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2018 proved to be one of the busiest years for Indian Space Research Organisation. From launching 31 satellites in one go to rolling plans about India’s second lunar exploration mission in 2019, the country took several steps to mark its presence among the top space explorers around the globe. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was on a launching spree in the last six months. Here’s a quick review of top 5 achievements by ISRO in 2018- India's mega satellite launch aboard PSLV-C43 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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(Image Credit- isro.gov.in) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its Hyperspectral Imaging Satellite (<keyword id="7066281" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="HySIS">HySIS</keyword>) along with 30 other foreign commercial satellites on 28th November from the Sriharikota launch centre using the PSLV C43 rocket. Hyperspectral imaging allows the satellites to identify objects from outer space. With the launch, S. Pandian, the director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR - ISRO, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/live-updates-isro-launch-hysis-psvl-43/liveblog/66858479.cms">said</a> that ISRO has achieved a landmark of launching 270 satellites from 28 countries. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 ‘The Big Bird’, GSAT-11 — launched, to boost internet connectivity 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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(Image credit- isro.gov.in) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 5 December <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-big-bird-india-marks-successful-launch-of-its-heaviest-satellite-gsat-11-onboard-space-vehicle-ariane-5/articleshow/66948736.cms">successfully launched </a>the country’s heaviest satellite GSAT-11 on board space vehicle Ariane 5 — that will advance the broadband connectivity in India from French Guiana. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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(Image credit- isro.gov.in) With the launch of GSAT-11, India will be able to provide about 16 GBPS data link services across India, said NDTV citing ISRO Chairman K Sivan. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 <keyword id="7026003" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="gsat-29">GSAT-29</keyword>, heaviest rocket launched 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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(Image credit- isro.gov.in) India also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-successfully-launches-communication-satellite-gsat-29-using-its-heaviest-rocket/articleshow/66623518.cms">launched</a> its latest communication satellite GSAT-29 to bridge the digital divide of users including those in Jammu &amp; Kashmir and North Eastern regions of India on 14th November. The GSAT-29 onboard Ka/Ku-band high throughput communication transponders that will help internet users in India meet their communication requirements. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 "Mission Accomplished": India puts <keyword id="6838588" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="gsat-7a">GSAT-7A</keyword> into orbit 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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(Image credit- isro.gov.in) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 19th December successfully <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-successfully-places-the-angry-bird-satellite-into-orbit/articleshow/67171462.cms">launched</a> a GSAT-7A, a military communication satellite dedicated to the Indian Air Force. GSAT-7A will boost the communication capabilities of the Indian Air Force and may also monitor unmanned aerial vehicles and drone of IAF. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	













	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="isro" handlename="ISRO" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/413572279734247424/LshYgwCH_normal.jpeg" favoritecount="31211" retweetcount="6713" status="#ISROMissions 🇮🇳 Mission Accomplished! 🇮🇳 Thank You for your support. #GSAT7A #GSLVF11 https://t.co/DmERVxSa8Y" createdat="1545222727000" id="1075368176915869697"></div>













































































 
 A ride to space in 2019 In a first, PM Narendra Modi <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-is-spending-1-4-billion-on-a-space-trip-and-there-are-bigger-plans-involved/articleshow/65591318.cms">announced</a> a deadline for India’s first manned space. He claimed that Indian Space Research Organisation will be sending an astronaut by 2022. While the country is still working on achieving its dream project, what grabbed everyone’s attention was the buzz about government spending on the mission. It is going to cost $1.4 billion, much less than what other countries like the United States and Russia spent on similar mission. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Going forward, the agency says it has plans to launch 32 missions in 2019 including <keyword id="53289" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chandrayaan-2">Chandrayaan-2</keyword>.

2018 was a remarkable year for India’s space agency ISRO—Here were the top 5 successful missions

