Archive For February, 2019

This Indian startup is cutting the cost of putting satellites in space, making them last longer

For decades, space exploration has been the domain of government agencies across the world. Only nodal agencies or government-backed institutes like the NASA, ESA and our very own ISRO have had that privilege. Of late, private companies such as Mr Elon Musk’s SpaceX, and Mr Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin have entered this area in the past few years. Now, Indian companies too are […]

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AI will drive aerospace sector in the next 15 years

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be the key driver of fast-paced developments in Aerospace sector in the next 15 years, said Dr VK Saraswat, member, NITI Aayog. At the Annual General Meeting and National Conference of the Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI), he said it would play a significant role in cutting down costs, reduction in […]

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ISRO eyes kerosene to boost GSLV Mk III’s lifting power to 6 tonnes

Highlights Rocket with the semicryogenic stage won’t be used for the Gaganyaan mission Current GSLV Mk III with L110 stage will only be used for the manned mission with some modifications Advantage of using kerolox is that it is 10 times dense — meaning the same volume of kerolox will generate more thrust than the […]

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The LCA Tejas is on time

The December 2018 deadline for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas to attain Final Operational Clearance (FOC) has been partially met with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) handing over FOC related documents to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The documents (drawing applicability lists) were handed over by ADA on December 31 after it was vetted […]

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ISRO’s new station in Bhutan to counter China’s Tibet facility

India is building a satellite tracking and data reception centre in neighbouring Bhutan. A report published stated the centre will strategically serve to counter a similar Chinese facility in the region. As per the report, people who are aware of the matter that the ground station of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Bhutan is likely to double […]

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SPACE DIPLOMACY WITH NEIGHBOURS

While the launch of Chandrayan-2 scheduled on January 3 was postponed a second time for unexplained reasons, media headlines of January 4 announced India setting up five ground stations and over 500 terminals in neighbouring countries; one each in Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. “To counter China’s sphere of influence in Asia” the […]

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ISRO developing technology to reuse first & second stages of rocket

In a bid to cut cost of satellite launchers, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working on reusable launch technology for using the first and second stages of a rocket multiple times. To master this technology, ISRO is going to conduct an advanced version of the reusable launch technology (RLV) test in June-July. ISRO chairman […]

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Now, IAF wants new canopy for LCA

The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas aircraft, in its final operational clearance (FOC) configuration will have a new, thicker canopy with the Indian Air Force (IAF) having demanded the same. The same canopy is also to be used in the Tejas Mk-1A aircraft, which will be more advanced.The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics […]

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IAF to fly an aircraft on biofuel on Republic Day

On Republic Day 2019, the IAF will create history by flying an AN-32 transport aircraft on biofuel over the Rajpath. This will be the IAF’s second biofuel flight and comes more than a month after the successful maiden AN-32 sortie in Chandigarh. A part of the Republic Day parade flypast will be a three aircraft-vic-formation […]

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ISRO to use PSLV stage four as orbital platform, create history

When India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) with its new configuration — PSLV-DL — is launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota later this month, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will aim to achieve a first in the history of satellite technology.  Unlike other launch vehicles, where each stage of the launcher plunges back […]

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