The Hindu Editorial (​Gates in the sky) – Jan 17, 2025

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The Hindu Editorial (​Gates in the sky) – Jan 17, 2025:

1. docking (noun) – It is a process by which two fast-moving spacecraft are brought to the same orbit, brought closer to each other manually or autonomously, and finally joined together.
2. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) (noun) – Indian Space Research Organisation, formed in 1969, superseded the erstwhile Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR). Vikram Sarabhai, having identified the role and importance of space technology in a Nation’s development, provided ISRO with the necessary direction to function as an agent of development. ISRO then embarked on its mission to provide the Nation space-based services and to develop the technologies to achieve the same independently.
3. Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) (noun) – The SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission by ISRO for the demonstration of in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV. This technology is essential for India’s space ambitions such as Indian on Moon, sample return from the Moon, the building and operation of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), etc. 
4. space flight (noun) – space travel.
5. Satellite Launch Vehicle ( SLV) (noun) – a small-lift launch vehicle project started by the Indian Space Research Organisation to develop the technology needed to launch satellites.
6. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) (noun) – Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third generation launch vehicle of India. It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages. After its first successful launch in October 1994, PSLV emerged as the reliable and versatile workhorse launch vehicle of India with 53 launches so far. To date, the vehicle has launched 48 Indian satellites (till 2017) and 342 satellites for customers from 34 countries. 
7. PSLV-C60/SpaDeX mission (noun) – On December 30, 2024, the C60 mission of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) placed two satellites (spacecraft SDX01, which is the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target, nominally), each weighing 220 kg, in low-Earth circular orbit. They would rendezvous and dock with each other as part of ISRO’s first Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX).
8. payload (noun) – it can be a satellite, space probe, or spacecraft carrying instruments and others which are (not fuels) used for a rocket’s operation.
9. rendezvous (noun) – meeting, contact, encounter. 
10. stepping stone (noun) – an action/event to make progress in order to achieve a goal.
11. mission (noun) – expedition, journey (into space); assignment, project, operation. 
12. hail (verb) – praise, admire, welcome, salute, applaud, extol, laud.
13. on a high (phrase) – in a state of happiness; feeling excited.
14. sophisticated (adjective) – modern, advanced, highly developed, the latest, futuristic.
15. arbitrary (adjective) – random, unpredictable, inconsistent, casual, unreasonable, illogical, groundless.
16. dock (verb) – (of a spacecraft) join together (with a space station) or join together with another spacecraft in space.
17. abortive (adjective) – failed/unsuccessful, undeveloped, incomplete.
18. postpone (verb) – put off, hold off, reschedule, defer, delay, suspend, shelve.
19. apparent (adjective) – visible, clear, evident, noticeable, palpable, striking.
20. nix (verb) – cancel, reject, deny, refuse.
21. drift (verb) – deviate, diverge, depart.
22. measure (noun) – course of action, proceeding, procedure, step.
23. arrest (verb) – stop, halt, end.
24. undock (verb) –(of a spacecraft) disconnect (from a space station) or disconnect from another spacecraft in space.
25. enterprise (noun) – company, firm, organization.
26. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) (noun) – Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram is the lead Centre of ISRO responsible for the design and development of launch vehicle technology. 
27. Compact Research module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS) (noun) – CROPS stands for Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies which is an unmanned experimental module designed to develop ISRO’s capabilities for growing and sustaining plants in space. 
28. cowpea (noun) – a plant within the pea family; lobia.
29. germinate (verb) – grow.
30. spacefaring (noun) – space travel.
31. interplanetary (adjective) – between planets.
32. gateway (noun) – a means of achieving something.
33. Chandrayaan-4 (noun) – Chandrayaan-4, slated for launch in 2027, will be a critical stepping stone in India’s lunar exploration program. It includes bringing back moon rocks and soil to earth after a soft landing on the lunar surface, launching a spacecraft from the moon, demonstrating a space docking experiment in lunar orbit and getting the samples back to earth.
34. Chandrayaan-3 (noun) – Chandrayaan-3 is the third lunar exploration mission developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), after Chandrayaan-1 (launched on October 22, 2008) & Chandrayaan-2 (launched on 22 July 2019). Chandrayaan-3 is to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. It consists of Lander and Rover configuration. It was launched by LVM3 from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota on July 14, 2023. The Chandrayaan-3 has reached the lunar orbit almost a month after its launch, and its lander, Vikram, and rover, Pragyaan, were landed on the Moon on August 23. Notably, the landing site of the latest mission is more or less the same as the Chandrayaan-2: near the south pole of the moon at 70 degrees latitude. 
35. Chandrayaan 2 (noun) – Chandrayaan-2 was the second lunar exploration mission developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), after Chandrayaan-1. It consisted of a lunar orbiter, and also included the Vikram lander, and the Pragyan lunar rover, all of which were developed in India. The spacecraft was launched on 22 July 2019. However, the lander crashed when it deviated from its intended trajectory while attempting to land on 6 September 2019. ISRO re-attempted a landing in 2023 with Chandrayaan-3.
36. Chandrayaan 1 (noun) – Chandrayaan-1 was the first Indian lunar probe under the Chandrayaan program. It was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation in October 2008. The mission was a major boost to India’s space program, as India researched and developed its own technology in order to explore the Moon.
37. lunar (adjective) – referring to the Moon.
38. In anticipation (phrase) – expecting that something will happen
39. back down (phrasal verb) – give in/up, backtrack, back pedal, reconsider, do a U-turn.
40. thanks to (phrase) – as a result of, owing to, due to, because of.
41. perceived (adjective) – discernable, noticeable, recognizable; recognized, identified, distinguished, supposed, regarded, considered.
42. inevitability (noun) – certainty, belief, assurance; fact, truth, surety, sure thing.
43. crewed (adjective) – Having a crew; manned; piloted.
44. render (verb) –  represent, portray, interpret; cause to be/become.
45. lucrative (adjective) – remunerative, profitable, profit-making, high-paying, rewarding.
46. Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) (noun) – The Bharatiya Antariksha Station, colloquially known as the Indian Space Station (ISS), symbolizes India’s ambitious foray (entry) into space exploration. Proposed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the station is designed to weigh 20 tonnes, orbiting approximately 400 kilometers above Earth. Intended for accommodating astronauts for up to 20 days, it fosters scientific research and technological advancements. Originally slated for completion by 2030, delays ensued due to challenges in the Gaganyaan mission and the global COVID-19 pandemic, pushing the target year to 2035.
47. decade (noun) – a period of ten years.
48. embark on (phrasal verb) – start, begin, commence, undertake, get cracking on, take forward.
49. coherent (adjective) – logical, well reasoned, sensible, rational, wise.
50. ex ante (adjective) – predicted, estimated, calculated; Latin phrase literally means “before the event”
51. utility (noun) – usefulness, advantage, benefit, value, helpfulness, profitability, convenience, practicality, effectiveness, efficacy
52. context (noun) – situation, scenario, backdrop.
53. relative to (phrase) – in comparison with, dependent on, based on.
54. adrift (adjective) – lost, off track, disoriented/confused.

Note : 

1. Click each one of the words above for their definition, more synonyms, pronunciation, example sentences, phrases, derivatives, origin and etc. from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/.

2. Definitions (elementary level) & Synonyms provided for the words above are my personal work and not that of Oxford University Press. Tentative definitions/meanings are provided for study purposes only and they may vary in a different context.  

3. This word list is for personal use only. Reproduction in any format and/or Commercial use of it is/are strictly prohibited.

The Hindu Editorial (​Gates in the sky) – Jan 17, 2025: