- Sputnik International
Asia
Find top stories and features from Asia and the Pacific region. Keep updated on major political stories and analyses from Asia and the Pacific. All you want to know about China, Japan, North and South Korea, India and Pakistan, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Indian Rocket to Study Disruption in Ionosphere That Caused Power Grid Failures

© AFP 2023 / Manjunath KIRANIndian scientists and engineers from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Indian scientists and engineers from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) - Sputnik International
Subscribe
It is expected that the final results will help in addressing some of the unanswered questions pertaining to the wind structure in the lower ionosphere, over the geomagnetic equator.

New Delhi (Sputnik): The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully conducted a Trimethylaluminum (TMA) test along with other scientific payload using the locally-made sounding rocket RH300 MK-II to study the upper atmosphere.

The experiment with the RH300 Mk-II, which launched on April 06, 2018 was a resounding success, featuring the first Trimethylaluminium trail created in the upper atmosphere; it was photographed from the ground; ISRO claims.

READ MORE: India to Experiment With Igloo-like Structures on the Moon — Minister

"A quick look at the data shows the presence of plasma enhancements associated with Equatorial Electrojet in the Electron and Neutral Wind (ENWi) and Langmuir Probe (LP) data. Such an observation involving the TMA is first of its kind in India and warrants special attention. A detailed analysis is in progress. It is expected that the final results will help in addressing some of the unanswered questions pertaining to the wind structure in the lower ionosphere region over the geomagnetic equator," ISRO said in a statement.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has ended months of dithering and announced the launch of a satellite that will be shared by several member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). As the needs of most South Asian countries is not substantial, India will be hoping that this satellite will encourage them to say no to China’s plan to involve them in a similar initiative. - Sputnik International
Asia
Price War in Space: India Adopts Technologies to Reduce Satellite Launch Cost
RH300 Mk-II is a single stage, fin stabilized, spinning sounding rocket with a diameter of 305 mm, an overall length of 5.6 meter and capable of carrying a payload of up to 80 kilograms. The rocket is powered by a solid propellant booster motor that burns for about 20 seconds and generates a maximum thrust of 65 kN. The data acquired by the various systems are transmitted to the tracking station through a programmable S-band transmitter.

The Indian scientists have been mainly exploring the dynamo region where the variability in the prevailing neutral wind and its vertical structure control in large-scale processes like Equatorial Electrojet (EEJ). The EEJ pose a threat to power grids in countries where shielding electricity infrastructure from space shocks has not been a recognized priority. Electrical disruptions caused by EEJ crashed power grids in the past, most notably in Quebec in 1989 and in Sweden in 2003, according to the study.

READ MORE: India Struggling to Establish Lost Link With Crucial Communication Satellite

The dynamo region- at an altitude of 90-120 km- is less explored because geomagnetic equator passes over the ocean at most of the places/longitudes, except over the Indian, African and Brazilian sectors. None of the conventional techniques works in this region due to many reasons. 

ISRO scientists are using the indigenously developed scientific payload Electron and Neutral Wind (ENWi) Probe, which is capable of providing neutral wind assessment at any time of the day while TMA technique — suitable for twilight and night conditions- to cross-validate the ENWi data. Langmuir Probe (LP) is being used to measure electron density at dynamo heights. With the help of these scientific payloads, ISRO will assess the role of wind shears in the generation of the E-region irregularities like Sporadic E, Blanketing Es etc.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала