India's Moon Exploration Program

[S.A.T.A]

Unlike the PSLV, GSLV always gives me butterflies in the stomach. It is being said that some govt run precision tooling center in Odisha had supplied critical valves to the cryogenic engines fuel injection system. Wondering if this was a new supplier.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Unlike the PSLV, GSLV always gives me butterflies in the stomach. It is being said that some govt run precision tooling center in Odisha had supplied critical valves to the cryogenic engines fuel injection system. Wondering if this was a new supplier.

This is not the GSLV which gives you butterflies in stomach. That was a different launcher while this is a different name. Both are totally different except their names.

 

[S.A.T.A]

This is not the GSLV which gives you butterflies in stomach. That was a different launcher while this is a different name. Both are totally different except their names.

Well ironically it does now and the snag that is being reported, into only its third iteration, is not making me any less anxious.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Well ironically it does now and the snag that is being reported, into only its third iteration, is not making me any less anxious.

May be but GSLV MkIIi is far more safer rocket than GSLV. All its earlier 3 launches were successful.

 

[vampyrbladez]

I'm saying later one was an American rocket, not Israeli capability at all.

Second, if it's all about landing a cart on moon, we could do with a small cart on PSLV a decade ago.

It's a bunch of NEETs and not some scientists.

 

[S.A.T.A]

May be but GSLV MkIIi is far more safer rocket than GSLV. All its earlier 3 launches were successful.

Well we can only pray that GSLV series becomes as reliable as the PSLV. Future of Indian space exploration depends on that.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

It's a bunch of NEETs and not some scientists.

It should not be called Israeli space mission, counterpart of Indian mission in that case, exactly what has been going on in media.

Well we can only pray that GSLV series becomes as reliable as the PSLV.

GSLVs after changes now, are as reliable as PSLVs.
GSLV MkIII will have major changes soon however to boost its payload capacity further. So, it will need a dozen more successful launches to validate its reliability.

Future of Indian space exploration depends on that

Future of Indian space exploration depends upon modular heavy lift launch vehicles ISRO is developing & medium lift launchers being developed by private sector.

Current rockets are going to retire soon.

 

[S.A.T.A]

It should not be called Israeli space mission, counterpart of Indian mission in that case, exactly what has been going on in media.

GSLVs after changes now, are as reliable as PSLVs.
GSLV MkIII will have major changes soon however to boost its payload capacity further. So, it will need a dozen more successful launches to validate its reliability.

Future of Indian space exploration depends upon modular heavy lift launch vehicles ISRO is developing & medium lift launchers being developed by private sector.

Current rockets are going to retire soon.

The next generation launch systems, like the ULV, envisioned by ISRO is contingent upon us mastering the cryogenic stage, which so far has been our Achilles heels. Until the GSLV series notches up the same rate of sucess /failure ratio as the PSLV and do it fast, our space effort will be hamstrung.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

The next generation launch systems, like the ULV, envisioned by ISRO is contingent upon us mastering the cryogenic stage, which so far has been our Achilles heels. Until the GSLV series notches up the same rate of sucess /failure ratio as the PSLV and do it fast, our space effort will be hamstrung.

Reliability depends upon success in previous a dozen launches rather than success to launch ratio. Problems in GSLVs have been rectified.
Yeah, GSLV Mk3 & cryogenics, that is something yet to mature. UMLV is standardization ISRO's expendable orbital launch systems and that is the ultimate future of Indian space program.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

‘Problem in Chandrayaan-2 rocket, lucky to detect’, say ISRO sources
Chandrayaan 2 Launch Mission: A committee of experts will now examine what went wrong and suggest ways to remove the glitches, it will take about a week to determine what exactly went wrong, the source added.

A view of the Chandrayaan-2 on board GSLVMkIII-M1 at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Nellore district, Saturday, July 13, 2019. (PTI photo)

The launch of Chandrayaan 2 was called off as rocket was not functioning according to laid down parameters, sources at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told HT, adding that the strategy was to launch the mission as quickly as possible.

“The rocket functioning was not according to laid down parameters... we are extremely lucky to detect the anomaly just before the launch, we are in control, the rocket and satellite are safe,” the source added, hours after the moon mission was called off.

The GSLV Mark III carrying the orbiter, lander, and rover was to take off at 02:51 am Monday morning from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, the country’s only launch site, but the countdown clock was stopped 56 minutes before the scheduled time.

A committee of experts will now examine what went wrong and suggest ways to remove the glitches, it will take about a week to determine what exactly went wrong, the source added.

A committee of experts will now examine what went wrong and suggest ways to remove the glitches, it will take about a week to determine what exactly went wrong, the source added.

“We will have to dismantle the rocket to get to the root of the problem… we have window till month end to launch the mission,” the source added.

There were four suitable window periods for the launch in the month of July – July 15 and 16 and then again during new moon on July 29 and 30.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

NOTAM

A1550/19 NOTAMN
Q) VOMF/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/
A) VOMF B) 1907172100 C) 1907311000
D) BTN 2100-2200 ON 17 JUL AND BTN 0830-1000 ON 18-31 JUL
E) GSLV- MKIII- M1 CHANDRAYAAN-2 ROCKET LAUNCH FM SHAR RANGE,
SHRIHARIKOTA WILL TAKE PLACE AS PER FLW DETAILS. THE LAUNCH WILL BE
ON ANY ONE OF THE DAY DRG THIS PERIOD.ACTUAL DATE OF LAUNCH WILL BE
INTIMATED 24 HR IN ADVANCE THROUGH A SEPARATE NOTAM.
LAUNCH PAD COORDINATES : 134312.00N 0801348.00E
NO FLT IS PERMITTED OVER THE DNG ZONES

DANGER ZONE -1: IS A CIRCLE OF 10 NAUTICAL MILES AROUND THE LAUNCH
PAD.

DANGER ZONE -2:
I. 1230N 08240
II. 1315N 08250
III. 1245N 08410
IV. 1200N 08400

DANGER ZONE -3
I. 1135N 08500
II. 1225N 08510
III. 1145N 08715
IV. 1055N 08705

DANGER ZONE 4
I. 0810N 09420
II. 0900N 09440E
III. 0825N 09615
IV. 0735N 09555

ROUTES AFFECTED IN CHENNAI FIR :
W20, Q11,V4,V9,Q23,Q24,L510,L645,N571,P761,A465

.............................................

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Key decision on Chandrayaan-2 launch date likely Wednesday

HIGHLIGHTS

• If all goes well, we may probably see the launch happen as early as next Monday (July 22), a source said.
• While Monday (July 15) had the longest window of 10 minutes — between 2.51am and 3.01am — Isro will have a window of one minute a day for the rest of the month.

BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) may announce its decision on the next launch date for Chandrayaan-2 on Wednesday, after it “implements corrective action”, sources privy to the developments, said.

“If all goes well, we may probably see the launch happen as early as next Monday (July 22),” said a source. However, Isro is yet to officially make a statement.

Monday’s aborted bid was among the last of a series of launch windows Chandrayaan-2 mission missed since last year.

Every launch has an optimal window to achieve the desired results. While Monday (July 15) had the longest window of 10 minutes — between 2.51am and 3.01am — Isro will have a window of one minute a day for the rest of the month.

The present window closes by this month-end, and if Isro misses it, Chandrayaan-2 may have to wait at least till September. Some scientists said it may not happen this year.

A source from Isro Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (Istrac), said: “The satellite side has done an analysis. According to this, if we miss the July 31 window, there will be an impact on the mission profile.”

The source, while stating that mission planning, will need re-worked if the present window is missed, and there are estimations that a new plan may need more fuel.

“This will affect operations of payloads. If we miss the deadline, the orbiter’s life may be reduced to six months from the present one year, as it would have used up some of its fuel,” the source said.

Also, in an indication of Isro's urgency to launch in the July window, a fresh NOTAM (notice to airmen) — an alert issued ahead of every launch — has been issued Monday evening.

The alert is effective on July 17 between 2.30am and 3.30am, and for July 18 to 31 between 2pm and 3.30pm.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

So, we are going take risk now. If we delay it, launch date will shift to September due to availability of window and life of mission will also reduce by six months.
https://m.timesofindia.com/india/ch...aybe-for-a-few-moons/articleshow/70236163.cms

 

[vampyrbladez]

So, we are going take risk now. If we delay it, launch date will shift to September due to availability of window and life of mission will also reduce by six months.
https://m.timesofindia.com/india/ch...aybe-for-a-few-moons/articleshow/70236163.cms

Will they be able to fix the defects in time for launch?

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Will they be able to fix the defects in time for launch?

They must have LH2 leakage but can't say about LOX.

 

[vampyrbladez]

They must have LH2 leakage but can't say about LOX.

Need a thorough check up. Delay is OK, failure is NOT.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Need a thorough check up. Delay is OK, failure is NOT.

LOX leak wasn't big. It was detected last month.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Isro pinpoints Chandrayaan-2 leak to ‘nipple joint’ of cryogenic engine

GSLV MkIII

CHENNAI: Working overnight on the aborted Chandrayaan-2 , the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) teams have pinpointed the leak in the GSLV-MkIII cryogenic engine to a ‘nipple joint’ of the helium gas bottle that supplies pressure to the fuel and oxidiser. Why it happened remains the crucial question Isro engineers are trying to answer.

Isro had aborted the Chandrayaan-2 launch 56 minutes before its scheduled lift-off at 2.51am on Monday.

“The good news is that we can fix the leak without dismantling the rocket, since there is an access door to the gas bottle which is atop the oxygen tank,” a senior scientist told TOI. “The bad news is that unless we ascertain the reason for the leak, there is a probability of the problem recurring.” Not having to dismantle means Chandrayaan-2 may be able to fly before the end of the July launch window, but a final failure analysis will be available only in a day or two.

Sources told TOI that the leak wasn’t serious enough to impair the flight, but Isro decided to apply “abundant caution,” given the importance of the Rs 978-crore project that would make India only the fourth country – after the US, Russia and China – to land a craft on the lunar surface.

The helium gas bottle has a capacity of 34 litres and it was to be pressured up to 350 bars before regulating the output to 50 bars. “The leak was bringing down the pressure by four bars per minute. The rocket could’ve still made it, but we didn’t want to take any chances,” a source said. A veteran of Isro failure analysis said teams would now look at the proximity of the faulty ‘nipple joint’ to the oxidiser tank that stores liquid oxygen at minus 183 degrees Celsius. “If the joint was close to such a low temperature, the reason could be micro shrinkage of the joint. In that case we need to insulate it or shift the joint away from the coldest point,” the scientist said.

Bigger leaks in the gas bottle can, besides affecting combustion and velocity, send the rocket spinning out of control. For now, Isro is confident of rectifying the fault and flying to moon without much delay.

More than 7,000 people from across the country had gone to the Sriharikota spaceport to witness the Monday launch. President Ram Nath Kovind was with senior Isro scientists at the mission control centre when the launch was called off at 1.55am.

@vampyrbladez @S.A.T.A

 

[Indx TechStyle]

"Sources told TOI that the leak wasn’t serious enough to impair the flight, but Isro decided to apply “abundant caution,”"

@Cutting Edge 2

..................................

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Chandrayaan 2 glitch can be fixed without major refit, July-end launch possible
Helium is used in cryogenic engines that use oxygen and hydrogen as fuel, such as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III that will carry Chandrayaan-2, in pressuring the propellant tank to keep it from collapsing and to prevent the formation of bubbles.

In 2016, a “large breach” in the helium system led to an explosion destroying Space X’s Falcon 9. A similar helium leak in 2014 was detected early, and the mission was scrapped.(PTI)

A second attempt to launch Chandrayaan-2 may be possible by the end of July with scientists discovering that the glitch that led to an aborted lift-off an hour before scheduled on Monday morning can be fixed without the entire launch vehicle having to be disassembled, according to people familiar with the matter.

“The fuel from the launch vehicle has already been emptied out. There was a helium leak from the propellent team. The problem has now been discovered. A nipple joint valve in the plumbing malfunctioned. This can be repaired on the launch pad and there will be no need for disassembling the launch vehicle,” an ex-scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), who is still involved with the project, said on condition of anonymity.

Helium is used in cryogenic engines that use oxygen and hydrogen as fuel, such as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III that will carryChandrayaan-2, in pressuring the propellant tank to keep it from collapsing and to prevent the formation of bubbles.

Helium is the only gas that can be used as its normal boiling point is lower than that of hydrogen; any other gas would freeze, producing particles that could clog the propulsion system, a scientist said.

GSLV Mark III, India’s most powerful launch vehicle with a capacity of carrying 4-tonne satellites, derives power from the cryogenic engine upper stage that uses oxygen liquified at -183 degrees Celsius and Hydrogen at -253 degrees Celsius. The first stage of GSLV Mark III uses two solid fuel rocket boosters for lift-off and the second core stage uses two liquid fuel engines.

In 2016, a “large breach” in the helium system led to an explosion destroying Space X’s Falcon 9. A similar helium leak in 2014 was detected early, and the mission was scrapped.

The early detection in the deviation of launch vehicle parameters on Tuesday morning saved the ₹978 crore mission at the eleventh hour. “This system performed precisely in the way it was designed to and we managed to save the nearly ₹1,000 crore mission in time. We were lucky that the mission did not enter the automatic launch sequence, else all would have been lost. All things are in our control,” a senior official from Isro said on condition of anonymity after the launch was aborted.

“Once the valve is fixed, Isro will refuel and check whether there is any leak. If not, the mission can proceed,” said the scientist quoted in the first instance.

There is a launch window for Chandrayaan-2 during the new moon on July 29 and 30. After that, the next such window will open only in September.

Chandrayaan-2 will make India the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to land a spacecraft on the moon. It will also be the first mission in the world to explore the South Pole of the moon, looking for traces of water.

“If Isro pushes the launch to next month, then the inclination of the orbit will have to be changed, leading to more fuel consumption, reducing the payload capacity of the vehicle,” the scientist said.

When contacted, a second Isro official said: “This is an internal process. There will be no updates for the public as of now. We will let you know once all the procedures are completed.”