ISRO General News and Updates

[Pintu]

Not possible Pintu, we ll see the launching of Mk III in 2013 if lucky.

that's remain to be seen & lying in the future, its the official status I have mentioned.

Regards

 

[anoop_mig25]

GSLV I is a launch vehicle with Russian cryogenic engine.
GSLV II is a launch vehicle with Indian cryogenic engine which will fly in 2012 as mentioned in the article.
GSLV III is a launch vehicle with a new powerful Indian cryogenic engine which can carry up to 4000 kg satellites in GSO and will fly in 2013.

what is the difference between indian cryogenic engine that would fly in 2012 and one in one 2013 as isro has yet to successfully test india cryogenic engine.so how we know that one that would fly in 2013 would be sucessfull. is 2012 is an technical demonstrator

 

[pmaitra]

Why didn't the cryogenic engine ignite?

Why didn't the cryogenic engine ignite?

T. S. SUBRAMANIAMSHARE · COMMENT (44) · PRINT · T+

The GSLV-D3, which lifted off from Sriharikota on Thursday, later plunged into the sea as the indigenous cryogenic engine failed to ignite. Photo: V. Ganesan

The non-ignition of the cryogenic engine on board the Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D3) led to the failure of the mission on Thursday (April 15), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has more or less concluded. "The cryogenic engine has not ignited, that is for sure. Why it has not ignited, the reasons have to be found out," said S. Satish, ISRO spokesman, on Friday.

All the telemetry data had come in by 1 p.m. on Friday and the ISRO top-brass was studying them line by line. The GSLV-D3 is a three-stage rocket and it was flying with an indigenous cryogenic engine for the first time.

A cryogenic engine uses liquid hydrogen at minus 253 degrees Celsius as fuel and liquid oxygen at minus 183 degrees as oxidiser. The vehicle lifted off as planned at 4.27 p.m. and its performance was normal up to the end of its second stage till 293 seconds from the lift-off. But the vehicle developed problems when the cryogenic upper stage should have ignited 304 seconds after the lift-off, and it fell into the sea.

An authoritative former ISRO official said: "It is very clear that the cryogenic engine did not ignite when you look at the curve [of the vehicle's trajectory], everything was normal up to the GS2 [second stage] shutdown. Then you can see clearly that there is no increment in the vehicle's velocity. The velocity is the same. It started losing its altitude also."

The ISRO rocket engineers are puzzled why the cryogenic engine did not fire at all. On April 9, they had repeatedly told reporters at Sriharikota that the GSLV-D3 was "the most reviewed vehicle" because it was flying an indigenous cryogenic engine for the first time.

A national panel consisting of former ISRO chairmen, specialists in cryogenic technology and academicians had reviewed the vehicle several times and signalled the go-ahead. But for these repeated reviews, the flight would have taken place in December 2009, they had said.
Besides, the indigenous cryogenic engine was tested on the ground cumulatively for 7,767 seconds, while it would fire for only 720 seconds in flight.

Post-flight, ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan said the entire cryogenic stage, including its engine, passed the qualification test on November 15, 2007 when it fired for 720 seconds. "In the last three years, we have been working on the flight-engine," he said. But he pointed to one big difficulty — the ignition of the cryogenic engine taking place in the vacuum of space [which cannot be simulated on the ground].

S. Ramakrishnan, Director (Projects), Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, also noted, "Ignition in vacuum of the cryogenic engine could be done only in flight."

Keywords: GSLV-D3, cryogenic engine, ISRO
​

​

Source: The Hindu : Sci-Tech / Science : Why didn't the cryogenic engine ignite?​

 

[plugwater]

what is the difference between indian cryogenic engine that would fly in 2012 and one in one 2013 as isro has yet to successfully test india cryogenic engine.so how we know that one that would fly in 2013 would be sucessfull. is 2012 is an technical demonstrator

We are developing two cryogenic engines for Mk2 and Mk3. CE-20 is the name of the cryogenic engine for GSLV MK III.

Regarding it will be successful or not, we ll know only after its launch.

Engine that will be launched next year is not a technology demonstrator, its for GSO satellites and more heavier will be launched by GSLV Mk3 with CE-20 cryogenic engine.

 

[Illusive]

They are testing the rockets alright but not simulating the conditions, thats where we can see problems arising during midcourse of the flight during the previous failure.

