Science & Technologies

Any new spacecraft or satellite launched in to the LEO takes just few minutes. However, sending the spacecraft for docking to the ISS hakes many hours to even couple of days. This article examines as to what should be a shortest time for the spacecrsft to dock with the ISS.

This is a new technology N-capable missile with 1000-2000 Km range

Of late, there are increasing interests of re-usable technologies in the space ventures. There are reusable launch vehicles, China has already developed a reusable spacecraft and Indian interests are also working in that direction.

It could be said with fair confidence that while the Modi govt has tried to manage Covid19 to the best of abilities, there were events that did create repeated confusion. Many of these were of a nature seen only in the hindsight. The second wave of the Covid took everyone by surprise. The extent of the pandemic was such that no govt could have managed. This however, does not absolve either the State Govts (under whom comes the public Health) or the Union Govt who are supposed to be coordinating with them for better response. While the populace in general stood firm by the honesty Modi govt displayed in meeting various challenges on several fronts simultaneously, the opposition politicians esp the Congress & Communists, left no stone unturned in maligning the govt. The many reasons of Confusion and secrecies shrouding the Covid outbreak and govt response is discussed here.

Space Tourism has now come to stay. Different agencies would offer different numbers of experiences…mostly offering sub-orbital flights of few minutes but some offering varying orbiting experiences too. Although the costs of the flights will vary with varying agencies offering it, it is going to be fortunes for many but some may not mind spending.

Most if not all, Specialists in Aerospace Medicine are imparted flying training as supernumerary aircrew so as to fully appreciate the complexities of tasks that their clientele are expected to perform. This is why they are also known as Flight Surgeons.

Joshimath is apparently sinking in some parts due to subsoil subsidence. However, many other areas in the region far away from Joshimath also show signs of sub-soil strain. Part-1 of the article takes a look at the problem through a scienst's eyes.

As and when Skyroot and the similar private firms fully operationalise their products and services, it will surely be a boost for India in space technologies

Looking at its small payload capability, RLV program objective seems to be unclear from the viewpoint of its economic advantages. However, it is a welcome step as a technology demonstration that could be scaled up in size to meet larger commercial objectives of carrying larger payloads, trapping or bringing back an orbiting satellite or carrying out a deep space scientific mission.

In the last 12-15 yrs, there have been rapid strides. Modi govt brought the vision of self-reliance but it was the spark of Indo-China clash at Galwan that made the DRDO to take unprecedented lead in making India self-reliant in missile technologies…almost at par with the best in the world.

Whatever might have been the reasons behind the deviations in the manoeuvring of Chandrayaan3 till now, ISRO has handled it apparently well as a result of which, the craft is almost in place where it was ought to be.

The Himalayas sitting over the tectonic fault lines is naturally vulnerable to instabilities and disruptions of several kinds. Human indulgence of creating infrastructures and habitats in the mountains without adequate consideration to the safety norms is the principle cause of the increasing devastation through mud/landslides triggered by the seismic activities.

The Earth is being continuously being degraded by multitudes of factors. The main culprits are the greenhouse effects of temperature caused mainly by the carbon loads of fossil fuel and Coal burning. The other factors that will make our planet uninhabitable is the nuclear explosions that only needs a trigger by any of the rogue nations possessing it. Surely a chain of retaliatory explosions will follow. There are stockpiles of thousands of nuclear bombs that can destroy our planet or at least make it uninhabitable. There is a need for Climate Activists to visualise the greater picture to preserve our precious environment so that we and our next generations could live safely, breathing healthy air.

The stage is nearly set for realising ‘Gaganyaan’ mission. Although the launch was not possible before 75th Independence Day, corners must not be cut that may jeopardise the safety of operations. As far as realising fully indigenous technologies are concerned, there will surely be Gaganyaan 2, 3, 4 and more.

Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds >5 Mach. At such speeds, it provides a very short reaction time to the adversaries. Further, any conventional or advanced air defence systems are incapable to catch these missiles thus making their strike a sure shot.

While environmentalists the world over are rightly concerned about the climate changes, very few are aware of the multiple holes that the heavier and mightier rockets and missiles are drilling in our atmosphere as explained above. All super-powers and space agencies involved with space explorations would like to see these issues be swept under the carpet for as long as possible. Time has come when all activists of environment must come together and take effective steps unitedly so as to make our Earth, the only inhabitable planet to the best of our knowledge in the cosmos, a safer place to live. None should be allowed to damage the atmospheric cover of the Earth.

the options for utilising the ISS for tourism have challenges but is certainly feasible. Will Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson or Elon Musk utilize the concept of ‘Star Hotel in Heaven’, remains to be seen. If not, they may have to modify their crafts for better comfort and luxury, for prolonged durations of ventures to orbital flights or longer flights of one or more circles of the Earth, for the tourists to be able to view Sunset/Sunrise, changing perspective of the Earth for lasting memories.

