Latest news with #Chandrayaan3
Mint
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
‘Food is a big challenge, try to pack more calories': Top takeaways from PM Modi's interaction with Shubhanshu Shukla
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla discussed his space experience and India's Gaganyaan mission with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasising the challenges of food in space and the need for more astronauts. In the videos shared by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Shukla was seen speaking about the growing interest in space exploration among children, showcasing a shift in aspirations for the young generation. Reflecting on life in space, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla told PM Modi, "The atmosphere there is different. There is no gravity..." During his interaction with PM Modi, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla said, "Food is a big challenge on a space station, there is less space, and cargo is expensive. You always try to pack as many calories and nutrients as possible in the least space, and experiments are going on in every way..." Highlighting India's space exploration programmes, Shukla told PM Modi that there is a lot of interest in the Gaganyaan mission across the globe. 'Wherever I went, whoever I met, everyone was very happy to meet me, very excited. The biggest thing was that everyone knew about what India is doing in the field of space. Everyone knew about this and there were many people who were more excited about Gaganyaan than me, who were coming and asking me when is your mission going...' Shukla said. 'I think somewhere there is a very big opportunity for us, especially because the kind of commitment our government has made to sustain the space program, budget every year, inspite of failures like Chandrayaan 2. Even after that, we said no, we will move ahead. Chandrayaan 3 was successful. Even after such failures, if we are getting so much support and the whole world is seeing this,' he added. PM Modi urged the need to have a pool of 40-50 astronauts for India's space missions. Replying to PM Modi, Shubhanshu Shukla said, 'When I was young, Rakesh Sharma sir went for the first time in 1984, but the dream of becoming an astronaut never came to my mind because we did not have any program.' He added, 'But when I went to the station this time, I spoke to the children three times. In every program, the children asked how can I become an astronaut? So I think this in itself is a big success for our country. In today's India, they know that it is possible. We have the option and we can become. And like you said, it is my responsibility, I feel I got a lot of opportunities to represent my country and now it is my responsibility to take as many people as possible to this level.' Shubhanshu Shukla told PM Modi about the academic demands in the Air Force, highlighting that their successful mission is just the start of further challenges ahead.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Science
- Arab News
India's ambitious space plans: Missions to Moon, Mars and Venus
Reaching for the stars is becoming an everyday affair at India's space agency. Having visited the Moon and Mars with orbital missions, eyes are set on a mission to Venus and a sample return from the Moon. Human space flight — to fly an Indian citizen on an Indian rocket from Indian soil where the countdown will also be by India — is also taking shape fast. India's space journey reached new heights with the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 nearer the Moon's South Pole on Aug. 23, 2023, making India the first country to achieve this feat. This mission demonstrated Indian Space Research Organization's capability in precision lunar landing and roving. The Vikram lander performed a hop experiment, and the propulsion module was later maneuvered into Earth's orbit for extended operations. Building on this momentum, ISRO achieved its 100th rocket launch in January 2025, launching a navigation satellite, showcasing India's indigenous cryogenic engine technology. The pinnacle came with the July 30, 2025 launch of the nearly $1.3 billion NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar or NISAR satellite, a joint Indo-US Earth observation mission. Launched aboard India's GSLV F-16, NISAR features dual-frequency SAR payloads from NASA and ISRO, and will monitor climate change, disasters, and agriculture. ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan hailed it as a symbol of India's technological leadership and global collaboration, emphasizing the precision and reliability of India's cryogenic launch systems. In a landmark achievement for India's space program, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla completed a 20-day mission, including 18 days aboard the International Space Station, as part of the multinational Axiom-4 mission — dubbed Mission Akash Ganga. This marks India's first human spaceflight since that of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Shukla's courage and dedication had inspired 'a billion dreams.' Launched aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9, Shukla served as mission pilot and conducted seven India-specific experiments. Despite delays, the mission concluded successfully with a splashdown near San Diego. It lays the foundation for India's Gaganyaan mission, targeting a 2027 launch from Indian soil. India's roadmap does not stop at Gaganyaan. Prime Minister Modi has outlined a bold vision: Establish an Indian space station by 2035 and land an Indian on the moon by 2040. If successful, India will join the elite club of nations— Russia, the US and China — with independent indigenous human spaceflight capabilities. India's lunar legacy is already formidable. India's first foray to the moon with the Chandrayaan-1 mission in 2008 discovered the presence of water molecules on the moon, fundamentally altering lunar geological history. Chandrayaan-2 provided the first independent images of Apollo mission artefacts left on the lunar surface, and Chandrayaan-3 made global headlines by landing nearer the moon's South Pole — now considered the gold rush zone for lunar exploration. With