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[Nilgiri]

Gisat-1 launch likely by early April; satellite can aid military ops | India News - Times of India

India News: BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) will make a second attempt to give India its first state-of-the art earth observation satelli.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) will make a second attempt to give India its first state-of-the art earth observation satellite, by launching the Geo Imaging Satellite (Gisat-1) by the end of this month or the first week of April.
The launch of Gisat-1 was first scheduled for March 5, 2020, and was scrubbed minutes before the 26-hour countdown was to begin on March 4, 2020.

Isro chairman K Sivan told TOI on Sunday (March 7, 2021): “The date has not been finalised as yet, but we are targetting a launch by the end of this month or in the first week of April.”

The satellite, which will add to Isro’s constellation of earth observation satellites, will be placed in the geostationary or the geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO), and will be launched on a GSLV. Once in the GEO, it will subsequently be positioned in geostationary orbit, about 36,000km above Earth’s equator, using onboard propulsion systems.

Designed to provide near real-time images of large areas of region of interest at frequent intervals, the satellite will hold the potential of even aiding the country’s armed forces to plan operations.
“Operating from geostationary orbit, GISAT-1 will facilitate near real time observation of the Indian sub-continent, under cloud free condition, at frequent intervals,” Isro had said last year.
Weighing 2,268 kg, the satellite will also provide spectral signatures for agriculture, forestry, mineralogy, disaster warning, cloud properties, snow, glaciers and oceanography.
It will be equipped with six-band multispectral visible and near-InfraRed imaging sensor with 42m resolution, 158-band hyper-spectral visible & near-InfraRed sensor with 318m resolution and 256-band hyper-spectral short wave-InfraRed sensor with 191m resolution.

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GISAT-1 testing earlier in anechoic chamber:

 

[Nilgiri]

ISRO develops radar for joint earth observation satellite mission with NASA

"NISAR will be the first satellite mission to use two different radar frequencies (L-band and S-band) to measure changes in our planet's surface less than a centimeter across", according to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).

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ISRO develops radar for joint earth observation satellite mission with NASA


"NISAR will be the first satellite mission to use two different radar frequencies (L-band and S-band) to measure changes in our planet's surface less than a centimeter across", according to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).


ISRO has completed the development of a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capable of producing extremely high-resolution images for a joint earth observation satellite mission with the US space agency NASA.

NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) is a joint collaboration for a dual-frequency L and S-band SAR for earth observation.

"NISAR will be the first satellite mission to use two different radar frequencies (L-band and S-band) to measure changes in our planet's surface less than a centimeter across", according to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).

NASA and Bengaluru-headquartered ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) signed a partnership on September 30, 2014, to collaborate on and launch NISAR.

The mission is targeted to launch in early 2022 from ISRO's Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh's Nellore district, about 100 kms north of Chennai.

NASA is providing the mission's L-band SAR, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder and payload data subsystem.

ISRO is providing the spacecraft bus, the S-band radar, the launch vehicle and associated launch services for the mission, whose goal is to make global measurements of the causes and consequences of land surface changes using advanced radar imaging.

The S-band SAR payload of NISAR satellite mission was flagged off by the Secretary in the Department of Space and ISRO Chairman K Sivan on March 4 through virtual mode.

The payload has been shipped from ISRO's Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre (SAC) to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at Pasadena in the US for integration with the latter's L-band SAR payload, an ISRO statement said.

"NISAR would provide a means of disentangling highly spatial and temporally complex processes ranging from ecosystem disturbances to ice sheet collapses and natural hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides", ISRO said.

NASA added that the mission will measure Earth's changing ecosystems, dynamic surfaces and ice masses, providing information about biomass, natural hazards, sea level rise and groundwater, and will support a host of other applications.

"NISAR will observe Earth's land and ice-covered surfaces globally with 12-day regularity on ascending and descending passes, sampling Earth on average every six days for a baseline three-year mission", NASA said on the mission's website.

"This allows the mission to observe a wide range of Earth processes, from the flow rates of glaciers and ice sheets to the dynamics of earthquakes and volcanoes".

