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NARL MST Radar Observations Help Resolve Ionospheric Echoing Riddle
The high power, large aperture Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere (MST) Radar established at NARL, Gadanki nearly two and half decades ago, was designed to study the middle and upper atmospheric dynamics. This radar has made a major contribution in resolving a 50-year old ionospheric echoing riddle. This riddle is linked with the radar echoes during daytime in the height region of 140-170 km in the earth’s ionosphere where there is no known source of strong current/electric field and density gradient engendering the growth of plasma instability. In a significant way, the NARL MST radar observation has provided the first experimental evidence on the occurrence of the 150-km echoes outside the magnetic equator. These echoes, however, have not been observed at mid latitudes and hence their confinement to low magnetic latitudes indicates the role of near horizontal earth’s magnetic field on the phenomenon. This echoing phenomenon has not only surprised the ionospheric scientists all over the world but remains as the most puzzling and challenging field in the ionospheric plasma physics today. These echoes, however, are used as a reliable means of estimating daytime ionospheric zonal electric field that drives the equatorial plasma fountain and a number of ionospheric phenomena, which are detrimental for satellite based navigation/communication systems.

An example of these echoes observed by the NARL MST radar, presenting the height-time distribution of signal-to-noise ratio of the echoes, shows a spectacular forenoon descent and afternoon ascent of the echoing regions, indicating the direct solar zenith angle control on the echoing process, unlike any other equatorial ionospheric echoing phenomenon.



Height-time Variation of signal-to-noise ratio of the daytime 150-km Echoes


Surprisingly, the occurrence frequency of these echoes, however, is the lowest during the equinoxes, when the Sun is over the equator, moderate in the winter, and highest in summer, which clearly presents the complex role of the solar radiation and other dynamics on the echoing phenomenon.


Seasonal Variations of Daytime 150-Km Echo Occurrence


NARL observations have further revealed that these echoes come in two distinct types: in one type (Type-A) echoes come with low Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR) (<5 dB) and spectral width is dependent on SNR, and in the other type (Type-B), echoes come with high SNR (as high as 25 dB) and spectral width is nearly independent of SNR. This finding has later been confirmed by the radar observations from Jicamarca, the most powerful equatorial radar in the world.

The latest large-scale kinetic simulation of photoelectron induced plasma waves, published in Geophysics Research Letters (2016), suggested that the puzzling echoes are possibly linked with energetic photo-electrons, which can drive Langmuir, lower and upper hybrid, and electron Bernstein waves. While this seminal work has begun a new approach to address the five decades long 150-km echoing riddle, two recent new findings made from NARL has raised shortcomings of this theoretical premise. Two important findings from NARL that enforced to modify the existing thinking are the clear connection of the type-B echoes to the unusually deep solar minimum of 2008-2009 and the inverse relationship of the puzzling echoes with the solar EUV radiation, suggesting a clear solar activity dependence of the phenomenon.


Inverse Relationship between the Intensity of the Echoes and Solar EUV Radiation

These new observational findings, illustrating the complexity and richness of physics in the peak production region of the ionosphere, have been published in the American Geophysical Union journal, Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 43, pp. 11,129-11,136 (2016). The paper has raised important questions, namely, (1) what causes the seasonal, day-to-day and the finer details of the local time variations of the 150 km echoes? and (2) what causes the 150 km echoes including the type-B echoes to occur more during deep solar minimum of 2008-2009 than during relatively high solar condition?, and opened up the challenging unresolved science problems to the diverse scientific community to understand the mystery of nature. As on today, these outstanding questions remain mostly unanswered and call for extensive experimental and theoretical works to understand the mystery of the equatorial ionosphere, especially the solar-terrestrial energetic, and the Sun-Earth linkage in general.
Now the NARL scientists, in coordination with scientists from other ISRO centers, are planning to carry out rocket-borne measurements concurrently with the radar experiments using the newly established active array MST radar and the Gadanki Ionospheric Radar Interferometer (GIRI) and theoretical simulation to resolve the outstanding science questions.

http://www.isro.gov.in/narl-mst-radar-observations-help-resolve-ionospheric-echoing-riddle
 

Palak

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Hello,
I want to know after qualifying csir net exam can i apply for the ISRO or DRDO Jobs.
I am not sure but I read the in blog DRDO considers NET Scorecard for the selection of talented scientists and research trainers
Is it true
 

Chinmoy

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Hello,
I want to know after qualifying csir net exam can i apply for the ISRO or DRDO Jobs.
I am not sure but I read the in blog DRDO considers NET Scorecard for the selection of talented scientists and research trainers
Is it true
The best way in for you would be to complete M.Tech and get internship. Then being a Junior scientist your way would be much more easier.
 

Cutting Edge 2

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ISRO to launch GSLV Mark III-D1 on June 5 with 4-tonne payload
HYDERABAD, MAY 12:

In yet another major step towards being self reliant in the country's space programme and tap into opportunities in the global marketplace, the Indian Space Research Organisation will launch GSLV Mark III-D1 with a payload of four tonnes on June 5.

As on today, ISRO has the capability to launch payloads of up to 2.2 tonnes and anything above that it had to tap Ariane or other launch facilities. This will be a significant move from us,” the ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, AS Kumar, said.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III is a gamechanger capable of launching 4-tonne category of satellites from Sriharikota. It packs an Indian cryogenic third stage and higher payload as against the current GSLV.


Apart from deploying advanced spacecraft technologies, the satellite would carry ka and ku-band payload along with a Geostationary Radiation Spectrometer that will help research space radiation.

Outreach

The Space Secretary said that ISRO will soon launch an innovative Outreach centre in Hyderabad, which would serve as a hub/centre for research, and base for start-ups and entrepreneurs to explore new business opportunities.

The huge amount of data collected by various space missions, and its learnings would be made accessible to people. This centre is expected to come up near Jeedimatla in the city limits.

In a boost to the country's quest to drive electric vehicles, ISRO has outlined plans to share its learnings and expertise in lithium ion battery technologies for commercial use.

Kiran Kumar said, “Over the years, ISRO has developed a number of technologies towards indigenisation and self reliance, and the capability of developing efficient lithium ion batteries is one such area which we can share for further development.”

“We have developed technologies which help batteries run for up to 10-12 years and even more. This learning can be shared with entrepreneurs for commercialisation and come out with cost effective batteries for use in electric vehicles and other applications.” he said.

Speaking at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, the ISRO chief said: “ISRO handled more than 151 missions that have been completed. These include 88 satellite programmes and 59 satellite launch vehicles.”

“The launch of 104 satellites on a single mission earlier this year demonstrated our space technology capability,” he said.

Referring to ISRO contributions, he said that the technologies developed and data available through various satellites it has launched is being used for applications in agriculture, weather forecasting and in tele-medicine. Efforts are on to see if a Postman could serve as a link between farmers and government, he said.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com...june-5-with-4tonne-payload/article9695152.ece
 

Cutting Edge 2

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ISRO’s GSAT-trio to usher in high-speed internet era
These launches will not only revolutionise the way we use televisions and smart-phones, but will also drive the future communication needs of smart cities.
Published:May 17, 2017 8:17 pm

ISRO will usher in an age of high-speed internet in India by launching a series of three communication satellites — GSAT-19, GSAT-11 and GSAT-20 — in the next 18 months. These launches will not only revolutionise the way we use televisions and smart-phones, but will also drive the future communication needs of smart cities.

“The next big launch will be GSAT-19. It will be launched in June… With this launch, we will begin a new age of communication satellites. It is also the beginning of high-throughput satellites (in India),” said Tapan Misra, director of Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre (SAC), an crucial arm of ISRO that is develops satellite payloads.

“You are already witnessing a change in communication technology where voice and video communications are suddenly happening through internet. With future launches, television will come to your homes on the internet using wireless Technology,” Misra said adding that GSAT-19 will be followed by launches of GSAT-11 and GSAT-20.

High-throughput satellites have been a game changer in the developed countries, providing internet connectivity many times faster, smoother and cheaper. These three satellites will not only reinforce India’s technological capability, but will also help the government and private businesses to take certain services like banks, ATMs, reservation systems and mobile and television networks to remotest part of the country in a much more efficient and seamless manner.

“The effective data rate of GSAT satellites is one gigabyte per second. GSAT-19 will be able to transfer data at four gigabyte per second, thus making it equivalent to four satellites,” he said while interacting with mediapersons at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Exhibition centre that hosted Technology Day celebrations on Wednesday to mark Pokhran-II tests, Trishul missile tests and the flight of indigenous aircraft Hansa-3.

“One of the heaviest satellites ever to be built by ISRO — GSAT-11 — is scheduled to be launched in January 2018 will have a data rate of 14 gigabytes and GSAT-20 that we plan to launch by the end of next year we plan to cover the entire nation with a satellite that will offer a data rate of 70 gigabytes per second. We will be building up our capacity with each launch. This is also in sync with the requirements of high data-rate transmission needed by India’s smart cities,” the senior ISRO scientist added.

GSAT-19 will also mark the first of three, full-fledged tests of GSLV Mark-III launcher (ISRO’s heaviest rocket) before it is officially declared operational. It will also test the new 25 tonne cryogenic engine which is three times bigger than the ones used earlier. High-throughput satellite reuses satellite “beams” (signal) several times over smaller areas. In contrast, traditional satellite technology utilises a broad single beam to cover wide regions. “Till now communication satellites used a single beam to cover the country. GSAT-19 will use eight narrow beams. GSAT-11 will have 16 beams. The narrow the beams, more is the power (sent by the antennas located on the satellite),” Misra added.

GSAT-19 will have two antennas, each measuring over 2.5 meters, while GSAT-11 have four such antennas to transmit signals.

http://indianexpress.com/article/te...-to-usher-in-high-speed-internet-era-4660849/
 

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Upcoming ISRO missions from June to July 2017
GSLV-Mk III-D1 / GSAT-19
GSLV-Mk III is the next generation launch vehicle of ISRO capable of launching 4 ton class of satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer orbit (GTO). It is a three-stage vehicle with two solid motor strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110) and a cryogenic stage (C25). GSLV-Mk III-D1 is the first developmental flight carrying GSAT-19 satellite.

GSAT-19 is the payload for the indigenous GSLV-Mk III-D1 Launcher. The satellite will carry Ka-band and Ku-band payload along with a Geostationary Radiation Spectrometer (GRASP) payload to monitor and study the nature of the charged particles and influence of space radiation on spacecraft and electronic components. GSAT-19 satellite will employ advanced spacecraft technologies including bus subsystem, indigenous Li ion battery, indigenous Bus bars for power distribution, etc.

The satellite is scheduled to be launched during early June 2017 by GSLV-Mk III-D1 Launcher from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.




PSLV-C38 / Cartosat-2 Series Satellite
Cartosat-2 Series Satellite mission is a follow on mission in the Cartosat-2 Series with the primary mission objective of providing high-resolution scene specific spot imagery. This is similar in configuration to earlier satellites in the series.

The Cartosat-2 Series Satellite along with co-passenger satellites from abroad is planned to be launched by PSLV-C38 into a nominal altitude of 500 km.

PSLV-C38/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite mission is scheduled to be launched during the month of June 2017 from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.




GSAT-17
GSAT-17 is a communication satellite configured around I-3K extended bus with a lift-off mass of about 3,425 kg and 6 kW power generation capacity. The satellite’s transponders include C-band, Lower Extended C-band and Upper Extended C-band transponders. The spacecraft also carries CxS and SxC MSS transponders as well as DRT & SAS&R payloads.

The satellite is scheduled to be launched during end of June 2017 by Ariane-5 launch vehicle from French Guiana.




More:
http://isro.gov.in/missions-0
 

xeaaex

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Can any one tell me replacing all the solid boosters with liquid engine increase the lift capacity of gslv mk 3 just like they use liquid engines in Falcon rocket.
 

Cutting Edge 2

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Can any one tell me replacing all the solid boosters with liquid engine increase the lift capacity of gslv mk 3 just like they use liquid engines in Falcon rocket.
Substituting solid boosters with liquid engines won't increase the lift capability unless we can manage to get higher thrust.

There are two ways of
achieving this. One way is to build insanely large engines (like F-1 from Apollo mission). Such engines are very difficult to make and very unreliable. Now second way to do this is by building a cluster of small liquid engines (like Falcon 9).

At the moment Isro's liquid Vikas engines can produce around 700kn to 800kn of thrust similar to Marlin's 800kn to 900kn thrust so ISRO can take some inspiration from Falcon 9 and incorporate clustering technology to get rid of solid boosters in future launch vehicles.



