Archive For December, 2013

Voyager exits solar system with a ‘Namaste’

As India celebrates its maiden Mars mission, here is another feat achieved by Voyager 1, the historic spacecraft launched 36 years ago by NASA, to find other forms of life — extraterrestrials. As on November 5, 2013, the spacecraft is the farthest man-made object from earth and interestingly, Voyager has a Kannada connection. Aboard this […]

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China shows off moon rover model before space launch

China offered a rare glimpse into its secretive space programme today, displaying a model of a lunar rover that will explore the moon’s surface in an upcoming mission. Beijing has ambitious space goals, including plans to send its first probe to land on the moon by the end of this year, state media reported in […]

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ISRO rehearses orbit-raising manoeuvres for Mars orbiter

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) rehearsed a series of six manoeuvres, simulating the raising of the apogee of its Mars orbiter which the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C25) put into earth-bound orbit of 247 km x 23,566 km.  The rehearsal took place from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) station in Bangalore. […]

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ISRO propels India Inc’s space ambitions

When India’s Mars orbiter mission (MOM) lifted off from Sriharikota at 2.38 pm, it was a moment of joy for Nr Jayant Patil and his colleagues at Larsen & Toubro (L&T). Mr Patil heads the defence and aerospace business unit at L&T, which has been involved in India’s space programme for three decades.  “Three middle […]

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‘Mission symbolises India’s assured access to space’

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C25) successfully putting the 1,350-kg Mars Orbiter first into its earth-bound orbit on Tuesday “symbolised India’s assured access to space” and it proved that “we can do any type of mission,” said Mr S. Ramakrishnan, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. “With meticulous planning and team work, no […]

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India enters golden jubilee of rocket launch

India today entered the golden jubilee of the launch of its first rocket from the sylvan settings of the coastal hamlet of Thumba near here, marking the decisive step of the country’s space odyssey which has witnessed landmarks like Chandrayaan and Mars mission. The sleepy palm-fringed village became part of modern India’s quest to scale […]

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Mars orbiter sends first snap

The Mars orbiter currently revolving around Earth has sent its first pictures. The single greenish, yellow and cream picture of India and its neighbourhood that ISRO has shared was taken on November 20 at 1.50 p.m. from a distance of 70,000 km. ISRO Chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan said the spacecraft was now orbiting Earth once […]

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A peek into minds of future scientists

As many as 126 projects, by 200 students from across the country, were on display at The Initiative for Research & Innovation in Science 2013, India’s largest research-based national science fair, which was inaugurated at Christ College. The projects were shortlisted from more than 2,000 in the event sponsored by Intel India in association with […]

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Mars Orbiter is on course, says ISRO chairman

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan said that the Mars Orbiter is proceeding towards its destination without glitches. “The Mars Orbiter space craft is in good health. On the first of December we expect the space craft will move from the earth orbit toward Mars. That is the main action”, he told […]

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Our science policies are piecemeal, says C N R Rao

BANGALORE: The first step for reviving science in India is to create a conducive environment for youngsters, says Professor C N R Rao, chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, who was honoured with the Bharat. “The need of the hour is to create places for youngsters to work like the IT […]

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