in 2006, Debasish has been working with dedication for different projects, said his family members, while celebrating the rare feat achieved on Wednesday.
“Debasish worked wholeheartedly for the project. He was handling an important component of Chandrayaan-3.,” said his father, adding that his son had joined ISRO as a Scientist C and has moved to the level of Scientist F now.
Working at the firing section of the PSLV, Debasish has been research-minded since his childhood. Among his friends, he was securing the highest marks in science. After completing his BTech from Sarang Engineering College and MTech from Jadavpur University, he successfully cracked GATE and joined ISRO in 2006, he said.
Similarly, Sarat Kumar Das of Talcher was looking after the crucial electronics component of the mission. He said the moment of Vikram lander’s landing on the moon would remain a special moment in his life.
After MSc in physics (electronics) from NIT, Rourkela, he did PhD from Northeastern University and then joined ISRO. He is working as the group director of the component quality assessment group. The electronic components used in Chandrayan-3 were used only after their certification.
Similar is the tale of Atal Krushna Khatua of Keonjhar who has been working with the ISRO for more than 10 years. He was stated to have been entrusted with the task of producing and supplying liquid engine in cryogenic stage.
The scientist worked towards ensuring the safety of the spacecraft amid varying temperatures with the thermal protection system.
Atal, who hails from Magurugadia of Keonjhar, did B Tech from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology and joined ISRO as a scientist in 2012.
Likewise, Nagaraju Kakinada of Berhampur was also a part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. A scientist at the ISRO, he has been working with the agency for the last six years.
Nagaraju Kakinada completed B. Tech from the Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla and did M. Tech in Telecommunications Engineering from IIT Delhi
]]>The Vikram Lander touched down on the Moon’s south pole, making India only the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on lunar surface after the US, China, and erstwhile Soviet Union.
As scientists, dignitaries and every visitor applauded the big moment at ISRO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi watched the live telecast from South Africa, where he is attending the BRICS Summit.
Moments after the successful landing, the PM addressed the nation and hailed India’s great achievement.
]]>The spacecraft is now just three-day away from its final destination, the moon’s south pole
ISRO chairman S Somanath said that the lander, Vikram, will be able to make a soft landing on the Moon’s surface on August 23 even if all the sensors and two of its engines do not work. This is India’s third lunar mission to further explore the uncharted south pole of the lunar surface.
The landing will streamed live from 5.27 pm on August 23 at:
This came amid reports that Luna 25, Russian spacecraft, spun out of control and smashed into the moon before the planned lunar soft landing scheduled for August 21. “The apparatus moved into an unpredictable orbit and ceased to exist as a result of a collision with the surface of the Moon,” Roskosmos, Russia’s state space corporation, said in a statement, as quoted in the Reuters’ report.
]]>The chief of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) congratulated ISRO and hailed India for demonstrating leadership.
“Congratulations to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the Chandrayaan-3 launch, wishing you safe travels to the Moon. We look forward to the scientific results to come from the mission, including NASA’s laser retroreflector array. India is demonstrating leadership on ArtemisAccords!” tweeted Bill Nelson.
There is a NASA connect to Chandrayaan-3 as one of its eight payloads is the US space agency’s Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA).
A specialised instrument used for lunar range research, LRA enables scientists to calculate distances on the moon by bouncing signals off the retroreflector and monitoring how long it takes for them to return.
India signed the Artemis Accords last month, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the United States.
The Accords, signed by 26 countries including Japan, Australia, the UK, France and Canada, aim to boost human space exploration on the Moon and Mars and also enhance peaceful relationships between nations.
]]>As per the conditions, the interested private players or the leader of the consortium should have a minimum turnover of Rs 400 crore and be profitable. The respondents should be in operation for a period not less than seven years and have at least five years manufacturing experience, thus excluding new age rocket startups if interested to bid alone.
The Intellectual Property Rights of the SSLV configuration considered for transfer of technology shall continue to be owned by ISRO. However non-exclusive and non-transferable license of the rocket technology will be given to the selected party. The SSLV designed and developed by ISRO has a payload capacity of 500 kg and is powered by solid fuel.
As per IN-SPACe, the technology to make SSLV will be transferred only to Indian private industries. To the question how IN-SPACe is getting involved in the transfer of technology as the technology is owned by ISRO which already has a commercial arm by name NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) a senior official of ISRO told IANS: “The contract will be with NSIL. INSPACe is facilitating the deal as per their mandate.”
The Indian space agency has flown the rocket twice with satellites. While the first mission was a failure, the second one was a success.
According to the IN-SPACe, globally, with the emergence of the commercial space sector, it is expected that more than 20,000 satellites will be launched in the coming decade, as pointed out by Euroconsult.
For India to have a significant share of the commercial launch services market, it is necessary that the aggregate lift off capacity of the nation be increased multifold, quickly.
To this end, there is a need to complement the launch capacity of ISRO by allowing Indian private players also to own and operate launch vehicles developed by ISRO.
According to IN-SPACe, the SSLV technology may be transferred to more than one player in the nation’s interest.
The demand for launch of small satellites to a low earth orbit (LEO) has been phenomenally increased over years and set to further grow and anticipate around 8-10 launches every year.
As per note calling for EoI, the technology to make SSLV will be transferred to Indian private industries who are keen on assimilating the technology, set up manufacturing and business operations and compete in the global satellite launch market in the small satellite segment.
The interested respondents will be shortlisted based on their experience in handling multi-disciplinary turn-key projects and are capable of absorbing SSLV including aerodynamics, structural design, auxiliary systems, propulsion technologies, avionics and others from ISRO.
The shortlisted respondents will then be interacting with ISRO and IN-SPACe for getting further insight of the technology transfer processes.
Subsequently a Request for Proposal (RFP) would be prepared and tendered to these shortlisted bidders seeking techno-commercial bids.
A pre-EoI conference will be held on August 2, 2023. The last date for submission of EoI is August 2023 and the screening and identifying of prospective bidders will be on September 23, 2023.
The minimum baseline cost for technology transfer shall include technology transfer cost and the handholding charges — for 24 months or realisation of two SSLV rockets whichever is earlier- which will be indicated in the RFP.
To this extent, the commercial bids in response to the RFP shall be above the minimum baseline cost and the selection criteria would be on the highest bidder basis.
The Transfer of Technology process shall be accomplished within a period of 24 months or realisation of two SSLV rockets whichever is earlier, the note calling for EoI said.
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