ISRO General News and Updates

[A chauhan]

GSAT-10 to be launched on September 29

Published September 24, 2012 | By admin, SOURCE: PTI



India's communication satellite GSAT-10 would be launched from the Kourou launch base in French Guyana on September 29.

GSAT-10, weighing 3,400kg at lift-off, is the heaviest that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has built and would be the 101st mission for the agency.

An ISRO statement here today said the satellite had been integrated with the Ariane-5 launch vehicle along with co-passenger ASTRA-2F, another communication satellite for Luxembourg-based SES.

The lift-off has been scheduled at 2:48 AM (IST) on September 29, it said, adding, the necessary arrangements were being made for live telecast of the launch on Doordarshan.

About 31 minutes after lift-off, the GSAT-10 would be injected into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit and later moved to Geostationary Orbit (circular 36,000km above the equator).

The satellite, with a 15-year life-span, is expected to be operational by November, 2012.

The satellite, carrying 30 communication transponders [12 Ku-band, 12 C-band and 6 Extended C-Band] would provide vital augmentation to INSAT/GSAT transponder capacity.

Also, it has a Navigation payload, GAGAN, that would provide improved accuracy of GPS signals to be used by the Airports Authority of India for Civil Aviation requirements.

This is the second satellite in INSAT/GSAT constellation with GAGAN payload after GSAT-8, launched in May 2011, it said.
GSAT-10 to be launched on September 29 | idrw.org

 

[Ganesh2691]

Countdown for launch of GSAT 10 begins

The 11.5 hour countdown for the launch of the communication satellite GSAT-10 from Kourou in French Guiana in South America has just begun. This is unlike the launch by Isro when it does a 51-hour countdown.

The launch of the GSAT-10 is scheduled for 2.48 am (IST) on September 29 aboard the heavy lift launch vehicle Ariane ECA of European space agency Arianespace.

GSAT-10 satellite, which is Isro's 101st space mission, weighs 3,400 kg at the lift off. "It is the heaviest satellite that Isro has built," said Isro sources. GSAT-10 has been integrated with the Ariane-5 launch vehicle along with a 6,000-kg co-passenger communication satellite ASTRA-2F of Luxembourg-based operator SES.

About 31 minutes after lift off, GSAT-10 would be injected in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit with a perigee (shortest distance from Earth) of 250 km and an apogee (farthest distance from Earth) of about 36,000 km. From there, the satellite would be moved to geostationary orbit (circular 36,000 km above the equator) using the satellite propulsion system in a three step approach.

After this, the solar panels and antennas would be deployed. In the next few weeks, the payload would be turned on to perform a series of in-orbit tests. The satellite is expected to be operational by November 2012. GSAT-10 satellite will be positioned at 83 deg East orbital location along with INSAT-4A and GSAT-12. "The nominal operational life of GSAT-10 is expected to be 15 years," added the Isro sources.

GSAT-10 satellite, carrying 30 communication transponders (12 Ku-band, 12 C-band and six Extended C-Band) would provide vital augmentation to Insat/GSAT transponder capacity. Also, it has a navigation payload 'GAGAN' that would provide improved accuracy of GPS signals (of better than seven metres) to be used by the Airports Authority of India for Civil Aviation requirements. This is the second satellite in the Insat/GSAT constellation with GAGAN payload after GSAT-8, launched in May 2011.

GSAT-10 will be the 15th ISRO satellite to have chosen the European launcher. Since the launch of the Apple experimental satellite on Flight L03 in 1981, Arianespace has orbited 14 Indian satellites.

Ariane 5 is the only commercial satellite launcher now on the market capable of simultaneously launching two payloads and handling a complete range of missions, from launches of commercial satellites into geostationary orbit, to dedicated launches into special orbits.

Countdown for launch of GSAT 10 begins

 

[Ganesh2691]

Heaviest Indian satellite launched successfully

GSAT-10, India's advanced communication satellite has been successfully launched early Saturday morning from the French Guiana space-port in Europe.

The satellite was launched on board Ariane-5 ECA which also carried Astra 2F, a communications satellite owned by Luxembourg based SES, the world's second-largest telecommunications satellite operator by revenue. Airane 5 ECA which uses cryogenic engine is the improved and most powerful version of Ariane 5 range of rocket launchers.

At 3,400 kg at lift-off, GSAT-10 is the heaviest satellite ever built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The satellite which has a design life of 15 years carries 30 communication transponders including 12 Ku-band, 12 C-band and six extended C-band transponders which will immensely help telecommunications, direct-to-home and radio navigation services.
It also carried a navigation payload GAGAN (GPS aided Geo Augmented Navigation) which would provide improved accuracy of GPS signals to be used for providing navigation services to airlines and ships. Incidentally, GSAT-10 will be the second satellite after GSAT-8 to carry the Gagan payload.

