London E‑Prix Promo: Final Curtain Call
A heartwarming video from the International Space Station featuring Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has gone viral. Captured just hours before the AX4 crew began their return to Earth, the video shows the astronauts playfully struggling to pose for a group photo in zero gravity. Shared by NASA astronaut Col Anne McClain, the crew set up a camera to auto-click every 5 seconds, floating, posing, and laughing through the chaos. Shukla's 20-day mission saw him orbit Earth over 300 times, traveling more than 13 million km. He conducted 7 experiments for ISRO and now returns with 580 kg of cargo. As the AX4 mission ends, this candid space moment has brought smiles back on Earth.#shubhanshushukla #ax4mission #spacephoto #isscrew #indianastronaut #isro #spacelife #nasaviral #microgravity #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews
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Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
India to soon become space superpower, industry grew multi-fold in last 5 years: Experts
New Delhi: India is soon set to become a space superpower, and the industry has grown multifold in the last five years, said experts on Friday, lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech on the space sector. In his address to the nation from the Red Fort, PM Modi said the nation is proud of its space sector. The Prime Minister stated that India is working towards becoming self-reliant in the space sector. Citing several space missions, like Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan, and Mangalyaan, space scientist Dr P K Ghosh, told IANS: 'I think we are very near to becoming a space superpower with all these projects coming up'. Ghosh lauded the PM for acknowledging the space sector, which 'has achieved a lot of technologies on our own, capabilities'. One such example is the Cryogenic Engine technology. Another is the Gaganyaan mission -- India's flagship human spaceflight programme -- for which preparations are underway, he said. Notably, the space feats have been achieved on a 'frugal budget and they have produced results'. Now 'other countries want to collaborate with us', Ghosh told IANS, while mentioning the recent NISAR mission conducted in collaboration with NASA, and other impending missions with Japan's space agency JAXA, as well as other countries. The PM had also mentioned plans to build our own space station -- Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) -- and underscore the need to become self-reliant in the space sector. 'The BAS, which will come around after 2030, would be a major step. I think each of our 1.4 billion people should be very proud of it. Currently, we have the International Space Station and the Chinese Tiangong,' Ghosh said. 'Our youth have been really motivated to join the space sector,' the space scientist said, citing the 300 space startups in the country. Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (retd.), Director General, Indian Space Association (ISpA) lauded the government's policy to open up the space sector to the private industry in 2020. He credited the policy behind the surge in space startups in the country. 'Our Hon'ble Prime Minister's visionary plan to open up India's space sector has been a true game-changer. Backed by progressive reforms such as the Space Policy, liberal FDI push, and strong government support, the industry has grown multi-fold in just five years,' Bhatt said. 'The surge in space startups and their achievements reflects an unprecedented wave of innovation and ambition among our youth. With this momentum, we are confident of achieving the goal of $44 billion space economy by 2033 and cementing India's position among the world's leading spacefaring nations. This is not just growth, it's a national movement inspiring every Indian to aim higher and reach for the stars,' he added.


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
PM Modi calls for self-reliance in space sector; industry sees growth ahead
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day, said India is working towards becoming self-reliant in the space sector and preparing for the launch of Gaganyaan, its indigenous human space flight mission."India is actively working on the Gaganyaan mission and is also planning its own space station. We must come together to change the destiny of our country. I appeal to the youth: step forward and contribute to this mission of national transformation," Modi said from the Red Fort on Gaganyaan mission will send a crew of three astronauts into a 400 km orbit for a three-day mission in 2027. Modi also congratulated astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on his historic mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The PM highlighted the impact of space sector reforms , with about 300 startups working exclusively in the space domain, employing thousands of young leaders welcomed the remarks, saying the momentum could help achieve the target of a $44 billion space economy by ISRO chairman S Somanath, who spearheaded the 2023 space reforms through the Indian Space Policy, told ET that PM Modi 's comments underline how the sector is 'not just creating jobs and economic value but also promoting the scientific temper.' He said ISRO, IN-SPACe , and NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) are working in unison with startups to expand both domestic and global India's plan to build its own Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) by 2035, Somanath said the project, using indigenous technology, would promote global scientific partnerships and serve as a space laboratory for hi-tech, biotechnology, drug discovery, and materials research.'Without the credibility of an indigenous human space mission, meaningful contributions to other space stations may not be possible. The BAS will complement the entire ecosystem, with opportunities for collaboration with other nations,' he body, the Indian Space Association (ISpA), said the plan to open up India's space sector has been a true game-changer. 'Backed by progressive reforms such as the Space Policy, liberal foreign direct investment push, and strong government support, the industry has grown multifold in just five years,' added Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (retd.), Director General, Acharya, cofounder of Suhora Technologies, which works in earth observation and geospatial analytics, said the PM's remarks will further empower the industry to innovate across the value chain from satellite manufacturing and launches to downstream services.


