February 11, 2025

Space


SPHEREx Telescope

NASA's SPHEREx telescope, set to launch on February 27, 2025 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. SPHEREx stands for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx). SPHEREx's main goal is to search for the fundamentals of life — water and organic matter within the Milky Way. The telescope will take 600 images daily, completing four full sky scans in 27 months. SPHEREx will map 450 million galaxies, revealing how the universe evolved after the Big Bang. It will also study 100 million Milky Way....Read More

Michibiki No. 6 Satellite

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched the Michibiki No. 6 satellite using the fifth H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. The launch took place from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. The H-3 rocket is developed by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries This satellite will contribute to Japan’s positioning system, a vital part of its version of the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS). It provides high-precision location data with centimeter-level accuracy and is integral to the country’s future self-sufficiency in navigation systems.Read More

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force has been selected as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than April 2025 from Florida. Shukla will be the first Indian astronaut to pilot a mission to the ISS, marking a significant milestone in India's space exploration. The Ax-4 mission crew includes veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu. Shukla is an experienced test pilot with nearly 2,000 hours of flying time on aircraft like the....Read More

The Prime Minister congratulated the Digantara team for the success of MissionSCOT. Mission SCOT(Space Camera for Object Tracking) aims to enhance space situational awareness by tracking and imaging objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Objective: To create detailed maps of space by precisely tracking satellites and space debris. Benefits: Improved tracking accuracy of satellites and space debris. Supports India's growing space industry in ensuring safe and sustainable space operations.Read More

Vikas engine

ISRO successfully demonstrated the restart capability of the Vikas liquid engine on January 17, 2025, at the Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri. This is a step toward developing reusable launch vehicle technologies to reduce space mission costs. The Vikas engine is designed by ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). It powers the PSLV (second stage), GSLV Mark I/II (boosters and second stage), and LVM3/GSLV Mk-III (core stage). It uses UDMH (fuel) and N₂O₄ (oxidizer) as a hypergolic combination. PSLV is India’s first launch vehicle with liquid stages and is a four-stage vehicle with multi-orbit capability. Restart capability enables precise satellite placement and....Read More

The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of a Third Launch Pad (TLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh for launching Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLVs). The TLP will support the launch of Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3)with a semi-cryogenic stage and facilitate horizontal & tilted integration of NGLVs. It will enable higher launch frequencies and increase capacity for future human spaceflight & space exploration Sriharikota was selected for the TLP due to its strategic location on the eastern coast, proximity to the equator, and safety factors like being near the sea and uninhabited areas. ISRO is developing the NGLV (Soorya Rocket), a three-stage rocket with a reusable first stage and semi-cryogenic propulsion. The NGLV will have three times....Read More

Blue Ghost and RESILIENCE

On January 15, 2025, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched two lunar landers: Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1 and ispace's RESILIENCE. Blue Ghost Mission 1: Objective:Deliver 10 science and technology instruments to the Moon's surface as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. Payloads:Includes instruments for regolith sample collection, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) testing, radiation-tolerant computing, and lunar dust mitigation. Landing Site:Mare Crisium, a large basin on the Moon's near side. Mission Duration:Approximately 60 days, including 45 days in transit and 14 days on the lunar surface. RESILIENCE: Objective:Deliver commercial and cultural payloads to the Moon's....Read More

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, marking India's inaugural attempt at in-orbit satellite docking. The mission involves two small spacecraft, the Chaser (SDX01) and the Target (SDX02), each weighing 220 kg, placed in a 470 km circular orbit with a 55° inclination. It aims to demonstrate autonomous satellite docking, electric power transfer between docked spacecraft, and control of combined spacecraft after docking. Key technologies developed include an inter-satellite communication link, GNSS-based relative orbit determination, docking mechanisms, and autonomous rendezvous strategies. The mission marks India’s entry into advanced space capabilities, essential for satellite....Read More

Parker Solar Probe

Current Context : The Parker Solar Probe, launched by NASA in 2018, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first human-made object to fly close to the Sun. Objective:The mission aims to study the Sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona, to enhance our understanding of solar wind and space weather phenomena. Speed: The probe reached speeds of 700,000 km/h, making it the fastest human-made object. Instruments: Carries instruments like the Fields Experiment (FIELDS) and Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISOIS) for measuring solar activity and space weather. Thermal Protection: Equipped with a carbon foam heat shield to....Read More

Quantum Satellite

Current Context :India plans to launch its first quantum satellite for quantum communication within 2-3 years. A quantum satellite secures communication using quantum physics principles. Features and Functions: Signal Security:Protects against quantum computing threats. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD):Enables unbreakable encryption by securely sharing encryption keys and detecting eavesdropping. Mechanisms: Quantum Measurement: Measuring a photon changes its state, revealing any interference. Quantum Entanglement: Entangled photons reflect changes in each other instantly, ensuring secure communication. About National Quantum Mission (NQM): Objective:Accelerate advancements in quantum communication and sensing systems. Budget:₹6,000 crore, spanning 2023– Authority:Implemented by the Department of Science & Technology. Global Milestone -....Read More

© 2025 Civilstap Himachal Design & Development