Latest news with #Narayanan
NDTV
2 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
"Space Future Begins Now": ISRO Chief On Indian Astronaut's Spaceflight
New Delhi: India's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to travel to space aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon as part of a crew that will include Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary for the June 8 Axiom Mission 4. Dr V Narayanan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), shared insights on the Axiom 4 mission and its significance for India's human spaceflight ambitions. "Right now, the training of the Gaganyatri is in its final phase. I would say everything is complete, and we are waiting for the mission to happen," said Dr Narayanan. When asked about the safety of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and the Crew Dragon capsule, Dr. Narayanan expressed confidence in the system. "The answer is yes. Based on my knowledge of the launcher and these modules, they have undergone sufficient experimentation and flight testing. Enough Falcon 9 launches have happened. I am fully confident. I think it's the right thing. But, as with any rocket or space program, even after everything is done, we have to wait for D-Day for the final result." The Axiom 4 mission is a significant milestone for India, marking its participation in a private spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS). Dr Narayanan highlighted the benefits of this mission for India's space program. "August 15, 2018, was a historic day for India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the human spaceflight programme - the Gaganyaan programme. Until then, India had experience in launching rockets and satellites. But when it comes to human spaceflight, the human interface is critical, and we had very limited experience. Why do I say limited? Because we had never done it before. Of course, in 1984, Rakesh Sharma went to space and returned. Today, he is actively involved with us in the review process and has shared his experiences and the challenges he faced. We are learning a lot from him. With that in mind, I truly salute our Honourable Prime Minister Modi for his vision - why not send one of our Gaganyatris to the International Space Station? It was his vision." Dr Narayanan emphasised the importance of the Axiom 4 mission for building experience and confidence. "I will tell you what the benefits are. First, the Gaganyatri is undergoing a rigorous set of training sessions, so he is becoming more confident. Second, he will fly with other experienced astronauts - Americans and others. Third, he will be part of a team conducting nine experiments, some with his fellow astronauts. He will also handle mission-related management systems. This will give him valuable experience. And when he returns, he will be more confident," he said. When asked about the cost of the mission, Dr Narayanan defended the expenditure. "Let's not reduce it to something like a bus ticket. Think about a bus ticket - I want to tell you, I travel often to Delhi these days. When I first flew in an aeroplane, it was an exciting moment. In 1947, when India gained independence, we used bullock carts and walked on foot in my village. We used to walk 10 kilometres to the temple. Then, when a bus finally came to our village, you can't imagine the excitement - not just mine, the entire village's. So this moment is like that. Is it worth it? Absolutely. It is fully justified. We will gain confidence, and we will gain valuable experience. The Gaganyaatri will feel comfortable, and the outcome will be truly useful for the Gaganyaan programme," he said. Dr. Narayanan elaborated on how the Axiom 4 mission will contribute to the success of Gaganyaan. "First, the Gaganyatri is undergoing full training. Second, he will work with different colleagues. He'll conduct experiments with others, not alone. In the space station, he'll be active alongside them. So, number one: psychological preparedness. Number two: technical understanding. Number three: managerial awareness. So technical, managerial, psychological, and physical readiness - everything will be developed. And once he returns, all of this knowledge will be disseminated," the ISRO chief said. On the selection of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, Dr Narayanan expressed full confidence. "I have 100% confidence in the 20,000 employees of the Department of Space. I have full confidence in him as well. Whether it's Shuklaji or another Gaganyatri, I'm happy. But we have chosen someone younger, and I interact with him regularly. He is highly knowledgeable, competent, and dynamic. I am fully satisfied with the selection," he said. Dr Narayanan also spoke about the standby astronaut, Group Captain Prashant Nair. "Both were equally outstanding. Both were excellent. But when it comes to travelling, only one can go. Probably, after considering many factors, the team selected one of them," the ISRO chairman added. He concluded with optimism about the upcoming mission. "In fact, all Indians are going to be with us. We will all enjoy that flight, and we expect very good outcomes to feed into our Gaganyaan programme."
