ISRO set to make HISTORY again, prepares to launch 'Baahubali' rocket, to build its own space station by..., send astronauts to...
ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan has said that India is building a super-powerful rocket that will be able to carry satellites weighing up to 75,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit. This rocket will take around 27 days to complete the mission. It will be India's most powerful rocket ever. He shared this update on Monday at the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's residence in Dehradun, during a special space conference focused on Himalayan states. India's space plans for the future
Dr. Narayanan said that India aims to set up its own space station by the year 2030, and by 2040, the country plans to send astronauts to the Moon.
He also gave a quick look at India's space journey: India launched its first rocket in 1963
By 1975, the country had no satellites of its own
Today, India has 131 satellites in space
These satellites help with many things i.e. from TV broadcasts to weather forecasts, and much more.
He added that ISRO is also working hard on the Human Space Program, which means India could soon send more astronauts into space on its own. India has set many records: ISRO Chief Narayanan
ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan shared how far India has come in space science. He said there was a time when India's rockets were carried on bicycles, but today, the country holds several world records in space.
Here are some key achievements he mentioned: India was the first country to discover water molecules on the Moon.
India became the first nation to land on the Moon's South Pole.
With the Aditya L-1 mission, India is now the fourth country studying the Sun.
India entered Mars orbit on its very first attempt, making it the fourth country to do so.
He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is reaching new milestones in space. He expressed confidence that by 2047, India will become a fully developed nation. Space data is helping in daily life: Dr. Prakash Chauhan
Dr. Prakash Chauhan, Director of the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), also spoke at the conference. He explained how space data is now used in many parts of daily life. Satellites give us useful updates, not just GPS navigation but also important environmental data.
In Uttarakhand, satellite data was used to digitize livestock records.
During the Rishiganga-Chamoli disaster, satellite images helped map the area, and that data was later used in national policy planning.
This information also supported Post-Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) reports.
He said satellites are playing a big role in forest protection and wildfire monitoring, mapping of disaster-prone areas, glacier lake monitoring, flood and cloudburst forecasts
Dr. Chauhan concluded that space technology is deeply changing how we live and prepare for natural disasters, especially in states like Uttarakhand.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Step inside Hope: Isro's attempt to mimic life on the Moon in Ladakh
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has launched the Himalayan Outpost for Planetary Exploration (HOPE) mission, a critical analogue simulation running from August 1 to 10, 2025, in Ladakh's Tso Kar mission is a major step in India's preparation for future human spaceflight and interplanetary exploration, including missions to the Moon and is set up in one of Earth's most Mars-like environments — a high-altitude cold desert at 4,530 meters above sea level characterised by extreme cold, low air pressure, high ultraviolet radiation, and saline This makes the Tso Kar Valley an ideal terrestrial analogue for testing conditions that astronauts will face on other planetary surfaces. The HOPE habitat consists of two interconnected modules: an 8-meter-wide living space for the crew and a 5-meter utility unit housing essential equipment and compact, self-sustaining habitat includes facilities such as hydroponic farming, kitchen, sanitary provisions, and circadian lighting, designed to simulate life-support systems for extended space the 10-day mission, two crew members remain inside the habitat, undergoing experiments that test physical, psychological, and cognitive responses to isolation, low oxygen, and other stressors similar to from premier Indian institutes, including IIT Bombay, IIT Hyderabad, IIST Trivandrum, RGCB Trivandrum, and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine—are conducting studies on crew health monitoring, planetary surface operations, microbial collection, and advanced medical Human Space Flight Centre leads the HOPE project in collaboration with industry partners and research institutions. The mission serves as a rehearsal for the future enabling India to validate technologies, protocols, and human endurance necessary for sustainable human presence beyond is part of India's broader vision to advance human spaceflight capabilities, including the goal of an Indian crewed lunar landing by 2040, as well as eventual Mars simulating these harsh extraterrestrial conditions on Earth, Isro is building vital expertise in life-support systems, habitats, and mission planning that are crucial for pioneering space exploration and establishing India's role as a major player in future planetary exploration efforts.- Ends
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
Rewriting diabetes: PGI study shows remission achievable
For decades, Type 2 diabetes has been viewed as a lifelong, irreversible condition, requiring daily medication, strict dietary control, and constant lifestyle management, but new hope is emerging from India's Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, where a clinical study has shown that remission may be possible through a carefully designed and practical strategy. Type 2 diabetes, which affects millions globally and has become a growing health concern in India, has long been seen as a chronic disease without a cure. Patients are often told they must manage it for life, with pills and blood sugar logs becoming permanent companions, but what if there is a chance to hit reset? Remission is the term scientists are now using, meaning a return to normal blood sugar levels with HbA1c of 6.5% without any diabetes medication for at least three months. However, a made-in-India approach with global promise led by Dr Rama Walia, a team of researchers at PGIMER, launched the DiaRem-1 study, aiming to explore whether tight blood sugar control using modern medicines, combined with lifestyle changes, could push the disease into remission. What makes their work stand out is that it does not rely on extreme weight loss diets or costly surgeries, which are often impractical for many patients. They selected adults diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the past five years, whose blood sugar was still reasonably controlled. For three months, these participants were placed on a combination of proven diabetes medications and guided through diet and physical activity. After that, all medications were stopped, and for the following three months, researchers monitored whether their blood sugar levels could remain in the normal range, drug-free. What happened? The results were eye-opening: about one in three participants (31%) achieved diabetes remission, meeting the internationally defined benchmark of maintaining HbA1c below 6.5% without medication for at least three months. Surprisingly, both treatment groups, one using newer medications like liraglutide and dapagliflozin, and the other using more commonly available medicines like glimepiride and vildagliptin, saw similar remission rates. Weight loss helped, but wasn't everything The average weight loss was modest, 4.7 kg in the intervention group and 3 kg in controls. MRI scans in select participants showed dramatic declines in internal fat stores, a 51% drop in liver fat and 48% in pancreatic fat, which are crucial contributors to insulin resistance and worsening diabetes. The science behind the strategy Doctors now understand that two major culprits drive diabetes progression: glucotoxicity (too much sugar damaging beta cells) and lipotoxicity (fat accumulation impairing insulin action). By reversing these with medication and lifestyle therapy, the pancreas gets a much-needed break and, in some cases, begins to function more normally again. Those who achieved remission also had better beta-cell function (as measured by a 'disposition index') and lower levels of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) compared to those who didn't. Importantly, no single patient characteristic, age, weight, or the duration of diabetes could predict who would succeed, making this approach potentially applicable to a wide range of patients in early stages of diabetes. Side effects and safety: Well-tolerated treatment Minor side effects like nausea were seen, especially in those taking liraglutide, but there were no serious health risks noted. Notably, no patients in the intervention group experienced low blood sugar, a common concern with diabetes medications. A moment of change, not a cure Experts caution that remission is not the same as being cured. Blood sugar levels can rise again without ongoing lifestyle commitment, but the fact that normal levels can be sustained without medication, even temporarily, is a major breakthrough. What's Next? PGIMER's team is continuing research to test how long this remission lasts and whether longer treatment duration might improve outcomes further. But even now, this small but powerful trial offers a cost-effective and scalable strategy that can work in outpatient clinics across India and the world. 'With early, intensive treatment and continued support, many patients may no longer need diabetes medication. That's a powerful message of hope,' said Dr Walia, the lead investigator of the study. 'If you or someone you care about was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, this study brings an encouraging message: your condition may not be permanent. With early action, close follow-up, and guided treatment, remission is possible, and potentially within reach for many.'
Economic Times
3 hours ago
- Economic Times
Moon tonight shines at 69 percent brightness as Waxing Gibbous phase illuminates the sky
TIL Creatives The Moon is in its Waxing Gibbous phase tonight, with 69 percent of its surface illuminated, offering stunning views of craters and lunar seas as it moves closer to next week's full moon Skywatchers across the United States can expect a dazzling display in tonight's sky as the Moon enters a Waxing Gibbous phase, lighting up 69 percent of its surface, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation. The glowing lunar disk is steadily building toward the next full moon, expected on August 9. Moon tonight(August 3) marks day 10 of the lunar cycle, part of the Moon's ongoing 29.5-day journey around Earth. These cycles, new moon to full moon and back again, are created by the Sun's light reflecting off different portions of the Moon's surface as it orbits Earth. It's a rhythm that has guided humanity for millennia. The Waxing Gibbous moon is more than halfway lit but not yet full. As it rises in the eastern sky just before sunset and sets shortly after midnight, it creates an excellent opportunity for both casual stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts. Even without any equipment, you can spot major features like the Copernicus Crater, Mare Fecunditatis, and Mare Crisium. Binoculars will reveal the Alphonsus Crater, Posidonius Crater, and Mare Frigoris. Those with telescopes can explore the Rima Ariadaeus, the Descartes Highlands, and the Fra Mauro Highlands, where Apollo 14 once landed. According to NASA, there are eight primary phases of the Moon: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous (tonight's phase), Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning always see the same side of the Moon, but the amount illuminated changes as it orbits Earth. That shifting glow creates the lunar phases we observe each night.
