ISRO Chairman S. Somanath highlighted the mission’s success, emphasizing the precise orbit accomplishment and deployment of XPoSat’s solar panels. Notably, the remaining fuel on the fourth stage will be disposed of uniquely to ensure safety for future atmospheric reentry experiments. This strategic approach includes venting the tank pressure and passivation of the PS4 stage, with control transferred to the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) avionics.

The POEM-3, a 3-axis stabilised orbital platform, will conduct experiments to space-qualify systems with innovative concepts. Powered by a Flexible Solar Panel and Li-Ion battery, it comprises avionic systems for navigation, guidance, control, and telecommands. Ten payloads from various entities, including ISRO, will be tested on this platform. ISRO plans to assess its fuel cell during these experiments, a precursor for potential use in powering the Indian space station in the future.

XPoSat, a dedicated scientific satellite, aims to measure X-ray polarisation, conduct long-term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-ray sources, and perform polarisation and spectroscopic measurements in a common energy band. This mission reflects India’s commitment to space exploration, technological advancements, and sustainable practices in the evolving landscape of space science.

India space launch

XPoSat

experimental payloads

precision orbit

sustainability

space exploration

ISRO

New Year launch

Aditya-L1, India’s maiden solar mission, is set to reach Lagrange Point 1 in early January 2024, as revealed by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. The solar mission, launched aboard PSLV-C57 on September 2, aims to reach the orbit around L1 on January 7. L1 is a crucial point in the Sun-Earth system, about 1.5 million kilometers away, where ISRO plans to position seven scientific payloads for research.

Dr. Singh highlighted PM Modi’s transformative decisions, allowing private involvement in India’s space sector, fostering enthusiasm with over 10,000 witnessing Aditya-L1’s launch. Unlocking space technology has led to Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 becoming accessible to the public. The shift has prompted space research experts to return, establishing nearly 190 private space start-ups, attracting over Rs. 1,000 crore investments in the last nine months.

Dr. Singh announced the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF), with significant non-governmental funding, ushering in the public-private partnership model in India’s Science and Technology goals. Emphasizing global standards, he mentioned the global impact of space applications, from smart cities to land mapping and infrastructure development.

Looking forward, PM Modi’s vision includes setting up a space station by 2035 and a crewed moon mission by 2040. India’s achievements, including the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission and plans for lunar exploration, demonstrate the country’s significant advancements in the space sector.

Aditya-L1

solar mission

Lagrange Point 1

ISRO

space sector growth

private investments

global standards

Mr. Mahesh Makhija, Technology Consulting Leader at EY India, emphasizes the rapid adoption of an AI-first approach, noting its role in enhancing customer engagement and boosting productivity. Despite the optimistic outlook, the report underscores the imperative for India to intensify efforts, particularly in terms of government involvement. The study reveals that 75% of businesses exhibit low to moderate readiness for GenAI benefits, with challenges including a 52% skills gap and 42% uncertainty regarding use cases.

In response, the report calls for strategic initiatives aimed at addressing these challenges, ultimately propelling India into the era of Generative AI and fostering sustained economic growth.

EY report

Generative AI

GDP growth

strategic initiatives

technology consulting

business services

finance

education

retail

healthcare

In response to a query, Minister of State in the PMO, Mr. Jitendra Singh, disclosed ISRO’s ambitious plans for 2024. These include six PSLV missions, focusing on deploying space science, Earth observation satellites, technology demonstrations, and commercial missions facilitated by NSIL. The GSLV launches will encompass missions dedicated to meteorology, navigation, and a joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite. Notably, the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) is set for a commercial mission by NSIL.

Furthermore, the agenda incorporates two unmanned Gaganyaan missions, targeting the validation of the human-rated launch vehicle and orbital module. Sub-orbital missions are also in the plan to assess the Gaganyaan Crew Escape System’s performance under diverse abort conditions. Additionally, ISRO intends to conduct two autonomous runway landing experiments for the Reusable Launch Vehicle. The schedule involves launching the GSAT 20 communication satellite, marking a comprehensive and ambitious roadmap for ISRO in the coming year.

ISRO

2024 plans

PSLV missions

GSLV launches

Gaganyaan tests

commercial launches

space exploration

LHS 3154b’s distinctiveness arises from its proximity to an ultracool dwarf star, marking the first instance of such a massive planet orbiting a low-mass star. Mahadevan highlighted the significance of this discovery, emphasizing the limited understanding of the universe. The research, recently published in a scientific journal, underscores the planet’s orbit around the ultracool star LHS 3154, which is nine times less massive than the sun. The mass ratio between the newfound planet and its host star exceeds 1000 times that of Earth and the sun.

Mahadevan, explaining the traditional process of star and planet formation, noted that stars emerge from vast clouds of gas and dust, with planets potentially forming from the remaining material orbiting the star. In the case of LHS 3154, the planet-forming disk around the low-mass star was not expected to possess sufficient solid mass for such a massive planet. This discovery challenges existing theories and necessitates a reevaluation of our comprehension of stellar and planetary dynamics.

