ISRO General News and Updates

[Indx TechStyle]

Overview of Indian Orbital Launch Systems from Official Site.
Launchers - Overview

Launchers or Launch Vehicles are used to carry spacecraft to space. India has two operational launchers: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). A third launcher of higher payload capacity, GSLV Mk - III, is being developed and will be launched on its first experimental flight later this year. In order to achieve high accuracy in placing satellites into their orbits, a combination of accuracy, efficiency, power and immaculate planning are required. ISRO's Launch Vehicle Programme spans numerous centres and employs over 5,000 people. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, located in Thiruvananthapuram, is responsible for the design and development of launch vehicles. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre and ISRO Propulsion Complex, located at Valiamala and Mahendragiri respectively, develop the liquid and cryogenic stages for these launch vehicles. Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, is the space port of India and is responsible for integration of launchers. It houses two operational launch pads from where all GSLV and PSLV flights take place and a third launch pad is under development.

PSLV

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle was developed to launch Low Earth Orbit satellites into Polar and Sun Synchronous Orbits. It has since proved its versatility by launching Geosynchronous, Lunar and Interplanetary spacecraft successfully.

Read More

GSLV

Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle was developed to launch the heavier INSAT class of Geosynchronous satellites into orbit. In its third and final stage, GSLV uses the indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage.

Read More

Sounding Rockets

ISRO launches smaller rockets from the Rohini series on suborbital and atmospheric flights for aeronomy and meteorological studies. ATV, ISRO's heaviest sounding rocket, can be used for microgravity experiments and for precursor experiments to characterise new technologies.

Read More

Visit the SLV and ASLV pages to know more about legacy launchers of ISRO.

India's next generation launcher LVM3's experimental flight was conducted on December 18, 2014.Read More

• English
• हिन्दी

Launchers

• SLV
• ASLV
• PSLV
• GSLV
• LVM3
• Sounding Rockets

 

[Indx TechStyle]

AstroSat Announcement of Opportunity (AO)
AO procedures

AstroSat is the first dedicated Indian astronomy mission aimed at studying celestial sources in X-ray, UV and limited optical spectral bands simultaneously, thus providing a space astronomy observatory which is operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

AstroSat was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota on 28th September 2015 by PSLV C30 (XL) to a 650 km near-equatorial orbit with 6-degree orbital inclination.

A significant amount of AstroSat’s observing time will be made available to proposers / guest observers (GO) through Announcements of Opportunity (AO).

Criteria for applying to AO :
This announcement is open to Indian scientists/ researchers residing in India and working at institutes/Universities/colleges in India, who

• are involved in research in the area of astronomy and
• are equipped to submit proposals as Principal Investigators (PIs) for specific target observations with necessary scientific and technical justification and
• can analyse the data, if the target is observed based on approvals.

• English
• हिन्दी

AstroSat Announcement of Opportunity (AO)

• 1.Introduction and Schedule
• 2. Observing cycles
• 3. Overview of proposal preparation, validation, submission and selection
• 4 Aspects of duplication
• 5. Data processing, data rights and publication

Courtesy: ISRO - Government of India

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Bengaluru Space Expo (BSX) 2016

India has made major strides in space research, development and its application for the socio-economic upliftment. The main focus of the Bengaluru Space Expo 2016 is to showcase the latest technological advancements, related products and technical services. It will provide a platform for space agencies, specialists, entrepreneurs and space industry heavyweights to display their visions to the decision makers.

The Expo would facilitate joint venture, technology transfer, marketing arrangements and will also provide opportunities to network with the who’s who of Space Industry from all over the world. The Exhibition would also be showcasing Asia’s achievements and prospects for space sector. India has made major strides in space research, development and its application for the socio-economic upliftment.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Ideas for ISRO to land universities, industries in a bright spot

ISRO chairman Kiran Kumar (2nd from R) and other scientists at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota | D Samapthkumar

CHENNAI: It’s a big opportunity for the youth who are fascinated about space technology. As part of its capacity building exercise, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has decided to give ‘room’ for the ideas from educational institutions and private industry.

The national space agency is exploring several options, with the domestic demand for application-specific satellites increasing and with a multi-billion international market at its doorstep. As such, the country plans to put 70 satellites in the orbit in the next five years, a target that calls for partnering with educational institutions and the private sector.

According to ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar, the agency wants to streamline the entire operation, wherein it will collaborate with the industry in a much larger scale to increase the number of annual launches between 12 and 18. As of now, it delivers eight launches on an average per year.

Special schemes are in the offing where the brightest of ideas coming from the academia and the industry will be screened through a selection process. The ISRO will then give shape to those ideas with its own expertise. For example, IIT Madras is working on a 10-kg payload that will provide scientific data for researchers to assist in early earthquake detection. A major announcement in this regard is expected by the year-end, Kumar said.

“The ISRO will give an opportunity to educational institutions, industry or a combination of both to build small satellites that render specific application needs. We are also thinking of letting them design and configure certain components in our satellite like power, volume etc. This will encourage new application-based and original ideas coming from outside the agency, and improve the innovative approach. By the end of this year, we will make an announcement on how exactly these schemes will operate,” Kumar said.

