ISRO made Hylas-1 satellite launched

An advanced communication satellite Hylas built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was today launched successfully aboard the European Ariane-5 rocket from Kourou in French Guyana. 35 minutes after lift-off, the Highly Adaptable Satellite separated from the Ariane rocket and ISRO’s ground control centre in Hassan, Karnataka, began receiving radio signals transmitted by the satellite.

The £120 million Hylas-1 satellite will act as a relay station for broadband traffic, enabling isolated rural communities to connect with the World Wide Web for the first time. Hylas is the first superfast broadband satellite to be launched outside the US.

ISRO developed Hylas satellite for Avanti Communications plc, which is intended to deliver high-speed broadband services across Europe. Isro received the contract after it created an alliance with EADS Astrium, for joint development of communication satellites.

ISRO developed the bus integration and testing for the 2,541-kg satellite that is expected to have an operating life of 15 years.

A second satellite, Hylas-2, to be launched in 2012, is now at an advanced stage of development. It will provide further coverage across Europe as well as a footprint in the Middle East and parts of Africa. Together, the two satellites will have a capacity of one million consumers.

ISRO to launch 2 satellites in December

India is going to launch a new communication satellite GSAT-5 Prime from Sriharikota which will augment existing capacity and services in the field. ISRO scientists will give the go-ahead for the launch only after a mission-readiness review. The launch will takes place between 10-20 December.

The satellite, GSAT-5 Prime, is to be launched with Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F06).

The GSAT-5P carries 24 normal C-band and 12 Extended C-band transponders to augment communication services in areas like television broadcasting and telecom. Positioned at 55 deg East longitude GSAT-5P will have a designed mission life of 12 years. The satellite weighs 2330 kg and has payload power requirement of 1700W. Satellite configuration and equipment panel layouts have been finalised as are payload subsystems and other subsystem packages

ISRO to prepare environmental database

The Central Pollution Control Board Wednesday asked the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to help in preparing an integrated environmental database using the Geographical Information System (GIS).

'We will ask ISRO to help us in preparing environment impact statement (EIS) using GIS, which will be of great help to policy makers,' said CPCB chairperson S.P. Gautam.

The central pollution monitoring agency released a compendium 'Studies on Pollution Mitigation', comprising of 133 research papers on various facets of pollution related matter.

Former ISRO chief G. Madhavan Nair, who was present at the function, said he will take up the matter with ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan.

'India has not paid much attention on pollution monitoring. Monitoring environment is necessary as forest cover, level of ground water, status of water bodies, land cover is key input for national planning,' said Nair. The compendium incorporates the research papers of scientists and engineers from various institutions in the country.

Homemade Spacecraft

An ingenious father-and-son duo in New York launched a HD video camera tied to a weather balloon 30 kms above the earth into the stratosphere and share footage that their camera captured in its incredible 100-minute journey. To get back the camera intact, they also attached an iPhone as a GPS device to send its coordinates upon landing to a cell phone tower. The video reveals that the camera, tied to a parachute that auto-inflated when the balloon burst due to atmospheric pressure, landed safely just 30 miles away from where it was launched.

Video from a camera attached to a weather balloon that rose into the upper stratosphere and recorded the blackness of space.

Homemade Spacecraft from Luke Geissbuhler on Vimeo.
 

Mysteries of the Cosmos- TheWorld Space Week at Gujarat Science City

In celebration of 'Space Week', the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has put up an exhibition of innovative gadgets, armed with latest features. The theme for this year's exhibition is 'Mysteries of the cosmos'. "We have put some innovative devices on display, besides ground photographs of Antarctica and ice formations.

The interesting products on display include an Automatic Weather monitoring Station (AWS), with new features. Speaking about these new features, scientist-engineer AM Saifee said, "The earlier weather monitoring devices required human interaction and conventional power.

Looking to the stars has always inspired children to wonder and learn. Today around the world, it is a valuable tool in education. Teachers and educators successful use the excitement of to motivate students. This educational tool has been applied not just in science and mathematics but in history, language arts, and virtually every subject.

The Gujarat Science City is celebrating “World Space Week” during 4th to 10th October 2010 by organizing a series of activities for students and the visitors on the theme ‘Mysteries of the Cosmos’. On 4th October 1957, the first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, was launched by the Soviet Union, and on 10th October 1967 a landmark international treaty governing space exploration and the peaceful use of resources in space was signed. The United Nations celebrates the World Space Week to commemorate two important events in the history of Space Exploration.