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6379089" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="communications">Communications</keyword> stocks represent companies in a sector that includes the phone, <keyword id="6357247" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Internet">internet</keyword>, and <keyword id="6354777" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Media">media</keyword> industries.</li><li>Communications stocks belong to both stable dividend-paying firms and volatile up-and-comers.</li><li>Investors can minimize risk by buying communications-focused ETFs and index funds.</li></ul>In 2020, communications became more important than ever. Entering an era of remote work and play, people turned to communications technology of all kinds. Internet and cell phone service, video conferencing, video games, and streaming services were the lifeline that allowed us to muddle through - even thrive - in a challenging year.But even before the coronavirus, communications was a key area to invest in, populated by some of the biggest names in the corporate world, and dealing with services used by millions every day. The communication services sector represents about 10% of the S&amp;P 500. It's so important for keeping everyday life running that the U.S. government classifies it as "critical infrastructure."Here's what you should know about how to invest in communications stocks, what the risks are, and what rewards you might anticipate.<h2>What is the communications sector?</h2>Communications stocks are shares of companies that facilitate interaction in some way. These companies might operate land-based or cellular phone lines, broadband internet, wireless internet, and satellite communications.Companies in the media, entertainment, interactive gaming, information creation, and information distribution businesses also belong to the communications sector.If this sounds like a highly diverse group - well, it is. And it only recently became so.It happened due to the widely used <a href="https://www.msci.com/documents/1296102/11185224/GICS+Methodology+2020.pdf/9caadd09-790d-3d60-455b-2a1ed5d1e48c?t=1578405935658">Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS)</a>. The GICS, jointly created by Standard &amp; Poor's Dow Jones and Morgan Stanley Capital International, provides a way for investors to categorize and analyze stocks. In September 2018, GICS changed its index methodology and reorganized the communications sector.Basically, it expanded the existing <keyword id="67974" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="telecommunications">telecommunications</keyword> sector to become a broader communications services sector. Stalwart telephone and traditional media stocks were suddenly in the same category as upstart, growth-oriented internet and info-tech companies. Still, a common thread among these companies is their reliance on subscription fees and advertising revenue.<h2>Why invest in communications stocks?</h2>It's difficult to characterize communications stocks. Since the category change, the sector has become one that offers something for every investor. Overall, communications is now better described as a growth sector - one likely to offer greater potential for appreciation than the market overall. It's also now more cyclical, or dependent on economic trends - likely to function better in boom times and during bull <keyword id="31671" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="markets">markets</keyword>. Still, depending on which specific stock you're talking about, your reason for investing in a communications company might have more to do with earning a reliable dividend than attempting to capitalize on trendy growth. Many of the individual telecom blue-chip companies might well retain their defensive-stock nature - their ability to perform well in both prosperous and recessionary times. <h2>Types of communications stocks</h2>To help make sense of the broad new communication services sector, let's break it down into subsectors. We've highlighted some key players in each, though many could be categorized under more than one sub sector because of their diversified suite of services.<div type="image" title="industries in the communications sector" height="1539" width="2500" msid="80414303" hostid="261"></div><h3>Diversified telecommunication services</h3>This category consists of broadband, fiber-optic cable, and internet service providers.Key players: Lumen Technologies (LUMN), AT&amp;T (T), Verizon Communications (VZ), Globalstar (GSAT), Bandwidth (BAND), Consolidated Communications Holdings (CNSL), Anterix (ANTX)<h3>Wireless telecommunication services</h3>This category is made up of cellular or wireless communications service providers.Key players: T-Mobile U.S. (TMUS), Telephone and Data Systems (TDS), Boingo Wireless (WIFI), Gogo (GOGO)<h3>Media</h3>Media companies earn revenue from advertising, broadcasting, cable &amp; satellite service, and print or electronic publishing.Key players: Charter Communications (CHTR), Comcast (CMCSA), Dish Network (DISH), Fox (FOX), Nexstar Media Group (NXST), ViacomCBS (VIAC), Discovery Communications (DISCA), Fluent (FLNT)<h3>Entertainment</h3>Companies in this sector work on movie and television production, distribution, and screening; music production and distribution; entertainment theaters; sports; streaming entertainment content; mobile gaming applications; and at-home educational software.Key players: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Live Nation Entertainment (LYV), Electronic Arts (EA), Activision Blizzard (ATVI), AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC),Netflix (NFLX), Walt Disney Company (DIS)<h3>Interactive media &amp; services</h3>These companies profit from pay-per-click advertising, search engines, social media, social networking platforms, online reviews, and online classifieds.Key Players: Interactive Corp (IAC), Alphabet (GOOG), Facebook (FB), Twitter (TWTR), Yelp (YELP), Pinterest (PINS), Yandex (YNDX), Angie's List (ANGI)Fast fact: Communications equipment makers are classified as part of the information technology (IT) sector. While some communications companies do provide equipment, they aren't considered part of the IT sector because the GICS looks at the activities that produce more than 60% of a company's revenue when deciding how to classify it. Surprisingly, Zoom Video Communications (ZM) is classified as an IT stock.<h2>The advantages of communications stocks</h2>There are a variety of reasons for investors consider communications companies.