ISRO news and views

[RPK]

India set to join exclusive cryogenic club


After its maiden moon mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is hoping to cross another milestone in December - take India into the exclusive club of countries that have developed their own cryogenic engines to power satellites in space.

ISRO is hoping to end 2009 in style with the take-off of its fully indigenous geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV) carrying an experimental satellite GSAT 4 in mid-December.

The GSLV-D3 will have an indigenously built cryogenic engine that will be used for the first time in the rocket's upper stage. The GSLV-D3 is slated to be launched from ISRO's spaceport Sriharikota, about 80 km northeast of Chennai, to carry the GSAT-4 communication satellite into a geo-stationary orbit, about 36,000 km above the earth. The 49-metre-tall rocket will have a lift-off weight of 414 tonnes.

Only a few countries like the US, Russia, France, Japan and China have developed their own cryogenic engines and India is expected to join this club.

For all the five earlier GSLV missions, ISRO had used Russian cryogenic engines.

"The cryogenic engine reached Sriharikota early this month from ISRO's facility in Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu. The GSAT 4 communication satellite is expected to reach here by the middle of next month. Final tests are being done at Bangalore where it was built," M.Y.S. Prasad, associate director, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, told IANS on phone from ISRO's launch centre at Sriharikota.

He said the physical inspection of the cryogenic stage is on and the engine's sensors are to be calibrated. It will be fuelled by liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen.

While GSLVs with Russian cryogenic engines have been designated as operational rockets after two developmental flights, the one that will go up in December is called 'developmental flight 3' (GSLV D3) as it will be fired by the ISRO-developed cryogenic engine.

The last GSLV went up on September 2, 2007, carrying the 2,130 kg INSAT-4CR satellite.

Speaking about how far the three-stage rocket had been assembled, Prasad said: "The first stage -- solid fuel booster and four strap-on motors -- has been assembled. The assembly of the second stage liquid engine is under progress and will be over in one and a half weeks. The last stage is the cryogenic stage."

Last December, the indigenously developed cryogenic upper stage engine passed the flight acceptance test with the engine tested for 200 seconds.

The development of cryogenic engines involves mastering materials technology, operating rotary pumps and turbines, which run at 42,000 revolutions per minute (RPM).

The development of a cryogenic engine is crucial for ISRO to build more powerful GSLV rockets that can carry four-tonne satellites.

Further, ISRO is lagging behind in launching its GSAT series for want of a cryogenic engine. GSAT 4 was supposed to have gone up two years back.

Weighing around two tonnes, GSAT 4 will carry a multi-beam Ka-band bent pipe and regenerative transponder and navigation payload in C, L1 and L5 bands. The satellite can guide civil and military aircraft.

GSAT 4 will also carry a scientific payload, TAUVEX, comprising three ultra violet band telescopes developed by Tel Aviv University and Israel space agency (ELOP) for surveying a large part of the sky in the 1,400-3,200 Angstrom wavelengths.

The GSLV rocket will place GSAT 4 in the geo transfer orbit (GTO) from where the satellite will be taken up to an altitude of 36,000 km and then positioned.

According to Prasad, ISRO is gearing up to launch six rockets per year and has created a huge liquid fuel storing facility for that purpose at Sriharikota.


India set to join exclusive cryogenic club- Hindustan Times

 

[ppgj]

this is interesting.

New ISRO chief is also a classical artist

Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will see a change of hands at the helm with current chairman G Madhavan Nair retiring at the end of the month and handing charge to Dr K Radhakrishnan, director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre here. Interestingly, it is probably for the first time that an active classical arts performer will be heading any top notch scientific institution in the country.

"He (Radhakrishnan) is a talented and highly competent scientist. He knows things as he has been there in ISRO for 35 years. He will be able to carry forward our plans. We have drawn up plans for 2020-25," Nair told reporters.

Talented he indeed is for Dr K Radhakrishnan is also a keen exponent of Kathakali, a noted classical dance form of Kerala as well as a Carnatic musician who continues to perform along with professionals in both fields.

Meanwhile, Dr K Radhakrishnan has said it was a great challenge to head the country's space agency, and that he was privileged to get the post.

"As a team, in ISRO we need to move ahead. We will do our best to achieve our goals," he said.

"Space applications, satellites and launch vehicles are programmes of thrust. Another important mission is the human space flight programme," he said.

He also said that India would be ready for a manned space mission by 2015 and that work on Chandrayaan-II was progressing.

Radhakrishnan (60) presently the director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram was a key architect of the recent Chandrayan expedition.

Dr Radhakrishnana takes over as chairman and also secretary, ministry of space from G Madhavan Nair who retires on 31 October. He also takes over as chairman, National Space Commission.

Nair is expected to take charge as prime minister's special advisor, Space programme.

Radhakrishnan received his appointment order while he was at the famed Sree Krishna Temple at Guruvayur on his customary pilgrimage.

Born in Iringalakkuda, a centre for classical arts like Kathakali and Kutiyattam in Trissur district, Dr Radhakrishnan graduated in electrical engineering from Government Engineering College under Kerala University in 1970.

He joined ISRO in 1971 as an avionics engineer and took his MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore in 1976. He also secured a doctorate from IIT-Kharagpur.

During his 38 years of service in ISRO, Radhakrishnan has also worked as director of Indian National Centre for Ocean Information (INCOIS) and director of the Regional Remote Sensing Service Centre (RRSSC) under the National Natural Resource Management in ISRO.

He has served as vice chairman, of Unesco's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and as founder chairman Indian Ocean Observing System.

The fourth from Kerala to become ISRO chairman after MGK Menon, K Kasturirangan and Madhavan Nair, Radhakrishnan was in charge of the assembly and integration of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle which launched the Chandrayan satellite.

"India is among the top six space powers of the world and have mastered in all aspects of space programme. We hope to remain at the top of the world in this field" said Radhakrishnan.

He said that the Chandrayan II, launching of the Geo Synchronous Launch Vehicle-Mk III (GSLV-III), the indigenous cryogenic engine, the manned mission in space, assembling of India's first Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) were the most important landmarks to look forward to in the future.

It is reported that the characters he likes playing most in Kathakali plays are Bheem in 'Kalyanasaugandhikam' and Hanuman in 'Lavanasuravadham' plays.

domain-b.com : New ISRO chief is also a classical artist

 

[Chota]

GSLV MK III is expected to be launched by 2011

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: GSLV MK III is expected to be launched by 2011, ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair has said. He was speaking to reporters at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport here on Monday.


``Presently, more importance is being given to manned space flight mission than GSLV,’’ said Madhavan Nair, who has returned to the city after a foreign tour.

ISRO chairman-designate K Radhakrishan received Madhavan Nair at the airport.

``It is going forward like a relay. The baton is being handed over to the right person.

Radhakrishnan has been working over the last 30 years and the decision is correct,’’ Madhavan Nair said.

Madhavan Nair who is retiring on October 31 said: ``Scientists never retire and I will surely take up new assignments.?"

GSLV-III is also important. I feel its more important than the manned mission. GSLV-III is being repeatedly delayed

 

[anoop_mig25]

GSLV MK III is expected to be launched by 2011




GSLV-III is also important. I feel its more important than the manned mission. GSLV-III is being repeatedly delayed

what`s difference betwwen GSLV-D3 and GSLV MK III . what`s so fuss about cryogenic engine.Do this any military significance?. does ISRO had previously try to launch GSLV &/or a satellite with cryogenic engine . are GSLV and cryogenic engine are important to each other i mean can`t GSLV launc with other engine? second have isro tested their indigenous built cryogenic engine?

plz reply

 

[ppgj]

what`s so fuss about cryogenic engine.Do this any military significance?.

yes. that is why US arm twisted russia not to give the technology to india. they could be used in ICBMs as per the US.

does ISRO had previously try to launch GSLV &/or a satellite with cryogenic engine .

yes but with russian cryogenic engines.

are GSLV and cryogenic engine are important to each other i mean can`t GSLV launc with other engine?

important because you can put a satellite in a geosynchronous orbit. pslv puts it only in low earth orbit.

second have isro tested their indigenous built cryogenic engine?

yes.

India set to join exclusive cryogenic club- Hindustan Times

 

[Pintu]

'We need to have at least 6 to 8 launches every year' - Interviews - Opinion - Home - The Times of India

Q&A

'We need to have at least 6 to 8 launches every year'
2 November 2009, 12:00am IST

K Radhakrishnan , 60, took over as chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday after a stint as director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. Ananthakrishnan G spoke to him about his vision for ISRO:

How do you see your new assignment?

