ISRO news and views

[Pintu]

Link of Hindu report on the Chandrayan 2 Mission :

The Hindu : National : Chandrayaan-2 launch by 2013

Regards

 

[I-G]

ISRO eyes 25% revenue growth in 2009-10


4 Jul 2009, 1911 hrs IST, IANS




KOLKATA: The Indian Space Research Organisation is expecting a 25 percent growth in its revenue in 2009-10, ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair said here on Saturday.

"We are expecting a 25 percent increase in the total revenue of ISRO this financial year. We had attained a revenue of Rs.10 billion in the last fiscal (2008-09)," Nair told reporters in an interactive session.

He said nearly 15-20 percent revenue of the space agency came from launching satellites on behalf of other countries.

"The budgetary allocation for carrying out space research activities in the country last year was Rs.40 billion. This year, we're waiting for the union budget," he said.

The budget will be presented in parliament on Monday.

He said that the delayed launch of satellites by the European Space Agency might lead to more countries using India's polar satellite launch vehicles (PSLVs).

Nair said the revenue might also go up by another 10 percent on account of more use of satellite services by direct-to-home (DTH) TV operators and telecom providers.

ISRO eyes 25% revenue growth in 2009-10- Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times

 

[Pintu]

Techtree.com India > News > General > Chandrayaan II Set for 2013 Launch

Chandrayaan II Set for 2013 Launch

Techtree News Staff, Jul 07, 2009 1545 hrs IST

This mission will be far more complicated

Riding high on the wave post India's first successful lunar mission, ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair has revealed that India's space organization will launch the Chandrayaan II in the year 2013.

The Chandrayaan II mission will be far more complicated as compared to the first one because of the Moon Rover landing that this mission involves. Landing a rover on the moon is a complicated task, as the moon does not have an atmosphere that can slow down the descent of the rover with parachutes. The ISRO is working on alternatives that will endure a safe landing for the rover.

With the Chandrayaan I continuing to dazzle scientists with fresh data being received from the craft everyday, it is only natural that the Chandrayaan II needs to be launched later to supplement data received from its predecessor. ISRO will also launch a geostationary, weather satellite in the near future for recording monsoon patterns and cloud shifts in the next few years.

India is also planning a mission to Mars, which has been stalled owing to the lack of qualified personnel. Nair, in what seems to be an indirect call to the student community, has requested young students to take up careers that would help the country achieve success in missions like these. Currently, there seems to be dearth of ideas and most students it seems do not seem to take up research activities as a career option.

 

[venom]

It is speculated Chandrayaan-II will be launched on Glsv-Mk4.....

So can anyone point out any advantages of using Gslv-Mk4 instead of proven Pslv?

 

[p2prada]

It is speculated Chandrayaan-II will be launched on Glsv-Mk4.....

So can anyone point out any advantages of using Gslv-Mk4 instead of proven Pslv?

GSLV is a heavy lifter capable of handling 2 tons or more to the moon's orbit while the PSLV is good for loads like 800kg to the moon's orbit. The Cryogenic engine makes the difference.

 

[venom]

Indian Air Force to pilot country's manned space mission

New Delhi: Providing a new twist to an ongoing debate concerning personnel that would be onboard India's first manned flight into space, Indian Air Force officials have stressed that such a flight would indeed carry their personnel. With Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sources sparking off a controversy in recent times by stressing that their personnel would man both the positions onboard any such mission, it may now be the turn of the air force to get a little of its own back, if not all.

It has been felt that the controversy was an unseemly one and begged a few questions about ISRO's capability in manning a mission which would have more to do with flight control characteristics rather than scientific payloads.

"Let me promise you one thing, if there is a (Indian) man on moon (read space), it will be from the Indian Air Force," IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major has now said.

Reports suggest that the IAF will train two of its personnel for the mission, in collaboration with the ISRO.

ACM Major added that the IAF's Institute for Aerospace Medicine is working closely with ISRO on the project. Though ISRO may have climbed down from its earlier stand of having both the crew members from within its own ranks and is now asking that one of its members should be on board, the air force has proposed that both the crew members should be IAF personnel.