Joshimath located on the steep slopes of Auli Mountain is highly unplanned with overcrowding of dwellings. Those constructions weigh many times more than the sloped-surface can bear. In addition, natural sub-soil waters and lack of drainage system have made sub-soil slide with the slightest excitation/trigger caused by the tremors in this Gr-V seismic zone. There is strong apprehension of it grabbing another headlines soon with even moderate tremors striking the region.

From July 2021, people will be able to make adventure trips to sub-orbital flights...of course at a price.

Govt of India's effort in upgrading the Naval shipbuilding capabilities will go a long way in making it a force to reckon with. A number of Naval ships being manufactured and commissioned in the last 4 yrs is highly laudable.

Away from the media hype of the CES test carried out reportedly successfully on 21 Oct 23, there are questions on the rationale of the Test Schedule.

Sanket missed out his gold medal by a whisker while he got injured too. The article scientifically analyses the probable reasons.

A panoramic photographic collection made in to a Selfie

Having suffered lack of credible modernisation bid of military hardware for more than 3 decades, Indian Armed Forces has received a substantial face-lift with well-planed procurement policies heading towards self-reliant capabilities for all its 3 services. Modi Govt has put the Indian Defence manufacturers on a path of making India a global military power. India is readying itself to meet the current challenges not only on its two frontiers with hostile neighbours but also across its vast coastal lines and changing global power-equations with emerging new situations. The advanced military hardware will also find many buyers.

ATAGS being an indigenous development has the added benefit of value additions, upgradations in addition to having capability to fire greater calibre ammunition further away. This is a fully electrical system with power back-up hence, having lesser mechanical wear and tear.

Any Adventure activity does have some inherent risks but certainly not at the cost of anyone’s life. Any Space Tourist will have some minimum expectations as mentioned in the article. The companies offering Space Adventure at the prohibitive costs equivalent to fortunes in the present times, must be safe and fulfilling their expectations. Whether Virgin Galactic fulfils all those obligations, they and their passengers will decide. This article only aims at bringing out a third party of view point.

Chinese unmanned Lunar Mission Cheng'e 5 landed at moon surface and came back with lunar samples.

India under Modi Govt has taken recourse to Atmnirbhar plans in which Vande Bharat surely has a bright future. It serves the imaginations of the people, reduces travel time by half, cuts the import cost, boosts the Indian economy and takes the nation to a new age.

The article elaborates the landing of Chinese Tianwen craft at Mars, the Development of a Covid cough scanner and 2-Deoxy D Glucose by DRDO.

All Space Tourists will have some minimum expectations of fulfilling some as mentioned above esp when you pay fortunes. In Virgin Galactic the microgravity is of limited period, space in the cabin isn’t enough to float freely. The firm isn’t trying to give you glimpses of sunrise or sunset.

With the successful launch of Chandrayaan 3 on 14 July 2023 and injecting it into the elliptical Earth’s Parking orbit, it is only the culmination of the first of ten phases successfully. Intricacies and challenges of the subsequent phases lay ahead and have to be solved/handled carefully in the coming days and weeks.

Chandrayaan 3 seems to have been taken care of all possible reasons that could have played role in the partial failure of Chandrayaan 2 soft landing.

It remains to be seen as to how the erring parties are compelled to remove the space debris caused by them. Laws also need to be framed to compensate for the damages and disruptions caused by those collisions.

For long human development methods by developed nations ignored the basic principles of living in harmony with nature. The result is before us in the form of Climate Changes and Environmental adversities that may be reaching a stage of ‘difficult to return’.

While natural spoils by volcanos, are not in our hands greenhouse gasses and particulates being added up by human through aviation and space activities are inexcusable. It includes exhaust gasses, products of vehicular destruction as well as burn-out of rockets, satellitess and other junks during re-entry. It is time for the UN bodies to frame laws to prevent greenhouse effects and be firm against the spoilers without bias.

FAA has grounded falcon-9 Rocket of SpaceX following consecutive glitches. It is wishfully hoped that either SpaceX or FAA will not cut corners in clearing the rocket.

It was a wrong decision to launch the Boeing Starliner with known defect. The first task before the team is to get the astronauts back and for this, NASA / Boing must requisition another agency.