With the launch of PSLV-C34, when the agency successfully field-tested its newly-acquired capability to place satellites in different orbits, the ISRO now has the liberty to restructure the operations, said K Sivan, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). Sivan said two more student satellites are in the pipeline.

The ISRO chairman recalled how they had to negotiate with the customers to adjust the difference in altitudes and local time when they had to launch different satellites for different orbits. “Now, with this restart capability, we can easily meet the customer specifications,” he added.

2nd vehicle assembly

One of the constraints the ISRO face is the time being consumed in getting the vehicle ready. To address this issue, a second vehicle assembly building project is being fast-tracked and it should be operational soon.

Kumar said the ISRO was looking at removing bottlenecks, if any, to increase launches. “One of the efforts towards that end is a second vehicle assembly building, which is getting ready and which will help increase the number of launches. Our effort is to continuously assess the situation to improve our launch frequency.”

The VSSC in Thiruvananthapuram plays a key role in addressing some of these constraints by aggressively pursuing the realisation of Reusable Launch Vehicle, which is one of the most technologically challenging endeavours of the ISRO.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

How ISRO is tracking assets for govt ministries
The NRSC has developed around 50 mobile apps for different ministries and schemes, such as watershed development, disaster management, and housing

For the ministry of rural development, ISRO will attempt to geo-tag the estimated three million assets created annually across the country under the rural jobs scheme. Photo: Ramesh Pathania/Mint

New Delhi: Last week, the ministry of rural development and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that the national space agency will help keep track of assets being built under the rural jobs scheme by geo-tagging them. Isro’s remote sensing services have been roped in for tracking assets under several ministries since the government came to power two years ago.

“The idea is monitoring, transparency and to be able to keep track. Once you know where the assets are, what the gaps are, you can work on them,” said V.K. Dadhwal, director of the National Remote Sensing Centre. “We have developed around 50 mobile apps for different ministries and schemes, such as watershed development, disaster management, and housing,” added Dadhwal.

Here are a few areas where ISRO is helping keep track of assets:

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI): Earlier in January, NHAI signed Memorandum of Understanding with Isro’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and North East Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR) for use of spatial technology for monitoring and managing National Highways. The use of satellite data and geospatial technology is to be used for providing inputs in highway and infrastructure projects for preparation of Detailed Project Report, prefeasibility status in new alignment, upgrade or road widening, monitoring of road segments under construction and Road Asset Management System.

Monuments: The ministry of culture has taken up a national project for inventory and monitoring of archaeological sites in collaboration with Isro to manage thousands of monuments of national importance scattered across in the country. The project looks at two main aspects. The first is an inventory of world heritage sites and nationally important monuments and using satellite data to create a geospatial database. The second is Predictive Locational Modelling which is a technique to predict the location of archaeological sites or materials in a region, based either on the observed pattern and evidence.

MGNREGS: For the ministry of rural development, ISRO will attempt to geo-tag the estimated three million assets created annually across the country under the rural jobs scheme. Under the agreement, it is envisaged that a Gram Rozgar Sahayak or junior engineer will take a photo of an asset created by beneficiaries of the scheme and through a mobile app created by Isro, upload the photo on the Bhuvan web portal run by Isro’s National Remote Sensing Centre.

When the photo is uploaded on the mobile app, the location and time will get encrypted and there will be an option to add more information according to a few parameters.

Housing: ISRO is also collaborating with the ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, or Housing for All, which plans to address a total housing shortage of 20 million between 2015-2022. A senior Isro official told Mint that each one of these houses will be geotagged looking at what was the status of construction on each day. The official also added that ISRO had also collaborated with the Andhra Pradesh State Housing Corporation to keep track of the housing development in the state.

Watersheds: A web geo-portal ‘Shrishti’ and mobile app ‘Drishti’ are being developed by NRSC for monitoring of watersheds through Bhuvan, ISRO's geo-portal website. The government has been implementing the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IMWP), now known as the Watershed Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) since 2009-10. Under this are activities such as ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, nursery raising, afforestation, horticulture, pasture development, and livelihoods for asset-less persons. A total of 8,214 projects covering 39.07 million hectares had been sanctioned in 28 States up to 2014-15. High spatial and temporal resolution satellite data can be used for effectively planning, monitoring and evaluation of activities under the scheme.

TOPICS: ISRO RURAL DEVELOPMENT GEOTAGGING MGNREGS REMOTE SENSING

 

[Indx TechStyle]

ISRO's ESSRI 2016 conference wants us to build 10-12 satellites a year

On the day of the record 20 satellite launch by ISRO, there was another event happening where Isro was planning the building of more indigenous satellites with representatives from the Indian aerospace industry. ISRO Satellite Centre, ISAC held a Make in India conference in Bangalore, called Enabling Spacecraft Systems Realisation through Industries (ESSRI 2016). The conference was attended by ISRO executives and more than 110 Indian aerospace companies participated.