Reports suggest that though ISRO is insisting that one of the crew members be an ISRO mission specialist, the IAF has offered to train one of its engineers for the same role nad may have postponed the final decision for a later date. It is likely that a ISRO and IAF mission specialist may train for the same role, with the final composition of the crew to be decided at some later date.

Under an ambitious $2.5 billion plan, ISRO has proposed to put two people into space orbit for seven days.

If successful, the mission will make India only the fourth country, after the US, Russia and China, to send a manned mission into space.

IAF officials have suggested that the manned flight will also allow the country to acquire inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) capability. This will happen as a larger booster rocket is required to put a manned spacecraft into orbit. Other spinoffs would include a boost to the country's reconnaissance capability. The country's communications satellites would need to be inter-linked in order to keep in touch with orbiting astronauts. IAF officers suggest that against the current 15 minutes of daily live feed from the satellites, the manned mission will result in 90 minutes of live feeds.

India's manned mission will follow in the footsteps of the incredibly successful Chandrayaan lunar mission. The lunar probe, the most sophisticated amongst the lot currently orbiting the moon, including Chinese and Japanese probes, has catapulted Indian space capabilities into another orbit altogether making India a recognised space power.

India is planning to launch its second unmanned lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, in 2011.

domain-b.com : Indian Air Force to pilot country's manned space mission

 

[Sridhar]

New Delhi: Providing a new twist to an ongoing debate concerning personnel that would be onboard India's first manned flight into space, Indian Air Force officials have stressed that such a flight would indeed carry their personnel. With Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sources sparking off a controversy in recent times by stressing that their personnel would man both the positions onboard any such mission, it may now be the turn of the air force to get a little of its own back, if not all.

It has been felt that the controversy was an unseemly one and begged a few questions about ISRO's capability in manning a mission which would have more to do with flight control characteristics rather than scientific payloads.

"Let me promise you one thing, if there is a (Indian) man on moon (read space), it will be from the Indian Air Force," IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major has now said.

Reports suggest that the IAF will train two of its personnel for the mission, in collaboration with the ISRO.

ACM Major added that the IAF's Institute for Aerospace Medicine is working closely with ISRO on the project. Though ISRO may have climbed down from its earlier stand of having both the crew members from within its own ranks and is now asking that one of its members should be on board, the air force has proposed that both the crew members should be IAF personnel.

Reports suggest that though ISRO is insisting that one of the crew members be an ISRO mission specialist, the IAF has offered to train one of its engineers for the same role nad may have postponed the final decision for a later date. It is likely that a ISRO and IAF mission specialist may train for the same role, with the final composition of the crew to be decided at some later date.

Under an ambitious $2.5 billion plan, ISRO has proposed to put two people into space orbit for seven days.

If successful, the mission will make India only the fourth country, after the US, Russia and China, to send a manned mission into space.

IAF officials have suggested that the manned flight will also allow the country to acquire inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) capability. This will happen as a larger booster rocket is required to put a manned spacecraft into orbit. Other spinoffs would include a boost to the country's reconnaissance capability. The country's communications satellites would need to be inter-linked in order to keep in touch with orbiting astronauts. IAF officers suggest that against the current 15 minutes of daily live feed from the satellites, the manned mission will result in 90 minutes of live feeds.

India's manned mission will follow in the footsteps of the incredibly successful Chandrayaan lunar mission. The lunar probe, the most sophisticated amongst the lot currently orbiting the moon, including Chinese and Japanese probes, has catapulted Indian space capabilities into another orbit altogether making India a recognised space power.

India is planning to launch its second unmanned lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, in 2011.

domain-b.com : Indian Air Force to pilot country's manned space mission

Why you have posted around two months old article ? This has been posted in multiple threads already

 

[venom]

Travel to space in ISRO suits that cost crores of rupees

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: That white, cocoon-like suit worn by Neil Armstrong as he bobbed up and down on the moon decades ago could prove one of the stiffest challenges for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as it prepares for the human space flight mission.

Due to the extreme engineering skill and the astronomical cost involved in making one of these complex suits, the technology is kept a religiously guarded secret by leading space-faring nations. The ISRO is now set to build these suits from scratch using its own technology.

