indian space travellers

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Reality show to select indian space traveller on blue origin mission.

Banijay Asia collaborates with SERA for a reality show to send an Indian to space via Blue Origin's New Shepard mission. The program will document the journey of shortlisted Indian participants through various challenges, culminating in one winner being selected for the space mission. This partnership aims to democratize space travel.

Reality show to select Indian space traveller on Blue Origin mission

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National Space Day: How India is taking giant leaps in space sector

On this day last year, India did what no other nation had done before. Isro’s Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully landed on the Moon’s south pole, bringing glory to the country and its space agency. Let’s take a look at how India’s space sector has become a major global player read more

India left an indelible mark on the global space sector with the success of its Chandrayaan-3 mission. On August 23, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (Isro) lunar spacecraft landed on the Moon’s south pole – a feat no other country has achieved.

Today marks one year to that historic moment. India is celebrating its first National Space Day to commemorate Chandrayaan-3’s landing on the lunar surface. Besides India, only the United States, China and Russia have landed on the Moon.

Isro’s accomplishment garnered global praise for India and its space agency. Despite a slow start, India has become a major space player.

Let’s take a closer look.

Slow beginnings

From carrying rocket cones on bicycles to achieving a feat no other country has, Isro has come a long way.

Vikram Sarabhai, who is hailed as the father of the Indian space programme, launched a small space lab in the garage of his Ahmedabad house. He convinced the Indian government of the significance of a space programme for a developing country like India, according to the Isro.

Starting as the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), Isro was formally established on August 15, 1969.

Sarabhai supported the idea of “leapfrogging” for space flight, meaning using knowledge gained by other nations apart from skills developed domestically.

Over five decades later, Isro has become a force to be reckoned with in the space sector.

Speaking to New Scientist magazine, Itty Abraham at Arizona State University said, “What you’re seeing now is the product of four decades of serious investment in this programme that a lot of people dismissed as being inappropriate for a developing country, but turns out to have been a smart decision all along.”

“It’s done a great job of absorbing technologies from different countries and stitching them together to make something that’s uniquely Indian.”

Cost-effective missions

Isro has launched several major projects at low-cost.

Last year’s Chandrayaan-3 mission was one of the country’s most cost-effective space flights with an estimated value of Rs 615 crore. Compared to that, the budgets of Hollywood and Bollywood movies are more. Similarly, Isro’s 2013 Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also called Mangalyaan, cost less than Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar.

According to Outlook , Isro has been able to rein in the budgets of its missions by building critical components indigenously and through a lower cost to recruit talent.

As per Business Today , Isro’s ethos of “frugality and pragmatism” was made clear by its head earlier. Isro chairman S Somanath had said in July 2022, “India, especially, is a country where if you like giving it [for] free, it’s very good. You will be building a huge business. But then, of course, there needs to be a business model.”

He is also pushing to make technology affordable. “We have to find ways through which on-ground infrastructure and connectivity are actually delivered to people in millions at an extremely low cost,” the Isro chairman said.

The space agency has also raked in significant revenue by launching missions of several private and international agencies over the last few years. Union minister Jitendra Singh previously informed that Isro earned about Rs 288 crore between 2019 and 2021 through such missions.

Many giant leaps await

Various future missions of Isro revolve around the Moon. India has partnered with Japan for a joint moon mission for which the South Asian country will provide the landing machine.

India is planning to send three astronauts to space. The ambitious Gaganyaan mission is India’s first human spaceflight programme.

The Ernst and Young’s (EY’s) Developing the space ecosystem in India report published in October 2022 predicted the market for space launches will expand in the coming years owing to low-cost launch services, more navigation satellites and higher demand for communication satellites.

“The launch segment is fast becoming a key focus area for startups and small and medium businesses (SMEs) in India to drive the innovation agenda and make use of new revenue opportunities,” the report said.

India’s private space sector worth over $6 billion is also growing. There are at least 140 registered space startups in the country, as per New York Times (NYT).

Abraham gave credit to the Narendra Modi-led government for encouraging the private firms into the space sector. “Where Modi has made a difference is that he has encouraged the private sector to step in in a way that is very unusual for Indian government programmes,” he told New Scientist.

The Modi government inaugurated the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to oversee the space activities of the private sector.

Pawan Goenka, chairman of IN-SPACe, wrote for Business Today in February 2024 that the next five years will herald a “new era in the Indian space sector, where the focus is not just on technological advancement but also on global collaboration, on leveraging space for socio-economic benefits and on inclusive growth.”

With inputs from agencies

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Nasa's solar sail deployed. It uses sunlight as wind to travel in space

This deployment demonstrates the potential of using sunlight for spacecraft propulsion, eliminating the need for conventional rocket propellants..

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The ACS3 is a 12-unit CubeSat about the size of a microwave oven
It now boasts a fully extended sail in space
It measures roughly half the size of a tennis court

Nasa's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) has successfully deployed its sail in low Earth orbit, marking a significant milestone in the development of solar sail technology.

Mission operators confirmed the achievement after receiving data from the spacecraft.

The ACS3, a 12-unit CubeSat about the size of a microwave oven, now boasts a fully extended sail measuring approximately 80 square meters - roughly half the size of a tennis court.

This deployment demonstrates the potential of using sunlight for spacecraft propulsion , eliminating the need for conventional rocket propellants.

Four onboard cameras captured panoramic views of the reflective sail and its supporting composite booms during deployment. Nasa plans to release high-resolution imagery from these cameras on Wednesday, September 4, providing a detailed look at this groundbreaking technology.

The successful unfurling of the sail marks the beginning of a crucial testing phase. Over the next few weeks, mission controllers will evaluate the sail's manoeuvring capabilities in space.

By raising and lowering the spacecraft's orbit, the team aims to gather valuable data that could inform future solar sail-equipped science and exploration missions.

Currently orbiting at approximately twice the altitude of the International Space Station, the ACS3 may be visible to keen-eyed skywatchers on Earth. Nasa encourages space enthusiasts to stay tuned to their official website and social media channels for updates on potential viewing opportunities.

This mission represents a significant step forward in solar sail technology. The ACS3's composite booms, made of a polymer material reinforced with carbon fiber, are 75% lighter and designed to experience 100 times less thermal distortion than previously flown metallic booms.

The success of the ACS3 mission could pave the way for larger solar sails in the future. Nasa envisions that this technology could potentially support sails as large as 21,500 square feet, opening up new possibilities for deep space exploration and scientific research. Published By: Sibu Kumar Tripathi Published On: Aug 30, 2024

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Space Travel And Health Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test with Answers

Updated on Aug 29, 2024, 09:54

This passage, “Space travel and health”, explores space biomedicine, a field studying the effects of space travel on human health. It highlights the challenges astronauts face, such as bone loss, muscle atrophy, and weakened immune systems. It also discusses the high costs and technical difficulties of space medicine, including the need for compact medical tools and innovative research methods like underwater simulations. Despite the debate over the ethics of investing in space health research, it is noted that advancements in this field benefit Earth-bound medical practices.

Understanding this passage will help in the IELTS Reading section by enhancing your ability to summarise complex information, grasp main ideas, and recognise the implications of scientific research. Practising with such detailed content can contribute to achieving a higher IELTS Reading score by improving comprehension and analytical skills.

Let’s look at the “Space Travel And Health” reading passage along with questions, answers and explanations.

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1. Space Travel And Health Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 13 based on the Reading Passage below. This approach can help manage time effectively during a reading comprehension activity or exam.

2. Space Travel And Health Reading Questions & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Space Travel And Health Reading Questions & Answers

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Space Travel And Health Reading Passage

Read Instructions: Understand each question before answering.
Manage Time: Spend about 20 minutes per passage.
Skim and Scan: Quickly get the main idea and find specific information.
Highlight Key Info: Underline essential words or phrases.
Answer All Questions: Attempt every question; no penalty for wrong answers.
Stay Focused: Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the task.
Check Spelling: Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
Transfer Answers Clearly: Write answers neatly on the answer sheet.
Don’t Dwell: Move on if stuck and return later.
Review: If time allows, review your answers.

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Paragraph A

Both in the United States and Europe, space biomedicine is a relatively new field of study. Its primary goals are to investigate how space travel affects the human body, pinpoint the most pressing medical issues, and come up with solutions for those issues. NASA and/or the European Space Agency are providing more direct funding to space biomedicine centres. (ESA).

