ISRO Chandrayaan-2 Highlights & Updates

[Nitin Kumar]

Nasa's LRO Camera Spots Chandrayaan-2 Lander Vikram Debris On Moon Surface

Analysis of the images taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Camera, released early on December 3 (IST), for the first time, has indicated the debris of Vikram, the Chandrayaan-2 lander that hard-landed on Moon on September 7. In a statement, NASA said: "Vikram lander found." An image of the Moon with blue and green dots show the impact point of Vikram and an associated debris field.


More for "Green dots indicate spacecraft debris (confirmed or likely). Blue dots locate disturbed soil, likely were small bits of the spacecraft churned up the regolith.
While the NASA statement does not elaborate on Subramanian's identity, it says he had contacted the LRO project with an identification of debris. "...After receiving this tip, the LROC team confirmed the identification by comparing before and after images," the statement reads. The LRO Camera team released the first mosaic (acquired September 17) of the site on September 26 and many people, including Subramanian, have downloaded the mosaic to search for signs of Vikram. When the images for the first mosaic were acquired the impact point was poorly illuminated and thus not easily identifiable. Two subsequent image sequences were acquired on October 14 and 15, and November 11. "The LROC team scoured the surrounding area in these new mosaics and found the impact site (70.8810°S, 22.7840°E, 834 m elevation) and associated debris field. The November mosaic had the best pixel scale (0.7 meter) and lighting conditions (72° incidence angle)," the statement added.
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The debris first located by Shanmuga is about 750 meters northwest of the main crash site and was a single bright pixel identification in that first mosaic (1.3-meter pixels, 84° incidence angle). The November mosaic shows best the impact crater, ray, and extensive debris field. The three largest pieces of debris are each about 2x2 pixels and cast a one-pixel shadow.
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[Nitin Kumar]

Isro launch RISAT-2BR1 Spy Satellite On December 11

The Indian Space Research Organisation will launch the RISAT-2BR1 satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on December 11
The Indian Space Research Organisation is gearing up to launch an earth observation satellite, days after launching a similar CARTOSAT-3. Isro will launch the RISAT-2BR1 satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on December 11.

The RISAT-2BR1 is the second satellite in the RISAT-2B series and along with the CARTOSAT-3 is part of a widely whispered about not formally acknowledged group of 'spy' satellites that will boost the Indian military's carry out Earth surveillance from the space.

The first satellite in the RISAT-2B series was launched earlier this year to replace the aging RISAT-2, which went out of commission. The RISAT-2BR1 will launch on December 11 and will be followed by another satellite of the RISAT-2B series later month. A fourth RISAT-2B type satellite will be launched later to complete a quartet of spy satellites with advance earth imaging abilities.

The RISAT-2BR1 will be launched on December 11 onboard the 'workhorse' of the Indian Space Research Organisation -- the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket. According to Isro, this will be the 50th mission of the PSLV.

Along with the 628-kilo RISAT-2BR1, the PSLV rocket will also carry nine commercial satellites -- six from the US and one each from Israel, Italy, and Japan. The owners of these satellites -- countries or companies -- pay Isro to put them into orbit.

The PSLV RISAT-2BR1 launch comes days after the Isro successfully launched the CARTOSAT-3 earth imaging satellite. It is also the second launch since the launch of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which placed an orbiter around the Moon and unsuccessfully attempted to land a rover on the lunar surface.

[Nitin Kumar]

ISRO to launch PSLV-C48 with spy satellite

PSLV-C48 is scheduled to lift off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 3.25 PM.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) would launch India's latest spy satellite RISAT-2BR1 and nine foreign satellites on Wednesday. The radar imaging earth observation satellite, RISAT-2BR1 would be launched through Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

The workhorse PSLV, on its 50th mission, PSLV-C48 is scheduled to lift off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 3.25 PM, the Isro said.

PSLV will also carry nine foreign satellites during the launch. The foreign satellites include one from Israel, one from Italy, one from Japan and six from the USA.

Sixteen minutes into the launch, the PSLV rocket will sling RISAT-2BR1 and a minute later, the first of the nine customer satellites will be ejected into space.

The launch of the spy satellites and the other nine satellites is expected to conclude in about 21 minutes.

The countdown for the launch of PSLV-C48 mission commenced on Tuesday evening, Isro said.

"The countdown for the launch of #PSLVC48/#RISAT2BR1 mission commenced today at 1640 Hrs (IST) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota," Isro said in a tweet.

