The Russian-Indian satellite launched last week to study solar energy is functioning normally. The scientific satellite YouthSat, with a lift-off mass of 92 kg., was launched into orbit on 20 April by an Indian polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV). This spacecraft will collect information about solar flares and their influence on the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The decision to implement the Russian-Indian YouthSat satellite project was taken in January 2007 during a visit by then President Vladimir Putin to India. The project is meant to develop contacts between young people in both countries. YouthSat’s mission is to transmit information to Earth that will help us understand how variability in solar activity affects our planet’s upper atmosphere. Read More