Latest news with #Chandrayaan-1
DW
2 days ago
- Science
- DW
The moon: Why we want to go back – DW – 06/02/2025
Almost six decades since humans walked on the moon, space agencies and commercial companies want to use it as a gateway to Mars. But that's not all. What you need to know: The prospect of humans returning to the moon looks more likely than ever, with NASA and ESA collaborating on the Artemis program There have been a number of recent, successful moon missions by China and India Space agencies and commercial companies want to use the moon for scientific research and as a base to get to Mars A growing interest in moon missions The Artemis program is a North American, NASA-led human spaceflight program, involving 55 international collaborators, including the European Space Agency (ESA). NASA aims to establish a permanent base at the moon's South Pole and call it Artemis Base Camp. It also aims to launch a new space station, called Gateway, into the moon's orbit. Meanwhile, a joint China-Russia project, involving 13 international partners, aims to build a moon base called The International Lunar Research Station by 2035. Both the Artemis Base Camp and the International Lunar Research Station are proposed as scientific in nature. They will, if successful, host astronauts for short stays and house permanent robotic equipment, which could be operated from Earth. But the moon has also always been of strategic value, too. During the Cold War, the US and Soviet-era Russia fought out their ideological differences on the moon as well as on Earth. And so it is today, except there are more players. The US, for one, has stated publicly that it considers itself to be in a new space race, which America wants to win. Here are more reasons why. The moon is rich in resources Part of the moon's appeal lies in its abundant resources. These include: Iron Silicon Hydrogen Titanium Rare earth elements While the costs of extraction and transportation are high, some of these resources could be brought back to Earth, where resources are dwindling in supply. Mining operations on the moon could pave the way for extracting an immense mineral wealth held in asteroids, and the moon will be the first place this will be tested. Mining asteroids To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Most material extracted from the moon will be used to replace materials that would otherwise be needed to be brought from Earth, essentially making lunar bases self-sufficient. Regolith (lunar soil), for example, could be used as radiation protection and construction material for lunar bases. Water, which was first discovered on the moon in 2008 by the Indian mission Chandrayaan-1, will be important for drinking, growing food, and cooling equipment. Missions since Chandrayaan-1 have shown there are high concentrations of ice at the lunar poles, which is partly why the first lunar colonies are likely to be built at the poles — and probably at the moon's South Pole, even though it is difficult to land there. These bases could also be used as "transit lounges" for astronauts on their way to Mars. For energy, solar radiation is already used to power some spacecraft and satellites, but regolith and water ice could also be used to make rocket propellant. The moon also contains significant amounts of helium-3, a potential fuel for nuclear fusion power. So, that's another reason future Mars missions are landing for a stopover on the moon and refuel. Scientific research on the moon Scientific research is at the core of ESA's Moon Exploration Programme, as it is for all space agencies, said Sara Pastor, ESA's Lunar and Gateway Program Manager, in an email to DW. Humans have had a continued presence in space for the past 20 years aboard the International Space Station. But the ISS is only 250 miles (~400km) away in low-Earth orbit, which is as little as four hours after launching from Earth. The moon is 250,000 miles away — about three days' spaceflight — and a far riskier journey for astronauts. The first research on the moon aims to make that journey safer and easier. Then there is environmental science: "[Scientists] will investigate the nature of lunar environments, how their unique conditions affect human health and performance, and robotic exploration systems, and how human activity affects these environments," Pastor said. Researchers will want to determine how water, metals, and other lunar resources can be used to sustain lunar bases for the long term, and how best to extract them. "ESA is developing instruments for radiation environment measurements, drilling and in-situ sample analysis, geophysics and lunar space weather," Pastor said. Moon tech benefits us all on Earth It's often claimed that we owe mobile phones to the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s. While our mobile phones are not direct descendants from space tech, the Apollo missions did help miniaturize electronic and telecommunication devices. Dozens of modern technologies originally developed in the R&D labs of space agencies bring benefits to people on earth — including home insulation, memory foam (used in mattresses), freeze-dried foods, robotic sensors and limbs, and telemedicine. Scientists are developing medical equipment and health tracking methods to protect astronauts' health when they spend long periods in the extreme conditions of space, especially the human immune system. For example: portable, lightweight diagnostic equipment needed for spaceflight crews without medical training to monitor their health. These technologies could be used on Earth, too. From a lunar hub to a second (or third) home for humans on Mars? The long-term goal of building surface and orbital moon bases is to serve as a staging post for more distant space travel. "A colony on the moon will be extremely useful and a key training ground for Mars surface human exploration," said Pastor. NASA plans to send astronauts to Mars in the 2030s. Edited by: Zulfikar Abbany
India.com
19-05-2025
- Science
- India.com
Explainer: Why ISRO's PSLV Mission With EOS-9 Satellite Failed And What It Means
New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) faced a rare setback in the early hours of May 18 as its highly anticipated PSLV-C61 mission, the 63rd flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), failed to deliver its payload – the EOS-9 satellite – into orbit. The mission took off at 5:59 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Initial signs were promising. The rocket cleared the first and second stages of flight successfully – the early benchmarks of any PSLV launch. However, it was during the third stage that a sudden drop in chamber pressure led to an anomaly, effectively ending the mission before the satellite could be placed into its intended orbit. The third stage of the PSLV uses a solid rocket motor, which provides high thrust once the vehicle has exited the dense layers of the atmosphere. In this flight, although ignition occurred as expected, sensors recorded a drop in pressure within the chamber – indicating a failure in the propulsion process. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed the technical anomaly and stated that a detailed analysis was already underway. This launch was significant as the PSLV has been a workhorse for ISRO – known for its reliability, having successfully delivered missions like Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan. The failure marks a rare blemish in its otherwise solid track record. It was also ISRO's 101st mission from Sriharikota. Now, both an internal Failure Analysis Committee and an external government-appointed review body are expected to investigate the root cause. These panels typically deliver a comprehensive assessment within weeks, which then guides corrective action for future missions. The payload – Earth Observation Satellite 9 (EOS-9) – was designed for continuous surveillance, including border monitoring, disaster response, urban planning and agricultural management. Of particular importance was its Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), enabling day-and-night, all-weather imaging – a key asset for national security and civil planning. The failed deployment of EOS-9 means a temporary gap in ISRO's remote sensing capabilities. While other satellites, such as Cartosats and radar platforms, remain operational, the unique capabilities of EOS-9 will now be missed. Its replacement, once commissioned, could take years to be developed and launched. The mission had also integrated space sustainability into its design. EOS-9 was equipped with extra fuel to perform a planned de-orbit maneuver at the end of its lifecycle, ensuring it would not contribute to space debris – a growing global concern. Despite the setback, ISRO's long-term record and response mechanisms reflect a strong system built on transparency and technical rigor.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
1st time in 8 yrs, Isro workhorse PSLV fails on 101st launch; sat lost
: 's workhorse rocket PSLV malfunctioned mid-flight and failed to inject a satellite into orbit after an early morning launch on Sunday. The mission, designated PSLV-C61 , was Isro's 101st launch to place EOS-09 earth observation satellite into a sun-synchronous polar orbit. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The setback marks the third unsuccessful PSLV mission in 32 years, excluding a partial failure in 1997. PSLV-C61 lifted off at 5.59am from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Around six minutes into the flight, the rocket veered off its intended trajectory. 3rd-stage motor malfunctioning Isro chairman V Narayanan later said the rocket's performance was normal up to the second stage. 'The vehicle's third stage uses a solid motor system. There was a fall in chamber pressure in solid motor and the mission could not be accomplished. We are studying the performance,' Narayanan told newspersons. Sunday's mission was to place the 1,696kg EOS-09 radar imaging satellite into a 529-km orbit. EOS-09 carried a synthetic aperture radar for remote sensing through clouds and at night, with uses in agriculture, forestry, soil moisture monitoring, disaster response, and surveillance. This was Isro's 2nd consecutive mission failure this year PSLV-C61 was the 63rd PSLV flight and the 27th in its XL configuration, designed to carry heavier payloads. The PSLV has launched around 345 satellites for 34 countries and was also used in major Isro missions including Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission, and Astrosat. The first failure in PSLV's storied history occurred during the rocket's maiden flight, PSLV-D1, on Sept 20, 1993. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The second was PSLV-C39 on Aug 31, 2017, which failed to deploy the IRNSS-1H satellite due to a heat shield separation issue. This was also Isro's second consecutive mission failure in 2025. In Jan, the NVS-02 navigation satellite could not be moved to its final orbit due to a faulty oxidiser valve in its liquid apogee motor.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NASA's discovery of Moon rust is stranger than science fiction
