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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Shubhanshu Shukla returns safely, next mission: Helping Gaganyaan
Shubhanshu Shukla returns safely, next mission: Helping Gaganyaan (Picture credit: AP) With Grace's gentle splash into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 3.02 pm (IST) on Tuesday, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla (Shux) ended his mission, wrapping up months of training, experiments in orbit, and India's latest stride in human spaceflight participation. When Wing Commander (retd) Rakesh Sharma soared into space aboard a Soviet spacecraft in April 1984, Shux wasn't even born. It would be another year and a half before he entered the world. Forty-one years later, Shux's Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission comes at a time India is making a deeper entry into human spaceflight, expanding ambitions beyond satellites and rockets. And this hasn't escaped Shux, who in his last speech from the International Space Station (ISS), had said: 'As this journey completes… India's human spaceflight journey is both long and challenging. But I assure you, if we decide, even the stars are attainable.' PM Modi, while welcoming Shux back, said as India's first astronaut to the ISS, he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit. '...It marks another milestone towards our own Human Space Flight Mission - Gaganyaan ,' the PM said. Re-entry & splashdown Grace, the Dragon capsule carrying Shux, mission commander Peggy Whitson, mission specialists Tibor Kapu and Slawosz Uznanski, had undocked from the ISS at 4.45 pm Monday. As part of the re-entry and splashdown operations, around 2.07 pm on Tuesday, Grace began the 18-minute de-orbit burn, and by 2.27 pm, Grace jettisoned the trunk (with solar panels and radiators), and the nose cone was closed by 2.33 pm. Around 2.57 pm, Grace deployed the drogue parachutes and about a minute later, the four main parachutes got deployed at an altitude of 1,000 metres. In a three-minute operation, these parachutes together reduced Grace's velocity from 563kmph to 23kmph as altitude dropped to 800m, 600m and 400m, before the splashdown. Recovery operations At 3.07 pm, Peggy radioed to mission control that the crew was ready for recovery and by 3.10 pm, the recovery boats reached Grace. The recovery personnel, wearing PPE suits, first checked for hazardous gases around Grace before beginning rigging the capsule at 3.15 pm, as flight surgeons stood by for the initial medical tests to be conducted. Between 3.29 pm and 3.30 pm, Grace was nested on recovery ship 'Shannon', when the recovery teams began some routine leak checks and de-rigging and ensured it was safe for the crew to egress or exit from the side hatch. By 3.37 pm Grace was being moved from its initial place on Shannon to a deck where the crew was expected to be recovered. Between 3.40 pm and 3.41 pm, the recovery personnel opened the side hatch and began preparations to allow the crew to egress. At 3.49 pm, Peggy slid out of the capsule with a smile, followed by Shux at 5.52 pm and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski and Tibor Kapu in the next couple of minutes. The crew was then taken to land by a helicopter. Following medical checks, they will be taken to Houston for de-briefing and other procedures. Learning For Gaganyaan Just as Shux, Isro too has acknowledged the importance of the mission that has cost India Rs 548 crore. '...Ax-4 is one small step in orbit, but a giant leap in India's pursuit of human spaceflight and scientific discovery,' the agency had said post-launch. Isro chairman V Narayanan, while stressing that learning outcomes — spanning astronaut training (for two), mission operations, and hardware-software-human interface — cannot be measured purely in monetary terms, had told TOI that benefits from Ax-4 far outweigh the cost. Indian Space Association director-general Lt Gen (retd) AK Bhatt said: 'This is a stepping stone for India's future crewed space journeys, including Gaganyaan and goals of landing an Indian on the Moon by 2040. It'll not only support Isro but also give impetus to both global and Indian private space industries.' Satcom Industries Association-India president Subba Rao Pavuluri, echoing Bhatt's views, said: '...While our ancestors explored Planets with intuition, we'll be exploring planets with experimentation and going there. Shukla's mission is the first step to realise 'Bharat's Space ambitions' .'
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Russian Military Hits U.S.-Made Equipment In Ukraine; Destruction Caught On Camera
/ Jul 15, 2025, 09:34PM IST Russia continued its aerial attacks on Ukraine despite Donald Trump's 100% tariff threat to Vladimir Putin. The Russian defence ministry said its troops destroyed a U.S.-made electronic warfare station being operated by the Ukrainian military. Watch out for more.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Jaishankar Raises Pahalgam Attack at SCO Meet In China, Urges Uncompromising Stand Against Terrorism
/ Jul 15, 2025, 09:20PM IST At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers' meeting in Tianjin, India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a strong message, raising the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Calling it a deliberate act to disrupt Jammu & Kashmir's tourism and communal harmony, Jaishankar emphasized that SCO must stay true to its founding mission of combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism. Citing the UN Security Council's condemnation of the attack, he demanded accountability for its perpetrators, sponsors, and organisers. In the context of rising global instability and economic uncertainty, Jaishankar also called for regional trust-based cooperation and said SCO's credibility depends on its unity and resolve against terrorism. This was Jaishankar's first China visit since Galwan, making his firm remarks even more significant amid geopolitical tensions.#jaishankar #sco2025 #pahalgamattack #indiachina #terrorism #sco #foreignpolicy #tianjin #galwanaftermath #jaishankarspeech #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews
Business Upturn
8 hours ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Anupam Rasayan declares interim dividend
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on July 15, 2025, 19:01 IST Anupam Rasayan India Ltd. (ARIL) on Tuesday, July 15, announced several key decisions following its board meeting. The company declared an interim dividend, approved a preferential allotment of equity shares, and set a record date for the dividend payout. The board has declared an interim dividend of ₹0.75 per share (7.5% of the face value of ₹10 each) for the financial year 2024-25. The record date for determining the eligibility of shareholders is July 21, 2025, and the dividend will be paid on or before August 13, 2025. Additionally, the board approved the allotment of 39,14,886 fully paid-up equity shares on a preferential basis at an issue price of ₹945.11 per share (including a premium of ₹935.11 per share), amounting to approximately ₹277.5 crore, after receiving the remaining 75% of the issue price. These shares were allotted under the non-promoter category to the following investors: Lata Manek Bhanshali : 5,29,038 shares Zeal Global Opportunities Fund (FPI) : 16,92,924 shares Zinnia Global Fund PCC – Cell Dewcap (FPI): 16,92,924 shares The board meeting commenced at 5:32 PM IST and concluded at 6:13 PM IST. These developments reflect the company's continued efforts to reward shareholders and raise funds through strategic investments. Disclaimer: The above information is based on the company's regulatory filing and is for informational purposes only. Investors are advised to exercise their own judgment and consult their financial advisors before making investment decisions. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Shubhanshu Shukla to return to India by August 17: Union Minister Jitendra Singh
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who returned to Earth after an 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station as part of Axiom-4 mission, will return home by August 17 following a list of post-mission procedures, Union minister Jitendra Singh told the media on Tuesday. The Minister of Science and Technology said that there are certain standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the rehabilitation, debriefing sessions and a series of discussions with an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) team. SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft carrying the Axiom-4 crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the San Diego coast on Tuesday at 3.01 pm (IST). Shukla conducted seven microgravity experiments, among other tasks, in the orbital laboratory. These included research on Indian strain of Tardigrades, Myogenesis, Sprouting of methi and moong seeds, Cyanobacteria, Microalgae, Crop seeds, and the Voyager Display. Singh said that these experiments will be vital not just for Indians but for all of humanity. With this mission Shukla became the second Indian national to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma's 1984 mission and the first to step into the ISS. He spent 20 days in orbit, making his stay in space the longest for an Indian astronaut. (With PTI inputs)
