Latest news with #SudhanshuShukla
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First Post
19-05-2025
- Science
- First Post
EOS-09 mission: Why failure of Isro's PSLV launch is so rare
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) faced a setback on Sunday (May 18) after its 63rd PSLV mission to launch the EOS-9 surveillance satellite failed. The mission aimed to place an Earth observation satellite in a sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of about 597 km. Since its debut in 1993, the PSLV has faced only two failures during launch – the first time in 1993 and again in 2017 read more The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) suffered a setback on Sunday (May 18) after its 63rd PSLV mission to place the EOS-9 surveillance satellite in orbit failed. The Earth observation satellite, launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), encountered a failure due to a pressure problem in the third stage of the rocket. Isro Chairman V Narayanan said that the PSLV is made up of four stages and that the first two stages performed as expected. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ | Will Indian rockets take crew to world's first commercial space station? This failure is considered rare, as the PSLV has been a reliable launch vehicle for India's space missions. Since its first flight, the rocket has failed only twice - the first time in 1993 and again in 2017. But why do PSLV launch failures happen so rarely? In this explainer, we break down why PSLV launch failures are rare, what caused the earlier failures, and what the Isro chief said about this latest attempt. Before diving into that, here's a brief look at what PSLVs are. What is PSLV? Satellites used for navigation, mapping, and other tasks are sent into Space using launch vehicles or rockets, such as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). These rockets have strong engines that produce the energy needed to lift heavy payloads like satellites into orbit, pushing against the pull of Earth's gravity. Isro's PSLV-C61 carrying the EOS-09 at the Satish Dhawan Space Station in Sriharikota. PTI The PSLV can carry more than one payload at a time. To do this, it uses special structures called multi-payload adaptors inside the top section of the rocket, known as the payload fairing, according to Isro. Notably, PSLV earned the title 'the workhorse of Isro' by reliably placing a wide range of satellites into low Earth orbit, as per the space agency. ALSO READ | What is Axiom-4 Mission that India's Sudhanshu Shukla will pilot to space? Why PSLV launch failures are rare Since the PSLV's first launch in 1993, it has rarely failed. Only a few missions have faced problems over the years. When failures have occurred, they were mostly caused by issues with how different stages of the rocket separate or by problems in the rocket's engine system. These could include trouble in controlling the rocket's direction or underperformance during a stage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In September 1993, the PSLV-D1 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota to carry the IRS-1E remote sensing satellite into Low Earth Orbit (an altitude of 2,000 km or less). But the mission did not succeed. A fault in the rocket's onboard software caused it to miss orbit and fall into the ocean. The next failure came in 2017, when the rocket's payload fairing failed to detach. This left the satellite stuck inside the rocket. Isro called the mission unsuccessful after the final stage ended, marking the first failure since 1993. In the case of PSLV-C61, failures like this may be caused by several reasons – from problems in the propulsion stages, mistakes during separation of the rocket stages, or faults in how the rocket is guided and controlled. PSLV-C61 rocket carrying Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-09) lifts off from the first launch pad. PTI/File Photo What happened this time? This was Isro's 101st launch from Sriharikota. The mission aimed to place an Earth observation satellite into a sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of around 597 km. In this type of orbit, the satellite would pass over the same location at the same local time each day. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD #WATCH | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launches PSLV-C61, which carries the EOS-09 (Earth Observation Satellite-09) into a SSPO orbit, from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. EOS-09 is a repeat satellite of EOS-04, designed with the mission objective to ensure remote… — ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2025 If the mission had gone as planned, Orbit Change Thrusters (OCT) would have been fired to lower the altitude of the PS4 stage after the EOS-09 satellite was deployed. The rocket stage would then have been passivated to shorten its time in orbit. The satellite carried a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload, designed to capture Earth images in all weather conditions for a variety of observation uses. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD EOS-09 is a follow-up to EOS-04 and is intended to supply remote sensing data to users involved in operational tasks. It also aims to increase the frequency of such observations, according to Isro. Isro Chairman V Narayanan explained that the issue occurred during the third stage of the launch. PTI What led to the failure then? Isro Chairman V Narayanan explained that the issue occurred during the third stage of the launch. He said there was a 'fall in the chamber pressure of the motor case,' which led to the failure. VIDEO | Explaining the failure of PSLV-C61 vehicle launch mission, ISRO chairman V Narayanan says, "Today we attempted a launch of PSLV-C61 vehicle, the vehicle is a four stage vehicle, first two stages were performed as expected, during the third stage, it's a solid motor… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 18, 2025 'Today, we targeted the 101st launch from Sriharikota, the PSLVC61 EOS-09 mission. The PSLV is a four-stage vehicle, and up to the second stage, the performance was normal. The third stage motor started perfectly, but during the functioning of the third stage, we are seeing an observation,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD '…and the motor pressure–there was a fall in the chamber pressure of the motor case, and the mission could not be accomplished. We are studying the entire performance, we shall come back at the earliest,' he added, as reported by PTI. The space agency has set up a failure analysis committee to carefully study the flight and telemetry data to find out what went wrong and to put in place steps to prevent it from happening again. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Indian astronaut Sudhanshu Shukla to grow superfoods in space, a significant step towards space agriculture
Indian astronaut Group Captain Sudhanshu Shukla is preparing for a groundbreaking journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on May 29, 2025, as part of the Axiom Mission-4 , a collaboration between NASA, ISRO, and the European Space Agency (ESA). Among his key tasks is conducting pioneering experiments to sprout and grow green gram (moong) and fenugreek (methi) seeds in the unique microgravity environment of space. This research aims to unlock sustainable food solutions for astronauts on long-duration missions, marking a significant step toward India-centric space agriculture and advancing life-support systems for future space exploration. Growing superfoods beyond earth Sudhanshu Shukla will lead experiments focused on cultivating moong and methi seeds aboard the ISS. These seeds, essential staples in Indian cuisine, were selected for their nutritional and medicinal properties. The study will observe how these plants germinate and grow without gravity's influence, testing whether the microgravity environment affects their development and nutrient content. The science behind the sprouts by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like '부모님 허리통증, 아직도 파스만 붙이세요?' 붙이기만 해도 시원하다는 후기, 많습니다 닥터신 더 알아보기 The experiment doesn't stop at sprouting seeds in space. Once the samples return to Earth, researchers will analyze multiple generations of the plants to study changes in genetics, microbial interactions, and nutritional profiles. This comprehensive approach seeks to identify traits that could improve crop resilience and productivity both in space and on Earth. Why this matters for space exploration Growing fresh food in space could be a game-changer for astronauts on extended missions where resupplying supplies from Earth is difficult and costly. ISRO's effort to test familiar, nutrient-rich crops like moong and methi represents a vital step toward sustainable life-support systems, aligning with the upcoming Gaganyaan mission and the vision for an Indian space station. International collaboration and future prospects The Axiom-4 mission is a testament to global teamwork, featuring astronauts from India, the USA, Hungary, and Poland. This project highlights India's growing role in space science and its commitment to advancing sustainable technologies for space travel. If successful, Shukla's experiments could pave the way for growing more superfoods beyond Earth, contributing to global knowledge of space agriculture.
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First Post
06-05-2025
- Science
- First Post
Soviet-era spacecraft likely to crash back to Earth this week: Should you be worried?