The Moon is the closest celestial body to Earth and holds many mysteries waiting to be uncovered. Despite the centuries of research projects, many of its secrets remain locked away, especially when it comes to its composition, presence of water and history. In recent years, many space missions to the moon have given rise to new discoveries that are shedding light on the Moon's past and the difficulties of its surface. Similarly, a recent discovery of rust on the surface of the Moon has shocked the scientists because it is next to impossible, given the Moon's lack of atmosphere and water. While the Moon is traditionally considered a lifeless, airless world, new research suggests that, despite these harsh conditions, it might still be home to a process known as oxidation, which creates rust. A recent study published in Science Advances by researchers from the University of Hawaii and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has brought to light the presence of hematite , a form of rust on the Moon's surface. This has confused researchers as rust typically requires oxygen and water to form, two substances that the Moon is not known to have in abundance. The research focuses on data gathered by the Indian Space Research Organization's Chandrayaan-1 orbiter . Rust was discovered on Moons surface Researchers had long assumed that the Moon's lack of atmosphere meant it couldn't support the chemical reaction necessary for rust to form. However, detailed analysis of data from the Chandrayaan-1 orbiter's Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) instrument revealed surprising signs of hematite. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo 'I was surprised to find a close match with the spectral signature of hematite,' said Shuai Li, lead author of the study from the University of Hawaii. Hematite is an iron oxide, commonly known as rust, which forms when iron interacts with both oxygen and water. The discovery suggests that, despite the Moon's airless environment, some form of rust is a surprise for scientists. What is the reason behind rusting on the Moon? Apart from that, the Moon's surface is bombarded by hydrogen from the solar wind, which typically prevents oxidation. 'It's very puzzling,' said Shuai Li, lead author of the study. However, researchers turned to an unlikely source for the oxygen, which is the Earth. Our planet's magnetic field extends into space, creating a magnetotail that carries oxygen to the Moon. This explains why more hematite was found on the Earth-facing side of the Moon. Moreover, the Moon's temperature extremes and occasional shielding from the solar wind during full Moon phases allow oxidation to occur. Adding to the mystery, water, while scarce on the Moon, may come from fast-moving dust particles that bombard the surface, potentially mixing with iron-rich minerals and helping in the rusting process. Abigail Fraeman of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory says, "Little bits of water and the impact of dust particles are allowing iron in these bodies to rust. "
Hans India
12-05-2025
- Science
- Hans India
ISRO Chairman Discusses Satellites' Role in Enhancing India's Security and Technological Growth
At the 5th Convocation ceremony of the Central Agricultural University (CAU) in Imphal, V Narayanan, the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), discussed the importance of satellites for India's national security. He explained that India relies on at least 10 satellites that operate continuously to help protect the country and its citizens. He pointed out that satellite technology is essential for monitoring India's long coastline and northern borders. Without the use of satellites and drones, ensuring the country's safety would be a difficult task. Narayanan's remarks come amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that resulted in 26 casualties. In retaliation, India targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with airstrikes. Pakistan responded with drone and missile attacks, which were intercepted by India. The two nations later agreed to halt military actions on May 7. Narayanan also highlighted India's significant achievements in space. He noted that India was the first country to discover water molecules on the Moon during the Chandrayaan-1 mission. India is now positioning itself as a "vibrant space power" and is planning to establish its own space station by 2040. The country has also launched a total of 433 satellites into orbit for 34 different countries. In addition, Narayanan mentioned that emergency response systems in India have improved over the years, resulting in fewer lives being lost during disasters, thanks to advanced technology. ISRO's contributions extend beyond national security and are being applied to various sectors like telemedicine, education, weather forecasting, and TV broadcasting. Furthermore, ISRO is working on developing a satellite to assist G20 countries in studying climate change, air pollution, and monitoring weather patterns.
