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Over the past five years, India has quietly nurtured a remarkable endeavor - the training of its own astronauts for the groundbreaking Gaganyaan mission. These individuals, namely Gp Capt Ajit Krishnan, Gp Capt Prashanth Nair, Gp Capt Angad Pratap, and Wg Cr Shubhanshu Shukla, are poised to etch their names in history as they embark on India's maiden voyage to space. Amidst the challenges of the pandemic, these four pilots undertook an intensive one-year training course in Russia's Zvyozdny Gorodok city. Now, stationed at a unit of ISRO - Indian Space Research Organization, they are immersing themselves in the complexities of the Gaganyaan mission. Scheduled for launch in 2025, the Gaganyaan project represents a monumental leap for ISRO, showcasing its capability to propel humans into space and ensure their safe return to Earth. In achieving this milestone, India is on the brink of joining an elite league, becoming the fourth nation to achieve the remarkable feat of launching a crewed spacecraft into the cosmos! #gaganyaan #isroindia

💡 Why was Sriharikota chosen as a potential launchpad despite India having 7500 KM coastline and several western & eastern coast cities? 🤔 The answer to this dates back to the year 1969, when Sriharikota was first chosen to launch a satellite. The island, which covers an area of approximately 43,360 acres with a 50 km coastline, had several factors that influenced its selection. 📍 Proximity to the equator: By launching a rocket eastwards, one can take advantage of Earth’s rotation. For a launch site close to the equator the magnitude of the velocity imparted due to Earth’s rotation is about 450 m/s, which can lead to a substantial increase in the payload for a given launch vehicle. Geostationary satellites must necessarily be in the equatorial plane. So, for such satellites, the closer the launch site is to the equator the better it is ☁🌡 Favorable weather conditions: The area around Sriharikota boasts minimal rainfall and fewer natural disasters compared to many other coastal regions. This minimizes launch delays and disruptions caused by unpredictable weather. 🌏 Stable geographical platform: Sriharikota has a strong soil composition and hard rock beneath it, making it a suitable location for withstanding the intense vibrations produced during a launch. 👮♂️ Security: The island is remotely located and is connected to the mainland via a 16 Km elevated road thus reducing the risk of potential unauthorized access to launch sites and facilities. Many reports even suggest that Sriharikota is the second-best located spaceport in the world, after the Kennedy Space Centre in the United States 👏👏 ISRO | NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration #spacerace #india #chandrayaan3

India Soars Towards the Stars with Gaganyaan! 🇮🇳 Remember when India's independence seemed like a distant dream? Today, we stand on the cusp of another historic milestone: Gaganyaan, India's first human space mission! This is a monumental achievement, marking India as the fourth nation in the world to launch a crewed spaceflight, following the footsteps of the Russia, US, and China. But this journey is more than just a giant leap for mankind. It's a testament to India's unwavering spirit of progress, a nation constantly pushing boundaries and rewriting its narrative. We celebrate: The four brave Indian Air Force pilots: Group Capt. Prashananth Balakrishna, Group Capt. Ajith Krishnan, Group Capt. Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhkamnayein Shukla. They've dedicated themselves to months of rigorous training, including experiencing microgravity, surviving in extreme environments, and enduring physical and mental stress. The dedication & talent of ISRO: India's space agency has been the driving force behind this incredible feat, showcasing the nation's scientific prowess and innovation. This isn't just a mission, it's an inspiration. It ignites the spark of curiosity and possibility, proving that with determination and collaboration, even the seemingly impossible can be achieved. As we celebrate National Science Day, let's remember: India is not just reclaiming its past glory, it's boldly charting a path towards a future filled with scientific breakthroughs and exploration. #Gaganyaan #ISRO #India #ScienceDay #SpaceExploration #ProudIndian

