ISRO performs second docking of satellites
He said more experiments are planned in the next two weeks.
'Glad to inform that the second docking of satellites has been accomplished successfully,' Singh, who is the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Atomic Energy and Space, said in a post on 'X'.
#ISRO SPADEX Update:
Glad to inform that the second docking of satellites has been accomplished successfully.
As informed earlier, the PSLV-C60 / SPADEX mission was successfully launched on 30 December 2024. Thereafter the satellites were successfully docked for the first time…
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) April 21, 2025
He recalled that the PSLV-C60 / Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) mission was successfully launched on December 30, 2024.
Thereafter the satellites were successfully docked for the first time on January, 16 and successfully undocked on March 13, he said.
'Further experiments are planned in the next two weeks,' Singh said.
According to ISRO, the SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of in-space docking using two small spacecraft that were launched by PSLV.
In space, docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
5 hours ago
- India Today
Why experts are opposing India's gene-edited rice varieties
The Union government recently announced it is ready to release two genome-edited rice varieties—DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1. In these varieties, a drought and salt tolerance gene has been mutated using gene-editing technology. As a result, water efficiency has increased, the plants can withstand salt better and yields are reported at 2.4 to 3.7 metric tonnes per hectare in saline and alkaline to officials, some 40 more crops are in the pipeline, using this technology. Experts, however, caution that gene editing is no different from genetic modification. Dr Krithika Yegna, a biotechnology scientist, calls it mere word editing cannot be achieved without modification of the genome. Any modification in the genome is still a modification,' says Dr Yegna. She adds that some scientists' claim that this method is foolproof has been disputed. There is scientific literature to show any modification done on crops may pose the risk of getting incorporated into the human genome—something researchers are slowly beginning to understand. 'The need of the hour is regulation and creating awareness,' says Dr researcher and agro-ecology practitioner Soumik Banerjee explains the genetic meddling. 'We are interfering with the DNA. We are removing elements of the DNA without knowing their function. We only talk about the positive results, but we don't know the negative ones. Nature put those genes there, and we are removing them, saying there are only positive effects. That is not possible,' says Banerjee. He argues that technology is not foolproof and research papers confirm several off-target effects. During the process, genome sequences other than the targeted ones may get mutated, and this is irreversible. 'It changes the plant's phenotype substantially—the gene-edited plant becomes a new plant,' says Banerjee. He adds that India has many stress-tolerant and high-productivity rice varieties, which should be grown rather than adopting such risky concern is shared by farmer activists. Kavitha Kuruganti, farmers' rights activist and convenor of the Coalition for a GM-Free India, says: 'Any gene technology in our food systems is a living technology. Once you release it into the environment, the seed germinates, flowers, and the pollen spreads. That pollen can spread uncontrollably and irreversibly.'Dr Yegna emphasises on proper government oversight. 'The first thing is to have regulatory systems in place—to check what kind of modification is being done, why it is being done and whether there is a natural alternative to achieve the same outcome without genetic modification.' She points out that even by traditional breeding methods, traits like size of corn cobs can be improved, though not as adds that gene editing and all its applications must be regulated. She criticises the government's move to deregulate SDN1 and SDN2 (categories within Site-Directed Nuclease genome editing). 'Genome editing is genetic engineering. It should have been regulated by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), India's apex biotechnology regulator. Instead, they deregulated SDN1 and SDN2 and then announced these two rice varieties. We haven't seen any comprehensive, independent or long-term testing. Even in GM mustard, there were allegations of rigged tests by big corporations. The same story could be repeating here,' she concern is patents. The technology is patented and licenced exclusively to multinationals like Corteva and Monsanto. Why should the Indian government promote patented seed material, asks Kuruganti. At global platforms, India says it is against patents on seeds and planting material. Promoting these patented rice varieties contradicts that stand. 'Farmers in India have always treated seed as open-source, shared across generations. Patented technologies undermine both livelihood security and food security,' says viewpoints emerged in the webinar 'Understanding Gene-Edited Rice and Its Implications', organized by the Coalition for a GM-Free India. With experts agreeing that gene editing must be brought under biosafety regulation, some key questions arise. What is the need for such a technology, after all? Are there alternatives? And can governments push untested technologies on citizens without debate or scientific scrutiny?advertisementSubscribe to India Today Magazine- Ends