Paragraph B

NASA and the ESA's involvement reflects a growing concern that human endurance limits rather than engineering limitations are limiting the viability of travel to other planets and beyond. For example, the discovery of ice on Mars eliminates the need to design and build a spacecraft that is both large and powerful enough to transport the enormous quantities of water required to keep the crew alive during journeys that could last for many years. However, without proper safeguards and medical care, the relentlessly hostile space environment would wreak havoc on their bodies.

Paragraph C

In many cases, the most noticeable physical changes people experience in zero gravity are harmless or even amusing. Because Earth's gravity no longer pulls blood and other bodily fluids downward toward the feet, they accumulate higher up in the body, resulting in what is sometimes referred to as a "fat face" and the contrasting "chicken legs" syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner.

Paragraph D

The unobserved effects following months or years in space are much more severe. Without gravity, the body doesn't need a strong skeleton to support it, which causes the bones to deteriorate and release calcium into the bloodstream. The kidneys may become overloaded by the extra calcium, which ultimately results in renal failure. Muscles also lose strength from inactivity. The lungs lose their ability to fully expand while the heart gets smaller, losing the ability to pump oxygenated blood to every part of the body. The immune system weakens, the digestive system becomes less effective, and high levels of solar and cosmic radiation can result in different types of cancer.

Paragraph E

To make matters worse, in the event of an accident or serious illness, a variety of medical challenges may present themselves to the patient while they are millions of kilometres away from Earth. Simply put, the equipment from a hospital's casualty unit cannot be transported inside a spacecraft because there is not enough room for it, and some of it would not function properly in space anyway. Even simple things like a drip rely on gravity to work, whereas standard resuscitation techniques fail if enough weight is not applied. The only option appears to be to develop incredibly tiny medical tools and "smart" gadgets that can, for instance, use ultrasound to identify and treat internal injuries. The price of creating and manufacturing this type of equipment is inevitably astronomical.

Paragraph F

Given these factors, some have questioned the morality of spending enormous sums of money to aid a small group of individuals who are willingly risking their health in space when there is a great need for assistance much closer to home. However, it is now obvious that every issue with space travel has an equivalent issue on Earth that will be gained from the knowledge amassed and the expertise honed through space biomedical research. For instance, the difficulty of treating astronauts in space has accelerated the field of telemedicine's development, allowing surgeons to communicate with patients in inhospitable locations around the world. Another illustration: Systems developed to purify wastewater on spacecraft could be used by rescue personnel to filter contaminated water at the scene of earthquakes and floods. Similar to how tiny monitoring devices are. However, there is still a significant barrier to conducting studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without incurring the astronomical costs of working in space. Working underwater is a tried-and-true method to simulate conditions in zero gravity, but the space biomedicine centres are also considering other approaches. In one experiment, scientists look at the deterioration of bones brought on by extended inactivity. This would require volunteers to spend three months in bed, but the centre in question is confident that it shouldn't be too difficult to find volunteers willing to spend a month lying down. Of course, AII was created in the name of science to reduce the weight of spacecraft. These will eventually become monitors that patients on Earth can wear comfortably wherever they go.

Paragraph G

However, there is still a significant barrier to conducting studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without incurring the astronomical costs of working in space. Working underwater is a tried-and-true method to simulate conditions in zero gravity, but the space biomedicine centres are also considering other approaches. In one experiment, scientists look at the deterioration of bones brought on by extended inactivity. This would require volunteers to spend three months in bed, but the centre in question is confident that it shouldn't be too difficult to find volunteers willing to spend a month lying down. Of course, AII was done in the name of science.

Space Travel And Health Reading Questions & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Space Travel And Health

Questions and Answers 1-5

YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO if the state does not agree with the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this in the passage

1. The obstacles to going far into space are now medical, not technological.

2. Astronauts cannot survive more than two years in space.

3. It is morally wrong to spend so much money on space biomedicine.

4. Some kinds of surgery are more successful when performed in space.

5. Space biomedical research can only be done in space.

Space Travel And Health Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)

Type of question: Yes/No/Not Given(True/False/Not Given)

In this question type, you are required to determine whether the statements provided agree with, contradict, or are not mentioned in the reading passage.

How to best answer:

Understand what information is being presented and what is being asked.
Find relevant information in the reading passage that relates to the statement.
Determine if the statement agrees with, contradicts, or is not mentioned in the passage.
If the information is not explicitly provided in the passage, select 'Not Given' rather than making assumptions.
Base your answers solely on the information presented in the passage, avoiding personal opinions or outside knowledge.

Reference:

From paragraph A: “Its primary goals are to investigate how space travel affects the human body, pinpoint the most pressing medical issues, and come up with solutions for those issues”.

Explanation: This line clarifies that the primary focus of space biomedicine is to address how space travel impacts the human body and to tackle medical issues arising from it. This reflects that medical concerns are currently the main obstacles to deep space travel, not technological ones. Hence, the statement is correct.

From paragraph: N/A

Explanation: The passage does not provide any information about the specific duration for which astronauts can survive in space. Therefore, there is no basis to confirm or refute the statement about survival limits.

From paragraph F: “Given these factors, some have questioned the morality of spending enormous sums of money to aid a small group of individuals who are willingly risking their health in space when there is a great need for assistance much closer to home”.

Explanation: This line reflects that there is a debate about the morality of the expenditure on space biomedicine due to the perceived higher need for resources on Earth. It does not assert that spending money on space biomedicine is morally wrong, only that some people question it, making the statement incorrect.

Explanation: This line describes the Voyager spacecraft's use of coding methods to ensure accurate data transmission despite potential errors. The mention of error-detecting systems and clear pictures from the spacecraft illustrates how technology can handle incomplete information, making E the correct answer.

From paragraph G: “However, there is still a significant barrier to conducting studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without incurring the astronomical costs of working in space. Working underwater is a tried-and-true method to simulate conditions in zero gravity, but the space biomedicine centres are also considering other approaches”.

Explanation: This line demonstrates that space biomedicine research can be conducted using methods other than space travel itself, such as underwater simulations. It highlights that researchers are exploring alternative approaches to reduce costs, thereby indicating that space biomedicine research is not limited to space alone. Hence, the statement is incorrect.

Questions and Answers 6-10

Reading Passage has seven paragraphs: A-G.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E and G from the list of headings below.
Write the correct member (i-x) in boxes 6 —10 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

i. The issue of handling emergencies in space

ii. How space biomedicine can benefit patients here on Earth (ii)

iii. The reason accidents happen so frequently in space

iv. What is biomedicine in space?

v. Astronauts' mental health issues

vi. conducting on-planet biomedical research in space

vii. The internal harm that space travel does to the human body

viii. The history of space medicine

ix. The physical repercussions of space travel on the human body, item

x. The current need for space biomedicine

6. Paragraph B

7. Paragraph C

8. Paragraph D

9. Paragraph E

10. Paragraph G

Space Travel And Health Reading Answers with Explanations (6-10)

Type of question: Matching Headings

In this question type, you will be asked to choose the correct heading for each paragraph from a list of headings provided. This type of question assesses your ability to understand the main idea or theme of each paragraph.

Familiarise yourself with the list of headings before reading the paragraphs. This helps you know what to look for.
Identify the main idea or theme of each paragraph by looking for topic sentences or recurring themes.
Find keywords or phrases that are similar to those in the headings. This can help you make connections.
Eliminate incorrect options that don't match any paragraphs to narrow down your choices.
Skim and Scan each paragraph efficiently to get a context about the content.

From paragraph B: “NASA and the ESA's involvement reflects a growing concern that human endurance limits rather than engineering limitations are limiting the viability of travel to other planets —------- relentlessly hostile environment of space would wreak havoc on their bodies”.

Explanation: This line highlights that NASA and ESA’s involvement in space biomedicine is driven by concerns over human endurance rather than just technical challenges. It emphasises the current need for space biomedicine to address health issues in prolonged space travel, making “the current need for space biomedicine” the most relevant heading. Hence, “x” is the correct answer.

Reference: From paragraph C: “In many cases, the most noticeable physical changes people experience in zero gravity are harmless —-------- the contrasting "chicken legs" syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner”.

Explanation: The line discusses how the body undergoes physical changes in zero gravity, such as a "fat face" and thinner legs, which are usually harmless or amusing. This focus on the physical changes due to zero gravity supports “the physical repercussions of space travel on the human body, item” as the correct heading. Hence, “ix” is the correct answer.

Reference: From paragraph D: “The unobserved effects following months or years in space are much more severe. Without gravity, the body doesn't need a strong skeleton —---------- digestive system becomes less effective, and high levels of solar and cosmic radiation can result in different types of cancer”.

Explanation: This line describes the severe health effects experienced after long durations in space, including bone deterioration, muscle loss, and weakened organs. The detailed description of these severe internal harms confirms “the internal harm that space travel does to the human body” as the appropriate heading. Hence, “vii” is the correct answer.

Reference: From paragraph E: “To make matters worse, in the event of an accident or serious illness, a variety of medical challenges may present themselves—-------------- not enough room for it, and some of it would not function properly in space anyway”.

Explanation: This line outlines the difficulties of handling medical emergencies in space due to limitations in equipment and space constraints. It underscores the specific challenges of managing emergencies far from Earth, making “the issue of handling emergencies in space” the fitting heading. Hence, “i” is the correct answer.

Reference: From paragraph G: “However, there is still a significant barrier to conducting studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without incurring —---------- willing to spend a month lying down. Of course, AII was done in the name of science”.

Explanation: The line points out the major obstacle of high costs in space research and explores alternative methods such as underwater simulations. This discussion aligns with “conducting on-planet biomedical research in space,” highlighting the need for cost-effective research approaches. Hence, “vi” is the correct answer.

Learn about IELTS Reading Vocabulary here!

Questions and Answers 11-13

Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

11. The space travellers can find water in ________ apart from Earth.

12. The legs become ___________ while in space travel.

13. Telemedicine treating astronauts _________ in remote areas.

Space Travel And Health Reading Answers with Explanations (11-13)

Type of question: Sentence Completion

In this question type, you are required to fill in the blanks in a given sentence with words or phrases taken directly from the passage. These questions test your ability to understand specific details and information presented in the text.

Read the sentence carefully to understand the context.
Identify keywords or clues that can help you find the answer in the passage.
Scan the passage for relevant information, focusing on the area around the blank.
Choose the answer that fits grammatically and contextually.
Verify your answers and finalise them.

Reference: From paragraph B: "For example, the discovery of ice on Mars eliminates the need to design and build a spacecraft that is both large and powerful enough to transport the enormous quantities of water required to keep the crew alive during journeys that could last for many years."

Explanation: This line highlights that finding ice on Mars could potentially provide water for space travellers, eliminating the need for large spacecraft designed to carry significant amounts of water. This makes "Mars" the correct answer, as it directly addresses the source of water mentioned in the passage.

Reference: From paragraph C: “Because Earth's gravity no longer pulls blood and other bodily fluids downward toward the feet, they accumulate higher up in the body, resulting in what is sometimes referred to as a "fat face" and the contrasting "chicken legs" syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner.”

Explanation: This line describes the physical changes astronauts experience in zero gravity, specifically how their lower limbs become thinner due to the redistribution of bodily fluids. This makes "they become thinner" the correct answer, as it directly reflects the change described in the passage.

Reference: From paragraph F: “ For instance, the difficulty of treating astronauts in space has accelerated the field of telemedicine's development, allowing surgeons to communicate with patients in inhospitable locations around the world.”

Explanation : The need for advanced medical care in space has led to significant advancements in telemedicine, enabling remote communication between surgeons and patients in isolated locations. This line underscores the role of space travel in advancing telemedicine, making "communication with patients" the right answer.

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The Developing World Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test with Answers

Terminated Dinosaur Era Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

Musical maladies Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

Q. What should I do if I run out of time?

Ans. If you run out of time, quickly move on and complete as many questions as you can in the remaining time. Ensure you at least provide answers for all questions, even if they are guesses. Practice time management during your preparation to reduce the likelihood of running out of time during the actual test.

Q. How can I practise effectively for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. To practise effectively for the IELTS Reading test, use a variety of practice materials, including past papers and sample tests. Focus on improving your reading speed, comprehension, and ability to identify key information. Regular practice under timed conditions will also help you build confidence and test-taking skills.

Q. Where can I find reliable IELTS Reading practice materials?

Ans. Reliable IELTS Reading practice materials can be found in official IELTS preparation books, on the British Council or IDP websites, and through reputable IELTS preparation courses. Online platforms and apps dedicated to IELTS practice also offer a range of sample tests and exercises. Ensure the materials are up-to-date and reflective of the current test format.

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All About Gopi Thotakura, 1st Indian Tourist To Venture Into Space

Gopi Thotakura (on the left) at the Mt. Kilimanjaro summit

In a move set to redefine India's space exploration narrative, Gopi Thotakura, an entrepreneur and seasoned pilot, has been selected to join Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin's NS-25 mission as the first Indian space tourist. This moment not only marks a personal triumph for Thotakura but also positions him as a pioneering figure in India's spacefaring endeavours, following in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who ventured into space in 1984.

While the exact launch date remains undisclosed, the anticipation surrounding this milestone event underscores the growing significance of private space exploration initiatives like Blue Origin's New Shepard program. This mission is the seventh human flight for the New Shepard program and the 25th overall.

New Shepard, a fully reusable sub-orbital launch vehicle, is the backbone of Blue Origin's space tourism endeavours. The company's ethos emphasises sustainable space exploration, with nearly 99 per cent of New Shepard's dry mass being reused, including critical components such as the booster, capsule, engine, landing gear, and parachutes. Regarding propulsion, the vehicle relies on highly efficient liquid oxygen and hydrogen, resulting in water vapour as the sole byproduct during flight, aligning with Blue Origin's commitment to minimising carbon emissions.

A Lifelong Traveller

Thotakura's multifaceted background extends beyond his role as an entrepreneur and pilot. As the co-founder of Preserve Life Corp, a renowned centre for holistic wellness and applied health near Atlanta International Airport, he exemplifies a commitment to advancing human well-being. Moreover, his diverse aviation expertise spans commercial jet operations, bush flying, aerobatics, seaplane piloting, gliding, and hot air ballooning.

A graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Thotakura's journey to space epitomises the culmination of years of dedication and passion for aviation and exploration. His adventurous spirit, exemplified by recent exploits such as scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, underscores his love for travelling and embracing new challenges.

Meet The Team

A team of six members including Thotakura will be aboard Blue Origin's NS-25 mission

Joining Thotakura on this mission are fellow crew members Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, and former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight. Notably, Dwight's inclusion carries historical significance, as he was selected by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 as the nation's first Black astronaut candidate, albeit without the opportunity to fly to space.

During the flight, each astronaut will carry a postcard to space on behalf of Blue Origin's foundation, Club for the Future, which aims to inspire and mobilise future generations to pursue careers in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) fields.

(With inputs from PTI)

Sky is not the limit: Indian astronauts who made us proud

Apr 12, 2023

By: Anagh Pal

Credit: Pexels

International Space Flight Day

International Space Flight Day is observed on April 12 each year to celebrate the historic achievement of humans venturing into space. On the same day in 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to journey into space. Here are Indian astronauts who were a part of space expeditions.

Credit: Wikipedia

Rakesh Sharma

Rakesh Sharma, a former Indian Air Force pilot and astronaut, is the first Indian citizen to travel to space. In 1984, he flew aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11 as part of an intercosmic flight programme between the Soviet Union and India.

Credit: BCCL

One step, giant leap

During his eight-day stay on the Salyut 7 space station, Sharma conducted scientific experiments and communicated with the former PM Indira Gandhi. He uttered the historic words – “Sare jahan se accha (the best in the world),” answering her question on how India looked from up there.

Kalpana Chawla

Chawla was the first woman of Indian-origin to travel to space. She was born in Haryana, India and moved to the United States in 1982 to pursue aerospace engineering.

An inspiration for many

In 1995, she became a member of NASA and went on her first space mission in 1997. She was also a crew member on the STS-107 mission in 2003, which ended tragically when the spacecraft Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry, resulting in the loss of all seven crew members, including Chawla.

Sunita Williams

Sunita Williams is a famous American astronaut of Indian descent. She has made significant contributions to space exploration, and accomplished several feats during her career as an astronaut.

Credit: NASA

Maximum number of days spent in space by an Indian

She has flown on two space missions and has spent a total of 322 days in space. During the time, she set several records, including the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman and the most spacewalks by a woman.

Sirisha Bandla

Sirisha Bandla, an astronaut and aeronautical engineer of Indian descent, is employed at Virgin Galactic. She was born in Andhra Pradesh, India, and grew up in Houston, Texas.

Credit: Twitter

Third Indian-origin woman to fly into space

Sirisha was part of the crew of Virgin Galactic's Unity 22 mission and flew into space in July 2021, becoming the third Indian-origin woman to do so after Chawla and Williams.

Credit: LinkedIn

Dr Swati Mohan

Though she has not gone into space, Dr Swati Mohan, an Indian-American aerospace engineer and scientist, was the lead guidance and controls operations engineer for NASA's Mars 2020 mission in February 2021, ensuring the successful landing of the spacecraft on the Martian surface.

Living her dream

Mohan got interested in space after watching Star Trek at the age of nine and later decided to switch from their original plan of becoming a pediatrician. She got her master's degree and PhD in aeronautics and astronautics at MIT.

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Covering the business and politics of space

Indian astronauts to start training for ISS mission

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“ISRO is pursuing an ISRO-NASA joint mission to International Space Station (ISS) wherein one Gaganyaatri from ISRO will undertake space travel to ISS,” he wrote. “This is a collaborative effort of ISRO, NASA and NASA identified private entity i.e. Axiom Space. Recently, ISRO has signed a Space Flight Agreement with Axiom Space for this joint mission to ISS.”

Jeff Foust writes about space policy, commercial space, and related topics for SpaceNews. He earned a Ph.D. in planetary sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree with honors in geophysics and planetary science... More by Jeff Foust

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Watch this space: Who is the first Indian space tourist and where did gold come from?

The upcoming blue origin ns-25 mission and the potential of gopi thotakura becoming the first indian space tourist..

Jeff Bezos-led space startup Blue Origin revealed the six-person crew that will be flying on its NS-25 mission. For most of the world, the notable fact is the inclusion of Ed Dwight, who became the first Black astronaut candidate in 1961 even though he never flew to space. But for Indians, this mission could be special because it could launch the first Indian space tourist.

Entrepreneur and aviator Gopi Thotakura is part of the NS-25 mission that will carry six astronauts beyond the edge of space before bringing them back to Earth. When it happens, the mission could make Thotakura the first Indian space tourist. But interestingly, he is not the first Indian space tourist candidate. That would be Kerala-based veteran travel documentary producer and businessman Santhosh George Kulangara.

Kulangara told indianexpress.com in 2021 that he spent Rs 1.8 crore to secure himself a ticket aboard a Virgin Galactic spaceplane. Kulangara was selected as a tourist as far back as 2007 and went through multiple training sessions since then, include some to simulate a zero-gravity environment. He had already visited over 130 countries and was going to add another feather to his cap as an explorer, but he still had not flown to space yet.

So that leaves it to Thotakura, who Blue Origin described as the “pilot and aviator who learned how to fly before he could drive.” He is a chief operating officer at Asian Infrastructure Private Limited., a family business and also the co-founder of Preserve Life Corp., a “holistic wellness” organisation.

In addition to flying jets commercially, Gopi pilots bush, aerobatic, and seaplanes, as well as gliders and hot air balloons, and has served as an international medical jet pilot. A lifelong traveller, his most recent adventure took him to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro,” said a press release from the company.

Do remember that neither Thotakura nor Kulangara would be the first Indian to go to space. Both of them are a little too late for that. Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian astronaut when he flew to the Soviet Union’s Salyut-7 space station in 1984 on a Soviet Soyuz T-11 rocket.

While Sharma spent seven days in space, the NS-25 mission carrying Thotakura will only spend about an hour in flight from takeoff to landing. Only around a minute of that will be spent beyond the Karman line, which is considered the edge of our planet’s atmosphere and the beginning of space.

The mission will also be the first crewed flight for the fully-reusable New Shepard rocket since NS-22 in 2022. Blue Origin’s fleet of rockets, named after Alan Shepard, the first American to go to space, was grounded after an engine failure caused a crash during an uncrewed mission in September 2022. It only resumed flying in December 2023 and the upcoming mission will be its fires crewed one since the mishap. The company is yet to announce a date for the launch.

As we pondered the question of the difference between the first Indian space tourist and the first Indian space tourist designate, researchers from Northwestern University and other institutions this month made an announcement about something else scientists have been thinking about — where did heavy elements like gold and platinum come from?

They have often speculated that these elements are manufactured in a supernova or stellar explosions. This should mean that we would be able to find signatures of the elements in the newly discovered supernova.

The “brightest of all time” or B.O.A.T is the name given to a gamma-ray burst that swept through the Earth in October 2022. Gamma-ray bursts themselves are the signals from the most powerful and violent explosions in the world, those believed to birth black holes. And this was the most powerful one we have ever detected.

An extensive study of B.O.A.T helped scientists confirm that it was caused by the collapse of a neutron star, which is what remains after a supernova explosion. But the study also found no signatures of gold or platinum or any other heavy metals. This means that we still don’t know where they come from and also suggests there is a small chance they did not come from supernovae in the first place.

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India to send tourists to space: Why space tourism matters

Updated Jul 22, 2022, 15:31 IST

As space came within reach, space tourism became the next logical step for humans to focus their engineering endeavours on. Years of efforts, beginning in the late 1990s, are beginning to bear results now.

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People watch a live stream of Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft's landing on the moon, in Ahmedabad

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Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/india-becomes-the-only-the-4th-country-to-successfully-land-a-spacecraft-on-the-moon

India becomes only the 4th country to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon

NEW DELHI (AP) — India on Wednesday landed a spacecraft near the moon’s south pole, an uncharted territory that scientists believe could hold vital reserves of frozen water and precious elements, as the country cements its growing prowess in space and technology.

READ MORE: Astronauts get first look at the Artemis II spacecraft that will fly them around the moon

A lander with a rover inside touched down on the lunar surface at 6:04 local time, sparking cheers and applause among the space scientists watching in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru. After a failed attempt nearly four years ago, India made history by becoming the first country to touch down near the little-explored south pole region and joins the United States, the Soviet Union and China in achieving a moon landing.

India’s successful landing comes just days after Russia’s Luna-25, which was aiming for the same lunar region, spun into an uncontrolled orbit and crashed . It would have been the first successful Russian lunar landing after a gap of 47 years. Russia’s head of the state-controlled space corporation Roscosmos attributed the failure to the lack of expertise due to the long break in lunar research that followed the last Soviet mission to the moon in 1976.

Excited and anxious, people across India, home to the world’s largest population, crowded around televisions in offices, shops, restaurants and homes. Thousands prayed Tuesday for the success of the mission with oil lamps on the river banks, temples and religious places, including the holy city of Varanasi in northern India.

India’s Chandrayaan-3 — “moon craft” in Sanskrit — took off from a launchpad in Sriharikota in southern India on July 14.

“India’s pursuit of space exploration reaches a remarkable milestone with the impending Chandrayaan-3 Mission, poised to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface. This achievement marks a significant step forward for Indian Science, Engineering, Technology, and Industry, symbolizing our nation’s progress in space exploration,” the Indian Space Research Organization said in a statement earlier on Wednesday.

They said a successful Chandrayaan-3 landing would be monumental in fueling curiosity and sparking a passion for exploration among youth. “It generates a profound sense of pride and unity as we collectively celebrate the prowess of Indian science and technology. It will contribute to fostering an environment of scientific inquiry and innovation,” the organization said.

Many countries and private companies are interested in the south pole region because permanently shadowed craters may hold frozen water that could help future astronaut missions.

The six-wheeled lander and rover module of Chandrayaan-3 is configured with payloads that would provide data to the scientific community on the properties of lunar soil and rocks, including chemical and elemental compositions.

India’s previous attempt to land a robotic spacecraft near the moon’s little-explored south pole ended in failure in 2019 . It entered the lunar orbit but lost touch with its lander, which crashed while making its final descent to deploy a rover to search for signs of water. According to a failure analysis report submitted to the ISRO, the crash was caused by a software glitch.

The $140-million mission in 2019 was intended to study permanently shadowed moon craters that are thought to contain water deposits and were confirmed by India’s Chandrayaan-1 orbiter mission in 2008.