It is a huge responsibility. First and foremost, the space programme today is integral for the country's development. India today is a role model for the world on peaceful applications of space research. This was possible because of the vision of ISRO leaders, all of whom favoured a self-reliant programme.

What is the next big step?

For the moment, it is the launch of the GSLV Mark 3 which will take us to the four-tonne launch capacity. Also we will be using the indigenous cryogenic engine for the first time. The launch will also enable us to test several critical technologies like the solid strap on motor with 200 tonnes propellant and liquid stages with 110-tonne propellant. The engine is now being integrated in the launch pad. Satellite-based navigation is another area ISRO is getting into. The GSAT 4 will have a dedicated payload for GAGAN, which is our own version of the GPS.

How much has the country achieved in the area of remote sensing?

We are on par with other global powers in the field. But we still need to develop satellites that look at the atmosphere, study cloud movements etc. Our Cartosat 2 ranks among the best in the world with a 0.8 metre resolution camera on board.

What other challenges lie ahead?

We need to have at least six to eight launches every year to be truly in the race. It is a major challenge. Then there is the Chandrayaan 2 which will launch a rover on the moon. The rover will be an Indo-Russian joint venture.

About the first manned space mission planned for 2015?

ISRO has submitted a project proposal to the government for sending two people on board a space capsule on an orbit around the earth. The craft will not go to the moon but will encircle the earth for about a week. But as far as the people on board are concerned, it requires the same preparations as a moon mission. What should be the environment, the space inside the craft are all standard. Also about recycling of waste, it will be necessary only if it's a long duration flight.

You are very much into performing arts, especially Kathakali. Do you get time to pursue such interests?

I used to dance until a few years ago, not now. I have done roles like Hanuman and Parasuram, but never donned a 'kathi' role which is usually used to portray evil or demonic characters.

 

[RAM]

India’s space programmes based on its needs: Outgoing chief

Chennai, Oct 31 (IANS) India does not look at other Asian countries like Japan and China as competitors in the space sector as its programmes are based on its needs, said Madhavan Nair, who retired Saturday as chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

“Our programmes are based on the practical needs of the people like remote sensing, health and education. India is not looking to compete with any other country in the space sector,” Nair told IANS from Thiruvananthapuram on phone


Nair said: “We have bagged two major orders for building heavy satellites for others. One has been delivered and the other will be shortly delivered.”

On the issue of reducing the rocket cost, he said ISRO is testing semi-cryogenic high thrust engines that will use highly-purified form of kerosene and liquid oxygen as fuel.

“The engine will be tested by 2011,” he added.

Speaking about the human resource talent availability for ISRO, he said: “The situation will ease with the setting up of our own institute in Kerala.”

He said the serious challenge before his successor K. Radhakrishnan is the operationalisation of the indigenous cryogenic stage, and the steps to be taken for the human space flight. “We have to increase the number of launches to five next year.”

“Once we stabilise our own cryogenic stage then the payload of our geosynchronous launch vehicle (GSLV) can be increased to 2.5 tonnes. We can also launch two GSLVs in a year.”

Looking back at his tenure as the head of ISRO Nair said: “The last six years were highly productive, accomplished several challenging missions including Chandrayaan that discovered water on the moon. The goals set were actualised. There is no unfinished agenda.”

As to his post retirement plans he said: “I have not retired. I will continue to offer my services to the country. I am not starting any space consultancy firm.”

Queried about India dropping two ranks in the Space Competitive Index, according to a study by Futron Corporation, an American space consultancy company, Nair said: “The US space agency’s annual budget is $20 billion as against our budget of $1 billion. What we are getting out of that investment is considerable.”

He added: “In the commercial space launch market, geo-political forces come into play. Nevertheless during the last two years ISRO has launched sizeable number of satellites for others.”

Futron’s 2009 Space Competitive Index (SCI) has ranked India at seventh place with a score of 15.34 points, as against 17.51 points in 2008.

India is ranked below the US (SCI score 90.33 points), Europe (46.80), Russia (32.44), Japan (21.16), China (19.46) and Canada (18.13), and above South Korea (12.03), Israel (8.70) and Brazil (7.08).

