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Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somnath on Monday said that the Chandrayaan-3- the third edition of India’s mission to the moon- will be launched this July.

Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.

“I am very confident…” said Somnath today on the lunar mission.

The ISRO chairman was speaking after the space agency successfully placed the NVS-01, the first of the second-generation satellite series, into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle deployed the NVS-01 navigation satellite from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDC SHAR) in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking to ANI, Somanath said, “The lesson is very simple. Learn from the past, and do what is possible with your capacity. Failures may happen. There are a thousand reasons for a rocket to fail. Even today, this mission could have failed. But we have to do what is needed to be done”.

Meanwhile, the Chandraayan-3 mission consists of an indigenous lander module a propulsion module and a rover with an objective of developing and demonstrating new technologies required for Inter planetary missions.

According to ISRO, the three mission objectives of the Chandrayaan-3 are- to demonstrate safe and soft landing on lunar Surface; to demonstrate Rover roving on the moon and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

It will be launched by the LVM3 rocket from SDSC SHAR centre in Sriharikota. The propulsion module will carry the lander and rover configuration till 100 km lunar orbit, according to ISRO.

The propulsion module has Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to study the spectral and Polari metric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.

The Lander will have the capability to soft land at a specified lunar site and deploy the Rover which will carry out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface during the course of its mobility. The Lander and the Rover have scientific payloads to carry out experiments on the lunar surface.

The main function of the Propulsion Module is to carry the Lander Module from launch vehicle injection till final lunar 100 km circular polar orbit and separate the Lander Module from the Propulsion Module.

Apart from this, the Propulsion Module also has one scientific payload as a value addition which will be operated post separation of Lander Module.

The launcher identified for Chandrayaan-3 is GSLV-Mk3 which will place the integrated module in an Elliptic Parking Orbit (EPO) of size 170 x 36500 km.

The Chandrayaan is an ongoing series of lunar space exploration programme of the ISRO. Chandrayaan-1, the first lunar probe of ISRO, in 2008-09 found water on the moon. The Chandrayaan-2 was launched in July 2019 and successfully inserted into orbit in August 2019. However, minutes its lander crash-landed on the moon after losing communication with the ground stations.

Earlier in the day, the ISRO Chairman Somnath congratulated the whole ISRO team after the successful launch of NVS-01.

“I would like to congratulate everyone on the outcome. The satellite is placed in the precised orbit. Congratulates to the entire ISRO for making this mission happen,” ISRO Chairman Somnath said in a press conference.

He appreciated the fact that the mission was accomplished after doing the rectifications after suffering a debacle during the last mission.

“This mission GV-F12 came after the debacle that happened in the F-10 mission where there was an issue in the cryogenic stage and the cryogenic engine could not get accomplished. I am very happy that the correction and modification at the cryogenic stage were done and we learnt the lessons to make our cryogenic stage more reliable. I want to specifically congratulate the entire ‘Failure Analysis Committee’ who went through this and made our life much better and also for the Liquid Propulsion System,” he said.

Somnath added, “Today the Navigation Satellite NVS-01 is the second generation of navigation satellite with additional capabilities that we have already brought into the satellite constellation where we make the signals more secure. We made a civilian frequency band L-1 and also introduced our Atomic Clock. And this is one of the five series of satellites with new configurations that are to be launched. I would like to thank all those who worked for this satellite and make the mission a grand success”.

Appreciating the government support, the ISRO Chairman also thanked the authorisation of the GSLV launch despite a failure during the last attempt.

“The confidence of the decision makers, our honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other key functionaries who reviewed it to see that we have done the required work. The Navic Constellation is something very crucial for the nation to have a regional navigation constellation. I take this opportunity to tell you that we are going to make this Navic system fully functional and operational for the benefit of this nation,” he said.

He further said that the satellite is currently in Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, from where it is the responsibility of the satellite team to correctly place it in the orbit.

Apprising about the future missions of ISRO, Chairman Somnath said, “In the coming months, we are going to launch PSLV as well as GSLV Mark-3. We are also going to launch the test vehicle of the Gaganyan (Man mission). Of course, the launches of further PSLV and SSLV are also in line”

“We are having the next launch of GSLV with a Climate and weather observation satellite called INSAT-3DS, which will be happening soon. And after that, the same rocket is bound to take NISR – India Nasa Synthetic Alergic Radar Satellite as well,” he added.


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NASA Data Empowers Global Response to Rising Sea Levels

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NASA Data Empowers Global Response to Rising Sea Levels

Coastal communities around the world are confronting the realities of rising sea levels, which threaten both daily life and essential infrastructure. In response, NASA has collaborated with agencies such as the US Department of Defense, the World Bank, and the United Nations to deliver detailed data on global sea level rise. This information, accessible through NASA’s Earth Information Center, is intended to aid in the preparation and planning for coastal impacts expected through the year 2150.

As per a report by NASA, the centre offers projections of future sea levels and potential regional flooding over the next 30 years. The report highlights that this resource combines data from NASA’s ongoing satellite monitoring with computer modelling of ice sheet dynamics and ocean behaviour, alongside assessments from global authorities like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. These tools are designed to equip communities with accurate data on which they can base crucial coastal infrastructure and climate resilience plans.