NISAR uses a sophisticated information-processing technique known as SAR to produce extremely high-resolution images.

Radar penetrates clouds and darkness, enabling NISAR to collect data day and night in any weather.

The instrument's imaging swath the width of the strip of data collected along the length of the orbit track is greater than 150 miles (240 kilometres), which allows it to image the entire Earth in 12 days, it was stated.

Over the course of multiple orbits, the radar images will allow users to track changes in croplands and hazard sites, as well as to monitor ongoing crises such as volcanic eruptions.

The images will be detailed enough to show local changes and broad enough to measure regional trends.

As the mission continues for years, the data will allow for better understanding of the causes and consequences of land surface changes, increasing our ability to manage resources and prepare for and cope with global change, according to NASA.

"NASA requires a minimum of three years of global science operations with the L-band radar, and ISRO requires five years of operations with the S-band radar over specified target areas in India and the Southern Ocean", it said.

​

 

[Nilgiri]

ISRO Gaganyaan Mission Astronauts Training Nears Completion, First Unmanned Mission Likely in December 2021

ISRO Gaganyaan mission astronauts have almost completed their training in Russia, according to a report filed by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh

www.dqindia.com

ISRO Gaganyaan mission astronauts have almost completed their training in Russia, according to a report filed by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh

ISRO Gaganyaan mission astronauts, who have been undergoing training in Russia, have almost completed training activities, said Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of Atomic Energy and Space, Government of India in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The first unmanned mission of the Gaganyaan programme is scheduled to be held in December 2021, and the second unmanned flight in 2022-23, which will then be followed by the human spaceflight demonstration.

As of now, major modules such as survival training (snow, water and steppe), parabolic flights, theoretical classes on orbital mechanics, astro-navigation and some Soyuz systems have been completed, said the minister in a statement. Four Indian astronauts are currently undergoing training in Russia for the mission.

Some Initiatives Undertaken by the Government of India to Support ISRO Gaganyaan Mission​

• An expert team has been constituted to define the training curriculum.
• The preliminary design of the ISRO Gaganyaan system has been completed.
• Memorandum of understanding (MoUs) has been signed with the Indian Air Force for crew management activities for the Indian human space flight programme, seven DRDO laboratories for the design and development of human-centric products; and academic institutes for the development of the microgravity payloads.
• Human-Centric Products such as preliminary design review of various human-centric systems such as space food and potable water, crew health monitoring system, emergency survival kit, and crew medical kit, among others has been completed.
• The hardware realization is in an advanced stage for ground test and first unmanned mission.
• Qualification tests of liquid engines as part of human rating of launch vehicle have commenced, according to a PIB statement.

The minister also highlighted the efforts of the Government in providing a level playing field for private companies in satellites, launches and space-based services by providing them access to ISRO facilities to give them opportunities in selected areas of planetary exploration, outer space travel, and so on.

 

[Nilgiri]

22:35 (IST) Mar 12 2021

Indian Space Research Organisation launched sounding rocket (RH-560) to study attitudinal variations in the neutral winds and plasma dynamics carried out today at SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota: ISRO

Credit: !SRO

Reference:

 

[Nilgiri]

 

[Nilgiri]

ISRO, Japanese agency review cooperation on 2024 joint lunar mission

Indian Space Research Orgainsation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on Thursday held a virtual meeting to review their ongoing cooperation in launching a joint lunar polar exploration (LUPEX) mission.

www.indiatoday.in

Indian Space Research Orgainsation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on Thursday reviewed their ongoing cooperation to launch a joint lunar polar exploration (LUPEX) mission.

Scientists from both the space agencies have been jointly working on the mission that aims to send a lander and rover to the Moon's south pole around 2024.

Secretary in the Department of Space and ISRO Chairman K Sivan and JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa led their resepctive delegations at a bilateral meeting held on virtual mode.

"Apart from reviewing on-going cooperation in earth observation, lunar cooperation and satellite navigation, both sides have agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation in space situational awareness and professional exchange programme", an ISRO statement said.