There is an increase in demand of satellite based services in India, and ISRO wants to launch at least 10 to 12 satellites every year to meet the demand. Isro hopes to do this through indigenous made satellites. ISRO does outsource some parts of the satellites to third parties, but no company takes up the end to end creation of satellites. ISRO wants to introduce best practices and technologies to the industry, to enable Indian companies to boost their satellite making capabilities.

Senior ISRO representatives spoke to the industry attendees at the conference, and outlined Isro’s plans for future launches, and the expected hardware, technologies, delivery schedules and quality for these launches. The satellites are required by various governmental bodies and ministries, who want to incorporate information and data available through new and emerging satellite technologies. The aerospace industry in India welcomed Isro looking for ways to increase the participation of vendors in its space program, the industry as well as ISRO stand to benefit through a deeper co-operation.

RELATED:#ENABLING SPACECRAFT SYSTEMS REALISATION THROUGH INDUSTRIES#ESSRI #ISAC #ISRO #SATELLITE

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Story of the Week - Indian Space Research Organization
PSLV Upper Stage Engines (PS4) successfully restarted in space

ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C34) accomplished its 35th consecutive successful flight with the launch of 20 satellites in a single mission recently on June 22, 2016. Another landmark achievement of this mission was the successful restart of its upper stage liquid engines (PS4). This has demonstrated and validated the upper stage systems for the upcoming PSLV missions to enable injection of satellites into multiple orbits.

PSLV, the workhorse of ISRO, is capable of launching satellites into different types of orbits like Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO), Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), as per the customer requirements. The value engineered PSLV has flexibility in the upper stage (PS4) configuration enabling cost effective launch of different class of satellites. So far, 113 satellites have been placed by PSLV in different orbits, which include India’s remote sensing and communication satellites, maiden lunar mission Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) spacecraft, Indian regional navigational satellite constellation (NavIC), besides 74 foreign satellites.

Today, advancements in satellite technologies and large scale miniaturisation enable the realisation of small satellites with functionalities of earlier larger satellites. For the customers of small satellite launch service, employing a dedicated launcher is not an economic option due to larger costs. Hence, it is essential to pool multiple satellites in a single launcher to reduce the launch cost and save time. This trend poses challenges to the launcher for carrying multiple satellites into different orbits to effectively utilise vehicle payload capability. ISRO’s PSLV is a unique launcher capable of meeting this type of demands with minimal vehicle changes.

In order to achieve multiple orbits, two different options, namely, having separate propulsion module or employing upper stage restart, are available. PSLV has selected the second option-restart off PS4 engines twice with a long coasting between two restarts. Even though ISRO had enough experience in long duration satellite missions employing multiple restart of the satellite's Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engine, a long duration launch vehicle mission was attempted during the recent PSLV-C34 mission.

PS4 stage is powered by twin liquid engines, which demands maintenance of critical parameters within the limit for overall controllability during restart. In view of these constraints and the long mission duration of around 7600 seconds between two restarts at two widely spaced points in orbit, appropriate measures were taken with overall mission planning and management, augmentation of control requirements, manoeuvring and controlling the vehicle into different orbits, reconditioning of propulsion systems and propellant management under micro-gravity conditions.

Liquid Upper Stage of PSLV PSLV Upper Stage Engine

In order to build up confidence levels for the upcoming missions, the experimental restart of PS4 engine was carried out for the first time in PSLV-C29 mission using available propellant, after the accomplishment of primary mission objective. Based on the success in PSLV-C29, a full complement of PS4 engine restart, the same as the functional requirement in an upcoming mission, was accomplished in the recent PSLV-C34 mission. Two engine restarts were made very close to North and South Pole validating the thermal and power management.

With PS4 restart, the following parameters were validated:

• Mission Planning and Overall Guidance algorithm for orbit change manoeuvres

• Reconditioning of upper stage engine and stage systems for restart

• Overall thermal management including fluid circuits, control components, actuators and on-board avionics systems

• Additional powering requirements for on-board electronics

• Ceramic servo accelerometer for better orbital parameters

The PS4 chamber pressure during both the restarts was as predicted and closely matched with first start. Overall controllability, navigation and guidance required for manoeuvring the upper stage into two different orbits were demonstrated. Thus, PSLV-C34 mission could successfully accomplish all the requirements, which gives full confidence for executing the main mission with two functional restarts of PS4 engines.

• English
• हिन्दी

Story of the Week - Archive
Jun 27, 2016 : PSLV Upper Stage Engines (PS4) successfully restarted in space
Jun 19, 2016 : Indian First Communication Satellite – APPLE
Jun 13, 2016 : MOM successfully came out of ‘whiteout’ Phase
Jun 06, 2016 : Mosaic of Martian North Pole and Ice Cap from MOM
May 30, 2016 : Indigenously developed Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radar at Cherrapunjee dedicated to Nation by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India
May 24, 2016 : Temporal repetitive mapping of waterbodies across India
May 16, 2016 : Tele-health services made operational in Kumbh Mela at Ujjain

• 1 of 9
  
• next ›

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Even NASA wants to work with us, which it wouldn't have before: A S Kiran Kumar

A S Kiran Kumar (pic courtesy: ISRO website)

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has shown noteworthy results in launching rockets and satellites to space on a shoestring budget. A S Kiran Kumar, the chairman, talks of what’s on and what lies ahead, in an interview to Alnoor Peermohamed &Raghu Krishnan. Edited excerpts:

Where is ISRO today? What are the plans in the coming decade?