According to the Isro, the co-passenger satellites are being launched under a commercial arrangement with NewSpace India Limited (MSIL). The 628 kg satellite, meant for applications in various fields like agriculture, forestry, and disaster management support.

Earlier, Isro Chairman K Sivan offered prayers at the Tirupati Balaji temple in Tirumala before the launch of satellites from PSLV C48.

While speaking to media, he said that PSLV C48 is a historic achievement by ISRO as this is the 50th launch for PSLV and 75th launch from Sriharikota.

[Vikesh]

ISRO to launch PSLV-C48 with spy satellite

PSLV-C48 is scheduled to lift off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 3.25 PM.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) would launch India's latest spy satellite RISAT-2BR1 and nine foreign satellites on Wednesday. The radar imaging earth observation satellite, RISAT-2BR1 would be launched through Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

The workhorse PSLV, on its 50th mission, PSLV-C48 is scheduled to lift off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 3.25 PM, the Isro said.

PSLV will also carry nine foreign satellites during the launch. The foreign satellites include one from Israel, one from Italy, one from Japan and six from the USA.

Sixteen minutes into the launch, the PSLV rocket will sling RISAT-2BR1 and a minute later, the first of the nine customer satellites will be ejected into space.

The launch of the spy satellites and the other nine satellites is expected to conclude in about 21 minutes.

The countdown for the launch of PSLV-C48 mission commenced on Tuesday evening, Isro said.

"The countdown for the launch of #PSLVC48/#RISAT2BR1 mission commenced today at 1640 Hrs (IST) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota," Isro said in a tweet.

According to the Isro, the co-passenger satellites are being launched under a commercial arrangement with NewSpace India Limited (MSIL). The 628 kg satellite, meant for applications in various fields like agriculture, forestry, and disaster management support.

Earlier, Isro Chairman K Sivan offered prayers at the Tirupati Balaji temple in Tirumala before the launch of satellites from PSLV C48.

While speaking to media, he said that PSLV C48 is a historic achievement by ISRO as this is the 50th launch for PSLV and 75th launch from Sriharikota.

Such an amazing work is done by the ISRO

[Nitin Kumar]

ISRO Planning To Launch Satellite Aditya To Study Sun

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his last 'Mann ki Baat' program of this year on Sunday said that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch a satellite called Aditya to study the sun.

"India is quite advanced in the field of astronomy, and we have taken path-breaking initiatives in this field. ISRO has an astronomical satellite called ASTROSAT. Moreover, they are planning to launch a satellite called Aditya, to study the sun," said Modi.

The Prime Minister further said that India has many powerful telescopes around the country including a giant meter-wave telescope near Pune and other powerful telescopes located in Kodaikkaanal, Udagamandala, Guru Shikhar and Hanle Ladakh.

"In 2016, the then Prime Minister of Belgium and I had inaugurated the 3.6-meter Devasthal optical telescope in Nainital. This is also known as Asia's largest telescope," he added.

Modi also said the citizens should strive to understand India's ancient knowledge in astronomy and modern achievements in this field. He said that the young scientists in the country not only displaying a great desire to know the scientific history but also are resolute in fashioning astronomy's future.

The Prime Minister also urged the listeners to develop star gazing as a hobby in order to boost the activities like rural camps and picnics. He also pressed on the need to form astronomy clubs on school and college levels.

"The planetariums in our country, in addition to increasing the understanding of the night sky, also motivate people to develop star gazing as a hobby. Many people install amateur telescopes on their balconies or terrace. Stargazing can also encourage rural camps and rural picnics," added Prime Minister Modi.

[Nitin Kumar]

4 Astronauts Identified For Gaganyaan Mission

Isro chief K Sivan briefed reporters in Bengaluru on the progress of the Gaganyaan and Chandrayaan-3 projects. Here's what he said.
Four astronauts have been identified for India's upcoming Gaganyaan mission, India's space agency Isro said today.

Gaganyaan is an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft intended to send astronauts to space for a minimum of seven days by 2022, as part of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Isro chief K Sivan said many of Gaganyaan's systems needed to be tested, and that crew training would be a major activity this year.
Sivan said India's next moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, had been approved and would mostly be launched next year.
The ongoing moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, has been largely successful -- but the Vikram lander failed to soft-land on the Moon in September. Nasa recently published images of debris at the crash site, with help from a Chennai techie.

K Sivan pointed out today that the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter was still functioning, and said it would continue to provide data for seven years.
Sivan also said land acquisition for a second spaceport in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu -- measuring 2,300 acres -- had been initiated.