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Didn’t have the Courage to Sit for IIT Entrance’: ISRO Chief S Somanath Earns PhD from IIT-Madras

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S Somanath, the 60-year-old chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), received his PhD from IIT-Madras on Friday. Despite being the topper in the state for science, Somanath revealed, “I did not have the courage to write an entrance for IIT.” Speaking at the 61st convocation ceremony of IIT-Madras, Somanath, who was born in a village in Kerala, received his PhD degree for a thesis titled “Vibration Response Studies on Modified Hyper Elastic Material Models for Application in Aerospace Systems.” He expressed his deep connection to the topic, stating, “It is related to vibration isolators, which I started as an engineer in ISRO years ago. But this remained with me.” Somanath began his doctoral studies while working on the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III) project. However, the demands of his work at ISRO forced him to put his studies on hold. He shared, “Since I was immersed in that work then, I couldn’t take forward my PhD. It is a real good fortune that I could complete it after having assumed the office of chairman of ISRO. It is really a great honour.” Under Somanath’s leadership, ISRO achieved significant milestones, including the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which made India the first country to land near the south pole of the Moon, and the launch of India’s first solar observatory, Aditya-L1. The degree was awarded to him by IIT-M Director Prof V Kamakoti and Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman of the Board of Governors, IIT-M. The convocation ceremony at IIT-Madras was attended by 2,636 graduates, their families, and guests. Among the graduates were 764 B.Tech students, 277 Dual Degree B.Tech and M.Tech students, and 481 M.Tech students. The event also featured a speech by Mechanical Engineering student Dhananjay Balakrishnan, who highlighted the ethical responsibilities of engineers in the context of global conflicts. “There is a mass genocide going on in Palestine. People are dying in large numbers and there is no end in sight. Why should we bother by this, you may ask? Because STEM as a field in itself has historically been used to advance the ulterior motives of the imperial powers such as Israel,” he said.

PM Modi Declares August 23 as ‘National Space Day’ After Chandrayaan-3’s Lunar Success

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In a momentous announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared August 23rd as ‘National Space Day,’ during his address to the accomplished scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) command centre in Bengaluru. The significance of this date stems from the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s south pole, a remarkable achievement celebrated as a milestone in India’s space exploration journey. Prime Minister Modi expressed his admiration for the Chandrayaan-3 team and particularly lauded the contributions of women scientists who played a pivotal role in the mission’s success. He revealed that the precise spot on the lunar surface where Chandrayaan-3 touched down would be named ‘Shivshakti,’ serving as an inspiration for future generations to utilize science for the betterment of humanity. He also designated the location where its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, had landed as the ‘Tiranga’ point. Highlighting the importance of advancements in science, technology, and space exploration, PM Modi emphasized that nations leading in these fields are scripting history. To encourage the youth’s involvement in science, technology, and space endeavours, he proclaimed August 23rd, the day of Chandrayaan-3’s lunar landing, as National Space Day. Modi celebrated the fact that India’s national pride now resides on the Moon, marking an unprecedented achievement. He commended the scientists for taking the ‘Make In India’ initiative to the lunar surface, underscoring the boost to indigenous production resulting from Chandrayaan-3’s success. Despite not being physically present during the Chandrayaan-3 landing, PM Modi virtually attended the event, congratulating ISRO chairman S Somanath and the entire team for their historic achievement in the lunar south pole region. Chandrayaan-3, a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2, aims to accomplish three key objectives: a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, rover mobility on the Moon, and in-situ scientific experiments. Following its successful landing on August 23rd, the lander (Vikram) and rover (Pragyan) will conduct a series of experiments on the lunar surface over the next two weeks. On a significant note, Pragyan rover has already made its debut on the Moon, covering a distance of 8 meters. While Chandrayaan-2’s soft-landing attempt didn’t succeed, ISRO’s orbiter from that mission continues to provide valuable data. ISRO’s historic achievement positions India among the world’s top four nations to achieve a soft landing on the Moon’s surface, and notably, it’s the first country to reach the unexplored southern polar region of the Moon.

