Another Successful Launch for ISRO; PSLV-C37 Deploys 104 Satellites in a Single Flight

In its thirty ninth flight (PSLV-C37), ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle successfully launched the 714 kg Cartosat-2 Series Satellite along with 103 co-passenger satellites today morning (February 15, 2017) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota. This is the thirty eighth consecutively successful mission of PSLV.  The total weight of all the 104 satellites carried on-board PSLV-C37 was 1378 kg.

PSLV-C37 lifted off at 0928 hrs (9:28 am) IST, as planned, from the First Launch Pad.  After a flight of  16 minutes 48 seconds, the satellites achieved a polar Sun Synchronous Orbit of 506 km inclined at an angle of 97.46 degree to the equator (very close to the intended orbit) and in the succeeding 12 minutes, all the 104 satellites successfully separated from the PSLV fourth stage in a predetermined sequence beginning with Cartosat-2 series satellite, followed by INS-1 and INS-2.  The total number of Indian satellites launched by PSLV now stands at 46.

After separation, the two solar arrays of Cartosat-2 series satellite were deployed automatically and ISRO's Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bangalore took over the control of the satellite. In the coming days, the satellite will be brought to its final operational configuration following which it will begin to provide remote sensing services using its panchromatic (black and white) and multispectral (colour) cameras.

Of the 103 co-passenger satellites carried by PSLV-C37, two – ISRO Nano Satellite-1 (INS-1) weighing 8.4 kg and INS-2 weighing 9.7 kg – are technology demonstration satellites from India. 

The remaining 101 co-passenger satellites carried were international customer satellites from USA (96), The Netherlands (1), Switzerland (1), Israel (1), Kazakhstan (1) and UAE (1). 

With today’s successful launch, the total number of customer satellites from abroad launched by India’s workhorse launch vehicle PSLV has reached 180.

With Over 100 Million Domestic Passengers, Boeing Sees Strong Continued Growth for India’s Commercial Aviation Market

Boeing continues to see strong growth for India’s commercial aviation sector, the company today shared during a briefing at the 2017 Aero India Airshow in Bengaluru, India.

“The major factors we watch – the exchange rate, fuel price and the profitability of the airlines – are all still favorable and we remain confident in the strong growth of

India’s commercial aviation sector,” said Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president, Asia Pacific and India Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We see the potential for travel growth in 2017 to continue to be high in India and we expect more than 100 million passengers to fly domestically this year.”

According to Boeing’s 2016 India Current Market Outlook, 1,850 new airplanes, valued at $265 billion, will be needed in India, over the next 20 years. Single-aisle airplanes such as the Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX will continue to account for the largest share of new deliveries, while widebody airplanes such as the 787 Dreamliner and the 777 family, make up the remainder of demand.

“Boeing continues to provide the airlines in India with the most fuel efficient, reliable and capable airplanes in every market segment, allowing them to open new routes and stay profitable in this growing and dynamic market,” said Keskar. “We look forward to delivering several more 787 Dreamliners to Air India this year and the 737 MAX to SpiceJet and Jet Airways in 2018.”

The 737 MAX family builds on the success of the Next-Generation 737 offering the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. With its latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements, the 737 MAX will deliver 20 percent lower fuel use

than the first Next-Generation 737s and the lowest operating costs in its class – 8 percent per seat less than its nearest competitor.

The 777 family of airplanes is distinguished by its fuel-efficiency, spacious cabin interior, range capability, commonality and reliability. The 777 provides the most payload and range capability and growth potential in the medium-sized airplane category — all with low operating costs. The new 77 7X builds off of the success of the 777 and incorporates advanced technology, including a new composite wing, all-new engines and superior aerodynamics. The 777-9 will be the largest and most efficient twin-engine commercial jet in the world with the lowest operating cost per seat of any commercial airplane and no competitor in its market segment.

The 787 is a family of technologically advanced, super-efficient airplanes with new passenger-pleasing features. Since beginning service in 2011, with its unparalleled fuel efficient and range flexibility, the 787 is flying more than 530 routes, with customers opening more than 130 new nonstop routes around the world.

Marshall Aerospace and Maini Enter into Multi-Million Dollar Contract

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, Cambridge, UK and Maini Precision Products Ltd (MPP), entered into a multimillion dollar life of programme contract for structural machined parts and sub-assemblies for a major aircraft programme at Aero India 2017. With this contract, MPP is now positioned as the single source from India to support Marshall for their manufacturing requirements for the duration of this program.