cost-effective yet reliable space missions, India is poised to become a major player in the global space race. The government has already allocated billions of dollars for the human spaceflight program, underscoring its commitment to cosmic exploration. India's Science Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, who also looks after the affairs of the department of space, says 'India's quantum leap in space research with India's space economy standing at $8 billion has been only possible due to the courageous decision to open up or unlock the space sector from the shackles of the past,' further highlighting that 'India's space economy is projected to grow beyond $40 billion by 2040, which is going to be a gigantic jump.' The future space missions include a lunar sample return mission named Chandrayaan-4; a mission to Venus; the development of the new mighty rocket. As part of this ambitious roadmap, India plans to establish its own space station, the Bhartiya Antariksha Station, by 2035. A precursor to this will be the launch of a space module in 2028. The culmination of this vision is the planned landing of an Indian astronaut on the moon by 2040. 'When we celebrate the 100th year of India's independence, in 2047, an Indian flag will already be flying on the moon,' Singh said. New Delhi achieved its 100th rocket launch in January this year Pallava Bagla In a historic collaboration between the US and India, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite, also known as NISAR, is poised to revolutionize how we observe and understand our planet. It launched successfully on July 30, 2025 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota in southern India. At its core, NISAR is designed to monitor changes in the Earth's surface with unprecedented precision, capturing movements as small as a centimeter. This capability is vital for tracking natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity and glacial shifts, as well as human-induced changes such as urban expansion, agricultural development and infrastructure stress. ISRO says the NISAR satellite weighs 2,392 kg, and it will scan the globe and provide all-weather, day-and-night data at a 12-day interval and enable a wide range of applications. The NISAR satellite, which cost upwards of $1.3 billion, can detect changes in the Earth's surface, such as ground deformation, ice sheet movement and vegetation dynamics. Further applications include sea and ice classification, ship detection, shoreline monitoring, storm characterization, changes in soil moisture, mapping and monitoring of surface water resources and disaster response. It has been dubbed a lifesaving satellite. Today, more than 250 space start-ups are driving innovation and fueling India's space sector. Among these, Agnikul Cosmos and Skyroot Aerospace made headlines by launching sub-orbital rockets and Pixxel Aerospace makes high-resolution satellites. A recent study estimates that for every dollar spent on space, India has reportedly received a return of $2.52. India has end-to-end capabilities in space, as the country makes its own rockets, satellites and has an enviable space technology applications portfolio. Today, India has more than 50 operational satellites in space, which help to power India's burgeoning economy. India's vast space ecosystem touches the lives of every Indian. • Pallava Bagla is an award-winning science journalist. He is science editor for New Delhi Television and co-author of 'Reaching for the Stars.' He can be reached at
The Hindu
10-08-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
IIT Kharagpur, IIST exploring collaboration in medical technology
The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) are exploring the possibility of collaborating in the area of medical technology for space-related applications, IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty said here on Sunday (August 10, 2025). The IIST's work in mission-class hardware design, start-up incubation and strategic collaborations position India not just as a participant, but as a leader in global space innovation, Prof. Chakraborty said, delivering the convocation address at the 13th convocation of IIST held at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Valiyamala. Recent achievements of the IIST students have been admirable, he said. 'The IIST is the crucible of India's space leadership, a place where dreams take the form of rockets, satellites and future-ready solutions,' he said. Space, Prof. Chakraborty said, is no longer the domain of a few, but the shared ambition of the entire planet. Yet, India has a unique advantage, he said. 'We know how to do more with less. We innovate not just for prestige, but for people. Space technology today is not an isolated vertical. It is a grand convergence, a meeting point of artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, climate science, philosophy, medicine and even law,' he said. Referring to the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Chandrayaan 3 mission as a sparkling example of interdisciplinary excellence, Prof. Chakraborty urged the IIST students to envision 'movements' that make India a hub for responsible, inclusive space innovations, and policies that enable fair access to space resources. M. Mohan, Director, LPSC, said after the recent success of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, ISRO is embarking on the development of complex systems for major missions. Among these, he listed the next-generation launch vehicle, Bharatiya Antriksh Station, Chandrayaan-4 sample return mission, Gaganyaan and Venus mission, which call for advanced manufacturing technologies for mass production of the systems. IIST Chancellor B.N. Suresh underscored the importance of self-reliance, stating that imports need to be reduced in strategic areas that were key enablers of national security. ISRO Chairperson V. Narayanan addressed the students in virtual mode. IIST Director Dipankar Banerjee presented a report on the academic activities. At the convocation, a total of 309 degrees were awarded, which included 124 BTech degrees, 17 BTech + MTech/MS dual degrees, 130 MTech and MS postgraduate degrees and 38 PhDs.
