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Tag: Dr K Kasturirangan

  • ISRO gets a new Chairman

    ISRO gets a new Chairman

    MUMBAI: Post Dr K Kasturirangan’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha, Indian space agency ISRO has decided to bring in G Madhavan Nair as Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO.

    As on 1 Septemeber 2003, a distinguished scientist, member, Space Commission and Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Thiruvananthapuram, G Madhavan Nair, has assumed additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Space and related positions of Chairman, Space Commission and Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

    A leading technologist in the field of Rocket Systems, Nair has made significant contributions to the development of multistage Satellite Launch Vehicles for the National Space Programme. As Director, VSSC was responsible for guiding a team of nearly 6000 scientists, engineers and supporting staff engaged in research and development of all aspects of launch vehicles for orbiting spacecraft for Remote Sensing and Communications applications.

    Graduate in Engineering from Kerala University Nair after training at Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Bombay and had taken up first appointment at Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1967. Nair has been showered with many prestigious awards including Padma Bhushan as a attribute to his technological skills and leadership abilities, besides Shri Om Prakash Bhasin Award, Swadeshi Sastra Puraskar Award, FIE Foundation Award and Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Gold Medal – ISCA.

  • Insat-3A successfully launched into space

    Insat-3A successfully launched into space

    MUMBAI: A major milestone was crossed in India’s space programme today with the succesful launch of the multi-purpose Insat-3A satellite aboard the Arianespace’s Flight 160 rocket from Kourou in French Guiana.
     
     
    The launch, delayed by a day after a minor anomaly was noticed in the satellite on Wednesday, went on with clockwork precision as the European consortium rocket lifted off according to launch window schedule, carrying Insat-3A and Panamsat’s Galaxy XII satellite and injecting them into space.

    As Ariane-5 carried out its mission, Indian Space Research Organisation’s (Isro) chairman Dr K Kasturirangan and other top space scientists, including project director RK Rajangam, who were present at Kourou, expressed their joy over the successful launch, the Press Trust of India reported.

    The launch of Insat-3A was called off for the day yesterday after it was observed that the signal strength from one of the two telemetry transmitters was “less than nominal” during the final checks midway through the 11 and a half hours countdown.

    Insat-3A is Isro’s biggest satellite to date and is the third satellite in the Insat-3 series. It will provide telecommunication, television broadcasting, meteorology and satellite-aided search and rescue services.

    The Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka is scheduled to take control of Insat-3A soon after its injection into Geosynchronous Tranfer Orbit. In the following days, operations like orbit raising manoeuvres to take the satellite into the final Geostationary Orbit, deployment of solar arrays, antennas and solar sail, 3-axes stabilisation, etc., will be conducted from MCF. The MCF will also carry out regular operations and control of the satellite during its design life.

    Insat-3A is a multipurpose satellite for providing telecommunication, television broadcasting, meteorology and satellite aided search and rescue services. It carries 12 C-band, 6 upper extended C-band, 6 Ku-band and one search and rescue transponders. The meteorological instruments consist of Very High Resolution Radiometer, a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) camera and a data relay transponder.

    Live Telecast: The launch of Insat-3A from Kourou was telecast live by national broadcaster Doordarshan (DD-1) from 3.59 am (IST).

  • Isro signs MOU with Brazilian space agency

    Isro signs MOU with Brazilian space agency

    Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) have cleared the decks for increased cooperation.

    The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed yesterday envisages cooperation between the two Space Agencies in the peaceful uses of outer space and is expected to open up an enduring relationship between the two countries in studies related to satellite communications, operation of satellite ground operations and satellite mission management. The MoU also covers the areas of space based remote sensing, meteorology applications, use of sounding rockets, balloons and ground based facilities for space research and applications of space technology.

    The agreement will also enable exchange of technical and scientific personnel to participate in studies and joint working groups to examine specific uses, according to the Indian space agency.

    The MoU was signed yesterday by Isro chairman Dr K Kasturirangan and Dr Mucio Roberto Dias, president, AEB. Minister of state (space), Vasundhara Raje and Brazilian minister for science and technology Ronaldo Mota Sardenberg, were present on the occasion.

  • ISRO signs co-operative agreement with European Space Agency

    ISRO signs co-operative agreement with European Space Agency

    ISRO has signed a cooperative agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA). This renews the arrangements for cooperation between the two agencies in the peaceful uses of outer space for mutual benefit. ISRO Chairman Dr K Kasturirangan, chairman signed the cooperative agreement on behalf of ISRO while Jean-Pol Poncelet, director, strategy and external relations of ESA signed the agreement on behalf of Prof Antonio Rodota, director general of ESA.

    The umbrella agreement enables ISRO and ESA to carry out programmes of common interest in space science and applications including communication, remote sensing for monitoring the environment and corresponding data processing, meteorology and navigation, and life and material sciences under microgravity conditions.

    The agreement was signed at ISRO headquarters in Bangalore. ISRO and ESA have a long-standing cooperation. ISRO’s first experimental communication satellite (APPLE) was launched on board ESA’s Ariane Launch Vehicle in 1981. Ariane has also launched several INSATs of ISRO. Many ISRO scientists have received training in ESA’s laboratories. ISRO receives microwave remote sensing data from ESA’s ERS-1 and ERS-2 satellites which is used for several applications. ISRO has launched ESA’s PROBA satellite on board its PSLV in October 2001. The cooperative agreement will renew these activities.