India's Space based Telescopes and Astronomical spacecraft

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For Compilation of India's Space Based Exploration Observatory.
As of now, I do know about three:

1. X - Ray Polarimeter Experiment (XpoSat)
2. Astronomical Satellite -1 (AstroSat -1)
3. Astronomical Satellite - 2 (AstroSat -2)

Out of the three, AstroSat - 1 is in the orbit and we do have a lot of data available from that.
http://astrosat.iucaa.in/

 

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For XpoSat, a six months old article:
Space outlay almost a status quo 1.6% hike with no new spark on horizon this year
Up next:

* A heavy foreign spacecraft to be bought to bridge transponder shortage
* Space Docking Experiment Mission to dock two small satellites in space

* Xposat, a small satellite to study cosmic X-ray sources

* Entry into untried, advanced Ka band with GSAT-20 spacecraft

The national space programme has got an allocation increase of around 1.6 per cent (Rs. 121 crore) and almost no new major spark of activity or infrastructure on the horizon.

This is at a time the space agency says it is trying to quicken the pace of making its spacecraft, launchers and also move up the launch vehicle technology.

The total outlay for 2016-17 is Rs. 7509 crore versus last year's Rs. 7388 crore.

The proposed Plan outlay of Rs. 6000 crore is the same as what the Department of Space - which forms the country's strategic troika along with Atomic Energy and Defence R&D - received in the last Budget.

Recently the chairman of the visiting Parliamentary Standing Committee on Space, Defence and other areas had said he would recomment 50 per cent higher outlay for DoS but reality has been far from it.

All the increase, again this time, is in the Non-Plan part, which has gone up from Rs 1388 crore last year to Rs. 1509 crore this year (or a rise of 8.7 per cent.)

Unlike the previous years, Budget documents do not tell what has been set aside for the individual projects related to future spacecraft for communication and Earth observation, launchers or new facilities planned at various centres.

Unused amount

Revised estimates for 2015-16 show that the Department could not spend Rs. 429 crore of the total outlay. (It was a much higher Rs. 1412 crore last time.)

Among the major centres, compared to 2015-16 ISRO Satellite Centre gets 145 per cent jump in outlay with Rs. 948 crore. Lead centre for launch vehicle development Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre gets 78 per cent higher allocation at around Rs. 1835 crore. Satish Dhawan Space Centre 20 per cent increase at around Rs. 843 crore. And payload developer Space Applications Centre 28 per cent more or around Rs. 578 crore.

 

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About Budgets for the missions (I got to know about AstroSat - 2 from here.:biggrin2
http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2016-17/eb/sbe84.pdf

 

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ASTROSAT​

ASTROSAT is a multi-wavelength astronomy mission on an IRS-class satellite in a 650-km, near-equatorial orbit. It was launched by the Indian launch vehicle PSLV from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota on September 28, 2015. The expected operating life time of the satellite will be more than five years.

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On board ASTROSAT are five astronomy payloads for simultaneous multi-band observations:

• Twin 38-cm Ultraviolet Imaging Telescopes (UVIT) covering Far-UV to optical bands.

• Three units of Large Area Xenon Proportional Counters (LAXPC) covering medium energy X-rays from 3 to 80 keV with an effective area of 8000 sq.cm. at 10 keV.

• A Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) with conical foil mirrors and X-ray CCD detector, covering the energy range 0.3-8 keV. The effective area will be about 120 sq.cm. at 1 keV.

• A Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride coded-mask imager (CZTI), covering hard X-rays from 10 to 150 keV, with about 6 deg field of view and 480 sq.cm. effective area.

• A Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) consisting of three one-dimensional position-sensitive proportional counters with coded masks. The assembly is placed on a rotating platform to scan the available sky once every six hours in order to locate transient X-ray sources.

ASTROSAT will operate as a proposal-driven general purpose observatory, with main scientific focus on:

• Simultaneous multi-wavelength monitoring of intensity variations in a broad range of cosmic sources.
• Monitoring the X-ray sky for new transients.
• Sky surveys in the hard X-ray and UV bands.
• Broadband spectroscopic studies of X-ray binaries, AGN, SNRs, clusters of galaxies and stellar coronae.
• Studies of periodic and non-periodic variability of X-ray sources.

Open observing time on ASTROSAT will start one year after launch, for which proposals will be invited from the astronomy community. The primary data archive for ASTROSAT will be located at the Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) near Bangalore, India.

The Ground Command and Control Centre for ASTROSAT is located at ISTRAC, Bangalore, India. Commanding and data download will be possible during every visible pass over Bangalore. Ten out of 14 orbits per day are visible to the ground station for long enough to accomplish full data download.

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A set of pictures showing LAXPC under development:

 

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A set of pictures showing CZTI under development:




http://astrosat.iucaa.in/?q=node/62

 

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From UVIT (Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope) on AstroSat -1:

NUV Image of the galaxy in the sky. This image is corrected for drifts using UVIT itself; This image was acquired on Dec. 17, 2015. NGC 2336 is a barred spiral galaxy more than 100 million light years away. The spiral arms are indicative of several star forming regions and hence this galaxy is a very good target for UV studies (at present this image is one of the best resolved, large field NUV image of this galaxy and its surroundings)

http://www.isro.gov.in/astrosat-completes-100-days-orbit

 

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ISRO Scores Big With This ASTROSAT Instrument

 

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http://www.isro.gov.in/pslv-c30-astrosat-mission/astrosat-support-cell-asc-has-been-set-iucaa-pune

This Red Star Had Scientists Stumped for Decades. India’s ASTROSAT Solved Puzzle in 7 Months
Public Access will be there from October.

 

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http://www.isro.gov.in/astrosatmission/AO

AstroSat observes the high energy X-ray variability of a black hole system

 

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NGC 2336 in one of its best resolved view from UVIT

CZTI detected a GRB

SSM observations on a Black hole source GRS 1915+105

LAXPC observed Cygnus X-1

X-ray Spectrum of Tycho supernova remnant using SXT

 

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AstroSat Mission (ISRO Website) - all in One Page:

Astrosat

ASTROSAT is India’s first dedicated multi wavelength space observatory. This scientific satellite mission endeavours for a more detailed understanding of our universe. One of the unique features of ASTROSAT mission is that enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects with a single satellite.

ASTROSAT observes universe in the optical, Ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, whereas most other scientific satellites are capable of observing a narrow range of wavelength band. Multi-wavelength observations of ASTROSAT can be further extended with co-ordinated observations using other spacecraft and ground based observations. All major astronomy Institutions and some Universities in India are participating in these observations.

ASTROSAT with a lift-off mass of about 1513 kg was launched into a 650 km orbit inclined at an angle of 6 deg to the equator by PSLV-C30. After injection into Orbit, the two solar panels of ASTROSAT were automatically deployed in quick succession. The spacecraft control centre at Mission Operations Complex (MOX) of ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bangalore manages the satellite during its mission life.

The science data gathered by five payloads of ASTROSAT are telemetered to the ground station at MOX. The data is then processed, archived and distributed by Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) located at Byalalu, near Bangalore.

The scientific objectives of ASTROSAT mission are:

• To understand high energy processes in binary star systems containing neutron stars and black holes
• Estimate magnetic fields of neutron stars
• Study star birth regions and high energy processes in star systems lying beyond our galaxy
• Detect new briefly bright X-ray sources in the sky
• Perform a limited deep field survey of the Universe in the Ultraviolet region

Payloads of ASTROSAT :

Five payloads of ASTROSAT are chosen to facilitate a deeper insight into the various astrophysical processes occurring in the various types of astronomical objects constituting our universe. These payloads rely on the visible, Ultraviolet and X-rays coming from distant celestial sources.

1. The Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), capable of observing the sky in the Visible, Near Ultraviolet and Far Ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum
2. Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC), is designed for study the variations in the emission of X-rays from sources like X-ray binaries, Active Galactic Nuclei and other cosmic sources.
3. Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) is designed for studying how the X-ray spectrum of 0.3-8 keV range coming from distant celestial bodies varies with time.
4. Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI), functioning in the X-ray region, extends the capability of the satellite to sense X-rays of high energy in 10-100 keV range.
5. Scanning Sky Monitor(SSM), is intended to scan the sky for long term monitoring of bright X-ray sources in binary stars, and for the detection and location of sources that become bright in X-rays for a short duration of time.

Launch Vehicle:
PSLV-C30/AstroSat MISSION
Manufacturer:
ISRO
Owner:
ISRO

PSLV-C30/AstroSat MISSION

• Gallery
• PSLV-C30/ASTROSAT Launch Live Webcast
• Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) Payload onboard AstroSat made Operational – October 12th, 2015
• Astrosat
• Astrosat First Light: CZT Imager Looks at Crab Nebula
• Astrosat Mission Explained - Video
• Book on AstroSat Released - Download the Free Copy
• Brochure
• CZT Imager detects a Gamma-ray Burst
• First Light with the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) for ASTROSAT
• Make your own AstroSat Model
• AstroSat Support Cell (ASC) has been Set up at IUCAA, Pune

 

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Sep 29, 2016
A science meet to commemorate one year of AstroSat in orbit

India's first dedicated Astronomy satellite, AstroSat, completed its first year of successful operation on Sept 28, 2016. Towards this, a one day meeting was organised at Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune on Thursday, Sept 29, 2016, to highlight the technical and scientific achievements of this Space Observatory.

Chairman, ISRO dedicated the AstroSat Science Support Cell hosted at IUCAA (http://astrosat-ssc.iucaa.in/) and delivered the keynote address. This was followed by an official release of AstroSat outreach resources such as posters.

The first scientific results and the future scope of the satellite were presented followed by a panel discussion on the future of Indian Space Astronomy. The meeting was attended by several dignitaries from ISRO and other institutes from all over the country who have been involved with AstroSat.

During this period of one year, the spacecraft has orbited the earth more than 5400 times and has executed 343 individual pointings to 141 different cosmic sources. The observed data are being routinely downloaded at the Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) at every visible pass and are being processed at the Payload Operation Centres.

October 1, 2016 will mark the beginning of the Open Phase of the observatory. Available observing time over the subsequent six-month period (Cycle A02: October 2016-March 2017) was oversubscribed by a factor of six in observing proposals received from researchers of 59 different institutions. The rigorous process of selection of proposals and their scheduling has been completed and AstroSat is now ready to embark on the Open Phase observations.

More...

 

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ISRO’s new portal to publicize Astrosat data soon

Indian Space Research sector has witnessed major achievements and notable milestones over time. With the execution of several rockets and satellites, India is aggressively stepping forward to deepen its root in Global Space Research sect. While ISRO or Indian Space Research Organization has become the key to driving successful space survey segment, the frequent implementation of satellites and missiles have been playing the pivotal roles in this success.

A year before, on 28th September, ISRO launched India’s first multi-wavelength experimental satellite named as Astrosat and following one successful year, the Indian Space Research Organisation on Thursday introduced a web portal for public access to the collected data through the satellite.

In 2015, ISRO dispatched Astrosat on a PSLV-XL and in one year, the space observatory satellite has been able to collect information and explored heaps of fact about the cosmic world. And to honour, this valuable assistance of the Astrosat, ISRO with the collaboration of Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) opened a website which contains all the data discovered and transmitted by the Space Observatory satellite.

 

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Some data published on a Science Journal called Arvix.

AstroSat CZT Imager observations of GRB 151006A: timing, spectroscopy, and polarisation study

AstroSat/LAXPC reveals the high energy variability of GRS 1915+105 in the chi class

 

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AstroSat Completes One Year in Orbit

 

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ISRO looking at putting a telescope on moon, says A S Kiran Kumar

 

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ISRO in talks with international bodies for setting up remote-controlled telescope on Moon

While addressing the students of IIT Madras, ISRO chief A S Kiran Kumar revealed that the Indian space agency is in talks with foreign agencies for sending a remote controlled telescope on Moon in order to improve scientific research and obtain more accurate data. ISRO will start developing the telescope as soon as the deal is inked with any international body.

He further added that engineers at ISRO are checking the feasibility and exploring of possibilities of operating a telescope on Lunar surface. India’s lunar telescope will have scientific observation capability similar to the one in Handley in West Virginia, US.

At the meeting, ISRO Chief talked about the success of ASTROSAT — India’s first fully dedicated space observatory satellite which was successfully launched in its maiden attempt along with six other foreign satellites on 29 September 2015. ISRO’s low-cost 1.5 ton satellite was launched by a trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-30. ASTROSAT which is injected into a 650 km orbit is equipped with one UV telescope, a charge particle monitor and will carry four X-ray payloads. India is only the fourth nation to achieve the feat after the US, Russia, and Japan.

 

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Announcement of Opportunity (AO) soliciting proposals for second AO cycle observations
AO procedures​

Criteria for applying:

This announcement is open to Indian scientists/ researchers residing in India and working at institutes/Universities/colleges in India, who

• are involved in research in the area of astronomy and

• are equipped to submit proposals as Principal Investigators (PIs) for specific target observations with necessary scientific and technical justification and

• Can analyse the data, if the target is observed based on approvals.

Announcement of Opportunity (AO) soliciting proposals for second AO cycle observations

• 1. Introduction and Schedule
• 2. Observing cycles
• 3. Overview of proposal preparation, submission and selection
• 4. Aspects of duplication
• 5. Data processing, data rights and publication

Courtesy: ISRO - Government of India

 

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1. Introduction and Schedule​

AstroSat is the first dedicated Indian astronomy mission aimed at studying celestial sources in X-ray, UV and limited optical spectral bands simultaneously, thus providing a space astronomy observatory which is operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The satellite is at 650 km near-equatorial orbit with 6-degree orbital inclination.

AstroSat completed one year in orbit on 28th September 2016. Currently, the first AO cycle proposals are being executed.

The details on the mission and payloads are available in the ISRO website. The technical details of payloads are described in the AstroSat Handbook.

A significant amount of AstroSat’s observing time is made available to proposers / guest observers. The availability of AstroSat time will be made through Announcements of Opportunity (AO). Electronic submission of proposals through AstroSat Proposal Processing System (APPS) software at ISSDC website will be required to submit a proposal in response to this AO. Submitted proposals will be reviewed by the AstroSat Time Allocation Committee (ATAC) and AstroSat Technical Committee (ATC) for scientific merit and technical feasibility.

The observations will be planned as per mission scheduling. The PI will be informed, after the completion of successful observation for the downloading of processed Level-1 data. After the 12 months proprietary period, which starts from the day Level-1 is made available to the PI, the archived data will be open to registered users and will be available in ISSDC.

This AO soliciting proposals for the second AO cycle is exclusive for Indian proposers as Principal Investigators (PIs) to utilise AstroSat observatory time. The observations will be carried out in the period between April to September 2017 (approximately).

All announcements regarding exact dates and proposal submission will be from the Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) website (http://www.issdc.gov.in) and AstroSat Support Cell (ASC) website (http://astrosat-ssc.iucaa.in/).

For all matters related to a proposal, the Principal Investigator (PI) of the proposal is the single point of contact for ISRO. The PI will be informed through e-mail about the status of the submitted proposals. It is expected that necessary facilities for carrying out the AO project will be provided by respective host institutions.

The deadline for submission of proposals will be announced in ISSDC and ASC websites.

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