The researchers utilized an astronomical spectrograph known as the Habitable Zone Planet Finder (HPF), developed by Mahadevan’s team at PSU, to make this groundbreaking discovery. Mahadevan emphasized that this finding serves as an extreme test case for prevailing planet formation theories and aligns with the primary purpose of HPF: to unravel how planets form around the most common stars in our galaxy.

Suvrath Mahadevan

PSU

LHS 3154b

planetary formation

ultracool dwarf star

astronomical spectrograph

Habitable Zone Planet Finder

The Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module, part of ISRO’s efforts, transitioned from a low lunar orbit to a high Earth orbit, demonstrating mission operation strategies. The spacecraft’s maneuvers allowed SHAPE to continue observations closer to Earth, providing additional information for future lunar missions. ISRO, despite not formally announcing a lunar sample return mission, has indicated potential plans, with the next lunar mission being the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX), a collaboration with JAXA. Shri M. Sankaran, ISRO’s director, mentioned a tight timetable for lunar exploration during discussions at the AIAA’s ASCEND conference.

The propulsion module’s return to Earth orbit aligns with ISRO’s goal of advancing lunar exploration, possibly in parallel with LUPEX. The agency has faced a tight schedule, with aspirations for a lunar sample return within four years. The demonstration of technologies, including the lander’s engine reignition on the moon’s surface, contributes to the progress of future lunar and human missions.

Chandrayaan-3

ISRO

lunar sample return

propulsion module

Earth orbit

space technology

mission strategies

Administrator Bill Nelson conveyed congratulations to the Indian Minister for the success of Chandrayaan-3 and encouraged the acceleration of India’s program to send its first astronaut aboard a NASA rocket to the International Space Station (ISS). Additionally, the two nations agreed to initiate a two-week joint India-US space flight in the coming year, with NASA identifying opportunities for Indian astronauts in a Private Astronaut Mission slated for 2024.

Simultaneously, ISRO is exploring the feasibility of leveraging NASA’s Hypervelocity Impact Test (HVIT) facility for testing Gaganyaan module micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) protection shields. A joint working group (JWG) on human spaceflight cooperation has been established between the space agencies, delving into collaborative studies on radiation impact, micro meteorite and orbital debris shields, and space health and medicine aspects.

India

US

joint satellite

NISAR

Earth observation

space collaboration

astronaut missions

ISRO

NASA

This aligns with global trends, as Gartner forecasts an overall IT growth of 8% by 2024, up from 3.5% in 2023. The IT services sector is expected to expand by 10.4% in 2024, surpassing its 7.3% growth in 2023. However, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) spending remains limited in 2023 and 2024, according to John-David Lovelock, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner. He emphasizes organizations’ ongoing investments in automation and AI to enhance productivity and address IT talent shortages.

Naveen Mishra, VP and Team Manager at Gartner, highlights that Indian organizations will strategically invest in AI and automation to improve operational efficiency and counter the IT talent shortage. However, the tangible impact on IT spending levels due to GenAI is expected to emerge in 2025, despite gradual investments in GenAI and AI contributing to India’s IT spending expansion.

Gartner forecast

India IT spending

devices

IT services

automation

AI investment

The telecom sector added a record 7.6 million 4G users in August 2023, surpassing the 4.6 million monthly average in the previous year. Jio led the additions with 3.2 million users, followed by Airtel (2.6 million) and Vodafone Idea (1.3 million). Analysts project sustained 4G user growth, emphasizing the importance of 2G to 4G conversions for telcos to enhance average revenue per user (ARPU). Despite the July launch of Jio Bharat device, the pace of 2G to 4G upgrades remains a concern.

Nitin Soni, Senior Director of Corporates at Fitch Ratings, anticipates a continued surge in 4G user additions. He emphasizes telcos’ motivation to prioritize rapid 2G to 4G conversions in both urban and rural areas to boost data consumption and ARPU. The decline in the average selling price of 4G smartphones by 12% from March to September contributes to the growth, with 4G feature phone shipments rising by 300% year over year in the September quarter. However, 2G feature phone shipments saw a 27% decline during the same period.

Despite reporting sequential ARPU increases in the fiscal third quarter, Jio, Airtel, and Vi continue to navigate the challenge of transitioning users to 4G amid changing market dynamics.

India

Mobile broadband

Reliance Jio

4G phones

Telecom sector

User growth

ARPU

2G to 4G conversions

Feature phones

Market dynamics

Despite global challenges impacting Western consumers’ gadget consumption, Apple prepares for the festive season. Approximately 70% of iPhones made in India are exported, totaling Rs. 40,000 crore (US$ 5 billion) from April to October this fiscal year.

Under the PLI scheme, Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron handle Apple’s manufacturing in India. Tata Group’s acquisition of Wistron Infocomm Manufacturing establishes them as the first Indian company in Apple’s supply chain.

Apple’s focus on India since 2018-19 yields results, with a predicted record sale of 9-10 million iPhones in India in 2024. Additionally, Apple plans to start AirPods production at the Foxconn facility in Hyderabad by December 2024.

Apple

iPhone Production

India

Export Surge

AirPods Manufacturing

PLI Scheme

Tata Group

Foxconn

Pegatron

Wistron