Category Space

What is the role of ISRO in space technology?

The ISRO works to develop and apply space technology in various sectors of our economy.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian Navy continue to conduct important trials for the Gaganyaan mission. However, do you know what ISRO is?

Organisation

 The ISRO is India's space agency that was established on August 15, 1969.

Previously known as the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), it was envisioned by Vikram Sarabhai, who helped develop nuclear power in India and is considered one of the founding fathers of Indian space programme. ISRO is a major constituent of the Department of Space (DOS), Government of India.

The department executes the Indian Space Programme primarily through various centres or units within the ISRO.

Works

The ISRO works to develop and apply space technology in various sectors of our economy. It has established major space systems for communication, television broadcasting, and meteorological services.

ISRO's first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched by the Soviet Union on April 19, 1975. Meanwhile, Rohini, the first satellite to be placed in orbit by an Indian-made launch vehicle, was launched on July 18, 1980. It has developed satellite launch vehicles, PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle), to place the satellites in the required orbits.

These rockets have launched communications satellites and Earth-observation satellites as well as missions to the Moon and Mars – Chandrayaan-1, 2008; Chandrayaan-2, 2019; and Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also called Mangalyaan, 2013.

ISRO has launched several space systems, including the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system for telecommunication, television broadcasting, meteorology, and disaster warning and the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites for resource monitoring and management. The first INSAT and IRS satellites were launched in 1988.

While ISRO's headquarters is in Bengaluru, the launch vehicles are built at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram. Launches take place at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Sriharikota Island, near Chennai.

ISRO's chief executive is a chairman, who is also chairman of the Indian government's Space Commission and the secretary of the Department of Space. Its current Chairman is S. Somnath.

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What is meaning of term ‘Space tourism’?

Ever wanted to travel to outer space and watch our blue planet from the perspective of an outsider? Well, space tourism is all about experiencing outer space and the universe in all its ethereal magnificence. It is recreational space travel. It can become a reality through government-owned vehicles or through private companies. The world’s first space tourist was American businessman Dennis Tito back in 2001 when he ‘toured’ outer space. There is a backstory behind it. To generate income for the maintenance of the aging space station Mir, MirCorp, a private venture in charge of the space station decided to sell the trip to Tito. But even as he paid for the same, a decision was made to deorbit Mir. That’s how the destination changed to ISS. Following this, many joined the bandwagon and flew as a ‘spaceflight participant’ to the ISS for recreation. These were orbital space tourism. Presently, the focus is largely on suborbital space tourism. In sub-orbital rocket-powered flight, the rockets bring tourists into space but will not take a full orbit around the earth. Space tourism is still expensive. Business magnates Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson had recently travelled to outer space as tourists. Meanwhile business magnate Elon Musk’s company Spacex has started sending tourists into space already. The first space tourists sent by the company returned to Earth in 2021 after orbiting the Earth for three days. They flew 590 km farther from the planet. Further, NASA along with its private partner, has launched Starliner, a space capsule, that will take people to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Seen here is Richard Branson floating in zero gravity on board Virgin Galactic’s passenger rocket plane VSS Unity after reaching the edge of space.

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What was the mission of the Hubble Space Telescope?

A mission conceived as one for preventive maintenance turned out to be more urgent after four of the six gyroscopes on board the Hubble space telescope failed.

The Hubble space telescope has changed our understanding of the universe A telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990, Hubble still remains operational and continues to be a vital research tool. Following NASA’s most recent review of Hubble’s operations, it has been announced that NASA would support the observatory through June 2026, with estimates suggesting that it might be able to continue operations until the mid-2030s and even beyond.

Designed to be visited

While the longevity of the telescope is testament to the vision of those who conceived the mission, there’s another crucial factor that has made it possible. Hubble was the first telescope that was designed to be visited in space. This meant that astronauts could not only perform repairs and replace parts, but also upgrade its tech with newer instruments. There have been five such missions that have taken place from 1993 to 2009. One such servicing mission in December 1999 turned out to be a life saver for the telescope.

After the first servicing mission in 1993 and the second one in 1997, the third to carry out preventive repairs was scheduled for June 2000. Since Servicing Mission 2 in February 1997, however, three of the six gyroscopes aboard Hubble had failed. With at least three working gyroscopes necessary for Hubble’s operation, it prompted the managers to split Servicing Mission 3 (SM3) into two parts, SM3A and SM3B, with the former scheduled for December 1999.