Futron ranked the ten nations involved in the space industry on aspects like the government’s support to space programmes, the human capital available and the contribution of the private sector to the country’s space activities.

India’s space programmes based on its needs: Outgoing chief

 

[nitesh]

here is good news for private companies

ISRO to outsource rocket-work to private companies- ET Cetera-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times

BANGALORE: For the first time since the success of India's maiden unmanned moon mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is ready to outsource more
high-end work to private companies — everything from building more complicated systems to assembling it.

According to aerospace industry officials and others familiar with the discussions, proposals are being readied wherein private participation will be invited to build and run competing systems.

The commercial-aerospace industry is now eager to play a larger role in the space missions and tap the outsourcing work offered by ISRO which has an annual budget of $1.01 billion for 2009-2010. It has a spending blueprint of Rs 12,400 crore ($3 billion) for its manned space exploration and around Rs 425 crore will be spent for the second unmanned lunar mission — Chandrayaan-2. It also has huge spending plans for missions to Mars and various domestic and international satellite launches.

This is particularly relevant as India has now stepped up the number of satellites it sends into space. ISRO's senior space scientist George Koshy who had also worked on Chandrayaan-1 as mission director for PSLV, says: "Earlier, we used to do one launch in two-three years. Now, we do tree-five PSLV launches alone in a year. For that, we need more low-cost manpower and better collaborations.” Koshy says the confidence other countries are reposing on Indian capability to make good satellites is increasing and they need more private partners to share the work load. "We work at just 15-20% of the cost spent by the US on their missions,” he says.

He said ISRO will launch advanced remote sensing and earth observation satellites such as Cartosat along with three other satellites from countries like Algeria and Canada in the first quarter of 2010 and Resourcesat-2, which will monitor resources in the country next year.

Aerospace firms such as Taneja Aerospace and Aviation (Taal), which counts ISRO among its top customers said that it is seeing more high-end work coming to them.

SM Kapoor, chief executive (aerostructures) of Taal, said that it had developed a critical structure to be used in Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to ISRO last week. This structure was instrumental in taking the load of the vehicle and connecting the various stages of the PSLV.

"Earlier, we outsourced smaller work, but now we have stepped up the complexity of the work outsourced to private firms. In space structures, we have got very little margins. One small error or a small weakness in one part can result in the failure of the whole mission,” says George Koshy.

ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) deputy director PP Sinha said that outsourcing has reached a level where companies are even doing assembling work at the system and stage levels and not just at the component level. "We are moving up the value chain and gearing up to provide avionics and electronics to customers like ISRO. They are efficient in terms of on-time payment and business support,” Taal managing director CS Kameswaran said.

IT giant Wipro said it is in discussions with ISRO to provide software and electronics for projects like the Chandrayaan-2 "We are in discussions with ISRO to collaborate
in the area of robotic design, as they plan to land a motorised rover or robot on the Moon by 2013,” Wipro's vice-president for aerospace and defence Shiva Kumar Tonthanahal told ET. "We are present in the software, product engineering and R&D spaces and now Wipro is gearing up to be ready in aerospace manufacturing by 2010,” he said.

People familiar with ISRO's outsourcing strategy said that tech firms such as TCS and Infosys are talking to ISRO to provide their engineering design services.

Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T), India's biggest engineering company, said that it is making significant contributions to ISRO's space launch vehicles. "We had started by making small components. Today, the complete motor is built by us which includes it testing. We will be making significant contributions to the development of ISRO's next 20 satellites," says L&T vice-president Jayant D Patil. L&T had made significant contributions in the development of the last 15 satellites.

He said L&T along with DMRL has designed specific reactors for ISRO's plant in Kerala to indigenously produce titanium sponge, which is a scare raw material and has to be imported. "It is used in the production of aerospace grade titanium, which will be one of the strategic materials for important projects in future," he said.

Genser Aerospace & Information Technologies chief executive Arunakar Mishra says that as ISRO is becoming more of an integrator, they can adopt contract manufacturing model where they need not scout for suppliers and thus concentrate only on the mission.

Aerospace firm HAL's chairman Ashok Nayak said that even though they manufacture entire outside structure of PSLV and GSLV-II, they are getting strong support from small and medium industries who are getting majority of ISRO's components, while the integration is done at HAL. "The field is slowly getting open to everyone. We are willing to take the support of the private industry because that is the only way the country can prosper".

 

[nitesh]

similar news:

India set to join cryogenic club | Deccan Chronicle

 

[rahulrds1]

P.S. Veeraraghavan new 'vikram sarabhai space centre' director

P.S. Veeraraghavan, a rocket technologist, took over on Saturday as Director, Vikram Sarabahi Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, from K. Radhakrishnan. Mr. Veeraraghavan was till now Director, ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), Thiruvananthapuram.

He began his career in ISRO in 1971 after completing his B.E. in Electrical Engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai. A gold medallist, he secured the first rank from Madras University. He obtained his M.Tech. in electronics from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) - Madras. He finished his schooling from Gopalapuram Boys’ High School, Chennai.

Mr. Parivakkam Subramaniam Veeraraghavan joined ISRO in 1971 as engineer-in-charge of the computerised check-out systems of SLV-3 (Satellite Launch Vehicle), whose first flight took place from Sriharikota in 1979.

“For the first time, we developed a computerised check-out system for this class of vehicles. Till then, other countries had only manual check-out system for this kind of vehicles,” he said. As Deputy Director, Mechanisms and Vehicle Integration and Testing (MVIT) unit of VSSC, he was responsible for integration, check-out and launch of ISRO’s Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicles (ASLVs), Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLVs) and Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicles (GSLVs). He took over as IISU Director in 2002 and led the teams that developed sensor systems not only for launch vehicles but satellites. These inertial navigation systems guide the rockets in their trajectory, thus helping them to put the satellites in precise orbits.

A VSSC press-release said, “The performance of these inertial navigation systems has been at par with those of the best in the world. The inertial systems in Chandrayaan-1 contributed to its precise orbital manoeuvres and accurate lunar injection. Under his leadership, the IISU has developed a number of advanced inertial sensors and systems for future missions.”

According to Mr. Veeraghavan, there was “a huge task before us” with the launch of GSLV-D3 scheduled from Sriharikota in December.He said: “The GSLV-D3 will be a major milestone for us. We will then have a series of missions dealing with different kinds of satellites. We want to launch GSLV- Mark 3 by 2011-end. Then human space mission [putting an Indian into space] will be another huge task ahead of us. We have to tackle questions of reliability, safety etc. in that mission.”

 

[rahulrds1]

Various Cryogenic Engine Testing around the world

RS-68 Engine

K-1 Engine

F-5 Engine

 

[RAM]

Chandrayaan-II mission to be completed by 2012-13

Bengaluru, Nov. 7: 'Chandrayaan-II' moon mission, which will help in analysis of mineral composition and undertake terrain mapping of the moon, will be completed by 2012-13, said the project director of 'Chandrayaan', Dr M. Annadurai, on Saturday.

"The Rs 425 crore project will be completed by 2012-13. As opposed to the 'Chandrayaan-1' which was a moon orbiter, in 'Chandrayaan-2', the two moon rovers will actually land on the moon surface," he said inaugurating the sixth National Student Conference at University Visveswaraya College of Engineering.

"'Chadrayaan-II' will consist of the spacecraft and a landing platform with two moon rovers, one from India and one from Russia, which will land on the moon and move on wheels on the lunar surface, pick up samples of soil or rocks, do a chemical analysis and send the data to the spacecraft orbiting above," Dr Annadurai said.

Dr Annadurai, the project director of 'Chandrayaan-I' and 'Chandrayaan-II,' said the 'Chardrayaan-I' which was the 70th satellite to go on the moon "created history with discovery of water there (moon)".

"The Rs 386 crore project (Chandrayaan-I) which took four and a half years to be completed has provided 6 terabits of data which will take the scientists three years to mull over," he said.

Dr Annadurai gave the credit of 'Chandrayaan-I' success to the "teamwork of the 3,000 scientists who worked tirelessly on the project."

Speaking about IIT, he said "all of you can become IITians by involving yourself in whatever you do, innovating, thinking uniquely and by team work. This is what IIT means to me."

"Chandrayaan mission, which has provided me the podium to come closer to the student community, is an living example of this three-pronged approach (IIT), which shows that India can do wonders with its research," Dr Annadurai said.

