REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

China's Space Pioneer raises $207 million to fund rocket development

Space Pioneer, also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology Co, is among a small group of rapidly growing private-sector rocket developers, spurred by the government's call to transform China into a major power in space.

ISRO Chairman inaugurates HAL facilities, rocket manufacturing capacity gets a boost

ISRO Chairman S Somanath inaugurated state-of-the-art propellant tank production and CNC machining facilities at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's Aerospace Division, enhancing rocket manufacturing capacity. These facilities will enable HAL to meet ISRO's growing demand for six LVM3 rocket launches per year, up from the current capacity of two. Somanath emphasized HAL's potential in future missions, while HAL's Chairman C B Ananthakrishnan highlighted the collaboration's role in accelerating human spaceflight missions and Next-Generation Launch Vehicles. The new facilities will produce high-performance fuel tanks and precision components critical for LVM3 rockets.

Agnikul eyes to launch satellites by 2025: CEO Ravichandran

"Nine to 12 months I would say. Probably by the end of this financial year or the early part of the next financial year is what we are targeting," Ravichandran said when asked about the commercial orbital launch of the Agnibaan rocket.

NSE launches Nifty500 Equal Weight index; base date April 1, 2005

The index will serve as a benchmark for asset managers and a reference index for passive funds such as ETFs, index funds, and structured products, according to the release.

Several firsts to Agnibaan test flight, step closer to launch small satellites: IN-SPACe chief

Agnikul Cosmos' Agnibaan rocket test flight from Sriharikota marked a significant milestone for the private space sector, using a 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine for the first time.

NSE Indices launches India’s first electric vehicle index

NSE’s index services subsidiary, Nifty EV & New Age Automotive index, will track the performance of companies forming a part of the EV ecosystem. With the base date fixed on April 2, 2018, and the base value at 1,000, the index will be reconstituted semi-annually and rebalanced on a quarterly basis.

Mark Mobius turns bullish on Chinese stocks amid recent rally

Mark Mobius turned bullish on Chinese equities, citing confidence in the recent rebound after advising investors to avoid them in April.

Porsche 911 Hybrid unveiled: Here are price, launch dates, performance, speed, and other details

Porsche 911 Hybrid (Google Trends): Porsche has globally unveiled the 2025 911 Facelift, featuring hybrid technology in the Carrera and GTS trims. These models, available for order, are expected in India by late 2024 or early 2025, with prices starting at Rs 1.86 crore. The 911 GTS hybrid boasts a 541 BHP powertrain, faster acceleration, and improved performance, aligning Porsche towards electrification.

Space startup Agnikul Cosmos calls off maiden rocket launch for a fourth time

India's Agnikul Cosmos delayed the Agnibaan rocket launch to test igniter performance. The rocket can carry 300 kg to orbits 700 km high. Skyroot launched India's first privately developed rocket in 2022 from ISRO's site.

BYD launches new hybrid vehicle tech that promises 100 km with just 2.9 litres fuel

BYD in China launches latest plug-in hybrid technology achieving record low fuel consumption of 2.9 litres per 100 km. Unveiled by Chairman Wang Chuanfu in Xian, Shaanxi province, site of BYD's first automaking factory.

Mahindra to focus more on driving range, tech over price in future electric cars

Speaking to ET, R. Velusamy, president, automotive technology and product development at M&M said while TCO (total cost of ownership) approach to EV development or how much one saves after switching from petrol or diesel cars to EVs may work in the short term for “early adopters”, in the long term, it’s the range, technology and overall experience that will help in creating new market segments and to grow sales.

Kia unveils its 4th electric car, the EV3. Expected in India next year

Kia has unveiled the EV3, a new compact electric SUV with two battery options and advanced features. It will first launch in the international market before potentially entering India in 2025.

Sunita Williams set to fly into space for a third time next month

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is set to pilot Boeing's Starliner on a mission to the International Space Station. The launch is expected between June 1 and June 5 after a delay due to a technical issue. NASA, Boeing, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) are working to resolve the problem and successfully launch to mark a significant milestone for the Boeing program.

Tata Power-DDL, India Smart Grid Forum tie up for vehicle-to-grid technology demo project

Tata Power Delhi Distribution partners with India Smart Grid Forum for Vehicle-to-Grid Technology Demonstration Project, exploring EVs' grid services, backup power, and carbon emissions impact. The project involves stakeholders like Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission, Central Electricity Authority, Tata Motors, and the University of Delaware, USA. Key figures include Gajanan S. Kale and Reji Kumar Pillai.

"If we work together, India can achieve all SDGs by 2030" says Ajay Piramal at CII Annual Business Summit 2024

Underscoring the rapid progress expected over the next two decades, he said, "Let's say in 2047, we'll have - we'll be the third-largest economy, maybe a USD 40 billion economy. Even now, in the next - I think by 2029, we'll be the third-largest economy. So only the U.S. and China will be ahead of us. So that's a big progress the country is making."

Hero MotoCorp, India's top two-wheeler maker, has a three-pronged strategy for the EV sector

Hero MotoCorp, led by CEO Niranjan Gupta, aims to boost EV sales with strategic acquisitions. Gupta, with a 30% stake in Ather Energy, plans to expand the VIDA portfolio with affordable variants and enhance the charging infrastructure network.

Consumers bend the road: No straight drive from ICE to electric

The transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles faces challenges as consumers show a preference for hybrids and CNG vehicles over pure EVs. Maruti Suzuki expects significant growth in CNG car sales, signaling a shift towards alternative fuel technologies alongside traditional options.

Hyundai plans to launch its first hybrid car in India in 2026, says EVs long-run strategy

The group, housing Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp, is evaluating a hybrid sport-utility vehicle of size similar to its top-selling, mid-sized Creta SUV in India, said two of the sources who have direct knowledge of the plans.

IAF chopper drops ISRO's 'Pushpak' Vimaan from 4.5 km altitude

ISRO said that after the RLV-LEX-01 mission, which was accomplished last year, the RLV-LEX-02 demonstrated the autonomous landing capability of RLV off-nominal initial conditions at the release from a Chinook helicopter. The RLV was made to undertake more difficult manoeuvres with dispersions, correct both cross-range and down range and land on the runway in a fully autonomous mode.

Pushpak 'Viman' lands successfully; How ISRO's new launch vehicle can pave the way for affordable space exploration

ISRO achieves a milestone in reusable launch vehicle technology with the successful landing experiment of RLV LEX-02. The mission simulated high-speed landing conditions of an RLV returning from space, demonstrating autonomous landing capability. ISRO re-validated its technologies in navigation, control systems, and landing gear. The mission, accomplished by VSSC, LPSC, and IISU, builds on the success of RLV-LEX-01, demonstrating the reuse capability of flight hardware and systems. ISRO aims to enable low-cost access to space through these advancements.

ISRO's Space Shuttle Demonstrator 'Pushpak' successfully completes landing experiment

ISRO's Pushpak huge success: Everything about India's first Reusable Launch Vehicle

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the Pushpak Reusable Landing Vehicle (RLV) LEX 02 landing experiment at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga in Karnataka on Friday. The RLV LEX 02 landing experiment is the second of the series of experiments conducted by the space agency. "ISRO nails it again. Pushpak (RLV-TD), the winged vehicle, landed autonomously with precision on the runway after being released from an off-nominal position," the space agency said in a tweet on X.

How a Bengaluru firm gave wings to ISRO’s reusable launch vehicle

In its statement on Friday, ISRO stated how RLV-LEX-02 demonstrated the autonomous landing capability of RLV from off-nominal initial conditions at release from a helicopter.