The quest to find life outside the solar system got a big boost with the discovery of seven Earth-size extra-solar planets, or exoplanets, orbiting a dwarf star about 40 light years away. Unlike earlier discoveries of exoplanets, all seven planets could possibly have liquid water — a key to life as we know it on … Continue reading Watery exoplanets, but is there life?
Space
Seven Earth-size planets with possible liquid water spotted
Scientists have spotted seven Earth-size planets with masses similar to Earth orbiting around a dwarf star (TRAPPIST-1) the size of Jupiter just 39 light-years from the Sun. The planets’ temperature is low enough to make possible the presence of liquid water on their surface. In May last year, scientists found three planets passing in front … Continue reading Seven Earth-size planets with possible liquid water spotted
ISRO sets the bar high by launching 104 satellites in one mission
The Indian Space Research Organisation boosted its reputation further when it successfully launched a record 104 satellites in one mission from Sriharikota on Wednesday by relying on its workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket. An earth observation Cartosat-2 series satellite and two other nano satellites were the only Indian satellites launched: the remaining were from … Continue reading ISRO sets the bar high by launching 104 satellites in one mission
How ISRO plans to launch a record 104 satellites in one go in February 2017
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will set a record when it launches 104 satellites in one go on a single rocket in the first week of February. Explaining how all the satellites will be placed in orbit, Dr. K. Sivan, Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, says: “The satellites will be … Continue reading How ISRO plans to launch a record 104 satellites in one go in February 2017
LIGO scientific collaboration is Physics World 2016 breakthrough of the year
Physics World announced that the 2016 Breakthrough of the Year goes to the LIGO Scientific Collaboration for “their revolutionary, first ever direct observations of gravitational waves”. LIGO stands for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory. “What’s been achieved by LIGO, particularly in a relatively short space of time, is truly incredible. The observations it has made are … Continue reading LIGO scientific collaboration is Physics World 2016 breakthrough of the year
ISRO makes India proud again
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) crossed an important milestone with the successful launch of weather satellite INSAT-3DR using a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle equipped with the indigenous cryogenic upper stage. The successful launch marks a departure from the long history of failures with the GSLV; except for the first, every launch of the Polar Satellite … Continue reading ISRO makes India proud again
At last, Juno enters Jupiter’s orbit
In yet another remarkable achievement, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Juno spacecraft has successfully entered the orbit around Jupiter without being knocked down by the planet’s intense magnetic field and radiation. That the spacecraft, which had travelled 2.8 billion km since its launch on August 5, 2011, passed through a spot that was originally … Continue reading At last, Juno enters Jupiter’s orbit
Editorial: ISRO’s new frontiers with reusable launch vehicle
With the successful launch on May 23 of the first technology demonstrator of the indigenously made Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has taken a baby step in building a vehicle that can be reused multiple times to launch satellites into orbit. The hypersonic flight, that lasted about 770 seconds from lift-off … Continue reading Editorial: ISRO’s new frontiers with reusable launch vehicle
Editorial: Kepler – Down but not out
The failure of the second of the four gyroscope-like reaction wheels of the Kepler space telescope in May this year brings down the curtain on its primary mission of identifying planets outside our solar system, namely exoplanets. A spare wheel failed in July last year. Three wheels are necessary for maintaining precision steering for the … Continue reading Editorial: Kepler – Down but not out
Editorial: Houston, we have a litter problem
The change in the orientation and orbit of the 17-cm glass-sphere Russian nano-satellite BLITS that was noticed in early February was caused by a January 22 collision with a piece of China’s Feng Yun 1C weather satellite; Feng Yun 1C was intentionally blown up in the 2007 anti-satellite weapon test by China. That irresponsible act … Continue reading Editorial: Houston, we have a litter problem
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