"The students of today have the capacity to lead the world in 2020 through innovation", he said

'Chandrayaan-II mission to be completed by 2012-13' | Deccan Chronicle

 

[RAM]

Avanti's HYLAS Arrives At ISRO Facility In India — Coundown Time

Avanti Communications Group plc [AIM: AVN], the broadband satellite operator, is pleased to announce that its HYLAS satellite payload has arrived safely at the ISRO satellite assembly facility in India where it is now being integrated into the platform and prepared for launch. Within a few days of arriving in India the first payload panel was successfully integrated and work is proceeding well. The satellite is firmly on track for delivery in Q2, 2010.

David Williams, Chief Executive of Avanti, said: “I am pleased that we are now in the final phase of assembly. The demand in the market for satellite broadband is getting stronger every month as can be observed by our recent contract wins. Also the consensus in government, evidenced by this week’s Select Committee Enquiry into broadband, shows that Avanti will be delivering a much needed and highly valued service across Europe.”

Avanti sells satellite broadband services to telecoms companies which use them to supply homes and businesses. Their first satellite, called HYLAS is under construction and will be the first superfast broadband satellite launched in Europe. The market for 2Mb satellite broadband products in Europe is estimated at more than 70 million households. Avanti currently provides satellite broadband services to customers in Europe using leased satellite capacity which it will transfer to HYLAS on launch. The European Commission has set aside funding for rural broadband projects in 79 regions across Europe with a total value of EUR2.8 billion over the next five years.

Avanti's HYLAS Arrives At ISRO Facility In India — Coundown Time : Satnews Publishers

 

[RPK]

GSLV Mk III to enhance India's launch capacity: ISRO chief

Tirupati, Nov 14: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chief K. Radhakrishnan said here on Saturday that India is developing the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III) to enhance the capability of the country to be a competitive player in the multimillion dollar commercial launch market.


Addressing the Andhra Pradesh Science Congress here, Radhakrishnan said: "We are working on a new launch vehicle development GSLV Mark III which is expected to be flying in the coming years. And a major milestone in the development is going to be the static testing of the systems."

"We could realize the world's third largest propellant boosters H200 with 200 tonnes of propellants mixed in India, in a plant which is mostly automatic, which is situated in Shreeharikota with our own technology, with the ingredients coming from the Indian Industry based on our technology," he added.

GSLV Mk III is conceived and designed to make ISRO fully self reliant in launching heavier communication satellites of INSAT-4 class, which weighs 4500 to 5000 kilograms.

The vehicle envisages multi-mission launch capability for GTO, LEO, Polar and intermediate circular orbits.

In his address Radhakrishnan also noted that ISRO is giving stress for the development of miniature satellite system involving Indian Universities.

"Today our universities are enabled to make satellites of 1kilogram and 6 kilograms class. This is one of our major thrust for the future," he said.

In August, students of the Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT) Kanpur had developed a Nano satellite, 'Jugnu' under the guidance of ISRO.

The satellite weighs less than three kilograms and consists of advanced functionalities that other normal satellites have. The payload of satellite would include a camera, designed with complete indigenous technologies, in the purpose of near remote sensing.

There would be a GPS receiver and finally the satellite will transmit blinking signal while making the rounds over the earth.

The Nano satellite is scheduled to be launched by the ISRO in December.

 

[icecoolben]

The Us has sought isolation of countries with icbm capability with ranges exceeding 8,000 kms. Since they pose a significant security threat to us homeland and military installatios in pearl harbour, japan etc. So if india embarked on a 8,000 km missile. Stringent technological denial sanctions would be imposed on isro, this would handi-cap the industry to seek foreign assistance which has proven to be a great advantage compared to our peers in china. India reportedly shelved a icbm programme called surya which was initiated in 1994 to not scuttle indo-us relations and to prevent embargo on isro since it was speculated that pslv launch vehicle was going to be modified for the purpose. As of now india is developing second strike capacity via nuclear submarines and agni-5 land based missile vis-a-vis chinese capabilities. But surya development speculations as still ripe in defence circles since surya-1 with 80k km and surya-2 with reported 12k km can attack targets anywhere on earth.

