ISRO General News and Updates

[Sridhar]

ISRO may use standby engine to launch GSLV
IANS Aug 20, 2013, 05.06PM IST

CHENNAI: Indian space agency ISRO will look at options of using a standby engine for the early launch of its heavy geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV) after examining what forced the postponement of the launch Monday, an official said.

"We have a standby for the second stage engine. But first we have to study the problem. If the problem is due to a faulty component, then we have to look at the batch to which the component belonged and have to replace the entire components from that batch," an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) official told IANS preferring anonymity.

He said there was no point in replacing an engine with another faulty one.

According to him, ISRO will look at different options like using a standby engine, replacing the component or correcting the problem.

"If the problem is external, it will be easy to correct. But if it is internal, then the engine may have to be dismantled," he said.


ISRO had called off the launch of its GSLV rocket carrying the communication satellite GSAT-14 after the liquid fuel started leaking like a tap from the rocket's second stage.

The GSLV is a three stage/engine with four strap-on motors hugging the first stage. The first stage is powered by solid fuel while the four strap-on motors and the second stage are powered by liquid fuel. The third is the cryogenic engine powered by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.

"This is the first time we have seen such a fault," said a source close to ISRO.

According to officials, the second stage is identical for ISRO's two rockets - its lighter rocket polar satellite launch vehicle and GSLV.

While GSLV is under the development stage, the PSLV is termed as the space agency's workhorse and used to launch Indian and foreign satellites.

In 2010, ISRO had to postpone a PSLV launch as it found "a marginal drop in the pressure in the second stage of the vehicle during mandatory checks".

At that time the faulty part was inaccessible as the rocket stages had been fully assembled. ISRO had to dismantle the second stage to correct the fault.

In 2013, ISRO had to postpone the launch of its PSLV rocket carrying India's first navigational satellite after it found a problem in one of the electro-hydraulic control actuators in the second stage.

ISRO may use standby engine to launch GSLV - Economic Times

 

[LalTopi]

it will be atleast a month, if not two. but it won't be 1 year or 6 months time period.

That's what I like. Precise Indian timing.

 

[arnabmit]

ISRO case scuttled cryogenic engine development, says former scientist | idrw.org

SOURCE: THE HINDU

Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan on Monday reiterated before the Kerala High Court that India could have developed a cryogenic engine by 2000 if indiscriminate arrests had not been made by Siby Mathews, former ADGP and head of the SIT of the Kerala Police which initially investigated the ISRO espionage case.

Mr. Narayanan and all others arraigned as accused in the case had been discharged on basis of a CBI report that the allegations were found to be false.

In a reply affidavit to an affidavit filed by Mr. Mathews in the High Court, Mr.Narayanan said it was true that India had not been able to successfully launch a cryogenic engine till today, though recently ISRO had attempted it. It could be seen from the case diary of the Kerala Police, as explained by the CBI in its refer report, that all those working on cryogenic engine development in ISRO and Russian scientists who supported India and the Russian private airline (Ural Aviation) had been made accused. Ural Aviation was the airline which brought Russian cryogenic engines and other relevant items to India for the ISRO, he said.

Mr. Narayanan reiterated that Mr. Mathews had a definite plan that all persons working for development of cryogenic engine technology should be arrested to demoralise them. That was the reason why he was arrested in November 1994 without conducting any search of his office or residence and also without seizure of any incriminating evidence from him.

He said he did not earlier raise the allegation that his arrest was part of an agenda of the U.S. accomplished by the CIA conniving with Intelligence Bureau officials, Mr. Mathews and other Kerala police officials because he realised the agenda and criminal conspiracy only later when he himself investigated the entire episode once again.

Then he realised the fact that one Rattan Sehgal, who was the counter intelligence chief of the IB and was associated with the ISRO case investigation, was caught red-handed by the then IB chief Arun Bhagath.

He was accused of having worked for the CIA, which led to his unceremonious exit from the IB in November 1996.

The ISRO espionage case was investigated by a team of seven senior IPS officers of the CBI. These officers individually and collectively conducted the investigation /interrogation and filed the final report of the CBI, against the Kerala police officials and Intelligence Bureau officers who investigated the case.

 

[Sridhar]

GSLV relaunch will take several months

By Express News Service - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Published: 23rd August 2013 10:15 AM

Last Updated: 23rd August 2013 10:15 AM

It would be at least two months before the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle D5 (GSLV D5) blasts off from Sriharikota despite a dismayed Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) working overtime to figure out what went wrong last Monday.

"Even if the defect is found to be a minor one, it would take at least two months. The stages (GSLV is a three-stage rocket) have to be dismantled for examination. If it's a major problem, it might take longer,'' an ISRO source said from Sriharikota.

Another factor that will have a say in deciding the new launch date is the forthcoming north-east monsoon. The August 19 launch had to be aborted less than two hours to lift-off after a fuel leak was detected in the second stage.

GSLV relaunch will take several months - The New Indian Express

 

[praneetbajpaie]

India could have developed cryogenic engine by 2000: Nambi


India could have developed cryogenic engine by 2000: Nambi | Business Line

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

India could have developed cryogenic engine by 2000: Nambi

I think because of this incident young & talented people of this country are not interested in ISRO or DRDO because foreign countries who have sole monoply in defense & space market will do everything in their power to stop India's indigenous programme. India has lost scientists such as Mr. Nambi Narayan of ISRO who were doing a great job in developing India's indigenous capabilities.

How pathetic?

What does government have to say on this issue? Should any Member of Parliament take this issue with the Minister concerned in Lok Sabha?

You should open a new thread on this topic for discussion titled "India missed early development of desi cryogenic engine because of Kerala Police harrassment".

 

[arnabmit]

ISRO to assemble another engine for aborted GSLV | idrw.org

The Indian space agency will assemble another engine to fly its heavy rocket geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV), while packing off the leaking one to its Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) for detailed study, an official said Tuesday.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had called off the launch of its GSLV rocket carrying the communication satellite GSAT-14 Aug 19 after the liquid fuel started leaking like a tap from the rocket's second stage.

ISRO's spaceport is located at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, around 80 km from here. The LPSC is situated at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.

The GSLV is a three-stage launch vehicle with four strap-on motors hugging the first stage.

The first stage is powered by solid fuel while the four strap-on motors and the second stage are powered by liquid fuel. The third is the cryogenic engine powered by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.

"At the rocket assembly building, the satellite, cryogenic engine and the second stage have been destacked. It has been decided to shift the second stage to Mahendragiri for detailed inspection and study," the ISRO official said.

He said ISRO has also decided to start assembling another engine so that the GSLV could fly at the earliest.

Queried about the time-frame for the GSLV's flight, he said: "It is not possible to give a time-frame for the GSLV's flight now."

In 2010, ISRO had to put off a PSLV launch as it found "a marginal drop in the pressure in the second stage of the vehicle during mandatory checks".

At that time, the faulty part was inaccessible as the rocket stages had been fully assembled. ISRO had to dismantle the second stage to correct the fault.

In June this year, ISRO put off the launch of its PSLV rocket carrying India's first navigational satellite after it found a problem in one of the electro-hydraulic control actuators in the second stage.

Here again, the fully-assembled rocket had to be dismantled to replace the actuator, an assembly of several components. The launch occurred successfully July 1.

However, ISRO officials said that a pattern could be drawn only if the problem crops up consistently in a component/system.

 

[tramp]

The implication of the second stage troubles is that even PSLV, India's space workhorse is becoming unreliable.

The problem is not because of basic design, but lax quality standards. Is ISRO losing control over its quality control standards? If so, who is to blame?

 

[dealwithit]

The implication of the second stage troubles is that even PSLV, India's space workhorse is becoming unreliable.
The problem is not because of basic design, but lax quality standards. Is ISRO losing control over its quality control standards? If so, who is to blame?

In Space industry . even you check 99.99% quality check .. there will be some error 0.01 .. It can be Human error or machine.,,,
It happens all the time not only in ISRO but also in NASA .. no one is exception.. It is good that ISRO rectified it before

 

[tramp]

In Space industry . even you check 99.99% quality check .. there will be some error 0.01 .. It can be Human error or machine.,,,
It happens all the time not only in ISRO but also in NASA .. no one is exception.. It is good that ISRO rectified it before

What's worrying is that PSLV stages which have been free of hitches is increasingly becoming susceptible. Of course there is nothing like 100% when there are so many factors involved. But the error occuring in the same second stage repeatedly, calls for a serious relook.

 

[arnabmit]

India’s first defence satellite all set for launch | idrw.org

India's maritime security will get a fresh impetus as the stage is now set for the launch of an exclusive home-built satellite for the Navy by European space consortium Arianespace from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana on Friday.

GSAT-7 is India's first dedicated spacecraft for Defence applications.

"It has frequency bands that will help marine communications", an official of Bangalore-headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation, which built the satellite, told PTI here.

"It has coverage over India landmass as well as surrounding seas. It's important from security and surveillance points of view", the official said on condition of anonymity.

A senior space scientist in the know said: "So far, Navy had limitation from line of sight and ionospheric effects etc. It was thought essential to have an integrated platform for their exclusive use. Earlier, satellite communication in ships was through Inmarsat (a major provider of global mobile satellite communications services). Now, India will have its own set up"

ISRO shies away from calling it an exclusive satellite for the Navy on record, but privately admits exactly that.

The Rs 185 crore state-of-the-art satellite carries payloads operating in UHF, S, C and Ku bands.

GSAT-7 has a lift-off mass of 2625 kg and is based on ISRO's 2500 kg satellite bus with some new technological elements, including the antennae. Its solar arrays generate 2900 W of electrical power.

A108 Ampere-Hour Lithium-Ion battery enables the satellite to function during the eclipse period. The propulsion subsystem has a 440 Newton Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) and thrusters.

GSAT-7 is scheduled to be launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) by Ariane-5 VA 215 during the 50-minute launch window starting from 2 am on Friday.

The launch cost for ISRO is around Rs 470 crore, including insurance. ISRO can't launch heavy satellites like GSAT-7 as its home-grown GSLV rocket, with indigenous cryogenic stage, is still at works and needs two successful flights before it's declared operational.

 

[arnabmit]

GSLV flight with indigenous cryogenic engine only in December: ISRO | idrw.org

The flight-test of GSLV with indigenous cryogenic engine, called off ten days ago following a leak in the second stage of the rocket, is now expected to take place only in December, Indian Space Research Organisation said on Wednesday.

ISRO has started the process of de-stacking the rocket and the second stage would be shifted to Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), a facility of the space agency located at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu, for an investigation into the cause of the leakage.

The launch of the GSLV-D5, scheduled for 1650 hrs on August 19 from the Sriharikota spaceport was called off, as a leak was observed in the UH25 fuel system of the liquid second stage during the pre-launch pressurisation phase on the vehicle just two hours before the scheduled lift-off.

The propellants were later drained from the cryogenic stage, liquid second stage and the four liquid Strap-ons of GSLV-D5. The rocket was moved back to the vehicle assembly building.

An ISRO official told PTI here today that the first and third stage of GSLV would be "preserved" while the second stage would have be built again, a process which has already started. ISRO would be busy with the Mars Orbiter mission in the next two months. "We can expect the GSLV flight in December", the official said.

ISRO has drawn flak from some quarters for using an "old tank" for the second stage as the materials used for building it were "prone for delayed cracks". It was said have been delivered to ISRO four-years ago and was to be the last in the series of the kind that ISRO planned to use.

A senior space scientist called it a "gross error of judgement" on the part of ISRO which obviously seemed to focus more on the third (cryogenic) stage, as the first two were a "given" as it's similar to the proven PSLV, the workhorse launcher.

 

[LalTopi]

GSLV flight with indigenous cryogenic engine only in December: ISRO | idrw.org

The flight-test of GSLV with indigenous cryogenic engine, called off ten days ago following a leak in the second stage of the rocket, is now expected to take place only in December, Indian Space Research Organisation said on Wednesday.

ISRO has started the process of de-stacking the rocket and the second stage would be shifted to Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), a facility of the space agency located at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu, for an investigation into the cause of the leakage.

The launch of the GSLV-D5, scheduled for 1650 hrs on August 19 from the Sriharikota spaceport was called off, as a leak was observed in the UH25 fuel system of the liquid second stage during the pre-launch pressurisation phase on the vehicle just two hours before the scheduled lift-off.

The propellants were later drained from the cryogenic stage, liquid second stage and the four liquid Strap-ons of GSLV-D5. The rocket was moved back to the vehicle assembly building.

An ISRO official told PTI here today that the first and third stage of GSLV would be "preserved" while the second stage would have be built again, a process which has already started. ISRO would be busy with the Mars Orbiter mission in the next two months. "We can expect the GSLV flight in December", the official said.

ISRO has drawn flak from some quarters for using an "old tank" for the second stage as the materials used for building it were "prone for delayed cracks". It was said have been delivered to ISRO four-years ago and was to be the last in the series of the kind that ISRO planned to use.

A senior space scientist called it a "gross error of judgement" on the part of ISRO which obviously seemed to focus more on the third (cryogenic) stage, as the first two were a "given" as it's similar to the proven PSLV, the workhorse launcher.

'Old tank'? fist time heard of his.

I understand though that there is a limited time window to catch Mars.

 

[tramp]

'Old tank'? fist time heard of his.

I understand though that there is a limited time window to catch Mars.

Very uncharacteristic of ISRO.... wonder why ISRO is slipping now?

 

[arnabmit]

GSAT-7 launch: Indian Navy will no longer depend on foreign satellites | idrw.org

With the successful launch of India's first 'military' satellite (GSAT-7) into the geosynchronous transfer orbit early Friday, Indian Navy will no longer depend on foreign satellites like Inmarsat, which provides communication services to its ships.

