ISRO General News and Updates

[Indx TechStyle]

Story of the Week
Promoting Space Technology Tools and Applications in Governance and Development - Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission together with the Institute of Remote Sensing (IRS), Anna University organised the "Tamil Nadu State Meet" on “Promoting Space Technology Tools and Applications in Governance and Development” recently at Anna University, Chennai.

The "Tamil Nadu State Meet" was inaugurated by Thiru O. Panneerselvam, the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Government of Tamil Nadu. The Meet was presided by Thiru K.P. Anbalagan, the Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education of Government of Tamil Nadu. Three Principal Secretaries to Government of Tamil Nadu have attended the meeting, apart from officials of ISRO.

Two technical sessions were held on geo-spatial applications for Natural Resources Management and Social Welfare & Good Governance. Senior officials of ISRO and the officials from various Line Departments of Government of Tamil Nadu presented the details on the current status of geo-spatial applications and future requirements. The Line departments include Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Agriculture, Revenue Administration, Disaster Management & Mitigation, Forest, Municipal Administration and Water Supply (TWAD Board), Public Works Department (WRD/IWS), Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), School Education Department and TNEB (TANGEDCO).

Dr. P G Diwakar, Scientific Secretary, ISRO steered the discussions and the Meet concluded with the following set of recommendations: 1) Establish a mechanism for linkage between Bhuvan and TNGIS 2) Update the high-resolution satellite data in Bhuvan once in a year 3) Bhuvan application development including APIs creation and mobile app development to meet the requirements of various state govt. departments 4) Prepare the capacity building strategy to meet the requirements of various stakeholders 5) Prepare a list of collaborative projects categorised as short term (like dengue), medium term and long term or based on priority 6) Prepare requirements for location based services using GAGAN and NavIC 7) Constitute a Joint Working Group with members from NRSC/ISRO and representatives of various state govt. departments for effective implementation of these recommendations.

During the Special Session of the National Meet on “Promoting use of Space Technology in Governance and Development” held on September 07, 2015 at New Delhi, Hon’ble Prime Minister had emphasised the need to institutionalise a mechanism for integrating space applications in governance and development. As a follow up action, all the State Governments were specifically requested by Cabinet Secretary to organise similar brainstorming workshops at the State level with various stakeholders to promote use of space applications. Till now, 15 States (Haryana, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu) have conducted their Meet, which was attended by Chief Ministers and senior officials of the State. Remaining States have worked out the plans to conduct such Meets and get the benefits of Space Technology in Governance and Development.

Story of the Week - Archive
Dec 04, 2017 : Promoting Space Technology Tools and Applications in Governance and Development - Tamil Nadu
Nov 27, 2017 : International Seminar on ISP: ‘Trends and Opportunities for Industry’
Nov 21, 2017 : APRSAF-24 held in Bengaluru
Nov 13, 2017 : ISRO Organises INTROMET-2017
Nov 06, 2017 : CZT Imager of AstroSat measures first phase resolved X-ray polarisation of Crab pulsar
Oct 30, 2017 : 38th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing
Oct 23, 2017 : ETS - A System for Transportation of Small Satellite and Flight Hardware

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[Chinmoy]

10 years after first moon probe, India readies Chandrayaan-2 for early next year

https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...-for-early-next-year/articleshow/62094252.cms

 

[Chinmoy]

ISRO's plan: A rocket that can be made in 3 days

Aditya-L1, India's maiden mission to Sun, scheduled for 2019: ISRO chairman
HIGHLIGHTS

• Mini-PSLV can be built at a cost of just 1/10 of original cost.
• The manufacturing cost of a launch vehicle is generally in the range of Rs 150 crore to Rs 500 crore across the world.
• The Indian space agency has started working on the idea of building this small rocket keeping in mind the emerging market of micro or nano satellites.

We always do cry about Indian Pvt industries not getting share of works in Defence sector. But this is one sector where they could invest and be benefited and derive profit too. I have yet to see any Indian pvt entity coming forward with ideas and concept on satellite designing and buildup to serve themselves. It shows the apathy of our business moguls and why they find themselves wanting at global podium.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

GSLV-MkIII-D2/GSAT-29 Mission

GSAT-29 is configured around ISRO’s Enhanced I-3K Bus and will be the payload for second developmental flight of GSLV-MkIII. It carries Ka x Ku multi-beam and optical communication payloads for the first time. The mission targets for Village Resource Centres (VRC) in rural areas to bridge the digital divide.

