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India to test 5,000-km intercontinental ballistic missile
India will by year-end test its 5,000-km intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), often termed the China killer " for its
ability to reach the northernmost areas of that country, the head of a
premier defence research agency said on June 4, 201 when Defence Minister AK
Antony asked for the expeditious development of the Agni-V missile system.
" DRDO ( Defence Research and Development Organisation )) has developed
a spectrum of missiles with a different range and payload capability.
Now, DRDO must demonstrate its capability to reach a range of 5,000 km
at the earliest, Antony said at a function at the research agency.
"The interceptor missile development programme has taken India into an
elite club of nations that possess the capability to demonstrate and
deploy missile defence. DRDO should now work towards developing a credible ballistic missile defence for our
country," Antony told the gathering of defence scientists. India is in the process of developing its own BMD system and has carried
out six tests in the last two years, of which four have been successful.
The BMD programme comprises a two-tiered system called Prithvi Air
Defence (PAD) for high-altitude interception at 50-80 km and Advanced
Air Defence ( AAD) for low-altitude interception 15-30 km. India has also inducted its latest 3,000-km Agni-III missile into the
armed forces and has begun serialised production of the weapon system.
Agni-III, Saraswat pointed out, is an inducted missile. "So there is no
confusion whether or when it will be inducted. Agni-III is an inducted
missile. It has completed its complete development and is under production," he added.
PSLV-C14 successfully places
7 satellites into orbit
Sriharikota, September 23, 2009: The Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) launched PSLV C-14 which carried 7
satellites into the outer space. Rs. 70-crore PSLV rocket carried the Rs.130-crore Oceansat2 -- India's
remote sensing satellite on Wednesday afternoon from Satish Dhawan Centre in
Sriharikota. The PSLV carried six other nano satellites. PSLV will place India's OCEANSAT 2 satellite in orbit.
The Indian satellite will be ejected into a sun-synchronous orbit 720 km
above the earth and it will cover the whole earth as the coverage strip will be moving. The orbit is designed in such a way that the satellite will cross the Equator at 12 noon near India.
A global leader in remote sensing data, India has till date launched 15
remote sensing satellites of which nine are still in operation. Even the Oceansat1 launched in 1999 is in service and will go into oblivion slowly.
The design life of Oceansat2 is five years and it may outlast that period like its earlier version.
The launch has given further fillip India's launch capabilities, which has emerged as a major player in the multi-billion dollar
space-market. This was the 15th successful flight of the launch vehicle in a row. The first PSLV flight took place on September 20, 1993.
Recalling the PSLV’s first flight, Mr. Nair said: “Unfortunately, we failed Since then,
we have not looked back. The next 15launches have been successful…which gives us the greatest joy.”
President,
PM congratulate ISRO team for Oceansat-2
President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today
congratulated the ISRO team for successful launch of Oceansat-2 satellite,
saying this would herald a new beginning in understanding of the oceans.
In a message, the President said that it was a proud moment for the whole
country as the scientists successfully launched the satellites.
The Prime Minister said he was delighted to learn that the Polar Satellite
Launch Vehicle-C14 has successfully launched India's Oceansat-2 satellite and
six nano satellites from European Universities and agencies. "PSLV has once again
demonstrated its versatility and reliability through this 15th successful launch in a row," Singh said, adding Oceansat-2 satellite will
"herald a new beginning in our understanding of the oceans". Congratulating the entire ISRO team responsible for this achievement, the
Prime Minister wished ISRO continued success in future missions. |
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