G20 Satellite – 2027
- Context: The Chairman of ISRO has announced that a ‘G20 Satellite’ designed to monitor climate change, air pollution, and weather conditions will be launched into space in 2027.
- This G20 satellite project is being developed for the benefit of the G20 member nations; this consortium comprises 21 members, including the European Union, the African Union, India, the United States, Russia, and China.
- India holds the unique distinction of being the first nation to successfully place 104 satellites into orbit using a single launch vehicle, without any collisions.
- To date, ISRO has commercially launched 433 satellites for 34 different countries, thereby securing a prominent position for India in the global space market.
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- ISRO is actively working on a mission to send Indian astronauts to the Moon by the year 2040.
- Under the ‘Samudrayan’ mission, ISRO is currently engaged in the development of a ‘titanium sphere’ capable of withstanding high pressure, intended for deep-sea research.
- This titanium sphere is being designed with a thickness of approximately 100 mm and a circumference of 2.2 meters; it is intended for use in manned deep-sea research expeditions.
Aryabhata
- Context: As Aryabhata marks the completion of 51 years since its launch, it stands as India’s first indigenously developed satellite, having laid the foundation for the nation’s advancements in space technology.
About the Aryabhata Satellite
- Aryabhata was India’s first indigenously built satellite.
- It was named in honour of Aryabhata, the renowned 5th century Indian mathematician and astronomer.
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- The satellite was launched into space on April 19, 1975, from Kapustin Yar with the assistance of the Soviet Union.
- With this successful launch, India became the 11th nation in the world to place a satellite into orbit.
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- The satellite was developed by a small team of ISRO scientists led by Vikram Sarabhai and U. R. Rao.
- It featured a semi-spherical structure with 26 flat facets, measuring approximately 1.59 meters in diameter and 1.19 meters in height.
- Its solar panels covered an area of approximately 36,800 square centimeters and generated about 46 watts of power.
- Aryabhata was designed to conduct scientific experiments in the fields of solar physics and X-ray astronomy.
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- Although a power failure occurred after just five days, the satellite successfully carried out initial X-ray observations and transmitted data for a brief period.
- It remained in orbit for approximately 17 years before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere and burning up on February 10, 1992.
- This later became a symbol of national pride and paved the way for missions such as Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, and Aditya-L1.