GSLV-MkIII-D2/GSAT-29 Mission is scheduled to be launched during the first half of 2018.

30 Characters in the name of the heavens.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Improved PSLV on track to blast off next month

CHENNAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is back in mission mode and gearing up to launch PSLV-C40, carrying earth observation Cartosat-2 satellite along with 28 foreign passenger satellites, including 25 nano-satellites and three micro-satellites. The launch has been tentatively fixed for January 10. This will be the maiden flight after meeting with failure in August.

The launch will be a litmus test for India’s workhorse PSLV in terms of reliability and robustness. Though PSLV has seamlessly carried out 39 consecutive successfully launches, the last failure has thrown up several questions over the technology being used. In this context, ISRO has taken a four-month interval to revisit some of the core areas.

PSLV had a rare failure in September this year | representative pix

K Sivan, director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, told Express that a few modifications had been done, especially payload fairing, after analysing the reasons for the failure of PSLV-C39/IRNSS-1H Satellite mission. “We have done some modifications to improve the design robustness and correspondingly, simulation tests have been performed,” he said.

PSLV-C39 was unsuccessful primarily because heat shield separation did not take place. Everything in the vehicle — first stage, second stage, third stage and separation events — performed normally. But, the heat shield that protects the satellite within the atmospheric regime didn’t separate and as a result, the satellite got encased inside the enclosure.

The entire fourth stage, along with the heat shield and satellite, has become nothing but space junk, which meant a waste of `350 crore. Camera visuals showed the satellite getting separated internally and moving inside the heat shield.

It was only the second failure for PSLV in its 25-year history. The vehicle has launched 48 Indian satellites and 209 satellites for customers from abroad. Besides, the vehicle successfully launched two spacecraft – Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft in 2013 – that later travelled to Moon and Mars respectively. It also holds the world record for having put into space 104 satellites in one go earlier this year.

Meanwhile, ISRO chairman AS Kiran Kumar said the space agency is facing the busiest year ahead with a cluster of launches lined up, which include Chandrayaan-2 in March.ISRO also plans to launch the second flight of GSLV MkIII, carrying the heaviest payload ever. The last successful GSLV MkIII launch was carried out on June 5, carrying a 3.2 tonne GSAT-19 communication satellite.

“This time, we are looking to launch a communication satellite of GSAT series which will be close to the 4-tonne class. It will carry new versions of optical communication and high frequency Q&V band,” he said.

Bouncing back

PSLV-C39 was unsuccessful primarily because its heat shield separation did not take place. Everything else performed normally.

This resulted in the entire fourth stage of PSLV-C39, along with the heat shield and satellite, becoming space junk. An improved PSLV-C40, carrying earth observation Cartosat-2 satellite along with 28 foreign passenger satellites, including 25 nano-satellites and three micro-satellites, may lift off on Jan 10.

 

[Adioz]

ULV program possibly cancelled, government will go ahead with GSLV Mk3.
@Chinmoy @ezsasa @shiphone @Akask kumar
This is from the abstract of a talk on 'Future of Space Transportation' by Shri. S. Somanath, Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Center at National Space Science Symposium.

''The semi-cryogenic stage with 200 ton propellant loading will replace the present earth storable core stage of LVM3 to enhance the payload capability to 6 tons. A heavy lift launch vehicle having 8 to 10 ton GTO payload capability based on bigger solid boosters, a semi-cryogenic core stage and clustered cryogenic upper stage is configured and is under detailed study. A clustered semi-cryo booster stage with 4 to 5 engines and with 500 ton propellant loading can be the booster stage of future heavy lift vehicle or a two stage human rated vehicle. Such a semicryo booster stage can be recovered and reused as well taking advantage of the throttling capability of the engine.''
LVM 3 upgrade road map towards HLV.

HLV (?)

And they are contemplating partially reusable VTVL launchers with 5 engine clustered configuration for first stage. That stage looks good enough for a moon rocket !!!

Payload to GTO is some 14 tonne.

So C27 is clustered upper cryo stage..........but a cluster of 3 or 5 CE20s? Also, what configuration is a moon rocket (Saturn V class) going to look like?

