Achievements of Department of Space during the year 2015

Achievements of Department of Space during the year 2015:

1. India's Mars Orbiter Spacecraft has successfully completed its mission objective as planned and has completed one year around Mars orbit on September 24, 2015. It was successfully placed into an elliptical orbit around planet Mars on September 24, 2014.
2. Successful launch of GSLV with Indigenous Cryogenic Stage: On Aug 27, 2015, Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D6), equipped with the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS), successfully launched GSAT-6, the country's advanced communication satellite, into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) .
3. Development of Next Generation Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III: The first experimental flight of heavy lift next generation launch vehicle, GSLV-Mk III, was successfully conducted on December 18, 2014 from Sriharikota. This flight has validated the complex atmospheric regime of flight and demonstrated the Integrity of design of GSLV Mk III.
4. Navigational Satellite System: IRNSS-1C, the third Navigational satellite of India, was successfully launched on-board Polar Satellite launch Vehicle PSLV-C26 on October 16, 2014. IRNSS-1D, the fourth satellite in this series was successfully launched on-board PSLV-C27 on March 28, 2015.
5. Augmenting the Satellite Communications infrastructure: GSAT-15, a 3 ton class communication satellite (carrying 24 Ku band transponders & GAGAN payload) has been successfully launched on November 11, 2015 at 3.04 hrs IST. GSAT-15 will further augment the INSAT/GSAT system capacity for DTH, TV broadcasting, Digital Satellite News Gathering and VSAT services and other societal benefits.  
6. India’s first multi-wavelength Observatory in Space: ASTROSAT satellite, India’s first dedicated astronomy satellite was successfully launched by PSLV-C30 on September 28, 2015. ASTROSAT enables simultaneous Ultraviolet to X-Ray observations to study Stars and Galaxies. It will also provide opportunity to task observations for the scientific community.
7. Commercial Launch of PSLV: India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle has launched 17 foreign satellites from seven countries (Canada, Indonesia, Singapore, UK, and USA) during 2015.
8. National Meet on promoting Space Technology based tools and Applications on Governance & Development.
9. Initiatives on Satellite for SAARC Region: ISRO/DOS, with active support from Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), hosted a Conference on “Satellite for the SAARC region and Space Technology Applications” on June 22, 2015 at New Delhi. 
10. Disaster Management Support: The Indian Remote Sensing, Meteorological and Communication satellites have immensely helped in the management of recent events of disasters witnessed by the country viz. J&K Floods, HudHud Cyclone and J&K Landslides.

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AK-47 inventor Russia's Kalashnikov dies

Mikhail Kalashnikov, the designer of fabled AK-47 automatic rifle, died on Monday, the office of the presidency in the Udmurtia region where he worked said. He was 94. Kalashnikov designed a weapon that became synonymous with killing on a sometimes indiscriminate scale but was seen in the Soviet Union as a national hero and symbol of Moscow's proud military past. "He died about one-and-a-half hours ago," Viktor Chulkov, the spokesman for the Udmurtia leader Alexander Volkov, told a news agency on Monday.
Lavished with honours including the prestigious Hero of Russia prize for designing the iconic rifle, Kalashnikov has said he had never intended for it to become the preferred weapon in conflicts around the world. "I created a weapon to defend the fatherland's borders. It's not my fault that it was sometimes used where it shouldn't have been. This is the fault of politicians," he said during an award ceremony at the Kremlin to mark his 90th birthday. AK-47's name stands for "Kalashnikov's Automatic" and the year it was designed, 1947.

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Nelson Mandela dies at 95

Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first elected black president and a global anti-apartheid icon died early Friday, at his home in the suburb of Houghton in Johannesburg, following a lengthy illness. He was 95. The elder statesman was receiving medical care from a leading team since September after spending three months in a Pretoria hospital for a recurrent lung ailment. "Fellow South Africans, our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation, has departed," Zuma said in a nationally televised address. He passed away peacefully at 20:50 (local time), 5th December, Zuma said.
"He is now resting. He is now at peace...Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father," he said. Zuma announced that there would be a state funeral for the departed world leader. Details of the funeral have not been announced yet, but all flags will fly at half-mast until the funeral. Zuma said Mandela's tireless struggle for freedom earned him the respect of the world, "His humility, his compassion, and his humanity earned him their love." "Our thoughts are with the South African people who today mourn the loss of the one person who, more than any other, came to embody their sense of a common nationhood.