An unexpected failure

 On November 13, 1999, a fourth gyroscope failed unexpectedly. With SM3A planned for the following month, this triggered NASA to place Hubble into safe mode. The safe mode was a sort of protective hibernation that prevented the telescope from making any observation. Hubble was in this state for over a month, waiting for the crew of SM3A to make their way.

With servicing mission veterans Steven Smith and Michael Foale at the helm, the seven-member crew aboard the Discovery Space Shuttle (STS-103) left for space on December 19. Within a couple of days, they manoeuvred close enough to Hubble such that it could be grappled with Discovery’s robotic arm.

All six gyroscopes replaced

 The first of the three scheduled spacewalks took place over 8 hours and 15 minutes spanning December 22-23 (Central European Time, CET). Smith, along with fellow crew member John Grunsfeld, managed to replace all six of Hubble’s gyroscopes. The entire astronomical community heaved a collective sigh of relief on receiving this news. The duo also replaced kits to prevent Hubble’s batteries from overcharging.

While Hubble’s main computer was changed in the second spacewalk that spanned 8 hours 10 minutes through December 23-24 (CET), the final spacewalk spanning 8 hours 8 minutes through December 24-25 (CET) saw a faulty transmitter and data tape recorder being replaced. Preliminary tests were then conducted to ensure that all of Hubble’s systems, be it old or new, were performing satisfactorily.

Backs away slowly

Minutes into December 26 (CET), the Hubble telescope was released. Discovery then backed away from Hubble slowly. Having successfully performed the major objectives of the mission, the astronauts on board used the time remaining to stow away equipment, apart from making preparations for landing.

After orbiting the Earth 119 times and travelling more than 5 million km, Discovery made its way back. It performed a smooth night-time landing, touching down on the runway at the Kennedy Space Center in the U.S. on December 27. Hubble was successfully back in operation, and has been for over two decades since then.

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IN WHICH LAYER OF THE ATMOSPHERE DO SATELLITES ORBIT EARTH?

You can consider most satellites to be in space, but in terms of the Earth’s atmosphere, they occupy regions called the thermosphere and the exosphere. The layer through which a satellite orbits depends on the satellite’s function and the kind of orbit it has. Since the launch of Sputnik in the 1950s, spacefaring countries have put thousands of satellites into orbit around the Earth and even other planets. They serve many different purposes, from complex space stations like the International Space Station to the Global Positioning System that helps you find your way home.

Thermosphere: High Temperatures

The thermosphere is a region of very high temperature that extends from the top of the mesosphere at around 85 kilometers (53 miles) up to 640 kilometers (400 miles) above the Earth’s surface. It is called the thermosphere because temperatures can reach up to 1,500 degrees Celsius (2,732 degrees Fahrenheit). However, despite the high temperatures, the pressure is very low, so satellites don’t suffer heat damage.

Exosphere: Farthest Reaches

Above the thermosphere sits a final layer called the exosphere, which extends up to 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) above the Earth, depending on how it is defined. Some definitions of the exosphere include all space up until the point where atoms get knocked away by solar wind. No distinct upper boundary exists since the exosphere has no pressure and molecules float freely here. Eventually, the exosphere gives way to space outside of the Earth’s influence.

Credit: Sciencing

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What is nebula?

A nebula is a formation in space which is constituted mostly of helium, dust, and other gases in various concentrations. The shape and size of a nebula varies, and as such there can be various types of formations having different sizes. Very often, they are huge in size, and their diameters can be a number of light years across. It is derived from Latin, and as such means a cloud. Nebulae exist in the space between the stars—also known as interstellar space. The closest known nebula to Earth is called the Helix Nebula. It is the remnant of a dying star—possibly one like the Sun. It is approximately 700 light-years away from Earth.

It is not clear how exactly a nebula is formed, but it is believed that they are formed by the collapsing of interstellar medium, which then come together because of the gravitational pull of the particles. Nebula is an important object for observation by researchers, who derive significant information about the formation process of stars and planets. A nebula is capable of exerting a gravitational pull, and the force is derived from the particles which come together to form the nebula. With more particles coming together, not only does the nebula increase in proportion, but its gravitational pull also gathers more power and intensity. A nebula is also believed to be one of the primary stages in the formation of stars. Scientists are of the opinion that a nebula can be used to create a trajectory of stellar evolution. There are various nebulae that are in existence at present, though numerous others may exist in the far-flung corners of space that remain to be observed. Some of the most popular ones are Pelican, Crab, Eagle, and Ring Nebula, with Ring being among the most observed ones on the planet.

Credit : Economic Times

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