<ul><li>Performance. Over the last 12 months (Jan. 6, 2020, through Jan. 4, 2021), the S&amp;P Communication Services Select Sector index, which includes all the stocks in the communications sector, returned 23.22%. By comparison, the S&amp;P 500 index returned 14.4%. </li></ul>The index only goes back to September 2018 due to the communications category shift, so it's harder to describe this sector's long-term performance. However, when S&amp;P created its new index, it backtested it to December 21, 2007. It found that the sector returned 9.9% annualized over the next 10-ish years, through May 16, 2018. Over that same period, the S&amp;P 500's annualized return was <a href="http://www.moneychimp.com/features/market_cagr.htm">7.25</a>%.<ul><li>Income. The growth companies in this sector help drive its returns. But the value companies provide investors with investment income. Verizon and AT&amp;T, for example, both pay rich dividends, and have a long history of doing so. </li><li>Diversification. Many companies in this sector earn revenue from diversified services. Comcast is a great example; it makes money from broadcast television, cable television, broadband service, satellite service, movies, and theme parks.</li></ul><h2>The downsides of communications stocks</h2>Of course, no type of stock is without drawbacks. Those that are characteristic of communications include:<ul><li>Regulatory risk. This industry is subject to government regulation, which can affect performance. For example, changing privacy laws poses a threat to communications companies that rely on using consumer data to tailor advertising and recommendations.</li><li>Operational risk. While many communications stocks thrived during the pandemic, others took a beating - especially those in the entertainment, recreational, and travel field. Disney's theme parks, which account for about 30% of the company's revenue <a href="https://www.morningstar.com/articles/978014/pandemic-hits-communication-stocks-in-different-ways">according to Morningstar,</a> have been closed or operating at limited capacity since the first quarter of 2020. Live Nation Entertainment, parent of Ticketmaster, took a big hit as governments banned large gatherings, including concerts, festivals, and live sports. </li><li>Lack of differentiation/competitiveness. Some communications companies struggle to stand out because their services strike their customers as commodities. Among streaming services, lack of customer loyalty and the ease of switching providers resulted in a 41% churn rate for 1Q 2020, <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/technology-media-telecommunications/us-tmt-2021-outlook-for-the-us-tme-industry.pdf">according to consulting firm Deloitte</a>. Vulnerability to technological change can also be an ongoing challenge.</li></ul><h2>How to invest in communications stocks</h2>You can buy individual shares or fractional shares of communications stocks through the usual brokerage channels - either online or apps, such as E*TRADE, Robinhood, SoFi Invest - or the traditional full-service firms, like Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, Fidelity, and Vanguard. Of course, investing in an individual communications stock is riskier than investing in a communications industry ETF (sector risk) or index fund.These are some of the biggest. Some of them also offer exposure to other sectors, such as utilities or information technology. So be sure to read the fund breakdown and strategy, to make sure you're getting the pure play you want.<ul><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/etfs/communication-services-select-sector-spdr-fund-us81369y8527" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Communications Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLC)</a></li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/etfs/vanguard-communication-services-index-fund-etf-shares-us92204a8844" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX)</a></li><li><a href="https://investor.vanguard.com/mutual-funds/profile/VTCAX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTCAX)</a> </li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/etfs/fidelity-msci-communication-services-index-etf-us3160928731" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (FCOM) </a></li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/etfs/defiance-5g-next-gen-connectivity-etf-us26922a2895" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Defiance 5G Next Gen Connectivity ETF (FIVG)</a></li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/etfs/first-trust-nasdaq-technology-dividend-index-fund-us33738r1187" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund (TDIV)</a></li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/etfs/invesco-sp-smallcap-utilities-communication-services-etf-us46138g4091/nav" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Invesco S&amp;P SmallCap Utilities &amp; Communication Services ETF (PSCU)</a></li></ul><h2>The financial takeaway</h2>Communications stocks are shares in companies in the communication services industry - a huge sector that includes phone, internet, satellite, media, entertainment companies.They represent well-established, dividend-paying companies as well as more volatile up-and-comers.Since communications stocks can belong to both defensive and growth-oriented companies, individual investors can get the most bang for their buck, and minimize risk overall‚ by investing through communications-focused ETFs and index funds.The communications sector is an exciting place to be right now. The companies it includes provide the services that are fundamental to our everyday lives. And the COVID-19 lifestyle shifts might make us permanently more reliant on communications companies, even once the pandemic is behind us. <h2>Related Coverage in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/investing-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Investing</a>:</h2><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-invest-in-dividend-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to invest in dividend stocks, a low-risk source of investment income</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-invest-in-penny-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-cyclical-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What are cyclical stocks? High-profit but volatile stocks whose prices rise and fall as economy grows and declines</a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/growth-investing-definition-strategies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What is growth investing? A strategy that focuses on high-growth companies in hopes for significant investment returns</a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/passive-investing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Passive investing is a long-term wealth-building strategy all investors should know - here's how it works</a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-defensive-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What are defensive stocks? Stocks that provide stability to your portfolio regardless of whether the economy is up or down</a></h3>

