•Öã»ÖÖ‡Ô - פÃÖÓ²Ö¸ 2017 July - December 2017

AstroSat Picture of the Month

WLM: Forming efficiently in grand isolation Sep 2017

NGC 2336: A classic spiral galaxy captured in fine detail by the UVIT Oct 2017

NGC 1851: Two families in one Globular Cluster Nov 2017

NGC 40: A Planetary Nebulla with an Ultra-Violet Halo Dec 2017 The Indian Space Programme

Space activities in the country were initiated with the setting up of Indian National Committee for Space Prime Minister Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962. In the same year, work on Equatorial Rocket Launching Station Space Commission

(TERLS), near , was also started. PRL The Indian Space Programme was institutionalised in NARL November 1969 with the formation of Indian Space NE-SAC SCL Research Organisation (ISRO). Government of ANTRIX constituted the Space Commission and established the IIST Department of Space (DOS) in June 1972 and brought ISRO ISRO under DOS in September 1972. Department of Space has the primary responsibility of promoting development of space science, technology VSSC LPSC SDSC-SHAR ISACSAC NRSC and applications towards achieving self reliance and assisting in all-round development of the nation. Towards IPRC IISU DECU MCF ISTRAC LEOS IIRS this, DOS has evolved the following programmes: PRL: Physical Research Laboratory NARL: National Atmospheric Research • Indian National (INSAT) programme for Laboratory NE-SAC: North Eastern Space Applications Centre SCL: Semi- Conductor Laboratory IIST: Indian Institute of Space Science and telecommunications, TV broadcasting, meteorology, Technology ISRO: Indian Space Research Organisation Antrix: Antrix developmental education, etc. Corporation Limited VSSC: Space Centre LPSC: Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre SDSC: Space Centre ISAC: ISRO • Remote Sensing programme for the application of Satellite Centre SAC: Space Applications Centre NRSC: National Remote satellite imagery for various developmental purposes Sensing Centre IPRC: ISRO Propulsion Complex IISU: ISRO Inertial Systems Unit DECU: Development and Educational Communication Unit • Indigenous capability for design and development MCF: ISTRAC: ISRO Telemetry,Tracking and of spacecraft and associated technologies for Command Network LEOS: Laboratory for Electro-optic Systems communications, resources survey and space IIRS: Indian Institute of Remote Sensing sciences • Design and development of launch vehicles with indigenous technology for access to space and orbiting INSAT, IRS spacecraft and space science missions • Research and development in space sciences and technologies as well as application programmes for national development The Space Commission formulates the policies and oversees the implementation of the Indian Space Programme to promote the development and application of space science and technology for the socio-economic benefit of the country. DOS implements these programmes through, mainly, Indian Space Research Organisation, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), North Eastern-Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC) and Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL). Limited, established in 1992 as a government owned company, markets space products and services. Both the DOS and ISRO Headquarters are located at Bengaluru. The developmental activities are carried out at the Centres and Units spread over the country. So far, 101 Indian Satellite Missions (including nine by students and two nanosatellites) have been conducted. Two Re-entry Missions – SRE-1 and CARE module and 64 Launch Vehicle Missions (including RLV-TD & Scramjet-TD) from have been conducted.

July – December 2017 Page 2 free data)for various operationalapplications, higher temporalresolution(therefore morecloud- Resourcesat-2A providescontinuity of data with validation. onwards afterallthemissiontestsandcalibration/ released for the usercommunity from May 06, 2017 products,were terrain correctedandOrtho-rectified corrected systemlevelproducts,Geo referenced Resourcesat-2Aproducts, namely, data radiometrically various applications. along with other areusefulinmany satellites ways for of Resourcesat-2LISS-4. Combinedrevisits &2A for AWiFS, 12-13 days forLISS-3and25-26 days for has improvedto capability2-3 orbit, therevisit days With Resourcesat-2 andResourcesat-2A togetherin quality imagestogenerateconsistentdataproducts. Resourcesathigh in ordertodeliver of satellites series Resourcesat-2A tothefleetof hasbeenadded over Indiaandsurroundings. data multi-resolution AWiFS, LISS-3andLISS-4,areoperatedtoacquire the resolution. Allthreepayloads, with 56mspatial resolution andacoarseAWiFS sensor medium resolutionLISS-3sensorwith23.5mspatial 5.8 m resolutionandafive-day revisitcapability; spatial high-resolution LISS-4sensorwith 2016. Itcarries Resourcesat-2A waslaunchedinDecember in theyear2011. launched intheyear2003 followed byResourcesat-2 of Resourcesatsatellite first Resourcesat-1, series, was and waterresourcesmanagement.The of land area in the specifically of applications, to amultitude catering imaging capability, havecreatedtheirown ‘niche’ in Resourcesatwith aunique3-tier of satellites, series growthofthecountry.overall socio-economic development and management isvitalforsustainable of naturalresourcesandtheiroptimal the availability snow andglaciers,etc.Theaccurateinformationon crop lands, waterresources, minerals, wetlands, is endowedwith natural resourcessuch as forests, India, withnearly3.3 million sq.km.geographicalarea, Resourcesat-2A Completes One Year inSpace

change their course. Gandak River flowsacrossthe to forcing rivers over time matter and suspended sand rivers inIndiadeposit Alluvial to waterspread. monitoring of water bodies,especiallywithrespect shall alsohelpinfrequent forest resources.Thisdata management andconservationof monitoring andits forest 2A LISS-3dataprovidesopportunityinrapid than fortnightlyintervals.UsingResourcesat-2 & at better can now becaptured phenology offorests cultivated with overlapping cropcalendar. The monitoring ofminorcrops,astheyarepredominantly and crop discrimination This wouldhelpinbetter in differentthemes. algorithms couldbeapplied changes incropgrowth. The modelswithtemporal high datatocapture temporal resolutionsatellite Monitoring of crop parameters andbiomassrequire the probabilityofgettingcloudfreedata. growing dynamicsofvegetationaswellimproves studies. Improvedrevisithas helped in capturing the forvegetation selection ofbio-window helps inbetter of areaandproductivitymodels.This of estimation getting cloud-freedataaswellimprovingaccuracy instead of4to5scenes,thusimprovingthechances of kharif seasoncannow be captured in10scenes The growthannualcrop(120 of atypical days) during ably supported. etc., are management support, time disaster near real such as, crop insurance, multi-crop inventory and resolution. Newinitiatives, with improvedtemporal Watershed Developmentprojectedcare ensured and development,Periodic waterspreadmaps, Crop Monitoring,Horticulturalcropsassessment programmes, suchas for operational The inputs vegetation andwaterresources. & 2A constellation isextremelyusefulformonitoring a consequence ofResourcesat-2 as revisit improved of advantage etc. Thetypical management support, disaster development plans,geologicalapplications, rural&urban resources, environmentalapplications, & water mapping andmonitoringland mapping, namely, cropproductionestimation,forestcover floodplain of Bihar and merges with Ganga River near The improved availability of Resourcesat-2 & 2A data Patna. Remote sensing data of IRS series of satellites is useful for disaster monitoring, especially for events since 1989 along with Landsat provided unique like flood mapping and monitoring at village level and observations on changing course of Gandak River damage assessment. near the confluence of Ganga during lean flow. The following Figure shows the changing course of river The specific advantage of having a constellation of Ganga and Gandak near Patna, India. Resourcesat-2 & 2A together provides the data at improved revisit capability, thus reducing the uncertainties in estimation of cotton crop or whatever the crop grown.

National Land Use / Land Cover mapping using multi- temporal 55 m spatial resolution satellite data was initiated in the year 2004-05 and 13 annual cycles of assessments have been completed till 2016-17 The Yearly Change in The River Course of Ganga and Gandak using Resourcesat-2 & 2A satellite data. This gives as Availability of LISS-4 data in about 25 days is making unique ability to analyse decadal changes in land use many new applications possible, namely, improved and land cover and also to improve upon ground level orchard inventory etc. Peri-urban horticulture mapping practices for better natural resources management. is another important application as it provides important Thus, the Resourcesat-2 & 2A has added new input for price fluctuation/volatilisation issues. dimensions towards improved use of remote sensing With these data, now mapping of natural resources technology in the country. would see improvement in quality as more classes would emerge or could be better discriminated. Under Natural Resources Census (NRC) project, Resourcesat-2 & 2A LISS-3 data have been used in Land Use / Land Cover Change Mapping and Wastelands Change Analysis on 1:50,000 scale. July –December 2017 Page 3 July –December 2017 Page With respect to rural regions, the monitoring of Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) could be done more frequently than before as LISS-4 data along with -1 data are used to monitor the changes in IWMP watersheds. About 8,200 such projects are to be monitored over a period of 5 years. About 2,000 LISS-4 products are needed annually for the study. 8,200 Projects are being monitored in the country and 2,500 scenes of Resourcesat-2 & 2A are being procured every year for the study. Example for Monitoring of Microwatershed in Prakasam Dist., of is shown in the following. National Land Use / Land Cover Mapping on 1:250,000 Scale

Microwatershed Monitoring Using Satellite Data Silver Jubilee Journey of LEOS

The Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS), enhancing reflectance and transmittance of mirrors Bengaluru is one of the premier units of Indian Space and lenses from Ultra-Violet (UV) to Far Infra Red Research Organisation (ISRO) under Department of (FIR) wavelength regions. LEOS is in the forefront of Space (DOS). Since its constitution dated back to 1992 developing advanced detector technologies required in ’s industrial hub located at Peenya, LEOS for realisation of attitude sensors and does comprise has been associated with the design, development the state-of-the-art facilities for fabrication of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) based sensors and devices such as inertial grade accelerometers, RF switch, micro valve and micro heat pipes.

