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The Hindu
17 hours ago
- Science
- The Hindu
NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite to be launched on July 30: ISRO
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), the first joint satellite of the Indian and U.S. space agencies, will be launched by Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) on July 30 at 5.40 p.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The GSLV-F16 rocket will inject the NISAR satellite into a 743 km Sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 98.40 degrees. The NISAR satellite, weighing 2,392 kg, is a unique Earth observation satellite, and the first satellite to observe the Earth with a dual frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) — NASA's L-band and ISRO's S-band — both using NASA's 12m unfurlable mesh reflector antenna, integrated to ISRO's modified I3K satellite bus, according to ISRO. NISAR will observe Earth with a swathe of 242 km and high spatial resolution, using SweepSAR technology for the first time. 'The satellite will scan the entire globe and provide all weather, day and night data at 12-day intervals, and enable a wide range of applications. NISAR can detect even small changes in the Earth's surface, such as ground deformation, ice sheet movement, and vegetation dynamics. Further applications include sea ice classification, ship detection, shoreline monitoring, storm characterization, changes in soil moisture, mapping and monitoring of surface water resources, and disaster response,' the ISRO stated. It further added that the NISAR launch is the result of strong technical cooperation between ISRO and the NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory technical teams for more than a decade. Multiple ISRO centres have contributed to NISAR, including the Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad, which is providing the mission's S-band SAR, and the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, which is providing the spacecraft bus.
News18
4 days ago
- Science
- News18
Perseids Meteor Shower 2025 Is Here: Check How And When To Watch The Celestial Event
Last Updated: The Perseids meteor shower began this year on Thursday, July 17. The Perseids meteor shower season has officially begun. It comes packed with a treat for stargazers for a duration of over a month. The Perseids meteor shower is one of the three active meteor showers in July this year, with shooting stars featuring in the night sky from this month till August. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has mentioned it as the 'best meteor shower of the year." It is named after the Perseus constellation, as the meteors are said to originate near this area. The event takes place when Earth passes through the debris of Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which was first discovered by Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle, giving it the name 'Swift-Tuttle'. The Perseids meteor shower began this year on Thursday, July 17. It will remain active throughout next month till August 24, as per Time and Date. The website also mentioned that one could observe up to 100 meteors per hour during this period, with its peak expected between August 12 and 13. How to watch Perseids Meteor Shower 2025 Stargazers around the world will be curious to observe the spectacular celestial show during the entire duration of the meteor shower. For those who want to watch the shooting stars in the US, find a viewing spot away from the city hustle, suggested USA Today. The best time to observe the shower is from the night of August 12 into the early morning of August 13. However, as per the American Meteor Society's newsletter editor, the shower peak will not be supported by ideal conditions due to the moon's brightness. For those in the UK, try to find the meteor shower in the direction of the Perseus constellation, which is also known as the originating source or radiant for the meteors. The best view could be spotted in the northern hemisphere between midnight and an hour before sunrise. While the presence of clouds might obstruct the clear view, the best time to watch the Perseids Meteor Shower is on a dark, cloudless night, away from areas that create pollution. July 24, the new Moon night, might be one of the best days to look for the meteor shower in the sky. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: 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.
Mint
4 days ago
- Science
- Mint
Perseid meteor shower 2025: How and when to watch cosmic spectacle in India, UK and the United States
Stargazers can brace for an upcoming cosmic spectacle, 'the Perseid meteor shower." The stunning astronomical event that happens every year, began on Thursday, July 17, in India, the United States and UK, which will conclude on August 24. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), "The Perseids, which peaks in mid-August, is considered the best meteor shower of the year." The meteor shower will be visible as swift and bright lights moving in the sky leaving long 'wakes' of light and colour behind them. Named after Perseus constellation, the Perseids are made of tiny space debris from 'Swift-Tuttle' comet. Stargazers in the India can look forward to a spectacular celestial treat over the next five weeks. To watch the cosmic show in the night sky, there is no need for any special equipment as a it can be viewed with the naked eye. As the Perseid meteor shower streaks across the night sky up to 100 meteors per hour, it will peak between August 12 and 13, according to Time and Date. Astronomy enthusiasts across the Unitel States will be able to catch a glimpse of the celestial wonder until August 24, Time and Date reported. Set to peak on the night of August 12 into the early morning of August 13, stargazers must find a secluded viewing spot to view up to 50 to 75 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, American Meteor Society Operations Manager, Michael Hankey, informed USA TODAY. The American Meteor Society's newsletter editor Robert Lunsford suggested that this year's showers' peak will not meet ideal conditions because the moon will be too bright, USA TODAY reported. The widely sought after meteor shower is active until August 24 but its peak time will be on the night of August 12 into the early morning of August 13. The best direction to look into the sky is of Perseus constellation, which is known as the radiant, this is where the celestial show appears to originate. Dark and clear sky, away from the pollution of cities with a wide unobstructed view is ideal condition for the best viewing experience. To spot a meteor in the northern hemisphere, the best time is between midnight and an hour before sunrise.