News18
27-07-2025
- Science
- News18
PM Modi Hails Return Of Shubhanshu Shukla, Lauds India's Space Progress In Mann Ki Baat
Last Updated: PM Modi also asked people to participate in National Space Day by sharing their ideas, suggestions, or messages related to India's space achievements or how to celebrate the day. PM Modi, in his 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday, said that a new wave of curiosity about space is sweeping across India, reflecting the nation's growing interest in science and innovation. He highlighted recent achievements in the field, including the return of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla from space and the continued excitement following the success of Chandrayaan-3. 'We will talk about successes, achievement, in last few weeks, many things have happened in science, culture. Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla came back from space," he said. 'When Chandrayaan 3 was success, there was excitement in the country… Space startups are increasing," added the Prime Minister. He also asked people—especially the youth and space enthusiasts—to participate in the occasion by sharing their ideas, suggestions, or messages related to India's space achievements or how to celebrate the day. These suggestions can be submitted through the NaMo App, which is the official mobile application associated with the Prime Minister. 'On August 23, there is National Space Day, you should send suggestions on Namo App," he said. Shubhanshu Shukla was one of four astronauts on the Axiom-4 mission, launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on June 25. After spending nearly 20 days in microgravity, he and the team splashed down safely off the coast of California on July 15. view comments First Published: July 27, 2025, 12:01 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mann ki Baat: PM Modi hails Shubhanshu Shukla and Chandrayaan 3; top quotes from 124th episode
NEW DELHI: NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed key issues including science and culture during his 124th episode of his monthly radio programme, Mann ki Baat . PM Modi also talked about astronaut Sudhanshu Shukla's recent visit to the International Space station. Here are the top quotes "We will talk about successes, achievement, in last few weeks, many things have happened in science, culture. Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla came back from space. When Chandrayaan 3 was success, there was excitement in the country. Space startups are increasing. on August 23, there is National Space Day, you should send suggestions on Namo App," the Prime Minister said. "In 1908 in Muzaffarpur, a youth was to be hanged. He was not in fear, his face was full of confidence, he was Khudiram Bose, at the age of 18, he had shaken the country. After many such sacrifices, we had got the freedom. The month of August is a month of revolution. On August 15, we remember our freedom fighters," PM Modi said. A new revolution started on 7 August 1905. The Swadeshi Movement infused new energy into local products, particularly handlooms. In this memory, the country celebrates National Handloom Day on 7th August every textile sector is becoming a strength of the country. Kavita Dhawale from Mahrashtra's Paithan village used to work in a small room with no space and facilities. With the government's help, she earns a living by selling self-woven Paithani sarees... In Odisha's Mayurbhanj, there is a similar story. Tribal Women gave a new life to Santhali achievements of Naveen Kumar from Bihar's Nalanda is also inspiring,"PM Modi said. India is moving ahead for Olympics and Olympiad. UNESCO has recognised 12 forts in Maharashtra. These are witness to the history... I had gone to Raigad sometime back, the experience will remain with me. These forts exhibit our self-respect. There are many forts across the country... I urge the people to visit these forts," the Prime Minister said. "Women are reviving Santhali Sarees... Textiles sector is our cultural heritage. More than 3,000 startups are there in the country. The dream for Viksit Bharat by 2047 is very much related to Atmanirbharta, vocal for local is required. The folk songs exhibit the culture of our country," PM Modi said. "We need to scripts of present and past, we need to conserve them. There have been people who made this job their life... Mani Maaran from Tamil Nadu is teaching 'pandulipi', research is happening. If it is translated across the country, the old knowledge will become relevant in present times," PM Modi said. Something remarkable is happening in Odisha's Keonjhar. There is a group called 'Radha Krishna Sankirtan'. Along with devotion, this group also chants mantras promoting environmental conservation. The inspiration behind this step is Pramila Pradhan. Her group visited many villages and spread awareness about forest fires," the Prime Minister said "If I ask about birds in vicinity, you would say that 4-5 species you spot, but we need to know about birds in vicinity. At Assam's Kaziranga National Park, there are grassland birds, there are more than 40 species, technology helped, census team recorded voices, used AI, to recognise the species. When technology and sensitivity come together, everything becomes easy," PM Modi said. "Sports is being promoted in the country. The government will be supporting. There are many startups, imagine, our youth playing with indigenous equipment," he said.