Global Applications of NASA’s Data

Global institutions are using NASA’s sea level data to shape policies and implement adaptive strategies in vulnerable regions, the report mentioned. The World Bank, for example, integrates this information into Climate Risk Profiles for countries most susceptible to rising sea levels. Similarly, the U.S. Department of Defense leverages the data to foresee and mitigate the impacts on its coastal facilities, while the U.S. Department of State uses the information in disaster preparedness and adaptation planning for its international allies, the report further adds.

Selwin Hart, Assistant Secretary-General and special adviser to the United Nations on climate action, described the data as “a critical resource for protecting lives and livelihoods,” emphasising the disparity in impacts between a global warming limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius and current policy projections. This data, he noted, underscores the urgent need for action in vulnerable coastal areas.

Accelerating Rise of Global Sea Levels

The current rate of sea level rise has been shown to increase significantly, with nearly all coastal countries observing heightened sea levels from 1970 to 2023. According to Ben Hamlington, head of NASA’s sea level change team, the rise in sea levels is occurring at an accelerated pace, with average increases nearly doubling over the past three decades. Notably, NASA’s projections indicate that Pacific Island nations will see at least a 15-centimetre rise by 2050, accompanied by a marked increase in high-tide flooding.

The new data platform, as explained by Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, director of NASA’s ocean physics programme, allows communities worldwide to anticipate future flooding scenarios.

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Ancient pebbles in Israel hint at the earliest form of wheel technology

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Ancient pebbles in Israel hint at the earliest form of wheel technology

Archaeologists in Israel have uncovered doughnut-shaped pebbles that may be among the earliest forms of wheel-like technology. Found at the Nahal Ein Gev II site in northern Israel, these 12,000-year-old limestone pebbles feature central holes and are thought to have been used as spindle whorls—a tool for spinning fibres like flax and wool.

Talia Yashuv, a graduate student and co-author of the study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Institute of Archaeology, told LiveScience that these ancient artefacts suggest early experimentation with rotational tools that could have laid the foundation for later advancements like the potter’s wheel and the cart wheel. This discovery was published in PLOS One on November 13, offering a glimpse into pre-agricultural technology in the region.

The roughly 100 perforated pebbles were analysed by Yashuv and Leore Grosman, a professor of prehistoric archaeology at the same institute. After scanning each pebble in 3D, the team produced detailed models to assess their potential uses. Most of the pebbles were thought unlikely to serve as fishing weights or beads due to their size and shape, which diverge from artefacts used in similar periods. Instead, the team recreated spindle whorls from the scanned models, which traditional craft expert Yonit Crystal used to spin flax and wool. While the flax was easier to handle, the replicas demonstrated that the pebbles were likely effective as spindle whorls, supporting early textile production, the study noted.

Implications of the Findings

The findings indicate that these spindle whorls could mark a key point in technological evolution, potentially linked to new methods of storage and survival. Alex Joffe, a director at the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa and experienced archaeologist, told LiveScience that the possibility that these artefacts could have enabled innovations like bags or fishing lines. Yorke Rowan, an archaeology professor at the University of Chicago, echoed this view, noting that the analysis represents a “critical turning point” in early technology.

A Continuing Debate

While these pebbles may represent one of the earliest uses of wheel-like forms, Carole Cheval, an expert in prehistoric textiles at CEPAM in France, told that the publication that she observed that similar objects have been found in other regions, possibly from earlier periods. This adds another layer to understanding the origins of rotational technology, highlighting the ongoing exploration of ancient human innovation.

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Binar satellites re-enter early due to high solar activity

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Binar satellites re-enter early due to high solar activity

An increase in solar activity has resulted in the early re-entry of three CubeSats from Curtin University’s Binar Space Program. These small satellites, which operated at low Earth orbit, were designed to last for at least six months. However, due to intensified solar conditions, they were destroyed within two months, significantly shortening their scientific mission.

CubeSats like Binar-2, 3 and 4 are particularly vulnerable to space weather impacts because they lack propulsion systems that could counteract the heightened atmospheric drag caused by solar activity. The satellite programme had launched Binar-1 in 2021 during relatively low solar activity, which allowed it to complete a full year in orbit.

The Science Behind Solar Activity

As per a report by The Conversation, solar activity, which includes phenomena such as solar flares, sunspots and solar wind, follows an 11-year cycle driven by the Sun’s magnetic field. Known as “solar cycle 25,” this phase has shown unexpected activity levels, currently over 1.5 times higher than projected. This has impacted not only the Binar satellites but also large-scale operations like the Starlink constellation and the International Space Station, both of which require continuous adjustments to counter increased drag.

Impact of Space Weather on Satellites and Earth

Increased solar activity generates higher levels of ionising radiation and charged particles. This can damage sensitive satellite electronics, disrupt radio communications and increase radiation exposure for astronauts. The intensified solar conditions have also expanded the Earth’s atmosphere outward, leading to increased drag for satellites in low Earth orbit. This affects many smaller satellites, which lack the capability to adjust their altitude.

The recent solar activity has also created more visible auroras, with these atmospheric light displays appearing closer to the equator than seen in decades.

Future Considerations for Space Missions

Despite current challenges, solar activity is expected to decline gradually, reaching a minimum by 2030. This pause may offer more favourable conditions for future missions. In response to current conditions, work has commenced on future Binar missions, which may benefit from a more predictable space weather environment.

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