The SPA is carved exclusively with a focus on efficient production and capacity building of electro-optical sensors and optical systems using external/industrial manpower towards meeting a large number of LEOS at Peenya sheds 1992 sensors for various ISRO spacecraft. and production of precise attitude sensors for all A new building, named, ‘Aryabhatta’ has established LEO, GEO and interplanetary missions along with and been dedicated exclusively for production the development and delivery of high-resolution with the state-of-the-art test facilities. In addition to optical systems for remote sensing and meteorological payloads. The humble journey that began 25 years back in industrial sheds of Peenya has evolved into a well-established laboratory that is equipped with July – December 2017 Page 4 July – December 2017 Page world-class fabrication, testing and coating facilities. During this period (1992-2017), LEOS has primarily evolved into three major areas, namely, Sensor Development Area (SDA), Applied Optics Area (AOA) and Sensor Production Area (SPA) catering to increasing demands and needs of ISRO programmes. Aryabhatta Building the defined core responsibilities, LEOS is further The product portfolio of SDA encompasses a host embarking on the development of advanced sensors of sun sensors from coarse to high accuracy, earth and technologies in electro-optics field demanded sensors, advanced star-trackers with arc-second by future space missions like sub-arc-second star- accuracies, magnetometers, fiber optic gyro and tracker, nano star-trackers, miniaturisation of sensors, guidance sensors. optical communication terminals for high speed data transmission, high accuracy and precision AOA produces a variety of world-class optics relating magnetometer based on atomic system, advanced to large field-of-view medium resolution refractive fiber optic sensors, high energy lasers, laser altimeter optical systems and moderate field-of-view high- and LIBS/Raman spectrometer for planetary surface resolution reflective optical systems, which have explorations, high precision rendezvous and proximity been successfully developed and delivered to sensors for docking experiment, segmented optics, Indian Remote Sensing Satellites missions. LEOS SiC based mirrors, diffractive optics based lens has mastered thin film technology required for assemblies, MEMS gyroscope, MEMS atomic clock physics package, antenna coupled µ-bolometer terra- socio-economic applications. He emphasised the hertz detector, SiC UV detector and super block need for innovations and to be the leader in this absorber coatings using carbon nano-tubes. segment of technology. Former Directors and Senior Officials shared their reminiscences from the curtains LEOS celebrated Silver Jubilee on December 18, of the past and reiterated the importance of growing 2017 in its campus premises at Peenya, Bengaluru which was attended by Chairman, ISRO/Secretary, DOS, Founder Director of LEOS and all the former Directors of LEOS along with Senior Dignitaries of ISRO and all the serving LEOSians.

Honouring Dr. T.K. Alex, Founder Director of LEOS further in tune to the need of the hour. All former LEOSians who retired from the service since 1992, were felicitated by Chairman, ISRO and Director, ISAC were honored by presenting a glass trophy Chairman ISRO addressing during Sliver Jubilee Celebration symbolizing LEOS core responsibilities as a token of gratitude. A Compendium of Research Activities in Chairman, ISRO acknowledged the importance of LEOS was released by Chairman, ISRO, during this the services provided by LEOS in ISRO programmes, occasion. appreciated the laurels it has brought to space and July –December 2017 Page 5 July –December 2017 Page International Seminar on ISP: ‘Trends and Opportunities for Industry’

The International Seminar on Indian Space to the future growth prospects. Shri AS Kiran Kumar Programme (ISP): ‘Trends and Opportunities for urged the private sector to collaborate and explore Industry’ was organised by Indian Space Research the huge potential in space sector. Organisation (ISRO), and Antrix Corporation Limited in coordination with Federation of Indian Chambers The President of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Dy. Director General of Glavkosmos, also gave special address during the inaugural session and reiterated their commitment to working with India in the space sector.

An Exhibition was also organised during the seminar, which was participated by several Space Industries and ISRO. The exhibition showcased ISRO’s recent achievements in the area of Space Science and of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at New Delhi Technology. It also housed Five Kiosks with large during November 20-21, 2017. The objective of this screen display allocated to major centres of ISRO, two-day seminar was to deliberate on the best demonstrating the offerings to the industry from the practices, pursue the ongoing discussion process respective centre. to support further work of India’s Space Sector and facilitate arriving at a coherent framework, wherein July – December 2017 Page 6 July – December 2017 Page India’s Space Sector can expand the domestic and global opportunities further, through enhanced partnerships and collaborations. The seminar highlighted the achievements and major milestones of Indian Space Programme in the recent past and discussed the future plans.

The Seminar was inaugurated by Shri AS Kiran Kumar, Secretary, Department of Space / Chairman, ISRO. The FICCI Compendium on Indian Space Industry In his inaugural address, he emphasised that the was released during the inaugural session. vision and objectives enunciated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, could be achieved, with progress The two-day seminar included sessions on “Space in ‘Make in India’ and ‘Start-up and Stand-up India’ Industry Ecosystem : Opportunities for Industry”, initiatives. He said the industry and stakeholders in “Sustainable Propulsion Systems and Space Vehicles the space sector value-chain could play a pivotal role for ISP”, “Leveraging Public-Private Partnership in in providing the necessary fillip to the advancement Indian Satellite Programme”, “Capacity Building of country. He stressed that the value addition in and Talent Management” and followed by Panel the space sector is multi-faceted in its approach with Discussions on –”Role of Industry in ISP” and collaborative models of development like Public “International Industrial Cooperation in Space”. Each Private Partnership (PPP) adding a new dimension session was lead by the eminent personalities of ISRO, Antrix, FICCI, NITI Aayog, IIT(B), MEA, BEL, L&T, HAL, MT Aerospace AG, Germany and JSC Glavkosmos, Russia, etc.

- Talk on - Perspective of ISRO’s Programme over next decade, Experiences of Russian Space Ecosystem, Perspective of Indian Space Industry (Electronics Systems, Mechanical Systems), Perspective of Foreign Supply Chain, etc., were delivered during the session on “Space Industry Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Leaving no space Ecosystem: Opportunities for Industry”. between Common Man and Space’. He said The - Deliberations on Propulsion and Related endeavour should be for holistic development of Technologies, Launch Vehicles and Related common man, so that the advantages of Space Technologies, Policy Perspectives etc., were made development reach the last mile. He said that the during the session on “Sustainable Propulsion recent launch of is a matter of pride Systems and Space Vehicles for ISP”. and reflects “neighbourhood first” policy of India. - Discussions on Satellites, Payloads and Related Technologies, Enhanced Engagement opportunities for Indian Space Electronics Industry, etc., were held during the session on “Leveraging Public- Private Partnership in Indian Satellite Programme”. - Capacity Building in Indian Space programme, in Space Applications, Evolving Roles of Academia in Space, Synergy between Industry and Academia - Experience of Singapore, etc., were discussed in the session on “Capacity Building and Talent The seminar provided a platform to deliberate and Management”. brainstorm on various multi-dimensional aspects of

- The Panel Discussion on Role of Industry in space collaboration among various stakeholders. The 7 July –December 2017 Page Indian Space Programme was led by CMD, Antrix event saw the participation of key players from ISRO, Corporation Ltd., with the Panel comprising the Indian Space Industry, Department of Industrial speakers from various industries from ISRO and Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and International from FICCI. Agencies from Japan, Russia, Singapore, USA, - Panel Discussion on International Industrial Germany, France and Thailand. The stakeholders Cooperation in Space was Moderated by Honorary from industry, policy makers, thought leaders and Advisor, Space Division, FICCI with Panelists from academia, held discussions on the enabling and Japan, Singapore, Russia, Thailand and USA. encouraging policies of to exploit the commercial space segment by Indian Industry Each Session concluded with a Closing Remark by the targeting both domestic and international market. Session Chair and Distribution of Green Certificates.

While giving his valedictory address, Foreign Secretary, Dr. S Jaishankar said that India is proud of its space sector achievements. He mentioned that the space sector has come of age with rapid strides in PSLV, GSLV and GSLV-Mk III and having potential in economic growth and development of the country. He said that Industry, Government and Entrepreneurs have to work in tandem to realise the Prime Minister APRSAF-24 held in Bengaluru

The 24th session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-24) was organised at Bengaluru, India during November 14 -17, 2017. APRSAF-24 was co-organised by the Department of Space (DOS) / Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) with the theme “Space Technology for Enhanced Governance and Development”. Shri A S Kiran Kumar, Chairman, ISRO/ Secretary, DOS and Ms. Mami Oyama, Deputy Director General, MEXT were the General Group photo of students participating in Co-Chairs of this APRSAF-24 session. APRSAF-24 water rocket event and Malaysia have secured the First, Second and Third APRSAF annual meetings are open fora for those who places, respectively. have interest in cooperation in the field of space activities in the Asia-Pacific region and are organised under four APRSAF-24 Poster Contest was organised with the working groups namely, ‘Space Applications’, ‘Space theme “United Through Space”. Thirty-six posters Technology’, ‘Space Environment Utilisation’ and ‘Space were submitted by students in the age group of Education’. The recent achievements and future plans of 8-11 years from 12 Asia Pacific Countries including each country and region were deliberated in these four India. There were five different awards in the Poster working groups. The working group meetings were Contest event and the ISRO award was won by an held during November 14-15, 2017. The summaries Indonesian student. of the working group deliberations were presented in the plenary sessions during November 16-17, 2017 An exhibition was also organised to provide an including special sessions on specific themes, namely, opportunity for the Indian and foreign Industries to July – December 2017 Page 8 July – December 2017 Page ‘Sustainable Development Goals’, ‘Space Policy’ showcase their technological capabilities. Nine Indian and ‘Space Exploration’. There was also an evening Industries and nine Foreign Industries set-up their session on ‘Space for Future Society’ on November stalls in the exhibition. 15, 2017. Associated events of the Working Groups, namely, ‘Space Applications For Environment (SAFE) APRSAF-24 was different from earlier annual meetings Workshop’, Asian Beneficial Collaboration through Kibo in many ways. It had highest number of Heads of Utilisation - ‘Kibo ABC Workshop’ and ‘Workshop on Space Agencies from Asia Pacific region and South Space Policy’ were organised on November 13, 2017. Asian countries. Heads of Space Agency session to deliberate on space agencies’ contribution towards APRSAF annual meetings were preceded by Water achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Rocket Event and Poster Contest for school students, was organised for the first time with the participation as a means of generating interests in space and of heads of nine space agencies in Asia Pacific region - nurturing their creativity and innovative thoughts. India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, South APRSAF-24 Water Rocket event was organised Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Two Special sessions, during November 11-12, 2017 with Water Rocket one each on ‘Space Policy’ and ‘Space Exploration’ making workshop followed by launch competition. were organised for the first time during the main 56 students in the age group of 12-16 years from 11 Asia plenary day. As a host Nation, India has organised a Pacific countries including India along with Colombia special session on ‘Space Technology for enhanced in South America actively participated in this event. Governance and Development’, wherein officials An educator session was organised, in parallel, in which from user Ministries of Central and State Government about 40 teachers and educators from Asia-Pacific have shared their experience on the utility of space countries exchanged views on teaching methods. technology inputs for planning, monitoring and In Water Rocket event, teams from Sri Lanka, Vietnam decision making. In • Space • Representatives • Space • Space • given below: Brief ofvarioussessions/eventsAPRSAF-24 are To • Encourage • To • National • Working Groups: Following arethemajorrecommendationsof on thejointstatement. concluding sessiononNovember17,2017 to discuss A ‘SpaceLeaders Round-Table’ wasorganisedinthe Navigation Satellite System Navigation Satellite as solarpower, Global aerospace technology, such shared theirideason how session, thespeakershave and beyond. Gateways andreaching out to the Moon, Mars Space Station,developmentofDeep ofInternational exploration includingtheutilization and UAEon presentedtheirperspectivesspace Report” session. in the‘’Country policies and backgroundon national national spaceprogramme achievements oftheir Pacific regionhavepresented from 13countriesintheAsia to theirnationalrequirements. countries isevolvingtheirspacepolicyinresponse in theregionsharedtheirviewsonhow their achieving theSDGs. toward issues resolving theirNationalpriority expected contributionsofspacetechnology in future possibilities/ and on currentactivities management, etc. fire hotspot,hazemonitoringanddisaster rice cropmonitoring,globalrainfall generation; for thehumanresourcedevelopmentofnext space technology asatoolthatwillbebeneficial region; Pacificto solvevariouscommonoftheAsia issues the data fromcould these satellitesprovideinput collaboratively,satellites to developsmall/cube as through feasibilitystudiesineachcountry; ‘Space further further agency agency policy space for and promote promote heads Future representatives experts agencies accelerate from from Society’ educational space India, from in nine Kibo the Japan, application seven agencies Asia (in activities, ISS) Korea, governments Pacific presented utilisation including region Russia using Wakata, participatedinAPRSAF-24. from Japan namely, Ms.Chiaki MukaiandMs.Koichi (UNOOSA), Outer SpaceAffairstwoAstronauts Federation-IAF), Director,Office of UnitedNations (who is alsoPresident of International Astronautical Agencies, Presidentof French NationalSpaceAgency foreign nationals.Inadditiontothe9 Heads ofSpace organisations. Over 50% of the were participants from over 31 countries andseveninternational APRSAF-24 hadmore than600 registrations SAFE • Space • In • A • Kibo-ABC • Partcipants ofAPRSAF-24 participated andinteractedwiththemedia. 2017, where alltheHeadsof SpaceAgencies cooperation intheregion. forinternational and toexplorefurtherpossibilities in theAsia-Pacificspace policyperspectives region Studies (NIAS), India, to provide anoverview of Policy,of Advanced Institute JapanandtheNational the UniversityofTokyo Graduate School of Public forward inenhancingspacecooperation. shared theirviewsonthecurrenttrendsandway organisations of seveninternational representatives future society. (GNSS), andremotesensingcancontributeto Station (ISS). in theInternationalSpace research capabilities unique that provides a humanspacefacility is use theJapaneseExperimentModule(JEM). Kibo encourage countriesintheAsia-Pacific regionto to workshopwasorganised Kibo Utilisation) by AsiaPacific countrieswasreviewed. out and manyprototypingwhichisbeingcarried environmental problemswithspacetechnology to contributethesolutionvarious is Press the Policy Space (Space meet (Asian workshop Cooperation was Applications Beneficial also was organised Collaboration in jointly Asia For Pacific Environment) organised on Nov through session, 17, by

