* Astronomy

The first results from the microgravity experiments on board the space capsule that was successfully launched and recovered (after its re-entry into the atmosphere) last year were presented at the ongoing 15th National Space Science Symposium (NSSS-2008) on Wednesday.

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National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) is holding a seminar in Bogor on Thursday to evaluate the one-year mission of the LAPAN-TUBSAT satellite and prepare for the construction of its next generation.
The LAPAN-TUBSAT satellite was launched on Jan. 10, 2007, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, India, as an auxiliary payload in the launch mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s PSLV-C7.
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Period      97.28     
Incl.      97.89     
Apogee  639     
Perigee   619

TLE Data

LAPAN-TUBSAT
1 29709U 07001A   08031.13412074 -.00000011  00000-0  53239-5 0  1799
2 29709 097.8874 091.8456 0014502 116.3749 243.8969 14.80199209 57060

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to develop superior satellite imagery based products of up to half-metre resolution and beyond even as it is about to hit the global market with 1-metre Earth pictures. ISRO is the world's third and only second non-US supplier of 1-m imagery.

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The images captured by CARTOSAT-2, the 12th satellite in the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite series, were released by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) here on Wednesday.
The black and white images were captured by the satellite launched on January 10 from its orbit 630 km away through a state-of-the-art panchromatic camera with a high spatial resolution of one metre. The satellite has a lifespan of approximately five years.

Bangalore (Kempegowda Bus Station and its environs), India

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Credit ISRO

Perth Airport, Australia

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Credit ISRO

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After 11 days in space, Indian Space Research Organisation's recoverable satellite re-entered the earth and splashed down in the Bay of Bengal on Monday morning as planned.

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The Space capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1) launched by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C7) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota on January 10, 2007 was successfully recovered today (January 22, 2007) after being manoeuvred to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere and descend over Bay of Bengal about 140 km East of Sriharikota.
Today, January 22, 2007, the re-orientation of SRE-1 capsule for de-boost operations commenced at 08:42 am (IST). The de-boost started at 09:00 am with the firing of on-board rocket motors and the operations were completed at 09:10 am. At 09:17 am, SRE-1 capsule was reoriented for its re-entry into the dense atmosphere. The capsule made its re-entry at 09:37 am at an altitude of 100 km with a velocity of 8 km/sec (29,000 km per hour). During its re-entry, the capsule was protected from the intense heat by carbon phenolic ablative material and silica tiles on its outer surface.

By the time SRE-1 descended to an altitude of 5 km, aerodynamic breaking had considerably reduced its velocity to 101 m/sec (363 km per hour). Pilot and drogue parachute deployments helped in further reducing its velocity to 47 m/sec (about 170 km per hour).
The main parachute was deployed at about 2 km altitude and finally, SRE-1 splashed down in the Bay of Bengal with a velocity of 12 m/sec  at 09:46 am. The flotation system, which immediately got triggered, kept the capsule floating. Recovery operations were supported and carried out by the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy using ships, aircraft and helicopters.

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The 55-kilogram  recovery capsule put into orbit by the Polar Synchronised Launch Vehicle PSLV-C7 12 days ago was brought safely back to earth Monday, marking India's first attempt to test re-entry and recovery.
The space capsule splashed down into the Bay of Bengal, and efforts are now being made to locate it and bring it ashore.

 Defence scientists at a premier facility here are eagerly awaiting the safe return Monday of a space vehicle that will play a crucial role in the country's first manned moon mission expected eight years hence.
The re-entry and recovery phase is the most crucial part of any manned mission in outer space and the success of this experiment will be a signal from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) that the country has started preparations for its journey to the moon.

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The panchromatic camera on board India's latest remote sensing satellite Cartosat-2 was switched on today and the analysis of the first imagery confirms excellent performance of the camera.
The camera was switched on at 10.05 am through a series of commands issued from the spacecraft control centre of ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC).

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TLE Data

Cartosat2
1 29709U 07001A   07010.81076660 -.00000053  00000-0  00000+0 0    20
2 29709 097.8921 071.9180 0027248 302.1096 057.7358 14.78976245    69