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First Post
15-07-2025
- Science
- First Post
Why Shubhanshu Shukla will go to rehab upon return to Earth
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his three crewmates of the Axiom-4 mission are headed to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). A splashdown of the Crew Dragon capsule carrying them is expected around 3 PM IST today. Once on Earth, the astronauts will readjust to gravity. Here's what happens after their return read more Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to return to Earth on Tuesday (July 15). A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying him and his three crewmates, including NASA retiree Peggy Whitson, will make a splashdown in the Pacific off the Southern California coast around 3 PM IST. The Dragon spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) at around 4.35 pm IST on July 14. About 22.5 hours since the undocking, the spacecraft with the four astronauts of the Axiom-4 Mission will land in the Pacific Ocean. As Shukla returns from space, he will spend seven days in a rehabilitation programme. But why? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We will explain. How space travel affected Axiom-4 astronauts Space travel has an impact on nearly every part of the astronaut's body. After reaching outer space where there is microgravity, some astronauts experience space motion sickness, such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting. This is because space affects spatial orientation, head-eye and hand-eye coordination, balance, and locomotion, as per the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa). The condition does not last long, ending in a couple of days as the body adjusts to microgravity. Shukla had said during an interaction from the ISS while getting acclimatised to microgravity, 'It's the first time for me, so I don't know what to expect (upon return). The only hope is — I did have some symptoms coming up — so I am hoping that I will not have it going down. Unless and until I get the worst of both worlds and I get it both times.' Due to a lack of gravity, bodily fluids move upward, resulting in facial swelling. As the fluids shift towards the head, it puts pressure on the eyes and causes vision problems. Astronauts in space also get exposed to space radiation. Muscle and bone mass also start to diminish in space. To tackle this, astronauts aboard the ISS perform two and a half hours of daily strength and cardio training. Speaking to NPR, Dr Natacha Chough, a NASA flight surgeon, said, 'We definitely track muscle mass and bone mineral density preflight and postflight because weightlessness is what I refer to as a 'use it or lose it' environment. If you're not regularly exercising in flight, your body is not going to expend the energy to preserve your muscles and bones.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The impact of long spaceflights on the body is still being studied. Shubhanshu Shukla's 7-day rehabilitation After an 18-day stay at the ISS as part of the Axiom-4 mission, Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is coming back home. After adjusting to microgravity in space, he will now have to readjust to gravity on Earth. After splashdown, Shukla and his crewmates will be removed from the Dragon spacecraft using a SpaceX recovery vehicle, where they will undergo their first medical checks. They will then be brought to land. Shukla and others will be screened on several health parameters. Based on these, they will get a personalised reconditioning plan to improve their mobility, balance, strength, flexibility, aerobic conditioning, and endurance, as per an Indian Express report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Post splashdown, the Gaganyatri [Shukla] will undergo a rehabilitation program (about seven days) under the supervision of Flight Surgeon to adapt back to Earth's gravity,' the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement earlier. 'ISRO's flight surgeons are continuously monitoring and ensuring the overall health and fitness of the Gaganyatri through participation in private medical/psychological conferences. Gaganyatri Shubhanshu is in good health and in high spirits,' it added. Why rehabilitation after space travel is necessary The body has to be retrained after experiencing weightlessness in space. According to Dr Chough, who monitors astronauts' healthcare before, during, and after missions, the first thing they check for is motion sickness upon return to Earth. 'Your inner ear kind of shuts off more or less in weightlessness,' she told NPR. 'So when you reintroduce that sense of gravity, it can be a little bit disorienting.' The vestibular system in the inner ear consists of sensory organs that help maintain one's sense of balance. In space, the system gets mixed signals and is unable to determine which way is up or down. This becomes a challenge when astronauts return to Earth as they encounter problems standing up and walking. A special team of doctors help astronauts readjust to gravity on Earth. During the rehabilitation process, they are reaccustomed to balance, coordination, and core strength. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'There is an incredible group of dedicated athletic trainers and physical therapists who manage and implement the post-flight rehabilitation for crew. This starts the very next day after landing and involves two hours per day for six weeks of progressive physical training,' Dr Chough said, as per an article in the University of Texas Medical Branch website. 'Your balance and neuromuscular coordination require re-training because in weightlessness, your brain becomes almost entirely dependent on your visual input for orientation,' she explained. 'If you ask a returned astronaut to stand with their eyes closed in the early post-landing phase, they can have difficulty keeping their balance when that visual input is taken away, because their inner ear and cerebellum, both of which rely on gravity for inputs and normally assist the eyes with balance, coordination, and orientation, haven't been as active while in space.' According to Dr Chough, it takes seven to 10 days for astronauts to regain their pre-flight baseline balance, allowing them to restart daily tasks like driving. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
New Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Post successful undocking, Shux, mates to splash down on July 15
BENGALURU: AS you read this, India's Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla (call sign Shux) has completed over half his journey back to Earth. In a few hours from now Shux will start the exercise to descend and make a splashdown landing off California coast at 3pm, subject to weather conditions, as a part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) space mission – the commercial four-agency collaboration of Axiom Space, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). The Ax-4 mission's space capsule SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, named Grace, undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) at 4.50pm IST on July 14 – 10 minutes behind schedule due to technical reasons. After the 12 capture hooks of the space capsule were released to facilitate the undocking procedure, thrusters were manually operated by Shux and Ax-4 mission commander Peggy Whitson to enable the capsule to distance itself from the ISS. The subsequent procedures would involve reducing the orbital altitude of Grace from 400 Km. ISRO scientists familiar with the undocking procedure and the process of return to Earth, explained that after undocking, the capsule would continue to orbit as an independent entity till the thrusters are fired to reduce its speed for a safe landing. The crucial time for that would begin at 2 pm (IST) on Tuesday, an hour before the scheduled splashdown. The thrusters of the capsule, piloted by Shux and mission commander Peggy Whitson, will be fired to drastically reduce the capsule's speed from 26,200 km/hour to just 24 km/hour in less than an hour to facilitate its descent to an altitude of 80km from where the parachutes would come into play to ensure a safe and successful splashdown. Only Monday, at 4.48pm IST, two minutes before the undocking was completed, Expedition 73's seven crew members on board the ISS (who the four Ax-4 mission crew members joined on the space station on June 26 afternoon), relayed a message, 'Have a Safe Journey Back Home,' to the Ax-4 crew members.