With nuclear-armed India emerging as the world’s fifth-largest economy last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationalist government is eager to showcase India’s rising standing as a technology and space powerhouse. A successful moon mission dovetails with Modi’s image of an ascendant India asserting its place among the global elite and would help bolster his popularity ahead of a crucial general election next year.

The anticipation for a successful landing rose after Russia’s failed attempt and as India’s regional rival China reaches for new milestones in space. In May, China launched a three-person crew for its orbiting space station and hopes to put astronauts on the moon before the end of the decade. Relations between India and China have plunged since deadly border clashes in 2020.

Numerous countries and private companies are racing to successfully land a spacecraft on the lunar surface. In April, a Japanese company’s spacecraft apparently crashed while attempting to land on the moon. An Israeli nonprofit tried to achieve a similar feat in 2019, but its spacecraft was destroyed on impact.

Japan plans to launch a lunar lander to the moon over the weekend as part of an X-ray telescope mission, and two U.S. companies also are vying to put landers on the moon by the end of the year, one of them at the south pole. In the coming years, NASA plans to land astronauts at the lunar south pole, taking advantage of the frozen water in craters.

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India on the moon! Chandrayaan-3 becomes 1st probe to land near lunar south pole

India just became the fourth nation to stick a lunar landing.

India has joined the moon-landing club.

The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft touched down softly near the moon 's south pole today (Aug. 23), notching a huge milestone for the nation. India is now the fourth country to stick a lunar landing, after the United States, the former Soviet Union and China.

The historic touchdown occurred at 8:33 am ET (1233 GMT or 6:03 p.m. India Standard Time), according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). "We have achieved soft landing on the moon! India is on the moon!" ISRO chairman Sreedhara Somanath announced after the landing.

"This success belongs to all of humanity and it will help moon missions by other countries in the future," India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a speech following the landing. "I'm confident that all countries in the world, including those from the global south, are capable of achieving such feats. We can all aspire to the moon and beyond."

A little over two hours after landing, ISRO posted images to X (formerly known as Twitter) showing the moon's surface as seen by Chandrayaan-3's during its descent, adding that the agency has successfully established a communication link between the spacecraft and mission control.

Related: Missions to the moon: Past, present and future

A crowd of engineers cheering with inset photo of spacecraft on moon

Soon, a solar-powered rover named Pragyan (Sanskrit for "wisdom") is expected to roll off Chandrayaan-3's Vikram ("valor") lander. The robotic duo will spend one lunar day (about 14 Earth days) exploring its new home, with the goal of collecting scientific data about the moon's makeup before its batteries drain after sunset.

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"The whole country is excited about this mission," Anil Bhardwaj, director of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in India, which built a few of the instruments onboard Chandrayaan-3, told Space.com prior to the landing. "We all hope that we will be successful in ... bringing out new science from this mission."

A live image from the moon by Chandrayaan-3 and a plot of its position during landing

Chandrayaan-3 was India's second try at landing near the moon's south pole, a largely uncharted region of immense interest to scientists and exploration advocates alike. The south polar region is thought to harbor large amounts of water ice , which, if accessible, could be mined for rocket fuel and life support for future crewed missions. The country's first attempt at a lunar touchdown, in September 2019, failed when the Chandrayaan-2 lander crashed into the moon due to a software glitch.

Close to four years and many design and software upgrades later, the homegrown Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft launched atop a LVM3 rocket on July 14 from a spaceport in Sriharikota, on India's east coast. The spacecraft entered an elliptical orbit around the moon earlier this month, then performed multiple maneuvers to shift into a nearly circular path, which took it about 93 miles (150 kilometers) above the lunar surface.

closeup of the moon's surface, showing numerous craters

Last Thursday (Aug. 17), the Vikram-Pragyan duo separated from the mission's propulsion module , which will study Earth from its orbit around the moon. The lander and rover, which had entered an egg-shaped lunar orbit after separation, braked successfully on Friday (Aug. 18) and then again on Sunday (Aug. 20) to get closer to the moon's surface.

While still in orbit around the moon on Monday (Aug. 21) and Tuesday (Aug. 22), the duo established contact with Chandrayaan-2 's orbiter, which has been circling the moon since 2019 and will serve as the critical communication link with Earth for the Chandrayaan-3 mission.

When the sun rose today on the targeted landing site, which was seen from Earth on one edge of the moon, mission control at ISRO's headquarters in Bengaluru commanded the lander to begin its descent to the lunar surface, activating its fully automatic landing system.

The historic landing was covered live by ISRO and broadcast by Indian public broadcaster Doordarshan. Once the powered descent began, the lander first braked to reduce its height from 18.6 miles (30 km) to just 0.4 miles (0.8 km) above the moon's surface. Then, the lander turned such that its altimeters, which measure height to the surface real-time using cameras onboard, faced downward in preparation for landing.

At 8:33 a.m. EDT (1233 GMT and 18:03 India time), the lander Vikram touched down in its target landing area, at roughly 70 degrees south latitude. This location is close to where Russia had hoped its first moon mission in 47 years, Luna-25, would land on Monday (Aug. 21). That effort, however, failed when the probe crashed into the moon over the weekend after a final orbital maneuver went sideways.

India's success today can be attributed to "extensive changes" to its landing strategy after Chandrayaan-2's 2019 crash, Bhardwaj said. Onboard algorithms that calculate spacecraft speed in real time during descent were reworked to allow for "more freedom to deviate" from protocol "but still do the landing," he added.

Other changes that helped facilitate the mission's success include a larger target landing zone, stronger legs for Vikram to withstand higher landing speeds and dynamic engines that adjusted the spacecraft's velocity for a smoother touchdown.

Images of the moon that Chandrayaan-2's orbiter has been sending home since 2019 also painted a clearer picture of the landing site than what scientists knew previously, according to Bhardwaj. "There is not much of a hurdle in this [landing] area," he said.

Now that Vikram is settled on the moon, Pragyan is expected to roll onto the lunar surface and start analyzing lunar soil and rocks.

Similar to the unfortunate rover on Chandrayaan-2, Pragyan's wheels are etched with the Ashoka Chakra, a religious symbol of a wheel with 24 spokes depicted on the Indian flag, and ISRO's logo. So when Pragyan inches along on the moon, ISRO hopes both symbols will be stamped onto the surface, where they will remain untouched for eons.

The lander Vikram is equipped to sense moonquakes near the landing site using an onboard seismometer, and to probe lunar soil to record its temperature.

Related: Can NASA's Artemis moon missions count on using lunar water ice?

— India launches historic Chandrayaan-3 moon rover to land at the lunar south pole

— What's next for India's Chandrayaan-3 moon rover mission?

— Latest news about India's space program

The Chandrayaan-3 mission, which costs a modest 6 billion rupees ($73 million US at current exchange rates), is unfolding at a time when multiple nations — notably, the U.S. and China — are eyeing the moon for future crewed missions. NASA, for example, aims to land astronauts near the lunar south pole in late 2025 or 2026 on its Artemis 3 mission, and to build one or more bases in the region shortly thereafter.

Chandrayaan-3 could also help spur India's space program , leading to even greater accomplishments in the future.

"It is going to be a game changer for the new generation," said Bhardwaj, adding that the success is important for the country's "strategic and geopolitical purposes" as well as to drive "the youth to do something different and unique."

When the sun sets upon the landing site in two weeks, the robotic duo will be left to fight a frigid night, which will be "very difficult to survive because the batteries will be drained out and it is too cold for electronics," Bhardwaj said.

Meanwhile, his team has geared up for what they hope will be a busy fortnight: "Our job starts after landing."

Update for 11 am ET: This story was updated to include Chandrayaan-3's image of the lunar surface during descent and ISRO's confirmation of communication link.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Sharmila Kuthunur is a Seattle-based science journalist covering astronomy, astrophysics and space exploration. Follow her on X @skuthunur.