"On this occasion, both agencies signed an 'Implementing Arrangement' for collaborative activities on rice crop area and air quality monitoring using satellite data", the Bengaluru headquartered space agency said.

On March 4, India and Italy had decided to explore opportunities in the field of earth observation, space science and robotic and human exploration.

On February 28, ISRO successfully launched the 637-kg Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 on board PSLV-C51 rocket from Sriharikota spaceport.

Brazil's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Marcos Pontes visited ISROs Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh's Nellore district, about 100 kms from Chennai, and witnessed the launch.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who heads the DoS, also had a virtual interaction with Pontes and officials of the Brazilian space agency.

"Brazil has requested India's support in procurement of material and systems for its launch vehicle programme," a DoS statement said.

"Cooperation possibilities in future space science missions, utilising ISRO's PS4-orbital platform (PS4-OP) space weather studies etc. were discussed", the official statement said.

PS4-OP refers to a novel idea formulated byISROto use the spentPS4stage (fourth stage of PSLV) to carry out in-orbit scientific experiments for an extended duration of one to six months.

Sivan also had a virtual meeting with Head of Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo, on February 17.
"Both leaders have also reviewed the status of on-going cooperation activities in earth observation, satellite navigation, space situational awareness and establishment of transportable terminal in Australia to support India's 'Gaganyaan' programme", ISRO had said at the time.

According to ISRO, India has always recognised that space has dimension beyond national considerations, which can only be addressed along with international partners.

(With inputs from PTI)

ALSO READ: Isro develops joint earth observation satellite mission radar with Nasa

 

[Nilgiri]

ISRO likely to launch India’s first solar mission later this year

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is likely to launch the country’s first solar mission later this year.

www.aerospace-technology.com

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is likely to launch the country’s first solar mission later this year.

Named Aditya L-1, the mission was initially scheduled for launch in the first half of last year but was eventually delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

During this mission, the satellite will be placed at Lagrangian point (L1) between the Earth and Sun to conduct studies on three different layers of the Sun.


The Aditya L-1 mission will carry six payloads, including the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), which is designed to study the diagnostic parameters of solar corona and dynamics and origin of coronal mass ejections.

The satellite will carry the payloads equipped with enhanced science scope and objectives.

They will facilitate observations on the Sun’s visible surface called the photosphere; the irregular layer over it called the chromosphere; and the Sun’s corona, which has a temperature of 6,000 Kelvin (5,726.85°C).

The satellite will travel 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth’s surface.

Besides the Aditya L-1, ISRO has planned eight launches this year, including the PSLV-C51, which was launched in February carrying Brazil’s Amazonia-1 optical Earth observation satellite, along with 18 co-passenger satellites from India and the US.

The launch for the GISAT-1 Earth observation mission was scheduled for 5 March but was ultimately postponed.

In a separate development, ISRO revealed its intention to offload most of its space-related activities to the industry to focus on advanced research.

ISRO chairman K Sivan said: “Future of space activities is now changing. Otherwise, (earlier) all the space activities were done by only ISRO. Now, we are giving equal opportunity to private players to also do it.”

 

[Nilgiri]

ISRO makes breakthrough demonstration of free-space Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over 300 m - ISRO

For the first time in the country, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully demonstrated free-space Quantum Communication over a distance of 300 m. A number of key technologies were developed indigenously to accomplish this major feat, which included the use of indigenously...

www.isro.gov.in

For the first time in the country, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully demonstrated free-space Quantum Communication over a distance of 300 m. A number of key technologies were developed indigenously to accomplish this major feat, which included the use of indigenously developed NAVIC receiver for time synchronization between the transmitter and receiver modules, and gimbal mechanism systems instead of bulky large-aperture telescopes for optical alignment.

The demonstration has included live videoconferencing using quantum-key-encrypted signals. This is a major milestone achievement for unconditionally secured satellite data communication using quantum technologies.

The Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology underpins Quantum Communication technology that ensures unconditional data security by virtue of the principles of quantum mechanics, which is not possible with the conventional encryption systems. The conventional cryptosystems used for data-encryption rely on the complexity of mathematical algorithms, whereas the security offered by quantum communication is based on the laws of Physics. Therefore, quantum cryptography is considered as ‘future-proof’, since no future advancements in the computational power can break quantum-cryptosystem.