According to defence experts, the satellite will enable the navy to acquire Blue Water capabilities and it need not depend on foreign satellites, which provides communication services to its ships.

The spacecraft is equipped with transponders in Ku band, S band, C band and UHF (ultra high frequency) band to improve the maritime communications among the Indian Navy's warships.

"The satellite's solar panels were deployed soon after it was placed in the orbit for generating 2,900 watt power. Initial checks have indicated its health is normal," the ISRO statement noted.

The MCF will raise the Rs.185-crore satellite's orbit by firing its 440 Newton liquid apogee motors from its propulsion subsystem Saturday to place it in the intended geostationary orbit by Sept 4.

A 108 Ampere-Hour Lithium-Ion battery enables the satellite to function even during the eclipse period.

The GSAT-7 was launched in the early hours from its spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana off the Pacific coast.

"The advanced multi-band communication satellite was deployed in the transfer orbit, around 36,000 km from above the earth, by the Ariane-5 rocket of the ESA's Arianespace 34 minutes after its lift-off at 2 a.m. IST," the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement in Bangalore.

The Indian space agency's Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan, about 180 km from Bangalore, acquired signals from the 2.5-tonne dedicated spacecraft five minutes before it was separated from the rocket.

The cost of the launch onboard the commercial Arianespace rocket is Rs.470 crore.

Read more at: GSAT-7 launch: Indian Navy will no longer depend on foreign satellites : Karnataka, News - India Today

 

[indiatester]

Good progress! Congrats ISRO

Question for the experts: What are the backup channels for communication in case satellite communication fails? Do they have redundant satellites or do they have a redundant system like HAM radio or something?

 

[Abhi9]

NEWS ! on ISRO's CREW Module for MANNED SPACE FLIGHT

ISRO has conducted drop test of full scale crew module in a water reservoir. The module was dropped from various heights and a number of parameters like touch-down velocity etc., were recorded during these tests. With successful culmination of these tests, ISRO is now planning the next step of conducting the drop test from a helicopter.

http://antariksh-space.blogspot.in/...-max=2014-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=21

 

[Ganesh2691]

ISRO to unveil Mars Orbiter Mission next week


Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will unveil the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) on Wednesday, kick-starting its much-anticipated mission to Mars.

Mom is scheduled to be launched during October 21-November 19 using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C25 (PSLV-C25) and will carry five payloads.

An official note issued here on Friday said: "The spacecraft, with all the payloads, has completed the Thermo-Vacuum Test that extensively tests the spacecraft under simulated environment space. At the same time, PSLV-C25 launch campaign has also commenced at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota and the first stage with the strap-ons has been assembled."

The launcher is likely to be ready for integration by October 10. After leaving the earth's orbit in November, the spacecraft will cruise in space for about 10 months before finally entering the Red Planet's orbit.

The spacecraft will be placed in an elliptical orbit, the nearest point of which from Mars' surface will be 500 km and the farthest point will be 80,000 km.

The 1,350-kg spacecraft will carry five instruments/payloads totalling a mass of 15-kg selected by the Advisory Committee for Space Sciences (ADCOS), to study the Martian surface, atmosphere and mineralogy.

Checking for methane, mapping the Martian surface and sending data from the optical imaging payload are among the important activities of the mission.

http://idrw.org/?p=26589

 

[AVERAGE INDIAN]

Another shot at GSLV with indigenous cryogenic engine

The previous attempt in August was aborted after a fuel leak was detected

The Indian Space Research Organisation will have another shot at its indigenous cryogenic upper stage Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) programme, the GSLV D5 mission on December 15, after its previous attempt in August was aborted following a fuel leak, ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan said on Wednesday.

"The stacking of the GSLV for the next flight has begun," he told reporters here. According to him, the timely detection of the leak in the second stage and the immediate measures taken thereafter helped salvage the vehicle, cryogenic engine, range facilities and the satellite encapsulated in the heat shield.

The strap-on boosters and some of the electronic components that were exposed to propellants have been replaced. Three of the strap-ons were already in place and the fourth was expected to arrive at the assembly unit in a day, he added.

Mr. Radhakrishnan said while the expert committee had attributed the fuel leak to stress corrosion cracking of the tank filled with propellants, exactly why this happened was "a research problem" that remains to be investigated. The next GSLV mission will switch to a better aluminium alloy material for its propellant tanks.

Another shot at GSLV with indigenous cryogenic engine - The Hindu

 

[anoop_mig25]

^^^ Let hope this time its sucessfull.Fungers crossed

And second some say to ISRO they donot go fro media fun fare this time