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Unclear Engineer CONGRATULATIONS to India and its team . I watched live, and they made it look easy, but we all know that it is NOT easy. Really looking forward to the science results over the next couple of weeks. Hoping they do find real water ice in those shadows. Also wondering if the landers can actually survive the night, even though they are not designed to do so. That would also be great news, maybe more than doubling the data acquired. I was a little disappointed that so much of the live coverage had so little of the video transmission from the lander of the actual touch-down sequence. Half the screen was showing Indian President Modi, and the other half had some of the control room screens, with the lander video being a small part that was not always visible. But, I understand how important this is for India as a nation and as a member of the international community. I hope that India will release the whole sequence of the video of the touchdown cameras, and that Space.com will make it available to us, here. Reply
DrRaviSharma Congratulations Team ISRO and collaborators e.g. ESA. I have worked as Scientific Secretary ISRO HQ and also earlier worked for the Apollo Program. This is great achievement as this is third mission and first successful landing. Lander photos and the rover coming out are now available. I also published an Op Ed Expert voices on Chandrayaan-2 in Space.com Jan-Feb 2020. https://www.space.com/india-moon-landing-not-a-failure.html Thanks. Ravi (Dr. Ravi Sharma, Ph.D. USA) NASA Apollo Achievement Award ISRO Distinguished Service Awards Ontolog Board of Trustees Particle and Space Physics Senior Enterprise Architect Reply
DrRaviSharma We can not shy away from reality because we are not Ostriches!:):):) A Perspective on Space Collaboration through My Own life examples List is to illustrate How One’s life can be influenced or can influence others globally over the decades? NASA (ISS and Apollo-Soyuz) and ISRO (Aryabhata, Bhaskara) have Been helped in past By Soviet (Russian) space collaborations. NASA has Helped ISRO since early 1960’s (Sounding rockets, ATS for SITE Rural Direct TV) and INSAT Manufacture, etc., continuing sharing of payloads and now Artemis Accord. Thanks. Ravi (Dr. Ravi Sharma, Ph.D. USA) NASA Apollo Achievement Award ISRO Distinguished Service Awards Ontolog Board of Trustees Particle and Space Physics Senior Enterprise Architect Reply
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Gaganyaan mission: Who are the 4 astronauts named by PM Modi in Kerala?

Gaganyaan mission date: astronauts' names were announced by modi. the 4 astronauts are undergoing training for india's maiden human space flight mission..

The names of the four astronauts who are undergoing training for Gaganyaan – India's maiden human space flight mission – at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram – were announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

Gaganyaan mission astronauts: Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, Wing Commander Subhanshu Shukla

The prime minister bestowed "astronaut wings" to the four . Modi was at the VSSC to inaugurate three major technical facilities of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Who are the four Gaganyaan mission astronauts?

Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair
Group Captain Ajit Krishnan
Group Captain Angad Pratap
Wing Commander Subhanshu Shukla

Modi inaugurated three major space infrastructure projects of ISRO during his visit to the Vikram VSSC. He also reviewed ISRO's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme during his visit.

Also Read | PM Modi's visit to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra on February 27-28: Full schedule

Modi, accompanied by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan, also took a walkthrough of the exhibition of the various ISRO projects showcased at VSSC.

What is Gaganyaan mission?

According to the ISRO, the Gaganyaan programme envisages undertaking the demonstration of human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in the short-term and will lay the foundation for a sustained Indian human space exploration programme in the long run. The objective of the Gaganyaan programme is to demonstrate indigenous capability to undertake human space flight mission to LEO.

As part of this programme, two unmanned missions and one manned mission are approved by the government.

ISRO projects inaugurated by PM Modi

The projects inaugurated by Modi are – a Trisonic Wind Tunnel at VSSC, a Semi-Cryogenic Integrated Engine and Stage Test Facility at ISRO's propulsion complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, and the PSLV Integration Facility at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota.

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See all region register, peakvisor app, khanty-mansiysk autonomous okrug – ugra.

Welcome to the land of sheer silent whiteness. Its vast expanses are filled with fresh Arctic air, howling winds, and the spirit of true adventure. Come with us to the lands of the ancient Khanty and Mansi tribes that survived in this harsh climate of the Nether-Polar Urals . See the mountains that defy any logical or geological reason for their existence. Experience the wonders of this sparsely populated land where you can hardly see a human trace. Welcome to Yugra!

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Water resources, landmarks and tourism, major mountains, mount narodnaya, mount zaschita, mount neroyka, the pyramid mountain, samarovskaya mountain, ski and sports facilities, protected sites, reserves, national and natural parks, rivers and lakes, major cities, khanty-mansiysk.

The Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area – Yugra (KhMAO) is located in the central part of the West Siberian Plain, stretching from west to east from the Ural Range to the Ob-Yenisei Watershed. The vast areas of this plain, as well as the Lower Priob region, are considered one of the most recently inhabited areas.

The Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area (KhMAO) was established in 1930. Its name comes from two main northern indigenous peoples – the Khanty and the Mansi. From 1944 it was legally part of the Tyumen Region , but in 1993 the Area received autonomy and became a full-fledged territorial entity of the Russian Federation. It is a part of the Urals Federal District. The administrative centre is the city of Khanty-Mansiysk , whereas the largest city is Surgut. The word Yugra was introduced to the name of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area in 2003 to pay tribute to the old name used by the locals to call the territories lying beyond the North Urals.

The KhMAO borders the Komi Republic in the north-west, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District in the north, the Krasnoyarsk Area and the Tomsk Region in the east and south-east, the Tyumen Region in the south and the Sverdlovsk Region in the south-west.

The area of the territory is 534,801 sq.km, the length from north to south is 800 km, from west to east is 1400 km. The population of this huge territory is 1,674,676 people as of 2020, which is the same amount as people living in Barcelona or Munich.

The main part of the territory is a huge, poorly dissected plain where absolute elevation marks rarely exceed 200 meters above sea level. The western part of the KhMAO territory is characterized by low and middle mountainous terrains with some Alpine relief featured in the Subpolar Urals. Here are ridges and spurs of the mountain system of the North Urals and the Subpolar Urals. The maximum absolute elevations are on the border with the Komi Republic . Mount Narodnaya (1,895m) is the highest peak.

More than 800 species of higher plants grow in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area . Almost the entire territory is covered by taiga forests that occupy about 52% of the area. Spruce, fir, pine, cedar, larch, birch, alder grow here. In the northern parts of the area, the composition of the vegetation is greatly influenced by perennial permafrost. Light lichen grasslands which are used as deer pastures are widespread there. Tundra dominates in the mountainous and hilly areas. River floodplains and lowlands are characterized by meadow vegetation, the so-called water meadows. High floodplains of large rivers are mainly covered with woods that mainly feature willows, birches and aspens. Forests and swamps are rich in berries and various valuable plants, most of which are used in traditional indigenous medicine.

The animal world is typical for the Russian taiga zone. There are 369 species of vertebrates. Mammals are represented by 60 species (28 of them are commercial species). The most common and valuable of them are wild reindeer, elk, fox, sable, fox, squirrel, marten, ermine, Siberian weasel, polecat, mink, weasel, otter, hare and others. Wolverine and West Siberian river beaver are included in the Red Book of Russia.

There are 256 bird species in the region, including 206 sedentary and nesting species. Some rare bird species are listed in the Red Book. There are 42 species of fish in rivers and lakes. Of these, 19 species are commercial, among them are starlet sturgeon, lelema, muksun (whitefish), pelyad, chir, lake herring, wader, tugun, freshwater cod, pike, ide, roach, bream, fir, perch, ruff, golden and silver crucian carp, carp (carp is grown in the cooling ponds of the Surgutskaya and Nizhnevartovskaya hydroelectric plants). Sturgeon is listed in the Red Book. There is an abundance of mosquitoes and gnats in the area, the greatest activity of which is in the second half of summer.

Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area. Reindeer

Yugra can boast of over 2 thousand large and small rivers, the total length of which is 172,000 km. The main rivers are the Ob (3,650 km), the Irtysh (3,580 km). These are some of the largest rivers in Russia. Other significant rivers include the tributaries of the Ob (the Vakh, Agan, Tromyogan, Bolshoy Yugan, Lyamin, Pim, Bolshoy Salym, Nazym, Severnaya Sosva, Kazym rivers), the tributary of the Irtysh (the Konda River) and the Sogom River. Ten rivers are over 500 km long. All the Yugra rivers with the exception of the rivers in the Ural part of the region are characterized by rather slow currents, gentle slopes, some surge wave phenomena, spring and summer floods. The Ob River basin extends over a distance of 700-200 km from the mouths of its tributaries. Such abundance of water facilitates the appearance of floodplain swamps and seasonal lakes.