I hope this time they do take all that factor into account, but do we have the facilities to simulate?

 

[plugwater]

They are testing the rockets alright but not simulating the conditions, thats where we can see problems arising during midcourse of the flight during the previous failure.

I hope this time they do take all that factor into account, but do we have the facilities to simulate?

The video you posted is of S-200, it separates after first stage, we had problems with our cryogenic engine which failed to ignite.

I dont know if anyone possesses such facilities which can simulates exact conditions.

 

[pmaitra]

The video you posted is of S-200, it separates after first stage, we had problems with our cryogenic engine which failed to ignite.

I dont know if anyone possesses such facilities which can simulates exact conditions.

Thanks PlugWater. Yes, I was thinking of the same thing. Those are the strap-on boosters, not the main engine. These S-200 boosters use solid fuel, while Cryogenic Engines use liquid fuel stored at super low temperatures.

 

[Illusive]

The video you posted is of S-200, it separates after first stage, we had problems with our cryogenic engine which failed to ignite.

I dont know if anyone possesses such facilities which can simulates exact conditions.

Really
Rocket engine test facility - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I hopw we built such facilities too......it would be waste of money if we fail again, since risk factor is high.

 

[SPIEZ]

Really
Rocket engine test facility - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I hopw we built such facilities too......it would be waste of money if we fail again, since risk factor is high.

There is one in Hyderabad!!!
Bharat Dynamics LTD. Apart from the many rocket engines they are building for the army and air force, some are the MAITRI, AKASH etc .

 

[pmaitra]

Really
Rocket engine test facility - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I hopw we built such facilities too......it would be waste of money if we fail again, since risk factor is high.

Yes Sir, check these:

Second successful static test of solid booster S200 conducted at SDSC, SHAR on September 04, 2011.
( five different camera angles )
The GSLV-III or Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III , is a launch vehicle currently under development by the Indian Space Research Organization. GSLV Mk III is conceived and designed to make ISRO fully self reliant in launching heavier communication satellites of INSAT-4 class, which weigh 4500 to 5000 kg. It would also enhance the capability of the country to be a competitive player in the multimillion dollar commercial launch market. The vehicle envisages multi-mission launch capability for GTO, LEO, Polar and intermediate circular orbits. GSLV-Mk III is designed to be a three stage vehicle, with 42.4 m tall with a lift off weight of 630 tonnes. First stage comprises two identical S200 Large Solid Booster (LSB) with 200 tonne solid propellant, that are strapped on to the second stage, the L110 re-startable liquid stage. The third stage is the C25 LOX/LH2 cryo stage. The large payload fairing measures 5 m in diameter and can accommodate a payload volume of 100 cu m. The development work on Mk III is progressing as per schedule for a launch in 2012.

GSLV Mk III - YouTube

Adj.1.cryogenic - of or relating to very low temperatures

cryogenic - definition of cryogenic by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

A cryogenic rocket engine is a rocket engine that uses a cryogenic fuel or oxidizer, that is, its fuel or oxidizer (or both) are gases liquefied and stored at very low temperatures.

Cryogenic rocket engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Illusive]

There is one in Hyderabad!!!
Bharat Dynamics LTD. Apart from the many rocket engines they are building for the army and air force, some are the MAITRI, AKASH etc .

But do they have altitude testing facilities? link

 

[Illusive]

Yes Sir, check these:

Thanks mate, but i am not asking whats cryogenic engines, but do we have facilities that could simulate conditions to test these cryogenic engines. My question arises after i read your post #11 and also the comments in it.

My bad for posting the S-200 vid

 

[pmaitra]

Thanks mate, but i am not asking whats cryogenic engines, but do we have facilities that could simulate conditions to test these cryogenic engines. My question arises after i read your post #11 and also the comments in it.

My bad for posting the S-200 vid

Not your fault. The title is misleading.

Those cryogenic engines are much larger than the boosters. Do we have facilities for those? I guess we do. Perhaps someone can confirm.

 

[Pintu]

Not your fault. The title is misleading.

Those cryogenic engines are much larger than the boosters. Do we have facilities for those? I guess we do. Perhaps someone can confirm.