2023: the space year in review Freshly backed, my summary report on space activities is now available on the blog Un autre regard sur la Terre. Shall we qualify this new record-breaking year as “skyrocketing”? Spacerocketing would perhaps be more appropriate…   Here are the most striking figures: - 211 successful launches out of 223 attempts (178 successful launches in 2022), - nearly 2900 satellites in orbit (2469 satellites in 2022), - and a total satellite mass of more than 1500 tonnes (1037 tonnes in 2022), according to my estimates.   The number of orbital launches (+19%) and satellites (+17%) is much higher than in 2022 but the growth is slower. One interesting figure is growing faster: the total mass put into orbit (+46%). Direct consequence and interesting fact: the average satellite mass increased in 2023 (525 kg versus 420 kg in 2022), mainly driven by the deployment of a second generation of Starlink satellites. A new trend to monitor?   11 nations or groups of nations achieved a least one successful orbital launch in 2023 but gaps are growing between the usual suspects: on the top of the podium, the USA (103 successful flights) are well ahead of China (66 launches) and Russia (19 launches). This leadership position is true regardless of criteria (number of launches, number of satellites, satellite ownership or total mass in orbit).   Continuing to deploy the Starkink constellation with a second generation of heavier satellites, SpaceX has an ultra-dominant position (96 successful launches and two tests of the giant Starship launcher, 86% of satellites worldwide), but largely supported by its own business. Another significant figure: SpaceX used only 4 new boosters to successfully launch 91 Falcon 9 rockets. An impressive demonstration of the merits of reusing the first stage boosters.   Losing its 4th place behind India, Europe is not in great shape (only 3 launches), due to the delay of Ariane 6, the absence of a transition phase with Ariane 5 and the setbacks of Vega, but still at the forefront on scientific missions (e. g. JUICE and Euclid). In July 2023, the final flight of Ariane 5 was very emotional for many of us. With respect to Human Spaceflight, 6 crewed spaceships (-14%) were launched in 2023 (+ Soyouz MS-23, an empty spaceship), with 21 X-nauts (7 veterans and 14 rookies). The gender balance ratio is very unbalanced: 4 women and 17 men. One small step for woman, one giant leap for man?   The link below provides a more detailed analysis (in French but with lot of self-explanatory charts). This first report summarises the orbital launches performed in 2023. In a second part, I will review the satellites deployed by these rockets. https://lnkd.in/ejiZp4k4 #space #espace #launchers #satellites #2023year #yearinreview #spaceflight #orbital #yearinspace #SpaceX #Arianespace #rocketlaunch #lancements #statistics #bilan #spacereport

If you plan to build a home in space , Italian style is a good choice

Not very surprising that both Maxar & NASA decide to stop. More interesting are the reasons behind this decision. Insightful lessons to learn by Newspace candidates that want to develop this market!

In a thrilling update from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has met its heroes for the Gaganyaan Mission: Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair Group Captain Ajit Krishnan Group Captain Angad Pratap Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla These four astronauts are gearing up for a remarkable journey into space, representing the dreams and hopes of our nation's 1.4 billion people. The Gaganyaan Mission is a bold step for India into space, aiming to send humans into orbit and safely back home. The team plans to travel 400 km above the Earth for a mission that lasts three days. This mission will be a proud moment for India's space story. ISRO - Indian Space Research Organization is working hard, making sure everything is tested and ready for a successful mission. We've already seen great progress, including the ready-to-go flight engine for a test mission without a crew. This is an important step before the astronauts take their flight, which is looking to be between 2024 and 2025. But this is just the start. Future plans include setting up India's own space station by 2035 and sending an Indian astronaut to the moon by 2040. As we prepare to make history, we at Dares Technologies stand with our astronauts, the team at ISRO, and everyone working hard to make this dream come true. #DaresTechnologies #GaganyaanMission #IndianSpacePride #Astronauts #ISRO #india2047

Vyommitra: ISRO to launch India’s female robot astronaut into space ahead of Gaganyaan mission. India’s female robot astronaut Vyommitra will fly into space ahead of Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) ambitious Gaganyaan mission – the country’s manned space flight carrying Indian astronauts into space – said the Union minister of science and technology, on Sunday (Feb 4). About Vyommitra The Indian Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said the uncrewed Vyommitra Mission is scheduled to take place ahead of the manned mission Gaganyaan. The name Vyommitra is derived from two Sanskrit words ‘Vyoma’ which means Space and ‘Mitra’ (meaning friend), said the Indian minister. He also spoke about how the female robot astronaut is equipped with the capability to monitor module parameters, issue alerts and execute life support operations. “It can perform tasks such as operating six panels and responding to the queries,” Dr Singh added. He further elaborated that the Vyommitra astronaut “is designed in such a manner so as to simulate human functions in the Space environment and interact with the Life Support System.” According to the Indian minister, the ‘Vyommitra’ Mission is scheduled for the third quarter of this year, while a manned mission ‘Gaganyaan’ is scheduled to be launched in 2025. Speaking about the Chandrayaan 3 mission – which made its historic landing on the South Pole of the moon in August last year – Dr Singh said that it is following its normal expected course of action and vital inputs sent by it will be shared soon. However, he did not mention any specific timeline. For Aerospace & Defence Updates Follow: https://lnkd.in/d-FkwVj9 . . #aerospace #defence #isro #technology #research #development

Today the 42nd #IADC started in #Bangalore, with the ISRO - Indian Space Research Organization as host for this edition.  I am proud and happy to represent #Italy and Agenzia Spaziale Italiana in the Working Group 3 - protection; different challenges await us in the next few days, but I hope that the International collaboration will allow a constructive meeting. In any case, it will be interesting and enlightening to understand how different people, cultures, and National Agencies understand and address common problems for the #space #debris #environment.  .  .  P.s.: just a little bit of jetlag and sleep deprivation to start the day 😅 Università degli Studi di Padova Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale - DII UNIPD Agenzia Spaziale ItalianaINAF - Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica European Space Agency - ESA