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/649931/indian-scientists-decode-gravitational-wave.html

Indian scientists decode gravitational wave mystery

Kalyan Ray, DH News Service, New Delhi, Dec 24 2017, 22:20 IST

File picture of GMRT (giant meterwave radio telescope) near Pune

An Indo-US team of astronomers have decoded a mystery behind the most powerful gravitational wave detected so far.

The discovery not only opened up a new window to look at the rare cosmic phenomenon, but also challenged an established theory, used to explain such events.

A couple of months ago, the most powerful gravity wave, produced during a violent collision of two massively dense stars, known as neutron stars, was discovered.

The strongest GW signal came from the smash-up of two neutron stars that are so heavy that a tea spoon-full of neutron star material weighs more than the Mount Everest.

Now another group of scientists comprising several Indian astronomers provided a new insight into this violent celestial collision.

Analysing the gravity and electromagnetic signals emitted from the merger, they showed a super-fast energy jet, launched from the two neutron stars as they collided, was slamming into the surrounding material and created a slower-moving, billowy cocoon.

Only two special detectors in the USA and Europe captured the gravity wave signals, but several other telescopes from around the world, including India's Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope near Pune, picked up the electromagnetic signals in various frequencies.

"For the first time gravitational waves from neutron star merger have been detected, and for the first time electromagnetic counterpart from this merger has been detected. In this historical feat, GMRT has the credit to detect it at the lowest frequency ever! It is a proud moment for Indian astronomy," said Poonam Chandra, astronomer at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, Pune who is part of the team.

The scientists got the clues from the radio signals. The radio emission-originally detected 16 days after the August 17 event and still measurable and increasing in strength as of December 2-tells a different story.

If the jet had been fast and beam-like, the radio light would have weakened with time, as the jet lost energy. The fact that the brightness of the radio light is increasing, suggests the presence of a cocoon that is choking the jet. "It's like the jet was fogged out," says Kunal Mooley, another team member from Caltech.

Gravity waves are a type of esoteric cosmic wave, whose existence was predicted by Albert Einstein more than a century ago, but the first one was detected only in September 2015.

 

[Hindustani78]

Department of Space
26-December, 2017 19:06 IST
Ahmedabad Space Application Centre developing new 'Remote' Sensor camera: Dr Jitendra Singh

The Space Application Centre (SAC) Ahmedabad, one of the India's premier Space Centres established by the founding father of India's Space programme, Dr Vikram Sarabhai, is all set to develop a new advanced hi-tech "Remote Sensor" camera with a capacity to capture images/pictures from a height of over 300 kms. This was disclosed by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh after a visit to the "Remote Sensor Unit" of the Ahmedabad Space Application Centre today.

Dr Jitendra Singh held a detailed update meeting with Director Space Application Centre, Dr Tapan Misra and other members of scientific fraternity at the Centre. He also went around different sections of the "Instrument Manufacturing and Upgrading Unit".

The Minister was informed that the new "Remote Sensor Camera" will be fully indigenous, living up to "Make in India" concept and may be available by early next year. The new gadget will be an improvement on the existing application used for infrastructure development works, soil management and even security related tasks.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that the country is proud of the achievements of our Space Scientists under the inspiration of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and in the current year itself, a number of "firsts" were achieved including the launching of South Asia Satellite and world record of launching of 130 satellites at a single launch.

*****


Department of Space
26-December, 2017 12:26 IST
Year End Review: Department of Space

Following are the highlights of the activities of the Department of Spaceduring the year 2017:


Ø In this calendar year i.e. 2017, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched 104 satellites, in a single launch, onboard PSLV-C37 on February 15, 2017 and 31 satellites, in a single launch, on-board PSLV-C38 on June 23, 2017. These satellites include – Two Indian Cartosat-2 series satellites, two Indian Nano-Satellites, one Nano satellite from Indian University and 130 foreign satellites from 19 countries, viz. Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Switzerland, The Netherlands, UAE, UK and USA. The Cartosat-2 series satellites are placed in a sun synchronous orbit with a designed mission life of 5 years. The main objective of these satellites is to provide high resolution images of earth’s surface at sub-meter resolution (Black & White image) and at 2 meter resolution (4-band coloured image). The images obtained from these satellites are useful in variety of applications requiring high resolution images, which include cartography, infrastructure planning, urban & rural development, utility management, natural resources inventory & management, disaster management.