Hans India
5 days ago
- Science
- Hans India
Breaking Barriers: India's Bold Leap in Space Exploration
ISRO's amazing journey can be described by the expression "Sky is not the limit." Since its beginning the program has evolved to become one of the most innovative and economically efficient space ventures. Chandrayaan to Gaganyan Journey The Indian Space Research Organisation initiated the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission on December 30 with docking planned for January 9. The agency plans to send the navigation satellite NVS-02 to space aboard a GSLV rocket during this month. The Gaganyaan uncrewed module launch alongside the US commercial satellite launch using ISRO's Mark III vehicle are in preparation at Sriharikota. Water molecules discovered on the lunar surface have revolutionized our knowledge of the lunar geography. ISRO kept up the good work by launching Chandrayaan-2 in July of this year. The mission consisted of three major elements comprising an orbiter as well as an orbiter, the Vikram Lander and Pragyan rover. The lander was hit by a crash on its descent, however the orbiter continues to operate and transmits valuable data to Earth. The organization has had several great leaders in the past. Being a member of this organization feels like a tremendous stroke of fortune to me. ISRO has entered a successful period according to his statement. The PSLV-C61/EOS-09 mission failure was an exceptional event in ISRO's history according to Narayanan. India was joined by China, the US, Russia and China as the fourth country to achieve a lunar soft landing, and was the first country to make this happen in the moon's difficult south Polar region. The area hosts permanently shadowed craters which scientists believe could contain ice deposits making it a zone of major scientific interest. Gaganyaan: India's Human Spaceflight Mission Robotic missions, such as Chandrayaan or Mangalyaan (India's 2013. Mars spacecraft) have shown ISRO's technology capability, Gaganyaan represents a giant leap for India's Gaganyaan mission is aimed at launching Indian astronauts dubbed Vyomanauts into low Earth orbit with an in-house spacecraft. The mission represents India's debut into the exclusive circle of countries that conduct human spaceflight missions along with the United States, Russia, and China. ISRO has established the program as its top priority even after experiencing multiple delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and technical problems. By 2025 the Indian space program has achieved significant progress with the spacecraft design completed and both crew module and life-support systems tested through advanced trials alongside established plans for uncrewed test flights before the 2026 crewed mission. Through the Gaganyaan mission ISRO will showcase their human spaceflight abilities while establishing a foundation for future complex projects like space stations and human interplanetary exploration. Strategic and Commercial Implications India's space ambitions encompass more than scientific exploration as they hold important strategic and economic significance. National security requirements and weather forecasting along with agricultural planning and disaster management initiatives now increasingly depend on space technology within the country. India's affordable satellite launch capacity has turned it into the go-to option for deploying small and medium-sized satellites globally. The establishment of IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center) alongside the transformation of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) into ISRO's commercial division represents a strategic effort to bring private entities into the Indian space sector. Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos are building domestic launch vehicles which indicate a budding private space economy. India is becoming more active in participating in global space missions. The government has joined forces with NASA to support the NISAR mission which is a collaborative The Road Ahead India's space program is set for unprecedented advancements in the future. ISRO is preparing to send missions to Venus and extend its exploration efforts on Mars. India's strategic space roadmap now includes real plans for constructing a space station by the 2030s and making contributions to lunar bases and interplanetary travel. India demonstrates through successful space missions with reduced budgets that space exploration can be cost-effective. Frugal innovation stands as a national strength for India while simultaneously serving as a global example. Conclusion India's space journey stands out as a resilient and visionary pursuit that includes lunar exploration and human spaceflight planning. Under ISRO leadership and the growing participation of private industry India is moving beyond celestial ambitions to emerge as a key player in the field of space exploration.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Inside the chess world's race to ace the Indian market
STAVANGER: The FIDE World Cup is scheduled to be held in India later this year. The third season of the Global Chess League (GCL), owned and conducted by an Indian company, may be held in Chennai in December. Another edition of the Chennai Grandmasters, India's only super tournament, is scheduled to be held in August. It may be bigger and better than the first two. Viswanathan Anand, a former five-time world champion, is one of FIDE's top officials. D Gukesh is the reigning world champion. Arjun Erigaisi, now in the top five, had to play and win a lot of open tournaments. These days, Erigaisi gets invited to a lot of top-tier events; an indication of his standing. Likewise with Aravindh Chithambaram, R Praggnanandhaa and so on. In short, if you are an Indian — or an Indian entity — involved in chess, this is boom time. Everybody wants in on the gravy train or the 'Indian market'. It, of course, wasn't like this before. "The pandemic changed it from an Indian (chess) perspective," says Srinath Narayanan, a GM who has organised several events over the last few years. "Indian players were getting invites to the big events but not at the level we are seeing now. But you can also understand why they are getting invites to the super tournaments now, there are two of them in the top five." The 'two of them' Narayanan refers to are featuring at Norway Chess —Gukesh and Erigaisi. Here's Kjell Madland, the tournament's founder and tournament director. "India is so important," Madland says. "It's a very big country and it's growing... the economy, technology and also they have so many