How to invest in communications stocks, a sector that's huge, highly diversified, and growing - offering something for almost every type of investor

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C50 (PSLV-C50) rocket laden with the country's communication satellite CMS-01 (formerly GSAT-12R) lifted off from the rocket port at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday evening. The rocket with India's 42nd communication satellite CMS-01 lifted-off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota at 3.41 p.m. CMS-01 satellite with a life span of seven years is envisaged for providing services in Extended-C Band of the frequency spectrum, which will include the Indian mainland, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands. The CMS-01 will be a replacement for GSAT-12 that weighed 1,410 kg and was launched on July 11, 2011 with a mission life of eight years. This is the first communication satellite that <keyword id="6358064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword> has sent up under its new naming scheme. ISRO has recently decided to go generic in naming its satellites. It had earlier named its earth observation satellites as EOS and the communication satellites are being named as CMS. 'Nowadays satellites have multiple payloads for varied users and hence a thematic satellite may be a misnomer and ISRO might have decided to go for a generic name,' M. Annadurai, who retired as Director, U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), formerly ISRO Satellite Centre, had told IANS. About 20 minutes into its flight, PSLV-C50 will eject the CMS-01 into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) and from there, the satellite will be taken up and positioned at geosynchronous orbit. The space mission is second from this rocket port and third for the country this year. On November 7, ISRO launched radar imaging satellite EOS-01 (Earth Observation Satellite-01, formerly RISAT-2BR2) with a PSLV rocket. Earlier on January 17, 2020, ISRO launched 3,357 kg communication satellite GSAT-30 by the European space agency Arianespace rocket Ariane 5. The 44-metre-high four staged/engine PSLV-C50 is the 22nd flight of PSLV in 'XL' configuration (with six strap-on motors hugging the first stage). The rocket weighs 320 tonne. The PSLV in normal configuration is a four stage/engine expendable rocket powered by solid and liquid fuels alternatively with six booster motors strapped on to the first stage to give higher thrust during the initial flight moments. The Indian space agency has PSLV variants with two and four strap-on motors, larger PSLV-XL and the Core Alone variant without any strap-on motors. The choice of the rocket to be used for a mission depends on the weight of the satellite and the orbit where the satellite is to be orbited. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/unilever-climate-change-plan-opened-to-shareholders-as-amazons-climate-pledge-battles-criticism/articleshow/79776633.cms">Unilever is opening up its climate action plan to shareholders as Amazon's Climate Pledge battles criticism</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/fake-instagram-facebook-and-vimeo-extensions-on-google-chrome-can-steal-personal-information-and-location/articleshow/79773977.cms">Fake Instagram, Facebook, and Vimeo extensions on Google Chrome can ‘hijack’ your URL, steal personal information and track your location</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/supercomputer-shows-tropical-cyclones-hitting-india-are-going-get-more-destructive-that-is-until-the-flooding-starts/articleshow/79764803.cms">Supercomputer shows tropical cyclones hitting India are going get more destructive — that is until the flooding starts</a>