Minutes after the launch, ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan said the master control facility (MCF) in Hassan, Karnataka said has already taken command and control of the satellite. "By November 2012, we expect to operationalise GSAT-10 and make it available to the user community," said Radhakrishnan who monitored the launch at MC.

GSAT-10 was originally scheduled for a September 22 launch, but was deferred after scientists detected a small glitch -- one gram of dust -- in the upper part of the rocket.

GSAT-10 Project Director TK Anuradha, Additional Secretary of Department of Space, S Srinivasan and Director of ISRO Satellite Centre S K Shivakumar were among key ISRO officials who were present in French Guiana for the launch.

The project cost of GSAT-10 was Rs 750 crore which includes the cost of satellite, launch services and insurance.

Heaviest Indian satellite launched successfully

 

[Bangalorean]

India's rocket launch business is open to industry | NDTV.com

New Delhi: In a bold move, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is opening up to market forces and is hoping to hand over part of the lucrative rocket launch business and satellite manufacturing to the Indian industry.

India's workhorse rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which has completed 20 consecutively successful launches under the eagle eye of ISRO, is one such technology that the agency is hoping to hive off to private players. Today, about 80 % of the vehicle is put together with parts supplied by the private industry. If K Radhakrishnan, the current chairman of ISRO and a manager trained at the Indian Institute of Management at Bangalore has his way, then the entire vehicle itself could well be made and launched by private players.

Mr Radhakrishnan says, "The PSLV is a reliable vehicle...there are requirements of putting Indian satellites, and in the global market, the PSLV too has a niche. Capability is there, demand is there, now how to enhance the capacity to realize more PSLVs? As of now more than 400 industrial firms are working for realizing various elements of PSLV. Can we get the Indian space industry to realize the [entire] PSLV vehicle itself?"

Each PSLV vehicle costs the tax payer about Rs. 120 crores, and today ISRO can, at best, fabricate four PSLV rockets per year. In the next two-three years, almost a dozen launches of PSLV are already slated and ISRO will be stretched to meet these requirements.

The plan is to carve out a 250-acre, dedicated 'Space Park' adjoining the space port at Sriharikota, which could be used by private players to develop the Indian aerospace industry.

ISRO is also thinking of hiving off the money-spinning communication satellite business. Adding further, Mr Radhakrishnan said, "On communications satellites, there is a large demand for transponders today. So, if the proven platforms of communications satellites...if they could be replicated with the help of the industry. With industry taking a major role, that is another way of meeting the national demands at the earliest possible."

Today, the global space business is valued at $ 177 billion and growing. So, will the Indian industry not want a share? M V Kotwal, Board Member, Larsen & Toubro & President Heavy Engineering and head of L&T's space and nuclear business told NDTV, "If ISRO is interested in partnering the Indian Industry in overall management of the entire Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle programme and the communications satellite fabrication programme, it is a very welcome and necessary step. With its wide experience and expertise in project management, L&T would be positively inclined and well placed to take over the complete programme management with technical support from ISRO. In future, we could jointly explore global opportunities in these domains."

With missions to Mars, moon and sun on the mind, ISRO rightfully seeks to divest itself of repeat and routine manufacturing which is best done by nimble private players, but with the Antrix-Devas fiasco fresh in everyone's mind, will the private players really bite the bait? ISRO now seeks to do what it does best - cutting-edge research. So it now wants to sell off its launcher and communication satellite units to the industry.

Excellent move. Don't know how I missed this news!! They should go ahead with this ASAP. I can foresee a time when Indian companies get satellite launches 'outsourced" to them from all over the world. Just like a large percentage of software written today passes through India or Indian hands, a large percentage of space launches will happen from India. :thumb: :cool2:

 

[Ganesh2691]

Indian satellite placed in geosynchronous orbit

India's heaviest communication satellite (GSAT-10) was Wednesday placed in the geosynchronous orbit, about 36,000 km above the earth, the Indian space agency said.

"The 3.4-tonne satellite was placed in the geosynchronous orbit at 35,734 km apogee (farthest from earth) and 35,585 km perigee (nearest to earth) through the third and final orbit-raising exercise," the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement here.

The orbit-raising manueouveres were carried from the master control facility (MCF) of the space agency at Hassan in Karnataka, about 180 km from Bangalore.

The orbital period of the satellite will be 23 hours and 50 minutes.

"The MCF has also deployed the spacecraft's two solar panels and two reflector antennas after it reached the final orbit at 70.18 east longitude," ISRO said.

The satellite will soon be moved towards its designated location of 83 degrees east for conducting its communication and navigation payloads (instruments)," it said.

GSAT-10 was launched Sep 29 on board the Ariane-V rocket of the European Space Agency (Arianespace) from its Kourou spaceport in French Guiana and injected into an elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit 30 minutes after a smooth lift-off.