F-1 engine from Apollo mission





Marlin engine cluster on Falcon 9

 

xeaaex

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Substituting solid boosters with liquid engines won't increase the lift capability unless we can manage to get higher thrust.

There are two ways of
achieving this. One way is to build insanely large engines (like F-1 from Apollo mission). Such engines are very difficult to make and very unreliable. Now second way to do this is by building a cluster of small liquid engines (like Falcon 9).

At the moment Isro's liquid Vikas engines can produce around 700kn to 800kn of thrust similar to Marlin's 800kn to 900kn thrust so ISRO can take some inspiration from Falcon 9 and incorporate clustering technology to get rid of solid boosters in future launch vehicles.



F-1 engine from Apollo mission





Marlin engine cluster on Falcon 9

Yes thanks, thats what i wanted to know.
So that means we have required technology to do it and we just need some tweaking.
So that means there is some specific purpose for going with solid boosters technology.
What do you think it is?
 

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SRO to launch 3 satellites in 18 months for high-speed internet: GSAT-19 launch in June



New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will send a series of three communication satellites - GSAT-19, GSAT-11 and GSAT-20 – into the orbit in the next 18 months to increase internet speed across the nation, as per a report in Indian Express.

The GSAT satellites are India's indigenously developed technologies of communications satellites, with an objective to make the country self-reliant in broadcasting services.

The GSAT-19 satellite is scheduled to take off in early June onboard GSLV-Mk III, ISRO's heaviest rocket, from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.

This would be the maiden flight for GSLV-Mk III, the next generation launch vehicle of ISRO capable of launching 4 ton class of satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer orbit (GTO).

“The next big launch will be GSAT-19 in June. With this launch, we will begin a new age of communication satellites. It is also the beginning of high-throughput satellites (in India),” Tapan Misra, director of Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre (SAC), an arm of ISRO that develops satellite payloads, was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

“While the world is already witnessing a change in the communication technology where voice and video communications are taking place through Internet, with future launches, television will be viewed through Internet using wireless Technology,” Misra added.

These launches will not only revolutionise the way we use televisions and smart-phones, but will also drive the future communication needs of smart cities, the report added.

ISRO said the satellite will carry Ka-band and Ku-band payload along with a Geostationary Radiation Spectrometer (GRASP) payload to monitor and study the nature of the charged particles and influence of space radiation on spacecraft and electronic components.

GSAT-19 satellite will employ advanced spacecraft technologies including bus subsystem, indigenous Li ion battery, indigenous Bus bars for power distribution, etc, the Indian space agency added.

Earlier this month on the 5th May, ISRO successfully launched the Geostationary communication satellite-9 (GSAT-9) – India's gift to South Asia - into a Geostationary orbit.

The GSAT-9 is meant for providing communication and disaster support and connectivity among the countries of South Asia region, with the mission life of about 12 years.
 

Cutting Edge 2

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Yes thanks, thats what i wanted to know.
So that means there is some specific purpose for going with solid boosters technology.
What do you think it is?
The biggest reason is cost of sending payload in space.

There are multiple stages of a rocket. Each stage is discarded after its fuel is spent. These stages are not recoverable. Solid booster are cheap compared to liquid engines. So its easy to discard them hence ISRO is using solid boosters.

So that means we have required technology to do it and we just need some tweaking.
ISRO is currently working on SCE-200 core engine. Once operationalised this engine will boost LVM3's lift capacity by 2 tonnes so total around 6 tonnes. This engine will enable ISRO's future ULV and HLV programmes.
 

xeaaex

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The biggest reason is cost of sending payload in space.

There are multiple stages of a rocket. Each stage is discarded after its fuel is spent. These stages are not recoverable. Solid booster are cheap compared to liquid engines. So its easy to discard them hence ISRO is using solid boosters.



ISRO is currently working on SCE-200 core engine. Once operationalised this engine will boost LVM3's lift capacity by 2 tonnes so total around 6 tonnes. This engine will enable ISRO's future ULV and HLV programmes.
Nice but this newcomers (space x)already have space launching capacity of 13 tones for GTO now they are developing 26 tones.
Compare to that 6 tones is nothing.
 

Prashant12

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Come June 5, Isro to launch 'game changer' rocket

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Signalling the next generation launch of Isro, capable of placing four ton satellites in Geosynchronous Transfer orbit (GTO), it is set for the launch of the first developmental flight of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) -Mark III- D1 on June 5. Boosted with fully indigenous cryogenic upper stage (CUS), this GSLV-MKIII will launch the GSAT-19 communication satellite. The satellite will be integrated and encapsulated by next week.

"A fully indigenous 100 percent `Naadan' cryogenic upper stage (CUS) will boost the launch of GSLV Mark III by June first week and the target is set for June 5. It will place the 3.2 ton GSAT-19 communication satellite in orbit," Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) director Dr. K Sivan told TOI. The satellite is getting prepared, it has advanced spacecraft technologies including indigenous Li ion battery, bus subsystem and indigenous Bus bars for power distribution. The satellite will be integrated by next week, he said.

"GSLV-Mark III-D1 is a three-stage vehicle with two solid motor strap-on boosters, a liquid propellant core stage and a cryogenic upper stage (C25). When the two solid motors burn it can cause huge sound and to prevent that an Acoustic suppression system will be in place and it is demonstrated," Sivan said.

"The cryogenic upper stage with 20 ton thrust is fully indigenous with subsystems, turbo pump and the cryo tests were completed in the last 1.5 months," Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) director S Somnath said. Though GSLV Mk III launch is designed with a payload of 3.2 ton, it is a four ton class vehicle with a provision to increase it up to seven tons, he said.

The GSAT-19 satellite will carry Ka-band and Ku-band payload along with a Geostationary Radiation Spectrometer (GRASP) payload to monitor and study the nature of the charged particles and influence of space radiation on spacecraft and electronic components.
Listing out the future missions, PSLV-C38 is planned for launch of earth observation satellite Cartosat-2E by June last week, GSLV Mk II for launch of GSAT-6A satellite in September and Chandrayaan-III Moon mission in December this year.

On the concerns by a section of the Isro staff over increased outsourcing of production as a move towards privatisation, VSSC director K Sivan said private sector participation is part of Isro and the plan is to put more industries together in a joint venture in the production of space components. Whether such a move will affect Isro's control over space launches in the country particularly with its proven launch vehicle PSLV, he told TOI that "Nothing will go out of control of Isro, it will only increase the joint ventures improving the production".

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...erful-launch-vehicle/articleshow/58754518.cms
 

Adioz

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Chandrayaan-III Moon mission in December this year.
What?
Are they calling Team Indus rover Chandrayaan III?
Or is it a misprint?
 

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Isro’s unmet targets puts India on a long transponder trek; at least 200 more needed
May 25, 2017, 03.07 PM IST

BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has met only 50% of its 12th Five Year Plan's target as far as launching of communication satellites are concerned, leaving the country dependent on foreign transponders for growing needs.

"We presently have 300 operational transponders," Isro Chairman Kiran Kumar told TOI, on Sunday. Out of the 300 transponders that meet the needs of Indian communication, 100 are leased from foreign satellites.

Acknowledging that the situation was worse, Kumar said Isro is working on bridging the gap between leased foreign transponders and India's own with a few launches lined up for this year and in the coming one. "India at least needs another 200 transponders to meet the growing communications demand," he added.

In the 12th Plan period, Isro was set a target of launching 14 communication satellites—devised after taking into account the demand—but has managed to only launch seven of these. The agency successfully launched GSAT-10, GSAT-14, GSAT-16, GSAT-7, GSAT-6, GSAT-15 and GSAT-18.

The severe shortage—with a growing population and increasing number of phone and internet users—had prompted Isro to issue a request for proposal (RFP) seeking to lease out some more transponders in December 2016.

"We are increasing transponders in the KU and S-Band, and we have a few more than needed in the C and extended C band," Kumar said. However, the increasing demand for transponders is not just from the telecommunications side, which is struggling with call-drop problems, among other things, but also direct-to-home (DTH) sector.

And, so far as DTH goes, Kumar said: "We are managing to close the gap. Of the 95 transponders in use, 40 are our own and 55 are leased ones." In the coming year, Isro has lined up the launches of GSAT-19, GSAT-17, GSAT-6A—which will be for Defence forces—and GSAT-11, all communication satellites, to put more transponders into space. Of these, GSAT-11 and 17 are scheduled to be launched outside of India.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...east-200-more-needed/articleshow/58839407.cms
 

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