Maitra , yes , we do have, it is done in Liquid Propulsion Systems Center (LPSC)s. The facilities are LPSC, Valiamala, LPSC, Mahendragiri, LPSC, Bangalore. Development of Cryogenic upper stage is done in LPSC, Valiamala,

and the tests are held in LPSC Mahendragiri

For details please see:

Welcome To ISRO :: Centres :: Bangalore :: Liquid Propulsion Systems Center(LPSC)

all the images are courtesy of ISRO.

Regards

 

[sanjay]

Hi, just to clarify, US and Europe have testing facilities to test an engine in full vacuum conditions. For example NASA's new J-2X engine has been vacuum-tested at B-2 facility at Glenn Research Center's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio. There, they reproduce the vacuum of space and test the engine in those conditions, so that they don't have to guess how the engine will work when it encounters the real vacuum in outer space.

Unfortunately, ISRO decided that it would launch Cryogenic Upper Stage without any ground tests to simulate actual space conditions. So they were "guesstimating" that the engine would work. They felt it would be too expensive to build a big vacuum-testing facility, and ISRO likes to brag about how they do everything on a small budget. Well sometimes, as they say, you get what you pay for. One should be prepared for their test flight to fail - that's why it's called a test flight. So you shouldn't put your most expensive satellite on such a test flight, like ISRO did. Next time they will launch a cheaper satellite, so that if the rocket fails, at least you didn't lose as much money on the satellite.


The indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage on GSLV-Mk2.has a thrust of almost 75kN

Third Stage (GSLV Mk.II) - CUS12
Engines 1 ICE
Thrust 73.5 kilonewtons (16,500 lbf)
Specific impulse 460 s (4.5 kN·s/kg)
Burn time 720 seconds
Fuel LOX/LH2

The indigenous CUS that will be on GSLV-Mk3 will have a thrust of 200kN

Second stage - C25
Engines 1 CE-20
Thrust 200 kN (20 Tf)
Specific impulse 450 sec
Burn time 720 sec
Fuel LOX/LH2

So you can see that the Mk-III will be more powerful in every way.

As I mentioned in another thread, I would like to see ISRO try to make the Cryogenic Upper Stage reusable. I think they should try to put a heat shield on it, as well as either a parachute or maybe even some solid-motors for a powered touchdown. See this video @1:10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p176UpWQOs4#t=1m10s

CUS could be made to land like that, for reusability.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.isro.org/parliament/2011/Budget/LUSQ3347.pdf

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF SPACE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3347
TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2011
STATIC TEST ST-02
3347. SHRI K SHIVAKUMAR
ALIAS J.K. RITHEESH:
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:
(a) whether the S-200 Static Test (ST-02), L110 Stage test has been completed as planned earlier;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the work on C25 Cryogenic Engine for GSLV MK III has been completed; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRIES OF PARLIAMENTARY
AFFAIRS, PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS
AND IN PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
(SHRI V.NARAYANASAMY):
(a) & (b) The first Static Test (ST-01) of the S-200 solid booster stage of GSLV-MkIII, was successfully conducted in January, 2010 at Satish Dhawan Space Centre,
..2/-
.. 2 ..
Sriharikota. Presently, preparations are progressing for conducting the second Static Test (ST-02) of S-200 solid booster stage. The test is planned during mid-2011.
So far, stage-level tests have been completed for the L110 liquid core stage twice, at Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Mahendragiri. The first test was conducted in March 2010 for a duration of 150 seconds; and the second test was for its full flight duration of 200 seconds, in September, 2010.
(c) & (d) The work towards realization of C25 Cryogenic Engine for the GSLV-MkIII programme is progressing well. Major sub-systems of the C25 Cryogenic Engine such as Gas Generator, Turbo-pumps for the Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) have been realised and tested. Preparations for the testing of one of the major subsystem viz., Thrust Chamber are underway. The integrated test of the C25 Cryogenic Engine is planned for end 2011.
***

 

[Pintu]

manc, you are right I think, as per Hindu, the lift off of GSLV MK-III is about end 2013, btw isro has not changed the time frame.


Business Line : Industry & Economy News : India's contribution to the crowd up there


Regards

 

[Galaxy]

ISRO aims at 45 to 50 launches

Dec 18, 2011

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 12th five-year plan period will be a busy one for ISRO's Sriharikota spaceport. If things pan out as ISRO hopes it would, then 2012-2017 will see more number of missions compared to previous five-year plan periods. ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan, addressing the national conference on 'Space Transportation Systems: Opportunities and Challenges', organised by the VSSC and Indian National Academy of Engineering at Thumba on Saturday, said that the ISRO was targeting 45 to 50 launches during the 12th five-year plan.

