Latest news with #S.Somanath
Time of India
6 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
NASA warns! 120-foot asteroid 2025 KX8 to make close approach to Earth on June 4; here's what to expect
Looking up at the sky can stir wonder—and sometimes, that awe is justified. A small asteroid is making a close approach to Earth, prompting careful monitoring by scientists. While there is no immediate threat, astronomers are tracking its path for any unexpected changes. This near-Earth object serves as a reminder of how active our solar system is and the importance of constant vigilance. Though this flyby will pass safely, it underscores the need for continued observation and research to better prepare for any future cosmic encounters that may pose a risk to our planet. Asteroid 2025 KX8 to have closest approach on June 4 NASA has officially announced the passage of asteroid 2025 KX8, which is due to have its closest approach to Earth on June 4, 2025. Estimated to be around 120 feet (about 36 meters) in diameter, the space rock is about the size of a small business jet. As it whizzes by, the asteroid will pass within 1.99 million kilometers (or roughly 1.24 million miles) of Earth. Although that sounds incredibly far, it's close astronomically speaking close enough to elicit active tracking by space agencies. Why scientists monitor near-Earth asteroids like 2025 KX8 Asteroid 2025 KX8 is classified under the Aten group, a group of near-Earth objects (NEOs) whose orbits take them through Earth's path. It is an important category of asteroid to track because their potential for orbital change in the future will enhance chances of collisions in the long run. Though models of trajectory at present indicate no danger of impact, scientists keep a watchful eye out. NASA defines objects as 'potentially hazardous' only if they are at least 150 meters in diameter and come within 7.4 million kilometers of Earth. Asteroid 2025 KX8 falls short on both counts, so it's safe according to present criteria—but still noteworthy from a scientific perspective. Small asteroids such as KX8, no matter how small they may be, would have the potential to inflict localized destruction should they ever enter Earth's atmosphere at some high velocity. Additionally, even a small change in its path resulting from gravitational perturbations or solar radiation would eventually alter its trajectory. That is why ongoing monitoring is important. ISRO prepares for future asteroid threats with global collaboration While KX8 poses no threat, space agencies worldwide are getting ready for more ominous situations. India's space agency, ISRO, is already gearing up for 2029, when a far larger asteroid Apophis is scheduled to make a very close pass by Earth. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath has highlighted the need for planetary defense. He has publicly indicated the threat posed by near-Earth objects and called for global collaboration. ISRO is considering collaboration with NASA, ESA, and JAXA to increase its surveillance capabilities. The agency is also working on future asteroid landing missions, whose goal would be to use as test sites for technologies that, in the future, might be employed to deflect or disrupt dangerous asteroids. These missions are part of a larger plan to minimize the potential effect of spaceborne threats. Also Read | Solar storm alert! Powerful G4-class geomagnetic activity expected on Earth after massive solar eruption on June 2
Hans India
18-05-2025
- Science
- Hans India
Setbacks have served to deepen our scientific rigour: Ex-ISRO chairman
New Delhi: Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman, S. Somanath, on Sunday said that setbacks have served to refine our resolve and deepen our scientific rigour, as the Indian space agency's 101st mission, PSLV-C61 carrying the EOS-09 satellite, faced a technical malfunction in the launch vehicle. In a post on the social media platform X, Somanath said that true to its indomitable spirit, ISRO "will swiftly assemble its finest minds to dissect the anomaly and chart a meticulous course forward". "I am aware of the formidable challenges we faced during the development of the third-stage solid motor -- an endeavour marked by multiple failures. It is indeed unusual to witness such anomalies resurfacing at this stage. Nevertheless, I have complete confidence that the team will identify the root cause both swiftly and effectively," said the former ISRO chief. The malfunction led to the mission failure, and the satellite could not be successfully deployed. The indigenous PSLV, or Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle -- PSLV-C61 -- lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota with the aim of placing EOS-09 into a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO). According to Somanath, over the years, "such challenges have only strengthened our conviction that failure is never defeat, but rather a formidable tutor". "Every towering success of ISRO has been forged in the crucible of adversity -- shaped by lessons deeply learnt and courageously applied. Setbacks have ever served to refine our resolve and deepen our scientific rigour. Nothing shall deter our pursuit of knowledge, which we carry forward with characteristic poise and unwavering precision," he mentioned. According to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, an unexpected issue arose during the third stage, preventing the successful deployment of the satellite. "The PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle, and its performance was normal up to the second stage. The third stage motor ignited perfectly; however, during its operation, an anomaly was observed, and the mission could not be completed successfully. We will come back after analysis," he further said.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
A.P. attracts several investment proposals in aerospace and defence manufacturing sectors
VIJAYAWADA The Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) Government's efforts to attract Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing (A&DM) units on a large scale appear to be yielding the desired result as a host of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), most of them Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) making niche products, have submitted proposals to set up their facilities in the State. This is duly attributed to the goodwill which the government's recently-appointed advisors G. Satheesh Reddy (former Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation) and S. Somanath (former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation) brought in for the State as it scouted for investments in the A&DM sector. For instance, it is reliably learnt that a Taiwanese company evinced interest in establishing a semiconductor manufacturing plant in Kurnool district and applied for land, and necessary clearances under the India Semiconductor Mission. Then there are companies like Avantel Ltd. and Astra Microwave Products Ltd. exploring opportunities in A.P. In fact, Avantel Ltd., which installed the Mobile Satellite Services Network for the Indian Navy that provides voice and data communications among its ships, submarines and aircraft, and has multiple other technologies and digital solutions in its repertoire, sought land and certain incentives near Nuzvid in Eluru district for setting up a unit, and it is