ISRO successfully launches India's 42nd communication satellite CMS-01

The countdown for the November 7 launch of the Indian rocket, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C49 (PSLV-C49), carrying the country's radar imaging satellite and nine other foreign satellites will begin on Friday. "The 26-hour countdown for the rocket launch will start tomorrow (Friday) from the first launch pad. The rocket with 10 satellites is expected to lift off at 3 p.m. on November 7 from the <keyword id="6355143" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sriharikota">Sriharikota</keyword> rocket port," a senior official told IANS. The proposed launch will be the first space mission for the Indian Space Research Organisation (<keyword id="6358064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword>) in 2020. The nine foreign satellites are from: Lithuania (1-technology demonstrator), Luxembourg (4 maritime application satellites by Kleos Space) and the US (4-Lemur multi mission remote sensing satellites). However, the primary passenger of the 44.5 metre tall PSLV-C49 will be the Indian radar imaging satellite EOS-01 (formerly RISAT-2BR2) with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) that can shoot pictures in all weather conditions. The satellite can take pictures day and night and will be useful for surveillance as well as civilian activities. This time around, the ISRO will be using the PSLV rocket's DL variant that will have two strap-on booster motors. This rocket variant was used the first time to put into orbit Microsat R satellite on January 24, 2019. The PSLV is a four stage/engine rocket powered by solid and liquid fuels alternatively with six booster motors strapped on to the first stage to give higher thrust during the initial flight moments. S. Somanath, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), had told IANS earlier that three rockets were getting ready for the launch at the rocket port in Sriharikota -- the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C49 (PSLV C49), PSLV C50 and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). After PSLV-C49, the next one to fly will be PSLV-C50 with the GSAT-12R satellite. It will fly from the second launch pad, he added. "We are targeting PSLV-C50 sometime in December. It needs about 30 days to get ready for another launch after one launch," Somanath had said. The other Indian satellites that are ready for launch are GISAT, Microsat-2A and GSAT-12R. The launch of the GISAT-1 satellite slated for March 5 this year was postponed due to technical reasons a day before the launch. "The GISAT-1 satellite will be carried by a GSLV rocket. The GSLV rocket was dismantled after the launch was called off. The rocket is being refurbished. The rocket's cryogenic engine has been brought down and it is being readied again," Somanath had said. According to him, the GSLV carrying GISAT-1 is expected to fly after PSLV C50. Somanath also said that the ISRO has developed a Virtual Launch Control Centre to test the rocket systems at the rocket port in Sriharikota remotely from the Thiruvananthapuram-based VSSC. "With Covid-19 pandemic prevailing, the Indian space agency in order to reduce the number of people travelling to Sriharikota, has developed a Virtual Launch Control Centre at VSSC. As a result, the testing of various rocket systems is being done at VSSC," Somnath had told IANS. The physical launch control centre is located in the building, housing the Mission Control Centre in Sriharikota and the systems there have been replicated at the VSSC in the form of a virtual launch control centre. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/rbi-and-indian-banks-wait-as-supreme-court-adjourns-loan-moratorium-hearing-to-november-18/articleshow/79057919.cms">RBI and banks caught in the crosshairs as the Supreme Court adjourns loan moratorium hearing for a second time to November 18</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/sbi-share-price-rises-over-6-after-strong-earnings-with-analysts-pegging-it-to-be-the-first-to-recover-among-public-sector-banks/articleshow/79055329.cms">SBI rallies over 6% after strong earnings with analysts pegging it to be the first to recover among public sector banks</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/foreign-policy/news/donald-trump-vs-joe-biden-us-election-result-and-relations-with-india-and-pm-modi/articleshow/79022098.cms">If Joe Biden wins, he’ll be the third US president to deal with Modi — Here’s how that could play out</a>

Countdown for India's first launch of 2020 with its radar imaging satellite onboard begins on Friday