NDTV
6 hours ago
- NDTV
Inside ISRO's Busy Schedule To Redefine India In Space
After the remarkable success of astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's 18-day mission to the International Space Station, the Indian space agency has a busy year ahead. Currently, it is gathering momentum to celebrate the second National Space Day on August 23 at Bharat Mandapam. In a landmark year for India's space program, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for an ambitious slate of missions that will redefine the country's position in global space exploration. Speaking exclusively to NDTV, V Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO, outlined a packed schedule that includes nine rocket launches, the rollout of industry-built launch vehicles, and the first uncrewed mission under the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. "This year is declared as the Gaganyaan year," said Mr Narayanan. "We will have the first uncrewed mission by this year, December. That is what the target is. A robot will go. And, you know, Honourable Prime Minister has rolled out the space sector reform. Based on that, we have assigned five rockets to the industrial consortium of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and L&T Corporation." The uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for December 2025, will carry Vyomitra, a humanoid robot designed to simulate human responses in space. This mission marks a critical milestone in India's journey toward sending astronauts into orbit, with two additional uncrewed missions planned for next year and a crewed mission targeted for the first quarter of 2027. "The G1, first uncrewed mission, we have targeted this December, that is on track," Mr Narayanan confirmed. "And then, followed by two uncrewed missions next year, depending on how it does, followed by the crewed mission in the first quarter of 2027." In addition to Gaganyaan, ISRO is rolling out the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV N1) rocket, the first launch vehicle built entirely by the Indian industry under the new space sector reforms. Developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the N1 rocket will carry a technology demonstration satellite featuring cutting-edge innovations. "The first rocket is going to roll out, called N1 rocket, the PSLV N1 rocket," said Mr Narayanan. "In that, we are going to launch a technologically advanced demonstration satellite in which we are going to demonstrate a lot of new technologies, including electric propulsion and quantum." The year's launch manifest also includes several other key missions: Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) missions, aimed at providing cost-effective access to space for small payloads. Oceansat, a satellite designed for oceanographic studies and climate monitoring. NAVIC NVS-03, part of India's regional navigation satellite system, which enhances positioning accuracy for civilian and military applications. Adding to the excitement is a major commercial launch for an American company. ISRO will deploy the Bluebird 2, a 6,500 kg communication satellite, using its heavy-lift Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3) rocket. This launch is expected to take place between December 2025 and January 2026. "Before this financial year, that is going to be executed," Mr Narayanan said. "Most likely, in the December-January time frame, this will be executed. The Bluebird 2, a 6500 kg communication satellite of the US, will be lifted off and placed in orbit by our LVM3 vehicle." The successful launch of the NISAR mission earlier this year, a joint Earth observation satellite developed with NASA, has further energised ISRO's workforce. The mission's success has been a morale booster, reinforcing confidence in the organization's ability to deliver on its ambitious goals. "In fact, the recent success of the NISAR mission has highly motivated the entire team," Mr Narayanan noted. "And the team is so energised, I am confident it will deliver whatever target we have set for this year." The Gaganyaan program, India's flagship human spaceflight initiative, is particularly complex and technologically demanding. It involves developing life support systems, crew modules, and safety protocols that meet international standards. Despite the challenges, ISRO remains committed to its timeline. "Gaganyaan is a technologically advanced and complex mission," said Mr Narayanan. "And I will tell you the team, the entire team is working 24X7 with a single-minded devotion." When asked about his work ethic, Mr Narayanan humbly replied, "I sleep very little. So, most of us do whatever is required for the country and the organisation. And yes, with a minimal level of sleep." The reforms initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have opened up India's space sector to private industry, allowing companies like HAL and L&T to take on greater roles in manufacturing and innovation. This shift is expected to accelerate India's capabilities and competitiveness in the global space market. With nine launches planned, including missions that span technology demonstration, commercial payloads, and human spaceflight, ISRO's calendar for 2025 is one of its busiest ever. The organization's ability to execute this ambitious agenda will be closely watched by the global space community.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
