29-Jun-2017: ISRO successfully launches GSAT-17
India's latest communication satellite, GSAT-17 was inducted into the INSAT/GSAT system on June 29, 2017 from Kourou, French Guiana by Ariane-5 VA-238. Weighing 3477 kg at lift-off, GSAT-17 carries Payloads in Normal C-band, Extended C-band and S-band to provide various communication services. GSAT-17 also carries equipment for meteorological data relay and satellite based search and rescue services being provided by earlier INSAT satellites.
GSAT-17 is designed to provide continuity of services on operational satellites in C-band, Extended C-band and S-bands. GSAT-17 was launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) by Ariane-5 VA-238 launch vehicle. After its injection into GTO, ISRO's Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan takes control of GSAT-17 and performs the initial orbit raising maneuvers using the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) of the satellite, placing it in circular Geostationary Orbit.
The designed in-orbit operational life of GSAT-17 is about 15 years.
23-Jun-2017: Cartosat-2 launched
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle has launched the Cartosat-2 series satellite—a dedicated satellite for defence forces—along with 30 co-passenger satellites from Sriharikota. This is the 40th flight of PSLV and 17th flight of PSLV in ‘XL’ configuration (with the use of solid strap-on motors).
PSLV-C38 launched the 712 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation and 30 co-passenger satellites together, weighing about 243 kg at lift-off, into a 505-km polar sun synchronous orbit. The co-passenger satellites include 29 Nano satellites from 14 countries—Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America—besides a nano satellite from India. The international customer nano satellites are being launched as part of the commercial arrangements between Antrix Corporation Limited (Antrix), commercial arm of ISRO and International customers.
Cartosat-2 is a remote sensing satellite and it is similar in configuration to earlier satellites in the series with the objective of providing high-resolution scene specific spot imagery. It has a resolution of 0.6 metres, which means it can spot even smaller objects within a square of 0.6 m by 0.6 m. Once this satellite becomes operational, it would be handed over to the defence forces, which have their own infrastructure, which includes ground stations, and trained manpower to access data.
20-Jun-2017: NASA Teams with Italian Space Agency to Probe Cosmic X-ray Mysteries
A new partnership forged between NASA and Italy's space agency paves the way for a breakthrough mission to explore some of the most turbulent and extreme environments in our universe -- from the hottest, messiest star factories to violent jets screaming away from monster black holes.
With this agreement Italy confirms to play a leading role in the scientific field of high energy studies. The IXPE mission, slated to launch in 2020, will fly three telescope systems capable of measuring the polarization of X-rays emitted by cosmic sources. By taking advantage of polarization as a tool for exploration, IXPE will provide important clues about the origins of cosmic X-rays and their interactions with matter and gravity as they travel through space.
ASI will contribute IXPE's sophisticated "eyes" -- three polarization-sensitive X-ray detectors which were developed in Italy and the use of its equatorial ground station located at Malindi, Kenya. NASA will supply the X-ray telescopes and use of its facilities to perform end-to-end X-ray calibration and science operations.