ISRO to launch Brazil’s Amazonia-1 by month-end

In its first dedicated commercial mission of the newly-formed NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISO) will launch the PSLV-C51/ Amazonia-1 Mission at the end of the month. Amazonia-1 is an optical earth observation satellite developed by National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Brazil. This will be the first launch of a Brazilian satellite from India. “The satellite is under final stage of pre-launch preparation at ISRO’s facilities in SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota. The launch is presently targeted for the second half of this month,” NSIL said. This mission will carry 15 other customer satellites on a commercial ride share basis. Human space policy:

The Department of Space (DoS) has prepared a draft Human Space Policy-2021. The DoS said that the policy framework given in the draft is applicable to activities presently postulated under Indian human space programme (IHSP) and for those activities which shall be defined and carried out in future in conjunction with IHSP. It further has sought comments on the draft policy which can be sent in until February 28. The Indian human space programme envisages undertaking the demonstration of human Space flight 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. DoS with mandate to carry out space activities in India shall define a roadmap with regard to human space activities, it added. On the selection of the crew, it further stated DoS/lSRO shall establish a comprehensive criterion for screening and selection of crew members. “For initial missions, pilots from Indian Armed forces will be inducted as crew members. DoS/lSRO shall constitute suitable mechanism for evaluation and selection of crew members for missions planned for Indian human space programme,” the draft added. It further stated that the guidelines and procedures supporting the Humans in Space Policy 2021 will be issued separately as part of policy document and that the Humans in Space Policy 2021 shall take effect upon approval of the Union Cabinet of India.