The MCF took over the command of the satellite after its injection into the orbit for monitoring its health and the subsequent orbit-raising exercise, which began early Sunday.

GSAT-10 has 30 transponders, including 12 in normal C-band, six in lower extended C-band and 12 Ku-band and a GPS (global positioning system) aided Geo augmented navigation (Gagan) payload operating in L1 and L5 bands.

As a two-way device, a transponder receives signals over a range of uplink frequencies and re-transmits them on a different set of downlink frequencies to receivers on earth without changing the content (voice, data or pictures) of the received signals.

The cost of the GSAT-10, including its launch and insurance, is Rs.750 crore ($136 million).

GSAT-10 will augment the communication transponders' capacity to 198 from 168 in the Indian satellite (INSAT) system.

Incidentally, GSAT-10 is the second satellite after GSAT-8 to carry the Gagan payload for providing navigation services to airlines and ships.

The Ku-band transponder will also help in accurately pointing ground antennas towards the satellite.

With a 15-year life span, GSAT-10 will be positioned at 83 degree east orbital location along with INSAT-4A and GSAT-12.

Indian satellite placed in geosynchronous orbit | idrw.org

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System [IRNSS]

 

[trackwhack]

Re: DRDO to test indigenous scram jet engine next year

Armand you are dreaming if you think ESA will be cost competitive when it comes to sat launches in the future.

 

[Armand2REP]

Re: DRDO to test indigenous scram jet engine next year

Armand you are dreaming if you think ESA will be cost competitive when it comes to sat launches in the future.

Well, Vega costs $23.5 million to launch. PSLV cost $17.5 million in 1999. With inflation over 13 years I suspect it is cheaper to launch from Vega.

 

[jalsa]

Re: DRDO to test indigenous scram jet engine next year

I think ISRO recently launched a French satellite on board PSLV.

 

[Armand2REP]

Re: DRDO to test indigenous scram jet engine next year

I think ISRO recently launched a French satellite on board PSLV.

Recently? I thought it was set for 12-12-12 and it is a joint Indo-French satellite named SARAL. France will launch from Kourou India's GSAT-10 because " the satellite weighs 3.4 tonnes which cannot be lifted by any of our vehicles -- PSLV or GSLV."

ISRO to launch Indo-French satellite SARAL on 12-12-12 - Economic Times

 

[jalsa]

Re: DRDO to test indigenous scram jet engine next year

Recently? I thought it was set for 12-12-12 and it is a joint Indo-French satellite named SARAL. France will launch from Kourou India's GSAT-10 because " the satellite weighs 3.4 tonnes which cannot be lifted by any of our vehicles -- PSLV or GSLV."

ISRO to launch Indo-French satellite SARAL on 12-12-12 - Economic Times

I was talking about SPOT-6 launched onboard PSLV-C21 from Sriharikota on 9-9-2012.


ISRO launches historic PSLV-21 from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh

 

[Armand2REP]

Re: DRDO to test indigenous scram jet engine next year

I was talking about SPOT-6 launched onboard PSLV-C21 from Sriharikota on 9-9-2012.


ISRO launches historic PSLV-21 from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh

And? Vega has only had one test launch. When it is operational PSLV will not be the option of choice.

 

[Ganesh2691]

Nose Cone Adaptor (NCA) of GSLV MK-III Delivered to VSSC : HAL

The first Nose Cone Adaptor (NCA) Assembly-V2 version of GSLV MK-III was handed over to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
(VSSC) of ISRO in Bangalore on November 10,2012.

The Nose Cone Adaptor (NCA) is an intricate riveted structural assembly of S200 stage (solid booster stage) of Geo-stationary
Satellite Launch Vehicle MK-III. The S200 solid booster stage is attached to the main core vehicle
through NCA assembly. The assembly is cylindrical in shape, 3200 mm in diameter and 1600 mm in height . The assembly is delivered to ISRO in a record time of six months from the receipt of drawings.

Nose Cone Adaptor (NCA) of GSLV MK-III Delivered to VSSC : HAL | idrw.org

 

[Bheeshma]

Re: DRDO to test indigenous scram jet engine next year

Vega is and will always be an economic failure. Deal with it. The Vega's launch cost is more like 23 million Euro not dollars and no it cannot compete on cost with PSLV.EADS already realized they have no medium launcher in the GSLV-mkII segment and have gone to russia for soyuz since the vega itself is an fiasco.

http://www.spacenews.com/article/vega-expected-be-price-competitive-russian-rockets#.ULgvdazvFv4

32 million euro per launch.

http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/vega.html

23.5 million in 2005 dollars, = 27.58 million in 2012.

Yeah who was it that said..there are lies , damn lies and then statistics. There are liars, damned liars and this idiot.

 

[Armand2REP]

Re: DRDO to test indigenous scram jet engine next year

Vega is and will always be an economic failure. Deal with it. The Vega's launch cost is more like 23 million Euro not dollars and no it cannot compete on cost with PSLV.EADS already realized they have no medium launcher in the GSLV-mkII segment and have gone to russia for soyuz since the vega itself is an fiasco.

Yeah who was it that said..there are lies , damn lies and then statistics. There are liars, damned liars and this idiot.

Uh, how can Vega be a failure when it has only had one test launch? The cost is 23 million when the supply chains and production facilities are set. It has not entered full rate production for scaled savings yet so your banter is just that.

 

[Bheeshma]

your lies about 23 million per launch is pure rubbish. The latest Jan 23 report puts the estimated cost at 30 mil euros. If Vega was actually that cheap Spot-6 wouldn't have been launched on PSLV. Again 23 mil in 2005 dollars is nearly 27 mil today. It simply cannot stand economically against PSLV or Spacex falcon.

 

[sasi]

Indian Defence News - Three key ISRO centres get new chiefs
Bangalore : The state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has appointed three new directorsfor its various operational centres at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu and spaceport Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
In a statement late Tuesday, the space agency said noted scientist S. Ramakrishnan tookover as director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)at Thiruvananthapuram from P.S. Veeraraghavan, who retired Monday.
Senior scientist M. Chandradathan replaced Ramakrishnan as director of the space agency's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) at Mahendragiri, and another distinguished scientist, M.Y.S. Prasad replaced Chandradathan as director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota, about 90 km northeast of Chennai.
VSSC is the lead centre for the design and development of rocket technologies for the Indian space programme.
Ramarishnan worked under former president and renowned scientist A.P.J. AbdulKalam in developing the country's first satellite launch vehicle (SLV-3) and the spaceagency's workhorse, the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV).
Prior to heading LPSC, Ramakrishnan was project director of the geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV-Mark III) and chairman of the flight readiness review for the country's maiden unmanned lunar mission Chandrayaan-1 in 2008.
As former SDSC director, Chandradathan contributed to the development of solid boosters for PSLV and GSLV rockets and in setting up new mission control centre and launch control centre and newfacilities to meet the future launch vehicle requirements of the premier spaceport.
As a veteran of the space agency's launch vehicle development programme, Prasad was associate directorof SDSC prior to his new appointment and director of ISRO's master control facility at Hassan, about 180 km fromBangalore, and supervised the setting of a new master control facility at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.
Prasad was also space counsellor in the Indian embassy in Paris (France) andinterfaced with international space agencies, including the aerospace industries of European countries for ISRO'sprogrammes.
/

 

[sasi]

IRNSS

GAGAN

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

may be after completion of 7 satellite launch this system can be modified to become indian gps having 30 satellites.

 

[WMD]

ISRO plans to push more satellites this year
SOURCE: THE HINDU

The coming year's Rs.5,615-crore outlay for the Department of Space has no new or big-ticket projects even as it levels the allocation exactly with what was earmarked originally for 2012-13.

The prestigious Mars Orbiter Mission — floated some two years back and slated for October this year — looks the fanciest, while the launch vehicles continue to get their proud slice of the pie.

This year, apart from the Mars project estimated at Rs.450 crore, the space agency wants to push its first navigational satellite (NSS), the dedicated GSAT-7 spacecraft (costing Rs. 462 crore with launcher) for the Navy; and the four-tonne advanced communications satellite ACTS or GSAT-11, a senior Indian Space Research Organisation official told The Hindu.

The ACTS will be the heaviest satellite to be built to date by ISRO.

The advanced Geo-Imaging Satellite GISAT to be put in the medium Earth orbit is on the to-do list.

The completion of the GSLV rocket with its indigenous cryogenic engine and GSLV Mark-III — its big brother version for lifting 4-tonne satellites — remain priorities, the official said. Mk-III is slated for the first trial in the second half of this year without the cryo-stage.

These two, along with the semi-cryogenic programme, get about Rs. 420 crore.
NON-PLAN PROVISION

Last year's outlay is now revised to Rs.5,615 crore from Rs.3,880 crore.

This year, DoS gets a non-Plan provision of Rs.1,177 crore.

An upgraded PSLV rocket will lift the 1,300-kg Mars spacecraft to the longest space haul that India has ever travelled — after the 4-lakh-km Chandrayaan-1 mission of 2008.

An outlay of Rs.167.5 crore has been set apart for the Mars mission in the budget.

In the absence of the GSLV to lift communications satellites above 2,000 kg, three procured or foreign launches have been factored in for the ACTS, GSAT 15 and 16.

Chandrayaan-2 and the human flight plan, which get relatively small outlays, have been put on the backburner for now, the official said.