On December 19, 2004, using the PAIRITEL (Peters Automated Infrared Imaging Telescope) robotic telescope on Mt. Hopkins, Arizona, astronomers have detected a flash of infrared light accompanying the gamma ray burst GRB041211.
[img]http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~jbloo...
The unveiling of the CHURCHILL MK3 LIQUID PROPELLENT ROCKET ENGINE
VENUE: NEWTON BUILDING, SALFORD UNIVERSITY, THE CRESCENT, SALFORD M4 4WT
DATE: WEDNESDAY 11th MAY 2005
TIME: 10am
A full press release will be published at 0900 on Wednesday 11 May 2005.
...
Self-replicating robots are no longer the stuff of science fiction.
Scientists at the Cornell University in Ithaca, New York have created small robots that can build copies of themselves.
Each robot consists of several 10-cm cubes which have identical machinery, electromagnets to attach a...
A beautiful crescent moon emerged from the twilight tonight.
And there was a very bright "earthshine", (light reflected from Earth).
Also in the west after sunset tonight is the constellation Taurus the Bull.
If you look West-Southwest about twenty minutes after sunset you may also see the...
Launch of CARTOSAT-1 and HAMSAT by PSLV-6 on Thursday May 5, 2005
In its ninth flight, ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C6, will launch India's remote sensing satellite, the 1,560 kg CARTOSAT-1, along with a 42.5 kg piggyback satellite, HAMSAT, in a 618 km polar Sun Synchronous Orb... < 2.5 m Field of View (IGFOV)
Swath: 30 km
Spectral Band: 0.50-0.85 micron
Data rate: 105 Mbps for each camera
Solid State Recorder: 120 GB capacity for image data storage
CARTOSAT-1 Applications
Once commissioned, CARTOSAT-1 will give further fillip to remote sensing services by providing imagery with improved spatial resolution. The unique high-resolution along-track stereo imaging capability, carried out for the first time anywhere in the world, will enable generation of the Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and other value added products. The data from CARTOSAT-1 is expected to provide enhanced inputs for large scale mapping applications and stimulate newer applications in the urban and rural development, land and water resources management, disaster assessment, relief planning and management, environment impact assessment and various other GIS applications. The data can be used for updating topographic maps, besides generation of large-scale topographic maps. India has established the National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS) for which the Department of Space (DOS) is the nodal agency. NNRMS is an integrated resource management system aimed at optimal utilisation of the country's natural resources by a proper and systematic inventory of resource availability using remote sensing data in conjunction with conventional techniques. The major elements of NNRMS encompass conceptualisation and implementation of space segments with the necessary ground-based data reception, processing and interpretation systems and integrating the satellite-based remotely sensed data with conventional data for resource management applications.
The Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites form an important element of the NNRMS for providing continuous remote sensing data services for the management of natural resources of the country. A series of IRS satellites have been launched by India starting with IRS-1A in March 1988. There are six remote sensing satellites in service at present --- IRS-1C, IRS-P3, IRS-1D, OCEANSAT-1, TES and RESOURCESAT-1 -- making IRS system the largest civilian remote sensing satellite constellation in the world. CARTOSAT-1 is the latest satellite under the IRS programme.
CARTOSAT-1 will be followed by CARTOSAT-2, which will have a spatial resolution of about one metre. A Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT), carrying a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) with a spatial resolution of 3 to 50 m and a swath of 10 km to 240 km is under development. With all weather remote sensing capability, RISAT will enhance remote sensing applications in the areas of agriculture and disaster management. RISAT is slated for launch by 2006.
The data from IRS is utilised for several applications. They include land use/cover mapping for agro-climatic zones planning, wasteland mapping, forest cover mapping, wetland mapping, Crop Acreage and Production Estimation, National River Action Plan for Sewerage Treatment Plants, Coastal Zone Regulation mapping, Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development, National (Natural) Resources Information System, etc. In addition, different application studies of local/regional level are also being carried out by many organisations. With high-resolution imageries of CARTOSAT-1, cadastral level applications will receive further impetus.
With ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bangalore, as the lead Centre, CARTOSAT-1 was realised with major contributions from Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) at Bangalore, and ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), thiruvananthapuram. ISTRAC is responsible for initial and in-orbit operation of CARTOSAT-1. The National Remote Sensing Agency, under the DOS receives, processes and distributes the data from IRS satellites to various users. The imagery from IRS satellites are disseminated worldwide on a commercial basis through Antrix Corporation of DOS.
HAMSAT is a Microsatellite for providing satellite based Amateur Radio services to the national as well as the international community of Amateur Radio Operators (HAMs). Launched as an auxiliary satellite along with CARTOSAT-1, the 42.5 kg HAMSAT will meet the long felt need of the Amateur Radio Operators in the South Asian region who possess the required equipment and operate in the UHF/VHF band based Satellite Radio Communication. One of the transponders of HAMSAT has been developed indigenously involving Indian Amateurs, with the expertise of ISRO and the experience of AMSAT-INDIA. The second transponder has been developed by a Dutch Amateur Radio Operator and Graduate Engineering student at Higher Technical Institute, Venlo, The Netherlands.
HAMSAT is India's contribution to the international community of Amateur Radio Operators. This effort is also meant to bring ISRO's satellite services within the reach of the common man and popularise Space Technology among the masses. This Satellite will play a valuable role in the national and international scenario by providing a low cost readily accessible reliable means of communication during emergencies and calamities like flood, earthquakes, etc. Besides, it will stimulate technical interest and awareness among the younger generation by providing them with an opportunity to develop their technological projects including offering a platform for testing New Technologies. Some of the new technologies being incorporated in the HAMSAT include Integrated Processor based Electronic Bus Management Unit, Lithium Ion Battery and Gallium Arsenide based Solar Panels.
Salient Features:
Physical : 630 mm x 630 mm x 550 mm Cuboid
Mass : 42.5 kg
Orbit : 618 km Near Circular Polar Low Earth Orbit
Structure : Aluminium Honeycomb Structure
Power : Body mounted Gallium Arsenide Solar Panels Lithium Ion Battery
Stabilisation : 4±0.5 RPM Spin stabilised
Antennas : UHF turnstile, VHF turnstile
Transponder Uplink : 435.25 MHz
Transponder Downlink: 145.9 MHz
University of Saskatchewan Researchers Use Synchrotron to Shed Light on Cadmium's Role in the Carbon Cycle.
An international team that includes two University of Saskatchewan Canada Research Chairs has discovered that the element cadmium, well known for its toxicity to humans and ot...
More than 600 tremors reported within 24 hours sets off the alarm in El Salvador and although there have not been any injuries; many families spent the night outdoors.
The chain of tremors began early on Wednesday 4th May, at the Los Naranjos mountain range and remains one of the strongest to affect...
Several distinct craters on Saturn's moon Hyperion can be seen here, as well as a protruding feature, perhaps a mountain, near the centre. Hyperion is 266 kilometres (165 miles) across.
The image was taken in visible...
SkyMap Pro 11 has been released.
It is supplied on two CD-ROMs and contains over 1GB of data, but you can download a demo (7.5Mb) that comprises the program, manual, a small database of 15,000 stars (down to magnitude 7) and abo...
Russia intends to create a new cosmodrome in its southern Urals region, which will also be available for commercial use (although Moscow has yet to finalise the details)…
Russia will convert the strategic forces militar...
The final Skylark mission,
MASER 10, was launched from the Esrange Site, near Kiruna in northern Sweden.
The launch of the 441st Skylark sounding rocket marks the end of 50 years of outstanding scientific research that has included investigations into atmospheric conditions, X-ray astro...