The free-space QKD was demonstrated at Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad, between two line-of-sight buildings within the campus. The experiment was performed at night, in order to ensure that there is no interference of the direct sunlight.

The experiment is a major breakthrough towards ISRO’s goal of demonstrating Satellite Based Quantum Communication (SBQC), where ISRO is gearing up to demonstrate the technology between two Indian ground stations.

 

[Nilgiri]

Static test of first stage solid motor of India's mini rocket SSLV unsuccessful

New motor has to be static tested on the ground to prove its performance. If it is successful, one more of the same configuration is tested again for acceptance.

economictimes.indiatimes.com

The static test of first stage solid motor (SS1) of ISRO's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) -- a new-generation compact rocket -- was not successful, according to sources in ISRO. "Oscillation was noticed after 60 seconds into the test and nozzle was blown out near the bucket flange where it's attached with the motor at around 95 seconds", sources in the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency said.

It was supposed to be tested for a total duration of about 110 seconds, officials said.

The Indian Space Research Organisation had targeted to launch the first development flight of SSLV (D1) in April and may now in all probability have to revise this schedule.

"SSLV First stage is a new solid motor...new design.

New motor has to be static tested on the ground to prove its performance. If it is successful, one more of the same configuration is tested again for acceptance.

If both are successful, no more ground test is required and third motor of the same configuration will be accepted for flight", an ISRO official said.

SS2 and SS3 motors, igniters and SS2 flex nozzle assembly, liquid propulsion-based VTM (Velocity Trimming Module) thrusters, propellant tanks and propulsion components had already been realised by ISRO and made ready for the maiden orbital test flight.

"We have to identify the root cause of the failure and modify the design", the official said on the unsuccessful testing at Sriharikota spaceport in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, about 100 kms north of Chennai, last week.

Asked how long it may take for ISRO to complete the two static tests, the official said: "Maybe six months".

SSLV is two metres in diameter and 34 meters in length with a lift-off weight of about 120 tons.

ISRO has over the years realised five generations of launch vehicles -- SLV-3, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV and GSLV-MkIII.

The space agency had earlier said the SSLV is going to be a new member of the launch vehicle family.

It is intended to cater to emerging global small satellite launch service market.

"We are flying an earth observation satellite (EOS-02) on board the the first development flight of SSLV", ISRO Chairman and Secretary in the Department of Space, K Sivan said last month.

SSLV has been designed to meet "launch on demand" requirements in a cost-effective manner for small satellites in a dedicated and ride share mode.

It is a three-stage all solid vehicle with a capability to launch up to 500 kg satellite mass into 500 km low earth orbit (LEO) and 300 kg to Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).

By comparison, PSLV -- the workhorse of ISRO -- can take up to 1,750 kg payload into SSO of 600 km altitude.

With lower per kg launch cost, the mini launcher will have multiple satellite mounting options for nano, micro and small satellites.

Sivan had earlier termed the SSLV an innovative vehicle, which can be assembled in just 72 hours.

"Instead of 60 days (for building a PSLV), it (SSLV) will be assembled in three days; instead of 600 people (needed to build a PSLV), it (SSLV) will be done by six people", he had said.

Chairman and Managing Director of ISRO's commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), G Narayanan, recently said: "the world over there is a big boom for small launch vehicles and that's why we are focusing on that".

The US-based satellite ride share and mission management provider, Spaceflight Inc., has already purchased the first commercial launch of the SSLV (SSLV-D2) from NSIL for launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

Spaceflight had said at the time that it has already sold out the entire manifest (launch) for this secured SSLV-D2 launch, with spacecraft from an undisclosed U.S.-based satellite constellation customer.

This undisclosed customer is reportedly Seattle-based BlackSky Global, which will launch four earth observation satellites on board SSLV-D2 in the ride share mission arranged Spaceflight.

"Were taking advantage of the growth in the small satellite market to deliver more launch options with the mini-launcher", a senior NSIL official said.

"The SSLV is the much-needed solution to fill the gap in the portfolio of small launch vehicles," Curt Blake, CEO and President of Spaceflight, had said.

"SSLV is designed for the launch-on-demand concept with very quick turn-around capability in between launches.

SSLV is perfectly suited for launching multiple micro satellites at a time and supports multiple orbital drop-offs", Blake had said.

 

[FalconSlayersDFI]

 

[Nilgiri]

First test in ISRO archive:

Indian space startup fires world’s first fully 3D printed rocket engine as others play catch up | Business Insider India

Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos has become the worlds first company to successfully test a fully 3D printed rocket engine. It only takes four days to produce and can carry payloads of upto 100 kilos into lower earth orbit LEO.

www.businessinsider.in

Wow impressive. @Gautam @anmdt @Cabatli_53 @Indos @Webslave et al.

They 3d printed this?!?! World's first:

Indian startup scene in space is really going to go places this decade.

 

[Nilgiri]

ISRO embarking on replicating NASA partnership model in India

The Bengaluru-headquarteted space agency is striking a partnership with the IIST – something similar to the JPL-Caltech model in the United States.

www.thehindu.com

The Bengaluru-headquarteted space agency is striking a partnership with the IIST – something similar to the JPL-Caltech model in the United States.​

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is embarking on a mission of a different kind by taking the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) to a much higher, futuristic research orbit.

The Bengaluru-headquarteted space agency is striking a partnership with the IIST – something similar to the JPL-Caltech model in the United States.

JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) is federally funded by the U.S. space agency NASA and managed by Caltech (California Institute of Technology).

To coordinate joint research activities between ISRO centres and IIST, akin to the Caltech-JPL model, a dedicated framework has now been put into place, with Capacity Building Programme Office (CBPO) located at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru as a focal point.

An Advanced Space Research Group has been created to identify application-oriented research projects of importance to ISRO centres and matching with the interests of IIST faculty.


An Empowered Overseeing Committee has been constituted to review and approve the proposals.

CBPO Director, P.V. Venkitakrishnan told PTI that under the initiative, “very advanced, totally new and futuristic projects” – nothing that has been done by ISRO – would be taken up.

“Twenty-eight to 30 projects have been identified”, he said.

It’s a mix of two-years, 3-5 years, and seven-year projects that would be pursued by IIST faculty.

Thiruvananthapuram-based IIST, an autonomous institution under the Department of Space (DoS) and a ‘Deemed to be University’, is similar to Caltech, according to him.

Asked about the time-frame by which he expects the partnership to reach the JPL-Caltech level, Mr. Venkitakrishnan said: “We are expecting within eight to ten years. That is our ambition, our aim”.

It was noted that NASA’s JPL, founded by Caltech faculty, is the leading centre for the robotic exploration of the solar system. It also conducts Earth-orbit and astronomy missions.

JPL’s workforce includes a diverse population of scientists, engineers, technologists, developers, communicators, designers, safety experts and business administrators.

Mr. Venkitakrishnan said through the Post-doctoral fellowship programme offered by IIST, ISRO wants to attract more and more talent towards space research.

He also said that the Union government has been requested to accord ‘Institute of National Importance’ status to IIST.

Once approved, various ISRO centres would become constituent learning centres, allowing IIST to have a wider off-campus, he said.

 

[Nilgiri]

Back in India, 4 astronauts to stay on busy training schedule

The four Indian astronauts returned to India last month after completing their training in Russia and will undergo different kinds of training in Chennai, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K. Sivan said.

www.indiatvnews.com

The four Indian astronauts returned to India last month after completing their training in Russia and will undergo different kinds of training in Chennai, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K. Sivan said.

"They had landed in India on March 28. The four astronauts will undergo space mission-specific training in India," Sivan told IANS.

The four Indian astronauts were training since February 2020 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (GCTC) belonging to Glavkosmos which is a subsidiary of Russian space corporation Roscosmos.

According to Sivan, the four astronauts will continue to train till they board the Indian space module.

The Rs 10,000 crore Indian human space flight mission is called Gaganyaan.