under consideration, according to official sources. Bharat Dynamics Ltd, a defence PSU, is reportedly moving towards expansion at its manufacturing unit in the Visakhapatnam SEZ. Several other A&DM companies, including defence PSUs, are keen on investing in the State and have already reached out to the A.P. Government with the respective proposals. Goa Shipyard is also said to be looking at investment avenues in A.P. Tailor-made incentives In this context, the A.P. Government is offering all possible support and tailor-made incentives under the AP Aerospace & Defence Policy 4.0, 2025-29, which is in the process of being finalised. Under the policy, the government contemplated developing four clusters: naval shipbuilding and defence MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul), defence and aerospace manufacturing and missile and ammunition, and defence electronics manufacturing. For this, the Industries and Commerce Department of A.P. is following the French model of defence clusters, wherein OEM-led clusters hold the key in the development of the A&DM ecosystem. An industry association president told The Hindu that the A&DM companies suggested to the A.P. Government to preferably develop a defence corridor / cluster at Jaggaiahpet in NTR district keeping in view its proximity to Hyderabad. At the same time, due focus is laid on attracting investments into Orvakal and Kopparthy clusters situated in Hyderabad-Bengaluru and Visakhapatnam-Chennai industrial corridors. He said Mr. Satheesh Reddy (advisor for A&DM hub) and Mr. Somanath (advisor, space technology) were doing a lot of work behind the curtains to attract investments and their efforts were bearing fruit. The ensuing construction of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle at Sriharikota gives a big boost to the A&D ecosystem in the State, he observed.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Construction of new rocket launchpad and NGLV in Sriharikota offer a huge opportunity for developing aerospace manufacturing ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh, says former ISRO chairman Somanath
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) former chairman and Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) Government's advisor on space technology S. Somanath has said the approval for construction of a new launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota and the building of the Next General Launch Vehicle (NGLV) there offer great opportunities for defence PSUs and, more importantly, for private companies involved in the Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing (A&DM) to become partners in the Union government's space exploration missions undertaken with a futuristic vision. For this, an entire ecosystem has to be created somewhere around the SDSC while various components and other supplies come from other geographies. To make it happen, both the Union and the A.P. governments should extend all possible support to the companies, especially MSMEs, many of which have already become a part of the global supply chains, to make the much-needed scaling up of India's A&DM capacity possible. Addressing a A&DM sector stakeholder meeting organised by the Industries Department of Andhra Pradesh here on Monday for finetuning the draft Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing Policy 4.0 - 2025 - 29, Mr. Somanath said the Centre has rightly laid focus on bringing about the desired change in the A&DM ecosystem as it was very weak due to the lack of synergy between the whole range of product developers and component makers. The gaps had to be filled to realise the potential of Indian companies which have done a great job as space exploration has opened up over the years. Mr. Somanath said the global space ecosystem has been dominated by a few countries but of late more of them started becoming spacefaring nations by sending an impressive number of satellites into the space. India was one of them but the task on hand was much larger. Commercial space launches were an opportunity which the country could not afford to miss but it has to overcome a plethora of challenges that stymied the capabilities of the industries looking to contribute to space exploration. He noted that last year the Union government had given approval for putting 50 satellites in the orbit over the next five years but ISRO was in a position to send barely 10 satellites against the demand for hundreds. To catch up, the capacities have to be scaled up by a large measure, Mr. Somanath added. Indigenous defence manufacturing capacity DRDO former chairman and A.P. Government's advisor on A&DM sector G. Satheesh Reddy said increasing the indigenous defence manufacturing capacity has been the thrust area of the Union government, which was conscious of the fact India needed to be self-sufficient to better defend itself in the context of the war that was raging between Russia and Ukraine and the Israel - Hamas conflict. Accordingly, the value of indigenous defence manufacturing has gone up to ₹1.27 lakh crore in 2024-25 and it was targeted to be increased to ₹1.75 lakh crore by the end of FY 2025-26, and ₹3 lakh crore by the year 2029. The quantum of defence exports has also gone up exponentially, Mr. Satheesh Reddy said, while insisting that A.P. has tremendous scope to become a preferred destination for A&DM companies as it has a set of unique advantages which a few other States possess. Vijayawada MP and Member of the Parliamentary Committees on Home and Defence Kesineni Sivanath, Major Gen. Ajay Mishra, General Officer Commanding of the Indian Army's A.P. and Telangana Sub-Area, AP Government Secretary (Industries & Commerce) N. Yuvaraj, Bharat Dynamics Limited CMD Commodore (Retd.) A. Madhava Rao, S.S.S. Prasad from the BrahMos Project and APIIC Chairman Manthena Ramaraju and Vice - Chairman M. Abhishikth Kishore were among those who presented their views.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Sasthra Vedhi conference meet begins in Thiruvananthapuram
Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S. Somanath will deliver the inaugural address at the two-day State conference of Sasthra Vedhi at Lenin Balavadi in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday (April 25, 2025). Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre director S. Unnikrishnan Nair will deliver the keynote address. Geevarghese Yohannan, chairman, MGM Institutions, the guest of honour, will honour the women's editorial board. Mr. Somanath and Mr. Unnikrishnan will give away prizes for the Sasthra Thallu science reel contest. Anoop Ambika, CEO, Kerala Startup Mission; K. Kurien Issac, vice president, Breakthrough Science Society, Kerala chapter; and G. Sajan, former chief of programmes, Doordarshan; Achuthsankar S. Nair, president, Sasthra Vedhi; and Bency Jerome, vice president, Sasthra Vedhi, will speak at the inaugural at 11.30 a.m. Speakers in the afternoon sessions include Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Sudhakaran and Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan. The two-day event includes seminars, book releases, science reel screening, students' meet, release of science magazine and study report, leadership discussion, lectures, study tours, and cultural evenings. On Saturday, laser show and planetary show at the Kerala State Science and Technology Museum and visit to the VSSC are planned.