July –December 2017 Page 9 ISRO Organises INTROMET-2017

The International Tropical Meteorology Symposium can be translated to the design and development of (INTROMET-2017) was organised by the Indian meaningful satellite payloads for critical applications. Meteorological Society, Chapter (IMS-A) and Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, The symposium comprised four plenary sessions Ahmedabad during November 7 - 10, 2017. India with a total of 12 talks by distinguished speakers. has been one of the front-runners in the field of space “An overview of Indian Earth Science Program” by based earth observation and weather monitoring. Dr. M Rajeevan, “Monsoon teleconnection with INSAT series of satellites are providing data over Arctic Ice Melt” by Emeritus Prof. T N Krishnamurti, multitude domains; Kalpana-1 is the first dedicated Program Scientist, NASA-HQ and “Shri D R Sikka meteorological satellite, INSAT-3DR along with Memorial Lecture” by Prof. Sulochna Gadgil, Emeritus INSAT-3D is providing 15 minutes temporal coverage Prof. IISc were the attractions of the symposium. and 3D information of the atmosphere through A special lecture on “The NASA Airborne Convective its imager & sounder in multiple channels. The Processes Experiment (CPEX)” was also delivered by Scatsat-1 carrying Ku-band scatterometer provides Dr. Ramesh R Kakar, Program Scientist, NASA-HQ. ocean surface winds. RISAT-1 based SAR provides crucial information regarding sea-ice displacement. The presentations during the symposium were Megha-Tropiques (SAPHIR, ROSA, SCARAB), organised in several parallel technical sessions under SARAL (Ka-band Altimeter) and GNSS also provide the themes - Advances in monsoon studies, Weather complementary observations. The theme of the forecasting, Hydrometeorology, Air-sea interactions, symposium was “Advances in Space-based Earth Cloud and precipitation, Atmospheric process studies, Observations and Services for Weather and Climate”. Meteorological data archival and dissemination, Extreme events monitoring and forecasting, Tropical INTROMET-2017 was inaugurated on cyclones, Climate change, Emerging trends in November 07, 2017 in the august presence of the retrieval of geophysical parameters, Air quality, Chief Guest, Shri A S Kiran Kumar, Chairman, ISRO Agro-meteorology, Ocean studies, Aerosol-cloud & Secretary, DOS, GoI and the Guest of Honour, interaction and Special sessions on SCATSAT-1 and Dr. M Rajeevan, Secretary, MoES, GoI. The inaugural INSAT-3D/3DR. Young researchers from Jammu

July – December 2017 Page 10 July – December 2017 Page function was attended by many of the distinguished and Kashmir to Nagaland participated enthusiastically. invitees from IMD, ICRS, IITM and IISc etc., A dedicated session was conducted for undergraduate INTROMET-2017 got its international flavor with students specially selected by IMS local chapters the participation of about 25 foreign delegates from and sponsored by IMS to attend and present in the all over the world including eminent meteorologists symposium. from NASA. More than 500 National delegates attended the symposium, which included practicing The concluding session of the symposium was meteorologists, academia, researchers, members of chaired by Director, SAC in a panel discussion the industry and students from across the country. involving eminent delegates on the theme of extreme events-observations, modelling and dissemination. Shri A S Kiran Kumar, Chairman, ISRO expressed his There was a unanimous agreement on the need to optimism for the deliberations during the four days spruce up the communication system for disaster to bring out the specific observational needs of the information dissemination to the last mile in a user- meteorological community across the globe which friendly language and dialects for better actionable strategies on the ground.

The symposium provided an opportunity for weather and climate scientists to present their research, exchange ideas, explore prospects for collaboration and discuss on the current and futuristic aspects of space based weather and climate studies. Awards were distributed for best papers in students and young scientist categories. Students nominated by Dignitaries releasing the Souvenir IMS local chapters were also awarded. 38th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing

The 38th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing Utilisation of Space technology for common man (ACRS-2017) was organised during October 23-27, is the main aim of the country’s space missions. 2017 at New Delhi, jointly by Asian Association on Shri A S Kiran Kumar in his address, emphasised the Remote Sensing (AARS), Indian Society of Remote role of space technology for various Sensing (ISRS) and Indian Society of Geomatics national developmental imperatives in (ISG) and Co-hosted by ISRO. The theme of the governance, societal benefits, climate change Conference was “Space Applications: Touching and disaster risk reduction & mitigation. Human Lives”. ACRS-2017 is a forum to bring He elucidated various applications, which are directly together students, researchers, scientists, engineers, touching the lives of citizens like farmers, fishermen, policy makers, professionals and practitioners from students, decision makers, etc. He also inaugurated developed and developing countries from and the technical exhibition after the inaugural session. around Asia. The main aim of the conference is to share insights into the challenges and opportunities Presidents of AARS, ISRS and ISG shared their views of Remote Sensing and geo-spatial technologies. The on contributions of the respective societies, followed conference was inaugurated by Dr. Jitendra Singh, by Awards conferred to eminent personalities by the Hon’ble Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s these societies. Office, Department of Space, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. Shri A S Kiran Kumar, A total of 6 plenary sessions, 13 special sessions, Chairman ISRO was the Guest of Honour. 67 technical sessions and 6 poster sessions were organised during the conference. 670 research In his address, Dr. Jitendra Singh recounted papers were presented in oral and poster sessions in ISRO’s efforts in initiating collaborative projects various themes namely, Advance Image Processing & 11 July –December 2017 Page with Ministries and Government Departments for Data Analytics, Climate Change & its Impact, Cultural stronger utilisation of space-based tools for effective Heritage Documentation, Cal/Val of EO Sensors, governance. He stressed the extended support Disaster & Risk Reduction, Agriculture & Soils, Forest of space technologies to neighbouring countries & Environment, Group on Earth Observations Global through the recently launched South Asia satellite. Agricultural Monitoring Initiative: Asian Experience, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that ISRO missions are Geosciences & Mineral Exploration, Health GIS, High capable to provide more accurate information not Resolution Data Applications, AVIRIS-NG; Climate only on the Earth but also the neighbouring planets. Change & its Regional Impacts for Nature & Human Activities in Asia, Geo-spatial Education: Methods & Modalities, Citizen Science: Methods & Applications, Online Platforms for Education & Outreach, Crop Productivity from EO Satellites, Agro-met Information from EO Satellites, Marine Geology & Coastal Studies, NISAR - NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, Night-time Lights Imaging & Applications, Ocean & Atmospheric Studies, Open Source Geo-spatial, SAR Polarimetry: Methods & Applications, Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Hon’ble Minister of State PMO, Urban & Infrastructure Planning and Water Resources addressing the gathering during the inaugural session Management. July – December 2017 Page 12 Scientific SocietiesandSpaceAgenciesInterfacefor the conferenceon“StrengtheningAcademic,Industry, day of wasorganisedonthefinal A paneldiscussion pioneer scientistsofISRO. by manyoftheformerDirectorsand attended role inenergysegment.Theconference was also on SolarEnergyProspectsIndia) ISA’s and emerging Lecture wasdeliveredbyDr. UpendraTripathy (ISA, Space TransportationIndia’s System.ISGMillennium LectureMemorial Vikram Sarabhai VSSC delivered on delivered the invited talks.Dr. K.Shivan, Director, Prof. M.V. CzechRepublic Marek,GCRI-CAS, (NOAA, USA); Dr. P.A. Rosen, JPL/CIT, USA and (Takashima), Sobue, JAXA, Japan; Dr. C.D. Elvidge Dr. M.Annadurai,ISRO, India;Dr. Shin-ichi GISTDA, Thailand;Prof. G.Xingfa,RADI,China; Lin (Albert),NSPO, Taiwan; Dr. C.Silapathong, of Space,Government of India);Dr. Hsin-Chia Space CommissionandSecretary, Department (President,ISPRS); Dr. A.S.KiranKumar (Chairman, Wuhan University), China;Dr. ChristianHeipke across theglobenamelyProf. Dr. DerenLi(Professor, during plenarysessions.Very eminentspeakers The Conference witnessedscientificpresentations Presentation fromfivepayload teamsandtwenty a ‘MOMScienceMeet’on September 25, 2017. Science Programme Office,ISRO HQ organised 24,2017, orbitonSeptember Space in Martian On theoccasion of threeyearscompletionMOM from theMarsOrbiterspacecraft,isinprogress. Scientific analysis of the data, which is being received good healthandcontinuestoworkasexpected. life ofMOMwassixmonths.TheSpacecraftisin September 24,2017,thoughthedesignedmission first attempt.MOMcompletedthreeyearson into MartianorbitonSeptember24,2014inits November 5,2013,wassuccessfullyinserted interplanetary missionofISRO, launchedon (MOM), the maiden ISRO releasesMOMSecondYear Science Data

