Category: Science

Astrophysicists have hinted at the existence of several black holes in the Hyades cluster -- the closest open cluster to our solar system -- which would make them the closest black holes to Earth ever detected.

The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) has joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange at the University of Chicago as an international partner – among only five globally - for a new collaborative science and technology initiative between the two renowned academic institutions.

According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Aditya-L1, that is destined for Sun-Earth Lagrange point (L1), has taken a selfie and also the pictures of the Earth and the Moon.

According to Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) and X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) lifted off aboard a homegrown H-IIA rocket from Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. 

According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the second earth bound manoeuvre was performed at 2.45 a.m. on Tuesday from its tracking centre in Bengaluru.

Space scientist Valarmathi working in the Programme Office of the Range Operations at Sriharikota Range (SHAR), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was the person who did the countdown for the past six years for India’s rocket launches.

In a post on X, ISRO said: “Vikram Lander exceeded its mission objectives. It successfully underwent a hop experiment.” “On command, it fired the engines, elevated itself by about 40 cm as expected and landed safely at a distance of 30 – 40 cm away.” 

India’s moon lander Vikram and the rover Pragyan will be put to sleep in a couple of days time, said Dr.S.Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) here on Saturday.

Speaking about the success, the Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Dr S.Somanath said: “The Aditya-L1 spacecraft has been injected in its intended orbit. It is a different mission. From now on, Aditya-L1 will start its 125 day journey to L1 (Lagrange Point 1).”

In its normal configuration, PSLV is a four stage/engine expendable rocket powered by solid and liquid fuels alternatively with six booster motors strapped on to the first stage to give higher thrust during the initial flight moments.

Nearly 15 years after its first flight and on its 25th mission, the rocket code named PSLV-C57 is being used for another interplanetary mission – to study the Sun- by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The countdown for the Saturday morning launch of India’s third interplanetary mission -- this time to the Sun - Aditya-L1 -- will begin at 12.20 p.m. on Friday, said a senior official of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Aditya L1 spacecraft is designed for providing remote observations of the solar corona and in situ observations of the solar wind at L1 (Sun-Earth Lagrangian point), which is about 1.5 million kilometres from the earth.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently rotated the moon rover for a safe navigation route. The movement was captured by a camera on the moon lander and was transmitted to the ISRO.

The Indian space agency had called the lander and rover of its Chandrayaan-2 mission as Pragyan and Vikram. However, while attempting a soft landing on the moon, Vikram crashed down.

After the Moon, it is the Sun for the Indian space agency. Days after landing India on the Moon safely, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will be launching the country’s first space-based observatory called Aditya-L1 to study the Sun at 11.50 a.m. on September 2.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while describing the efforts that were channelled towards the success of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission, on Saturday stated that the scientists at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) had built an artificial Moon at the worksite for experimentation.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said: "Chandrayaan-3 ROVER: Made in India Made for the MOON! The Ch-3 Rover ramped down from the Lander and India took a walk on the moon!"

The logo of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the national  emblem  have been engraved on the wheels of the rover to leave the imprint when it moves around.

“First photo of rover coming out of the lander on the ramp,” Pawan K Goenka, Chairman, INSPACe, the regulator for private players in the space sector, tweeted with the image.

The successful moon landing on Wednesday has come like a booster shot for the officials of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which is now gearing up for a mission to the Sun.

Scientists believe frozen water might have accumulated in cold polar regions over millions of years and could provide a unique sample for scientists to analyse and understand the history of water in our solar system.

As Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the Moon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, while witnessing the occasion via video conferencing from Johannesburg, took the occasion to announce that ISRO is soon going to launch the ‘Aditya L-1’ mission for a detailed study of the Sun.

“People wanted us to succeed. The ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 project team has put in tremendous effort. They have been breathing Chandrayaan-3 for the past four years,” M. Shankaran, Director, U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, said after India landed on the moon.

With the landing, a major portion of the Rs 600 crore Chandrayaan-3 mission has been realised. The remaining portion is the moon rover rolling down from the lander, moving around and doing the programmed experiments.