Ø India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-II (GSLV-F09) successfully launched the 2230 kg South Asia Satellite (GSAT-9) into its planned Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on May 05, 2017. The launch of GSLV was its eleventh and took place from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota, the spaceport of India. This was the fourth consecutive success achieved by GSLV carrying indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage.

Ø The first developmental flight (GSLV MkIII-D1) of India's heavy lift launch vehicle GSLV Mk-III was successfully conducted on June 05, 2017 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota with the launch of GSAT-19 satellite. This was the first orbital mission of GSLV MkIII which was mainly intended to evaluate the vehicle performance including that of its fully indigenous cryogenic upper stage during the flight. Weighing 3136 kg at lift-off, GSAT-19 became the heaviest satellite launched from the Indian soil.

Ø On June 29, 2017, GSAT-17 became India’s third communication satellite to successfully reach orbit in two months. GSAT-17 was launched by the European Ariane 5 Launch Vehicle from Kourou, French Guiana.

Ø A two-day International Seminar on Indian Space Programme: ‘Trends and Opportunities for Industry’ was organized in New Delhi on November 20-21, 2017. The seminar was organised by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Antrix Corporation Limited (the commercial arm of ISRO), in coordination with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The Two-day conference deliberated on the best practices, pursuit of the ongoing discussion process to support further work of India's Space Sector and facilitate to arrive at a coherent framework, where in India's Space Sector can start expanding the domestic and global opportunities through enhanced partnerships and collaborations. The seminar aimed to highlight the achievements and major milestones of Indian Space Sector in recent past, and the future programs and plans. During the seminar, the stakeholders from industry, policy makers, thought leaders and academia, brainstormed on the enabling and encouraging policies of Government of India to exploit the commercial space segment by Indian Industry targeting both domestic and international market.

Ø AstroSat, India’s multi-wavelength space telescope completed two years in orbit during the year and has successfully accomplished the difficult task of measuring X-ray polarisation. In a paper published in ‘Nature Astronomy’, the team documented the results of their eighteen-month study of the Crab pulsar in the Taurus Constellation and measured the variations of polarisation as this highly magnetised object spins around 30 times every second. This landmark measurement puts up a strong challenge to prevailing theories of high energy X-ray emission from pulsars.

Ø An exhibition highlighting the achievements of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was inaugurated by the MoS Dr Jitendra Singh, in Surat, Gujarat on September 29, 2017. The exhibition was held under the aegis of Municipal School Board with participation by a large number of school children.

Ø A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Ministry of Science and Technology, in New Delhi on August 4, 2017. The MoU provides for time and frequency traceability services to ISRO by CSIR-NPL.

Ø Mars Orbiter Mission successfully completed three yearsin its orbit on September 24, 2017, surviving well beyond its designed mission life of six months. All Scientific payloads continue to provide valuable data of Mars surface and its atmosphere. Mars Colour Camera on-board MOM has acquired more than 700 images of Martian surface. MOM atlas is published and updates on MOM images are regularly provided on ISRO website. The observations drawn by scientists have been published in 20 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals. The archived scientific data has been released to public for free download and scientific research. About 1380 registered users have downloaded more than 370 GB of data.

Ø ISRO and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)/NASA are jointly working on the development of Dual Frequency (L&S band) Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging Satellite named as NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR). The L-band SAR is being developed by JPL/NASA, while ISRO is developing S-band SAR. The L & S band microwave data obtained from this satellite will be useful for variety of applications, which include natural resources mapping and monitoring; estimating agricultural biomass over full duration of crop cycle; assessing soil moisture; monitoring of floods and oil slicks; coastal erosion, coastline changes and variation of winds in coastal waters; assessment of mangroves; surface deformation studies, ice sheet collapses and dynamics.


*************

 

[Hindustani78]

The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh visiting the different sections of the Remote Sensing Unit at Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad on December 26, 2017. The Director, Space Application Centre, Dr. Tapan Misra and other senior scientists are also seen.

The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh visiting the different sections of the Remote Sensing Unit at Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad on December 26, 2017. The Director, Space Application Centre, Dr. Tapan Misra and other senior scientists are also seen.

The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh visiting the different sections of the Remote Sensing Unit at Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad on December 26, 2017. The Director, Space Application Centre, Dr. Tapan Misra and other senior scientists are also seen.

