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Indian Space Research Organisation has decided not to rush its Gaganyaan project, the manned mission to space, as it wants to ensure that the country’s first human space flight is a ‘sure shot safe mission’, said its chairman S Somanath here on Thursday.

Gaganyaan was set to launch in 2022 but due to COVID-19 there was an inordinate delay, Somanath told reporters during the international conference on Spacecraft Mission Operations (SMOPS-2023).

“We have a different thinking now. Our thinking is like this that we don’t want to rush. That decision we have taken. The primary objective of the human space flight is a sure shot safe mission,” the ISRO chief said.

The space agency has redefined the mission in such a way that it will achieve success in the very first attempt. For this, it has enhanced the testing and demonstration mission substantially in recent times. These exercises involve additional abort missions to ensure the safety of the crew, he explained.

According to Somanath, the first exercise will probably happen in August, which was earlier planned in July.

“So, two abort missions have to take place this year followed by an unmanned mission possibly by the beginning of next year,” the ISRO chairman said.

The space scientist said all the engine test programmes have been completed within ISRO.

Stating that hectic activities are taking place, Somanath said every week at least some major tests are happening.

“For me, eight major tests are there and if all the tests successfully happen without any glitch, the launch will between 2024 and 2025 time frame. But if I face problems and challenges, which are natural in this process, I have to discount for the schedule,” he added.

About India’s first solar mission, Aditya-L1, Somanath said the launch window is August this year to January next year.

“If we cannot launch it in August then we will go to next year January,” he added.

Regarding Chandrayaan-3, ISRO’s third moon mission, Somanath said it is due to be launched in mid July. ISRO will follow the same process that was adopted during the Chandrayaan-2 mission, he said.

“We are going in the same path of Chandrayaan-2 because we have already done that. We have experience to do it in that manner but it all depends on various other factors whether there are any other contingency conditions,” Somanath said, adding, “The landing flight is just the same as previously. No change.” To a query on how indigenous Chandrayaan-3 is, the ISRO chairman said, “What we are doing in ISRO is 100 per cent indigenous. We are not buying anything from anybody to do it but of course we buy some components such as electronic chips, processors, some high-end devices, but we don’t buy Chandrayaan lander from anybody.” 

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Catch the Beaver Moon on Nov 15, 2024 – the year’s last supermoon!

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November 14, 2024

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Catch the Beaver Moon on Nov 15, 2024 - the year's last supermoon!

The final supermoon of 2024, known as the Beaver Moon, will make its appearance on Friday, November 15. This full moon, which will reach its peak illumination at 4:29 PM EST, is anticipated by lunar enthusiasts as it marks the last supermoon event of the year. Visible as dawn approaches in Jakarta, this celestial event follows October’s Hunter’s Moon and concludes a sequence of four consecutive supermoons observed throughout 2024, according to NASA.

What is the Beaver Moon?

November’s full moon is traditionally called the Beaver Moon, a term that originates from Native American customs and was popularised by the Maine Farmer’s Almanac. This name is linked to the seasonal timing when beavers prepare their dens for winter or were historically hunted to ensure a supply of warm furs. In various regions, November’s full moon is also known as the Frost Moon or Snow Moon, reflecting the colder weather patterns typically seen in North America during this time.

When to See the Beaver Moon

The Beaver Moon will appear full to viewers for three days, from the early hours of 14 November to just before sunrise on November 17. This gives stargazers multiple opportunities to catch a glimpse of the bright, enlarged moon, which will be slightly closer to Earth than usual, enhancing its size and brightness compared to typical full moons. This phenomenon occurs when the moon reaches its closest orbital point, known as perigee, during a full phase, resulting in what is known as a supermoon.

Other Astronomical Highlights This Month

Apart from the Beaver Moon, November brings other notable astronomical events. On 16 November, Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation, making it ideal for evening observation. Additionally, the Leonid meteor shower is expected to peak from November 17 to 18, providing another highlight for skywatchers. Uranus will also be visible, reaching its closest point to Earth on November 17, according to Seasky.org, giving viewers a brighter and more accessible sighting.