<ul><li>At the start of 2020, Indian Space Research Organisation (<keyword id="6358064" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword>) Chairman and Secretary Department of Space K. Sivan said that the space agency was planning to have 25 launches. </li><li>All was going well for ISRO after the crashlanding of India's moon lander Vikram on the lunar surface in 2019.</li><li>The first setback of the year for ISRO came on March 4, when it had to call off the launch of GISAT-1, a day before its actual launch, owing to technical reasons. </li></ul>What would have been an insipid first half of the calendar year 2020 for the Indian space agency turned a bit interesting towards the end, with the government announcing its decision to open up the sector to private participation. At the start of 2020, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman and Secretary Department of Space K. Sivan said that the space agency was planning to have 25 launches -- including Aditya-L1 satellite, <keyword id="1512353" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Geo-Imaging-Satellite">Geo Imaging Satellite</keyword> (GISAT-1), realisation of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) or small rocket (carrying capacity 500 kg), navigation satellite with indigenous atomic clocks and <keyword id="9550825" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-data-relay-satellite-system">Indian Data Relay Satellite System</keyword> (IDRSS), and GSAT-20 satellite with electric propulsion. Sivan also said India will embark on its third moon mission 'Chandrayaan-3' and attempt to land a lander on the lunar surface sometime in 2020-21. All was going well for ISRO after the crashlanding of India's moon lander Vikram on the lunar surface in 2019. The year began well ISRO with the launch of the 3,357 kg communication satellite GSAT-30 by the European space agency Arianespace rocket Ariane 5 on January 17. The ISRO also showcased its robot/half-humanoid -- Vyommitra - which was part of its human space mission programme 'Gaganyaan'. The first setback of the year for ISRO came on March 4, when it had to call off the launch of GISAT-1, a day before its actual launch, owing to technical reasons. The ISRO did not share any detail about the technical reasons, or the glitch, and its rectification since then. It is also not known when the satellite with a very good camera would be launched. Then came the Covid-19 lockdown within and outside India that had its cascading impact on ISRO's core plans like the realisation of SSLV, launch of GISAT-1, delay in the first test-flight of the rocket as part of Gaganyaan mission. "During the lockdown, industries that were supplying components were not working. Our own officials were not able to attend office. Further travel to Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh for satellite launch by the officials were not possible due to the lockdown," Sivan told IANS. It is also not known when ISRO will be able to restart its satellite launch operations. With coronavirus infection spreading fast in the county, ISRO also started work on developing a low-cost ventilator and sanitiser. Meanwhile, two positive developments happened for ISRO -- securing an Indian patent for its liquid cooling and heating garment (LCHG) suitable for space applications and for its method of manufacturing highland lunar soil simulant or simply lunar/moon soil. On May 16, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that Indian private sector will be a co-traveller in India's space-sector journey and a level-playing field will be provided for them in satellites, launches, and space-based services. She also said that a predictable policy and regulatory environment will be provided to private players. The future projects for planetary exploration, outer space travel and others are to be opened up for the private sector, adding there will be a liberal geo-spatial data policy for providing remote-sensing data to tech-entrepreneurs subject to various checks. Welcoming the announcement, sectoral experts suggested various models for restructuring of ISRO and also urged the government to set up an independent regulator and also enact necessary legislation. On June 24, the Union Cabinet decided to set up Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), making ISRO to focus on research and development (R&amp;D) of new technologies, exploration missions, and human spaceflight programme. Singh said the Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to set up IN-SPACe to provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure. He also said the New Space India Limited (NSIL) will endeavour to re-orient space activities from a 'supply driven' model to 'demand driven' model, thereby ensuring optimum utilisation of the country's space assets. Former ISRO Chairman <keyword id="52158" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="madhavan-nair">Madhavan Nair</keyword> said there should be a national space law to define responsibilities and liabilities. Pointing out the role envisaged for IN-SPACe and the demand for a sectoral regulator, when queried whether the proposed body could be converted into the space sector regulator, Sivan told IANS: "IN-SPACe could be turned into a regulatory body when the necessary laws and regulations are in place." "We are on the job of getting ready the Space Activities Bill. It will define the space activities, liabilities and other aspects," he added. As part of the reform process, new navigation policy is also being proposed. Suitable changes in the remote sensing data policy as well as SATCOM policy are on the anvil to align them to an open and inclusive space sector, said Sivan. "The best is to establish an independent regulator -- <keyword id="9550824" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="space-regulatory-authority-of-india">Space Regulatory Authority of India</keyword> (SRAI) -- which will create a level-playing field for many of the emerging players," Narayan Prasad, Chief Operating Officer, satsearch, told IANS. Establishing an independent regulator could allow a systematic review and reforms on a continuous basis rather than one-off announcements, Prasad said. As per current scheme of things, IN-SPACe will have its own directorates for technical, legal, safety and security, monitoring as well as activities promotion for assessing the private sector's needs and coordination of the activities. IN-SPACe would have a board and representatives from industry, academia and the government, Sivan said. "Initially, IN-SPACe will be manned by people from the existing space setup. Later, people from outside will be taken in. It will have its funds from the budgetary allocations for the DoS. The new body may not need big financial allocations," Sivan remarked. Stressing that the ISRO's importance will not diminish with the entry of IN-SPACe, Sivan said all the existing centres - manufacturing, services, rocket launch centres - would continue to be with the ISRO. "The ISRO will be involved in research and development in advanced technologies, human space missions. It will also share its technological expertise with the private parties. The proposed new body will not disturb the existing ones. It will be another autonomous body," Sivan said. Industry officials are hoping to see further steps being taken by the government regarding the space sector during the second half of 2020. But as regards the satellite launches - domestic as well as foreign for a fee - by ISRO during the year depends on the spread or control of coronavirus and the resultant lockdown. 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ISRO doesn't know when it will be ready to restart space launches

(Photo Credit : iswap.org) <ul><li>The percentage of female pilots in India is significantly higher than in any other developed country, according to data by International Society of Women Airline Pilots. </li><li>Compared to the aviation market in other countries, all major airlines in India have at least 10% of their pilots as women. </li><li>Zoom Air, a regional air service, has the highest number of female pilots at 30%</li></ul>India may have a long way to go to achieve gender equality in many professions but in aviation, women rule the skies. Airlines in India have the highest percentage of female commercial pilots compared to other markets, according to data by the International Society of Women Airline Pilots. Less than 6% of 151,624 airline pilots across the globe are women. Surprisingly, India, which is a poster child for gender disparity, has been outperforming all other developed countries across the world with its impressive share of female pilots. Currently, Indian airlines have 1,092 female pilots as against 8,797 male pilots, reported <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/women-pilots-percentage-in-india-is-twice-that-of-global-average-data/articleshow/66539021.cms">Times of India</a>. India’s record is also higher than <keyword id="137254" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="United-Airlines">United Airlines</keyword>, which employs the highest number of female pilots in the United States. Women make up 7.41% of the total 12,693 pilots at the airline. One reason behind the trend is that India has been hiring more women pilots in order to resolve the issue of pilot shortage, according to a recent <a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/india-pilots-women/india-soars-above-global-average-in-hiring-female-airline-pilots-idINKCN1LL0PB">Reuters</a> report. Indian women are also more drawn towards the aviation industry as women commercial pilots enjoy the right of equal pay compared to other professions. An Indian regional airline, Zoom air, has the highest share of female pilot across the globe. About 30% of the total 30 pilots working in Zoom are women. Other Indian airlines with significant number of female pilots include Indigo (13.87%), <keyword id="6378177" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="spice">Spice</keyword> Jet (13.2%), <keyword id="2573" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-India">Air India</keyword> (12.7%) and Air Asia at 10%, according to the <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpressClubFiles/658242/documents/Worldwide_List_of_Airline_Numbers_and_Women_Pilots_November_8_2018_930107869.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIB6I23VLJX7E4J7Q&amp;Expires=1542014219&amp;response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DWorldwide_List_of_Airline_Numbers_and_Women_Pilots_November_8_2018.pdf&amp;Signature=o9YAEYWdwDvHdNIr%2FkCbdxKqZMI%3D">report</a>. Overall, the booming aviation industry is creating an increasing demand for pilots across the world. An estimate by aircraft maker, Boeing Co, suggests that over the coming 20 years, the world will have a demand of 790,000 new pilots. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-shows-the-most-improvement-in-competitiveness-among-the-g-20-countries-report/articleshow/66243085.cms">India shows the most improvement in competitiveness among the G-20 countries: Report</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-successfully-launches-communication-satellite-gsat-29-using-its-heaviest-rocket/articleshow/66623518.cms">India successfully launches communication satellite GSAT-29 using its heaviest rocket</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/iit-bombay-best-indian-institution-for-higher-education-qs-india-rankings/articleshow/66239797.cms">IIT Bombay best Indian institution for higher education: QS India rankings</a>