The region's swamps are predominantly of the upper and transitional type. Those water basins occupy about a third of the region. About 290,000 lakes with the area of more than 1 ha are surrounded by swamps and forests. The largest lakes are Tursuntsky Tuman, Levushinsky Tuman, Vandemtor and Trmemtor. The deepest lakes are Kintus (48 m) and Syrky Sor (42 m). However, most of the lakes (about 90%) are modest and quite small and have no surface runoff.

The area is rich in resources of fresh, mineral and thermal underground waters, which are still insignificantly used.

The climate is moderately continental. Winters are harsh, snowy and long, and summers are short and relatively warm. The territory is protected from the west by the Ural Mountains but its openness from the north has a significant impact on the climate formation because cold air masses from the Arctic freely penetrate the area. The flat character of the terrain with a large number of rivers, lakes and swamps also has its impact. Most of the precipitation falls during the warm seasons. But even with a small amount of precipitation, their evaporation is very low, which as a result contributes to the formation of the zone of excessive moisture throughout the Yugra. The snow cover is stable from late October to early May, its height varies from 50 to 80 cm. The region is characterized by a rapid change of weather conditions, especially in transitional seasons (autumn and spring), as well as during the day. Late spring and early autumn frosts are rather frequent and can happen even until mid-June. Average January temperatures range from -18ºC to -24ºC (0 F to -11 F) and can reach -60ºC to -62ºC (-76 F to -80 F) when the northern cold air masses break through. The average temperature in July, the warmest month of the year, ranges from +15ºC to +20ºC (+59 F to +68 F) and on very rare days can reach a maximum temperature of +36ºC (+97 F). The prevailing wind direction is north in summer and south in winter.

The weather in the mountains is quite changeable and cool even in summer. The best time to visit the region's mountains is between July and mid-August.

The Yugra of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area has a huge natural resource potential. These are oil and gas deposits, forests, gold and iron ore deposits, as well as bauxites, copper, zinc, lead, niobium, tantalum, brown and hard coal deposits, rock crystal, quartz and piezo quartz, peat deposits, etc. The region has plenty of natural resources. In terms of natural gas reserves, the Yugra ranks second in the Russian Federation after the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District .

The industry is dominated by oil and gas production, power generation and processing industries, including woodworking except for pulp and paper production.

Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area. Pump-rocking

The Khanty-Mansi area has very developed tourism of all kinds. There is a modern infrastructure for cultural exploration as well as for active recreation.

Fans of sports and eco-friendly tourism will be able to conquer majestic mountains and raft down picturesque rivers, enjoy the beauty of nature in nature reserves and natural parks. The hills and mountains of this area open up endless opportunities for skiing and snowboarding.

The mountainous part of the Subpolar Urals located on the territory of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area is very beautiful. The highest peaks of the Ural Mountains are situated here.

Being the highest point of the whole Urals, Mount Narodnaya (1,895 m), also known as Naroda and Poenurr and translated as People's Mountain is territorially situated in the Subpolar Urals, on the border of the Yugra Area and the Komi Republic . It is the highest point in European Russia outside the Caucasus. This leads to its large topographic prominence of 1,772 metres (5,814 ft).

Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area. Mount Narodnaya

The top of the mountain is half a kilometre from the border towards Yugra. As for the name of the mountain, scientists could not come to a common opinion for a long time, so there are two versions. According to one version, in the Soviet years, an expedition of pioneers gave the mountain a name in honour of the Soviet people - Narodnaya (the stress is on the second syllable). According to the other version, even before the arrival of the first Soviet tourists, the peak was named after the River Naroda (the stress is on the first syllable) flowing at the foot of the mountain. The Nenets peoples called the River Naroda Naro, which means a thicket or a dense forest, and the Mansi peoples called it Poengurr or Poen-urr, which translates as the top, or head. The maps used to refer to it as Mount Naroda or Mount Naroda-Iz. Nowadays, it appears everywhere as Narodnaya.

In the 1980s, someone set a bust of Lenin on the top of the mountain. Its remains can be found there to this day. There is one more symbolic relic there – some Orthodox believers erected a worship cross on top of Mount Narodnaya after a Procession of the Cross.

The slopes of the mountain are steeper in the north-east and south-west and there are many steep rocks on them. The south-eastern and northern parts of the mountain are more gentle but they are also covered with scree. Be vigilant and careful when climbing! On the slopes of the mountain, there are many not only boulders but also caverns filled with clear water as well as ice. There are glaciers and snowfields. From the north-eastern part of the mountain, you can observe Lake Blue near which tourists and travellers like to make bivouacs.

Mesmerizing with its beauty and inaccessibility, it attracts many tourists and fans of active recreation. This majestic mountain is quite remote from the settlements, so getting to it is not an easy task. The mountain is located in the Yugyd Va National Park , so it is necessary to register in advance and get a visit permit from the park administration. How to get to the park administration and get a permit, read the article on the Yugyd Va National Park .

Mountain Zaschita (1,808 m) is the second-highest peak in the Ural Mountains, after Mount Narodnaya . Mysteriously, the name of the mountain, which roughly translates as Defense or Protection Mount, does not correlate in any way with the Mansi names of the nearby mountains and rivers. The origin of the name is unknown. There are some speculations but we will consider just one of them. On the map of the Northern Urals which was made by the Hungarian researcher Reguli the closest peak to Mount Narodnaya was called gnetying olu. Its location coincides with that of the present-day Mount Zaschita . The name gnetying olu in the Mansi can be deciphered as a mountain on which there is some help from ice. The mountain is believed to protect deer grazing on glaciers from mosquitoes. So, early topographers called the mountain more briefly – Mount Defense. Indeed, the slopes of this mountain are covered with a lot of snow and glaciers (the Yugra, Naroda, Kosyu, Hobyu glaciers and others). And it is here that the Mansi shepherds bring their deer which can rest on glaciers and snow. Summarizing all the above, we can say that Zaschita Mount is to some extent protection for deer from mosquitoes. The very name Zaschita appeared on maps with the beginning of hiking tours in the Subpolar Urals.

Mount Neroyka (1,645 m) is 100 km from Neroyka village, the closest tourist base to this peak. In the 1950s, people who were engaged in quartz mining near the mountain worked and lived in this base. Later, a gravel road was built from the village of Saranpaul to the mountain for large-scale development of the quartz deposit. In recent years, the road has not been much used and is practically not cleaned from snow in winter. There has been a plant built 20 km down from the mountain for primary processing of quartz with the use of nanotechnologies. There is an annual big camping event near the mountain. It is organized by the Tourism Department of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area. You can have a 1-hour helicopter ride to the mountain from the village of Saranpaul. Should you wish to fly from the city of Khanty-Mansiysk , be prepared to fly over the taiga for 2.5-3 hours.

Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area. Mount Neroyka

Quite inquisitive tourists happened to discover, by a lucky chance, a Pyramid similar to that of Cheops but four times bigger. It is located on the territory of the Narodo-Ityinsky Ridge. The closest to the pyramid is the village of Saranpaul. The sizes of the found pyramid are as follows: the height is 774 m, in comparison to the Egyptian pyramid which is 147 m; the length of a lateral edge is 230 m whereas the Egyptian pyramid is 1 km. The pyramid is located precisely according to the cardinal directions, there is not a single degree deviation at that. The origin of the pyramid is unknown, scientists are still making assumptions. No traces of human activity were found near the pyramid. The only way to get here at this time is by helicopter.

Samarovskaya Mountain is another wonder that is baffling many people. It is dividing the city of Khanty-Mansiysk into northern and southern parts. Few now living residents know that in the old days the highest part of the modern city used to bear a plural name of the Samarovsky Mountains among which there were Mount Palenina, Komissarskaya, Miroslavskaya, Filinova, and Romanova. Originally, there was a village called Samarovo amidst these mountains. Until now, many issues bewilder both residents and scientists. How could a mountain form in the middle of the West Siberian Plain? What is inside it? Won't the weight of the buildings erected on the top of the mountain affect its height? The uniqueness of Samarovskaya Mountain is that it consists of numerous large stones, boulders, rocks that are absolutely foreign to this area. Scientists have not yet come to a consensus on the mountain’s origin.