In the 11th, the target had been 30, with six missions per year. The 10th five- year plan had witnessed 20 missions. (The Sathish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, has at present two launch pads. ISRO is planning a third one which will be able to accommodate advanced launch vehicles).

No Flaw in GSLV Design: Radhakrishnan said that the GSLV, which had two crashes in 2010, had no flaw in design. There have been problems in implementation which are being corrected. The next GSLV launch will be in the second quarter of 2012, he said.

In March 2012, the ISRO will launch a microwave remote sensing satellite which will be useful for the farm sector as well as disaster management. Cloud cover will not be a problem for this satellite, which gives it an edge over conventional satellites. The ISRO chairman said the years ahead would be a busy one for ISRO. At present, 170 transponders are in service, but the current requirement is 500.

The three-day conference, which focuses on low-cost space transportation, is being attended by a large number of scientists from India and foreign space agencies such as NASA, ESA and JAXA. It will conclude on Sunday.

ISRO aims at 45 to 50 launches - southindia - Thiruvananthapuram - ibnlive

 

[Patriot]

'India looking forward to success of indigenous c'genic stage'

SRIHARIKOTA (PTI): President Pratibha Patil Monday said the country looks forward to the success of the indigenous cryogenic stage on board the GSLV rocket, likely to be launched in the second quarter of this year.

"The entire country is looking forward to the successful flight testing by ISRO of the indigenous cryogenic stage on-board GSLV," she said inaugurating the Mission Control Centre and Launch Centre at Sathish Dhawan Space Centre here.

The space agency had suffered a setback when Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D3), launched using a home-grown cryogenic engine for the first time, failed and fell into the Bay of Bengal in April 2010.

"It is heartening that the Indian space programme is entirely indigenous and has made much progress and achieved much since its inception," she said.

Patil said every launch brought excitement and anxious moments to mission controllers and to every Indian and "this new complex will be a witness to all these emotions in the future too."

The President said India felt proud with the success of the country's moon mission, Chandrayaan-I and the "remarkable discovery" it made about presence of water molecules on the lunar surface. She also lauded the scientists for the various successes in the Indian space programme.

A lot had been achieved and a lot more had to be done, she said, adding India looked up to this team of "unflinching commitment, untiring energy and professional excellence."

"Today, we are at the threshold of advancements in our ambitious space programmes. There is hope and promise; optimism and potential; there are avenues that reckon us to celebrate mankind's victory over gravitation and excel in understanding the mysteries of our limitless universe," she said. ............................

 

[JAISWAL]

ISRO's design of reusable launch vehicle approved

ISRO's design of reusable launch vehicle approved - Bangalore - DNA


India's dream of joining the select group that possesses reusable launch vehicles is close to realisation. The design of the winged vehicle by Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), the Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD), has been approved by the National Review Committee.

An Isro official said design-related issues have been addressed and presented to the National Review Committee and clearance obtained to go ahead to build the RLV-TD.

The space agency, as a first step towards realising a Two-Stage To Orbit (TSTO) re-usable launch vehicle, has developed a winged RLV-TD.

Isro, in its recently released annual report, stated that design options have been finalised. Besides, the mission design has been completed with a revised vehicle mass. The RLV-TD will act as a flying test-bed to evaluate various technologies — hypersonic flight, autonomous landing, powered cruise flight and hypersonic flight using air breathing propulsion.

The first in the series of trials is the hypersonic flight experiment (HEX) followed by the landing experiment (LEX), return flight experiment (REX) and scramjet propulsion experiment (SPEX).

During HEX, the vehicle will take lift off in the form of a rocket with a booster. Later, it can be recovered from sea. Though the trials for the first experiment are slated to take place this year, an Isro official said the launch date for carrying out HEX from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota has not been fixed. The development and flight testing of the Reusable Launch Vehicles-Technology demonstrator missions leading to Two-Stage To Orbit (TSTO) is part of India's Space Vision 2025 and is expected to bring down cost significantly.

Isro, in January 2007, conducted the Space capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1). Launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C7) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on January 10, 2007, the capsule was successfully recovered on January 22, 2007, from the Bay of Bengal.