https://mrbrowse.issdc.gov.in/MOMLTA. website ISSDC through ISRO- to the public made available products was of 492data 2016) consisting 2015 to Sep23, data (Sep24, second year On theoccasionofthreeyearcompletionMOM, in theScienceMeet. the Science Meet. About 100 attended participants nine MOM-AO projectteamsweremadeduring the globe. more than 900 from participants 53 countries across the conference. The conferenceby wasattended technologies in the technical exhibitionheldduring products andservicesrelatedtogeo-spatial their exhibited 32 Industries/Institutions session. Best paperawardswere also given during concluding web developer.the best and awarded organised During theconference, awebcontestwasalso the sessionlivelyandinteractive. made of thedelegates the topic.Activeparticipation provided theirviewson ISRO andIndianindustries from AARS,ISRS, Improving HumanLives”.Experts Shri ASKiranKumar, Chairman,ISRO Inauguration of technical exhibition by Inauguration oftechnicalexhibitionby

ISRO Celebrates World Space Week-2017

World Space Week (WSW) is an international annual Satellite Centre (ISAC) also celebrated the event by celebration of space science and technology, observed visiting two schools around Bengaluru. during the week of 04-10 October. The commencing and concluding dates of World Space Week recalls Details of the celebrations are given in the following two important dates in space history. paragraphs:

October 04, 1957: Journey to space started with WSW-2017 Celebrations at VSSC, LPSC, the launch of the first man-made Earth satellite, IISU and IPRC Sputnik 1. The WSW-2017 was inaugurated by Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala Shri Pinarayi Vijayan on October 04, October 10, 1967: The signing of the treaty on 2017 at Kanakakunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram. principles governing the activities of states in the A Space Expo was organised at S.T. Hindu College, exploration and peaceful uses of outer space, including Nagercoil during October 5-9, 2017. The space expo Moon and other celestial bodies. showcased ISRO’s achievements and contributions in space based technologies and applications. The The Theme of WSW-17 is “Exploring New exhibitions drew more than 1,00,000 people Worlds in Space” including students from more than 170 Government WSW-2017 was celebrated across the country schools. Science students were trained and deployed by various Centres of ISRO from October 04-10, as communicators for the exhibition. Career guidance 2017. The programmes were organised jointly and interactive sessions were conducted for students by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Liquid with lectures on variety of space related topics like 13 July –December 2017 Page Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), ISRO Inertial space exploration, space technologies and applications Systems Unit (IISU) and ISRO Propulsion Complex etc. The open forum attracted space enthusiasts from (IPRC) at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and Nagercoil, various walks of life and provided opportunities for Tamilnadu. Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) has active discussions. Films related to space science were also screened at the venue. A special quiz zone organised celebrations in 22 venues spanning 5 states, was also set up exclusively for school students. The namely, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamilnadu, visitors could touch and feel actual engines and power Odisha and Puducherry with a grand inauguration heads used in ISROs work horse launch vehicles at Sriharikota by Hon’ble Vice President of India, and satellites. Free bus services were provided to Shri M Venkaiah Naidu. Vikram Sarabhai Space transport the students to the venue. Exhibition (VSSE) at Space Applications Centre (SAC) also celebrated the event, which was witnessed by the A workshop for students was organised in VSSC, people in and around Ahmedabad, Delhi, Rajasthan Thiruvananthapuram on October 06, 2017 with the and Madhya Pradesh. Whereas, National Remote participation of around 370 students. The students Sensing Centre (NRSC) along with its five Regional were chosen from institutions in rural areas across Centres (RC), had conducted WSW celebrations the state including tribal schools and care centre for on a large scale by collaborating with the NE-SAC, cancer patients. The initiative was aimed at creating State Remote Sensing Centres and Academia. ISRO interest and awareness among the students. Senior WSW- 2017 events were concluded in a formal function held at VSSC on October 10, 2017.

WSW-2017 Celebrations at SHAR Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), the Spaceport of India, celebrated the World Space Week through public outreach programmes spread across 22 venues. After the inauguration by Honorable Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, SDSC

Dr. K Sivan, Director, VSSC briefing exhibits to Shri N Suresh SHAR teams moved out to other 21 venues with the Rajan, MLA after inauguration at ST Hindu College, Nagercoil exhibition materials conveying ISRO’s achievements.

scientists of ISRO interacted with the students and Exhibitions of scaled down models of launch vehicles several interesting queries were raised and answered. and satellites, informative panel displays, video Lecture session was also conducted on space science screening of ISRO Space activities, interactive lectures and technology. by senior executives of SDSC SHAR, competitions Open Innovation Contest was organised for students for students and “Space Awareness Walk” were of engineering colleges & science colleges in Kerala. organised in each venues, mainly to educate the students on space research activities and to hone the The three day long Open House featured visit to scientific inclination in them. Video wall displays were VSSC Space museum, sounding rocket launch pad arranged in the schools including those in the rural and control centre. Open house drew more than areas. Sounding Rocket launches were also arranged 10,000 visitors. The public could see the location at Sriharikota on four days during the week. Students where ISRO’s space programme took shape and and Public were offered the opportunity to visit the where pioneers of Indian Rocketry forged their ideas. various facilities at the Spaceport of India on all the The visitors also witnessed sounding rocket launch at days during the week.

July – December 2017 Page 14 July – December 2017 Page TERLS and visited the Space Museum. The hosting institution at each venue was chosen Citizen’s familiarisation programme were considering the approachability to public, availability conducted in VSSC for 300 registered participants. of large exhibition hall to showcase the exhibits, The main objective was to provide scientific availability of video screening halls and infrastructure awareness, increase knowledge and understanding to accommodate a multitude of students participating. of the benefits from space. Resource materials on Inauguration and valedictory functions were organised theme of WSW-2017, India’s Mars Orbiter Mission and mission were distributed for students and other participants.

WSW-2017 programme was broadcast in AIR, AIR FM Kumari and DD Malayalam channel. The programme included LIVE discussion panel about role of space as a critical and indispensable infrastructure for the world. pre-recorded video on WSW theme and talks on space transportation systems, navigation systems, extra-terrestrial habitat, benefits of space programme, etc., were also Inauguration of Space Week Celebrations at Sriharikota by broadcast. Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu Double Starsetc.Thousands ofpeoplequeued ,Sirius, Pleiades, Nebula, Altair,Lyre, Antares, used toshow Moon, Saturn, Venus, Mars,Orion telescope. Four telescopes (11”, 8”, 5” and 3”) were using The highlightoftheweekwasskyobservation and theircuriositysatisfied. answered queries throughout thedayandgottheir got anopportunitytointeractwitheminentscientists Talksand visitors were arranged by eminentspeakers kids andvisitors. shows wererunthroughoutthedayfor Planetarium of INSAT-3DMobile organised. was also imager display screen throughoutthedayandnight.Alive MOM andResourcesat wereon displayed alarge Cartosat, like from varioussatellites obtained Images theme. 3D movies on various missionsof ISRO and the WSW to explain were designed Many posters self GSLV-MkII model. and Do-It-Your-were givenacertificate participants and specially-abledfor students wherein all people Quiz, Elocution,Presentations,etc., wereorganised Coloring/Drawing, Water Rocket Launching, Space Various competitionssuch as Paper modelmaking, in theevent. various sectionsofsocietyparticipated more than 15,000 visitors of all age-groupsand witnessed byalargenumber of Spaceenthusiasts; The celebrationofWSW-2017 by SAC was WSW-2017 CelebrationsatSAC important dignitaries/eminentpersonalities. and localstategovernment authorities, gracedby the venuesjointlywithhostinginstitution at all National QuizheldatEarthStation, Shadnagar. Assam in the at theirrespectivestatelevels haveparticipated various states.Atotalof18 teams, which are toppers wereorganisedat Quiz programmesforstudents Maharashtra, Delhi,ChandigarhandDiu&Daman. Tamil Nadu,Kerala, AndhraPradesh, Telangana, Goa, MadhyaPradesh, Chhattisgarh,,Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand,J&K,Haryana,Punjab, Assam, Manipur,Bihar,Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland, States / Union Territories of Arunachal Pradesh, were conductedinthe Across India,celebrations like ftp,InternetfromRCsandStateCentres. the schoolsthroughout the country using e-media of Remoteapplications to all Sensingwereprovided Study materialon ISRO Space Programmes and students. focusing ontheunderprivileged especially districts and Rangareddy and aroundHyderabad lecturesatvariousschoolsin delivered Scientists campuses wereorganised. at Balanagar,with scientists and Shadnagar Jeedimetla Launches,Satellite ISRO activities, Interactivesessions programmes showcasing Audio-visual were displayed. Images andAerialData,pertainingto RS Applications Satellite providing adeepinsightintoRScapabilities. Kedarnath,including Himalayas, for etc., weremade Fly throughCity,demos ofHyderabad MumbaiCity, data the exhibitionswerealsoarranged.Satellite/Aerial at to thestudents interaction withAntarcticascientists Live demosof Portal was organised and Vehiclesof ISROwerearranged. andSatellites Exhibitions ofmodels various miniaturised Launch management andmonitoringclimatechange,etc., of Remote Sensing(RS) data, supportindisaster the nation benefiting citizens,various applications ISRO’s SpaceProgramme and its contributionsto focused oncampaigningabout promotional activities WSW-2017 atNRSCincluded celebrations WSW-2017 CelebrationsatNRSC in thesky. objects early morningstoobservethesespectacular forhours up enthusiastically lateinthenightand

July –December 2017 Page 15 Team participated through Video Conference at A team visited the Government Primary/High School NE-SAC. 75 students visited Shadnagar to participate at Araleri, Malur Taluk, Kolar District on October in the Quiz finals. 06, 2017 and explained the significance of World Space Week to children. Different types of Spacecraft As part of painting competitions, 50 paintings were and rockets launched by ISRO, their subsystems, received. 50 Teachers from all parts of the country construction materials, orbits, mission manoeuvres, came to Shadnagar and took part in the concluding facilities at ISAC, space environment and different sessions of the celebrations. Live demonstration tests carried out on spacecraft, etc., were explained of Satellite data acquisition was witnessed by the in local language followed by a question and answer participating students. session. As a motivational aspect the children were informed about the career prospects in ISRO / DOS ISRO deputed two scientists of NRSC to Nigeria on and what it takes to enter ISRO / DOS. A brief about invitation from Nigerian Government for participation how space technology is being leveraged for societal in World Space Week Celebrations Organised by / national development was made. The principles on Nigeria Erosion & Watershed Management Project which the satellites and launch vehicles work were (NEWMAP). also explained. The future ISRO plans were also touched upon in the end. Demonstration of a launch Shri A S Kiran Kumar, Secretary, DOS & Chairman, vehicle model formed part of the briefing. Nearly 150 ISRO had participated in the valedictory function students and staff members participated in the event. through Video Conference from New Delhi and addressed the students participating in the function Another team visited the Devasandra Govt. High and 1,80,000 plus students from nearly 3600 schools School near Harohalli in Kanakapura Road on of Telengana state through the live telecast. October 07, 2017 and briefed nearly 250 students on the topics mentioned above. The exhibitions had overwhelming response from the students of various schools. Overall, 4,19,536 ISRO succeeded in conducting the World Space students/general public across the country participated Week celebrations as one of the biggest and popular July – December 2017 Page 16 July – December 2017 Page in the celebrations of WSW-2017 organised by outreach programmes of the Organisation. Important State Remote Sensing centres, Regional centres of task of this programme was to inform the public about NRSC, NE-SAC, Professional Societies and NRSC, the latest advances and discoveries in the space field, Hyderabad and viewers through TV network. application of space technologies in daily lives and to develop programmes to inspire young people to WSW-2017 Celebrations at ISAC pursue careers in science and technology. In summary, A group of Engineers and Technicians of ISAC through WSW-2017 events, ISRO could reach out visited two schools in the outskirts of Bengaluru and to all the major cross sections of society, made them acquainted the school children with the working of aware of space technologies and inspired children to satellites and launch vehicles besides briefing them learn. The entire programme was very well received. about the Indian Space Programme, its pioneers, The interaction with students was a great success with number and types of satellites/launch vehicles teachers expressing their appreciation. The exhibition launched so far, their applications and benefit to and video show fascinated everyone. World Space society and country besides future plans of ISRO. Week activities received broad coverage by print and Posters and stickers were distributed to the students electronic media also. and schools were presented with a scaled model of spacecraft for their science laboratory. Successful Completion of one year of Service by SCATSAT-1 Scatterometer

SCATSAT-1, the state-of-the-art satellite with a has commenced with the switch-on of main TWTA dedicated Scatterometer payload was launched on (Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier) on October 03, September 26, 2016. It is a continuity mission for 2016. The instrument had undergone calibration and Oceansat-2 Scatterometer (OSCAT) to provide validation (Cal-Val) phase during which sensor stability vector data products for weather forecasting, cyclone monitoring, fine-tuning of algorithms took place. detection and tracking services to the users. SCATSAT-1 As the sensor is providing very high quality observations inherits the design of OSCAT, hence operates in without any glitch, which provided good confidence Ku-band having 13.53GHz central frequency and on the instrument performance and led to the having a pencil beam design with two beams with early public release of wind products (Beta version) incidence angles of 490 and 570 on ground with through MOSDAC and NRSC as a Beta version on HH and VV polarization respectively. With a swath October 22, 2016. Subsequently after successful width of 1800 km, this instrument covers 90% of the completion of the Cal-Val phase, the mission entered earth’s surface in a single day. With the experience into operational phase from April 21, 2017. gained through OSCAT, a few improvements have been made to the sensor characteristics for better The main operational products from this mission are sensitivity in backscatter, especially in Polar Regions. global ocean surface wind products at 25 km and 50 km swath grids. Apart from this, various value added products such as (1) High Resolution Winds at 6.25 km swath grid (2) Daily Analysed Winds and

(3) High Resolution Sigma0 products over land 17 July –December 2017 Page and polar regions, are routinely generated and disseminated to the user community through MOSDAC.

SCATSAT-1 provided invaluable wind observations during various cyclones such as, Matthew, Hima, Nina, Nada, Vardha, Maarutha, Moora, Harvey Irma, etc., Apart from this, the SCATSAT-1 wind products are able to cater to various applications like - improved weather forecast through data assimilation in NWP models, improved Cyclone track and intensity prediction, improved ocean state forecast through SCATSAT-1 derived wind forcing. SCATSAT-1 derived ocean surface winds are being operationally assimilated by National Centre of Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), MoES and Global Ocean Surface winds (m/s)from SCATSAT-1 during October Space Applications Centre, ISRO in Numerical 04- 05, 2016 (Top) and October 01- 02, 2017 (Bottom) Atmospheric Weather Prediction Models to improve The radar backscatter measurement of SCATSAT-1 the predictions. Moreover, using the SCATSAT-1 measured backscatter data, land applications like soil ice derived from SCATSAT-1 was studied with respect moisture estimation and hydrological applications to the median value of sea ice extent from 1978 to such as, river water level change detection studies, 2010. The climatological sea ice behaviour shows etc., and polar studies of studying the spatio-temporal that this year the sea ice remained below normal variability of Ice coverage, are well demonstrated. (1981- 2010 median value) for all the months.

Analysis of SCATSAT-1 super resolution data derived The SCATSAT-1 data is extensively used on daily sea ice had revealed that the seasonal minima of basis by both National as well as International users. the Antarctic sea ice (occurred in the first week of It provided valuable input data to the global March 2017) and the seasonal maxima (occurred community in the area of weather forecasting and on September 15, 2017) were delayed with respect cyclone detection & tracking. to 2016. An animation was prepared from sea ice images from January to September 15, 2017. The sea

Many Satellites Celebrated Birth Anniversary during last week of September

Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), the maiden interplanetary mission of ISRO, launched on November 5, 2013, was successfully inserted into Martian orbit on September 24, 2014 in its first attempt. MOM completed three years orbiting around the Planet Mars as on September 24, 2017. • On this occasion, Space Science Programme Office, ISRO HQ conducted a ‘MOM Science Meet’ on September 25, 2017.

The first dedicated Indian Astronomy mission, AstroSat, also completed two years in orbit on September 28, 2017. • In order to commemorate two years completion of AstroSat in orbit, Space Science Programme Office July – December 2017 Page 18 July – December 2017 Page (SSPO), ISRO Headquarters organised an “AstroSat Science Meet” at ISRO HQ, Bangalore during 26-27 September 2017. • AstroSat successfully completed 10,000th Orbit on Aug 03, 2017 at 23:49 Hrs (IST) and had observed more than 360 celestial sources. • A Poster “AstroSat Picture of the month - September 2017” was also released on this occasion.

SCATSAT-1 completed one year in orbit on September 26, 2017. It was launched on September 26, 2016 on-board PSLV-C35. SCATSAT-1 is a continuity mission for Oceansat-2 Scatterometer to provide wind vector data products for weather, forecasting, cyclone detection and tracking services to the users. • It has provided valuable input in the area of weather forecasting and cyclone detection & tracking to the National as well as International users. The SCATSAT-1 data is extensively used on daily basis with the usage touching about 85,000 downloads per month from NRSC web portal.

All these Satellites are in good health and continue to work as expected. Analysis of the data received from these satellites is in progress.

Other Satellites launched during Last Week of September are GSAT-10 on Sep 29, 2012, Oceansat-2 on Sep 23, 2009, INSAT-3E on Sep 28, 2003 and IRS-1D on Sep 29, 1997. Operationalisation of Thunderstorm Nowcasting Services over NE Region Using DWR Data

North Eastern-Space Applications Centre Meghalaya which was dedicated to the nation by (NE-SAC) has been providing thunderstorm Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India nowcasting (forecasting upto 4 hours) services for on May 27, 2016. NE-SAC is operating the DWR North Eastern Region (NER) of India since 2015 continuously since then, and the data is made available under the North Eastern Regional node for Disaster in near real time for public through the MOSDAC Risk Reduction (NER-DRR) initiatives. This was done (Meteorological and Oceanographic data archival using the data from satellite images and sounder centre) and IMD websites. The DWR is calibrated onboard INSAT-3D / INSAT-3DR, automatic weather at regular intervals and the data products are being station data, and by analysing numerical weather validated. It has unobstructed coverage for the entire forecast data. However, it was difficult to detect, state of Meghalaya, Tripura, Southern Assam, and part track and forecast using this data alone as most of of Mizoram and Manipur. For the western and central the thunderstorms being localised events, extending Assam region, the DWR has coverage beyond three only over a few tens of km and having a lifetime of degree elevation only. The DWR also sees large part less than one hour. The availability of DWR data of India’s neighboring country, Bangladesh. The radar has opened a new window for precise identification completes one volume scan in 11 minutes, comprising of thunderstorm weather systems, track them and of 360 degree azimuth scan for 10 elevation angles

forecast the probable areas which may get affected, ranging from 0.5 to 21 degrees. It also allows sector 19 July –December 2017 Page albeit with lesser lead time. scan (in both azimuth and elevation) for high temporal observation of any event. The DWR covers a distance The first S-band dual polarimetric Doppler Weather of 250 km (up to 500 km only for Z) with a spatial Radar (DWR) was installed at Cherrapunjee, resolution of 300 m.

