GSLV with indigenous cryogenic engine to be launched in April 2013
Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) P S Veeraraghavan has said that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is well on course to launching its GSLV space mission with indigenously built cryogenic engine in April 2013.
"Most of the systems for the launch are ready and we are now into the final leg of certain tests, which will validate the mission involving indigenous cryogenic engine," Veeraraghavan told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on 'Aerospace and related mechanisms' here on Thursday. The Thiruvananthapuram-based VSSC is the lead centre of ISRO for development of satellite launch vehicles and associated technologies.
The GSLV mission's first flight, 'D3', using ISRO designed and built cryogenic engine, had failed in April 2010 due to the malfunctioning of fuel booster turbo pump. The launch vehicle was carrying a 2,200 kg GSAT-4 payload.
"We did a thorough analysis of the D3 flight and identified the reasons behind its failure," Veeraraghavan said. "The analysis called for a redesign of certain components in the cryogenic propulsion system and the same has now been addressed and is being put through multiple testing," he said.
"Most tests have been completed except for the high altitude test, which validates the mission of our cryogenic engine. We hope to complete this and launch the GSLV mission by April 2013," Veeraraghavan said.
Asked about the Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission, Veeraraghavan said, "The immediate focus is on the launch of the Mars Orbiter Mission that is expected to happen in October/November 2013. We have to ensure that the launch happens by the targeted slot. Otherwise, we won't get a slot for another two years," he said. India plans to send a spaceship near Mars and collect important scientific information as part of the orbiter mission.
He said, "Chandrayaan-2, which is a joint programme with the Russian Federal Space Agency, has been delayed due to some major reversals suffered by Russia in their launch vehicles, including their mission to Mars, last year. The Russians have decided that they will give a lander, which is the most complex of the Chandrayaan-2 elements, only after flying the same at least once."
Initial plans chalked out under the joint programme, provided for the launch of Chandrayaan-2 by using a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), in 2014. It includes a lunar orbiter and a lunar rover to be made by the ISRO centres and a lander built by the Russian space agency.
The mission will use and test various new technologies and conduct new experiments. The wheeled rover will move on the lunar surface and will pick up soil or rock samples for on-site chemical analysis. The data will be sent to earth through the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter.
Veeraraghavan said, "Developing high temperature thermal protection system; new materials with lower weights, higher strength, guidance and control; and air-breathing propulsion system are major challenges in the efforts to reduce the cost of launching a space mission. For now, the cost of launching 1 kg of payload into an orbit is $ 20,000 and very few countries can afford that."
He said, "Ongoing efforts in the US, Europe and India are aimed at reducing this cost initially to $ 2,000 per kg payload and eventually to $ 200 per kg payload. This requires good quality high temperature thermal protection system, particularly for situations like a hypersonic re-entry where the material has to take very high temperature and load."
"The VSSC is working on the next variant of GSLV Mark III launch vehicles that will make India totally self-reliant in the area of launch vehicles, Veeraraghavan said. The centre is further working on development of resusable launch vehicles that can deliver a spacecraft into the orbit and return for a repeat use. This will bring down the cost of space transport."
Nearly 450 delegates from premier research labs, defence and academic organizations and industry are participating in the seminar that will address some of the current issues related to aerospace mechanisms that are critical for satellite launch vehicles, spacecraft, missiles and combat aircraft, among others. The Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) is hosting the event, organized by the Indian National Society for Aerospace and Related Mechanisms (INSARM).
Its a tough fight after many failures,
All the best ISRO!
More information GSLV-Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
GSLV's next launch in April: Veeraraghavan - The Times of India
Delays are part and parcel of such complex projects, if you are so full of confidence why dont you launch your own private space research agency and try to lauch satellites, then we will see who talks about boasting.