 

[bsn4u1985]

The Us has sought isolation of countries with icbm capability with ranges exceeding 8,000 kms. Since they pose a significant security threat to us homeland and military installatios in pearl harbour, japan etc. So if india embarked on a 8,000 km missile. Stringent technological denial sanctions would be imposed on isro, this would handi-cap the industry to seek foreign assistance which has proven to be a great advantage compared to our peers in china. India reportedly shelved a icbm programme called surya which was initiated in 1994 to not scuttle indo-us relations and to prevent embargo on isro since it was speculated that pslv launch vehicle was going to be modified for the purpose. As of now india is developing second strike capacity via nuclear submarines and agni-5 land based missile vis-a-vis chinese capabilities. But surya development speculations as still ripe in defence circles since surya-1 with 80k km and surya-2 with reported 12k km can attack targets anywhere on earth.

if india would develop 8k ballistic miissile...then india will n't afraid of USA bcoz at the time when india india tested nuclear bombs then india didn't care abt sanctions then why india would do now?????...........now a days india does n't depend upon USA.....USA needs india for this time.............

 

[icecoolben]

After the breakup of the soviet union, the world was made to contend with three nuclear power with more than 1000 mt of accumulative nuclear power 1.usa 2.russia 3.ukraine. Ukraine needed lots of aid to overcome economic, political turmoil. So did russia. But ukraine intended to keep its nukes and long range icbm delivery systems, as a counter to russian, europeon hegemony. Congress could never allow this in the light that those above 8,000 to 12,000 km icbms with nukes fitted on top even had the remotest possibility of posing a threat to Us homeland security Us tax payer dollars would not flow to such a country,which led ukraine to relinquish its 5,000 war heads and fissile material..
Also as the sole super-power the Us was held responsible for possibly every event from kosovo, kwait invasion by iraq, nuclear proliferation, and missile tech control regime which meant Us needed to shun itself and other countries from developing such means.

 

[icecoolben]

Our integrated missile development project which was initiated in 1983, had soviet blessing and progressed steadily alongside isro's launch systems which too had received tremenofous soviet tech assistance. But after collapse, russia was held up at Us mercy. Tech assistance to both isro and defence dried up. During this twiligt period isro turned to japan, europe especially germany to advance its programs. Now broke the 1994 assesment by Us scientists about india's missile development of surya missile project, had washington placed sanctions on that crippled india our states could have withered away, given the recession asia and particularly india was suffering. Even europe had its own economic woes. North america became the richest region. Us then was also the largest source of india's aid. So, india decided to lay low. Then in 1997, it was reported that pslv launch vehicle that v were building was the base of surya1, this would have prompted nations obliged to mtcr to withdraw participation from all of isro's projects which would have further strained the organisation. The 98, tests had relatively minimal effect since our nuke didn't pose threat to Us, and reportedly india has not reactivated the programme.
india is still not technologically self-sufficient. Our chandrayan was a huge success owing to off the shelf purchase of tech and equipment which the chinese still don't have access for. U may note that while the armed forces proudly announce launch of satellites with military apps, isro keeps a very low profile. Since, diversification of civilian tech to military automatically invites sanctions and isro is not prepared to risk it, and so should v. Our agni-5 with 5000 km range can strike deep into china with good accuracy, that is all we need for the time being.

 

[nitesh]

Constellation Of Satellites Needed For Disaster Management: ISRO

The constellation plan is a part of the 'Umbrella Plan' of the organisation, he said.

Disasters come in all shapes and sizes, needing varying data during the disaster cycle of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, Navalgund said.

Many studies suggest at least eight satellites, with dual capability sensors can collect both high and low spatial resolution data, and an equal split between optical (including thermal) and microwave instruments.

"The satellites should also be agile, they should allow rapid changes in camera orientation so that a disaster area can be kept in view longer," he said.

 

[RPK]

No India launch of Iran satellite

India says it has no plans to launch an Iranian satellite, a move which would have angered the United States.

"We received a letter from the Iranians to launch a satellite for them some months ago. We don't plan to give them a response," top Indian officials said.

Any such launch would be a sensitive issue given that Western nations view with concern Iran's missile programme.

The remarks from Delhi came as Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki wound up a two-day visit to India.

Iran launched its first domestically-made satellite into orbit in February, insisting its intentions were peaceful. Western governments voiced concerns the technology used could lead to ballistic missile development.


Little progress seems to have been made on... bringing a gas pipeline from Iran through Pakistan into India

Any assistance by India in launching Iranian satellites could raise American concerns - the Bush administration, for instance, was dead set against an Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline.

India is also more than aware that Iran's nuclear programme is the subject of great international controversy.