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Sachin, Prof C N R Rao gets Bharat Ratna Award 2013

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Prof C N R Rao were chosen for Bharat Ratna, 2013 with the batting maestro, who retired from international cricket on Saturday, being the first sportsman to be bestowed with the country's highest civilian honour. Tendulkar(40) and Rao(89), both of whom are recipients of Padma Vibhushan--the country's second highest civilian honour, join a list of 41 eminent personalities to get the award given in recognition of exceptional service of the highest order since it was instituted in 1954. The announcement was made by Rashtrapati Bhavan within hours after Tendulkar played his 200th Test.

 An official statement said Tendulkar has been a true Ambassador of India in the world of sports and his achievements in cricket are unparalleled, the records set by him unmatched, and the spirit of sportsmanship displayed by him exemplary.   An outspoken scientist, Prof Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao is a well recognized international authority on solid state and materials chemistry who has published over 1,400 research papers and 45 books. He is the third scientist after C V Raman and former President A P J Abdul Kalam to be given the Bharat Ratna. Prof Rao's contributions have been recognized by most major scientific academies around the world through conferment of memberships and fellowships and has been honoured with several national and international awards, the official announcement said. He currently serves as the Head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India. The Bharat Ratna was announced after a gap of four years with Hindustani music doyen Bhimsen Joshi being the last recipient in 2009.

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Sachin Tendulkar gets Bharat Ratna 2013

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Prof C N R Rao were chosen for Bharat Ratna, 2013 with the batting maestro, who retired from international cricket on Saturday, being the first sportsman to be bestowed with the country's highest civilian honour. Tendulkar(40) and Rao(89), both of whom are recipients of Padma Vibhushan--the country's second highest civilian honour, join a list of 41 eminent personalities to get the award given in recognition of exceptional service of the highest order since it was instituted in 1954. The announcement was made by Rashtrapati Bhavan within hours after Tendulkar played his 200th Test.

 An official statement said Tendulkar has been a true Ambassador of India in the world of sports and his achievements in cricket are unparalleled, the records set by him unmatched, and the spirit of sportsmanship displayed by him exemplary.   An outspoken scientist, Prof Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao is a well recognized international authority on solid state and materials chemistry who has published over 1,400 research papers and 45 books. He is the third scientist after C V Raman and former President A P J Abdul Kalam to be given the Bharat Ratna. Prof Rao's contributions have been recognized by most major scientific academies around the world through conferment of memberships and fellowships and has been honoured with several national and international awards, the official announcement said. He currently serves as the Head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India. The Bharat Ratna was announced after a gap of four years with Hindustani music doyen Bhimsen Joshi being the last recipient in 2009.

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Prof C N R Rao gets Bharat Ratna Award 2013

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Prof C N R Rao were chosen for Bharat Ratna, 2013 with the batting maestro, who retired from international cricket on Saturday, being the first sportsman to be bestowed with the country's highest civilian honour. Tendulkar(40) and Rao(89), both of whom are recipients of Padma Vibhushan--the country's second highest civilian honour, join a list of 41 eminent personalities to get the award given in recognition of exceptional service of the highest order since it was instituted in 1954. The announcement was made by Rashtrapati Bhavan within hours after Tendulkar played his 200th Test.

 An official statement said Tendulkar has been a true Ambassador of India in the world of sports and his achievements in cricket are unparalleled, the records set by him unmatched, and the spirit of sportsmanship displayed by him exemplary.   An outspoken scientist, Prof Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao is a well recognized international authority on solid state and materials chemistry who has published over 1,400 research papers and 45 books. He is the third scientist after C V Raman and former President A P J Abdul Kalam to be given the Bharat Ratna. Prof Rao's contributions have been recognized by most major scientific academies around the world through conferment of memberships and fellowships and has been honoured with several national and international awards, the official announcement said. He currently serves as the Head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India. The Bharat Ratna was announced after a gap of four years with Hindustani music doyen Bhimsen Joshi being the last recipient in 2009.