India’s Chandrayaan-3 Moon Landing: A Bold Leap Towards Lunar Exploration

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In just a few hours, India’s Chandrayaan-3 is set to attempt a historic soft landing on the moon’s southern pole. If successful, India will join an elite group of countries, including the US, China, and the former Soviet Union, in achieving this remarkable feat. The critical moment for the mission lies in the final 15 to 20 minutes, during which the Vikram lander, carrying the rover Pragyan, will gently touch down. The excitement surrounding this lunar touchdown is palpable, with celebrations and prayers being held in anticipation. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will broadcast the landing live on its website, while DD National TV will begin its live coverage at 5:27 PM. The Chandrayaan-3 mission embarked on its journey from Sriharikota on July 14. The descent of the Vikram lander towards the lunar surface begins at a rapid velocity of 1.68 km per second. It then undergoes a deceleration process, but it’s still almost parallel to the moon’s surface. This phase, known as the rough braking phase, lasts for approximately 11 minutes. The critical transition to a vertical position relative to the moon’s surface marks the start of the fine braking phase. Any slight error in this delicate descent process could lead to a crash or damage to the spacecraft. A soft landing, in essence, involves a spacecraft descending and landing on the moon’s surface in a controlled manner without causing substantial harm to either the craft itself or its scientific instruments. However, there are significant challenges associated with achieving a soft landing, including overcoming high speeds and executing a precisely controlled descent. Chandrayaan-3 faces the daunting task of navigating these hurdles as it aims to make history on the lunar surface.

Chandrayaan-3 Marks Success with Final Lunar Orbital Manoeuvre, Gearing Up for Moon Landing on 23rd Aug

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 Chandrayaan-3 has completed its crucial final lunar orbital adjustment, marking a significant step in India’s moon exploration mission. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) closely monitored this key operation as they prepare for the spacecraft’s upcoming landing on the lunar surface, scheduled for Wednesday. The lander, Vikram, has positioned itself in an orbit with the closest point to the Moon at 25 kilometers and the farthest at 134 kilometers. This orbit sets the stage for an attempt at a soft landing in the uncharted south polar region of the Moon, a daring endeavour ISRO is eagerly pursuing. ISRO announced, “The second and final deboosting operation has successfully reduced the LM orbit to 25 km x 134 km. The module would undergo internal checks and await the sunrise at the designated landing site. The powered descent is expected to commence on August 23, 2023, around 1745 Hrs. IST,” through their official communication channel. Vikram, the lander, has been navigating its lunar orbit autonomously, making decisions on its functions as it descends. ISRO’s former chief, K Sivan, affirmed that the lander’s design remains unchanged from the Chandrayaan-2 mission, with all issues identified in the previous mission addressed. If the landing on Wednesday proves successful, India will join the exclusive group of countries that have accomplished this remarkable lunar feat. Earlier in the mission, the lander module separated from the propulsion module, which will continue orbiting Earth for an extended period to study Earth’s atmosphere and gather data on polarized light from clouds. This separation marked a crucial milestone. Upon reaching the lunar surface, Vikram will capture images of the Pragyaan rover, tasked with analyzing the Moon’s surface composition and searching for water. The rover’s operational lifespan on the lunar surface is equivalent to one lunar day, or approximately 14 Earth days. Chandrayaan-3 was launched into space aboard the LVM3 rocket on July 14 and entered lunar orbit on August 5, marking significant progress in India’s lunar exploration efforts. Meanwhile, Russia’s Luna-25 probe, on its way to the Moon, faced an “emergency” during a manoeuvre, potentially affecting its scheduled landing on the lunar south pole. The incident occurred as the probe was being transitioned to the pre-landing orbit, though it remains unclear whether this will impact the planned landing, slated for Monday, near the Boguslawsky crater. In a space endeavour that has been nearly 50 years in the making, Russia is closely monitoring the situation, hoping for a successful outcome for its historic lunar mission.