India launched a communication satellite using its most powerful rocket on Monday, improving its prospects of winning a bigger share of the more than $300 billion global space industry and its hopes of a manned mission.
The 13-story high rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk III, or "Fat Boy," lifted off from the Sriharikota space center in southern India at 5:28 p.m. in clear blue skies.
At 6,914 lbs. the GSAT-19 satellite is the heaviest India has attempted to put in orbit, the space agency said.
The United States, Russia, China, Japan, and European Space Agency have the capability to launch satellites weighing more than three tonnes.
The launch was a couple weeks ago now, but it's welcome news. Perhaps a second iteration of the Space Race would get humanity into the wider solar system to stay.
Also: GLSV Mark III rocket conducts 'all-up' launch with GSAT-19 satellite
(Score: 3, Informative) by c0lo on Thursday June 29 2017, @04:21AM (9 children)
(grumble-grumble...what can one expect from some Christians monitoring the science!)
6,914 lbs. = 3.136138 tonnes
3 tonnes = 6613.87 lbs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Thursday June 29 2017, @05:08AM (1 child)
I'll assume the currency used is US$ not Indian INR.
Satish Dhawan Space Centre, built 1971 and owned by the Indian government.
I think they will have a long path to catch up with SpaceX which will likely be able to beat them on satellite launch price. It's however peculiar that India and say not the Middle east, Africa, South America, etc is up to launch anything big at all successfully.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday June 29 2017, @06:36PM
Are those metric stories, Imperial-UK stories, or Imperial-US stories?
I need to know if I'm going up using the lift, elevator, or stairs. I left my carbonated drink at the top, and I don't even know how to name that anymore: el soda, or gaseosa?
(Score: 2) by moondrake on Thursday June 29 2017, @08:04AM (6 children)
$units
Currency exchange rates from www.timegenie.com on 2016-06-21
2926 units, 109 prefixes, 88 nonlinear units
You have: 6914 lbs
You want: tons
* 3.457
/ 0.28926815
Are there different kind of tons?
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Thursday June 29 2017, @09:27AM
Actually there is. It's a total mess. Better to use kg.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by c0lo on Thursday June 29 2017, @10:16AM (4 children)
There are indeed:
- 1 tonne = 1 metric ton = 1000kg
- 1 short ton = 1 US ton = 907.185 kg
- 1 long ton = 1 imperial ton = 1016.05 kg
Rational, right?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by fido_dogstoyevsky on Thursday June 29 2017, @10:00PM
Ever played with model trains? The most popular scale is HO, and is very often quoted as "3.5mm=1foot".
It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.
(Score: 2) by KGIII on Thursday June 29 2017, @10:35PM (1 child)
No, 1016.05 is irrational.
"So long and thanks for all the fish."
(Score: 3, Touché) by c0lo on Thursday June 29 2017, @11:22PM
If 1016.05 is irrational, then 907.185 is pure and unadulterated madness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by moondrake on Saturday July 01 2017, @05:21PM
thats just horrible...