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...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 29 2017, @04:26AM (7 children)
Earth orbit isn't anywhere near the Moon.
Look!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbit_of_the_Moon#Scale_model [wikipedia.org]
Space Race? You're fucking deluded.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 29 2017, @04:46AM (5 children)
Wise man say the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 29 2017, @04:53AM (1 child)
The first step was in 1969. THE LAST STEP WAS IN 1972. The Space Race began AND ENDED before you were even born.
Get the fuck off my lawn.
(Score: 2) by fido_dogstoyevsky on Thursday June 29 2017, @06:45AM
At the latest, 1957.
At the earliest, last Monday.
Ummm... no. Don't be rude to your elders.
It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 29 2017, @05:06AM (2 children)
Oh yeah, let's interpret your ignorance literally, shall we? The Moon is two hundred thirty eight thousand nine hundred (238,900) miles away.
Journey of a thousand miles, you say? Up your fucking asshole, wise ass.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 29 2017, @05:10AM (1 child)
Woosh.
I guess you can get a mobility scooter for your effort.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 29 2017, @06:29AM
No... not a mobility scooter... I believe that would assume the guy is old...
An older person most likely has been exposed to education, as the phrase commented on is a well known axiom attributed to Lao Tzu of China, as he related great things often have humble beginnings.
The comment you replied to sounded to me like a newbie graduating from size 1 to size 2 diaper?
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Thursday June 29 2017, @01:59PM
Except in space distance doesn't matter much unless you're in a hurry - coasting for mind-bending distances comes free (as long as you can handle the radiation exposure)
What matters for the cost and difficulty is the required delta-V, and getting from the surface to low orbit is the hard part. From low orbit you can get anywhere in the solar system with not a whole lot more effort - almost none if you're willing to coast for a decade or so through the gravitational slingshots of the Interplanetary Transport Network.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 29 2017, @04:45AM (1 child)
Does Pakistan have a space program?
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday June 29 2017, @06:42PM
They're upwind from India, so they don't need.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 29 2017, @05:00AM (3 children)
Good for India, competition will be good for the industry as a whole. I just hope the satellite never has to call home for tech support.
(Score: 2) by fido_dogstoyevsky on Thursday June 29 2017, @06:48AM (2 children)
Not a problem, they'll be outsourcing that :)
It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.
(Score: 2) by turgid on Thursday June 29 2017, @08:31PM (1 child)
You know those calls from India where someone claims to be from the "IT support department" and tells you that "Microsoft has detected a problem with your computer?" Well, they've actually made some arrests [bbc.co.uk] in the UK at last!
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 2) by fido_dogstoyevsky on Thursday June 29 2017, @10:02PM
They were fun (stopped getting them when I gave up the landline) - if I had the time I'd just follow their directions, which didn't work as expected with Linux.
It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.