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Miss Venezuela Gabriela Isler Wins Miss Universe 2013

Miss Venezuela Gabriela Isler Wins Miss Universe 2013 title. A 25-year-old Venezuelan television presenter, Gabriela Isler, was crowned Miss Universe in Moscow in a glittering ceremony on Saturday. Manasi Moghe from India made it to the top 10 of Miss Universe 2013. Judges, including rock star Steven Tyler from Aerosmith, picked the winner from a total of 86 contestants at the show, watched by millions of viewers around the world. Last year's winner Olivia Culpo of the United States placed a diamond crown on the head of Isler, who wore a silver rhine-stone studded evening dress.
Isler's triumph was the seventh Miss Universe win for Venezuela, where beauty pageants are a major source of national pride.  Gabriela Isler, who stands 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in), competed as Miss Guarico, one of 24 finalists in her country's national beauty pageant Miss Venezuela 2012, held on August 30, 2012 in Caracas. She won the Miss Elegance Award and became the ninth Miss Venezuela winner from Guarico, gaining the right to represent her country in Miss Universe 2013.

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Arundhati Bhattacharya becomes SBI’s first woman chairperson in 207 years

State Bank of India (SBI) on Monday got its first woman boss in its 207-year history, as Arundhati Bhattacharya took charge, after former boss Pratip Chaudhuri's tenure came to an end on September 30. Ms Bhattacharya, also holds the distinction of becoming the first woman managing director of SBI in August. Prior to this appointment, Ms Bhattacharya was managing director and chief executive of SBI Capital Markets, the merchant banking arm of SBI.
Bhattacharya joined SBI as a probationary officer (PO) in 1977. During her 36-year tenure at the bank she has held a number of important positions, including those of deputy managing director and corporate development officer, chief general manager (Bangalore Circle) and chief general manager (New Businesses). She also headed SBI Capital Markets Ltd, a subsidiary of State Bank of India and had a stint in the Bank's New York office where she was in charge of monitoring branch performance, overseeing external audit and correspondent relations, SBI statement said.

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Microsoft to buy Nokia Mobiles in $7.2 billion

Microsoft on Tuesday said it would buy Nokia's mobile phone business for 5.44 billion euros ($7.2 billion), and the Finnish firm said its CEO, Stephen Elop, would join Microsoft when the transaction closed. Finland's Nokia, once the undisputed leader in mobile phones, has been struggling to respond to the challenge from smartphone makers such as Apple and Samsung.  Nokia reported in July a 27 percent drop in the number of handsets sold in the second quarter. It’s lost more than 5 billion euros in nine quarters.
About 32,000 Nokia employees will transfer to Microsoft as a result of the deal, according to the statement.

The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014, subject to approval by Nokia's shareholders, regulatory clearances and other closing conditions, it added. The acquisition will also include licence and use of Nokia's mapping services. In July 2011, Nokia had announced that it would partner Microsoft to use its Windows software for its Lumia range of smartphones. "It's a bold step into the future a win-win for employees, shareholders and consumers of both companies. Bringing these great teams together will accelerate Microsoft's share and profits in phones, and strengthen the overall opportunities for both Microsoft and our partners across our entire family of devices and services," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement.

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Weather satellite INSAT-3D launched from French Guiana

India's advanced meteorological satellite INSAT-3D was successfully launched by an European rocket from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana early on Friday, giving a boost to weather forecasting and disaster warning services. European space consortium Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket launched INSAT-3D and Alphasat satellites.

According to ISRO, INSAT-3D adds a new dimension to weather monitoring through its atmospheric sounding system, which provides vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and integrated ozone from surface to top of the atmosphere.
The imaging system of INSAT-3D has significant improvements over that of KALPANA and INSAT-3A, the space agency said. INSAT-3D will provide continuity to earlier missions and further augment the capability to provide various meteorological as well as search and rescue services. INSAT-3D had a lift-off mass of 2060 kg. INSAT-3D also carried the newly developed 19 channel sounder, the first such payload to be flown on an ISRO satellite mission. The Data Relay Transponder (DRT) will be used to receive meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic data from remote, uninhabited locations over the coverage area from Data Collection Platforms (DCPs) like Automatic Weather Station, Automatic Rain Gauge and Agro Met Stations.

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