Lunar south pole

The lunar south pole is the southernmost point on the Moon. It is of interest to scientists because of the occurrence of water ice in permanently shadowed areas around it. The lunar south pole region features craters that are unique in that the near-constant sunlight does not reach their interior. Such craters are cold traps that contain a fossil record of hydrogen, water ice,

LVM3

The Launch Vehicle Mark-3 or LVM3 (previously referred as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III or GSLV Mk III) is a three-stage medium-lift launch vehicle developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Primarily designed to launch communication satellites into geostationary orbit, it is also due to launch crewed missions under the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. LVM3 has a higher payload capacity than its predecessor, GSLV. After several delays and a sub-orbital

Laser Doppler velocimetry

Laser Doppler velocimetry, also known as laser Doppler anemometry, is the technique of using the Doppler shift in a laser beam to measure the velocity in transparent or semi-transparent fluid flows or the linear or vibratory motion of opaque, reflecting surfaces. The measurement with laser Doppler anemometry is absolute and linear with velocity and requires no pre-calibration. Laser Doppler anemometry facility operating at Laboratory

Lander (spacecraft)

A lander is a spacecraft that descends towards, then comes to rest on the surface of an astronomical body other than Earth. In contrast to an impact probe, which makes a hard landing that damages or destroys the probe upon reaching the surface, a lander makes a soft landing after which the probe remains functional. The Apollo 16 Extended Apollo Lunar Module, a lunar lander For bodies with atmospheres, the landing

Kalpana Kalahasti

Kalpana Kalahasti (born 1980) is an Indian scientist and aerospace engineer working in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). She currently serves as the deputy project director of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Kalpana has been instrumental in the construction of various satellites of India and was involved in the Chandrayaan-2 and Mangalyaan missions. Kalpana K Born 1980 (age 42–43) Bengaluru, Karnataka, India Occupation Aeronautical engineer Years active 2003–present Organization Indian Space

K. Sivan

Sivan Kailasavadivu (born 14 April 1957) is an Indian space scientist who served as the Secretary of the Department of Space and chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation and Space Commission. He has previously served as the Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center and the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. K. Sivan Official portrait 9th Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation In office 15 January 2018 – 14 January 2022 Preceded

ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), over the years, has established a comprehensive global network of ground stations to provide Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TTC) support to satellite and launch vehicle missions. These facilities are grouped under ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) with its headquarters at Bangalore, India. Facilities ISTRAC has several facilities as of November 2013: ISTRAC facilities in Bangalore consist of

Exploration of the Moon

The physical exploration of the Moon began when Luna 2, a space probe launched by the Soviet Union, made an impact on the surface of the Moon on September 14, 1959. Prior to that the only available means of exploration had been observation from Earth. The invention of the optical telescope brought about the first leap in the quality of lunar observations. Galileo Galilei is generally credited

Gaganyaan

Gaganyaan (from Sanskrit: gagana, “celestial” and yāna, “craft, vehicle”) is an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft intended to be the formative spacecraft of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. The spacecraft is being designed to carry three people, and a planned upgraded version will be equipped with rendezvous and docking capabilities. In its maiden crewed mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s largely autonomous 5.3-metric ton capsule will orbit

European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) is an intergovernmental organisation of 22 member states dedicated to the exploration of space. Established in 1975 and headquartered in Paris, ESA has a worldwide staff of about 2,200, as of 2018, and an annual budget of about €7.08 billion, as of 2023. ESA’s space flight programme includes human spaceflight (mainly through participation in the International Space Station program); the launch and operation