India exploring underwater mineral resources under Deep Ocean Mission: Centre
The ministry of earth sciences (MoES) has launched the Deep Ocean Mission (DoM) to explore the mineral wealth in the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction through two exploration contracts with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in the Indian Ocean, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Minister of state for earth sciences Jitendra Singh speaks in the Lok Sabha. (Sansad TV) MoS for earth sciences Jitendra Singh said the first exploration contract, signed in 2002, covers polymetallic nodules in a 75,000 sq km block in the Central Indian Ocean Basin. Another, signed in 2016, involves polymetallic sulphides (PMS) exploration in a 10,000 sq km area along the Indian Ocean Ridge. Polymetallic nodules contain metals such as copper, nickel and cobalt, while PMS deposits include copper, zinc, lead, iron, silver and gold. Singh said seabed mineral exploration is conducted strictly under ISA's approved work plans, which include survey and exploration, environmental impact assessment, technology development for mining, and metallurgical extraction. At present, ISA regulations restrict activities to the exploration stage only. Singh highlighted India's recent advances, which include manned submersible technology development, demonstration of collecting over 100 kg of cobalt-rich polymetallic nodules from a depth of 1,173 metres in the Andaman Sea in 2024, and identification of two active hydrothermal vent fields in the Central Indian Ocean. Vulnerability maps for coastal areas facing climate change impacts have also been developed. He was replying to questions by BJP MPs Manish Jaiswal, Sudheer Gupta and Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao on government measures to strengthen climate preparedness and explore ocean resources. The minister said the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi, under the MoES, has undertaken six research cruises in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, surveying biodiversity across 19 seamounts. About 1,300 deep-sea organisms were collected, catalogued and studied, with genomic analysis of select specimens and the discovery of 23 species new to science. Further, the National Centre of Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, has carried out deep-ocean surveys in the Central and Southwest Indian Ridges. These led to the discovery of four active hydrothermal vent fields and two mineralised polymetallic sulphide zones. Responding to a separate question on the status of India's first manned submersible project, Singh said the design and integration of the human-occupied vehicle MATSYA-6000 — capable of carrying three persons to a depth of 6,000 metres — has been completed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, under MoES. The vehicle underwent successful wet harbour trials in January–February 2025 at L&T Shipbuilding Facility in Katupalli, near Tamil Nadu. Singh said MATSYA-6000 will be equipped with scientific payloads aligned to India's research goals, including studies of biodiversity, mineral resources, and deep-sea ecosystems. On August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the National Deep Water Exploration Mission to address India's energy security needs. 'We are preparing to extract deep ocean resources such as reserves of oil and gas,' Modi said in his Independence Day address, describing the initiative as a 'Samudra Manthan' (mythical churning of the sea) to be executed in mission mode. India is the world's third-largest consumer of crude oil after the US and China, importing 232.7 million tonnes worth $157.5 billion in 2024–25. The country meets over 88% of its crude oil demand through imports but also exports refined petroleum products. Officials said the twin-track approach of mineral exploration and energy extraction will strengthen India's long-term resource security. While exploration remains tightly regulated by ISA, advances such as MATSYA-6000 and hydrothermal vent mapping provide India with technological readiness once deep-sea mining shifts to commercial operations. The Deep Ocean Mission, integrated with the National Deep Water Exploration Mission, is expected to boost India's capabilities in both strategic resources and climate resilience. Singh said the government remains committed to aligning these initiatives with global best practices while ensuring environmental safeguards in fragile deep-sea ecosystems.