We have focused on communication, navigation and earth observation capabilities in satellites. In all these areas, we’re limited by our capacity to realise and launch. Today, we have 35 satellites. If you see in terms of requirements, maybe I should have double this number operating at any given point of time, to meet our requirements. We have to build capacity and are increasing the number of launches of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). We started with once in a few years, then a couple in a year. Till recently, we were 2-2.5 per year but we’ve already tried to make it sic-seven a year in terms of PSLV.

But, then, this increase cannot happen on its own. We need a supply chain capacity and the industry is trying to build more. We have to give emphasis and make sure that industry capacity grows and our own capacity, the number of launches, grows. In the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), we had issues; we have overcome that. We’ve launched two GSLV Mk-II and are planning that every two years, we will launch a Mark II. Then, Mark III this December and the next December we intend to complete that. In PSLV, while we are using it for our own capacity, whatever is left, we’re augmenting and providing solutions for others. So, it has become a vehicle that is sought after when it comes to that.

So, while we are enabling and enhancing the capacity for our own use, we also have an opportunity to make it commercial. Towards that, we are discussing with industry on how to form a consortium or a mechanism where our capacity for launching can go up to maybe 12-18 a year. One is a consolidation phase and the other is capacity building to meet the growing demand.In this, where are we compared to global agencies?

As things progress and there is more demand, you need to ensure something else. If you look at the cost of access to space, a lot of private entities are getting into this space, whether in America or Europe. When they start operating, they will be looking at how the cost can be brought down. So, these are also challenges to agencies like ours. All government agencies have to start looking at these scenarios.

A large number of smaller satellites are coming out. They require launch opportunities which others have not been able to provide and we have been able to. You need to leverage that but also ensure you continue to improve your ability to provide solutions at a contemporary and competitive price. That is where our reusable launch vehicle (RLV) comes into the picture.

We also have our own science missions. You need to make sure for the capacity you are building, that you keep challenging them to do more and more difficult activities. So that their ability to visualise and find solutions to even our regular activities also gets continued.

In this, where are we compared to global agencies?

As things progress and there is more demand, you need to ensure — today for example if you look at the cost of access to space, there are a lot of private entities that are getting into this space, whether it is in America or Europe. When they start operating, they will be looking at how the cost can be brought down. So now, these are also challenges to agencies like ours. Now they have to look at how they can survive in this environment, if you come and tell I will do in $2 million what they’re doing in $10 million, after a couple of times, the government will ask why should I do it from your side? So all the government agencies also have to start looking at these scenarios which are happening.

A large number of smaller satellites are coming out, and they also require launch opportunities which others have not been able to provide and we have been able to provide. So you need to leverage that. But then you also need to make sure that you continue to improve your ability to provide solutions at a contemporary and competitive price. So that is where the reusable launch vehicle (RLV) type of things come into the picture where you need to ensure that the cost of access to space comes down, so that you are able to be competitive in the coming days.

In addition to this, we also have our own science missions. You need to do these activities from another point of view as well — you need to make sure of the capacity you are building in the country, unless you keep challenging them to do more and more difficult activities, their ability to visualise and find solutions to even our regular activities also gets continued.

You must have heard that you need to keep running to remain at the same place also, which means you have challenging assignments also

.
Is this helping ISRO get more collaborations?

As you keep improving your capabilities, others in the play want to come and join or leverage the international relationship so that cost of doing things for the global community also comes down. See, after we did our radar imaging satellite, Mars mission, the Chandrayaan mission, even NASA (the US space agency) is ready to work with us for a mission. So, we’re doing a NISAR mission in 2021. A few years before, they would not be willing to even consider any mission discussion with us. We've shown we’re in a position to work with global agencies, for bringing in solutions that are relevant to global activities. We have to ensure we are able to continuously build capacity, in the required numbers.

Where are we compared to SpaceX and all these companies?

There still is a shortage in capacity globally. It need not continue that way. This is where if cost of access is brought down significantly, they will also end up with a situation where if they’re able to meet all the demands, scale it up accordingly, they will capture that market.

If you are able to build on top of what we’ve built, PSLV commercialisation and all that, make it more and more attractive, there is a possibility that Indian industry can also gain in this global opportunity. That’s where we’re now trying to formulate -- we’re looking at the possibility of 2020, whether that Indian industry plus Isro, whether they can launch the first (space) vehicle in 2020. Beyond that, they can not only provide satellite launches for us; they can also market outside.

This collaboration with the private sector — the consortium will be a separate entity?

Those details we are trying to work out. Should it be a private company with a joint venture, say 51:49 or 50:50, like the Brahmos model, and other things.

Finally, we want in-the-country capacity, which can also help that entity market outside. Again, these are certain areas we still have to go through, whether there are any regulatory mechanisms because of launcher has multiple uses, what kind of protection has to be built. We have Godrej, we have L&T, we have HAL...many of the companies are already doing (work) for us. Now, they also want to know what kind of numbers are there. We're saying this is what is there; if you have the ability to market more, you can get more.

We already have Google talking about satellite-based internet services. Where are we as a country in providing such services?

Right now, OneWeb and all these guys are talking about building 900 satellites and launching it in the next three-four years to bring such a thing. This is a global service, you can say, which they will provide and we don’t have to compete with them.

We are still prioritising our capabilities for major requirements., whether for weather monitoring or earth observation. We also have a large number of applications which are growing massively. We have this programme called a space-based information system for decentralised planning, where the idea is to reach out to individual village panchayats and enabling them to plan activities and making them aware.

For example, we’re working on how to use India’s postmen to build a database. Like, if these postmen can monitor crops in the region and feed it into the database. Today, you have a national crop forecasting centre in Delhi and that provides a forecast before harvesting that utilises satellite imagery. We have identified 6-8,000 locations to do in situ observation. There are 150,000 post offices in India; even if one postman provides for a single location, that itself becomes a large number.

So we’re able to bring in communication, navigation, earth observation and then bring in ground-based crowd sourcing and linkages to do a huge number of applications.

You’ve spoken a lot about crowd sourcing, but there has been a lot of outrage about the Geospatial Bill.

There has been a lot of misinformation on that and we have also commented on it. What should be happening is, you should not be restricting the use of data for generating information. There are certain kinds of restrictions which you want to put. Talk about that and even there, put those data which you have to supply in a certain form, which will go through a vetting process. Otherwise what restriction you want to put, you cannot put it generally. If you take a picture and that becomes a restriction, you cannot do that.

In people’s minds, Google Maps are more well known than Bhuvan (Isro's geo-portal). Why is that?

That is going to be there. If you see the number of people Google will be employing and the kind of activities they will be doing, it is very different from what we’re doing. Finally, it is a commercial entity; their interest is going to be to keep you hooked, it is a business. And, the number of people they will get to use will be huge, so the things they can do are different. But, with the information we’ve been able to collect over many years and the number of layers we’ve been able to build with Bhuvan, its use for specific activities is much more. Obviously, the dissemination and making it known has its own timeline but now, with the kind of emphasis the governments are putting on usage, they are also realising that if they put something on Google, what is their security?

 

[Kshatriya87]

ISRO Clears PSLV to Launch Sats Into Multiple Orbits

With this capability, ISRO now stands to be able to reduce its launch costs further as well as launch more satellites faster.

The fully integrated PSLV C34 on its way to the launchpad at Sriharikota. Credit: ISRO

On June 22, the Indian Space Research Organisation surpassed itself by launching 20 satellites in one go, on board a PSLV XL rocket. All 20 satellites were launched into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 509 km. Before the launch, K. Sivan, director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), had said that the challenge was to constantly reorient the fourth stage of the rocket – designated PS4 – while deploying the satellites so they wouldn’t crash into each other. The mission, called C34, was a flawless success.

However, a more significant success going ahead came later. Once the satellites were launched, PS4 wasn’t discarded. Instead, it was kept in orbit around Earth by the onboard computer for 50 minutes, going from near the south pole toward the north pole. Once it was close to the latter, PS4 was made to fire its engines for five seconds and then shut off, continuing on its way toward the south pole. Once it got there, its engines were again fired for five seconds and then shut off. It was there that the mission ended.

Why did this happen?

The C34 mission launched 20 satellites into a single orbit. However, a future mission might require the PS4 to launch many satellites into multiple orbits, and this in turn would require the launcher to jump between orbits. ISRO tested just this capability by starting and shutting off the PS4’s engines while it was in orbit around Earth, increasing or decreasing its altitude. And that it was a success means the PSLV can, in the future, launch satellites into different orbits in the same launch.

Without this capability, ISRO will have had to launch multiple PSLV missions, each targeting a different orbit. And with this capability, ISRO now stands to be able to reduce its launch costs further as well as launch more satellites faster.

Starting and shutting off the engines only sounds simple; such a description glosses over the fact that the PS4 is equipped with two liquid-fuel engines that have to be operated in sync. The engines also heat up considerably while in operation, so if they have to be restarted, they need to be cooled down rapidly in the interim period. Additionally, because the manoeuvres are being performed in space, gravity is extremely weak and the flow of fuel to the engines wouldn’t be as efficient as it is on Earth’s surface, when the PSLV takes off. As ISRO put it: “… appropriate measures were taken with overall mission planning and management, augmentation of control requirements, manoeuvring and controlling the vehicle into different orbits, reconditioning of propulsion systems and propellant management under micro-gravity conditions.”