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group was represented by Andrew Monk, Supplier Manager and Jeremy Rogerson, Supplier Quality Manager. Maini Group was represented by Gautam Maini, Executive Director, Maini Group and Naresh Palta, CEO, Aerospace and Defence, Maini Group.

On this occasion, Marshall stated that MPP has been a key supplier to MARSHALL for complex structural parts and sub-assemblies and has achieved the status of top rated supplier during this period. The high level  performance over the years has built the confidence at Marshall, resulting  in the decision to extend  this contract for the entire life of the programme. 

Gautam Maini said, “MARSHALL has been our strategic customer since 2010. With this agreement, we are poised for further growth in this relationship.”

Naresh Palta further added, “It is a vindication and recognition of our strong commitment to  performance for meeting Marshall’s manufacturing requirements”

India Third Largest Civil Aviation Market by 2022: Ashok Gajapathi Raju

India can be the world’s third largest civil aviation market by 2022, if the country’s defunct airports are reactivated under the Regional Connectivity scheme. This is the estimation of Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju who articulated this at the Aero India 2017 exhibition here on Tuesday.

“The country has around 70 active airports. Already 55 airports have sought upgrading under the Regional Connectivity scheme catering to are as under-served. Over the next two years, if 50 more airports are upgraded, we can achieve the distinction of being the third largest market,” he explained.

Raju said the airports can be upgraded in partnership with the Defence Ministry. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar indicated that the synergy between the two ministries can help use many defence airports for civil aviation purposes.

Now New Feature in Google Maps with Wish List of Favourite Places

The Google Maps application has come up with a feature with which people can create and share lists of their favourite places in their city or any place across the globe, Agency reports from New Delhi.

The new feature will allow users to create lists of “places they love and the places they want to recommend to friends” without quitting the application.

“You can now create lists of places, share your lists with others, and follow the lists of your friends and family when shared with you,” the company said.

Available for both Android and iOS devices, the Lists feature also allows the creation of a wish list of places that one might want to visit in future. The recommendations, which range from fashion and food to art and movie theatres, can be a “list of weekend getaways, or a list of best street food joints, or best fashion boutiques in a particular area”.

Agencies

Upto 85% Price Cut of Medical Stent; Decision Effective Feb 14, 2017

In a major relief to heart patients, the government has reduced prices of coronary stents by up to 85%. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the ceiling price of bare metal stents (BMS) at Rs 7,260 and that of drug eluting stents (DES) and bio resorbable vascular scaffold (BVS)/biodegradable stents at Rs 29,600, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Ananth Kumar told reporters here.

The price cap came into force on the midnight of February 13. A coronary stent is a tube shaped device placed in the arteries that supplies blood to the heart. It keeps the arteries open in the treatment of coronary heart diseases. So far, the maximum retail cost of a stent ranged from Rs 45,000 to Rs 1,21,000.

Data on the NPPA website showed that hospitals made the maximum profits on stents, with a trade margin up to 654%. “If any hospital or pharmacist charges more than the ceiling price, stern action will be taken against the guilty. This includes withdrawal of licence,”Kumar warned.

The NPPA fixed the ceiling prices after taking into account cost of manufacturing and their profit, the minister said. The price cap will also be applicable on imported stents. This step is a major decisive action on the unethical margins charged at each stage in the supply chain of coronary stents, the minister said. Health groups have welcomed the decision.

“After months of consultations, we welcome the strong and determined action of the government, particularly in the face of a concerted campaign by industry and profit-oriented hospitals to prevent any form of effective price control,”Malini Aisola of the All India Drug Action Network said.

“The most shocking revelation that came to light through the extensive deliberations of the NPPA were about the massive cuts being taken by cardiologists and hospitals,” said G S Grewal of Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare in a statement.

Centre of Excellence in Aerospace, Machine Leaning and IoT in Karnataka

Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge said that a Centre of Excellence in Aerospace, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things, will be set up soon.

Speaking at a session on Manufacturing Startups at the concluding day of Make in India - Karnataka Conference here, the minister said that the idea behind this was to become future-ready and create a vibrant ecosystem. 

Stressing the importance of incubators, who are the most important stakeholders in the startup ecosystem, Joint Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Shailendra Singh said, “We aim to have 1,000 world class incubators to take this startup ecosystem forward.” “We want to take care of startups right from their registration, funding, and mentoring to exit,” he said. 

While funding is a vital issue of startups, Singh said that a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore is created in line with the ‘Startup India Action Plan’. “Also, patent filing fees for startups have been reduced by 80%, and startups have to spend only 20%,”Singh said. Earlier, Founder and CEO of Qikpod Ravi Gururaj moderated the session in which 10 prominent startups shared their ideas, and their journey.