The DWR, Cherrapunjee coverage for elevation angle of 3 degree (left). Calibration of the DWR using metal sphere attached to hydrogen gas filled balloon & Pisharoty sonde (right) July – December 2017 Page 20 from 0.5 to - 0.5) and HV (~0.9) data. The radar HV (~0.9)data. from 0.5to-0.5)and usingZDR(ranging could alsobeidentified potential cloud. Hail (S>5) ofaparticular storm potential within acloudsystemthathelpedinquantifyingthe data wasusedtocharacterisetheinternalturbulence monsoon season of2017. width (S) The spectral fromCherrapunjeeDWRthe data duringthepre- southern Assam,andTripurausing couldbe identified Almost allthethunderstormsaffectingMeghalaya, thunderstorm clouds. thunderstorm cloudsfromnon- to differentiate and HV(Correlationcoefficient)werealsomade reflectivity) ZDR (differential data like polarimetric data collectedbytheDWR, extensiveuseofthe width) andV(velocity) Z (radarreflectivity),S(spectral to the methodologywasused.Inaddition the earlier using theDWRof theNER, and fortherest data Assam, MeghalayaandTripura weredoneprimarily thunderstorm nowcastingservicesforSouthern nowcasting service wasmadeoperational.Severe and calibratethenowcasting model. During2017, understand thethunderstormandstormsignatures collected bytheDWR during2016 was usedto May) phenomenon over the NERof India. The data Thunderstorm isapre-monsoon season (April- channel imageofthesametimeisalso shown(right).TheDWR data helpedinidentifyingtheindividualstormcloudcellsalarge A squalllineformedoverMeghalaya, SouthernAssam,andManipurwhichisclearlyidentifiedusingDWR data(left).INSAT-3D TIR1 band asseeninsatelliteimage

the concernedatstatelevel. website andalsothrough direct communication to through services weredisseminatedNER-DRR to morethan2hours.Thenowcasting 30 minutes time varyingfrom was morethan90%withlead June 15, 2017 period. The accuracy of nowcasting 1 to during April were forecastinthesethreestates Altogether 48 severe andvery severe thunderstorms over Meghalaya, Southern Assam, and Tripura states. improved thethunderstormnowcastingaccuracy The useoftheCherrapunjeeDWR datahas condition. byanalysingthelocalatmospheric storms, estimated time intervals,basedonofsuch sustenance potential within certain areas affected and forecastthelikely storm to trackeveryindividual of cloudswerestudied and velocity thunderstorm withhail.Thereflectivity as verysevere more than56dBZwascategorised asseverethunderstormandZof was categorised cloud and were tracked in real time.Z of 50-56 dBZ Z value more than 40 dBZ could become a thunder images. Allcloudshaving insatellite that appear bands cloud in large storm cells of individual identification and was thebackboneofthunderstormidentification reflectivity, Zanditsverticalprofile(Maxplots) through heterogeneous chemistry and theformation affect the Earth’s energy budget, stratosphericozone there forlongdurationandcan stratosphere reside on entering summer months.Thesepollutants strong convectiveactivityoverthisregionduring gases andaerosolsreachingdueto UTLS altitudes They are perceived to be resultofincreasedpollutant South Asia isdiscovered inthe observations. satellite (~16-17km) altitude over tropopause at thetropical However, recentlyanintenseaerosollayerpersisting like volcaniceruptions. and Lower Stratosphere(UTLS)onlyduringepisodes Troposphereto detectthemintheUpper is natural It atmosphere. from thesurfaceofEarth’s kilometers few to thefirst These aerosolsaremostlyrestricted burning, wind blown dust, volcanic eruptions, etc. as naturalprocessessuch as vehicleexhaust,waste- well of man-madeas are producedfromavariety air suspended in Aerosols, thesub-micronsizeparticles interactions. cloudsandtheir radiations, gases, engaged instudyingatmosphericaerosols, of NationalAtmosphericResearch Laboratory is andTraceAerosols, Radiation GasesGroup(ARTG) NARL StudiesTropical Tropopause Zero Pressure 21-22,2017from flightlaunched onAug TIFR balloonfacility, Hyderabad Aerosol Layer

overall weight as high as 80 kgs. Allthe payloads were Payload weightrangedfrom2kgs to30 kgs withthe heavy instruments which require plasticballoons. Impactor /Filter. OPCandImpactorarerelatively ParticleOzonesonde, Optical Counter (OPC),and Detector), CFH(CryogenicFrost pointHygrometer), are COBALD(CompactOpticalBackscatterAerosol period. Amongtheinstrumentsflownonballoons are beingoperatedfromGadankiduringthecampaign Mie Lidar, surface aerosol andtrace gas instruments radar,MST instruments like ground based Several launches fromTIFRballoonfacility, Hyderabad. from NARL,Gadanki,and9mediumtobigballoon launches tomeasureozone,watervaporandaerosol The overallcampaigncomprisedofsixsmallballoon the nature, formation andimpactsof the ATAL better. during theAsianSummerMonsoontounderstand out campaigns werecarried of balloonfield A series UTLS regionwascarriedoutinJuly-August 2017. measurement campaigntocharacterisetheATAL in Arrangement betweenNASAandISRO, in-situ Layer (ATAL) since2014.UnderanImplementing Tropopauseof Asian measurements in-situ Aerosol with NARLcarriedoutballoonborne collaboration Inc.,NASAfromUSA,in and Applications ofWyomingfrom University and ScienceSystems this asaerosollayer,In ordertoascertain Scientists due toitscomplicityinnature. has beenmadetoproveitasaaerosollayer attempt radiative propertiesof cirrus clouds. To date, no affect ozone in the lower andmodulate stratosphere of concern asthesetracegasesandaerosolscould Observed increasingpollutiontrendsisamatter impact. of cirrusclouds,therebyhavingclimate

July –December 2017 Page 21 July – December 2017 Page 22 UTLS region. role intransportof pollutant gases andmoistureto convective systems meso-scale moisture indicating cold pointtropopauseandinfluencedbyconvective from theground.Thelayerisstronglycorrelatedwith via convection the UTLSregionwhicharetransported in gases formed fromprecursorpollutant aerosol is than 0.25 micron the and are90%volatile.Itappears less of size This layercontainsparticles atmosphere. mineral aerosoldustthatisnaturallypresentin the asopposedtothatfrombackground size distribution 16.5-18.5 km isobserved.Thislayerhasdistinct of aerosolconcentration (r>0.075 micron) near Asian regionasshown in thefigure.Sharpincrease over measurements aerosol layerseeninsatellite These measurementsconfirmedthe presence of highlight ofthiscampaign. using Impactorwithcontrolledascentrateisthe recovered with100%successrate.Particlesampling Profile ofscatteringratioat940nmandColorIndex (Source: Jean-Paul Langley) Vernier/SSAI-NASA

Station. Transport System(CATS) on the InternationalSpace (SAGE) III instrument along with Cloud-Aerosol NASA’s StratosphericAerosolandGasExperiment and Observations (CALIPSO)satellite Satellite NASA’s Cloud-Aerosoland InfraredPathfinder Lidar vapor, andozonemeasurementsfrom to validate of aerosol,water balloon-borne measurements chemistry. Additionally, thiscampaignseekstouse and studyitsimpacton radiation budgetandozone in theUTLSregion the aerosollayer characterise over afewyears(until2020)tocomprehensively multiple campaignsspread regions alsonecessitates different circulation patterns and pollutantsource of which resultsfrominterplay pollutants different Presenceplanned. the backgroundconditionsis of campaign duringwintermonthsforobtaining additional with allthe data collectedduringthecampaign.One However,out yet tobecarried analysis detailed of India. fromnorthernparts along withlong-rangetransport of the aerosols andtracegasesto the UTLS region is found to bethemainforcing for verticaltransport which is generallyactiveduringJuly–Augustmonths around headBayof Bengal duringAsianMonsoon centered particularly of India, over northernpart masses Converging air a newfinding. which is nitrate, the dominantpresenceof in thiscampaignindicates Preliminarycollected chemicalanalysisofsamples

Haze Removal Algorithm Developed for Cartosat Images

High resolution optical imaging Earth Observation information is retrieved from sensor measurements in Satellite (EOS) systems such as Cartosat provide VNIR channels and by selecting appropriate aerosol multi-spectral remote sensing data in the optical properties from a set of defined aerosol Visible and Near-Infrared (VNIR) wavelengths of the models. The algorithm uses lookup tables generated order of sub-meter to few-meters. These datasets with vector radiative transfer calculations. Derived can be used in a variety of applications, particularly aerosol information and pre-computed lookup tables associated with precise mapping, monitoring and are employed to derive surface reflectance. Good change detection of earth’s surface, if Top Of the quality surface reflectances have been obtained Atmosphere (TOA) measurements can be properly when this algorithm was applied on Cartosat-2 Series compensated for atmospheric absorption and Satellite data. It is found that this algorithm significantly scattering effects. Existing physics based Atmospheric removes the haze from the images, making surface Correction (AC) algorithms for multi/hyper-spectral features distinctly visible, and hence more useable for remote sensing data over land involves simultaneous qualitative as well as quantitative analysis and further use of visible and Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) applications. channels to derive aerosol information. Hence, such algorithms cannot be used for AC of data acquired by Following figures illustrate the drastically improved VNIR sensors to derive “surface reflectance”. quality of the images after applying the AC algorithms, where contribution of light due to molecular scattering

Towards this, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad and scattering from a thick layer of aerosol to the 23 July –December 2017 Page has developed a new algorithm for AC of high sensor measurement at top of the atmosphere is resolution VNIR remote sensing data in which aerosol removed.

Parts of Ahmedabad as viewed from Cartosat-2 Series Satellite on November 03, 2016 National Workshop on Popularisation of Remote Sensing Based Maps and GIS

A National Workshop on Popularisation of Remote Remote Sensing in the country as well as in the Asia- Sensing Based Maps and Geo-spatial Information Pacific region. He said that ISRS believes that Remote was organised jointly by ISRS and ISRO on the Sensing and GIS should be the mainstay of our eve of National Remote Sensing Day on August planning of economic, environmental as well as social 11, 2017 at Indian Institute of Remote Sensing programmes. He urged the participants to contribute (IIRS), Dehradun. National Remote Sensing Day towards enhanced use of Remote Sensing based (August 12) is celebrated every year on the occasion information in the development of the country. of birth anniversary of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the Father of the Indian Space Programme. The Indian Society Dr. A. S. Kiran Kumar, Secretary, DOS and Chairman, of Remote Sensing (ISRS), having around 5000 life ISRO in his inaugural address, greeted the participants members, has been in the forefront in popularising on the occasion of National Remote Sensing Day. Remote Sensing in the country as well as in the He told that the remote sensing has come a long Asia-Pacific region. This workshop is a follow-up way since the beginning of satellite remote sensing action of National Meet held in September 2015, programme in 1975. He mentioned that today, with an objective to popularise space-based products Indian satellites have capability to provide even sub- and services in the central and state user departments meter spatial resolution and temporal coverage at to benefit social welfare schemes. 15 minutes interval. These data are being used for

July – December 2017 Page 24 July – December 2017 Page informed decision making in various applications The programme was broadcast through different such as prospective fishing zone identification, bore modes like live streaming at ISRS/ISRO/IIRS websites, well location and identification, forest fire detection, A-View/Youtube channel and in offline modes. The and disasters management etc. He said ISRO is Development and Educational Communication Unit accomplishing the vision of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai who (DECU) of ISRO provided the support in video emphasised the use of remote sensing applications coverage and packaging of the programme for video for addressing the problems of common man in the streaming. country.