The significance and acclaim attending the feat can’t be diminished; that said, ISRO had already demonstrated the PS4’s ability to restart its engines during the PSLV C29 mission, on December 16, 2015. At the time, S. Somnath, director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, had told IANS that the technique – of restarting the engines in space as well moving between orbits – would come into play in the C35 mission. The C35 mission is scheduled to happen in July 2016 to launch the ResourceSat 2A satellite into a low-Earth orbit and the ScatSat 1 satellite into the higher geostationary orbit.

The final launch date hasn’t been announced yet.

Speaking of reducing launch costs, another important test is to be conducted soon – of the scramjet engine being developed by ISRO for its own reusable launch vehicle. Though the engine won’t yet power a full-fledged flight in the test, VSSC’s K. Sivan has said that a smaller version of it will be installed on a sounding rocket to get it going at 6-8 times the speed of sound. In a conventional rocket, an engine is supplied with oxygen from a tank that the rocket carries in order to combust the fuel. A scramjet, on the other hand, is a type of engine that sucks in oxygen from the atmosphere itself, and that too at hypersonic velocities. So, as Sivan went on to say: “What we wish to demonstrate is hypersonic ignition and sustainability of combustion at high Mach numbers. We also want to see whether we are getting the expected thrust value.”

The reusable launch vehicle that a scramjet proper will eventually power hasn’t yet been built. On May 23, ISRO experimented with a scaled-down version of the vehicle to check if the heat-resistant tiles installed on it performed as they ought to and if the onboard computer was able to manoeuvre the flight without major errors. In the next test, a date for which hasn’t been announced, ISRO will drop the vehicle from an airplane so the former can execute a runway landing.

A working vehicle is expected to be ready only around 2030. It will be able to lift between 10,000 kg and 20,000 kg to the low-Earth orbit. Apart from a scramjet, the vehicle may be powered by five semi-cryogenic engines as well as might be made of lighter materials. Altogether, ISRO expects all efforts to culminate with a reduction in launch costs by a factor of 10. It pays to consider this number in context: by 2030, the organisation will face stiffer competition from its peers around the world in terms of lowering the cost of access to space as well as in payload capacity (e.g., Elon Musk expects to land humans on Mars by 2024).

Good luck, ISRO!

 

[Kshatriya87]

Couldn't find a link for NASA, so posting this here.


NASA Tests Booster For Most Powerful Rocket For Space Mission
World | Press Trust of India | Updated: June 29, 2016 20:38 IST

WASHINGTON: A booster for NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket in the world, has been successfully tested, an advance that may pave the way for future human exploration in deep space, including the journey to Mars.

The booster was fired up for its second qualification ground test at test facilities in Utah in the US, NASA said.


This was the last full-scale test for the booster before SLS's first uncrewed test flight with NASA's Orion spacecraft in late 2018, a key milestone on the agency's journey to Mars.

"This final qualification test of the booster system shows real progress in the development of the Space Launch System," said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA.

"Experiencing the sound and feel of approximately 3.6 million pounds of thrust, helps us appreciate the progress we're making to advance human exploration and open new frontiers for science and technology missions in deep space," he said.

The booster was tested at a cold motor conditioning target of 4.4 degrees Celsius - the colder end of its accepted propellant temperature range.

When ignited, temperatures inside the booster reached over 3,300 degrees Celsius, NASA said.

The two-minute, full-duration ground qualification test provided NASA with critical data on 82 qualification objectives that will support certification of the booster for flight.

Engineers now will evaluate these data, captured by more than 530 instrumentation channels on the booster.

When completed, two five-segment boosters and four RS-25 main engines will power SLS on deep space missions. The solid rocket boosters, built by NASA contractor Orbital ATK, operate in parallel with SLS's main engines for the first two minutes of flight.

They will provide more than 75 per cent of the thrust needed for the rocket and Orion spacecraft to escape Earth's gravitational pull.

"SLS hardware is currently in production for every part of the rocket. We're on track to launch SLS on its first flight test with Orion and pave the way for a human presence in deep space," said John Honeycutt, SLS Programme manager at NASA.

The first full-scale booster qualification ground test was successfully completed in March last year and demonstrated acceptable performance of the booster design at 32 degrees Celsius - the highest end of the booster's accepted propellant temperature range.

Testing at the thermal extremes experienced by the booster on the launch pad is important to understand the effect of temperature on how the propellant burns.

The initial SLS configuration will have a minimum 77-tonne lift capability.

The next planned upgrade of SLS will use a powerful exploration upper stage for more ambitious missions, with a 115-tonne lift capacity.

 

[indiatester]

^^^
This rocket booster itself is bigger than our PSLV or GSLV in height and width!
that's the kind of monster rockets they have!

 

[Kshatriya87]

^^^
This rocket booster itself is bigger than our PSLV or GSLV in height and width!
that's the kind of monster rockets they have!

They have nai bhai, they've just developed and this is their first test. Also, you cannot compare this booster with PSLV & GSLV. They are meant for sattellite launches. Whereas this booster is meant for deep space exploration.