For those interested in astronomy, November 15 offers a special chance to observe this year’s last supermoon before the seasonal Cold Moon arrives in December.

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Scientists Discover New Electric Field in Earth’s Atmosphere

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November 14, 2024

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Scientists Discover New Electric Field in Earth’s Atmosphere

A faint electric field has been detected in Earth’s atmosphere, confirming a theory that scientists have held for decades. This ambipolar electric field, though weak at just 0.55 volts, could play a vital role in shaping Earth’s atmospheric evolution and its ability to support life, according to recent findings. Glyn Collinson, an atmospheric scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, led the Endurance rocket mission, which successfully measured this field in May 2022 above Svalbard, Norway. Collinson has described this field as a “planetary-energy field” that had eluded scientific measurement until now.

How the Ambipolar Field Affects Earth’s Atmosphere

The presence of this field is thought to explain a phenomenon observed decades ago—the polar wind. When sunlight strikes atoms in the upper atmosphere, it can cause negatively charged electrons to break free and drift into space, while the heavier, positively charged oxygen ions remain. To maintain an electrically neutral atmosphere, a faint electric field forms, tying these particles together and preventing electrons from escaping. This weak field has been shown to provide energy to lighter ions, such as hydrogen, enabling them to break free from Earth’s gravity and contribute to the polar wind.

This ambipolar electric field could have implications for planetary habitability. David Brain, a planetary scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, noted that understanding how such fields vary across planets could shed light on why Earth has remained habitable compared to planets like Mars and Venus. Although both Mars and Venus have electric fields, the absence of a global magnetic field on those planets allowed more of their atmospheres to escape into space, potentially altering their climates significantly.

Further Research Planned

NASA has recently approved a follow-up mission with a rocket named Resolute, expected to launch soon. Collinson believes that continued investigation into planetary electric fields may help answer fundamental questions about why Earth supports life while other planets do not.

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Amber Found in Antarctica for the First Time

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November 14, 2024

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Amber Found in Antarctica for the First Time

The discovery of amber in Antarctica has been reported for the first time, as detailed in a recent study published in Antarctic Science. Dr. Johann Klages from the University of Bremen, alongside a team of researchers, uncovered this specimen in sediment cores from the Pine Island trough in West Antarctica. This ancient amber, originating from approximately 83 to 92 million years ago during the mid-Cretaceous period, offers valuable insights into prehistoric environmental conditions near the South Pole.

Unveiling the First Antarctic Amber

The study was published in Antarctic Science journal and reveals that the amber, known as Pine Island amber, was retrieved using the MARUM-MeBo70 drill rig during a 2017 expedition on the RV Polarstern vessel. This mid-Cretaceous resin is considered a significant breakthrough as it suggests that a swampy temperate rainforest, dominated by coniferous trees, thrived in the region during a much warmer period in Earth’s history. According to Dr. Henny Gerschel from the Saxon State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology, the amber likely contains tiny fragments of tree bark, preserved through micro-inclusions. Its solid, translucent quality indicates that it was buried close to the surface, protecting it from thermal degradation.

Insights into Prehistoric Forest Ecosystems

The presence of pathological resin flow within the amber offers clues into the defence mechanisms used by ancient trees against environmental stressors like parasites or wildfires. “This discovery hints at a much richer forest ecosystem near the South Pole during the mid-Cretaceous,” Dr. Klages explained, noting the resin’s defensive chemical and physical properties that protected it from insect attacks and infections.

Reconstructing Ancient Antarctic Environments

The amber’s discovery marks a key step in reconstructing ancient polar climates, supporting the idea that temperate forests once spanned across all continents. Researchers aim to explore further by analysing whether signs of past life are preserved in the amber. This study, beyond unearthing Antarctic amber, opens new opportunities to deepen understanding of Earth’s climatic past and the adaptability of prehistoric ecosystems.

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