Friday marked a major accomplishment for the UAE space program as the country's first synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite was successfully launched into low Earth orbit (LEO). Bayanat, a developer of AI-driven geospatial solutions, owns the Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) that launched the satellite. We are already beginning the initial actions after successfully establishing connectivity with the satellite. Bayanat, Yahsat, and ICEYE collaborated on the launch, which significantly enhanced the region's ability to monitor Earth. Using active sensing to highlight the E
ISRO is scheduled to launch the third developmental mission of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) on August 16 at 9:19 a.m. from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. SSLV-D3/EOS-08 will test the small satellite launch vehicle and send the EOS-08 Earth observation satellite into orbit. If successful, the SSLV will finish development as ISRO's small-lift launch vehicle, capable of transporting payloads weighing up to 500 kg into Low Earth orbit. This milestone will enable Indian industry to use this rocket for future missions, according to NewSpace India Limited. The mission's objectives i
Buddhist nations, Nepal and China have teamed up to use heavy-lift drones to clean trash from Mount Everest's slopes. Experienced Sherpas will operate the drones that Da Jiang Innovations, China's largest drone manufacturer, is providing. This project seeks to lessen the risk to Sherpas, who have traditionally collected trash on foot in dangerous environments. The local municipality of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu, which includes Everest, and the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) have signed an agreement of understanding to employ drones for cleanup. Following a successful test in April
On Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and state-run New Space India Limited (NSIL) signed an agreement to enable the launch of Nepal's Munal satellite, which was developed by students and the space startup Antarikchya Pratishan Nepal (APN). The satellite, operated by the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), seeks to develop a database of vegetation density on the Earth's surface. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Anurag Srivastava, the MEA's Joint Secretary (North), and NSIL Director Arunachalam A. The event was attended by NAST Secretary Rabindra
Indian scientists at the MACS Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) discovered Methylocucumis oryzae, the country's first indigenous methane-eating bacteria, or methanotrophs. This bacterium, found in Western India's rice fields and wetlands, holds promise for solving climate issues. Wetlands, rice fields, and landfills all create methane, a strong greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 26 times greater than carbon dioxide. Methanotrophs assist in alleviating this by oxidising methane, which lowers its content in the atmosphere. Dr. Monali Rahalkar led the team that discovered this unu
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch its Earth Observation Satellite, EOS-08, using the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3. This mission represents the SSLV's third developmental flight and demonstrates ISRO's satellite technology and launch capability achievements. The EOS-08 mission seeks to create a microsatellite with advanced payload instruments and novel technology for future satellites. EOS-08 is built on the Microsat/IMS-1 bus and carries three critical payloads. The Electro-Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR) collects images in the Mid-Wave IR and Lo
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore has created unique shoes for Armed Forces personnel that generate power and track the wearer's position in real time. This innovation, which Professor I A Palani spearheaded, has the potential to enhance army safety, coordination, and effectiveness, according to IIT Indore director Professor Suhas Joshi. The first batch of 10 pairs has already been sent to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The shoes use Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator (TENG) technology, which produces power with each stride. This electricity is stored in
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that NASA would send Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from the Indian Air Force to the International Space Station. This partnership is part of a Space Flight Agreement (SFA) signed by ISRO's Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) and Axiom Space for the future Axiom-4 mission. Group Captain Shukla will be the primary mission pilot, with Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair serving as the backup. Both officers, known as "Gaganyaatris," will begin training in August. During the voyage, they will conduct scientific research and technol
A team of British academics from Alton University and international collaborators has broken the global record for data transmission, reaching rates 1.6 million times quicker than traditional household internet. Their discovery comprises a unique approach that uses existing fibre optic lines to achieve an astounding 402 terabits per second, which beats the previous record of 301 terabits per second by 25%. This novel technology employs standard fibre optic lines, avoiding the need for additional infrastructure. While this record-breaking speed is presently experimental, researchers hope it
NASA has successfully employed laser technology to stream 4K video footage from an aircraft to the International Space Station (ISS) and back. A team at NASA's Glenn Research Centre in Cleveland achieved the feat, representing a substantial advancement in space communication technology. Historically, NASA depended on radio waves to transfer information, but laser communications use infrared light, which allows data to be transmitted 10 to 100 times quicker. This development is part of a series of tests designed to provide live video feeds of astronauts on the Moon during the Artemis missio