Pallava Bagla

Meet The Woman Who Leads India's "Manned Mission" To Space

India News | Written by Pallava Bagla | Sunday August 19, 2018

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India's first human space flights mission on a rocket built by ISRO on Independence Day last week, a widely-appreciated clause was his promise that it could be a "son or a daughter" who would take the Indian flag to outer space. At the Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO, a part of PM Modi's promis...

Rakesh Sharma, First Indian In Space, Gives 'Gaganyaan' A Thumbs-Up

India News | Reported by Pallava Bagla, Edited by Anuj Pant | Wednesday August 15, 2018

The first Indian man to venture into space, former Indian Air Force pilot Rakesh Sharma, today gave his thumbs up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plan to have a national space mission by 2022.

Mission "Gaganyaan": An Indian Will Be Sent To Space By 2022, Says PM

India News | Written by Pallava Bagla | Wednesday August 15, 2018

The 370-year-old Red Fort today played venue for a colossal announcement, the ramifications of which perhaps for the first time extend beyond earth itself. India will become the fourth nation to send man to space, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on India's 72nd Independence Day - his fifth and final address ahead of the next general election...

Critical Technologies For Human Space Mission On Track, Says ISRO

India News | Reportec by Pallava Bagla, Edited by Anindita Sanyal | Monday August 13, 2018

India's plan to put a human in space is just one decision away from being made a reality. In an exclusive interview, K Sivan, chairman of space research organisation ISRO said several of the critical technologies are already in place, including a crew module and a crew escape system. A prototype space suit has also been developed.

India Slips In Lunar Race With Israel As Ambitious Mission Hits Delays

India News | Written by Pallava Bagla | Saturday August 4, 2018

India's ambitious mission to the moon piggybacking a lunar rover is postponed once again with a possible lift off only in 2019. The Chandrayan-2 mission was earlier slated for October 2018 and is now rescheduled because oftechnical glitches. This delay may now give Israel an opportunity to edge past India with its moon landing.

India's Key Spy Satellite Maker Sacked, Made Advisor To ISRO Chairman

India News | Written by Pallava Bagla | Friday July 20, 2018

In an unprecedented move, India's top spy satellites maker Tapan K Misra was summarily sacked yesterday from his position as Director of ISRO Space Applications Center in Ahmedabad, the lab where such satellites are fabricated.

Why Experts At This Pune Lab Are Trying To Understand Clouds Better

India News | Written by Pallava Bagla | Sunday July 15, 2018

Clouds are omnipresent yet many experts agree the understanding of clouds is still in a very nascent stage. What are the distinguishing features of monsoon clouds, how do the clouds form and how does the climate change affect the clouds? There are many questions that add to the enigma of the clouds.

9% Rain Deficit So Far, Weathermen Expect Monsoon To Revive In Two Weeks

India News | Written by Pallava Bagla | Thursday July 12, 2018

Even as the generous rainfall in Mumbai in grabbing headlines, there is a nine per cent monsoon deficit in the country so far. Rainfall deficit of below 10 per cent is dubbed as drought. Dr DS Pai, scientist and lead forecaster for India Meteorological Department told NDTV that the possibility of a weak El Nino developing could be a cause of worry.

To Keep An Eye On India, 2 Pak Spy Satellites Launched By China

World News | Written by Pallava Bagla | Monday July 9, 2018

In a significant development for Pakistan, twin satellites meant to keep an eye on India were launched into space by its all-time ally China today. Chinese rocket Long March-2C (LM-2C) launched Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite -1 or PRSS-1 and PakTES-1A satellites from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China this morning. While Indi...

As India Battles Monsoon Crisis, Meet Scientists Who Are Making It Rain

India News | Written by Pallava Bagla | Friday July 6, 2018

The monsoon is a whimsical beast, on most occasions it rains but sometimes it does not despite rain bearing clouds being in the sky. So can creation of artificial rain help? This is a controversial technology and is not fully understood. The Ministry of Earth Sciences has launched a massive experiment in Maharashtra to understand the business of cl...

ISRO Tested Its Critical Crew Escape Feature At Sriharikota Today

Science | Written by Pallava Bagla | Thursday July 5, 2018

As part of its preparations to send an Indian astronaut into space using an indigenous rocket in the future, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today tested the crew escape module, which is critical to ensure safety of the astronauts in case a rocket explodes on the launch pad.

Quarter Of Monsoon Over, 4% Rain Deficit So Far. But 3 More Months To Go

India News | Written by Pallava Bagla | Sunday July 1, 2018

A month into the monsoon, and there is already a four per cent deficit in total rainfall in the country. The weather department had predicted a normal monsoon. While it's too early to be worried, concerns are being raised on how the last monsoon before the national election next year may perform and what will be its impact on PM Narendra Modi's gov...

Stunning Southern Lights, Courtesy State-Of-The-Art Indian Antarctic Base

India News | Reported by Pallava Bagla, Edited by Divyanshu Dutta Roy | Friday June 15, 2018

It may be one of the most isolated and inhospitable environments on Earth but even there, in a frozen desert shrouded in darkness, it's not too difficult to be in utmost awe of nature. Scientists from the Indian research station in Antarctica, named Bharati, have sent home a photo that very deservedly takes your breath away.

India's Keen Interest In Bangladesh Nuclear Plant Near Its Border

India News | Written by Pallava Bagla | Monday June 11, 2018

Less than two hours' from the eastern edge of West Bengal, across the international border, frenzied activity is underway to build a hi-tech nuclear power plant in Bangladesh's Rooppur.

Inside The Russian Factory That Makes Parts For Kudankulam Nuclear Plant

India News | Written by Pallava Bagla | Saturday June 9, 2018

It's a mega manufacturing facility, the covered area of which is the size of several football fields. A road runs through the shop floor at the unit of Atomenergomash, a subsidiary of Rosatom, Russia's state atomic energy corporation. And workers use bicycles to commute between workstations.