Dr. A. Senthil Kumar, Director, IIRS welcomed all the Dr. Y. V. N. Krishna Murthy, Director, NRSC gave an participants. While addressing the participants he said overview of activities of NRSC and diverse areas of that Remote Sensing and Geographic Information space technology, which is helping central ministries System provides critical inputs to various welfare and state departments. Dr. Tapan Misra, Director, programmes / schemes of Govt. of India for effective Space Applications Centre (SAC) in his address, planning and decision-making. talked about ISRO’s Earth Observation sensors, their characteristics and applications. Dr. P.G. Diwakar, Dr. Shailesh Nayak, President, ISRS in the opening Scientific Secretary, ISRO talked about India’s Bhuvan remarks highlighted the role of ISRS in popularising Geo-portal, its features, products, services and Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad and Director,Sensing Centre(NRSC),Hyderabad RemoteSciences Area(ECSA),National and Climate Wadiaof HimalyanGeology(WIHG), Institute Earth Dehradun, Wildlife(WII), Dehradun, of India Institute from Forestsenior dignitaries Survey of India(FSI), was joinedbythe the-art studioofIIRS.Thepanel at thestate-of- A livepaneldiscussionwasheld services. Information Network(IBIN)Portalonline and its Portal. IIRSteamgaveademoonIndianBio-resource through VEDASand servicesprovided features SACof GovernmentIndia. the highlighted team Geo-Portal anditsuseforvariousprojects/schemes ISRO’sBhuvan teamgaveademoonISRO’s Bhuvan North-Eastern region. technology inthe talked about the useof geo-spatial of ISRO.initiatives ShriP.L.N. Director, Raju, NE-SAC planning, andSIS-DP space inputsfordecentralised General Manager,about the RRSC/NRSCtalked outreach programme of IIRS. Dr. Chief UdayRaj, and an overviewofcapacitybuilding IIRS provided Dr.future activities, S.K.Srivastav, GroupDirector, and manyschools. NE-SAC andStateRemote Sensing Centres),NGOs (ISRO HQ,ISAC, NRSCincludingRRSCs,SAC, IIRS, ISRO Centres and DSTinstitutes, ICAR, MoEF&CC IITs,Network ofacademicandresearchinstitutions, LearningIIRS Distance belong toISRSlocalchapters, partsofthecountry.from different Theparticipants the proceedingsofworkshop witnessed people in thecountry.sensing applications Nearlyonelakh programmes on awareness andsensitisationremote mass The workshopprovedtobeoneofthelargest workshop andalsotheparticipants. for all those who contributed to organisation of the Department, IIRSofferedaformalvoteofthanks Saran, Secretary, ISRSandHead,Geo-informatics Dr.to theuserdepartments. transferred Sameer and technologies needstobedemonstrated spatial in whichofgeo- highlighted theareasapplication and also domains technology intheirrespective of space views ontheutilisation their forward put by Director,was moderated IIRS.Thepanelist IIRS andCSSTEAP, Dehradun.Thepaneldiscussion

July –December 2017 Page 25 ISRO Organises Outreach Programme in Hindi at Ranchi

Creating awareness among the general public, interest in the scientific activities and stressed the need especially students, about the benefits that have for taking such programmes to large parts of the country. accrued from India‘s applications driven space programme to the society and the progress made by The highlight of the ISRO Exhibition was that all the country in space science and technology has been the information was presented in Hindi since the given utmost importance at ISRO. Media campaigns Department of Space has a mandate to organise on important events, campaign through social media, such programmes in the language of the masses to organisation of exhibitions, educational activities like enable them to understand better. Accordingly, this lectures, interactive sessions with students, quiz exhibition, was organised, especially to implement the programmes, water rocket making and launching recommendations of the Joint Hindi Salahkar Samiti for events, publications, video documentaries, etc., have DOS & DAE to effectively reach out to the masses. helped in not only keeping the public abreast of the About 70 colourful exhibition panels highlighted the latest developments in our space programme but also achievements of India in space to the student community to evoke interest in them on the nuances of space as well as the general public. Besides, the exhibition also science and technology. featured panels providing fundamentals of the various In this regard, an outreach programme was organised facets of space flight and the unique contribution of by ISRO at Jawahar Vidya Mandir at Ranchi, the capital space technology to the country’s rapid and all round of the state of Jharkand during August 3-4, 2017. development. Eight scale models of various satellites July – December 2017 Page 26 July – December 2017 Page The various events of this programme consisted of and spacecraft including the Mars Orbiter Mission an exhibitions, interactive programme with students spacecraft as well as Chandrayaan-1 and its Moon and the teaching staff, parents, visiting general public; Impact Probe were showcased in the exhibition. There a water rocket launch event; and a quiz programme were also three scale models of India’s rockets – the on space and astronomy. The event was inaugurated workhorse launch vehicle PSLV that launched a record by the Honorable Chief Minister of Jharkhand State, 104 satellites in February 2017, GSLV-Mk II equipped Mr Raghuvar Das, on August 03, 2017. In his inaugural with the indigenous cryogenic upper stage and which speech, the Chief Minister said that science promotes has scored four consecutive successes, and more both nationalism and self-reliance. He appealed to the importantly, GSLV-Mk III that launched the heaviest people to encourage the younger generation to take Indian satellite launched so far from India (3136 kg GSAT-19 in June 2017), exhibited.

Video documentaries on various space endeavours of India like Mars Orbiter Mission and AstroSat, were repeatedly screened during the exhibition. A group of students were trained to provide explanation about the exhibits for empowering them to explain the Hon’ble Chief Minister in the Inaugural Function in which 18 students were short listed for thefinal were shortlisted in which18students round in thepreliminary participated schools inRanchi from various during theevent.About100students organised astronomy wasalso on spaceand A quiz launching events. inthewaterrocket participated enthusiastically public Both students andteachersaswellthe general with opportunitytolaunchwaterrocketsthemselves. rockets inparticular. Manystudentswereprovided behind rocketpropulsioningeneralandwater principles with informationaboutthebasic provided were school grounds.Duringthelaunches,students programme wasthelaunchofwaterrocketsin Another importantfeatureofthisISROoutreach Space Programme andaskedinsightfulquestions. in theIndian evinced keeninterest public general and Duringtheinteraction,students space capabilities. ofthecountry’s significance nature, importanceand recommendations oftheFailure AnalysisCommitteewereimplemented. Failure AnalysisCommitteeto identify the anomaly that ledto the non-separation of the heat shield. The to whichcouldnotbeinjectedintotheorbit.Detailedfailureanalysiswascompletedby the satellite andallthelaunch events occurred successfully excepttheheatshieldseparation,due had anormallift-off constellation. PSLV-C39to jointheNavICnavigationsatellite as theeighthsatellite was identified satellite conducted Satellite on August 31, 2017 from SDSC, SHAR,Sriharikota,wasunsuccessful.The IRNSS-1H The forty-firstPolarflight ofIndia’s Launch Satellite Vehicle (PSLV-C39), carryingIRNSS-1HNavigation PSLV-C39 FlightCarryingIRNSS-1H Navigation SatelliteUnsuccessful reported bytheprintandelectronicmedia. the outreach attended event,which was widely More than 10,000 students from 60 schools in Ranchi success ofthisoutreacheventinHindi. wereinstrumentalinthe the hostinstitutionatRanchi, for theeventbyJawaharVidyaMandir, Shyamali, space endeavourinparticular. Thefacilitiesprovided science andtechnologyingeneraljointhecountry’s programme andtheireagernesstopursueacareerin space in aswelltheappreciationofcountry’s interest studentcommunity’s revealed thecountry’s yetagain The ISRO outreach programme at Ranchi with cashprizesaswellabookonspaceflight. rewarded bythedepartment were suitably finalists as welltheirfundamentalscientificknowledge.The quiz programme revealed theirinterestin spaceflight in the round. Theextentofinvolvementstudents

July –December 2017 Page 27 ISRO Develops Optical Imaging Detector Array for Hyperspectral Imaging Applications

ISRO is endeavouring to enter the domain of out at SAC to meet project requirements with operational hyperspectral imaging from earth orbit. respect to spatial and temporal resolution, Dynamic To find a suitable detector array for the proposed Range, Modulation Transfer Function, Smear and Hyperspectral Imaging Satellite’s (HySIS) payload spectral responsivity. 1000 X 66 pixels were designed in terms of performance and delivery schedule for to be readout, from both top and bottom directions, meeting the project requirements, a detailed survey using four analog video ports to meet the frame rate was conducted. requirement. Metal strapping was used for swiftly transferring integrated charges from image to storage Vis-NIR Hyperspectral payload of HySIS satellite is a hyperspectral imaging sensor operating in the visible and near infrared regions of the electronmagnetic spectrum. This earth observing imaging spectrometer will operate in the 0.4 to 0.95 μm spectral range, will have 55 spectral bands with 10 nanometre spectral sampling and 30 metre spatial sampling. Push-broom scanning mode is the operating mode of this sensor from a 630 km orbit. (FT CCD 1000 x 66, Chip Architecture) Following the survey to find detector arrays, region, in order to reduce image smear. Designs Vis-NIR Hyperspectral Imaging payload was originally (both at chip and package levels) went through conceptualised around a commercial off-the-shelf

July – December 2017 Page 28 July – December 2017 Page detailed review, before clearing for mask making and detector array developed by a foreign supplier. For the package fabrication, by a team consisting of members shortlisted detector array from that supplier, the pixel from SCL and SAC. size, charge handling capacity and Signal-to-Noise ratio were not complying with the requirements. Wafer processing was completed at SCL with top priority. During wafer processing at SCL, the SAC So, these requirements were subsequently proposed team developed a test bench (Hardware, Firmware, to be met at the system level by employing the and software for providing electro-optical stimuli) for technique of ‘spatial and spectral signal binning’. But, electro-optical evaluation of the chip. Wafer level following the recommendations during a prominent testing, assembly and packaging were carried out at review, the payload team worked out a plan for SCL. Few dies were packaged (Chip-on-board) at indigenous development of a ‘Frame Transfer Charge SCL for functionality verification. Coupled Device’ (CCD 1000 X 66, 11 µm x 26 µm). In this regard, the Space Applications Centre (SAC) The Chip on Board (COB) packages have successfully discussed the work breakdown and sharing structure gone through functionality verification checks at SAC. with Semi Conductor Limited (SCL), Chandigarh, an autonomous body under the Department of Space, and the same was laid out between SAC and SCL team members.