 

[indiatester]

They have nai bhai, they've just developed and this is their first test. Also, you cannot compare this booster with PSLV & GSLV. They are meant for sattellite launches. Whereas this booster is meant for deep space exploration.

True... This booster is for SLS which has multiple configurations.
But just imagine if both gslv mk iii and SLS booster were kept next to each other

 

[Kshatriya87]

True... This booster is for SLS which has multiple configurations.
But just imagine if both gslv mk iii and SLS booster were kept next to each other

Well if you put it like that, size matters. But depends on the mission yes? no point in using 3.6 million pounds of thrust for a geo-synchronous orbit sattelitte launch.

India can use something like this for its future moon & mars missions. And maybe after that, solar system exploration missions.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

^^^
This rocket booster itself is bigger than our PSLV or GSLV in height and width!
that's the kind of monster rockets they have!

Role of both rockets is different.
SLS is super heaavy LV meanwhile PSLV and GSLV are medium.
Though two mid heavy (LVM3 and ULV) are knowm to be in development.
A heavy rocket (like Delta Heavy) too is official.
http://www.vssc.gov.in/VSSC_V4/index.php/technology/heavy-lift-launch-vehicles

For Indian counterpart of SLS, such super heavy (4 concepts) are known to be in study in India since 2010.
I will try to get my hands on official news.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Jamshedpur Engineering student’s research paper selected in ISRO

Jamshedpur, July 2: Mango resident Md. Shafeul Wara has made Jamshedpur proud. B. Tech student from SRM University, Chennai.

Shafeul’s research paper has been selected in ISRO among more than 400 papers from all over India. Shafeul Wara had proposed an idea which involves use of continuum robot in space. He presented research paper on the same with the name “Spaces Capable Long An Thin Continuum Robotics” and he also made a continuum robot.

Shafeul Wara, son of Md. Shamsul Hoda made a robot which is based on innovation of space systems.

The Robot name is ‘Continuum Robot’ which is intended for in-space inspection, Remote exploration, As a support structure, could also have potential terrestrial, Continuum manipulators could be highly useful in areas of defense and security, Teleoperation in hazardous environmental conditions, and even as an innovative option in traditional, Industrial automation, This robot can perform various tasks in space.

Since it has 1:100 diameter to length ratio so it can travel through small and compact areas and can easily do its job.

Shafeul Wara was awarded for best innovative idea and project in “LAMSYS 2016” held at SDSC, SHAR, ISRO Shri harikota with his partner Rahul Ranjan.

He has several achievements to his name- Shafeul qualified for national level in “US-ROBO LEGUE “ -2014 held at IIT Bombay.

He was the winner of ‘Robo Sumo’ at Shtyabhama University-2015. He also qualified the vertual round of e-Baja competition which is organised by SAE INDIA and sponsored by Mahindra.

Shafeul Wara says that his aim is to get India to a significant level in field of robotics. Considering its importance in near future.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

ISRO's century emboldens it to embrace private sector!

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Why ISRO is working on an air-breathing propulsion system
ISRO's air-breathing propulsion system will allow rockets to use atmospheric oxygen for fuel, reducing costs and fuel weight in the future

A file photo of the ISRO campus in Bengaluru. As part of the development of its own space shuttle, Isro in May carried out a test in which scientists developed a model that was one-fifth the size of the planned shuttle. Photo: Hemant Mishra/Mint

New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will be testing an air-breathing propulsion system this month which will allow rockets to use atmospheric oxygen for fuel, reducing costs and fuel weight in the future. The technology is an important step towards developing reusable launch vehicles.

“Basically, of the total launch vehicle mass, 86% is propellant mass in the launch vehicle. That is huge, say if you’re looking at a 400-tonne rocket. Out of that propellant, 70% is oxidiser. Instead of carrying that much load, why not take it from the atmosphere. That way the vehicle will be lighter and it will be much more efficient,” explains K. Sivan, director of the Thiruvananthapuram-based Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

Launch vehicles use a combination of propellants consisting of oxidiser and fuel for energy. Air-breathing propulsion systems use atmospheric oxygen, which is available up to a height of 50km from the earth’s surface, to burn the fuel stored on board.

“We are planning a test some time in July in the second half. When you use an air-breathing propulsion system, you need a compressor so that the air automatically gets compressed and then it gets ignited,” says Sivan.

There are several challenges in using atmospheric oxygen as the launch vehicle speeds through the atmosphere at supersonic speeds, which is why the national space agency will be developing a supersonic combustion ramjet or a scramjet engine. This engine will also be tested this month by ISRO.

Air-breathing propulsion is a key technology that will be involved in space shuttles. “Of course if vehicle mass is less, costs will be less and more payload can be carried,” says Sivan.