The Yugra is very famous for its ski resorts, the main of which are:

The Cedar Ravine ski resort (Surgut city, Naberezhny Ave. 39/1)
Three Mountains (Trekhgorie) ski resort (30 km from Nizhnevartovsk, Ermakovsky settlement)
Stone Cape (Kamenniy Mys) ski resort (near the city of Surgut)
Pine Urman ski resort ( Khanty-Mansiysk , Sportivnaya Str., 24)

The far-away lands of the Yugra are the blessed sanctuaries for many animals as the area is rather hostile to a human There are reserves, natural parks, wildlife sanctuaries here that aim to protect the national treasures of the lands. Having visited these regions once, you would crave for coming back again and again to feel that unique sense of unity with nature, to forget about the urban fuss and and hustles whatsoever. The harsh but beautiful nature of this extraordinary area leaves an indelible trace in the soul of every person.

Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area. Samarovsky outlier. Archeopark

On the territory of the district there are 25 specially protected natural areas, the most famous of them are:

The reserves are two: the Malaya Sosva Reserve and the Yugan Reserve, the latter was established in 1982 as the largest reserve of taiga landscapes. The purpose of the reserves was to study unobtrusively and carefully preserve the endemic flora and fauna without disturbing natural processes. Hunting and economic activities are prohibited here, which is important for the preservation of natural ecosystems.
The natural parks are the Samarovsky Chugas Nature Park, the Siberian Sloping Hills (Uvaly), the Numto (also called Lake Numto), and the Kondinskie Lakes.

These reserves and natural parks offer tourists their own excursion programs to make visiting their territory much more enjoyable and educational.

The Samarovsky Chugas Nature Park is located in the center of Khanty-Mansiysk , on a small hill between the Ob and Irtysh rivers.

The territory of the Siberian Sloping Hills (Uvaly) natural park is 350 km away from the city of Khanty-Mansiysk . You can get there by helicopter or by plane. The office of the park is located at 7a Pionerskaya Street, Nizhnevartovsk.

The Kondinskie Lakes Natural Park is located 380 km from Khanty-Mansiysk . Half of the park is covered with swamps, but there is also a recreational area. There you can rest, swim, do some amateur fishing, picking berries (cowberries, cranberries) and mushrooms is permitted. There is only one independent walking route here, it runs for 3 km in the deep forest. It is a cool place for kids since the park is equipped with sports grounds, a pool and a small zoo where the kids can interact with brown bear cubs. What else, try the TaiPark, it is a rope course running at the height of 2.5 meters, having 15 stages, the full length is 125 meters. There is an opportunity to order water walking tours in the town of Sovetsky, which can be reached by train from Khanty-Mansiysk .

Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area. Kondinskie Lakes

The Numto Nature Park is located almost in the center of the West Siberian Plain, in the Beloyarsk district of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area, 300 km from the city of Surgut and 200 km from the town of Beloyarsk. It is located on the border of Yugra and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area. The administration of the park is located at 2, Beloyarsky micro-district, 4a. The territory of the natural park is a treasure trove of archaeological and ethnocultural monuments. As of today, there have been discovered 20 architectural monuments, including fortified and not fortified settlements, places of worship abandoned by the peoples who lived here from the Stone Age to almost the present day. Researchers have also found 65 monuments of ethnic value, the main of which are worship objects, sacred places and cemeteries.

The Malaya Sosva Reserve includes several subordinated territories and sanctuaries, including Lake Ranghe-Tour. The reserve offers a 4-km walking guided route that gets the visitors introduced to the typical features and characteristics of flora and fauna of the region. The route is called Bear Trail and you can spot bears there (don’t come close though, we’ve already written how to behave if you meet a bear in the wild). Also, you will see the River Malaya Sosva, some marshes, ancient cultural monuments and other nice sights. Permission to visit the reserve can be obtained from the administration of the reserve at Lenina Str. 46, town Sovetskiy.

As to the Yugan Nature Reserve , it is inaccessible to common hikers who are afraid of flying since there are no roads to it. The only way to get there is taking a helicopter ride. You also must obtain a permit in the administration of the reserve, go accompanied by employees of the reserve, and only on special transport of the reserve (motorboat, snowmobile). The central manor of the Reserve and the administration are located in the village of Ugut. To get to this village, you should first go to the town of Surgut, then go to the town of Pyt-Yakh, and from it there is a road to the village of Ugut. It is about 100 km from Ugut to the southern border of the reserve i, and another 25 km to the nearest cordon. The administration works from Monday to Friday. You can request a permit via mail at [email protected] , order a guided tour at [email protected]

Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area. Yugan Nature Reserve

The Yugra lands are heaven for water sports aficionados. They can have some awesome fishing or go rafting along such rivers as: the river Naroda, the Deep Sabun, etc.

The Naroda River is 140 km long. It is the left tributary of the Manya River located in the Ob River basin. The river has its origin on the south-western slope of Mount Narodnaya . It is a mountain-taiga river with rapids, swifts, numerous rolls, which attracts interest among water tourists. However, it is usually not rafted very often.

The Deep Sabun River flows through the territory of the Siberian Sloping Hills Nature Park. The park has developed multi-day water routes. It is possible to raft along the river in summer and to go skiing along it in winter.

The Kondinskie Lakes are a system of lakes along the left bank of the Konda River. The largest lake is the Arantur, with pine forests on the northern side and sandy beaches well equipped for a nice relaxing me-time. The water heats up well in summer. The small river Okunevaya and the river Maly Akh flow into the lake. The Maly Akh comes in on the west side and connects lake Arantur with Lake Pon-Tour. This lake is the richest in fish, and there is also a parking lot for fishermen here. The streams connect Pon-Tour with small lakes Krugloe and Lopukhovoye. When you look at Lopukhovoe lake, you feel as if you have found yourself in a fabulous place: more than half of its surface is covered with white lilies, as well as yellow flowers of the water-beans. Then the river Big Akh, which flows into the river Konda, connects all the lakes into a single system. Along the river there are many archeological monuments such as forts and settlements which have paths to them. The southernmost lake of the park is Ranghe-Tour.

Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area. Rivers and Lakes

Yugra is not the easiest destination and not the most accessible, but the effort is well worth it. You should first get to the capital of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area – the city of Khanty-Mansiysk either by air or by train.

Khanty-Mansiysk is based on the premises of the former village Samarovo founded in 1582. It used to be the territory of the Khanty people and a pit stop for coachmen who rode their wagons across the country. The village was founded by Russian Count Samara, thus the name Samarovo. The modern city actually began to develop in 1930 because amidst the Siberian taiga there finally started to appear stone houses on the high bank of the Irtysh River. In 1940, the village was renamed into Khanty-Mansiysk by the name of the peoples living on this territory – the Khanty and the Mansi, and in 1950 it received the status of a town.

The city has several attractions. Mount Samarovskaya is probably the biggest natural and scientific wonder. It divides the city in two parts and causes many concerns for urban developers who always wonder whether this mountain can move making the buildings slide or even sink in.

Another beauty is the century-old cedar grove that is within the city limits. The grove is a part of the natural park Samarovsky Chugas. The word chugas in the language of the Khanty means a lonely hill in the low river floodplain.

The park is one of the main attractions of the city, it hosts an open-air ethnographic museum called the Torum Maa, a cultural and tourist complex called Archaeopark, a biathlon center. Kids and adults, nature lovers and fans of culture love this place dearly.

A memorial sign to Yugra's discoverers is installed on top of the Samarovsky Chugas. It is a tall stele pyramid divided into three portions. On the lower level, there is a restaurant, on the second level is a small museum, and on the third level there is an observation deck, 40 m above the ground, with a magnificent view of the Irtysh River and the river port. The pyramid is decorated by the bas-relief depicting the discoverers of the region, from the 16th-century Count Samara to the geologists of the 20th century.

Another trademark of Khanty-Mansiysk is the State Museum of Nature and Man. The museum hosts a gallery and a workshop of a famous artist G. Rayshev.

The city has a lot of small monuments generously spread around the city. There is the Khanty family resting on a camp, this monument is near the airport building. You can take a pic at the Golden Tambourine located at the intersection of Gagarin Street and Mira Street. Connoisseurs of culture should also visit the Sun – the Theatre of Ob-Ugrian Peoples, it is the world's first professional theatre of Khanty and Mansi peoples. And if you are travelling with kids, the Khanty-Mansiysk Puppet Theatre is a must-visit. In the period from May to October, you can take a boat ride to the confluence of two rivers – the Ob and the Irtysh. Yugra Service Co. operates such cruises, you can find more information locally at their address Tobolsk Trakt street 4, Khanty-Mansiysk .

Explore Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Ugra with the PeakVisor 3D Map and identify its summits .

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