ISRO successfully conducts hot tests of Gaganyaan propulsion system

Gaganyaan: ISRO has successfully conducted two hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) at the space agency’s Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri on July 3.

The short-duration tests, lasting 30 seconds and 100 seconds respectively, were aimed at validating the test article configuration, ISRO said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The overall performance of the propulsion system during these hot tests was normal as per pre-test predictions. During the 100s test, simultaneous operation of all Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters in different modes (steady state; pulsed) along with all Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engines was also successfully demonstrated.

“ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC) is leading the technology development activities for the Gaganyaan SMPS. SMPS is a critical system of Gaganyaan Orbital Module and is required during orbital manoeuvring as well as specific abort scenarios,” the space agency said.

It comprises five Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engines (each 440N thrust) and 16 Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters (each 100N thrust). In order to simulate the propulsion system conditions closer to flight, the SMPS test article for these hot tests incorporated improvements based on experience gained from earlier hot tests.

“With the confidence gained through these hot tests, ISRO will conduct a full duration hot test shortly,” the statement said.

According to ISRO, the Gaganyaan programme aims to demonstrate India’s capability to launch a crewed spacecraft into low Earth orbit, and the experience and knowledge gained from this mission will be crucial for its success.

Read more

Delhi: Rise in abuse of prescription drugs, opioids is Police’s new pain point

On June 19, around 8:45 PM, Delhi Police apprehended a 17-year-old in North East Delhi’s Nand Nagri, recovering 22.44 grams of smack from him. The quantity qualifies as commercial under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, under which he was booked. This incident was not an outlier. In fact, it reflects a growing trend in parts of the national capital, where a surge in drug abuse—particularly injectable pharmaceutical drugs—has become visible. While smack has long plagued the streets of Delhi, syringes and banned drug cocktails are now emerging as a newer, more dangerous pattern. During an earlier raid in the same district, police recovered six panni pipes, three injection vials, 12 tablets, and one syringe. Such recoveries have become common across North East Delhi and Shahdara. Often, every syringe found is accompanied by opioid tablets like Buprenorphine and injections of Pheniramine Maleate.

Delhi LG approves continuation for 410 part-time vocational teachers till March 2026

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved the continuation and enhanced remuneration of 410 part-time vocational teachers (PTVTs) in government and government-aided schools till March 2026, Raj Niwas officials said on Tuesday. The Delhi government’s education department had sought the extension of services for the 402 qualified and eight non-qualified PTVTs from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. The proposal was cleared by the LG, they said. The government has sanctioned Rs 36 crore for PTVT remuneration and continued vocational education, an official said.