“It’s such a complicated attire, and the costs involved are tremendously high. Space agencies that have them won’t even show you such a suit, let alone give you one to work with. The materials needed for manufacturing them are available, though,” ISRO sources said.

There, in fact, are two suits.

The flight suit used inside the spacecraft and the space suit used outside for extra-vehicular activity. “The common characteristic to both is that they should withstand extreme environments.

They should be pressurised and made of multiple fabric layers designed to recreate the earth’s atmosphere,” the sources said.

The suits should be air-tight, water-proof and flame-resistant, strong enough to resist gas pressure, flexible at sub-zero temperatures and resilient at high temperatures. It should offer protection from radiation and flying particles.

The single-piece, intra-vehicular suit (flight suit) has seven layers to withstand cabin depressurisation, prevent loss of oxygen supply and pooling of blood in the lower body among other things. It weighs 20 kg.

The extra-vehicular suit (space suit) used by astronauts outside the spacecraft _ the suits they wear when they float in space _ has 17 layers. Apart from providing an earth-like ambience within, it is a small spacecraft in itself.

The two-piece suit weighs 120 kg but out there in space, that wouldn’t matter as they would less. These suits could cost several crores of rupees a piece, ISRO officials said. But then, some very special materials go in to their making. Like Nomex and Kevlar for instance, which make up the outer, 17th layer. Kevlar, a light and strong synthetic fibre, is used to make bullet-proof jackets.

Then there are the auxiliary systems on a space suit. These include soft helmets and visor, communication systems, floating device, pressure regulator, gloves, urine collection garment, anti-gravity pants, camera, lights, oxygen and water tanks and batteries and shoes.

Travel to space in ISRO suits that cost crores of rupees

 

[Daredevil]

Space-faring nations wary of India’s progress: ISRO chief

Special Correspondent
Says scientists overcoming challenges to Chandrayaan-II
‘Other nations not sharing expertise with us’

Need to rope in more young people stressed

BANGALORE: After the successful launch of Chandrayaan-I in October 2008, India’s first moon mission, many space-faring nations have become wary of India’s rapid advances in space technology and have refused to share their knowledge, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman G. Madhavan Nair has said.

Speaking at the ninth convocation of the International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore, (IIIT-B) here on Sunday, Dr. Nair said ISRO scientists and engineers worked in a “hostile environment,” with other countries sharing little information and expertise.

However, he claimed that ISRO engineers and scientists were overcoming challenges posed against Chandrayaan-II despite external limitations. “Our scientists had to begin from the basics. Today we have data on the moon that no other country can boast of, and that too with minimum expenditure,” he said.

Dr. Nair also felt that space research in India required more manpower. Although space research so far had progressed well, he said the need for roping in more youngsters had led to the setting up of the Indian Institute of Space Technology (IIST) at Thiruvananthapuram.

“We are trying to get youngsters interested in this field. The IIST has been set up for this and is working in that direction,” he said.

‘Be committed’
Dr. Nair emphasised the need for graduates to be committed and hardworking, which he felt were crucial factors in determining the quality of their work.

 

[Vinod2070]

^^ That's interesting. The Chandrayan-1 mission had so much international participation (but no technology sharing). It seems that in this business, you are on your own. No one wants competition in this business.

The path ahead for ISRO is tough. We are no longer the small space power that they can ignore.

 

[venom]

Indian space centre plans manned space probe by 2015

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), a unit of the country's premier Indian space research programme, plans to send two
humans into space by 2015, an official said here on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters, director of the VSSC unit here K. Radhakrishnan said the project is awaiting a final clearance from the central government.

"The pre-project approval of Rs.95 crore ($19 million) has already come and the approval of the main project is being awaited," said Radhakrishnan.

The human spaceflight program is to develop and launch an orbital vehicle to carry a two-member crew to the earth's lower orbit.

"Our estimate is that it should happen by 2015," said Radhakrishnan.

The director also confirmed reports that space suits for the project will be manufactured at organisation's unit here.

"Yes, we would be making these suits. But then that is just one of the many things which we would be doing here as part of the major programme," he said.