A Soviet-era spacecraft launched in the 1970s, originally intended to land on Venus, is now expected to crash back to Earth. Nasa said that the Kosmos 482 spacecraft could reenter Earth's atmosphere between May 7 and May 13. Built to withstand Venus' extreme conditions, parts of the spacecraft may survive reentry without burning up. Notably, Kosmos 482 was one of a series of Venus missions launched by the Soviet Union in 1972 read more The spacecraft could land anywhere between 51.7 degrees north and south latitude. Image: AI-Generated/News18 A Soviet-era spacecraft launched in the 1970s, which was originally meant to land on Venus, is now expected to crash back to Earth sometime this month. The Russian spacecraft, Kosmos 482, was launched nearly 53 years ago. It never reached its destination. ALSO READ | What is Axiom-4 Mission that India's Sudhanshu Shukla will pilot to space? Recent satellite data shows that its parachutes may already have been deployed as the spacecraft continues to tumble in low Earth orbit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Should you be concerned? We explain when the spacecraft might crash, what the impact could be, and some details about the Kosmos 482 mission. When is the crash expected? Which regions could be affected? Nasa has said that Kosmos 482 is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere sometime between May 7 and May 13. The space agency said that the probe was built to survive Venus' harsh atmosphere, so parts of it may make it through reentry without burning up. Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek believes that the spacecraft could fall around May 10. If the main section stays intact, he says it may hit the ground at a speed of about 150 mph (242 kph). Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard & Smithsonian, told NPR that the probe is now in its 'final death plunge.' 'There's a not-trivial chance that it could hit somewhere where it damages property, and there's a small chance − but it's like one in thousands − that it could hurt someone,' he said. It is still uncertain which part of the spacecraft will fall back to Earth, but researchers believe it may be the 'entry capsule' - the section built to withstand the intense heat and pressure of Venus' atmosphere, which is 90 times denser than Earth's, according to CNN. The spacecraft could land anywhere between 51.7 degrees north and south latitude. That includes areas as far north as London and Edmonton in Canada, down to Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Still, the exact point of impact would not be known until just before it happens. Since most of Earth's surface is water, 'chances are good it will indeed end up in some ocean,' Langbroek told Associated Press. ALSO READ | Space junk: Why Nasa is offering $3 million to recycle astronaut waste in space Should you be worried? 'While not without risk, we should not be too worried,' Langbroek said. The spacecraft is quite small and, even if it stays in one piece, 'the risk is similar to that of a random meteorite fall, several of which happen each year. You run a bigger risk of getting hit by lightning in your lifetime,' he said. He added that the chance of the spacecraft actually striking someone or something is low. 'But it cannot be completely excluded.' The Russian spacecraft, Kosmos 482, was launched nearly 53 years ago. Image: Nasa Jonathan McDowell told NPR, 'There's a not trivial chance that it could hit somewhere where it damages property. And there's a small chance – but it's like one in thousands – that it could hurt somebody.' The Aerospace Corporation, a research group supported by the US government, has estimated the odds of the spacecraft causing serious harm to be about 1 in 25,000, according to space debris expert Marlon Sorge. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What should people do if Kosmos 482 hits dry land? Sorge told CNN that if Kosmos 482 ends up hitting dry land, people should stay away from any debris. The old spacecraft may still contain harmful fuel or other hazards that could be unsafe for both people and property. 'Contact the authorities,' Sorge said. 'Please don't mess with it.' Parker Wishik, a spokesperson for the Aerospace Corporation, told CNN that under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which still acts as the key agreement on space law, Russia would still own any parts of the spacecraft that survive. The country might try to retrieve the wreckage after it lands. Wishik further said that while space agencies have worked to reduce the number of uncontrolled reentries in recent years, Kosmos 482 shows why such efforts need to continue. ALSO READ | What does a typical day on International Space Station look like? The mission to Venus Starting in 1962, the Soviet Union used the name Cosmos (or Kosmos) for spacecraft that stayed in Earth orbit, even if they were meant to go further. Kosmos 482 was one of a series of Venus missions launched by the Soviet Union in 1972. The probe was built to survive Venus' harsh atmosphere. Image: Nasa After reaching parking orbit around Earth, the spacecraft tried to head towards Venus. But due to a rocket failure, it never left Earth orbit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The spacecraft broke into four parts, two of them fell back and burned up within 48 hours. The other two stayed in orbit. Most of the debris returned to Earth within about ten years. However, experts, including Langbroek, believe that the landing capsule, a round object about 3 feet (1 metre) wide, has remained in a long, looping orbit for the past 53 years, slowly losing height over time. With inputs from agencies