In India, women rule the skies with the highest share of female pilots in the world

SRIHARIKOTA: The success of GSLV-D5 signals is the beginning of a new era of commercial viability for Indian space missions. 
 Though India had in the last two decades claimed its rightful place in the global space sector with 25 consecutive successes of its Polar <keyword id="6358065" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Satellite">Satellite</keyword> Launch Vehicles (PSLVs), there remained a <keyword id="138322" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="GSLV">GSLV</keyword>-shaped hole. While PSLV can carry satellites up to 2 tonnes to a lowearth orbit, GSLV was needed for the launch of heavier satellites, especially of the telecommunication variety that need to be put in a 36,000km geosynchronous orbit. Sunday’s launch using an <keyword id="6500558" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="40" keywordseo="Indigenous">indigenous</keyword> cryogenic engine bridges this gap. 
 <keyword id="153327" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Antrix-Corporation">Antrix Corporation</keyword>, the commercial arm of <keyword id="6358064" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="ISRO">Isro</keyword>, which has been putting its workhorse PSLV to good use to launch satellites for other countries which find the Indian launchpad reliable and affordable, will now get a boost. Antrix chairman and managing director V S Hegde said the corporation is expecting a 15% growth in turnover as more countries were approaching Isro for commercial launches. Antrix has registered a revenue of `1,300 crore in the current fiscal. 
 Isro chairman K <keyword id="62601" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="radhakrishnan">Radhakrishnan</keyword> confirmed that <keyword id="87" type="COUNTRY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Germany">Germany</keyword> has approached India for the launch of an 800-kg satellite, and the UK for three satellites weighing 300kg each. “There will be at least two dedicated commercial launches this year using PSLV,” said Radhakrishnan. Isro scientists said earnings from such launches could more than double once GSLV is accepted globally as a reliable launch vehicle. 
 At the level of technology demonstration and outer space exploration, GSLV has come a shot in the arm for Isro. “Though we have spelled out our plans for a manned mission, we couldn’t arrive at a tentative date because of the unreliability of GSLV. This success will speed up such projects,” said a <keyword id="9662" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Scientist">scientist</keyword>. 
 
Radhakrishnan said Isro was ready for a series of GSLV launches, including those for GSAT-6, GSAT-7A, GSAT-9 and Chandrayaan-2. The second moon mission will use a GSLV, after a second success of the cryogenic engine.

Success Of GSLV Cryogenic Engine Means Good Money Too

K Sivan, well-known rocket scientist and Director of the <keyword id="6382619" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vikram-Sarabhai-Space-Centre">Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre</keyword> (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, says with a little tweaking, these materials and technologies developed for hi-tech space applications can easily be spun off for societal use. 
 
“ISRO uses tax payer money so it is answerable to the Indian public,” he says. 
 <keyword id="6358064" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ISRO">ISRO</keyword>’s rockets and satellites certainly help people but there are many more developments hidden in the ‘temples of technology’ like the VSSC that can be used to save lives. 
 If some of these technologies were being used possibly Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad and the nine other soldiers who lost their lives earlier this year at the <keyword id="42770" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Siachen">Siachen</keyword> Glacier could well have been saved. If only these soldiers were using clothing made of the ‘silica aerogel’ they may possibly have been saved from freezing to death. Similarly, if the soldiers were equipped with suitable hand held ‘search and rescue’ devices, their location could have been easily pin-pointed using Indian satellites and rescue efforts could have been speeded up. 
 