Indian space centre plans manned space probe by 2015 - Science - Health & Science - NEWS - The Times of India

 

[Pintu]

ISRO chief satisfied with lunar data compiled by Chandrayaan

ISRO chief satisfied with lunar data compiled by Chandrayaan

July 12th, 2009 - 10:05 pm ICT by ANI

Bangalore, July 12(ANI): G Madhavan Nair, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on Sunday expressed satisfaction with the successful collection of data about the moon by Chandrayaan, country’s maiden lunar mission.

Madhavan Nair stated this while addressing the 9th convocation of International Institute of Information and Technology at Bangalore on Sunday.

He mentioned that the tracking and detection of several factors by Chandrayaan are important steps in mapping the mineralogical composition of moon’s surface which in turn would enable further study in its origin and evolution.

“I think I am happy to say that Chandrayaan has been completely successful in collecting all the data what we wanted. First was the three dimensional of the lunar surface, also getting the mineral content of the surface and then trying to use the extra instruments,” said G. Madhavan Nair.

“All this went on very well and we are more or less very happy that the mission is complete,” he added.

Chandrayaan-1 was launched on October 22 last year.

Madhavan Nair also added that the second moon mission would be launched by 2012. (ANI)

 

[nitesh]

not a good news:

Chandrayaan-1 develops critical malfunction

Star sensors in Chandrayaan I fail; mission may end prematurely

 

[Pintu]

Chandrayaan-I develops malfunction, its life may be reduced

Chandrayaan-I develops malfunction, its life may be reduced
Press Trust of India / Bangalore July 17, 2009, 11:43 IST

India's maiden moon probe Chandrayaan-I has developed a malfunction that puts some experiments in jeopardy and raises questions on completion of the mission that was intended to last two years.

"Unfortunately, during the last month we have lost a vital sensor --- the star sensor," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan Nair said.

He said space scientists had tried to work around the problem and patched two other instruments to help manoeuvre the spacecraft to the desired locations.

"We are not sure how long we will be able to sustain it. The life of Chandrayaan-I designed for two years may be reduced," ISRO spokesman S Satish said. Chandrayaan was launched on October 22 last year.

Nair said that in the last eight months of the mission, "we have collected almost all the data that we wanted" and that most of its objectives have already been completed.

The problem would mean that some of the 10 experiments onboard would have to be replanned and at least one involving the Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument (LLRI) being abandoned.

The LLRI was designed to measure altitude variations within five-metre accuracy and operate at a 100-km altitude, a distance at which the spacecraft was to orbit the moon during its two-year mission period.

ISRO had raised the orbit of Chandrayaan-I to 200 kms on May 19.

Referring to the efforts to keep Chandrayaan-1 going, Nair said gyroscopes as well as an antenna have been used to allow the craft to find a direction.

"We are able to continue the functions as in the past and there is no major issue as of now," the ISRO chief added.

"I think in the last eight months of its operation, we have collected almost all the data that we wanted. In fact now what we are going to get is basically a kind of redundant data and more of a cross checking and things like that. So that way, most of the mission's objectives are already complete," Nair said.

Lauding the scientist for overcoming the failure, he said it was their imagination, the promptness of action and the type of solution which were unique.

 

[Pintu]

There may not come the results as desired but the success of a mission lies in the completion of the objectives and Chandrayaan already completed that , kudos to our scientists, kudos to ISRO.

Regards

 

[Payeng]

Threat to Chandrayaan not grave: ISRO

Threat to Chandrayaan not grave: ISRO

However, ISRO maintained the threat to Chandrayaan was not grave. Chandrayaan has two star sensors. :dance4:

ISRO also ruled out any manufacturing defect in the sensors. Extreme temperatures or radiation could have damaged the sensor, it said.


India?s first moon probe Chandrayaan-1 in trouble: India Today - Latest Breaking News from India, World, Business, Cricket, Sports, Bollywood. ( read the second part)

Kudos to our scientists. :clever66:

 

[I-G]

There may not come the results as desired but the success of a mission lies in the completion of the objectives and Chandrayaan already completed that , kudos to our scientists, kudos to ISRO.

Regards

ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair said on Friday that over 95 percent of India’s first moon mission objectives have been achieved.