Queried about the training regime here, Sivan said: "The astronauts will have their physical fitness training that includes swimming, jogging. They will also have academic/theoretical classes as they have to understand the rocket, and the human space module."

"They will also be trained on simulators. The Gaganyaan module navigation terminals will be simulated. The astronauts will be trained on various parameters that will be displayed on the terminals," he added.

The astronauts will later work on the Gaganyaan module as if they are flying.





"These apart, the astronauts will be trained on survival techniques so that they can survive in the sea as their landing module will land on the sea waters," Sivan said.

While the astronauts will be trained in Bengaluru and the survival techniques in Cochin, ISRO will carry out the engineering work related to Gaganyaaan.

Glavkosmos had earlier said the four Indian astronauts were trained in abnormal descent module landing - in wooded and marshy areas in winter; on water surface, and in the steppe in summer.

"In June 2020, all Indian astronauts-elect passed training in short-term weightlessness mode aboard the IL-76MDK special laboratory aircraft, and in July, they were trained to lift aboard a helicopter while evacuating from the descent module landing point," Glavkosmos had said.

The Indian fighter pilots were also trained in a centrifuge and in a hyperbaric chamber to prepare their organisms for sustaining spaceflight factors, such as G-force, hypoxia and pressure drops.

The regular courses comprise medical and physical training, learning Russian (as one of the main international languages of communication in space), and studying the configuration, structure and systems of the Soyuz crewed spacecraft, Glavkosmos had said.

Sivan said the Indian space agency is targeting the first unmanned space flight in December 2021.

ALSO READ | 4 Indian cosmonauts complete training in Russia for Gaganyaan mission

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1378254467531907073

 

[Nilgiri]

ISRO to launch data relay satellite to track Gaganyaan

The Indian Space Research Organisation will launch a data relay satellite before the final leg of the Gaganyaan mission in order to help maintain contact with the Gaganyaan mission after the launch.

www.indiatoday.in

The Indian Space Research Organisation will launch a data relay satellite that will help maintain contact with the Gagangyaan mission throughout after the launch, sources said.

The satellite will be launched before the final leg of the Gaganyaan mission, which will send astronauts to the Lower Earth Orbit (LEO). The first leg -- the unmanned mission -- is to be launched in December.

"We're planning to launch our own satellite, which will act as a data relay satellite before going for the first human space flight," the sources said.

The Rs 800-crore project has been approved and work has been going on, they added.

ALSO READ: To avoid collision of spacecraft, Nasa exchanges data on Mars mission with India, China, UAE, EU

Satellites in orbit cannot pass along their information to the ground stations on Earth if the satellite does not have a clear view of the ground station. A data relay satellite serves as a way to pass along the satellite's information.

The NASA, with a robust human space mission programme, also has its own data relay satellite.

Its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite allows it to have global coverage of all the satellites round the clock without having to build extra ground stations on Earth.

The ISRO uses several ground stations spread across the globe -- Mauritius, Brunei and Biak, Indonesia.

Last month, ISRO Chairperson K Sivan had said the space agency was also in talks with the Australian counterpart to have a ground station at the Coco islands for the Gaganyaan mission.

However, there are blind spots, due to which there is a possibility of not receiving signals, sources added. The data relay satellite will help address the issues.

Earlier this month, the ISRO signed an agreement with French space agency CNES for cooperation for the Gaganyaan, a move that will enable training of Indian flight physicians in French space agency's facilities.

Under this agreement, CNES-developed French equipment, tested and still operating aboard the International Space Station, will be made available to Indian crews.

The CNES will also be supplying fireproof carry bags made in France to shield equipment from shocks and radiation, it said.

Last month, four prospective astronauts also returned to India after spending nearly a year in Russia.

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1386130388003823616

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1388304710860517379

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1389754264218742785

 

[Raptor]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1391348038191390725

Damn ISRO is working on hypersonic aircraft by using hybrid-propulsion
Is this even achievable

@Nilgiri

 

[Raptor]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1391341620562300929

This thread is interesting and gives detail about ISRO projects