Nothing Succeed like Success!
GSLV-F04 successfully launched
- Places INSAT-4CR in Orbit
India's Geosynchronous Satellite
Launch Vehicle, GSLV-F04, had a
successful launch on September 2,
2007. It placed India’s INSAT-4CR
into the Geosynchronous Transfer
Orbit. This was the fifth flight of GSLV
and the fourth successful one.
GSLV was commissioned after both its
developmental test flights conducted in April 2001 and May 2003 were successful.
GSLV was designed and developed
by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre,
Thiruvananthapuram, India. Russian
supplied cryogenic stage was used for
third stage propulsion, the guidance and
control of the stage has been implemented
by ISRO. INSAT-4CR was developed
by ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore.
The payloads were developed by Space
Applications Centre, Ahmedabad.
The successful launch of GSLV-F04
demonstrated the operational reliability
of GSLV as well as reiterated the endto-
end capability of ISRO. http://www.isro.gov.in/gslv-f04/photos/index.htm
Google Earth's planetarium i
Google has launched Sky - a new feature
that enables users of Google Earth to
view the sky as seen from planet Earth.
All Earth users can view and navigate
through 100 million individual stars
and 200 million galaxies. The new
feature introduces seven informative layers that illustrate various celestial
bodies and events. www.google.com
Google announces a simple new
way to embed Google Maps
Google Maps users can now add a map
to their website or blog just by copying
and pasting a snippet of HTML. This
new functionality enables Google Maps
users to share and disseminate geographic
information in the same way that YouTube
users share videos. www.google.com
DigitalGlobe announces launch
date for WorldView-1
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.,
ITT Corporation, and DigitalGlobe have
announced delivery of their WorldView-
1 satellite from Vandenberg Air Force
Base in California for its scheduled launch
on September 18, 2007. WorldView-1
is the first of two new next-generation
satellites Digital Globe has planned to
launch. www.ballaerospace.com
Thai satellite to be
launched in November
Thailand's first satellite for surveying
natural resources, THEOS (Thailand
Earth Observation Systems), is
scheduled to be launched in November.
The satellite data shall aid the state
officials deal with natural disasters,
suppress drug trafficking and predict
crop estimates. According to Thai Space
Agency, GISTDA, agreements had
already been signed with several state
agencies to use the satellite's services
like Royal Irrigation Department,
the Office of the Narcotics Control
Board (ONCB) and the Defence
Ministry. www.bangkokpost.com
Australian researchers discover
dozens of new temples at Angkor
Australian researchers using NASA
technology to map the medieval city
of Angkor have discovered at least 74
new temples using radar imaging and
other satellite data, according to the
deputy director of the University of
Sydney-based Greater Angkor Project.