Chandrayaan mission objectives nearly complete: ISRO chief

 

[prahladh]

Who made that star sensor? Anyhow its a good learning experience. Hope they learned enough so as not to repeat such things during Human Missions.

 

[jayadev]

Scientists save India's moon mission from failure

NEW DELHI — India's only satellite orbiting the moon came close to overheating and failure but scientists improvised to save it, officials said Friday
The launch of Chandrayaan-1 last fall put India in an elite group to have lunar missions along with the U.S., Russia, the European Space Agency, Japan and China.
But last month the satellite lost a critical instrument called the star sensor, said S. Satish, the spokesman of the Indian Space Research Organization.
The sensor helps the $80 million satellite stay oriented so its cameras and other recording equipment are constantly aimed at the lunar surface. Without the sensor, the mission is useless, Satish said.
ISRO chief Madhavan Nair told the NDTV television network that the satellite came close to overheating and failing after it was put into orbit 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the moon.
"The entire spacecraft would have baked and would have been simply lost," Nair said. Many power systems and instruments failed.
The ISRO team then resorted to using other systems such as an antenna mechanism and gyroscope to make sure the satellite was "looking at the moon," Satish told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. The orbit was raised to 120 miles (200 kilometers).
"As a result, the mission is safe and all the systems are working," he said.
As India's economy has boomed, it has sought to convert its newfound wealth — built on the nation's high-tech sector — into political and military clout.
Scientists hope the Chandrayaan project will boost India's capacity to build more efficient rockets and satellites, especially through miniaturization, and open research avenues for young Indian scientists.
Chandrayaan, which means "moon craft" in Sanskrit, is scheduled to last two years.
"We hope we will be able to complete two years in this mode. It may or may not last that long," said Satish. "But there is no need for a major concern. We already have got substantial data from the moon," he said.
India plans to follow the mission by landing a rover on the moon in 2011.

The Associated Press: Scientists save India's moon mission from failure

 

[EnlightenedMonk]

Chandrayaan develops snag

Chandrayaan develops snag

The survey spacecraft of India's mission to the moon, Chandaryaan 1 has developed a navigational problem.

Chandrayaan's star sensor has failed, creating doubts on whether it will continue to work for the next two years.

The spacecraft which entered the lunar orbit last November can no longer orient itself with high precision.

The Lunar craft has been raised 200 km around the moon. It is now navigated by an onboard antennae. Raising it reduces the navigation or monitoring.

Scientist hope they can increase its life span this way.

Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) G Madhavan Nair spoke exclusively to CNN-IBN on telephone.

The ISRO Chairman said, "All primary mission objectives of the Chandrayaan have already been accomplished. The failure of the star sensors does not really affect the mission."

Speaking about what could have caused the glitches, Nair ruled out any construction or manufaturing problem in the star sensors. He said, "This could be due to extreme temperatrues or radiation that is encountered on the surface of the moon. Star sensors in the past have worked for a period of five years or so. Higher level of radiation and temperatures on the moon's surface may have caused the snag. Environmental factors could have affected the star sensors."

Asked about how ISRO is getting around the problem, G Madhavan Nair said, "There has been absolutely no compromise in the mission. Other components are all working properly. The Chandrayaan's direction needs to be set and for that the gyroscopes can do as well as star sensors when required."

The gyroscopes are setting the orbital parameters of Chandrayaan and are providing the direction update on the lunar space module.

Nair said, "In every two or three days we update the direction and the Chandrayaan carries on its mission."

Asked whether such hiccups in scientific missions dampen the spirits of scientists at ISRO, Nair replied in the negative.

"Not exactly. Space missions are complex and one does expect problems to come up some time or the other due to various factors encountered in space. we have set-ups to overcome such problems."

Answering on how the star sensors will be fixed, the ISRO Chairman said that the star sesnor failure is a permanent problem and cannot be fixed. ISRO is not worried about the further progress of the mission as the gyroscopes which have been deployed in the place of the star sensors are working fine.

ISRO scientists have been updating the position from the ground and the software required for that has been updated.

With no more technical glitches cropping up, ISRO scientists expect the mission to progress to its slated mission.

Chandrayaan develops snag