As part of the development of its own space shuttle, ISRO in May carried out a test in which scientists developed a model that was one-fifth the size of the planned shuttle. This scaled model, capable of climbing to an altitude of 70 km, made a smooth landing on the Bay of Bengal, after taking off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. Called the hypersonic flight experiment (HEX), there are several steps left till the final reusable launch vehicle is ready.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Story of the Week - Indian Space Research Organization
Desertifications and Land Degradation Atlas released

Desertification and land degradation are major threats to agricultural productivity in our country. Combating desertification and land degradation is one of the thrust areas identified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India, New Delhi. Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, Ahmedabad along with 19 concerned partner institutes has carried out an inventory and monitoring of desertification of the entire country using Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) data in Geographical Information System (GIS) environment.

The maps and salient findings compiled in the form of an Atlas was released on the occasion of “World Day to Combat Desertification”, on June 17, 2016 jointly organized by MoEF&CC, and Arid Zone Forest Research Institute (AFRI) at Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

This Atlas presents state-wise desertification and land degradation status maps depicting land use, process of degradation and severity level. This was prepared using IRS Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) data of 2011-13 and 2003-05 time frames in GIS environment. Area under desertification / land degradation for the both time frames and changes are reported state-wise as well as for the entire country. The outputs are helpful in prioritizing areas to be taken up for minimizing the impact of desertification and land degradation.

It may be noted that India is signatory to the United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD). The country is committed to combat desertification and land degradation and intends to achieve land degradation neutral status by 2030. MoEF&CC is the nodal Ministry for the implementation of the UNCCD. The status of India’s desertification and land degradation is an important contribution to India’s report to the UNCCD. Besides, concerned policy makers, regional planners and researchers can also use this Atlas as a ready reference.

Release of Atlas

Click here to download the Atlas
The Atlas and the geo-spatial database created for two timeframes along with corresponding satellite images are also available on SAC Web Portal “Visualization of Earth Data and Archival System” (VEDAS)”.

• English
• हिन्दी

Story of the Week - Archive
Jul 04, 2016 : Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas released
Jun 27, 2016 : PSLV Upper Stage Engines (PS4) successfully restarted in space
Jun 19, 2016 : Indian First Communication Satellite – APPLE
Jun 13, 2016 : MOM successfully came out of ‘whiteout’ Phase
Jun 06, 2016 : Mosaic of Martian North Pole and Ice Cap from MOM
May 30, 2016 : Indigenously developed Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radar at Cherrapunjee dedicated to Nation by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India
May 24, 2016 : Temporal repetitive mapping of waterbodies across India

• 1 of 9
  
• next ›

 

[Indx TechStyle]

File Photo (ISRO)
ISRO celebrates 100 succesful satellite launches
The Indian space agency's century emboldens it to embrace the private sector.

Almost unsung, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has completed a century of launching satellites in space! This was in true Test cricket fashion a slow plod taking almost 36 years, since the first satellite to be launched from India was Rohini in 1980.

In a bold first move, ISRO is also opening its doors to the private sector to make not just components but full satellites. This is quite a leap in space by ISRO, which has till now endeavoured to fabricate all satellites in-house.

In another parallel but very significant development, Team Indus, a Bengaluru-based private space start-up which is attempting India's first private moon shot, got a big boost when on June 29, when the French Space Agency (CNES) inked a 'letter of intent' with this young bundle of energy whose motto is 'aspire, believe and create'. For the French space giant to even think of flying a high-end camera on the module Team Indus seeks to send to the moon is a hugely positive movement.

Team Indus was India's only entry for the US $20 million Google Lunar X Prize. Speaking at the Toulouse Space Fair, Jean-Yves Le Gall, President of the French space agency, said, "CNES must look for excellence where it is to be found, for today's space technology will drive tomorrow's technology revolutions and growth. In joining forces with Team Indus on this mission to land a rover on the Moon in 18 months' time, CNES is showing that innovation in France has a key role to play in new space. These new players are doing things differently and working to short schedules by deploying innovative methods. The average age of our new partners is 30, so we will learn as much from them as they will from us."

Back to ISRO's big commercial success which has launched 113 satellites into space. To be precise on May 22, on this 36th mission of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) it sent 20 birds soaring into space in a single perfect mission. There was no overt celebration of the achievement of the century and the understated chairman of ISRO A S Kiran Kumar simply said "a job done". This was also a hugely significant launch since for the first time ISRO launched 17 foreign satellites all on commercial basis. Interestingly, 13 of these small satellites were from the US, which shows the growing confidence the American entities have on the Indian launcher.

Most importantly for reasons of commerce when a whiff of privatisation seems to be drifting through ISRO, there was one satellite that was from the stable of the Internet giant Google. The 110kg earth imaging SkySat Gen 2-1 satellite is owned by Terra Bella, a Californian company owned by Google.

This was the first time an Indian 'new space' start-up called Earth2Orbit (E2O) negotiated the launch contract on behalf of Google and Antrix Corporation. Suggesting Indian private companies are beginning to show a mark.

Susmita Mohanty, Chief Executive Officer of E2O, Bengaluru, said, "This is a Berlin-wall moment in (Indian) space history which will pave the way for more American launches on the PSLV and enable other Indo-US commercial space engagements in the future," adding the launch represents a landmark in space-related collaboration between the world's two largest democracies.