young players. It's very important to have connections with Indian players and the market in India." Madland and his team at Stavanger, the annual destination for Norway Chess, have already held exploratory talks with stakeholders in India apropos holding events in India under their umbrella. It's not hard to imagine why they would want to do so. It could be a case of future-proofing the brand in a post Magnus Carlsen world (the World No. 1 could well stop playing Classical chess from next year). "In the first year (2013), Vishy (Viswanathan) Anand played and he was the world champion. Even from the beginning, we knew India was important." That kind of sentiment is reflected in the number of Indians in the draw this year. There are four (two each in the Open and women's), a record for Indian players at the tournament in its 13-year history. Narayanan has a theory as to why that may be the case across invitational closed competitions. "There are a fair few players in the top-10 and top-20 so they have got there with the way they have performed. Take both Erigaisi and Gukesh, for example. They have won a lot of open tournaments and now are getting invited to super events fairly regularly." It's not just the Indian players who have been front and centre. In 2024, the Tamil Nadu government as well as the All India Chess Federation (AICF) submitted two separate bids to host the World Championship. A year earlier, the TN government organised a super tournament to help one of Gukesh or Erigaisi to qualify for the Candidates via the circuit (the former capitalised). Narayanan, tasked with the role of bringing that competition to life, explains. "Chess is a difficult event to get sponsors on but I would say it has been better to get sponsors on board in 2024 and now. Because, in 2023, it existed only as a concept." Young Indian GMs, including the likes of Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh, are at the top of the wish-list because of their social media followings. While appearance fees aren't big in chess, organisers of the big events, especially in 2025, may prefer to get on board a player who has a bigger social media footprint. "If you are looking at two similarly rated players but have only a slot, their social media accounts can play a role," Narayanan says. It's like this because there is the added element of the tournament receiving potentially more eyeballs on social media. Wednesday's pairings: Open: Magnus Carlsen vs Wei Yi, Fabiano Caruana vs Arjun Erigaisi, D Gukesh vs Hikaru Nakamura. Women: Koneru Humpy vs Sara Khadem, Ju Wenjun vs R Vaishali, Lei Tingjie vs Anna Muzychuk.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Efforts should be made to improve India-Bangladesh ties: Ex-NSA
Former National security adviser M K Narayanan on Friday expressed concern over the political turmoil in neighbouring Bangladesh and emphasised the need for strong India-Bangladesh ties. He also spoke about India's relations with China and Pakistan, highlighting the 'importance of peace and diplomatic solutions.' Narayanan, 91, was speaking at an event on the topic 'Global and Regional Geopolitics, Security, and Economics in a World of Uncertainty', organised by the India Chambers of Commerce and Ceners-K in Kolkata. Regarding Bangladesh, Narayanan said, 'I don't think anybody knows what's happening in Bangladesh today. India and Bangladesh have to be friends…Good friends. I hope efforts will be made to improve the relationship and bring it back to the situation that existed previously.' He said, 'India is very strong today… Can provide what Bangladesh wants. There are internal problems in Bangladesh and I hope India can extend a helping hand. Bangladesh is an important part of our friendly neighbourhood. Neighbours have problems. India is a bigger country, so it needs to be magnanimous in dealing with issues.' 'I don't think India and Bangladesh can ever be unfriendly with each other, and we should not allow other countries to interfere. India and Bangladesh have a lot of commonalities in terms of language, history, etc.' Narayanan termed the 'Bangladesh situation following (its former PM) Sheikh Hasina's exit' as a 'major setback for India,' adding, 'We must rectify this situation.' On the subject of China, Narayanan said, 'We need peace with China, not conflict. The North East has to be dealt with diplomatically.' Speaking about Pakistan, Narayanan said, 'Operation Sindoor is an example to Pakistan and the world of what India could do (to counter terrorism)…' Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
India Today
23-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Bharatiya Antariksh Station to weigh 50 tonnes, confirms Isro chief
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is preparing to launch its own space station into orbit, marking a historic leap in India's space ambitions, Isro Chairman V Narayanan announced on upcoming space station, expected to weigh over 50 tonnes, will further cement India's position among the world's leading spacefaring on the sidelines of a programme at Ram Mohan Mission, Narayanan highlighted the crucial role of India's 57 operational satellites, which provide vital services ranging from weather forecasting to tele-education in remote He also emphasised the Department of Space's ongoing collaboration with various agencies to ensure the safety and security of India's vast borders, including its 11,500 km coastline and northern frontiers. India is readying for Gaganyaan Mission. (Photo: Isro) Addressing concerns over the recent PSLV-C61/EOS-09 mission setback, Narayanan described it as an exception in Isro's otherwise stellar record. He assured that the failure would not derail future projects, including the highly anticipated Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. 'Gaganyaan's first mission will be an uncrewed test flight, expected to launch in the coming days, followed by two crewed missions in the near future,' he is also advancing its lunar exploration programme, with Chandrayaan-4 set to return lunar samples within the next two-and-a-half years. Meanwhile, Chandrayaan-5, a collaborative mission with Japan, will feature a 6,400 kg lander carrying a 350 kg rover, designed for a 100-day mission on the Moon. For comparison, the successful Chandrayaan-3 lander weighed 1,600 kg and carried a 25 kg rover."Right now, we (Isro) are also working on Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5. Chandrayaan-5, in collaboration with Japan. It will have a life span of 100 days," he these bold initiatives, Isro continues to inspire the nation and expand India's footprint in space Watch