Recently India’s main lab that specialises in making rockets for the country mastered the art of making the ‘world’s lightest artificial material’ called ‘silica aerogel’. This aerogel is actually a solid but within its complex matrix it encapsulates 99 per cent air. This gives it several unique properties– it is incredibly light, it is a great thermal insulator. 
 
Naga Priya, scientist in Advanced Materials &amp; Ceramics Division at VSSC who is part of the team that made this material, explains that the process to make the silica aerogel is highly guarded so standardising the procedure to make the aerogel took her team a lot of effort. 
 
The team hopes to use some of the ‘silica aerogel’ for insulating the tanks that hold the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen in the cryogenic engines. Since it is lightweight, it could also be used in designing the space suits that future Indian astronauts may be wearing. The small buggy that will be part of the Chandrayaan-2 and will run around the lunar surface in 2018 could also see the use of the ‘silica aerogel’ as an insulator. 
 
Naga Priya explains her lab is already in discussion with the Indian Ordnance Factory that manufactures clothes for the soldiers to see how this new material can be sandwiched between layers of cloth for making light weight parkas, socks and gloves for the soldiers who are posted at Siachen. 
 
The Indian space scientists have already made small pieces of the silica aerogel that resemble a fabric but still it is very fragile and suitable fabric has to be developed that can effectively sandwich this great insulator. 
 
There are other societal benefits of using the ‘silica aerogel’, if window panes are given a coating of this new material, light would easily pass but heat would be contained, says Naga Priya. 
 
She says imagine a building, whose exterior is coated with this top class insulator, the building would be cool in summer and warm in winter. It would reduce the load on air conditioning and could lead to saving a lot of electricity and help combat climate change. 
 
It is not that the material is fully ready to be deployed for all these varied uses, it is still very expensive to make and some of it is very fragile. The team at VSSC uses evaporation at ambient temperature to make some of the aerogels. This is cheaper than the specialised super critical drying technique used to make aerogels for special applications. There are many industrial applications like in furnaces where these special materials can also be easily used. 
 
Scientists at ISRO have developed small portable devices that can help in search and rescue. There are handheld devices that can be carried by trekkers and soldiers when they traverse the desolate regions. These smart devices can be activated using a button and once initiated it emits a radio beacon that can be detected by satellites. 
 
Using the Global Positioning System (GPS) the exact location of the person who is in distress can be automatically pin pointed. The battery-powered device sends up a signal, which can then be automatically tracked at ground stations in Lucknow and Bengaluru. If only Lance Naik Hanumanthappa were carrying this device his rescue could have been greatly speeded up. 
 
A similar but slightly larger device has been made by VSSC for use by fishermen. This can be fitted on the fishing boats and can be triggered manually or when it encounters salt water it gets triggered. This device transmits a pulsed signal in the 406 MHz band and can help in locating ships lost at sea. 
 The batteries are robust enough to transmit a signal for at least 65 hours at a stretch. ISRO has helped save the lives of many trekkers in the <keyword id="52569" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="himalayas">Himalayas</keyword> and is eager to help the Indian Armed Forces in case they seek to use the device at the remote locations in times of emergency. 
 
Ensuring uninterrupted maintenance-free power supply at remote locations is a nightmare for technologists, now the scientists at VSSC have made a portable fuel cell system that can produce electricity directly from fuel through an electrochemical process where the only inputs needed are hydrogen gas and air. 
 
Based on the ‘proton exchange membrane’ technology the gadget made at VSSC can generate up to about 100 watts of power. This is like lighting a single bulb but then there are several small devices that need only a small amount of power for it to work round the clock. An all-weather automatic weather station powered using this indigenously made fuel cell is currently being tested at Dehradun. 
 
Another digital GPS device has been deployed at the Gangotri Glacier to see how this hydrogen powered device works at high altitudes. There are also plans to use the sophisticated G-SAT-6 satellite’s multimedia communication capability to deploy surveillance systems in remote locations from where Pakistani infiltrators creep into Indian territory and make devastating terrorist attacks on India. 
 
Such automatic remotely operated cameras could be powered using the maintenance free ‘fuel cells’ and then they could beam pictures up to the Indian satellites through which soldiers could maintain a 24×7 vigil from far away, this would be akin to having closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) but in places where there is neither power supply nor continuous human presence. 
 
Sivan says suitable industrial partners are being actively identified and the technologies will transferred so that so called ‘rocket science’ no longer remains rocket science. More importantly he says ‘desi technology’ can be used to power the ‘Make in India’ effort and help save lives.

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