THE LEONID METEOROID SHOWER: LOTS OF ALARM, NO HARM

Last week's Leonid meteoroid shower left most satellite operators worldwide relieved that it didn't damage any birds in its wake. The Indian Space Research Organisation's (Isro's) nine satellites, which were switched off at 23:00 hours on 17 November just before the peak of the storm that night, were switched on the next morning. Isro chairman Dr K. Kasturirangan said that 69 transponders on Isro satellites were functioning well. The organisation, however, kept a close vigil on the birds till 20 November.