 

[Hindustani78]

Department of Space
27-December, 2017 18:59 IST
Development of Space Science
Year wise details of innovative projects undertaken in the last three years are as below:

2014-15 Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM): Launched on September 24, 2014, has made ISRO, the fourth Space agency in the world to reach Mars orbit. Initially designed for six months, MOM is still continuing and sending important data for scientific studies.

2015-16 AstroSat: Launched on September 28, 2015, is a unique satellite providing common platform for simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of celestial sources. It has completed more than two years and performing.

2016-17 RLV-TD: It was successfully flight tested on May 23, 2016. It is the most technologically challenging endeavors of ISRO towards developing essential technologies for a fully reusable launch vehicle to enable low cost access to space.

016-17 ScramJet: The first experimental mission of ISRO's Scramjet engine towards the realisation of an Air Breathing Propulsion System was successfully conducted on August 28, 2016. Future Reusable launch vehicle together with Air Breathing propulsion system will bring down the cost of access to space far low.

ISRO has worked out a 3 year action plan, 7 year strategy and 15 year long term vision for Space Programme, under four vertical, namely, (i) Space transportation system, (ii) Space infrastructure, (iii) Space applications, (iv) Capacity building.

International cooperation is a part of India's space programme since its inception. In the past, ISRO has developed Meghatropiques and SARAL satellites in cooperation with French space agency CNES. Currently ISRO and NASA are working jointly on NISAR (NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) project. Bilateral cooperation with foreign countries/institutions in the field of space science and research helps in analysis of data, identification of key areas for future missions and utilisation of space and ground based resources.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has taken several measures to promote scientific research by the Indian scientists especially the youth, which include:

1. ISRO Space Science Promotion Scheme (ISRO-SSPS) intended towards supporting and strengthening of research in space science in universities.
2. ISRO's Sponsored Research (RESPOND) Programme involves academic institutions for joint research to meet specific requirements in area of space technology, space science and space applications.
3. Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (lIST), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) and National Atmospheric Research laboratory (NARL) established under Department of Space encourages young researchers to undertake research in space science and technology.
4. Space Technology Cell was set up by ISRO at premiere institutions like IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, IISc Bangalore and University of Pune to carry out research activities in the areas of space technology and applications.

This was stated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.


****

Department of Space
27-December, 2017 18:58 IST
Transponders of Satellites On indigenous commercial communication INSAT/GSAT satellites, there are about 289 transponders, in various frequency bands like C, extended-C, Ku, S etc.; and about 4 Gbps HTS capacity.

As on date, all confirmed demands up to December, 2018 are being fulfilled, except for DTH requirements and three transponders in C and extended-C bands. Requirements for C and extended-C bands are being addressed. DTH requirements are expected to be addressed through upcoming planned satellites over a period of next 2-3 years.

Two satellites are likely to reach end of life in about next 24 months. The replacement satellites are planned to be available in time as replace capacity.

In addition to 7 orbital slots that are currently in use, to operate 15 satellites, actions are initiated with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to acquire additional orbital slots to address future requirements.

This was stated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.

****

 

[Hindustani78]

From satellite launches to Aryan migration, here are the 10 science stories published by The Hindu in 2017 that readers flocked to
10) Pollution at Himalayas

Scientists reported high concentrations of sulphur on the Manali-Leh highway. It was caused by exhaust smoke from the trucks that provide supplies to the Indian army and the ones that carry tourists.


Launch of GSLV-MARK III

India launched a heavy rocket capable of carrying up to 4 tonnes. On June 5, it carried the GSAT-19 satellite and put it in orbit.

8) Seawater to drinking water

Scientists used graphene oxide membrane to filter the salts in seawater to make it potable.

7) Loss of India's black hole scientist

Indian scientist Prof. C.V.Vishveshwara who contributed to the theory of black holes passed away on January 16.

6) Reach red planet

Over one lakh Indians send their names to Mars. The names written on a microchip will be carried on the InSight Mars mission spacecraft next year.

5) Launch of PSLV-C38

On June 23, ISRO launched 31 satellites into space, of which 29 were from other countries.

4) 'Saraswati' galaxy

Indian astronomers spotted a new cluster of galaxies 4 billion light years away and named it 'Saraswati'.

3) 104 in one

ISRO's PSLV-C37 created history by carrying 104 satellites and placing them in their respective orbits.

2) Jamun solar cells

Scientists from IIT Roorkee used the natural pigment in jamun fruit as a photosensitiser to absorb light for use in the solar cells.

1) Genetics settles migration debate

DNA study revealed that the Aryans were migrants from Central Asia who moved to Indiaaround 2000 to 1500 BC.

 

[Hindustani78]

BENGALURU, December 29, 2017 00:31 IST
Updated: December 29, 2017 00:31 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ups-for-key-2018-missions/article22321059.ece

Three or four big missions planned in first half of year

National space agency ISRO expects to regain in the new year some of the ground and pace it lost in 2017 owing to a damp-squib launch mission of August.

Starting January, the line-up for the first half of 2018 is highlighted by at least three or four significant missions. Among the prospective launches are a lunar lander cum rover mission, the Chandrayaan-2; the second GSLV-MkIII heavy-lift launch carrying the advanced communications satellite GSAT-20; and the third purported military communications spacecraft, GSAT-6A, in February.

Then there is the private commercial Moon rover mission that Bengaluru startup TeamIndus plans to send by March on a PSLV; the company is a finalist in a Google XPrize lunar contest.

The ISRO had paused all its space flights after the August failure. In that episode, the replacement navigation satellite IRNSS-1H had failed to release itself into space from its launch vehicle. Satellite launch activities would be resumed around mid-January, ISRO chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar had recently said.

A PSLV rocket will get ISRO off the mark for the year. Its main passenger will be the seventh Cartosat-2 series Earth observation satellite; 30 small piggy-back satellites will fly with it, 28 of them belonging to foreign customers. This rocket, the PSLV-C40, is said to include suitable corrections to its top nose cone on the basis of analyses of what went wrong in the August mishap.

Momentous start

Until the navigation spacecraft was lost, the year 2017 was a good trot for ISRO; in fact it started off with a world record-making launch of 104 spacecraft on a single PSLV in February.

Between January and December 2017, ISRO completes nine main missions, which include five spacecraft and four launches. In comparison it did 15 main missions including eight spacecraft and seven launches during 2016.

The consolation of 2017 was the first full flight of a priority heavy-lift launch vehicle, the GSLV-Mark III: in the next couple of years, this vehicle should release ISRO from buying costly rides on foreign launchers for putting 3- and 4-tonne communications spacecraft in orbit.

In February, PSLV-C37 made space history by placing 104 spacecraft - including the main Cartosat-2D - in orbits. This light-lift ISRO rocket now holds the record for launching the highest number of satellites (although small ones.) This feat has also raised the commercial image of the rocket in its category in the global launch market. The earlier record was made by a Russian Dnepr rocket that took up 37 satellites to space in 2014.

Although no PSLV or the bigger GSLV was launched post-August, an ISRO spokesman said even otherwise, they had left the period blank between August and December.

For the fiscal year April 2017 to March 2018, ISRO has 15 missions on its agenda, including eight main launchers and seven satellites.

Space programmes everywhere have fluid schedules. Yet, the August setback — ISRO’s first failure since December 2010 — may go on to cram the rest of the fiscal year and even push some over to 2018-19.

 

[Hindustani78]

A PSLV C-39 rocket, carrying the IRNSS-1H navigation satellite, lifts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on August 31, 2017. The mission was unsuccessful. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...tes-in-one-go-aboard-pslv/article22328114.ece

First PSLV mission after failure of IRNSS-1H.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday said it would launch 31 satellites, including India’s Cartosat-2 series earth observation space craft, in a single mission on January 10.

The mission will be the first ‘Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle’ (PSLV) mission after the unsuccessful launch of the navigation satellite IRNSS-1H in August this year.

“The launch is tentatively scheduled for January 10,” a senior ISRO official said.

The mission’s main payload would be India’s Cartosat-2 series earth observation satellite. The high-profile Mission Readiness Review committee and Launch Authorisation Board is scheduled to meet soon to take the final call.

PSLV-C40 will be used for the launch from the spaceport in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota, about 100 kilometres from Chennai.

The mission would be a combination of 28 nano satellites from abroad, including Finland and the U.S., one micro and one nano satellite from India along with one Cartosat satellite, the official said.

On August 31, India’s mission to launch its backup navigation satellite IRNSS-1H on board PSLV-C39 was unsuccessful after a technical snag on the final leg.

In February this year, PSLV-C37 launched the first Cartosat-2 series satellite along with 103 co-passenger satellites in a single flight.

 

[kunal1123]

ISRO’s baby rocket to carry small satellites, likely to take off in 2019
3-4 minutes
SOURCE: ENS

The first of Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) ‘baby rockets’ in the making is likely to take to the skies in the first half of 2019, top officials of ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) said. Though a formal approval for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) project is still awaited, VSSC here at Thumba — ISRO’s nodal agency for launch vehicles — has already started work on it, VSSC director K Sivan said. With the global trend of satellites getting more compact, ISRO officials believe there is space for a smaller rocket that caters exclusively to small-size satellites.

On the launchpad, the SSLV will stand half as tall as a regular Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and weigh in the neighbourhood of 100 tonnes, Sivan said. “A PSLV weighs over 300 tonnes. The SSLV’s weight would be around 100 tonnes and its height, 20-25 metres,” he said. The PSLV, often dubbed the reliable workhorse of the ISRO, stands 44 metres tall in comparison.

The SSLV will place small satellites in the Low Earth Orbit — orbits with altitudes up to 2,000 km.
“We hope to have the first flight of the SSLV in the first half of 2019. Across the globe, satellites are ‘shrinking’. Now, small satellites go aboard the PSLV or GSLV as ‘piggyback’ payloads alongside bigger ones,” Sivan said.

Financially, smaller can also mean smarter in the launch vehicle business. The SSLV is designed to be attractive to global customers who look to ISRO to launch their satellites.The mission cost will be roughly one-tenth that of a PSLV mission.ISRO is planning to have the SSLV flying fully on solid fuel, but the technicalities have to be worked out, Sivan said.If things go as planned, the SSLV will be ISRO’s smallest launch vehicle. At the other end of the spectrum, the space agency plans to have heavy-lift variants that will eventually replace the current generation of GSLVs.

PSLV C-40 launch postponed until January 12
ISRO has made a slight change in the flight schedule of the PSLV C-40, which will carry 31 satellites, including a Cartosat series payload. The C-40 will lift off on January 12 instead of the originally announced January 10. The reason given is that one of the smaller Indian payloads is not ready yet. According to ISRO sources, the rocket will lift off from Sriharikota at 9.28 am. The C-40 mission is a keenly awaited one as it is the first after the failed PSLV C-39 mission last August, which had sent the ISRO top brass into a tizzy.

 

[Kshatriya87]

India and Japan prepare joint mission to the moon
Effort to counter rise of China underlies move to collaborate on space exploration

 

[Hindustani78]

Department of Space
03-January, 2018 03:24IST


Compact launchers for small satellites

ISRO is working on the design of a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), that is a compact launcher for small satellites.

This was stated by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.



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[Hindustani78]

Department of Space
04 -January, 2018 03:38IST

Milestone achieved by Space Technology

In the recent years ISRO has achieved major milestones as below:

• In April 2016, seven satellite constellation for Navigation system NavIC was established.
• In August 2016, first experimental mission of Scramjet engine towards realisation of Air Breathing system was successfully tested.
• In February 2017, 104 satellites were placed in a single launch.
• In May 2017, South Asia satellite was launched, which was a gift to neighbouring countries.
• In June 2017, GSLV Mk-III was launched successfully carrying GSAT 19 communication satellite.
• In June 2017, Cartosat satellite was launched successfully by PSLV C-38

Indian Space Programme has placed Astrosat, a multi-wavelength observatory in August 2015. It observes universe in optical, Ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum, whereas most other scientific satellites are capable of observing a narrow range of wavelength band.

Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) is designed to orbit Mars. It is functioning well since its positioning in Mars orbit in September 24, 2014. The designed mission life of MOM was six months but has successfully completed more than three years and is expected to function further. All scientific payloads continue to perform well.

This was stated by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Rajya Sabha today.


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Department of Space
4 -January, 2018 03:37IST


Indigenous Launching of Satellites

The success of the first developmental flight of GSLV Mark III will enable indigenous launching up to 4 tonne class of communication satellites in the future.

ISRO has been providing commercial launch services for earth observation satellites and small satellites onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) through Antrix Corporation Limited since 1999. The successful launch of GSLV Mark III is a step ahead in building credibility in launching.

ISRO has just completed one launch of GSLV-MK III. Next developmental launch is in first half of 2018. Some more launches of GSLV-MK III will be needed before GSLV MK III gets recognised internationally as a vehicle for transportation to space.

This was stated by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Rajya Sabha today.


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Department of Space
04 -January, 2018 03:34IST
Commercial Launching of Satellite

As on date, Antrix Corporation Limited (Antrix), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has successfully launched 209 foreign satellites from 29 countries under a commercial arrangement.

The names of the countries whose satellites have been successfully launched include viz. Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE, UK and USA.



During the last three years, starting from April 2014 till March 2017, Antrix has earned revenue of approx. 107 Million Euros and 4.5 Million USD in Foreign Exchange.



Year
Countries whose satellites were launched
Revenue earned by Antrix

2014-15
Canada, France, Germany, Singapore
18 M Euro

2015-16
Canada, Indonesia, Singapore, UK, USA
55 M Euro

2016-17
Algeria, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, The Netherlands, Kazakhstan, UAE, USA
34 M Euro and 4.5 M USD


Antrix Corporation Limited has enabled launches of satellites belonging to many companies of various countries under a commercial arrangement. Some of the companies with whom such commercial launch service arrangements were executed include viz. Airbus Defense & Space, France; Comdev Ltd, Canada; Space Flight Laboratories, Canada; Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), UK; ST Electronics, Singapore; Innovative Space Logistics, The Netherlands; Planet Inc, USA; Tyvak Inc, USA and Spaceflight Industries, USA.


This was stated by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Rajya Sabha today.



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[Villager]

ISRO's Heaviest Satellite To Boost Internet, A Boon For Rural India

The GSAT-11 is getting ready to be shipped to Kourou in French Guiana, South America, to be strapped on to the French Ariane 5 rocket in a few weeks for launch

Story Highlights

• Satellite-based Internet will boost telecom sector
• The Rs 500 crore satellite is massive
• India hired French Ariane-5 rocket to carry the heavy satellite

New Delhi: The heaviest satellite that India has ever made is also a springboard for the country to fully realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Digital India programme. Weighing six tonnes or the combined weight of six sedans, the heavyweight communications satellite GSAT-11 will usher in satellite-based Internet services for the first time, a boon for rural India.

Satellite-based Internet will be revolutionary for India's telecom sector, industry analysts say.

The satellite is getting ready to be shipped to Kourou in French Guiana, South America, to be strapped on to the French Ariane 5 rocket in a few weeks for launch.

The Rs 500 crore satellite is so massive that each solar panel is over four metres long, equivalent to the size of a room with a tall ceiling.

 

[Kyubi]

THE DECISION FOR INDIAN HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT PROGRAMME - POLITICAL
PERSPECTIVES, NATIONAL RELEVANCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES

HSF PROGRAMME – DECISION PERSPECTIVES :

• POLITICALPERSPECTIVES OF IHSF DECISION
• TECHNICAL CHALLENGES AND DECISION MAKING
• SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR IHSF DECISION
• ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS

Quite an elaborate view on the nature of setting up long term goals for Indian Human Space Flight Programme. Some of the aspects are found to be repetitive in the article, but its surely worth a read and discussed upon .

 

[Hindustani78]

Posted at: Jan 8, 2018, 2:36 PM; last updated: Jan 8, 2018, 2:36 PM (IST)
India to launch 31 satellites on January 12

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/india-to-launch-31-satellites-on-january-12/525456.html

Bengaluru, January 8

India will launch 31 satellites, including earth observation spacecraft Cartosat, on January 12 instead of its earlier tentative schedule on January 10, a space official said on Monday.

“The rocket launch to carry Cartosat and other satellites, including 28 from the US and five other countries, will take place on January 12 at 9.30 a.m.,” Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Public Relations Director Devi Prasad Karnik told IANS here.


“There is no delay in the schedule as the earlier stated launch date of January 10 was merely tentative,” stated Karnik.

The rocket launch would take place from ISRO’s spaceport located at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The first space mission in 2018 on board the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C40) comes four months after a similar rocket failed to deliver the country’s eighth navigation satellite in the earth’s lower orbit on August 31.


The mission’s payload will also include one each nano and micro satellite from India, besides Cartosat-2.

As an observational satellite, Cartosat will beam high-quality images for cartographic, urban and rural applications, coastal land use and regulation and utility management like road network monitoring. — IANS