As per the discussion, chip architecture, device design, chip layout, and package design were carried Flood Monitoring using SCATSAT-1 Satellite

Monsoon was active over different regions of India SCATSAT-1 is a continuity mission for Oceansat-2 especially in Gujarat, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Western Scatterometer for Ocean weather forecasting, Bihar, Assam and lately in West Bengal during mid cyclone detection and tracking. The satellite carries July 2017. Heavy rains have created severe floods Ku-band Scatterometer and scans in a conical fashion in these regions with extreme flood in parts of in HH and VV polarizations and allows developing Gujarat and neighboring areas. Districts namely high-resolution datasets due to high overlapping Banaskantha, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, areas. SCATSAT-1 observations in Ku-band for Patan, Sabarkantha, etc., recorded more than 300% backscattering and brightness temperatures have rainfall above average level during July 20, 2017 to been analyzed for flood detection and monitoring July 26, 2017. over India with special emphasis in Gujarat and southern parts of Rajasthan. Satellite plays an important role in the detection and monitoring of flood situations over large regions. Optical Merging of backscattering and brightness temperature remote sensing from geostationary platform (INSAT- data helped to delineate the regions, which were 3D/3DR) provides rapid and valuable information flooded, partially submerged or existed in different soil wetness conditions (saturated or dry). Inundated areas have been obtained during second week of July over Ganga (Kanpur to Patna and Kosi river) and Brahmaputra flood plains. Extreme flooding July –December 2017 Page 29 July –December 2017 Page conditions were observed in Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Kheda, Banskantha and Bhavnagar as compared to relatively dry conditions in Bharuch during fourth week of July along with moderate inundation in parts of West Bengal.

Flood as Observed from SCATSAT-1 Sentinel-1A, a C-band SAR imaging satellite high on cloud patterns and meteorological parameters resolution data on July 24, 2017 helped to compare (rainfall); however, unable to image the surface water inundated regions over parts of Gujarat. Observations conditions in presence of cloud. Microwave remote on flooding conditions were well correlated in sensing techniques have unique advantage in which SCATSAT-1 and Sentinel-1A data. electromagnetic radiation penetrate the clouds and Analysis showed the usefulness of SCATSAT-1 mission senses the surface hydrological characteristics. The in detecting and monitoring extreme events such as data from SCATSAT-1 (launched by PSLV-C35 on flood with high temporal resolution (daily). Further September 26, 2016) was used for the detection of details can be obtained from VYOM and VEDAS web the flood situations over India. portal of Space Applications Centre. Indigenous Ship Bound Terminal Tracks PSLV-C38 Geo-spatial Information Trajectory Successfully

ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network the entire system within the standard ISO container (ISTRAC), Bengaluru is entrusted with the major is a very important requirement towards shipping to responsibility to provide tracking support for all other countries; and Redundancy in drive systems. the satellite and launch vehicle missions of ISRO. ISTRAC has also been mandated to provide space The final system performance and validation was operations support for Deep Space Missions of carried out by a sea trial, wherein, the Antenna system ISRO. For supporting Deep Space Missions, a large was integrated on SAGAR MANJUSHA Ship hired number of ground stations are required to provide from National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT). Telemetry Tracking and Command (TTC) support The ship was stationed at a specified observation during the launch and initial phase. Based on the point in Bay of Bengal and has successfully tracked launch vehicle trajectory and visibility requirement, PSLV-C38 launch vehicle from predicted Acquisition many a time, the TTC stations are to be located in Of Signal (AOS) time (T+60sec) to Loss Of Signal mid sea, wherein, conventional Ground Station (LOS) time (T+596sec) in auto track mode. The Antenna will not be suitable. In order to cater to quality of the data acquired was as per the prediction. these specific requirements, ISTRAC has designed and developed a 4.6 meter Ship Borne Transportable The Antenna system was realised with the participation (SBT) Antenna Terminal that meets the launch vehicle of Indian Industries and has been tested and validated July – December 2017 Page 30 July – December 2017 Page TTC requirements. on a motion simulator. ISRO has built this 4.6 meter Ship Borne Antenna System indigenously, thus The SBT Antenna system consists of 3-axis Antenna fulfilling all the specifications and has established Mount, a Motion Simulator, Reflector & Feed, Servo in-house capability for meeting future requirements. Control Systems and RF Electronics. Mechanical Systems Area (MSA) of ISTRAC made a detailed study of the technical requirements, availability of similar systems internationally and derived state-of- the-art specifications. The major design challenges in this system are: Development of a 3-axis antenna mount to compensate for the pitch, roll and yaw disturbances of the ship during tracking of the launch vehicle; Design and develop a motion simulator to simulate the base disturbances experienced by the SBT Antenna on sea trial during PSLV-C38 launch ship during sea state condition; Flexibility for change over from S-Band TTC station to X-Band TTC It also improved the operational reliability due to in- station with minimum hardware changes; Packaging house know-how of the systems engineering, besides reducing the cost considerably. Outreach Facility at NRSC Inaugurated

National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) established Mint crops, Geo-tagging applications of MGNREGA a new Outreach Facility at Jeedimetla Campus in and other Remote Sensing & GIS applications. Hyderabad to cater to the ever growing requirements Presentations were also done on mobile app “Bhuvan of capacity building in Space-based applications. The - Aahar”, a new application for food donor and the facility was inaugurated by Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar, food receiver with a focus on facilitating the food Chairman, ISRO / Secretary, Department of Space on dissemination to needy. Specific application on Bhuvan June 26, 2017. This facility caters to several activities Kiosk was also demonstrated during the occasion. like Training and Capacity Building, Information Kiosks, Content Generation, Outsourcing and Mass Chairman, ISRO interacted with all the participants on Communication, which could be conducted in parallel. various aspects of the project works undertaken by them. He was also of the opinion that the benefits The facility has a large number of thin client systems of space technology developments should reach the connected to database servers and Bhuvan Geo- common man and youth should join this endeavor in portal for massive content preparation. In addition, large number. He urged the Academia and Industries the user has access to satellite data and various to utilize the facilities, made available at Jeedimetla, to applications software for meeting specific requirements the fullest extent and provide best possible solutions of NRSC. Student community and industry can fully to the scientific challenges and help in national take advantage of this facility for various developmental development. activities. Contact: NRSC Jeedimetla Outreach facility, Students and faculty members from various academic Jeedimetla, Hyderabad by Email: gmoutreach@nrsc. 31 July –December 2017 Page institutions including Telangana State Social Welfare gov.in Residential Educational Institutions actively participated in the inauguration. Technical presentations were also made by enthusiastic students on High value Menthol

Jeedimetla Outreach Facility July – December 2017 Page 32 remembers withgratitude hispreciouscontributionstotheIndianspaceprogramme. The ISRO/DOScommunity grievesthepassingawayofProf. UR Rao onJuly 24, 2017 and Prof. servedISROasChairmanfrom Rao 2013 and“IAFHallofFame”atGuadalajarainMexico2016. WashingtonFame” at Hall of into the“Satellite to beinducted Scientist Space Indian the first also in on PeacefulCommittees Nations United Viennain1997.Hewas of OuterSpace(UN-COPUOS), Uses from outside the select group of countries like USA, USSR and Europeto be electedasChairmanof the award. Prof.Vibhushan -thesecondhighestcivilian of beingtheFirst hadtheunique distinction one Rao Government in 1976 for hiscontributiontoIndianSpacetechnology. In2017, he wasawardedthePadma Prof. wasawardedwithPadma Bhushan–thethirdhighestcivilianawardbyIndian URRao Bologna, theoldestUniversityinEurope. He wasalsothe recipient of D.Sc. (Hon. Causa) Degreefrom over 25 Universities includingUniversityof high energyastronomy,and rockettechnology and satelliteauthoredmanybooks. space applications Prof. hadpublishedover 350 scientificandtechnicalpapers coveringcosmicphysics, rays, interplanetary Rao technology in1991. the developmentofgeostationarylaunchvehicleGSLV initiated Rao andthedevelopmentofcryogenic PSLVand theoperational launchvehicle,whichintopolarorbit.Prof.can launch2.0 tonclassofsatellites thedevelopmentofrockettechnology, accelerated Rao resultinginthesuccessfullaunchofASLV rocket After takingcharge as Chairman, SpaceCommissionandSecretary, Departmentof Space in1984, Prof. communication, remotesensingandmeteorologicalservices. with the firstIndian‘’satellite in1975, over 18 were satellites designedandlaunched for providing technology of satellite in India1972. for theestablishmentUnderhisguidance,beginning responsibility need tousespacetechnology Convinced oftheimperativeforrapiddevelopment,Prof. undertookthe Rao to Indiain1966asProfessor atthePhysicalResearch Laboratory, Ahmedabad. as aprimeexperimenteron investigations anumberofPioneer andExplorerspacecrafts,Prof. returned Rao a FacultyProfessor MemberatMITandAssistant atUniversityofTexaswhere atDallashecarriedout Technology at Thiruvananthapuram.Afterworking as ofSpaceScienceand Chancellor oftheIndianInstitute Physical Research Laboratoryand the atAhmedabad He was the Chairman of the Governing Council of the sensing ofnaturalresources. tocommunicationsandremote extensive application development ofspacetechnology in Indiaandits who scientist madeoriginalcontributionstothe Prof. renownedspace isaninternationally URRao, known as popularly Prof. Rao, UdupiRamachandra A Tribute to Prof.URRao (March 10,1932–July24,2017) 1984 to1994.

July –December 2017 Page 37 This image covers Mars Disc in a Perspective/Ortho view with 3.5 km per pixel resolution and obtained after the blackout period experienced by MOM. Olympus mons, and three volcano systems Arsia mons, Pavonis mons, Ascraeus mons opposite to Olympus mons system are seen prominently in this shot. This picture was taken by MCC on Oct 08, 2017 from an altitude of 70,157 km.

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