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
US says ties with India good despite Trump's tariff tantrums
TOI correspondent from Washington: The Trump administration on Friday maintained that the "historic relationship" between India and the US is "consequential and far-reaching" despite taking punitive steps over trade issues that shaken and undermined ties. The upbeat message came from the State Department on the occasion of India's Independence Day. While such statements are typically pro-forma, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two countries are "united by our shared vision for a more peaceful, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region" and described the partnership as spanning industries, promoting innovation, pushing the boundaries of critical and emerging technologies, and extending into space. "Working together, the United States and India will rise to the modern challenges of today and ensure a brighter future for both our countries," he said. The statement, with its reference to Indo-Pacific security and a broader agenda, seemed to confirm the impression that the wide berth given to China by the Trump White House and its sudden embrace of Pakistan is largely tactical, and US-India ties remain on solid footing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kharadi's Only Fully-Automated Homes Codename Kharadi Plus Learn More Undo Key Indian officials have said on background that the White House and rest of the administration don't seem to be in sync because outside of the trade and tariff issue, it is business as usual on all other fronts, including close cooperation in critical security and mil-tech areas. Among other things, right in the middle of the trade spat, India and US conducted a joint space mission involving ISRO and NASA, launching the satellite NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) on July 30 to monitor changes on Earth's land and ice surfaces and generate data for understanding natural hazards and climate change. Indian companies are also on track -- barring more mishaps -- to receive from nVidia advanced Blackwell chips for AI that the US has been blocked for China. The State Department issued a similar statement a day earlier on Pakistan's independence day but it was conspicuously narrower in scope, focusing on counterterrorism, trade, and exploiting Pakistan's purported resources. "The US deeply appreciates Pakistan's engagement on counterterrorism and trade. We look forward to exploring new areas of economic cooperation, including critical minerals and hydrocarbons, and fostering dynamic business partnerships which will promote a prosperous future for Americans and Pakistanis," the message said. According to knowledgeable sources, the White House's tactical embrace of Islamabad is largely driven by private business interests aimed at exploiting Pakistan's purported natural resources, including oil, gas, and minerals. A Trump family-backed firm with ties to the "Pakistan Crypto Council" that Islamabad drummed up out of the blue reportedly fired up new ardor in Trump White House for a country that President once said was a haven for terrorists. While the outreach is ostensibly aimed at drawing Pakistan out of the Chinese stranglehold, another new argument is that Washington needs Islamabad to counter Iran, the new US bogey now that Afghanistan has returned to the dark ages. But the American commentariat is largely unanimous in saying the White House move has badly damaged US-India ties, possibly irreparably despite the State Department's buoyant message on Independence Day. "Even if Trump again reverses course, the damage has been done. Indians believe that the United States has shown its true colors: its unreliability, its willingness to treat its friends badly. They will understandably feel that, to hedge their bets, they need to stay close to Russia — and even make amends with China," Fareed Zakaria, host of CNN's GPS program said on Friday, adding that the country is "united in its shock and anger at Trump's insulting behavior. "